tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42162457363457720392024-03-14T07:49:29.500-04:00J.C. Tabler, Mediocre WriterThe mission: To chronicle the life of a mediocre fiction/freelance writer as he struggles to publish his crap, maintain his relationship, and keep midgets at bay.J.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-15040688662960357892012-05-06T14:30:00.003-04:002012-05-06T14:30:57.954-04:00BACKWow....been a while.<br />
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So, three years. The kids are older, and I've relocated to PA as a law student. <br />
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I'm getting back into the game, now that I have a bit more time to do so...so...you know...I'll probably be posting stuff here again.<br />
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Hopefully.J.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-89177298645095978172009-04-08T20:28:00.001-04:002009-04-08T20:30:21.999-04:00An acceptance!So I haven't had much new finished this year, but I did get an acceptance yesterday in the mail.<br /><br />I had known <i> Allegory </i> was interested in "Ain't Gonna Dig No More", but acceptance came in the form of a contract in the mail. Signed and sent, it should be out in May.<br /><br />I am aware I've been awarded something, and I promise I'll get to it tomorrow. Right now, there's a baby that needs to be played with.J.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-85452074700227128602009-03-21T15:18:00.002-04:002009-03-21T15:27:09.761-04:00Three a Week my hairy...So I dropped the ball...again. To let you know what's going on:<br /><br />No writing in March. Long hours, added in to some problems at home. It looks like my lovely wife is actually suffering a touch of PTSD from the birth of the twins. She wanted a natural home birth, and got a c-section at the (iffy) advice of a doctor who didn't fill her in completely. This means most of my home time is spent being a Dad and Husband type of guy. In addition, she's taking her courses this year online, which means my laptop gets comandeered most nights. We plan now on purchasing a second laptop for her personal use, and I'll hang on to this old thing so I can actually get stuff done. Although I have several outlines and a couple of pages done longhand, my mind works faster than my hand can write, which means without my computer being available I'm more or less worthless.<br /><br />A typewriter, for those who will bring it up, is out of the question. The clackity-clack of keys machine-gunning through our house is not a viable option in the wee hours of the morning, unless I want to write with a fussy baby on my lap.<br /><br />Which brings up a question I want to put out there: I know many of us prefer longhand when possible, either due to portability, persuasion, or the simple enjoyment of a pot of coffee and a legal pad. Let's face it though, the pen and paper approach is falling off faster than a three legged dog slides downstairs. So we must accept the movement of technology into the arena or creativity, be it photoshop, word processing, or even music through mixing, blending, and synthesizing (Interesting side note: I once managed to synthesize a cat screelings [Side-sidenote: "screeling"- the act of screaming and squealing at once. Imagine a pennywhistle being blown by an overexcited child who, at the same time, is singing the Star Spangled Banner after sucking down a weather balloon-sized helium supply.] This was in college. It was not a pretty song.)<br /><br />So, here comes the basic question: if tomorrow you were to have the modern conveniences of a computer and typewriter removed, how many would find it much more difficult to maintain their current story output. Cate, you don't get to answer this one. I'm convinced you'd write entire stories in blood on cave walls in the course of minutes if dropped in the woods.<br /><br />Alright, time to go to dinner. <br /><br />Peace,<br />J.C. TablerJ.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-3750079845717043952009-03-10T17:56:00.002-04:002009-03-10T18:02:19.349-04:00Watch me toot my own horn!Stop with that thought, pervert.<br /><br />Alright, so yesterday I stayed home while our landlord came over for an inspection. See, our roof leaked, then the water heater leaked, then the garage door broke. So we called for repairs. Our landlord harassed us, and I gave it back, so she wanted to do an inspection. Be nice to get out of this place, and into one where I can spend my money fixing something that belongs to me.<br /><br />After all that, Issue 3 of <i> Sand </i> came in the mail, causing me to flurry to hide it. My wife likes reading my work after publishing, whereas I shove it away never to see daylight. I hate reading my own work, it makes me nervous. I start thinking "God, that was horrible" and seeing any potential writing career go up in flames. Plus, the subject matter of "Crib Death" is based, somewhat, off of my wife's post-partum depression, so I really don't feel like catching hell. But if you did read it, give me your honest opinion. Honestly, it isn't like I know where any of you live...except the ones who send holiday cards.<br /><br />Working on a story later tonight, but I want to address Superior Scribbler. I was going to do one of those after I read my "award", but decided against it. I know too many great writers, and choosing five was a little too taxing on my tiny, overworked mind. So, here's to all of you great literary folk. I consider every one of you the best.<br /><br />It IS nice to have Graveside Tales back, considering it was down for a while. The first mail I got when it came back online was a hold notice for "Ain't Gonna Dig No More", a nice little piece I enjoyed writing and am confident will someday see print, even if it doesn't this time.<br /><br />A few submissions need to go out tonight, but other than that there's nothing really to talk about. How are you guys doing?<br /><br />Peace,<br />J.C. TablerJ.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-74997162845463427602009-03-03T18:21:00.002-05:002009-03-03T18:32:30.095-05:00Below, in the darkness...I've been seeing all these folks give up their writing spaces lately...I'm not one of those folks. I prefer description to photos, so if you'll please take me hand and follow me.