MENTORSHIP RECIPIENT

Mentor Commentary:
Isaiah Hunt

Recipient Reflection: 
​Axel McAvinue

On "The Battle of Milky Mart" ​by Axel McAvinue

by Isaiah Hunt

First time reading this story was a blast. The electrifying vocabulary, colorful creatures, and a familiar setting in the unknowns of space is what invested me into “The Battle of Milky Mart”, reminiscent of early science fiction that influenced me as a writer. Plus, I’m a sucker for squids.

Galactic gas stations and cubes of slime aside, the story had me brewing thoughts about this battle at Milky Mart. Fussing over a last candy bar, yes, but is it really about the Milky Way Bar? I wondered what could be at the heart of this story. And I had many ideas.

When I got in contact with Axel McAvinue, I was excited (yet unsurprised, given the creative scope of this world) to hear he was eager to continue this story. What began as a prompt for a creative writing course transformed into a deeper introspection into Quinten, this meek overworked asteroid miner caught up at his local Milky Mart, yet develops an agency over his own life (albeit with some…consequences). Because there is never a ‘perfect’ time or space to stand up for yourself, but you do it when it truly matters to you, when it’s least expected.

And don’t we all feel this thumping in our own hearts?

Working with passionate writers like Axel becomes more than a mentorship. Every suggestion I offered, Axel tried, and in some cases, went beyond and made those ideas his own. Revising can be a grueling journey. But Axel and I’s conversations, celebration for the writing, and the laughter made the journey fulfilling, one that created more paths for this collaboration between us, and opportunities for Axel to continue writing. I’m thrilled to share the hard work Axel dedicated to this story, and I hope you stay tuned for his stories in the future.

Isaiah Hunt

When Isaiah isn’t studying Pan-African history or obsessing over 90s and Y2K culture, he is teaching Fiction Writing and Afrofuturism at John Carroll University. He is currently working on a collection of linked stories that focuses on the entertainment industry, commercialism, Black cyberculture, and R&B, along with a companion novel set in a near-future Cleveland. He received his MFA from Northeast Ohio Masters of Fine Arts in ‘22, is one of the recipients of the Ohio Arts Council Award for Fiction in ‘24 and is a Clarion West ‘24 alumni. You can find his stories in his instagram bio: @Casual.dream.