Hi everyone!
We’ve been holding on to this announcement for a while now and are so glad to be able to finally reveal it!
Inked in Gray has acquired Lawrence West’s Breached—a science fiction horror work that takes a creative approach to problem solving amid desperation. This story is terrifying, and we are excited to announce its acquisition!
When asked what inspired Breached, Lawrence has this to say:
It started out as a short story I was writing for an anthology, but as I wrote it I just found there was a lot more that needed to be said. I wanted to write something that could stand along some of my favorite science fiction/horror stories-ones about an isolated group going up against something they didn’t understand and couldn’t just ‘shoot at.’ I wanted to write something about what fear and desperation do to people. I wanted to write something where the right thing to do wasn’t obvious.
I dare say I know which anthology you are talking about! And while it may not have been within the word count of the What Remains anthology, the theme encompasses an age-old moral dilemma. How do you choose when there is no way out? What remains when all is lost? Without any spoilers, is there a character who holds a special place in your heart?
It is cliché to say that all of the characters have a special place in my heart, but if I’m being pressed to narrow it down, I would have to say it is a tie between Devon and Rita. They were the most compelling for me to write. I can’t really explain why without some spoilers, though. You are just going to have to read it.
I can definitely see how those characters have made a home in your heart. I can’t wait for readers to meet them as well. What else have you written/published?
I recently had a short story ‘Threads’ published in the anthology What Remains by Inked in Gray.
What book(s) are you reading right now?
I’m currently reading The Merry Maids by Stefanie Contreras and The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin
Check out these books for yourself while you wait for Breached to drop Spring of 2023. Want to know more about Lawrence’s upcoming release? Here’s a teaser for you to enjoy:
Travis will sacrifice the whole world to save his crew from the carnivorous monster that has invaded their planetary outpost, but he must also save them from Candace, who would rather sacrifice everyone to save her wife.
A little about Lawrence, and where you can find him:
Lawrence J. West grew up on horror, science fiction, and fantasy stories. He was exposed to them early (his mother read him Stephen Kings IT when was 5) and this exposure has influenced every aspect of his life. After reading Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde at the age of 7 he decided he wanted to be an inventor when he grew up. He would design flying cars, and fancy versions of computers, but as he grew up he began to attach stories to these inventions, create worlds inspired by Blade Runner, Alien, and even The Lord of the Rings to go along with them, and eventually the love for world building and storytelling won out over his love of mathematics and science (though these never went away). To call him a nerd or a geek would be an understatement. He enjoys video games (primarily RPG’s), anime, manga, reading, LARPing, and so much more. He has even begun collecting and playing Warhammer 40k. Many of these passions are things he shares with his wife and partners, and is working to pass them along to his son too. Lawrence is also very active in both the LGBTQIA+ and Polyamory communities in his local area.
All of these things can be found in his writings which are rich, deep, and dark—VERY DARK. You can find Lawrence on Twitter.
