Moving Parts

Happy New Year!!! (Really, really, really late...)

2012-01-25T10:51:00.001-08:00

Well, I'm back--and just when it's about to get crazy busy.

Baby Boy Murano is set to arrive in a matter of weeks (our first). I feel like I should write a bit about this, and the upcoming responsibilities of fatherhood, but my head is spinning. It's a happy variety of spin, but I'm having trouble organizing my thoughts about it right now. Now that we're so close to the finish line, all I can think about is how much I can't wait to meet him. And I'm wondering: How young is too young for John Carpenter's "The Thing"?

I must also finish a story for an upcoming horror anthology--one for which I received an invitation (first time for that, too). Crazy how a story from circa 2008 can open doors years later. I never would have thought. Anyhow, I have three stories in various stages of disarray. I'm thinking of one as a kind of riff on "Rosemary's Baby", but from the male perspective--and with a healthy dose of "What to Expect When You're Expecting" satire. It's actually based on a vivid dream I had shortly before my wife told me we were going to be parents. I'm trying not to read too much into that. Another has been percolating in my brain, literally, for years. It's about growing up...or choosing not to...and pajama pants. Evil, evil pajama pants. The third is just an image right now, involving a headless chicken (I know...sounds really exciting) but it's one I can't escape. I'll need to see where that one takes me.

Tally ho.

Baddest of the Bad (and a contest)

2011-10-21T11:56:00.001-07:00

I should mention that Necrotic Tissue's "Best-Of" anthology has hit the shelves, virtual and otherwise. This collection contains the choicest skim of the scum that rose to the top over at the beloved (and now, sadly, defunct) independent horror magazine, Necrotic Tissue. I say that with the utmost affection, by the way. Between these covers, you'll find shark-fu, sex dungeons, zombies, unicorns, and all other manner of nastiness.

If you're into things that are awesome, I highly suggest checking it out.

You know what? Since I have a few extra copies, I'm kind of bored today, and it is the Halloween season, I'm going to run a contest. The person who leaves the best Halloween haiku in the comments section under this post wins a signed copy of the anthology. Not that I'm particularly cool or that my signature is worth a damn, but it might be someday. You just never know.

I guess now I find out if I actually have any readers here at ye olde blog. A reminder about haiku poetry: Three lines--5, 7, 5 syllables. For example:

October night air

Candy rustles in the bag

Ghosts and goblins scream

Contest closes Oct. 31.

Writers of the World: Cast Off Thy Training Wheels

2011-10-19T13:01:00.000-07:00

Look--I know this is probably an unpopular opinion among my peers, but I despise writers' workshops. I think they're a worthless waste of time--time better spent coming up with prose. If you want to get better at writing...read a lot and write a lot. If you're still in school, then pay attention during English class. It's that simple.

A writers' group can be a good thing, if what you want is to receive positive reinforcement on a regular basis, and to build a sense of community with like-minded individuals. No problem there. Everyone needs support from time to time.

However, if you're serious about becoming a professional writer, there's not a whole lot a group can do for you besides making you feel warm and fuzzy. It's a lonely business, and if that bothers you, then it might be time to reassess your goals.

My advice: Find a ruthless editor (preferably one who already writes for a living) who likes to use his/her red pen. Work for him/her for a few years to build your chops. Learn about self-discipline. Learn about deadlines. Learn about rewrites. Humble yourself. Test the waters in a variety of markets. Even if your dream is to write best-selling horror fiction, inquire at local publications about their freelance needs. Write a profile for your alumni magazine. Review a restaurant for the local paper. Get used to the idea of writing as a vocation--like building a house or fixing cars.

At some point--and it probably won't take that long--you'll find out whether you can cut it. If you become relatively proficient, the skills you use in your work-a-day writing world are the same ones you'll employ when composing your dream project. In the meantime, you can build a satisfying and successful career as a working writer. There are worse things.

Easing Back Into Things

2011-08-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to establish a rhythm and get back into the writing groove. As my fellow writers know, there's nobody better at making excuses for not doing what they're supposed to do than writers.

For example, you don't generally see accountants, teachers or professional baseball players taking time off to "deal with other things" or "find themselves."

Not so with writers. I present to you, Exhibit A:

Took some time to cool my heels. Moved to a new town. Bought a house. Remodeled the bathroom. Painted the walls. Helped edit Necrotic Tissue. Watched that beloved market, along with several others, go the way of the dodo. Turned thirty. Blew up a microwave oven. Anyhow, that's a long way of saying that I've been lazy in terms of the whole word-count-generation thing. I think part of me knows that when I go in on the writing life, I go all the way in, and it tends to dominate my thoughts. I wish I could compartmentalize, but I never can. It's what I love to do, and with so much going on, I got scared.

Having said that, I'm ready to jump out of the frying pan...

One of my first forays back into the writing-and-publishing world was sending an old story (that had promise) to a relatively new market, One Buck Horror. Though I received a rejection (even THAT felt good--like an old pair of shoes), I'm here to tell you that it's a solid market (pro pay! they still make those???) and I highly recommend downloading a copy. As the name indicates, it's only a buck. I'll crack into it someday.

I've also signed on to edit a few novels for my former NT colleague, Jodi Lee, over at Belfire Press. Good times so far.

Last, but not least, I recently submitted a story to a reprint anthology. One of my favorites. Written at a time when I was almost brand new at the game and wrote with the abandon only someone who has no idea what he's doing can muster.

Like a character in that story, I'm creeping my way down the hill and under the bridge...where the old obsessions live.

Feels good.

Horrorology is Live

2011-05-19T09:01:00.001-07:00

Wow. It's been a long time since I've shared any publishing news with you. So, I guess it's about time.

Wanted to mention that Horrorology, an antho from the good folks at Library of Horror Press, is now available at Amazon. The book features my story, "Imitation of Life."

Like "Chums," it's a story that features fishing. What can I say? I went through a phase.

Speaking of "Chums," it's set to be featured in the "best-of" Necrotic Tissue anthology later this summer. More news on that as it comes my way.

Now...I think it's finally time to write some more horror stories. It's been a great past year for living the writing life (editing over at NT, landing some great interviews/producing a magazine for the day job) but I think it's time to revisit some of those dark ideas that have been knocking around in my head.

End of an Era

2011-05-12T07:27:00.000-07:00

The latest (and, sadly, final) issue of Necrotic Tissue is now available. It contains one of the most profoundly disturbing shorts I came across during my tenure on staff. Pick up a copy and see for yourself.

On Amazon

Vote BULL!

2011-04-26T09:10:00.000-07:00

Outstanding men's literary magazine, BULL, is now one of five finalists for a $100,000 prize. You have the chance to support an up-and-coming independent literary magazine by placing your vote. It only takes a few simple clicks of your mouse.

This is the real deal, and the award money will go directly to compensating contributing authors.

Tired of there not being any quality paying markets out there? Here's your opportunity to do something about it.

Right now, they're in a solid second place--and they need our help.

VOTE HERE

More about BULL:

An Ode to Writer's Block

2011-04-04T13:43:00.001-07:00

Joining the E-Reader Revolution

2011-03-24T11:26:00.000-07:00

Hey Folks,

Yesterday, my wife (Jess) surprised me with a new Kindle and an Amazon gift card so I could purchase a few books. Since they hit the market, I've held conflicted feelings about e-readers and e-books. Like many of you, I enjoy the smell of books, new and old. I like the sound a new hardcover's spine makes when I crack it open for the first time. I love looking at the volumes on my shelf--it's like looking at geological epochs of my development as a reader and a writer. I can tell you about the long hours in study hall made more bearable by discovering The Great Gatsby for the first time or the day when I was about 10 when I bought my first hardcover: a first-edition IT from the garage sale down the block. I spent the rest of the summer exploring The Barrens in my parents' basement, loving the sheer physical weight of it all, and running upstairs toward the summer sun when I got too scared.

That said, I love getting new gadgets and Jess seems to really enjoy her Nook. Now that I had an e-reader of my own, I figured it was worth a try.

I love it. Here's why:

1) Selection: no longer am I at the mercy of what my local Barnes & Noble wants to shove at me. Lately, heading to brick-and-mortar stores has become an exercise in futility. I can never find what I'm after. The last time I was in one, they hadn't even set aside space for Joe Hill, Peter Straub, Edward Lee or Richard Laymon. I don't have that problem with my Kindle. I can have almost any book I want, and I can have it in under a minute. Groovy.

2) Price: None of the e-books I purchased last night was more than $8. You could argue that, as an electronic file, they should cost even less, but no matter what form it's in, I'm willing to pony up the same amount of money for a quality work of fiction that I'd spend at Subway for lunch. Which brings me to...

3) Convenience: I can tote thousands of books around in a device that's thinner than my smartphone. And with free 3G access, I can download more virtually whenever I want. Plus, like I mentioned previously, I don't have to drive all the way to the bookstore only to throw up my hands in disgust.

4) I'll Probably Read More Independent Work: If the price is right (under $10 is a sweet spot for me), I think I'll be more likely to give unknowns a try. I don't have to waste cash on postage or wait for the books to show up in the mail. Books can now be an impulse buy.

I've had it for less than a day, but I think this could be the start of a beautiful friendship.

Read So Far in 2011

2011-03-20T19:20:00.001-07:00

I haven't gotten much writing done lately, so I figured I'd compile a list of what I've been reading.

1. Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

Not Uncle Stevie's best, but far from his worst. I always enjoy it when he moves out of the supernatural realm and explores just how depraved human beings can be all on their own.

2. Child of God, by Cormac McCarthy

Speaking of which...wow. You want horror? I got your horror right here. And McCarthy delivers his prose so dryly that the depths of his character's all-around badness might not hit you right away. But when it finally does, it'll stick with you--and it will haunt your dreams.

