EXPRESSIONS

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T04:14:00.002-05:00

The BLACK DECEMBER Deals at Permuted Press are Incredible!

2011-12-04T01:02:00.020-05:00

Black Friday sale? Forget that! Permuted Press has pulled out the stops this year and are offering insane deals on ebooks for Kindle, NOOK, and other eReaders for the entire month of BLACK DECEMBER!

* 5 recent eBook releases for only $2.99 each!
* 5 bestselling eBooks for only $2.99 each!
* 5 eBooks absolutely FREE!

You can pick up 15 great Permuted Press titles for under $30 total!
Click here to see the list of titles.

Go on! Enjoy the apocalypse.

UPDATE 12/14/2011: PERMUTED PRESS HAS ADDED EVEN MORE TITLES TO THIS MASSIVE SALE!

Writerly Companion of the Month

2011-12-01T00:46:00.010-05:00

DON'T HATE ON THIS ESPRESSO FOR BEING ICED!

Espresso Shots, people!

Loaded with Kahlua, tequila, orange juice and sugary goodness.

Guaranteed to warm you in a hurry.

Major Publisher Ventures Into Self-Publishing

2011-11-27T08:27:00.014-05:00

Earlier this year, the prestigious Penguin launched Book Country, it's own self-publishing line. Book Country, according to Penguin, has already picked up over 4000 clients and produced more than 500 works of fiction.

Fees for this service range from $99 to $549.

Penguin may add additional services to Book Country in 2012--such as charging fees for online reviews.

More information here: http://bookcountry.com/AboutUs.aspx

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2011-11-24T00:25:00.005-05:00

RIP Anne McCaffrey

2011-11-23T19:20:00.002-05:00

Fantasy Author, Anne McCaffrey, has passed away at the age of 85.

April 1, 1926 – November 21, 2011

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/11/23/anne-mccaffrey-dragonriders-of-pern-author-dies/?mod=google_news_blog

Large Publisher Seeks YA Manuscripts

2011-11-20T01:03:00.003-05:00

Tu Books (a new imprint from Lee & Low) is seeking novel-length manuscripts.

YA. Speculative Fiction. Multicultural. No Agent Required.

Details here: http://www.leeandlow.com/p/tu_submissions.mhtml

2011 Debut List

2011 World Fantasy Award Winners Announced

2011-11-16T21:56:00.008-05:00

NOVEL: Who Fears Death, Nnedi Okorafor (DAW)

NOVELLA: The Maiden Flight of McCauley’s Bellerophon, Elizabeth Hand (Stories: All-New Tales)

SHORT FICTION: Fossil-Figures Joyce Carol Oates (Stories: All-New Tales)

ANTHOLOGY: My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me, edited by Kate Bernheimer, (Penguin)

COLLECTION: What I Didn’t See and Other Stories, Karen Joy Fowler (Small Beer)

ARTIST: Kinuko Y. Craft

SPECIAL AWARD, PROFESSIONAL: Marc Gascoigne, for Angry Robot

SPECIAL AWARD, NON-PROFESSIONAL: Alisa Krasnostein, for Twelfth Planet Press

Writerly Companion of the Month

2011-11-13T01:59:00.011-05:00

Espresso Con Panna--a single shot of espresso, topped with whipped cream and powdered chocolate.

My Story in the Green Hornet Anthology

2011-11-08T20:38:00.032-05:00

I haven't written a short story in quite awhile, but was invited into this anthology. Didn't think I could pull it off, but I made it! Chaos and the Year of the Dog has gone through it's final edits and has been accepted.

While reading last year's anthology and watching the television series, I became a late-to-the-party fan and I am very honored to be a part of the next book!

In the meantime, check out my review for last year's Green Hornet Chronicles (Moonstone Books). I meant what I said in this review. You don't have to be a fan of the Green Hornet to enjoy this book. Good writing and big fun all around.

-----------------------
FROM AMAZON.COM

I'll admit, I didn't know much about the Green Hornet before reading this book, but the stories are written in such a way that it doesn't take long to figure things out. The Hornet isn't really a bad guy. He uses the Hornet identity to fight crime. Britt Reed, owner of the Sentinel and his partner Kato (I absolutely refuse to think of Kato as his side kick) fight crime and shake down the bad guys by posing as the bad guys. This could be done badly (Hannah Montana), but it works here and feels true and fun. I only wish I had seen the TV show, but it was before my time.

One of the things the writers' do very well is maintain character identity throughout. Despite the varied styles and stories, every interpretation of Kato, Britt, Case and Axford feels consistent. Even sentimental stories like RICHARD DEAN STARR'S NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY manage to keep the characters in character while taking a different route. In NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY we find a reflective Kato. His past comes back to haunt him, but there is never a minute where this depiction reads like a lesser-Kato. In fact this is one of my favorite stories in the book. There is action, but there is something more here. NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY is Kato's story and it gives the reader a look inside the man.

JUST A MAN by THOMAS BRANNAN is another story that delves a little more into emotion. This time it is an injured Marine in turmoil. Seeing the Hornet from his pov is interesting. What's more interesting is how the situation plays out. JUST A MAN does have it's share of action, but the writer takes time out to weigh the situation emotionally which makes the story feel very whole and true.

As far as pacing and story construction, two stories near the end of the collection have mastered this. FANG AND STING by WIN SCOTT ECKERT and INSIDE MAN by MATTHEW BAUGH. It is obvious that these men have been writing for a long time. Their understanding of story, what works and what doesn't, is very telling. INSIDE MAN for example: had Tim Nektosha been pure villain this story wouldn't be nearly as strong. The details of his time with family and his interior thoughts paint the picture of a man who is desperate. Not a bad guy simply because a bad guy is needed for the story. ECKERT AND BAUGH give details about the city as well, small things that blend so effortlessly with the prose that you believe every word they write.

As far as action, there is plenty of it in this book. THE CRIMSON DRAGON by MARK JUSTICE comes to mind. Pure fun and fight. The writer knows his terminology, but doesn't weigh the story down with what he knows. Instead, he uses it to create tension. One almost believes Kato and Hornet have met their match in this story!

THE SOUL OF SOLOMON by HARLAN ELLISON . . . okay, it's not really a story, but it is HARLAN ELLISON. When his muse failed and he couldn't come up with the right story bits, he wrote an essay explaining why he couldn't finish his story. Personally, I loved his musings and reasonings. A glimpse inside HARLAN . . . a few months in the life of a writer? How rare is that? There are so many good stories in this collection that SOLOMON being incomplete hardly matters. File it under the other fun stuff in this book: interviews and intros with and by Hornet alum, wonderful illustrations by Ruben Procopio . . . It's all good and gives the collection a nice quirk factor.

As with most collections, some stories are better than others--some MUCH better than others. One or two far-fetched scenarios, but not many in a collection of this size.

I would certainly encourage others to read this book. You don't have to know about the Green Hornet to understand and enjoy the stories here.

Buy the book here: http://moonstonebooks.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=29

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

2011-10-31T20:48:00.003-04:00

Authors and Agents Reflect on Amazon

2011-10-22T02:20:00.019-04:00

Earlier this year Amazon--in a dispute with Macmillan--temporarily pulled the publisher's books from its massive site. With well over twenty-five imprints, Macmillan is no small company. Think Henry Holt, St. Martin's Press and Tor/Forge just for starters.

In May, Amazon launched two imprints--Montlake Romance and Thomas & Mercer (mysteries and thrillers). This month they announced 47North, a science fiction and horror imprint. Already fifteen books are slated for release.

There's a lot going on, but its likely too soon to predict how things will end . . .

