The first is a story called “Letters from Within” and it’s going to be in a little project called the One-Sentence Mini Anthology. This was an interesting challenge – telling a story in one sentence and in less than 350 words. In some ways, it was like the Twitter stories I use to write, except, you know, different. Regardless, it was lots of fun and I’m glad I got to be a part of this project. The anthology should be coming out soon and I will add a link when it does.

The second acceptance is for a story called “The Aorta”. It’s going to be in an anthology called Andromeda’s Children put together by Fringeworks. My piece is going to be in Volume 2 and the anthology is expected to come out Winter 2013. I couldn’t be happier that this story has found a home and is now going to be haunting someone else’s dreams.

Lastly, I sold a story to Daily Science Fiction! The piece is called “Tell Them of the Sky” and this is my first professional sale. I’ve known about this acceptance for a little while now but I’m still bouncing off the walls with excitement. I don’t know yet when it’s suppose to come out, but I will absolutely post an update as soon as I find out.

So sorry, dear reader, I don’t have any links yet to the actual stories themselves. But after a long stretch of stillness, they are coming.

It seems though, I wasn’t off the hook that quickly. Another opportunity presented itself mere days after I handed in my notice (more or less). Flash Fiction Chronicles (EDF’s sister site) was looking for an interviewer that would talk to the author of the top story at EDF each month.

I don’t have much experience interviewing, but I guess I didn’t have much experience when I started writing either. So, naturally, I accepted.

If you would like to see my very first interview, it can be found here. My first victim (not really – I hope) is Dustin Adams, author of the story The Gift. This was lots of fun and I hope you enjoy it too.

Imagine yourself sitting in a room with 40 some people. 23 are new and nervous like you, the others are old hands who are thrilled to have the opportunity to teach you. And they will. They’ll fill your head with so much information, you’ll walk away wondering how you ever could have been so ignorant. You’ll exchange recommendations for books, movies, podcasts, and booze and you’re “MUST TRY” list will grow to legendary lengths.

At VP, I was a Thing, I saw a sunset and a sunrise, drank my share of scurvy cure, survived the horror that was Thursday and I got some of the best advice about writing and life.

I highly recommend VP to anyone interested in speculative fiction. You’ll not only learn more than you think you can in one week, but you’ll make dozens of new friends that you know will be there as for you as you continue to write and grow.

Too vague? Yes, I know. The most incoherent post I’ve ever written? Probably. But I’ll make it up to you with a present. Jim MacDonald and Debra Doyle generously gave me the promo code for a free copy of their story Philologos; or, A Murder in Bistrita on Smashwords. And now I’m sharing it with you (with their blessing, of course).

The link can be found here
The code is: QF86G

The code is good until November 9th, 2012.

And now I must get some writing done and deal with the plot tomatoes in my story. Want to know what plot tomatoes are? You’re just going to have to ask the instructors yourself at the next Viable Paradise.

Public transportation is the best place for this, particularly trains and subways. I’m usually reading too, so the way I see it, it’s fair game.

But a few weeks ago I was on the train to Baltimore and the unimaginable happened – I had no book to read. I tried to keep myself entertained during the ride: I fidgeted with my phone, scanned the emergency procedure pamphlet tucked in the seat in front of me, studied the scenery. It worked for about twenty minutes.

I was also trying to figure out which book the guy next to me was reading. I knew it was one of the Millennium Series novels, but I couldn’t figure out which one without being completely obvious. So, I broke the rules of book creeping (desperate times called for desperate measures) and I asked him.

Turns out, he was one of those bookworms who didn’t mind being interrupted from his book.

Honestly, I can’t remember what his name was, but let’s call him Matt. Matt was on a mission to read the book before he saw the movie. He’d realized that Hollywood rarely did justice to the original story. Which was why he was reading The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo.

As we talked I realized that Matt was a late bloomer, in the bookworm sense at least. He admitted that he never really liked books until recently and he talked about the novels he read with a new found excitement. He was probably one of those guys in high school who scanned Sparknotes and asked kids like me was the major themes of the book were.

“It’s kinda a shame that I didn’t read more sooner,” he said, “books are really great.”

It was actually a really nice conversation. I think I recommended I, Robot and I am Legend as well as The Girl Who Played with Fire. But it made me wonder what makes reading a passion for people. Why do some people gravitate instantly to it as soon as they have a basic understanding of letters while others discover it later? And why do some people never find it at all?

I think it’s partially attributed to attention span. But mostly I think it’s based on the reader’s ability to believe in someone that doesn’t exist and to be able to empathize with that imaginary person. Books become a passion when you’re not just reading words on a page, but taking them in and believing them without reservation.

Right before the train got to the station and we gathering up our things, Matt leaned over and said: “You know the Harry Potter movies? They suck compared to the novels.”

And so J. K. Rowling welcomes another fan to her legions.

This is my first workshop ever and I’m not quite sure what to expect and even though I’ve gotten my acceptance several weeks ago, the excitement hasn’t gotten old yet!

I’ve been meaning to do this for awhile now, but as you may have noticed, I’m not a very diligent blogger.  Regardless, I do a lot of reading online and I would like to share a few of my favorites.

These are stories I wish I wrote, but glad I didn’t because I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed them as much if I did.

Travels with the Snow Queen by Kelly Link

Clem by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Jack and Jill by Chris Benton (Issue 9, page 154)

About Fairies by Pat Murphy

I tried to include a wide range of stories, but honestly I read lots of sci-fi and fantasy, so the balance is skewed.  Still, I would love to hear what you think about them. Better yet, if you have a good story to recommend…

Though I’ve taken a break from writing posts, I have, in fact, still been writing. In the last couple of months I’ve been trying lots of different story telling methods, using narrative voices I’ve never used before. It’s been fun, but most of the stories have failed. Miserably too.

But since January I’ve had a goal. I got the idea from Gay Degani’s post- 100 rejections this year. I like this goal because it’s forcing me to sent out submissions and not care so much about the response. It suddenly makes both acceptances and rejections are beneficial, for one goal or another.

The realist in me knows that the final numbers at the end of the year will be about 50 rejections. But that will be double the amount of submissions I sent out last year, which is a victory in itself right?

Anyway here’s a little micro-story for your reading pleasure:

My books like to talk. Nonfiction gives facts and fiction uses them to create something more. The library grows richer with each conversation.

But that’s neither here nor there, the important point here is that I’m back. And I’ve been writing with a vengeance. Been productive too. Sent out some stories to some unsuspecting editors and now, I’m sitting, waiting, with my fingers crossed. With a pen in hand of course.

So with any luck, I’ll have some good news to report soon and a story to give as an apology for my absence. In the meantime, I leave you with this little Twitter fiction story:

In his world, little boys could fly. There, no one could catch him, stop him. Adults were grounded and even Superman feared his name.

One of the pieces I’ve written in my long absent will be featured tomorrow on the Flash Fiction Chronicles website!  I’m very pleased to have my article posted among all the well spoken and interesting writers that they host.  It’s my first nonfiction piece, so I would love to hear what you think about it.  Especially you fellow writers.

In the meantime, I’ll hopefully be finishing up some stories soon and intend to post a few here.  Including that pesky little series that’s been brewing.