Sunday, January 27, 2013

Update #3: Grimm And Grimmer Submission



It seems my story, the remake of The Fisherman and His Wife, won't be in Volume 1, but it's nice to know  the anthologies are progressing! (There will be multiple volumes in this series.)





© 2012-2013 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Update #2: Grimm And Grimmer Submission



I have received some news via e-mail on my Grimm and Grimmer submission to Fringeworks!

This is my remake of the fairy tale, The Fisherman and His Wife.

It reads:


Hi

I am writing to you regarding your submission to the 'Grimm and Grimmer' anthology. I am pleased to tell you that your story was successful and we would like to publish it in one of the volumes. I will be contacting you in the next month to discuss the next stage in the editing process. Thank you for your efforts which are much appreciated. I look forward to working with you.

Many Thanks


Theresa Derwin 


So, there is still work to be done, but if all goes well, the story should show up on the web (and possibly in print) at some point!


© 2012-2013 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Yes, I've Been Changing The Blog Around



I've been trying to keep the interface here a simple as possible, so I've:

  • Moved my (rather short) excerpts page to a Google Document instead of making it a blog page (better formatting, easier to update)
  • Moved the NovelRank page into the Writing Resources page
  • Made a few other little tweaks, like removing the Google Recent Comments widget that was no longer working

I don't think I've deleted anything entirely, but if you're looking for something and it's not there, let me know. And if there's something you'd like to see and it's never been there, you can tell me that, too, and I'll see if I think it should be included. I don't mind you asking!

Thanks again for reading!


© 2012-2013 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Friday, January 18, 2013

Update: Grimm And Grimmer Submission



At least the Fringeworks folks have posted a tweet on the Grimm and Grimmer anthology to which I've submitted a short story (88 stories submitted?).




No pressure, but I really think they should select mine...


© 2012-2013 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Update On The Poetry Submission



I've received an auto-response to my poetry submission, so I know that it was delivered somewhere... 



Thank you for your submission, inquiry, or response to Scarlett River Press.
It has been received, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Please allow up to eight weeks for a response depending on volume of submissions. Our website is up but currently under construction, so wear a hardhat. You can check it out here: http://www.scarlett-river-press.ca.

Scarlett River Press
 Fuelling the Fire of Fear

Publisher
 Jo-Anne Russell

Editor
 Allen Jacoby



I hope there's a human being (or zombie, vampire, spiritual entity) checking this at some point - and that it doesn't really take 8 weeks!



For those with a compulsive spelling disorder, fuelling can apparently be spelled as "fuelling" or "fueling."


© 2012-2013 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

A Poem Submitted



I've submitted a short poem, Among the Stones, to Scarlett River Press in hopes it will be accepted into their poetry anthology (?), In Darkness Dwells ~ A Macabre Collection of Poetry. 




Scarlett River Press seems to be a small outfit up in Canada, just starting off, so I don't have great expectations (no pun intended) for this, but you have to start somewhere. It would be nice to say I've had a short story and a poem published.

The poem itself is a bit on the dark side, and not lengthy at all, with 18 short lines.

Now, more waiting - no word on my other story to Fringeworks yet.

But there's more to do - I still have to finish that mummy story for The Were-Traveler...  (but I have until February 15th). Until then, you'll just have to read my werewolf story there (shameless plug).


© 2012-2013 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Another Story Submitted



I've submitted another story, a rework of the Grimm Brother's fairy tale, The Fisherman and His Wife, to Fringeworks, under the same title.


Vom Fischer und seiner Frau; Darstellung von Alexander Zick (1845 - 1907)
Public domain image, Fischer und Frau, from Wikimedia Commons

Like the original fairy tale, it's a short story, but in a modern setting and with a different ending. It's more on the humorous side than from the dark places I usually reside.

From the Fringeworks website:


Grimm and Grimmer Submission Guidelines

We love to find new talent and to give writers the chance to get recognition for their work in the public domain. We are currently seeking submissions for a continuing anthology series entitled ‘Grimm and Grimmer’.

A number of short ebooks will be released throughout 2013, culminating in a limited print run hardback edition containing all of the stories published by this method. With each ebook purchased from selected websites, customers will receive a code to be put towards the purchase of a limited hardback edition.

We anticipate a total of five ebooks, each containing six stories.

Customers who collect codes for all five ebooks will be eligible to purchase the limited edition hardback for free, excluding p&p.

Submission deadline for this anthology is midnight on 6th January 2013.


I made the deadline by 1 day. Now the waiting begins...

In the mean time, I'll continue work on my mummy story for The Were-Traveler.