--------------------------------------------------------------
NOW A FEW OPINIONS FROM THE INSIDE:

I refer to Amazon as the Darth Vader of the publishing industry.
--Author, Scott Turow

Everyone’s afraid of Amazon. If you’re a bookstore, Amazon has been in competition with you for some time. If you’re a publisher, one day you wake up and Amazon is competing with you too. And if you’re an agent, Amazon may be stealing your lunch because it is offering authors the opportunity to publish directly and cut you out.
--Agent, Richard Curtis

Amazon is a wonderful publisher, giving me input on virtually every aspect of the series (Liquid Fear). Working with a great editor has really tightened the thrillers, and the covers will be distinctive and brash to match the books. Amazon will officially launch both books on Dec. 20, and I look forward to meeting lots of new Kindle owners over the holidays. I hope Amazon and I can continue the series years into the future.
--Author, Scott Nichols

Zombie Ants!

2011-03-02T22:37:00.009-05:00

Several new species of parasitic fungi have been discovered in the Brazilian Rain Forest. Each parasite specializes in controlling and then destroying the brain of a particular breed of carpenter ant.

Once the ant is infected, it is led far from the colony and abandoned by the other ants, or it wanders away of its own accord. Eventually a stalk emerges from the head of the infected ant. In an effort to infect other ants, the stalk shoots spores.

When the parasite is finished using the ant, it orders the host to bite into the underside of a leaf, assume a death grip and wait. So severe is this grip that the ant continues its hold even after it has expired.

VIDEO OF A STALK EMERGING FROM THE HEAD OF AN ANT

Black Corners of a Blood-Red Room Review

2011-02-25T20:26:00.007-05:00

It's rare to find a book that is truly scary, but this one is! The stories are diverse, and trying to predict how each tale will end is all but impossible. The author has a way with flash, a difficult length to write in. In only a few short paragraphs, he is able to set tone, describe scenery and throw in all the needed twists and suspense. In other words, his flash fiction (the opening section of the book) is rich enough that it doesn't feel like flash. My favorite story in the flash section is 'Reunion in a Small Town Bar'--Poor Aphrodite! 'Better With Time' is another favorite. The twist is especially satisifying in BWT and not expected!

The longer stories are just as diverse and exciting. There are no fillers. No Saturday night specials. Each tale is written with care and the language is always top drawer. 'A Bitter Harvest' is one of the best stories in the entire book. The descriptions in Harvest are clever. The reader is able to see just what the author is describing. 'The Manace' feels like a classic tale, but it's told here with new energy, making it fresh and enjoyable. 'The Screaming of the Ants' is right down strange but in a good way.

One would think that such a diverse collection of stories would feel scattered, but good writing and careful arrangement pulls the collection together. A reader knows that he or she is reading one author, and Patrick Ratigliano never strays from his own unique voice.

There are stories for every possible taste here. And the writing is good . . . sometimes perfect. All the thrills but several cuts above genre. One of the best collections I've read in years.

Highly recommended!

Blast From The Past

2011-02-21T14:02:00.006-05:00

Not a writer thing, but I ran into an old friend on the webs last night.

Hello, Andrea!

I suppose I could file it under muse, nostalgia as a lesson plan . . . or something and call it writerly!

So there!!!

:)

A List of Borders Store Closings

2011-02-19T20:09:00.020-05:00

According to the Wall Street Journal, the following stores will be closing: http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/documents/st_borders0216_20110216.html

Happy Valentines!

2011-02-16T23:14:00.002-05:00

Dying To Live Reissue!

2010-10-13T09:27:00.016-04:00

New edition of Kim Paffenroth's DYING TO LIVE shipping now!

The Gallery Books reissue of Kim Paffenroth's classic zombie novel Dying to Live is now shipping and can be purchased immediately from many sites including:* Amazon US* Amazon UK* Amazon Canada* Amazon.de* Barnes & Noble* Many Others

A lone survivor in a zombie-infested world, Jonah Caine wanders for months, struggling to understand the apocalypse in which he lives.Unable to find a moral or sane reason for the horror that surrounds him, he is overwhelmed by violence and insignificance. Then Jonah comes across a group of survivors living in a museum-turned-compound. They are led by Jack, an ever-practical and efficient military man; and Milton, a mysterious prophet who holds a strange power over the dead. Both share Jonah’s anguish over the brutality of their world as well as his hope for its beauty. Together with others, they build a community that reestablishes an island of order and humanity surrounded by relentless ghouls. But this newfound peace is short-lived, as Jonah and his band of refugees clash with another group of survivors who remind them that the undead are not the only—nor the most grotesque—of the horrors they must face.

"Dying to Live is not just a thinking man's horror novel, it's a zombie book for philosophers. There's plenty of action—and we enter the story while it's already in gear—and we get inside the head and heart of a moral man trying to understand the cosmic implications of the apocalypse."

—Jonathan Maberry, author of Rot & Ruin

Black Corners of a Blood-Red Room

2010-10-09T03:29:00.022-04:00

Available now on Amazon!

This is the first collection by author Patrick Rutigliano. I haven't read the book yet, but have had the pleasure of reading a few of the stories in other anthologies . . . a couple more in early draft.

My experience with the author's work leads me to believe that this will be an entertaining and thoughtful collection--scary and downright creepy. Expect the unexpected as seemingly ordinary situations take the most sinister of turns.

Full review coming soon . . .

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Corners-Blood-Red-Patrick-Rutigliano/dp/1453756531#_

RIP Jamie and Ann Eyberg

2010-08-30T10:23:00.026-04:00

I have been sick and busy for several days. This morning, as I was catching up on the blogs I read, I came across this ( http://www.kcci.com/r/24663463/detail.html ), and I had no idea.

When you write and you're fortunate enough to meet (via blog or any place else) like-minded souls, it's a great feeling. It keeps you off the island-onto-yourself and that matters. It matters a lot. To lose a writer--even one you know only a little--it taints the island. You wonder what ideas that writer might have had, and you think about all the stories that will never be told.

On a more universal and human level, my heart goes out to this family, especially the children . . . what a devastating blow to the children.

* * *

http://acontinuityofparks.blogspot.com/

Busy, Busy, Busy

2010-08-24T03:53:00.013-04:00

Proofing the edited stories for Best New Tales of the Apocalypse.
Reading a novel for my writer's group, crit due at the end of the month.
Reading a story for a friend.
Reading a novella for another.
Finishing up two articles for a local paper, due at the end of this month.
Editing my own work.
Writing my own stories.
I have the summer flu
And I couldn't be happier . . .

Dorchester Publishing Now Exclusively eBook/POD

2010-08-09T13:44:00.017-04:00

Dorchester is now exclusively an eBook/POD publisher. The publisher made the announcement only days ago and have already made the switch. The change comes after a 25% drop in sales last year.

According to Mediabistro/GalleyCat, Dear Author published an email from the company about the change:

"The substantial growth we've seen in the digital market in such a short period--combined with the decline of the mass-market business--convinced us that we needed to fully focus our resources in this [eBook] segment sooner rather than later ... Just as for mass-market books, stores will place their orders and we will print to fill them. Books will be on the shelves for readers to browse. However, using print-on-demand technology, we will not have to keep as many books in inventory incurring warehousing fees. Books will be available for reorder just as they are now, but we will only have to print as many copies as we need instead of a minimum of 5000."

Currently, Dorchester is working out new royalty rates with its authors . . .

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No More Books? No More Bookstores?

2010-08-06T09:48:00.013-04:00

Amazon is now the largest book retailer in America and overseas. Of the larger sellers--Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Borders--Amazon is the only one that hasn't shown a quarterly loss in almost ten years; not even a slight loss. While Barnes & Noble continues to do relatively well, Borders is barely standing.

Currently Amazon's books for download are all but burying traditional hardcover sales. LAST QUARTER SALES SHOWED AMAZON DOWNLOADS OUTSELLING TRADITIONAL HARDCOVERS BY 80%.

