I got the fantastic opportunity to have a short story called “To be Told” published with The Orpheum Collective in their Summer Madness edition. You can read the story here, if you’d like.

I wrote this story a while ago, actually, but it was such an odd, out-there story that I had no idea where to submit it, and so it stayed on my computer for quite some time while I focused on other stories and projects. Every time I scanned through calls for submissions, though, I would constantly wonder, “What place would welcome this story?”

I’m really glad I found a home for it, and a place that has (in my opinion) such an interesting vibe to it as well. I love the seasonal calls The Orpheum Collective has for submissions, and I love the overall design. I feel like too many literary websites are too focused on the stories and neglect that design plays a big role in what books we pick up and which ones we neglect; what websites we frequent and what ones we run from.

I wrote the story to the song “Soho” by Naoki Sato from the movie soundtrack for Rurounin Kenshin: The Final playing ad nauseum through my earphones. I don’t know if every writer is like this, but once I find a song that helps me get the words flowing, I don’t let that song go until I’m done with whatever I’m writing. Having written a book basically to one song, I can tell you it can start to addle your brain after a while. But like being strapped to a roller coaster that’s already left the station, you just try to ride it out. At least I do, anyway.

I think a recurring theme for a lot of my stories is the idea of someone incredibly powerful still being at the mercy of others. I have no idea why I like this particular theme beyond that it intrigues me. This story, I feel, is the most distilled version of that theme, which is probably both why I love this story so much and why I thought I’d never find a home for it. It’s too much, perhaps. And I love the idea that not only is the powerful person at the mercy of others, but they eventually let go at the end and give up fighting.

My hope is that maybe someone out there fighting an important fight (such as protesting or helping a good cause) can read this story, feel the catharsis that can come from giving up after such a long time resisting, and then go back to fighting again.

If you want, please read this story while listening to this song on repeat because I think it’ll help you get in the same mindset I was in while writing it: