I have not been kidnapped

If you've noticed I've not been online of much lately, it's because what started as problems with my Net provider has turned into major computer problems. So, it might be a while before I'm back online regularly. Not sure how long yet.

As is, I can only get online at work when I have the time.

No. 4 - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

edited by Robert L. Mack

Started: January 27
Finished: February 14

Notes: I expected this to be a modern novelization of the Johnny Depp movie, but was pleasantly surprised to find out this is actually a reprinting of the original "penny dreadful" tales from a British magazine in the mid-19th century. The same original publisher was also known for printing the "Varney the Vampire" story (a pre-cursor to Dracula by 50 years), so I'm expecting some good, bloody reading from this one.

Mini review: A pretty fun read, especially if you like 19th-century versions of horror. This one isn't really gothic, but more "penny dreadful," a bit more outrageous. The only problem was this one meandered around a bit in the middle, going off on tangents with side characters and the like. But it starts well and ends with a fine shock.

No. 3 - The Hitler Salute

by Tilman Allert

translated from German by Jefferson Chase

Started: January 24
Finished:January 26

Notes: I'm in the mood for some historical non-fiction and this fitted the bill. As the cover says, this is about the German salute used from 1933 to 1945. It was originally a greeting, like shaking hands, but eventually became mandatory.

Mini review: An interesting, not too scholarly, look at how the "Heil Hitler" salute became popular so quickly in early Nazi Germany. Also looks a little at the continuing legacy of the salute. An easy, breezy read. Worth taking a look at.

Thoughts that keep me up all night

I can't just have the usual worries, fears, whatever, that keep people up all night, keeps them from sleeping even when they only had three hours the night before, then worked and have to work again today.

Nope. Not me. The war. The economy. Injustice. Murders. Etc., etc. Nah, none of that keeps me up.

I have to come up with my own stuff, because apparently the real world just isn't frightening enough for me.

So, I'm in bed, trying to sleep, and an image comes into my head of a monster. I won't go into a lot of details because I might eventually use this (not that I'm afraid someone will steal my ideas, just that I like some of the ideas to be a surprise). Then I think about where the monster came from, how it got to where it is and what its purpose is ... why does it exist?

Can't stop there. Not just with one monster. My monster has buddies. Lots of buddies.

I lay in bed for almost three hours, thinking all these thoughts. I pull ideas from Lovecraft, King's "The Stand," Romero's zombie movies, Godzilla, The Lord of the Rings, other places and even some of my own writing. Then I mix it all together and see how it works. In modern America. NOT some fantasy land.

And after three hours of sleeplessness, without even trying, I realize I worked out most of the plot of a 500,000 word mega novel. Or maybe a series of shorter novels. Though I like the idea of the big novel better.

I've worked out all the major bad guys. I've worked out most of the good guys, the protagonists (yep, in a work this big there's going to be more than one). I've got a beginning, lots of middle, and something of an ending.

I have to curse myself. Oh, no. I just cooooouldn't go to sleep. I didn't have enough ideas in my head already. I just needed yet one more project to roll around in my brain, nagging at me to get to working on it.

Shit. And I wanted my next novel to be something simple and small.

No, I'm not planning to start working on this monster story. But now it's in my head. One of the reasons I'm writing about it here is because I don't want to forget it (which wasn't likely to happen anyway with a project this big).

I just have to wait and see how long, and how much, this story is going to nag at me. If it keeps it up like this, it's going to be a loooooong year.

Apex can use a little help

Apex Digest magazine and books could use a little help. Nope, they're not directly asking for money. They're asking for reviews of their products.

If you like horror and science fiction, and especially if you like the two mixed together, you need to check out some of the quality writing and publishing coming from Apex. Give their products a shot, and then go review about it at Amazon.

Come on. You'd just end up blowing the money on some magazine that isn't any fun to read anyway, right?

When rejections strike

I've received three short story rejections in the last couple of days.

The first one bit a little hard. The editor was friendly, but his words still stung a bit. He said the story read as if it weren't finished, as if it needed another strong editing. What made this sting so much was it was an older story, one I've had for at least 5 or 6 years and it's already been edited probably a dozen times or so. Ouch!

But then there were the other two rejections I received today.

The first told me I was a good writer, but there was a particular fault with the story they didn't find acceptable, so they were passing. That's cool. No big deal. I understand. Without going into detail, I disagree about this "fault," but hey, to each their own. I'll try submitting elsewhere for now and hit this market up again sooner or later.

Then there was the last rejection I received. It started with, "You are a damn fine writer."

Okay, hold the brakes. I have never, ever, had an editor say that to me. That was great to hear. But still, they rejected the story because they felt it was a bit too dark for their publication. Again, that's cool. No big deal. I'll try again.

So, three different stories with three different rejections from three different publications. And I loved every word I received from those editors, even the not-so-great stuff. I always love receiving feedback from editors, even if I don't always agree with what they say because they can give me a new viewpoint about something I've written.

Yes, I'm crazy.

Places I won't submit stories to

Okay, just letting folks here know about a little rule I have.

Here it is: I will not submit stories to a publication for which I read stories.

There. It's said. It's simple. It's not been an issue, but I wanted to say it.

There have been once or twice where I've submitted to an anthology or two related to a publication I've read for, but the first submission was actually made before I was reading for the publication and the second submission was to a side project not directly tied in with the publication.

There. I'm cleaning the air, for myself if no one else. I think it keeps things smoother, cleaner and safer that way for all parties involved.