tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21836680086484789052024-03-27T15:36:34.708+09:00Jot In The DarkShawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-88843041694145098122024-03-27T12:23:00.004+09:002024-03-27T12:36:33.593+09:00Your Wednesday Limerick: Liz Bennett Limerick<div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Liz. Bennett, a poor English beauty,<br /></span></span><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Despised Mr. Darcy as snooty.<br /></span></span><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These opinions unfair,<br /></span></span><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Were improved. Now they share<br /></span></span><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Extra sugar whenever they brew tea.</span></span></div>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-57318702747338503792024-03-05T13:40:00.007+09:002024-03-11T04:02:35.344+09:00REAP: Horror Micro-Fiction Anthology by Black Hare Press Announced<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujxIibt8gClfjihHq4dRDJ-EFZBTfCHPSvHDBQSG5JWqdeOCGkxzo9NPNB2lGFrLtlYNCe6DFjPQrJMm-hD9gY_7TSVQaYMvPnnHbgcg4t4HTaK3ssssbD1h_LwwUB1RnMaWjr3eJi4AZjqbzpdi0D3vBisKsbJH9NCnY0Vg3u5sVY62AODwQ8TLPA8O9/s1613/REAPshortfictionanthology.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1613" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujxIibt8gClfjihHq4dRDJ-EFZBTfCHPSvHDBQSG5JWqdeOCGkxzo9NPNB2lGFrLtlYNCe6DFjPQrJMm-hD9gY_7TSVQaYMvPnnHbgcg4t4HTaK3ssssbD1h_LwwUB1RnMaWjr3eJi4AZjqbzpdi0D3vBisKsbJH9NCnY0Vg3u5sVY62AODwQ8TLPA8O9/w268-h400/REAPshortfictionanthology.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A new flash-fiction story to be published--possibly two.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>In a Facebook group exclusive to contributors to indie publisher, Black Hare Press, the admin announced a writing contest inviting writer-members to comment with an original microfiction story (200 words or fewer) inspired by an image prompt depicting a zombie touching a field of brains, with the selected winner to receive a custom T-shirt.<div>After a week, winners were announced, and I learned that my story, "Meatless Unlife Aftertaste Diet" had placed in the Top Five (third). The BHP editors further announced that they had decided to compile all the entries into an anthology.</div><div>So yay! My work will be another anthology!</div><div><br /></div><div>The same, latter announcement mentioned that space remained for about ten additional stories and that anyone could submit, whether or not they had already previously submitted. And so, over the next few days, I brainstormed a second story. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5V0f3SZ3pCCi0M-k8LsmLbVA2JON8V2TkKy9re8KVTaxzZK1nqMijg7z7SgaExNyi2QYRrF0p8A8sLagf7lJLTmcItQLA80j7R4qnv9ZAwKZNvcUDyV7-Mla4jJL81oYAIlDes5lrsQVBLZdV_TQDWETcj89PorybiZr2cmDeKpl_w_khz0_b53fk1Ns9" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="224" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5V0f3SZ3pCCi0M-k8LsmLbVA2JON8V2TkKy9re8KVTaxzZK1nqMijg7z7SgaExNyi2QYRrF0p8A8sLagf7lJLTmcItQLA80j7R4qnv9ZAwKZNvcUDyV7-Mla4jJL81oYAIlDes5lrsQVBLZdV_TQDWETcj89PorybiZr2cmDeKpl_w_khz0_b53fk1Ns9" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div>Then, last night, unclear on the submission instructions (and frankly, in a rush to get to bed, already late), I posted this finished story also as a comment. Today, I kept browsing for any replies or feedback until finally, this afternoon, I read a note from a group admin/editor advising that I was supposed to have emailed any new submissions to darkdrabbles@blackharepress.com, per instructions on a separate post. So, I deleted my text and followed these proper instructions.</div><div>The proper instructions require omitting identifying information from the submission document and providing it exclusively within the submission email. This protocol allows volunteer readers to judge anonymized submissions impartially. Having posted the text and title online, it may even be disqualified before it can be rejected. We'll see. </div><div><br /></div><div>[Update: my second story, “The Mimicry Mutation “ has also been accepted.]</div><div><br /></div><div>Whatever happens, it's a victory to have finished and submitted yet another story. I hope this is an indication that my writing pace is recovering.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">P.S. The first image was shared with contributors by BHP for promotional use; the second was generated by Bing Image Creator (AI).</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-13320408513033015492024-03-01T13:42:00.002+09:002024-03-01T13:42:28.170+09:00My First Western, A Flash Fiction Contest Entry<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHVS0qMFv_xKB3MAYa0DShRtg2RPw4Q5ooajsZYXieSpfPL2w4Ih_-cp9XzwuSgoDFN3lVzyXLO73ud55CBbS4RFZwH543wMidd_hIxvQAerUIlRY4WOn1CIEO2c5zPz6dTp0udyIp2B16t9_DB_4joLO5Mu61RoQxn6ILhmy7qopnW_XjHAIrbR-oqLN/s2048/MustangAward_CompetitionSaddlebagDispatches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1422" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHVS0qMFv_xKB3MAYa0DShRtg2RPw4Q5ooajsZYXieSpfPL2w4Ih_-cp9XzwuSgoDFN3lVzyXLO73ud55CBbS4RFZwH543wMidd_hIxvQAerUIlRY4WOn1CIEO2c5zPz6dTp0udyIp2B16t9_DB_4joLO5Mu61RoQxn6ILhmy7qopnW_XjHAIrbR-oqLN/w278-h400/MustangAward_CompetitionSaddlebagDispatches.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I just finished my first classic Western story (not counting poems, "The Ballad of VanKeith". "Jack and Jim") in time to submit it to "<a href="https://saddlebagdispatches.com/" target="_blank">SADDLEBAG DISPATCHES MAGAZINE</a>" for a flash fiction contest, eligible for their "Mustang Award".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Irrespective of whether I land in the top three submissions (each of which becomes eligible for publication in the magazine), I'm thrilled to have finished a new story after struggling lately over longer forms. It's also the first new thing I've submitted in quite a while.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As time permits (I'll be traveling soon) I can now return to completing a much longer Western story I had begun writing before setting it aside for the sake of this competition. </div><br /> <p></p>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-5914541110796344782024-02-26T13:39:00.005+09:002024-02-26T13:50:01.456+09:00Poem, "On Her Deathbed, Aunty Rose" Published on Spillwords<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLKKJg7_U7a5Xf7QMz_YUDFMrI5m2Kxmjs9cTog0-t9KWKFtH9MhZjO2HbHn_RdHb1cPQbK0qRTrDRZt2hIgeieHAJlw3uWVQEG4y8zUmgkXpguiycF1tpou6Kmo_FTK5oQ7vpW9q4PXxdzTxH9EodLbodumBNGsO8zKlEOugyaHQibMECip4GD1MmMql/s1024/AuntyRose6Gorey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLKKJg7_U7a5Xf7QMz_YUDFMrI5m2Kxmjs9cTog0-t9KWKFtH9MhZjO2HbHn_RdHb1cPQbK0qRTrDRZt2hIgeieHAJlw3uWVQEG4y8zUmgkXpguiycF1tpou6Kmo_FTK5oQ7vpW9q4PXxdzTxH9EodLbodumBNGsO8zKlEOugyaHQibMECip4GD1MmMql/w400-h400/AuntyRose6Gorey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>My humorous poem, "On Her Deathbed, Aunty Rose" will be reprinted on Spillwords, effective February 26, 2024, at this link: <a href="https://spillwords.com/on-her-deathbed-aunty-rose/">https://spillwords.com/on-her-deathbed-aunty-rose/</a><br /><br />(Image above generated by AI)Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-16385835172079407072024-02-20T21:14:00.005+09:002024-02-22T11:32:46.682+09:00RAVENS to be Reprinted in "A Tree Full of Crows"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pn_kP_RsThfLaGdyFii-RvOqIxNcL7vTY9q2a0yEC6j-mejLPkyeZNX6DwM6iGT9UeCNl11h4OvBBxOh9ArkiQiYHOb0kxdOYJIjkKETYAjntF2pcgTwwnGgmsPpDoKZqErOHs-_7OoMpbS2QR89fGVfNsvUoBksvXREA6-72h0ndIqSpr2JV83sgVhC/s1346/FairyWrenPub_A%20Tree%20Full%20of%20Crows.