After news that the Library of the Living Dead Press had scuttled several anthologies, I've learned that there may be some hope after all.
The editors of two cancelled anthologies (Attack of the 50 FT Book and Beta City) are shopping around their anthos to other publishers. The hope is that someone else will publish, maybe at a reduced pay rate. I would be fine with that. The editors will have to decide if that's what they want to do. After all, they've read through the slush and accepted/rejected the stories. I have a feeling both editors will do everything they can to find a home for those books.
I sure hope they do. I have two stories on the line:
Gus and Mariel: Gus, a puffin who spent his whole life in captivity, falls in love with a bird named Mariel who arrives from the outside world. When she is suddenly taken away, Gus escapes and stumbles into radioactive goo that transforms him into a towering puffin the size of a building. Determined to reunite with his lost love, he unwittingly unleashes a trail of destruction across the United States.
Grisham's Council: Angry over the inability of earth's heroes to repel an alien invasion, Grisham ditches the resistance effort and prepares to strike on his own. But as the days grow darker, the hero realizes he's never alone: a dark force hunts him and the others, forcing Grisham to forge alliances with heroes and villains alike.
Then, of course, there was more bad news.
This month, Strange, Weird, and Wonderful published my short story "Old-Fashioned Police Work." I received an email from the editor this week informing me that the publication was going to cease publication. It's simply too much work with no profitability. However, the editor is going to publish two "Best Of" volumes and asked if my short story could appear in one of them. I granted that permission.
This is the second of my stories to be picked for a "Best Of" compilation. Wily Writers is going to do a volume of their best stories of 2011, and my short story "Absolution" was selected for that. I don't have a timetable on the release.
Showing posts with label strange weird and wonderful. Show all posts
Showing posts with label strange weird and wonderful. Show all posts
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
New short story out today!
The latest issue of Strange, Weird and Wonderful is out! My story, "Old Fashioned Police Work" is included. I was even given some nifty artwork by Richard H. Fey.
As an added bonus, my friend and confidant R.J. Sullivan (author of Haunting Blue) is this month's featured writer.
You can download the issue here or by clicking on the image below.
As an added bonus, my friend and confidant R.J. Sullivan (author of Haunting Blue) is this month's featured writer.
You can download the issue here or by clicking on the image below.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
A couple of quick updates
I've had a good run on submissions for the last few weeks, placing three stories and getting a couple of rejections.
So here's a quick update on where things stand for some of my upcoming works:
Vengeance. This will be part of Static Movement's Serve in Heaven, Reign in Hell anthology. I signed and returned the contract a while ago and believe the book just wrapped up editing and has been sent off. It will be available very soon.
Summary: Calvin Collins is a nobody, a low-level hood with friends in low places--the perfect police informant. Double-crossed by two detectives he foolishly trusted, Calvin gets three bullets in the chest and an all-expenses-paid trip to Hell. There, he faces a choice: a painful, fiery afterlife or the chance to get even. But in order to avenge his death, he must first become Vengeance, a being of pure, dark energy who serves an even darker master.
Gus and Mariel. I signed and returned the contract for this story over the weekend. Editing is in the final stages and we should see this one very soon as part of Library of the Living Dead Press' Attack of the 50-Foot Book anthology.
Summary: Gus, a puffin who spent his whole life in captivity, falls in love with a bird named Mariel who arrives from the outside world. When she is taken away, Gus escapes and stumbles into radioactive goo that transforms him into a towering puffin the size of a building. Determined to reunite with his lost love, he unwittingly unleashes a trail of destruction across the United States.
Sparky Save the World. The contract for this one came this weekend and I have returned it. The table of contents is set, the stories have been edited, and we're waiting on the final cover art before it goes to press. I expect to see the Live and Let Undead anthology before the end of the month.
Summary: Harris and his bomb-sniffing partner Sparky work to stop biological weapons and other dangers from going through the nation's ports. Trained to detect hazardous materials, Sparky--an UNDEAD (UNnaturally DE-evolved Anthropological Degenerate) who used to be human--proves his ultimate worth when confronted with a massive, potentially catastrophic weapons shipment.
