Mad Scribblings From the Edge

Two Steps Forward, One Step...

2012-02-03T16:19:00.001-05:00

Stuff is happening on multiple fronts, unfortunately, not all of it's good. First of all, The Dark InSpectre is getting closer and closer to coming back on line. I've finally made contact with my in absentia editor who says she never received the next several episodes. So I re-forwarded them to her and also made progress with the new web site, which I'll continue to fool around with. Bottom line, if she can start getting episodes back to me, I'll start posting again, Finally!

On the novel side, not so good. Because my editor (same person as Dark InSpectre) is so swamped with book projects, she said there's virtually no hope of her getting to my revised manuscript this year (yes, I said this year). She actually suggested I start sending it around to agents, that she would love to put it out through her publishing house, but wants to be fair to me. And she'll absolutely hold on to it and publish it if I can't find a home for it myself (although that wouldn't be for quite a while).

No question it's really nice of her and very supportive. But it still sucks. I wrote this thing at her behest, and she knows my voice and helped develop it in many ways, and now I have to go sell it to people who never heard of me , which includes everyone. An extra problem is that while I'm familiar with the agents in the SciFi world, I don't know who specializes in crime/thriller literature. So that's more research for me to do.

It's just a huge letdown after thinking this would definitely be out there in the near future. It was something I thought I could count on, especially after busting my ass to get it done. Oh well, guess I have to flog it like everybody else and deal with all the agent rejections for a while. Coming up with a title for the thing wouldn't hurt my chances either.

At least my wife liked the short story I just wrote. Let me tell you, she can be quite the critic. So next step is I'll post it over at the Baen slush board and let the wolves have at it.

Like I said, all of a sudden there's a lot going on, just not all of it's going my way. But hey, just part of being a writer, I guess. Amiright? Amiright...?

New Stuff

2012-01-30T09:15:00.000-05:00

I haven't been terribly preoccupied with the Dark InSpectre site that's been in stasis cuz I've been working on a new short story. In between horrific migraine headaches this weekend, I finished it. I'm pretty psyched about it, it's been in my head for several years and I finally had time to write it. What's cool about it is that it's actually under 5,000 words, a rarity for me. So it's all printed out and ready for my wife to read, but after that, then what? My SOP used to be to post stuff over at the Baen's slush pile. My stories have always benefited from the feedback there, and I'm inclined to use it again. I checked it out yesterday and even though the Baen's Universe magazine has closed, the slush pile is still going strong. Funny, even after several years of getting stories published here and there and a semi-successful web series, I still got nervous at the prospect of posting a new story for critique. I guess that never goes away.

Anyway, the story is called Carousel, and it's about, you guessed it, a carousel. Hopefully it'll see the light of day later this year. Wish me luck!

Bloggin' Stuff

2012-01-20T15:02:00.000-05:00

Once again I have posted my rapturous ramblings over at Abandoned Towers Magazine. Feel free to be enlightened by the virtuosity of my words. Just visit here!

In other news, I have successfully loaded all the old episodes of the Dark InSpectre on the new site, so yay! However, I'm having real trouble loading the audio episodes. For one, there's a 7 mb size limit on loading media, and some of the audio files are larger than that. And when I experimented with a smaller file, it seemed to load, but it won't show in the podpress player that's been installed.

I definitely need my editor to help with this, but she is in absentia again, which is becoming frustrating. Especially since she has yet to download the wordpress theme and banner graphic so the site actually looks like The Dark InSpectre and not just some generic wordpress site. Oh, and she has the next 4 episodes and the revised manuscript I sent her.

I guess I'll keep writing that short story I'm halfway through. : \

Loading, Loading, Loading

2012-01-15T15:17:00.001-05:00

The bare-bones Dark InSpectre site is back up. The the new theme and banner graphic have not been downloaded yet (still waiting for my editor to do that), but it's functional and I've started fooling around with it, installing some widgets, etc. I've also started uploading all the original episodes. I'm about halfway done. Hopefully my editor can find some time to add her own touches to the site and I can send out that long-awaited email welcoming everybody back. I think I'll post a double new episode for everybody along with a thanks for being so patient. There are still lots of little details to work out with the site, how to moderate comments, how to upload the audio episodes. But it's all finally happening. So yay!

In other news, I just happened to run across my story from that Pirates and Swashbucklers anthology on the publisher's website being offered for free as an enticement to buy the anthology. So if you want to read it for free, check it out here. And if you like it, buy the whole book, all the stories are really good, I swear!

And speaking of that anthology, the editor just emailed me to verify my PayPal account. It seems like I'm actually going to get paid for it, woohoo! Of course, it's all PayPal money, which I regard as monopoly money, but still pretty cool, right?

AND I'm about halfway through a new short story I've had in my head for a long time. So double yay! I definitely seem to have emerged from the morose stasis field I was caught in when it came to my various writing endeavors. Thank god, it was getting depressing for a while there. But things seem to be picking up at last!

She's Back!

2012-01-09T15:24:00.003-05:00

Hooray! A day before I was planning on e-mailing my editor to see WTF'sU, she e-mails me! Turns out she's had the flu and so been totally out of commission. But she's back now and ready to roll. So she's going to finish fixing up the new version of the Dark InSpectre site, and I just sent her the next four episodes to edit. So yay! I'll still have to re-load all 58 of the old episodes, so boo! But at least things are moving ahead. I also wrote the next monthly blog column for the Abandoned Towers site, so that's out of the way, too. Looks like things are back on track, which is good. I can't tell you the various grim scenarios that were going through my mind on what had happened. The most likely one was the tried and true kidnapped by mutants scenario. Thank god they are all just figments of my tortured paranoia. Hopefully we'll all be seeing Jack Garrett back on the web in a couple weeks. :)

Back from the Break

2012-01-01T11:03:00.000-05:00

For the holiday break, I took the fam down to Rockville, Md. to stay with my folks. We just got back yesterday after five full days of family fun. It was a good trip, and I actually was able to revise a short story that had been nagging at me so that it's now ready to be re-subbed. It was a pretty substantial overhaul, so I'm pretty happy I was able to get it all done while on break. Still no word from my editor on anything. A facebook friend of mine actually asked me what's happening with the Dark InSpectre, so people are, in fact, conscious of it's absence. I'm going to have to send my editor a concerned email soon asking her what the hell's up. Oh, happy new year's!

Back in the Saddle

2011-12-16T11:23:00.002-05:00

After a short break, I have returned with my column over at Abandoned Towers. Go take a gander and be inspired by the gloriousness of my words!

http://abandonedtowers.com/weblog/2011/12/16/because-inspiration-doesn%e2%80%99t-take-a-holiday/

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting

2011-12-15T19:36:00.002-05:00

There hasn't been a whole lot of writing activity lately. This hasn't been entirely my doing, though, so that's something. I turned in my revised novel to my editor/publisher about two weeks ago and have heard nothing. I'm hoping it's going well, but who knows? Actually after addressing her macro revisions, I'm kind of expecting a major line edit to come back. But again, who knows? I have heard nothing since I sent it in.

Speaking of silence, it's now been almost two months since the Dark InSpectre went dark. There had been some progress. There's still that blank skeleton site up, but that went up about a week and a half ago. I sent an email to my editor/publisher last week checking on the progress and have heard nothing. It's kind of giving me an uneasy feeling getting nothing but silence on two fronts. Makes me think something's going on. Paranoid? Me? Well....

I know that what I should really be doing is addressing some short stories that have been on the back burner for a while. But to be honest my health hasn't been the best and work has been quite crazy. So it's just been kind of a lull. Which isn't terrible. I just wish I'd hear something...

Back From the Abyss

2011-11-30T19:55:00.001-05:00

Slowly but surely, The Dark InSpectre is crawling back from Internet Oblivion. Like a rash you just can't get rid of. A thrilling, compelling, irresistable rash of chocolate-covered joy. After doing several webby things involving domain names and DNS servers (I asked several people for help), I have registered darkinspectre.com and enabled my editor/publisher to host it. She is using the wordpress theme we picked out and is building the actual site. But it exists! Yes, if you go there, you will see an empty, under construction page. But this is progress cuz as little as one week ago, even this bare bones framework was not a reality. So yay! I suppose at some point, all the previous episodes will have to be re-loaded. I am not looking forward to that.

On the novel front, I have done the heavy lifting in terms of the revision my editor wanted, and I even have a nifty idea for what to do witht the first chapter she wanted me to excise. Hint: I will make it available on my web site as a promotional teaser! So now all that remains is going through the whole manuscript again and smoothing out the language. I'm more than half way done and steamrolling ahead. Soon, very soon, this book will be ready for the next round. Muaahaaahaaa!

Well, That Was Fast

2011-11-19T10:21:00.001-05:00

One thing I'll say about my publisher/editor. When I send her something important, the feedback is pretty fast. I sent her the finished manuscript of my crime novel around late morning yesterday, and she gave me feedback in the late afternoon. I really don't know how she reads these things so fast.

The feedback itself? Ah yes. First of all, I asked her pointedly if she thought it was any good. Her answer: yes. So now there is one other person outside of my wife who thinks my novel is worth the electronic paper it's written on. Yay!

And of course she wants some revisions. The first is relatively minor, just go through the manuscript and fix some areas that exhibit a particular style of writing I tend to fall into, namely short, choppy paragraphs. Mind you, I actually like that style in some instances, particular for action/intense sequences. But she wants me to cut down on them, which is fine.