<br /><br />Our basement is a dark place, a strewing of clothes and broken fixtures, the regurgitated rejections of a million thrift stores and yard sales. Nothing there is new or in good condition, a washer which goes off-balance and dances over the floor in a banging ballet during late night hours, a dryer which stinks of melted plastic even on low. Clothes, washed or waiting, form miniature mountains among concrete, and no insulation serves to block ceiling from floor above. The lighting is horrific to an extreme, flickering randomly from flourescent sun to bare bulbs daring to plunge shadow into complete darkness, and throughout it all is a stench of cat piss older than whatever eldritch gods one may believe in. Among, above, amidst all of this stands two walls, wooden and painted gunmetal gray where paint hasn't sloughed off in massive collections.<br /><br />The walls sit in a corner, forming a room locked tight though there is no necessity. Jokingly we refer to it as the "killing room", a place so forlorn and absent of feeling that it seems taken directly from a horror movie lair and landed gently and in our basement. A bare buld, the only strong one in the basement, shines off two wooden and two concrete walls, thoguh light is muted by cobwebs. one shelf sits occupied by an odd collection of screws, paint cans, broken tools and a single sword of indeterminate and hopefully innocent origin. High on the outside wall, inches below the bottom of the upper floor, sits a chute sealed over with welding and luck, painted black. An old coal room, still smelling of dust and dirt, of solid earth picked bare. Sparse on all the senses, sectioned away from the progression of time.<br /><br />And in the center of it, my desk.<br /><br />Got a good picture?J.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-24148212878714827122009-02-28T20:18:00.002-05:002009-02-28T20:52:53.137-05:00Still Standing...SomehowAlright. So I've been absent since the end of last month. Apologies all around. Kids have been sick, in-laws have been in town, and I've been working massive amounts of overtime.<br /><br />I'll do a longer post tomorrow, just wanted to say a few words.<br /><br />Graveside Tales is migrating servers, which is good. The bad part is I use my Graveside Tales email to send submissions and receive responses...so it has been a week since I've checked that without access. I can't wait for it to get back up for that reason, as well as remaining in touch with the other horror writers.<br /><br />Here are my goals starting this month:<br /><br />Three posts a week on here, not a big problem, but hey.<br /><br />Get some revising done.<br /><br />Start on yet another novel attempt after finally sketching out a full concept.<br /><br /><br />Here's what was accomplished this month:<br /><br />Jack.<br /><br />I did start on and am trying to finish up this weekend a story that I plan on subbing to New Bedlam when it opens to submissions called "Courting Lovecraft" as a working title. Working. I'm not going to rip off the anthology that inspired the e-project I plan on subbing to.<br /><br />I reworked a few other pieces, but can't seem to get them to flow in a way I like, so am thinking about shoving them into the dark depths of my wicked heart.<br /><br />I've been blocked this month, mainly due to working appeals cases for the elderly for about 12-14 hours a day and them coming home to be Daddy.<br /><br />Oh, and the babies got christened, which was fun and resulted in much partying. Desi and I also celebrated a year of fighting and making up otherwise known as marriage on February 15th.<br /><br />Congrats to all my guys with acceptances, condolences to those with rejections, and I'll be back tomorrow or Monday to start making good on my promise for posting.<br /><br />Peace,<br />J.C. TablerJ.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-6457101708649581562009-01-31T18:47:00.005-05:002009-01-31T19:02:37.553-05:00End of the Month ThingFinished two stories in January, so I'm ahead of my own curve.<br /><br />"And the Cotton is High" was finished in first draft for <i> Dead Bait </i>, and will be revised tomorrow for the second and final drafts.<br /><br />"Cooking for One" was finished in first draft (and started) today, and finished in four hours, and will undergo revisions afer dinner and a visit by friends for <i> Devil's Food </i>.<br /><br />"Ain't Gonna Dig No More" was rejected by <i> Apex </i> for "lovely writing, no a tight story, and too horrorific for our tastes". It has since been re-subbed to <i> Allegory </i> for their consideration after a review and tightening of certain parts I missed during revision.<br /><br />"No Deductible" is still a lady in waiting over at <i> Weird Tales </i> with no word.<br /><br />I'm looking for markets still on "Rock A Bye Baby", "Fragile Obsession", and "No Tell Hotel". The first made the first cut and was then rejected by <i> The World Is Dead </i> and most recently by <i> Necrotic Tissue</i>, the second was a submission to <i> Ghost in the Machine </i>, which I have since given up as a dead market, and the third made the short list for Morrigan Books' <i>Voices</i> anthology. If you know of any markets, let me know.<br /><br />Also, stoked that I finally got Rex Storm, Large Vermin Exterminator in a story.<br /><br />Stories that have seen print this year are "Many Comforting Words", "Winter Wonderland", and "Big Jim Can Wait", all of which are in the <i> Northern Haunts </i> anthology from <a href="http://www.shroudmagazine.com/">Shroud</a>. My copy shipped yesterday. I'll be one pins and needles all week.<br /><br />Stories to see print are a singleton, "Crib Death", slated to appear in the next issue of <i> Sand </i> from <a href="http://www.strangepublications.com/">Strange Publications</a>.<br /><br />A few ideas bouncing around my head thanks to some weird dreams I had last night. I have to eat more popcorn before going to bed.<br /><br />Other things to happen this month:<br /><br />Got Promoted<br />Qualified for the loan to buy the ranch house<br />Discovered exactly how large the tax refund is going to be (let's say I'm getting rid of some debt this winter)<br /><br />On the baby front, they've started to roll over, teeth, and crawl. Plus, Maggie has me wrapped completely around her finger. Des, my wife, has started painting again, which is good. In case I've never mentioned it, my wife had a little reputation as an indie filmmaker for her horror and weird movies, and is a wonderful painter. When we first started dating (I had a mustache) she made a painting of me as a confederate soldier under a tree, staring over a blood-stained battlefield in sunset. Don't tell her, I have no idea where it is. Recently she's started doing some other art.<br /><br />Speaking of art, there was an artist out there that stays in my memory. I had a friend named Kelly who went to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. I forget her name, but she said she painted her nightmares. There was one painting that hung above their couch everytime I visited, a monster of some sort. I just remember it freaked me the hell out. I wish I had offered to buy it at that point.