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="843" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pn_kP_RsThfLaGdyFii-RvOqIxNcL7vTY9q2a0yEC6j-mejLPkyeZNX6DwM6iGT9UeCNl11h4OvBBxOh9ArkiQiYHOb0kxdOYJIjkKETYAjntF2pcgTwwnGgmsPpDoKZqErOHs-_7OoMpbS2QR89fGVfNsvUoBksvXREA6-72h0ndIqSpr2JV83sgVhC/w250-h400/FairyWrenPub_A%20Tree%20Full%20of%20Crows.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br />My love poem, "Ravens", styled as a screenplay depicting a romance between two ravens, was first published in the now-defunct, Dastaan World Magazine, back in 2018. After a very respectful discussion, Editor Mandy Chandler has accepted it unchanged for publication in the imminent anthology, "A Tree Full of Crows".<p></p><p>I stipulate "unchanged" because she had asked for, and naturally preferred, works that were about or at least included crows. Both works I had to offer were about ravens, not crows. However, unlike the poem, above, my drabble, "An Unkindness of Ravens", originally published in Bloodsong Books' "Curses and Cauldrons" anthology, could easily be tweaked. Instances of "Raven" were easily swapped with "Crow", and the drabble was renamed "A Murder of Crows".</p><p>I'm proud of both works. This will be an anthology worth reading and owning.</p>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-62258219149071764442024-02-18T21:29:00.009+09:002024-03-20T10:26:15.164+09:00"Princess Barbie and the Troll Baby" to Appear in Lockdown Fantasy #6<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjeMfpRrWcP_wq2RhR5Vt1W088-vWTPDzbG48mmEOKA1cGxF4kpXS1RiatynQvfVpEH4olHmwKgAF-9ew-a2QsxY2_6HnJnNlHiPhekKwmEo5xmvpArpIfFWifhK1C-3PSE4XTI7cTlmC3KxSvbCEOlzpQ-z91nbVHEkGlBSZ2vmqyDKWvSB23O8mbh-i/s2048/BHP%20Lockdown%20Fantasy-6%20(princess%20barbie%20and%20the%20troll%20baby).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjeMfpRrWcP_wq2RhR5Vt1W088-vWTPDzbG48mmEOKA1cGxF4kpXS1RiatynQvfVpEH4olHmwKgAF-9ew-a2QsxY2_6HnJnNlHiPhekKwmEo5xmvpArpIfFWifhK1C-3PSE4XTI7cTlmC3KxSvbCEOlzpQ-z91nbVHEkGlBSZ2vmqyDKWvSB23O8mbh-i/w250-h400/BHP%20Lockdown%20Fantasy-6%20(princess%20barbie%20and%20the%20troll%20baby).jpg" width="250" /></a></div><h3 style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); text-align: left;"><blockquote><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Forget Snow White. Forget Sleeping Beauty. The
most beautiful princess in the world who ever lived was Princess Barbie.</span></i></blockquote><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></h3><p></p><p>My comic horror fairy tale, "Princess Barbie and the Troll Baby" will appear in this free anthology by Black Hare Press. See link below:</p><p></p><blockquote><i>This news was first announced <a href="https://jotinthedark.blogspot.com/2020/11/black-hare-press-has-been-publishing.html" target="_blank">here</a> in 2020, while the pandemic was in full bloom and before other projects and priorities bumped it to the wayside. The original contract had long since elapsed before BHP finally returned its attention to the series in the Fall of 2022. If there are no cancellations and the momentum continues, my works are expected to appear in 12 of the 30 total books planned for this series.</i></blockquote><p></p><div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px;"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi x1l90r2v x1swvt13" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id=":rh5:" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 4px 16px 16px;"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" color="var(--primary-text)" dir="auto" style="display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">COMING 26TH MARCH!</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">https://books2read.com/lockdown-fantasy-6</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">FEATURING:</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>Differing Points of View by Susan Cornford </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Henkie's Fiddle by Vonnie Winslow Crist </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Porcelain Perfection by Kimberly Rei </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Princess Barbie and the Troll Baby by Shawn M. Klimek </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Shrieks in the Snow, Shrieks in the Night by Patrick Winters </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The Grand Game by Christopher T. Dabrowski </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The Kelpie by Paul Benkendorfer </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The Solstice Road Trip by Meera Dandekar </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The Sphinx and the Pegacorn by L.T. Emery </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Their World is Ending by Sam Amenn </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Waiting For Heaven by Ximena Escobar </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Weep by D.M. Burdett</div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-77498926130413272642024-02-15T11:30:00.006+09:002024-02-16T13:59:14.051+09:00Nineteen Five-Star Global Ratings for Hungry Thing<p>If you want to do something really nice for an indie author, besides buying their book, <b>review </b>their book. </p><p>During the year following its publication in late December 2019, sixteen kind-hearted readers (chiefly fellow indie authors) left five-star reviews for <a href="https://a.co/d/15fjoEb" target="_blank"><b>Hungry Thing</b></a>. During 2020, it gained one more review; and another in 2021, totalling 18 five-star ratings including 15 reviews. Thanks to poor marketing and, perhaps the fact that it is not available as an e-book, there it has more or less languished, until today.</p><p>Today, February 15th, 2024, it received its 19th 5-star rating.