The Self-Avowed Geek

Taking Stock and Working on Some Encouragement

Sat, 17 May 2008 04:40:58 GMT

So I don’t think of a year in January to December calendar terms. Nope.

Teaching gives me a different calendar: the August to May one. One of my writing log quirks, then, revolves around tracking accepted and/or published works from June (start of my summer break) through May (end of the teaching year). I’ve only been keeping such track for the past four years.

This year in particular has been fun and interesting and hopeful and relatively successful. I’ve been most aggravated that I’ve not written and sent off, nor gotten much, poetry out there this go ‘round. But it’s not a bad thing, given the prose stylings and machinations have gotten some mileage. Still, I’ll whine more about a poem’s rejection that a story’s rejection.

I’m proud of these accomplishments and figured that, hey, if I post good writing news along with other friends and acquaintances at Asimov’s on the self-promotional threads, then why not just do this glomming-type, coup-counting post on my own little LJ?

Here goes . . .

1. [carefully plotted]--a scifaiku for Issue 6 of The Shantytown Anomaly

2. “Iaido” and “Losing Count: A Parable”--both poems published in The Journal of Asian Martial Arts

3. “Something Apollonius Rhodius Left Out”--flash piece in Sentinel Science Fiction (I still miss it, Lou.)

4. “Sold Separately”--flash fiction for Issue 7 of The Shantytown Anomaly

5. “Clone”--8 word micro fiction for Issue 6 of The Shantytown Anomaly (I know, a pattern. It’s a stand-up bi-annual specific publication. Check it if you haven’t.)

6. “flotsam and jetsam”--poem in the Marymark Press give-out/broadside series

7. “Hunter and Harvest”--poem reprinted in the SFPA Dwarf Stars Award anthology; nominated from its appearance in Issue 2 of The Shantytown Anomaly

8. “Dwarfblood”--fantasy short in Forbidden Speculation (available at Amazon!) and from the good folks at OG’s Speculative Fiction

9. “Autumn Caravans”--reprinted online and up now at Lorelei Signal

10. “Sword of the Dead”--novella accepted by Drollerie Press for an upcoming anthology

11. “Virtual Jisei”--poem slated for October at Kaleidotrope

12. “What’s Faulkner Got to Do with It?”--list story in Issue 11 of the online Behind the Wainscot

13. “GangstaFic”--yes, counting the Fantasy Magazine Blog for Beer entry because it won, so that counts as a contest in my book

14. “BSG Last Supper Analysis”--2^nd place (two copies of Weird Tales back issues!) in another Fantasy Magazine Blog for Beer

15. “A Matter of Anachronisms, Archetypal yet Curious in Their Implications”--short story in Issue 14 of Behind the Wainscot

16. “The Nest Building Habits of Children Inclined to Ornithomancy and Other Such Auguries”--upcoming story slated for fall at Fantasy Magazine

So, there you have it. I’m definitely _not_ touching the 5x that number of rejections, but that just goes with the territory and the calluses on the heart, skin, and ego. It’s definitely not without its frustrations--I’ve been struggling to find an agent for my two novels and came _this close_ with just sending outright to an editor who did give personal feedback with a rejection along with a hearty dose of encouragement. But, dang it, that novel (and its mate) are two big babies for me, and I’ve consequently backed down from the agent search/publisher search for now to throw myself into short story writing.

Still, it’s writin--this the craft, the passion, the drive.

Avocation? Yes. The Dream? Why, of course. Foundation for the future? Daggum sure hope so. It makes me realize that it can be done. And keeping work in the market(s) is the only currency I’ve got. The only currency any writer’s got. When it comes back, send it back out. How long? By God, until.

And write in the mean time.

Butt in the seat. Pen to paper. Fingertips to the home row.

And the lovely wife still helps me keep grounded. Still gotta take out the trash and other such divisions of labor around the house. ;)

It always helps keep me going, too, when Thing 1 and Thing 2 say, "Daddy, whatchou writin'?" Something else I hope I can impart to my children. But I digress.

The Geekery Is Strong with This One.

Fri, 16 May 2008 20:54:35 GMT

Know what my son just made with his LEGOS?

Little turkey-head just made, in his words, "A Cylon Raider that has super-energy."

Holy crap.

