What's new?
I've been really busy since January, and I thought I'd let all y'all in on what I've been up to.
Hello, folks. I can’t believe it’s May 2nd as I write this. Things have moved so quickly since October that I don’t remember stopping to breathe until now.
Writing and submitting several short stories has kept me busy ideating, researching, writing, editing, rewriting, editing, receiving critiques, providing critiques to folks in my writing group, and submitting.
I submitted two short stories in December. A steampunk and a MilSF short. Neither one was outright rejected or got into that first anthology. I’m still hopeful about both, but any possible contract is months away.
In January I submitted a humorous SF story that was rejected, but oh so politely, and I was energized to fix the problem and resubmit to a future anthology.
In March, I submitted two short stories, both of which were accepted for publishing. One anthology has since been published, “Wyrd West.” That one has been pretty popular, and I’ve gotten kind comments about my tale “One Eldritch Horror, One Ranger.” I’m pumped to write more tales with Marshall Sam, Ms. Luc, Doc Volk, and little Maria.
I love the cover that Ms.
created for this anthology, and just want to share it everywhere I can. It doesn’t hurt that my pen name is on the cover. 😁The other short was my first GameLit story attempt, and it was accepted for publishing, hopefully, by June/July this year in “Minstrels in the Galaxy.” 🤞 I’m trying a new pen name with these, as I don’t see much overlap between GameLit and Weird Western, humorous SF, or the other genres I’ve written. It’s “Lord Shinzō,” which is a translation of my middle and first names. It seems to be the fashion for pen names to come from Asian culture in the GameLit/LitRPG genre. I’m not Asian, but I do enjoy many of the different cultural aspects of the region.
This cover was also created by Ms. Cedar, and it seriously hooked this reader into the book, even knowing what one of the stories is about.
In April, I submitted my first alt-history story. [Update: On Saturday’s (4 May) Contract Day I found out my story got in! “Devil Take the Hindmost” will be published in
‘s “Hooves, Sabers & Tracks” anthology on, or around 31 May. 🙂 So save your “credits” folks for an awesome storytelling event because two of my fellow Alpha Mercs got in, too: Seth Taylor and . I had the pleasure of reading the beta copies of both, and their stories are fantastic, takin place in two periods of history that are often overlooked for alt-history: the Crusades and the Punic Wars. And the best thing is that the anthology was guest edited by one of my personal writing heroes, Dr. James Young, an awesome alt-history fiction writer.]I have a Moggie Noir (“cat detective”) story that I will be rewriting soon to submit this month. I also have a WW2 alt-history that keeps trying to steal my attention from the Moggie Noir short. 🤦♂️
Kind of like the newest member of our family, Thor, the “Swamp-doodle,” tries to steal attention from the Feline-muse. 😁
That’s the “Swamp-doodle” relaxing on the Back Porch with me while I work on a 1st Draft. He’s still a pup, so we’ve been working on manners and focusing abilities.
Also, I took a break for a week and went to a fun, informal gathering of friends out of state at the end of April. We set our course toward Texas, which allowed us to visit with three of my fellow Alpha Mercs:
and Tod and Anna Casasent. Lots of fun, good food, and talking about writing topics.Once we got to the gathering at Tiny Town, it was a total blast. I met authors I admire, learned quite a bit, and got a chance to visit with the kind folks of
. Very good food was consumed, especially at the pot luck that first night. The pulled pork and brisket were awesome. Makes me sad that we don’t have good Texas BBQ in Florida. 😔But it was meeting all the people that was the high point. There were so many that I’m sure I’m forgetting someone. If so, please excuse me.
I finally met Peter Grant in person. He has several series that I have enjoyed reading for several years: “Take the Star Road,” “Brings the Lightning,” “King’s Champion,” “Stones of Silence,” and several other books. He was a true gent. His wife, Dorothy Grant, a wonderful writer herself, was also in attendeance. We met her when she and
were in our state recently.I met Jim Curtis, again, who has been so kind to me and my wife. His Grey Man series started the spark in me to write my own stories.