</p><ul class="a-unordered-list a-nostyle a-vertical zg_hrsr" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 5.5px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span class="a-list-item" style="box-sizing: border-box;">#1,688 in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/10254/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_books" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; text-decoration-line: none;">Epic Poetry (Books)</a></span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 5.5px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span class="a-list-item" style="box-sizing: border-box;">#9,268 in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/9045831011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_books" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; text-decoration-line: none;">Magical Realism</a></span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 5.5px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span class="a-list-item" style="box-sizing: border-box;">#18,889 in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/9803/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_books" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; text-decoration-line: none;">Dark Fantasy</a></span></li></ul><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe8tNIwJ2AUvFY4vAuCGVa_ysu3M_8DMKsKZz_O27iGZIKc_tRMRevl5VL2Dm9P8Bgxx1dGnnVxfdePIQDT7p3YHOD0CTWmgnWGughr86iIQ9UEx33hycI5N8o0V6K5GGoBKsgrJSmFVfUtwsg71V578FMsuFxRlppsN4VwA_J978Re0Wksmf8cynQUaKP" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="436" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe8tNIwJ2AUvFY4vAuCGVa_ysu3M_8DMKsKZz_O27iGZIKc_tRMRevl5VL2Dm9P8Bgxx1dGnnVxfdePIQDT7p3YHOD0CTWmgnWGughr86iIQ9UEx33hycI5N8o0V6K5GGoBKsgrJSmFVfUtwsg71V578FMsuFxRlppsN4VwA_J978Re0Wksmf8cynQUaKP=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I have some idea of who may have left the rating. A few weeks back, a neighbor of mine shared that he'd spotted the book at our local library, and had already ordered his own copy from Amazon. He then asked whether I would be willing to autograph it, once it arrived. Naturally, I agreed. Since we are neighbors, I did him one better: I dropped off an autographed copy from my private supply.</p><p>This morning, he passed me on his way to work and stopped to enthuse that he'd enjoyed the book, that he'd already read it three times because it was "very deep", and that he'd even left an Amazon review. Wow!</p><p>I looked hopefully for the review but found a rating instead. ...</p><p>UPDATE: The review showed up after a short delay! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDxtG_471MVLpupLuK2MIKySxs9mk2bSF57HFTAHYUOP_PzX-FBiapte4voK2oWHVb-oOPNrvsSgBXoIz22m6bGVisHUoTvyiIBkXyQBVNP9ri6pMSlednI3su3k5KD0sTuCnLA3qJrL2dkPFaaxktxmvyvixsliqRwsEFkL5-lmtfBW1tZX4k9zwSHcvW" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="118" data-original-width="464" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDxtG_471MVLpupLuK2MIKySxs9mk2bSF57HFTAHYUOP_PzX-FBiapte4voK2oWHVb-oOPNrvsSgBXoIz22m6bGVisHUoTvyiIBkXyQBVNP9ri6pMSlednI3su3k5KD0sTuCnLA3qJrL2dkPFaaxktxmvyvixsliqRwsEFkL5-lmtfBW1tZX4k9zwSHcvW=w400-h101" width="400" /></a></div><br />To all of you who have ever left ratings or reviews for an indie author, thank you! Five stars!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐<p></p><p><br /></p>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-36347385424681060042024-02-13T14:04:00.002+09:002024-02-13T14:04:34.563+09:00Creative Writing News for Early February 2024<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiha7Ny9mtmMfcMu-lbLdiggnnKdU0DCNFgPb_nZ9eiJhDb0IT9gJ5f22ivH4hPdPwxu5BzjfnGqGzOhosByV7szSfkyrvG2fsBUYS_Dx-wL1OjXSYsCv9_rAkcDuh0BtyhMWIEdBUN2Vuz8DKQxXgtrta5j-k9eF2fhqbJFh2DbuTUMEKq_U55GTsvQGEv" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="346" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiha7Ny9mtmMfcMu-lbLdiggnnKdU0DCNFgPb_nZ9eiJhDb0IT9gJ5f22ivH4hPdPwxu5BzjfnGqGzOhosByV7szSfkyrvG2fsBUYS_Dx-wL1OjXSYsCv9_rAkcDuh0BtyhMWIEdBUN2Vuz8DKQxXgtrta5j-k9eF2fhqbJFh2DbuTUMEKq_U55GTsvQGEv=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p>During a protracted rewrite of my science-fiction story, Holly Has a Hunch, I composed a thousand-word prologue that loosely inspired the AI image above. It was meant as backstory, to assist me in drawing the main story to a sound and logical conclusion. The "backstory" is entertaining, but I have yet to finish the main story.<p></p><p>Last week, I woke up having dreamed up a pretty solid Western story, worth developing for waking readers, though it naturally needed some revisions. While driving for hours and hours across The Republic of Korea this past weekend with my wife, I worked out the needed changes and finished composing the whole plot to my satisfaction. Now, I just need to write it.</p><p>I haven't written a lot, lately: one new poem, and one new drabble, both of which were submitted to exactly one publisher each, and both rejected. </p><p>Conversely, two pieces both written more than a year ago have been accepted for publication by non-paying publishers. I'm glad for some news in a positive direction, however meager.</p><p>The latest acceptance is a reprint of my humorous poem, "On Her Deathbed, Aunty Rose", first published by Dastaan World Magazine. It will be published next on "Spillwords". I'll share a link when it becomes available.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-60422982889186834292024-01-25T21:18:00.006+09:002024-01-25T21:47:21.667+09:00General Creative Writing Updates - January 2024<h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Publishing news:</span></b></h4><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6PPi83w824BSHkiJQQwPOoZXUYNwPIzzy6LyEk5EvTrbNx6ufP0c3sT71UwucW7JT6j01cOOrHMM13th8kL6auRIxozc6JOJXg9Mil33JfcP8RafnKrYBoOHreSKqWQl120jFEfjU3fNUkrdzL-ye0RuyHYWaFlDceqdPPJSTj2tvFupQnlB_A0gc7tc/s1346/A%20Tree%20Full%20of%20Crows.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6PPi83w824BSHkiJQQwPOoZXUYNwPIzzy6LyEk5EvTrbNx6ufP0c3sT71UwucW7JT6j01cOOrHMM13th8kL6auRIxozc6JOJXg9Mil33JfcP8RafnKrYBoOHreSKqWQl120jFEfjU3fNUkrdzL-ye0RuyHYWaFlDceqdPPJSTj2tvFupQnlB_A0gc7tc/w200-h320/A%20Tree%20Full%20of%20Crows.jpg" width="200" /></a>A crow-themed anthology by Fairywren Publishing, "<b>Tree Full of Crows</b>", will feature a reprint of my drabble, "Murder of Crows" (first published in Zoey Xolton's "Cauldrons & Curses"). I signed the contract, today. I've already had a look at the proof draft, and it looks excellent.</p></blockquote><ol style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6o0e6EouXpC5tV89HaGTm1DQ-dMJjhgt0bPE9xIbwmDxFYo4AAYVLDQ6HLld7ozHBVYU6ue9sRNo9lFUBoPMkVoAUDaGTsMRQaN9rTZ0z9hJOTVsRq5rWGsFClQzPA-T-Iqw6NMW2AtWGgLcQgVdpJBDg0YCj70IGVu8ZgnS0MQhV7XrHWEyTvVdhAA_a/s680/42Anthology.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="630" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6o0e6EouXpC5tV89HaGTm1DQ-dMJjhgt0bPE9xIbwmDxFYo4AAYVLDQ6HLld7ozHBVYU6ue9sRNo9lFUBoPMkVoAUDaGTsMRQaN9rTZ0z9hJOTVsRq5rWGsFClQzPA-T-Iqw6NMW2AtWGgLcQgVdpJBDg0YCj70IGVu8ZgnS0MQhV7XrHWEyTvVdhAA_a/w185-h200/42Anthology.jpg" width="185" /></a></ol><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>The 42 Stories Anthology</b>, by Bam Writes, is set to finally be published later this year. It has taken several years (eventful ones for the editor) to compile this unique anthology of 1,764, 42-word stories in every genre plus on the craft of writing.