Creepy Things, Zombie Nation and a contest...

Well, lets get to the good stuff first.

I'm considering having a contest on my "Risky Fiction" blog for writers, in particular my #fridayflash friends. You will have a chance to win copies of the anthology "Zombie Nation: St. Pete." This is an anthology of local zombie fiction that will be released at a premiere party at the St. Petersburg Pier this Saturday. I get to go sign books and hobnob with great writers such as Jeff Strand and pretend I'm an author, too. My story "The Lust, the Flesh" is among the other great stories that local writers have put together for this really big event in my hometown. I'd like you, my friends, to help me celebrate...bust out the virtual champagne, all that.

Here is the book you'd receive if you are one of the winners:

There may be another prize in the offing as well for the very best (grand prize) of whatever contest I decide to do.

I need your help with this. Please leave a comment on this post about what you'd like to see happen with a contest. The idea I have so far from Jim Bronyaur involves me posting an excerpt of my story and then giving you all a story starter for another zombie story and having you write the story. People could then go to the Risky Fiction site and vote on their favorite stories. The top vote getters win. How does this sound? If you have other suggestions, please include them in your comments.

Those of you living in New York, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles have further reason to want to check this book out. Future "Zombie Nation" projects are scheduled for these areas. In fact, the submission deadline for "Zombie Nation: New York" is December 31st, 2010. Go here to learn more.

Now for other news:

I've received my copies of "Creepy Things," the anthology by "Static Movement" that published my former #fridayflash story "World Wide Web." This anthology is now available to purchase on Amazon.

Below is a picture of me holding the book at the mini-cafe on campus at St. Petersburg College, where I'm currently a full-time student.

I thank my friend in my Algebra class for taking this photo.

Concerning Prehistory Beasts: Arctodus

Arctodus simus. The Giant Short-Faced Bear. Prehistoric predator...seriously bad news to whatever crosses its path. This is the reason we have primal fear...our cave-dwelling ancestors faced this beast. And look below how it compared in size. Now, imagine if one could speak. What do you think it would say? In Burr, they speak. They are not very intelligent but they are just as deadly as they seem here. Stupid, but deadly.

Arctodus, like most of the prehistory beasts of Burr, were created by the Mages. Why? Guardians, Gate-keepers, and sometimes hired thugs. Could you imagine anyone trying to get past one of these creatures guarding the home of a Mage? Really only a dragon, or a T-Rex could do it. But the Mages have other protections against these...

My first literary encounter with Arctodus was in "Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dragon," a short story that takes place in Burr, but in a different time period as my novel "The Mages of Morrow." This particular Arctodus was typical of the species...big, dumb and dangerous. He'd been sent on a mission of thuggery by his master, the Mage Y'ansick. 

I enjoyed writing the character of the Arctodus in "Tiny Dragon," so it's for sure that I'll feature at least one Arctodus in book 1 of the Mages series: "The Mages of Morrow."

In print...finally...

Yesterday I went to the mailbox and was delighted to find that my copy of "Oh, the Horror!" by Static Movement had arrived.

This anthology of short horror tales is the first printed book where my work appears that is sold by distributors (Pill Hill Press for now, eventually Amazon).

I can't begin to express in words how giddy I was when I opened the book and saw my two flash stories, "Out of the Box," and "Telescope Moment" listed on the Table of Contents page as being on pages 78 and 82 respectively.

Then I went to those pages in the book and stared at them for a good, long while, trying to fathom my feelings about seeing my work in a book.

Don't anybody pinch me.

I might wake up.

A post about upcoming posts...

It's been awhile since I posted any news on my blogs.

It's not that juicy news hasn't been happening, it's just that I've been buried up to my eyeballs in schoolwork and this is a scenario that is not likely to change anytime soon.

I have a couple of items I want to post about concerning upcoming stories of mine that are being published (think zombies, ghosts and a meteor strike).

