If you haven't already seen this, click and make your pick!
As for me, I'm still trying to get over this headcold, sinus infection, whateveritis that has my airway constipated. Aye-Carumba!
In other news, I have these new pen pals. Two of them are named John McCain and Barack Obama. They sends me letters almost every day. They sure go to a lot of effort to make up shiny pictures and professional-looking glossies. Just today, John McCain sent me a beautiful full-color photograph of himself posing with none other than Tina Fey. Tina Fey! Can you imagine?
The photo arrived in a big gray envelope that was folded right along the line under the words DO NOT BEND, PHOTO ENCLOSED.
I can't wait to see what Barack Obama sends me.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Deadpan Appearance
My first audio fiction appearance is part of Jack Mangan's Deadpan show #106. the story is I Can Fly, a flash fiction story that first appeared in The Written Word.
If you would like to listen to the story (under 5 minutes) click here. The story starts at 16:40.
Or, click both links and read along. See if I changed any words.
If you would like to listen to the story (under 5 minutes) click here. The story starts at 16:40.
Or, click both links and read along. See if I changed any words.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Sale
The Martian Wave had purchased a story called Swirling Beneath One Thin Ring. It's my third sale to this market and the second cat story I've sold. (The other was titled Cats. How unique, eh?)
This story is actually written in the point of view of a genetically engineered cat. I'll post a link when the story is up.
This story is actually written in the point of view of a genetically engineered cat. I'll post a link when the story is up.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Blah
I hate getting a cold, and I especially hate summer colds. Yes, I realize everywhere else it's autumn, but it hit 105 degrees here, so it's still summer for me. Whenever I get sick, it goes to my nose. I can't take a day off work because a certain project is at a critical time.
So, I'm left without energy and a sore nose. I tried to write this evening but I can't get the creative juices flowing. Maybe I'll just read.
Speaking of reading, I finally managed to get my son reading over the past couple of days. He discovered the Dan Gutman books like Honus and Me. He's read that one and Mickey and Me, and he's now reading Shoeless Joe and Me. I'm not sure what to give him after those are finished. He has a handful of other sports books, but they won't last him long. I'm hoping he'll finally pick up the Hardy Boys books I bought for him. I read and enjoyed most of those as a boy. (So why don't I write mysteries instead of SF? The market is much bigger.)
So long as he keeps reading.
So, I'm left without energy and a sore nose. I tried to write this evening but I can't get the creative juices flowing. Maybe I'll just read.
Speaking of reading, I finally managed to get my son reading over the past couple of days. He discovered the Dan Gutman books like Honus and Me. He's read that one and Mickey and Me, and he's now reading Shoeless Joe and Me. I'm not sure what to give him after those are finished. He has a handful of other sports books, but they won't last him long. I'm hoping he'll finally pick up the Hardy Boys books I bought for him. I read and enjoyed most of those as a boy. (So why don't I write mysteries instead of SF? The market is much bigger.)
So long as he keeps reading.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Progress Report
I finished the alt-history story I was working on for the Codex Halloween story contest. I can't give away any details until the contest ends. However, this will be the story I send to Writers of the Future contest for this quarter.
I also did my first read-through of the last story I wrote, Karoshi. I wasn't particularly thrilled with it, but writers are notoriously bad at judging their own work. I think I'm too close to it.
I'll be taking Karoshi to the writers group I belong to a week from Sunday. I'll be interested in the reaction.
In other news, my story I Can Fly will be podcast on Jack Mangan's Deadpan as early as next week. It's my first try with podcasting a story, and I'm not sure what reaction I'll get. I Can Fly originally appeared in the July 2008 issue of The Written Word.
I'll post a link when it's available.
I also did my first read-through of the last story I wrote, Karoshi. I wasn't particularly thrilled with it, but writers are notoriously bad at judging their own work. I think I'm too close to it.
I'll be taking Karoshi to the writers group I belong to a week from Sunday. I'll be interested in the reaction.
