tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9824162717068401862024-02-19T19:20:37.332-06:00Simon McCaffery's Fiction (and Fun)Blog for writers of science fiction, horror and suspense. Zombies always welcome.Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-65437047686445614692012-11-14T10:21:00.001-06:002012-11-14T12:02:22.654-06:00The Next Big Thing Rolls On<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">ast Wednesday, Bram Stoker award-winner and all-around nice
guy <a href="http://www.westonochse.com/">Weston Ochse</a> tagged me in <b>The Next Big Thing</b>, after horror and dark fantasy
writer <a href="http://www.timlebbon.net/">Tim Tebbon</a> tagged <i>him</i>. This is a running shared-blog thread in which
writers discuss their latest projects, and invite more writers to do the same.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This is a running shared-blog thread in which
writers discuss their latest projects, and invite more writers to do the same. Be sure to see these blogs by fellow writers <a href="http://edkurtzbleeds.wordpress.com/2012/11/14/the-next-big-thing/">Ed Kurtz</a>, </span><a href="http://joemckinney.wordpress.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Joe McKinney</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">, </span><a href="http://shanemckenzie.org/" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Shane McKenzie</a>,<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> and </span><a href="http://emerdelac.wordpress.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Ed Erdelac</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Here are the questions and my answers. Next
Wednesday, I’ll hand it off to several more writers, including <b>Scott Bradley</b>,
<b>Pete Giglio</b> and <b>Gary Jonas</b>.<br />
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1) What is the working title of your next book?</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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2) Where did the idea come from for the book?</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It was the collision of several ideas. I had read about
theoretical new cures for sufferers of Alzheimer's</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and dementia based upon near-future nanotechnology and
bio-engineering. I imagined what might happen if this “cure” had unintended side
effects or mutated into a self-directed plague that rapidly swept the world.
And I imagined it might or might not be reversible. So the uninfected survivors
might find themselves sharing the planet with an intelligent but
no-longer-human race they had unwittingly created. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I realized it was a zombie novel without the supernatural element,
but with all the suspense and horror nonetheless.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">While I was still thinking about the book-length story, I
incorporated the idea into a long story, “Lifeboat,” that was published by
<b>Jason Sizemore</b> and Apex Books in <i>The Zombie Feed Volume One</i>.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The novel is also a love-letter to the late Michael Crichton (left),
who invented the plausible techno-thriller with <i>The Andromeda Strain</i>. Many of
Crichton’s books dealt with stories of scientists with good intentions who
create situations that lead to dangerous, unexpected results.<br />
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3) What genre does your book fall under?</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It’s a mash-up of science fiction, horror and thrillers, but
I think it will appeal primarily to horror readers.<br />
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4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie
rendition?</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I originally envisioned a scruffy James MacAvoy as the main
protagonist, Dr. Jeremy Hall, a young research epidemiologist from the University
of California, Irvine’s School of Biological Sciences. But then I met writer<b>
<a href="http://joehillfiction.com/">Joe Hill</a></b> at the World Horror Convention in Austin a year or so ago, and now I
think he’s perfect to play the intelligent, somewhat reclusive scientist. I’m
not saying that Joe is scruffy. He just has the perfect look in my mind’s eye. That's a pic of him (right) from his Tumblr on the set of HORNS, based on his second novel. His new novel, NOS4A2, is due next May.<br />
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5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">After the greatest medical breakthrough of the 21st century transforms entire populations into a terrifying
zombie-like species, a secret team of scientists races to devise a cure.<br />
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6) Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I successfully pitched the idea and outline to a respected
indie publisher. I’ve published a good number of short stories professionally,
but don’t as yet have an agent.<br />
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7) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The first draft is almost done, and it has taken sixteen
months, much longer than I’d hoped! Of course, during that time I also wrote a
novella that will appear in a longer novel called <i>Living Death Race 2000</i> in
2013 with Wes Ochse, <b>John Everson</b> and several other talented writers. And I
wrote and sold more short stories.<br />
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8) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><i>The Andromeda Strain</i> and <i>Prey</i> by Michael Crichton, and <i>Spore</i>
by <b>John Skipp</b> and <b>Cody Goodfellow</b><br />
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9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Michael Crichton and John Skipp. And watching the original film adaptation of <i>The Andromeda Strain</i>.<br />
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10) What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It delves into some interesting tangents, such as how plagues
spread, how small bands of scientifically-trained people deal with isolation
and apocalyptic threats, and the current wonders and dangers of widespread
medical research into nanotechnology, viral and genetic manipulation and
engineering.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">So watch for more answers from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Scott-Bradley/e/B009P5SP5I/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1">Scott Bradley</a>, <a href="http://www.sff.net/people/gary_jonas/">Gary Jonas</a> and <a href="http://www.petergiglio.com/">Pete Giglio</a> next Wednesday!</span></div>
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<br />Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-32375597694488870322012-03-12T20:26:00.000-05:002012-03-12T20:26:24.363-05:00A Cosmic Inspiration<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
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</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">appily, I can already check off one of my 2012 goals -- namely, to sell more science fiction. February saw the acceptance of a story from former <i>F&SF</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> editor and anthologist John Joseph Adams for his online SF magazine, <i>Lightspeed</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">. The story in question is a high-tech crime story spanning many alternate Earths, and involving the unwitting help of an iconic 20<sup>th</sup> century actor. Earlier this month, John also sent a reprint contract for the same story to appear in his upcoming anthology <i>Other Worlds Than These</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">, due this fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TeIRro5gyO2AQSOlY4TMXfzuJ9NnNuHknPk5bA2XNBN2Sf0WPjEcjWkKJZeIqaoFp_v_KUXkCK63NXxaqDfmV8zzGo1u7pccP87tJo2aWl-WrZyrw_XPgllSKpE0JlWIZ_V-U7TWiZpq/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-03-12+at+8.15.29+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TeIRro5gyO2AQSOlY4TMXfzuJ9NnNuHknPk5bA2XNBN2Sf0WPjEcjWkKJZeIqaoFp_v_KUXkCK63NXxaqDfmV8zzGo1u7pccP87tJo2aWl-WrZyrw_XPgllSKpE0JlWIZ_V-U7TWiZpq/s320/Screen+shot+2012-03-12+at+8.15.29+PM.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGvp_CkVVzrACgisVf_1Huy_GK3OHv7gGEfFDUwJO3y7zUGSSP_PVu0__LUTuyFu52H5p905AndyDY9i82jzcx4UIyUyv6-OCwYRaI3ButVUb1QPRHsChWPt1X8HQ8DWm2TLKXp9yY2dZ/s1600/CarlSaganB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGvp_CkVVzrACgisVf_1Huy_GK3OHv7gGEfFDUwJO3y7zUGSSP_PVu0__LUTuyFu52H5p905AndyDY9i82jzcx4UIyUyv6-OCwYRaI3ButVUb1QPRHsChWPt1X8HQ8DWm2TLKXp9yY2dZ/s200/CarlSaganB.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;">In another happy coincidence, I’ve been re-watching the late astronomer and author Carl Sagan’s landmark science mini-series, <i>COSMOS</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">. My family and I watched it when it premiered back in 1980 on PBS, and I’ve got the big hardback somewhere. I’ve been an avid reader of science fiction since the age of ten, and Sagan’s books and <i>COSMOS</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> made a big impression. Sagan’s curiosity about the origins of the universe and our place in it, conveyed with a layman’s touch and poetic enthusiasm regarding the vastness of the universe and the wonders of inner space, epitomize the “sense of wonder” that always attracted me to science fiction, particularly the works of Bradbury, Tevis, Simak, Bester and many, many others. Carl Sagan’s son, Nick, now a screenwriter, mentioned on Twitter that <i>COSMOS</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> is being resurrected on Fox as a new science mini-series -- something to look forward to!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">But while I wait impatiently for season two of the BBC’s Sherlock to hit American airwaves I’ve been busy with other stories (and the novel that’s taking too long to complete).<o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9OIyTg78JXyeAyI3z6tG61_p0hfngfDR649TmhgNqFqEnr6g92993HST3isoXV1B7YJJ3XK_3-yA9gnkp4rztUJC4H_9jeM_4d4vehSk79bmgQHlnSz2blGWFL_mrRzFHkt_bdS_uLgN/s1600/rocket_science_cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9OIyTg78JXyeAyI3z6tG61_p0hfngfDR649TmhgNqFqEnr6g92993HST3isoXV1B7YJJ3XK_3-yA9gnkp4rztUJC4H_9jeM_4d4vehSk79bmgQHlnSz2blGWFL_mrRzFHkt_bdS_uLgN/s320/rocket_science_cover.png" width="204" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“The Brave Little Cockroach Goes to Mars” will appear in April in <i>ROCKET SCIENCE</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> from UK writer and anthologist Ian Sales. Check out the other contributors of fiction and nonfiction here:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.mutationpress.com/">http://www.mutationpress.com/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I recently did a modest expansion of “The Girl and the Guardian,” a story slated for Eugene Johnson’s <i>APPALACHIAN UNDEAD</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> from The Zombie Feed Press. I haven’t seen the TOC yet but have heard there are going to be some big names appearing, along with talented up-and-coming folks, which is exciting. And I was tremendously excited to land a story with John Skipp for his next huge anthology project for Black Dog and Leventhal, <i>PSYCHOS: ENCOUNTERS WITH SERIAL KILLERS AND THE CRIMINALLY INSANE</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">. “Serenity Now” will appear in September, and according to Skipp, the TOC is stellar.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">"Jesus When The Sun Goes Down" is available on Amazont in the Kindle version of <i>BEST NEW WEREWOLF TALES</i> (it's an original and not a reprint; bless Carolina Smart for including it in a book already bursting with classic stories). "The Boys in Company Z" is out in the Kindle edition of <i>ZOMBIE KONG</i>. Both trade paperbacks coming soon.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6orRvSgiBpdJtxAk4Em1-il_yMsIl5pgvVu_MZI4AvoHEWmrHPiDO97gM9grVdCBk88HlNbvBD_-k9M_4cKjTN4hOPxeE0ehs2FmWEUrOH0nlnHrjnk4KO6x1FxRbnuSYV-CBn7Zt1Rx9/s1600/420561_264947950251845_264936906919616_588551_424939340_n-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6orRvSgiBpdJtxAk4Em1-il_yMsIl5pgvVu_MZI4AvoHEWmrHPiDO97gM9grVdCBk88HlNbvBD_-k9M_4cKjTN4hOPxeE0ehs2FmWEUrOH0nlnHrjnk4KO6x1FxRbnuSYV-CBn7Zt1Rx9/s320/420561_264947950251845_264936906919616_588551_424939340_n-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMWf9pzFqc9mPaYiaU4mp5tJ8KQByZ5g7zPMUXWaLN6wsb3lJU3LXqolyNFVTJrMmb0-9SYwKGA3snAECYTRqFxyaZvXCFhPe8-1PxMKaSWE4ryrKmPVzcGtWuznMnBoJKpgJQv8mAAhB/s1600/BNWT.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMWf9pzFqc9mPaYiaU4mp5tJ8KQByZ5g7zPMUXWaLN6wsb3lJU3LXqolyNFVTJrMmb0-9SYwKGA3snAECYTRqFxyaZvXCFhPe8-1PxMKaSWE4ryrKmPVzcGtWuznMnBoJKpgJQv8mAAhB/s200/BNWT.jpeg" width="131" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Lately I’ve been reading the stories and novels of Weston Ochse (pronounce “oaks,” Arizona writer married to writer Yvonne Navarro), and the short fiction of Joe Hill and David Nickel, whose sophomore novel is coming soon from ChiZine.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Great stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">At the end of the month Angie and I are flying to Salt Lake City to attend World Horror Con and a special Bram Stoker banquet. I cannot wait to see old friends and make new ones.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This moment to blog has been brought to you by “The Bachelor: Season Finale.” Thanks, Ben.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">-- Simon<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">BEST NEW WEREWOLF TALES:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://amzn.to/y69P9j">http://amzn.to/y69P9j</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">ZOMBIE KONG Anthology:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://amzn.to/xUBxbz">http://amzn.to/xUBxbz</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
