I hit the Hat Trick! As of today I have three stories in the Northern Haunts anthology, upcoming from Shroud Press.
"Many Comforting Words" was accepted back in June, and today I got a couple emails informing me both:
"Big Jim Can Wait" was accepted.
and
"Winter Wonderland" was accepted.
YES! A trifecta for this anthology. Three submissions, three acceptances.
I'm really loving August.
In other news, finally heard back from Aberrant Dreams concerning "Dead Air". The new Horror editor over there was apologetic for the long wait, understandable considering the backlog they apparently had. Kave Catheson is, as an editor, very congenial even in rejection. Made the statement that the story was rejected, most likely, due to space concerns, and in review it is a bit long even after revisions.
Statements were encouraging, that it is a good story both in structure and style, needs little to no revision, and shouldn't be shoved in a deep, dark trunk. So I'll find a market that wants long zombie-centric stories about a trapped, suicidal radio disc jockey, gay intern, and burly sound tech trying to keep the airwaves alive as the world slowly dies.
Now, to update Duotrope!
Peace,
J.C. Tabler
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
I like August
Underground Voices has contacted me about publishing my submission, "Poppa Bear", in their October issue. As if I would say no.
Alright, Dinner time!
Peace,
J.C. Tabler
Alright, Dinner time!
Peace,
J.C. Tabler
Friday, August 8, 2008
A non-writing post (yeah right)
Hello ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to another edition of my Weekend Update. This is comign on the heels of my previous post, an announcement of acceptance. To warn you, this post has nothing to do with writing in the beginning, and only a little at the end.
Today we hit the floor. Yes, I have joined the rank of Corporate Cubicle Cretins, assisting the elderly with their insurance policies. It's official. I have my own desk, a window view of the river, and easy access to the printer/coffee machine. Can life get better?
No, but it CAN get worse. This morning my wife told me she thought her water had broken. Thankfully, it seemed to be a reaction to some food she an my daughter had the night before. I escaped only by my refusal to eat bagged veggies, I believe. Considering she is 8 months along, though, she agreed to call her doctor. The doc had her go to the hospital, and my father was gracious enough to postpone his weekend trip with my mother to Michigan to get her there. This led, as my team and I were strolling down main street for our 2-hour celebration luncheon, to him calling me.
He then erroneously informed me her water had, indeed, broken. What he meant is the octor said that MIGHT be the case. We still have two weeks to go at the least, according to the doc, and that relaxed me. After two hours of sitting at work thinking my wife was in labor.
From that to Sunday when...I found out I need glasses. I'd been getting horrible headaches after squinting all day, trying to read the computer screen at work. My eyes were tired an bloodshot every night. So, while getting my daughter her checkup for school, I got my eyes checked as well. I now wear glasses, and am not happy about it.
Now for the writing mention:
Tomorrow, after mwoing the lawn, I'll be starting on another story for the Dark Jesters anthology.
See, told you it wasn't much.
Peace,
J.C. Tabler
Today we hit the floor. Yes, I have joined the rank of Corporate Cubicle Cretins, assisting the elderly with their insurance policies. It's official. I have my own desk, a window view of the river, and easy access to the printer/coffee machine. Can life get better?
No, but it CAN get worse. This morning my wife told me she thought her water had broken. Thankfully, it seemed to be a reaction to some food she an my daughter had the night before. I escaped only by my refusal to eat bagged veggies, I believe. Considering she is 8 months along, though, she agreed to call her doctor. The doc had her go to the hospital, and my father was gracious enough to postpone his weekend trip with my mother to Michigan to get her there. This led, as my team and I were strolling down main street for our 2-hour celebration luncheon, to him calling me.
He then erroneously informed me her water had, indeed, broken. What he meant is the octor said that MIGHT be the case. We still have two weeks to go at the least, according to the doc, and that relaxed me. After two hours of sitting at work thinking my wife was in labor.
From that to Sunday when...I found out I need glasses. I'd been getting horrible headaches after squinting all day, trying to read the computer screen at work. My eyes were tired an bloodshot every night. So, while getting my daughter her checkup for school, I got my eyes checked as well. I now wear glasses, and am not happy about it.
Now for the writing mention:
Tomorrow, after mwoing the lawn, I'll be starting on another story for the Dark Jesters anthology.
See, told you it wasn't much.
Peace,
J.C. Tabler
A Ticket To Ride
"Demon Whiskey" is one of the 31 stories of Halloween to appear in the upcoming Harvest Hill Anthology from Graveside Tales. That is just...just... AWESOME!
Now, since we've covered that and got it out of the way, I feel much better.
Waiting on the rest of them, still.
Peace,
J.C. Tabler
Now, since we've covered that and got it out of the way, I feel much better.
Waiting on the rest of them, still.
Peace,
J.C. Tabler
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Quick Turnarounds
Two of my most recent submissions have already been judged on the scales, weighed against a feather:
"Linguistic Prescription" was rejected by Dark Jesters . Although it was "pretty funny", the poor editors are suffering from a common ailment - too many zombie stories floating around. I grieve for this piece, mainly because every rejection has said the same thing...good, interesting, funny, but there are too many zombie stories in the slush piles to make it stand out on its own. I may end up just making a collection of this story's rejection letters.
