A Smugglerific Cover: In Her Head, In Her Eyes by Yukimi Ogawa

Hello and welcome! Today, we are here – delighted and proud – to unveil the cover of Book Smugglers Publishing‘s second short story in our Fall 2014 lineup.

Without further ado, BEHOLD! The smugglerific cover!

About the Story

Trills of silver, quiver of gold.

Pot Head, they called her. Heavy-head, they teased her. In a noble house of dye masters, Island-born Hase is an outcast, ridiculed by her fellow servants and employers – all because of the smooth, reflective sphere that covers her head. Little does the household know that Hase has a mission and a purpose, carried behind her pot-covered head, in her impenetrable eyes.

A Word From Your Friendly Neighborhood Editors (and Book Smugglers)

We have been following Yukimi Ogawa’s career and had previously read her short stories, so it was with great delight that we received her submission. In Her Head, In Her Eyes is a take on an old Japanese tale called “Hachikaduki” (translated as “A Girl with a Bowl on her Head“) – a fable that, like many fairy tales, begins with great misfortune but ends with a happily ever after.

In Yukimi’s version of the story of the girl bearing a pot on her head, the same misfortune is present initially as is a happy ending of sorts… depending on one’s perspective. We loved this story from our very first read, and chose to acquire it because of its twisted, subversive elements, its unique storytelling cadence, and the tale’s heady combination of science fiction and horror elements. In Her Head, In Her Eyes is deeply unsettling in the best way – we can’t think of a better story leading into Halloween. We hope you’ll love it, too.

About the Author

Yukimi Ogawa lives in a small town in Tokyo where she writes in English but never speaks the language. One of her stories was selected for The Year’s Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 2014.

About the Artist

Jacqueline Pytyck is a Canadian-based illustrator. Her whimsical gallery contains an array of optical illusions and conceptual pieces that focus primarily upon human nature and social relationships. The images describe worlds that are often obstructed from ordinary viewing – tucked away in the nooks and crannies of the psyche. Her work has appeared in various forms and has included such clients and affiliates as; Logitech, Monsterthreads, Threadless, Wilkintie, The Working Proof and Maclean’s Magazine. Her website, contact details and portfolio can be found here.

How to Get the Story

In Her Head, In Her Eyes will be available on October 21, 2014. You’ll be able to read the short story in full for free here on The Book Smugglers, but we’ll also have a DRM-free ebook (EPUB, MOBI) that contains the story as well as a Q&A and essay from the author, available for purchase on all major ebook retail sites.

Preorder the Ebook
Kindle US | Kindle UK | Smashwords

Coming Soon
Google Play | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

Need a copy *right* now? Want to read it *today*? You can buy it directly from us!

Buy eBook

And read In Her Head, In Her Eyes for free online HERE on October, 21, 2014.