New Story, an Interview, and Updates...
2021 is here, yay!?
Hi guys,
It’s been a while since I last wrote but I think 2020 was a doozy for everyone and I’m sure you understand. While 2020 went out like a lion, I was hoping 2021 was going to come in like a lamb, but no. But hopefully you, like me, are maintaining during 2020 part deux. It’s not all bad though. I’ve been writing or “in the lab” as I like to joke (because in my heart I’m a rapper or a mad scientist).
So, I’ve got a new story brewing and I’d love to share it with you. The story I'm working on is re-imagining the legend of Cooter Brown as a monster hunter. The story of Cooter Brown is that he was a biracial man (half Native, half Black). When the Civil War broke out, Cooter didn't want to choose sides, because he didn't know who might win. He didn't like people much and was fearful of both sides. Because of this, Cooter, who was a heavy drinker anyway, began drinking all the time. Cooter always dressed like an Indian so as to confirm the fact that he was an Indian and not a Black man. And as such, he was a free man. Whenever soldiers (Yanks or Rebels) showed-up in the area they would always find him drunk. Often he'd offer the soldiers a drink. Word began to spread about the crazy, drunken Indian named Cooter Brown. A lot of people believe that Cooter only pretended to be drunk so he wouldn't be drafted by either side.
I could hear the sounds of the horses coming and quickly slumped under the nearest tree, making sure I was firmly planted where I knew there would be less trouble. I pulled my hat low over my face and made sure my long braids were thrown over my shoulders in plain view.
Had I the time I would have made myself scace altogether. Although there were still some Pennsylvanians that weren’t ameniable to the Natives of this country, I knew that these boys in Wharton Township would be less ameniable to a Negro and therefor troubled myself to look as Native as possible.
COMING SOON TO KINDLE VELLA…
And I’ve also had the privilege of being interviewed on Michelle R. Lane’s Blog, Girl Meets Monster for her Black History Month and Women in Horror Month series. Check that out here, along with a short story I wrote late last year during an awesome writer’s salon hosted by C.S.E Clooney and Carlos Hernandez.
And last but not least, I’ve got some things out in the world that you’ll hopefully be hearing about soon. The ones I can tell you about now are the Conjuring Worlds: An Afrofuturist Textbook that I have a story in and a story in the Sorghum & Spear: The Way of Silk and Stone Anthology, coming out later this year.
Oh before you go, drop me a line and tell me what’s your favorite monster and I’ll tell you mine.
-Kenesha