After receiving my snazzy WotF Honorable Mention certificate last month, I decided to be cheeky and ask for a 2010 Q4 Semi-Finalist certificate retrospectively (I received a critique from K. D. Wentworth at the time, but no certificate). The contest co-ordinator Joni Labacqui happily obliged (thanks, Joni!) and I received it in the post today, which was just what I needed because I also received two rejections as well — the perfect antidote!
The other exciting news is that “Amy’s First” is due to be sent out to Daily Science Fiction subscribers as an e-mail story tomorrow morning. (It’s not too late to subscribe — it’s free, and you’ll receive bite-size speculative fiction stories in your inbox four days aweek, with longer stories sent on Friday, just right for the weekend.) A week from now, the story will go live on the DSF website.
In honour of the story’s appearance (which features an angel, of sorts) here are a couple of angels I’ve encountered during my travels. First up is the “Angel with the Superscription”, one of the angels which line Rome’s Pont Sant’Angelo. The original was by Bernini, but this copy is by Giulio Cartari. Under the noon Rome sun, with a crisp blue sky backdrop, these sculptures are truly sublime — and highly photogenic.
The second is a snapshot of a small sculpture I noticed whilst exploring the chapel on St. Michael’s Mount, in Cornwall. It features a quite different aspect of the angelic, “St. Michael’s Victory Over the Devil”, and is probably more indicative of the intended tone of “Amy’s First”…
(The original image which inspired the story can be seen here.)
SZABLOG 
Lobed the story! Also enjoyed reading and seeing the photo that inspired it. I had wished ro place it on my Facebook page, but the link in the email only led to the “Daily” FB page. I didn’t see one here, either While I imagine hat there will eventually be a link on the website, I’d love to be able to post it with comments whilst my first delight is fresh. Is that permissable? Sharing it in generalI. Is there such a link a available? Hope to be able to read more of your things later! Thank you so much for this one!
Glad you enjoyed it Allyson. I don’t think there will be a permanent link available until the story goes “live” next Wednesday. Only a week to go!
Hello. Just read ‘Amy’s first’, and dropped by to say it I really enjoyed it. Loved the way you conveyed so much in such a small story.
Thanks Lavanya, glad you enjoyed it!
Enjoyed the story. It was just a word or two which sent it into that uneasy place where we, the readers, have no idea what is going to happen next, but we know that it can’t be good. Well done.
Thanks. Every word counts, especially for flash fiction.
Congrats on “Amy’s First” going up! I read it again today and shivered. Creepy little girl. No good thing will come of her, I know it.