A frakkin' Cylon Raider (I've got a miniature die-cast one flanked by a pair of Vipers on the other computer monitor).

He also made a pair of Laserbeaks out of LEGOS. Laserbeak being a Transformer.

Oh, the geekery . . .

Because Someone Nudged Me . . .

Thu, 15 May 2008 22:39:52 GMT

Thanks to </a></b></a>silk_noir

Regarding the deluge of unrealistic images cast upon women in general and young girls in particular, I give you the following: My personal preferences are arcs, curves, and such similar motifs. Planes and angles? Meh. Healthy is good, great even. And, you know, it's realistic. And such marketing shenanigans do not fly well with the wife and me when it comes to our youngest child and daughter, Thing 2. Waaaaaay too much superficiality and hypersexuality is shunted every which way at girl-children today. No BRATZ toys in our household, thank you, kindly.

And the counter-programming with our daughter started at two. She's three now. This very scenario has played out fairly regularly for just over a year now, so here goes:

"What are you?"

"Smart." [She taps her forehead.]

"And what else?"

"I'm strong." [Holds up her arms and pretend flexes.]

"And what else?"

"I've got a good heart." [Pats her chest.]

"And all that together makes you what?"

"Beyootifull." [With a twirl of her hands.]

Otherwise, she is rough-and-tumble yet frilly as she so chooses. We're fine with that because it bespeaks an early sense of balance.

Lately, though, she's just just been randomly clucking like a chicken. But, she is Thing 2 in our family.

And she is beyootifull.

One of my characters knows something,

Wed, 14 May 2008 01:29:07 GMT

and he isn't telling.

Do any of you writerly types reach that point where the road bends, and a character stumbles? Then another character offers a hand before you, as narrative persona, can say, "Here, let me help?"

I'm glad this guy jumped in and that I trusted my subconscious to go Zen. He's an old man with worlds of experience. Somehow methinks my paltry thirty-four years' experience would've just gotten in the way. And the protagonist and I both needed a shake-up, a better crisis point than the one I'd planned. 'cause plans are sometimes the worst things that can happen to Story when it decides to pull you along for the ride.

And that's all I'ma givin' ya for a WIP update on "The Sortilege of Objects Lost and Anointed from Tannin Water Depths." I'd rather not piss off Old Man Fisher, especially when he's had a few in him.

Wonderin' 'bout Books 'bout Writin'

Mon, 12 May 2008 01:52:27 GMT

There are only a handful of books about the craft that have stuck with me over the years. I'd much rather read a variety of genres first, write second, then worry about the books about writing. But I can't shake the simple, concise advice of ol' Strunk and White's Elements of Style along with the "Hey, you, yeah, Constant Reader" tack of Stephen King in On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. Then there's Ernest Hemingway on Writing, a bundle of letters compiled and edited by Larry W. Phillips; love or hate Papa, there's still much to redeem the man as writer in these collected correspondences. And then today I had to flip back through Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing: pithy, succinct, utilitarian--just as I like it.

So how about your own fave books on the writerly craft?

Writing, or some semblance thereof

Sun, 11 May 2008 02:43:20 GMT

Got a page in tonight on "The Sortilege of Objects Lost and Anointed in Tannin Water Depths." (I know, I know--daggum title's half the story.)

Tonight's breakthrough: The first-person narrator is a character named Feeling Kavanagh. I had an inkling, but now I know it is he. Feeling featured in "Verses on St. Andrews," a story printed in Issue 2 of the now-defunct (unfortunately) Spinning Whorl. He also made it in my novelette "Neither Cast Your Pearls," which is sitting on an editor's desk, and he is reference briefly in a first-draft zombie story that has a lot of work ahead of it and me ("Master Slade and Bamboo"). I've got at least four more tales which will feature or cameo Feeling because he's central to the Fogle County and Urville southern magical realism stories percolating in this ol' heart and head. And I'm beginning to realize, slowly, that he can be the common character thread to these stories that are alreadly linked via geography. And Feeling's got plenty of fuel in him for me and the page. We shall see.

Journey successful. Boons attained.

Sat, 10 May 2008 15:39:41 GMT

Here’s the rundown.

Son and I got to Planet Groove, the shop, and although it’s a small collectibles store with tight quarters, it’s a well-kept place and an amiable atmosphere. A handful of skater boys and skater girls were present. Some chatting, some working on their boards, some reading comics. Two of my seniors were there, so that was cool as well.

