Awesome DAY

So I had my story accepted in to the Bigfoot Among Us II anthology.  Edited by none other than Eric S. Brown. The top writer of Bigfoot stories, and several Zombie ones as well.  I Highly reccommend going and checking out his stuff, it is well worth a read.

I really have no idea what to say other that I am totally excited by this acceptance!

Like really happy. To celebrate, it's a walk with the dog, then some fetch..maybe some chocolate...

Some acceptances, an invite, and waiting...

So it has been a week since I updated anything.  Been busy with the whole writing thing.  I found out two of my stories made the shortlist at Wicked East Press, one for the Once Bitten Never Die anthology, the other for Father Grimm.

Also several of the anthologies that feature my stories are now available, the most recent being Monk Punk, edited by A.J. French.  In about a week or so, another one edited by Gregory Miller will be released called Best Left Buried.  Very excited, will have five books out.

Also got an invite to write for Among The Damned: The Treskaideka Taboos & Other Superstitious Stories, to be put out by Panic Press.

I also got an acceptance into Earth's End: A Scifi Apocalyptic Anthology by Living Dead Press.

I am waiting to hear back on several other submissions, over 20 to be more accurate, however some of them have closing dates as far as November.

Until then, I have plenty more story ideas to get down and submit for, I have a list of at least 7 or 8 that I want to get done by the end of May.  I also want to finish my book and begin the editing process..not fun as that is the part I hate the most.

When I started writing and submitting 4 months ago I never thought I would have accomplished this much so fast.  I am appearing in 20 books, two calendars, and 1 kindle collaboration.  I have 29 acceptances.  My goal is to get to 40 by the end of the year, crossing fingers.

A toe in the door with Pill Hill

So it has been a long time since I have updated the blog.  I have added some new covers, links to new books that are available, and upcoming anthologies.

I am happy to announce that I got a toe in the door with Pill Hill Press by getting an acceptance into the E-pocalyspe anthology.  I co-wrote it with two friends and had fun doing it.

I am convinced that Pill Hill will not accept me into any of their other anthologies, I hope to be proven wrong. I am sot sure if it is my writing style, or something else.

I have been editing stories and working on some new ones.  Trying to get the creative juices flowing.

Also learning that sometimes you meet people that seem so nice at first, then turn out to not be who you thought they were.

I am of the mindset that you help people whenever you can.  Whether it is to post a link promoting them, or sending emails to your friends asking them to help.  I don’t do this expecting anything in return, far too old and jaded for that. 

Most people do not know that writers get paid little, token payments of a contributors copy, or 1 cent a word.  Most times for exposure only.  They do this in hopes to get their name out there and one day write a book, and move on to more successful endeavours. What makes me mad is how easy it is for them to forget they struggled once too.

I am still waiting on several submissions, but will post when I know.

And I hope I never forget where I started, and continue to help my friends as much as I can.

Being more positive...

So I have made a conscious effort to be more positive, and it had paid off.

I had a story accepted into Tales of the Dead - A Zombie Anthology with Living Dead Press.
I love when I get to work with new editors and publishers.  It helps expand everything in a good way.

I am also still excited for the Collaboration of the Dead project, and am going to work on a story to help raise funds for it. Hopefully getting it done in time.

I have several others stories that I have submitted, but some have deadlines as late as Sept 30..so anytime between now and then.  I will keep posted here.

I am also working on several others that have deadlines within the next couple of months.  Trying to keep busy.

Hope all is well, and when I have the cover of the Living Dead Press anthology I will post it, it is so fun!

Collaboration of the Dead

So last night when I was at my wits end with the whole writing thing..I saw a call for a writer to do a chapter in a Collaboration of the Dead book.

Right place right time as it was the first person who responded who got the job.

So back to the writing thing, not sure what I am going to do although I am going to write this chapter and do it to the best of my ability.

From there who knows...I have 13 stories out right now that have deadlines as far away as the 30 of Sept..some are sooner, some are whenever.

I have decided to write for a few more anthologies to see what happens.  I am noticing that the stories that get accepted are never the ones I think will..so hopefully that is a good thing.

I also have 4 stories coming out in Unquiet Earth so I can't really complain, its just that rejections can be hard to take, especially when you have already had a craptastic day.

So whoever it was that put me in the right place at the right time to answer that call, thank-you

One of those days

So I heard back on that third story I was hoping would get accepted, and unfortunately it was rejected.  Apparently it was not my writing, but the story was just not a good fit for the anthology.

So out of three I got one.

Among other issues going on I have decided that writers fall into several categories starting from just plain horrible, and going up to phenomenal..I think I fall somewhere among mediocre.

As for now, from today on I am not writing.  I am not one of those writers that can just take a rejection and shrug it off, thinking I will submit it elsewhere.
I would rather not spend hours slaving over a story to have it kicked back for no understandable reason.
I can do more productive things with my time.  Why write if no one wants it?

Been a few days...

Well I have been writing away, weather is rainy so it is the perfect time to get those ideas down.

I am still waiting on Twisted Fairy Tales, and feel like a piece of origami from having so many things crossed.

I did get a rejection, but it was a nice one.  It was not the writing, or the story, it was simply because I was submitting to a second Volume of a series and there was a similar story in the first Volume.  I came up with a second idea and will have to wait and see how it pans out.

I did get an acceptance into Unquiet Earth - An Anthology of Living Dead Flash Fiction, edited by Chris Bartholomew, which was nice.  I might see if I can submit a few more.

I have let the book take a back seat, I got about 5,000 words done and some editing and decided to take a break.  I don't want to burn out on it.

As of now I am waiting to hear back on several submissions, and as soon as I do will post the results here, good or bad.

2 down, 1 to go

So it is the first of April and as temped as I am to write something and have it be a joke, I will refrain.

Yesterday was the deadline for several anthologies; I have heard back from two, and am still waiting to hear back on the others.

So far, 1 rejection which in a way I was expecting, my story was written in such a way that it might have been too over the top for clichés, or was not gory enough.  I try to avoid excessive gore when I write…

The second one, which I am highly excited about is the Live and Let Undead anthology edited by Hollie Snider.  Not only am I in an anthology with some fantastic writers like Patrick D’Orazio, I am working with a fantastic editor that is so helpful and full of insight that I KNOW she will help improve my writing.

The third..unknown, I could find out at any time, but when I do, so will whoever is reading this.  It is for the Twisted Fairy tales V.2 by Wicked East Press.

On a side note, and a plus I was accepted into the Best Left Buried Anthology edited by Greg Miller.  A fun anthology about building up the suspense on things best left buried.  Again, lots of fun to write and a wonderful surprise to be accepted.

So today I will attempt to write a short story for one of the many deadlines I have looming.  Hoping the inspiration bunny strikes and I come up with something good.