The result will be an appreciable improvement in my writing so I can’t be accused of going to the convention just to have fun (and if you’re one of the many that I danced with while there, thanks!)

Fractured Horizon

I’m getting a renewed number of requests for the sequel. Can it be that I’m reaching the end of your patience? With Podioracket.com going on hiatus at the end of this week, I hope to have the time I need over the summer to finish the sequel.

A print version of Fractured Horizon isn’t really in the works any longer. I’d rather move on to more writing than further attempts to get this edited for print. It takes energy away from new projects. 

However, if you would like a digital copy to read you may email me and I will provide it with the caveat that it has only been edited by the author (I do a decent job, really, but things are bound to slip through when the author edits herself). Also specify if you want the original story, which matches the audio, or the ‘new and improved’ shorter version. I really do think the shorter version is better–Devon’s visions are more cohesive, they’re consistently third person, and extraneous material throughout has been stripped away along with 20,000 words and a few surprisingly disposable characters.

The publisher’s complaint was that I don’t get to the crux of Kay’s reasons for traveling forward through time soon enough, and the love story isn’t well developed enough. These are solid points and I’ll consider addressing them. . . in yet another version. But for now, I’m going to look forward instead of back.

How else will I get that sequel done?

Podioracket

As I mention above, Podioracket.com is going on haitus for the summer. It can’t come soon enough, quite honestly. After more than a year of interviews, tips, and news, Rhonda and I are still looking for ways to keep the show about Podiobooks.com authors interesting for the listener– and ourselves.

Podioracket Presents- Visionaries

The anthology is complete. The LIVE Blog Talk Radio show for PRP-V, where we’ve invited the final 8 authors, airs on June 9th at 6pm Pacific/9pm Eastern at www.blogtalkradio.com/podioracket. We moved the show from its previously scheduled date due to conflict with Balticon. It should be a fun show. I hope you can join us. I’ll be there.

Short Story

A new short story will air on HorrorAddicts.net around June 20th.

I’m the ‘Most Wicked’ winner for 2009. Naturally, feeling the pressure that such a title entails, I took my assigned theme and then completely screwed around with it. It’s possible that my experiment fails utterly, but no one will accuse me of delivering the expected. My first story was the sci-fi piece, “Undergrowth” dedicated to the host of horroraddicts’ dislike (and allergies to) all things green and growing. The second was contemporary with suspenseful mysticism in “Graveyard Shift (& re-shift)” where I met the theme of ‘how to kill a husband’ with visions of graveyards, live burials, and twinkies.

The newest piece is fantasy horror on the theme of Death entitled “Great Asp & Little Death”. I anthropomorphize Death (who is neither Hades nor the Grim Reaper) as he stalks a woman-warrior of near mythic proportion fresh from battle and dealing with her husband’s death and her own imminent demise. Will she achieve hero status and be made immortal? Or will the wounds to her heart and body give her over to Death first?

Is that blurb intriguing? I never know what to say about these things. I have an upcoming interview for HorrorAddicts where I suppose I’ll figure out what to say.

Submitted

I submitted two new short stories to paying publishers. Now the waiting begins.

At the convention I attended one of the panelists had 59 stories in rotation going to and from potential markets. Evidently I need to write more.

That’s it for this update. If I didn’t touch on something, it is likely because there are no updates to give. But, as always, feel free to email me or leave comments.

My short story, Undergrowth, will be released on Podioracket Presents-Visionaries as story #15 in the anthology. The final story, #16, will be a new piece by Phil Rossi. Then the anthology is complete! Check it out at www.podiobooks.com if you want to hear short stories by Podiobooks.com authors.

I’m announcing it here first– there will be a live Blog Talk Radio show for the last 8 authors in the anthology and we’ll be offering book give-aways to promote the show and running a contest to get more comments on the stories. The show will air, LIVE, on Thursday, May 27th at 6pm Pacific/9pm Eastern. More details will be available on Podioracket.com in the coming weeks. I will also be talking with Brian Holtz about whether we want to announce a new anthology.

