National Poetry Month

---

Since it is National Poetry Month, I thought I'd post a couple of links of interest!

First, the link to the Academy of American Poets page about National Poetry Month.

Second, a link to the participants in NaPoWriMo (Like NaNoWriMo, but for poetry)


Here's my contribution ( In truth, I'd like to deny any knowledge of the following poem, and for those who insist upon associating my good name with this, a pox upon your house.)

If you don't have time
To make it rhyme,
That's fine;
You haven't crossed the line.

But if you do,
That's OK, too!
Just check with Frost
If you think you're lost

But write it either way
Because at the end of the day
You know darned well
It'll never sell.

---

Note: the artwork on this page are the property of their respective website and website owners.

---

© 2012-2013 K. R. Smith All rights reserved - well, except for that stupid poem. If you want to claim that as yours, be my guest.

Welcome, Ukrainians! ( or Привіт, українці! )

---

Ласкаво просимо всім моїм читачам українському!

I sure hope the above translates correctly. I don't want to start an international incident...

For some reason, I get a lot of hits on my blog from Ukraine. I'm not sure if any Ukrainians are actually reading my blog or if they're just stumbling upon it by accident. On my statistics page, Ukraine comes up with the second highest number of hits. I understand that many Ukrainians speak English as a second languaage, so that might be part of the reason. I certainly don't mind them reading my blog, The more Ukrainians the better, I suppose!

If you're a reader from Ukraine, let me know! And maybe even tell me why you're reading! If you have an interest in writing, or have a question, please leave a comment below.

Thanks!

---

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

Thanks For Reading!

---

This March is the first month I've had over 1,000 hits on my blog - and the month isn't over yet!

A lot of this is traffic from Five Sentence Fiction readers, and I appreciate the time every one of you have taken to read and comment.

Over 1,000 hits this month on my blog!

---

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

Mum(mie)s The Word

---

The short story and drabble I submitted to The Were-Traveler webzine have now been published and available for your reading pleasure - or critique. This issue is all about mummies. I had to shorten the mummy story a little from its original length since it kept going over the 2000 word limit, so I'm hoping it didn't suffer too much. This is my second submission to The Were-Traveler, the first being my werewolf story, Going Home, published back in December 2012. They've been pretty responsive and helpful for a small webzine, so I'll probably consider them again if I have a suitable story.

In addition to the short story, I did the drabble because I'd never done one and wanted to see how hard it was to make a little story come out to exactly 100 words. It can be frustrating at times!

Sorry for the picture below, but I do write horror...

Latest issue of @theweretraveler is now live: The Wise and Ancient Dead—Mummies! wp.me/p1MMef-hr #horror #amreading #weblit
— The Were-Traveler (@TheWereTraveler) March 4, 2013

Here are the direct links to the stories:

• A Matter of Personal Taste (short story)
• Revenge (drabble 100)

Please let me know what you think about 'em!

---

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

Scarlett River Press Website Update

---

It appears that the Scarlett River Press website is back on-line as promised. There doesn't seem to be anything new on it yet except that all of the submissions are marked "closed." So, I have that one little poem submitted to them - perhaps it still has a chance for publication!

I just updated my iPage website, check it out! scarlett-river-press.ca

— Scarlett River Press (@ScarlettRiverPr) February 17, 2013

---

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

I'm So Proud!

---

I found this on-line writing analyzer that is supposed to tell you which famous author your writing style emulates. I put in the story I'd written for the Five Sentence Fiction Challenge using the prompt "ringing" and it responded with this:

I write like
H. P. Lovecraft

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!

Without a doubt, a most remarkably accurate tool!

---

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

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.)

fringeworks.co.uk/blog/?p=283 News about the forthcoming Grimm and Grimmer anthology from @fringeworks with @williemeikle and yours truly!
— Theresa Derwin (@BarbarellaFem) January 27, 2013

---

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

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

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

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?).

Currently editor @barbarellafem is reading 88 fairy stories retold for our Grimm and Grimmer anthology! Cool stuff
— Fringeworks (@fringeworks) January 18, 2013

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

---

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

@theweretraveler Read a werewolf in space story: Going Home by KR Smith wp.me/p1MMef-fW
— The Were-Traveler (@TheWereTraveler) January 1, 2013

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

The Christmas Miracle

---

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

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

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

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

The Fall of the Aztec Empire

Cortez
from W. U Hstry Blog

Just to let you know she really has been busy:

Today, I spent nearly 11 hours in uni. Sleepy time. Also, still sad that I'm not NaNo-ing this month.
— Ellora Bennett (@ElloraBennett) November 8, 2012

---

© 2012 K. R. Smith

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 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 Moon by Scott Cramer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

---

© 2012 K. R. Smith

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.
 

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

Elly's Latest W.U Hstry Post

---

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

Check out my latest post for @wuhstry ! wuhstry.wordpress.com/2012/10/28/the… Next week I'll be posting about an everyday item and revealing its history!
— Ellora Bennett (@ElloraBennett) October 29, 2012

---

© 2012 K. R. Smith