So, first, a business item: My Weird West tale, “The Truck Stop” and a historical novella, “The Man Who Ran from God” are both free this weekend (Aug. 16 and 17) on the Kindle. Stop by and check them out. You don’t need a Kindle to get them, just the Kindle app.
Blog Tweaks
Next, I just want to talk about this blog. I’ve been trying my best to update it every week. I haven’t always succeeded and it’s been tough feeding the beast with all my other commitments (job, family, life and fiction writing). I don’t think I will be able to deliver every week.
So, here’s the deal: I will TRY my best to do a post EVERY week, with more substantive posts coming every other week, starting NEXT week on Aug. 22. That is, unless there’s a major life event or emergency. I will try to keep those posts bigger, more substantive. Musings on the craft of writing, the state of publishing, philosophical tirades, etc. The off-week posts sandwiched between the substantive posts will be more prosaic posts about where my writing work is at. Today’s post is an example of the later: just a writing update post.
Writing Update
So here’s the first writing update. You can learn more about the works referenced here in last week’s post or my Works in Progress page.
- I have resubmitted my comedy-horror novella, “AFTA” to a couple of new places. Not a single squeak out of them yet, but, hey, this is a novella submission, so it takes time. Right?…Right. It’s also a cross-genre piece, which I imagine editors picking up with tweezers or fire tongs, hoping they won’t get burned, infected or mutilated. Oh well. Comedy horror can work and it’s a damn fun genre. Problem is, it’s too funny for some horror publishing houses that want “suspense” and too dark for comedy houses looking for light comedy. But there’s someone out there that will fall for “AFTA,” I just know it.
- I am about half way done editing my science fiction short story, “B.” I’m also working through (FINALLY!) the notes from the writing group (hosted by Lisa Mistry and Jason Van Gumster) that was kind enough to read a beta version of the story. I will polish this one up and start submitting it.
- Strangelet Journal just put together the Table of Contents for their first issue, with my story, “The Ghul of Yazd” in it. You can follow Strangelet on Twitter as the publication day approaches. I, for one, am super-excited to share my story. Can’t wait.
Musical Interlude
It’s been too long since we’ve had music on this blog. For some reason, I’ve been wandering through the Renaissance and Baroque composers lately…Don’t ask. I love this track, (“O Dolce Vita Mia” by Willaert) especially the beginning note. There’s something undeniably “spacey” about it. Enjoy.
Inside the Writer's Mind 