Barnes & Noble, in a competitive move, lowered the price of the Kindle’s rival, the e-book reader, Nook, from $199 to $150. Within hours, Amazon decreased the price of its Kindle portable reader, tripling its sales in only one month.

In related news, the Sony eBook Store celebrated its ten millionth download in May. To celebrate they're giving a $10 credit towards a future ebook purchase to anyone who bought an ebook from the store on May 5th . . . the day they hit ten million. According to Sony, its biggest download is The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. It was, in fact, a Dan Brown book of a different title that gave Sony its ten millionth download.

I suppose there are two ways to look at the current situation. While ebooks save trees and have certainly helped revitalize the publishing industry, physical bookstores are barely hanging on. Ten years from now, will we even have books? Are they already going the way of vinyl records, cassette tapes and VCRs?

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The Flushable Novel

2010-07-28T01:43:00.022-04:00

Japanese Horror writer Koji Suzuki (The Ring, Dark Water) is so popular in his native Japan that last year his novel Drop was released on toilet paper. The novel takes up roughly three feet of bathroom tissue and, ironically, the novel is set in a public restroom. The tissue book sells for approximately two American dollars.

Thing One and Thing Two

2010-07-24T00:50:00.009-04:00

I didn't stop writing during my nine months away. Instead, I worked between two novels (these and nothing else) until they frustrated me . . . until I came to think of them as children who, no matter how hard I nurtured, would not stay on the paths I had chosen for them. At some point, I let the two wander off on their own--as I think you're supposed to do once and awhile. But these novels (let's think of them as Thing One and Thing Two) were not to be trusted. I gave them their freedom and they--between themselves--rewarded me with over ninety pages of gibberish.

Thing Two was especially difficult. When trusted to his own devices, he brought zombies into the middle of a ghost story--the equivalent of pissing on the carpet. These zombies were not part of the deal. Thing Two knew better. He knew. Conclusion: if Thing Two was a teenager, he wouldn't be afraid to try the hard stuff.

Thing One was easier. When left to his own devices, he spouted various philosophies and internal monologues. He did this page after page after page after page. But at least he didn't piss on the carpet. Conclusion: if Thing One was a teenager, he'd have debate club ribbons taped to his mirror and tears on his pillow.

Eventually, the three of us came to an understanding; I direct them down the path a little . . . just a little, and they take some direction and indulge me whenever they can. But every now and then, I allow them to show me unexpected things--character dynamics and plot revelations that I'd never considered.

Currently, we're nostalgic and remembering what brought us together in the first place: Thing One and Thing Two wanted to be written and I wanted to write them. We are working together now and nearing THE END.

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Read/Currently Reading

2010-07-21T02:06:00.018-04:00

Read:

Far Dark Fields, Gary A. Braunbeck

Without giving too much away: one child--among his siblings and family members--is spared what appears to be a domestic bloodbath. As an adult his quest to find out why, brings him face to face with the most frightening creature imaginable. However, not everything is as it seems and just because something appears evil doesn't necessarily mean that it is. A lot of twists here and a surprise ending.

Highly recommended summer read!

----------------------------------------------------------------

Reading:

The Falls, Joyce Carol Oates

So far: on his wedding night Gilbert, a Presbyterian minister, jumps into Niagara Falls. His young wife is left to wonder why. The writing is amazing. The characterization? So far, flawless.

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I'M BACK!

2010-07-20T04:22:00.005-04:00

I HAVE MISSED YOU BLOG AND BLOG PEOPLE!

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Graveside Tales Halloween Contest

2009-10-02T11:24:00.010-04:00

The witching season is upon us, and the book Harvest Hill: 31 Tales of Halloween Horror is about to reap the fruits of its wicked labors. Therefore it is time at long last to kick off the celebration proper with a prize giveaway! The treat up for grabs at the moment is one brand-spanking-new copy of the hell-hot anthology - plus they might throw in a bag of candy corn or a pocket-sized demon, you just never know.

The trick is to guess who wrote their lovely foreword. The first fiend to reckon correctly wins! There have already been a few guesses in some of the Harvest Hill threads at Graveside Tales, so make sure to check those (http://gravesidetales.com/forum/index.php?board=62.0), if you haven't recently, to mark incorrect names off your list and get closer to the secret identity of the powerful sorcerer who conjured up the creepy piece for them.

By the way, they know the names of the people who already have this information, so no letting the black cat out of the bag! In other words, this is where they say the disclaimer about people who are directly involved in production - e.g. Dale, Tony, Stephen, Mike, Douglas and their kindly blurb folks - not being eligible to win. They want to know who among y'all have Halloween prognostication abilities that are able to pierce the veil, so begin your scrying into the flames to see who is looking back at you, and then post your answer here: http://gravesidetales.com/forum/index.php?topic=1674.0.; The book will be available for purchase soon, so get on the (broom) stick now!

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The World Is Dead Available Now

2009-09-16T17:38:00.024-04:00

CONTENTS

Bobbie Metevier--The Loneliest Man in the World
William Bolen--December Warming
Gustavo Bondoni--Bridge over the Cunene
Jennifer Brozek--A Bite to Remember
William Carl--Genuflect
Peter Clines--Dead Men Can't Complain
Kris Dikeman--What Comes After
Walter Jarvis--The Office Party
Kyle Johnson--The New Dumb
Carole Lanham--The Blue Word
Dave Macpherson--Gather Round, Gather Round
Ralph Robert Moore--Fleeing, on a Bicycle . . .
Christine Morgan--Cured Meat
Mark Onspaugh--The Song of Absent Birds
David Pinnt--Working Man's Burden

The end of the world has come and gone. The dead have risen, and they've won. No more rallying of the troops. No miracle cure or weapon. Just lots of dead people walking around. If the living dead won, what would the world be like? This collection of eighteen tales--including entries from David Wellington, Jack Ketchum, and Gary A. Braunbeck--take up the call to answer that question. People go to work. Have sex. Get drunk. Fall in love. Take revenge. Raise families. Watch TV. Laugh. Mourn. Murder. Pray. The world is dead, but life goes on.

AVAILABLE NOW: http://www.amazon.com/World-Dead-Kim-Paffenroth/dp/1934861251/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253138227&sr=1-1

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Zombie Poetry!

2009-08-24T04:07:00.007-04:00

Vicious Verses and Reanimated Rhymes
A.P. Fuchs

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-897217-95-5eBook ISBN: 978-1-897217-96-2

The dead rise. The world dies. Mankind falls and enters Death's halls. Over 90 poems of carnage, hopelessness and despair mixed with oodles of the living dead await you.

Featuring poems by W. Bill Czolgosz, Paul A. Freeman, Keith Gouveia, J.H. Hobson, Rich Ristow, Lester Smith, Steve Vernon, Zed Zefram, Zombie Zak and many others. Vicious Verses and Reanimated Rhymes will not only melt your brain . . . it'll tear out your jugular!

Available as a paperback at:

Amazon.com Amazon.ca Amazon.co.uk

Barnes and Noble

Other On-line Retailers

Available as an eBook at:
Amazon Kindle

Fictionwise.com

Drivethruhorror.com

Editor/Writer Lane Adamson on C-Realm Podcast

2009-08-12T04:43:00.006-04:00

Extremely stimulating conversation about robots and more . . .

Click Here: C-Realm podcast

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Story Acceptance!

2009-07-27T02:53:00.027-04:00

My story The Palace Empain: Holding Back the Ghosts will appear in the August issue of Escape Clause (edited by Cleilie Rich).

I'm super excited about this anthology, and the editor was wonderful to work with.