The biggest news is my story 'The Lust, The Flesh' has been accepted for publication in the upcoming local anthology 'Zombie Nation: St. Pete.' I am working on a post with various news items and links about this project that could be a big step forward in my writing career.

I have other publication news to share also in that upcoming post. I'm working furiously between school studies trying to put together this post and another one, about a special memorial service that my husband's family had for him in Massachusetts last month.

About my college career. I attended an orientation meeting Monday afternoon for the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. I signed up to be a new member. Looking forward to the academic benefits of being a member of that organization.

These last couple days has been all about me joining organizations. Last Thursday, I became a two-year member of the Florida Writers Association, another group that is sure to benefit me greatly.

The future is looking very bright.

What do you think about PTK?

Just yesterday I opened a letter from the new president at St. Petersburg College, Mr. William Law, or as some refer to him “Mr. Bow-Tie Guy.” The letter was to inform me that I’ve been invited to join the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, an academic organization. I am stunned by this news, as I consider myself no scholar and have had to work extremely hard to maintain my grades. Included was another letter from the advisor of the campus chapter—Eta Nu. Yes, the name on the letters and envelope is mine, so it must be real! 

They are having two information sessions for new invitees on September 20th, and I’m sure I’ll attend one of them. Some friends are encouraging me to accept the invitation, and I don’t see how I can refuse it. The benefits include scholarship chances, help getting into graduate school and letters of recommendation for schools and potential employers. And that’s only a few of the perks. 

I have to say I'm stunned by this. My self-esteem has not been very high lately, so I keep wondering if this is some kind of mistake. I'm afraid of what it may signify, and trying to process that fear. Am I more afraid of success? Or failure? 

I'm at a loss on how to approach this. 

I would appreciate it very much if any of my friends who’ve had experience with PTK, please leave a comment on about what you thought of it. Also, if you were in PTK, what is expected? What do I need to do for this invitee meeting? 

Thanks, friends. Your opinions mean a lot to me. 

The Mages of Morrow: The basic plot of my NaNoWriMo novel...

Sixteen-year-old Mercy Danville, like Alice, has fallen down a hole. Sucked into the singularity of a rare Earth black hole, she is plunged into world of Burr. Burr is riddled with planetary black holes that can take you to other alternate Worlds or to other locations in Burr.

A cold war is about to turn hot on Burr. Mages (scientist magicians) have biologically created many creatures, some are hold overs from old wars among themselves: sentient dragons and prehistory beasts they used as weapons. Now they are at odds with the Sages (scholar magicians—they call themselves 'true' magicians) who are in charge of the political side of things on Burr. They mistrust the Mages and their science, which incidentally caused all of the black holes, in a past with technology long forgotten.

Mercy is thrust into this scene, into her own personal hell. She lands on the doorstep of a brothel tavern in the town of Crope. The madam of the brothel intends to force Mercy into prostitution once she reaches the legal sexual age of seventeen. She has promised Mercy's virginity to a brute and callous thief named Clem. Mercy prays desperately to meet a Gypsy (wandering folk who may have magic Sage-like powers) who will take her through a black hole and home.

Enter Tom Stranger...a shadowy man who is more than he appears to be...a man caught up in prophesies...

One week to honor The Bard

I am going to deliver a presentation tomorrow night in front of my entire Western Humanities I class. My final Renaissance project is on the Shakespearean sonnet. My assignment for the project was to write a sonnet in the style of Shakespeare and recite it to the class. I have put together a Powerpoint (via Keynote, because I'm a Mac girl) detailing the history of the sonnet and highlighting some of the other famous sonnet poets.

My poem is called "Muse and Anti-Muse (Melencolia)" and was inspired both by Shakespeare's 38th sonnet (an ode to his "Tenth Muse") and a 1514 metal engraving by German Renaissance artist Albrecht Durer, titled 'Melencolia I.' (see below)

I think I've written a damn fine sonnet. I may try and get it published at a literary magazine.