</div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_a5RqIMhaniUDvyH6uf6oFaZ56aLCmMHBl5_ob7rzKLRvrG5brZ5vyW8yII_DRjnvAgB-9fce3RWo0Kj-TSJr3L578FXLEljMjKvXRUrDy8LQqejll92hU1-NOTIWYg0CUNaCbd_fX-prMtFZLHYrSXi79rCp73L6LGyn2o72cOBweA7-tidd81DuEM3z/s787/PennedintheCity_NightmaresWithaTwist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="458" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_a5RqIMhaniUDvyH6uf6oFaZ56aLCmMHBl5_ob7rzKLRvrG5brZ5vyW8yII_DRjnvAgB-9fce3RWo0Kj-TSJr3L578FXLEljMjKvXRUrDy8LQqejll92hU1-NOTIWYg0CUNaCbd_fX-prMtFZLHYrSXi79rCp73L6LGyn2o72cOBweA7-tidd81DuEM3z/w186-h320/PennedintheCity_NightmaresWithaTwist.jpg" width="186" /></a><span style="text-align: left;">This long-delayed anthology, <b>Nightmare With a Twist</b>, by Penned in the City (and Barrio Blues Press) </span><span style="text-align: left;">which includes my horror story, "Birthday Desserts", is projected to be published immediately following a final copy edit, next week.</span></div></div></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <b>Submission News: </b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I haven't submitted much anywhere, recently, but before 2023 ended, I managed to submit two pieces: an updated draft of my science fiction story, "The Trophy" and my latest, science fiction poem, "Mercury is a Hellscape" to separate publishers. Only one response, so far. A form rejection.</li></ul><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b>Writing News:</b></h4><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I wrote <i>and </i>submitted to Black Hare Press a Dark Moments drabble for the first time in over a year, I think. The first draft was too reliant on clever dialogue to allow space for clever descriptions (100 words fills up fast), so I did a second draft. I'm more hopeful about it.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I've been writing and pondering improved endings for two full-length stories, never published: Undying Peace and Holly Has a Hunch. For the past few days, mostly the latter, which features a novel concept for introducing a contemporary human to extraterrestrials outside our solar system. I've developed some sophisticated backstory and answers to the question, "What do (the aliens) want with (Holly)", but need to focus now on a tight plot so that the reader doesn't choke on exposition. No deadline, apart from my ambition to include this story in my own collection, before the year is out.</li></ul><p></p><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Readership news:</span></b></h4><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A college professor friend shared with me that one of my horror stories (not sure which one) was on the reading syllabus for her creative writing class. I told her my comedy stories are even better, and sent her my most popular example, to consider sharing.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A neighbor here in South Korea informed me that they located my book in the air base library, and subsequently ordered their own, hardcover copy, which they hope I will soon autograph for them.</li></ul><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgj5yzQdrCstHA-zEgmIuRNNt5E0BRWmLmCe6T-PoOyOGDhCu8bQBcz6YuKKJwm2nQpYlodcZlZjYw8g3XUVoP32W8VKlYGrts3LkXR27WvIGa1u0zqWGttV90vHW3kuLRWJyiwvNy0q9z3t9tzcpRkjAIsmE_PUkbMQyKYj4kewIkzbfd2M1M4eR9MePX9" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="213" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgj5yzQdrCstHA-zEgmIuRNNt5E0BRWmLmCe6T-PoOyOGDhCu8bQBcz6YuKKJwm2nQpYlodcZlZjYw8g3XUVoP32W8VKlYGrts3LkXR27WvIGa1u0zqWGttV90vHW3kuLRWJyiwvNy0q9z3t9tzcpRkjAIsmE_PUkbMQyKYj4kewIkzbfd2M1M4eR9MePX9" width="160" /></a><li>A writer friend made my day (a few weeks ago) by commenting on Facebook that her favorite story in the anthology, "Dragon Bone Soup", was my humorous fantasy short story, "Genuine Troll-Leather Luggage." Because it reminded her to "think outside the box," she said.</li></ul><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-89880815281201593352024-01-23T23:45:00.002+09:002024-03-07T22:09:39.215+09:00AI-generated Artwork<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0UwNa7WaNgFYHw5p9PHQ-o9CRb_P0LZKTF97M9bYqhj9znlxUh1BEhMJB7AqxdAtvYCJVN1Jn2fXuZ4_Rv6TEK9iR1gIOjqjlzMHlYixJKOzZ1qahckwhEAMUEBjsZzgte28Gu4PB6B9Mdt5O0A74aAL97HgkqTDrpPkMTRLpbu6ZbiJN2VNI51j4J1i/s1024/B&Brocket1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0UwNa7WaNgFYHw5p9PHQ-o9CRb_P0LZKTF97M9bYqhj9znlxUh1BEhMJB7AqxdAtvYCJVN1Jn2fXuZ4_Rv6TEK9iR1gIOjqjlzMHlYixJKOzZ1qahckwhEAMUEBjsZzgte28Gu4PB6B9Mdt5O0A74aAL97HgkqTDrpPkMTRLpbu6ZbiJN2VNI51j4J1i/w400-h400/B&Brocket1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This is an AI-generated image, resulting from a prompt on Bing's Image Creator. Allow me just a few paragraphs about the hot topic, before I move on. Microsoft does not permit images generated via its browser app to be used for commercial purposes, but I happen to like this particular image, and, besides using it to brighten this post, am currently using it for the face of my Apple Watch. It reminds me of my days playing "Blasers & Beasties". (Search this blog for more about B&B)<p></p><p>I do not advocate using cheap and expedient AI-generated art as a substitute for original human artwork in commercial publishing, and personally, I'll never do it. However, I'm not convinced it's always reprehensible. If it were, then all computer-modeled shapes, characters, and effects sold as original artwork deserve our scorn.</p><p>As a former college art major and one-time, award-winning illustrator, such snobbery sometimes comes easily to me. But until persuaded otherwise, within certain boundaries, I think an AI and a computer are just two more tools in an evolving kit available to artists. The boundaries I mean? Well-established artists with truly distinctive styles (and not yet in the public domain) deserve control over whether their artwork is used to train AIs. And when and if they permit it, every time their name or style is used as a generative prompt, they deserve to be compensated.</p><p>The controversy is new and my opinions may yet evolve on their own. I welcome your opinions.</p><p><br /></p>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-75121737636346254612023-12-27T23:44:00.001+09:002023-12-27T23:44:10.887+09:0013 Lives of Alice, Watership Sideways<p>I bring good news and bad news. If you want to own a copy of "<b><a href="https://books2read.com/13-lives-of-alice" target="_blank">13 Lives of Alice</a></b>", you'll need to act fast. Black Hare Press plans to delist it (make it unavailable) after December 31, 2023. It includes 13 stories about the contemporary adventures of a grown-up version of Alice (of Wonderland fame). My contribution, "Watership Sideways" is chapter 7.</p><p>The silver lining is that a selection of these individual stories (or perhaps all) will be reissued by BHP during 2024 as "short reads", available for individual purchase. I have signed a contract this week agreeing to this repackaging. I hope more people are encouraged to read the story this way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPhUBu9-5f0BL8-6x5wKq6ryHXrxmUsTGJHx72kwXZ9r0wcht11dodZ72i_7VsuMBUrIltlm0dob5mf6xANG5TyXIMHqsJkOcrMp-vPNbcBLGb79IccqZ7gGdJArDnrQE8XOjnZ041f3P9pkW4tCYZhYAd86mWDgLNzp5JrCaSpL4OYD02p6Iz1wzkPqF/s500/13%20Lives%20of%20Alice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="324" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPhUBu9-5f0BL8-6x5wKq6ryHXrxmUsTGJHx72kwXZ9r0wcht11dodZ72i_7VsuMBUrIltlm0dob5mf6xANG5TyXIMHqsJkOcrMp-vPNbcBLGb79IccqZ7gGdJArDnrQE8XOjnZ041f3P9pkW4tCYZhYAd86mWDgLNzp5JrCaSpL4OYD02p6Iz1wzkPqF/w259-h400/13%20Lives%20of%20Alice.