Conventions

I am planning to attend Baycon at the end of May. I will be joining Emerian Rich, the host of Horror Addicts. There will be a Podioracket table for us to offer materials from the various Podiobooks.com authors. Let me know if you will be there!

Fractured Horizon the novel

I heard back from Dragon Moon Press, and the book Fractured Horizon has not been picked up. They suggested changes, such as making the love story more prominent. I will consider it. I like the revised version that I sent them (I had to edit it down to 120,000 words) but I will likely not release a new audio version here or on Podiobooks.com.

None of the changes I made should affect the sequel.

Projects for Others

Working creatively for other people adds to the complexity of every project. Unfortunately, since this is a side business for most of us, it means that life gets even more in the way.

I have inquired about the script that I wrote for Necropolis Studio Production’s Omega Road Chronicles, but I haven’t heard back. I’ll let you know more once I hear. I believe that all the voices were recorded according to my script. I’m sure the story will be released eventually. It is too good to let die.

The short story that I wrote for The Tales of the Children also has taken a back burner following the live reading. I am not sure whether P.G. Holyfield plans to release an edited audio version in the future. I know he is very busy with the print release of his book, coming in May.

Coming up?

HorrorAddicts.net has had a theme this season of old-school style monsters. I will be writing a story about Death for release in June.

I will also be hosting the Wicked Women Writer’s challenge this year. We’re hashing out the details now. And I’ll shamelessly plug myself by mentioning that last year’s winning story high in the running for Best in Blood, which is awarded to the story that gets the most downloads for the year. If you haven’t listened to it, help me out and download Graveyard Shift & Reshift.

I have a humorous sci-fi piece I am submitting to magazines. It is about a man who born to a small colony who is mistakenly given the dedicated career of pirate– in a world without open water or crime. That’s A Pirate Stranded in Paradise.

I also have a sci-fi/horror piece called Shadow Plagued about a planet where underdwellers come out when darkness falls. An alien species strategically creates an unexpected eclipse that sends the planet into shadow, leaving the people to fight enemies from above and below. Strange alliances, games of strategy, and one historic sacrifice may bring mankind back from the brink of extinction.

Sound interesting?

Podioracket Presents-Visionaries

Brian Holtz and I have brought together a 16 story collection of short stories from some of the best Podiobooks.com authors.  Some stories are strange, others are scary or humorous. Search through the mix of audio short stories to find something you like in Podioracket Presents- Visionaries.

 Five stories are available now!

The first story in the anthology, one of several prequel tales for J.C. Hutchins‘ thriller novel 7th Son: Descent, stars Kilroy2.0, a deranged Washington DC-based computer hacker. Incensed by recent federal scrutiny, Kilroy2.0 declares to his followers that today is a day of … ruination.

Listen to Brian Holtz’s award-winning, never before aired in audio, short story Jeremy’s Potential. This slipstream short story brings us Jeremy, who learns that his life is much bigger than he’d ever imagined. He finds himself spiraling from one reality to the next, searching for his daughter. To stop the nightmare he’ll need determination, quick reflexes and…a teddy bear. If you enjoy it, try one of Brian’s other Podiobooks.com novels.

Writer Patrick McLean won a “Best Fiction (Non-speculative)” Parsec Award  for this humorous piece, Death of a Dishwasher! Find more of Patrick’s work on Podiobooks.com, including How to Succeed in Evil.

Paul E. Cooley, the author of Tattoo, brings his horror short, Canvas, in which an artist discusses his philosophy of painting with a captive audience.

Seth Harwood’s thriller Junius, is the precursor to his novel Young Junius, which was just picked up for publication. Junius Ponds came up on tough streets outside Boston way back in the day. In the middle of drugs, gang violence, and the toughest set of tower-projects you ever knew, he seeks to avenge his brother. Learn more in the novel based on this short story, Young Junius.

Coming next week . . . . Ron Vitale!

Check out Podioracket Presents- Visionaries.

Meanwhile, I’ll continue writing.