3. Horns, by Joe Hill

I think of Joe Hill's novels as if they were Stephen King novels, but ones that have benefited from a much more assertive editor. The quality is top-notch here--much better than his debut novel (which, in my mind was pretty overrated...but that's another story for another day). Sadly, Mr. Hill appears to have inherited his father's inability to write a satisfying climax (in a novel), but because the story is tighter overall, this didn't feel like as much of a problem as it did in, say, a novel like It.

4. Pygmy, by Chuck Palahniuk

Gibberish from beginning to end, but I couldn't put it down. The sheer will that writing in the voice Palahniuk employs for this one...well, it results in either the biggest shit show that ever took down a stand of old-growth forest, or something very special. I can't decide. For whatever that's worth.

In progress:

1) 2666, by Roberto Bolano

I'm reading this one on a trusted friend's recommendation. Definitely a different beast than most popular fiction you see these days, which is often in such a hurry. This novel says, "To hell with that...I'm going to take my time and you're going to like it." As a writer, I respect the brass ones making a statement like that took. But as a reader, it is a bit of a problem unless you have the right mindset going in. I didn't the first time. For the first 60 pages or so, I couldn't stop wondering where it was all going. I put the book aside in frustration for about a week. But when I picked it up again, I resolved to push through no matter what. And you know something? I'm glad I did. If you are patient, reading this book becomes a lot like looking for animals in the clouds on a summer day: you begin to see patterns, and it is a tremendously satisfying experience.

A Bad Dream

2011-03-11T06:08:00.001-08:00

I don't usually do the dream journal thing, but this one got under my skin, so here goes.

I was standing in my kitchen, when my chocolate lab, Sally, walked in from the back yard. Actually, she walked in from the back deck, which is elevated over the back yard, but we're not here to split hairs. Anyway, she seemed very happy and lively, which is normal for her after she's had a good bowel movement. Sally's what my wife and I call a "happy pooper."

Then, without warning, the top half of her head slid off sideways and fell to the floor, like a samurai sword had run from the corner of her mouth through the back of her head. Naturally, I was horrified to see the top half of my dog's head thump on the kitchen floor like a slpit mango.

What's stranger is that she just continued to stand there, her bottom jaw bouncing and tongue lolling as she panted happily. There was almost no blood.

Nevertheless, I freaked out, and did the only thing that seemed to make sense: I picked up the top of Sally's head, put it back where it belonged and held on (literally) for dear life. This wasn't easy: Sally decided that this action meant I wanted to play, so she began to jump around. I could feel the halves of her head sliding against each other with every little leap, but knew (this is dream logic) I couldn't let go. So I kept her there in a headlock, wondering how I was going to keep her alive long enough to A) find my phone and B) call the vet to schedule emergency surgery.

Then I woke up. Sally was curled up against the back of my knees, snoring.

The Experience of a Lifetime

2011-02-21T11:59:00.000-08:00

As I'm sure many of you have heard, horror magazine Necrotic Tissue will be closing up shop after issue #14.

Dammit.

Having said that, I'll always be grateful for the opportunities the magazine provided--not only to me, but to many, many other writers of horror and dark fiction. It was a huge part of my (still) budding career, and I'm proud to have been a part of it. This was one of the good ones, folks; a true leader in showcasing horror fiction at its best...no matter if it was from an industry veteran or a newbie hoping for his/her first sale.

I sold two stories to them--one of them being my first sale at pro-rates--before joining the editorial team, where I learned countless lessons about successful commercial fiction that I'll take with me in the years (decades, I hope) to come. Being on the other side of the editor's desk at a fantastic publication like NT was the experience of a lifetime. I'll miss reading the stories, providing feedback, and working with the team.

To Dan, Jodi and especially R. Scott McCoy: it's been a lot of fun. Thanks for everything.

52 Stitches Update

2010-12-13T07:09:00.001-08:00

Good morning!

Just received word that the latest volume of 52 Stitches is now available at Amazon. Click on the groovy cover below to order.

Here's why you should buy this book:
1) It contains 52 great pieces of flash fiction (including my "Fireboomers"), and is a great value for anyone wanting a quick look at some of the up-and-comers in the horror genre.
2) But more importantly, all proceeds benefit the children of Jamie Eyberg, one of the featured authors, who (along with his wife) died in a freak accident over the summer. I didn't know Jamie personally, but I can tell you that he was a very talented writer--and by all accounts, a heck of a good guy. It was a shame to lose him.

Rituals

2010-12-10T11:30:00.001-08:00

All of the holiday cheer in the air, and all of the traditions that go along with it, have prompted me to think about rituals.

We all have them, whether it's informal ones like the time of day we brush our teeth, the number of times we hit the SNOOZE button before we roll out of bed or the formal ones, like those we might observe while attending a church service.

But I'm curious about your writing ritual. What do you do to prepare yourself to write? Do you write at the same time every day? How do you decide you're done for the day?

Show me yours, and I'll show you mine.

Horrorology Update

2010-12-07T07:02:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,

The following image landed in my inbox this morning. It's the cover for Horrorology, an anthology published by The Library of Horror Press (an imprint of Library of the Living Dead Press). Pretty nifty, eh?

I can't share a release date with you--I don't have it--but will post an update as soon as I receive the good word.

Special thanks to my NT colleague, Jodi Lee, for all of her hard work on editing this bugger, which contains my story, "Imitation of Life," along with a bevy of great stories by other fantastic authors.

Hmm...another horror story that involves fishing. Along with "Folsom Pond Blues" and "Chums," I'm detecting a pattern in my published fiction.

That makes me curious--because I think most writers work this way to some degree or another. What images, themes, ideas, etc. keep popping up in your stories?

You Can't Handle the Proof!

2010-12-06T12:15:00.001-08:00

O.K., that post title was bad--but I'm running on empty today in terms of fresh ideas.

Just wanted to check in to say that I've completed proofing my section of NT issue 13. It was quite a bit of fun to reacquaint myself with those wonderful stories. Readers are in for a real treat this January.

It's the busiest time of year at the day job, too. The proof of the magazine I help to write/edit will be arriving on my desk any minute now. Hope to get that edited, out the door and to the printer by the end of the week. I'm excited for this one to come out, because it includes a special one-on-one interview I did back in September with Tom Brokaw.

On the home front, the wife and I are in the midst of packing for a move. We're scheduled to close on our first house mid-month. I'm sure I'll be grumbling about mowing the lawn come July, but for now, the thought that I'll have my own piece of the American Dream makes me want to do the Happy Dance. I've already picked out my mancave.

It's been a big year. Now, if only I could find some time to write a short story or two.

Spreading the Good Word

2010-11-04T06:21:00.000-07:00

One of the great parts--the best part--of my day job is meeting, interviewing and writing about interesting people.

One such person is Greg Mortenson. We'll be working together on an article slated for publication in an upcoming issue of a magazine for which I write and serve as associate editor.

If you don't know about Greg's outstanding humanitarian work, I encourage you to pick up his original bestseller, which tells the story of what has become his life's work. His newest book continues and expands upon that story.

Want to know how you can help? Visit www.penniesforpeace.org.

Wrapping Up

2010-11-02T14:06:00.000-07:00

Well, another NT submission window has come and gone and I'm working on sending out the last round of notices. Hope to finish that up sometime tonight. A few thoughts as I close out this session:

1) It seems like we received a larger number of long stories this time around. By long, I mean stories with than 4,000 words. In all but a few cases, these stories suffered from an overabundance of plot. By that I mean most of these longer stories should have/could have been expanded into longer formats that would allow each element of their narrative a bit more room to breathe--or--cut to eliminate extraneous plot threads. When you think "short story," forget about plot. Think of the word "situation" (and try not to think of that dumbass from Jersey Shore) and you're doing a lot better. Edit mercilessly. Murder your babies. Metaphorically, of course.

2) Pre-British Invasion rock is my new favorite editing music. The next time you receive a response from NT, know that it might have been written with "Runaround Sue" playing in the background. For whatever that's worth...

3) Beware the anti-climax. This next idea is an oldie, but a goodie: If you show a gun in the first scene, or a character mentions a gun near the beginning of the story, that baby better go off by the time it all wraps up. Following that logic, if your story begins with a gun going off, it is likely that the climax is going to take more than a gunshot to get the job done.

That's all for now. Thank you to everyone who subbed this time around!

Until next time...

Perspective

2010-10-22T07:33:00.001-07:00

Nothing injects a healthy dose of perspective into your life like when the next door building in your apartment complex erupts into a ball of fire.

No human life was lost and everyone escaped without injury--but a cat who lived in one of the units didn't make it out. Several people lost everything they had.

Observations

2010-10-19T17:12:00.001-07:00

Hey folks,

It's already the middle of my 2nd submission period over at NT. The stories are coming in fast and furious, and I should probably be reading right now, but I've decided to take a break and offer up some observations. I've decided a "lessons learned" post might be getting ahead of myself a bit, but I think it's fair to point out some patterns I've noticed along the way.

1) Cannibal stories. We see a lot of those. Especially in our 100-word bite category. Not that we won't read them--and not that we won't ever accept another one--but writers thinking about submitting might consider trying something else. Just sayin'.

2) Ghost stories. Figure out a way to write an effective ghost story without a massive information dump that details the tragic backstory of the ghost, and you'll definitely have my attention.

3) If the word "mage" appears at any point during your tale, you've probably lost me. We do consider cross-genre stories at NT. However, 9 times out of 10, if someone identified as a mage shows up, I'm betting your story might have a better shot in a fantasy publication. That's not a knock against the stories themselves, but it does mean such stories have a lesser chance of ending up in my shortlist folder.