</span></div><!--EndFragment-->Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-31211723788399777752011-12-21T18:05:00.000-06:002011-12-21T18:05:41.035-06:00The Year Looking Back, And 2012 Goals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRXU7YxeXGbelW0hqCvXq7dBMGgH_3Sf9Zjxkp0VsobehuVJnsKc5ns7uDwiWuwDocRjJwzV-6uw_gHGrFHGv8SbLJ9LmRlh5ohAo2lq3-VCH96Rs8ZbnFJIGGi-KsVuo9OFDypcXgBHe/s1600/tumblr_lqb6uiCfWG1qz6f9yo1_r2_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRXU7YxeXGbelW0hqCvXq7dBMGgH_3Sf9Zjxkp0VsobehuVJnsKc5ns7uDwiWuwDocRjJwzV-6uw_gHGrFHGv8SbLJ9LmRlh5ohAo2lq3-VCH96Rs8ZbnFJIGGi-KsVuo9OFDypcXgBHe/s320/tumblr_lqb6uiCfWG1qz6f9yo1_r2_500.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
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</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">he clock is winding down on 2011, but it was a good year on the writing front. A <i>great</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> year, really. And from what I can tell I certainly wasn’t alone. Many of my writer and publisher friends and acquaintances also had productive years. Some sold a boatload of new stories; others got the green light to write novels. Others built upon previous successes and seem poised to climb the next step on the great pyramid of writing success.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2bUn024bW6XTnRv7pFYFm8VbKUy44BcG8D8uL31iIFaQHHSN24HoZl0KUWkilzB7HLXmFZtbwPKvuLhvD76xp3XqhzdhGmgMGQqXhrIVNeohfOC0f9842DAGtNgGptQT1a9kwPv52_Fa/s1600/TZF+Vol+1+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2bUn024bW6XTnRv7pFYFm8VbKUy44BcG8D8uL31iIFaQHHSN24HoZl0KUWkilzB7HLXmFZtbwPKvuLhvD76xp3XqhzdhGmgMGQqXhrIVNeohfOC0f9842DAGtNgGptQT1a9kwPv52_Fa/s200/TZF+Vol+1+Cover.jpg" width="128" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I sold a number of new horror and SF stories, and saw several reach print. A couple of older stories were reprinted. I completed my first commissioned novella, which I’m eager to see move toward publication next year. I was very excited to sell a story to <i>Black Static</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> for their August #24 issue. Andy Cox and TTA Press publish perhaps the most beautifully designed, full-size print genre magazine in the market, sister to the equally stunning <i>Interzone</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWyBvcV3wOzbXEwA1anMtQm2acmkiz1CpDkaJLflPPJWcUXGpX1WD6rGx6w2rxqOM5m29ckvglh46MnIf8wXDXxLHTbfNjOax2-otcA_BFbNmEwOzQ9cQDVeL0qGqSqVDzWKKQNTqTxsl/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-04-07+at+9.16.23+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWyBvcV3wOzbXEwA1anMtQm2acmkiz1CpDkaJLflPPJWcUXGpX1WD6rGx6w2rxqOM5m29ckvglh46MnIf8wXDXxLHTbfNjOax2-otcA_BFbNmEwOzQ9cQDVeL0qGqSqVDzWKKQNTqTxsl/s200/Screen+shot+2011-04-07+at+9.16.23+PM.png" width="136" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I successfully pitched an idea for a novel to a respected indie book publisher, and I’m working away to complete it before the first of the year. Canadian editors seem to like me, and two sales were made to UK markets. I love Canada and Great Britain right back.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiap4HHzeDcJfwrLHjvrQefM_roN9KRAOR6OHoR_qJim3VITFRxTNVyjEWDchjFDCTrxQkQ_-R4c7UE65UXSfP7a0woZoqK96CY_YOWVkpFXYCx4ZFgK0vZJjc-UzwUgJSrMDSiZUakYaRk/s1600/still-life.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiap4HHzeDcJfwrLHjvrQefM_roN9KRAOR6OHoR_qJim3VITFRxTNVyjEWDchjFDCTrxQkQ_-R4c7UE65UXSfP7a0woZoqK96CY_YOWVkpFXYCx4ZFgK0vZJjc-UzwUgJSrMDSiZUakYaRk/s320/still-life.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I sold a couple of new stories involving the undead (one also featured my interpretation of Mothman), a werewolf tale (coming soon), and a “hard SF” story to an anthology due next April. I also got to meet and get to know a lot of fellow writers I respect, like Gary McMahon, Peter Straub, John Everson, Weston Osche, Joe Hill, Scott Edelman, RJ Sevin and his wife, Julia, Colleen Anderson and the ChiZine bunch. I also reconnected with older pals like John Skipp. World Horror Con in Austin was a blast, and I’ve already made plans to attend again next spring in Salt Lake City. There’s a long list of friends I’ve made by web and email that I’m hoping to meet in the flesh in ’12, including Jason Sizemore, James Roy Daley, Maggie Slater, Andrew Clark Porter and Eugene Johnson, to name a few.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RuDArw0inI90xhPej18n7BY3bG1twP2tk0Lxlum4dMmoZAEI44J0OrzhJggPuujy4sXu5r7a3KHiYQTlyh8jf71oRKNHTRBbXKkO5D-z-aFADCKCV6um-6w34S_SHFTzhtS8DYWKkhdG/s1600/AndromedaStrain.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RuDArw0inI90xhPej18n7BY3bG1twP2tk0Lxlum4dMmoZAEI44J0OrzhJggPuujy4sXu5r7a3KHiYQTlyh8jf71oRKNHTRBbXKkO5D-z-aFADCKCV6um-6w34S_SHFTzhtS8DYWKkhdG/s200/AndromedaStrain.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;">So the hard work to write more often and push myself seems to be working. So it’s time to set some goals for 2012:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I want to finish the first draft of <i>WILDFIRE </i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">soon, let it rest, and then complete a second draft so I can float it to the interested publisher.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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</div><ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have two competing ideas for a second novel, one decidedly horror and one a blend of contemporary SF and horror. I should prepare a solid outline and pitch at WHC 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ol start="3" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHEhWSfZYZQqyCXNi7FZs3k__pTRQXxjK9IzFKZ8sGUvmTFTsEqTdNSdlTkp8pDqrnxehZ0M9cbzxM887gQ2dJlmUYNAEGWmB3csfKYgAdBflD0aXg7TbBqcIagDUdvt32u3nRfMGJbxz/s1600/374128_318522554828035_100000108798572_1432032_436268183_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHEhWSfZYZQqyCXNi7FZs3k__pTRQXxjK9IzFKZ8sGUvmTFTsEqTdNSdlTkp8pDqrnxehZ0M9cbzxM887gQ2dJlmUYNAEGWmB3csfKYgAdBflD0aXg7TbBqcIagDUdvt32u3nRfMGJbxz/s200/374128_318522554828035_100000108798572_1432032_436268183_n.jpeg" width="135" /></a>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sell another story to <i>Black Static</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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</div><ol start="4" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sell a story to <i>Shock Totem</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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</div><ol start="5" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sell another story to <i>Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">. I sold four or five stories to <i>AHMM</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> in the ‘90s and I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for this venerable mystery digest.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEP0U7WHFt2cvJRl38RqxiKpTehlYLzquJf08O2ZuvIZ6ovQtpyJmYQ5fWYXD3RR9Cha7GM-h8jU8d5bAPS_kzKwVFSP6CV8ajkzsSqfz9RWeSwtzAs1hTQQZ3GRTNtu7pfGuJ-Ue0WAg/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-12-21+at+5.59.02+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEP0U7WHFt2cvJRl38RqxiKpTehlYLzquJf08O2ZuvIZ6ovQtpyJmYQ5fWYXD3RR9Cha7GM-h8jU8d5bAPS_kzKwVFSP6CV8ajkzsSqfz9RWeSwtzAs1hTQQZ3GRTNtu7pfGuJ-Ue0WAg/s200/Screen+shot+2011-12-21+at+5.59.02+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div><ol start="6" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Write and sell more science fiction. The sale to <i>ROCKET SCIENCE</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> has given me a boost in confidence that I can break through with some of the SF markets like <i>Asimov’s</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">, <i>Interzone</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">, <i>Analog</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> or <i>Lightspeed</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">. So my goal will be to sell at last one or more new SF stories next year.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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</div><ol start="7" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Continue to network and get my name and work out there so I hopefully get more private invites to submit to anthologies and projects not generally open to all submissions.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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</div><ol start="8" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Target and attend at least one Midwestern or East Coast con so I can meet some of the folks in person that I mentioned.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Maybe I’m biting off more than I can chew, but I’m a firm believer that you should set your goals a bit high, and forge ahead. Happy holidays to all!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrDm7Ijarm9_Rgj3K7rU-lrZoYfscjsTbT2LWbjWzSmOw0JcjRvCNOCTwzO2bv2HCRy8nGExejMwdnn76BMKD9-SsAyGNMGWUPZRVUlgh9wKhVdodb60weCiB1O3RAr4Bi73wqnkTIi5G/s1600/P1020483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrDm7Ijarm9_Rgj3K7rU-lrZoYfscjsTbT2LWbjWzSmOw0JcjRvCNOCTwzO2bv2HCRy8nGExejMwdnn76BMKD9-SsAyGNMGWUPZRVUlgh9wKhVdodb60weCiB1O3RAr4Bi73wqnkTIi5G/s200/P1020483.JPG" width="193" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Simon<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><!--EndFragment-->Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-8879132558296882662011-07-24T13:50:00.004-05:002011-07-25T20:15:30.816-05:00Bad TV Saves the Day, or, New Sales and Summer Heat<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