<br /><br />Oh well.<br /><br />That's the news from the homefront, where I now have more time because I have an 8-5 shift again.<br /><br />Peace,<br />J.C. TablerJ.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-33763592041750269492009-01-25T12:16:00.000-05:002009-01-25T12:20:02.347-05:00Weekends RockFirst off, I got the G&A job. Second, on Friday I went to the hospital with chest pains, getting rolled out of work in an ambulance. No worries, turns out I have severe acid reflux brought on by stress.<br /><br />After that, nothing much is going on. Working on a rework of the Dead Bait submission, using a longtime character idea called Rex Storm to see if he works as well as I think he will. The first draft of the submission was decent, but reading it over I realized it didn't carry into a short story all that well. This Rex Storm angle just might work.<br /><br />Alright, baby crying, I'm off.J.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-1099818039001435982009-01-11T11:22:00.004-05:002009-01-11T11:34:11.375-05:00Poop: It's EverywhereGuess what I just finished doing with my kids?<br /><br />Anyhow, my weekend thing. Got off the pot today and started wrapping up the first draft of the <i> Dead Bait </i> story, starting the edits after a bit more in the way of grocery shopping. In the same not, <a href="http://fright-fest.blogspot.com/">Cate Gardner</a> has received her first acceptance of 2009, much later than I expected. Seriously, Cate is a pro in a dabbler's world. This woman needs an agent and a contract just so I can say "Oh, yeah, I know her on the internet!". Great writer, and a friendly person. Congrats Cate!<br /><br />Outside of that, not much going on at Casa Del Tabler. We had company over last night, and agreed to do a weekly potluck rotating between three houses. On the bright side, we may be moving again from a rental home to one we own. My sister is moving out to the country with her husband, and if she does they're offering to sell us their Ranch Home at the price they paid for it about 7-8 years ago. It was a foreclosure home at that point, and has a lot of work that was done to remodel it since, so getting it at that low of a price is a steal for us. We'll see how it pans out.<br /><br />Finished a few short-shorts this month, and I realized that since I've become a father of babies again my horror mind tends to go towards the evils and fears of child-rearings, from zombie stillbirth to demonic, cannibalistic infants, down to the fear that something out of our power can hurt a child (think my fear of snakes...I hate snakes, yet have this worry one will somehow crawl through our heating vents and end up in the crib). "Trolling Nature's Bounty", my <i> Dead Bait </i> story, is a nice break from that, and injects a little dark humor in.<br /><br />Now, my end of the year submission wrap-up:<br /><br />"No Deductible" at <i> Weird Tales </i><br />"Tribe of Harry" at <i> Annalemma </i><br />"Parable of Judas" at <i> St. Anne's Review </i><br />"Ain't Gonna Dig No More" at <i> Abyss & Apex </i><br /><br />A few more that came back, getting sent back out today.<br /><br />No, to drive for diapers and Happy Meals!<br /><br />Peace,<br />J.C. TablerJ.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-77540875474717010822009-01-06T21:36:00.002-05:002009-01-06T21:50:31.987-05:00IT LIVES!Thank you, Cate, for tagging me. It woke me out of my stupor and back into the internet.<br /><br />Anyhow, here goes a short post and a long meme. First off, I'm bucking for a promotion at work, sort of. Lateral transfer, but a good chance that there's a pay bump involved.<br /><br />Secondly, finished a few stories, but not sure where or when to shop them around. Right now I'm puttering through a draft of a submission for the <i> Dead Bait </i> anthology, as well as plunking out a few short shorts for personal amusement and outlining a longer piece, basically a restart of the NaNoWriMo piece that I blazed through half of before stopping to be a father again.<br /><br />In short, I'm doing alright. 2008, my first year of submitting pieces to paying markets, started with an acceptance to <i> Allegory </i> and ended with an acceptance to <i> Sand </i>, with a couple of anthologies in between. All in all, I sold/had accepted 8-9 pieces (too lazy to do my exact count) under my name, and a couple off-the-beaten-track, embarrassing works under another name. Not a bad start, though I hope to do better next year...this year...whatever. Anyhow, goals are toned down. A story a month, something I can manage with the kids and the job right now, plus finishing this damn novel before this time next year. Along with trying to get the promotion at work, which takes me off the call floor and gives me back my evenings and weekends.<br /><br />Anyhow, to Cate's MeMe:<br /><br />Share seven facts about yourself in the post. Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names and the links to their blogs.<br /><br />1. I've always wanted to be a writer, but along the way I had several other professional choices, including cop, lawyer, psychologist, journalist, and history professor. I now work in insurance, pray to go to law school, and fully expect to one day actually sell a novel...moments before my death of old age.<br /><br />2. My favorite job, to this day, remains bartending at night while working on a boat in the morning.<br /><br />3. I'm a romantic. I admit it. Every relationship I'd had end in the past was followed by drinking binges and melancholy for months at a time. I view my DUI arrest as being a good thing, merely because it was recounting the tale of that arrest that got me noticed by my wife the first time we met.<br /><br />4. I never intended to write horror, and remain a little disappointed that's where my effort is focused these days, althouh I find it to be a freeing genre and well-suited to my screwed up mindset.<br /><br />5. I've never really seen the whole appeal behind <i> CSI </i> or <i> Law & Order </i>.<br /><br />6. I was raised in a courthouse, quite literally, as my father was a prosecutor and would take me along with him to court. I used to draw on legal pads beneath the table in the prosecutor's room where my father would offer deals to defendants on child support cases. I still love being in the courthouse, and my love of the law knows no bounds. It's why I spend my off days, when not writing, working as a gofer at my father's office.