The next thing is not so simple. She wants me to cut out the entire first chapter and start with chapter 2. I respect the thinking behind this. A piece of well-worn, age-old advice for writers is to "start in the middle" and it often takes writers a chapter or two to really get into their story and build up steam, so to speak. It's often a good idea to just rip away all the beginning introductory stuff and start with the "meat" of the story.

However, I actually have a lot of good "meat" in my first chapter, as well as several developments that are integral to the plot. Her advice is to weave in whatever details are necessary into the next chapter or two, but eliminate that first one. I would almost rather she told me a character didn't work for her, or something in the plot needed to be fixed. To me that would be easier to tackle than trying to wend through line by line inserting dialogue and clever little asides meant to convey all the information from the first chapter that's necessary for the story. Cuz there's a lot of it.

Of less importance is the fact that I really liked what I wrote, and I will have to mourn the scenes that end up on the cutting room floor, including the opening, which I thought was absolutely perfect. But I guess that's what I'll do. I'll take this as a challenge, and try to make it work. Good thing I took off next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I now know what I'll be doing.

And I suppose it could be much, much worse, right? She could've said it outright sucked. So maybe I should just get to work, cuz when all is said and done, this manuscript is one major step closer to getting published. And that's a good thing.

Good News/Bad News Returns

2011-11-18T12:43:00.001-05:00

Yup, you guessed it kids, it's time once again for Good News vs. Bad News. Let's dive in and play!

Bad news: My online series, The Dark InSpectre, is still offline, completely absent from the Internet like it never existed.

Good news: I have recently registered the new url for when we start it up on the Wordpress blog, and the Wordpress theme is already chosen.

Bad news: It took a week and a half to get this done. I thought my editor was going to register the name, but she didn't, so I just did it myself. Also, for some unknown reason, she's not able to create the blog in the way she wants to, so she's waiting for some technical assistance. End result: we're still spinning our wheels.

Good news: I'm finished with my last round of revisions and I have sent in my crime novel to my editor (literally like 10 minutes ago).

Bad news: Now begins the tense, nerve-wracking period of waiting for feedback during which I convince myself that the past year and a half was a waste of time and my novel in fact sucks dirty bilge water (as opposed to the clean kind).

Good news: Maybe it doesn't suck?

Bad news: Just got a short story rejected.

Good news: Got some actual feedback which will help me revise the short story and make it better.

End tally: Good news 4, Bad news 4. We're all tied up. I have to say, though, sending in the novel outweighs everything else. But is that good news or bad news? Only time will tell...

A Glimmer In the Distance

2011-11-03T23:05:00.000-04:00

I have spent the past several days going through so many Wordpress themes my eyeballs have moved out of my head and sent me a postcard from where they'll be relaxing poolside for the foreseeable future. But success! My editor has at last approved of one of the themes I sent her. What makes this one different from all the rest? I have no idea. I don't really know what I'm doing. I've sent her dozens, they all seem okay to me. I'm just glad she likes one. Now hopefully she will use it to create a new Dark InSpectre blog, and we'll get rolling again. But I'm kind of resigned to the fact that I won't be able to post the next episode on Monday, which is when the next one is scheduled to go out.

It's just as well, that's right in the middle of the busiest week of the year at work. I'll be at a meeting in San Francisco all week, so there will be practically no chance to get any of my own writing done. However, on the plane each way, I am hoping to make a big dent in the last re-read of my novel. And then I'll send that sucker in. So hopefully I'll start to feel a little more positive about things. Just need to stay patient. I'm a writer, so I'm used to that. Sigh...

Internet Oblivion

2011-10-30T23:19:00.000-04:00

It was the simplest of tasks. I just breezed by my web blog where I post my episodes for the series I write, The Dark InSpectre, when to my surprise, the message that greets me is this:

Blog has been removed

Sorry, the blog at darkinspec.blogspot.com has been removed. This address is not available for new blogs.

After reviving myself from cardiac arrest (no easy task), I emailed my editor, Crystalwizard, who informed me that, as it happens, my blog was accidentally deleted. So for those of you who have been attempting to catch up on the latest adventures of Jack Garrett, New Arden's foremost paranormal detective, I regret to inform you that for the near future, that will be impossible. It's gone, gobbled up, sent to Internet Oblivion.

In the meantime, with my editor's help, we're switching to another blog format and The Dark InSpectre will hopefully resume shortly, picking up exactly where I left off. I have the next 4 episodes written and fully intend on continuing this story as long as I have functional use of my digits. In the meantime, I will try and revive myself from the state of paralyzed mortification I find myself in. This was a complete accident. Nevertheless, I find myself extremely worried about what's going to happen.

I had (sad that I am using the past tense) built up a nice little readership for my series. The people I reach via email I'm not worried about. I'll just email them all with the new url whenever it's up. It's the people who found me on their own and bookmarked The Dark InSpectre, and followed it via networked blogs and such. I have no idea how to reach them, whoever they are, or were.

And once the new blog goes up, all the old episodes will have to be reloaded. That's almost 60 episodes altogether. If this task falls to me, it will takes weeks to months. Not to mention the occasional typos and phrasings I corrected after the episodes went online. Those are all lost. And I guess all the page counts and unique visitors goes back to zero. Side note: all those links I have on this blog and my web site for The Dark InSpectre? Don't bother, they don't work.

So I guess I'm kind of in a state of mourning. That's several years of work vanished. Hopefully it will be back soon, and all those who tuned in before will do so again. I really hope so, cuz I've got lots more planned...

Epi 41

2011-10-24T11:25:00.000-04:00

Episode 41 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero takes a not-so-friendly stroll through his old stomping grounds.

Here’s an excerpt:
Then I strode forward, pushing through the doors and facing the desk sergeant’s station that fronted the wide sea of cubicles and small offices. The sergeant, a grizzled vet named Donegan, looked up. I saw recognition in his eyes, he’d been in Narco back in my day. But his expression was not welcoming.

“Can I help you, lieutenant?” His face was blank but Donegan’s eyes shifted to each person in my little entourage. His surface thoughts showed suspicion as he tried to gauge our intent. There was also a deep dislike of tels. Or maybe it was just me.

Good thing I didn’t care. “I’m just here visiting friends. No, don’t bother,” I added when he moved to press the vid comm button. “Call it a surprise visit.” I pushed through the low swinging doors into the rest of the unit, motioning everyone to follow. Donegan’s eyes narrowed to slits as I passed.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Separation Anxiety

2011-10-23T23:43:00.003-04:00

It's about two weeks until the big annual meeting for my work in San Farncisco. I'll be gone for a week, and work gets completely ludicrous leading up to that point. What that means is my writing time gets very fractured. Grab a few minutes here, a few there. But I try and keep chugging along.

For the novel it's been a very strange month or two. On my wife's first read through, I was keeping up with her edits at a frantic pace, chomping at the bit to revise as I steam rolled through the manuscript. Then I realized I was getting a little too nuts about it and had to put it down for a week or so. The fresh perspective really helps, let me tell you.

I just finished my wife's last edits today, and I'll give it one last read through before I hand it in, but I'm not going to get all tear-my-hair out loco about it like last time. I had originally wanted to send it in before the San Fran trip, but if that doesn't happen, no biggee. I have this vision of me reading it on the plane (I find plane trips are great for getting some work done). So we'll see. But either way, this thing is going to be done in the very near future.

It's weird how I view it presently. I worked on it steadily for over a year, had every tiny twist of the plot firmly in my head. I worked on it in my sleep (not kidding). Now, it's kinda distant, and emotionally I'm fairly separate from it. Maybe that's because in my mind it's finished and I'm moving on. Maybe it's a defense mechanism for when my editor tells me it sucks. Maybe I'm just burnt out after simultaneously writing two big projects at the same time for over a year. Either way, it's a strange feeling. This will be my first published novel (cross my fingers). You'd think I'd be more psyched about it. I'm sure that'll change as I give it one more perusal and the story starts flowing in my mind again.

But regardless, this baby is getting released from the comfy confines of my computer soon. We'll see if it survives in the wild.

Guest Bloggin

2011-10-21T15:46:00.001-04:00

Hi guys,

Work has been crazy building up to my organization's meeting in a couple of weeks, so I haven't been posting as often as I'd like. But I have found time to post my latest column over at Abandoned Towers, so feel free to check it out. Here's an excerpt and link:

"As I write this, I have just returned from New York Comic Con at the Javitz Center in Manhattan. I take my son there every year, and it’s an absolute blast for both of us. He loves to cruise the exhibit floor and check out all the cool stuff and we both love checking out all the wild costumes. What also never fails to impress me are the seemingly limitless new movies, comic books, characters, and story lines that are rolled out at every Con. The creativity on display is simply awe-inspiring. But what inspires all these ideas? Where do they come from? "

Click for the rest.

I can tell you that Comic Con was a blast, when I find time I'll post some cool pictures. In novel news, I need for my wife to finish the last 70 pages or so and then give it one more read through. Then I'll send it off to my editor. Still haven't though of a decen title! :(

Tune in Monday for another Dark InSpectre episode. Have a good weekend!

An Even 40

2011-10-10T10:57:00.003-04:00

Episode 40 of The Dark InSpectre is online, in which our hero finds out how to keep a crime scene under wraps, Thought Police-style.

