4th of July

Can we still celebrate the 4th of July with any enthusiasm? I'm one of those who chokes up at the Star Spangled Banner. I believe that the US Constitution is the most important document in our history--maybe even in the history of the world.

I think you know where this is going. I have come to believe that the current administration should be tried for not only high crimes and misdemeanors, but for treason. George Bush and his minions have attempted or succeeded in supervening nearly every amendment in the Bill of Rights, except for the Second. However, you happy NRA folk, don't get too complacent. An armed populace is not good for a tyrannical government.

Am I anti-war? No. I fully and completely supported George Senior's decision to go to war against Iraq. But, the current war on Iraq is not the war that was touted. It is not a war on terrorism. Instead, it has made terrorists out of people who might have remained peaceful. Maybe they're not even terrorists. I'm sure George III called the American colonists whatever was the 18th Century equivalent.

As you salute the flag, march in a parade, picnic, and watch fireworks on the upcoming 4th of July, think about what has been stolen from you over the last six years. If you don't see it, then there's no helping you. You're just a good German, only following orders. A pox on you for standing aside while a handful of right-wingers destroyed your country.

I've Got a Website

In my on-going desire to present a professional image as a writer, I got a website to be my presence on the internet. I'll continue to use this blog for announcements, thoughts, and just stuff.

I've put a link to the left just under my profile for the website. So, if you're reading this, just shift your eyeballs left a bit and you'll see it.

The advantage of a website over a blog is the ability to make certain information more permanent to the site. On a blog, you write a post and it slips down down down then disappears as it get archived each month.

The new website isn't spectacular, but I hope I can tweak and modify it to be a good marketing tool for the Marva juggernaut of publishing. That last is just hyperbole. I'm practicing to write cover blurbs.

July WPJ Issue in PDF

My story "The Corn Patch Incident" is in the July issue of Writers Post Journal. The PDF downloadable version is only $3.95.

For less than the price of the printed (on paper) magazine, you can get both the June and July issues with my stories inside.

See the link to LBF books to the left. Find the Ezine (PDF) link and go from there.

Michelle Ma Belle

I should have mentioned this weeks ago, so I'll try to make up for my remissness now. M.E. Ellis (as she prefers over Michelle, though I don't know why since it's a perfectly lovely name) ... where was I? Oh, yeah. Ms Ellis' book Pervalism is available at Wild Child Publishing. It's an E-book, so you can store your very own copy on your computer. Here's a link to it:

Big WooHoo Came Through

Last month I wrote that at least one of my Cadida stories was accepted by Sam's Dot Publishing. I just heard from the editor that all three of the stories will be published in a single volume and marketed to kids.

There will be illustrations, so now we'll all get to discover what Bascoda the Djinn actually looks like. He is a changeable fellow, so who knows what the illustrator will come up with.

So, Congratulations to me on my first book (little, skinny book, but it's a book damnit!).

The timeframe for it to come out is September/October. These things take time and I'll probably die of anticipation in the meantime.

Cover Art - Writers Post Journal

I've got stories in both the June and July issues of Writers Post Journal. The Cattle Drive in June and The Corn Patch Incident in July. Since none of you cheapskates are likely to shell out the $9 for each issue, I thought I'd post the cover art here.

New Game in Town

A friend has decided (I tried to talk him out of it) to start a ezine devoted to flash fiction--erudite writings under 1000 words. Since he put one of my flashes up on his site, I can do nothing less than support his foolish efforts.

So, go to the site, read the guidelines, and send off your best shorts to Diddledog:

Diddledog Flash Fiction

The Bone Hunters

The Bone Hunters is now up and running on Long Story Short. I'm pleased that so many of the stories from Tales of a Texas Boy have been accepted here and there. I hope that I can have the entire set of stories published as a book someday.

Long Story Short: The Bone Hunters

Writers Post Journal - July Issue

My story, "The Corn Patch Incident," will be printed in the July Writers Post Journal. The cover is already up on their site.

Writers Post Journal-July: The Corn Patch Incident

Acceptance - At Last!

I've been working with Abyss and Apex since last December on my science fiction story, "Pressure Drill."

First, I got some terrific input from their science editor, which helped to improve the story a lot. Mostly, my science sucks, but he thought the story was okay. After a lot of research having to do with antimatter (don't ask), I rewrote and sent the story back to them in March. Then, I waited. I finally got the word that the story will be appearing in their September issue.

The great part: I get paid!

Abyss & Apex: Pressure Drill(September)