When a little girl from the deep, forgotten streets of New York goes viral for her artwork, she finds herself thrust into a whole new world of opportunities in the heights of the Cloud district of her city, where the monied live in luxury. But when your art gives you everything you’ve ever wanted, what is your responsibility to those who you left behind? Cidney’s story really spoke to the inner artist in me, posing questions about the purpose of art and the responsibilities of success. It’s a shockingly fast story you won’t be able to put down, and you’ll come out of it renewed, invigorated, and ready for battle.
Read it in Metaphorosis: Best of 2023 now available on Amazon!
1. Writing Question: What is your typical writing routine?
An author I admire, V.E. Schwab, once said in an interview that the best routine a writer can have is to not have any routine at all, lest we become dependent on the ritual at the expense of getting words on the page. I heard that advice very early into my writing journey, and it has stuck with me. I find myself writing at all times of afternoon and evening, even if it’s just a few hundred words here and there. Even with those intentions, I am still most productive at night and have a much easier time drafting when I have non-lyrical music to listen to. My writing playlists, usually movie scores, allow me to place myself inside the scenes with my characters where I am able to visualize events unfolding and record what I “see.” Copious cups of tea also help.
2. Spec Fic Questions: What’s the best SF short story you’ve ever read? What about it really spoke to you?
I am a huge fan of Fran Wilde’s “Unseelie Brothers, Ltd.”, which chronicles the return of a mythical atelier shop that makes stunning gowns for society’s elite before disappearing. I love the setting, the character development, the slow unraveling of mystery like pulling a thread. Wilde manages to do so much in an 8,ooo word story, and I became enthralled by her world-building. Her inclusion of excerpts from a society magazine that highlight and detail the Unseelie Brothers dresses, who wore them, and for what function, really immerse the reader into the alternative New York setting. This is a story I turn to when I am feeling uninspired or stuck, and highly recommend it if you love tales of the haves and have nots, the cost of staying in the spotlight, and magical alternatives to familiar settings.
3. Oddball Questions: What’s your favorite non-writing hobby?
I enjoy playing video games, especially Nintendo or story-based games. Night in the Woods is one of my all-time favorite narrative video games, and reminds me of Stephen King stories. It’s one that is unafraid to delve into darker topics, while still maintaining humor and connection to the characters.
I’ve been a Mario Kart fan since I was a kid, and enjoy party games where I can play with friends. Exercise is also really important to me, so any games like Just Dance or Fitness Boxing are fun, too! I just finished my first play through of Hogwarts Legacy and am currently downloading Baldur’s Gate III. I love playing tabletop role playing games, and am excited to dive into this one!
Cidney Mayes is a middle school librarian from Portland, Maine with a passion for anything magical. When not writing, she enjoys giving tarot card readings, walking outdoors with a good audio book, or playing board games with her husband and friends.
For more about her fiction, visit Cidney’s website at https://cidneymayes.com .