A while back I entered my (long) short story “Principessa
di Fiamme, Princess of Flames” in New Millennium's 48th New Millennium
Award for Fiction, which accepts previously published works (“Principessa
di Fiamme” was originally published in Eclectica Magazine,
Vol. 22, No. 3, July/August, 2018). I’ve just found out that New Millennium has
selected my story as a finalist!
This story has a special place for me. I originally got
the idea from a freak show poster of an intriguing performer. I wanted to write
a story about her, but as far as the internet was concerned she didn’t exist. I
never learned anything about the mysterious poster or performer, but the idea
of the story never left my head. I kicked it around for a long time before I
figured out a way to write it out – it was also partially inspired by the Coney
Island Circus Sideshow – but I’m so glad I finally got it on paper, and I’m
so glad New Millennium appreciates it
enough to consider it!