Bloodsucker
This is one of the 3 stories released (along with Wild Thyme, Bitter Honey and Reflections in a Dark Pool) from the Wet Dreams antho after Em's sterling efforts to find a publisher failed. As all 3 stories have a watery/mild horror theme I've decided to bundle them together and see if Torquere are interested in them for a Taste Test. Bloodsucker was a bit too short, though, and lacked tension so I'm adding a little bit where the Leech King tries to pull the hero into the water and drown him! Here's a brief snippet: "Even as he sat up to peer into the pool there came a louder splash, followed by a surge of rushing and dripping. It sounded like a surfacing submarine, and visions of giant leeches filled his mind. But it was no leech that parted the waters and rose from their oily depths - it was a man, and a handsome man at that. His skin was a dusky olive and his long hair was black, and plastered to the sides of his head with the wet. His chest was flat and strong, his shoulders broad and his stomach rippled with muscular power. Strong thighs followed, then a pair of well-shaped calves as the man began to wade towards the edge of the pool. Marcus saw three things - one, he was as naked as the day he was born; two, he was impressively endowed, and three, he was heading straight for the ledge where Marcus lay."

Eeeek! Looks like you're successfully adding tension .... Good luck in placing them!

Heheh... Thank you! I finished the re-write - it's now 3,500 words which is over the minimum so that's a lot better. Now to take another look at the other two stories....

OOOOO!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!

Good luck! :D

Thanks guys!

Two and a half stories down, half a story to go before I'm happy enough to submit. Hm. I'm wondering about suggesting 'Watery Graves' as an overall title for the collection. Not sure if it's a bit too downbeat, though, given that 2 of the stories actually have happy endings...? :?

Hm. It's possible. *thinks*

It would make me thinkg of drowning which only half-happens in one of them?

Yes, it makes me think of drowning, too. Possibly a touch downbeat ...

Well one is really drowning, one is half-drowning (with a mystery attached!) and one is a threatened drowning. I'll suggest it - but it's up to Torquere, really, whether they think they can sell something with that title. ;) (And that's assuming they want the stories in the first place, of course.)

Finished hoovering the third story, took a deep breath and have subbed all 3 to TQ as a possible Taste Test. Fingers crossed. I suggested Watery Graves as a title, but in case they don't like it I also offered 'Mystic Waters' which might be closer to the mark.... :)

*crosses fingers* :D

Thanks! :)

*also crosses things*