Thing 1 went absolutely 150% boy crazy over the collectible toys until he noticed the Transformers comic books. Let’s just say, if he were a pinball machine, the moment would’ve been TILT!, TILT!, TILT! I forewent shopping for myself; I can go some other time.

The precedent was getting my son there for his first comic book store run and first purchasing experience. He chose his two Transformers comics on his own, and I handed him the money to give to the store owner, a young man who--small world--happens to be neighbors with our local pharmacist. I have to give props to my two students, Juz$ and L$, for being the crazy-cool comic geeks and good students they are. Juz$ modestly tapped me on the shoulder at the counter and said, “Here, there are still plenty of free comics left over from last week.” He handed me a Hulk and Iron Man free comic, then added, “There’s an Avengers , too.” Totally awesome. So, missing Free Comic Book Day wasn’t a full-on bust after all.

And I have to say that my lil man was well-behaved though enthusiastic about the whole affair and fascinated by the “scootboards” on the walkway outside the store’s frontage, where we also stopped to look back in the plate glass windows because, hey, they had stand-up posters of Optimus Prime and Megatron on display. Thing 1 launched into his mini-dissertation of the merits of the “good Autobots” and the “bad Decepticons” for a few minutes, and we departed. Most of the drive home, he geeked out in his booster seat and flipped through the two freebie comics. He’s just gotten through regaling his mother with tales of “good Autobots” and “bad Decepticons” and is flipping through his small yet (hopefully) growing collection.

Oh, and the plastic and the backing boards for the two Transformers comics? We’ll just set them aside. He can become a true collector one day at his own determination. For now, it is to enjoy the comics for themselves, tucked away in his little desk drawer, read sometimes at night and found on top of the covers.

Yes, definitely worth the last week's wait.

Quick Post: "To the Bat-cave!" Er, I Mean, "To the Comic Book Shop!"

Sat, 10 May 2008 12:21:35 GMT

News at 11:00--Thing 1 and I are heading out the door for his milestone, archetypal visit to the comic book store. His first visit. The one that ushers him through a major threshold of the dorkomancy and the awesomeness that is geekdom. More upon crossing the return threshold and so you may see that, yes, he and I shall be shamanistic masters of the two worlds.

It's Fun with Feuding Sentences Thursday!

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:39:30 GMT

So, writing has been sparse this week. However, I had a breakthrough yesterday regarding a protagonist’s background, which played nicely into where I hope the plot and protag are headed. Then I had a sentence pop into my head. And another sentence. They glared at me and vied for attention, so I handed them to a trusted student--shout out to J$!--and trusted colleague--holla, R$!--for a vote.

Right now, the sentences stand one and one. The ol’ Self-Avowed Geek then had an epiphany, if you will: “Hey, I’ll post the twain on LJ and see who comments.” I’m declaring today, at least, Fun with Feuding Sentences Thursday.

A touch of background might help. Imagine a character gone to war--second deployment--and already having had an unusual experience. Oh, maybe rescuing a bean-nighe (banshee) from a curse yet being stalked because, hey, no good deed goes unpunished, right? Now, context having been rendered (slightly, though), here are the sentences:

Sentence 1: . . .After looking at the crow, I walked across the parade ground and saw my shadow was gone.

Sentence 2: . . . The crow hopped off its perch and swooped near. Its shadow passed across mine, then vanished into the coming twilight.

Help ‘em out here. They’re needy, and so’s their writer.

Votes with or without comments are welcome.

Peace out, homeslices.

Comic Books

Sun, 04 May 2008 19:30:45 GMT

Okay, so I’m a bit slow on the uptake, but I gather from various LJ friends’ posts that there are gentle comic book readers out there. So, out of curiosity, let me know some of your favorite stories, writers, artists, whatever. What’s the pride of your collection, no matter how big or small the collection, too. If you want to brag about size, well, how big is it? The collection, people, let’s stay on topic . . .

Since I’m hanging it out there, here goes . . .

* I have a 2,000+ strong collection, about three-fifths Marvel, one-fifth DC, one-fifth independent.

