The Voyage of the Fortunate Seven by Shawn Klimek
Blurb
Every year the gods and goddess take a voyage to bring good luck and prosperity to their people. There are years where their voyage is bright and merry and the sea as smooth as glass.
Needless to say, this story is about one of the other years.
Shawn Klimek The Voyage of the Fortunate Seven GOGV2
The Grumpy Old Gods are back in this second installment of mythical fun. Join us for 13 new tales of deities that are retired, reborn, waning, or AWOL from their assigned posts as they hilariously navigate life, death, and everything in between.
INTERVIEW WITH SHAWN KLIMEK
- What was your inspiration for this story or favorite part about writing it?
Because I conceived this story expressly for GOG2, I wanted to avoid the most overdone pantheons: Norse, Greek, and Egyptian. Since I was living in Japan at the time, something to do with Japanese gods seemed an obvious choice.
2. How much research did you do and what type? Include the most interesting or most unusual.
I hit upon the seven gods of luck while sifting through Japanese mythology, and their magical treasure ship. I immediately sense potential. To invent the gods’ nemesis, I consulted with a native Japanese friend about constructing a plausible portmanteau.
3. What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
Returning from his first year of college, my oldest brother described his discovery of Dungeons and Dragons and the text-based adventure game, “Colossal Caverns”—both of which were fairly new at the time (this was the late-70s). Extrapolating from these, I invented a story-telling adventure game to play with my siblings we called “Blasers and Beasties”, about crash-landed space-adventurers. All of the thrills, suspense, clues, and humor were powered by descriptive word choices.
4. What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
I wish I could remember the name of the science fiction novel I have in mind. It was about a xenolinguist tasked with deciphering the language of an alien species. Finding the nuances impossible without cultural context, he has himself surgically altered so that he can blend-in amongst them unrecognized. The fear of discovery makes this so suspenseful! Once he cleverly achieves his purpose, he is given a new surgery and a new alien assignment. This happens several times during the book. Every alien is so interesting and every language a new, mind-bending puzzle.
5. How many ‘in-progress’ works do you have?
Half a dozen, at any point, that I actually expect to finish.
6. What does success look like to you?
- Earning my living as a writer.
- Validation from fans outside my family.
7. Do you have a favorite place to write or writing ritual?
Sitting in front of a computer, preferably with something to drink or a snack beside me.
8. What do you do when you are not writing?
Besides browsing the internet, I do chores, spend time with my wife and Maltese, or watch television.
9. Any last words for our readers?
A Haiku, related to question 7.
A writer was here:
His legacy recorded
In greasy cheese dust.
SHAWN KLIMEK THE VOYAGE OF THE FORTUNATE SEVEN GOGV2
About Shawn
Shawn M. Klimek is a globetrotting, U.S. military spouse, butler to a Maltese puppy, and creative writer, whose other recent anthologies include: “Curses and Cauldrons: an Anthology of Witchcraft Microfiction”, by Blood Song Books, “Monsters: a Horror Microfiction Anthology,” by Black Hare Press, “Tempest: The Inner Circle Writers’ Group Science Fiction and Fantasy Anthology 2019”, by Clarendon House Books, “Organic Ink: Dragon Soul Press Poetry, Vol. 1”, and coming soon, “Grievous Bodily Harm”, by Zombie Pirate Publishing. Purchase these and more at Amazon or Clarendon House Books, find an index of all his published works, including free reads, at Jot in the Dark and follow his ongoing writing adventures on Facebook.
Photo: Shawn Atop Mt. Fiju 2018