4) Just because your story features Lovecraftian beasts doesn't mean you have to write like you lived through the turn of the 20th Century. More generally, every writer who's serious about what they do should strive to develop his or her own unique voice. We all start off writing like someone else. The challenge is to practice enough that we develop our own style. I'm far from the first editor to point this out, and I know I won't be the last.

5) Even if they don't ultimately make it through to publication, some of the more engaging stories I've read come from those who have never been published. Even from those who might never have submitted a story. I've found that while they're not always technically well produced, they almost always hum with the unique energy given off by someone discovering the fun of telling a story. I try to recognize that in my comments whenever possible. At NT, we're about publishing a great horror magazine, but we're also about developing talent at all stages. I dig that.

On a side note, no love from Shroud. Bummer.

Until next time...

There Aren't Very Many Days When...

2010-09-30T06:12:00.001-07:00

You pick up your phone and Tom Brokaw is on the other end asking you for directions. But that's exactly what happened yesterday afternoon.

I was scheduled to interview him for a magazine piece to be published later this year, and he called to confirm the location and see about the best way to get there. On my best days, I'm not sure I could march an army down a straight road, but somehow I managed to choke out the correct route.

I was a bit up-tight about the interview, but as soon as I sat down with him, I went into autopilot, more or less, and managed to ask most of the questions from the list I'd been editing for the past five days.

Throughout the experience, I found him to be gracious and humble, and patient. He listened carefully, and provided thorough, thoughtful answers. It was amazing to see firsthand some of the aspects of his personality and professionalism that have made him one of the most successful and revered journalists in the world.

Today, I'll review the recording and start jotting down some notes for the article. There will be time to write strange fiction later.

Sometimes, real life is strange enough.

"Shroud"-ed in Anticipation

2010-09-04T14:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the good folks at Shroud Magazine informed me that the story I sent them is being kept for further consideration.

Let the nail biting begin!

More news as it comes in...

It's Been Awhile...

2010-08-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

Lately, time has slipped by at an alarming rate. It's been weeks since I last promised a recap of the July NT submission period--but it only feels like a few days have passed.

I've been wondering if this temporal acceleration isn't a side effect of getting older. Time seems to scream by faster and faster with each passing year. Maybe someday, when I'm 75, I'll wake up one sunny morning in May to the smell of cut grass and by the time I crawl back into bed for the night, it'll be to the chill of December air and the smell of Christmas cookies.

Anyway, until I get the chance to offer some more in-depth thoughts, I'll simply say I couldn't be more thrilled with what we have on tap for our readers. You're in for a real treat with issue #13.

I learned a few things during this submission period that I hope to share with you soon. By that I mean before Halloween. I keed. I keed. But not really.

Until then, take care of each other.

Thoughts So Far

2010-07-15T08:47:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be a good idea to reflect on the first half of the July NT submission period.

My first thought is: wow, that was fast.

Second: I've read a good mix of stories in terms of theme, length, and quality. Some very pleasant surprises have popped up and I feel more energized than ever about the things we writers can accomplish with just a few words. There have also been a few that have surprised me in less-than-pleasant ways. But you know what? I'd rather read something that gets me fired up for any reason than one that just makes me say "meh" at the end.

Thank you all for sharing your talents and energy.

I'll post more later...

Fire Boomers up at Fifty-Two Stitches

2010-07-04T09:22:00.001-07:00

My short-short, "Fire Boomers" is up at Fifty-Two Stitches. A little Independence Day mayhem for your reading pleasure. Please check it out and, if you feel so inclined, let me know what you think.

This afternoon, it's time to read/respond to some NT submissions.

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend.

It Has Begun

2010-07-02T05:47:00.000-07:00

Well, it officially began yesterday, but I didn't get around to posting about it.

The July Necrotic Tissue submission period is now open. Those of you who follow this blog (I know there are one or two of you) know that this is my first submission period as one of the publication's associate editors.

I don't have much to say at this point other than I'm excited to get started. I've been at the writing/editing gig professionally for about five years now, but this is my first shot at editing for a fiction magazine. It's something I've wanted to try for a long time. I'll post more detailed musings once I get a better feel for it.

Thank you, in advance, to everyone who submits a story.

Tally-ho.

Winning Hearts and Minds...One Story at a Time

2010-06-11T14:00:00.000-07:00

A fine upstanding lunatic named Vince graces the cover of the upcoming issue of Necrotic Tissue--which also contains my story, "Chums."

Vince wants to be your pal. I suggest you just go along with it. Purchase your subscription.

Here it Is...

2010-05-19T10:03:00.001-07:00

My thanks to Mr. R. Scott McCoy for this amazing opportunity.

Read more here: http://stygianpublications.blogspot.com/2010/05/change-only-constant.html.

Polishing the Brass on the Titanic

2010-05-11T10:32:00.000-07:00

Tyra Banks has signed a three-book deal to write novels about a magical place she calls Modelland, where life can change in the blink of a smoky eye.

And the band played on. Minutes before the mighty ship broke apart and disappeared into the crushing depths, aspiring writer Doug Murano was spotted near the lounge, sipping on a white Russian, staring wistfully at something in the distance...something glorious, beautiful and perceptible to him alone.

That Other Thing I Do

2010-05-10T11:55:00.000-07:00

While it may be somewhat slow on the fiction front, that doesn't mean I'm not writing.

During the past couple of weeks, I've been going like gangbusters at the day job writing, editing and preparing to publish the spring 2010 issue of my university's biannual alumni magazine.

Some good news here:
1) Despite the small size of our team, we're on schedule for an early-June publish date.
2) The cover story I've spent the last few months putting together has come out nicely--and it's huge. It's an article about an alum who has gone on to be a successful regional writer. Although it was fun do do the interview and write the thing, I'm always a bit jumpy when writing about another writer. Especially when I have to write the last 1,000 words hopped up on cold meds. However, the draft came back with rave reviews. Whew.
3) I think, overall, we're going to have an interesting issue. Good variety.
4) Putting a magazine together is fun. Hard work, but fun. I still can't believe I get paid to write about interesting people and help guide each issue toward publication. I have a great job.

Progress (or Lack Thereof)

2010-04-28T13:57:00.000-07:00

Hello readers.

Well, I'm still alive and at it--albeit at a pretty slow pace. I seem to have come down with some sort of mysterious jungle illness during the past week, which has not only caused me to miss some work, but has taken a serious bite out of my fiction writing time.

The good news is that there seems to be no shortage of ideas floating around the old noggin.

Hopefully, I'll still be able to make deadline for the Comet Press extreme creatures anthology. If not, I'm thinking the story will be plenty marketable to other publications, since it's character rather than creature driven. Oh, there's a nasty little beast in the story, but it's the main character's weakness that creates the havoc. And that's the way I likes it!

Micro-Fiction Monday

2010-04-05T13:37:00.000-07:00

Submitted a drabble to the folks over at Necrotic Tissue. This one's based on something I saw two years ago at a local diner that made me smile at first, and then cringe once I thought it through.

Since then, I've tried to write a full-length story about it, but I keep hitting the wall. I chopped what I had down to the barest essence and sent it in. It felt good.

It's called "Fair Shake." Regardless of how it does, I'm pleased that I finally brought some resolution to the story.

All Work and No Play Makes Doug a Dull Boy

2010-03-31T08:15:00.000-07:00

After several days of carrying random stuff from the old apartment, shoving as much of it as I could into the U-Haul and my Jeep, and then unloading at the new place 85 miles away, we are finally moved. This is good news.

The bad news is that it's taken every ounce of my time and energy to make it happen. With the wife's broken leg keeping her from carrying much, it was...difficult to accomplish. That means no writing since approximately last Friday.

"That Damned Spot" is still in-progress. With the 3-day weekend coming up, I'm hoping to finish up this beastie.

Although, something about Easter always makes me want to write a zombie story. Not sure why...

So Much to Do (Updated)

2010-03-23T09:12:00.001-07:00

In the past few weeks, the small presses have come alive with the sound of anthology announcements.

Permuted Press just announced a time travel anthology.
Severed Press just announced Dead Bait 2.
Comet Press has two anthology listings.

These are high-quality markets, and will surely be very competitive. I have ideas cooking up for all of them already, which is a good sign in terms of my ability to produce stories. Late nights, here I come.

Update: 600 words in the can tonight for "That Damned Spot." I'm beginning to fall in love with the tentative title, so it might not be so tentative anymore.

Story Progress

2010-03-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

I’m working on a story I'm tentatively calling “That Damned Spot” for submission to the Comet Press extreme creatures anthology.

Despite years of trying to pin down my technique, my writing still defies attempts at building a regular process. Sometimes, I compose the thing around an image. Other times, I think of the whole thing at once and write like a madman until it's drafted. Some come at me in bits and pieces--little moments and bits of backstory that may or may not make it into the draft, but help me to establish the tone and situation. "That Damned Spot" came at me in ten-second clips (relative to in-story time) like Hell's highlight reel. Then, the other day, I thought up an ending, so I guess it’s just a matter of tying the high points together.

If all goes well, this story will include: auto-erotic asphyxiation, obsession, compulsion, painful choices, vicious cycles, black humor and lots and lots of crimson splashes.

Giddy-up.

Black Ribbons

2010-03-09T08:59:00.000-08:00

If you like psychedelic music peppered with social commentary, wry humor, searing guitar solos and even a few visits from our old pal Uncle Stevie (King, that is) I recommed you check out Black Ribbons.

This is the latest album from Shooter Jennings, and one of the more interesting musical experiences I've had in a while.

Prepare to dedicate yourself to the whole experience. This sprawling concept album was not built around singles, but designed to take you on a midnight ride on empty highways, past deserted roadhouses, into a not-too-distant future where forces of suck are about to snuff out the last bright spot on the radio dial.

