Deadline...

Late last week I heard back from Written World Communications. They liked the sample stories I sent for Supernatural Colorado and wanted to see the completed anthology ASAP. Great news for all concerned. Problem is, I haven't quite finished editing yet.

So, I managed to get four stories back over the weekend and next weekend, I will finish the final four. Then I await the return of all revised submissions, so I can get the anthology put together and off to the publisher.

Deadline. The end of this month.

When I finish that one, I'm off to complete my next, even as I'm beginning to come up with an idea for next year's editing project. Nope. No hints as yet, but I've already had an author pitch an idea, and he didn't even know he was pitching. Told him to write the story and submit it.

Just goes to show, you never know when an editor is going to like your idea or what the outcome will be.

Happy Editor

Wednesday evening, I got a request from an editor for a story. Luckily, I had a great idea, spent four days writing and revising, before I sent it off to her on Sunday evening. The tale was over 10,000 words.

Whoa! Wait a minute...how'd you do that?

Simple. Practice. Years and years of practice.

I'm a bit startled to discover that I write faster than many pro writers. I guess all that time I spent writing fanfiction, and then posting it online, paid off.

What was the fanfiction? Practice!

All I did was take everything I learned about writing in other people's universes and applied it my original work.

Hey, it worked. And I have one very happy editor.

AnomalyCon post report

March 28th-30th was AnomalyCon, out local Steampunk convention. I was one of the participating authors in attendance along with running an author table in artist alley.

Friday my first panel, after a long day at work, was Writing from an Animal's Perspective, along with Julie Campbell. We shared out collective experience and how to write from a nonhuman view before having those who attended write a short piece about how their animal would react to encountering a strange object. They all did very well.

My second panel was called Rite Reading, or How to do a Reading. I had two people attend and they both told me they got a great deal out of it.

Saturday I ran two writing workshops. A few people showed up and got to practice composing short peices.

Sunday I ran another workshop, which only one person showed up for. We ended up talking about the differences between secular SF/F/H and Christian Speculative. I heard later through a third party he really enjoyed it.

Not everything that happens at a Con is about what panels you're on. I ran into an old friend who had just launched his first graphic novel. He also got two chances to write short stories for anthologies, including one I'm editing. I also caught up with authors who currently have stories submitted to me and all were very understanding about why I'm behind due to life stuff.

I might also have an opportunity to appear at the Myths and Legends Con in August. I have already dropped an email to the author wrangler.

I also sold three copies of Winter Awakening and one copy of All About Eve.

One different thing I did, I gave away dragons made from pipe cleaners to all the children. I learned later the parents were very grateful. I will be doing the give away at future cons as well.

All in all - a wonderful con and I can't wait to attend again next year.

Vampires Don't Sparkle

Big announcement - my story From Family Blood is Born has been accepted for the anthology,
Vampires Don't Sparkle Vol 1. It will be released through Sky Warrior Books and has an impressive line up of stories and authors, edited by Carol Hightshoe. Once I have an official release date, I'll post it in my blog.

Quick synopsis of my story:  It is based on the premise that John Adams was turned into a vampire by his cousin, Deborah Adams Metcalf. Odd bit of historical fact here, Deborah's grave has never been found nor is there any record of her death. Set in Boston, MA, they encounter a descendant of the Adam's family line who is a member of a religious cult. Also based on actual fact. I won't ruin the end of the story, but it is an alternate history with a lovely twist.

If you agree that not all vampires sparkle, then you will love this anthology. 

Blog Hop

 

 

 Fellow Writer Kat Heckenbach invited me to be part of a blog hop. http://www.katheckenbach.com/. Please, check out her blog and see her answers on the following questions.

 

 

 1)      What am I working on? 

I'm a writer who has to have several projects going on at once. I'm editing two anthologies, Supernatural Colorado  and Different Dragons 2. Completing Winter Emergence, the sequel to my first book. I'm working on a collaboration with Julie Campbell and I will writing a book for Sky Warrior Books. The working title is Thunks in the Attic. Not to mention several short stories to submit to various anthologies.

 

 2)       How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I allow my cats to be cats, my wolves to be wolves and any other animal I write to be true to their nature. They aren't people in animal skin. They behaviors, sense of smell, etc. are used instead of how a human would view it. I've even crawled around on the floor to see it from the cat's perspective.

 

I'm also a regional writer. I add local flavor to my work. Many of my stories and books are based in Colorado, or other places I have been. It makes the stories much more real and the reader can identify with them much easier.

 

3)       Why do I write what I do?

I grew up reading Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror, so it was natural progression. I also read romances and written my first. It was rejected, but the editor liked it well enough she's going to let me know what was wrong with it so I can fix and re-submit.

 

I envisioned myself as the next Andre Norton. I loved her work and even have a story of hers in an anthology I edited. Talk about a dream come true!

 

4)       How does your writing process work?

I allow myself to writer the splat. Then I go back to fix it. What's important is to get the basic story down. It doesn't need to be perfect. I also write in odd bits of time. Sometimes it's every day, sometimes it's just whenever.

I always have more story ideas floating around in the back of my head. Several series I'm working on even while I'm trying to complete current projects.

Teeth, Job, Vampire cats

Kind of a quiet writing week. I had a dental emergency and spent several days recovering from it. Two teeth had to be removed and evidently, I had a massive infection as well. The only cure was to remove the cause. The area seems to be healing now, so that's a good sign.

I did spend Tuesday afternoon writing a Halloween tale about my vampire cats. I named it Illusion. When it gets revised and edited, it will be going to an anthology. Oddly enough, it is a sequel to my story, The Failure, which was submitted to Zombified 2.

Most of my time is being spent on finding a job. Not an easy thing to do despite what the media keeps trying to report. I've had a few interviews, but no offers yet. I'll breathe easier when I finally get a position. 

New Fanfiction Stories

Last week was a fanfiction week. I wrote a new story called Never Forgotten, and post two others on fanfiction.net that had been previously published in a fanzine.

Never Forgotten begins at end of both Terra Nova and Primeval New World. Evan and Dylan had just escaped through the anomaly and suddenly find themselves in an ancient world. A patrol from Terra Nova finds them and takes them to the colony. In the future, Angie is determined to find them and bring them home, but why the anomalies stopped is a mystery, and just what is that strange object sitting in the courtyard?

The other two stories were originally published in Diamonds and Dynamite 1 & 2.

Happened Before and Again is a massive crossover featuring the universes of Stargate Atlanis and Stargate SG1, Falling Skies, both Battlestar Galactica 1978 & 2001, plus Caprica. The story is told from the viewpoint of Atlantis and her prime directive to protect the city at all costs. Inhabitants come and go and she watches them trying to decide if she should allow to stay or sent them on.

Recalled  is another crossover featuring Stargate Atlantis, the movie Change of Plans, Charmed, Kindred, and a number of surprises. Colonel John Sheppard is recalled to active duty just as he and his wife Sally are preparing to adopt four children. They leave their home in Ohio and journey to San Francisco where are series of bizarre killings are happening in the Golden Gate Park. They cross paths with three women who are also hunting the killer. John must decide which is more important, stopping the killer or protecting his family.

If interested in reading these tales, they can found at: www.fanficiton. net/~dragonlots