<br /><br />7. If my wife didn't control the checkbook I'd blow every penny we have. I like buying people gifts, and will loan almost anybody I know money if they need it. When at a bar, I often buy the next round. I like to have a good time, and too often that means taking my kids to movies when we can't afford it, or taking my wife to an antique store so she can buy something old and funky. I pull a lot of extra hours to make up for this, and am thinking about just handing my money over to the first bum on the street on paydays to make up for it.<br /><br />I tag everyone. Go ahead. I'm tired and there's corned beef in the kitchen.<br /><br />Peace,<br />J.C. TablerJ.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-35428864372034133872008-12-19T21:24:00.002-05:002008-12-19T21:26:34.066-05:00One Day Late, But A Dollar MoreA belated Birthday gift...<br /><br /><em>Sand</em> has accepted "Crib Death", a 716 word piece, for inclusion in Issue #3, due out in February of 2009.<br /><br />I'm happy. More later.J.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-42366510133941257692008-12-14T13:05:00.002-05:002008-12-14T13:09:15.791-05:00Busy, but...Just wanted to take a break from editing to pass out a novel website I came across (pun intended).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.paperbackswap.com">Paperbackswap</a> is a website that allows users to trade books for the cost of postage. You send a book out, they mark it received, you get a credit to order a book from another user, who then has to pay postage to get it to you. As a writer and bibliophile, I believe no book should go unread, and this is a great way to send off those old ones you've read hundreds of time. Share the joy, people! If I ever were to get famous, man oh man, I'd be using this site to send off stuff just for the heck of it.<br /><br />Anyhow, back to the grindstone.J.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-70940244177271711412008-12-03T22:06:00.009-05:002008-12-03T22:35:52.831-05:00Our Ghostly EncounterWell, I promised a ghostly encounter from our trip to PA, and here we go.<br /><br />My wife's family lives about 15-20 minutes away from Jim Thorpe, PA. This used to be known as Mauck Chunk, and was a location of miner's labor movements in the 1870's, most well known among them being the Molly Maguires. The Mollies were miners, Irish descent, who rebeled against the company and their foremen due to the unsafe working conditions, deadly job status, and low pay. Ire raised by being treated more like dogs than men, they began to meet and organize with deadly results.<br /><br />These men were pinpointed as the murderers and conspirators behind the deaths of mine foremen, and after being penetrated by a Pinkerton were convicted and sentenced to be hung. Four of these men were held in the Carbon County Jail, a structure that at the time was recent, but torturous as many small American jails were during that time. Innocence was protested, and even today there remains a debate about the actual guilt of the Molly Maguires, but it didn't stop them from being hung. Among these, and the most notable for folklore, was Alexander Campbell, who purportedly placed his hand against his jail wall, stating an innocent man was being hung and his mark would remain there forever as a stain on the record of the county, state, and country for their grave injustice. The handprint, accoridng to legend, remains.<br /><br />I recently began working on a few stories using an Irish Immigrant sort of background, sci-fi stuff, nothing scary or hard. However, the Molly Maguires serve a huge role in one of the three stories, and I decided to visit Jim Thorpe to get a feel for the place while I was up there. Unfortunately the jail itself was closed to tours that day, so I had to satisfy myself taking pictures. After a few good shots of jail, which really primed the pump inspiration wise, we clambered back in the car to head downhill. Turning around in a gravel lot beside the jail, where a stone wall that was obviously once part of some structure stood, our car died. The brand new car.<br /><br />The funny thing is, our van never "dies". Even when the engine is off, the radio continues to play for three-four minutes. This time it went dead, as did all the electrical. Luckily, gravity was on my side as we were headed down a steep hill, and through muscle (power-steering was a no go) while riding our brake I made it to an alley, and turned the key. Van started right up...<br /><br />Big things on this, because I'm never comfortable saying I met a ghost and it played auto mechanic on my car. The van was checked out, completely, before we left with no problems in the electrical system or under the hood being found. It started with no problem, and went to a mechanic upon our return, once more with no problems to explain the sudden stop. Still, it was a steep hill, and this van was used to the relative flatlands of northern Kentucky. Could be a fluke, right?<br /><br />Then my wife showed me a couple pictures from the jail, pointing out something she found. Could just be a glare, but you be the judge, eh?<br /><br />Here's the picture:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WNRSReGesY6G7BnhdjlWeEYDNGm0qltHQykDoReUKI1EBcHOh54YNzR5eHgMgtIWKYRP5BbvLk7tC_dYTmcsK_EjrupUzAObnbV_h0Ln-f9ebJk8VfabcYHhGAfOJATLH8JAGboY6m-n/s1600-h/P1012719.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275769899177414434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WNRSReGesY6G7BnhdjlWeEYDNGm0qltHQykDoReUKI1EBcHOh54YNzR5eHgMgtIWKYRP5BbvLk7tC_dYTmcsK_EjrupUzAObnbV_h0Ln-f9ebJk8VfabcYHhGAfOJATLH8JAGboY6m-n/s320/P1012719.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br />Don't see it? Here's a more close-up version. Look at the second column of bars, about four up from the bottom...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6r00bRzjqzligThGZt_1VRiAA5e7dlGyPmCGm-3bDi-kn7EqYxUQM8XdfUTeYIOwFi5QqEmGRiGoysGcgSIMSgsVxdOLIQNv1GEgrbMOvlFfLn-EceMUKuGDaYyxHd9S0ln0kqs01l9hN/s1600-h/Face+in+Window+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6r00bRzjqzligThGZt_1VRiAA5e7dlGyPmCGm-3bDi-kn7EqYxUQM8XdfUTeYIOwFi5QqEmGRiGoysGcgSIMSgsVxdOLIQNv1GEgrbMOvlFfLn-EceMUKuGDaYyxHd9S0ln0kqs01l9hN/s320/Face+in+Window+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275770567253697378" /></a><br /><br />Let's go a little closer...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQDZZlAfROAyykcc-IbZE7TtjIjsBmrWNRVsLqR5hgkhYdSJMDgWHm6XVTdTVoinSHmUcnSzUr3q2RdSm3HKZj6JiY9W3DjfA46Epn_EY3DmWtvmlJx2XouQq0NNHHHtzLHSntw2xV39-/s1600-h/Face+in+Window+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQDZZlAfROAyykcc-IbZE7TtjIjsBmrWNRVsLqR5hgkhYdSJMDgWHm6XVTdTVoinSHmUcnSzUr3q2RdSm3HKZj6JiY9W3DjfA46Epn_EY3DmWtvmlJx2XouQq0NNHHHtzLHSntw2xV39-/s400/Face+in+Window+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275772194041987666" /></a><br /><br />Is it just me, or is anyone else making out a face?