Here’s an excerpt:
I crossed my arms, grimacing. “Whaddaya think the game is?”

He gave me a calculating look, started ticking off points. “Harcher hates tels, spooks most of all. Especially you. He wants you and your unit gone. Gina and Jimmy aren’t around to protect you anymore. It makes sense to discredit you leading up to the investigation hearings. Turn up the pressure from the public, make the Department ease you and your people out quietly.”

Yeah, my paranoia had come up with a similar theory.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Novel Progress

2011-09-27T10:17:00.001-04:00

To the countless hordes who have been flooding my email and phone lines with questions regarding where I'm at with the crime novel I've been writing, I thought I'd provide an update. I have just finished what I believe are my final revisions before handing the whole thing in to my editor. My wife is going to give it one more read-through over the next week or so and then that will probably be it.

I know what you're thinking: "Your wife? She's just going to tell you how great it is!" Clearly, none of you have met my wife. She has read a lot of crime/detective fiction and she is one tough editor, especially when it comes to my stuff. (she's also an attorney, so there's a natural inclination to pick things apart there).

On the first go-round, she pointed out the need for several major revisions. My state of mind got so bad that I got depressed and had to put the manuscript away for about a week. Not that her critiques weren't entirely valid. I just started getting down about the whole thing. But I bounced back and addressed everything and printed out a fresh copy yesterday. So hopefully (fingers crossed), the wife will be satisfied (as if!), and she'll only point out minor stuff. Then it will be off to my editor and time for a whole other round of revisions, I'm sure.

Then I'll get the answer every writer awaits with baited breath upon submitting a manuscript for the first time: Does it Suck?

Stay tuned...

PS. Still don't have a good title for it.

New Episode: It's Up, and It's Good!

2011-09-26T10:59:00.000-04:00

Episode 39 of The Dark InSpectre is online, in which our hero has to ask his boss for help at the murder scene if he has any hope of keeping his investigation quiet.

Here’s an excerpt:
Walter shook his head then got up and walked over to the wall of blood, directly across from the smiley face, and stood staring at it. His voice sounded almost haunted. “He’s like a… psychic vampire?”

“Not quite. He feeds on leftover psychic energy, and from what I understand, there aren’t many cases that make it to his age without going crazy.”

His voice was soft. “Sounds like you know about this.”

I shrugged. “I did a bit of research is all.” No way I was getting any more into that.

Walter’s back was to me as he stared at the bloody signature, his surface thoughts giving off horror, sadness. Was that a flash of remorse? Then he turned back to me. “This can’t get out. The normal population will be terrified of us even more, Jack.”

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

New Story Out. Arrrrr!

2011-09-19T14:36:00.002-04:00

Celebrating Talk Like a Pirate Day, Pulp Empire Publishing has released the anthology Pirates and Swashbucklers, with a story by yours truly. Check it out, it's chock full o' bucanneering, cutlass-waving, plank-walking goodness!

Incidentally, when informed about Talk Like a Pirate Day, my 11-year-old responded, "Do we get off from school for that?"
I told him to go swab the decks and get me some fresh grog. Yo ho!

Guest Blog Time

2011-09-16T10:50:00.001-04:00

It's time for my monthly guest blog over at Abandoned Towers. I do get a kick out of writing these, but I have to tell you, I probably stress over these pieces more than anything else I write. Not sure why that is. Maybe cuz I view these more like "work" than my other writing endeavors. Either way, feel free to stop by and check it out here!

Monday, the Pirates and Swashbucklers anthology with my short story Voyage of the Hangman drops. I'm totally psyched!

Episode 38

2011-09-12T11:35:00.000-04:00

That's right, kids. Episode 38 of the Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero watches a ghost turned into a snack, and has to decide who he can trust.

Here’s an excerpt:
This couldn’t get out, not even a whisper of a rumor. Still-raw memories of my investigation into Dee’s murder and the Quads pulsed like open wounds in my brain. I’d seen firsthand the dangers of poking my nose into things people would rather I left alone, especially when it came to Department conspiracies. This had to be kept totally quiet. Which meant I needed help.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Forge of the Soul

2011-09-06T13:54:00.002-04:00

My new short story, Forge of the Soul, is online at Something Wicked Magazine.

I cannot express how satisfied I am that this story has survived to see the light of day. It's path was neither short nor easy. When I finished the first draft of it, I posted it up on the Baen's Universe slushboard. I have to say that the Baen Board has been an invaluable resource for me. I cannot tell you how much my writing has improved from the feedback I've received from the slush editors and other authors on the board.

However, sometimes the criticism can be a bit harsh, especially for stories that do not "fit" the usual Baen Board style. Baen stories are characterized by a positive, life-affirming ending. Forge of the Soul is not that kind of story. The central premise is that some key people involved in the Salem Witch trials reappear forty years later in another town, but they haven't aged. One other Salem refugee who has aged normally recognizes them, and so the story kicks off... Needless to say, it's pretty dark.

I knew this wasn't the typical Baen Board story, but I posted it anyway, confident I would get at least some helpful feedback. The response from one of the slush editorial board members was as follows: I hated this story.

End of feedback, period. I'm not kidding, can you imagine anything more unhelpful or completely non-constructive than that? I'm an editor, I would never do anything like that ever. EVER!

But whatever, I kept going, working on my story, and then submitted it to Something Wicked, confident this was the right venue. A while went by, a long while. Then the magazine abruptly closed. I was major pissed at the way it went down, too. They didn't even bother telling the authors our stories had been released.

So I sucked it up and kept submitting, getting more helpful feedback and improving the story bit by bit. Next thing I knew, a year went by, and lo and behold, I got an email from Something Wicked. They changed to a completely online format and wanted to accept my story. Hurrah! So I sent in my most recent, updated version, and a few months later, up it goes!

Quite the long and winding road, and I'm sure not all that unique, either. But ultimately satisfying. ;)

More Arrrr!

2011-09-02T10:26:00.001-04:00

Cool interview with yours truly over at Pens and Swords in advance of the upcoming Swords and Swashbucklers anthology, which contains my story Voyage of the Hangman. I'm way psyched about it!

Fell free to check it out here.

Story's a comin!

2011-08-30T15:19:00.002-04:00

My dark historical fantasy short, Forge of the Soul, will be published in the September issue of Something Wicked Magazine. It appears on the web site Sept. 6. The cover is below. As usual, the SW covers are awesome. I love their artists. I'll have more thoughts on the story after it appears.

Next Episode is Up!

2011-08-29T15:09:00.003-04:00

Episode 37 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero learns some startling information about a long-forgotten case from a conversation between a psychopath and an aging drug lord.

Here's an excerpt:
Multiple Man waited. I held my breath, every bit as anxious. I was only half following what MM was saying, but it seemed like someone had stolen the Whitney Load from the DeMarco’s a long time ago and made some kind of arrangement with them, and now the DeMarco’s were going to get it back. It was incredible hearing him talk about the drug stash that I and a hundred other cops had been chasing for years, finally writing the whole thing off as some urban legend. But who could possibly have the balls or the muscle to take the drugs from the DeMarco’s and force them into some kind of business arrangement?

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Arrrrr!

2011-08-23T14:22:00.004-04:00

Check out the cover and TOC to the Pirates & Swashbucklers anthology coming out Sept. 19. It has my story, Voyage of the Hangman, in it. And it is no coincidence that Sept. 19 is Talk Like a Pirate Day, which I find hysterical.

Relvan’s Rescue 1... Kameron M. Franklin
Seachild 23... Cynthia Ward
The Mark of the Brotherhood 33... Pam Bitner
Bravo 67... Ken Lizzi
Voyage of the Hangman 80... Jason Kahn
Fang of the Serpent 101... Charles Kyffhausen
Gods of the Sea 114... D.A. Lascelles
Stephen the Swift 131... Alva J. Roberts
The Garden of Pain 138... Teel James Glenn
The Silent Mistress 162... Garrett J. Calcaterra
With Cannon and Cutlass to the Gulf of Darien 167... Vincent Morgan
Ronald 191... Jeremy Bush
The Treasure of the Lost Race 198... Viktor Kowalski
D’Vil Island 240... Travis Hiltz
Blooding of the Black Shark 253... Dixon Hill
Mister Experience 303... Ross Baxter
Pirate Trouble 309... David Perlmutter

New Episode!

2011-08-15T11:20:00.000-04:00

Episode 36 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero observes while a friendly neighborhood psychopath prepares to satisfy an old grudge.

Here’s an excerpt:
MM raised an eyebrow. “Did you think I’d let you gun me down after the trouble I took getting in here?” Manny’s arm moved slowly, coming out from under the table and stiffly depositing the las-pistol on the desk, the rest of his body locked in rigid protest. But Manny was a normal, and MM was a tel, so Manny could only watch helplessly while his limb obeyed.

Multiple Man reached over and gently took the gun, tossing it in a corner of the room. “Such a crude instrument,” he said, while Manny sagged in his chair, released from MM’s mental grip.

“What do you want?” Manny asked in a hoarse voice.

MM took out a wicked curved boning knife and idly scratched his chin. “What do I want? I’ve got a score to settle, you know what I’m talking about.”

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Almost Story Time!

