D. A. D'Amico

Writer of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and more.

header photo

My Website

I taught myself to write. There are too many worlds, too many people and possibilities crowding my mind, and they need to get out.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authordadamico

or on Twitter @ @dadamico

 

Farthest Star Publishing!

I've begun a new journey. I haven't given up writing. Far from it, but I want to be able to say I gave something back to writing. So I started a Publishing House.

 

Welcome to Farthest Star Publishing!

Are you ready to embark on an interstellar journey into the realms of imagination, where the boundaries of science fiction, fantasy, and horror are pushed to their limits? We certainly are, and we're thrilled to introduce you to our brand-new publishing venture, Farthest Star Publishing!

At Farthest Star Publishing, we're igniting the flames of creativity and imagination to bring you some of the most exciting and original voices in speculative fiction. As we prepare to set our course for the uncharted territories of the literary cosmos, we want to share our mission, vision, and the opportunities we have in store for writers and readers alike.

Our Cosmic Mission
Farthest Star Publishing is founded on a simple yet profound principle: to provide a platform for independent writers, both emerging and established, who possess the burning desire to explore the farthest reaches of their creativity. We believe that every writer, no matter their background or experience, has the potential to be a star in the ever-expanding universe of speculative fiction.

The Genres We Champion
Our starship is set to traverse the three galaxies of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. These genres have long been the breeding grounds for mind-bending concepts, magical worlds, and spine-tingling tales. If you have a manuscript that could transport readers to distant planets, conjure enchanting realms, or send shivers down their spines, Farthest Star Publishing is the launchpad for your journey.

Calls for Submissions
We are thrilled to announce that we will soon be opening our airlocks for submissions. If you're an indie writer with a story that defies gravity and invites readers to explore new frontiers, we want to hear from you. Whether you're an established author or a newcomer to the cosmos of publishing, we encourage you to submit your work. Our team of editors and literary explorers are eager to discover fresh voices and exciting tales that will take readers on unforgettable journeys.

Themed Anthologies
One of our signature offerings at Farthest Star Publishing will be our themed anthologies. We'll be curating and publishing collections of short stories that revolve around specific themes within our beloved genres. These anthologies will be a celebration of diversity, creativity, and the boundless scope of speculative fiction. Keep an eye out for our anthology submission calls, and who knows, your story might become a shining star in one of our collections.

Shared-World Anthology
But that's not all! We're taking it a step further with our shared-world anthology project. Imagine collaborating with other writers to contribute to a larger, interconnected universe. This is a unique opportunity for writers to create and explore a vibrant, shared setting, allowing stories to weave in and out of each other, forming an expansive tapestry of narrative. We can't wait to unveil more details about this thrilling project.

Join Us on Our Journey
Farthest Star Publishing is more than just a publishing house; it's a community of authors, readers, and explorers of the unknown. We invite you to embark on this cosmic adventure with us. Stay connected with us on our website and social media channels for updates, submission guidelines, and news about our upcoming releases.

As we prepare for the launch of Farthest Star Publishing, we're filled with excitement and anticipation for the incredible stories and universes that await discovery. Our journey to the farthest star begins with you, the writers who will help us chart our course, and the readers who will accompany us on this epic voyage.

Thank you for your support, and get ready to set your sights on the farthest star! The universe of speculative fiction is vast, and we can't wait to explore it together.

https://fartheststarpublis.wixsite.com/farthest-star

 

 

 

 

The story behind “Bittersweet”

The story behind “Bittersweet” is short and sweet. I saw a call for an anthology seeking short stories where coffee was the defining element. Being a prolific coffee drinker, I got all jittery with the idea I could have a coffee-themed story in an anthology. To produce drama, I got the idea to have two people fight over a cup of coffee. But why would they be fighting over a simple cup of coffee? It was the only one, of course. The last one, the last one in a world that no longer had such luxuries. Here is where the Siidi and their invasion of Earth was born.

Sadly, the story wasn’t accepted for that particular anthology, and in order to give the story broader appeal (and to make it look like it wasn’t just a reject from a very specific anthology call), I decided to make the central item a toy. Yup, a toy kangaroo call Polly-Roo. Yea, it didn’t work for me, either.