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</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">y only excuse for being so tardy in blogging since May is that I have been busy writing. I think that is the best excuse, really. Unless you’re unemployed or you never sleep, there are simply not enough hours in a day to write two-thousand words of new fiction, edit or polish the latest chapter or story, tend to your Facebook peeps and still Twitter away. And now folks want me to jump on Google +.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Not unless you’d like to land in divorce court.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Fortunately for me, summer television is a savior. While my wife and kids gorge themselves on the voyeuristic pleasures of “MTV Teen Moms,” “The Bachelorette” and “Wipe Out,” I can slink away in the shadows to tippity-tap-tap away. If you’ve watched the hapless adventures of the contestants on “Wipe Out” (an Americanized version of popular Japanese shows), you know the title should really be “Nut Busters” or “That’s Going to Leave a Mark.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">OK, I’m not going to lie. I’ve made the mistake of pausing for a moment with coffee cup in hand, plopping down on the couch, and having thirty minutes stolen from me by the always mesmerizing (snort) Chris Harrison. That dude is an android, I’m telling you. They are among us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzu5OthJXnFcwTkyTJokvozjVfhcOcBEN6QZH60LZCdXSRizxDUGXBazuZDKIQRg84XTxqo0rfVBRmbGzsm1EzakUa4qWjuxdSC9eB_I31IN0q-ZeiHlE-6GM94HJc6dUInzqMmgVj5kmh/s1600/ZK1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzu5OthJXnFcwTkyTJokvozjVfhcOcBEN6QZH60LZCdXSRizxDUGXBazuZDKIQRg84XTxqo0rfVBRmbGzsm1EzakUa4qWjuxdSC9eB_I31IN0q-ZeiHlE-6GM94HJc6dUInzqMmgVj5kmh/s320/ZK1.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Since May I have kept my nose to the grindstone. I finished a new spec story that didn’t make it into the latest John Skipp anthology, but Skipp was kind enough to provide some very helpful suggestions to make it stronger, and it is out making the rounds. I had near misses with two SF stories at <i>Redstone SF</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> and at <i>Strange Horizons</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">, and another urban fantasy/SF hybrid is in final consideration at <i>Realms of Fantasy</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">. Fingers crossed.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> I received official word from James Roy Daley that “The Boys in Company Z” will appear in the Books of the Dead Press anthology <i>ZOMBIE KONG</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">, and we all saw the way-cool cover painting by Daniele Serra in June.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I sold another story, “Still Life,” to Andy Cox at TTA Press in the UK for <i>Black Static</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> magazine They also publish the award-winning SF magazine <i>Interzone </i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">and<i> Crimewave</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">. They use some amazing artists and their magazines and books are incredibly beautiful showcases for speculative fiction. Andy sent me a scan of the spread art for my story a week ago (a million thanks to David Gentry, the artist), and it rocks. The story is slated to appear in the August issue. If you like the looks of that, be sure to visit TTA Press at </span><a href="http://ttapress.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">http://ttapress.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> and you can see more of David’s terrific visions at <a href="http://www.sixshards.co.uk/">http://www.sixshards.co.uk</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOB6AaC9sx64YEeG9E5s7damlSdYoRooNAcfg9fhz2XbxemCairiUwDhkIh1B8Hw3ykiiIfyqvdwVRSSlQ7qKvd-AuI9asXWqGGSHyiKLSChyphenhyphenXzy6DhO677Lz0DneCdta3DU4jKRFoO-N/s1600/still-life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOB6AaC9sx64YEeG9E5s7damlSdYoRooNAcfg9fhz2XbxemCairiUwDhkIh1B8Hw3ykiiIfyqvdwVRSSlQ7qKvd-AuI9asXWqGGSHyiKLSChyphenhyphenXzy6DhO677Lz0DneCdta3DU4jKRFoO-N/s640/still-life.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I also sold another short story, “Jesus When The Sun Goes Down,” to Carolina Smart’s <i>BEST NEW WEREWOLF TALES</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">, edited for BOTD Press. That story came very fast and naturally, and was a fun trip down memory lane. It also <i>had</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> to come very fast and naturally because I waited until nearly the submission deadline to write it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">At this year’s World Horror Convention in Austin, I pitched a novel to a couple of indie publishers and there was interest to see samples. I completed 11K words of <i>Wildfire</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> -- the prologue and six chapters -- and one of the publishers has asked when I can complete the entire book. I’m shooting for September. <i>Wildfire</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> is a love letter of sorts to the late Michael Crichton and a blend of very near-future SF, medical thrillers, horror, and hopefully a new take on how zombie-like creatures (us) might refashion the world. A million thanks to Rhodi Hawk, the talented novelist who ran the pitch sessions at WHC.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I also completed a nearly 20K novella commissioned by Roy Daley at BOTD. There are a handful of talented writers involved in this book project, which is going to be so much fun once Roy stitches all the interconnected stories together. I loved writing each tight little action-packed chapter and cramming as much bizarro fun as possible into each one. It felt a lot like scripting a graphic novel; maybe someday the book can be adapted into that format. It is worth mentioning that for a small indie press founded in 2009, Books of the Dead Press is rocking along with a number of collections released and something like eight books in the pipe, including beautiful reissues of Gary Brandner's <i>The Howling</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> series. <i>Best New Zombie Tales Volume 1</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> (containing a reprint of my story, “Connections”) has sold thousands of copies to date and is still trucking. Check them out at <a href="http://booksofthedead.blogspot.com/">http://booksofthedead.blogspot.com</a> or on Amazon, Smashwords, etc. Roy Daley is a novelist and drums in a band (High Heels LoFi <a href="http://www.highheelslofi.com/">http://www.highheelslofi.com</a>).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">So it’s been a busy but amazingly fun spring and summer. It’s blazing hot here in Tulsa -- we’ve had triple-digit heat for several weeks -- so not great for the flowerbeds and grass, but good for the fiction growing out of my ears.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Cheers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-8723721165001863552011-05-20T11:52:00.001-05:002011-05-20T12:02:39.627-05:00World Horror Con and Other News<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
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</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">o a long overdue blog post. It’s been a busy month on many fronts. My wife and I drove south from Tulsa to attend this year’s World Horror Con in Austin, Texas, a seven-hour drive. The Mustang got surprisingly good mileage cruising in sixth gear. We also broke in a new GPS that proved very handy (as long as you program in the location of the correct hotel).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tOJKIIQfkauq5Ux-YEugiM2x8MuqRKfcJF55wzXyL0U0YlOWEpS9ZJR3XzuSOQsWFL9xrGR5t0PLTHHQVX8nF6VytbtUgNflKQAHbGXmvepY73SMPUD13CViD92J2dCzql8R9hx-2v78/s1600/IMG_1519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tOJKIIQfkauq5Ux-YEugiM2x8MuqRKfcJF55wzXyL0U0YlOWEpS9ZJR3XzuSOQsWFL9xrGR5t0PLTHHQVX8nF6VytbtUgNflKQAHbGXmvepY73SMPUD13CViD92J2dCzql8R9hx-2v78/s320/IMG_1519.jpg" width="239" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;">In Austin we met a number of old friends and new ones, including Gary McMahon and John Everson (two terrific writers involved in a book-length project I’m also contributing to), the legendary Peter Straub, Jack Ketchum, Gord Rollo, our old pal John Skipp, who bought my first short story years ago, Scott Edelman, Ian Rogers, the crew from ChiZine books and online magazine, and R.J. Sevin and his wife, Julia, both writers and publishers of Creeping Hemlock Press and the new zombie imprint, Print Is Dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeX3gRHQ_8qi6Q389Mzkgo1k9RXLv69eQgt5hmexgrE5gELV4hLr6egDkbYX-yseBby7ZvGnnVcCuZ9AMu7iV1AcTqcOcaKe3ueSITeYGlvLURrLxHG_csqx5FTHiaJSOAx5_KYyidSZ4/s1600/IMG_1531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeX3gRHQ_8qi6Q389Mzkgo1k9RXLv69eQgt5hmexgrE5gELV4hLr6egDkbYX-yseBby7ZvGnnVcCuZ9AMu7iV1AcTqcOcaKe3ueSITeYGlvLURrLxHG_csqx5FTHiaJSOAx5_KYyidSZ4/s320/IMG_1531.jpg" width="239" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I bought too many books (an oxymoron if I ever heard one), including the latest David Nickle novel and the first volume of Joe Hill’s graphic comic series Locke & Key. We spoke with Joe for a bit and attended a comic book writing panel. Joe is a very well-read, intelligent, funny guy and a talented writer. I’m finishing his second novel, <i>Horns</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">. I highly recommend it. Here’s a guy who could have cashed in on his father’s name years ago but wisely decided to go it alone under a sort-of pseudonym. He wrote several books that were rejected everywhere, learned his craft and developed his own voice, and today is turning out terrific stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">There was a side-splitting edited video shown at the opening of the Mega Zombie author panel on Sunday morning, with great clips from favorite films and several book covers from anthologies containing my stories, which made me smile.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfnbzaUJ1oZKYDQuYppbNm2W2zfFMtlnLvaq6zC-sV1x_UCywdNeRaeQikWKznRMwzNG76mphXKVAyxbOMjku6WQrEPRlinaS5fX5CqQyFJeqfnXJy77A_WlDqHz6557g1FEgRzPnsqII/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-05-20+at+11.44.56+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfnbzaUJ1oZKYDQuYppbNm2W2zfFMtlnLvaq6zC-sV1x_UCywdNeRaeQikWKznRMwzNG76mphXKVAyxbOMjku6WQrEPRlinaS5fX5CqQyFJeqfnXJy77A_WlDqHz6557g1FEgRzPnsqII/s320/Screen+shot+2011-05-20+at+11.44.56+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><a href="http://bit.ly/kjfuUj" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/kjfuUj</a></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Plus, Scott Edelman warmed up the crowd by hurling glow-in-the-dark zombie finger puppets like Mardi Gras doubloons. We now have several adorning our bookshelves.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The late-night parties were fun and the many choices of food in downtown Austin kept our bellies full. The hotel was also hosting about 500 frat boys and their Barbie girlfriends, and their late-night antics kept Scott Edelman entertained throughout his stay. Thankfully they were not rooming next to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzj-DHVqiMvwuOmxVWQcSF41e237Ez2OGE61WR7nry-1wn3dY66pjTszRLyKuN-cqidwYmjDBcrNA5qjnXkeq6ww8yjBLmbTKRw_3I6dEiRpHT3nSb9b_XroNnKW7I67__WP083tkP9F5y/s1600/IMG_1528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzj-DHVqiMvwuOmxVWQcSF41e237Ez2OGE61WR7nry-1wn3dY66pjTszRLyKuN-cqidwYmjDBcrNA5qjnXkeq6ww8yjBLmbTKRw_3I6dEiRpHT3nSb9b_XroNnKW7I67__WP083tkP9F5y/s200/IMG_1528.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">While in Austin I took advantage of a unique opportunity to pitch a novel I had been researching and outlining to two independent publishers (many thanks to <i>A Twisted Ladder</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> author Rhodi Hawk for donating her time and energy to run the WHC Pitch sessions). Both parties asked to see sample chapters, which are nearing completion. With luck, that project may find a home.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgXukEm1oJN3893scCmuAEBYa7-Byc9jIJvoFw-atHshd4W9OCtG3-hKP_GRAqiq1zLJCOyfRs8k0IqoOpDSgogPGT1FXHLb9bFXIe4HrHYoDYoQpqAWnu4rXHIR85EVSRjawoBiN_3u7/s1600/IMG_1549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgXukEm1oJN3893scCmuAEBYa7-Byc9jIJvoFw-atHshd4W9OCtG3-hKP_GRAqiq1zLJCOyfRs8k0IqoOpDSgogPGT1FXHLb9bFXIe4HrHYoDYoQpqAWnu4rXHIR85EVSRjawoBiN_3u7/s200/IMG_1549.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I came away from WHC with the firm impression that there are several independent book publishers out there attracting top existing and new talent, and turning out astoundingly nice books.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Back at the ranch, I had a new story accepted for an upcoming anthology from Apex Books, “Lifeboat” appeared in its Kindle and softcover edition from Apex’s The Zombie Feed imprint, and I received official word that “The Boys in Company Z” will appear in <i>Zombie Kong</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> from writer/editor James Roy Daley’s Books of the Dead Press. The reprint of "Night of the Living Dead Bingo Women" is out in the Kindle edition of <i>Best New Zombie Tales 3</i> on Amazon and Smashwords. I’m also working to complete my novella contribution to another BoTDP project.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Justified season two ended, so I’ve got the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-13731757057589464632011-04-15T23:11:00.000-05:002011-04-15T23:11:35.129-05:00"Lifeboat" Excerpt: THE ZOMBIE FEED VOLUME 1<!--StartFragment--> <br />