"Rock A Bye Baby" has been put on the "maybe" pile over at The World Is Dead a scant four days after it was sent. Not a shortlist, but it means the piece is getting some consideration. I'm happy.
Now, to wait for the rest of my long list.
Peace,
J.C. Tabler
"Linguistic Prescription" was rejected by Dark Jesters . Although it was "pretty funny", the poor editors are suffering from a common ailment - too many zombie stories floating around. I grieve for this piece, mainly because every rejection has said the same thing...good, interesting, funny, but there are too many zombie stories in the slush piles to make it stand out on its own. I may end up just making a collection of this story's rejection letters.
"Rock A Bye Baby" has been put on the "maybe" pile over at The World Is Dead a scant four days after it was sent. Not a shortlist, but it means the piece is getting some consideration. I'm happy.
Now, to wait for the rest of my long list.
Peace,
J.C. Tabler
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Four-Legged Editor
I have a little friend now when I write. A few weeks back we were given a stray kitten, and my daughter fell in love with it. Now we have two cats, our Maine Coon, Ambrose, and a little orange tabby kitten named "Capote" for his funny walk and high meow.
Capote, true to his name, has taken to sitting on my lap while I'm writing. He just...watches the screen. Then, when revising, he does what every writer wants o do. He falls asleep.
Right now he's doign it again. I don't know how to handle this...
Alright, update
"Poppa Bear" got its rejection from Cause and Effect , and "The Simple Account of Sergeant got a rejection from Allegory .
Other than that, the end of the month wrap up goes like this:
New Stories
There were only two this month, really:
"Rock A Bye Baby" subbed to The World is Dead
"No Deductible" subbed to Malpractice
An extension of "Linguistic Prescription" was done for Dead Jesters
Stories Still Out :
"Dead Air" at Aberrant Dreams
"Colburn Men" at McSweeney's Quarterly
"The Tribe of Harry" at The New Yorker
"Poppa Bear" at Underground Voices
"Linguistic Prescription" at both Postcards from Hell (original flash version) and Dead Jesters (special director's cut)
"Sacrifice of Man and Cloth" at Saint Anne's
"Big Jim Can Wait" and "Winter Wonderland" at Northern Haunts
"No Tell Motel" at OG's Speculative Fiction
"Fragile Obsession" at Ghost in the Machine
"Demon Whiskey" at Harvest Hill
"The Simple Account of Sergeant Shea" at Theaker's
"No Deductible" at Malpractice
and
"Rock A Bye Baby" at The World Is Dead
Let's hope I get some good responses in the next week or so, eh?
Peace,
J.C. Tabler
Capote, true to his name, has taken to sitting on my lap while I'm writing. He just...watches the screen. Then, when revising, he does what every writer wants o do. He falls asleep.
Right now he's doign it again. I don't know how to handle this...
Alright, update
"Poppa Bear" got its rejection from Cause and Effect , and "The Simple Account of Sergeant got a rejection from Allegory .
Other than that, the end of the month wrap up goes like this:
New Stories
There were only two this month, really:
"Rock A Bye Baby" subbed to The World is Dead
"No Deductible" subbed to Malpractice
An extension of "Linguistic Prescription" was done for Dead Jesters
Stories Still Out :
"Dead Air" at Aberrant Dreams
"Colburn Men" at McSweeney's Quarterly
"The Tribe of Harry" at The New Yorker
"Poppa Bear" at Underground Voices
"Linguistic Prescription" at both Postcards from Hell (original flash version) and Dead Jesters (special director's cut)
"Sacrifice of Man and Cloth" at Saint Anne's
"Big Jim Can Wait" and "Winter Wonderland" at Northern Haunts
"No Tell Motel" at OG's Speculative Fiction
"Fragile Obsession" at Ghost in the Machine
"Demon Whiskey" at Harvest Hill
"The Simple Account of Sergeant Shea" at Theaker's
"No Deductible" at Malpractice
and
"Rock A Bye Baby" at The World Is Dead
Let's hope I get some good responses in the next week or so, eh?
Peace,
J.C. Tabler
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Would you like to upgrade your policy?
Finished the Malpractice submissions first draft. Not a bad one, but I need to set it aside for a couple days before doing the revisions.
Basically, it's about an insurance salesman who sells "special" policies for those entering Bloom Memorial for treatment. I like it, as the entire story is basically told in description and one-sided conversation with a restrained, ball-gagged patient.
Clocked in the first draft at 2,268 words. I wanted it to be longer, it just didn't want to cooperate. Oh well.
As always, my call goes out for proofers if anyone's interested, thoguh I'll probably have it revised by the time any replies could get back to me.
Peace,
J.C. Tabler
Basically, it's about an insurance salesman who sells "special" policies for those entering Bloom Memorial for treatment. I like it, as the entire story is basically told in description and one-sided conversation with a restrained, ball-gagged patient.
Clocked in the first draft at 2,268 words. I wanted it to be longer, it just didn't want to cooperate. Oh well.
As always, my call goes out for proofers if anyone's interested, thoguh I'll probably have it revised by the time any replies could get back to me.
Peace,
J.C. Tabler
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