* best run: Issue 67-125 of Wolverine

* some faves: Wolverine mini-series penned by Chris Claremont and penciled by Frank Miller, The Watchmen, 30 Days of Night, The Complete Frank Miller Batman, Sandman, Books of Magic, and some scattered Sgt. Rock and Weird War Tales comics

* pride of collection: Issue 18 of Daredevil, penned by Stan the Man Lee; the aforementioned Wolverine mini-series, and Issue #1 of Star Wars from Marvel (yes, that one!)

So, whatchou got goin’ on?

CAW! CAW! CAW!

Sat, 03 May 2008 00:20:06 GMT

Yes, folks.

Yes, indeed.

That is the sound of a crow crowing because "that crow story" ["The Nest Building Habits of Children Inclined to Ornithomancy and Other Such Auguries"] shall appear in the fall in . . . Fantasy Magazine (http://www.darkfantasy.org/fantasy/ ).

Many, many thanks to Cat Rambo and Sean Wallace for the acceptance.

Major props to my archetypal secret helpers (read: first readers) for encouragement and market suggestions. You guys all rock, and by rock, I mean RAWK!

What a way to end the work week!

The juvenile Hemidactylus frenatus

Thu, 01 May 2008 23:41:08 GMT

Er, I meant, the juvenile House Gecko.

Too friggin’ cool for school anecdote:

The son (Thing 1) and I were outside a little while ago. Breeze was up. Checked the mail. Chased an adult lizard around without success in capture but much success in, well, that little thing called Fun.

Then I hear, “Oh, Daddy, look! I caught a baby lizard!”

No, he didn’t. It is, by all estimations and photo searches along and amid teh intarwebs, a common House Gecko. Waaaaaaaay down South. We built a tiny vivarium for it out of a clean cream cheese cup with airholes in the lid and some sand, dirt, grass, and crumbled-up pine bark inside. I’m going to pluck a tiny wasp nest and put in there so that the lil sucker can feast upon the emerging, stinging buggers. A bigger vivarium in the offing as soon as posting is done, for those concerned about, well, cramped space for a gecko.

A freakin’ gecko.

May not mean much to you, but, hey, we’re just a bunch o’ simple country folk down here. And it’s not everyday you see a gecko outside the odd GEICO commercial.

And while were on the tangential GEICO subject--yes, in the mail was the monthly auto insurance bill from, you guessed it, GEICO. Hmmmmmmmmm. Coincidence or shameless capitalistic/marketing/reptoid conspiracy?

You decide.

Why aren't you . . .

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:14:14 GMT

checking out Fantasy Magazine? I know we got some Blog for Beer folks hanging around.

For the sheer top-level imaginative goodness of it all, check out Paul Jessup's offing, "A Word without Ghosts" (http://www.darkfantasy.org/fantasy/?p=533 ). It's chock-full of shamanism and fairy tale twistiness as in "I'ma twist ya arm, fairy tale tropes, and ya gunna say, 'Uncle!'". Though that's not implying Paul is a literary bully, just that he, well, pwned that story idea as he is wont to do. And did.

So, who can pass up a well-turned, lyrical coming of age story? Huh? Huh?

Glad I didn't.

Melluva Hess

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:17:28 GMT

Okay, help me out here, gentle LJ friends who write. When's the last time you wrote outside your comfort zone? Maybe you're more into soft science fiction and tried your hand at New Weird fantasy or vice versa. Or maybe you had a good slipstream idea and slipped getting into the stream.

To wit, I challenged myself last Sunday to begin "The Adventures of Tick Tock Lad in Steam City" (tentative title, mind you). No doubt your amazing powers of deductive reasoning led you to the conclusion that, yes, Virginia, there is a steampunk story in there. At least, I'm thinking so, too, after six longhand pages, and with my cramped handwriting that would transcribe to roughly 10-12 typewritten pages depending on the narrative-to-dialogue ratio.

It's hard writing in a subgenre I'm not used to, but I'm not whining. I like the challenge, and I hope the story ends up the better for the nudges and kicks and pinches and threats I'm leveling at the inner Muse. She better buck up and start earning her keep--dang her time.

But I'm not dropping this draft. No sirree Bob. Uh-unh. Nope. I've got three generations of automaton bodyguards for werewolf hunters to account for along with a handwritten note personalized by Victoria herself to a soon-to-be mad scientist (tm). And Tick Tock Lad still hasn't gotten his own mini-Gatling gun from his owner, Dr. Lucius Scott. Two things prodded me to begin this current story project: (1) I haven't written a steampunk story, and (2) I haven't read a decent werewolf story nor written one (decent or otherwise).

