Reality Skimming
Reality Skimming promotes optimistic SF -- stories that inspire us to fight the good fight for another day. Committment to larger projects, the writer's sense of mission, joy of reading, the creative campfire of the SF community and the love of deserving protagonists are celebrated. We believe in heroes and striving to be what we believe in. It is also a news hub for content related to the Okal Rel Saga written by Lynda Williams.
First Sale – David Perlmutter
David Perlmutter of SF Canada
I published my first story in 2009. It was called “The Hunter and the Game”, and it appeared at the website Kalkion in September of that year.
I had been trying to get published for several years before then, when I figured out trying to be a script writer for Hollywood-based animation wasn’t really going to work for someone living in Winnipeg. I became interested in SF and Fantasy around the same time, and figured that this might be an easier line of work if I could crack it. Needing to find a line of work after completing my college studies in history increased that desire.
So it was that I sought out ideas, and gradually Jefferson Ball, the heroine of the story, and Hamilton Pomeranian, her close associate, emerged. The idea was basically reverse an old stereotype in SF- white guys making love to any alien woman they want, and getting away with it. At the same time, a lot of strong woman characters came into SF as well, so this was a way to kid that whole trend as well. Then I combined it with the plotting and characterization of the animated cartoons I grew up knowing and loving, and that was that.
I enjoyed writing the story and have gone back to writing about Jeff and Ham whenever I feel the need since, because I owe them for getting me started. There are currently enough to fill a whole book (The Singular Adventures of Jefferson Ball, now available from Chupa Cabra House), and, I suspect, a lot more will be coming in the future.