Faith, a short story by Kim Curly

Kim Curly is one the sweetest people I have ever met online. She has a kind heart, and a smile that you would expect to see in a priceless portrait. Kim also is a wonderful scribe with a new shorty from the nthology, "Earth's End". I give you Faith, by Kim Curly.

~Dale Eldon


By Kim Curly

Excerpt from Faith:

"Throwing the door open and entering, she found herself in a makeshift lab; test tubes, microscopes, and petri dishes sat on a granite counter top. Further into the elongated room, an autoclave rested in a corner. She came to a set of swinging doors and pushed through them, entering another room, which was much smaller than the first.

The tabletops here were cluttered with Bunsen burners, beakers, flasks, and microscopes. She stared at the mess, not sure of what she was looking for.

Curiosity eventually got the better of her, and she leaned over a microscope, searching for a clue. Her eyes widened in surprise at the sight: blood samples showing human and lion compounds stared her in the face–an intermingling of the species. She turned away from the eyepiece, as she’d just witnessed proof that the Atlanteans had, in fact, been trying to make an animal/human hybrid.

She swore under her breath, casting glances around the room, when her eyes lit upon what she’d been hunting for. Clutching the thin piece of metal she’d taken from the man, she took three giant steps to the door, inserted the key, and turned the lock. After she heard a dull click, she pushed the door handle down, and was met with an awful stench as she opened it: a mixture of urine, fecal matter, and iron.

There were oil lamps in this dungeon area, casting odd shadows on the walls. Steel bars separated her from whatever, or whomever, lay in wait in the darkness.

A moan escaped from something, or someone, in the cage closest to her, adding to her anxiety."

The Interview:


What do you do for fun?

Fun....hmm. Nope, don't see any fun around here. *snickers* Okay-lets see: when I have time, I love going to Seattle. It's such a diverse atmosphere, I wish I could go there everyday. My favorite spots are Pike Place Market (love taste testing all the food and soaking up local color!), Seattle Aquarium, Space Needle, Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe.

I myself have gained more friends from the writer community than any other, how has being a writer impacted your relationships with other writers? I totally agree with you, Dale! I've felt welcomed right from the start in the writing community. Although most of us have "lives" outside our writing world, only writers can understand other writers. LOL I find that other writers are nurturing, helpful, enthusiastic, encouraging. Yeah, I like it here. *sits down in the Writers World and gets cozy*


What was the most challenging part of writing this story?

Resisting the urge to include every bit of research information I'd gathered. I just kept wanting to add more and more, even though there isn't room. I lost count of how many books and maps I used on this one.


Who is your favorite author and why?

I guess I'd have to say Stephen King. I began reading his books when I was about nine years old. As a young reader, I was reading Mr. King's books to be scared. Now, I can appreciate the whole concept of the story. He's very good at capturing the reader right from the beginning and keeping them in suspense all the way to the end. Mr. King includes all kinds of details, and you're never sure where they might (or might not) pop back up in the story. I don't want an author to give me the answers right from the get-go. I want to go on the journey with the characters and feel what they're feeling. I get that feeling when I read a Stephen King book.


Who is the amazing artist for the cover?

You can thank Jessica A. Weiss for the cover art- I love it! The clawed hand, grasping the earth in its clutches is very ominous, isn't it? Check out more of her work at WICKED EAST PRESS


What did you learn from writing your story?

I learned that it is perfectly fine to throw out sections/characters from your story! I felt vindicated and liberated when I cut a huge section out, and got rid of a character. Think of it as a "spring cleaning" for your story. Why keep the clutter that bogs you down, when you're able to move more freely without the obstacles in the way?


What spurred your interest in writing?

This is a tough one, as there's so many influences that steered me towards writing. I guess what spurred me on to writing most was when my kids started getting busy with activities and I had to shuttle them around. There was lots of "free" time for me to sit, and I just didn't know what to do. Around 2002, my daughter told me to write a story down that I'd made up for her when she was little. So, I did!


Do have any current projects that you are working on?

The aforementioned children's story! My daughter has been after me for nearly 20 years to get this done. So, I better make it a good one, right? This is a kids fiction novel, kind of dark and bleak. The main theme is an old one: everyone should look past their differences and get along with one another. But, this story has mythological creatures and ties to the human world!

What made you decide on horror/Sci-Fi?

I had to think really hard on this one, and I know the answer: my parents. I can remember watching movies with them, like "Forbidden Planet," "War of the Worlds," "When World's Collide," "Frankenstein," "Dracula," etc. Most of my weekends were spent watching these movies, plus "Godzilla" and "Gamera" (how could you not love a flying turtle?). I guess I'm going with the concept of writing what you know. I'm just a sci-fi/horror geek girl at heart.


What can we expect to see from you in the near future?

I've got binders filled with story ideas, but I'd really like to focus on my kids novel for now. However, as long as I've got story ideas and people who want to read them, I'll keep at it, as long as I'm able!

Thank you so much for having me here, Dale! I really appreciate all your support. And thanks to all the readers who took the time to check up on me! *waves*


Kim Curley began her writing journey in 2008, taking an online course titled, ‘How to Sell Your Fiction Novel.’ With the encouragement of a friend from work, she enrolled in a correspondence course and became a 2010 graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature of West Redding, Connecticut. In 2009, she became a member of SCBWI-Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Although she enjoys writing children’s lit, her goal is to branch out and write for adults as well. She prefers writing fiction/fantasy, to provide escapism for readers everywhere. “I write what I would want to read, when I get the chance to read.” A housewife and mother, she resides in the Pacific Northwest. Her story for Wicked East Press Sci-Fi/Apocalypse Anthology, “Earth’s End,” titled, “Faith: An Apocalypse Story,” is her first published piece for a book.

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