<br /><br />Not sure I believe,<br />J.C. TablerJ.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-6301805115493662432008-11-30T01:36:00.002-05:002008-11-30T01:45:39.172-05:00Of Travel and ChildrenSo, here I sit at a HoJo in PA. We've driven up to coal country to visit my wife's parents for the Turkey Day festivities, and are now on our way back home. I've gotten a few things done, finishing the first drafts of a couple stories over the past couple days and getting the inklings done for a couple more to be finished in the next couple weeks.<br /><br />So...November...<br /><br />Still have a few stories out at <i> Space & Time </i>, <i> The New Yorker </i>, <i> Saint Anne's Review </i>, <i> Guigonol </i> (Sp?), <i> Fantasy & Science Fiction </i>, and <i> Underground Voices </i>. Looking to polish a few turds and get them out before the Ho-Ho-Holidays. <br /><br />Personal news, not so good. See, let's go in depth about why writing has become a little more difficult to find time for. My oldest was recently diagnosed with high-functioning...yes, you see it coming...autism. Not a surprise, but still disheartening. On top of that, though it's a positive, I'm doing more at work than before as I'm helping with training classes and becoming a walking policy manual on the center's floor. Then the babies, who are fine by the way, but I'm still worrying they'll stop breathing in the middle of the night, and since these worries started about the same time I was reading Stephen King's new short story collection, <i> Just After Sunset </i> (Wonderful, as always. Look for more this week) and child death was a big theme, I'm freaking out.<br /><br />Weight of the world, won't bore you with it. Just know, I am trying to get back in the game and back into play with all of you prolific, talented, and successful people. Considering what a hack I am, I'm not sure if that should scare you or not. Just with figuring out what school to send Sophie to next year, and, consequently, how the hell I'm going to afford it, along with everything else...something has to go on hold until things calm down, and right now I seem to be shoving writing aside in order to keep my family sane and healthy. Not a hard choice to make, but I'm still in the game...just a few moves behind.<br /><br />On the bright side, I think we met a ghost in PA. More on that tomorrow night. Now, I'm curling up with my wife and children in a motel bed. Hope everyone had a good Turkey Day, and I'll be talking to you all soon.<br /><br />Best Wishes,<br />J.C. TablerJ.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-27190720333387622102008-11-14T22:55:00.002-05:002008-11-14T23:03:43.091-05:00Of NaNo, Shorts, and other thingsFirst off, I am now the embarrassed owner of a minivan.<br /><br />Yes, my old, beloved, beat up Jeep went the way of the dinosaurs on Wednesday when we purchased a Luxury model minivan with a Ford logo on the front. Leather seats, cup holders, automatic locks and doors, seperate climate controls, and an ass warmer. I'm not sure what I can do with an ass warmer, or why I need one. But rest assured, if my ass gets chilly, I will be able to warm it.<br /><br />"Deep Dark Hellhole", a short I was working on prior to NaNo (of which I am slacking...I know), has evolved. No longer is it a horror story. It's becoming a sci-fi piece about a union struggle on an offworld mining colony mirroring that of the Molly Maguires in Pennsylvania. I'm going to work on it afer getting back to my NaNo word count (flagging, always do) tomorrow. Thinking it may be good for anything that looks at stories for almost identical events happenign across far spaces of time.<br /><br />"Good Neighbors" is also evolving, this time into a bit of a horror piece, that is next on my plate after finishing "Hellhole", which is going to get done, either prior to or during my trip to Pennsylvania to visit the in-laws for Thanksgiving.<br /><br />Got a story out 67 days at <i> Strange Horizons </i>, "Ain't Gonna Dig No More". Nothing heard back yet.<br /><br />Another story is out with <i> Space and Time </i> again, this time the rejected <i> World is Dead </i> submission "Rock a Bye Baby", with 8 days on its count.<br /><br />Still haven't heard back from a couple of big literary markets on some stories I have out there. I will eventually sell "Tribe of Harry", but most likely not to any market near as recognizable as the one I submitted it to.<br /><br />Now, to other things. I was talking today with someone about writing, and how I just need to get on my horse and spur it to a trot again. I'll do it. I know I can. But it's getting damn hard to even force in the time to write. 10 hour shifts at work, Des is suffering from...well, let's say MS and post-partum don't make for a relaxing home environment. I keep obsessing over the kids not breathing in their sleep (they do, but I randomly wake up frightened they're not). There may be a story in the last, but the topic seems mildly repulsive to me and would be difficult to even imagine a situation like that.<br /><br />Reading Stephen King's new short story collection. Expect a review sometime this weekend after I finish it.<br /><br />Still climbing up that hill,<br />J.C. TablerJ.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-9240254687282291242008-11-01T18:49:00.000-04:002008-11-01T18:54:52.662-04:00NaNoWriMoSo I started NaNoWriMo at 12:00 a.m. Nov. 1st, 2008. To this time, 6:49 P.M., I have 4,561 words done on the story, into the beginning of the second chapter.<br /><br />What is it that's caught my attention?<br /><br />I'm calling it "One Year Prior", and unfortunately it's about zombies...sort of.<br /><br />Alright, here goes my synopsis. <br /><br />In January Sheriff Ben Jenkins of Colton County was called to the scene of a suicide in the woods. The result is wo missing brothers and an angry county in the town of Riverview, Kentucky demanding answers. Answers come soon enough in the form of government broadcasts, and Riverview must pull together to hold up against a river of the undead with Sheriff Jenkins leading the charge.