They open for submissions again on September 30th! Check out their website: http://http//www.inkoinkartinc.com/

CONTRIBUTORS:

Beth Wodzinksi (Editor of Shimmer Magazine)

James Dorr

Eileen Kernaghan

Linda DeMeulemeester

Ari Goelman

Susan Mandel (Columnist for Strange Horizons Magazine)

Casey Wolf

Timalyne and Robert Frazier

Gra' and Jennifer Linnaea

Leslie Brown

Matt Betts

Tiny Connolly

Bhaskar Dutt

Elaine Isaak

Melissa Yuan-Innes

Bobbie Metevier

Elizabeth Twist

David Kopaska-Merkel

Christopher Morris

Mark Rigney

Phil Voyd

Jude Wright

Marcie Lynn Tenchoff

Mary E. Choo

Robert Guffey

BUY THIS BOOK . . .

2009-07-23T23:52:00.025-04:00

Do YOURSELF a favor

Robots Beyond
Edited by Lane Adamson
------------------------------------------------
Electric Crown by Thom Brannan

The Last Protector by Billy Wong

Franchise Hell by Ren Holton

Burning Down the House by Paula Stiles

Tinman by Jesse A. Lynn

Crocus by William Carl

Narrative Device by Alistair Bishop

Other Dreams by Dave Dunwoody

The Strange Affair of the Artisan's Heart by Joshua Reynolds

Surveillance by R. Thomas Riley

Primero by Richard Mosses

The Cure by Christopher Donahue

Hothead by Mark Patrick Lynch

How Coyote Made Robot by John W. Oliver

Again, Iabrochium by Joel Sutherland

Be Swift, My Soul by Lane Adamson

A Robot Named J35U5 by Matt R. Jones

Nano-Domini by Matthew Baugh

Are You Lonesome Tonight? by Doug Wojtowicz

http://www.amazon.com/Robots-Beyond-Lane-Adamson/dp/1934861219

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TEMPORARILY OUT OF ORDER

2009-05-07T01:57:00.003-04:00

GEESH,

I'M OVERWHELMED.

I'LL START POSTING AGAIN IN JULY . . .

NOW BACK TO YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING OR SOMETHING.

Easter Madness

2009-04-12T14:38:00.008-04:00

Don't click on the link below if you have a weak stomach and/or fondness for bunnies.

I'm joking! It's just harmless Easter humor:

http://myrantsandrambles.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/easter_what.jpg

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The Easter Morning Procrastinator

2009-04-11T22:59:00.008-04:00

HAPPY EASTER!

CLICK THE ARROW TO DO THE PUZZLE.

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Stephen King--The Errors

2009-04-08T16:47:00.005-04:00

While I'm not a fan of pointing out errors in the works of other writers--I know I have enough of my own--it's my guess that Stephen King (who once referred to himself as the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and fries) might see the humor in this website.

Errors in Stephen's work: http://www.horrorking.com/errors.php Click on any book to see what he and the editors missed.

I actually did notice a few of the errors in Carrie myself--her father dies before she's born, but he stops Margaret White from killing Carrie in infancy.

The fact that these issues aren't immediately obvious in his writing is just a testament to what a great storyteller he is. It's easy to get lost in King's world and not notice the inconsistencies unless you're actually looking for them.

It's my guess that the keeper of this site is a major fan.

*

Famous Writers/Creepy Facts 2

2009-04-04T22:46:00.015-04:00

Morgan Robertson, finger on the pulse of the future world?

In 1898 Robertson pens a novella originally titled Futility. In the novella a state-of-the-art ocean liner called Titan, while on route to New York, collides with an iceberg on a calm night in April. Most of the passengers parish for lack of lifeboats and because there are no other ships in the vicinity to offer a timely rescue.

A short time later the same author writes Beyond the Spectrum, a book depicting a future war between Japan and the United States. Robertson describes Japanese air crafts that carry sun bombs. In Beyond the Spectrum Japan declares war on the United States in the month of December by (you guessed it) a sneak attack on Hawaii.

Robertson also wrote Three Laws and the Golden Rule, a novella about shipwrecked children who grow up together on an island and fall in love. It is believed that his writing had a tremendous influence on Edgar Rice Burroughs.

In addition, in Robertson's book The Submarine Destroyer he describes a periscope. At the time of the writing the instrument had not been invented yet, but was later patented by another who, scholars believe, simply read Robertson's book and copied his descriptions to the letter.

Morgan Robertson died of an overdose at the age of 53.

George Bush Fields Zombie Questions!

2009-03-24T13:27:00.003-04:00

Let's all be thankful the apocalypse didn't happen on his watch!

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS--FLANNERY O'CONNOR TRIBUTE

2009-03-22T16:05:00.007-04:00

Shenandoah (The Washington and Lee University Review) is calling for Flannery O'Connor related short stories, poems, articles, reviews, artwork and photographs for their upcoming 60th anniversary issue.

Think of the Southern United States . . . think of religion taken to the extreme . . . think of people (often) contributing to their own misery because of their limits and fallibility . . . think of these things and you have only touched the surface of the wonder that is the Flannery O'Connor short story.

What about her life, her untimely death from a disease that is more treatable today? What about her personal views--the ideals that shaped her marvelous short stories?

$1000 prize possible.

Details Here: http://shenandoah.wlu.edu/%20OConnor%20Ex%20Ad.pdf

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Pride and Predator

2009-03-19T09:13:00.010-04:00

More fun with Jane Austen!

Elton John's company Rocket Pictures is gearing up to produce the film Pride and Predator--written by Will Clark, Andrew Kemble and John Pape.

While Clark is scheduled to direct the film, Elton John will be responsible for its music as he is with all Rocket Film productions.

What will become of the mannered family this time around? Romance and inheritance will be the last thing on their minds as they fend off predators!

"It felt like a fresh and funny way to blow apart the done-to-death Jane Austen genre by literally dropping this alien into the middle of a costume drama, where he stalks and slashes to horrific effect," Executive Producer, David Furnish said.

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Today is a Holiday!

2009-03-17T12:39:00.016-04:00

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

Story South Awards

2009-03-13T09:07:00.005-04:00

I first saw this on Catherine J. Gardner's Blog http://http//fright-fest.blogspot.com/ and thought that it was worth repeating anywhere and everywhere . . .

Anything to promote writers and their efforts and I'm behind it! Donate money to support the monetary prize or nominate your favorite online story.

Details here: http://http//www.storysouth.com/millionwriters.html

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ROMEO AND JULIET VS. THE LIVING DEAD

2009-03-12T02:47:00.005-04:00

Thank you for sending this to me, Matthew!

*

Jane Austen Does Zombies and Vampires.

2009-03-10T14:54:00.015-04:00

Later this year, Quirk Books will issue Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith. This time out the subdued Bennett family will be plagued by zombies; perhaps they themselves will be zombies--not much of a stretch.

This is not to be confused with Ballentine's planned 2010 release Jane Bites Back in which Jane herself, after joining a league of bloodsuckers, opens her own bookstore.

Austen scholars and English Lit Majors aren't too surprised by these ventures. Many even believe that Austen would have found the humor.

You can't make this stuff up . . . even if it sounds like you are.

Your Rejection Letters Wanted!

2009-03-07T18:18:00.009-05:00

Bill Shapiro, editor of Other People's Love Letters (Random House), is now taking submissions for a new book Other People's Rejection Letters.

Whether it be a college application, personal letter or literary rejection, Bill wants to read it and possibly publish it--names to be blacked-out on request. Any/all rejection letters are fair game.

Details here: http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/opll/

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Women's History Month Write Off

2009-03-05T14:19:00.009-05:00

Last year the emphasis was on women and art. This year the running theme seems to be women and the environment.

If you have a product review or true story that you'd like to share, visit http://www99.epinions.com/content_5277982852 for more details.

