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October 31, 2006
DKA: "Plaque" by ct matthews
To close October's issue, we have an unusual vampire story, one that answers the question: "What can rot a vampire's teeth?"
"Plaque"
by ct matthews
Tease:
What happens when a vampire feeds on a host with "bad blood?"
Posted by Selena at 07:56 AM | Comments (0)
October 30, 2006
Winners of poetry contest announced
Winners have been announced in DKA's poetry contest.
Posted by Selena at 07:43 AM | Comments (0)
October 28, 2006
Good (Super-Short) Reading: "Difference of Opinion"
New SR editor, David Olson, has a great Flashshot that just came out.
"Difference of Opinion"
by David A Olson
For the next few days, you can catch it on the Flashshots webpage.
Posted by Selena at 08:26 AM | Comments (0)
DKA: "A Song for the Orcs" by J. Evans Seton
Today's update is a fantasy poem by J. Evans Seton:
Tease:
"A bard's call to action..."
Enjoy!
Posted by Selena at 07:56 AM | Comments (0)
October 26, 2006
Disturbing Dream
I dreamed last night that airlines started requiring you to list what church you attended regularly before they would let you fly. Presumably it also had to be a church they approved of.
Creepy.
On the plus side, I think there is a story in there. As long as it's a fictional one, not a prescient one.
Posted by Selena at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
Good Reading: Another grammar-related article
Found this article via a topic at Ray Gun Revival:
Check it out.
Posted by Selena at 07:54 AM | Comments (0)
October 24, 2006
DKA: "Dragon...Knight...Angel" by Genevieve Cunningham
Next up is a fantasy tale by Genevieve Cunningham, complete with a dragon, a knight, and an angel.
"Dragon...Knight...Angel"
by Genevieve Cunningham
Tease:
"The Knights of the Order of Soccrest have fallen away from their oaths. And it will take more than an everyday occurrence to bring them back. Even so, their fate lies in the soul of their leader."
Posted by Selena at 07:43 AM | Comments (0)
October 23, 2006
Good Reading: "Clauses and Commas Make a Comeback"
For today's good reading, check out this article in The Washington Post:
"Clauses and Commas Make a Comeback"
My favorite part:
"Grammarians are regarded as a rather grumpy lot. They decorate their classrooms with quotation marks rather than quotations, brood for hours over the staff memo that misuses the contraction "it's" and ply students with unpardonable puns."
That its/it's thing – that is totally me! It is my biggest pet peeve. Come on people, you only use "It's" if you mean the contraction for "It is." How hard is that?!
Posted by Selena at 08:01 AM | Comments (0)
October 21, 2006
Today's Tally-Writing Again
Well, I managed to not only get a writing practice done, but I started revising a story of mine that has been rejected…oh, let's just say "a few times" and leave it at that.
Plus, I still have seven subs pending. That's not nothing.
I need to get novel#1 back out to its next potential publisher. That's on the pre-NaNo task list.
It feels so good to be writing again. :)
More tomorrow.
Posted by Selena at 08:47 PM | Comments (0)
Quote of the day: "Wait for the Wheel"
That's from an episode of "Farscape," one of my favorite episodes actually. I happened across the latter half of the episode today as I was flipping channels.
I've been thinking that I'm almost ready to start writing again in earnest. (Which is a good thing because NaNo is only a couple weeks away!)
As if that wasn't a clear enough message, when I picked up my Writer's Book of Days to get a writing prompt for practice it opened to the article called "Writing Cycles – To Every Thing There Is a Season."
I think I just need to stop feeling guilty for all I haven't been getting done lately, and move on. Maybe it's that crazy old law of inertia -- something about an object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion. Maybe that applies to writers too because the longer I don't write, the more I feel like a loser and hack, and the harder it is to convince myself to start writing again.
Actually, I think I read something similar today. Oh, yeah, it was an entry in PamL's blog at SR. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one.
So, the wheel has turned. It's time to get back to work, to break the cycle of lethargy and doubt, and start getting words down on paper again. Wish me luck.
Posted by Selena at 06:26 PM | Comments (0)
DKA: "Damage" by Jane Lebak
The latest addition to DKA's October issue is a brilliant and moving story by one of our favorite authors. (How do you get to be one of "our favorite authors?" Well, you keep sending us great stuff and be a joy to work with.)
"Damage"
by Jane Lebak
Tease:
"A new human soul is entrusted to the wrong guardian angel. When the unborn baby is diagnosed with a fatal birth defect, the family's decision not to abort ends up having eternal consequences for the baby's guardian."
You may remember Jane's previous stories in DKA:
her award-winning "Even a Stone" and the humorous short "Rent-An-Angel."
(If you missed them, go check them out!)
On a personal note: I love this story! I wasn't sure I would. Abortion is a very volatile and divisive topic. Sometimes just the mere mention of it gets people all uncomfortable, angry and afraid -- no matter what side of the debate they are on.
I guess I'm one of those people because I get anxious whenever the topic comes up. But this story washed over my discomfort and swept me away. The difficult content is so story-specific that it is moving without being inflammatory. And the ending is so brilliant and heart-wrenching and soul-lifting that the payoff is well worth any initial discomfort I might have felt. Truth is, this story gets to me every time I read it.
