Another "What do you Call that Noise?" Review.

At this point, this might just become the most reviewed publication I have ever been involved with.  Again, there's no mention of my comparatively meager contribution and I'm perfectly fine with that.

You can read the review and interview here.

Things People Say to Writers

I have heard numbers 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10. I guess that means I've been fortunate.

AND JUST LIKE THAT, THE BAD LUCK STREAK ENDED!

Regular readers of this blog know what the title is referring to, but for those who don't, permit me a brief recap. Basically, I've been receiving more rejections than a Trump staffer in Washington, D.C. looking for a date. That wasn't a slam, by the way. It's a documented fact.

I realized early in February of this year that part of the reason for the high number of rejections was based on when the stories had been submitted. Most of them were sent to their prospective anthologies in the closing few months of 2018, so naturally the editors would want to clean their slate as early in the New Year as possible. Unfortunately, the decisions they made did not swing in my favor.

It wasn't as if I had nothing being published this year, but the rapidity with which I received the rejections felt like a bombardment. Today, that all came to a screeching halt thanks to The Horror Zine editor Jeani Rector. I have published stories with her before. Two were published and can still be read on the website here and here, and in two published volumes here and here.

Describing my story as "creepy and odd," she found it a good fit for her online, award-winning zine.
More on that as it materializes.

Good news for you cheapskates out there...it will be free to read!

Irish Times Reviews "What do you Call that Noise?"

As I recently wrote, I had a very different kind of piece published recently in Mark Fisher's latest book on the phenomenal English band XTC.  Titled "What do you Call that Noise?" a line from the band's song, "This is Pop," this one is just chockful of anecdotes and essays, some by members of the band.

The Irish Times reviewed the book, which can be read by clicking here.

Not only is this my first work of non-fiction published in book form, it's also the first time I've been in anything that was reviewed in a European newspaper.

I'm not only honored to be in such a book, I'm also humbled, giddy and filled with renewed purpose.

First Review of "Deadly Bargain" is in.

Although the print version of the "Deadly  Bargain" anthology has yet to be published, the Kindle edition has received a positive review which can be read here.
Regular readers of this blog know I'm not so egocentric as to only include reviews that mention my stories and name, so they shouldn't be surprised I'm including this one. My point of view is every positive mention helps whether I am singled out or not.

Alternative Theologies Reading Event (I won't be there).

As if I needed another reminder of why it sucks to live where the world of fiction writing is not well-represented, I received the following email regarding an opportunity to read my work along with other authors appearing in the "Alternative Theologies" anthology. Sounds great except for one thing:

It's in Seattle :(

"Alternative Theologies authors are invited to read (along with authors from Alternative Truths: Endgames and After the Orange) Friday, March 29, 6:30 p.m., at the University Bookstore (on “The Ave” near the University of Washington) in Seattle.

Please let me know if you would like to be part of this group reading so I can get our lineup to the bookstore’s promotions folks.

It’s on a Friday evening, which I hope will make it a bit easier for folks coming longer distances, perhaps from Eastern Washington.

Stephanie Weippert, Bruce Taylor, and John A. Pitts are signed up to read (they responded to my post on B Cubed’s Facebook page).

Apologies to those of you receiving this mailing who are not within driving distance of Seattle, who have received a duplicate mailing for authors also in Endgames — I wasn’t sure, and didn’t want to leave anyone out of this invitation."

Sigh.

I'm sure there's a lovely auto show or hockey game I can participate in instead...

Jealous

I must confess I'm a little bit jealous of the new blog now. With the posting of our latest piece on Liam Neeson, it now threatens to be more popular than this one.

Read the gloriousness here.

Latest Other Blog Post.

I've been remiss in my link-providing duties because I'm not used to having a second blog anymore. It's been several years and that other blog is no longer fit for public consumption. However, the new one is up and running. The most recent post is our take on the Bill Maher/Stand Lee/Comics non-troversey. We focus on who Maher is and why he seems so content with being a shriveled up little douche-nugget rather than getting deeply into what is already a proven quality medium.

Read it here, Comment there!

Official Release.

The "Deadly Bargain: A Colors in Darkness Anthology" Kindle Edition is now live and ready for ordering. This one features my short story, "Your Future for a Low, Low Price," a tale I'm rather proud of.

Order it here.

Not Sure What This Says About Me...

As I've written recently, my run of luck in regards to getting published this still new year has not been encouraging. It didn't help that I went on my Amazon Author Central page yesterday and noticed a review of one of my short stories from about four years ago. It was a reader review. He clearly put a lot of thought into it and somehow found a single word that perfectly encapsulated his feelings:

CRAP.

I'm not the only one whose story he labeled with this cutting dismissal either. At least 80% of the anthology received what I call the other "C-word" in response to its offerings. I was a bit taken aback, having never seen a review with such negative finality before. Then I got a look at his picture and started laughing because, frankly, he looked like the comic relief in a certain type of film from a certain country that isn't known for its high-end cinema.

Still, my amusement aside, his hilarious appearance doesn't negate his right to have an opinion that doesn't make me feel good about my writing. I certainly would never want to curtail a person's ability to express himself as he sees fit as long as it's not abusive. Besides, the review was from three years ago and, as we say in the field, at least he took the time to write a review. Frankly, the positive reviews still outweigh the negative ones.

When I place my so-called run of bad luck into perspective, most of the stories that have been rejected were actually submitted in the final two months of 2018, basically right on top of one another. Of course they would start coming in the same way they went out! Besides, I have a short story and a piece in a non-fiction book both coming out in the next few weeks. So, how exactly is this a bad start to the New Year?

So, for now, I will cease and desist my whining. Oh, and no, I am not going to share a link to the "crap" review. Do your own research~

A Different Kind of Published Piece

The beginning of 2019 has not been a stellar one for me in the short story acceptance arena. As the stories I submitted toward the end of last year have started getting read, they have not wound up finding a home at their intended anthologies. It's been a tad disheartening, especially considering the relatively good year I had in 2018. Fiction is my main focus as a writer but it's not all that I write. It's been a while since I had any non-fiction published, but that changed recently with the impending release of a collection that means a great deal to me.

The above pictured collection features something that means as much to me as any speculative fiction anthology. XTC has long been my favorite band and it's an honor to be included in a book by Mark Fisher with, among other things, recollections from the members as well as fan remembrances. To know that my name will now be forever linked with XTC...well, I have no words. Most likely you've never heard of them and while they're not for everybody, their influence can be felt everywhere.

You can preorder the book here.