Accidentally Yours Available as Ebook

Accidentally Yours, a collection of short stories, poems, and essays, by Joan H. Young is now available as an eBook from Amazon and Smashwords. It should appear on Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, and Overdrive in just a few days. The paperback edition will also be ready in a few days.

The volume contains 30 poems, 16 short stories (several of which are micro-fiction), and 9 non-fiction essays. Thematically, they are all over the map. That will keep you from getting bored. It also gives you a glimpse into my chaotic mind. Enter if you dare. All this for $3.99 in the eBook format!

Diana Kathryn Wolfe-Plopa, founder of Pages Promotions, LLC, and an author in her own right, says, "This collection of short stories, essays, and poetry feels like a Literary Advent Calendar. Each time I turned the page, I was given a little gift of story, perspective, and art. It was impossible to take it slowly. Remarkable in this writing is the flash fiction pieces sprinkled throughout. The art of writing a complete story in just a few short lines is a difficult skill to master. Joan does it here with an acumen and comfort that reveals the true nature of her outstanding writing gifts. The balance between shorter and longer pieces creates a natural ebb and flow to the writing."

And Jean Davis, author of speculative fiction writes, "A delightful collection of poetry and prose that will make you gasp, laugh out loud, and fondly appreciate days gone by."

After a frustrating day of formatting woes (I usually don't have many problems, but the issues probably stemmed from culling the pieces from many different files, created in various versions of several different software packages), both major platforms (Amazon and Smashwords) have approved the files, and they look pretty clean. I don't see a bunch of formatting oddities in the previews.

You can find Accidentally Yours at Amazon and Smashwords.

Accidentally Yours Anthology

One of my goals for the year was to bring out an anthology of my varied short writings-- stories, essays and poems. However, the amount of effort required to finish North Country Quest has put all of my other goals into a tail spin.

Getting a collection of my short works together really doesn't require a lot of effort. Everything is written. Some final editing is needed, compiling things and maybe adding a little text about some of the stories, but most of the work is simply formatting the book.

So, this week, I got my act together and tried to come up with a title for the book. I read some articles about how long an anthology should be. While researching that, I learned that anthologies are often given the same title as the lead story.

I'm not usually one to ask what other people think about titles and cover art. In this case, it's probably a good thing I did. I came up with six possible titles, and my first choice only got one other vote, from an engineering friend.

The overwhelming choice of the people who participated was Accidentally Yours, which is also the first story. I'd really like to have this title and cover be appealing enough to attract people to buy it, so I'm taking the advice I've received.

One person said, "Accidentally Yours reflects a mystery of a first encounter." That said a lot to me. The collection will be eclectic, to say the least. Themes are all over the map-- very much like my brain. That first story is set on the frozen North Sea, so I went looking for a royalty-free photo I could use and put together a possible cover. What you see above is only tweaked a bit from that first effort. I like it! Others seem to like it!

This could be a winner. One author friend of mine says her short story collection is her best selling book. Maybe I can have this ready to go in a month... in time for Christmas. That's not out of the question, without taking away from the time I'm working on North Country Quest.

So far, it includes flash fiction, literary fiction, entertaining short stories, essays, and quite a few poems. The list includes, at this point, nine stories, five essays, 14 poems and a few two-sentence stories. I'm aiming for about 200 pages. Formatting has begun.

If you helped in the title decision, thank you!

3288 Review

3288 Review

This summer, I had a short story accepted to the literary magazine, 3288 Review. My complementary copy arrived today. Sweet stuff.

The story is titled, "The Valley."

I wish I could tell you this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship, but sadly, the publisher of the magazine has decided they can't make a financial go of the project and this is the last issue.

The Valley by Joan H. Young

Short and Fun Stories released

Edited by Dorothy Mae Mercer, this collection of short stories and excerpts by 14 authors can give you a taste of many different works and styles.

The book, Short and Fun Stories, is designed to be a teaser to draw people in to ordering additional titles by these writers.

My award winning story, "The Case of the Cautious Couple," appears in this anthology. It's a spoof of the Perry Mason mysteries, which I love. However, they were very formulaic, and therefor easy to copy stylistically. I think you'll find the twist at the end enjoyable.

The volume contains romance, politics, mystery, historical fiction, one children's story, folklore, a memoir, and more.

It can be pre-ordered now for delivery on May 6, or at any time thereafter for $1.99. You'll get over 50K words of stories for two bucks! What are you waiting for?

