F.T. McKinstry: Short Stories

"The Origin" appears in Aoife's Kiss, Issue 21 as F. Taylor. In this tale, a woodsman discovers that he is a god who created everything around him to know the love of a mortal woman whose death drives him to the brink of annihilation. Illustrated. Available at sdpbookstore.

"The Trouble with Tansy" appears in Tales of the Talisman, V5-1. An orphaned girl inherits a mysterious garden from three generations of wisewomen. When a wizard attempts to impress her by disrupting the seasons, she must turn to the old powers for help. Illustrated. Available at Tales of the Talisman.

"The Fifth Verse" appears in Tales of the Talisman, V5-4. An immortal entity defies the rules of her kind by falling in love with a mortal warrior, an indiscretion that leaves her grieving, pregnant and dependent on the help of a wizard whose army killed her beloved. Available at Tales of the Talisman and Amazon.

"The Eye of Odin" appears in Aoife's Kiss, Issue 35. The daughter of a warrior clan made her fortune as a fighter for a military contractor who harnessed the powers of the higher mind. But when she is targeted for discovering a secret beneath their dominion, she must learn the nature of a much greater power: love. Available at sdpbookstore.

Upcoming! "The Om Tree" will appear in Tales of the Talisman, V7-3, Winter 2011/12. In this story, an ancient tree tells the tale of a wizard who loses what is most dear to him, and thereby learns the true nature of his art.

Short Stories

In worlds where the veils are thin, the forces of darkness and light blur to twilight gray. Eight tales of magical gardens, lost temples, cosmic alignments, immortal predators, shapeshifters, wizards and gods will transport you to realms where the rules are different, nothing is as it seems and the heart keeps the balance of ages. Told on a rich tapestry of tree and animal lore, romance, dreams, visions and verse.

Available soon as an ebook from Wild Child Publishing.

The Singing Girl by F.T. McKinstry; click to see full image