On Thursday, Duck Prints Press launched the crowdfunding campaign for our next anthology. Aim For The Heart: Queer Fanworks Inspired by Alexandre Dumas’s “The Three Musketeers” features 20 stories, 19 full-page art pieces, and a 12-page comic, all inspired by the beloved story of d’Artagnan, the musketeers he meets, and the politics he gets embroiled in.
As of when I’m writing this, 76 people have already backed our project, and we’re nearly 60% of the way to our $8,000 USD goal! This is a really strong start, and we couldn’t be happier about it. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has backed so far, and to everyone else – whatcha waiting for? There’s no time like the present – we’re offering an early bird special, $10 off our highest backer tier featuring the book + our gorgeous merchandise (a bookmark, a magnet, a sticker, and an enamel key chain) – only available today and Sunday, and only to the first 50 backers – we’ve only got 19 left!!!
If you love queer stories and queer art, and want to support a queer-owned independent publisher this lovely Pride month, make sure you check it out!
And, to whet your appetite, starting today we’ll be sharing story and art teasers more-or-less daily until the end of the campaign!
Author Spotlight: Wait and Hope by Veronica Sloane
About the author: Veronica Sloane has authored a novel, several short stories, some poetry, and twenty-two years worth of fanfic. She lives with one lovely spouse, one rambunctious clever child, and one sleepy cat.
Links: Archive of Our Own | Tumblr
About the Story: This modern fanfic tells the tale of Porthos, a waiter, and Aramis, a theology student, meeting for the first time—and then tells of their reunion, ten years later.
Story Teaser:
“My name is Porthos,” he offered, “and I’ll be your dining companion for the evening, if you’ll have me.”
“Is this a new waiter service?” Aramis asked, those lovely wide eyes going rounder.
“I’m officially no longer a waiter here.” Porthos took Aramis’s lack of objection as agreement and set the glasses before each of them, uncorking the bottle with an expert twist of the wrist.
“Were you fired?” Aramis asked, watching the wine trickle into his glass with avid attention.
“I’m graduating.”
“Me too. I’ve never seen you.”
“Business major.” Porthos poured his own glass generously. It was a very good white.
“Theology.”
“What do you do with that?”
“In my case? Become a priest.”
“No.” Porthos set down the bottle to stare at him. “Really? Does that still happen?”
“From time to time,” Aramis laughed.
“But why? Surely you can just study religion and go to church if you have to. I’m assuming; I don’t think I’ve set foot in a church since I was a kid. I’d probably catch fire.”
“God forgives. If you have faith.” The last was said a little more tremulously.
“And you must.”
“Must I?” Aramis picked up his wine.
“Then why the priesthood?”
“I believe. Faith is another matter.”
Tags: alcohol use (casual), alternate universe, chef, college, food (graphic descriptions), m/m, meet cute, one-night stand, past tense, pov third person limited, restaurant, reunions, second chances, trans male character, veteran