The Return of Sentinel SF

It took a little work and some research, but Sentinel SF is back. After its demise in late September, I got a lead from one of our published authors as to a good web host. I got a new (and more logical) domain name registered and a web page up just before Thanksgiving, and this weekend I got it to where I feel it can be deemed officially launched.

The new url is www.sentinelsf.com. Go check it out.

"My Ugly Little Self"

Claire Hill from the U.K. magazine "Twisted Tongue" says Issue No. 8 (November) should be ready very soon. This issue will feature my little alternate history/Neanderthals tale "My Ugly Little Self".

TT printed my short "Insight" and flash "It's Wonderful, Life", in its May issue. So far its been the only U.K. mag to publish my work. Its a POD (print on demand) publication.

"My Ugly Little Self"

Another one done

I finished up "The Goddess of Bleecker Street" over the weekend. I think it clocked in at just over 1,800 words. I dropped it in the mail this morning to Sheila.

I had a great burst of creativity Sunday and pounded out a rough first draft of "Meet Me at the Grassy Knoll". It came in just over 3,000 words. I'm sure there will be a lot of adjustments, but my experience is that - while stories always tighten up - later additions will mitigate that shrinkage somewhat. I'm guessing now "Grassy Knoll" will ultimately came in at 2,800 words.

I'm already thinking of who's on deck. Right now, I'm betting "Sympathy for Salieri" is next. We'll see what the portents foretell... and all that.

"The Goddess of Bleecker Street"

I think I've put the final polish on "The Goddess of Bleecker Street" tonight. It is another fairly short story - only 1,831 words - but that's all it took. Writing it up as a dialogue saves a lot of words.

I'm wondering whether - having worked out my last two stories in less than 2,000 words - whether its a coincidence or whether my writing is getting tighter.

I've sure jumped around in these two stories - from the 1st century to the near future.

I'm letting the "sourdough" of the "Witch of Waxahachie" arc rise. After dashing off "Holley With an E" and "Ed Sullivan Show Magic", I used up some of my best ideas.

I'm still leaning towards working on "Meet Me at the Grassy Knoll" next. Any time travel story that revolves around the Kennedy assassination is going to have a few strikes against it with the pro editors, but maybe I can pull off what I was credited with doing in "Avatar" and making an original tale from one of the most weather-worn tropes.

Two more, almost

Getting settled down in the new house has allowed me to get back to some serious writing. While I wasn't able to touch a keyboard for a month, I was stockpiling ideas, and they're beginning to tumble out.

This past weekend I finished an AH called "Custodes". It's set in a 1st century Rome and supposes that - Archimedes having invented the electric motor - there was color TV and Reality Shows at the time of the Neroian Persecution of Christians.

It started with an intriguing idea, but I felt the only way to approach it without getting ridiculously dramatic was as satire. ("Custodes" is the Latin equivalent of "Cops")

It went out in Tuesday's mail to Sheila at Asimov's. Since then I have finished the first draft of a post-Singularity send-up called "The Queen of Bleecker Street". One thing unusual about this latter story is that it lent itself to an all-dialogue format.

Hopefully I'll get that finished up this weekend. Next up I think is a time travel tail-biter called "Meet Me at the Grassy Knoll". I'll probably have that one ready by Nov. 22 - if you know what I mean.

Back on Track

Well, obviously I've been off-line for some time now because of the move. We packed feverishly until Oct. 20, which was the day for the movers, and then had to make three more trips back to the old house to clean and collect the last of our stuff. We finally handed over the keys Oct. 30.

Getting back on-line was delayed because we needed to have a phone line installed in the room where the main computer resides. Then after that, there was another delay while I got a USB-Ethernet adapter. But we're finally up and running.

During the past month, almost all my submissions have returned from the various slush piles. Writers of the Future said I was an honorable mention - again (that's like the third time in a row).

I had time tonight to get together a half dozen stories for submission. Two are going our tomorrow by snail mail. Four went off by e-mail.

Dark Recesses has posted its TOC for its January issues. It will be the first print publication for that magazine. I am very happy that "Off the Hook" is being published. Here's news I copued from their web site:

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Keene, Everson, Williams, Pringle, Burris, Melican, etc...

What do these names have in common? They each, along with several talented others, make up the (mostly) final TOC for Dark Recesses Press - Vol.3 Issue #9 - our first print issue after two years as digital only.

FICTION

STICKY FINGERS by Stephen Woodworth

THE COMPANY OR CANNIBALS - Waldo Gemio

OFF THE HOOK - Edward Morris and Lou Antonelli

SANCTUARY - Erin Pringle

RINGS - Erik Williams

Книга Жизни - Sean Melican (the title is in Russian but roughly translates to The Book of Life.)

NON-FICTION

NiNe QuestioNs with BriaN KeeNe by A.J. BrowN

Part 1 of a two part, in-depth article on Waverly Sanitorium by Chris Perridas

A Nick Cook Review of NEEDLES & SINS by John Everson