Love-struck Groundhogs

Way back on September 1, 2009, I asked for suggestions for February's theme. Valentine's Day, cupids, and pink were just not what I wanted the theme to be. I received a lot of good suggestions and as a joke, I tossed out a theme that combined everything.

Yes, I was kidding at the time, but the idea stuck with me. So on December 11, 2009, I threw down the Gauntlet.

Four people rose to the challenge. And now here they are; four short stories about the purification of a love-struck groundhog suffering from cabin fever at Mardi Gras published on Copper Wire. They are:

Plush by Damien Walters Grintalis

Frank by Raymond Koonce

The Purification of Billy the Groundhog by Jack Linus

In Pursuit of Lady Marmalade by L. A. Witt

You can go read them here: http://www.scribblersandinkspillers.com/copperwire.html

Now, I'm going back to catch up on all my work. The next installment of The Annals of Hypnosia will be up in a day or three, then Emerald Tales and Faegotten.

New Year, New Changes

In five months, I put out six editions of Emerald Tales, seven stories in Crystal Codices, two poetry collections, poetry and short stories in Copper Wire, and brought you The Annals of Hypnosia. It's no wonder that I am mentally exhausted and that I have no creative energy to pursue my own writing and artistic goals.

After giving this a lot of thought, I am no longer going to put out a Special Edition of Emerald Tales. I'm still accepting all genres for Emerald Tales, but genre will no longer be a determining factor in whether I choose a story for inclusion in Emerald Tales. I'm going to choose the eight stories that give me the best mix to show the breadth of human creativity. If they're all fantasy or all romance, then the issue will be all fantasy or romance or westerns or thrillers.

Starting with the June issue of Emerald Tales, the deadline will be six weeks before publication instead of one month. A month is doable for getting contracts, editing, proofreading, and layout done, but it is exhausting. So, I'm spreading that out a little bit more, as well.

I've only received four Groundhog stories. They're a hoot. When the mood strikes, I'll throw out another wacky writing challenge.

Happy New Year!

Carnivale - February's theme

So, I finally decided on Carnivale for February's theme. No, not the TV show. That's the Italian spelling of the word carnival. The Carnivale di Venezia or Carnival of Venice is a big two week festival similar to Mardi Gras in New Orleans and held for the same purpose. There are similar Carnivals held in South America and the Caribbean Islands.

So, what I am looking for are stories set at a carnival. This could also be the roadside carnival, the kind that used to come through town, set up rides and games for a weekend, then move on to the next town. Whatever.

A carnival, isn't that the perfect setting for a romance, a thriller, a horror story, a fantasy story, science fiction, a western, a mystery ...? :)

I can't wait to see what you all come up with.

And if that doesn't grab you, then I am still open to stories about "The purification of a love-struck groundhog suffering from cabin fever at Mardi Gras". :)

Now, I am going to go work on the Special Edition of Masks or Appearances Can Be Deceiving.

EDITED TO ADD: CLARIFICATION - Any kind of carnival; Roadside carnival, the Carnivale of Venice, Mardi Gras, The Carnival in Brazil, A Carnival in the Caribbean , A fantasy carnival, etc.