Jessica Guernsey and Once Upon A Moonless Night
Jessica Guernsey and Once Upon A Moonless Night
By Angelique Fawns
On her Instagram feed, Jessica calls herself, “A slushpile reader by day, short story writer by night.” Her business cards give her the title “The Crusher of Dreams.” I met her at Superstars Writing Seminar 2024 and immediately loved her gregarious and welcoming personality. She contacted me recently about listing a new anthology she is working on with “The Brothers Uber” in my monthly market list.
What a wonderful opportunity to get the inside scoop on what she is looking for and get to know her better!
AF: How did you get involved with Once Upon a Moonless Night?
JG: I met Logan Uber during our Masters cohort at Western Colorado University. He also joined us at Superstars Writing Seminar. My story was accepted to his Once Upon a Future Time Vol 4, an anthology of sci-fi fairytales. I wrote a version of Puss n’Boots, where the cat is instead a small robot. Cathryn Uber is an amazing editor that I worked with for my story. Could not ask for a more capable team.
AF: Who is Jessica Guernsey? How do you spend your days and what do you dream about?
JG: Really, I’m just a weirdo who talks to her imaginary friends and writes strange stories. But my dream is to start my own publishing house and produce more anthologies! What can I say? I love short stories.
AF: Why slush-reading and editing as well as writing? Why short stories over novels?
JG: When I was just a baby writer at one of my first writing conferences, I made a connection that led to my first job as a manuscript evaluator for a small press. That led to becoming a slush reader for a larger press. Around this time, I found a love for writing short stories. Through more connections I made at writing conferences, I began reading the slush for anthologies. I was hooked!
I used to write novels. I have three that are finished, even queried them. I had a major heartbreak over a novel that took me 3 years to write. My short stories take around 3 weeks. And they don’t break my heart. Some writers are novelists. Some writers prefer shorter forms. We are all still authors.
AF: What do you do as a day job and how do you find time for writing?
JG: I read the slush for my day job, hence my title as the Crusher of Dreams. Part of the reason my last novel took 3 years was because I didn’t keep my writing time sacred. I let too many things (mostly the little people I birthed) take that time. Once I started treating my writing as a business, worthy of dedicated time, I really started making progress.
AF: Who are your influences and favorite authors?
JG: Jim Butcher was my first love. His Dresden Files books opened my eyes to a world with magic that didn’t involve riding on horses and eating at inns. Dresden lives in modern Chicago as the only wizard listed in the yellow pages.
I also really love Seanan McGuire. Her series are so vastly different. They’ve inspired me to branch out and find other genres.
Jack MacDevitt was the reason I started writing sci-fi. His Pricilla Hutch series explores a universe where we never found intelligent life and what that future looks like. As writers, we are always asking “what if…” for our stories. Jack convinced me to ask, “what if it’s not…?”
AF: What kind of writing do you do yourself and where have you been published?
JG: I write weird short stories! A lonely space mermaid, loyal aliens, murderous bugs, a pirate tale based on my ancestor. And a couple Christmas Romances. I currently have 19 stories published with WordFire Press, Air&Nothingness Press, and a bunch of others. I even have a few flash fiction pieces in coloring books! You can find my stories at jessicaguernsey.com.
AF: How do writing conferences figure into your career plan?
JG: I love writing conferences! Though I should probably add that I am an extrovert, so I thrive. When I meet new writers who want to improve, my first piece of advice is always “start attending writing conference.” Even if all you have access to are virtual workshops. Not only will you expand on your craft, but you’ll also broaden your horizons and discover more options for your work. Networking is huge in this business. All the work I’ve gotten as a writer has been because of the connections I made at writing conferences.
AF: What kind of stories will have the edge for acceptance into Once Upon a Moonless Night?
JG: We are looking for darker stories! That doesn’t mean we want only horror. Betrayal, revenge and redemption can come in all different colors. Be sure at least one of those three elements is the main theme of your story to avoid an easy rejection. I like a story with a hopeful message in the end, but if your story doesn’t have that, it is absolutely not a deal breaker. What *is* a deal breaker is sending us a story that does not fit the theme. Always follow the guidelines, my friends! You’d be surprised how much that will put you ahead of the other submissions.
AF: In your opinion, what is the best way to find profit in our field?
JG: I’ve talked to many people about this very topic! Their answers have been to get your rights back and resubmit those stories are reprints. When you have enough with a central theme, release a collection. Don’t sit on your heels while waiting to hear back. Keep writing. Keep submitting.
AF: What is in the future for Jessica?
JG: MORE SLUSH! It is so addictive! And hopefully more short stories. I will be starting my own publishing house and I hope to see those anthologies featured here.
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