I never know what to expect when an opportunity to write for Fiction River crosses my desk, and this one was no different.
At the time, I was immersed in research for another project that centered on the largely unexplored world of our own oceans and the creatures that make their home in the depths – themes that carried over into Tendrils, the story in this great collection. The alien character of Oma owes her heritage to a combination of this research, multiple YouTube videos of cuttlefish, octopuses, and squid, and the tanks of jellyfish in our local aquarium. All I had to do was envision these amazing creatures floating in space instead of salt water, and ask myself, “what if…”
Victoria Silverwolf, one of the reviewers at Tangent Online, had this to say about Tendrils:
“…The protagonist of Tendrils by Leigh Saunders is an alien who sneaks aboard human starships out of a hunger for new experiences. She is a squid-like being who is able to flatten her body and change colors in order to remain undetected. [When] a disaster on the ship threatens the lives of its crew, the alien tries to save them, while running the risk of exposing herself to those who might see her as a dangerous invader.
The author creates a sympathetic character who is completely different from a human being. The way in which the alien perceives her environment is colorful and imaginative. Her self-sacrificing struggle to help the crew of the starship is inspiring…”
In addition, Tendrils was included in Tangent Online’s 2018 Recommended Reading List, which I consider a great honor!
You can pick up your copy of Fiction River: Hard Choices from your favorite online retailer.
— Leigh