LawDog, whose stories should not be read while enjoying a beverage, or you will be cleaning off your iPad’s screen. He is an awesome guy in person.
Ms. Rita Beeman, his lovely lady, edited the Moggie anthologies, giving me the opportunity to see my work in print for the first time but an even greater opportunity to learn from my mistakes by rejecting my second submission to the “Moggies in Space” anthology series. Did I mention she has a wonderful singing voice?
one of my fellow Alpha Mercs; it was the first time meeting him in person and a true pleasure. , another of our Alpha Mercs, had me cracking up half the time, and really thinking about the craft at others.Ms. Sarah Clithero, a member of Alpha Mercs and a skilled copyeditor was a blast to meet in person after all the online conversations we’d had about my out of date grammar skills. 😁 Nah. She didn’t chew me out in person; she was too kind to do that.
Rick Cartwright, yet another Alpha Merc. We had some good conversations about stories and life. Yup. There were five of us there.
Nope. Six technically.
(James Totten), one of the newest to join our writing group platform, was also there. He spent half the weekend working on a novel that’s due out this summer. Seriously, you need to go read the “Breaching Ain’t Easy” series. It was great to finally meet him in person.Mr. Ben Yalow, a great editor, who has more corporate knowledge about SF writing and conventions than anyone I’ve ever met, except for D. Jason Fleming, who always catches me with things I thought I knew but just didn’t quite grasp. 😁
And Ms. Jonna Hayden, who, though not a writer, manages to keep all us ducks in a row. Those years in the theater and teaching have made her a force to be reckoned with. More importantly, every time I talk with her I end up feeling enriched by the knowledge she shares. 🙇♂️
All of these people were so kind to my wife, our dog, and me. And I look forward to the next time we meet.
Frankly, we had so much fun that each night I had to remind myself to relax and get enough sleep for the next day.
When Sunday came, it was too soon. I was having too much fun, but we had a several-day journey home in front of us. That final half-day was packed full of good food and even better company, until it was time for the Swamp-doodle, my wonderful wife, and I to start wending our way back home.
But I don’t want to forget about my visit to the Blanket Fort, where the magic is made twice a week on OldNFO’s YouTube podcast. I loved talking with Ms. Jonna, LawDog, Ms. Sarah, Ms. Cedar, Mike, and the other folks that make up the Raconteur Press family. It has been a real pleasure to create awesome tales with all y’all.
All was awesome in the world until our Swamp-doodle got sick on the multi-day drive home. Poor boy’s stomach was a wreck until we got him into see the vet. He’s doing better now.
So what’s new?
I came away energized with lots of story ideas and even more anthology targets. I’ve mentioned the short stories I’m working now. I have four total short story plans in the works for the year, and I’m really pumped to submit those. I have to keep stopping myself from focusing on the WW2 alt-history short story to finish up the Moggie Noir. It must have been twice this past day I put down brief notes and jumped back to Moggies. 😁
And before we reach midsummer, there is my big convention of the year: LibertyCon.
I will be meeting a lot of my fellow Alpha Mercs writing group members there.
, Tod and Anna Casasent, , Rick Cartwright, and other members I can’t recall at the moment.Lots of publishers, including
and Baen.Opportunities to learn from
, , , Howard Andrew Jones, and other more-skilled authors.That one will be the last Convention of the year for me. I need to focus on my Galactic Empire novellas and practice long form fiction a lot more. I’ve gotten good enough at short stories that I have an even chance of making entertaining shorts. I believe that stretching myself into long form will bear further fruit for writing in general.
One last thing. I’d like to thank all the kind people, who subscribed and followed my ramblings. All y’all inspire me to share my journey on the writer’s path and all the things that have contributed to the stories I tell. 🙇♂️ May the rest of your week be smooth like cream, as the Feline-muse says. 😉
Anyway, that’s about it for where I am right now. Have a great week! 👋
Congrats on the sales!
I had a chance to go to Foolz before I left Texas, it was a good time. Glad to you got to go. Hope to see you at LC!
Was great to meet you! Looking forward to reading many more of your stories.