I have a new Christmas story on the market today. NOBODY GETS LUCKY is, as the title suggests, not my normal go-to of erotic fiction. Like my lesbian eating disorder short UGLY NAKED PEOPLE, this new release is queer fiction... with a holiday twist.
Before getting into the pitchy side of this post, I want to tell you more about the title. I think it's pretty inspired, and I can say that without feeling too full of myself, because it's actually inspired by a local artist named Lucky Jackson.
Now, just to be clear, none of the characters in this story were inspired by the artist in question. It's all a matter of names--and first names only, at that. See, I met Lucky last year at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, and I bought a few monstrously cool pieces from her. Right now her "thing" is embroidery art, and the stuff she produces is just... wow. Just cool beyond cool. Cooler than I could ever hope to be.
So, one day I was sitting at my computer trying to devise a title for a story I had in mind. The story was about a young lesbian, a single mother, spending Christmas with her girlfriend's family. They don't understand her. They don't like her. What could I call this story?
Nobody understands this girl...
I'm looking up at the works by Lucky Jackson hanging over my computer, contemplating.
Nobody gets her...
Hey, what if I named my character Lucky?
Nobody Gets Lucky
Perfect! The title was absolutely perfect, and I found it with the help of Lucky Jackson's art on my wall. If you're curious (and I'm sure you are) how about checking out her amazingly awesome embroidery? Like this portrait of Emilio Estevez (one of my faves) or Billy Idol (my girlfriend's fave) and more. Here's her website.
Now that you've heard the in-depth history of the title, want to know a little more about the story? Well, first off, it's available at 30% at the Untreed Reads store throughout December, and there's a buy one get another 40% off deal going on too!
Description:
When Justine brings Lucky home for Christmas, the family isn’t shy in expressing their dislike of the quirky, single mother. Even Grandma’s taking pot shots at Lucky all through dinner! Sure, Lucky’s tattoos and tight clothes make her an easy target in Mother’s prim and proper dining room, but there’s so much the family doesn’t understand about the woman Justine loves. When they do find out more about Lucky’s past, will they be willing to accept her at all, or will they be able to embrace Justine's new love?
A short story from our Nibs literary line.
Excerpt:
“Was that stuffing cooked inside the turkey?” Lucky had been bouncing the baby on her knee, but she stopped now to peer at the dish, making a face everyone else at the table would probably view as uncouth.
“That tray was, yes.” Justine’s mom plastered on a smile, but it was obviously fake. “But I baked another little dish of stuffing all by its lonesome.”
Lucky breathed an exaggerated sigh of relief. “Oh, that’s good. I won’t eat anything that’s come in contact with meat.”
Justine knew that Lucky didn’t mean to be rude. She’d been looking forward to the tastes of Christmas dinner ever since Justine had invited her to this family gathering, and she obviously didn’t want to miss out on the best part. Thanksgiving and Christmas were the only times stuffing made an appearance on this table, and Justine’s mom’s cranberry-and-walnut was to die for.
Beaming that same irritated smile, her mother said, “Justine’s the same way. That’s why I made a special batch for the two vegetarians.”
“Three,” Lucky said. Her slick black hair tumbled over her shoulder as she gazed at the baby whose tiny feet rested on her thigh. With his fat little face tilted to one side, he looked like an old man asleep standing up. “Looks like Zadyn needs a nap before nom-noms. He’s vegetarian too.”
Justine’s brothers’ jaws dropped, and her cousin Andrea laughed unapologetically. Justine shot them a death glare, but they were focused on the woman they’d already labelled a freak.
“Your baby’s vegetarian?” Andrea let the laughter fade to a faint giggle instead of trying to talk over it.
Grandma Thornton didn’t seem half so amused. The tight purse of her lips broke to say, “Children need their protein. They need nutrients to grow. You must feed a growing child meat!”
Andrea’s titters continued as Justine’s youngest brother leaned forward. In an overstated show of mock-concern, he lisped, “I don’t mean to alarm you, but the stuffing was baked in the same oven as the meat products. Terribly sorry for the inconvenience.”
Insufferable little red-haired Andrea pulled the zipper on her hoodie up over her lips. She was laughing silently, but with such force her eyes teared up. Justine’s head buzzed. If these people weren’t family, she’d have taken them out back and taught them some manners.
Rising from the table, Lucky heaved tired baby Zadyn to her hip. One of the things Justine admired most about the girl was her deliberate obliviousness. She grabbed the side of Lucky’s chair and slid it out of the way so it wouldn’t tumble over. In her peripheral vision, she saw her mother’s scowl as the wooden feet screeched against the floor. God forbid the hardwood should suffer!
Justine tried not to stare at Lucky’s ass as she bent to ease Zadyn into his stroller, but it was hard not to ogle a girl she found so alluring. As far as the family was concerned, Lucky was just a friend who’d been invited along because she had nowhere else to go at Christmas. That much was true, at least—her mother had disowned her when she got pregnant with Zadyn. And selfish as it seemed, Zadyn’s existence was a nice little red herring for Justine. When most people saw a young mother with an itty bitty baby, they didn’t automatically think, lesbian.
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Hope you enjoy my queer Christmas short!
Hugs,
Giselle
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I just found out my lyd anthology My Mistress' Thighs: Erotic Transgender Fiction and Poetry won an honorable mention (5th runner-up) in the Best Bisexual/Transgender Contemporary category of the 2011 Rainbow Awards!