To celebrate The Bard, and the end of the term, I am going to post a new Shakespeare quote here everyday. Or try to. It is finals week and I'm up to my eyeballs in studying.

Here's to the Bard. Master of the sonnet. Master of Classic Literature. Period.

Shakespeare is my Homeboy.

Works in (slow) progress...and a trip into the surreal life.

1.) Outlining chapters for my NaNoWriMo novel, which is to be called "Mages of Morrow." It is set in the same alternate world as my short story, "Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dragon."  
2.) Working on finishing up some incomplete poems: "Ars Gothica", "The Thoughts of a Statue of Dead Poet in a Park Watching People", and "Blame, Lies, and Manipulations." 

I have other unfinished business, this is just the stuff I'm working on now. 

I work on these projects when I have a spare moment. And I haven't had too many of those lately. Recently my time has been maxed out with studying and writing essays for college. My term ends 7/23 and then I'll have a small break before the fall term begins on 8/23. I hope to squeeze in a little writing time during that nice break.  

I took a little field trip to the Salvador Dali Museum as part of a cultural experience for an essay I had to write for Western Humanities class. I love Dali's work. Especially those pieces from the years when he was fully engaged in doing his best Surrealist stuff.   

I feel inspired to write a story based on "Archeological Reminiscence of Millet's Angelus." But I need to chew on it mentally for a bit. When the time is right, I'll know it. I want to be able to do it justice.
 
This is a photo of the artist outside the entrance to the museum:

To do lists

I found an online image that represents my To Do List:

 If I were to alter this, it would read:

1.) Wake up.
2.) Breathe deeply.
3.) Thank God I'm still breathing.
4.) If at all possible, continue breathing.
5.) Do all those things that need doing.
6.) Go to sleep tired but glad I got some things done.
7.) Repeat.

This is a good one, especially for a college student taking a ten-week term. Miraculously, loads of homework and term papers and studying seems to get done and I'm not sure how. I am more exhausted than I have ever been in my entire life and have virtually no time to write or blog.

But I'm moving toward that goal line.

Pressing on.

Step by excruciating step.

Dragons and Dino's are calling me to a change of NaNo heart...

I've made a momentous decision.

It happened, as the saying goes, "just like that."

After wracking my brain and flinging a few, well-chosen and nasty adjectives at the computer (and at myself and my fickle muse--and yes, he is lower case for the moment) I decided to change gears on my NaNoWriMo plans.

I was going to originally write a very clever story about nanobe-like aliens who come to Earth and invade our bodies so they can use us to war among themselves. I still like this concept. But when I sat down to outline the chapters and plot lines of the book, I went blank and all of the plot bunnies went and hid themselves. I've been looking everywhere for them. I've found plenty of dust bunnies but not one single plot bunny could be located. They may have gone to Cleveland.

"Into the Glow, Aborning" will get written, that much I know. It's just not going to get written in November.

I have had nothing but the world of Burr on my mind lately. The muse is slamming delicious thoughts into my head about that place. Burr is the world (alternate reality) where my WIP short story "Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dragon" takes place. The name of the world is never mentioned in the story.

I had already planned to start a first novel (thinking trilogy, certain that it will take more than one book to tell this story) based on this world. The novel is to be called "The Mages of Morrow" (with subsequent novels named along the same line: "The Sages of Sorrow," etc. all very sequel-y).

Burr is a wonderful place. Full of shifting black holes, magician-scientists (mages) who bioengineer sentient Dragons and prehistoric monsters to war for them, gypsies (who are lesser mages), and magician-scholars who still practice the real hocus-pocus-brew-me-a-potion type magic (sages).

I've got Burr so much in my blood (and love the place that it becomes so much in my imagination) that I have to start writing it soon.

So I sat down tonight to start writing the outline, and voilà!--the Muse is back and the bunnies have come home from their holiday. One of them is wearing a Manchester United tee-shirt. Very odd bunny. The outlines I was able to do flowed better than I could have hoped for. I wanted to get 4-to-5 done, but only got two done. However, those two are very detailed. The Muse is definitely doing his part again. Back to capitalizing.

