Well, my short story "The Open Water" has been out there for a week or so now. And I've had some nice comments - thanks for those.
What I wanted was simple: a kayak western - that is, a western type story in a place where people have kayaks instead of horses. An I wanted it to be a homage to Louis L'Amour - that is, written in is distinctive style.
I enjoyed writing it, nearly as much as I enjoyed the raw research, kayaking the mangrove swamps of eastern Australia over the last few years. Probably the area most like the one I describe in Australia is behind Bribie Island. The ebb and flow can really be something in those areas.
If you've read it - thanks. If you haven't... won't take you long ;-)