In other news, my story I Can Fly will be podcast on Jack Mangan's Deadpan as early as next week. It's my first try with podcasting a story, and I'm not sure what reaction I'll get. I Can Fly originally appeared in the July 2008 issue of The Written Word.
I'll post a link when it's available.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Where is the Water?
Monday, Pink Floyd keyboard player Richard Wright passed away. In the five days since, I've seen comments from drummer Nick Mason, and a very affectionate blog post by guitar player David Gilmour. Despite daily google searches, I have yet to find anything from estranged bass layer Roger Waters. Waters has been strangely silent on the passing of his former band mate. As far as I can tell, he has said nothing.
His web site is a strange picture, with nothing else there. The Roger Waters fan club web site hasn't even received a statement, though they color the photo with some speculation. I think that photo has been up many months, years even.
Has anyone seen comments from Waters?
His web site is a strange picture, with nothing else there. The Roger Waters fan club web site hasn't even received a statement, though they color the photo with some speculation. I think that photo has been up many months, years even.
Has anyone seen comments from Waters?
Friday, September 19, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Progress on Many Fronts
The Ralan.com media blitz seems to be working. Ralan Conley emailed me to say that he had 23 contributors yesterday and doubled the donations. I don't know if we'll get to 100%, but at least I know that a lot of people took the clarion call to heart.
In my own writing, I made some progress on two short stories this evening. I was working on my alt history story during my girls' make-up piano lessons. (Normally they have lessons on Monday, but see Monday's post.) I needed to look up some dates, so I worked on the story intended for the Jay Lake anthology instead. I went back to the contest story after I got home, so good progress on both.
In my own writing, I made some progress on two short stories this evening. I was working on my alt history story during my girls' make-up piano lessons. (Normally they have lessons on Monday, but see Monday's post.) I needed to look up some dates, so I worked on the story intended for the Jay Lake anthology instead. I went back to the contest story after I got home, so good progress on both.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Spec Fic Blog Machine Rolls to Life
One perceptive eye and three posts in strategic locations. That's what started the ball rolling. The blog machine has rumbled to life to help rectify the dismal Ralan.com fund drive to keep this valuable resource online for another year.
I posted in three strategic locations: here, in Codex, and in the sffnet SFWA lounge. a group of my writer associates joined in, posting (and graciously attributing to me) their own clarion calls to join the cause. Curious google searches lead me to the live journals of people I have never heard of.
In some cases the story seems to have taken on a life of its own. It's a little like that campfire game where you whisper to your neighbor, and by the time it gets to the end, the message is completely different. It seems the alert has changed to Ralan.com might disappear at the end of the month. Only Ralan can answer that, but I suspect that has become a bit hyped.
This morphed rumor seems to have emerged on a beginning writer board. Let them sweat it a little. One member gave $5. That's what she could afford, and I'm sure it's appreciated. Others on that board encouraged spreading the word if you can't afford to donate.
This is the power of the internet. It's going to be interesting to see how effective this turns out to be, or if it even turns into a monster with a life of its own.
I posted in three strategic locations: here, in Codex, and in the sffnet SFWA lounge. a group of my writer associates joined in, posting (and graciously attributing to me) their own clarion calls to join the cause. Curious google searches lead me to the live journals of people I have never heard of.
In some cases the story seems to have taken on a life of its own. It's a little like that campfire game where you whisper to your neighbor, and by the time it gets to the end, the message is completely different. It seems the alert has changed to Ralan.com might disappear at the end of the month. Only Ralan can answer that, but I suspect that has become a bit hyped.
This morphed rumor seems to have emerged on a beginning writer board. Let them sweat it a little. One member gave $5. That's what she could afford, and I'm sure it's appreciated. Others on that board encouraged spreading the word if you can't afford to donate.
This is the power of the internet. It's going to be interesting to see how effective this turns out to be, or if it even turns into a monster with a life of its own.
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