So, if you care to talk about current writing hurdles, within or without your chosen genre, please do tell.

Mr. Mom, The Self-Avowed Geek Version (ADDENDUM)

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 22:36:32 GMT

Aside from forced child labor, i.e. cleaning up damage done to living room and the kids' rooms, the house has survived the day. Minimal damage, no hull breaches. Both kids actually took naps--a frightening situation, to be sure.

We wrapped up the day with cool breezes and dandelions in the front yard. Grasshopper chasing. On your mark, go set, go! back and forth across the front yard. And at least two attempts at martial arts sparring.

Added bonus (aren't most bonuses added anyway???): Although the flowerbeds need weeding, we have confirmed sightings of blackberry stickers with berries, plump and red. One more week, and those suckers are ours for the devouring.

Thing 1 and Thing 2 have had a major feast of oven baked chicken nuggets, el cheapo Honey Buzzers cereal (generic for Honeycombs), and *drumroll* peanut M&M's. Sugar crash imminent in t-minus sixty minutes . . .

Oh, and we just got through with an impromptu round of human beat boxing because, you know, we jus' skreet like dat.

Peace out.

Mr. Mom, The Self-Avowed Geek Version

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:07:54 GMT

Remember the 1983 comedy starring Michael Keaton? Although not quite the comedy of errors and role reversal one might think, that is I this weekend. The wife's out of town with the in-laws going to a Gaither Vocal Band concert in Atlanta. Thing 1 and Thing 2 and I are rocking the joint, though, partying hard.

Partying hard consists of listening to a mix CD with Disturbed, GnR, Hinder, Paramore, and Drowning Pool. The boy is making guitars out of LEGOS. Also making Cylon Raiders, too. And putting the straight pieces (axles, I think) between his fingers to make a fist because, hey, that makes him Wolverine, baby. Little girl is in Disney Princess (tm) gear--gown and tutu--along with kickin' it hard with her Strawberry Shortcake coloring book and magic markers.

Given the diverse activities in the study, I would hesitate to call our little experience Victorian in its gathering-in-the-family-library way, but we’re having a blast.

So, while the wife and in-laws listen to gospel music, we’re being subversive, raging heretics with our metal horns in the air. My son’s even trying on David Draiman’s chimpanzee voice from “Down with the Sickness” while my daughter spins her baby doll around to the gentle arias of Drowning Pool’s “Bodies.”

Life is good.

The day, she is yet young . . .

Now Live: "A Matter of Anachronisms, Archetypal yet Curious in Their Implications”

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:07:09 GMT

Yep.

Issue 14 is up now at Behind the Wainscot (http://behindthewainscot.com/).

So, what're ya waitin' fer???

. . . IN WHICH OUR DAUNTLESS WRITERLY TYPE PIMPS THE SELF . . .

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:56:56 GMT

First things first, I‘m a day ahead posting because I wouldn‘t be able to post until tomorrow afternoon otherwise. And I think y’all would be cool with that.

Feeling all shiny and stuff right now.

Should you tromp your way to the experimental crunchiness and interstitially caramel goodness that is Behind the Wainscot (http://behindthewainscot.com/), and, oh, see that Issue 14 is up and running on Monday, you might also notice that the entire frakkin’ issue contains a story by yours truly.

The title: “A Matter of Anachronisms, Archetypal yet Curious in Their Implications”

Yep. Little ol’ me.

If you like Arthurian legend, go check it out.

If you’re perhaps a New Weird fan, there’s something for you, too.

If you want to check out some magical realism with a Southern vibe, go ‘head on with your bad self.

And I’d like to thank editor Paul Jessup for his help and guidance with the piece along with editor-in-chief Darin Bradley for his generous reception to the story.

If you visit and read the story, please leave a comment at the site. Hell, I wouldn’t mind if you came back here and posted a comment either.

Meanwhile, check-check-check-check-check it out, Behind the Wainscot Issue 11 (http://behindthewainscot.com/?p=143). It's got list-stories by Jay Lake, Jonathan Wood, Michelle Muenzler, and moi.