Buy the album. Push PLAY. Sais Jennings and King will do the rest.

Antichrist: Not for the Faint of Heart

2010-03-07T18:10:00.000-08:00

I saw the movie AntiChrist today. I still don't know what to think about it, or even why it's called what it is.

You hear about a movie called AntiChrist, you think evil children, the end of the world and at least one character saying something like: "It's time to fulfill your destiny."

None of that happens here. There was a kid in the movie, and, indeed, he's the reason for much of the bad stuff that happens to our heroes (can we even call them that??) but *spoiler alert* he bites it in the first ten minutes. So at that point, I'm already wondering what gives.

As for the next hour-and-a-half or so? All I can say is lay off the snacks. You're going to be thankful for the empty stomach by the end. And forget about it making much sense at all.

Get ready, because there will be blood. This film includes (going from memory here):

A partially-birthed dead animal fetus
A self-disemboweling fox who spouts cryptic phrases
Scissor-fu involving genital mutilation
Brick (or wood block?)-fu involving genital mutilation
Drill-fu involving a character's lower leg
Gratuitous forest masturbation
Blood ejaculation
The "bad naked": male (including many, many slow-motion shots of Willem Dafoe's gyrating backside--fair warning)
The "bad naked": female
An inexplicable epilogue that will make you say "WTF"

And, somehow, I can't say I regret watching it. For the most part, it was beautifully shot, superbly acted and, while disturbing as all get-out, somehow poetic. I have no idea what the filmmakers had in mind when they made it, but I'll be wondering about it for a long time. That's more than I can say for most of the films I watch.

On the flipside--for pure, zombie fun, try Dead Snow. It has everything: Nazis, zombies, Nazi- zombies, a snowmobile-mounted machine gun, and one of the coolest battle scenes I can remember watching. Think Braveheart, but much smaller in scale and involving twenty-somethings taking on a Nazi-zombie army in the mountains of Scandinavia. Add a talented cast and a few nice nods to genre staples, and we have ourselves a winner.

On Saying "No"

2010-03-04T14:22:00.000-08:00

Saying "no." I've always found it difficult to do when it comes to writing work and related collaborations. I don't know why. What I do know is that it often leaves me feeling drained, shelled, and unable to meet expectations. I like saying "yes." That word opens doors. That word leads to more work.

Person 1: Can you take a look at this before I send it out?
Me: Sure thing--when do you need it back?

Person 2: I need some copy for a brochure, can you help?
Me: Sure thing--what's my deadline?

And so on. Don't get me wrong--I'm not complaining about work being available. That's a good thing. I'm just illustrating my complete inability to turn anything down.

Well, the other day, I finally did it. I said "no" to a project. And it felt good...eventually. At first, I felt awful about it, but there was no denying that I was overloaded with stuff to do--very little of it writing. I'm caring for my injured wife. I'm preparing for a move at the end of the month. I'm trying to stay ahead of the curve with the day job--well, technically that's writing, but not my writing. I'm trying to maintain my health and sanity. I'm editing a friend's manuscript. I'm trying to read books, listen to music and eat every once in a while.

So, for the first time in a long time, I admitted that I couldn't handle any more. I said the n-word. I backed out. And it was met with silence.

To my surprise, that was O.K. with me. Bridges burned? Maybe. But at this point in my life, silence is something I can really dig.

On to the next thing. It's time to write some fiction.

First. Pro. Sale.

2010-02-21T08:34:00.000-08:00

Today, I received the good news that "Chums" was accepted over at Necrotic Tissue.

The story also holds the honor of being the July Editor's Pick, which earns pro pay. I know that the drive to create fiction is supposed to come from within--and it does--but this kind of news doesn't hurt one bit. I don't know if I'm like other writers in this feeling, but every time something like this comes along, I feel a little less crazy for wanting to try to make a go at my dreams. Everything feels a little more possible on days like today.

I'm a happy guy. And lucky, too.

Oy.

2010-02-08T20:30:00.000-08:00

So I finally finished the last half of Under the Dome. It only took having my wife break her leg in three places in a snowboarding accident. If hospital time is good for anything, it's clearing out the old reading list.

That, and eating pie. Gotta love hospital pie.

All in all, it was a good book. A bit schmaltzy near the end, but hey, it works. And Uncle Stevie is almost always a little schmaltzy with his endings. It's endearing. Or something. You try finding a better word while running on 45 minutes of sleep in the last two days.

O.K.

Time for bed.

Progress, Creatures and Fast Zombies

2010-02-06T10:13:00.000-08:00

For the first time in quite a while, I'm writing new fiction. Two stories, now, in fact.

One of the stories has been percolating forever in my imagination. It's time to get that one down on paper...or the virtual stuff created in my word processing program. I think it'll be done by month's end. Who knows where that one will go.

The other one started out as a joke--just something I said to make my wife laugh. One of those "I'm going to write a story about XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX," conversations. Turns out that the premise had promise. If all goes well, I plan to submit that one to the newly announced Comet Press creatures anthology. I published my first anthology story with them, and they do some quality work, so whenever they announce a new project, I try to throw my hat in the ring.

In other news, I watched Zombieland the other day. Good entertainment. Woody steals the show. I was a little disappointed with the fact that the zombies were more akin to the Infected of 28 Days Later rather than actually being undead. Pretty much the same result as far as the zombies go (except they're fast and, it seems, a bit more "with it"), but I dunno. I like my zombies undead rather than just sick. Minor gripe against a pretty strong addition to the genre.

Until next time...

Shortlisted and Feeling It

2010-01-14T09:09:00.000-08:00

Today, I received the good news that the good folks at Necrotic Tissue enjoyed my story, "Chums," enough to put it on their shortlist.

While I've had abysmal luck so far with shortlists during my brief career, I can't help but to take a moment and smile. And hope.

In other news, my imagination seems to be thawing out with the weather. These three weeks or so of dark, blizzardy conditions put a heckuva damper on my will to be creative. Now that the sun is shining (even though it's still cold) I'm finding a renewed desire to get back to work--making my fingers do what one of my good friends calls "the ticky tap dance" on the keyboard. I'm feeling it, in other words. Let's just see what I can do with the rest of January.

Tally ho.

Royalties, Class Acts and Other Happy Things

2010-01-10T11:40:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I received a royalty check for the first story I ever placed in an anthology. While, admittedly, there's nothing "royal" about the amount (dollar menu here I come!!), it's still a nice reminder that hard work does, indeed, pay off. It's also a nice reminder about how far I've come since I started doing this.

At the time I placed that story, I wasn't sure I could replicate the sale. Turns out, I could. I'm still after that elusive first pro-rate sale, and I'm receiving many more rejections than acceptances, but the sales have come at a steady clip. Not to mention, I've met some really amazing writers and editors along the way--some of whom visit this blog from time to time.

Speaking of class acts, I'd like to take a moment and say that Brett Savory and the rest of the folks over at ChiZine know how to do business. They don't need kudos from a no-name like me, but I really appreciated the promptness and professionalism of their response to a query I sent them regarding a story I submitted back in October. I may not have received the answer I was hoping for, but it was personal, positive and I didn't have to sweat very long.

That swift response provided me with the opportunity to submit the story elsewhere today. Hopefully, I'll have better luck with it there.

Sorry--It's Been a While

2009-12-30T18:31:00.000-08:00

And it will probably be a while before I have anything much to say in the way of new writing. Much has changed over the past two months. So many good things. I just need to catch my breath and get a bit settled.

To everyone who has supported me in my writing endeavors this year, I extend my deepest thanks. The pay so far has been meager, but the publications have come steadily and the thrill is constant. I am living the dream.

I will rededicate myself to the blank page in early 2010--that includes the blank blog page. Until then, stay safe and take care of each other.

ZOMBONAUTS has Lifted Off!

2009-12-04T16:57:00.000-08:00

Get your copy today. http://www.amazon.com/Zombonauts-Undead-Univese-Dr-Pus/dp/1449916147/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259974148&sr=8-1.

Surviving the Zompocalypse

2009-11-24T18:38:00.000-08:00

A zombageddon MMO. How cool is that? Follow the link below for full details.

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/104/1049085p1.html

Road Trippin' (again)

2009-11-19T19:33:00.001-08:00

Just a note to say that the special Road Trip edition of The Monsters Next Door is available for purchase.

The issue features my story, "The Long Drive Home," and a lot of other top-notch stories by top-notch authors, including one by Mr. Aaron Polson (who was also kind enough to let me into not one, but two editions of his 52 Stitches anthology).

Go. Buy. Read. You know you want to.

Horrorology Table of Contents!

2009-11-18T16:31:00.000-08:00

Hello gentle readers,

I was perusing the Library of Horror forum today and noticed that the TOC for Horrorology has been released.

By the looks of it, I'm in good company. No release date set, but I understand it's in the editing phase. More info, including ordering information, as I get it.

Tom Hamilton - The Adversary
Mark M. Johnson - Mouser
T. Patrick Rooney - Alister Somerby
Derek Goodman - A Dance by Way of the Razor
Myrrym Davies - A Severe Disadvantage
John McCuaig - Ruby
Joel A. Sutherland - The Man Within the Beast
Jamie Eyberg - Undertow
Eric S. Brown - The Underneath
Doug Murano - Imitation of Life
Carey Burns - The Dark Ride
Patrick Rutigliano - The Grove
David Dunwoody - The New Curse
Brad Zipprich - Tattooed Sweets
Natalie L. Sin - Trouble by the Yard
Barry Napier - Notes on How it all Ended
John Grover - Projecting Evil
Jodi Lee - Thirsty
Dylan J. Morgan - The Passenger
Christopher Fulbright - Encounter on Old Temple Road
Sheri Gambino - Relik the Clown
David Chrisom - The Woods, Dark and Deep
Keith Gouveia - Dealing with Death
P.D. Hansen - Double Lupus

Christmas Comes Early to the Murano Household

2009-11-17T19:09:00.001-08:00

My wife recently surprised me with the Billy Corgan signature Stratocaster I've been ogling for over a year. Just thought I'd share.

