M-Brane SF #6 Out!

Issue #6 of M-Brane SF is out now! This issue includes my science fiction story “Misty.” M-Brane SF is available in both PDF and print versions, so whether you enjoy killing trees or saving them, there’s a version for you!

“Seaside Sideshow” – Editor’s Choice!

Where have I been? Drowning in Zombie Town, mostly.

More about that in another post, though. Right now, I’m pleased to announce that my story “Seaside Sideshow” made it into the Editor’s Choice section of Bewildering Stories’ quarterly anthology! Huzzah!

“Seaside Sideshow” Live at Bewildering Stories

My story “Seaside Sideshow” is up at Bewildering Stories. It’s a short 1,600 words or so, so give it a look when you have a chance.

While I’m here, I might as well check in with Zombie Town status. Word count is 14,752, which puts me a few hairs over my 1,000 words/day quota. I like where it’s going, and it makes a lot more sense than my previous Zombie Town incarnation. I can already tell I’m going to have to do a TON of research when I go to revise this thing. But I’m not worrying about that too much right now. Right now, I’m just concerned with getting words on the paper, because blank pages are hard to revise.

Reject-O-Rama Continues!

Two rejections in one day! Oh yeah!

Oh, and Zombie Town is at 6,222 words!

Progress Progress Progress

Wrote 3,800 words on Zombie Town yesterday, and 1,025 today, bringing the total word count to 4,825. Not bad for being just two days in. I’m already liking this incarnation of Zombie Town better than my previous try. The premise is infinitely more plausible, and I’ve got a few idea to give the zombies more of a unique twist (plus a better explanation for the presence) and keep them from becoming the same old boring zombies.

I can already tell I still have quite a bit of research to do for the setting. It takes place in the early 1950s during the red scare. I’ve poked around on Wikipedia, but I still have a long ways to go in learning enough to really flesh out the universe. Anyone know of any good red scare fiction, movies or riveting research materials?

Here I Go Again . . .

Well, I was going to wait and write my shiny, new, re-imagined version of my novel Zombie Town during the 3-Day Novel Contest, but I can’t wait. I’ve been thinking about the novel and the characters and the universe a lot lately, and I couldn’t help myself. I’ve written 2,000 words so far today. I’m excited. I’m sure this excitement will soon turn to frustration, then excitement again, then boredom, then futility, then general malaise, but whatever. I’m in the excited state right now. I’m going to set a quota of 1,000 words a day until it’s done. We’ll see how long I stick with that. My plan is to update my blog with a word count daily. Again, we’ll see how long that lasts.

I think part of the reason I’ve been thinking about Zombie Town so much is because I’ve been reading several zombie novels lately, namely Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament by S. G. Browne, Road Trip of the Living Dead by Mark Henry, and, of course, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith. On my recent vacation to Portland, Oregon I went on a book-buying spree at Powell’s. Good grief, I love that place. Other books I bought at Powell’s and have already read include How to Become a Famous Writer Before You’re Dead and The Traveling Death and Resurrection Show, both by Ariel Gore (and both were excellent, maybe I’ll write reviews of them at some point).

Anyway, that’s what’s going on. I haven’t written much new material this month, but I have revised a few of my April Fool Challenge stories and finished a few stories I started months ago and never got around to finishing. I wanted to start new stories, but all I could think about was Zombie Town. If I do manage to crank out 1,000 words a day, I should be done with the first draft of Zombie Town before the 3-Day Novel Contest starts, and I can write a whole other novel for that.

Wish me luck with all this. And if anyone has any zombie novel/story collection recommendations (I already know about and have read Max Brooks’ stuff), leave ‘em in the comments.

Reject-O-Rama

I’ve received three rejection letters in the span of 24 hours. Rock on!

Surprising Acceptance

Just got word that my story “Love, Death and Doughnut Holes” was accepted at A Fly in Amber. I wrote this story back in July, and it’s one of my favorites, but I was never sure if I’d ever find a home for it because of its oddness. So I was totally thrilled when I got my acceptance letter today!

Anyway, “Love, Death and Doughnut Holes” will appear in the July issue of A Fly in Amber. I’ll be sure to let you know when it’s up!

“The Squeeze”

Writing group mate Alex has a story up at Every Day Fiction called “The Squeeze”. It’ll only take you seconds to read, so head over there right now!

Vacation All I Ever Wanted!

Leaving for vacation tomorrow! Huzzah! Haven’t been on one in a while, so I’m really looking forward to it. Aside from eating gobs of awesome vegan food and doing lots of urban exploration, I plan on doing some reading and writing (and revising?), too!