Fantasy Magazine has just published a short story of mine, “Sweetwater.”

It features a tattooed, beer-swilling mermaid :)

Here’s an excerpt:

She tiptoed around the cattails and found herself gawking at a thick fall of pine-colored hair, skin like matte jade. A woman was sitting in the water, reclining against the bank, a decadent smile on her lips like a lucky gambler lazing in a VIP jacuzzi. Oilcloths and the remnants of a Van Halen t-shirt were knotted together in a ragged bikini top. Behind her, a pile of driftwood, discarded soda cans, pieces of a broken mirror stacked with seashells.

She gazed at Shawna with sapphire eyes and leaned back on her elbows, flashed a shameless grin, and lifted an emerald fish tail up from the water. Dazzling scales caught the starlight, dripped water as she showed off.

Shawna tried to stammer a greeting, an apology for invading her space, anything, but she was speechless.

“Beautiful night, isnt it?” casual as cocktails, as the mermaid lowered her tail back into the water.

Read more at Fantasy Magazine.