And the World Stopped. I did a lot of (electronic) contract signing this weekend! This is for the Told You So anthology of conspiracy stories from Pill Hill Press. Submissions just closed this week, so this will need to go through editing and all that. It will probably be a few months on this one.
Summary: When the world's super-powered heroes and villains suddenly lose their awe-inspiring abilities, Night Wasp gets an unexpected call from the Heroic Legion to investigate. The vigilante's uncompromising effort uncovers a deep, wide-ranging conspiracy reaching to the highest levels and pitting him against his own government.
Harrigan the Magnificent. No contract is signed for this one, although the story has been accepted. This story will likely need some editing, as it's part of a shared universe and the timelines from different stories will have to sync up. Timid Pirate Publishing plans to release this in September.
Summary: Strange psychic messages draw Harrigan to a sinister circus where children disappear in the wake of the grand finale. Determined to save the victims, the luckless antihero confronts the dark mistress behind the behind the plot and stumbles across an unexpected, bittersweet destiny.
Old-Fashioned Police Work. Strange, Weird, and Wonderful accepted this short story, which is due for the Fall 2011 issue. I'll share bylines with a writing buddy of mine, the esteemed R.J. Sullivan. I haven't gotten the contract for this one yet.
Summary: After the police department hires a contingent of super-powered rookies, a veteran officer learns he'll soon be forced into early retirement. As he contemplates his career options, he and the rooks confront a string of robberies that only a little old-fashioned police work can solve.
I currently only have two other projects I'm waiting to hear about. One has been held by the editors, with the submission deadline set for the end of July. I sent the other story back in December, but the editor tells me we'll hear next week about acceptances/rejections.
So here's a quick update on where things stand for some of my upcoming works:
Vengeance. This will be part of Static Movement's Serve in Heaven, Reign in Hell anthology. I signed and returned the contract a while ago and believe the book just wrapped up editing and has been sent off. It will be available very soon.
Summary: Calvin Collins is a nobody, a low-level hood with friends in low places--the perfect police informant. Double-crossed by two detectives he foolishly trusted, Calvin gets three bullets in the chest and an all-expenses-paid trip to Hell. There, he faces a choice: a painful, fiery afterlife or the chance to get even. But in order to avenge his death, he must first become Vengeance, a being of pure, dark energy who serves an even darker master.
Gus and Mariel. I signed and returned the contract for this story over the weekend. Editing is in the final stages and we should see this one very soon as part of Library of the Living Dead Press' Attack of the 50-Foot Book anthology.
Summary: Gus, a puffin who spent his whole life in captivity, falls in love with a bird named Mariel who arrives from the outside world. When she is taken away, Gus escapes and stumbles into radioactive goo that transforms him into a towering puffin the size of a building. Determined to reunite with his lost love, he unwittingly unleashes a trail of destruction across the United States.
Sparky Save the World. The contract for this one came this weekend and I have returned it. The table of contents is set, the stories have been edited, and we're waiting on the final cover art before it goes to press. I expect to see the Live and Let Undead anthology before the end of the month.
Summary: Harris and his bomb-sniffing partner Sparky work to stop biological weapons and other dangers from going through the nation's ports. Trained to detect hazardous materials, Sparky--an UNDEAD (UNnaturally DE-evolved Anthropological Degenerate) who used to be human--proves his ultimate worth when confronted with a massive, potentially catastrophic weapons shipment.
And the World Stopped. I did a lot of (electronic) contract signing this weekend! This is for the Told You So anthology of conspiracy stories from Pill Hill Press. Submissions just closed this week, so this will need to go through editing and all that. It will probably be a few months on this one.
Summary: When the world's super-powered heroes and villains suddenly lose their awe-inspiring abilities, Night Wasp gets an unexpected call from the Heroic Legion to investigate. The vigilante's uncompromising effort uncovers a deep, wide-ranging conspiracy reaching to the highest levels and pitting him against his own government.
Harrigan the Magnificent. No contract is signed for this one, although the story has been accepted. This story will likely need some editing, as it's part of a shared universe and the timelines from different stories will have to sync up. Timid Pirate Publishing plans to release this in September.
