Hibernation Is Over and…Score!

Winter is over and my hibernation has ended.  It’s been quiet around here for the past several months, because, simply, not much has happened.  So far this year, I’ve received three rejections and presently, I have two stories out on submissions.  Yesterday I finished another short story and it may be the best thing I’ve written.  It was one of the most difficult, most stubborn stories to write, and I’m proud of myself for not giving up on it.

In other news, check this out:

This is the Science Fiction Book Club edition of Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend.  I love this book and I nearly staggered when I found this little beauty at Half Price Books last Sunday.  I’m not sure what year this version came out though.  The date within the book is 1954, but that was the year that the Gold Medal mass market paperback was published.  Some websites state that this hardcover was published in the sixties, while others say it came out in 1970.  I can’t seem to find a definitive answer, but it doesn’t matter.  The cover rocks and I’m just happy that I found a copy in such pristine condition.  The price was $5.98 and with my 50% coupon, I paid just under three bucks.  Score!

On the same trip to HFB, I found a beautiful, uncut hardcover edition of Stephen King’s The Stand for $2.50.  And the mass market paperback of Robert McCammon’s Swan Song for a buck.  Both books are in excellent condition.  Double score!!

Hint Fiction

My contributor copy of this fine-looking book arrived in the mail earlier this week.  Hint Fiction: An Anthology of Stories in 25 Words or Fewer hits bookstores on November 1st.

First, what is Hint Fiction? Inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s six-word story — “For sale: baby shoes, never worn” — Hint Fiction is a story of 25 words or fewer that suggests a larger, more complex story. The anthology features 125 stories by writers worldwide, including such luminaries as Joyce Carol Oates, James Frey, Peter Straub, and Ha Jin. Here is what people are saying already:

“The perfect story collection for all of us with too little time on our hands is a brilliant reminder of the magic that happens when you string the right words together. A must-read for anyone who is or wants to be a writer.” — Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of House Rules

“Some of these stories suggest entire novels in just few words. So, in this small book, you have a whole library. It’s reading at the speed of light.” — Robert Shapard, editor of Sudden Fiction and Flash Fiction

“The stories in Robert Swartwood’s Hint Fiction have some serious velocity.  Some explode, some needle, some bleed, and some give the reader room to dream. They’re fun and addictive, like puzzles or haiku or candy. I’ve finished mine but I want more.” — Stewart O’Nan, author of Last Night at the Lobster and Songs for the Missing

The anthology is currently available for pre-order at:

• W. W. Norton
• IndieBound
• Amazon (USA) 
  
• Amazon (CA)
• Barnes & Noble
• Books-A-Million
• Borders
• Powell’s Books

Oh, and by the way, my story “Pillow Talk” appears on page 119.  It is only eighteen words long, but I think this little ditty will make you cringe.

A Shepherd of Mules

My new short story “A Shepherd of Mules” is now up at The Absent Willow Review.

Not A Rejection

My short story “A Shepherd of Mules” will appear in the October 16 issue of The Absent Willow Review.  This is very exciting, as 2010 hasn’t exactly been a great year for me or my writing.  I’ve suffered through many rejections and a ton of poor writing days, but I’ve finally broken through and placed a story that I am proud of in a very cool and respected market that puts out quality work.  My batteries are now charged to finish these other stories that I’ve been working on.  Many thanks to the editor of The Absent Willow Review, Bob Griffin.  Thanks, Bob.

In October, as the publishing date draws nearer, I will post a link to my story.

Less Than Human

I just finished reading Less Than Human By Gary Raisor, and I loved it.  I know the cover looks cheesy, but if you’re lucky enough to find a copy in a used bookstore, snatch it up and take that puppy home.

If you like your vampires mean, nasty and a little dirty, then you’ll like Mr. Raisor’s unique and original spin on the legendary creatures of the night.

GQ Motherfu@#$%

I thought this was funny.

The MacDonald Treadmill

John D. MacDonald, in my opinion, was one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century.  He is one of my favorite authors, and this letter only reaffirms my respect and admiration for Mr. MacDonald.

While browsing the web when I should be writing, I came across a fan-site dedicated to the author’s memory.  He had written this letter sometime between 1946 and ’47, but had never sent it out.

His biting mockery makes me smile.  I think every writer suffering through rejections can empathize with Mr. MacDonald’s obvious disdain for an editor’s cold, impersonal form letters.  I know I do.