Not much happening on the fiction front. I'm reluctant to call it a slump. I've just been writing more nonfiction lately--mostly for the day job. It's been fun.

More later...

(Another) Fifty-Two Stitches and a Question

2009-11-02T16:15:00.000-08:00

Hello readers,

I received the good news today that my story, "Fire Boomers," has been accepted for inclusion in the 2010 edition of Fifty-Two Stitches.

The 2009 edition (available for purchase now) was a blast to read, and included some great talent from cover to cover. Kudos to Mr. Aaron Polson and the editorial staff at Strange Publications for putting together such a strong anthology.

In other news, why is it that when I tell people I write horror stories, they always look at me like I just kicked their dog? Then, the inevitable question: "Why do you write horror? You seem like such a happy guy." Does anyone else get this? Like there has to be something wrong with a person who writes horror. I feel like I ought to come up with something good to say to this question, because when I say, "Nope, I'm perfectly normal. Just like to write horror stories," they look at me like they think I'm hiding something. Worse, they seem to be disappointed, like they wish there was something more behind my writing. Maybe it's better to say something like: "Yeah, when I was six, I watched my uncle Albert drown a whole litter of dalmatian puppies in an ice cream pail one by one. Then he fed them to his cat while he made me play "Stairway to Heaven" on his banjo. Ever since then, I knew I was going to be a horror writer."

Cripes.

Creature Features is Here!

2009-10-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Just a quick note to let you know that House of Horror's anthology, Creature Features, (featuring my story, "Oscar") is now available for purchase. Visit www.houseofhorror.org.uk for full details!

Editors are People, Too--or--Read the Guidelines!

2009-10-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

The other day, an editor unloaded on my ass for not following the posted guidelines.

Strange thing was, the wrath resulted from a mistake on the editor's part (long story)--not mine. Luckily, I had saved the email chain of communication, and had proof of this fact, so I was able to clear things up fairly quickly. Not that I'm into arguing with editors, but I also don't like to be called out on the carpet for something I didn't do. I pride myself on following guidelines and conducting myself with a high degree of professionalism.

Anyway, eventually, we both had a good laugh about the whole thing. The editor was mortified for blowing up at me, and admitted that they had been bottling up a great deal of rage due to the fact that a high percentage of submissions were coming in that completely ignored the guidelines. It just so happened that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

On one hand, it was an upbraiding I didn't deserve. On the other hand, it was an interesting glimpse into the world of editing a publication for a small press and a revealing bit of human interaction.

So if I may take a moment to implore all aspiring authors: read and follow publishers' guidelines. If you're unsure of what they are, query. It was a happy ending for me this time, but it was also a firm reminder of the damage that a careless eye toward guidelines can cause for young writers.

If your story is rejected, you want it to be because your story wasn't a good fit, not because you've shown yourself to be a careless doofus who didn't bother to read the guidelines.

First Snow

2009-10-11T15:06:00.001-07:00

Hello, again.

A few weeks ago, I decided to try writing a novel. I don't think I've hit my stride yet with short stories, but working on something longer and more in-depth sounded like fun. I'll still write shorter pieces, but will concentrate most of my efforts on the novel.

I won't give away too many details, but it's kind of about wise management of natural resources. But with monsters.

I committed myself to starting immediately after the first snowflakes fell, with a completion goal set for Valentine's Day. I thought that I'd likely start just after Halloween, which (I thought) would give me plenty of time to think things through.

Well, joke's on me. Snow fell this weekend (is, in fact, falling as I write this), and I realize that it's time to pony up the words. It's an exciting prospect, but also an intimidating one. I don't have much of a plan, but perhaps that's a good thing.

Worst case scenario: I'll have a crummy novel on file. I figure a crummy novel is better than no novel.

And hey, I might actually come up with something good. Who knows? It's new territory.

Deadgirl

2009-10-03T18:48:00.000-07:00

Two can keep a secret, if one of them is dead. That's how the old saying goes, at least. In the 2008 movie, Deadgirl, two young men discover how that situation plays out when three people are involved. And, oh yeah, one of them happens to be dead. Or undead.

I'll say it up front: amazing movie. And the best part was that I didn't see it coming at all.

I came across this gem as I was browsing new movies available for streaming through Netfilx. It caught my eye. I love horror. I love zombies. However, after reading the synopsis, I wasn't sure it was my style. Some topics just go too far--even for yours truly. If it wasn't available for instant streaming I'm not sure I would have given it a chance. And that would have been a shame.

Like the best zombie movies, it's not really about the zombie(s) at all. It's about what happens when ordinary people find themselves in extraordinary situations; how people show their true colors when chance gives them an opportunity to transcend their lot in life. It's about how sometimes, this leads to some truly horrific shit.

The resulting film is a coming-of-age tale that ranks right up there with the best of them.

Outstanding performances throughout the solid (if relatively unknown) cast. I cannot recommend this movie highly enough.

Do yourself a favor and give it a view. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll throw up in your mouth a little.

Road Trippin', Soup Makin' Kind of Day

2009-10-02T13:51:00.000-07:00

I was very pleased to receive an acceptance for my story, "The Long Drive Home," today.

It'll be featured in a special Road Trip Issue of The Monsters Next Door.

Release date for the issue is scheduled for November 1. Learn how to pick up your copy at www.themonstersnextdoor.com.

Now, back to making chicken soup. It's cold and rainy outside--just the right kind of day for some homemade soup.

Downtime

2009-09-30T07:32:00.000-07:00

Friday was my last day at the old job. I begin work at the new gig on Monday. In the meantime, I've had some time to myself. Over the weekend, I went back to my hometown to spend some time with my brothers and do a little duck/goose hunting. If you look closely at the picture, you may just catch a glimpse of me.

Returned back to my home on Monday, and since then I've done some reading and writing, but not a whole lot of either. Sometimes, it's nice not to do anything at all. I'll take the dog for a walk today, enjoy the September air. Maybe go downtown for a burger. Stream a horror movie or two through Netflix. Who knows? Maybe I'll even get some more writing done. It feels good to relax.

More Good News--52 Stitches Available for Order

2009-09-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

The flash-fiction horror anthology Fifty-Two Stitches, featuring my story "New Woman," is now available for order. Edited by Aaron Polson, the book features fifty-two stories full of flash-fiction goodness from some of the best new horror writers working today.

It's available through Amazon.com with other venues to follow. Follow this link to pick up your very own copy: http://www.amazon.com/Fifty-Two-Stitches-Stories-Aaron-Polson/dp/0982026625/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253272057&sr=1-1

Happy reading!

Creature Features Available for Pre-Order!

2009-09-17T18:11:00.001-07:00

Hello folks,

I received a message today from the good folks over at House of Horror that I'd like to pass along to all of you.

Creature Features is now available for pre-order, with an expected publishing date of 10/31. That's right: get your fill of creature horror, just in time for Halloween.

The anthology features 30 stories by up-and-coming masters of the macabre, including Mr. Eric S. Brown, author of Season of Rot (Permuted Press). Stunning artwork by Shane McKenzie will accompany each tale.

Oh yeah--somehow my story, "Oscar," also made the cut.

Visit http://www.houseofhorror.org.uk/#/book-shop/4535143845 for complete details.

New Writing Gig

2009-09-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

I usually make it a point not to blog in much detail about my day job, but I have to take a moment to celebrate a recent development.

Yesterday I put in my two-weeks notice at my current gig (copywriting for a regional health care system) and accepted a new job as an alumni communications coordinator (at a state university).

I'm tremendously excited about this turn of events--I love higher education (I began my writing career at a university) and cannot wait to get back.

So far, I've been fortunate enough to keep the promise I made to myself five years ago when I set out to earn my graduate degree in English: upon graduation, I will support myself (and now, my family) with writing.

I'm a lucky man.

"Oscar" is Sold!

2009-09-11T12:34:00.000-07:00

Hey folks--after that last rather somber post, I'm back to share some good news.

My story, "Oscar" has been picked up by the good folks over at House of Horror for their upcoming Creature Features anthology. They expect to release the book yet this fall, so I will post updates as they come at me.

Have you Heard the News?? Remembering...

2009-09-11T10:10:00.000-07:00

Those of you who know me well understand that I'm not one to drape myself in the flag and spout patriotic platitudes. That said, today, I can't help but think back to eight years ago. I don't have any wisdom to share, just my experience of the day.

At the time, I was living in the dorms at the university I attended. Early that morning (early for me, at least) my cell phone began to ring. Despite waking up in a haze, I immediately understood that nobody would call me before 10 a.m. unless something was wrong. I tumbled out of my loft and answered. My mother's voice asked me if I'd heard the news. I said I hadn't. She informed me that the folks on the news said a a helicopter may have exploded on top of the World Trade Center. Nobody knew why--thought it might have been a mishap. Of course, we all found out later that this wasn't the case. I thought to myself: Well, these things happen, and I went on with my daily routine, which meant going downstairs (there were no bathrooms on my floor) to get ready for the day.

After showering I went to one of the sinks and began to brush my teeth, when someone I recognized from my floor burst in through the door. He was wearing military fatigues and carrying a large green bag, which looked stuffed. Pressed to his ear was a cell phone. I can't describe the look on his face--I've never seen its match before or since--but this is as close as I can come: he looked as though he thought the world was ending and didn't quite know how to break it to me. He asked me if I'd heard the news. I told him that I'd heard something about a helicopter. He interrupted me and said, "No, that's not it. We're under attack," and went back to his phone conversation. This got my attention.