After a few adjustments, I went back to the beverage idea, this time changing it to hot cocoa to go with the wintery (post-apocalyptic) theme.

Below is the full story in its incarnation as a coffee-based drama, and as a (misguided) toy-centric story.

You be the judge. Is the cocoa worth sipping?

 

Take care and be safe

D. A. D’Amico

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dark Roast

By D. A. D'Amico

 

The first shot grazed the cup. It sliced through the paper sleeve, ripping into the store window behind. Shattered glass flew everywhere. I dived to cover the coffee, snatching a plastic lid from the floor as I slid behind the beige linoleum counter.

"Hold up!" I screamed, more from the scalding liquid than the bullets whizzing overhead. "I'm human! Stop shooting already!"

My mouth watered. I swear I could smell a hint of caramel wafting through the cold air from the aromatic steam.

"Is it safe?" The voice, tense, feminine, echoed through the empty coffee shop. "Tell me you didn't spill it."

"I'm okay, thanks." I growled, grabbing a quick peek over the counter.

She stood beside display racks that had been long emptied of donuts, muffins, and a sweet selection of seasonal cookies. Her dark hair had been tied back, hidden behind a thick furred hood.

"Put it on the counter, then step away." She scowled as she sighted down the barrel of a semi-automatic rifle. The gun twitched. "You have ten seconds."

I cradled the cup closer, enjoying its warmth. I couldn't remember a single day since the comet hit and the Siidi invaded that I'd felt this happy. I wasn't going to give this up.

"Sneaky trick, dropping a giant ice ball on the planet. Think they're out there, in town? I haven't seen one of the squid-faced bastards in weeks."

Steam rose into the icy air like smoke from a genie bottle, conjuring fond memories of a life before suffering. I missed the hustle and bustle of humanity. I missed the daily grind, the crowds, and even the lines in the morning where I'd read the paper and wait for some pimple-faced kid to pour me a cup of my favorite blend.

"I didn't think anyone was left in the city." Her tone sounded cautious. "You from around here?"

I laughed, hard and long, the tension exploding out of me. It'd been months since I'd spoken to another human. "That was the worst pickup line I'd heard since doomsday."

She fired a round into the counter above my head. "That better?"

"Sorry!" I said it quickly, the humor gone. I'd almost forgotten where I was. "My social skills are a little rusty."

"The coffee, give it up." She wasn't any smoother.

"I'm from Boston," I said. "I was visiting when it happened. My name's David."

"Maria," she said. "And I want my coffee."

"I didn't expect to see anyone. The ground fighting was pretty rough, but it seems to have moved out of the northeast. The Siidi are smart, but they're not as sneaky as we are."

"I've been here too long to leave, alien invasion or not." The barrel of her gun dipped a few inches. "You got people?"

"No... Not anymore."

"Me neither."

It suddenly felt colder in the little coffee shop than the impact winter falling outside. I didn't want to think about the past, or the things I'd seen or done since the Siidi landed. I'd lost everyone. The world was a different place, frigid, lonely, and dangerous.

A faint sizzling squeal rippled through the air outside. The noise of Siidi weapons charging would echo through my nightmares until I died. They were out there, somewhere.

Maria vanished behind the display rack. My heart stuttered. I held my breath, instinctively shielding the coffee. We weren't as alone in town as I'd thought.

The noise faded into the icy air.

#

"Nice chatting." Maria crept around the corner, jittery again. "But I think I'll take my coffee to go now."

The hot paper made my skin tingle. This coffee represented a world I'd never see again. How long would it be before I held another extra grande dark roast, cream and sugar, with a spritz of caramel?

"I can't let it go, Maria. I need this."

"I've had a coffee headache for close to eight months now, and I'm getting bitchy. I need it more." Her voice boomed through the abandoned shop like the growling of an angry bear.

"Share it with me?" I asked. "Let's sit like two civilized people and have a nice cup of coffee together."

"Now who's spouting bad pickup lines?" She frowned, but she lowered the gun. "Find a cup. Put the coffee on that table over there. I'll do the pouring."

"Bossy, I like that." I wasn't sure I'd have been able to let the coffee go if she'd said no.

"Don't get cute. It's coffee, not a date."