Hint Fiction Anthology

Scheduled for this November, W. W. Norton & Company will publish Hint Fiction: An Anthology of Stories in 25 Words or Fewer.  Contributors include:

Jenn Alandy, Nick Arvin, Samuel Baldwin, Max Barry, Kirsten Beachy, L. R. Bonehill, Ryan W. Bradley, Gary A. Braunbeck, William Brazill, Yvonne Brockwell, Jeremy D. Brooks, Randall Brown, Ken Bruen, Stace Budzko, James Burt, Frank Byrns, Ron Carlson, Jonathan Carroll, John Cashman, Adam-Troy Castro, Douglas Clegg, Danielle Combs, Chris Compson, John Connors, Hannah Craig, Brian Crawford, Blake Crouch, Kirk Curnutt, Tara Deal, Gay Degani, Nicky Drayden, Stephen Dunn, Stuart Dybek, David Erlewine, Camille Esses, Merrilee Faber, Nada Faris, Jamie Felton, James Frey, Janet E. Gardner, Roxane Gay, Shanna Germain, Tess Gerritsen, Bill Graffius, Charles Gramlich,Val Gryphin, Jennifer Haddock, Jane Hammons, Ann Harleman, Bruce Harris, Donora Hillard, David Hirsch, Robin Hollis, Kevin Hosey, Eric Hsu, Gregg Hurwitz, Ben Jahn, Ha Jin, Jason Jordan, David Joseph, Michael Kelly, Jack Ketchum, Jack Kilborn, J. A. Konrath, Christina Kopp, Minter Krotzer, Joe Lansdale, Don Lee, Min Jin Lee, Rachel Lopez, Sarah Lyons, K. J. Maas, Nick Mamatas, Lewis Manalo, Marshall Ryan Maresca, Michael Martone, Natalie McNabb, David Miller, Sarah P. Miller, Ty Miller, John Minichillo, Gwendolyn Joyce Mintz, Christoffer Molnar, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Rose Rappoport Moss, Barry Napier,  Joyce Carol Oates, Brendan O’Brien, Daniel A. Olivas, Will Panzo, Edith Pearlman, Benjamin Percy, Sophie Playle, Jason Rice, Samuel Rippey , Katrina Robinson, Jenifer Rosenberg, Jess Row, Robin Rozanski, Kathleen A. Ryan, Marcus Sakey, Joe Schreiber, Jessa Slade, Noel Sloboda, Andrea Slye, Kelly Spitzer, Agnieszka Stachura, J. J. Steinfeld, Peter Straub, Jake Thomas, Bob Thurber, Jade Walker, Ben White, Amber Whitley, Sue Williams, F. Paul Wilson, Robley Wilson, Mercedes M. Yardley, Mabel Yu, J. Matthew Zoss

It’s pretty cool to see my name included with such wonderful and talented writers.  I still can’t believe my words will be found within the same pages as Peter Straub, Jack Ketchum, Joe Lansdale, Gary A. Braunbeck and a slew of other great writers whom I respect and admire.  I repeat: It’s pretty friggin’ cool.

Pre-order the anthology at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Still Good For Something

My little werewolf story “Still Good For Something” is now live at Flashes In The Dark.  Click on the link in the sidebar to go directly to the site and my story.  If you do read my story, then take an extra minute and come back here and tell me what you think about it.  Be honest.  Be direct.   Better yet, just lie through those pearly whites of yours and tell me that the story was spectacular and that I am an amazing writer.

Enjoy!

Some Good News

Well, sort of.  So far this year, I’ve received eleven rejections with no acceptances.  It’s been almost five months since I’ve received an acceptance.  In addition, I haven’t been able to write.  Every time I start tap, tap, tapping away at the keys, a funny thing happens.  The foulest smelling shit flows from my fingers.  My keyboard is ruined.

And as soon as I track down my Muse, the bastard is fired.

Seriously, though, I haven’t written anything in weeks and it feels like slow suicide.  For some reason that I can’t explain, my writing output always seems to hit a wall this time of year.  I don’t know why this occurs, but it sucks.  I hate droughts.  They make you feel, well…dried up, as if you will never again feel the wet, satisfying surge of creative juices flowing, so you might as well just give up now and eat your Captain Crunch in a big bowl of tainted whiskey while driving down the turnpike and texting on your phone.

Ah, but there is a silver lining.  I opened my inbox yesterday morning and found that I had received three responses.  The first two were from editors of well-respected, paying magazines with good followings.  I was really hoping for an acceptance by, at least, one of them.  Acceptance would have meant publication and a decent-sized paycheck.  Pretty cool, huh?

But it was not to be.  Both magazines rejected my stories and my heart sank deeper into my colon.  Both editors said they enjoyed my stories, but felt that they didn’t meet their current needs.  One editor actually invited me to send something else, which was nice to read.  But the kicker is this; I don’t have anything else to submit.  My drought needs to end.  Now.

So, it was with great trepidation that I clicked on the third response.  Wait…wait…are you ready for it?  As I read the words of the editor, I felt my heart rise from my colon and return to its normal spot in my chest.  I got an acceptance.  It feels damn good to write that.

My story, “Still Good For Something” will go live on Monday, March 8 at Flashesinthedark.com, a cool little site devoted to horror flash fiction.  It’s not a paying gig and it doesn’t erase the biting pain I feel from the thirteen rejections I’ve gotten so far this year, but it does end the string of rejections and lifts my mood, if even for a moment.  Life is full of small victories, and as I grow older and more mature, I’m starting to recognize them.  This is one of those small victories.  Woo-hoo for me!

Now, all I need is for the clouds to come and drop the juice that will soak the arid wasteland of my writing mind.  Oh, and by the way, if you run into my lazy, good-for-nothing Muse, do me a favor.  Tell him to fuck off.