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</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia;">omething clanged against the hull. A moment later a large ugly four-pronged hook landed on the decking a dozen feet from where Jack stood.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia;">It was drawn swiftly back on its chain until it caught on the railing; the crew of the Destiny was preparing to board them. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvCRCdCe4wW77jgsK4rW5kN2sAHNUP5TWNkRZhVJAWWtA8XoFBpIe6xIXGsanW9ruL5BkpKzs0bpinzGedYMrEtnpZ285Oykf8t-MELVgv11GLvweGmSl_ZUbIJA3k6rg9zl4LZ9USC7s/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-04-15+at+11.02.12+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvCRCdCe4wW77jgsK4rW5kN2sAHNUP5TWNkRZhVJAWWtA8XoFBpIe6xIXGsanW9ruL5BkpKzs0bpinzGedYMrEtnpZ285Oykf8t-MELVgv11GLvweGmSl_ZUbIJA3k6rg9zl4LZ9USC7s/s320/Screen+shot+2011-04-15+at+11.02.12+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia;">Pops of gunfire erupted but it was impossible to tell from where. Men appeared along the Destiny’s open lounge deck, extending makeshift gangplanks. Jack expected them to scramble across, but the men turned and swiftly climbed the narrow metal access ladders up the sides of the ship’s superstructure. Then the big tinted glass doors in the center slid open, and a wave of infected poured out. Within seconds the huge open space was a sea of jostling bodies and blank pale faces.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia;">They were the boarding party."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia;">-- "LIFEBOAT," <b><i>The Zombie Feed Volume 1 </i></b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia;"><br />
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</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">o the good news: you get to read a new story, and hopefully you’ll enjoy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s one of the longest stories I’ve sold to date (7,000 words), longer than the average <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">People Weekly</i> article, so you may or not be able to read it in a single sitting if you get my drift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But here’s the bad news: you really need to buy an e-book version for your Kindle or other reader, or preorder a softcover physical book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUSdToCPineIde68bTS6bKb0B74csORH2xjYFz1UhyfyD529OcKF7r-X0U7oEsQZxDzT9GNmDXaPil2TxBk19yX6FneboFNe3xHMQ-Y41YldHHMl9bqodZ9DNPc8BX99f-XE3KIrkTufK/s1600/jerk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUSdToCPineIde68bTS6bKb0B74csORH2xjYFz1UhyfyD529OcKF7r-X0U7oEsQZxDzT9GNmDXaPil2TxBk19yX6FneboFNe3xHMQ-Y41YldHHMl9bqodZ9DNPc8BX99f-XE3KIrkTufK/s320/jerk.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">How many of you have read “Quitters Incorporated” by Stephen King (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nightshift</i>) or “The Monkey’s Paw”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Well, here’s the deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a tough, heartless world out there for genre writers and independent publishers like Apex Books and their Zombie Feed imprint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quality is high (I’m talking about the people they’ve published to date, not me) but it’s an uphill battle to win new readers and make ends meet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So drastic measures are sometimes justified.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">So come one, man, spit it out – yes, yes I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">will</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just hard, OK?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like holding a cocked gun on a basket of kittens.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I need all of my friends, family and readers to really consider buying a copy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you like what you read, maybe drop a brief review on Amazon for the book?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">For everyone who does, I am going to insert you by name as a character right into a new story, novella or novel (and there are plenty under construction in the factory).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m offering a small slice of immortality here, people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your name in print.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll recall it made Steve Martin pretty damned excited when the phone books were delivered in “The Jerk.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhCo0GsiX2IPTUkBdKhVA_h2eWNtqm4foshKsMXwuojv_SdnrLkwlQOry-uT6gGoDS8Dyyiv4186z0L_12pIs7HwyNRw4bljIalBf6cY-7VvoTHEnWawOYCzzriKCK9oIgQnmIImaHFM5/s1600/martin2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhCo0GsiX2IPTUkBdKhVA_h2eWNtqm4foshKsMXwuojv_SdnrLkwlQOry-uT6gGoDS8Dyyiv4186z0L_12pIs7HwyNRw4bljIalBf6cY-7VvoTHEnWawOYCzzriKCK9oIgQnmIImaHFM5/s320/martin2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">So what happens if you don’t buy a copy? (And we have our ways of knowing, bwa-haa-haa.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Well, I’ll put you in a story or novel anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this time I will be forced to make you an evil, reprehensible character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably someone who molests hamsters or steals elderly people’s Social Security checks or never puts the toilet seat down. Maybe never <em>flushes.</em> Your name and physical description, natch.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I know, I know, that’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">terrible</i>. Worse than anything Dr. Doom (or Dr. Horrible) has served up.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sigh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please, people, help me here.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Love, Simon</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">P.S. – Here’s how to buy the e-book today or preorder the physical book; if you order the softcover you get a signed copy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bless you all.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">The print version is a couple weeks away, but the digital versions are complete and ready for purchase.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Kindle: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004URS0VA?ie=UTF8&tag=apexsciencfic-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B004URS0VA">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004URS0VA?ie=UTF8&tag=apexsciencfic-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B004URS0VA</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">nook: <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Zombie-Feed-Volume-1/Jason-Sizemore/e/2940012321077">http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Zombie-Feed-Volume-1/Jason-Sizemore/e/2940012321077</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Smashwords: <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50540">http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50540</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Drive Thru Horror: <a href="http://thezombiefeed.biz/tzf-store/the-zombie-feed-vol-i/">http://thezombiefeed.biz/tzf-store/the-zombie-feed-vol-i/</a></span></div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-87024858301296170122011-03-16T15:09:00.000-05:002011-03-16T15:09:41.186-05:00So Long, And Thanks For All The Brains<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">ver wonder what happens after zombies take over the world and eat all the brains? Of course you didn’t, but horror genre writers think about stuff like this all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So did at least one The Zombie Feed / Apex Books reader, and this question recently won a contest staged by the publisher’s marketing manager to generate buzz about their first anthology of stories.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">So once they chose a question from the dozens they received, they asked all the authors to come up with creative answers – and boy howdy did we.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The winning reader question:</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Fast or slow, flesh eaters or those who only eat brains, zombies are always pretty fun. Let’s look at them when they aren’t massing and trapping the last bastions of humanity and reducing them to red smears.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">What do zombies do when there isn’t prey to motivate them? Say “World War Z” level of infestation goes ahead and wipes out humanity, do zombies establish a society? Do they take jobs? Set up daycares? Worry about 401Ks and health insurance? Or do they just sort of sit around and rot away?”</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">To see all the answers by going here:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://thezombiefeed.biz/a-zombie-society-part-2/"><span style="color: purple;">http://thezombiefeed.biz/a-zombie-society-part-2/</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-54738783695028519012011-03-09T20:39:00.002-06:002011-03-13T13:15:58.261-05:00More On The Rise of Self-Publishing<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<tr><td align="left" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 40.9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-linespan: 3; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; page-break-after: avoid; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #00cc99; font-family: 'Gill Sans Ultra Bold'; font-size: 49pt;">T</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">he tsunami that toppled and transformed the music business is capsizing the traditional book publishing industry. Each day more people buy Kindle readers or similar tablet devices. Apple is launching a new iPad. You can buy and read books on your smartphone. Printed books aren’t going away, but sales of e-books are increasing rapidly. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">If you write short stories, novellas and novels, you have more choices and control, too. Twenty years ago when I began writing and selling short fiction, genre and “literary” writers aspired to sell a novel to an established New York City publisher, bask in a decent marketing campaign, connect with readers, and sell a series of lucrative books.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GdIpXAY1qHjUANimyvKTmeAydOEmxryA9XwgcOEqVvHvWqsro8HEIffzjjdyIOTeKuuX8R6MBI8G-1_mYRoraI6f3-bYFWPCtySdElcwKRsQV2mV_YDfiQF5cBMQRKQUWSlghqSUiDLs/s1600/definition-vanity-press-operator-200X200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GdIpXAY1qHjUANimyvKTmeAydOEmxryA9XwgcOEqVvHvWqsro8HEIffzjjdyIOTeKuuX8R6MBI8G-1_mYRoraI6f3-bYFWPCtySdElcwKRsQV2mV_YDfiQF5cBMQRKQUWSlghqSUiDLs/s1600/definition-vanity-press-operator-200X200.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Today the major print publishers are pulling back, spending less on writers and marketing, and trying to decide how to market e-books. There’s a lot of uncertainty. Agents are fleeing the business as it contracts. Large booksellers are filing for bankruptcy protection.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I keep reading about writers who have decided that they can earn more by working with independent publishers – or in some cases, by publishing and marketing their own books. And we're not talking about the seamy world of vanity publishing. Many of these writers have worked with or are working with print publishers, but they're publishing additional titles or their backlist themselves. And it appears that they earn a lot more net income than by selling novels to the traditional NYC publishers. As more experienced writers go this route, a small cottage industry of copy-editors, book designers and cover artists are selling their services. So if you’re a talented writer and you have editing skill, and you hire someone to create professional and compelling cover art, it’s possible to bypass an agent, editor and publisher (and the sales and marketing department) and self-publish a book that with work and determination could easily earn more in royalties than a traditional hardback or paperback original.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">No guarantees, but it is being done. Read this blog and others; the revolution has already begun….</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: purple;">http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-91472651666927707942011-03-07T14:28:00.001-06:002011-03-07T14:31:49.867-06:00Question: Why Did The Zombie Cross The Road?<div style="mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-linespan: 3; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-height-rule: exactly;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody>