I raised the cup as if it were a sacred relic. A chipped demitasse lay against an overturned display. It looked like a thimble as I picked it up and placed it beside the steaming coffee. It wouldn't be much, but I'd take what I could get.

Maria eased into the chair opposite, rifle held awkwardly across her chest. Her fingers shook, and I was amazed at how thin she appeared. Food had gotten scarce, but I'd managed to scavenge quite a stockpile. It hadn't occurred to me others might not be so fortunate.

"Maybe we should have dinner together after all."

"Drink." She cradled the cup as if holding an infant, her dark eyes distant and moist. It's amazing what we can endure and still keep functioning.

I glanced through the shop. It had the same blasted and abandoned look as most everything these days. The racks had been looted, machinery destroyed. Everything that had made this place special had either been shattered or rusted away. Now that I had the time to observe, something felt out of place. I stared at the coffee, and at Maria. A chill ran down my spine.

"No power. Everything's broken," I said slowly, my heart racing, my breath puffing in quick billowing clouds.

"Yea..." Her lips had barely kissed the rim of the cup.

"How'd you make the coffee?"

Her eyes widened. "I thought you did."

I drank quickly as a faint sizzling squeal rippled through the air.

 

 

THE END

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Toy

By D. A. D'Amico

 

The first shot grazed one floppy ear, slicing neatly through the paper price tag, and ripping into the store window behind. Shattered glass flew everywhere. I dived to cover the kangaroo, snatching it from danger as I slid behind the pink linoleum counter.

"Hold up!" I screamed, more from the cold pouring in than the bullets whizzing overhead. "I'm human! Stop shooting already!"

"Is it safe?" The tense feminine voice echoed through the empty toy shop. "Tell me you didn't rip it."

"I'm okay, thanks." I growled, peeking over the counter.

She stood beside display racks long emptied of dolls and games. Her dark hair had been tied back, hidden behind a thick furred hood, and she scowled as she sighted down the barrel of a semi-automatic rifle. "Put it down. Step away."

I cradled Polly-Roo closer, enjoying its warmth. In a shattered world, this small joy would make all the difference to my little Angie. I couldn't remember a single day since the comet hit and the Siidi invaded that I'd felt this happy. I wouldn't give this up easily.

"Sneaky trick, dropping that comet before landing. Think they're out there, in town, because I haven't seen one of the squid-faced bastards in weeks?"

Steam rose like smoke from a genie bottle into the icy air, conjuring fond memories of a life before suffering. I missed the hustle and bustle of humanity, the daily grind. I missed sunny days in the park with my daughter, and simple things like watching Saturday morning cartoons. The Siidi had taken it all away in a flash, leaving nothing but ghosts.

"Didn't think anyone was left in the city." Her tone sounded cautious. "You from around here?"

I laughed, hard and long, tension exploding out of me. It'd been months since I'd spoken to an adult. "That was the worst pickup line I'd heard since doomsday."

She fired a round into the counter above my head. "This better?"

"Sorry!" I yelled, the humor gone. "My social skills are a little rusty."

"The stuffed animal, give it up." She wasn't any smoother. I guess the invasion had made as all a little rough around the edges.

"I was visiting when it happened. My name's David."

"Maria. I live here," she said. "And I want that toy."

"I thought everyone had moved on. Ground fighting got pretty rough, but it seems to have moved out of the northeast. The Siidi are smart, but they're not as sneaky as we are."

"I've been here too long to leave, invasion or not." The barrel of her gun dipped a few inches. "You got people?"

"Just one, a girl."

"Boy. Seven..." Her rough voice cracked as she spoke. "Nobody else."

It suddenly felt colder in the little toy shop than in the impact winter falling outside. I didn't want to think about the past, or the things I'd seen since the Siidi landed.

A faint sizzling squeal rippled through the air outside. I froze. The noise of Siidi weapons charging would echo through my nightmares until I died. They were still out there, somewhere.

Maria vanished behind the display rack. My heart stuttered. I held my breath, instinctively shielding the plush toy. We weren't as alone in town as I'd thought.

I didn't even blink until the noise faded into the icy air.

#

Maria crept around the corner a short while later, jittery again. "Nice chatting. I'll take that doll now."

The warm fur made my skin tingle. This stupid little kangaroo and its included Baby-roo represented a lost world. How long would it be before I held another fluffy toy like this again?