<br /><br />Basically, this is less about zombies and more about people at this point. The entire town of Riverview belongs to the church of Fenton Brock, an Independent Baptist preacher whose corruption is one of Riverview's many secrets. Even after the town itself is secured, even as things deteriorate in the outside, humanity turns on itself in the microcosm of a small town hidden in coal country. Law and Order versus Faith and Justice, not to mention a world falling down around their ears, drives this story so far. <br /><br />I'm interested in seeing how it turns out. so far I'm shooting for 24 chapters, each one being one day of a month. Each month gets two chapters, plotting the progression of the town and of Sheriff Jenkins, how people deal with the undead, and what happens when civilization fails. I'm also thinking a wrap-up epilogue, but we'll see. <br /><br />Anyhow, that's where I stand at this point on Day One.<br /><br />Peace,<br />J.C. TablerJ.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-72097120515780335612008-10-21T17:30:00.003-04:002008-10-21T22:33:43.941-04:00Blood On BluegrassI finally broke the writer's block, and it isn't on a story. Not exactly.<br /><br />I'm working on a story about a true suicide that happened here in Kentucky, at least they thought it was a suicide, and it may have actually been. I want to play it close to the vest right now, but it has homosexuality, a love triangle, felonies, embezzlement, a coverup...all the makings of sensational psuedo-news.<br /><br />EDIT:<br /><br />I realized I should post some more.<br /><br />Alright, so here goes. Work has picked up, and as a result I have four 1/4 finished stories sitting on my hard drive. It isn't about substance right now, just getting the starts down on paper. If I can muscle through that, and get a flow going, I can always go back to rewrite the beginning. <br /><br />In other news, the whole family got sick last week, babies and all. This meant my 7-day vacation from work for writing purposes turned into 7 days of sniffling and sneezing, turning into a couple of days handlingt he babies myself as my poor wife passed out and had to be hospitalized. She's alright now, but with her condition (MS), both her M.D. and I are in agreement that she has to take better care of herself. <br /><br />As for the stories...well...<br /><br />"Norton Is Watching" has been rebirthed, and "The Parting Glass" has come into development stages for the basic idea, clocking in at 958 words for an intro and atmosphere. "Deep Dark Hellhole" is starting to bud into the real meat of a short, short piece, and I've started outlining the NANOWRIMO idea. <br /><br />I swear I'm going to try and finish that this year.<br /><br />As for everything else...well, I have no excuse. See, I know I can write, and I know I do a decent enough job, but I'm seeing a serious lacking quality to my recent work. Chalk it up to stress, time constraints, family...whatever. It's no real excuse. I've got to get my feet under me, in a literary sense. I started out this year piss and vinegar and went strong up until July. After that...well. We only have to look back at my blog to see what happened.<br /><br />So here's the plan...get one story finished prior to NANOWRIMO. Complete a draft of a novel, even if it does turn out to be as rancid as my son's last diaper, during November. Do two more stories in December. Rest for half of January, then kick my big rear back into gear. Luckily, I now have three days off a week, working 4 days a week, 10 hours a day. My wife and I have agreed the extra day is a no-kids, no-distractions writing day, 8 hours from rising to resting in front of the P.C., 4,000 words a day. That...well, honestly shouldn't be a problem for me. My normal daily limit for 2-3 hours is 1,000 words, and that's counting distractions. <br /><br />I'm counting on you fine folks, then, to harass me every Wednesday on whether I've finished my work or not. Beat him, harangue me, cajole me. Hell, get my phone number and call me incessantly to ask if I'm at the computer. <br /><br />As for the project above...right now it's research and trying to secure interviews. I have to get the family, coworkers, cops, and journalists to talk to me, secure 15 year old case files, get audit reports, find friends/witnesses willing to talk to me, and secure a photographer. I also have to turn my coal room into a kid-proof lair where I can tack up crime scene photos in all their gory details. It isn't horror, but damned if what I have (just in two interviews and news clippings) doesn't lead me to believe there's a story there.<br /><br />For now, though, I have to help train a class of new hires tomorrow, so off to bed I go.<br /><br />Peace,<br />J.C. TablerJ.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-40332990357719352902008-10-11T22:04:00.003-04:002008-10-11T22:10:03.699-04:00Ay yi yiSo, I've been away a bit again. This time I have a good reason. Recently I was struck with what has been a recent blog topic: writer's block. Yes, the block. It isn't that I don't have ideas. I do. The problem is that I every time I sit down to work on these ideas I get my nightly limit (1,000 words) out, then read over what I wrote the next day. After making retching noises, I promptly do the electronic version of balling up the sheet of paper and tossing it in a wastebin.<br /><br />When something is flowing well, however, there are interruptions. Work, family, a squalling child with enough chemical weaponry stockpiled in their Huggies to elicit UN sanctions...take your pick. After dealing with these minor crises, I end up sitting back down to realize I no longer have any clue where to go with the story, and once again the highlight and delete functions are employed.<br /><br />So, procrastination or block? Not sure really. I have an outline for my NANOWRIMO project, and look forward to writing for the sheer joy of it. In the meantime, I'm abstaining from anything distracting that isn't absolutely necessary until I get at least one of these ideas crowding my head onto paper in some form. This means no television, no bars, no internet surfing, no good books...just typing reading, walking the block, and more typing. Nothing's flowing easily right now.<br /><br />So, there we stand a storyless month in September, well below my goal of four stories, and it's shaping up to be a pretty barren October. Through willpower and coffee alone will I force November into being productive for 50,000 words. I can assure that much. Until then, I will be the invisible author attempting to finish a story with a baby in one arm and a coffee cup in the other.<br /><br />Peace,<br />J.C. TablerJ.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-46202463469359648832008-10-01T08:02:00.002-04:002008-10-01T08:06:59.136-04:00Pushing my stuffYes, it's been a while. Explanations are coming, I promise. Best I can say is the twins decided not to sleep through the night, a <i> Dia de los Muertos </i> submission is whipping my rear, and I'm trying to get back on a sleep schedule since it was thrown off by a doctor's appointment this week. So why am I here when I should be shaving? Why, to pimp my work.