Emphasis should be on women and the contributions they've made to the environment.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, PEOPLE!

Shroud Magazine at Barnes & Noble

2009-03-03T08:09:00.012-05:00

Shroud: The Magazine of Dark Fiction and Art is now available at over 250 Barnes & Noble locations across the country!

Check out their blog for a store near you!

http://shroudpublishing.blogspot.com/

Homage

2009-03-02T14:53:00.003-05:00

On this, Dr. Seuss's Birthday, the impassioned Reverend Jesse Jackson would like to to pay tribute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPy2alWEZ-U

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

2009-03-02T00:03:00.035-05:00

Theodore Seuss Geisel

Dr. Seuss was born 105 years ago today!

SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ONE OF OUR MOST BELOVED CHILDREN'S AUTHORS:

He often credited his love for rhymes to his mother who loved to tell her children rhyming bedtime stories.

While attending Dartmouth College he was fired as Editor and Chief of the Jack-O-Lantern for throwing a drinking party.

He began his career as an illustrator and later worked with Frank Capra as an animator. Together they created several military training cartoons.

Many of his early illustrations appeared in the Saturday Evening Post.

His first book And to Think that I Saw it on Mulberry Street was rejected 27 times.

In his lifeime, Dr. Seuss wrote and illustrated 44 children's books, won two Academy awards, two Emmy awards, a Peabody award and the Pulitzer Prize.

(1904-1991)

Scribbler Award

2009-03-01T18:03:00.008-05:00

Thank you Aaron Polson for bestowing me with the Scribbler.

My honorees:

Mathew Baugh at http://mysteriousdavemather.blogspot.com/ for being a terrific writing partner and good friend!

Leah Clarke at http://leahclarke.wordpress.com/ who sold her first short stories this year!

Thom Brannon at http://www.jokersaints.net/index2.htm for putting together a great project this year and being a very patient person!

Kody Boye at http://kodyboye.itrello.com/ for being an inspiration. Though he is still a teenager, he has probably written more prose than anyone I know.

Kim Paffenroth at http://gotld.blogspot.com/ for being a helpful editor and for writing great novels.

So all you honorees . . . head over here http://scholastic-scribe.blogspot.com/2008/10/200-this-blings-for-you.html and put your name of Mr. Linky's list.

And don't forget to come up with five honorees of your own and instruct them to do the same!

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Read

2009-02-26T07:24:00.019-05:00

I just read Robert McCammon's Swan Song for the second time. The first time I think I was too young to fully understand or appreciate it. Also, it has been such a long time between reads that I didn't remember what was going to happen next. It was as if I'd never read it before.

While McCammon's books are always a hit or miss with me, I think this is probably one of my favorite apocalyptic novels. Halfway through, it was clear why the book won the Stoker and was nominated for the World Fantasy Award.

Without giving too much away, the book comes in at just over 1000 pages and covers not only the apocalypse, but life before the fallout and the lives of the survivors years afterward. In McCammon's book people themselves are the monsters and the saviors--literally.

Anthology Release Delayed

2009-02-24T09:02:00.045-05:00

Issues with the cover coming back from the printer too dark prompts Gryphonwood Press to slightly delay the release of their Anthology You Don't Know What You've Got: Tales of Loss & Dispossession.

The book, originally slated for a February 24th release, should be available within the next few weeks.

Rejecting a Rejection

2009-02-23T13:22:00.004-05:00

A funny letter circulating around the web:

____________________________________________________

Herbert A. Millington
Chair - Search Committee
412A Clarkson Hall, Whitson University
College Hill, MA 34109

Dear Professor Millington,

Thank you for your letter of March 16. After careful consideration, I
regret to inform you that I am unable to accept your refusal to offer me
an assistant professor position in your department.

This year I have been particularly fortunate in receiving an unusually
large number of rejection letters. With such a varied and promising field
of candidates, it is impossible for me to accept all refusals.

Despite Whitson's outstanding qualifications and previous experience in
rejecting applicants, I find that your rejection does not meet my needs at
this time. Therefore, I will assume the position of assistant professor
in your department this August. I look forward to seeing you then.

Best of luck in rejecting future applicants.

Sincerely,
Chris L. Jensen

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Random Publishing News

2009-02-22T14:24:00.012-05:00

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, despite being closed to acquisitions, just announced that they will release The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun later this Spring--an unpublished, early work by J.R.R. Tolkien.

The book, written in the 1920s when Tolkien was still a professor at Oxford, will include an introduction by the late Tolkien himself. His son Christopher Tolkien will provide notes and letters.

******

Alfred Knopf, Jr. has died at the age of 90 due to complications from a fall.

He left his parent's company, Alfred A. Knopf, in the late 1950s over a hiring dispute. He later co-founded Atheneum, a publishing house that went on to publish such classics as Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee and The Making of a President by Theodore White among many others.

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QUICK, SOMEBODY PAY THIS MAN!

2009-02-20T22:52:00.013-05:00

MY FAVORITE HARLAN ELLISON RANT.

(Warning Harsh Language)

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News

2009-02-19T11:44:00.006-05:00

I received an email from Brian Yount and my story Skin Trade has been bumped from issue #8 of Doorways and will now appear in issue #9. Skin Trade is more of a summer kind of story anyway, and I think issue #8 simply ran out of space . . .

In other news, my collaborative effort with Matthew Baugh is nearing the 20,000 words mark. While I haven't had much 'net access this week to speak of, I look forward to finally being able to read his next installment.

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New York Times Best Seller List!

2009-02-14T13:04:00.038-05:00

Hard Cover Fiction!

Two of the top five books on the New York Times Best Seller list, this week, fell under the speculative fiction category. Vampires and Alien Parasites all around . . .

For the week ending, Valentine's Day, February 14, 2009:

THE ASSOCIATE, by John Grisham. (Doubleday, $27.95.) An idealistic law-school graduate is forced to take a job at a large, brutalizing law firm.

RUN FOR YOUR LIFE, by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) A detective raising 10 children alone must stop a killer who has targeted New York’s rich and powerful.

BONE CROSSED, by Patricia Briggs. (Ace, $24.95.) A shapeshifter who works as an auto mechanic in Washington State is menaced by a vampire.

THE HOST, by Stephenie Meyer. (Little, Brown, $25.99.) Aliens have taken control of the minds and bodies of most human beings, but one woman won’t surrender.

TRUE COLORS, by Kristin Hannah. (St. Martin’s, $25.95.) Rivalries, betrayal and forgiveness among three sisters.

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Banned in the USA (Part 2)

2009-02-12T14:49:00.031-05:00

While And Tango Makes Three has carried the label 'most banned/challenged book in the United States' three years running, in the last century this distinction belonged to JK Rowling's Harry Potter.

The first three books in the series--despite all being released at the tail end of the 1990s--have been pulled from more library shelves, classrooms and stores than any other books in the United States, including those that were written decades earlier. While controversial books like Lolita and Of Mice and Men made the list in the '90s , JK Rowling managed--in less than three years--to knock them down a few tiers.

The argument most often used when banning or challenging the Harry Potter Books: wizardry and the dark magics--in other words, blasphemy.

At the height of the controversy, parents in over 600 elementary schools across the country had to sign permission slips if their children wanted to check one of the books out of the school library.

Real Lottery Ala Shirley Jackson Awards

2009-02-11T14:57:00.009-05:00

I've seen this posted on a few blogs, and it's worth checking out: http://www.shirleyjacksonawards.org/store/

Have your work critiqued by an expert, win a carnivorous plant terrarium, get signed copies of books by your favorite authors, own the keyboard of a famous writer and more!

Hurry lottery ends February 23rd!

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Zombie Contest by TOR

2009-02-08T14:59:00.007-05:00

CAPTION THOSE ZOMBIES!

