"Wayne and the Gator"
Short story featured in
Dragon Writers: An Anthology
edited by Lisa Mangum
The Story:
"Wayne and the Gator" is a modern retelling of Sir Gawain and the Dragon. Louisiana alligator wrangler Wayne struggles to keep his business afloat. At just 25, he's the youngest gator wrangler in the swamp, and the only no-kill business for miles, which is to say, business is tough. By a fluke of luck, Wayne is called for a special job: to find out what's been attacking a big bayou man's pet alligator, Princess. But what would attack an animal already on top of the swamp food chain? What Wayne finds could not only get him paid, but could save his wrangling business all together.
The Anthology:
Dragons are creatures of legend. Of magic. Of wisdom, nature, and the power of creation. They have been in every culture and mythology since the beginning of time. Writers are creatures of legend. With magic, wisdom, and the power of creation at their fingertips. They, too, are in every culture and have been creating their own mythologies since the beginning of time. Within each writer is the power of a dragon. . . . The power of creation. Gathered together are twenty-six stories from writers who dared to tame this power, including New York Times best-selling authors Brandon Sanderson, Jody Lynn Nye, Todd McCaffrey, and David Farland. Through fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and poetry, this anthology celebrates the magic and majesty of dragons, writers, and creativity. Within these pages, you’ll find dragons who fly through space, who raise hatchlings, who carry the power of life and death. Some dragons are even featured as swords, planes, and origami creatures. Dragon Writers is a special collection where magic and myth combine to create something legendary. All profits benefit the Don Hodge Memorial Scholarship fund for the Superstars Writing Seminar.