AVAST!
Pirates come in many forms — friends bootlegging CDs and chasing UFOs, cyberpunk renegades, or the heroes of a swashbuckling movie.
From the tiniest rebel-crew liberating prisoners to survivors coming into contact with a sacred, ancient power, and from spacefaring hijackers to twins fighting to save their world, this treasure trove of stories unites characters who wield courage and creativity in exhilirating escapades, all in search of a place to call home.
Avast was published in 2024 by Fremantle Press. You can buy a copy at your local bookshop or find it at your local library.
The stories inside are:
Catgrrls to the Front! by Maddison Stoff
The Underside Of A Boat Is The Part that Touches Water by Madison Godfrey
An Ocean Bloom by Michael Earp
Hunger by Vika Mana
Baby Makes Three by Mia Nie
What Are False Stars to a God? by Alexander Te Pohe
CHANGELINGS by Alison Evans
More about the authors:
Maddison Stoff writes in a continuous universe of fiction. Her stuff is leftist, cyberpunky, literary, pulpy, queer and anti-capitalist. She’s the author of the short story collection For We Are Young and Free (Dostoyevsky Wannabe, 2017) Her website maddisonstoff.com has a links to her fiction (a lot of readable for free) and she has a patreon too. She also writes non-fiction and makes music.
Madison Godfrey is a poet whose collection/memoir Dress Rehearsals (Joan, 2023) is one of my favs. They write beautiful, delicate and sharp words about bodies and are the author of the best poem about kneecaps in the world (see Dress Rehearsals for that). Madison writes non-fiction as well, their essay on wanting to be celebrated for being hot instead of resilient as a trans person is superb. They are also the author of the poetry collection How to be Held (Burning Eye, 2019). Their website: maddiegodfrey.com.
Michael Earp has edited many collections: Kindred (Walker, 2019) - an anthology of twelve queer #LoveOzYA stories, Everything Under the Moon (Affirm, 2023) - an anthology of queer retold fairy tales and Out-Side (Q-Lit, 2024) - a collection of writing and art from regional victorian artists. Michael’s work is heartfelt, queer and full of love. You can find more of their short stories and non-fiction on their website: michaelearp.net.
Vika Mana AKA Meleika Gesa-Fatafehi is a poet, storyteller, and runs the fashion line Solwata Mana. Their work can be found in many places, including the collections Fire Front (UQP, 2020) and Unlimited Futures (Fremantle, 2022) (one of the most exciting and powerful anthologies out at the moment!!!). Her poem Say my name is one of my favs. For more, their website is endlessyarning.com.
Mia Nie makes excellent comics and also illustrated the cover for Avast. She has a webcomic Samsara Dreamin’ which stars the two parent characters from Baby Makes Three in a very different setting. A lot of her work can be read for free, all linked on her website. Mia creates really vivid characters in rich settings (such as in WINNER WINNER) and her work is often speculative (APPLE/SEED).
Alexander Te Pohe is a writer of speculative fic and self-described angsty poetry. His fiction can be found in An Unexpected Party (Fremantle, 2023) as well as many other places - all linked on his website alexandertepohe.carrd.co. Alec’s poetry often envokes the elements and natural world, and I love the simmering anger underneath it all, written precisely. His poem Elements is a great example of this.
Alison Evans is me, and if you’re on my website you probably know who I am. But if not - I write speculative fiction for teens and adults. I have three teen novels published (Ida, Highway Bodies and Euphoria Kids) and have had lots of short stories for adults published, including in places like Overland, Going Down Swinging, and Bramble.