FSF Challenge - Freedom

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This week's writing challenge from Five Sentence Fiction ( Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt: Freedom

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.

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Great Escape

     "He's gotten out again, hasn't he, Rosella?"
     "Yes, Lavinia, he has, and you can tell he loves to run and play on these nice days. And I enjoy watching him."
     "Why don't you put up a fence to keep him in your yard?"
     The old woman replied in a thick accent as she rubbed the tattoo on her arm, "I'm not really fond of fences."

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Image source: http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/343969-bigthumbnail.jpg

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

A New Writing Challenge

Here's a link to a new writing challenge called the Light and Shade Challenge! Please check them out! I'll put a link on my Writing Resources page when I get a chance.

Light and Shade Challenge: About The Challenges: Every Monday a picture and a quote will be posted. These are the prompts, an invitation for you to take any spark they give you and write a... (go to the site to see more)

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

FSF Challenge - Vacation

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This week's writing challenge from Five Sentence Fiction ( Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt: Vacation

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.

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Private Retreat

     There weren't many places to escape the heat and danger of the inner city streets during the summer, but Ty and his dog found a little piece of paradise when they slid down into a storm culvert to hide from a gang. There wasn't much of a beach, just some sand that had piled up against the drainpipe strewn with bottle caps that glistened like multi-colored seashells in the soapy water flowing through from someone washing a car. The sumac fronds overhead hide the sun as well as any palm tree, and the cool air flowing from the concrete storm drain was as close to an ocean breeze as he was ever likely to experience. He sat quietly in the shade waiting for the disturbing noises above to dissipate, relaxing in the refreshing serenity of his tiny oasis. When Ty's dog jumped at the sound of gunfire nearby, he reassured his friend with, "Don't worry about that today—we're on vacation."

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Image source: http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/original-summer-vacation-book-glasses-bookmark-sand-1024x576.jpg

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

HB Challenge #3 - The Commuter

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This is a new writing challenge posted on the Office Mango website that Lizzie Koch pointed out to me. I thought I'd give it a try! I don't know how particular they are about word limits, but I used all 300 getting this down.

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This writing challenge from Horror Bites Challenge #3 based upon the picture provided.

From the Office Mango website: 

Come on guys I know you can come up with something dark & delicious :)

Guidelines :
1: Tales can be posted on your blogs & then just add to the wee linky tool, or add as a comment if you don’t have a blog.
2:  A word count of 200 to 300.
3:  Try to scare me, or at the very least create a little bit of darkness.
4:  This will be a fortnightly (two weeks) challenge from when the post goes live, so you’ve got plenty thinking time.

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The Commuter

    I'm a terrible creature of habit. Every day for years, I took the same train, sat in the same seat, read my paper, and got off at the station near my office within a few minutes of seven o'clock. Co-workers often suggested I add a bit of variety to my life.
    One morning, distracted by some movement, I looked up to see the reflection of a child gazing out the window in front of me, her small frame apparently obscured by the seat back. I was surprised as there are so few riders that early in the morning, especially children. She never talked, and I never heard her arrive or depart. As time passed, however, her reoccurring presence along that leg of my commute became a part of my daily routine. It's the same section that passes where someone had placed a cross and small stuffed animal by the tracks—the thing people put up as a memorial. I can't really say why I took notice of it.
    It all meant little until that drizzly day last week when I saw two people standing by the cross as the train approached. Getting nearer, I merely watched—but the young girl waved vigorously. As we passed, I saw the woman look up, a hand over her mouth, eyes wide open, flowers dropping from her hand as she fell to her knees, the man struggling to support her. I wanted to ask the child if she knew them, but when I leaned over to speak, the seat was empty. I felt the cushion, but there was no residual warmth as one might expect; indeed, it was quite cold.
    I haven't seen the child since that morning. But change is good, so I'm told, and the drive into work really isn't so bad.

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

FSF Challenge - Lucky

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This week's writing challenge from Five Sentence Fiction ( Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt: Lucky

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.

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Lillie hasn't posted a challenge this week, possibly because of the holiday, so I've added a poem for the season based on an earlier challenge I hadn't entered.

