OUCH!

The anthology in which my short story, "The Last Big Gamble" appears certainly garnered a mostly negative reaction from this reader! I guess I got off easy since she never mentioned me or my story because yikes!

It happens, of course. Tastes are subjective and since this particular reader identifies herself as a Las Vegas resident, accuracy and authenticity are important to her when writers represent her city. Some of the criticisms she has of the anthology in general are definitely worth paying attention to, particularly where she wrote, "After completing the collection, I couldn't help but wonder why these other authors didn't think of using Vegas history to create a cool story like this author did, instead of creating half-assed barely-about-Vegas stories."

I understand that reaction all too well. Stories set in Detroit and other parts of Michigan often feel like they were written about the East Coast using dialogue no one in my home-state would utter. But sometimes the concept and plot are good enough that that isn't a deciding factor for me. This reviewer clearly doesn't feel that way. For her, authenticity seems to be paramount and that is a perfectly valid reaction. 

However, I did intentionally make vague allusions to how Vegas got its start without providing a blatant history lesson. My story takes place in a post-vacation destination reality where people barely remember what it was like before. Something is alive in the desert and is feeding off their hope. If a story about tragic people desperately trying to break even with the odds stacked against them isn't about Vegas, then perhaps that city has a lot of work to do on its reputation with the rest of the world. 

I am glad the reviewer found two stories she enjoyed, however, whether or not mine was one she even noticed. Can't please everyone. 

Reader Review.

A rather intelligent review of the Thuggish Itch: Via Las Vegas anthology that features, among others, my short story, "The Last Big Gamble."

The reader wisely chose to review the themed anthology as a whole while pointing out what he liked about the stories in relation to that overall theme. I love when readers grasp what they're reading and are able to articulate it so effectively.

Read the review here.

Don't Mess with Wayne Newton!

During my recent bout of stories written to suit specific anthologies I decided to try my hand at a dark, dystopian tale with Las Vegas as its central theme. Not only did I come up with an idea the instant I read what they were looking for, it was also for an Australian publication.

You may or or may not know this, but Australian authors and publishers have been churning out consistently interesting, high-quality speculative fiction work for most of the 2000's. Check out the work of Max Barry sometime and tell me what you think. Unless you didn't care for it, in which case you can go straight to hell with a bag of flammable aerosol cans. I kid, of course. You don't actually have to bring flammable materials to hell...just go there.

My story, "The Last Big Gamble," (yeah, I know it's on the nose) was submitted several months ahead of the deadline, so I had been on pins and needles ever since, hoping it was accepted. Much like "The Hero Disease," this was a story that took hold of me at the outset and refused to let go until it was completed. Those stories tend to connect with editors, at least in my experience. Fortunately, this one was not the exception that proved the rule. The editor enjoyed it very much. There was just one problem. The edited email below provides the details:

Hi Christopher,
We have just finished reading the story submissions for Thuggish Itch's Viva Las Vegas collection. I enjoyed your story and its dystopian aspects, however, the links to Wayne Newton worried me in terms of libel. That is, that having a character so closely based on a living figure could cause us some problems, particularly with him throwing people in the pit at the end, ha ha.
If you've some spare time and are willing to rework it a little by Wednesday 1 August I'm willing to give it another read before making a final decision on whether or not to include it.
Regards
VK

I don't mind telling you that I, like most of the rest of humanity, am haunted in my dreams by the evil that is Wayne Newton. Oh, he can pretend to be a smiling, joking fun guy with a voice of smooth velvet and a wardrobe gifted by the gods of antiquity. Wait. What was my point?  I forgot. So, here is my reply:

Ha! I feared that might be an issue. I would be happy to rework it. What are your suggestions? 

Seemed reasonable enough. I'm not precious about story elements that don't detract from the overall quality of the piece. There are ways around these sorts of things. Lord knows I've paraphrased enough song lyrics to avoid having to pay royalties when it would have wiped me out financially. One week later I received the following email for all my *ahem* hard work:

Hi Christopher,

Thanks for making those edits last week. I am pleased to let you know that we have now finished reading submissions for Thuggish Itch, Issue 1: Viva Las Vegas and that we have selected your story, The Last Big Gamble, for inclusion in the anthology.

So, if there's a lesson to be learned here, it's to be open to change and feedback. Fight the battles that matter, not the ones that lift your ego. And most importantly, don't mess with Wayne Newton 'cause he ain't playin'!

(As always, more info once the anthology becomes available)