"I can't let it go, Maria. I need this."

"I won't disappoint my boy. I need it more." Her voice boomed through the abandoned shop like the growling of an angry bear.

I stared at the oversized plastic eyes, but Polly-roo remained inscrutable. It was the little things that kept the world from being a complete hell, and my daughter deserved this.

Baby-roo poked from her mother's pouch, a diminutive version of the larger toy. It gave me an idea.

"Share it with me. I'll take the baby, and you can have momma roo."

She frowned, thinking it over. "I don't know..."

"We're still human. They haven't taken that from us. We can still care, and we can still teach our children compassion."

I raised the animal as if it were a sacred relic, tugging the baby from its pouch. I showed her it didn't change the big toy. We could both walk away happy.

Maria reached for Polly-roo, rifle held awkwardly across her chest. Her fingers shook, and I was amazed at how thin she appeared. Food had gotten scarce, but I'd managed to scavenge quite a stockpile for me and Angie. It hadn't occurred to me others might not be so fortunate.

"If you're interested, maybe we could scrounge up some dinner as well."

"Another lesson in compassion?" She cradled the toy as if holding an infant, her dark eyes distant and moist.

I glanced through the shop. It had the same blasted and abandoned look as most everything these days. The racks had been looted, plastic toys and displays destroyed and scattered about. Everything that had made this place special had either been shattered or rusted away.

Now that I had the time to observe, something felt out of place. The shop looked filthy, but the toy was spotless. I stared at the kangaroo, and then at Maria, a chill running down my spine.

"No power. Everything's broken," I said slowly, my heart racing, my breath puffing in quick billowing clouds.

"Yea..." Her fingers caressed the toy's fur, her attention elsewhere.

"Where'd you find this?"

Her eyes widened. "I thought you did."

I gazed into flat plastic eyes as a faint sizzling squeal rippled through the air.

 

 

THE END

Uneasy Listening

My story, "An Uneasy Paradise" (originally published in Electric Spec in 2018) is in audio at Manawaker Studios. It's about an artificial intelligence, Aishwarya-nau, and her struggles to let go of perfection for the sake of the human race.

 

MYTHIC is back, and I've tagged along for the ride

I'm happy to say I have a short story, "Sand Trap" and a non-fiction article, "Why Not Out There: Possible Life on Extra Solar Planets" in MYTHIC #16: SPRING 2021!

 

In "Sand Trap", Yasmin Hirose just wants to get through the job, but an environmental disaster involving intelligent sand adds a comical twist to a very real danger.

In "Why Not Out There: Possible Life on Extra Solar Planets", I explore hypothetical scenarios involving several very real exoplanets.

 

An Interview about "Through Starlight, Dying" in Electric Spec

Electric Spec just published a nice interview with me about my short story collection, "Through Starlight, Dying". In it, I speak about writing, science fiction, and some of my own perspectives. Thank you, Candi Cooper-Towler.

I Am Brihaspati - Again!

My story, "I Am Brihaspati" has just come out in Twilight Worlds: Best of NewMyths Anthology Volume II. Plenty of excellent stories in this volume!

Come From Behind

My humorous fantasy story, "The Dragon's Back Door" is available in audio at Tall Tale TV. Originally published in New Myths Magazine, this is a favorite of mine. The idea came from an in-joke, and the main characters are caricatures of my brother and myself. Even their names are anagrams.

 

 

 

 

It's a Certainty

My story, The Certainty of Echoes, originally published in Mythic: A Quarterly Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine, #9, March, 2019 has just been published in this year's Best Indie Speculative Fiction. It's available on amazon now.

 

Dropping a Good Review

I just noticed a really nice review of my story, "Drop" in SFF Reviews. "Drop" was originally published in the anthology Starward Tales II , edited by CB Droege (Manawaker Studio, 2017) a couple of years back.

 

More Than One Path to Success

I'm excited that my story, "The Third of Two Paths" is in Issue #15 of MYTHIC Magazine. It's a story of choices, and finding a way when you think there's no way out.
It's science fantasy in that it has both magic and technology, and it takes place in the land of Aaerilia, the remains of a gigantic bridge destroyed in the distant past. The original concept was part of a shared universe project I was working on, and it's the second of my published works in that magical place.
 