Order at Amazon- Short and Fun Stories

"Toby and Harry" in Thirteen Stories by Us

A group of authors, most of whom became acquainted through the Accentuate Writers' Forum, banded together to create an anthology of suspense/horror stories for Halloween. All stories were donated, with all the proceeds going to help two author friends who are having some really difficult financial times.

The idea was conceived by Melissa Dawn Ingham, and the volume edited by Catherine A. MacKenzie. It's entitled Thirteen Stories By Us. Not surprisingly, it contains thirteen stories! Twelve are meant to send a shiver or two down your spine, and the other is a quirky love story.

My story, "Toby and Harry," is included. I'm really happy to see it in this grouping. I intended it to be a subtle horror story, but perhaps it was too subtle to stand on its own. Some people have mistaken the genre and ended up really confused about what I was trying to say. All I was trying to do was be a little scary! So this is a perfect fit.

For a longer review of the stories in the volume, see Review of Thirteen Stories by Us.

The book is available in paperback or e-book, at Smashwords or Amazon.

Disappointing

 
A month or so ago I entered a short story in the first-ever venue for writers at the Grand Rapids Art Prize. I entered a story I like a lot, and it's about as close as I'm going to get to literary fiction, which I call the "life is a sad enigma" genre. Anyway.

It cost money to enter, and I thought hard about spending it. But I decided that the potential payoff would be high. So, I sent in my story, "Two Minutes of Water."

Just heard today- I didn't even make the first cut. "After careful consideration we have decided that your story does not meet our qualifications."

Phooey. But it's not the end of the world.

Free! The Hollow Tree at Dead Mule Swamp

 
Just for fun, and so anyone can get to know Anastasia Raven and her friends in Forest County, here's a FREE short story from Dead Mule Swamp.

This story fits into the series after News from Dead Mule Swamp and before Paddy Plays in Dead Mule Swamp (scheduled release June 1). However, it stands on it's own, and doesn't contain any serious spoilers if you haven't read "News," but would like to find out what the books are like without spending one single cent!

In The Hollow Tree at Dead Mule Swamp, Anastasia Raven finds a secret hidden in a hollow tree near Dead Mule Swamp. She thinks she's seeing things, as the discovery appears to have come straight from a Nancy Drew story. With some simple sleuthing, Ana catches Jimmie Mosher, whose grandfather used to own the house she has recently purchased, hiding money in the tree. But what else does Jimmie have to hide?

Download The Hollow Tree at Dead Mule Swamp at Smashwords

Toby and Harry Free through March 10

Twin Trinity Media is offering some of their short stories for free on Smashwords this week. You have two more days to get "Toby and Harry" for NOTHING. Just download it!

This story is out of the norm for me. Maybe that will interest you (what was she thinking when she wrote this?). Maybe you won't like it. But you can find out with no financial risk at all. Aren't you curious?

Use the coupon code RE100 at Smashwords, for Toby and Harry any time through March 10.

Don't have a reader? No problem. Smashwords offers several formats that can be read on the computer.

Submission to Glimmer Train

Well, I worked up some courage and submitted a short story to Glimmer Train.

"One of the most respected short-story journals in print, Glimmer Train Stories is represented in recent editions of the Pushcart Prize, New Stories from the Midwest, O.Henry, New Stories from the South, Best of the West, and Best American Short Stories anthologies."

There are contests every month. For a $15 entry fee you are buying a shot at a $1500 first prize. Some months you can also do standard submissions, which are free, but you would only get $700 if your story is accepted. Even my ego isn't large enough to think I'd win first place, so I saved the $15 and did a standard submission.

I entered the story that didn't place in the contest I sent it to last fall. This is not a blind submission, so I can say that the title is "The Room with No Name."

I can also say that the story is much better than it was in October. It's amazing what a few months away from a piece can do for it. I had thought it was great! Today, I realized that it had way too many adverbs, several trite expressions, and too many long sentences. It could probably be improved even more. But I feel as if I've done as much as I can with it for now, and I've sent it out once again, to try to make its way in the world.

Writers Weekly Short Story Entry

We received our length and topic paragraph at noon Central Time today. Length is not to exceed 850 words. Entries are due by noon Sunday. The theme is publicly posted, so I can share it.

"Blue ice stretched to the horizon, fading into the blinding rays of another waning winter sun. She shivered violently as the shifting mass groaned under her feet. She instinctively glanced down, looking for cracks under the transparent sheen. Suddenly, she tensed and dropped to her knees. Desperately clawing at the ice, she screamed... "

The deal is... we don't have to use this exactly. We don't even have to use it very specifically. But, the essence of the scene must be in the story so that the judges can be certain the story was written for this contest.