I realized then that there was a war happening as I stood there in my towel and shower shoes, and this guy was preparing for the front lines.

I ran upstairs to my room, got dressed and ran down to the day room, where I knew there was cable television. Half the dorm must have been there, all watching the screen with the same expression--eyes wide, hands pressed to mouth or chest. The second plane had just impacted.

We all just stood there for awhile, staring. Someone behind me started to cry.

I went up to my room and called my mother back to ask if she'd heard the news.

An Awkward Moment at the Sideshow

2009-09-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

Over the long weekend, I did something I haven't done in probably six or seven years: I went to the state fair. Growing up, I went to the fair every year. It's in my hometown--pretty much the only thing to do in the last weeks of summer. Mostly, it was as I remembered it--the smell of funnel cake drifitng through the air next to aromas of livestock and sawdust; diesel fumes rising from the generators at the midway; children carrying giant inflatable crayons and eating food from wooden sticks; screams mingling with 80's rock when the Ring of Fire hung upside down.

But something was different this year, too. Human sideshows. Sure, there was always the booth where you could catch a glimpse of a massive cow or pig, but I don't remember anything like what are generally known as the classic carnival "freak shows." I'm not sure I saw the entire midway, but from what I did see, there was "Snake Girl" (Sign: No Arms! No Legs! And the Hideous Head of a Serpent!) and "The World's Smallest Woman" (Sign: 26- Tiny Inches! You Talk to Her, and She Talks to YOU!!)

Normally, I wouldn't go for something like that--O.K., I'll be honest. I was fascinated. I didn't think sideshows existed anymore. Wondered how it was even possible.

Anyhow, I couldn't bring myself to visit "Snake Girl," but I did pay exactly $1 to see "The World's Smallest Woman."

Yes, I'm a terrible person who contributes to everything that is wrong with the world. I'm also very curious and kind of a sucker for oddities.

That said, my brother and I paid our cash, walked into the tent, turned the corner around a small booth, and saw a tiny woman seated on a tiny wooden chair, which rested several feet from the ground on a white platform. I'm not sure she was the smallest woman in the world, but she had to be close. Taking a cue from the sign outside, I decided to say "hello." She smiled, said "hello" back and waved. I wasn't sure what else to say. We shared an awkward silence for a second or two and then my brother and I moved along and exited the tent.

My wife was aghast that I actually paid money to go to a sideshow. My mother (jokingly) said that she thought she raised me better than that. My grandmother just smiled and shook her head.

Lemonade, Baby. Lemonade.

2009-08-28T16:58:00.001-07:00

Today, while at the day job, I was asked to edit a letter intended to go out to a certain subset of our organization's external audience. Naturally, the project was a rush. And (naturally) the file, as it arrived at my inbox, was a disorganized mess. So I sat there, staring at the document, somewhat vexxed about how to proceed.

That is, until I realized that the content amounted to something with which I have intimate and extensive knowledge: the rejection letter. Once this little nugget of insight dawned on me, the letter nearly wrote itself. I have it down to a science. Fellow writers will find this formula somewhat familiar.

1) After a brief buttering up, put the bad news right up front

2) Express regret

3) Reassure the audience that the decision had to be made in this manner, in the interest of the overall quality of the project at hand

4) Include a few small details regarding how to perhaps avoid rejection in the future

5) Thank them for their interest

Just goes to show that the things we hate to receive (like rejection letters) can teach us important lessons and bail us out when we least expect them to.

I'd like to take this moment to thank all of the editors who have sent rejection letters to me. I owe you one on days like this.

I am King of BULL!

2009-08-25T08:57:00.001-07:00

If you don't believe me, just visit the good folks over at BULL: Fiction for Thinking Men at bullmensfiction.blogspot.com.

While you're at it, visit www.bullmensfiction.com and take a look around. Especially if you like good fiction.

And Now, for a Moment of Reflection (or) That was Fast!

2009-08-22T19:18:00.000-07:00

No love for "Chums." Received the (very kind) rejection yesterday, and spent much of the rest of the evening thinking of ways to tighten it up for the next round.

Some good news: I've reached the point where I know when I have a solid story on my hands--and this one, my friends, is solid. Additionally, the fact that it didn't quite hit the mark as far as what the editor was looking for tells me that I haven't pigeon-holed myself with the concept, which is often a liability of writing a story for a themed anthology.

I'm betting it'll sell elsewhere. Just a matter of deciding where to send it.

More news, as it happens.

And Now, for a Moment of Celebration

2009-08-20T19:53:00.000-07:00

Drafting of "Chums" is complete. In actuality, it's more like draft 1.75, as I tend to edit as I go, but the point is, the story now has a beginning, a middle and an ending.

It always feels good to put that last zinger on a story.

Now comes the work of editing it and getting it into good enough shape to submit it. Hoping to get through that very soon.

Teaser, By Request

2009-08-20T07:08:00.000-07:00

I normally don't do posts like this, but several people have requested a "teaser" of my latest bit of work-in-progress. Here goes--hold onto your butts.

As Chad floated in the soggy confines of his belly boat, flippered feet dangling in the murk, he watched it cut a lazy wake between him and his companion before it descended back below the surface. Like the tip of an iceberg come to life, the fin’s benign appearance betrayed the existence of all the dangerous parts below.

By the way, on an unrelated note, you can pre-order the horror anthology, 52 STITCHES, here: http://www.strangepublications.com/stitchespreorder.htm. This book, scheduled for a late-September release, features work from dozens of great authors, and also contains my story, "New Woman." Order yours today!

Slow and Steady

2009-08-19T19:42:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been working at improving my discipline when it comes to carving out time each day to write. Over the past few months, my schedule has been somewhat inconsistent, with mad dashes for deadlines, along with a fair amount of procrastination.

But for the last week or so, 9-10 p.m. has served as my block of writing time--or just the right span to run through White Zombie's Astro Creep: 2000 and put about 500-700 words to the page. I've experimented with many different artists and genres, but for some reason this album seems to settle me into a good rhythm and puts me in the appropriate state of mind. Something about the driving beats and the surging layers of guitars just...works somehow. And it never gets old. So finally, after several years of trying to figure one out that actually works, I have a bona fide writing ritual.

Where the Magic Happens

2009-08-17T17:29:00.000-07:00

Here it is, folks. The fortress of semi-solitude. This is where the ideas hatch. I nurture them. Feed them. Love them. Give them room to grow. Inevitably, they turn on me, claw out my entrails, feast on my flesh amidst my ever-waning cries for help. Like any good baby.

Just goes to show--all you need is a small wooden desk, a comfy chair, a computer, a souveneir from your favorite band, a fish, some Star Wars stuff, a few baseballs, a stack of recent publications, some abstract art and a robot death match in-progress to get the creative juices flowing.

By the way, the photo doesn't do the painting justice. Not even close. I tried to get a better shot, but none of them quite measured up. Bottom line: a great artist and a good friend of mine, Chad Lubbers, does some amazing abstract artwork. He's also the one responsible for the massive brook trout replica on the wall. Check out my blog list, or visit http://chadlubbers.blogspot.com for his daily painting blog. Some really amazing stuff there--and he posts a new work nearly every day. I cannot say enough good things about the work he produces. My wife and I were fortunate enough to grab up a couple of his originals. We will enjoy them for decades to come. The one above my desk is called "Blues." It's one of his darker pieces. I bought it for my writing area because I write horror stories, and the painting looked like murder to me. It's layer upon layer of swirling blue with a big splash of red in the lower-right. Disturbingly beautiful. If my writing evokes a bit of that, I have achieved my goal.

P.S.--Tonight, I added 600 more words to my submission for The Bitter End. Looking good.

Late to the Party (and an ADVANCE REVIEW)

2009-08-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,

So this weekend, I began my obsession with LOST. I know what you're thinking: how the hell has he not watched a single episode? and I'm sure he's never heard of Barack Obama, either.

Here's why I delayed:
1) I don't watch much television
2) I'm too cheap to buy seasons on DVD
3) I wanted to get a sense that the writers actually knew where they were taking the story before I jumped in

But that all came tumbling down when I discovered that you could stream seasons of LOST through Netflix. I had the subscription. I had the HDMI cable to stream from my laptop to my LCD. I had a free weekend with no travel or family plans. In short, I had no excuses. My wife and I got through the first season in two days.

Here's what I know so far:
1) Sawyer is who Han Solo wishes he could be, and if JJ does, indeed, go ahead with adapting THE DARK TOWER for screen, this guy's my vote for Roland
2) Jack is one of the least-interesting leads on television.
3) Everyone on the show has daddy issues. You could make it into a drinking game. Every time someone's father fails them or someone fails as a father--drink!
4) John Locke is going to be big trouble.

In other news, you can check out an advance review of 52 STITCHES (of which my, "New Woman" is a part)here:
http://www.horrordrive-in.com/serendipity/index.php?/archives/231-Fifty-Two-Stitches-Horror-Stories,-edited-by-Aaron-Polson.html

They liked it...they really liked it!

In-Progress

2009-08-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

The latest news:

After a week of wondering if an idea would hit me, I've decided I'm going to give Pill Hill Press's The Bitter End anthology a shot. So far, I have a very rough idea map. I'm calling it "Chums."

Reworked "Pavement Ends" to speed it up a little. Submitted it to the folks over at Shock Totem.

I learned that a book I edited last year will be featured at the South Dakota Festival of Books in Deadwood, SD. I'll be heading out there in early October to attend. Should be a good time.

That's about it for now.

Xenomorph Prequelmorph!