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br /><p>Until 2023 ends, you should be able to use <a href="https://books2read.com/13-lives-of-alice" target="_blank"><b>this link</b></a> to buy your own copy of marvelous this book: (https://books2read.com/13-lives-of-alice)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-52680044400139029192023-12-19T22:03:00.001+09:002023-12-19T22:03:40.188+09:00Poetica #15: "With Only Rocks for Tools"<p><span style="font-size: large;">Poetica # 15 is now available <b><a href="https://www.clarendonhousebooks.com/anthologies" target="_blank">here</a></b>! </span>(https://www.clarendonhousebooks.com/anthologies)</p><p>My poem, "With Only Rocks for Tools" is in this volume, alongside the poems of many of my writer friends.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuvlWVLu54m2yAGlxLdWjaKzb-IFGiQs5AU7K6SkjQbZK3XlekGm1iEG7rQPYcu0ktqrHZ9sdyTzR6lFsphXZzfeldecjWrgR-rmNUsIT2iR6RE1MiVjVFh61hyFSXOE_4_7IQLLpFVL8zWnBzXtsyRtaJgFWeTwJJY8Yv1xnx5vyRdur0jJVSUnXmvSgc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="314" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuvlWVLu54m2yAGlxLdWjaKzb-IFGiQs5AU7K6SkjQbZK3XlekGm1iEG7rQPYcu0ktqrHZ9sdyTzR6lFsphXZzfeldecjWrgR-rmNUsIT2iR6RE1MiVjVFh61hyFSXOE_4_7IQLLpFVL8zWnBzXtsyRtaJgFWeTwJJY8Yv1xnx5vyRdur0jJVSUnXmvSgc=w252-h400" width="252" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>After I had submitted this poem, I realized it should have been named "Only Rocks for Tools". The word "With" is superfluous, but, although in every subsequent mention of the poem, either in emails or on the "Inner Circle Writers' Group" Facebook page, I used the shorter title, I never outright instructed (begged) the editor to change it before it was published. Oh, well.</p><p>I hope you get to read the poem and enjoy it.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-78176199070692106702023-11-17T13:22:00.003+09:002023-12-12T14:27:40.380+09:00"The Quantum Oracle" to be featured in "Lockdown Sci-Fi #5"<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADsZRapPgdTyIh16QNhgByLAyDrtHvc4hX1lvSAcZQ4QkAaaJnKtYOwl9h9_kbuexh43X7TMFZLrp2XQHMzoTRTl6ZckNpgx-RleE0zCABwBRvZxnA-wda88tVYA2We6BaKEI8xNnGhf3A_B5yfUJvuFSiAXglXm4IiTfz6fAnlCTgW2DFX9PaqwHHjZM/s2048/Lockdown-SciFi-5.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADsZRapPgdTyIh16QNhgByLAyDrtHvc4hX1lvSAcZQ4QkAaaJnKtYOwl9h9_kbuexh43X7TMFZLrp2XQHMzoTRTl6ZckNpgx-RleE0zCABwBRvZxnA-wda88tVYA2We6BaKEI8xNnGhf3A_B5yfUJvuFSiAXglXm4IiTfz6fAnlCTgW2DFX9PaqwHHjZM/w250-h400/Lockdown-SciFi-5.JPG" width="250" /></a></div>My flash fiction story, "The Quantum Oracle" will be featured in "LOCKDOWN SCI-FI #5", a science-fiction anthology by Black Hare Press. I expect the entire book to be available to download for free. Here's the link:<a href="https://books2read.com/lockdown-scifi-5"> https://books2read.com/lockdown-scifi-5</a><p></p><p><br /></p>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-87813181024003987292023-11-04T13:56:00.000+09:002023-11-04T13:56:47.229+09:00Unity Volume 2: Angelic Series<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">This post, originally drafted in 2021 but never shared, announces my contributions to an anthology which has since been significantly delayed. Therefore, it is arguably timelier now, than it was then.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">My contribution to the charity anthology Unity Volume 2 (proceeds go to</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Doctors Without Borders</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">) will contain six angel-themed pieces! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Two cartoons: "2 Heaven" and "2 Tickets to Paradise";</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Three poems: "Where Angels Dance" (light verse); "Body of Proof" (a sonnet); and "Not the Whole Angel" (one of my best-liked poems, also technically a reprint*); and</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">One short story (horror): "Wings of Hope", originally published in "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1073491730" target="_blank">Full Metal Horror 2</a>" </span>by <a href="https://www.zombiepiratepublishing.com/" target="_blank">Zombie Pirate Publishing</a>, who have published several of my stories.</li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An anthology definitely worth owning, I'll post the purchase link when available. Meanwhile, here is the link to</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Unity-1-Magical-Realism-Anthology/dp/B08P29DC26" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Unity, Volume 1 </a><span style="font-family: inherit;">(also a charity volume for</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">DwoB</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dxje-PBhFCg/YXe8In0LJGI/AAAAAAAAA68/n56sVw8oF1glsyicvddyoFuiXGDqT2lsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/Unity%2B2%2BCartoon-2%2BHeaven%2Bpromo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1080" height="309" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dxje-PBhFCg/YXe8In0LJGI/AAAAAAAAA68/n56sVw8oF1glsyicvddyoFuiXGDqT2lsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Unity%2B2%2BCartoon-2%2BHeaven%2Bpromo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fZI_hhUtbb8/YXe8IePFKMI/AAAAAAAAA64/JKPu1VqJ3Ocz7rqBt0hEbiPWDvbXNoTfwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/Unity%2B2%2BCartoon-Two%2BTickets%2Bto%2BParadise.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1080" height="309" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fZI_hhUtbb8/YXe8IePFKMI/AAAAAAAAA64/JKPu1VqJ3Ocz7rqBt0hEbiPWDvbXNoTfwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Unity%2B2%2BCartoon-Two%2BTickets%2Bto%2BParadise.