<tr><td align="left" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;" valign="top"><div style="line-height: 41.35pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-linespan: 3; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; page-break-after: avoid; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Gill Sans Ultra Bold"; font-size: 49.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-text-raise: -5.5pt;">T</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">o win a free book, silly! And maybe to eat someone's brain. The Zombie Feed will be releasing its first anthology of new undead fiction in a month or so, and they've announced a fun little contest to give away some books and acquaint readers with the authors, including yours truly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Readers and zombie fans are being asked to submit the one burning question they’ve always wanted to ask the warped, deranged chroniclers of the Living Dead.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSFD8VMO5VsWsHt4m64V1dGUMJyniNgm_Cn-NqpWhV58i_HpqFE7MBI7mPM5jFCFdSMt28S6WJB7llwpbUSbDlZBGl0g7pgV93GHKQzQQC6nvbRDk37zGcCL8G6g6RYMHRV0EcAiSn3Zx/s1600/BEWARE_THE_ZOMBIE_CHICKEN_by_matthewdunnart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSFD8VMO5VsWsHt4m64V1dGUMJyniNgm_Cn-NqpWhV58i_HpqFE7MBI7mPM5jFCFdSMt28S6WJB7llwpbUSbDlZBGl0g7pgV93GHKQzQQC6nvbRDk37zGcCL8G6g6RYMHRV0EcAiSn3Zx/s320/BEWARE_THE_ZOMBIE_CHICKEN_by_matthewdunnart.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">There are no rules, so it’s hard to disqualify yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Make it scary or make it hilarious. Make it sophisticated or outrageous. Entertain us and you will be picked.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I will give you one pretty solid hint. There's one question you must at all costs avoid asking a writer: “Where do you get your ideas?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">We don't know, and we're only going to make up something stupid if you insist on asking.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Leave your question at The Zombie Feed site (link below) as a comment under the post. TZF editors will sift through all the questions and select their favorite, then post answers from all the anthology contributors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The winner will receive an autographed copy of the book from editor Jason Sizemore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So go ahead and ask me anything, and let’s keep it clean, people.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Actually, no matter what the winning question is, I think I'm going to answer with the opening line from Garcia Marquez's <em>One Hundred Years of Solitude</em>: </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">"<em>Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice."</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The contest ends on Thursday, March the 10th at precisely 23:59 EST.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://bit.ly/ffJhja" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/ffJhja</a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-68672382206833325822011-02-22T10:58:00.000-06:002011-02-22T10:58:51.238-06:00No Agent Required: Del Rey / Spectra Launches Contest for Novelists<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<tr><td align="left" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 40.9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-linespan: 3; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; page-break-after: avoid; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Gill Sans Ultra Bold"; font-size: 49pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-text-raise: -5.5pt;"><span style="color: blue;">I</span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">n the footsteps of Angry Robot, the editorial staff of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Del Rey / Spectra</b> (imprints of Random House) have announced the Suvudu Writing Contest for aspiring novelists of “science fiction, fantasy, horror, or paranormal romance” with a completed manuscript but no literary agent.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Most <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">New York</place></state> publishers do not accept submissions except from literary agents so they don’t have to staff for the arduous work of delving through roomfuls of slush. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Del Rey/Spectra staff will accept submissions from now through March 18, 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Entries must be previously unpublished manuscripts of 50,000 to no more than 150,000 words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have self-published your novel via Smashwords or other online site, those works do not qualify.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrhIxIO-FfXRCB2-Jsuq42CvFcZJO_e3-fXDnx8I6COq4aa8dqi3mZ05xIRBvuG7k6-p4wtbEJj6Gsf4Dbol6E8EhetNx3Okq7zoBx-H_zsjmjcqldh_rM7T8yn-1Mw_-VvEzidD2Zdg6/s1600/103952785_131321371e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrhIxIO-FfXRCB2-Jsuq42CvFcZJO_e3-fXDnx8I6COq4aa8dqi3mZ05xIRBvuG7k6-p4wtbEJj6Gsf4Dbol6E8EhetNx3Okq7zoBx-H_zsjmjcqldh_rM7T8yn-1Mw_-VvEzidD2Zdg6/s320/103952785_131321371e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Submissions will be judged on the basis of originality, creativity, and writing style. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judging period is described as several months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The winning submission will receive a full edit by Betsy Mitchell, Editor-in-Chief of Del Rey Publishing, and the novel will be considered for publication. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So not a guarantee, but it’s likely that Ms. Mitchell isn’t going to do all that work and reject the final book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No details are given regarding advances and pay for an accepted novel, but the fine print of the rules lists the grand prize "value" at $2,250.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It is not clear whether that is the estimated value of the full edit by Ms. Mitchell or the Del Rey advance if the novel is published. </span>Three runners-up will be awarded sets of books from the Del Rey/Spectra line.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Submissions are to be sent electronically – see the first website link below.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Winners will be announced on May 18, 2011.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The contest is open only to legal residents of the <country-region w:st="on">United States</country-region> (a little odd since there are lots of talented new writers in Canada and around the world), excluding <place w:st="on">Puerto Rico</place>, who are age 18 and over as of January 18, 2011. </span></div><br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/dMimP8">http://bit.ly/dMimP8</a><br />
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Full Contest Rules:<br />
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<a href="http://suvudu.com/edreview/rules.html">http://suvudu.com/edreview/rules.html</a>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-67929304076454515692011-02-21T14:51:00.001-06:002011-02-21T14:53:38.123-06:00THE ZOMBIE FEED Available for Pre-Order (and a Signing Offer)<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div style="mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-linespan: 3; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-height-rule: exactly;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody>
<tr> <td align="left" style="padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 40.9pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-linespan: 3; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; page-break-after: avoid;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Gill Sans Ultra Bold'; font-size: 49pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">hat would you do if a zombie plague were unleashed upon the world while you were on vacation, a passenger on one of those mammoth new mega-cruiseships James Bond would have felt at home aboard?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">That was the thought I had last summer while my wife and I sailed through the Caribbean on our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. How would the crew and passengers survive? Could order be preserved? What new social dynamics would emerge? What threats? If given a choice to remain on the ship -- a new ark of sorts -- would you stay, or disembark to take your chances?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9oXV_TrAMM07TeQI27h-bP16o5o9OhFLqHtJsPx8yfcwu2yvZAmShwipuS-F-KiXBsN6fQ8o02I-GzmiZnOxiGqMAFrC8RcMxzRUFILGEY5SeiH9tzUJN2BgtMoJKlF7xonksZk2dY_Q/s1600/ZombieFeed_frontcvr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9oXV_TrAMM07TeQI27h-bP16o5o9OhFLqHtJsPx8yfcwu2yvZAmShwipuS-F-KiXBsN6fQ8o02I-GzmiZnOxiGqMAFrC8RcMxzRUFILGEY5SeiH9tzUJN2BgtMoJKlF7xonksZk2dY_Q/s400/ZombieFeed_frontcvr.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Late last year I wrote the story, “Lifeboat,” and happily it will be appearing soon in a new anthology by Bram Stoker Award nominee and writer/editor Jason Sizemore, <i>THE ZOMBIE FEED Volume 1.</i> I saw an announcement today that they are taking preorders now, and those who order early will receive a signed copy from Jason.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://thezombiefeed.biz/">http://thezombiefeed.biz/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">My signature’s not about to get the folks at Christie’s Auctions excited, but anyone who buys this book and would like my autograph, I will be glad to oblige (it would be my honor). Contact me via email or Facebook, and mail me your copy. I will sign and pay for the return shipping as a thank-you for supporting my work and Apex Books / TZF.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">There are a lot of zombie novels and short story collections available right now, so the trick is coming up with new interesting settings, characters and twists. Besides an isolated life on the high seas, I had been thinking about the source of the infection. I decided that for this story, a runaway bloodstream nano-machine swarm coupled with a bioengineered virus intended to fight dementia and Alzheimer’s disease might be interesting. I plugged that concept into “Lifeboat” but didn’t really delve into the details. But I am working on a novel, “Wildfire,” where this concept is central and I delve into the science and physiological impacts pretty extensively.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">When the book is completed I will hopefully find an interested publisher!<o:p></o:p></span></div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-44624455748779052882011-02-12T17:36:00.000-06:002011-02-12T17:36:03.468-06:00Great Sequels They'll Never Make<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSG-YUFtN8CT6ySsR_PnZcGJ9-E0u0pZQ1cj8THrUqWHIpnCApbMlL3GW2xPgy3m6__ynWmObgKE-_asos5KTActusgGmaIKkYOV4cxSiFTeLh75ahkiOI_nI9lFge8K9QcTDO2fEPaVsR/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-12+at+5.27.22+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSG-YUFtN8CT6ySsR_PnZcGJ9-E0u0pZQ1cj8THrUqWHIpnCApbMlL3GW2xPgy3m6__ynWmObgKE-_asos5KTActusgGmaIKkYOV4cxSiFTeLh75ahkiOI_nI9lFge8K9QcTDO2fEPaVsR/s640/Screen+shot+2011-02-12+at+5.27.22+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-74983031719899292342011-02-11T23:27:00.000-06:002011-02-11T23:27:21.422-06:00Click on The Pic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKvtVyifODfD12-LkEgbkal37tj9VQsAK7WW9aOfiSqS1SZfnuTxPGlWaMcpD9lVXAuvKJVoUAWhyV6dgE1apgelDBZXjfP49CULZTDCdHVE2mJxxCbfbqdD2_4y3BvSaPGmOVyuaLBY6/s1600/tumblr_ldanjctWFn1qe92s4o1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKvtVyifODfD12-LkEgbkal37tj9VQsAK7WW9aOfiSqS1SZfnuTxPGlWaMcpD9lVXAuvKJVoUAWhyV6dgE1apgelDBZXjfP49CULZTDCdHVE2mJxxCbfbqdD2_4y3BvSaPGmOVyuaLBY6/s1600/tumblr_ldanjctWFn1qe92s4o1_500.gif" /></a></div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-72513554689431090192011-01-27T13:26:00.003-06:002011-01-27T14:03:58.549-06:00I Write, Therefore I Revise<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<tr><td align="left" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 40.9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-linespan: 3; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; page-break-after: avoid; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #ff9900; font-family: "Gill Sans Ultra Bold"; font-size: 49pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-text-raise: -5.5pt;">V</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">ery interesting series of blog entries about revising fiction over on WRITE NOW, Steven R. Boyett's blog about writing and a zillion other things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We writers spend hours and hours (and drafts) poring over our latest novel or short piece, trying to refine it and make the finished product come even close to that radiant vision that flashed through our imagination.