Bit of nostalgia

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:41:30 GMT

The illustrious Mr. Steven Utley ( impatientape) had a post mentioning his visit to a lumberyard. As fickle memory is wont to do, bit and pieces swirled the ol' eddies of childhood past for me. So, this post isn't exactly his fault, but nevertheless . . .

[dialing memory machine back to Age 5]

One of my fondest childhood memories is being taken by my daddy to the local lumberyard. He told me I could pick out some wood from the big toss-off pile they had--much board feet on the cheap.

So, got some old boards and a rhomboid bit of plywood all while Daddy's ulterior motive took unfolded; one of the nice employees jigged out a wooden pistol from which I could fire one of those industrial-sized rubberbands. You might remember them although I haven't seen any for a long time: the quarter-inch wide ones, bright red and hell on leaving welts if you weren't careful.

That was a great afternoon of making a mess with tools--mostly the wrong ones--spreading out nails and screws to find Just the Right One (tm), and hunting monsters in the backyard hedgerow of bullis vines and pine trees with my rubberband gun.   I do remember that was my first sets of lessons in using and taking care of tools--putting them back where you found them. Also came the importance of double and triple checking for stray nails and screws that might (1) injure a bare foot later on, (2) ruin a bicycle or car tire, and (3) recycling scrap for creative purposes.   And always be aware of monsters in the hedgerow, for they are sneaky but deign come close to little boys with rubberband guns.

So, any childhood HUD memories or monster-hunting recollections out there you care sharing? Bring 'em on.

When the Muse Strikes Redux

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:21:23 GMT

Two hours ago I completed the rough draft of "The Nest Building Habits of Children Inclined to Ornithomancy and Other Such Auguries" or, by it's other moniker "that crow story."

1500 words in just over three hours of total writing time. I think that might qualify as a personal short story writing best for drafting.

And I did some digging, too. Since April last year, I've managed to write twelve short stories and one novelette. That's up from six to eight stories a year the previous two. I'd say I've got a sufficient crop of stories to revise and submit on a rotating basis.

I'll be the first to admit that, of all those stories, half might be better off never seeing the light of day. Of the remaining half, most of those could be saleable with heavy revising and multiple drafting.  Most of my stories seeing print have been either fourth or fifth drafts.

When the Muse strikes while you're writing

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:33:11 GMT

Sounds odd, yeah. But there I was, only two days ago, smack-dab in the middle of a flashback--in the middle, no less, itself--in "The Secession of Scarecrow Curtis" (2k and climbing) when some surreal imagery of a child, some crows, and Greek ideas of reading birdflight tromped through my skull and decided to sit down. Hard.

What started as a flash fiction piece is now a short story and is nearly complete--as complete as rough drafts go.

It's a surreal/weird/magical realism walk-through memoir of an as-yet-unnamed narrator (because names are power, right?).

Title: "The Nest Building Habits of Children Inclined to Ornithomancy and Other Such Auguries." Pretentious? Could care less. It is as it is--title, warts, and all--for now.

Oh, and fathers and sons. Gotta have something archetypal. And abandonment issues. Those, too. Along with creeping darkness in the night.

Did I mention the crows are telepathic?

For the naturalists out there

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:43:26 GMT

Itemized for your reading convenience (really for my writing convenience, but, hey, who's keeping score???):

1. I generally distrust the arrival of spring until I see the following: green buds coming out on pecan trees. Pecan trees are usually our best indicator Down South (tm) of spring's being here and the influx of autumnal joys as well. So, more green on pecan trees: check. Higher humidity: check.

2. Drove through a veritable uber-cloud of dragonflies like some funkified quantum mechanics lesson with insects just a little while ago. Again, with higher humidity come the dragonflies. Bow down to them.

3. Our day lilies, azaleas, and society garlic are all in bloom. But the children aren't as interested in them as they are the dandelions, as I think small kids ought to be (in Southernese that'd be "orta"). Unfortunately, the kids savaged the dandelions a couple of evenings ago. Give it a day or two more, and we'll be good to go.

4. Snakes. Haven't mentioned them. Tried to catch a black racer. Alas, the story of the black racer just didn't grab me. He was too fast. Darn his ophidian speed! It won't take much searching, though, for more snakes given the marsh behind our back yard and the creek beside our property.

