Category: Publishing

Cover reveal: Dating on the Dork Side!

Coming November 30, 2015

Come to the dork side … we have cookies.

front cover rgb jpg

Stung by an epic betrayal, Camy Cavanaugh relies on the sure things: her best friend, her job as peer tutor, and her safe spot on the sidelines of life. But when she hacks into a secret, trash-talking website, it ignites a war between the sexes that won’t end until the whole school is turned upside down—and Camy’s world is turned inside out.

Now the hottest girls in school refuse to date the A-List boys. But with the Homecoming dance looming, everyone from the queen bee to the girl “most likely to” pushes Camy to hook them up with guys from the nerd herd.

And then there’s quarterback, A-lister—and former crush—Gavin Madison. He hasn’t spoken to Camy in three years … but he’s talking now, begging her to pair the guys on the football team with girls from the Honor Roll.

It’s a contest of wills and everything is on the line—even Camy’s heart. Will she retreat to the sidelines, or will she find the courage to get back in the game?

Today is cover reveal day! Dating on the Dork Side will launch into the world on November 30th. In the meantime, add it to your shelf on Goodreads. Want an email when it’s available? Sign up for my mail list.

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the frozen fairy tales

Darcy and I have been busy with getting everything set for the launch of Dating on the Dork Side. We’re gearing up for a cover reveal on the 19th, along with a variety of other things.

I did manage some Coffee & Ghosts writing, nearly 5,000 words.

And, of course, the publication of the Frozen Fairy Tales anthology, which includes my story Simon the Cold.

Want to get in on the frozen fun? Hop on over to Enchanted Conversations for a chance to win $100. No, really. All you need is no more than 700 words, but no less than 200, depicting some aspect of Sleeping Beauty set in winter. For all the details, see the contest post.

Writing Work:

  • Coffee & Ghosts season two, episode two: 4,750 words
  • Dating on the Dork Side launch activities

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • Knight in the Royal Arms
  • The God of Bright Red Things

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

IMG_0781It’s in the (snowy) wild! You can read more about it in my post here.

You can also hop on over to World Weaver Press for more information on this anthology and a bunch of other really cool speculative fiction.

Now Available: Frozen Fairy Tales!

In the bleak midwinter, heed the irresistible call of fairy tales.

Frozen Fairy Tales from World Weaver Press is now available, and it includes my story Simon the Cold.

I wrote this story during the very long, very cold winter of 2013/14. After that, I tucked it away. I wasn’t sure what it was, exactly, wasn’t sure where to send it.

When I saw the call for submissions for the Frozen Fairy Tale anthology, it clicked. I had a fairy tale about winter, albeit a modern/urban one.


IMG_0781

Winter is not coming.

Winter is here.

As unique and beautifully formed as a snowflake, each of these fifteen stories spins a brand new tale or offers a fresh take on an old favorite like Jack Frost, The Snow Queen, or The Frog King.

From a drafty castle to a blustery Japanese village, from a snow-packed road to the cozy hearth of a farmhouse, from an empty coffee house in Buffalo, New York, to a cold night outside a university library, these stories fully explore the perils and possibilities of the snow, wind, ice, and bone-chilling cold that traditional fairy tale characters seldom encounter.

In the bleak midwinter, heed the irresistible call of fairy tales.

Just open these pages, snuggle down, and wait for an icy blast of fantasy to carry you away. With all new stories of love, adventure, sorrow, and triumph by Tina Anton, Amanda Bergloff, Gavin Bradley, L.A. Christensen, Steven Grimm, Christina Ruth Johnson, Rowan Lindstrom, Alison McBain, Aimee Ogden, J. Patrick Pazdziora, Lissa Redmond, Anna Salonen, Lissa Sloan, Charity Tahmaseb, and David Turnbull to help you dream through the cold days and nights of this most dreaded season.

Available: Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Print

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the cat on the printer

 

printerA quiet week this week, although I did do a fair amount of writing. Darcy and I did a fair amount of Dork Side launch brainstorming. Final page proofs for an anthology that comes out this week.

I feel like I was much busier than my list below might indicate.

There are weeks when you feel like you’re accomplishing a lot but don’t have much to show for it. The showing comes later.

One bit of news! I found out that The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet placed first in the International Digital Awards contest and The Fine Art of Holding Your Breath placed third–both in the young adult category.

Yeah. I knew something else happened this week.

Writing Work:

  • Outlining and brainstorming episode two
  • Coffee & Ghosts season two, episode two: 6,800 words
  • Dating on the Dork Side launch brainstorming
  • Final page proofs for Frozen Fairy Tales anthology

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with more vine leaves

coffee1I’m happy to report that the first episode for season two of Coffee & Ghosts is complete at 24,000 words.

Yes, I’ve moved into novella territory, and it feels right. I hope it reads that way.

I even have tentative titles for the three episodes:

  • Ghosts of Christmas Past
  • The Ghost That Got Away
  • The Wedding Ghost

But that’s changeable. And I realize that there are about 20,000 other stories on Amazon with a similar title to Ghosts of Christmas Past. That’s just the way it is. It’s a Christmas story. It’s about ghosts (and coffee). What are you going to call it?