Posted by Selena at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
October 19, 2006
Scenes from a Move: Scene #2: Phillip and Molly
Though not technically from the move itself, here are some scenes from my new view.
These two birds (I think they are cranes) frequent our backyard. My husband has named them Phillip and Molly. They spent most of this afternoon just outside our back door. In fact, I am watching them now as I type.
Today's other move-related scene was not so charming. It was waiting an hour at the DMV only to find out we didn't have the necessary paperwork with us. Grrr. Gotta go back another day. And this time, I am going to remember to bring a book!
Posted by Selena at 06:11 PM | Comments (0)
October 17, 2006
Birds of a Feather
For today's good non-fiction reading, check out this article from The Washington Post:
"Why Everyone You Know Thinks the Same as You"
My favorite part:
"I often hear people say with absolute certainty that whoever they are in favor of is obviously going to do well because they haven't talked to 'anyone' who supports the other person" in the election, said Lynn Smith-Lovin, a Duke University sociologist who has studied homophily. She rolled her eyes and said, "Oh yeah, sure! That is a good argument."
That's hilarious! And so ridiculously true.
Making mental note to seek out more people who aren't like me…
Posted by Selena at 05:20 PM | Comments (0)
New Column: Why Go to Church?
My latest column is now available at The Sword Review.
I was asking myself that same question again last Sunday as I tried out a new church (in my new neighborhood). I almost left several times.
The experience, especially the beginning, was so stressful that I was in tears. The church is much bigger than I am used to. Just getting in the parking lot and finding the appropriate place to park was a nerve-wracking traffic jam. Even once inside, the church and service were so loud and crowded and busy that it was overwhelming.
But there among the flash and the noise and the crush of many strangers was the still, small voice of God. So, it was okay.
Posted by Selena at 08:59 AM | Comments (0)
DKA: "An Epitaph For Shangri-La" by George L. Duncan
Today's update is a shot of science fiction, a story about the mystery of an alien world.
"An Epitaph For Shangri-La"
by George L. Duncan
Tease:
"Men have always yearned for a secular paradise. But utopias may be overhyped."
Posted by Selena at 08:30 AM | Comments (0)
October 14, 2006
DKA: "A Swarm of Mermaids" by Christie McCreadie
Next up for October is…
"A Swarm of Mermaids"
by Christie McCreadie
Tease:
"We'd all like to think we are patient, strong, and have courage in the face of adversity, but how do you cultivate those qualities. In many stories, the hero goes on a quest and returns a better person. Follow this hero on his quest, to get his license..."
Plus, it's got mermaids like you've never seen them!
Posted by Selena at 07:55 AM | Comments (0)
October 12, 2006
Scenes from a Move: Scene #1: A Ducky Welcome
I recently moved from my much-beloved Washington, DC metropolitan area, where I had lived since the third grade, to a suburban town in sunny Florida. Moving a thousand miles is always going to be a bit of a drama, but this one was complicated by the three much-beloved cats who were moving with me. Suffice it to say, they did NOT like that 16-hour drive!
But it wasn't all bad. Here is my favorite scene from the big move...
When I finally arrived at my new home, got the cats out of their carriers and settled in the house, I went back out to the garage to start unloading the car. That's when I noticed the string of ducks coming across the lawn towards the driveway. A large, white duck led the way, followed by three smaller brown ducks. (Mallards, I think. What do I know?)
They turned up the driveway and came right up into the garage as if to say "Hello, welcome to the neighborhood." A few quack quacks. A little pattering around in circles in the garage. Then they headed right back down the driveway and on to their next appointment.
Shortly after, I noticed the couple "gifts" they had left behind in the garage. Well, what do you expect from ducks? Besides, I didn't mind the little bit of cleanup. Their visit was well worth it.
Posted by Selena at 07:23 PM | Comments (0)
Noted on Today's Walk
A sign that said:
"Does your dog get out more than you?"
I laughed.
It was an ad for a pet fence company. But still kind of funny.
Posted by Selena at 07:03 PM | Comments (0)
October 10, 2006
Today's Tally
Finally, the big move is done and I can spend my time editing instead of packing, then unpacking, boxes.
Today was a good day work-wise.
This is what I accomplished:
Proofed a story for SR
Read 4 DKA subs
Read 2 SR subs
Responded re: 3 DKA subs
Published and promoted a story for DKA.
It was a full, eight-hour workday. But I got a lot done so I feel good about it.
Trouble is…I'm still not caught up.
Posted by Selena at 07:48 PM | Comments (0)
Noted on Today's Walk
...a bumpersticker that says
"Real Men Love Jesus"
:)
Posted by Selena at 07:01 PM | Comments (0)
DKA: "Useless Meetings" by Ivy Reisner
To open October's issue we have a fun piece of flash fiction that many of us can relate to.
"Useless Meetings"
by Ivy Reisner
Tease:
"A group of corporate demons implement a policy of inflicting useless meetings on humans."
Posted by Selena at 01:24 PM | Comments (0)