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Perspective

One man gazed across his vast, landscaped property,
    admired his large, stately home,
    and watching the chrome gleam on his new car
    said,
    "I'm a very lucky man."     

One man walked behind the lawnmower in the yard of his townhouse
    the perfume of freshly cut grass filling the air,
    and rejoicing in the beauty of tiny, manicured patch of greenery
    said,
    "I'm a very lucky man."  

One man sat on a blue lawn chair outside of his mobile home
    with a glass of iced tea and a bag of chips,
    and as he watched his grandchild play happily in the dirt
    said,
    "I'm a very lucky man."  

One man returned to his small apartment
    only to find thieves had knocked the door in while he was away,
    but seeing the picture of his late wife untouched upon the table
    said,
    "I'm a very lucky man."  

One man limped across the littered street
    with an eye out for those who might be watching,
    and spotting a half-eaten sandwich in a trashcan
    said,
    "I'm a very lucky man."   

                                                 K. R. Smith

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Image "Dustbins" courtesy of Matt Banks / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

FSF Challenge - Feathers

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This week's writing challenge from Five Sentence Fiction ( Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt: Feathers

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.

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Brazen Display

     The first thing Wanda noticed was how much time the males spent preening themselves, then strutting around in front of the females. They also made a lot of noise, but she wasn't sure if it was to communicate with a potential mate or as a threat to other males. The only thing that seemed to interrupt the non-stop courtship ritual was when the males needed to get a drink.
    Her cohort, Janice, sat down beside her and asked, "So, what do you make of all this?"
    Wanda just shook her head and replied, "I don't think the nightclub scene is for me."

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Image source: http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/peacock_by_bleeding__roses-d4w4x28-1024x682.jpg

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Job Listings

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Here are a couple of places looking for stories and poems. They even pay a little bit...

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Burial Day Books / Gothic Blue Book 4

From their website:

Burial Day Books Call for Submission: Gothic Blue Book VOL 4

Gothic Blue Books were short fictions popular in the 18th and 19th century. They were descendants of the chap book trade and are now a thing of the past. Burial Day Books will resurrect this art form with its own Gothic Blue Book Vol. 4 to be available this October 31st 2014.

What was a Gothic Blue Book?

Gothic Blue Books were abridgements of full-length Gothic novels. The subjects of these books fell into one of two categories; the first being set in a monastery or convent and the second being set in a castle.
In terms of the physicality of the book, they were three and a half to four inches in width and six to seven inches in height, with a page count of thirty-six to seventy-two pages.
These little pieces of terror were popular at the time because they were affordable, a sixpence or a shilling each. Their cost affordability led them to be nicknamed Shilling Shockers or Sixpenny Shockers.

What are we looking for?

Original Gothic Blue Books typically took place in either a monastery, convent or castle. In years past we have asked for short stories that take place in one of these locations, or a modern day location such as a morgue, haunted house or cemetery. This year, we have added a new entry – legend, folklore or myth of the Americas.

When we think of legend, folklore or myth of the Americas the range is staggering, from the Jersey Devil in the East Coast, to the Wendigo, American werewolf, La Llorona, vanishing hitchhiker, the woman in white, abandoned mining towns and so much more.

Please submit a short story or poem no longer than 3,500 words that follows one of the following:
A single mention or setting in one of the original Gothic Blue Book settings:
 a) Monastery
 b) Convent
 c) Castle
A single mention or setting in one of the modern Gothic Blue Book settings:
 a) Cemetery
 b) Funeral home or morgue
 c) Haunted house
2014 Addition:
a) A story or poem dealing with a legend, folklore or myth of the Americas.

In addition to the above, the story or poem must instill fear using a supernatural element – ghosts, ghouls, monsters, myth, folklore or legend. Extreme violence, sexuality, gore, and profanity will not be considered. For inspiration look to Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, Jorge Luis Borges, Shirley Jackson, Emily Brontë, or Neil Gaiman.