Summary: Strange psychic messages draw Harrigan to a sinister circus where children disappear in the wake of the grand finale. Determined to save the victims, the luckless antihero confronts the dark mistress behind the behind the plot and stumbles across an unexpected, bittersweet destiny.
Old-Fashioned Police Work. Strange, Weird, and Wonderful accepted this short story, which is due for the Fall 2011 issue. I'll share bylines with a writing buddy of mine, the esteemed R.J. Sullivan. I haven't gotten the contract for this one yet.
Summary: After the police department hires a contingent of super-powered rookies, a veteran officer learns he'll soon be forced into early retirement. As he contemplates his career options, he and the rooks confront a string of robberies that only a little old-fashioned police work can solve.
I currently only have two other projects I'm waiting to hear about. One has been held by the editors, with the submission deadline set for the end of July. I sent the other story back in December, but the editor tells me we'll hear next week about acceptances/rejections.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
New Stories Accepted!
After a steady string of "thanks, but no thanks" in the realm of short stories, I'm pleased to announce two acceptances this week.
But first: The Peytonometer...
The first story comes from Strange, Weird, and Wonderful Magazine (website HERE). It took a few tries before I found a story that fit the publication, but I eventually found one. I wrote it last year (May 2010) and titled it (blandly, I might add) "The Policeman." I dusted it off, did a few edits, and retitled it "Old-Fashioned Police Work."
A summary:
Old-Fashioned Police Work: After the police department hires a contingent of super-powered rookies, a veteran officer learns he'll soon be forced into early retirement. As he contemplates his career options, he and the rooks confront a string of robberies that only a little old-fashioned police work can solve.
Timid Pirate Publishing (website HERE) solicited submissions for its upcoming Cobalt City: Dark Carnival anthology. This is a unique one for me; it's part of a pre-established, shared superhero universe. I've submitted to two of these ventures before (one rejection, one still in limbo). So I was very happy to hear my short story "Harrigan the Magnificent" made the cut! I'd also like to point out that the anthology's editors are STILL ACCEPTING submissions until the end of June. So if you have an idea, you still have some time. The submissions page is HERE.
A summary:
Harrigan the Magnificent: Strange psychic messages draw Harrigan to a sinister circus where children disappear in the wake of the grand finale. Determined to save the victims, the luckless antihero confronts the dark mistress behind the behind the plot and stumbles across an unexpected, bittersweet destiny.
To anyone interested, my short stories page has now been updated. You'll find it HERE.
Also, my essential post "So, What Are You Working On?" underwent a massive update as well. Everything I've written now has a summary. You can find the ridiculousness HERE.
But first: The Peytonometer...
The first story comes from Strange, Weird, and Wonderful Magazine (website HERE). It took a few tries before I found a story that fit the publication, but I eventually found one. I wrote it last year (May 2010) and titled it (blandly, I might add) "The Policeman." I dusted it off, did a few edits, and retitled it "Old-Fashioned Police Work."
A summary:
Old-Fashioned Police Work: After the police department hires a contingent of super-powered rookies, a veteran officer learns he'll soon be forced into early retirement. As he contemplates his career options, he and the rooks confront a string of robberies that only a little old-fashioned police work can solve.
Timid Pirate Publishing (website HERE) solicited submissions for its upcoming Cobalt City: Dark Carnival anthology. This is a unique one for me; it's part of a pre-established, shared superhero universe. I've submitted to two of these ventures before (one rejection, one still in limbo). So I was very happy to hear my short story "Harrigan the Magnificent" made the cut! I'd also like to point out that the anthology's editors are STILL ACCEPTING submissions until the end of June. So if you have an idea, you still have some time. The submissions page is HERE.
A summary:
Harrigan the Magnificent: Strange psychic messages draw Harrigan to a sinister circus where children disappear in the wake of the grand finale. Determined to save the victims, the luckless antihero confronts the dark mistress behind the behind the plot and stumbles across an unexpected, bittersweet destiny.
To anyone interested, my short stories page has now been updated. You'll find it HERE.
Also, my essential post "So, What Are You Working On?" underwent a massive update as well. Everything I've written now has a summary. You can find the ridiculousness HERE.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)