Not sure how it works, but read their blog and enter to win a zombie movie and an XBox game. Hurry deadline is February 13th!

Details here:
http://www.tor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=blog&id=13157

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Speculative Fiction Sales Ruled 2008!

2009-02-07T22:13:00.022-05:00

According to Book Scan, eight of the top ten best selling fiction books of '08 fell under the speculative category. While Stephanie Meyer clearly owned last year, there were plenty of wizards, dragons and alien parasites to go around. Whether it was YA fiction or books aimed at a more mature audience, ghosts and goblins forced consumers to open their wallets last year. If this trend continues, '09 could be a very good year for us all.

1 Breaking Dawn -- Meyer, Stephenie 3,310,000
2 Twilight -- Meyer, Stephenie 3,175,000
3 New Moon -- Meyer, Stephenie 2,667,000
4 Eclipse -- Meyer, Stephenie 2,563,000
5 The Shack -- Young, William 2,551,000
6 The Tales of Beedle the Bard -- Rowling, JK 1,822,000
7 Brisingr -- Paolini, Christopher 1,312,000
8 The Appeal -- Grisham, John 954,000
9 New Moon -- Meyer, Stephenie 890,000
10 The Host -- Meyer, Stephenie 794,000

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Coming February 24th

2009-02-06T23:39:00.017-05:00

Gryphonwood Press

Table of Contents:

Existence by Jim Bernheimer

The Precision of Clockwork by Bobbie Metevier

The Fall of Bara-Ki by Amy M. Smith

APEX by Sean Ellis

The Starling by Melissa Bastian

Memory Game by Ryan A. Span

The Bleeding Edge by J.H. Hobson

MaJESTiC by Zakarya Anwar

Balance by David Wood

Darkly Through the Light Waters by Michael Merriam

Memory, Echo, Silence by Peter Tzinski

City of Masks by Matthew Baugh

10 Best Selling Books of All Time

2009-01-27T13:48:00.011-05:00

* According to Publication's International:

(THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS ARE IN MILLIONS)

1. The Bible by Various Authors
5,000 - 6,000

2. Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong by Mao Zedong
900

3. The Qur'an by Muhammed
800

4. Xinhua Zidian Author Unknown
400

5. The Book of Mormon by Joseph Smith, Jr.
120

6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
107

7. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
100

8. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
100

9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling
65

10.The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
65

(non-fiction/reference books not included)

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Banned in the USA

2009-01-24T17:29:00.021-05:00

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell remains the most challenged and/or banned book in the United States--three years running.

The book tells the story of two male penguins who raise a baby penguin on their own. The fact that And Tango Makes Three is based on a true incident that took place at the New York Zoo is neither here nor there. The reason it has been challenged, pulled from over 400 library shelves and the subject of heated debates across the country rests on the notion that the book, somehow, promotes homosexuality.

Since the controversy began in 2005, the book has gone on to win the Nick Jr. Award, was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Prize and received the Henry Bergh Award from the ASPCA. In addition, The American Library Association named it a notable book in 2006.

And Tango Makes Three is well-written, beautifully illustrated and has become a favorite among children. However, like many great books, one has to wonder . . . if not for irate parents and the religious right bringing so much attention to it, would it have gone on to realize such sales and accolades or would it have simply fallen into obscurity?

Dare I say it?

Err . . . thank you religious right for bringing this book to my attention!

Northern Haunts Slated for Release

2009-01-24T01:12:00.040-05:00

Late January/Early February

366 pages of campfire tale goodness!

All proceeds go to The American Cancer Society!

_____________________________________

(Edited by Tim Deal w/Christa Miller) (Layout by Brian Hanson)

ORDER HERE: http://www.shroudmagazine.com/anthologies.html

Can the New Literate First Family Get this Country Reading Again?

2009-01-20T09:12:00.030-05:00

During George W. Bush's years as Governor, he took part in a Pizza Hut Poll. He and 49 other Governors were asked what their favorite book was growing up. Bush's answer . . . The Hungry Caterpillar. While not a bad answer, it's important to remember that the The Hungry Caterpillar was first released in 1969--the same year Bush graduated from Yale.

Bush's aides were quick to point out that the Governor misunderstood the question. Fair enough . . . It's not an easy question ???

George W., however, was a reading president, his tastes running toward historical biographies and books about baseball--not a lot in the mix to mold him into an eloquent speaker, unfortunately.

Barack Obama, on the other hand, is a different breed of reader. Not only does he collect Spider Man comics, he recently appeared in one. Obama reads everything from comic books to biographies, from high-end literature to poetry. During his time in college, he even dabbled in short story writing and wrote an unpublished book of poetry.

Dreams from My Father is Obama's brilliant memoir about race, family and community. The book is not overtly sentimental as the title suggests, but rather eloquent, filled with straightforward stories and memories of youth.

Barack Obama, in my opinion, is a great speaker and a wonderful writer because he is--first and foremost--a great reader. He imparts his love of reading to his children and, according to biographers, used to chide his sister for watching television when she could be reading.

Because he is charismatic and has the ability to bring people together, is it possible that he can also encourage this country to start reading again?

John F. Kennedy did it with Profiles in Courage--his own book that went on to win the National Book Award. Further, JFK managed to turn a generation on to the writings of Ian Flemming.

So far, there is reason to be hopeful. The books listed on Obama's facebook have seen an increase in sales . . .

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Famous Writers/Creepy Facts

2009-01-15T01:57:00.027-05:00

When truth is stranger than fiction, when the stars align and the cosmos are no longer indifferent, you end up with stories like these:

Author Mark Twain was born in 1835, the very day that Halley's Comet first appeared. In 1909, he jokingly predicted that he would die upon its return. "I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835," Twain said. "It's coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it." Mark Twain did just that, dying in 1910 on the date of the comet's next appearance.

Norman Mailer's novel Barbary Shore is about a Russian spy living in the U.S.; this is the book's main character which, according to Mailer, was not his intention when he started the novel. He meant for this character to play only a minor role. After Barbary Shore was completed, the U.S. Immigration Service arrested the man who lived upstairs from Mailer. The man's crime? He was Colonel Rudolf Abel, the top Russian spy working in the U.S.

In the 19th century Edgar Allan Poe, wrote a book called The narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym--four survivors of a shipwreck are in an open boat for many days before they decided to kill and eat the cabin boy whose name is Richard Parker. In 1884, after the release of The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym, four survivors of a shipwreck, the Yawl Mignonette, were found in an open boat. To survive their ordeal, they ate the cabin boy. His name? Richard Parker.

A more modern coincidence: three men who lived in different periods of history somehow managed to have the same stylist!

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Memoir and Humor Hell: Just the Chics

2009-01-10T06:09:00.015-05:00

According to literary agent Jeff Klein, major publishing houses and literary agents are going after Sarah Palin to pen her memoirs. Advances in the $7 million dollar range are being tossed around.

Laura Bush, according to the New York Post, has just signed with Scribner, her advance in the ballpark of $1.6 million. (Laura Bush not to be confused with Barbara Bush whose dog Millie received his own book deal during George Senior's presidential term).

Meanwhile, MS-NBC reports that Tina Fey has just signed with Little Brown and Company for a non-fiction humorous book in the style of Nora Ephron for $5 million. (Note: Nora Ephron's book, released in 2006, still hasn't earned out its advance).

Sarah Silverman . . . $2.5 million from Harper Collins for a book of essays.

Keep in mind that none of these books have been written yet. Whether or not these individuals can even write is neither here nor there since these types of acquisitions aren't really about writing.

(Let's not forget Joe the Plumber in all this. While not a chic, he's a writer of a different sort. These days Joe is a full fledged journalist who is abroad covering the war. I wish I were joking, but . . . Joe says he'll spend 10 days covering the fighting and then he'll explain to us all why Israeli forces are mounting attacks against Hamas; because without him, we'd be in the dark.