Writers Weekly likes unpredictable tales with surprise endings. They have a whole page full of trite plots that they see over and over again. Writers are urged to skip these, as stories using them will go nowhere.

I spent about an hour contemplating a plot. One thought jumped out at me, but I had to figure a way to turn it into a story. Once I had the scenario, the first draft was easy.

I liked it. Then I read it over a few more times and decided that I didn't like it. Then I decided it was trite, after all. I mean... all stories can be reduced to one of a handful of plots. Fussed about that for a few hours. Finally changed one line, and now I'm feeling better again.

Time to sleep on it. Hopefully, I'll still be satisfied in the morning and will submit it!

Toby & Harry at Twin Trinity for Only 79 cents

My short story, "Toby and Harry," can now be purchased for only 79¢ at Twin Trinity Books.

This story is out of the norm for me, but it's the first one that was accepted by Twin Trinity to become available for purchase. This price is the best you will find, because Twin Trinity can sell for a lower price than is allowed on Smashwords or Amazon.

Why not give it a try? (but please don't avoid forthcoming stories if it's not your cup of tea)

Here's the blurb:

There are things that go bump in the night, and then there are kids who wake up with bumps from the night. Toby, a devious and disturbed little boy, only seems to love his teddy bear, Harry, even though Harry is worse for wear because of it.

Toby is the type of child who is hard for even his mother to love, but does he really deserve what happens to him? Guess you'll have to read to find out!

Entered the Escape Into Life Literary Contest

Escape Into Life is excited to announce its First Annual Fiction Contest, judged by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Olen Butler. The contest features $500 in cash prizes and a cornucopia of goodies for its finalists. In short, this is one you’ll want to enter.

In addition to cash, five finalists will receive works by Escape Into Life artists and have their stories nominated for at least one nationally recognized award in 2012 (Best American, O’Henry, Pushcart, StorySouth, or Sundress). All finalists will have their stories published in upcoming issues of Escape Into Life. If that’s not enough, we’re throwing in some super-cool EIL t-shirts and our eternal gratitude. That’s a pretty good deal.

The story that I entered in the Star City Blog Contest doesn't fit well into any of the potential collections I'm working on. That contest didn't award any of the prizes, saying there were too few entries. So... I sent it off on a new journey!

There is a $5 entry fee, and the deadline is tomorrow! (Jan 7, 2012)

If you have a good story all ready to go, you can see more about entering at Escape into Life

I found out about this contest at the Accentuate Writer's Forum. Come join!

Entering Writers Weekly 24-Hour Short Story Contest

I've decided to enter the 24-hour short story contest sponsored by Writers Weekly.

It could be fun and the prizes are good. The entry fee is only $5.00.

Basically, they publish a theme and a length on a specific date. This year, that is Jan 21, 2012. Then you have 24 hours to write a story and get it back to them on time.

I think they get quite a few entries, so the competition can be stiff. Nevertheless, I've read the top three winners from last year (Writers Weekly Summer 2011 Contest Winners), and I think I can compete.

I especially like the first one. I would have written a different ending for the third one! (There's my ego again.)

At any rate, I'm entered. You can too, at Writers Weekly Winter 2012 Contest

Toby & Harry is Ready for Purchase!

My short story, Toby & Harry, is now available for purchase at Smashwords. This story is being managed by Twin Trinity Books where it was accepted for publication, and will soon also show on Amazon and the Twin Trinity site. Through this relationship, Twin Trinity provided editing services, the cover design, the mechanics of posting it, and will continue with publicity.

This story is unlike others I have written; it's definitely on the creepy side.

There are things that go bump in the night, and then there are kids who wake up with bumps from the night. Toby, a devious and disturbed little boy, only seems to love his teddy bear, Harry, even though Harry is worse for wear because of it.

Toby is the type of child who is hard for even his mother to love, but does he really deserve what happens to him? Guess you'll have to read to find out!

Download it now for only 99¢ at Toby & Harry on Smashwords

Star City Short Story Contest Results

The Star City Blog sent me a message. "We regret to inform you that due to insignificant participation, Star City Blog was forced to cancel the contest."

I'm a bit bummed out that they couldn't have figured that out right after the deadline instead of six weeks later. But, o well.

I wonder what they considered insignificant? I wonder why they couldn't have said in the rules that awarding of the prizes was contingent on having X number of entries?

