Writing the World, the Official Website of Kay Kenyon

My first story collection

I’m excited to announce the publication of my first science fiction story collection! It brings together seven short stories published between 2003 and 2018. These are stories–at least the earliest ones–that may be hard to find because they were published in various anthologies. Now they’re here, all in one collection. Subjects include:

the Singularity
genomics gone wrong
designer medicine
dystopian alternate history
post-apocalyptic futures

$2.99. Check it out at these on-line retailers. (Coming soon in paperback!)

We are afraid of the phages, of course. They spit toxins, and if necessary, explode. But they’ll lose interest after a few miles. With our chemical makeup, clean hydrogen drive and biomolecular imprint, we have pretty good camouflage. The forest can’t detect us as a foreign body.

If it could, we’d be dead. –from the short story, “The Spires of Greme”

My science fiction goes wide

Now at all e-retailers:

Four of my science fiction novels are now available at all e-retailers. You can choose from Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, Google Play and more. Check these out if your collection is incomplete! 🙂

THE SEEDS OF TIME. In this time-travel novel, visit Niang, a lush paradise with biota on steroids. Clio Finn must deliver the seeds to a graying Earth. But her enemies believe biodiversity is Not supposed to look like. . . well, this. Will Clio’s mission give Earth a second chance, or seal its destruction? Many people’s favorite Kenyon heroine! books2read.com/seeds

RIFT. On the terraformed planet Litha, the green biosphere is unraveling. Reeve Calder, new to this dangerous world, must face the savage colonists in the world ruins as well as the ruthless, alien Orthong. Survival depends on a girl who leads Reeve’s marooned group by her mad, internal compass. This one has my favorite supporting character, quirky, heroic Spar. books2read.com/rift-sf

THE BRAIDED WORLD. Explorers on the spaceship Restitution have met their worst nightmare: beings who look completely human, but with a few frightening revisions. Captain Anton Prados receives a troubling reception in this strange world of twisting rivers and savage politics. Then he meets Maypong, the woman he longs for and can never have. A John W. Campbell Award nominee. books2read.com/braided

TROPIC OF CREATION. Captain Eli Dammond has landed on a deserted planet to rescue survivors of a crashed space ship. In his charge is a general’s daughter, 14-year old Sascha. But the planet is about to undergo a radical seasonal change, one that will hatch terrifying creatures. Eli finds a dangerous refuge in a vast underground kingdom, while Sascha’s only hope is in the nests of the monsters. My favorite of my first six SF books. Publishers Weekly starred review. books2read.com/tropic

Spycraft in the Dark Talents trilogy

Within intelligence communities, spycraft refers to the techniques used by spies to gather intelligence and remain undercover. The need to manipulate, discover, and remain secret has spawned the time-tested techniques used by spies everywhere.

I used these methods throughout the Dark Talents trilogy, set in England in 1936. Here are some examples culled from Kim Tavistock scenes in Book two, Serpent in the Heather.

In eBook and hardcover. In paperback on Apr. 16.

SIGN OF LIFE. To confirm with handlers or HQ (the “office” in British intelligence service parlance) that one is on duty and pursuing the mission.

In a wool skirt and sweater set Kim made her way down to the castle parlor, where she put in her call to Knightsbridge and Nash Photo Finishing. Someone from the Office answered appropriately and said her photo prints would be ready on Wednesday. Her sign-of-life call complete, she turned to find Powell had entered the drawing room.

THE COVER PERSONA. Obviously, spies wish to remain undetected as such. To that end, they adopt ostensible business and deflecting personal attributes.

“Tread carefully with this Coslett woman, Kim. We’re only allowed a limited operation. You must deploy your witless- American mode to perfection.”

She snapped a look at him. “I didn’t know I had one.”

“What? Oh, yes, quite a good one. Charging around all innocent and eager. Top-notch.”

Book 3, Nest of the Monarch on preorder

Coming April 16, 2019

The conclusion the Dark Talents trilogy, Nest of the Monarch is now on preorder. I am deeply and honestly thrilled with this book, and I can hardly wait for it to get in readers’ hands! (Ships on April 16.)

I wanted to pull out all the stops for what Kim Tavistock is capable of, and place the events of the book in the scariest environment I could imagine, at least for a spy: 1936 Berlin and a secret SS outpost. The result is my richest story yet, I’m thinking. A few questions come to mind:

Why does Kim’s Berlin station handler say “Everyone has their limits”?

Can a British spy trust the British Intelligence Service? Can she even trust herself?

Is the man she’s living with going to help her or kill her?

What is it like to be both less than human and more than human at the same time?

Who is the last person Kim could ever expect to meet on Christmas eve among monsters?

You can preorder Nest of the Monarch at these fine retailers:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

I’m teaching a novel seminar

Creating the Novel

Write on the River presents a 7-week writing seminar from Kay Kenyon.

For beginners and mid-career writers wishing to pursue a publishing career. The class is limited to six students and will be held in Wenatchee, WA. Sessions consist of an hour of instruction and an hour’s critique of a student manuscript by the instructor and the other students.

The sessions will be designed to deepen students’ abilities to evaluate their writing with an eye to marketplace considerations as well as compelling fictional elements.

Some of these are useful tools.

DATES AND REQUIREMENTS

DATES: Sessions will be held every other Wednesday, February 13 through May 8.

TIME: 6:30 – 8:30 PM

COST: $300

REQUIREMENTS

Must apply to attend by December 15. Details here.
Membership in Write on the River.
18 years of age or older.
Sense of humor; openness to all genres of writing.
Have at least 30 pages of a novel written and ready for critique by February 13.