<br /><br />"Poppa Bear" went up over on <a href="http://undergroundvoices.com/"><em>Underground Voices</em></a><em>. </em>The direct link is <a href="http://www.undergroundvoices.com/UVTablerJC.htm">here</a>. Of course, I'd love for everyone to give it a read, but hell. If you can't, you can't.<br /><br />Now, to take care of the Three S morning routine.<br /><br />Peace,<br />J.C. TablerJ.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-27633988944413767152008-09-18T21:08:00.001-04:002008-09-18T21:14:27.824-04:00A long wait endedShit. Lost my last post. It was long, here's a short recap.<br /><br />Two rejections, "Colburn Men" from <em>McSweeney's</em> and "Geoffrey's Pizza" from <em>Neon.</em> Going o get some writing done before heading to bed. Important work stuff tomorrow. <br /><br />Peace,<br />J.C. TablerJ.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-58754321380784013632008-09-16T21:53:00.004-04:002008-09-16T23:17:34.273-04:00It's not a Stoker, but I'll take it.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qff84zkZ2RBYYfiAsjWXCy6VROqXoatO3HNo9OTA0kA_qmNApiUC0T5nV-QuPeSgeg_pw7iGzDKXsjxlGjvN9FkSwf3dfRwMuthqMxh5RQf1ed50czEzmHRLyo5JfDzhyphenhyphen5UPhyphenhyphenwfwtCr/s1600-h/Iloveyourblog.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246802876415694002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qff84zkZ2RBYYfiAsjWXCy6VROqXoatO3HNo9OTA0kA_qmNApiUC0T5nV-QuPeSgeg_pw7iGzDKXsjxlGjvN9FkSwf3dfRwMuthqMxh5RQf1ed50czEzmHRLyo5JfDzhyphenhyphen5UPhyphenhyphenwfwtCr/s320/Iloveyourblog.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div>So, here I am, minding my own business in the dark over the past two days, when out of nowhere this guy comes along and slaps me with an award. The drive-by nomination came from Jeremy Kelly over at <a href="http://jointhebirdies.blogspot.com/">Join the Birdies</a>. So, with tears in my eyes and the lights finally back on, here we go.</div><div> </div><div></div><div><a href="http://fright-fest.blogspot.com/">The Poisoned Apple by Cate Gardner</a></div><div>I have to say that Cate was the first regular visitor I ever got over here. It was fun. She's been a good buddy, a great writer, and an amazing proofreader. Not a week has gone by lately without there being an acceptance from her, and we're loving it! Besides, for a supportive soul, she is one who can both do and cheer. Looking at her daily habit of writing, the constant pursuit of perfection, should serve as an inspiration for any aspiring writer.</div><div> </div><div></div><div><a href="http://mylefteye.livejournal.com/">My Left Eye by Mike Stone</a></div>This is a fellow with an amazing writing style, I know because I've read his work. Never an unhelpful word, Mike has a blog that gives you a stare into the daily life of a published author. To get a look into the industry, you can't beat Mike Stone.<br /><br />Join The Birdies by Jeremy Kelly<br /><br />Sure, it seems like a bit of a cop, I admit it. The man nominates me, I nominate him. Well, here's the truth. This guy captures the stress of family, working, and writing perfectly. If there's something to be said about struggling, well, he's said it. For the empathy factor, among other things, I really do enjoy reading his blog.<br /><br /><a href="http://aaronpolson.blogspot.com/">The Other Aaron by Aaron Polson</a><br />I just want the chance to refer to him as Mr. Polson once in my life.<br /><br /><a href="http://writtenbysin.blogspot.com/">Written by Sin by Natalie Sin</a><br />Alright, let's just accept the fact right now that Jeremy put the reasons I like this woman's work far better than I ever could. Now, go get me some coffee.<br /><br />What's that? I still have two more?<br /><br />Alright...<br /><br /><a href="http://barrynapierwriting.wordpress.com/">Ghosts in Parantheses by Barry Napier</a><br />Barry is a prolific fellow, even if he doesn't think so right now. Among everything else, he finds the time to work on novels. See, I don't write novels. I wish I could, but I can't. So I very much enjoy reading over his trials and tribulations when I feel bad my tiny little short story isn't falling into place.<br /><br /><a href="http://gotld.blogspot.com/">Gospel of the Living Dead by Kim Paffenroth</a><br />Yeah, so I'm in a maybe pile for one of his anthologies. That does not mean I'm sucking up. I promise.<br /><br />Okay, so, now the rules as they were given to me:<br /><br />If nominated (and not insanely busy):<br />1)Add the logo of your award to your blog.<br />2)Add a link to the person who awarded it to you.<br />3)Nominate at least seven other blogs.<br />4)Add links to those blogs on your blogs.<br />5)Leave a message for your nominees on your blogs.J.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-26405392773326361682008-09-13T21:34:00.005-04:002008-09-13T22:10:37.045-04:00One Slice or Two?Well, in forty minutes tonight I wrote a flash piece, edited it in an hour, did a re-write over the next hour, and sent it out to <em>Neon Magazine</em><br /><br />There are several reasons I'm like "Geoffrey's Pizza", 835 words. First, and foremost, it made my wife cry. No joke. Honest to God tears over the ending of this story. I had guests tonight and let them read it, and not one of them looked happy afterwards, which tells me it punches in just the right place.<br /><br />The second, and selfish, reason is that it is the first piece I've both began and finished since the birth of my children. I was starting to worry there were no good ideas left in my head what with all the work around the house and at the office, not to mention the recent pressure. So I have a new goal, now. A story a week. Not a finished, complete product, but something. Be it good or bad, short or long, one finished first draft of something every week. Length is not an issue. Taste is not an issue. Just something to keep me in practice until the kids sleep through the night and the house settles down.<br /><br />The last time I stopped writing regularly, I ended up spending three years repairing the paddlewheel on a 100 year old steamboat.<br /><br />So, back to it. Tomorrow I start trying to find my story for that week, and by next Saturday I resolve to have the first draft finished.<br /><br />In the meantime, let's see what happens with my pizza order, eh?<br /><br />On a different note, we took the babies and Sophie to the market today grocery shopping. There were nuns there. I have decided nothing I can ever write is scarier than a nun cooing over the baby strapped to your chest. I was squirming the whole time, expecting rulers to flash through the air and smakc my palms.