2009-08-05T13:21:00.001-07:00

This has very little to do with my writing, but I can no longer contain my glee. I first heard rumors about this in late spring 2009, but now it's official. Ridley Scott has signed on as director of a new ALIEN movie. This one, reportedly, will be a prequel. Most of the plot speculation has centered around the fossilized Space Jockey the ill-fated crew of the Nostromo encountered in the first flick.

Now, if the phrase "Space Jockey" makes you scratch your head, or if you (for some reason) haven't seen ALIEN, stop what you're doing and watch the film right now. Then find a nice hard surface upon which beat your head until you pass out, because you're lame. Just make sure to watch the whole film before the head beating. Simply put, if you see one movie before pummeling yourself into a coma, you could do a heckuva lot worse than ALIEN.

I'm not sure how I feel about the prequel thing, though. I hear prequel, and I automatically think "stinker." Here's to hoping...

Zombonauts!

2009-08-03T08:45:00.000-07:00

Today, Dr. Pus accepted my bit of zombie flash-fiction, "Orbital Decay," for inclusion in ZOMBONAUTS.

At this time, I'd just like to take a moment to say "thank you" to the good doctor.

Despite the tough economic times that are forcing many publisers to cut back (or fold altogether), he's going like gangbusters with work on an amazing (and vast) series of upcoming anthologies.

His tireless efforts give writers like me (and so many others I know) great opporunities to publish their work in quality, paying, print markets.

I doff my cap to you, good sir.

No Love

2009-07-28T08:29:00.000-07:00

It's been a tough week in fiction. I've received a couple of rejections over the past few days.

1) Pill Hill Press passed on my story, "Pavement Ends," for their rural horror anthology, but the editor said it was "well-written." So I've got that going for me. Which is nice. Time to rework it and send it out again. A lot of fat to trim on this one, but I believe it has a lot of potential.

2) Apex Magazine thought that my old story, "Oscar," didn't quite have the sci-fi angle they needed. So now, officially, I've got a story that features a giant man-eating hermit crab that isn't scary enough for the horror magazines, and not sci-fi enough for the sci-fi mags.

Durp.

Just finished reading: The Town, by Bentley Little. Verdict: All sound, very little fury. C+
Reading now: Darkness, Tell Us, by Richard Laymon. A little slow so far, but Laymon almost always delivers.

Dark Crime

2009-07-17T07:04:00.000-07:00

Today, I submitted a story to Comet Press's upcoming "dark crime" anthology. The piece I sent in, "Sonny Does the Carving," is a fun, violent bit of heist fiction set in the ealier decades of the 20th Century. Think "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" if it was directed by Tarantino and you're getting warm as far as content. Keep in mind, however, I'm giving myself way too much credit with that comparison.

If you haven't heard of 'em yet, Comet Press is an independent publisher of horror, suspense and dark crime based in NYC. They've put out two anthologies so far. One of my stories made the cut for their first book, Deadlines: An Anthology of Horror and Dark Fiction. Their second antho, Vile Things, contains stories by several heavy hitters in the genre, and earned enough attention to get a great review from Fangoria. Yes, that Fangoria. Visit http://www.cometpress.us/ for more details, ordering information and full submission guidelines.

Making good progress on my rural horror story. Hope to finish it up by this weekend.

Rural Horror

2009-07-15T20:02:00.000-07:00

Tonight I began outlining a story I intend to submit to Pill Hill Press's "Middle of Nowhere: Horror in Rural America" anthology. If all goes well, I should have a solid draft by the end of the week--middle of next week.

As a South Dakota boy, I'm excited to give this one a shot. The story's based on something I saw while headed west on SD Hwy 14 a couple of weeks ago. If you've ever been on that stretch of road between Miller and Sturgis, you know how vast and empty the landscape is until you hit the Black Hills.

It feels like anything could happen out there. Anything at all.

When a Vampire Isn't a Vampire--or--A Lesson in Clear Writing

2009-07-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I received a rejection for my story, "Fireboomers" from the good folks over at Necrotic Tissue. The pass itself didn't bother me, but rather the reason for the pass.

It's not at all that I didn't think it was valid. I'm not into arguing with editors. It's just that now I feel like my boneheaded move squandered a fine opportunity to publish a solid little story.

They said they don't take very many vampire stories. Fair enough.

But "Fireboomers" isn't a vampire story--at least not to my understanding and intention.

Here's where I scewed up: I left the description of the creature (intentionally) vague--enough so, I now find, that a reasonable person could have interpreted it as being a vampire. When I was writing the tale, I really didn't think it mattered what this thing was. What mattered, I thought, was what it did and what this horrific thing meant to the protagonist.

Looking back, I probably should have tried something besides a "sleek creature" with "fangs."

Lesson re-learned. Every word counts in short fiction. There are times when it's O.K. to leave certain things up for interpretation. This wasn't one of them.

"Bleak Honesty" and Other Words of Praise

2009-07-09T14:53:00.001-07:00

Hey folks:

A quick note to let you know that Horror News has reviewed Necrotic Tissue #7. My thanks to Catherine Gardner for posting the tip on her blog (check her original post by perusing my blog links). Check out the review at www.horrornews.net. Click on Book Reviews.

Anton Cancre gives the issue a very good review, in general, but the exciting part for me was the shout out he gave my story, "Savior, Teach Us So to Rise," when he praised the piece for its "bleak honesty." I like to think that the story has a somewhat sappy, if twisted, core, but I'll take "bleak honesty" any day of the week.

Working on some new fiction. More news as it becomes available.

Maybe I Was a Little Rash

2009-07-07T15:40:00.000-07:00

So perhaps, when I said I was on a break from writing fiction, what I really meant was that I was just a little burned out. As it turns out, I probably just needed a vacation.

It is amazing what a little mountain air and fly fishing can do for a guy's sprits.

Inspired by the recent holiday, I put together a bit of 4th of July mayhem called "Fireboomers" and shipped it over to the good folks at Necrotic Tissue.

I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I think this recent bit of creativity was a good sign that I might be on the upswing. Tomorrow, I'm thinking I may actually get around to finishing that Zombonauts submission for Dr. Pus.

Necrotic Tissue #7!!! UPDATED

2009-06-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

My wife was home over lunch today, and called me to say "Looks like you got something in the mail from 'Necrotic Tissue'...it's a magazine."

Yes, dear readers, the first print issue of "Necrotic Tissue" is about to be unleashed on the masses. My copy came in the mail today. I placed a story in the issue called "Savior, Teach Us So to Rise"--a zombie story that just about squeaked its way into The World is Dead, what seems like ten years ago. It feels good to know that it's in print.

Now, if I can keep myself bolted to my office chair.

Want to touch. Want to hold. Want to read.

Visit http://www.necrotictissue.com/ for more information. More details about the magazine as soon as I see it.

UPDATE: I've seen the magazine, and it looks great! Nice production values, cool artwork, (including a creepy sketch depicting a scene from my story!), good variety. Hats off to the good folks at Necrotic Tissue for knocking their first print issue out of the park.

Some good fiction in there, too. Standouts include Catherine J. Gardner's "The Scratch of an Old Record," which was also the story that earned pro-pay.

An Announcement

2009-06-23T05:44:00.000-07:00

Hello readers. Been awhile since my last post. Something's been troubling me.

And today, I made a decision. I've been feeling this for a few months, the symptoms have been there, but simply hadn't put it into words.

I'm not going to write fiction for a while.

There's no timeframe here, no deadline. I'm just not feeling it lately, and there's no point in pushing myself to where writing's something I dread. That means it's time to take a break. If I get a great idea, and I just have to sit down and type it out, I'll go ahead and do it.

Here's the good news: I have a plan. I will spend the foreseeable future immersing myself in the horror genre. I've spent so much time lately prepping stories, navigating markets and sweating responses that I think I've lost a sense of fun about the whole pursuit.

It's time to get back to basics: the simple act of reading and enjoying lots and lots of horror. Novels. Short stories. Novellas. Screenplays. Good stuff. Bad stuff. Downright terrible stuff. Anything and everything I can get my hands on.

I went to the local bookstore the other day and picked up enough paperbacks to last me through the rest of the year. Last night, I finished reading Richard Laymon's The Travelling Vampire Show.

The book didn't disappoint--with beautifully drawn characters, an intriguing (if simple) premise, and a climax/ending that slaps you in the face, kicks you in the jimmy and leaves you begging for oh so much more. When I closed the book last night, I laughed anxious laughter and muttered, "Wow. That's fucked up." I haven't done that for a long time.

I'm having fun already.

Suggestions, anybody?

Zombies in Spaaaaaace

2009-06-03T13:41:00.000-07:00

I've spent the last day or so incubating an idea for Library of the Living Dead Press's upcoming zombies-in-space anthology.

I think it's going to be flash--for sure under 2,000 words. I was going to call it "Decaying Orbit," but upon a little reasearch of the term, I found out someone already took that title for a low-budget movie released in (I think) 2007. Bummer.

Anyway, I have what I think is a solid grain around which to build the rest of the tale. I think if I pull it off the way I want to, it'll be a touching little meditation on mortality. With zombies. In space.

Still piecing together my pants-related stories: "Pajamas" and "Fat Pants." I have faith that I'll finish those up by mid-June. Both have cracked me up, and made me shudder. That's usually a sign that I'm doing something right. Slow going, though.

Maybe some more flash fiction is just what I need to get things moving again.

Now That's a Load of "Bull" (Part 2)

2009-05-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

The thirlling conclusion of "A.H.B.A." is now up in the horns at Bull: Fiction for Thinking Men.

www.bullmensfiction.com

Now That's a Load of "Bull" (Part 1)

2009-05-22T13:29:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to let you know that part 1 of my story, "A.H.B.A." is up at Bull: Fiction for Thinking Men. One of my goals for the year was to place a story with them. They're a fairly new, non-paying market, but damned if they don't have a great concept going and an attractive (if spartan) website--not to mention some fine work from their contributing authors, all of whom you should spend some time checking out.