Even now that I'm done for the night (morning, now) and, as I'm fond of saying, Morpheus keeps trying to drag me off to Dreamland (he is positively ranting now), I don't want to stop outlining this story. The ideas keep coming and coming. One thing I should do is finish writing "Tiny Dragon." This book doesn't depend on the short story, it's just that I love the story and want to finish it. And I'm so very close to the end, anyway.

So, I will be writing about dragons and dinosaurs this November, after all.

It's nice to be focused.

Paper bags, smelling salts on order as November looms...

November is coming. 

No, I'm not worried.

I have done absolutely squat on characterization or plot outlines so far. Nothing. 

I have a grand total of five, maybe six characters (main and supporting) for my grand 50K NaNoWriMo adventure. 

I have been up to my eyeballs in homework getting through my first term back at college. The only writing I've been doing has been speeches for communications class and term papers. Classes ended today for the semester, so I'm determined to get something going on my writing, and especially for NaNoWriMo. I'm starting to get just a little freaked out about being ready for 1667 per day word counts. Everything would probably go a little bit smoother if I had something more than a general idea of where this novel is going. But more on my NaNo project in a bit. 

First, the WIP's I need to advance/complete:

The poems I started as part of NaNoPoMo that I never completed: the grand gothic epic "Ars Gothica" and "Only Silence." I need to complete them so I can send at least one over to Jim at Soft Whispers. And start new poems. I need to start writing new poems. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Okay, story WIP's that need finishing:

So many. "Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dragon," whose end is so near in my mind and whose plot has stagnated there as well. I need to re-read it and get inspired. I started, but need to complete Chapter 5 of my online serial: "The Reluctant Prince." Also, chapter 2 of my #fridayflash Twitter serial 'The Roswell Revenge' called "30 Miles to Dexter" needs editing. "Mind:set," "With Teeth that Tear Flesh" (my first foray into Cthulu Mythos) and "Transcendental U" all need work continued on them. I refuse to abandon them altogether, as the muse insists they are stories worth the telling. 

New ideas:

With so many unresolved stories, you'd think now would not be the time to come up with new ideas for stories. But I can no more help the visions that the muse sends my way than a dog can help barking when he hears the mailman three houses down the street. The ideas come, and I my mind is a channel for them, hearing them whispered from afar and all I can do is write them down and sustain them with constant imagination.

I have one in my mind called "The Brothers." It is a different piece than what I usually write as it is a drama, part of which is set in WWII Poland. 

New sci-fi concept: "Eros and Matilda." Can't go into too much detail on what the story is about at this moment except to say it involves animal experimentation and is probably not anything like what you are thinking. 

Now, to NaNoWriMo.

I still want to stick with my original plan for the novel "Into the Glow, Aborning." Alien nanobe body snatchers using humans as weapons and Earth as the battleground in their civil war. 

That's all I have so far. 

Oh, and I need to find an image to use as my NaNoWriMo avatar for the forums, etcetera. My NaNoWriMo name is waning_gibbous, in honor of H.P. Lovecraft. 

I'm going to browse Clip Art.com and other sources for some possible candidates. 

If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. Keep in mind that the picture or clip art needs to be free or public domain so I can use it freely on NaNoWriMo's website.

November is looming and I'm worrying about the damn forum avatar!

Picnic Table Blogging with Squirrels

I'm sitting right this second under a shady oak tree at a metal picnic bench on the campus of St. Petersburg College in Clearwater. It's a beautiful spring day, temperature in the lower 70's (I'm guessing) with a slight breeze that's gently threatening to waft my study papers across the lawn. So, I've put them away. At least until I'm done blogging. Squirrels watch me from the trees and from the grass.