2011-08-04T11:21:00.003-04:00

It's so odd how several things always hit at once. I've been sitting around waiting to hear about when a couple of my stories were going to run. It seemed to be taking a while. Then within days I hear about both of them.

First I get edits back from Something Wicked Magazine, and word that my story Forge of the Soul will run in the September issue, which is totally cool. The edits were very minor, with a question or two that I answered no problem. It's funny seeing different editors' thought processes. They always come up with different things that never even would have occurred to me. I will also be getting some questions for an author interview that will run with the piece. I am so psyched. Something Wicked is a way cool market and will be some awesome exposure .

Next, I got word from the editor at Pulp Empire that he should be launching his Pirates & Swashbucklers anthology, which contains my story Voyage of the Hangman, September 19. How cool is that? And a little bizarre, too, right? I mean I am not prolific by any means when it comes to short stories, and two hitting in the same month? Anyway, I should be getting a proof of my story in another 3 weeks or so to look over.

In the meantime I will rub my hands together in gleeful anticipation. Wheee!

Your DIS Fix!

2011-08-01T11:27:00.000-04:00

Episode 35 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero’s confab with the covert operative who’s dating his sis is cut short by a house call to another crime scene.

Here’s an excerpt:
“Jack, I swear this is the truth. If you like, I’ll let you read me, and not just a surface read.”

I sat back, looking at him. He vibed sincere. I didn’t need to read him, the offer was enough. I pursed my lips. “Does Claire know about you and…” I made a vague hand gesture, “… you know.”

Phil shook his head. “Absolutely not, that knowledge would be far too dangerous for her. As far as she knows, I’m simply a paralegal with an unnatural affinity for bowling.”

I snorted. “And that’s all a cover.”

“Not entirely, I really do like bowling.”

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

A Novel Summer

2011-07-27T16:12:00.002-04:00

As hoped for, the summer has provided me with a really good opportunity to cruise ahead with the novel writing. This is primarily because my older boy is in sleepaway camp. It's amazing the difference between two and one children. The time gained is like on a logarithmic scale. Also, my wife understands that I'm counting on finishing this bad boy in the next month or so, and she has been incredibly gracious in keeping my younger son occupied on the weekends so I can write.

And I've been doing it! I am at the end of chapter 11. One more chapter to go. Not even sure if I'll need an extra bit for an epilogue. We're talking the end is really full on 3-D big screen iMax in sight. Then I'll give the whole thing a read through, let the wife read it, and send it in to my editor. I can't tell you how relieved/excited/drained I will be when this is done. I knew it would be a challenging/mind crushing task to write this at the same time as I am writing my Dark InSpectre series. It's basically been writing two novels at the same time. But how often do you have an editor/publisher ASK you to write a novel for them? What was I gonna say: naw, I'll pass?

So I committed to doing it. It's taken about a year, and I've just got a little more to go. Of course, it could still suck...

New Episode!

2011-07-18T11:29:00.003-04:00

Episode 39 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero gets a history lesson from a friend who is far more than he seems.

Here’s an excerpt:
What he was describing was a myth, a superstition that was half legend, half nightmare. “You’re talking about…” The Nameless, named after the lost children. Every tel knew the tale, a group outside the law, unseen, unheard, always watching. Whenever someone disappeared, or some tragedy befell a normal perceived to have wronged a tel, people would whisper, “The Nameless.”
Yes, came the unspoken answer, sending a nervous trill up my spine. He smiled again, breaking the tension. “Tell me, how do you think such a group would see its mission?”

My response was automatic. “Vengeance.”

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Space Bubbles and Ancient Hotties

2011-07-15T15:25:00.003-04:00

My monthly blog post is up over at Abandoned Towers Magazine on how to take every day news items and turn them in to cool scifi-fantasy stories. Check it out here.

There I am!

2011-07-13T15:56:00.002-04:00

I did a blog interview like a year ago and it kind of went poof! Disappeared, never saw it go live. Or maybe I just missed it. I didn't really know. Until today, when I got a google alert that led me here. And low and behold, there's my interview. Thank you Google Alert! And thank you Ambrose, for the interview. :)

Happy July 4th, with a new Episode!

2011-07-04T15:30:00.002-04:00

Episode 33 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero goes on a perfectly normal double date. Or so he thinks!

Here's an excerpt:
That’s when he grabbed my full attention. One second he was the same normal guy I’d just met. Then he lowered his shields a fraction. Enough for me to see beneath the practiced facade to the dangerous, coiled potential that lay watching, honed to a razor sharp edge. There was no imminent threat there, but whoever “Phil” really was, he could be deadly in a heartbeat.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Benefit From the Wisdom of My Words

2011-06-21T11:24:00.002-04:00

Got an interview up over at Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews, a cool writer's blog. Check it out and read all about me and my sage and mysterious ways!

http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/2011/06/interview-with-short-story-writer-jason.html

New DIS Episode!

2011-06-20T15:30:00.002-04:00

Episode 32 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero exchanges sweet nothings with a certain lady he’s had his eye on.

Here’s an excerpt:
She looked at me and for a second she seemed so brittle the slightest word would shatter her, then the familiar, sardonic look came into her eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to stay out of normals’ heads, Jack? Do I need to report you or something?”

I smiled but didn’t remove my hand. “Maybe if you stopped shouting, I’d be able to block you out a little.”

She made a pouting face and swatted me on the arm. “Is that what you want, to block me out?”

I looked at her and it was like we were the only two people in the park, our whole world contracted to the foot of space between us. “No, Mare, I don’t want that.”

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

New Story Out!

2011-06-17T15:15:00.003-04:00

The new Static Movement anthology, Best Left Buried, with a short story by yours truly, hit Amazon.com today.

The anthology is all about curses. No, not the things you scream at sporting events or in traffic, but cursed objects and things like that. My story is called The Emerald Heart. I'm psyched to see it in print. It's a story I put on the shelf like seven or eight years ago and frankly forgot about. But when I saw the call for submissions for this anthology, I was like, hey, I actually have something. So I dusted it off, chopped about 3,500 words out of it, and sent it in. And voila!

Here's an excerpt:

The older woman lay on the floor while the little girl – she looked like she was around five – lay in the bed. Both had been butchered, the woman had her throat torn out and her nightgown rent to shreds, revealing several horrific tears in her body. The girl, meanwhile, had one of her arms severed and half her face ripped off. They both lay in pools of blood. Reeja bent over, putting his hand against his mouth, fighting the urge to wretch at seeing such carnage up close. It looked like some beast had gotten loose in the mansion, Reeja thought, trying to find some explanation for the savagery.

All reason, however, quickly fled when the dead woman moved. Reeja felt prickling dread steal up his spine as she slowly sat upright, raising her torso in a completely unnatural movement. The girl, too, began to stir, lifting herself up on her one arm, looking at Reeja with one eye half in its socket.

“The heart,” the girl whispered in a rasp of what had once been her voice.

“Seek the heart,” the woman echoed, the movement of her vocal chords sickeningly evident in what remained of her throat.

Reeja stood there, his feet rooted to the floor as growing terror transfixed his body, rendering him motionless.

_______________________________________________

That's right, folks, this story's chock full of zombie goodness!

Check the cover and buy yo'self a copy:

Time Jumping Snails and Zombie Jocks

2011-06-17T11:28:00.002-04:00

I'm doing my usual thang over at Abandoned Towers Magazine, bloggin' bout writing n'stuff. Check it out: http://abandonedtowers.com/weblog/time-jumping-snails-and-zombie-jocks/

Episode 31!

2011-06-06T11:08:00.000-04:00

Episode 31 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero finds a day at the park is not all it’s cracked up to be.

Here’s an excerpt:
It was amazing how much little boys ate. Occasionally I got interrupted by one of them when they had to go to the bathroom. Yeah, I got that duty, too. Mary tried to hide her mirth every time I set off holding Ian’s or Collin’s hand on the way to the public toilets.

I appreciated Mary’s plan, keeping me busy with a steady stream of annoying tasks so I wouldn’t go off and do something stupid. But it did give me time to think, and my brain inevitably replayed my little pow-wow with Jimmy in the wine cellar.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Best Left Buried, TOC

2011-06-03T23:34:00.002-04:00

This is the the TOC for the Best Left Buried anthology, which should be coming out in a couple of weeks. Hint: mine is number 3!

Introduction by Gregory Miller
Finder Kept by Brandon Rucker
Stay With Me by Dorothy Davies
The Emerald Heart by Jason Kahn
The Collection by Darren Gallagher
Hokey Pokey by Ken Goldman
Dig Your Own Grave by Doug MacKenzie
Mrs. Yeknom by Bruce Harris
The Gift by Bruce Memblatt
Irrecoverable by Paul Edwards
Just One of Those Days by Rick McQuiston
Accelleratii Revengulus by Paul DeCirce
Suffering for Her Art by Darren W. Pearce and Neal Levin
Mother Misery by Dorothy Davies
American Idol by Jamie Schmidt
Shoes by A. J. French
The House Within by K. R. Hager
Street View by Aoife MacCormac
The Longest Stay by Andy Echevarria
Dust and Bones by Emma Ennis
The Pleasing of the Ring by J. Douglas Stephenson
The House on the Hill by Thomas M. Malafarina
Soaked to the Bone, Chilled to the Soul by Suzanne Robb
Lillian Sweeney’s Music by Gregory Miller
Be Careful What You Wish For by Herika R. Raymer

Episode 30!

