Magic, the Titanic, et al

My story "The Centurion and the Rainman" has been posted on a private beta reading board with the publication that's accepted it. I think this is the first time I've done this. I can see the usefulness of a beta reading group, as opposed to say, a critique group.

The story is set in a future world where magic has emerged but is suppressed by the existing technological order. The comparisons to the former apartheid regime in South Africa are obvious and even a part of the story's world; the ruling government is referred to as the "Apartech Regime".

Heard from David Gray at 4 Star Stories. He's received a tale I've sent him for his second issue. Like "Meet Me at the Grassy Knoll", this one is also set at a great disaster of the 20th century, in this case, the sinking of the Titanic. "Mak Siccar" also involves time travel, but with my usual Texas twist.

I'm sending "Tell Gilgamesh I'm Sorry" to the New Yorker. It didn't get picked up by the genre mag I sent it to. I've gotten a few notes back with some recent rejections from The New Yorker, it would be a great market to crack. "Centurion" was a story that came back from The New Yorker with a note from the reader.

New collection, new story, new cover

Got confirmation that the publisher got my latest collection I'm trying to peddle. The title - for now - is "Bend it Like Bradbury". Title says pretty much where I'm coming from. Had a little interaction with artist for the cover of "Music for Four Hands". I had floated a suggestion for the design - they (meaning the artist and the publisher) thought it was too busy, they came up with another idea, and I have no objection. Although I got off to a 1,200 word start a few days ago with "Going After Bozo", I decided today to set off on "Davis Ex Machina", and banged out 3,200 words this afternoon and evening. They are both in my so-called Rebuild series. "Davis" is probably 3/4ths done.

Working on collection

I got those two stories I wanted in the email Friday - thanks to Katherine Patterson, who was editor of the late Alienskin magazine - and so I am in the process of knitting together this next collection proposal. It will be about the same size as "Fantastic Texas" and include stories from my 'very first' - the first story I wrote, the first story published, and the first story accepted - which have never been reprinted, up to my very latest. Except for one, none are in "Fantastic Texas" and/or "Texas & Other Planets".

Edited and submitted

I finished up my re-edit of "Pirates of the Ozarks" and it will be going off to an anthology in tomorrow's mail. Despite the supposedly finished state of the tale, it contracted another 100 words on this review - a good sign. I got a start on my next story in the Rebuild series, 1,200 words on "Going After Bozo". I was able to get a hold of the editor of the defunct ezine that published a story I want to include in my next collection proposal, and she promised to get the story for me.

Hack, slash, scribble

I spent this evening doing an edit on my alternate history "Pirate of the Ozarks" with the goal of sending it off to an anthology. I also shot off an email to the former editor of a former ezine that published a couple of stories that I would like to include in my next collection. Unfortunately, for some reason I can't find either the original or backup of the two stories.

Another publication, another invite

The debut issue of Shadowgate science fiction is available as a pdf. It features my short story "Hopscotch and Hottentots". This is my fourth story published this year, my 54th overall. Today I received my invite to be a panelist at this year's ArmadilloCon. I will be attending.

Another sale

Just received work that my story "The Centurion and the Rainman" has been accepted by a new outfit, Buzzy Mag. The first issue is scheduled to debut Jan. 2, 2012. Although the magazine is new, it is part of a larger outfit, Buzzy Multimedia Publishing. I will have to go through a Beta reading process.