The collection will be published October 31st 2014 in eBook and traditional book format.
DEADLINE: AUGUST 31st 2014

LEGAL DETAILS
If accepted you are giving Burial Day Books:
A. The exclusive first right to publish your story.
B. The right to republish the story in or in connection with Burial Day, including electronic or hard copy form, including in promotional material or compilations – provided that authorial credit is given in every instance of reproduction.
After your story appears on Burial Day and in the Gothic Blue Book you are free to republish your piece elsewhere as long as you communicate to potential buyers that they are buying your story as a non-exclusive piece

Payment details:
 $25.00 (USD)
 Two (2) Contributor copies of the anthology

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Solar Wyrm  / Latchkey Tales

From their website:

June 2014: “Fire and Ice” – Submissions close April 30
August 2014: “Children of Water” – Submissions close May 31

If you have a story or poem that fits the theme, or you’d like to write one, please go ahead! You can email them to me at solarwyrm@gmail.com, with the subject heading “Latchkey Tales submission – [your name]“. Please submit as doc or docx files, 12 point font, a clean font like Times, Arial, Calibri. I’ll accept stories between 1000 and 6000 words. At the moment I am not sure how much I’ll be paying, but my working amounts are roughly $10 per story and $5 per poem. That will vary depending on how many subscriptions we get.

If you’re an artist and you’re interested in working on our cover, please get in touch with me at solarwyrm@gmail. Working amount for payment for cover images is currently $50, but that is also variable depending on subscription.

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If you have something they might find interesting, drop them a line. Or maybe a thousand...

Disclaimer: I was published in Gothic Blue Book III, so I've dealt with Burial Day Books, and the seem to be good folks to deal with. I'll probably submit a story to them again this year. I haven't done business with Solar Wyrm, so I can provide no information on them. In both cases, please visit their websites for complete information!

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Pantsing vs. Plotting

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One of the Google+ folks I check in on from time to time, AmyBeth Inverness, has posted a question:

 

       Do we all hybridize pantsing and plotting, or are there some purists out there?

I'm almost always a pantser, but I do a little outlining for longer stories. I don't think I've ever done it for a poem.

If you have an opinion, let me (or AmyBeth) know!

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

FSF Challenge - Whimsical

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This week's writing challenge from Five Sentence Fiction ( Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt: Whimsical

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.

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Viewpoint

     This was Sarah's first time home since moving away for college and that junior position at a law firm, and a walk around the old property flooded her mind with pleasant, though long-forgotten, memories. Most of all, she was surprised to see the playhouse her father had built years ago still there, maintained in perfect condition. The playhouse was complete, even down to the tiny table inside where she'd held so many make-believe tea parties, and yet it wasn't quite right somehow. Sarah didn't recall the playhouse being so amusingly proportioned; it had seemed perfectly normal to her child's eye. The smile disappeared from her face as she wondered if her view of the past was distorted—or her view of the present.

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Image source: http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wimsical-playhouse.jpg

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

FSF Challenge - Companion

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This week's writing challenge from Five Sentence Fiction ( Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt: Companion

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.

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The Bottle

Beside the bed,
Upon a stand,
A bottle and a note
Spoke to sorrows
And of pain
With every word he wrote.

She held his hand,
His dying hand,
Softly in her own,
And felt the life
Within it pass,
Leaving her alone.

Tenderly,
She crossed his arms 
Upon his now still breast,
Then laid herself 
Down next to him,
Next to him to rest.

In grief, 
The bottle called to her,
Glowing in the light,
And when it touched 
Against her lips
Her eyes closed to this life. 

I wish to think 
She found her love
Upon that distant shore,
Then took his hand
And shared a kiss,
Companions evermore.

                                        K. R. Smith

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Image "Bottle" courtesy of Zole4 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

FSF Challenge - Ruins

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This week's writing challenge from Five Sentence Fiction ( Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt: Ruins

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.

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Respect for a Lady

     It was an unexpected find—there weren't supposed to be any ancient civilizations capable of such stonework anywhere near the area, yet here he stood, awestruck by their great buildings, one of which held an intricately carved tomb. If the depiction on the lid was accurate, it contained a woman of high rank and of great beauty. He considered the ramifications of making his discovery public; the site would soon be swarming with archaeologists, tourists, and, perhaps, the occasional looter. The thoughts of her final resting place being disturbed, of her being handled, sampled, and displayed, seemed entirely inappropriate. Before he turned to leave forever, he whispered, "This is for you, Princess."

