It came from Mads Alvey

Mads Alvey’s story “Upon the Fallen Leaves of the Gingko Tree” was published in Metaphorosis on Friday, 10 August 2018. Many of my story ideas start with a single line—usually the first line in the final draft—which repeats over and over in my mind. “Upon the Fallen Leaves of the Ginkgo Tree” was one of these stories. When I began the story, my walk to school every day involved going through a neighborhood which was …

Upon the Fallen Leaves of the Ginkgo Tree – Mads Alvey

To walk upon the fallen leaves of the Ginkgo tree is very nearly to walk upon a river of gold. It is a sight of such pure beauty that the Speakers whisper sweet blessings to the earth, spinning a preservation upon the leaves where they lie, so the golden carpet won’t fade to black as we tread upon the ground. I was reminding myself of how lucky I was to have enough Speaking to join …

A question for Mads Alvey

Q: Do you write with a particular audience in mind?

A: I often write with myself as the intended audience. There are a lot of things that I enjoy seeing in stories, and when I write, I try to hit all of those notes. I try to include people like me—queer folks, gender minority folks, disabled folks; themes and subjects I care about; and evoke images that matter to me, or appeal to my sense of aesthetics.

I do write with the intent of sharing my work, but it matters to me that I, at the very least, start with a base that is true, first and foremost, to what I want in a story.


Mads Alvey’s story “Upon the Fallen Leaves of the Gingko Tree” was
published on Friday, 10 August 2018.

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About Mads Alvey

Mads Alvey lives in Lexington, Kentucky and is a full-time student at the University of Kentucky, seeking a degree in English. She plans to seek an MLS when she graduates, and settle down surrounded by books. When he has it, he splits his free time between crafting; cooking; gardening; amateur taxidermy; writing science fiction, fantasy, and satire; spending way too much time on the internet, and doting on his three rats.

malveyauthor.com, @ProperPuns


Mads Alvey’s story “Upon the Fallen Leaves of the Gingko Tree” was
published on Friday, 10 August 2018.

Subscribe to our e-mail updates so you’ll know when new stories go live.