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SzejkK6kPBw/YXe8IUk4XpI/AAAAAAAAA60/MomoRBT_tr4tCgTYf-F8618lmp42i_ZyACLcBGAsYHQ/s2000/Unity%2B2%2BPoem%2B%2528light%2Bverse%2529%2BWhere%2BAngels%2BDance%2Bpromo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1931" data-original-width="2000" height="309" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SzejkK6kPBw/YXe8IUk4XpI/AAAAAAAAA60/MomoRBT_tr4tCgTYf-F8618lmp42i_ZyACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Unity%2B2%2BPoem%2B%2528light%2Bverse%2529%2BWhere%2BAngels%2BDance%2Bpromo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dxBMopMX7G0/YXe8Jfv8PsI/AAAAAAAAA7A/V9mOLohdl1AzeJkTCbHXf6YHMvWwXFLYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2000/Unity%2B2%2BPoem%2B%2528sonnet%2529%2BBody%2Bof%2BProof%2Bpromo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1931" data-original-width="2000" height="309" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dxBMopMX7G0/YXe8Jfv8PsI/AAAAAAAAA7A/V9mOLohdl1AzeJkTCbHXf6YHMvWwXFLYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Unity%2B2%2BPoem%2B%2528sonnet%2529%2BBody%2Bof%2BProof%2Bpromo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6OTfuSEKdRA/YXe8Jt83VAI/AAAAAAAAA7E/vda-g21SVZ8eUBHKufVgNDAGOiqa44ZnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2000/Unity%2B2%2BPoem%2BNot%2Bthe%2BWhole%2BAngel%2Bpromo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1931" data-original-width="2000" height="309" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6OTfuSEKdRA/YXe8Jt83VAI/AAAAAAAAA7E/vda-g21SVZ8eUBHKufVgNDAGOiqa44ZnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Unity%2B2%2BPoem%2BNot%2Bthe%2BWhole%2BAngel%2Bpromo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jv-40UEM0mY/YXe8Jzr5CBI/AAAAAAAAA7I/_dNyvz09z0QWvnn1B02CrZSaSfvbcAWsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2000/Unity%2B2%2Bshort%2Bstory%2B%2528horror%2529%2BWings%2Bof%2BHope%2Bpromo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1931" data-original-width="2000" height="309" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jv-40UEM0mY/YXe8Jzr5CBI/AAAAAAAAA7I/_dNyvz09z0QWvnn1B02CrZSaSfvbcAWsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Unity%2B2%2Bshort%2Bstory%2B%2528horror%2529%2BWings%2Bof%2BHope%2Bpromo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>*Not the Whole Angel was first published in <a href=" https://view.joomag.com/dastaan-world-chapter-4-dreamscape/0833955001537109244" target="_blank">Dastaan World Chapter 4: Dreamscape</a>, Sept. 16, 2018, on page 50. The once-free magazine is now defunct, and archive copies are only available for a fee.<br /><br /><br /> Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-47528370362837486872023-11-02T23:16:00.004+09:002023-12-03T00:19:14.083+09:00"Alien Memories" selected as drabble contest finalist<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMJV5WGC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RJ109F8NYYBR&fbclid=IwAR1Pw_226SsiD9-uVjO5hf5DdwMKtG7Xrh5M0GnmAwvyiyoA9vas6H14Vb8" target="_blank"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjd6Upk8_XHHPY-XhgL6c9Xks3rNtg_h4K-V9E-jmEnbzjuOxH_XpD_41zXbqWTw1hpsdsnsrkJuTN6Dep-Q3QYtycllPreCnrSi1XNB7AR57VpZg3UN509itH5u5LE3gJPQ24Lr8CNo5fBLeZWvOvR5loK-tCBIJBUKxLyC9JCFtsLquuVnnuWMO2nDPHz=w249-h400" width="249" /></a></p><p>Independent science-fiction publisher, <a href="https://starryeyedpress.com/">Starry Eyed Press</a>*, sponsored a 2023 sci-fi drabble contest to which I submitted a solitary entry back in August, titled "Alien Memories."</p><p>I was notified on October 17th that my entry was a finalist and that if I signed an agreement, it would be therefore included in an <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMJV5WGC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RJ109F8NYYBR&fbclid=IwAR1Pw_226SsiD9-uVjO5hf5DdwMKtG7Xrh5M0GnmAwvyiyoA9vas6H14Vb8" target="_blank">anthology</a> of similarly qualified works (see image above).</p>Edited with update: Winners were announced on November 4.<br />First Place <img src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t33/2/16/1f947.png" /> <br />“Robotomy” by Nikki Root<br />Second Place <img src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tb4/2/16/1f948.png" /> <br />“Burnt Things” by Dawn Colclasure<br />Third Place <img src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t35/2/16/1f949.png" /> <br />“Alone” by Louis Hill<br /><br />Winning drabbles can be read <a href="https://starryeyedpress.com/2023/11/04/starry-eyed-press-drabbles-contest-winners/?fbclid=IwAR1EQg9xGGqVSfqG89Am1Uy2JjRwEeRhUVYzxAhY1OuwVHZVts9dxtEhMFo">HERE on the Starry Eyed Press website</a>.<br /><br />The drabble anthology which includes my single entry, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMJV5WGC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RJ109F8NYYBR&fbclid=IwAR1Pw_226SsiD9-uVjO5hf5DdwMKtG7Xrh5M0GnmAwvyiyoA9vas6H14Vb8" target="_blank">Pocket SciFi</a>", can be purchased on Amazon, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMJV5WGC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RJ109F8NYYBR&fbclid=IwAR1Pw_226SsiD9-uVjO5hf5DdwMKtG7Xrh5M0GnmAwvyiyoA9vas6H14Vb8">HERE</a>: <br /><br /><br />Starry Eyed Press' 2022 Space Opera anthology, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Convocation-Space-Opera-Anthology-ebook/dp/B09WR4PSS5/">Cosmic Convocation</a>" included my short story, "New Owners for Old Earth." <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpZmqzuYdszMU32fN-vrgxiHQEYOVqL6oxihs_4NMC7-INjz5R3lv40zuNQh8DAvqjN1KrApeYktL8ppTqQBOaogopokXfJA25vv3Xq3pwgGyJl3gj_-4X2staj3CHtdpKNRhkdwEOVVI06741o9APPLYUwxzKr3_DiD4nFfSEteYp5AhtWW-99CEts_O/s864/CosmicConvocation.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpZmqzuYdszMU32fN-vrgxiHQEYOVqL6oxihs_4NMC7-INjz5R3lv40zuNQh8DAvqjN1KrApeYktL8ppTqQBOaogopokXfJA25vv3Xq3pwgGyJl3gj_-4X2staj3CHtdpKNRhkdwEOVVI06741o9APPLYUwxzKr3_DiD4nFfSEteYp5AhtWW-99CEts_O/s320/CosmicConvocation.jpg" /></a><p><br /></p>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-69817947768677805652023-04-20T00:00:00.008+09:002023-11-17T13:38:45.148+09:00The Dunwich Romance featured in The Horror Tree's "Fear and Trembling", "Unholy Trinity".When Black Hare Press's "<a href="https://www.blackharepress.com/love-me-love-me-not/">Love Me, Love Me Not</a>" call opened last year, I composed a drabble inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's "The Dunwich Horror", titled "The Dunwich Heartthrob". It earned only a form- rejection (i.e., no explanation), but I assume it was rejected for not being dark enough for the publisher's tastes (see preceding blog entry).<br /><br />So, I rewrote it slightly, then added two more drabbles, expanding the saga into an "Unholy Trinity" intended for <a href="https://horrortree.com/">The Horror Tree</a>, an online magazine.<br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://horrortree.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="1024" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAa89MkXuZ2PfbJOQyZ6S2IU3I1AanwbQ7YS9wsQ18F73jRwqmExLAcdteYZfMPsdAL1f0lZ5FTKohYEW3orbSUknU5VR-6dgBIG-ErzwOwXavcNTPsJOdg-mAc6qZzJhXyfdc46qJN9t1YPNBMvgfrOvyOJNVzRtFaGs4rj7NSh5nbOnXae3mBqt0tw=w400-h81" width="400" /></a></div><br />The Horror Tree accepted the trio shortly before Valentine's Day, sent me a contract on April 19, 2023, and published "The Dunwich Romance" three days later.