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Image source: http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/3585_1600x1200-wallpaper-cb1267712061-1024x768.jpg

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Shameless plug section!

The horror anthology, Gothic Blue Book III - Graveyard Edition  by Burial Day Books, includes my poem, The Ballad of Drunken Jack. Available on Amazon for Kindle or in paperback.

The zombie anthology, Haiku of the Dead by Dreamscape Press, includes my poem, Hunting Season. Available on Amazon in paperback.

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Writers! Share the best blog post, story, or poem you've written in 2013 here: Best of 2013

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Terri Deno - Unfolding Life

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Terri Deno's book of haiku, Unfolding Life, is now available for Kindle on Amazon.

Unfolding Life: A Book of Haiku--now on sale: http://t.co/Qiq3cCRJdf via @amazon #haiku #book #haikuchallenge #haikulove
— Terri Deno (@TerriDeno) March 18, 2014

I have a special interest in this book as I worked with Terri on the cover and did a few illustrations for her. It made me realize how much I've missed doing any sort of artwork—and also how much my skills have deteriorated since I last picked up a pencil to draw! I am ever so thankful for erasers...

From Amazon:

The ancient art of the Japanese haiku has been embraced by the world for centuries. Today's modern take on the traditional form can make a reader think, feel, and see the things in this world that are sometimes hard to describe—even more difficult if it's limited to just seventeen syllables.

Unfolding Life is the debut haiku collection from Terri Deno. From nature and the tangible to time and the intangible, a wide variety of topics are explored in this ancient verse. This collection also includes artwork from KR Smith.
 

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

FSF Challenge - Furious

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This week's writing challenge from Five Sentence Fiction ( Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt: Furious

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.

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A pun a day keeps the editor at bay...

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Mad Cat

     "I'm sorry, Debbie," said the teacher to the young student, "but I don't understand the story you wrote for your homework assignment. Why was your cat mad?"
     The child looked up at the teacher, her eyes squinting, and replied, "My cat wasn't mad."
     "But you said he was furious—which I must admit, is a very, very big word for a child your age."
     "Well, he's very, very hairy!"


Sorry... so terribly sorry...

Stats:
  Words: 69
  Characters: 307
  Sentences: 5 (of course! ...via the liberal use of the em dash.)
  Words per sentence: 13.8

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Image "Siberian Cat" courtesy of Willem Siersi / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Shameless plug section!

The horror anthology, Gothic Blue Book III - Graveyard Edition  by Burial Day Books, includes my poem, The Ballad of Drunken Jack. Available on Amazon for Kindle or in paperback.

The zombie anthology, Haiku of the Dead by Dreamscape Press, includes my poem, Hunting Season. Available on Amazon in paperback.

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Writers! Share the best blog post, story, or poem you've written in 2013 here: Best of 2013

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Terri Deno's Haiku Book

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Terri Deno is almost ready to release her haiku collection titled Unfolding Life. Here's the cover! I'll have more updates here, and you can always check out her blog and Google+ pages!

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

FSF Challenge - Misunderstanding

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This week's writing challenge from Five Sentence Fiction ( Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt: Misunderstanding

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.

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This is why I never took dancing lessons...

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Save The Last Dance

    "Misunderstanding, my ass," she said as a faint whiff of smoke rose from the end of the barrel. "You could dance with her just fine, but with me you wouldn't even try!" 
    As she opened the door to leave, she met face to face with the woman she despised, the one she saw with her man in that very room just a week before, and was so enraged she yelled, "What the hell do you think you're doing here?"
     "Uh—I'm here to give Mr. Wilson his next dancing lesson. I really hope he's available because he wants to surprise his girlfriend soon—and he's already paid."

Yes, my friends, he has already paid...

Stats:
  Words: 106
  Characters: 452
  Sentences: 5 (of course! ...via the liberal use of the em dash.)
  Words per sentence: 21.2

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Image "Rose And Pistol by Pong" courtesy of Pong / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Shameless plug section!

The horror anthology, Gothic Blue Book III - Graveyard Edition  by Burial Day Books, includes my poem, The Ballad of Drunken Jack. Available on Amazon for Kindle or in paperback.

