Tag: Publishing

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the graduation

I am still gearing up for the release of The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet. Part of that includes finishing the “listening” edit to catch any typos that may have slipped through. It works wonders, you guys. If you’re looking for another way to proof your work, I highly recommend obtaining some sort of text-to-speech program.

Actually, I have two: a software program on my computer and the text-to-speech function on my Kindle. This last is nice, since I can send my manuscripts to my Kindle, then take a pair of ear buds and listen just about anywhere I want to.

I also did a bit of editing work on some short stories and started a read through of a novel draft I wrote last year.

But most importantly, this week, I watched as my son walked across the stage and received his high school diploma.

 

Writing Work:

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

 

Goodreads Giveaway: The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet

It’s here! The Goodreads giveaway is up and running. You can enter to win a signed copy of The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet, add it to your shelf on Goodreads, and so on.

 

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet by Charity Tahmaseb

The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet

by Charity Tahmaseb

Giveaway ends June 24, 2014.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the sneak peek

So, this week I played around with a bit of short, short fiction, just for fun. I transcribed a story I had longhand in my notebook into electronic form and did a little brainstorming on how to expand on it.

No submissions this week, but two rejections, one for a story that was rejected a few months back–by the same market.

Uh, yeah. They weren’t sure if they’d sent the rejection, so they sent it again. But! It was a nice rejection, letting me know that the story came oh, so close, and would I like to submit again when they reopen for submissions. So, yeah, it beats a sharp stick in the eye and all that.

Otherwise, I’m gearing up for the release of The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet. Part of that includes releasing The Trouble with Prom, which has two original YA short stories and the first four chapters of The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet.

Writing Work:

  • The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet ~ proofing. layout, etc.
  • Nano fiction ~ three short, just for fun “Twitter” fictions.
  • The Longest Night of the Year ~ from notebook into electronic form, some revision work.

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • Abandonment Issues
  • Redacted ~ two rejections, one submission! Milestone!

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

KindleThe Trouble with Prom, Nook, Kobo, Smashwords

 

Published: The Trouble with Prom + a sneak peek

Sometimes the slipper just doesn’t fit

The Trouble with PromTwo contemporary young adult short stories

Glass Slipper: What do you do when the boy you’ve known forever dumps you the day before prom with everyone in a packed cafeteria looking on? Stalk him in your pajamas, of course. For Mira, this is only the start of a not-so-Cinderella prom.

Breaking Plans: Constance has plans, ones that include leaving her small town immediately after graduation. Prom isn’t part of her agenda. Constance is proficient at breaking rules. But breaking plans? Never. Except that might be the one thing she needs to do.

Bonus Content: Get a sneak peek of The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet

Buy now:

Kindle, Nook, Kobo, iBooks, Smashwords

There you go: Two stories plus a sneak peek at The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet (the first four chapters), all for less than a cup of coffee at most places.

 

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the cover reveal

Keeping QuietSo, yesterday, if you noticed, was the cover reveal for The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet. But I’ll add it in here, just in case you missed it.

The scheduled release date is June 24, 2014, so stay tuned. It will be available in e-format and print, and so far it’s been a grand adventure pulling this all together.

In other news I got another new story submitted, which made up for the three that were rejected. I also pulled a story from a market that had it for a very, very long time. It was, in theory, short-listed. But since this particular market has had long stretches of silence, I thought it better to pull it and do something else with it.

Plus, the editor at Fantasy Scroll Magazine asked me to do an author interview that will run in the issue with the story I sold them last week.

Writing Work:

  • Lots of proofing, lots of typo catching, lots of “What on earth is wrong with my spine?” (the book’s spine that is, not my own)

Submissions:

  • A (K)night in the Royal Arms (new story!)

Rejections:

  • Five to Freedom
  • What Little Remains
  • The Perfect Canvas

Acceptances:

Publications:

  • None

Cover reveal: The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet

Coming June 2014

Sometimes staying silent is the biggest lie of all.