2011-05-23T06:15:00.002-04:00

Episode 30 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero continues his little chat with his DBFF.

Here's an excerpt:

Another shock went through me, but this time it came from Jimmy, and it was fear. I looked at him. If it was possible for a ghost to get any paler, that was how Jimmy looked. I thought for a second, wondering what triggered it. Then I realized.

“Do you know Walter Boyd, Jimmy?”

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Posting from Paris

2011-05-20T12:28:00.003-04:00

Hey y'all, I'm doing my guest blog over at Abandoned Towers Magazine today. It's early evening here in Paris but a little after noon back home in NYC. Check out my post if you want some cool story ideas:
http://abandonedtowers.com/weblog/of-moons-and-invisible-men/

Double Shot

2011-05-11T14:38:00.003-04:00

I've gotten two acceptances recently, and I am totally psyched. My story "Forge of the Soul" was accepted by Something Wicked Magazine. They've been dormant for a year, but now they're relaunching their site and publication next week as an online magazine that sells e-books via Amazon. Originally, I submitted the piece to them a year ago, and then they ceased publishing and it looked like they might have gone under. I was extremely pissed at the time, they didn't even contact any of the authors to let them know. In the back of my mind, I said to myself, "you know, self, I bet you're going to futz around with this story for a year, not get it sold anywhere, then SW will come back, and they'll accept it. And you'll have to swallow how pissed you were." And I'll be damned but that's exactly what happened.

My second story acceptance comes from the Pulp Enpire anthology, Pirates and Swashbucklers. This one was more tricky. I originally subbed this one, titled "Voyage of the Hangman," to Flashing Swords Magazine, then they went under. Then they said they were coming back and everybody should re-sub, so I did. Eight months later, nobody had heard anything from them, so we all assumed they were dead. Therefore, I subbed to the Pulp Empire anthology. A month or so later, a message appears on a bulletin board from the editor of Flashing Swords: we're still here, we'll be replying to everyone soon. So I inadvertently subbed to both markets at the same time. However, it's been a few months, and still no one has heard from Flashing Swords. Then I got accepted from Pulp Empire. I went through some mental angst for a few days, then decided to forget Flashing Swords and go with the publication that actually exists and wants my story.

Both stories should be out within the next month. These are two that I've been working on and submitting for a long time. It's extremely gratifying that they're finally seeing print. :)

New DIS Episode!

2011-05-09T11:47:00.001-04:00

Episode 29 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero chats with a person he’d rather not see, in a place he’d rather forget.

Here’s an excerpt:
Totally unhinged, I screamed at him, an irrational animal roar of rage and accusation, and then threw the empty bourbon bottle at him, watching it pass through his dim form to crash apart in a hundred shards against one of the shelves. My anger drained away in the explosion of glass and I stood still, breathing ragged breaths as I regained control of my emotions.

Jimmy gave me an elaborate bow as if welcoming me to his fine establishment then just stood there unfazed, the same smirk on his face.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Episode 28!

2011-04-25T11:29:00.002-04:00

Episode 28 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero learns some baffling new evidence, and then reluctantly decides to visit an old friend.

Here’s an excerpt:
“We found it, boss, Peeks’ las pistol, and about a ton of sludge. Lucky for us there’s a DV hangs out down there, told me where to look. Anyway, I had the lab boys run a full spec on the piece, results just came back. Two DNA signatures found on that gun. One, Peeks. The other…” He paused for dramatic effect, enjoying the moment. I really hated him just then.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

The Short List

2011-04-15T19:15:00.002-04:00

Something new has happened over the past couple of weeks with a couple of my story submissions. On two occasions recently, I've gotten responses that my stories have been short listed. I'm taking this as really good news. I mean, the short list is better than no list, right? This does keep me waiting even longer, but hopefully the news will be good when I eventually get a final answer.

The first one is a re-print, so I'd be tickled if it does get an acceptance. I mean, sending off a re-print is absolutely no effort at all. I do it basically to get a free book to read. The second one is interesting. I got an email out of the blue from the editor of Something Wicked magazine. Remember that pub? The one I subbed to which then went out of business without communicating with any of the authors? Well after a year of dormancy, the guy emailed me (he even contacted me through my web site) to tell me Something Wicked is coming back, hopefully as soon as June, and my story has been short listed - can I send him an electronic version?

You betcha! Let the waiting continue.

Oh, and I'm blogging about creative writing over at Abandoned Towers Magazine today. Check it out!

Episode 27!

2011-04-11T10:58:00.002-04:00

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I actually was out of town for work, so please forgive me!

Anyway, Episode 27 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero plays the stay-at-home detective, without much success.

Here’s an excerpt: It was all I could do to keep from putting my fist through the vid screen as I considered the growing string of bizarre crime scenes. I didn’t know how Laszlo fit in, but these last two seemed aimed directly at my unit. And the press leaks were coordinated. Somebody was orchestrating this. But why? The answer blared like a siren in my head: Discredit Special Investigations, discredit me.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/.

New Dark InSpectre Episode!

2011-03-28T15:58:00.003-04:00

Episode 26 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero finds himself taking a sick day after hearing some disturbing news.

Here’s an excerpt:

I stopped him, my hyper-paranoia kicking in. For all I knew somebody could be listening in, even though a Department vid connection was supposed to be the most secure, encrypted communication there was. “Hold it, just tell me this. Would you say it was consistent with what Suzie described from her crime scene?”

His expression was grim. “Yeah, boss, highly consistent.”

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Back from the Dead

2011-03-25T20:04:00.003-04:00

I submitted a short story to Flashing Swords Magazine about 8 months ago, and then nobody heard from it again. Everyone assumed it was dead after repeated message board postings from numerous people went unanswered. Then, out of nowhere, the editor posted a message today saying that no, in fact, the zine is not dead. She was just taking care of various visa and family matters that were unavoidable, yadda, yadda, yadda. Anyway, she's back and she'll be replying to everyone who submitted "shortly." So that's good! As it happens, thinking FSM was dead, I actually subbed the piece to an anthology over at Pulp Empire, so maybe I'll get accepted somewhere, fingers crossed!

And in other news, I just learned that a reprint I submitted to a different anthology was "short listed" and I'll hear a final decision around the end of April.

So even though none of these represent an actual acceptance, I still consider these to be reasonably good news. So yay!

Guest Spot!

2011-03-18T15:53:00.003-04:00

I'm blogging about springtime writing ideas over at Abandoned Towers Magazine, today.

Here's an excerpt:
Spring is in the air! It seems like the winter was particularly long and brutal here on the East Coast, and now that the weather has finally turned, it is only natural to want to frolic a little in the great outdoors. But don’t let all the lawn lazing put a crimp in your writing, springtime should instead inspire a fresh wave of stories for the creative mind.

Check it: http://abandonedtowers.com/weblog/spring-into-story-ideas/

New Episode Time

2011-03-14T15:46:00.001-04:00

Episode 25 of the Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero earns a little rest and recuperation, well sort of.

Here's an excerpt:
The sunlight streaming in through the balcony window told me I was not in my usual west-facing guestroom while the sumptuous sheets and king-size mattress told me I was, in fact, dozing in Mary’s master bed. Furthermore, the small, warm form snuggling against my body beneath the sheets informed me that I was not alone.

It was probably that last one that shot me bolt upright in bed in a state of unreasoning panic.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Subs

2011-03-05T22:59:00.002-05:00

So, it seems more and more apparent that yet another market I submitted a story to has faded into oblivion. I've lost count of how many times this has happend in the past few years. This time, it's Flashing Swords, one of the last few venues for sword and sorcery fantasy. The editors had declared that it was turning to an annual market, as opposed to quarterly, and opened to subs. That was about 8 months ago, and there has been radio silence since. Nobody has heard back about their submissions. And the editors have not responded to repeated queries. Translation: dead.

So I recently submitted the story to an anthology that's accepting over at Pulp Empire. We'll see what happens. What really pisses me off is the silent treatment. Look, if you're publication is having trouble, fine, it's a horrible economy to be running any kind of magazine. But just tell the writers who are out there twisting in the wind. We shouldn't have to figure out on our own that you've gone belly up.

In other news, the author/writing that has been holding onto stories for her Wolfsongs II anthology has made another reference on her blog to the fact that she is actually going through the submissions. So her earlier post was not, in fact, a one time thing, which gives me hope that the story I sent in about 3 years ago may actually see print. Yes, these are the things that keep me going.

However, this brings up a tricky question. A couple months ago, I was thinking about my Wolfsong story and decided to have another look at it since I hadn't read the thing in several years. I cleaned up a lot of grammar and sentence flow, and I think it reads much smoother now. So what do I do with it? Do I send it back to the editor and just say, excuse me, thought you might like this one a tad better? Do I wait to see if it's accepted and then offer it up? What's the ettiquette here?

Episode 24!

2011-02-28T14:11:00.002-05:00

Episode 24 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero gets rescued by a hot chick with a gun.

Here’s an excerpt:
Tattoo girl raised the knife, ready to end my misery. I just stared and drooled. Claire, Mary, the Job. Everything I ever loved or regretted. It all went by in a flash. Would I fade? About to find out. The blade begins its downward arc.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Free Story Time

2011-02-21T17:59:00.002-05:00

I have made my short story, Devil May Care, published in Jim Baen's Universe, available as a fully illustrated pdf file free off of my website, www.jrkahn.com. Normally you would have to pay a fee to access it off of the JBU web site, but since the site went belly up (moment of silence, please), I thought, what the hell?