MYTHIC Return

I'm very excited to announce my story, "The 'aiei of Snow" is in Issue #14 of MYTHIC Magazine. It's a sentimental story about the bonds between a father and son in a time of magic and death. It's one of my deeper stories, and the only one for which I've ever received fan mail.

Doctor. Strange!

I've been cited in a doctoral thesis on the Chinese space program in the same paragraph as Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein. The book's called, "The Chinese Space Programme in the Public Conversation about Space" by Andrew Thomas. Seeing someone reference one of my stories ("Point of Ascension" which appears in the "Strange Bedfellows"Anthology by Bundoran Press as well as my collection, "Through Starlight, Dying") feels both flattering and surreal. Crazy strange.

 

Full Contact

My Story, "Full Contact", originally published in Shoreline of Infinity in 2019 has been released in audio. Another fantastic narration by Manawaker Studio’s Flash Fiction Podcast!

 

 

 

Writers of the Future

I've mentioned the Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest quit a bit in the last decade. That's because the contest means a lot to me personally. My win in 2010 (WOTF volume 27) launched my writing career. It was my first sale, and my most lucrative. The fellowship I found at the workshop not only taught me about writing science fiction, but it taught be about the business of writing. I made friends there. I felt accepted for the first time in a field I'd only dreamed of, and it gave me confidence to continue. Now, ten years later, I have nearly 80 published stories and I'm just finishing the first novel of a five book galaxy-spanning epic titled, "Relics of Empire".

The contest did a lot for me, and I know it could and will continue to help new writers expand their careers. So here's a list of links I think will be invaluable to both new and established writers of science fiction and fantasy.

And, since I can't pass up shamelessly plugging myself, I've included links to my podcast interview and the L. Ron Hubbard book site, where you can buy works by that great writer as well as get your copy of Writers of the Future volumes--don't forget volume 27 with my story, "Vector Victoria"!

Just click the links below.

Podcast interview for D. A. D'Amico

The link to the volume 27 event in 2011

The link to L. Ron Hubbard's books, as well as volumes of WOTF

WOTF judges (some of the BIGGEST names in SF)

WRITERS & ILLUSTRATORS OF THE FUTURE PODCAST

The online writer's workshop

The CONTEST!

Writer contest rules

 

My Review of the Writers of the Future Online Workshop

I just finished the Writers of the Future online workshop, and it was pretty good.
For me, as someone born before the digital age, nothing beats actual face to face learning, but I found the video tutorials interesting, informative, and in some cases inspiring. It changed the dynamic seeing some really big names explain different elements of a story. It added a lot of flavor to the material, and as I followed along, I found myself building what I hope is a really good story.
Some of my favorite parts of the workshop were the articles, "Search for Research" by L. Ron Hubbard, and "Turning Fact into Fiction" by Tim Powers. They inspired me with new ways to generate ideas, and taught me that by basing my fictional concepts in fact, I'd draw the reader in deeper, allowing that critical suspension of disbelief. The workshop even one of my favorite articles by L. Ron Hubbard, "Magic Out of a Hat."
As a winner of Writers of the Future, Volume 27 (my personal favorite with absolutely no bias at all), and a participant of the week long workshop, I can say that the online version covers about as much ground as you can without sitting in a classroom.
So, for all you aspiring writers and future winners of the contest, I suggest you let the workshop work for you. Listen to the articles, do the exercises, and FINISH that story! You can't win if you don't work for it.
 

 

Go here to start working, and let me know when you finish that story. Drop me a note, and tell me what you thought of the workshop, and what the title of your story is. I'll post mentions for all those interested.
 
 
 
 

A Life On Air

My story, "A Life on Air" is out today at Abyss & Apex, for all those trapped and looking for something to read. It's one of my longer stories at 8,200 words, and it's about hope and survival 50 kilometers up in the clouds of Venus.

My Live Interview With John Goodwin, President of Galaxy Press

I did my first live interview a short while ago for the Writers & Illustrators of the Future Podcast with John Goodwin, President of Galaxy Press. We spoke about writing, my career after my WOTF win in 2010, and about my future as a novelist.
I can't believe it's been ten years since that first story sale ever and getting to see my name in print in volume 27 of Writers of the Future. I've sold nearly eighty stories in that time, in print, online, and in audio to some really strong markets. I've learned so much about the craft. I've grown so much stronger in my writing, and in my confidence that I've taken on the role of writer full time.
Stay safe, and never give up your dreams.