But, I do have another story that I can do something with on my own.

Story on Stage V

Quarterly, the Ludington Visiting Writers present an evening of short story readings interspersed with musical interludes. This past Friday evening, two short stories and a one-act play were read.

Three of the four authors were present. Pictured are John Mauk, Deborah Ann Percy and Arnold Johnston. Typically, the readings are given by local members of various theater groups.

The first story read was "And the Waters Prevailed" by Keith Taylor, read by Sean Gilbert. The story reveals the realization of the lifetime ambition of a man who sees the world differently from most people. Gilbert is involved in drama at the Ramsdell Theater in Manistee.



Next up was "The Earthbound" by John Mauk, read by Kathy Hansen. "The Earthbound" tells about a girl with an unusual gift, so unusual in fact that her neighbors find it hard to believe. Kathy Hansen is a retired English teacher from Mason County Central School, who is now active with the Bohemian Theater Group of Ludington.



For the first time, a one-act play was read. This was "A Pet of Temperance" by Arnold Johnston and Deborah Ann Percy. The parts were read by Michelle Kiessel and Josh Thomas (with stage directions read by Terry Murphy). This play is both humorous and thought provoking. A young couple is having an argument and the wife is insisting that they use rules to "fight fair." The husband would rather just fight and then make up. Kiessel is currently directing "Almost, Maine" by the Lakeside Civic Players, and Thomas holds a degree in Theater and Communications from Saginaw Valley State College.



All the pieces were in the literary genre. I say this every time we have one of these events. This is not my favorite genre, but I suppose it's good to think outside my box.

Final Edits on "Toby and Harry"

This may be getting really close! Yesterday I received what I hope are the final edits for "Toby and Harry." I have been told that it will be live today at Twin Trinity Books. We shall see.

Since this is a bit of a (light by today's standards) horror tale, having it appear just before Halloween is great timing. I hope that I'll soon be able to report that you can buy and read "Toby and Harry."

Short Story Collection Idea

I know that ideas are cheap, but no completed project happens without an idea that started it.

One of my pet peeves is the idea that for a story to have value, it must be filled with angst and tragedy. I call it the "life is a sad enigma" genre. So I sort of decided a few months ago to keep in mind a short story collection based on the opposite of the Seven Deadly Sins, that is, the Seven Virtues.

Although I've found a couple of lists, I think I like this one best: four cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, restraint or temperance, and courage or fortitude, and three theological virtues of faith, hope, and love.

Then I would write a short story on each of those themes. I already have one done for hope. It was written for another contest but didn't win. I think that might be because is it a rather straightforward interpretation of the idea. There aren't any fancy twists. It's very, well.... hopeful.

So, the other night, I couldn't sleep. It made me groggy all the next day. In one way, I should be thankful for those nights because I often think up story ideas as I toss and turn. And, that is just what happened. I came up with what I think is a viable idea on the theme of justice.

Yes, I made notes so I won't forget until I get time to actually work on it.

It's in the e-Mail

The short story is sent off to the Star City Blog Short Story Contest.

Another writer friend read it as well, and she thinks it's pretty good. Now it's up to the judges. I have no delusions of greatness. I know that contest judges are looking for wahtever they are looking for which may not have any relationship to what I wrote.

But, I did my best, and if it doesn't get me anything, at least I have another short story that could go in a collection.

Accepting Critiquing of Your Writing

Accepting criticism, even constructive criticism, is a learned skill. No one really likes to be told that they haven't done a good job. I like to think that I'm better at taking comments than I used to be. Sometimes, now, I even welcome the opinions of those with writing skill.

The story I am going to submit to the Star City Blog Short Story Contest is basically sound. But two groups now have offered comments, and I think it's been improved because of that.

First, my friends at Accentuate Writers (join- it's free) pointed out one part that needed clarification. They caught a couple of punctuation errors, too. It's nearly impossible to properly proof your own stuff.

I re-wrote the story and took it to my West Side Gang writer's meeting on Tuesday night. They helped even more. First of all they said it is a good story (and members of this group have the expertise to lend weight to a statement like that). Secondly, they pointed out another issue that could be made more believable with a small change. I'm working on that.

My point is, if you are a writer, and working "in a vacuum," join some forums, groups, etc. that can provide you with useful feedback. I'm really, really not a joiner. A friend practically dragged me to a meeting of the West Side Gang. But, I have to admit that it has become a valuable tool toward becoming a better author. (And I've made a few new friends, too!)