I've been meaning to do this for a couple of months, but I first had to figure out how to enable this via the web site software I use. And I finally took the time to do it. So enjoy! It's a cool, darkly humorous story if I say so myself.

Guest Blog Spot

2011-02-18T10:40:00.002-05:00

I'm blogging about story ideas over at Abandoned Towers Magazine today. Y'all stop by now!

Here's the intro:

With Valentine’s Day just passed, hopefully you have shown enough forethought to have given your loved one some heartfelt token of your esteem such that you are not now dwelling in the proverbial (and let us hope it is no more than that) doghouse. But if you happen to find yourself in that most sorrowful of canine abodes, don’t sit and mope. Use your solitary time and put those feelings of love, bitterness and utter remorse to good use. No, I don’t mean pig out on Doritos. Write about it! Some of the best stories come from emotional anguish, or disastrous circumstances. And just to get you started, here are a few ideas culled from actual news items involving just such weighty themes:

Click on over! http://abandonedtowers.com/weblog/love-and-madness-great-fodder-for-a-good-story-or-two/

Antho update

2011-02-16T11:53:00.003-05:00

As some of you may know, there's a short story I subbed about 3 years ago that's still floating around in the ether. Well, the author/editor who has it actually posted on her blog last week that she is going through the submissions. Yes, very exciting, this is the first I've heard her mention it in like a year. So this gives me hope! I had just about given this one up for dead.

Just a few days later, the author/editor announced she is starting her own publishing company. I have no idea how this affects my little 'ol story that she's been sitting on. Hopefully it doesn't. We'll see...

Episode 23!

2011-02-14T11:54:00.002-05:00

Happy Valentine’s Day! Feel the love from the Dark InSpectre.

Episode 23 is online, in which our hero continues his friendly dance with his new buddy, only to find that things don’t look so good when the music stops.

Here’s an excerpt:
The kid who killed his big brother, turning himself into a crazed tel death machine, looked at me with puppy dog eyes. “Oh, Marco.” That was when my link failed. The energy required to keep projecting the image just ran out.

Torch was back. “Spook trick,” he hissed.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

New Episode!

2011-01-31T15:53:00.001-05:00

Episode 22 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our faithful hero makes a new friend who’s literally too hot to handle.

Here’s an excerpt:
The pain stops. For long seconds I remain motionless. The thump of my heart, the rasp of my breath. These things remind me I am alive. A low moan escapes my lips as I roll onto hands and knees, feel the warm, grimy pavement beneath me. My head feels like a crisped marshmallow, about to ooze off the stick and go splat on the ground.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Things are getting pretty intense for Jack. Stay tuned!

Blog Spot

2011-01-21T14:30:00.001-05:00

Hey Y'all, I'm blogging over at Abandoned Towers Magazine today on some new writing ideas for the new year. Check it out: http://abandonedtowers.com/weblog/new-writing-ideas-for-the-new-year/

Latest Episode!

2011-01-17T11:38:00.002-05:00

It's MLK Day, but The Dark InSpectre never takes a day off. Episode 21 is now online, in which our hero gets some intel on his latest suspect, and then gets a little warm and fuzzy with his ex.

Here's an excerpt:
Mentally, we wrapped our auras around each other, caressing each other across our link the way only tels could, far more satisfying than any physical foreplay. We continued for a few minutes, but then something happened. In my mind’s eye, it was somebody else’s face I was kissing, somebody else’s soft body I was touching.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Son of a...!

2011-01-12T18:41:00.002-05:00

Okay, time for a little venting. I have about 4 stories currently circulating in the wide world of short fiction I'm waiting to hear back on. Two of them, I've just learned that the markets that've been supposedly considering them have shut down, at virtually the same time! Both stories have been on hold for about 5 months. That's 5 months of silence, and then I learn from ralan.com that both magazines: Spectra and Sinister Tales, have closed. I didn't even find out from the magazines themselves! Unbelievable, that pisses me off so much! And one of the stories had been on hold for a year at Something Wicked magazine last year before I found out that one shut down!

It's enough to give me a super massive migraine. Oh wait, I already have one. So now I have to find new venues and submit them all over again, and the clock will start from zero.

On a brighter note, the writer/editor who has been holding a story of mine for three years posted on her blog that the anthology it's meant for is an immediate project for her. So we'll see if she gets moving. Fingers crossed!

Next Episode!

2011-01-03T15:56:00.000-05:00

It’s a brand new year, but the same old Jack. Episode 20 of the Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero needs a little help from an old flame.

Here’s an excerpt:
There were others watching them, too, ones only visible to me. They stood shoulder to shoulder around the ring, young, old, men, women, all those who had died in the ring. They haunted this place and yet they, too, were haunted. Because they couldn’t let go. They yearned to get back in, to give it one more shot, but all they could do was watch.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Next Episode!

2010-12-20T15:18:00.002-05:00

Happy Hollidays everybody!

Episode 19 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our faithful hero goes toe to toe, or rather, brain to brain, with someone who’s just begging for a good ol’ fashioned beat down.

Here’s an excerpt:
His grin was gone now, replaced by tension and nerves. I felt a few butterflies myself as we stared at each other, waiting for the other one to make the first move. Maybe this kid had enough juice to take me down. Maybe it just wouldn’t be my night. It was time to find out.

Slowly, deliberately, I smiled and winked at him.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Creative Writing for the Cold Weather

2010-12-17T16:43:00.002-05:00

I'm blogging over at Abandoned Towers Magazine today on more creative writing ideas for to keep your brain in gear during the cold weather. Check it out!
http://abandonedtowers.com/weblog/keeping-the-brain-warm-during-the-deep-freeze/

And stay tuned, new Dark InSpectre episode on Monday!

Novel News

2010-12-09T09:11:00.003-05:00

Wanted to give a progress report on the crime novel I'm working on. From my plot outline and where I am in my head, I figure I'm exactly halfway done. I'm actually pretty proud of myself to have gotten to this point. It's been extremely challenging writing both the novel and The Dark InSpectre at the same time, and keeping chugging along has been difficult in the midst of my normally busy job/life/other commitments/etc.

But it's going, and I'm happy with it. I've written 5 chapters, planning on 10 and about 60,000 words. Not huge by any stretch, but an appropriate length for the story. Now, having said that, it'll probably grow longer, which is what my projects normally do. But the point is that it's getting done, bit by bit. And every time I get to work on it, I really enjoy doing it. :)

Book Deal

2010-12-09T08:55:00.002-05:00

Here's a promo for fellow Damnation Books/Eternal Press author Kelly Harmon:

Eternal Press is offering a 25% coupon on her award winning book, Blood Soup, if purchased from the publisher with a coupon code. She's sweetening the deal by giving away an electronic copy of her story, "The Dragon's Clause" to anyone who purchases Blood Soup. Information is here: http://kellyaharmon.com/?p=4271

Episode 18

2010-12-06T15:49:00.002-05:00

Episode 18 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero does a little undercover work to find a tel hotspot, only to find himself in yet another sticky situation.

Here’s an excerpt:

I frowned. I could badge my way in, but then the whole place beyond that door would clear out in about five minutes. I felt my mood start to sour but tried to stay nice. With an effort, I put a smile on my face. Maybe I had to say the magic word? “Can I please go in? I’m here to see the Scapes.”

Still no expression. “Sorry, pal.”

Now I really felt ridiculous.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Antho Out

2010-11-26T19:25:00.003-05:00

The anthology with my story, The Devil You Know, is now out. It's called Christmas Fear, and it's full of spooky holiday stories. And it's only $9.99!
Here's the Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Fear-Chris-Bartholomew/dp/1617060658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1290811822&sr=1-1

And the cover:

New Dark InSpectre Episode!

2010-11-22T15:30:00.003-05:00

Episode 17 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero gets a blast from the past with a call from an old friend.

Here's an excerpt:

Hank lived in an area known as Little Telville where Claire and I'd grown up. We were among the few who got out. "Oh, you know, not much changes around here." He heaved a sigh. "The water's still filled with mind-control substances aimed at subverting us tels. I'm pretty sure the Tarver Hardware store over on Alton and 3rd is really a hideout for a militant doomsday cult, and the eth heads are really freaking out lately."

It was my turn to raise an eyebrow. "What was that last one, Hank?"

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

We've got some serious action coming up, so stay tuned!

Bloggin' time again

2010-11-19T14:21:00.002-05:00

I'm back from Chicago, completely exhausted, barely alive. Fortunately, I wrote my guest blog spot for Abandoned Towers like two weeks ago, and just had to post it, no real work required. Here's the link if you want to check it out. I did my usual job of identifying interesting tidbits from my job and spinning them into cool story ideas from a creative writing perspective. Take a look-see: http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5515750561757773638.

My other writing has taken a hit due to the craziness of work, but now that my Chicago meeting's over, hopefully things will calm down and I'll be able to get back in the swing of things.

Episode 16 is up!

2010-11-08T14:43:00.002-05:00

Episode 16 of The Dark InSpectre is up, in which Jack makes it clear in no uncertain terms that this is his investigation.