The zombie anthology, Haiku of the Dead by Dreamscape Press, includes my poem, Hunting Season. Available on Amazon in paperback.

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Writers! Share the best blog post, story, or poem you've written in 2013 here: Best of 2013

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

FSF Challenge - Sunshine

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This week's writing challenge from Five Sentence Fiction ( Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt: Sunshine

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.

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This week's story takes us on a road trip to the other side...

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One-Way Trip

    "The sun certainly is bright coming through that break in the trees ahead," said Kyle as he walked along the tree-lined lane with his wife.
    "Yes," she replied, "and it's playing tricks on my eyes. I don't remember the road taking a turn like that."
    "That's odd, because I was thinking the same thing."
     They looked back to get their bearings only to see themselves lying in the road, entwined in the erratic tracks of a car whose driver had lost control, and the crew of an ambulance in a frantic, but futile, attempt at revival.

Stats:
  Words: 96
  Characters: 433
  Sentences: 5 (of course!)
  Words per sentence: 19.2

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Shameless plug section!

The horror anthology, Gothic Blue Book III - Graveyard Edition  by Burial Day Books, includes my poem, The Ballad of Drunken Jack. Available on Amazon for Kindle or in paperback.

The zombie anthology, Haiku of the Dead by Dreamscape Press, includes my poem, Hunting Season. Available on Amazon in paperback.

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Writers! Share the best blog post, story, or poem you've written in 2013 here: Best of 2013

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Phony Kindle

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eBooks are great for those on the go. They allow you to carry a good-sized library right in your pocket. Amazon's Kindle is one of the leaders in this area, and they make it easy by providing software to turn your PC, tablet, or other device into a Kindle reader.

One of those other devices happens to be my Android phone. A rather old Android phone.

I had installed the Kindle software on it some time ago, and to be quite frank, it left a lot to be desired. It was slow and prone to crashing, but it worked well enough to allow me to read a number of books while on my way to work without having to carry an additional electronic device. After a while, however, things got worse. It began to get slower even after upgrading, took forever to launch, and crashed so much that I finally uninstalled it.

Noticing that I had an alert on the Kindle software on my PC that told me I needed to upgrade, I thought I might try to re-install it on the old phone. And so my troubles began...

I downloaded the new version and, after giving it permission to access most of my life's secrets that are stored somewhere on that ancient phone, told it to install itself, which it did. Sort of.

Since I had de-registered the phone, it wanted me to re-register the device. So I put in my e-mail address and then attempted to put in my password. At this point, it locked up and eventually rebooted, all without any external input.

I repeated this process several times before I decided to check the amount of remaining memory. I believe this is the first time I've ever seen a negative number on that screen.

So I moved the application to the SD memory card, and the results were the same, only it took less time to crash.

At that point, I did an uninstall of the Kindle software. Then I downloaded and installed it again.

This time, it let me put in my password before locking up the phone and crashing.

Once more (with gusto), I did the uninstall and re-install. This time, however, I moved the application to the memory card before starting the program. I attempted to register the device, and this time the process worked, albeit slowly. Then when the program finished setting itself up, it told me my library was in the archives, and so it was.

Just to be certain this was no aberration, I shut the program down and re-started it. It came up almost immediately. I brought one of the books back from the archive to my pseudo-Kindle, and it opened almost as fast as my regular Kindle. I tried this multiple times, and the process was repeatable and successful.

I now have a truly functional and useful eBook reader. I may never upgrade again. Or be able to buy another phone.

My advice is to copy that program to your memory card right after installing it and before attempting to read a single word of any eBook. I'm hoping that's the secret should I need to do this again.

.

 

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Shameless plug section!

The horror anthology, Gothic Blue Book III - Graveyard Edition  by Burial Day Books, includes my poem, The Ballad of Drunken Jack. Available on Amazon for Kindle  (yes, even the Kindle on your Android phone) or in paperback.

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

FSF Challenge - Strength

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This week's writing challenge from Five Sentence Fiction ( Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt: Strength

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.

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This is a follow-up from the last FSF challenge...