Keeping QuietSophomore Jolia does the one thing no one expects from the girl who has perfected the art of keeping quiet.

She joins the speech team.

Jolia can’t confess the real reason–not to her best friend, her new teammates, or even to crush-worthy rival Sam who offers to coach her in secret.

Keeping quiet might be the easy way out, but when what Jolia doesn’t say starts to hurt those around her, it might just cost her a best friend, her spot on the team, and even Sam.

But she isn’t the only one with a secret. It’s going to take words–her words–to make things right.

If only Jolia can find them.

Today is the cover reveal for The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet, publication date June 24, 2014. Want an email when it’s released? Sign up for my email newsletter.

Or just keep your eye on various online stores. The book will be available in print and electronic format.

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the museum overnight

OwlA short update today, since I’m in recovery mode from my daughter’s Girl Scout troop overnight at the (scouting) museum last night.

Was it fun? Yes. Yes, it was. Did any of us get to bed before 2:00 a.m.? No. No we did not.

But where else can you have an indoor campfire, visit with owls, and eat s’mores after midnight?

I did come home to a nice surprise. The Secret Life of Sleeping Beauty is now in audio over at Cast of Wonders. It’s in  episode 121, and I love the narrator they selected for the story.

Writing Work:

  • The Time After ~5,266 words

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • The Perfect Canvas

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

Weekly writing check-in: the one with some time

Sucker Literary Magazine Vol 3

This week I had time on my hands, so to speak. My YA speculative fiction novelette (that’s a mouthful) Just a Matter of Time was published in Sucker Literary Magazine Volume 3.

And speaking of time, I figured it was about time I send out some submissions this month.  I feel better now that my submission tracker is plumped up. I also have a great deal of orange in there as well (which means I’ve been waiting–for a while–on several stories).

The funny thing about not submitting on a weekly basis? You start to second guess yourself and your stories. As long as the story is appropriate for the market (for instance, don’t send your sweet romance to a market that only takes dark horror) and submitted the way they like, the editor is the best judge of what he/she wants.

Writing Work:

  • The Time After ~6,113 words

Submissions:

  • Doreen’s Muse
  • Abandonment Issues
  • Five to Freedom
  • What Little Remains

Rejections:

  • Five to Freedom

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

Sucker Literary Magazine Volume 3 release day!

ItSucker Literary Magazine Vol 3‘s here! It’s here! Today is the day Sucker Literary Magazine launches volume 3!

Are we excited? Why, yes. Yes, we are. It’s packed full of young adult stories, including my paranormal YA novelette: Just a Matter of Time.

So, now what? Well, check out the Kindle version, or pick up the paperback.

You can enter to win a copy of the paperback over at GoodReads.

You can also sit back and enjoy the trailer.

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the mock award

More writing this week, up about 2,000 words, for a nice 1,000 words per day pace. This, I might add, is a good pace to write at. Also, the total manuscript word count is currently at 65,065, which is so symmetrical I almost hate to add to it.

Well, almost.

This week, I also received an email from a professor at a university in Pennsylvania. She’s teaching an introduction to creative writing class, and as part of the course work, her students had to comb through online journals, find stories they liked, and then hold a mock prize committee to select the best one.

Why was she emailing me? Well, her students found my flash fiction piece, Straying from the Path, that was published last month over at Flash Fiction Online. Not only did they find it, they awarded it first place.

The professor not only sent her note, but all the commentary from her students as well. I can’t tell you what a wonderful experience that was. As a writer, you hear from critique partners, beta readers, editors, and eventually, reviewers. So seldom, if ever, do you get the chance to see your story so completely through someone else’s eyes.

In this case, several pairs of eyes. Oh, they each had their own take on the story, some I never even thought of.

All in all, it was delightful and truly made my day.

Writing Work:

  • The Time After ~7,214 words

Submissions:

  • None this week (soon, soon)

Rejections:

  • What Little Remains

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None, but coming this week, Sucker Literary Magazine Volume 3 will be out, with my YA novelette, Just a Matter of Time.