George Bush is being smartly advised to wait several years before penning his own memoirs, by the way.

The man who threw the shoe at George's head . . . I predict that either he or the man who owns the shoe company he's helped--their sales have been astronomical since the incident--will soon find their way into print)

As all this unfolds . . . Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is no longer buying any books at all . . .

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Happy New Year!

2009-01-03T03:43:00.005-05:00

I don't really do the whole resolution thing, but I've decided to break my year into groups of three.

January/February/March are reserved for writing and/or finishing novels.

April/May/June are for writing short stories.

July/August/September novels . . .

Mah, you get the picture.

Any collaborative stuff I'm doing will just go on throughout the year, no matter.

(I suppose I should have pledged to quit smoking and to eat healthier, but I'll pledge that later as I've already pledged to have big fun for three straight months with food and tobacco.)

Seriously, my real goal is to find an agent or send my novel somewhere.

In the immortal words of Sybil: "I'm just not feeling myself today."

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Fantastic Horror Conest Winner!

2008-12-29T02:45:00.005-05:00

After receiving an encouraging rejection from Shroud the other day, I was cheered up when I discovered that I'd won Fantastic Horror's Famous Last Postcards contest! Congrats to all the winners!

http://www.fantastichorror.com/contest/famouslastpostcards/

Snow

2008-12-23T12:03:00.003-05:00

We have 11 inches of snow in my neighborhood, and another 9 inches is falling now. My car won't start, and I haven't finished Christmas Shopping! My daughter asked me yesterday if there was really a Santa Claus. So unless I can figure out a way to brave this without a car, or if my husband doesn't get home reasonably soon, I think there will be empty stockings on Christmas Morning!

Nothing to do with writing, I know . . .

Long Time No Write

2008-12-14T11:40:00.003-05:00

But I have been writing, averaging 1200 to 1800 words a day. This is in addition to the project I'm working on with Matthew Baugh which is going beautifully, btw.

I've discovered the secret to making everything fit into the day is to go to bed early and wake-up early. My bedtime this week has been between 7:30 and 8:30. I wake up at 4:00 a.m. and there is nothing to distract me until dawn comes up. Then . . . well then the rest of my day belongs to other people which is just fine.

Thought I'd mention what's been up.

Happy writing everybody!

CHARACTER-DRIVEN VS. PLOT-DRIVEN VS. NAMES VS. LOCALES.

2008-12-07T10:29:00.008-05:00

Is it just me or can you tell after two paragraphs whether a short story or novel is driven by character or by plot? Ideally, a good story or novel should contain the twin drivers, but I'm finding that this is a rare thing.

Dave Reynolds and John Smith sit in a diner.

Dr. Jones and nurse Johnson enter the exam room.

No, they don't. Please, oh, please . . .

Sometimes it's as simple as choosing the right name, the right locale. If everything is non-descript . . . if every restaurant is every restaurant . . . if the only way I can tell the characters apart is through speech tags . . . then I don't want to read it.

Geesh.

There are no civil war nurses named Tiffany.

(Okay, okay, I've just been to the library. I selected some books at random, based on the jacket descriptions. Bad Idea! I'll dig out a classic, read it until I recover and be back to myself shortly).

Acceptance

2008-12-02T04:41:00.006-05:00

My story The Birth of Convergence will appear in an upcoming issue of All Hallows--a magazine that has realized a few honors (International Horror Guild Award Winner in 2003/World Fantasy Award Nominee in 2005).

I'm very excited about this acceptance. Check out their Ghost Story Society: http://ash-tree.bc.ca/GSSinfo.htm

Read/Currently Reading

2008-11-24T07:19:00.008-05:00

Read:

Finished The Field Guide to Surreal Botany (Two Cranes Press/Various). I won't give too much away, but you don't have to be a fan of Science Fiction to appreciate this book. It surpasses genre, leaving you with a beautifully illustrated volume filled with memorable descriptions of plants that never were . . .

The Quiet American (Graham Green). While it would be easy enough to sum up the book in one cliched phrase--the road to hell is paved with good intentions--it is so much more than that. I highly recommend reading about the motives and acts of this quiet American. Much like the phrase, his desired destination is not hell, but that's neither here nor there. Ultimately, the book leaves the reader with a serious inner-question. Can certain acts be forgivable if the motives are pure? You might be surprised . . . A must read!
_________________________________________

Currently Reading:

We Were the Mulvaney's (Joyce Carol Oats). So far . . . effortless prose and her signature superb use of language.

Best New Tales of the Apocalypse--TOC

2008-11-16T00:57:00.004-05:00

If everything continues according to plan . . .

Moan, Lee--The Man Who Ate Planets
Day, Rebecca--Hurricane Watch
Goodman, Derek J.--The All-Night, One-Stop Apocalypse Shop
Gardner, Lyn C.A.--Kelmscott Manor: In the Attics
McKinney, Joe--The Sixth Mission
Strock, Ian Randal--All the Things that Can't Be
Sellars, Michael--Today Is Not
Gonzalez, J.F. & Michael Oliveri--Restore from Backup
Conyers, David--Subtle Invasion
Ciriello, Dario--America is Coming!
Curran, Tim--The Shape
Robichaud, Daniel R.--Betty in Sideshow
Rogers, Ian--Everything Gets Bigger After Nuclear War
Sarath, Patrice--Pigs and Feaches

EVERYBODY gets rejected

2008-11-10T16:43:00.009-05:00

Some inspirational bits for writers I found around the web. I guess the message is: we gots to keep on keepin' on . . .

Famous Rejections:

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kipling, but you just don't know how to use the English language." Editor of the San Fransciso Examiner to Rudyard Kipling.

A rejection letter to Pierre Boulle about his "Bridge Over River Kwai" said, "A very bad book."

Jean Auel, author of "The Clan of Cave Bear" was told, "We are very impressed with the depth and scope of your research and the quality of your prose. Nevertheless ... we don't think we could distribute enough copies to satisfy you or ourselves."

A letter rejecting "The Diary of Anne Frank" said, "The girl doesn't, it seems to me, have a special perception or feeling which would lift that book above the 'curiosity' level." (The book was rejected 16 times before it was published by Doubleday in 1952. More than 30 million copies are currently in print, making it one of the best-selling books in history).

H.G. Wells had to endure the indignity of a rejection when he submitted his manuscript, "The War of the Worlds" that said, "An endless nightmare. I do not believe it would "take"...I think the verdict would be 'Oh don't read that horrid book'." And when he tried to market "The Time Machine," it was said, "It is not interesting enough for the general reader and not thorough enough for the scientific reader."

Edgar Allen Poe was told, "Readers in this country have a decided and strong preference for works in which a single and connected story occupies the entire volume."

William Faulkner may be a classic writer to this, as well as prior generations, but back when he was trying to crack the publishing market, he had to read letters like this one, "If the book had a plot and structure, we might suggest shortening and revisions, but it is so diffuse that I don't think this would be of any use. My chief objection is that you don't have any story to tell." This was kinder than the rejection he would receive just two years later, "Good God, I can't publish this!"

Meg Cabot said that her "Princess Diaries" was rejected seventeen times before it was finally bought.

Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle In Time" was rejected by 26 publishers before being accepted by Farrar, Straus & Giroux. It ended up winning the John Newbery Medal as the best children's book of 1963 and is now in its 69th printing.