It's Baen a long time

A story of mine has made the top 10 finalist list for the 2020 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award! I've been entering this contest for several years now, and this is as close as I've gotten. I'm very excited to be included here.

 

It's your Level of Choice

My story, "A Level of Choice" is available in MYTHIC #12

It's about a young woman who must fight addiction to find love aboard a generation ship whose society has lost its way.

You Gotta Work For It

An article about my career is on the Writers of the Future blog:

https://www.writersofthefuture.com/you-gotta-work-for-it/?fbclid=IwAR2znqetdo-jzXB4Fp4Xz8F8bGpgZeu0rlCBqIrAMI69x8iCp3Jc7LCHIbU

 

 

I'm usually not very comfortable with talking about myself, but I enjoyed the experience of putting together this article. I got to mention some of the highlights of my writing. I talked about my stories, the novels I'm working on, my repeated and failed attempts at sharing a universe, and about a few significant hurdles I'd had to overcome to get where I am today. Who can believe it's been almost 10 years since that first big sale to L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future.

 

"Full Contact" is out in Shoreline of Infinity

 

My story, "Full Contact" is in issue 15 of Shoreline of Infinity. Just got my copy, and there are some great stories inside.

 

Mythic has published my fantasy story, "The Certainty of Echoes" echoes... echoes...

 

 

Just picked up my copy of Mythic #9! It includes my fantasy story, "The Certainty of Echoes", as well as a bunch of other really great content.

BUY ONE.

And, if you like my work, I've had stories in several issues of MYTHIC. I won't tell you which ones. You'll just have to get them all--and you won't be disappointed with any of them.

Originally, it was supposed to be part of a shared world where each of the elements had unique and special properties, and these magical qualities could be accessed only by certain adepts. We had our own periodic table, and a chart showing combinations of elements. But the project fell apart. My twin brother, Dean N. D'Amico, even wrote a story in the universe, "The Oracle of Sand". It hasn't been published yet, but perhaps with just one more polish....

It was a really fun story to write. I like to add levels beneath the surface arcs of my stories sometimes, and I wanted to be playful with "The Certainty of Echoes" to counter the dark fantasy tone of the main action. So, I went a little 7 dwarves on this piece. If you squint, you can see where I gave (I hope subtly) each of the characters specific qualities reminiscent of the beloved fairytale creatures. It's not something you need to know in order to enjoy the story. Just a fun fact, and maybe a little insight into the disturbed glob of goo that is my brain.

 

Writers of the Future - Brand New Science Fiction

Writers of the Future has a brand new feature, and it's there to promote fantastic new writing from judges and past winners of the contest. My story, "The Redemption of GRE-334b" is up there as part of the New England Speculative Writers anthology, "The Final Summons". There are amazing works from dozens of thrilling new writers, as well as new material from old pros. Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for what's hot and fresh in the world of fantasy and SF.

 

blog post

 

 

New England Speculative Writers has published my story, "The Redemption of GRE-334b" in their anthology, "The Final Summons"

 

It's a story about a mechanical man who puts aside his own madness to stop the death of a newly realized friend, and it's just one of the awesome stories in this collection. Take a look, and if you like it, please leave a review on Amazon.

 

 

 

 

 

Uneasy

My flash story, "An Uneasy Paradise" is up at Electric Spec

Birth of an Empire

My Story, "Relics of Empire" is available at Amazon in Mythic #5. It's a story about gaining confidence--and invasion. I had so much fun writing it that my first goal for 2018 is to continue Prathra's journey, and turn this story into a novel. Wish me luck.

My Collected Stories

I'm creating collections of stories for sale. I've already published "Through Starlight, Dying" (available here on this website, or through Amazon and other retailers. My future collections will be an introduction to my work as a whole. Each book will have its own theme. Stories will overlap, some fitting several themes, but all books will be consistent to its theme.

Here are some I'm working on:

r           

Boxing in the shadows

My story, "The Shadow Boxer" is being podcast at Manawaker Studios. Take a listen, and then let me know what you think.

The Game is afoot

My story, "A Game of Balances" just came out in Phantaxis: Science Fiction & Fantasy Magazine, Issue 7. It's the first story I've sold in a shared science fantasy universe I created called Aaerilia.

Aaerilia is part of an enormous bridge that had been destroyed centuries earlier, its inhabitants cut off from the greater part of their world. Remnants of several cultures try to coexist, all while navigating the unique limitations of their environment, and learning the aspects of two opposing magic systems.

This story follows a wager between a master assassin and his apprentice as they attempt one last, big quest.

How "Kind" they are

My story, "Kind" is out at Every Day Fiction. It's a flash piece that I had fun putting together. In it, a young boy teaches his father that all lives are precious, no matter how different.

 

 

Honey's second Hush

 

Manawaker Studios has done another excellent job turning my story, "Hush Honey" into a podcast. Listen to it on their site, or on YouTube.

Originally published in Every Day Fiction in April, 2013, "Hush Honey" is a touching tale of a girl left alone in a dying world.

"Moment of Inertia" in audio

My story, "Moment of Inertia" is available as a podcast at The Centropic Oracle. Originally published in Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine's Issue 57 in April of 2013, it's one of my favorite stories. I enjoyed writing it because it's filled with hope, ingenuity, and characters I could really connect with. Hearing someone read it out loud makes it feel special. Listen, and let me know what you think.

"Drop" has dropped in Starward Tales II

"Drop", my longest story to date, is out in the Starward Tales II anthology. The story follows the journey of Fex, an outcast from a parched, desert land as he learns his home is more than he imagined, and as he discovers how a single drop of water in the wrong spot at the wrong time can have world-shattering consequences.

Get a copy on Amazon here!

 

Write Well Award

My story, " The Lemon Thief of Munjid Al Salam" has been chosen as one of the winners of the 2017 Write Well Award. It's a touching piece of loss and hope... and time travel.

Write Well Award home

Where you can get a copy on Amazon

 

 

More Podcasts

My stories, "Recycled", and "A Trick of Memory" have been turned into podcasts by Manawaker Studios. These were two of my first published stories, and I'm happy they're now in audio. My stories always sound so different when I hear them in another voice. It's surreal.

 

 

 

blog post

"Zawadi's Choice" is available in Mythic Magazine's third issue. It's a story of choices on many levels, and a young girl's struggle to choose love in a world grown suddenly too large for her.

 

Fragments

My Story, "Fragments" is up at Aurora Wolf Magazine. Can love withstand terror and isolation in a shattered landscape?

Angry again

My flash story, "In the Emptiness of Anger" has been podcast by The Centropic Oracle.

It's the story of how a woman's careless anger traps her in a hollow paradise of her own creation.

Originally published by Plasma Frequency Magazine in May, 2016, you can either read it there, or listen to it here.

"In the Emptiness of Anger"

Fan mail for "The 'aiei of the Snow"

A while ago, I got an amazing letter about a story I wrote, and I've been meaning to post it, but circumstances have kept me from spending a lot of time online. It's rare a writer gets feedback at all, and a truly positive reaction is a moving experience. It validates the worlds and people within me, gives them breath of their own. Thank you.

"The 'aiei of the Snow" published by Electric Spec

 

Dear Mr. D'Amico,

 

I just read "The 'aiei of the Snow" published by Electric Spec and wanted to write you my compliments. I love the story's take on magic -- it felt fresh to me, a new way of looking at the world, even though it has echoes of more familiar approaches to magic. The references to the changes the world has undergone, such as the driving out of the elves, made me want to know more, and yet I have to acknowledge that the story contains as much info as it needs to. I cared about Tokori and his family. The ending was both moving and satisfying. Have you written more about these characters and world? And if not, do you plan to?

 

I am always especially moved by sincere expressions of care and compassion in stories, as in real life. As Tokori's story ended, I found myself wondering "Why didn't I write this? My stories need some of what this one has." When I find myself thinking that, it usually means I have found a very special story. And I thank you very much for sharing this one with me. I have already shared it on Facebook, so perhaps some of my friends will also read it.

 

One of my own stories has been held for voting by Electric Spec, which delights me even if it doesn't make it to publication. I do hope that one of my stories might one day be as good as "The 'aiei of the Snow."

