Tuesday, April 16, 2013

A Heart Full of Love: Dark Fairy Queen Writerly Bridal Shower

In the wake of the terrible news from Boston, I almost didn't write this post. And then I realized, what better time to celebrate the slender yet sweet threads that connect us?

I hope that everyone who reads this will accept all the love and good intentions here, the genuine attempt to overcome the sad with the beauty.

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Hello, my name is Anna. I'm a Dark Fairy Queen.



No...not really. I'm actually just a young woman with an overactive imagination, a passion for writing and for coalescing my own wishes.

I have run several notable flash fiction competitions. You may have heard of one or more of them (Fairy Ring, Once Upon a Time Writing, Faerypin, and Behind the Curtain).

Or, you may have seen me on Twitter, creating havoc with my wombat cannon and my absurdly long and peculiar hashtags (#whozadarkfairynow, #cannibalismforfunandprofit, etc.)

Or you may have seen me on Facebook, flouncing around, caterwauling about one wonderful indie author or another.

Anyway, in the last few years, the aforementioned activities have drawn a little bit of notice from other authors in social media. Many of these people have become dear friends of mine. The catch? I have never met a one. Not one.

I used to angst about this (does this mean we're really friends? does it matter they don't know I love Cinnamon Toast Crunch and cold skim milk?). I don't any more. I accept it for the gift it is. I have friends all over the world: most of the States, Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Holland, Greece, Australia, South Africa, the Philippines, and who knows where else.

These people know strange trivia about me that my nearest and dearest may not know, such as my propensity for megalomaniacal laughter. Wait...my nearest might know that.

Gradually, many of these people have become my dearest and not so nearest. To me, that's a kind of magic. Someone that I would never ever in a hundred years have met in the natural course of history knows me and likes me and laughs at my goofy jokes and understands my writing angst.

I shan't name names. You know who you are.

Anyway, on to the Dark Fairy Queen Writerly Bridal Shower or #DFQWBS.


You may say, WHUZZAH? In short, a flash fiction celebration of weddings in general and, um, I guess me and my sweetie in specific.

I point you this-a-way: Dark Fairy Queen Writerly Bridal Shower for the official theme and rules page. You can use my Pinterest page for inspiration. And join the madcap Facebook group.

I am not reading any of the entries till they are officially presented, but it is my understanding that they range from tales of unicorns to assassins to "twue wuv".

If you write, I hope you will consider joining my sweet friends who have already written. You can also include a short toast at the end to my groom and I.

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I should add, this whole thing has overwhelmed me to an extent that I'm hardly able to verbalize this entry, so if I degenerate into emotional gabbling at this point, you must forgive me.

I've never met any of these people, yet they each reached into their creative selves and pulled forth a tiny literary gem to place at my feet.

As much as I act the egomaniacal goofball, this touches me and flatters me and bewilders me and fills me with great rapture.

The first night, as the entries started piling up, I fell asleep in something of a happy fugue. I felt like I could reach over the seas with my fingertips and touch the fingertips of one of my fellow writers and they could reach beyond their shores to someone even further away. (No, it wasn't the sinus meds)

Thank you so much to those who choose to participate. I am more honored than you can ever know, both at your participation and your friendship. Also, a thousand thanks to the #DFQWBS hard-working hostesses, Rebekah, Laura and Miranda.

Just goes to show, even a Dark Fairy Queen can learn to be a good friend.


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FIRE THE WOMBAT CANNONS!



15 comments:

  1. This is a beautiful post, Anna, and I know I am just one of many who are honored to be considered your friends. :)

    ~Becky Fyfe

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  2. It is a privilege to have met you (from afar!) and to participate. Thank you! xo

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  3. Can I haz Wombat to come and play with the riverfolk please? Otter

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  4. Though I have never met you 'in person' you are and always shall be a creative inspiration, my beloved Fairy Queen and glorious headmistress of mischief!! I hope my story along with the others serves as a reminder that friendship is not governed by time and space - it simply exists on the map of our hearts in a place called LOVE.

    Unceasing Affection,
    Lady Bullish

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  5. This is such a lovely post & just to confirm you are so worth all this effort. Also to be clear if I'm ever over your way I'll expect you to have the wombat cannons on standby & the kettle on - don't worry I'll bring the haggis xx

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  6. Laughing at Laura's comment, grinning at this beautiful post... so glad to have 'met' you Anna, you are a great friend and you deserve every bit of this for all that you do for everyone. I hope you'll live tweet your progress as you read through your very special collection!! :) xx

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  7. Glad you feel touched, you should, as you have touched so many of us, and bound us together in such inspirational and fun ways. Look at how you brought the whole FB page alive! The ability to do that is a rare gift! I am grateful I get to see it and be included in it!

    And I do hope to come visit one day!!!

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  8. Anna - what a wonderful post.
    Yes it may seem strange being part of this community of people who have "never met" but I'm so thankful for the friendships that have been created and woven between us all. As we each sit and spin our tales the bonds grow ever stronger - now that is real fairy magic! ;-)
    God Bless xxx

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  9. Hugs to you, dear Anna. What a beautiful post. Thank you for your friendship and the wonderfully creative ways you pull us all together. :) Looking forward to adding a bridal shower story to your book...just waiting for the perfect idea to whisper in my ear. :)

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  10. That's not a wombat cannon. THIS is a wombat cannon. You've managed to put into words what I've felt about Twitter for a long time. Some of the finest friends I have are people that I've never met. That includes you.

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  11. If it hadn't been for your contests, I wouldn't have met so many amazingly creative writerly people...and you, Anna, and my world would be poorer for it, so thank you, and I'm honoured to be part of this Bridal Shower. x

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  12. You're about as dark as... some not-very-dark things... this piece of paper I found on my desk just now. Yes. That dark.

    Big writerly hearts, Anna.

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  13. Your words are as beautiful as you, my dear. So happy to be able to be a part of your special day. Hugs and thank you for your friendship.

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  14. Oh sweet Anna, Dark Fairy Queen, my lovely friend. You've made me all teary.

    You made an Olive cry!

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  15. Such a sweet post. Thank you dear, bridal fairy friend!! You are certainly loved!! ((And now I know to stock up on Cinnamon Toast Crunch and skim milk for when you stop by -- which you will do at some point, right?))

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