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.
Giveaway ends June 24, 2014.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
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.
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Kindle
, Nook, Kobo, Smashwords
Two 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.
So, 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.
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Sophomore 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.
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.
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It
‘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.
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.
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So, despite writing only 800 words on Monday (thank you, Daylight Saving Time), I managed 8,000 words for the week. I’m not really sure how that happened, but I’m happy that it did.
And for the second week in a row, I’ve sold audio rights for one of my stories, and it’s also another story that first appeared in Kazka Press. I’m thrilled that The Girl with the Piccolo will be a podcast from Cast of Wonders.
As you can see below, I flung five more submissions out the door this week as well. When you combine that with the audio sale and the cover reveal, it adds up to a pretty good week.
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Today’s the day! Sucker Literary Magazine is revealing the cover for volume 3! This happens to be the edition that includes my YA paranormal novelette Just a Matter of Time.
What is a novelette, you ask. Well, you see, when a novel and novella love each other very much … no, really, it’s just a long short story.
Now, without further ado, I give you the gorgeous cover:
Sucker Literary is a platform for established and emerging, hugely intelligent writers who have the grit and talent to create compelling, authentic young adult literature that both adults and teens can enjoy.
We are a literary enterprise dedicated to showcasing and promoting undiscovered and established writers who write for young adults (this is not to be mistaken for young adult writers). We are not affiliated with any writer’s organization or program and welcome writers at any stage of their writing career/ journey.
Now, for a little bit on what’s inside:
Bullied and alone, Ainsley seeks refuge in the arms of a strange boy. Time is slipping away for overachieving Sadie Lin, but reigniting an old flame might help. Scarred by a pressuring ex, Alexandra finally faces the rain. “Pasty and chubby” Charlotte makes a public play for the “Tan and Smooth” king. The beautiful girl in the black, lacy push-up bra says that it’s time for Brenn to stop lying . . . at least to herself. A halfway house is no home for Dawn—or is it? How will Dana survive knowing everyone at school thinks she’s a monster, when they just may be right? JJ and her crush finally get a moment alone—at his girlfriend’s hottest party of the year. Sixteen-year old Sarah prepares for her first day of school by chaining up her Mamí in her bedroom. Alyssa’s life is a well-rehearsed ballet until a tragedy sends her hurtling towards a fall. Loving a boy is as simple as chemistry . . . unless that boy is an unstable element.
Eleven stories that delve into the depths of our experience—driven by fierce and untouched love that makes us seek, lose, fear, desire, long, reflect, survive, steal, protect, fall, and confess.
Writing Wrongs 