I have a new story available via Kindle!
Selk Skin Deep is an alternate-history — military history, too — about a Selkie who is also a Navy SEAL.
Selkies hail from Scottish folklore. They are mythical creatures that live as seals in the ocean, but can come ashore — shedding their skins — and become human.
Most selkie stories are about women selkies who come to sun on the beach, and whose sealskin is stolen by a man. Without her skin, she’s forced to remain in human form until she gets it back. The man generally forces her to be his wife/maid/servant (sometimes mother to his kids) until the story ends when she finds where he’s hidden her skin and she returns to the sea.
You can read more about selkies at Wikipedia.
My story is a bit off the traditional beaten path. Here’s the description:
Kennedy never envisioned a Navy SEAL like him.
1967. Vietnam. Fat-boys and comp-B bombs explode aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Livingstone killing thousands. Everyone dies if the carrier sinks, unless one SEAL – one selkie – puts the lives of humans ahead of his need to keep his secret.
Inspired by the true story of the U.S.S. Forrestal fire of 1967, award-winning author Kelly A. Harmon weaves alternate-history and fairytale into this action-packed and emotionally charged story.
This review is from when the story was published in the Bad Ass Fairies 3 Anthology: In all Their Glory:
“Selk-Skin Deep” by Kelly A. Harmon is a very well-written, harrowing story of an accident that didn’t have to happen aboard an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam war. The selkie uses his advantage to try and save the ship and its crew. Ms. Harmon has written an action packed, suspenseful account of a naval battle with a poignant ending.” ~ Tangent Magazine
You can buy Selk Skin Deep on Kindle now. It should be available for Nook and via Smashwords very soon.
Hi Kelly!
Woot woot! Congrats!
-A. R.
Thanks, A.R.!
Did you watch the video of the fire?
Hi Charlie! No – I haven’t seen the video. Is it YouTube footage or something commercial?
At the time of the fire, flight deck operations were being filmed so much of the incident above decks was filmed.
In the Navy, we watched that film many times, especially if you were involved in firefighting in anyway. That event changed many things about daily life in the Navy.
The original film was in black and white. There are some “documentaries” that have color reinactments that are spliced with the actual footage. You may be able to find something on the Internet.
I think it was called “Burn baby, burn – The Fire on the Forrestal” or something like that. It is narrated in the style typical of gov’t films.
To really appreciate the situation, you have realize there is no “fire department” on the way nor is there anywhere to run.
BTY, I bought the book but was too tired to read more than a little. was very surprised to see “unrep” mentioned. I’ll probably finish it this weekend if not earlier.
Hi Charlie
Thanks for the info about the film. I’m going to try to find it.
Your comment about the fire department not coming is sobering. I don’t think many people give that much consideration when they think of fires on boats. [And it’s amazing to think that the entire ‘fire fighting team’ on board the Forrestal was obliterated in one blast from the bomb.]
Now why are you so surprised “unrep” is mentioned? I did my research. 🙂