The October air smells like bonfires and promises.: seanan

The October air smells like bonfires and promises.

So this story is Cat Valente's fault.

Cat wrote a Coyote story that was also a football story, and because I am her Coyote Girl as she is my Mermaid of Maine, she mentioned me, and some people got the idea that I liked football (rather than getting the idea that I love Coyote in all his shapes and incarnations) and asked if I would write a football story for them. So I did, and then one thing led to another, and the people who had asked for the story couldn't use it after all, but I liked it a lot (and it was something that made me think of Cat, which is always good), and so I went looking for a home.

"Homecoming" is available to read online, now, in the latest issue of Lightspeed Magazine.

"Homecoming" is a story about football (with thanks to Shawn for clarifying my action). It's a story about hot October nights when the stands are full and the crowd is cheering and you feel like you can run forever. It's a story about destiny. And it's a story I'm fairly proud of.

You can read this month's full issue at:

http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/

Fantasy! Science fiction! Non-fiction! Diverse voices! And an upcoming "Women Destroying Science Fiction" special issue. I highly recommend either purchasing this issue (if you like any of the stories it contains and want to support the magazine that published them), or picking up a subscription. Either way, the boys of summer are waiting for you on the field. It's the big game tonight.

You wouldn't want to make them wait for long.

heavensgardener

September 12 2013, 00:45:25 UTC 3 years ago

New comment

I read this in my geology class and couldn't stop crying because it was perfect. (I hope my professor thought I was crying about the ~majesty of sedimentary rocks~ or something).

seanan_mcguire

September 12 2013, 16:30:11 UTC 3 years ago

Aw, thank you. :)

ladyjess78

September 12 2013, 15:13:39 UTC 3 years ago

Loved it and am still trying to shake the cold chills!

September 12 2013, 16:30:21 UTC 3 years ago

That's splendid to hear.

elialshadowpine

September 12 2013, 15:41:34 UTC 3 years ago

HOLY. SHITBALLS.

So, I almost didn't read this because, well, I hate football. Sports of most any kind, really. But then I thought, well, I bought Glitter and Mayhem despite not really being into parties or roller derby and loved about 3/4 of the stories in the book (yours was fabulous), and it's short, so what the hell...

I did not expect to be in tears by the end. I LOVE THIS STORY. I SHALL GIVE IT FLUTTERSHY HUGS.

September 12 2013, 16:30:36 UTC 3 years ago

YAY FLUTTERSHY HUGS!!!

robertsloan2

September 12 2013, 20:31:38 UTC 3 years ago

I love this story. I can't tell you how much. It moved me in so many ways. My friend found it and read it even though slightly put off by "football" and then pranked me by saying "I know you don't like football or sports, but you've got to read this..."

Wicked, wicked, wonderful friend. I love it! I knew it was special the moment it started with the girls - a football story starting in girls' locker room? Oh, not a normal one! Cool!