Here's an excerpt:

"I find out word’s leaked out, you’re off the team, and…” I paused for effect then continued after they started looking nervous. “I let my boss know you fouled up my case.”

They both blanched. They knew who my boss was, knew what he could do to a tel’s career. It was nice, using Wonderful Walter’s rep to freak someone else out for a change.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Killer Within News

2010-10-30T17:24:00.002-04:00

Couple of cool things about my short story The Killer Within, published as an e-book by Damnation Books last year. I happened to do a google search just to see what's happening with it, and found out the following: It's now offered on Scribd. I'm not entirely sure what Scribd is, but it sounds pretty cool. Also, The Killer Within is the featured book on the web site World of Books, so that's another cool thing. Glad the story is still seeing some life, it gave rise to the character and setting of the novel I'm currently writing. So yay!

Another Story Acceptance

2010-10-26T21:30:00.003-04:00

I'm rollin' baby! Got another story accepted. This one is for a different anthology called Best Left Buried: A Cursed Anthology. It's also being published by Static Movement. The story was something I'd written like six years ago and set aside and forgotten. But I saw the theme of the anthology and dusted it off, cut out about 1,700 words and re-vamped it slightly and subbed it in. And voila! The story was originally titled Zombies are Stupid, but I re-titled it: The Emerald Heart. And yes, it's chock full of zombie goodness. The anthology is not very full right now, so it probably won't publish till next year, which is fine, I'm in no rush. I'll also try and help out by posting the submission call in a few places. And in the meantime, here's the cover, it's way cool!

New Episode: The Dark InSpectre

2010-10-25T16:06:00.003-04:00

Episode 15 of The Dark InSpectre has hit the internets, in which our hero gets to lead the big case, albeit under unsettling circumstances.

Here’s an excerpt:
Captains Haggerty and Roberts both nodded dully. In moments, the room was pristine, not a trace of Walter’s suffocating aura, like it had never happened. I stared at him. He looked back at me, his face unreadable.

I hope this shows I’m on your side, Jack. Now take this investigation wherever it leads. I expect results.

Yes sir, thank you sir.

Our private communication ended. Wonderful Walter being on my side was a little scary, I decided.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Story Acceptance!

2010-10-16T11:01:00.003-04:00

I am totally psyched to report that I had a story accepted a couple days ago! Woohoo! The story is called The Devil You Know, and it's a sequel to Devil May Care, my first and only pro sale to Baen's Universe back in 2006. I wrote The Devil You Know a while ago and it's been kicking around for some time, searching for the right market, without much success. It's a very dark, comedic, spooky tale, like the first one. Thing is, I think it's actually a better story than the first one.

At any rate, I saw this submission call for an anthology titled: Christmas Fear, Spooky Stories for the Holidays, and I sent it off immediately. I got an acceptance e-mail within the hour! I know, crazy, right? The publisher is Static Movement, which has been putting out a lot of anthologies lately, and I think it will be available through Pill Hill Press, too. Not exactly sure when it will be published, but seeing as it's a holiday anthology, I'm assuming either this holiday season or next. Anyway, the cover has already been designed, and it's way cool. Here's a jpg. More soon!

Guest Bloggin'

2010-10-15T16:09:00.002-04:00

Hey y'all, I'm guest bloggin' over at Abandoned Towers today, more cool story ideas gleaned from the news items I pore through every day in my job as a news editor.

Check it: http://abandonedtowers.com/weblog/more-stories-from-the-idea-tron/

Episode 14

2010-10-11T15:36:00.002-04:00

The Dark InSpectre, Episode 14 is now online, in which our hero has to do a song and dance in front of his superiors to get the big case.

Here's an excerpt:

“Gentlemen,” he said politely. “I believe we’re ignoring a few very important factors.” And then I sat back and observed as Walter’s psychic tendrils slowly uncoiled, extending around the room. I watched as he went to work, demonstrating how he earned himself the nickname “The Confessor.”

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

I'm back

2010-09-27T22:59:00.002-04:00

I spent the past month building up to the busiest week of the year last week for work in Washington DC. And now it's over. I got back home yesterday and took today off, dropped my youngest off at school (pouring rain, of course), got back home in a daze, slept for another hour and a half. Got up around noon, posted the next episode of The Dark InSpectre (see previous post). Did some voice work for a series being produced by my fabulous editor Crystalwizard.

Now that I'm back and things are relatively calm again at work (until I go to Chicago in 6 weeks), I should be able to get back to some serious writing again. I started another episode of the Dark InSpectre at the airport on my way back from DC, and I need to get moving post haste. And of course there's the crime novel, which is the thing I've been neglecting the most. In somewhat cool news, I picked up another follower of my Dark InSpecter series, which brings the number to an overwhelming 5. In addition, my page views for the series broke the 2,000 mark today. I know, these are modest, even miniscule numbers, but it's how I try and encourage myself. So yay me!

The Dark InSpectre, Episode 13

2010-09-27T13:15:00.002-04:00

After a hard week in Washington DC, I slept in and posted episode 13 of The Dark InSpectre, in which our hero realizes even the most fearless of inspecters is rendered gutless when it comes to one thing: women.

Here's an excerpt:
My hand jerked on the wheel and I almost swerved off the road. I took my foot off the gas and got the car under control, along with my breathing, which had suddenly stopped. The conjecture had been completely logical, but the implications were staggering.

“Slow down Jack,” I muttered as I pulled into the driveway at Mary’s place. “Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

Yeah, I reminded myself, especially when a five foot three Irish chick might be waiting to kick my ass.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Guest Bloggin'

2010-09-17T15:52:00.003-04:00

I'm guest bloggin' over at Abandoned Towers about creative writing today, taking a few of the news items I see in my job as a news editor and turning them into cool SciFi stories. Dig it:
http://abandonedtowers.com/weblog/insert-story-idea-in-slot-a-add-inspiration-in-slot-b/

Episode 12 is Loose!

2010-09-13T17:08:00.002-04:00

Episode 12 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero discovers that some things can scare even the dead.

Here's an excerpt:

Question after question bobbed to the surface of my seething brain: What could scare a dead person? Who else was inside this guy? How did they get there? Why did Heske surface now?

The big one: was Heske going to kill again?

No answers magically came to me. I was swimming in uncharted waters, with only instinct to cling to, but with that came clarity: Killers killed. Heske wasn’t finished, not with that rage.

Lap it up, the fun's just getting started: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

new sub out into the universe

2010-09-01T23:40:00.003-04:00

Remember that story I got rejected where I asked the editor what she didn't like about the ending? Well she was nice enough to tell me what didn't work for her. How about that? Just goes to show you that some editors are actually nice people and willing to help writers trying to improve their craft.

Anyway, what she said did, in fact, make sense to me. So I've spent the last couple days working on it and polished the story up to a nice new-car sheen and now sent it out to another market. So hope once again springs eternal. Or at least until the next time it gets completely crushed, thereby ending all vestiges of hope. That's the spirit!!

Now I must get back to the next episode of the Dark InSpectre since this has put me behind schedule. Back to the grindstone...

Episode 11 Takes Off

2010-08-30T18:58:00.002-04:00

Episode 11 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, and things start getting way funky as our hero meets a grim ghost from the past who whacks an old friend from the present.

Here's an excerpt:
Bonardi’s expression went from pain and confusion to stark terror. “No…you’re…I mean, he’s…dead. That was years ago. I saw the body. There’s no way.” He shook his head back and forth, eyes wild.

Multiple Man lapped up his fear, savoring it. “Apparently, some deaths are more permanent than others.”

Get some: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Rejection Redux

2010-08-25T15:01:00.002-04:00

Got a short story rejected from the historical fiction web magazine Lacuna. Really thought I had a shot. Another one to add to the pile. Sigh...

Here's the actual note:
"I'm sorry for taking so long to get back to you. I thought 'Forge of the Soul' was a creative idea, and your writing style is very readable and well-paced, but I'm afraid the ending didn't quite work for me. I wish you the best of luck placing it elsewhere."

So it's not all bad, and I appreciate the nice words. I even said so in a reply to her, also asked what didn't work for her about the ending. Don't know if I'll get a reply to that. I'll have to re-read and think about it before re-subbing. Another one bites the dust...

On the Bus

2010-08-21T22:58:00.002-04:00

I took the bus on Friday to Rinebeck, NY to pick up my older boy from summer camp, about a two and a half hour ride, so I took my trusty laptop and tried to do some writing. I can't say I really remember ever writing on a bus before, but I figured, hey, can't be that big a deal, right?

It was...interesting. VERY bumpy heading upstate. And the bus was piping in this ridiculously loud movie the whole time, which was extremely annoying. But I did get some good writing done, so it was worth it in the end. And then my computer ran out of juice way before I was expecting it to, which was troubling.

So, not an experience I'd want to repeat, all things considered. But then again, you have to take your writing time where you can get it, right? This was another Dark InSpectre episode, so if I finish it off in the next day or so, I can get back to the crime novel over the next week. Yay!

Guest Bloggin

2010-08-19T23:00:00.003-04:00

I'm guest blogging over at Abandoned Towers today on creative writing. It's a new Wordpress blog and it posted just great, which was a huge relief seeing as I'm not the most tech savvy person in the world. Come on over and visit!

http://abandonedtowers.com/weblog/a-little-exercise-for-the-old-creativity-muscle/

Big Ten

2010-08-16T16:14:00.002-04:00

Episode 10 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which Jack wades knee-deep into a fresh crime scene the likes of which he's never seen before, and catches a glimpse of a brand new player, Multiple Man.