Darcy and I continue to fill in all the blanks for the Dating on the Dork Side release. I added in pieces that were missing from the book files (about the authors, acknowledgements, etc.). We reworked descriptions–short and long–for the book, and other small things that pop up when you’re getting ready to launch a book.

And of course, the nice surprise below. I found out this week that Steps to Goodbye will be included in the 2015 Best of Vine Leaves Literary Journal.

Writing Work:

  • E-book and print layout for Dating on the Dork Side, tweaking and adding
  • Coffee & Ghosts season two, episode one: 4,600 words, complete at 24,000 words
  • Outlining and brainstorming episode two.

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • Incriminating Evidence

Acceptances:

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the print layout

Chapter oneI completed the print layout for Dating on the Dork Side, mostly yesterday. I always think that I’ll do a little at a time, pace myself, not go all crazy and try to do the entire novel all at once.

Seriously, I think the InDesign interface has some sort of subliminal messaging, or crack, or something. I’m always telling myself: Okay, after this chapter, I’ll get up and do the laundry/eat/let the dog out.

Then it’s all: Okay, after this chapter, I’ll go be a human being again and do what other human beings do.

Yeah. Not exactly. On the upside, the print layout is (mostly) done.

I ended up with ~7,600 words on episode one for season two of Coffee & Ghosts. I did not finish it this week (so … close), but this coming week for certain. Or mostly certain. I probably shouldn’t jinx myself. But we have clearly moved into novella territory.

Writing Work:

  • Completed print layout for Dating on the Dork Side
  • Coffee & Ghosts season two: 7,600 words

Submissions:

  • A Measure of Sorrow (reprint market)

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with fun with graphics

Coffee and Ghost mockup

So, a little fun with graphics this morning, a really good writing week, and more fun with print layout in InDesign.

I ended up with ~7,000 words on episode one for season two of Coffee & Ghosts, and I’m closing in on 12,000 words for the episode so far. I’m thinking I can finish it off this week (!).

After turning around that rejection this week, I ended up with a milestone of fifty story submissions for the year. So there’s that.

Writing Work:

  • Print layout work
  • Photoshop tutorials/graphics fun
  • Coffee & Ghosts season two: 7,000 words

Submissions:

  • Gretel and Hansel

Rejections:

  • Gretel and Hansel

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None, but don’t forget to enter the Goodreads giveaway for Selfies from the End of the World. See yesterday’s post for more information.

Goodreads giveaway: Selfies from the End of the World: Historical Accounts of the Apocalypse

It’s Goodreads Giveaway time again! Head on over to the giveaway for a chance to win one of five copies of Selfies from the End of the World. The print layout is seriously gorgeous.
SelfiesAntho

No one understands an apocalypse like the people who have experienced it. Mad Scientist Journal has brought together twenty-three tales of people who have seen the world end. These accounts range from irreverent to surreal to heartbreaking. Zombies share space with global wars, super-viruses, canned peaches, and the death of the sun.

Want to know more about the anthology? Garrett Croker has completed a comprehensive review of all the stories–in four parts! Included in part three is the review of my story:

In a Manner of Speaking by Charity Tahmaseb is another real favorite of mine. As far as Soshi Patel knows, she is the last person on Earth, surviving by candlelight in a shelter she can never leave. Then, one day, she begins to receive a transmission on a makeshift radio. Jatar, the voice on the other end, knows things he should not be able to know. The connection the two grow to have builds slowly and is truly lovely in its execution, and the ultimate explanation for how Jatar knows the things he does is guaranteed to break your heart. This is a story I could go back to again and again, and again and again.

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the Goodreads giveaway

Look! Some new writing this week on season two for Coffee & Ghosts. Writing a second season? It’s challenging. If nothing else, I’ll learn something from this. Learning = good.

Finished up revision work/copy edits for another project (more on that later) and started in on the doc clean up and formatting.

And I have a Goodreads giveaway running this week (until the 15th) for a signed copy of the paperback. So, if you like your reading in paper form, head on over to enter.

Writing Work:

  • Revision work
  • Formatting and doc clean up
  • Coffee & Ghosts season two: 4,500 words

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

None, but the print version of the  Coffee & Ghosts series bundle has a Goodreads giveaway. Enter to win a signed paperback.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Coffee and Ghosts by Charity Tahmaseb

Coffee and Ghosts

by Charity Tahmaseb

Giveaway ends October 15, 2015.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/widget/156879

Weekly writing check-in: the one with coffee and ghosts

So, lots of coffee and ghosts this week. Final, final tweaks to get it ready to launch yesterday. If you like all your ghost (and coffee) stories in one place, this is the format for you.

Did some revision work this week and some brainstorming on a possible season two for Coffee & Ghosts and … I think I may have a season two. I’m thinking three stories this time, novella length (or so I hope). We will see.

And we did it. All four of my Girl Scouts are first aid qualified–and so am I (again). Minus a few bruises on my wrist from practicing chest compressions, all went well.

Writing Work:

  • Revision work
  • Coffee & Ghosts season two brainstorming and outlining

Submissions:

  • Gretel and Hansel
  • Knight in the Royal Arms

Rejections:

  • Gretel and Hansel
  • Knight in the Royal Arms

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

The Coffee & Ghosts series bundle is out in the world.

Coffee & GhostsYou can read more about that in my post here. But it’s available in one volume, or read each episode for free if you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription. It’s even in print.