Christmas With Danny Fit

Have you ever had something you felt you “had” to do, turn into something you “loved” to do, and then turn into something you positively adored?

See, last year, I wrote If I Must (and I can not figure out where my image capture went for that adorable kitten!) and I was REALLY surprised at how well it did. It was light, frou-frou, and totally against my grain and well-earned reputation as someone who likes to just grab heart-strings and yank like I was trying to land a red, beating fish.

I mean, it featured a cat called “Manky Bastard” for sweet Goddess’ sake–how adorable is that?

But people seemed to like it–even when they gave it three stars on goodreads, they were like, “It’s cute! It’s a comfort read! I loved it!” And I was like, “Hey– here’s a whole new way to look at writing! It doesn’t have to rip your heart out!” And I indulged in that once or twice– “Phonebook”, “Gambling Men”, “Bella’s Brother”– these were all FUN to write, and I’ve enjoyed the hell out of them.

So when the chance to write something for Dreamspinner’s next Advent Calendar came around, i was like, “Okay. Fun! Christmas! I’ve got the perfect idea!”

I told you guys that last year, Mate and I started a workout regime. It didn’t last long, but watching the energetic, charismatic fitness gurus take me through my paces, (“How’d you do on the ab-video, Mate?” “I rolled around a lot.” “Me too.” “And that dark-haired chick didn’t even break her smile. Bitch.”) sort of made me wonder: Were there any other fat people out there who wanted to just, you know, look good and do well for the guy on the dvd?

Enter Kit, my chubby virgin. Kit is the classic browbeaten child who grows into a shy, awkward adult. Enter Jesse. Jesse is cute as a button, as much of a sci-fi geek as Kit, and… damaged. It’s every day damage, but Kit has been dreaming about Danny Fit, and the dichotomy between what Kit has been dreaming about, and what a real relationship is like… well, that was the fun of the story.

This story had surprising heart for me. I was expecting happy and light, and I got poignant and sweet, and when I was going through edits, I found myself continuously going, “Awwwwwwwwwww…”

And that makes me smile.

So, folks, let me introduce Christmas with Danny Fit.

I hope you guys love this story– like I said, it surprised me, and Mary Calmes (who just e-mailed me about it) said that it surprised her too, but in the good way where you’re expecting one thing, and what you get is totally out of formula, but it really works. This makes me smile too. I love it when stories surprise me like that–it is, as always, one of the ways in which literature shows me the divine.

Oh yeah– and let us not forget the prayer! (I almost forgot it with Hammer & Air… sales have only now barely recovered!) Holy Goddess, Merciful God, let it not suck! Canyagimmehallelujia? Amen!

And in other wonderful news? For those of you who have gone to the website to check out “Dreams of Terrible Brightness”, you will know that the story was inspired by a fellow writer, Patric Michael, who had cancer.

Emphasis on had.

Those of you who’ve been privy to my own private roller coaster, know that this news was a high point, and I actually got to scream with joy.