Story Details
In The Witch’s Oath, Karl conjures for us a moment in time where an inviolable oath meets a new reality. As the witch explains to her young, would-be apprentice. “Boys can’t be witches. Simple as that.”
Author Details
Karl Dandenell is a graduate of Viable Paradise and a Full Member of the Science Fiction Writers of America. He and his family, plus their cat overlords, live on an island near San Francisco famous for its Victorian architecture and low speed limits. His preferred drinks are strong black tea and single malt whiskey. Karl has appeared in over a dozen magazines including Fireside Fiction, Buzzy Magazine, Metaphorosis, Speculative North, Little Blue Marble, plus the anthologies ABANDONED PLACES and STRANGE ECONOMICS. He has also narrated his own fiction for The Word Count Podcast. You can find more of his thought on Twitter (@kdandenell) and www.firewombats.com. Story Notes for “The Witch’s Oath” I was thinking about the trope of an old witch and a young apprentice, and the power of oaths in traditional fantasy. My first draft was inspired by a 500-word flash fiction contest, which really pushed me out of my comfort zone. Throughout my drafting process, I had to carefully pick which worldbuilding elements to include without losing the emotional core of the story. My goal was to create a small tale that could been seen as a moment in time, or the beginning of a larger story. I hope you enjoy it.
The Witch's Oath, by Karl Dandenell
Author Details
Karl Dandenell is a graduate of Viable Paradise and a Full Member of the Science Fiction Writers of America. He and his family, plus their cat overlords, live on an island near San Francisco famous for its Victorian architecture and low speed limits. His preferred drinks are strong black tea and single malt whiskey. Karl has appeared in over a dozen magazines including Fireside Fiction, Buzzy Magazine, Metaphorosis, Speculative North, Little Blue Marble, plus the anthologies ABANDONED PLACES and STRANGE ECONOMICS. He has also narrated his own fiction for The Word Count Podcast. You can find more of his thought on Twitter (@kdandenell) and www.firewombats.com. Story Notes for “The Witch’s Oath” I was thinking about the trope of an old witch and a young apprentice, and the power of oaths in traditional fantasy. My first draft was inspired by a 500-word flash fiction contest, which really pushed me out of my comfort zone. Throughout my drafting process, I had to carefully pick which worldbuilding elements to include without losing the emotional core of the story. My goal was to create a small tale that could been seen as a moment in time, or the beginning of a larger story. I hope you enjoy it.