This is my second week in college with more than 2 classes at a time and I have to say, it is very, very hard. I'm not to the point of having migraines yet, like I did when I was studying web design on line, but I've been very close to having one. Took some Advil and it went away.

I know that my efforts and struggles will pay off in the end, however, so I'm going to keep grinding away at it. That's the only way to do things, really. I have to remember that diamonds are beautiful gems, but they start out as lumps of ugly, unimpressive coal.

For now, I'm content just hanging out with the squirrels. I'm a little nutty, too.

Blogging, Writing, Homework and other Happenings

I'm here at the library blogging and thinking about doing some homework. It's been a crazy week. I have a dear friend who is in need of prayers...well-wishes, whatever you can give. He has hit that place commonly known as 'Rock Bottom.' For those of us who have been there, we know that pain all too well. If you haven't been there, consider yourself blessed.

I signed up for three classes at college for the Summer Term, but I can't enroll in them yet. Plus, I looked at something on my account called a 'Hold' and apparently I have to go see the business office on the 14th when they reopen from Spring Break about the $10 I need to give them for them re-ordering me a SPC One Card. So, that may be what is holding up getting my loan. Or not. I do know they sent me an email on 3/4 stating that they have issued the disbursement for my student loan.

Anyway, I have three new classes in my shopping cart for when open enrollment begins. I'm getting one of those blasted remedial Algebra classes done, and I'm taking an Art History class (something I will enjoy) and General Psychology (another subject I am interested in).

As for writing, I am working on several new stories. I started one for the 'Soft Whispers' new anthology "Un-luck of the Irish." but it is becoming too long to be considered flash fiction. So, I've gone back to the drawing board and I'm trying to hammer out a short piece about a disgruntled and very unlucky half-leprechaun named Larry. This story I've tentatively titled "Little Green Hybrid."

I sent 'Soft Whispers' a new poem yesterday called "Fractals in Love." It's a musing of mine on the beauty of fractal mathematics. Something I totally don't understand but love anyway. I also sent them a poem for their "Seventeen Syllables" poetry anthology which is for haikus. I sent them a seven stanza poem called "Seven Petals." Each stanza of the poem is a haiku. I'm pushing the envelope on that one, because haikus are generally just one stanza, seventeen syllable poems and my poem consists of seven haikus. Jim's a pretty neat guy about those kind of things, though. I told him if it was breaking the rules, he could reject it.

I'm also still looking for part-time evening employment. 30-32 hours a week. I put in OPS employment applications and updated my regular app with St. Petersburg College. We'll see what happens.

Spring Break, Even If It Doesn't Feel Like It

Spring break at school next week.

I am glad for the repreive as the following week I will begin two more express classes online: Applied Ethics and Speech Communications. I will be taking these classes on the computers at the St. Pete campus since I no longer have internet at home. Still looking for part-time work.

I wish the weather felt more like spring, though. It's been too cold for too long.

Blogging on the Road

I got my new Macbook finally and I have to say I am really digging the whole blogging from anywhere stuff. I really have to blog from the road as my internet connection is down at home and I'm just about ready to have the whole thing disconnected (land-line and internet) and switch to Broadband cable whenever I can afford it. Cheaper and more reliable than telephone lines.

Blogging from the library at present as it is cheaper than coffee shops, but I think a trip to Sonoma's may be in the crystal ball.

I finally got the updates I needed for my iWork '08 to work on the Macbook. There was a minor bug because iWork '08 was released when OS 10.4 "Tiger" was out (which is the operating system that my old G4 tower is still running) and my new Macbook came with the latest OS (10.6 Snow Leopard) installed.

The updates fixed the bug.

So, now I can go home and get a poem or two ready to submit to Soft Whispers, perhaps do a story for their "Un-luck of the Irish" anthology and load my old iWork '08 docs onto the Macbook; in particular a poem or two I would like to publish to "Risky Fiction" regarding traveling back in time and making love with the English poet, John Keats. Rawwr!

