Mythical Press

Mythical Press offers readers out of the ordinary, fantastic fiction–not the same ol’ stuff! Mythical Press specializes in speculative fiction with romantic elements, and genre fiction set in unusual locales or in our region. Founded in 2011, Mythical Press calls Dayton, Ohio, the City of Innovation, home. Our fiction features that same inventive spirit that has characterized our hometown throughout the ages.

The name Mythical Press hearkens back to our primary focus, speculative fiction, myth, and legend. Publishing is a new world, one in which the rise of e-books could make the press itself mythical! However, we’re cognizant of the fact that, despite the press received by e-books in recent years, paper books still comprise the majority of books sold today. All Mythical Press novels, short fiction, and short fiction anthologies are available in trade paperback for those who prefer print.

Website: http://www.mythicalpress.com

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• Promises on June 02, 2011
  
  Kill her lover to keep her promise to him? I’m so there! Normally, I'm not a big fan of short stories, but this made me look further. Probably the main reason I’m not big on short stories is because I prefer longer works, that can pull me into a complex plot with well-drawn characters I have plenty of time to get to know and love. So often, there just isn’t room in a short story to dig deep enough, and the conflicts stay small out of necessity to fit the length. Worldbuilding is often sparse. “Promises” proved to be a great exception. Although there isn’t room to really plumb the depths of the main character, a swordswoman named Shay, we do get a full sense of her motivation and what compels her to go places, and do things, few women would in her world. Her emotions are well-drawn, and we quickly care about her and want to see her succeed, while making a terrible choice. McGathy excels at worldbuilding – despite the short space, the reader can easily get a picture of her world that’s torn apart by magic and continues to decay. Background information is dropped into the story in small bits, just enough to build on that picture and enhance the experience. Best of all, the conflict, while simple, is not small (see story description), and the end ties in nicely with the worldbuilding, its background, and Shay’s past. As a bonus, the ebook download includes another short story: “The Gift,” a very short (almost flash fiction), sleeping-beauty-esque tale.
  
• Forever Material on Dec. 18, 2011
  
  Forever Material is a lighthearted battle-of-the-sexes story that will keep you smiling from page one, with quite a few LOLs thrown in! Barbara Whitehall teaches workshops about the two types of guys in the world: Forever Material, or the ones who are good to settle down with; and Fling Material, the ones whose sole purpose (and interest) is in the short-lived booty call. Barbara's convinced that Jake is the latter, and the laughs begin when he literally falls through the ceiling into one of her workshops. Not one to pass up a great opportunity, Barbara uses him as an example, for he meets all the bad-boy stereotypes. Jake's determined to peel away Barbara's professional man-hater image and bets her that he can make her fall for him. The more time the two spend together, the less each is interested in the bet, as they discover qualities in each other-and themselves-that go beyond the stereotypes. There are touching, emotional moments too, especially as the characters reveal why they hold on to their pig-headed beliefs, and as they move past them. Forever Material is a fun, lighthearted read that doesn't skimp on emotion, and will keep you smiling long after the e-reader's turned off!
  
• Mr. Right's Baby on Feb. 23, 2012
  
  Adrian Wright never knew he was a dad until seven years after a brief encounter. Not until she was on her deathbed did his old fling get him the message that she'd gotten pregnant, and given the baby up for adoption without ever contacting Adrian. Now he's determined to find his 6-year-old daughter and get to know her, even if he can't reveal who he really is to her, and takes a position as a substitute teacher to get close to her. Carly is every bit the charming child every parent wants, but it's her widowed, adoptive mother who really tugs at Adrian's heartstrings - and more. He can't figure her out, and this leads to many humorous moments. Kate shows up to pick up Carly from school looking a mess from cleaning out the gutters and reeking of alcohol. Adrian later runs into her at the grocery store where she's buying a cart full of cigarettes and alcohol and he can't help but think she's a drunk when in fact, she's buying the smokes for a neighbor and the booze is for a party she's catering. The characterization is where this book really shines. In the hands of a lesser author, Carly would be too cute, too precious, and saccharine sweet, but here she's just mischievous enough to counter this and be realistic. The gradual development of Adrian and Kate's relationship is poignant and sweet as Kate tries to figure out what Adrian's really up to while he tries to keep his original motivations secret. Although their relationship isn't consummated on the page, there's plenty of sexual tension, and their attraction for each other zings off the page while keeping the reader constantly wondering what will happen when Kate learns who Adrian is. I don't normally read much contemporary romance, but with the characters, the humor and the emotion, this one had no trouble keeping my interest. Highly recommended!