© 2012-2013 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

My Story Got Tweeted



... and not by me this time!

I just had to post the "Tweet" someone put out for my story. It was even re-tweeted by one of the other writers in the "Big Bad Wolf" issue of The Were Traveler.





Reading back through it, there are some awkward areas that I'd redo, but I was pressed for time as it was, so that wasn't an option. But I have a story out there, such as it is. Considering I'm not really a werewolf fan, it's not too bad!

More (and hopefully better) stories to come!

Oh, and please feel free to leave a comment / review / lambaste below. I'm working on that thick skin writers are supposed to have.


© 2012-2013 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Saturday, December 29, 2012

The Christmas Miracle



I'm often told this is the season for miracles, and I'm beginning to believe it.


Image "Wolf and Moon" courtesy of nixxphotography at www.freedigitalphotos.net


My short story, "Going Home," has been accepted for publication in the Were Traveler "Big Bad Wolf in a Big Bad Universe" issue. The Were Traveler is an online webzine dedicated to short fiction.

You can read "Going Home" by clicking on the title here or by finding it in my publication page (short though it may be). I think the link may change once the site puts the issue into "archive" status, and I'll post an updated link if that is the case.

P.S. To Ellora Bennett - you are now famous. Or you will be at some point in the future. You'll find a little "Easter egg" about half-way through the story!



Image "Wolf and Moon" courtesy of nixxphotography FreeDigitalPhotos.net


© 2012 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Saturday, December 15, 2012

One Down...



Well, I've gone and done it this time.

I've submitted a short story.

It's a something-less-than-epic tale about a...




No, that's not the title. It's called Going Home. I'll try not to let my ego take over should it be selected for publication (on-line, and for recognition only). Maybe it's not quite A Tale of Two Cities, but you have to start somewhere. You can't start more humbly than this.

I remember the first time I saw the call for submissions via Duotrope. I thought, "You've got to be kidding." After thinking it over for a while, I thought, "You've really got to be kidding..."

What can I say? It's what they wanted.

I checked out the website, an it's one of those that ask people to send in writing for use in an on-line issue or e-zine, essentially another blog. You can check them out by clicking here.

Well, it's out there, all that's left is the waiting. I made it with just two days left before the deadline. If it isn't chosen, maybe I'll put it on here. Or print it and burn it, denying all knowledge of its existence.

To be honest, I'd be tickled if I just heard back from them.

      Dear sir and / or madam:

          We've read your submission, and, well, you've got to be kidding...

I'll keep you posted.


© 2012 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Monday, November 12, 2012

Elly's Posts On W.U Hstry



Even though Elly hasn't had much time to work on her fantasy writing due to her schoolwork, she has been blogging at the W.U Hstry History Student's Blog. Here are links to two new posts:



A Very Brief Glance at Hair Combs in History

Pre-dynastic period comb - from W. U Hstry Blog
Pre-dynastic period comb
from W. U Hstry Blog


The Fall of the Aztec Empire


Cortez - from W. U Hstry Blog
Cortez
from W. U Hstry Blog


Just to let you know she really has been busy:



© 2012 K. R. Smith

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Book Reviews: Soul Stalker and Night of the Purple Moon



I've recently posted a couple of short book reviews out on Goodreads. Links to them are below.



Soul Stalker
    by Laura Kreitzer

Recommended for: Fantasy romance readers
Read from August 29 to September 13, 2012 — I own a copy, read count: 1


Soul Stalker
(Timeless #2)Soul Stalker by Laura Kreitzer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars








Night of the Purple Moon 
    by Scott Cramer

Recommended for: YA
Read in November, 2012 — I own a copy, read count: 1


Night of the Purple MoonNight of the Purple Moon by Scott Cramer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars







© 2012 K. R. Smith

Sunday, November 4, 2012

This Is Only A Test…



I’m trying to see how Microsoft Live Writer (part Windows Essentials) does for posting to Blogger. I’m using the Windows XP version for this test – I may see if a newer version for Windows 7 is available later.
 Image of tools from Clipartheaven.com

I’ve been having some “issues” with their editing tools lately and I want to see if this is an option.

So far, it seems this version only allows for posting blog entries, but not pages…

I also have to do some things manually (like my horizontal rows) whereas Blogger does them automatically once they are set up.

There are some picture editing tools in Live Writer, but I have GIMP and Corel PhotoPaint already, so that’s not a big plus for me (might be useful for others!). There doesn’t seem to be a way to get a picture I’ve already posted to a Picasa library. Not so good.