For you writers out there thinking of subbing, I have to say that the editor is also a blast to work with. Top-notch, in fact. Be prepared for some helpful feedback on your story.

"A.H.B.A." is another one of my more "literary" pieces--set in the same small SD town (Norah) that "Hibernation" is in (for anyone who caught that one over at The Rose & Thorn). But fear not, those of you who are expecting the usual dark and strange material and feel like you're going to be bored to tears without at least a zombie or two.

There's weirdness, perversity and even a little gore in this particular tall tale.

Check out the great (FREE!) stuff up in the horns at www.bullmensfiction.com. Part 2 comes up this week!

It's Alive.....It's Aliiiive!!!!

2009-05-06T06:02:00.000-07:00

Happy to report that the good Dr. Pus has accepted my story, "Imitation of Life," for inclusion in his forthcoming anthology, Horrorology.

Doc has been good to me this year--a bit of flash fiction I wrote made the cut in another one of his forthcoming anthos, Zombology IV.

Today is a good day.

Dead Submission

2009-04-26T07:25:00.000-07:00

Received a rejection today from Severed Press. I had hoped to place my story, "Imitation of Life," in their Dead Bait anthology.

I'll take a look at it again in a couple of days and see where I can make improvements, and then try to determine a good market for it.

Query Sent

2009-04-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

One of my submissions finally reached the one-year mark, and I sent a query this morning asking for an update and/or a general idea about when I could expect a response.

I hate the idea of withdrawing my submission, so I don't think that's in the cards just yet. Seems like the only surefire way to slash my odds to zero. Maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment.

To the editor's credit, he was great about responding to my previous query (back in January) in a timely manner.

I'm Back!

2009-04-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

Work is finally settling down. I'm eating healthy foods. I'm getting some sun. It all adds up to a happier, more productive writer.

An idea hit me like a freight train last night (over-worked simile, I know--but I save the good ones for my stories) so now I have two ready to go. Tonight, I'll start to sketch both of them out.

Strangely, both have pants as a central image.

"Pajamas" COMING SOON!

"Fat Pants" COMING SOON!

Frogs, Zombies and Jesus. Oh, My!

2009-04-15T18:14:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to let you know that my story, "Hibernation," is up at The Rose & Thorn, a quality literary e-zine that I encourage you all to check out.

Want to know what Hibernation's about? Well, the title of this post says a lot. For some reason, even when I try to write "mainstream" fiction, I always manage to squeeze in at least one severed limb. Anyway, head on over to www.theroseandthornezine.com for the full story. Drop me a line here on the blog and let me know what you think.

Springtime Slump Blues

2009-04-15T07:43:00.001-07:00

Not much to report, other than that there's nothing to report. I haven't sat down at the keyboard to write new fiction for a couple of weeks.

The Day Job is hectic and has kinda sucked the life out of me lately. There are days when I wonder how much longer I can keep this up before I will need a change of scenery. I know...that's all the more reason to hang out with my muse when I get home, but I just haven't been able to do it lately.

The good news is that I have an idea knocking around for a little screamer that I think will be quite entertaining. I may have menitoned it before. It's about growing up, taking responsibility and becoming a man. Oh, and it involves a dirty pair of pajama pants. Scary stuff, indeed.

A few pieces of short fiction still floating around in Slushyville. I'll report more when there's more to report.

I Hope This is an April Fool's Joke (UPDATED)

2009-04-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

Given today's date, I wouldn't be surprised if this is a hoax.

To my surprise and disappointment, it appears as though Well Told Tales (a great pulp fiction podcast) has gone the way of the dodo. Visit their website (http://www.welltoldtales.com/) and instead of their usual lineup of tales and updates, you'll see a menacing gravestone that reads "Well Told Tales 2007-2009."

I thought they had a good thing going over there--fun stories, a nice look, good production values. You could even subscribe on iTunes. It was also the first paying market to accept one of my short stories.

Bummer if it's really gone--this is one of the few times I actually hope I'm an April Fool.

UPDATE: I was happy to receive an email from the good folks at Well Told Tales informing me that the site hasn't been shut down. The gravestone was somewhat of an April Fool's joke, although there was a grain of truth in it. The old site has undergone a complete overhaul. Check out the new look at www.welltoldtales.com.

Here's to Small Victories (and a rant about slothful editors)

2009-03-31T17:04:00.000-07:00

Once every week or so, I sneak a peek over at Amazon to see how Deadlines: An Anthology of Horror and Dark Fiction is doing in the sales rankings. My story "Harry" is featured in the book. Anyhow, today, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it had cracked into the top 100 horror anthologies. So someone must be buying and reading it. Not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, but certainly enough to make me sit back and smile.

Not much new on the writing front. Nothing in the works since I finished up my Dead Bait submission. A few ideas need to cook a little more.

Still waiting on responses from several markets--including a few to which I'd like to give a piece of my mind. These markets shall remain nameless, but I believe there's really no excuse to keep a piece in limbo for a year. To put this in perspective, here are some things that have happened in my life since I subbed these stories: I became engaged, planned a wedding and got married. I edited a book. My big brother and his wife conceived a child and brought her into the world. She's now beginning to eat solid foods. I helped make and bottle six different kinds of wine. I've celebrated Valentine's Day twice. The list could go on. I realize that I could withdraw my submissions and send them elsewhere, but at this point I'm staying in the game out of principle. Editors: I know you have a lot of slush to get through. As someone who has been on the receiving end of tons of bad writing (I used to teach freshman composition) I can sympathize. But damn.

To be fair, I've also had the pleasure of working with some dynamite editors over the past year. Thank you for your professionalism, your attention to detail, your reasonable turnaround times and your helpful feedback.

And That's a Wrap

2009-03-23T21:31:00.001-07:00

Today, I finished my story, "Imitation of Life" and submitted it to Dead Bait. As 3/23 was the deadline for the anthology, it was a bit of a race to the finish. Usually, I prefer to get my submissions in well ahead of the deadline, but this story was a bit of a beast to tame.

Luckily, I'd formulated the basic pieces of the tale over the past few months, so it was really down to editing the material I had written and trying to make sure it all came together. Time will tell if I was successful there. If I had to level a criticism at the submitted product, I'd say that I felt like I may have hurried the climax a little. Now, if I had a nickel for every time that happened...

No matter what, it's always a nice feeling to finish a story.

A Gentle Reminder (Rejection City)

2009-03-18T18:37:00.000-07:00

Today, I received two rejections in the ol' inbox. One was from the Boston Review in response to one of my more "literary" pieces. This was not surprising. The other was from Shadow City Press in response to my submission to their "Hideous Evermore" anthology. This one was a little more disapponting, but they included some very kind words for the story I sent them.

I sent Shadow City Press a piece I originally wrote way back in early '08 for the Premuted Press antho, "Monstrous." It made the shortlist, but missed the final cut, so I figured it was only a matter of time before someone else bit. Since then, it's been rejected by presses large and small---but almost always with personal comments letting me know they felt there was much to like about it. So, I'm perplexed.

It's been a while since I've received a rejection. Part of the reason is that I've had a nice string of luck, but it's mostly because my production/submission rate has slowed considerably. Anyway, it was a nice reminder that I still have a long way to go. Rejection is a big part of this gig--but if you write when the ideas hit, it won't be the only part.

Acceptance!

2009-03-03T14:57:00.000-08:00

Today, I received the exciting news that my short-short, "Jumping the Sharkies," will appear in Zombology IV, due from Library of the Living Dead Press in mid-summer.

I'd like to thank the illustrious Dr. Pus for accepting my story and The Fonz for providing a little inspiration.

Honestly, it felt great just to finish a story. I've had some great starts lately, but have had trouble finishing any of my short stories. Maybe some flash fiction was what I needed.

You know...to clear out the old cobwebs and make room for the young, hungry, lively spiders who spin...fresh tales...of...terror. Yeah, that's the ticket. I better just stop now.

Delayed Reaction

2009-02-26T18:35:00.000-08:00

So far, I'm not very good at keeping up with my blog. I hope to change that in the coming days/weeks...starting now.

In publishing news, a piece of my flash fiction called "New Woman" is up at 52 Stitches (52stitches.blogspot.com). Give it a gander and let me know what you think.

Shipped off a short-short to Dr. Pus for consideration in his Zombology IV. It's called "Jumping the Sharkies." No word yet (it's only been a couple of days) but I'm quite fond of it. Mostly, it felt good just to write a story all the way through to the finish, even if it was only 500 words. I've had trouble finishing stories lately.

Speaking of which, I'm still working on a short for the Dead Bait antho, called "Imitation of Life." Stuck at 2200 words. Still betting I can finish, since I have 'till the end(ish) of March. We'll see what happens.

Trying the Blog Thing

2009-02-03T15:38:00.001-08:00

Well, here it is: my first blog post. It's been an interesting year or so since I became serious about publishing my short stories. A few acceptances, many rejections, a little cash. So far, so good. I thought it might be an interesting idea to start capturing this journey on (virtual) paper.

Someday, if I'm lucky enough to do this writing thing for a living (my copywriting job does not count, I've decided) it'll be interesting to look back on where it all started.

I called the blog "Moving Parts" because I love bad puns. The goal of this blog is to give you, gentle reader, a glimpse into the creative mechanisms, along with all of the other "isms," that power the Doug Murano fiction engine. The moving parts, if you will. Get it? Huh? But I'm also hoping the blog will also serve as a way for me to opine a little about the bigger, more important things--the things that move me; that is, the moving parts of my life. Ha.