<br /><br />Plus, it's just a little uncomfortable to have a Bride of Christ looking at your personal Product of Lust.<br /><br />Speaking of uncomfortable, this song kickstarted another story idea. It's a song about lynching, extremely haunting.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/h4ZyuULy9zs&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/h4ZyuULy9zs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Peace,<br />J.C. TablerJ.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-5120148289546882792008-09-11T23:55:00.002-04:002008-09-11T23:56:02.958-04:00A More Definite Response<em>Arkham Tales</em> has just accepted "The Simple Account of Sergeant Shea, Immediately Prior to the End of the World" for publication.<br /><br />More later, bedtime now.J.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-60408375269163843552008-09-08T21:12:00.003-04:002008-09-09T08:20:16.369-04:00Rejection letter, what art thou?Hmm.<br /><br />Alright, I never post rejection letters. I prefer to file them away...but this one has me scratching my head. The more I read it, themore I'm not sure what it is. Is it a rejection politely worded and pointing things out to cut any argument before it can grow? Is it a letter intending for me to rewrite and resubmit the piece? Is it an "almost, let's see what you can do" letter? Or is it just letting me down gently.<br /><br />Normally I can pick these out on my own, but the more I read this one the more confused I become over what it is and what was intended. I've sent an e-mail out politely asking for clarification, but to be honest the editors are probably very busy and the only email I have is the submission email. I'm thinking rejection, but if I don't get a definite, firm confirmation by tomorrow night I think I'll flash a query over to the other editor's email to see if I'm right. That is, if none of you think I shouldn't.<br /><br />Anyhow, the letter is below. It's the rejection, I think, for "Ain't Gonna Dig No More", which I sent a half-proofed manuscript of off. I know, beat me with noodles. I was juggling my kids when I submitted it...quite literally, as we were thinking Des would go into labor the night I sent it off and was understandably shaken a bit.<br /><br />-Start-<br />Dear J. C. Tabler:<br /><br />Thanks for your interest in the Potter's Field anthology, and for submitting a unique story for my consideration. While I quite enjoyed this tall tale, I do believe it needs considerable work so that it will be the best it can be upon publication.<br /><br />I rest my case, by pointing out just a few of the errors within:<br /><br />(Insert a few examples of my horrendous proofing)<br /><br />The above are just a few of the sentences that require work. This story is worth the effort it would take to go over the entire manuscript. Take the time. Ain't Gonna Dig No More has the makings of a great story.<br /><br />-End-<br /><br />I should mention that the examples given were all grammatical/typos. No mention of the story or writing style itself. Just...typos and grammar.<br /><br />What do you folks think? I just...well...it confuses me.<br /><br />C'mon, let me have it.<br /><br />-J.C. TablerJ.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216245736345772039.post-84040242236648823162008-09-07T09:41:00.004-04:002008-09-07T10:04:26.222-04:00The First LineWell, I'll join the band wagon. Here, in no order, are the first lines from the last 20 stories I've written.<br /><br />1. Lantern light off tombstones cast an absurd glow onto browning grass. (<em>Ain't Gonna Dig No More)</em><br />2. I was born in a small county hospital on a December night that was warmer than most around that time of the year. (<em>The Ignoble Birth of Tucker Talbott)</em><br />3. Jeanette didn’t cry the first time Kitty scratched her, not until Mommy started screaming. <em>(Beautiful Little Rubies</em>)<br />4. Some folks say snakes aren’t smart, just do what comes natural. (<em>Big Jim Can Wait</em>)<br />5. “It’s ten in the morning here in the Derby City, and if there’s anyone out there still listening they’re listening to 89.1 WKBS, BS Radio with Mad Mike Stevens and his Midnight Mayhem<em>." (Dead Air</em>)<br />6. They found Old Man Jenkins’s face behind the radio cabinet, staring up blankly from the floor. (<em>Demon Whiskey</em>)<br />7. To be face to face with a legend, a man whose name had been tossed around the office since the first time you wrote up a police report for the back page, was more intimidating than you would think. (<em>A Dream of England</em>)<br />8. Hundreds of glass eyes stared blindly into the basement. (<em>Fragile Obsession</em>)<br />9. You have this theory that there are two tribes in the city, the Day People and the Night People. (<em>The Tribe of Harry</em>)<br />10. Poppa Bear knew history often repeated itself, and it was this knowledge alone that kept him working hard to prevent a circular flow of unforgiving time. (<em>Poppa Bear</em>)<br />11. Twenty dollars a night or ten dollars an hour for a room, an extra five if you want clean sheets, three if you want soap, fifteen dollar deposit for a remote that isn’t fastened to the beside table. (<em>No Tell Hotel</em>)<br />12. I don’t read newspapers anymore, and haven’t since I was a child. (<em>Many Comforting Words</em>)<br />13. I never stopped believing in him. (<em>Sacrifice of Man and Cloth</em>)<br />14. Welcome to Historic Innsmouth, Where America’s Dark Past Comes to Life! (<em>The Simple Account of Sergean Shea, Immediately Prior to the End of the World</em>)<br />15. “We do not cover amputations unless they are completely and totally unnecessary." (<em>No Deductible</em>)<br />16. I went to law school in Boston in the late seventies, though I won’t say which school or exactly when. (<em>Winter Wonderland</em>)<br />17. “Do you think we could work it out?” she asked (<em>Rock A Bye Baby</em>)<br />18. The first time David heard “Presbyterian Guitar” by John Hartford he was beside his father’s coffin in the Markham Funeral Home down on Main. (<em>Colburn Men</em>)<br />19. “Is it the undead?” Dr. Lance questioned as sausage fingers tugged unkempt beard. (<em>Linguistic Prescription</em>)<br />20. “Was that a dead emu?” Richard asked, examining the rearview with fervor. (<em>Weekend Trip</em>)<br /><br />Alright, there we go. Not in order of being written or anything, mainly because I can't remember the order the were written in, but the last twety stories I wrote and their opening lines!<br /><br />Peace,<br />J.C. TablerJ.C. Tablerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649770208326423907noreply@blogger.com6