Here's an excerpt:

I was grateful for the air conditioning, feeling the sweat start to cool on the back of my neck. Then the smell of laser burn and charred flesh assaulted my nose. I looked around. There were three bodies—the officer and a female civilian lay next to each other about ten feet from the store clerk who was sprawled over the counter by the cash register. There was a pale, translucent presence accompanying each one, but I ignored them for the time being. Standard procedure was read the scene first, talk to the dead later.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Back in the Saddle

2010-08-15T23:22:00.003-04:00

After more massive work on re-claiming lost computer files, finally got back into writing some more on the new crime novel today. It had been a while, so I re-read the first three chapters to get the feel again, then picked up where I left off with the start of chapter 4. Felt good, got back in the flow.

Tomorrow, though, have to switch gears back to the Dark InSpectre with a new episode, where things are really picking up at a wicked pace, so stay tuned! And then after I post, I'll write another new episode about four episode's ahead since that's about how far out I like to keep in terms of the story in my head. And then maybe I can get back to the crime novel, and then I have another guest blog post over at Abandoned Towers this Friday!

So even though it seems like I'm not doing very much, in reality I guess I am. Then why won't my little voice stop nagging at me to get back to work...?

The return of GN/BN

2010-08-09T15:12:00.003-04:00

Yes, it's time once again for Good News/Bad News.

Good News: My editor/publisher really liked the first three chapters and plot overview I handed in of the crime novel I started, so she green lighted me and I'm off and running with it!

Bad News: I just got another soul crushing rejection of a short story I submitted back in May to a market that usually gives good feedback, but this time gave none.

Good News: Audio episode 3 of Unfinished Business just ran on the Beam Me up podcast, which is always cool exposure for me.

Bad news: my home computer went kablooey and I spent all weekend fixing it, so got absolutely no writing done whatsoever, and it's still not completely fixed

Good News: My reasonably sucessful (by my low standards) series the Dark InSpectre is going well and I'm just entering a completely wild set of episodes that will send events spinning off in a very cool direction.

Bad news: my health has been absolutely crap and I've felt completely awful; getting hit with migraines several times a week, also nasty drug side effects. Not fun at all.

So what's the tally? Bad news 3, Good news 3. It's all tied up. I could go either way. C'mon, gimme some good news...!

Idle musings

2010-08-05T15:45:00.002-04:00

I was poking around some of the other series produced by my editor/publisher in addition to The Dark InSpectre and saw something interesting. Her publishing company, Cyberwizard Productions, is taking one of them, Knight Terrors: The (mis)Adventures of Smoke the Dragon, and turning it into a book. The series is close to wrapping up and she's taking all the episodes and putting them together into a print piece. She posted the cover online. It's pretty sweet.

Just got me thinking. Wonder if that'll happen with my series. That would be cool. Just by my rough estimation, I'd say it's not quite at the halfway mark yet of the current storyline. By the time it would reach the last episode, the whole series would probably be about book length. Of course, I have no idea if anyone would buy it, aside from my friends and family of course (love ya mom!), but it would still be pretty cool. Okay, daydreaming over. Back to work. Though I wonder what the cover would look like. And who would play Jack in the movie...

Episode 9 Hits the Web

2010-08-02T11:40:00.003-04:00

I've just posted Episode 9 of In Plain Sight, The Dark InSpectre series. We're now starting to pick up steam with the beginning of a new homicide investigation to add to our hero's various dilemmas.

Here's an excerpt:

At that moment a call came in over the comm in my ear. “All units, multiple homicides, officer down, Wheeler’s Convenience Store, corner of Trafford and Old Towne Road. Please respond.”
Trafford and Old Towne was just a few minutes away.

I thought about it. A potentially pissed off Mary or a fresh multiple homicide. The chicken in me won hands down. I swerved across three lanes of traffic, ignoring the beeps and shouted obscenities as I raced through the early evening.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

So now I'm writing a novel...

2010-08-01T18:52:00.003-04:00

I finished reviewing and revising the first three chapters and the plot overview and sent it in. Within a half an hour, that's right, thirty minutes, my editor got back to me and gave the green light to go ahead with the whole manuscript. She really liked it. I found the plot overview very interesting to write. It really forced me to figure out in my head step by step where this story is logically going to go. Of course things can and will probably change, but it was a valuable exercise that I should probably do more often.

I liked my wife's reaction best. She looked at my editor's very positive response and turned to me and said, "so now you're writing a novel." Priceless. (she meant that in a good way). So the storyline of the novel is a straight crime fiction drama, no scifi whatsoever, very hardhitting.

So now what? Right now I take a breath. I've been writing at a very hard pace lately both on the first three chapters and the Dark InSpectre series. Doing both at the same time has been tough. I'm going to ease up just a wee bit on the novel over the next week or two, and then dive back in. But right now it's all good. Let's hope I can keep it up. And stay tuned for Episode 9 of Dark InSpectre tomorrow!

El Chapter Tercero

2010-07-27T19:43:00.003-04:00

I finished Chapter 3 last night of the crime novel I've been working on. I consider this a pretty significant milestone that I was able to do this in a relatively short amount of time while keeping up my obligation with the Dark InSpectre and my normally hectic life and not so good health status. So f&#k yeah for me!

Now comes the read-review-revise part, which I will start tonight and continue over the next couple of days. Then the wife will read it (she wants me to email it to her as a pdf so she can read it on her brand spanking new kindle, not sure how that's going to work). While she's reading it I'll write a plot overview, then I'll send the whole kit'n kaboodle off to my editor, and see if it sucks. (I kind'a like it, so far. So fingers crossed).

In other news, a reprint I'd forgotten about got rejected from an anthology I'd submitted it to. That didn't phase me too much. I'm still waiting to hear from two markets that are WAY due. Lacuna and Abyss & Apex. Lacuna I think I have a realistic shot at, A&A I'm assuming I'll get rejected, but get good comments to revise and submit elsewhere.

That's all for now...!

Book Watch

2010-07-23T13:40:00.003-04:00

Several factors have come together to allow me to make some real progress on the crime novel I'm supposed to be working on. My older boy is at sleep away camp, my Dark InSpectre series is running smoothly at the moment without consuming too much of my time, most of the audio episodes for it have been recorded, and my wife, may she be eternally blessed, has been keeping my younger boy out of my hair so I can have writing time. I've forged ahead quite a bit and am in the early part of chapter 3.

My goal is to have 3 chapters and a plot summary for my editor in the next few weeks, and now is the time I blocked out to get this all done. And it's actually happening, with only one potential obstacle: my health. I've really felt awful lately, going on and off medications for the migraines I get, not to mention the headaches themselves. I've really been getting hammered. I'm going to set a neurologist appt next week and hopefully start to get my poor noggin straightened out, cuz I just can't continue like this. But in the meantime, it's full steam ahead. woohoo!

Episode 8 Unbound

2010-07-19T15:46:00.002-04:00

Episode 8 of The Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero gets some inside info on what makes his new boss tick.

Here's an excerpt:

I plugged in the memory chip; the small screen lit up with a heading that read:

IAD Background Check #734
Subject: NAPD Academy Applicant
Status: Telepath
Name: Boyd, Walter T.

Internal Affairs ran extensive background checks on tels before accepting them into the Academy, looking into their past, family, friends, digging for dirt. It was a regulation passed by the City Council to try and weed out the “undesirables,” which translated to any tel who had so much as a parking ticket. As a result, these background checks were pretty invasive, which suited my purposes just fine.

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/

Guest Bloggin'

2010-07-16T14:13:00.003-04:00

I'm blogging over at Abandoned Towers today, doing my usual number on taking science tidbits I've collected over the past few weeks and turning them into riveting Scifi stories! Drop on by...
http://abandonedtowers.blogspot.com/2010/07/stories-youre-dying-to-write.html

Podcast #2

2010-07-11T16:36:00.003-04:00

A little earlier than expected, Paul Cole over at Beam Me up has broadcast Episode 2 of Unfinished Business on his radio show and podcast program. The episode is about 5:45 into the broadcast. I'm telling ya, the music my editor laid in for the soundtrack on this episode is so funky, it really makes it cool. And FYI, that handsome guy on the front of the page? No, that's not me.

Impending Doom, or Perhaps Bliss...?

2010-07-09T16:11:00.002-04:00

I happened by the twitter feed of the historical fiction journal Lacuna, which I submitted something to a while ago. They posted their first three acceptances for their October issue yesterday. I have the feeling I will be receiving either a rejection or an acceptance VERY shortly...!

Episode 7, from the beach

2010-07-05T20:53:00.003-04:00

From the Jersey Shore I give you Episode 7 of In Plain Sight, The Dark InSpectre series, in which our hero finds things are a little leaky in the office.

Here's an excerpt:

I looked at each of them, dead serious. “`A source inside the NAPD?’ I’m going to give you one chance. Just one. Then I’m never going to ask again. Does anyone have anything to say to me?”

All their eyes went wide, denial written on their features.

Teo Cruz spoke first. “Boss, no way.” He had a fervent look in his eyes. “There’s no rat in this house.”

Enjoy: http://darkinspec.blogspot.com/