The Void Between Emotions

by Sumiko Saulson

Explore the darker side of speculative fiction with this collection of supernatural short stories involving sea creatures, ghosts, witches, mermen, shapeshifters, and more. The Void Between Emotions is written by an African American author and contains many stories that reflect African American culture, conflict and issues as well as other culture’s concerns fine examples of writing the other. The stories are primarily horror, with some science fiction and paranormal romance. The Void between Emotions consists of the ocean-themed The Dance of the Sea Hare and Tortoise; a creepy tale about a young black man strangely obsessed with the recent influx of oceanic life onto dry land; Character Flaws, about a fictional character taking over his author; Bodies, about a human woman who hates her body as much as her witch girlfriend loves it, The Woman Who Couldn’t Stop Crying, about La Llorona, The Weeping Woman), Shallow Waters, about a loveable but unfortunately dangerous merman; Sweetness, a post-apocalyptic tale about a desperate werepig and a ruthless bacon hunter; The Birthday Present, about a girl who unexpectedly learns who her true father is during a wicked Sweet Sixteen party; This One Has Teeth, about a dentist visit from hell; Bloodsuckers, about a symbiotic parasite and vampire relationship; Ashes and Coffee, about a young homeless woman faced with death personified, and Therma Martin Zeda 2525, about a future dystopia and genetic engineering gone wrong.

138 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2017

About the author

Sumiko Saulson (ze/hir) is a 2x Bram Stoker Nominated and Elgin Nominated poet, graphic novelist, zinemaker, and an award-winning author of Afrosurrealist and multicultural sci-fi and horror. Editor of the Black Magic Women, Scry of Lust, Scry of Lust 2, Black Celebration, and Wickedly Abled. Winner of the StokerCon Scholarship from Hell (2016), 2nd Place Carry the Light Awards (2016, 2017 and 2018) for short fiction, essays and blogging. Mixy Award (2017). BCC Voice Grand Prize Reframing the Other Essay Contest (2017), Afrosurrealist Writer Award (2018). Semifinalist: HorrorAddicts Next Great Horror Writer’s Contest, (2018). Horror Writers Association Diversity Grant (2020).

Member, Horror Writers Association.

AA in English from Berkeley City College. Staff writer, Search Magazine. Proofreader, Mocha Memoirs Press. Columnist (“Writing While Black”) for The San Francisco BayView. Host, Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District’s Erotic Storytelling Hour. Social Media Team, Horror Writers Association.

Novels: Solitude, The Moon Cried Blood, Warmth. Short fiction collections Things That Go Bump in My Head, The Void between Emotions, Spit and Pathos and Within Me Without Me

Short works in anthologies: Horror Addicts Guide to Cats (Horror Addicts Guide), Ashes and Coffee (Death’s Café), Enclosures (Tales from the Lake, Vol 3), Jacob’s Reunion (Forever Vacancy), Clockwork Valentine (Clockwork Wonderland) Sweetness (Beasts and Babes), Agrippa (Carry the Light, Vol 5), Character Flaws (Carry the Light, Vol 5), Under the Water (Horror Bites Next Great Horror Writer, Horror Addicts), Unheard Music in the Dank Underground (Tales from the Campfire), Shades of Domesticity (Horror Writers Association Poetry Showcase Volume VII), Asi’s Horror and Delight (Slay: Tales of the Vampire Noire)

Graphic novels: Agrippa, Dreamworlds, Living a Lie (illustrator), The Complete Mauskaveli.

An American author of African American and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. Native Californian, living in Oakland, California. Pronouns: ze/hir or they/them. Find hir on social media at sumikoska (Twitter, Facebook, Tik-Tok), sumikosaulson (Instagram), skavibe (Twitch) and www.SumikoSaulson.com

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

I would give this six stars if I could. Ashes and Coffee was the story that, for me, pushed this wonderful collection of horror and the paranormal to another level. Beautifully written.