Alex Haley, author of "Roots", wrote every day, seven days a week for eight years before selling to a small magazine.
_____________________________________________________
Quotes:

"I collected rejection slips for 6 years before I finally sold my first short story. Why did I keep going? Was I crazy? Probably. I was convinced I could do it, and I refused to take no for an answer."
--Jeffrey Carver

" . . . It was a long, slow process with a thousand rejections. I'm still getting rejected this late in time. The important thing is to continue writing and continue being in love with books, authors, and libraries. "
--Ray Bradbury (2003)

News

2008-11-10T15:11:00.005-05:00

I'm very excited to announce that my 2600 word comedy-drama The Loneliest Man in the World has found a home in Kim Paffenroth's anthology The World is Dead (Permuted Press). This is my first Permuted Anthology.

Captain Underpants

2008-11-07T18:55:00.015-05:00

According to my daughter, there's a new superhero in our house. His superpower is the wedgie.

*************************************************************************************

BE AFRAID. BE VERY AFRAID

Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor PoopyPants

Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies From Outer Space (and the Subsequent Assault of the Equally Evil Lunchroom Zombie Nerds)

Captain Underpants and the Big Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy
Part 2: The Revenge of the Ridiculous Robo-Boogers

News

2008-11-07T03:46:00.001-05:00

I have made it to round two of Kim Paffenroth's anthology The World is Dead. Very exciting!

Have about thirty more rejections to send out for Best New Tales . . .

I'm also starting a collaborative novel with Matthew Baugh in late November/early December.

There is another project in the works with Tom Brannon (Grendelvs), but I'm not sure when that starts or of the details.

I plan to keep busy right up through the holidays.

Cheers!

Congratulations America!

2008-11-05T09:38:00.000-05:00

TRICK OR TREAT!

2008-10-31T11:43:00.001-04:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Best New Tales of the Apocalypse

2008-10-29T06:41:00.000-04:00

Letters started going out this morning. So far they are going out in alphabetical order, but this system may change. Either way, we should be finished within a week.

This is a PAINFUL process . . .

News

2008-10-27T08:37:00.001-04:00

Busy with Best New Tales of the Apocalypse. Rejections will go out this week. I must say that people had a real sense of themselves when they submitted, and D.L. Snell and I received quality stories across the board. Narrowing them down was difficult!

That being said, the book will be packed with aweseome stories, ranging from short-shorts all the way up to novellas--a virtual treasure trove of speculative goodness, covering all that is the apocalypse.

Zombies, you ask?
Yes!

More than zombies, you wonder?
Oh, absolutely!

The Post Office Incident

2008-10-20T23:32:00.000-04:00

My first time mailing something to Canada.

Long line at the post office, daughter begging to leave, baby knocking over mailer displays and blowing raspberries at the guy behind us, stifling heat and no patience left. Forty minutes later, I get up to the window and explain that I want to mail out of the country (Storyteller Magazine) and I need sufficient postage/ International Reply Coupons. After much confusion and conferencing, the new clerk finally understands. Everything is sealed, clipped, posted and IRC'd.

Later that day, I check Ralan to see what the response time is for this particular Canadian magazine. Apparently, while I was standing in line at the post office, Storyteller was being closed by the editor.

Geesh!

Sex and the City

2008-10-17T11:20:00.000-04:00

My Carrie Bradshaw impression:

As I walked down the street, looking at the trees, I couldn't help but wonder . . . are relationships like trees, meant to be rooted in place for all time, or are they more like leaves, falling away, blowing along the sidewalk, seeking out the next gutter?

Is everything I see meant to be a metaphor for relationships, or are relationships meant to be a metaphor for everything I see?

Meanwhile, Charlotte and Miranda . . .

(Sorry, had to be done . . .)

Acceptance!

2008-10-16T13:06:00.001-04:00

I received an acceptance for my story The Harvester of All Things from From the Asylum this morning for their upcoming anthology--Things Aren't What They Seem.

So far it has been a good morning . . .

Read/Currently Reading

2008-10-08T18:40:00.000-04:00

Read:

I finished The Collected Stories of Tennessee Williams--Good stuff. His stories are just as atmospheric as his plays.

A few standouts (spoilers):

Mother's Yaw--A woman develops a sore on her cheek so her husband sends her by bus to a neighboring town to seek medical attention. He tells her that she can't come back if she's contagious. Her father, a Lutheran Minister, feels the same way. When the doctors tell her that the condition will take some time to clear up, she retreats to the forest and is promptly eaten by wildcats.

Completed--At her coming-out party, a twenty-year-old girl, who has yet to start her period, dances with the only boy in town whose testicles never descended. Later, when she begins to have periods, she leaves town and goes to live with her spinster aunt, believing as her superstitious aunt does that procreation itself is the real curse, not the 28 day cycle.

These are real stories by the man who brought us A Street Car Named Desire and The Glass Menagerie. The prose is usually nice, but his stories are kind of out there. A pleasant surprise.

*

I finished Dead Sea by Brian Keene. I'm always surprised by his ability to constantly recreate or bring something new to the zombie sub-genre. While this isn't quite as ambitious as The Rising, it is a pleasant and memorable read.
_________________________________

Currently Reading:

The Bottoms by Joe R. Lansdale--a suspense thriller that won the Edgar Award. So far, so good.

A Field Guide to Surreal Botany--a beautifully illustrated anthology of fictitious plants. Highly imaginative and entertaining. Check out Matthew Baugh's plant inside. I won't give too much away, but this is a wonderful book--a thing of beauty . . .

Decisions, Decisions and News

2008-10-08T18:18:00.000-04:00

Decisions:

I'm not sure if I'm going to submit to the call for submissions over at Night Shade. The work is feeling rushed. When I read back over it, it's reading that way, too. I'd rather not submit at all if I'm going to send something that is this weak.

No worries. I'm about 45,000 words in and if I go a bit slower, I might have a nice novel to submit somewhere else in the future.

I'll decide for sure at the end of October.

________________

News:

My Story The Precision of Clockwork has been accepted into Don't Know What You've Got(Gryphonwood Anthology).

For those of you who are still waiting, we finished reading for Best New Tales of the Apocalypse quite some time ago. Right now there are legalities and loose ends to be tied up as this is a reprint anthology. We apologize for the delay.

Never Argue with an Editor

2008-09-26T11:27:00.001-04:00

The keyword is argue. I've only worked with editors who are sound of mind (my first encounter with HIM not withstanding), but I can visualize scenarios where an editor could be wrong.

If an editor tells you your work needs more adverbs . . . just walk away.

"Don't you know my name?" asked Tom swiftly.

Family and other Distractions

2008-09-26T11:19:00.000-04:00

I put Doin' it for Johnny on the backburner for a few days. Two of my favorite magazines finally opened for submissions and I felt I had to polish up the stories I've been holding for them. Also, had some family obligations . . .

I'll be going back to Doin it for Johnny shortly. In the meantime, I'm attempting to put the finishing touches and final chapters on a zombie novel I hope to submit to the Night Shade open call.

Drop Dead Gorgeous!

2008-09-16T11:27:00.002-04:00

Available for pre-order! http://http//www.permutedpress.com/

(I haven't had a chance to read this yet. So I am in no way endorsing the content, but rather hoping to help out a fellow writer by letting everyone know that his book is out).

Reading/Writing

2008-09-06T16:54:00.001-04:00

Books:

The Collected Short Stories of Tennessee Williams (The first story is overtly sentimental, but I'm going to keep reading).
Dead Sea -- Brian Keene (Hmmm . . . not sure about this yet).

Blogs:

Gospel of the Living Dead--Kim Paffenroth (I read this every morning with coffee. Props to him--and others like him--for not dumbing down the genre).

Magazines:

Sybil's Garage (This is not the only magazine I read; it's simply the latest one to draw me in).

Writing:

Trying to finish up the novella Doin' It For Johnny: The Life cycle of the Mirabella Worms.
Editing the novel The Walleye Phenomenon.
I have an idea for a novel, but it's still in the hmmm stage.