 

Thanks again.

 

God bless,

David Urbach

blog post

My story, "A Crime of Fiction" is up at The Wifiles.

My first Dieselpunk: "The Metal Moai"

My story, "The Metal Moai" is in Outposts of Beyond this month. It's a dieselpunk tale of a young woman who learns hope in one of the most remote places on Earth, and of her little sister who befriends a war machine that may be their salvation or destruction.

A little more "Little Men"

My story, "Little Men" is available on Amazon in "9 Tales Told in the Dark #22". It was originally published in Silver Blade Magazine in September of 2013, and it's about a father who struggles with the loss of hope in a dying world.

Fart Monkey rides again

The Singularity Magazine has my story, "Fart Monkey and the Shoe" up on its site. This is a bittersweet piece about a failing relationship, and it was originally published by Every Day Fiction back in August of 2012. Manawaker Studios also did a podcast of this story if you'd rather listen.

Finally, "Final Station"

Manawaker Studios has just produced a podcast of my story, "Final Station". It's science fiction/horror, and there are things more frightening than being stranded on an empty alien world, finding you're not alone is one.

 

"I Am Brihaspati", a tale of the Inner System

My story, "I Am Brihaspati" is up at New Myths today. I'm excited, because it's a pivotal story in my Inner System Universe. Also, I like the main character's courage and tenacity.

 

This story is part of a running timeline that explores the creation and history of a space habitat, and the lives of its inhabitants over the course of a century. The timeline starts with my story, "Point of Ascension" which appears in the "Strange Bedfellows" Anthology by Bundoran Press (also available in my short story collection, "Through Starlight, Dying"). It flows through my stories, "Moment of Inertia" (Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #57), and "Pups" (Double Feature Magazine, November, 2016). And I'm continuing the universe with "Paper Lanterns", and "Crucible".

“Through Starlight, Dying” - My first collection of stories

“Through Starlight, Dying” is my first collection. It features 31 stories previously published in a variety of venues, and for many stories this is their first time in print (paperback). I'm putting a link on my website www.dadamico.com for those interested in purchasing an autographed copy straight from the author. Please, if you purchase one of these volumes, rate me on Amazon or wherever you can. Honesty is appreciated, but praise is best.

 

 

Delve into future where a young activist must make a choice between the lesser of two evils while purposely infecting an entire population with a potentially lethal virus. 


Then, join two lonely people sharing comfort and cocoa during a long post-apocalyptic winter. 


An unwary repairman gets entangled in the consequences of domestic abuse when he discovers the local waste unit is being used outside of its intended purposes, and read a humorous tale of greed, and where gunpowder really comes from.


A clockwork hero struggles to convince an old hermit to unleash a mechanical army and save a young prince, while a woman seeks redemption and the return of a lost love in a last contact scenario with creatures who may be too alien to care


Even recurring death cannot stop a man searching for clues to an alien intelligence from finding the meaning of his own identity, and the heat of passion quickly turns into the heat of decay for a confused young woman.


A man struggles with the passage of time from within a failed experimental chamber, but receives some very clever help, as a beloved children's character thirsts for vengeance in the days after Alice...


This is just a sampling of the thirty-one tales of twisted and intense fiction that lay inside...

 

"Through Starlight, Dying" on Amazon

 

The 'aiei of the Storm

My story, "The 'aiei of Snow" is up at Electric Spec. It's a very human tale of family and loss in a time of magic. It's a bit more touchy-feely than my usual work. I really enjoyed writing this piece.

 

The editors had very good things to say about it. I hope they're right.

A Second Soft Step

My story "A Single Soft Step", originally published in Slink Chunk Press last March, is now a podcast by Manawaker Studios. It's about a woman who seeks redemption and the return of a lost love in a last contact scenario with creatures who may be too alien to care.

Hear it here:  "A Single Soft Step"

 

Cursed

My flash story, "Curse of the Were…" is up at FunDead Publications. It's a humorous tale of what might just happen if a curse isn't full... well, cursed. 

Too Close for Comfort

 

My final sale of the year, "Close Contact", is an emotional story, and one I really connected with. It's available at MYTHIC.

 

"In a world where physical contact can kill, is the desire for the closeness of a simple caress madness?"

View older posts »