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Words of Encouragement

     Donna had nearly fallen asleep in the grim silence of her room when her rehab nurse knocked, peeking inside to see if she was in her room. Reluctantly, she wheeled herself through the door, and as they entered the clinic's rehabilitation area, passed in front of the television just as the Olympic ski jumping competition began.
     "I used to be athletic, too, but now I'm so weak—I'll probably never even be able to walk, let alone run."
     "For the moment, it's more important that your mind be strong than your legs," said the nurse, "so that you will have the courage to keep trying."
     Donna, with a groan of resignation, pulled herself up onto the parallel bars used to retrain damaged legs to support the weight of a body, and began her routine—again.

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Shameless plug section!

The horror anthology, Gothic Blue Book III - Graveyard Edition  by Burial Day Books, includes my poem, The Ballad of Drunken Jack. Available on Amazon for Kindle or in paperback.

The zombie anthology, Haiku of the Dead by Dreamscape Press, includes my poem, Hunting Season. Available on Amazon in paperback.

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Writers! Share the best blog post, story, or poem you've written in 2013 here: Best of 2013

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

This Week's Free Photo - Night Snow

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This is a bit of a surrealistic scene in the snow this week. It almost looks like a squadron of UFOs, but they're just the lights in a parking lot. The snow was coming down quite heavily at the time - which it seemed to be doing all week. I've shoveled enough this year...

Stop back again! I'll have another photo for you next week (or fairly soon thereafter...)!

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Image "IMG_9531_C.JPG" ©2014 K. R. Smith - www.theworldofkrsmith.com - may be used, in whole or in part, with attribution.

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Shameless plug section!

The horror anthology, Gothic Blue Book III - Graveyard Edition  by Burial Day Books, includes my poem, The Ballad of Drunken Jack. Available on Amazon for Kindle or in paperback.

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Another Submissions Update

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This is another update on my submissions...

I noticed that Fringeworks has posted Newsletter #5 Winter/Spring 2014 on their site, and it has updates for both of the following stories:

The Fisherman and His Wife: (Short story - humor/fairy tale) Accepted a long time ago for inclusion in Fringeworks Grimm and Grimmer series (in volume 4), it is now scheduled to be published sometime before 09/30/2014 (which for some reason they consider quarter 2). That's about a year later than the original schedule, but at least I have a date.

 

Skarett's Treasure: (Short story - humor/horror/pirates) Also accepted a long time ago by Fringeworks (for the KnightWatch Press imprint called Dead Men's Tales). They now list it as a Fringeworks project to be published before 12/31/2014. That's a long time away, especially since the new editor, Mellissa Black, sent me an e-mail a few weeks ago saying there were only four more stories (including mine) to edit. While it could be out earlier, if it does take that long, it will be over a year past the original planned publication date. But again, at least I have a date and some news. If or when it does show up, it's hard to say if it will be a Fringeworks or KnightWatch imprint.

 

While I do think the folks at Fringeworks are honest and working hard (a number of problems were beyond their control), I do think they took on more than a two person team could handle. They have added staff, so maybe they will be more responsive in the future. It does make people think twice about submitting to them. From their blog, they make note that:

•  19 books are currently available to buy
•  41 books in development are (sadly) behind schedule
•  18 more books are in development (but not behind schedule)
•  17 further books are planned (But not yet scheduled)
•  1 book was withdrawn pending revision (New Tales of the Old Ones)
•  2 books were cancelled (Descent of Fan & Letters from the Lodge)

That's a lot of work for a small crew. And there has been little visible promotion of the books that are available. I'll let you know how things (eventually) work out!

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Shameless plug section!

The horror anthology, Gothic Blue Book III - Graveyard Edition  by Burial Day Books, includes my poem, The Ballad of Drunken Jack. Available on Amazon for Kindle or in paperback.

The zombie anthology, Haiku of the Dead by Dreamscape Press, includes my poem, Hunting Season. Available on Amazon in paperback.

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Writers! Share the best blog post, story, or poem you've written in 2013 here: Best of 2013

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Image "Feathered Quill And Ink Pot" courtesy of Simon Howden at www.freedigitalphotos.net

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