Short story in the works: "Poisoned Plums"

I haven’t posted much about my own writing in a while, so I figured we’re due an update on that front. Last month I started working on a short story that takes place about six months prior to the beginning of The Night Chemist (working title). In broad strokes, the short story involves Aylin Aga (26) investigating whether she is the intended target of a potential poisoning, which took down one of her professors, all while studying for her chemistry licensing exam. Thus, we get to see the chemist in action before she actually becomes a chemist, and to explore a different location than where the rest of the series takes place.

But first can we please stop to appreciate how frickin awesome that cover art is? The illustration alone took me a solid 45 hours in procreate on my ipad, and I am never again attempting to do something so realistic again. Never. Again. It's not perfect, but as you can tell, I am quite proud of it. So anyway, it's a short story, but also consider this your "cover real," so to speak. Even though short stories don't have covers, really.

Anyway, I suppose this is as good of place as any to address the fact that ‘chemist’ in the context of Aylin’s world does not equate to the same thing as in our world. Aylin’s version of chemistry is more like a cross between herbalism, pharmacy, and alchemy but without the fixation on magic; she is studying to make “potions,” which is a generic term I use for all kinds of medicines and cosmetics, whether that’s a topical balm, antiseptic ointment, healing tea, or tonic/oil/elixir/etc. So when I say Aylin wants to become a licensed chemist, what I mean is that she wants to become qualified to prepare and distribute medicines.

I had a lot of fun creating the medical system for Aylin’s world, which gets explored more in the main series. In this short story prequel, she’s in an academic environment, which a lot of my beta readers expressed interest in learning more about. In particular, one of my beta readers—who is an actual chemist in our world—was dying to see her when she’s still in school. As a former sad grad student, I get it. Despite the enduring popularity of dark academia as a setting, there aren’t many stories that deal with grad students.

The actual books in this series are definitely romantasies, but there’s no steamy romance in the short story. References to past loves, but no present love interest; Aylin is too focused on her studies (no surprise there). Thus, this short story does have more of a dark academia vibe over an otherwise cozy fantasy. Stakes are pretty low, as far as romantasy goes (no one is getting stabbed) but there is a touch of physical danger. Aylin is far more concerned, however, with the interruption to her study time.

I am not good at short fiction. I never have been. There’s a reason the standalone smut novel I intended to write turned into a four-book slow-burn epic, and there’s a reason every song I intend to be a sub-3min radio-worthy banger turns into a 5+min monster. But I’m determined to keep this short story actually short, gosh darnit, which—having plotted it and mapped out all the dialogue already—I think I can do this time. Really! I promise!

Working title for this one is “Poisoned Plums,” which is a reference to the plum candies Aylin suspects might be the source of her professor’s illness, especially after she encounters a mysterious stranger lurking around the very candy shop to which her investigation leads her. I’m weaving in a lot of foreshadowing teasers and a shadow of mystery to whet the appetite for the series itself. I’ve only written a few pages of actual prose thus far, but—plotter that I am—I have detailed scene summaries for the whole thing already, so the writing process for here won’t take long. I’ll report back when I have a completed first draft and again when I am looking for beta readers for it.

Until next time!