5. Turtles. Always on the lookout for 'em. Must not teach children yet the term cooter for turtle. Could turn into a public scene. Must refrain.

6. Lizards. All over the front porch, hanging out with the other lizardly types. Yet no skinks so far--it'll have to be summer before those big suckers come out.

7. Frogs. Too cool for school. Little girl's foot got peed on by one here while back when she nudged its bottom with her cute little sandaled foot. Silliness ensued.

8. Hummingbirds. Conspicuously absent so far this spring due to our having to have five acres of pine trees surrounding our property removed because of bug infestation that would have destroyed them within two years besides. Totally screwed up the habitat and really couldn't be helped. We've got out hummingbird feeders and need to put our spring wreath on the front door; perhaps a little more flashy color will draw out hummingbirds slumming across the road.

That's all for now. How's the wildlife and springtime goodness around your haunts????

A Ten-Item Reading Meme

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:55:39 GMT

Here's a short, sweet, and simple reading/writing related meme.

1. Last book you read. Real Ultimate Power: The Official Ninja Book by Robert Hamburger; humor, and utterly sophomoric, absurdist, and junk-food-for-the-mind numblingly fun. Because ninjas are totally sweet.

2. Last good book you read. Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks

3. Last bad book you read. Wolves at Our Door by Jim and Jamie Dutcher. Insightful about the Sawtooth wolf pack. Written by documentarians. Mediocre writing on a still-interesting subject. So, I wouldn’t necessarily say is was bad, just middlin'.

4. Book that has recently renewed your interest in or committment to writing (if apropos to your situation). Elmore Leonard’s 10 Rules for Writing.

5. Book that has recently reminded you how much you still have to learn about the writing craft. No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy. I shall go slink under a rock soon . . .

6. Last short story you read (print or online). See jaylake 's “The Sky that Wraps the World Round, Past the Blue and Into the Black.” It’s up at Clarkesworld Magazine (http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/issue_18). Do yourself a favor and check it out.

7. Last poem you read. Carl Sandburg’s “Splinter.” Fun employment of sound devices with that one.

8. Last play you read. As You Like It by William Shakespeare.

9. Blog you read most often. John Scalzi's Whatever (www.scalzi.com/whatever/).

10. Latest movie you’ve seen adapting a good book you’ve read, and you didn’t want to (1) slash the theater screen or (2) punch the television screen because of a blasphemy committed against said novel. No Country for Old Men.

A Totally Sweet yet Dorktacular Names List

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:43:28 GMT

I just cribbed this from </a></b></a>silk_noir (thanks for the chuckles, Freckles).

Here's my newfound named glory.

1. Your Rock Star name (first pet, current car): Socks Jeep

2. Your Gangsta name (fave ice cream flavor, fave type of shoe): Strawberry Reebok Classic

3. Your Native American name (favorite color, favorite animal): Blue Wolf

4. Your soap opera name (middle name, city where you were born): Clifford Blackshear

5. Your Star Wars name (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name): Henbe

6. Superhero name (2nd fave color, favorite drink): Green Tea (a mutant herbalist!)

7. NASCAR name (the first names of your grandfathers): Emerson Gordon/Gordon Emerson (not a bad ring either way)

8. Stripper name (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy): Silver IcePeppermint (because I'm just flat sexy like that with my Degree for Men deodorant, as if you really had to know that . . .)

9. TV Weather Anchor Name (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Osborne Odum

10. Spy Name (your favorite season/holiday, fave flower): Autumn Lavender (sure to strike fear into my archrivals)

11. Cartoon Name (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now): Apple Briefs (and the latter are Fruit of the Loom)

12. Hippie Name (what you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Nothing Pine

Reprint Publication News

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:04:02 GMT

So, Lorelei Signal (http://www.loreleisignal.com/CurrentIssue.html) has reprinted my short story, "Autumn Caravans," which first appeared several years back in a little irregularly published magazine called Samsara (http://samsara.cjb.net/). I like the artwork that appears with the online version. Very nice and a tad, um, sexy, if I do say so myself. You'll see the story located six entries down in the TOC. There's a link where you can contact me via email for a comment on the story, but, hey, LJ friends could always post comments back here, too. Considering the story's twelve years old, it's nice to see the ol' girl's got some life in her. The Self-Avowed Geek hopes you enjoy.