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2rTxjjkCbIwmlw1xnhgYK01xSCir1zk8cAF_AeuBksEMOVUzoqUf0Y7zrV2TsrXIm8dtNZyZYW_L4OF2KbZ4tc2d0pRAd_ewthOOnT0naLp7nnN9d8kfKE5q1hTn_BHpaNjjJBNkAMqG/s1600/elegy-beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2rTxjjkCbIwmlw1xnhgYK01xSCir1zk8cAF_AeuBksEMOVUzoqUf0Y7zrV2TsrXIm8dtNZyZYW_L4OF2KbZ4tc2d0pRAd_ewthOOnT0naLp7nnN9d8kfKE5q1hTn_BHpaNjjJBNkAMqG/s320/elegy-beach.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You edit for spelling, typos, grammar and style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You edit for tone and the voice of each character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You edit for pacing and crispness of dialog. You omit needless words and prune "the fact that" as often as possible to appease the ghosts of messrs. Strunk and White. You drive a stake through the undead heart of the passive voice.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You edit, and edit and edit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isaac Asimov once claimed in an interview that he never edited his multitude of stories and novels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just wrote them and, bam, done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tend to believe this was a bit of self-PR.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Or perhaps my memory is bad. </span>It’s hard to imagine someone able to do that. Gort, maybe, or Kal-El.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Steven Boyett is an accomplished short story and novel author, well worth checking out.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.steveboy.com/blog/?p=1971"><span style="color: navy;">http://www.steveboy.com/blog/?p=1971</span></a></span></div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-60334790784359686332011-01-27T12:05:00.000-06:002011-01-27T12:05:57.286-06:00God Lost a Hubcap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_-PrpBXABQINE9i5KnuMOucI1MOm2H5twtkxY4-VZOy_amEU6hgoijXI_8_CS9lpATiz87ucgSQnKA8tBie8qYUms-7eYfFmsULWVegqxAI3dn2RMcQRpuX5AMPzm__lXg9D9Vkq37-c/s1600/Hubcap.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_-PrpBXABQINE9i5KnuMOucI1MOm2H5twtkxY4-VZOy_amEU6hgoijXI_8_CS9lpATiz87ucgSQnKA8tBie8qYUms-7eYfFmsULWVegqxAI3dn2RMcQRpuX5AMPzm__lXg9D9Vkq37-c/s400/Hubcap.png" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV-qBXE0tl8D1XeJhWx6sst39vXGDNYqts3CTxMJiC-eCiawjZg0e777mgqWisC4I1shLlx01F9dbbgA2R6TlhaPC2xiV9HiqTWQRgvLWrgoNIri4VnNNbl5s4WUDGNdzLMknn-gAOKWd/s1600/hubcap2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV-qBXE0tl8D1XeJhWx6sst39vXGDNYqts3CTxMJiC-eCiawjZg0e777mgqWisC4I1shLlx01F9dbbgA2R6TlhaPC2xiV9HiqTWQRgvLWrgoNIri4VnNNbl5s4WUDGNdzLMknn-gAOKWd/s320/hubcap2.png" width="313" /></a></div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-20055231216438863922011-01-27T10:20:00.002-06:002011-01-27T10:20:54.191-06:00Highbrow Zombie Humor (Sort Of)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuBXZphHK0SAfR0NJSc81L1cd2MbcS12RSyLk-lp1xQBlKir3zlvqoZYVbJODc_-UTFAWw_fxdheumt5sMZMf6bspYNU-wal_LgvFJMZ7RBU6EQt76Wi-iEuXTj57H_3d-e-VDdGfGlse/s1600/tumblr_lfoaxpEdb01qfq1svo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuBXZphHK0SAfR0NJSc81L1cd2MbcS12RSyLk-lp1xQBlKir3zlvqoZYVbJODc_-UTFAWw_fxdheumt5sMZMf6bspYNU-wal_LgvFJMZ7RBU6EQt76Wi-iEuXTj57H_3d-e-VDdGfGlse/s1600/tumblr_lfoaxpEdb01qfq1svo1_500.jpg" /></a></div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-1046944918935859112011-01-26T11:36:00.000-06:002011-01-26T11:36:02.215-06:00I Vant To Read This New Anthology<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<tr><td align="left" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 40.9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-linespan: 3; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; page-break-after: avoid; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Gill Sans Ultra Bold"; font-size: 49pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 48.0pt; mso-text-raise: -5.5pt;">B</span></b></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;">ooks of the Dead</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"> press has released a terrific compendium of classic and hard-to-find vampire tales, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Best New Vampire Tales</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s available on Smashwords for the e-reader and iPad crowd, and should be available soon in physical book form. I love the cover art.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;">This tome includes a stellar list of authors, including some folks (Matt Hults, Alan Smale and others) you should read if you’re not familiar with their work:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Bram Stoker Award Nominee, <strong>Michael Laimo<br />
</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Bram Stoker Award Winner, <strong>David Niall Wilson<br />
</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Authorlink New Author Award Winner,<strong> Tim Waggoner <br />
</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Bram Stoker Award Winner, <strong>John Everson<br />
</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">International Horror Guild Nominee, <strong>Don Webb<br />
</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">British Fantasy Award, Science Fiction Award Nominee, <strong>Jay Caselberg<br />
</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Speculative Literature Foundation award nominee, <strong>Colleen Anderson<br />
</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Bram Stoker Award Nominee, <strong>Alan Smale<br />
</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Arthur Ellis Award Winner, <strong>Nancy Kilpatrick</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyvUNpd0xe9kTmUqOYBL4lpLtRtfsSdbijYro-A8PByaZptOsLaIkzFLv3MW9qnNyOUUN2cft9s5PRUHKko0FN_cQzClfxYWJfQ6ogIEQR1nht28apBSPIxzzZJ3kKQ4FXY8ShxhsbmjK/s1600/BestNewVampireTales_Q_new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyvUNpd0xe9kTmUqOYBL4lpLtRtfsSdbijYro-A8PByaZptOsLaIkzFLv3MW9qnNyOUUN2cft9s5PRUHKko0FN_cQzClfxYWJfQ6ogIEQR1nht28apBSPIxzzZJ3kKQ4FXY8ShxhsbmjK/s400/BestNewVampireTales_Q_new.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: large;">The complete TOC:</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Michael Laimo - Banalica<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">James Newman - The New Racism <br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Steve Vernon - Moving Lines<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Tim Waggoner - Preserver <br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">John Everson - When Barrettes Brought Justice<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Donn Webb - 13 Lines<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">John F.D. TAFF - Cold Calls<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Barbara Roden - Endless Nights<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">John L. French - A New House<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Fredrick Obermeyer - The Verbpire<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">William Meikle - Morning Sickness<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Scott Harper - Flotsam<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">David Niall Wilson - A Candle Lit In Sunlight<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">David M. Fitzpatrick - Sabbatarian <br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Alan Smale - Bridges<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Jay Caselberg - Window Across the Street<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Rycke Foreman - A Sunset so Glorious<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Matt Hults - Through the <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">Valley</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Death</placename></place></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Colleen Anderson - Lover’s Triangle<br />
Nancy Kilpatrick - Farm Wife<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Preview: Matt Hults - <em>Husk</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Preview: James Roy Daley - <place w:st="on"><em><placename w:st="on">Terror</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Town</placetype></em></place></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Wish I had a story in there, but I think I’ve only written a single vampire story ever, and it wasn’t the greatest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But hat’s off to these fine writer for sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’ve enjoyed the stellar anthologies from Ellen Datlow or the eclectic mix of older releases like <em>The Ultimate Dracula,</em> you'll enjoy this collection.<em> </em> As a bonus you get a preview of Hults's <em>Husk</em> and Roy's novel, <em>Terror Town</em>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><em>Best New Vampire Tales</em> now on Smashwords! </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #ff3300; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://bit.ly/hcTqAt" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff3300;">http://bit.ly/hcTqAt</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></div></div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-34578750127789330092011-01-25T11:44:00.003-06:002011-01-26T11:53:56.455-06:00Becoming a Zombie for Your Art<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 200%;">hen things are rolling and the words are flowing, you don’t want to stop writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if you’ve been at the Mac for two hours and counting and you’ve missed all the drama on “The Bachelor” and you’ve provided zero encouragement to the poor bastards being tortured for our voyeuristic pleasure on “The Biggest Loser” (“Pull<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> harder!</i> That 737 has barely moved!”).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 200%;">When you’re in the zone, you don’t want to stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Writing fiction is a terrific natural high (when things are going well), and you’ll have time to feel guilty later when you realize you’ve neglected your beautiful wife and your kiddos <em>again</em> – though ours have grown to be full-scale crazy humans.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheM_0IqtmHzow3pUqIKi5brLcizy_IprvPDQq29AVjKhLGPTl3eShxBpwPIjQlxgtfhZaJtR-1tcBA8QJI-g6KHS8NNBhNsIZCUmfeYgXrsD4FVWVXqAHIRjudUgVJjSwqI-ZHcz8QvV1O/s1600/tumblr_lf6hovk8Fl1qefuawo1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheM_0IqtmHzow3pUqIKi5brLcizy_IprvPDQq29AVjKhLGPTl3eShxBpwPIjQlxgtfhZaJtR-1tcBA8QJI-g6KHS8NNBhNsIZCUmfeYgXrsD4FVWVXqAHIRjudUgVJjSwqI-ZHcz8QvV1O/s320/tumblr_lf6hovk8Fl1qefuawo1_500.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 200%;">Last night I sat down to finish the final scene of a new story while the iron is hot, and when I was done (and finished entering some edits), it was one in the a.m. on a weeknight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yikes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 200%;">But until that story draft or chapter is completed, you’re compelled to keep at it, because if you get lazy (“Pull harder, that semi has to go <em>all the way</em> up the hill!”) the images and voices in your head start to grow hazy and dissolve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t keep pecking away, the whole terrific idea can fade, lose its jazz, maybe never to return.