Two Years at the Writing Craft

My time as a published author

craft of writing, carpenter, "tuxedo cat" and goldendoodle, cartoon

I haven’t done one of these in a while, so let’s see what the AI dustbunnies are up to. 😁

I do wish “tuxedo cat” wouldn’t give the cat a bow tie or put it in an actual tuxedo. 🤦‍♂️

Just over two years ago my first short story was published. “Red River Boots” (the first link is for a reading I did from my story, and the second link is for the whole anthology on Amazon) in the Moggies Back in Space anthology, released October 2023. I wrote and submitted that story in June of that year, and it was really nerve wracking, waiting to find out if my story would get into an anthology.

As you can guess, it got in, but not in the first Moggies in Space anthology. It got into the second one, along with a lot of good folks, several of whom were members of the Alpha Mercs writing group: A. Kristina Casasent and David Bock. Their stories were better than mine. Not to mention MCA Hogarth, whose story out-and-out rocked. 🫡

Anyway, as of last month, I hit the two year mark with ten short stories either in print or contracted so far. All in all, it’s been a really fun ride. 🙂 I’ve met lots of good people in the Alpha Mercs writing group, Raconteur Press, and the North Texas Troublemakers at various conventions over the past two years.

Learned a lot at those conventions, about the craft and business of writing. However, the most important lesson was how to relax and enjoy the Game. Because it is a long-term game that requires focus and dedication.

And lots of practice. I’ve gotten lots of help from awesome folks like TC Ross, Jordan Campbell, Seth Taylor, Zane Voss, Sam Robb, Jesse Slater, K Anders, Robb Grindstaff, and Ms.Monalisa Foster. 🙂 So many people to thank, and I’d run out of time naming everyone.

I’d like to note that Kjell and TC both gave me solid critiques on that first story, and I really doubt my story would’ve made it without it.

I would be highly remiss if I didn’t mention the editor who bought my first story, gave me an awesome critique while rejecting my second story in that series, and later bought two of the Moggie Noir tales I submitted in 2024. Ms. Rita Beeman.

Ms. Rita is a skilled author in her own right, and you really should check out an awesome story she self-published.

Mabel Murkwood and the Overly Familiar

Her characters live and breathe in a world that seems like a place you could visit if you just tried hard enough. 🙂

She is a sweet, funny lady who always makes my wife and I laugh when we visit with her.

And sometimes I needed that laughter. This past year, I went through a rough patch until I could rediscover why I started writing in the first place.

For all y’all readers. For my former students, who couldn’t find entertaining books that didn’t lecture about whatever message the trad publishing companies thought had to be flogged that week. 🤦‍♂️

For adults, it’s even worse. Poorly edited works are making it into print even under big name publishing companies, not to mention a lot of the trash flooding Amazon in recent years, with story titles containing every keyword and trope that will get their work in front of the most eyes. *sigh*

To my former students, “Mr. M from OAES” says don’t give up on finding good stories. Or writing your own, like Tanner did. Loved your story, Tanner. 🫡

I mentioned my most recent story, “Bookwyrm,” which was accepted for a charity anthology to support the children’s portion of the library in Tiny Town, Texas. That antho will be published this month. Library Creatures.

I’ll have a post with link once it’s published, so all y’all can check out a sample and decide if you’d like to give it a try.

So, that’s what two years has brought. What’s next?

Well … lots of things.

If you like alternate history tales set during the American War for Independence, I’ll have three coming out in anthology with two awesome writers from the Alpha Mercs, Zane Voss and Seth Taylor . Have a look at Raconteur Press’s Hooves, Tracks and Sabers anthology where three of our stories in the upcoming antho got their start. Zane’s story is first in the antho, so you might catch a bit of it in a Kindle sample.

I’m working on a Middle Grade (MG) novel concept next based upon a short story I wrote for Raconteur Press’s Giant Squeeing Robots, “MOPPET.” I had a bit of inspiration from Caroline Furlong, which has given me the “maguffin” for my novel. 😁

I hope to have that in Ms. Cedar Sanderson’s hands by late winter. It will be slow going as this will be my first novel-sized submission.

After that, I have ideas. Another alternate history setting that takes place in the first half of the 1900s. I’m doing lots of research. Here’s a photo of three books I picked up last month to help me with research.

These tales are going to be a blast to write. 😎

Some other plans include:

- a steampunk time travel.

- adventure tales reminiscent of the original Star Wars movies/books that I hinted at last year.

- Weird Western tales set in Indianola, Texas. Along with another one that takes place in the Wyoming Territory that isn’t “quite” in the same setting.

- SF and Noir tales told from a cat’s viewpoint.

- Japanese steampunk tales. With kaiju. What can I say? I like steampunk. 😁

- And a collection or two of assorted fantasy and SF tales based upon the short stories that I submitted over the past two years to Raconteur Press, Alpha Merc Press, and two library charity anthologies. These diverse open calls gave me lots of opportunities to indulge my imagination, so you’ll be getting a heck of a mix of tales come next year.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t share two of my favorite inspirations at the end of my annual report.

The Feline-muse, AKA The Boss, reminding me to stop checking social media and get back to writing. 😉

And the Swamp-doodle at his fluffiest, reminding me to have fun. 🙂

I’ll have more news about the Game next October. I won’t be late next year. 🫡