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!

Peace on Earth; Good Will Toward ALL Men (and Women)

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy Yuletide! Happy Whatever You Celebrate in the Winter!

Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward ALL Men (and Women)

Sugar-Plum; The next installment in the Faegotten Series

The next installment in the Faegotten series, "Sugar-Plum," by Jude Tulli is now posted on Copper Wire.

In this episode, our main character tries to dance like the Sugar Plum Fairy, then takes us on a tour of her world.

You can read it here: http://www.scribblersandinkspillers.com/copperwire/sugarplum.html

Emerald Tales - Winter Solstice - Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal Edition

Well, it's still the longest night of the year, so without further ado: Emerald Tales - Winter Solstice - Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal Special Edition is now up on the website.

An etcher is blamed for her village's troubles; the longest night is good for predators other than vampires; a priestess does what she must to save her lover; a boy must uphold his father's legacy; a man tries to retrieve his wife; a young woman learns about her parents; A man of the Steppe encounters a woman of courage; a servant gains his release and revenge on those who enslaved him; a young woman must help prevent the masters of chaos from being unleashed.

Contributors: Jennifer Azantian, Faith Boughan, Thomas Canfield, Marie Croke, Aubrie Dionne, Jason Flum, Alice Godwin, Wynne Huddleston, Penn Kemp, Tracie McBride, Bill Moon, and Julie St. Thomas.

Winter's Cackles and Kisses - poetry - Wynne Huddleston

When the Spring's Heart is Broken - Marie Croke

Delicious - Jason Flum

The Sacrifice - Faith Boughan

December 21, 2012 - poetry - Penn Kemp

The Sentinel's Son - Jennifer Azantian

A Voice in Winter - Bill Moon

The Heart Within - Alice Godwin

Sun Stands Still - poetry - Tracie McBride

The Feast of Atonement - Thomas Canfield

Tainted - Julie St. Thomas

Darken - Aubrie Dionne

http://www.scribblersandinkspillers.com/emeraldtales.html

Is this your cat?

A Celebratory Crisis of the Utmost Severity - The Annals of Hypnosia

The next installment of The Annals of Hypnosia: A Celebratory Crisis of the Utmost Severity is now up!.

Find out where Serafyr Halfdrake and Azaril Lamentamagicka's quest to find a unique present for Her Highness, Princess Simiel Baduar leads them.

Links:

http://www.scribblersandinkspillers.com/hypnosia/hypnosia.html

http://www.scribblersandinkspillers.com/hypnosia/celebratorycrisis.html

(Yes, I know I can hotlink the titles instead of putting them out like that, but some might want to copy and paste the link into a different browser. Yes, I use three different browsers depending on what I am doing.)

Throwing Down the Gauntlet

All right, I am throwing down the gauntlet and challenging all of you creative people to write this story:

"The purification of a love-struck groundhog suffering from cabin fever at Mardi Gras"

Anyone who can write me a coherent, complete story with a plot about "The purification of a love-struck groundhog suffering from cabin fever at Mardi Gras" and submits it to me in an email by January 1, 2010 is guaranteed publication in Copper Wire.

I don't think anyone can do it, but if someone can, then I think it deserves publication, don't you?

The Importance of Punctuation

So, I've said on more than one occasion that I don't see the punctuation and grammar mistakes when I am reading submissions. I'm more interested in the story and the story-telling.

Unfortunately for me, this can mean a lot of work in the editing process. While my stance is that punctuation is the easiest thing to fix in a story, I understand why most editors reject stories that are filled with mistakes. It can take me several hours to edit a two thousand word short story that has the same mistakes throughout the story. (It would be a lot quicker, if I could just hand them their redpenned manuscript.)

Don't use the internet to learn the rules of punctuation; there are a lot of sites that are just plain wrong in what they tell you. Go down to the bookstore and buy a book on punctuation and grammar. Keep it next to your computer while you are editing your story, because I swear to freaking dog that I am going to scream if I see one more comma splice.

If you don't know what a comma splice is, then you need a grammar book. :)

I've Made Purchasing Easier

It took me awhile, but I finally figured out how to make the online shopping much easier on me and my customers. No more futzing about with configuring a shopping cart which is way more than I need or managing the database that goes along with it.

For my customers, it will be easy-peasy for them to order. No having to create an account with me to order, just click on the paypal button, then pay with a credit card or your paypal account and you're done. You don't need a paypal account to buy Emerald Tales or Crystal Codices.

And for those who still prefer ordering by mail and not over the internet, the mail order forms are still available.

Go look and tell me what you think:

http://www.scribblersandinkspillers.com/emeraldtales.html

http://www.scribblersandinkspillers.com/crystalcodices.html

Emerald Tales - Winter Solstice and Copper Wire Poetry

Emerald Tales Volume One Number Three - Winter Solstice is now online!

Winter's Tale - poetry - Damien Walters Grintalis

December Twenty-First - Heather Gregson - A couple are reunited on Winter Solstice

Io Saturnalia - Cherie Reich - a slave has a day of freedom on Saturnalia

A Not so Scary Christmas - poetry - Guy Belleranti

Crisis Line - Heather Parker - a worker at a crisis line has a scary drive home in the snow

The Gift - Bruce Golden - an eight-year-old boy gives his great-grandfather the best gift of all

Lonely Snow - poetry - Lauren McBride

All the Trees That are in the Woods - G. W. Thomas - a young trapper discovers a gruesome scene at his neighbors cabin

The Making of a Man - Raymond Koonce - a young boy and his grandfather must avoid a Viking raiding party

rebirth of the sun - poetry - D. L. Hegel

Seven Hours - Neil James Hudson - a teenage girl records the last seven hours before the arrival of the Centaurians on Earth

The Longest Night - Kristina Lee - a young woman encounters the not-so-grim reaper

The Poets Nine - poetry - John Hayes

Direct link: http://www.scribblersandinkspillers.com/emeraldtales.html

And two new poems on Copper Wire:

Red Sled by Gary Bloom

Winter's Ode by Misty Posey

Direct link: http://www.scribblersandinkspillers.com/copperwire.html

And a pic, because I get a little bit silly after working my butt off to get these things out on time: