Holding Pattern

Seems like I'm waiting on a bunch of things lately. Still trying to attract an agent for the crime novel I wrote. But some other things as well. I'm expecting my contributor's copy of the first Something Wicked anthology, which, seeing as it's coming from South Africa, could arrive today or in three weeks for all I know. There's also the Pulp Empire anthology with my story, Treasure of the Moon Goddess. It was supposed to come out on national Talk Like a Pirate Day, Sept. 19, but that didn't happen and I haven't seen any updates. So no idea there, either.

In submission news, I got a rejection today that I wanted to share. It was for a story I submitted to a new/returning venue called Perihelion. It was the second nicest rejection I've ever gotten, and it's the kind of  thing that keeps me going:

Thanks for submitting "Music and Magnetism" to us. It is a fine story, but with all of the metaphysical elements, I don't think it fits what we are trying to do with "Perihelion," so I am going to have to pass on it.


That's really the only criticism I have. Which is why I am taking the time to write an individual note instead of our form rejection. It's a good story; I'd be surprised if you couldn't find a market for it; it's simply not a good fit for "Perihelion."


Feel free to try again with something else.

Just to have an editor say "it's a good story." That's priceless for a writer and keeps the flame burning. Needless to say, I will keep trying.

Speaking of short stories, I've had a story title in my head for years, just waiting for the rest of the story to take shape. It finally has and I'm very excited to start writing it. I'm almost ready, and I must say it's one of the coolest titles I've every heard, let alone come up with. The story itself involves a historical figure, but no spoilers! These are the things that keep me happy and writing. :)

New Dark InSpectre Episode

I may have taken off for the Jewish Holidays, but the Dark InSpectre’s still hard at work. Episode 57 is now online, in which our hero manages to rescue his sister, but at a heart-braking cost.

Here’s an excerpt:

Then there was gun and las-fire, a lot of it, coming from her location. “Sam, what’s going on?” I demanded. 

I was so used to her mind, even from a distance I could feel her fierce, desperate joy as she replied.

“I’ve got them occupied, Jack, get Claire out of there.” There was a painful gasp followed by a detonation as she set off another explosive.

Somehow, I kept my feet moving. “Sam, please don’t…” But what was I going to say? She knew exactly what she was doing.

“Just promise me one thing, Jack.” She was panting and her mental signature was erratic. “Make the bastards pay.”

Check the episode here. Enjoy!

Episode 56!

It may be Labor Day, but there's no time off for the Dark InSpectre. Episode 56 is now online, in which our hero receives some help from a few ghostly bystanders, or so he thinks.

Here’s an excerpt:

The voices were getting louder, and not in a very friendly way. Beside me, Claire stiffened, shaking her head back and forth, moaning with her eyes closed as she hugged herself. “No, please stop… don’t want too…”

I pressed my lips to her forehead. “It’s okay, no one’s going to hurt you anymore. I won’t let them, Claire, I promise.”

The sound of my voice calmed her, helped her fend off whatever memory the approaching scumbags had set off. My jaw clenched as I waited, an iron knot of anger pulsing in my gut. I was a cop, we weren’t supposed to go out of our way for revenge, but killing these a-holes sure would make me feel better.

Check the episode here.

Enjoy!

Pirates and Wickedness

I got a very strange email about a week and a half ago from the editor of Something Wicked Magazine, Joe Vaz. He wanted my initials on a release for my story to appear in their first anthology, because technically, the time limit on my original contract had run out. This was very interesting to me cuz while I knew they were doing an anthology, for some reason I didn't think my story was in it. But it is! Here's the cover, advance copies are already on sale, woohoo!


Is that cool or what? If you squint real hard, you can see my name among the authors. And in other news, I have learned that the second Pirates and Swashbucklers anthology will be coming out in September on...wait for it...Talk Like a Pirate Day, Sept. 19. Shoulda' known, right? It'll have my story, Treasure of the Moon Goddess, which I really like and hope everyone else does, too. So yay, things are happening!

Episode 55 Online!

Man, has it been two weeks already?

I guess so cuz Episode 55 of the Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero tries to escape with his sister but gets caught in a rather slimy situation.

Here’s an excerpt:

There was a faint pitter-patter sound up ahead, almost like rain. We both recognized it and strode forward. I had my las-pistol pressed against the back of the guy’s head before he could zip up his pants. His hands reached for the sky and his trousers hit the ground.

I leaned in close, my gun pressing his forehead against the wall. “Where’s the girl?”

“I ain’t gonna…ungh!”

He doubled over from the shot Phil gave him to the kidneys. I grabbed him before he could trip over his pants, shoved him back against the wall.

I clicked off the safety on my las-pistol, let the whine build in the guy’s ear so he knew the gun was charging. “Last chance.”

Check the episode here.

New DIS Episode!

I'm very happy to say that I've gotten to the point in my Dark InSpectre series where the action is pretty well all blocked out until the very end. That means the main sequences are pretty firmly established in my head, and there's little actual "figuring out" left to do. So in other words, I can just let 'er rip!

Episode 54 of the Dark InSpectre is now online, in which our hero teams up to save his sister, but things don’t go exactly as planned.
Here’s an excerpt:

Of course they knew. The Nameless new everything, and Sam was a card carrying member.

She stepped back and I took stock of Phil. He vibed just as angry as me. Good.

I pointed at him. You were supposed to protect her.

He looked ready to throw down as he jabbed a finger right back at me. This is because of your narco investigation, not any of my associations. He crossed his arms and dialed it back a bit. But… given our relationship and Claire’s value both to you and to me… he paused, clamping down on the worry pouring out of him… I have been allowed to help retrieve her. He motioned toward a chair, conciliatory. Jack, it’s a three-man job. We can do this. Please let us help.
I sat.

Check the episode here.

London Calling...?

Tired of querying and querying and getting no responses on my crime/thriller novel, I tried something a little different. In a completely random internet search, I ran across this, a competition sponsored by a literary agency seeking to start a line of crime/thriller/suspense books. They wanted the first 8,000 words, a synopsis and a couple of other little things that I had at my fingertips. Wow, I thought, when's the deadline? End of July. Okay, that's soon, but I can certainly do it. What's at stake? The winner, or winners, get an offer of representation. Runners up get detailed editorial feedback. Awesome, frankly, I'd be happy with feedback. I looked up the agency, and they seem to be reputable, but based in... London. Do I care? I paused for a couple of minutes thinking about it. No, I don't, especially after learning they have a US subsidiary agent to handle stuff in the states. Besides, I'd just be happy with some meaningful feedback. So I put the submission together and sent the whole thing off. Cheery-o, mate!

In other news, I finished my Treasure of the Moon Goddess story for the Pirates and Swashbucklers II anthology, published by Pulp Empire. I'm very happy with it, though it did run a bit long. The editor asked for about 10,000 words, and it came in at 13,000. I mean, once it gets that long, does a little more really matter? I don't think so either! :) So I sent it in, which took a big load off my mind since he wanted it by end of July. Haven't heard back, though, so fingers crossed and hope he likes it!

Anyway, now that that's done, I can hopefully steam ahead again on the Dark InSpectre. We're really coming down the home stretch of episodes as I can very much envision the end now. Hang on for the ride!