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 200%;">That’s a hundred times more frightening to a writer than the next rejection slip.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 200%;">Thankfully, though she rightfully grumbles, my wife supports me and lets me get away with the occasional murder (of our free time together).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kids are the same, though they don’t always like me hogging the Mac.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s hoping that you have the same support system.</span></div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-60802013953628158422011-01-23T22:56:00.001-06:002011-01-24T11:14:46.261-06:00What Does a (Living Dead) Book Publisher Look For?<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt;">ou can probably guess the answer -- a terrific story, characters that readers will grow to care about, and a good sense of pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strong, spare writing and unpredictable plot twists are nice attributes, too.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt;">Whether you’re new to the profession or a veteran fiction writer, your toolkit had better include determination, a thick hide, and the humility to absorb criticism and rejection with a positive attitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check your ego at the coat closet (and tip the hat girl a few bucks).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of all have <i>fun</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt;"> and give every story your all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If conjuring up new tales is torture, you need a different hobby.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHqgfAG0apqLlFmIHsKSo0uRAmGHlb19ybIvU3vK8bW6Bt6XbsT4hvzrDG98Sh4skP5berwuJyf5Oc9TCQMDdrMGEcXX78izPsFVgQSeX3aiHKlzAI7ByR-q_caFBEK5CUkiSEX-OY-C1/s1600/%2521B4jF%252BNwBmk%257E%2524%2528KGrHqMOKi8E%2529IIIdT8DBMqQDZBTdQ%257E%257E_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHqgfAG0apqLlFmIHsKSo0uRAmGHlb19ybIvU3vK8bW6Bt6XbsT4hvzrDG98Sh4skP5berwuJyf5Oc9TCQMDdrMGEcXX78izPsFVgQSeX3aiHKlzAI7ByR-q_caFBEK5CUkiSEX-OY-C1/s320/%2521B4jF%252BNwBmk%257E%2524%2528KGrHqMOKi8E%2529IIIdT8DBMqQDZBTdQ%257E%257E_12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt;">The great fiction editors work their asses off and pour their passion into every project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re not content to treat their books and anthology projects like hack-work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each one is like a child.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt;">Follow this link to editor/writer </span><span style="color: purple; font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i>James Roy Daley’s</i></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt;"> blog about what editors seek in professional writers -- and what drives them nuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some solid advice here.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt;"><a href="http://bit.ly/gE6ob9">http://bit.ly/gE6ob9</a></span></div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-18663806984190005492011-01-21T22:33:00.002-06:002011-01-23T23:00:23.680-06:00One Door Closes, and Another Opens<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">his afternoon while working on my novel, I received a rejection email from </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Asimov’s Science Fiction</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> for a story (“The Cristóbal Effect”). Certainly not the first I’ve received from the kind Sheila Williams, and I will not relent in my mission to sell her a story. All roads lead to the Tower. While I was preparing that story for submission to another</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">science fiction magazine (you have to snailmail a hardcopy manuscript to this one), I received another email from bestselling writer-slash-editor-slash-screenwriter-slash-filmmaker John Skipp. John was kind enough to extend an invitation to submit a story for consideration in an upcoming anthology of new and reprinted fiction he is editing for a themed October 2011 publication.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you write fiction as a career or at night after your day-job, like me, you </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">must</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> maintain a positive attitude and work ethic. You are going to receive your share of rejections (no matter how many professional sales you've racked up), but. . .another opportunity will avail itself.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sVuZ1BAZOQP4ZBF0KQuurR6s_h7e5HSdC1tj_w5WmtuQX13TZUmPNp8JpXBExLURGDroOKx7el34v__CubktMkXM0iCnaqYGxbaXZXrQAnp7-IIJVO1l7RTgAAwlrJp70e-B4_mNWCci/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-21+at+10.07.47+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sVuZ1BAZOQP4ZBF0KQuurR6s_h7e5HSdC1tj_w5WmtuQX13TZUmPNp8JpXBExLURGDroOKx7el34v__CubktMkXM0iCnaqYGxbaXZXrQAnp7-IIJVO1l7RTgAAwlrJp70e-B4_mNWCci/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-21+at+10.07.47+PM.png" width="251" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you’ve read Skipp’s recently released </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Werewolves and Shape Shifters: Encounters with the Beasts Within</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> and last year’s successful</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Zombies: Encounters With The Hungry Dead</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, both published by Black Dog & Leventhal ( </span><a href="http://bit.ly/gNy5aQ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://bit.ly/gNy5aQ</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> and </span><a href="http://bit.ly/h8mqQE"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://bit.ly/h8mqQE</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> ), the new anthology promises to be an amazing collection, and I was thrilled to be even given the opportunity to submit a story. The book will undoubtedly be chockfull of superb talent. I’m excited!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But like the last themed anthology I wrote a story for, I wondered, as I read the detailed guidelines, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">can I come up with an idea exciting enough to fire up the engines?</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Within thirty minutes I had my “what-if” idea, main protagonist, working title and a story arc. The little guys in the basement who kick up ideas are at DEFCON 1 alert these days, and I am very, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">very</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> grateful for that. The deadline to submit a story for this book is tight, but I’ve already started. I’ve got an even shot if I work hard, and that is all a writer can ever ask for -- the opportunity to contribute. The rest is up to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvrDI6joGDpywkGYbo0nGLPMwufI8YeSwPOr-qJ6BE1Qy7yyvtSZZWqpHJuHw6QnvFJOTOIQJrSENKAk2Qp0Ov_rQPa0JH1_yCYL4f17ZJ7Aj5nnJHkQlkIc9RGKIerFAClYY4qF9DWyA/s1600/spore_full_by_john_skipp_and_cody_goodfellow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvrDI6joGDpywkGYbo0nGLPMwufI8YeSwPOr-qJ6BE1Qy7yyvtSZZWqpHJuHw6QnvFJOTOIQJrSENKAk2Qp0Ov_rQPa0JH1_yCYL4f17ZJ7Aj5nnJHkQlkIc9RGKIerFAClYY4qF9DWyA/s320/spore_full_by_john_skipp_and_cody_goodfellow.jpg" width="210" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you aren’t familiar with the work of John Skipp, get your hands on a copy of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Spore</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> (his latest novel co-written with Cody Goodfellow). You can even order a signed slipcase special edition for a very reasonable price ( </span><a href="http://bit.ly/gXOyPO"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://bit.ly/gXOyPO</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> ). Skipp’s classic novel of ecological horror, written with Craig Spector, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Bridge</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, was also recently re-released (I re-read it and it is well worth the dough), along with </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Light at the End</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> ( </span><a href="http://amzn.to/dIm42u"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://amzn.to/dIm42u</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> and </span><a href="http://amzn.to/gwNnYu"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://amzn.to/gwNnYu</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> ).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The multi-author novel I mentioned a couple of weeks ago with Books of the Dead Press is gearing up, so my writing plate, happily, if overflowing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">More news on this project as things unfold.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-51009466475727616262011-01-19T14:29:00.004-06:002011-01-27T11:06:27.946-06:00Don't Ignore Quality Independent Book Publishers<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">riting the next great novella or novel-length tale of the zombie apocalypse? Apex Books’s micro press, The Zombie Feed, is looking for manuscript samples for publication. New guidelines and payment details are via the link below.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIudIJb_f-5B6xvSPUFeKXM9vwJqeVb_gVKJyQWIVfqN614GPbCbB9rm0I8hH3V0fnOex_yl7YZmn0-BiQwcwgof4gNHpTJdcArYKKACyBOHr6720SuGCOiT9B4CczNTCyw_Sz8EJzoKM/s1600/327577395_991a9ab4e4_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="150" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIudIJb_f-5B6xvSPUFeKXM9vwJqeVb_gVKJyQWIVfqN614GPbCbB9rm0I8hH3V0fnOex_yl7YZmn0-BiQwcwgof4gNHpTJdcArYKKACyBOHr6720SuGCOiT9B4CczNTCyw_Sz8EJzoKM/s200/327577395_991a9ab4e4_z.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">TZF is testing the digital publishing waters like a lot of other web-enabled start-ups vs. the traditional NYC publishing machine. In the 1990s a favorite over-used dot.com expression was “paradigm shift.” Back then, paradigms were shifting like the </span><place w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">San Andreas Fault</span></place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. I wanted to print and sell bumper stickers that read: I BRAKE FOR PARADIGM SHIFTS.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But publishing really is undergoing a huge shift in how books come to the market and how much authors earn. My thoughts as I learn more:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Assuming you have talent and a cracking good story to tell</span></span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, your chances of being published are better today than in the past quarter century. The “Print On Demand” manufacturing model (POD), consumer adoption of web-enabled bookselling (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, etc.), and growing number of quality independent publishers mean that you don’t necessarily have to be the one-in-a-million lottery winner at a major NYC publisher.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Time, Shelf Life and Money</span></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">With independent publishers, the time it takes for your book to move from manuscript to the printed page is dramatically reduced. The timeline to see your accepted novel arrive in a bookstore is 1.5 years or longer at most NYC publishers.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Possessing an agent is not necessary to sell your novel. At all major legacy publishing houses an agent </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">is</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> required, because major imprints no longer want to expend capital and manpower to read slush. But if an agent shops your novel they will stop to read it.