© 2012 K. R. Smith

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Elly's Latest W.U Hstry Post



Ellora Bennett has a new post on the Winchester University History Students Blog:




© 2012 K. R. Smith

Thursday, October 18, 2012

How Incredibly Exciting!



I've finally gotten around to updating the favicon for this blog. It's nothing more than the letter "K" in red on a white field using the Matura MT Script Capitals font. How original.


My new favicon for this blog
My new favicon for this blog


I know this is incredibly exciting, but try to control yourself. Please contact emergency services if you start to have heart palpitations.

Yes, that's the big news for today...

At least it's more personal than the standard Blogger icon.


© 2012 K. R. Smith

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Elly's Feeling Guilty



And for good reason...




We know that you'll get back into it once things settle down (she's starting a new semester at "Uni").

BTW, this is the link to her Blogger blog.


© 2012 K. R. Smith

October 2012: Project Update - Poetry Submission



This is an update to the post October 2012: Project - Poetry Submission.

I had emailed Scarlett River Press about the rights they were purchasing for their poetry collection ( In Darkness Dwells ~ A Macabre Collection of Poetry ) and they did respond!



From: Jo-Anne Russell ScarlettRiverPress@reborn.com

Image of Jo-Anne Russell of Scarlet River Press






Rights
 
This use of the Work by the Publisher entails the assignment of First Worldwide Anthology Rights, (Electronic and / or Print,) for publication in the English language anywhere in the world for a period of six months, when exclusivity ends, and nonexclusive rights commence.

 Thank you for writing.

 Jo-Anne Russell



This doesn't get me any closer to being accepted, and I do want to rework the poem (that I had originally considered finished), but at least I now know what I'm getting into. And so does anyone else considering a submission...

Thank you, Jo-Anne, for your reply!


© 2012 K. R. Smith

Monday, October 15, 2012

Projects Update



I have three short-term projects going right now - well, maybe two and a half...

I'm about 90% done my "Werewolves In Space" short story, so it won't be too much longer before it is submitted. In truth, the story only has one werewolf, so I guess I should change this to "Werewolf In Space." In any event, the real title will be "Going Home". I still can't believe I'm writing this. I was just reading an article, however, that says writing outside you're comfort zone keeps you fresh. After this, I couldn't get much fresher.



Image of werewolf and moon



My second project, to be submitted for Tales of the Undead - Suffer Eternal at Horrified Press, still has a way to go. It may be 50% complete. But the deadline is in February 2013, so not to worry. My submission will be called "Final Judgment". I did notice that they are posting an advance acceptance list that has five entries already - they didn't say how many they want, or even if they have a limit.

I'm not sure about my last project. I've emailed Scarlett River Press asking them what rights they are "purchasing," but I haven't received a reply. I'm not sure I want to proceed if they don't. Not that what I submit would be so earth-shattering, but I like to do business with people that state exactly what the details of the transaction are to be.

I also need to do some reviews on Goodreads. I haven't updated those as quickly as I'd like.

Another task I have in mind is to set up a Google Docs spreadsheet to track submissions and have it be accessible from this blog. We'll see.

Yes, I have some work to do...


© 2012 K. R. Smith

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

October 2012: Project - Poetry Submission



I've found another one - and I already have an unpublished poem ready...



Image of pen and paper from www.freedigitalphotos.net



This project is from Scarlett River Press:



In Darkness Dwells ~ A Macabre Collection of Poetry

Deadline ~ January 31st, 2013

It matters not what hides behind the eyes, as long as it remains separate from the soul. Deep within us all, in our darkest place, dwells secrets we would rather keep hidden. Bring forth your monsters of the mind, and bask in the strange, the beautiful, the dark, and the macabre, as those secrets scorch minds and ooze down the pages of "In Darkness Dwells."

Format:

No more than 40 lines, any poetry style, size 12 font.
Must be dark! Cross some lines if you must, and give us your best.
Up to five poems per author.
No reprints! New works only.

Payment:

By line, one electronic copy, and one paperback copy, or $5.00 without paperback copy. (Per author, not poem.)

Send your submissions to: ScarlettRiverPress@reborn.com.

In the subject line please put: Poetry_your first poem title_last name.

Please attach your submissions. Do not put them in the body of the email.

Dig deep, and share your dark side.


Note: Image shown in this post was downloaded from www.freedigitalphotos.net

© 2012 K. R. Smith

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Another Tweet: Quote Of The Day



I also happened to see this while checking out what was going on with Twitter:




This could be the subject of a very interesting story... either fiction or non-fiction!


© 2012 K. R. Smith