Not sure I will have a #fridayflash story available or not. Been trying to work on a new Bev & Co. for the "Roswell Diaries." We'll see how it goes.

First #FridayFlash Story Getting Good Reviews

My first #FridayFlash piece is up and running at Risky Fiction. It's called Bad Day at Bull Funk's.

It's the piece I wrote based on a funny picture I found on the Web.

I will warn you. This story has bad language and sexual innuendo. And the end is rather "squicky." If you've got no problems with all of that, then by all means: read on, Friend! 

And please feel free to add your comments to the ones from my #FridayFlash conspirators.

Introducing "Risky Fiction"

 

I have been debating with myself for quite sometime now about a little problem I have.

The problem is this: I've got so much family-oriented material on this blog that that I get anxious about posting any of my grown-up stuff here. Pretty much rules out a great deal of what I've been writing lately, should I happen to want to post any of that stuff.

Plus, I am seriously considering taking part in the Mad Utopia madness that is #FridayFlash. This entails writing flash fiction stories of 1000 words or less, posting them to your blog and then tweeting about them on Twitter.

This madness takes place every Friday in Twitterverse.

If I get involved in this, and I thinking more and more that I will, I don't want to post my stories on Identified Flying Lenticulars for several reasons, the most important one being that my #FridayFlash stories will probably tend to be more adult-oriented. A second reason is that I just thought a separate space for my #FridayFlash stories would be a good thing.

I'd like to introduce Risky Fiction.

This is my latest blog and it will be where I display my fiction and poetry that's for grown-up eyes, mostly Rated R stuff.

So when you click that link to the right, just be aware of what you might encounter.

Mind:set - New Story in Progress

(photo courtesy of Chris Sharp) 

This is the premise for a new short story I've been working on. It's called "Mind:set." It is a cross-genre bastardization of cyberpunk and fantasy. 

Imagine a future people so calloused by desensitization that the word "lottery" doesn't mean a game where you might win a million dollars. It's where you are chosen to to play a virtual reality game via neural implants.

The prize: your life.

Welcome to Mind:set.

The Stringers live on the fringe. They refused to "sign up" for the roster of players and many don't even have shunts. They are "stringing" along. They are the bums of the future. They are the rebels, the outcasts, the scum of society.

Sixteen year old Luiza is entering adulthood and must sign up for the roster.

It's not how you play the game, Luiza decides. It's how the f*** do you win it?

Changing her mind when she is called sooner than expected for the "hook-up," she flees and joins the Stringers.

Will she escape her fate with Mind:set? Or be captured and forced to play for her life?

My "Soft Whispers" Interview & A Job Interview, Too

Here is my interview with Soft Whispers. I was granted the interview because I won the short story contest, "Pic 1 k" for January with my story, "The Archangel of Downward Spiral."

Soft Whispers Interview with Me! 

I am astounded and blown away by this. It could get quite addictive. I'm thanking God for my recent success. There's no doubt in my mind where it's coming from.

On another note, I have a job interview on Friday and they've sent me some forms to fill out. I need to get cracking on those right after lunch.

Wish me luck.

My First Short Story is Published

I am ecstatic. This is a truly great day.

My first short story has been published, both to the print publication and to the blog of "Soft Whispers" literary magazine.

This was my first submitted work for the year. I wrote about it in this post.

The story is called "The Archangel of Downward Spiral." It is a flash fiction (1000 word) fantasy of one man's descent into hell and the girl who tries to save him.

You can read it either on the print publications page (where you can download the whole magazine, which has lots of other works by great writers, or you can read it on the blog. Here are the links:

Soft Whispers - Issue One - print magazine
Soft Whispers blog posting of "The Archangel of Downward Spiral"

A note regarding the research for this story, the Hebrew name "Mehitabel" means "God is our joy" and "Zipporah" means "sparrow" or "little bird." Sparrows have long been associated in many mythologies as harbingers of death or "soul guides."