Willa Blythe

Author

Willa Blythe is the pen name of Anne Phifer, a northeast Texas native now living in the lower Hudson River Valley with her family. She is a member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SWFA) and has published short stories and a novelette.

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About

I write queer, speculative fiction and creative nonfiction. I've also begun the project of narrating my stories into bite-sized audio presentations, which I will be releasing at a future date!I love writing about the magic of human connection. Themes of recovery, environmentalism, changing identity, and radical love often come up in my work. I write queer stories because I am queer, but also because it's the best way for me to see exactly the things I want to read on my shelf.Behind the pen, I'm a geeky, dramatic, neurodiverse lesbian. I'm a single mother, a trauma survivor, and an avid treat-apologist. I play D&D most weekends, regularly attend a formal knitting circle, and have too many hobbies.

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Moongatherer

The Summer Solstice is coming, and with it, the hottest days of the year for Clan Foxfire. When Honeycomb, resident Water Tender and moongatherer, is chosen to bring offerings to the Moon in exchange for cooler days and longer nights, no one is more surprised than she is. With the help of the Clan's most favored daughter, Pomegranate, Honeycomb must make the journey to Moon's Rest and face her fear of the sun. When disaster strikes, can Honeycomb overcome the trauma she carries with her? Or will history repeat itself?Moongatherer is an original lunarpunk novelette released by Duck Prints Press! This queer science fantasy is available in print and eBook form on the DPP website.

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Short Stories

THE BRIGHTSHADOW CURSE BREAKER

Lyric of the Lightest Step is determined to track down the Brightshadow Beast and end its reign of terror over the nights of the Asteracea Dominion--so determined that she is barely present for her days. But when her only true friend, Saffron, announces they must marry a prince to protect the Dominion from the Beast, Lyric realizes just how much the Brightshadow curse rules her life.Duck Prints Press' third anthology is actually part of a matched set. She Wears the Midnight Crown features stories about women who love women, or woman-aligned folks. He Bears the Cape of Stars features stories about men who love men & man-aligned folks. Both anthologies subvert the masquerade trope, telling stories about masks in society that are innovative and unexpected.

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Victoria

Dr. Margot Allison is determined to make Victoria habitable and give the people of Earth a new home. But every native plant is lethal to humans, and even the seeds she brought with her are stunted and toxic after being exposed to Victoria's water, air, and soil. When experiment after experiment fails, and lives are on the line, Margot must turn somewhere unexpected for the answer to her fundamental question: what can we do when we have destroyed the home that was designed to sustain us?Brave New Worlds from Zombies Need Brains LLC is an anthology of stories about humanity's reach for the stars, and was funded by Kickstarter in 2021. It is available from the ZNB webstore as well as other major booksellers.

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Something In the Water

Merrily Shire has seen her life stagnate to the slowest drip while working at her aunt's coffee shop, and even the little magic she gets to work for customers doesn't relieve the aching boredom of her days. But when beautiful and mysterious Thea comes to her for aid, Merrily isn't sure she can offer what Thea needs. A heartwarming short about recovery, healing, and trusting in your own magic.
Add Magic to Taste was Duck Prints Press' debut anthology, featuring fluffy magical coffee shop stories that truly capture that cottagecore softness. It's been recently re-released only on Duck Prints' web shop!

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Duck Prints Press Patreon

Telemachy

“Did you know you liked girls?” she asked after, leaning back against the fender. The metal edge of the truck pressed into my back. Her hair, spun flax and chaff-gold, wound around itself in a knot on top of her head. She was pretty and petite, a down-home Demeter ready to harvest all my secrets. Her name was Elizabeth, but I called her Betsy, and she giggled when we sat too close on the bus or held hands in the halls, seductive and teasing.

It was always platonic because there was no other way for us to be.

"Telemachy" is a non-linear short story about growing up gay in the American South, and how that sticks with you when you leave. It will be available in September 2024 on the DPP Patreon.

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I have been fortunate enough to work with Duck Prints Press to release two brand new short stories this summer. Currently these stories are only available via the Duck Prints Press Patreon, so head over there to check them out.

Tincture of Clarity

Did you enjoy Add Magic to Taste? Check out my bonus story, only available on Patreon!Restaurant Week had never been a good week for Steep—not once in the six years since Emery had opened his beloved little tea shop. Every year they scraped by, struggling to get passersby to darken the doors for promises of royal tea and creamed scones and magical teapots. None of that appealed to the young and vibrant community Emery had found here, beyond the people who always came to see him, special Restaurant Week offerings or none.This year, though, that would change.