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What about the imagined prestige, and huge distribution machine of the NYC publishing house? Well…. Sure, you always dreamed of seeing your novel as a handsome jacketed hardback from Simon & Schuster or Harper Collins. Who wouldn’t? But many independent publishers create beautiful, professional editions (<strong><span style="color: red;">Cemetery Dance</span></strong>, <strong><span style="color: red;">Apex</span></strong>, <strong><span style="color: red;">Books of the Dead Press</span></strong>, <span style="color: red;"><strong>Subterranean</strong></span>, etc.). And these days, new hardbacks and paperbacks produced by NYC publishers don’t stay on shelves very long at all. A new novel may be here and gone, “out-of-print,” in a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">very</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> short period of time.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But if you sell your novel to a quality independent publisher, your book may never go out of print. Interested readers can buy it online for months and perhaps years to come. That is a huge change over the legacy model!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iMnhYwvYdIy3B3gr3wQuxfakC3X4BOaQfPaldCTJNhe33H8Ojyv5F52XKpvJ3-WF_LGk39j54fAhTtBlj36OcinU9RnKOHX5UPe7zLvBBoxgOKQBdkCtCKXrmOQ-xaVuQrWtcdjsS8N6/s1600/imagesCA9Y7QWV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iMnhYwvYdIy3B3gr3wQuxfakC3X4BOaQfPaldCTJNhe33H8Ojyv5F52XKpvJ3-WF_LGk39j54fAhTtBlj36OcinU9RnKOHX5UPe7zLvBBoxgOKQBdkCtCKXrmOQ-xaVuQrWtcdjsS8N6/s1600/imagesCA9Y7QWV.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And then there is the money. Many first-time novelists are thrilled when their book is purchased by the NYC publisher, but the pay is very low. That novel you took six months or a year (or longer) to craft pays $2,500-$3,000 advance against royalties. No adjustments for the past 15 years of inflation. And you get paid in installments as it creeps toward publication. And odds are you’ll never see any royalties. And despite it vanishing from shelves almost immediately after it arrives, if your first two or three books don’t earn out, the publisher may drop you (it’s happened to friends).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Many reputable micro and independent publishers pay very small advances, but the writer earns a better share of royalties for every book sold. And if you’re not kicking back 15 to 25% or more to an agent or packager, you might end up earning the equivalent of the NYC advance or more. You will receive X% of royalties on physical books ordered and ~40% of all electronic sales (Kindle, Smashwords, etc.). And those dollars come straight to you, not via quarterly royalty statements from the finance department of a major publisher.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I’m doing a lot of reading and research, but so far, this is what I’m finding. If you write fiction it truly is a Brave New World.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://thezombiefeed.biz/new-guidelines-for-novella-and-novel-submission/#comments"><span style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://thezombiefeed.biz/new-guidelines-for-novella-and-novel-submission/#comments</span></span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-37768362389604153912011-01-16T17:08:00.001-06:002011-01-16T17:11:11.872-06:00We Love The Bomb, You Betcha<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMw13v6qT1YRr-f4GqxrKaxCGE4fJd7FGM3bqh7i8mF1JKXeGP4N_wqQ3XKenBIS8Wid9su-ODOAtyujVErdxWBZ-9iR4VwTW01jeVbmBUfiMxvk4OY1R53eIkL51UPu6qVEPVjFRG_7i/s1600/strangelove.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMw13v6qT1YRr-f4GqxrKaxCGE4fJd7FGM3bqh7i8mF1JKXeGP4N_wqQ3XKenBIS8Wid9su-ODOAtyujVErdxWBZ-9iR4VwTW01jeVbmBUfiMxvk4OY1R53eIkL51UPu6qVEPVjFRG_7i/s640/strangelove.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 22pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 22pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>“Mr. President, I’m not saying we wouldn’t get our hair mussed. But I do say no more than ten to twenty million killed, tops.”</i></b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt;"><i>Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt;"><i><br />
</i></span></div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-7934278230008672282011-01-13T20:59:00.004-06:002011-01-24T17:35:52.433-06:00Brains...And Bingo?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
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<tr><td align="left" style="padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 61.35pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-linespan: 3; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; page-break-after: avoid;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Gill Sans Ultra Bold"; font-size: 65.5pt;">O</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">ne of the things I’ve always loved about zombie stories is the diversity of settings. How people cope with the Ultimate Monster. It’s not always screaming and running, or barricading the windows and doors.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">In 1989 I was a writer/editor for a modest gambling magazine (I would eventually graduate to managing editor and oversee production of two fishing titles and <i>Golf Illustrated).</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> Before the Lotto and proliferation of full-size casinos in the Tulsa area, there was only the Creek Nation Bingo Hall on Riverside Avenue. It was suggested that I go there and write a story for the magazine about the modern face of bingo -- see firsthand what transpires inside a mammoth bingo hall on a Wednesday at, say, 2 p.m.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpG7zRUY3Y1iLm3ZnWyXcd9DNDNgcolqv8b0dVjeZEfz-LqSXzmrc7vB5WWRae7IKxzntaAjXL-j3Aau1h0vvOdcOtCqfDFt2KgbG9B3cUFLt7_zSOAReONh5DiZ8tRXdH_y3YbMIOf0s/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpG7zRUY3Y1iLm3ZnWyXcd9DNDNgcolqv8b0dVjeZEfz-LqSXzmrc7vB5WWRae7IKxzntaAjXL-j3Aau1h0vvOdcOtCqfDFt2KgbG9B3cUFLt7_zSOAReONh5DiZ8tRXdH_y3YbMIOf0s/s1600/images.jpeg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I arrived with my trusty reporter’s notebook and my Canon, ready to gather details and gauge the quickened pulse of high-stakes bingo. Men and women of all ages lined the long tables, using colored ink daubers to blot away at half a dozen bingo cards. Except they weren’t cards, but pink grids printed on long sheets of paper. There were many patterns to complete to win progressively larger jackpots (“The Kite or “Crazy T”). The Creek Indian caller drew Ping-Pong balls from a Plexiglas hopper and the players all stared feverishly down at their playing sheets, muttering and daubing away, while stuffing themselves with deep-fried burritos, ice cream and soft drinks.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">At some point I looked around and asked myself, “If they were all zombies would it change anything?” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">The answer was No.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The next day on my lunch break, I started writing “Night of the Living Dead Bingo Women.” A couple of lunch breaks later the story was completed, a black-humored little vignette. I made photocopies of horror markets at the library from the latest <i>Writer’s Digest Market</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> hardback (no World Wide Web yet, friends), and sent it off to a small-press magazine called <i>Thin Ice</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdXiX9pv7E6gP62edO8CB4cT31z3zqdf9_tPNkAuGqsOYB0216yR3thuMyHmmACTuAO29Fo0zcvf4lCUwcLkimt65-79NwK2pNwVvwsdyNLZuHJntntOI0BZ7QrrD2TeYCnoocKIFC-IU/s1600/sdlg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdXiX9pv7E6gP62edO8CB4cT31z3zqdf9_tPNkAuGqsOYB0216yR3thuMyHmmACTuAO29Fo0zcvf4lCUwcLkimt65-79NwK2pNwVvwsdyNLZuHJntntOI0BZ7QrrD2TeYCnoocKIFC-IU/s320/sdlg.jpg" width="223" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">A few weeks later, I received my first acceptance letter, penned on a cocktail napkin by Kathleen Jurgens, the editor. (It was her birthday and she was celebrating.) She liked my little story, and would publish it. They paid in copies and purchased no real rights, but I was excited. Someone thought I could write.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Not long after, I came across <i>The Book of The Dead</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> edited by splatterpunk bestselling writers John Skipp and Craig Spector (<i>The Light at the End</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">, <i>The Cleanup</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">, <i>The Bridge</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">). The anthology contained amazing zombie stories by Stephen King, Steven R. Boyett, Joe Lansdale and other major talents, all set in the world created by George Romero. About a year later I found out that they planned to publish a second collection called <i>Still Dead: Book of the Dead 2</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">. After corresponding with Kathleen, I sent off “Bingo Women” and one evening John Skipp <i>called me at home</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">. I about peed myself. They loved the story and were buying it. My first sale to a professional market. When the book came out in a Mark Zeising slipcase hardback and Bantam Falcon paperback I found that I was sandwiched between such outsized talents as Dan Simmons, Elizabeth Massie, Mort Castle and others.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbrwymdEjxeR1gCm1ZolW7fKGpZFe2HCZPRJiDuGf4APlRnuF2qhAD-ypSl32G8pIc40YJvheoG8JueJPxaSJsW_s4c4tt0dgNDXAFI_bu257AqSpICn-yYf8B3US7UQDvo8YuGlUFEYJ/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-13+at+8.02.07+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbrwymdEjxeR1gCm1ZolW7fKGpZFe2HCZPRJiDuGf4APlRnuF2qhAD-ypSl32G8pIc40YJvheoG8JueJPxaSJsW_s4c4tt0dgNDXAFI_bu257AqSpICn-yYf8B3US7UQDvo8YuGlUFEYJ/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-13+at+8.02.07+PM.png" width="273" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">All these years later, “Night of the Living Dead Bingo Women” is seeing print again later this year in <i>Best New Zombie Tales Volume 3</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> from writer/editor James Roy Daley. Once again I'm in excellent company. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Here’s hoping the story that convinced me to keep writing makes new readers smile!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982416271706840186.post-75585820720181976192011-01-12T11:45:00.001-06:002011-01-25T11:13:16.324-06:003-D Musical Puppets. . .with Zombies<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<tr><td align="left" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 40.9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-linespan: 3; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; page-break-after: avoid; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Gill Sans Ultra Bold"; font-size: 47.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-text-raise: -5.0pt;">C</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">heck out this story on The Zombie Feed site from Apex Books: John Skipp, bestselling writer-slash-editor who along with Craig Spector kicked off the wave of new quality undead fiction in the ‘90s and won a Bram Stoker award for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mondo Zombie</i> in 2006, is raising small donations to stage and produce an unusual short film, “Rose.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">What’s he thinking? Try:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmV7orewzaWqWCpLCnf4ViOl7_V31fSeoMWUIYP9iUNVXDp5M7DkhoNH1kcEH88ZsR8vdNkKSXpuQLxvP77opuF4IGzmgBjHKC8GYwx-W-fwtk0pFxLYVe3LFqN8Xdfar-3EK4lAzuOL9S/s1600/HS-JohnSkipp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmV7orewzaWqWCpLCnf4ViOl7_V31fSeoMWUIYP9iUNVXDp5M7DkhoNH1kcEH88ZsR8vdNkKSXpuQLxvP77opuF4IGzmgBjHKC8GYwx-W-fwtk0pFxLYVe3LFqN8Xdfar-3EK4lAzuOL9S/s1600/HS-JohnSkipp.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">3D…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Zombie…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Puppet…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Musical….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">If you’re shaking your head right now, thinking, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">no way</i>….you best think twice. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://bit.ly/gk4Cl1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">http://bit.ly/gk4Cl1</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://thezombiefeed.biz/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">http://thezombiefeed.biz/</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Simon McCafferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149323799272825082noreply@blogger.com0