<div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the link to the story: https://horrortree.com/unholy-trinity-the-dunwich-romance-by-shawn-m-klimek/ <p></p></div></div>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-74325965178612422512023-04-15T06:59:00.002+09:002023-05-29T07:44:31.650+09:00Two Drabbles to Appear in Run Rabbit Run<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">Available April 18, 2023. You can order (or pre-order) your copy of this anthology, here: </p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" fg_scanned="1" href="https://books2read.com/BHP-DD-RABBIT?fbclid=IwAR1ccCFFSCweJamus8CpVfz8-heVAbbKo8l5lxFn6YZw7rPllqg5AME7-IQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://books2read.com/BHP-DD-RABBIT</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a class="css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-901oao css-16my406 r-1cvl2hr r-1loqt21 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" dir="ltr" href="https://t.co/JoJy7ZONVy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" role="link" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1d9bf0; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: TwitterChirp, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank"><span aria-hidden="true" class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-hiw28u r-qvk6io r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 0px; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: inherit;">https://</span></a></p></blockquote></blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb8XB_PRBD3w8p7ZwM6YRNIE2G6nr-TD8g1DDN1X8T585aH3To1D00rrExS6nPrkh68YK3b3CesGo4kMAarm83sEiOGntu-3WUyAbuhz9EgT_szJ6LZP-qkqfU3KhYUrnENp_C2JWUDM8od3GP53UfMBgrKTrW-Ove9nTDNrmRoKRXrcoZt3rcKvaKw/s2048/Run%20Rabbit%20Run%20cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1390" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb8XB_PRBD3w8p7ZwM6YRNIE2G6nr-TD8g1DDN1X8T585aH3To1D00rrExS6nPrkh68YK3b3CesGo4kMAarm83sEiOGntu-3WUyAbuhz9EgT_szJ6LZP-qkqfU3KhYUrnENp_C2JWUDM8od3GP53UfMBgrKTrW-Ove9nTDNrmRoKRXrcoZt3rcKvaKw/w271-h400/Run%20Rabbit%20Run%20cover.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>While waiting for my writing groove to recover from its unusually protracted malaise, in recent months, I dabbled in more drabbles, submitting five for this anthology about scary rabbits. Two were accepted, about which I am delighted. There was a prize for being the first author to ten acceptances, (won by a more talented fellow named Bernardo Miller-Villella, ...<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1k9OS57G2nTOFN5s1yameucuV-KVt5aJS3pjPqR4wWyQ5HPWDHnPYpcAhlzgfxGejLPYiY02EjNK5tHqV3dYRv2C6Sns4V6AUknDom9H-zAufveVDCFczafTsFcpI3wUU-I0isHUog3l-kGtHKwM5Eyhrl-Mp3-mOOXOTRC8CeBw-mUdkyXRzLB_Hew" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1k9OS57G2nTOFN5s1yameucuV-KVt5aJS3pjPqR4wWyQ5HPWDHnPYpcAhlzgfxGejLPYiY02EjNK5tHqV3dYRv2C6Sns4V6AUknDom9H-zAufveVDCFczafTsFcpI3wUU-I0isHUog3l-kGtHKwM5Eyhrl-Mp3-mOOXOTRC8CeBw-mUdkyXRzLB_Hew=w99-h99" width="99" /></a></div><p></p><p>...about whose existence I was previously unaware, and is a reminder that as the pool of authors submitting to Black Hare Press has continually increased, my rate of acceptances was bound to diminish. (Congrats, Bernardo!).</p><p>BHP has so many projects going at a time and so much reading to do that they now rely on teams of volunteers to vet submissions, which has also somewhat shifted the editorial feel. Logically, more opinions mean less caprice, which suggests more measured, thoughtful results; and more submissions mean a larger pool of stories from which to choose, permitting them to pick the very best (and never or less often settle for mediocre filler).</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i>Frankly, not everything I submit is equally great, although I usually strive to make it so. When I look at a rejected work with fresh eyes, I'm often relieved it was rejected. No writer wants their name forever attached to cringey dreck. Most rejected stories can be rewritten and then resubmitted elsewhere (although peculiar themes make that more challenging).</i></p></blockquote><p>On the other hand, increasingly, our tastes simply differ. BHP' is predominantly a horror press, after all, and emphatically prefers their stories "daaark" (to quote some early editorial feedback directly from the founder). I lean heavily toward humor in my stories (dark humor, when writing horror), which puts me in the minority among horror writers. Having this work judged by an average pool of horror writers, therefore, most of whom do not prefer humor, predictably undermines my chances. </p><p>That's my theory, at least. As deeply humbled as I am by the talents of other fiction writers (I am now linked to four thousand of them on Twitter: @shawnmklimek), I still have confidence in my own skills, as lacking as they definitely are, in certain areas. I am keenly aware that I am not, nor do I yet deserve to be writing fiction for a living. To end on a positive note, though, I have published many short gems.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigT7xSnaCFVnGTJWzLZJqV-_GSqtityHI6lr4T07kbvEU0nyiTfODIejhW0IrFkEddvnOu0MJ4xB5Q28Q9oHlhIR3yil-2QqaAnLE0EHeZe2pn0K-n3W9XCfuyRmg3ZgNA2J9qhhN3WYL0BW0idZTwn8sIRWJBingFkiFZ6AMcJxb36807EtAEm38rxA/s2542/IMG_0907.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2542" data-original-width="1906" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigT7xSnaCFVnGTJWzLZJqV-_GSqtityHI6lr4T07kbvEU0nyiTfODIejhW0IrFkEddvnOu0MJ4xB5Q28Q9oHlhIR3yil-2QqaAnLE0EHeZe2pn0K-n3W9XCfuyRmg3ZgNA2J9qhhN3WYL0BW0idZTwn8sIRWJBingFkiFZ6AMcJxb36807EtAEm38rxA/s320/IMG_0907.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-19355505995711265862023-03-08T20:29:00.000+09:002023-03-08T20:29:07.576+09:00<p> “Merry Crashed-Mass” appears in this annual compilation of Dark Moments drabbles and Patreon short stories, published January 2, 2023.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFSOM0q5y-7vj-hnPOqi-KIs-pZLl1s7xUSlGv5BPzMOdNWD5ttS2AS3g-iia3-_-xK-3XgpE7AOrkPixnF3mg0pBV-UM1uKwc6Mk1JF_TCTrcwgcdBrBrB83FqwQ5yxVmAmtT5qz_KQU-dv8Pg9NUpLpvZoXPUBkvOlEKzXWSSzDtdNxNdtmIvikzbw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFSOM0q5y-7vj-hnPOqi-KIs-pZLl1s7xUSlGv5BPzMOdNWD5ttS2AS3g-iia3-_-xK-3XgpE7AOrkPixnF3mg0pBV-UM1uKwc6Mk1JF_TCTrcwgcdBrBrB83FqwQ5yxVmAmtT5qz_KQU-dv8Pg9NUpLpvZoXPUBkvOlEKzXWSSzDtdNxNdtmIvikzbw=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This story brought my count of works published by Black Hare Press to 130, including five short stories, three flash fiction stories, 111 drabbles and 11 poems.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">LOCKDOWN SERIES: HORROR #2, (1 drabble) SCI-FI #1, #4:, (2 poems) FANTASY #1, #4, #5 (3 poems)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">YEAR ONE, YEAR TWO, YEAR THREE, YEAR FOUR [These are compilation anthologies, so contributions are redundant).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">ELDRITCH & ETHER (4 poems)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">DEEP SPACE 1 (1 story)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">JIBBERNOCKY (1 poem)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">EERIE CHRISTMAS (1 story)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">THIRTEEN SERIES: 13 LIVES of ALICE, PASSENGER 13 (2 stories)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">500-WORD SERIES: REIGN, TOCK, HELL (3 Flash Fiction stories)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">ZERO HOUR 2113 (1 DRABBLE)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">WETWARE, WETWARE DRABBLES (1 STORY, 1 DRABBLE)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">DARK DRABBLES BOOKS 1-11 (101 DRABBLES)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">BAD ROMANCE (1 Poem)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">DARK MOMENTS: (9 DRABBLES)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Also accepted, though not yet published: Lockdown Fantasy #6, 8, & 10; SCI-FI #7 & 9. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div></div><p></p>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-39934969708183160562023-01-22T13:55:00.017+09:002023-04-15T05:43:50.336+09:00Charlie Whinesworth's Lucky Trinket to appear in Lockdown Sci-FI #4 by Black Hare Press<p></p><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"></span></b><blockquote><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Charlie Whinesworth's Lucky Trinket</span></b><br /><br />On the sturdy, plastic dashboard of his trusty, one-man spaceship,<br />Glued with resin-paste extracted from an alien-beastie’s spleen,<br />Our intrepid space explorer, Charlie Whinesworth, keeps a trinket,<br />Sentimentally significant: an ivory figurine.<br />...</blockquote><p>So begins the humorous narrative sci-fi poem, "<a href="https://www.blackharepress.com/lockdown-sci-fi-4/" target="_blank">Charlie Whinesworth's Lucky Trinket</a>", which explains the troubled relationship between the celebrated space explorer and his eternal nemesis, the genocidal maniac, Reggi Farner. </p><p></p><blockquote>The two characters, Whinesworth and Farner, were created by my brother, <a href="https://spillwords.com/author/stuartmklimek/" target="_blank">Stuart</a>, for a homemade, choose-your-own-adventure storytelling game we invented in 1978, called "Blasers and Beasties". B&B adventures were always puzzles involving space explorers, typically having crash-landed on some planet and needing to rescue themselves (and if possible, also profit). The game required one storyteller and one player, who made the choices for his fictional explorer-protagonist. Charlie Whinesworth's was the name Stuart usually gave to his heroic character. But on days when he was feeling rascally (or perhaps for sheer variety), he would play "Reggi Farner", whose invented goal was to murder every fictional alien, human, or creature he met in the game. This poem is about both characters.</blockquote><p></p><p>The poem will soon appear in a collection of science-fiction short stories, "<a href="https://www.blackharepress.com/lockdown-sci-fi-4/" target="_blank">Lockdown Sci-Fi, #4</a>, to be published February 3, edited by the good folks at <a href="https://www.blackharepress.com/lockdown-sci-fi-4/#" target="_blank">Black Hare Press</a>. </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Further information <a href="https://www.blackharepress.com/lockdown-sci-fi-4/" target="_blank">here</a> https://www.blackharepress.com/lockdown-sci-fi-4/</li><li>Pre-order <a href="https://www.blackharepress.com/lockdown-sci-fi-4/" target="_blank">here</a> - https://www.blackharepress.com/lockdown-sci-fi-4/</li><li>At other outlets <a href="https://books2read.com/lockdown-scifi-4" target="_blank">here</a> - https://books2read.com/lockdown-scifi-4</li></ul><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-iZ-5o7SI1oLrXFJk5CdgBunc4UYeoqmHN8SeSw6Z1uk1cND7vCBzwWx-HpKMhLqYNCzIi-qfXoeZJlmA0HnrSPhtUSaMlAAqQSk96sBvwh-pf1dHQOIK7FWC2I7nYJP4nQHSQkuNo62Jc11LXHWqitA4g8lqZjwPjPSP29wLNUN30MH6QQZhyt6UQ/s960/BHP%20Lockdown%20Sci-Fi%20%234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="602" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-iZ-5o7SI1oLrXFJk5CdgBunc4UYeoqmHN8SeSw6Z1uk1cND7vCBzwWx-HpKMhLqYNCzIi-qfXoeZJlmA0HnrSPhtUSaMlAAqQSk96sBvwh-pf1dHQOIK7FWC2I7nYJP4nQHSQkuNo62Jc11LXHWqitA4g8lqZjwPjPSP29wLNUN30MH6QQZhyt6UQ/w201-h320/BHP%20Lockdown%20Sci-Fi%20%234.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><blockquote><blockquote>More about B&B, which inspired the poem: The game was inspired by the descriptions of two adventure story games that my brother, Stephan, related having experienced during his first year away at college. First, the burgeoning dice-dependant fantasy classic, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons" target="_blank">Dungeons & Dragons</a>, by Gary Gygax and Dale Arneson (published four years earlier). and the seminal computer text-adventure game, "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossal_Cave_Adventure" target="_blank">Colossal Cave Adventure</a>" (aka "Adventure" or "ADVENT"*), released in 1976 by Will Crowther and expanded on in 1977 by Don Woods. (I'm guessing my brother played the latter version on the University of Dallas mainframe. Interesting side note, he explained that the command line activation code for the game was "Adventure", but because the program only read the first five characters of any input, "Advent" was sufficient and the shortcut most users became accustomed to.) <br />Having access to neither dice nor computers, B&B (obviously named to echo D&D) relied on multiple choice options (with some latitude, thanks to a human storyteller), the outcomes for which were mostly predetermined. <br />Except for theme, a fixed story world, style differences (<i>cheap manufacture was a running gag), </i>and conventions<i> (e.g., standard rayguns were "blasers", extra-terrestrial humanoids were "aliens" and critters were "beasties"</i>), the gameplay was most similar to that in the "Choose Your Own Adventure" book series (which emerged the following year, 1979). Our younger brothers, Shannon and Scott, both furthered game development, indepentantly inventing numerous adventures and introducing original game elements (time pressure, time-travel, recurring characters, etc.)</blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;">Finally, there happens to be one more poem of mine (to date) inspired by a B&B character, but this one invented by my mother, June. She called her protagonist "Mary Crockett", and favored xenobotony storylines. "<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Mary Crockett's Garden</span></b>" has yet to be published, but it's quite a fun piece, so stay tuned.</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-25391426467455768522022-12-26T20:55:00.012+09:002022-12-26T20:58:37.304+09:00Merry Crashed-Mass: A Christmas-themed, Dark Moments Drabble.<p><span>How do you erase the cloying taste of fruitcake and eggnog without swallowing more calories? Try reading a wafer-thin, Christmas-themed, "Dark Moments" drabble gifted from indie-horror-publisher, </span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="TwitterChirp, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.blackharepress.com/" target="_blank">Black Hare Press</a>.</span></p><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="TwitterChirp, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh, sir! It's only a tiny little thin one!</span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blackharepress.com/merry-crashed-mass/" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank"><b>Merry Crashed-Mass</b></a></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtCMbhR01EYm0hq8y7efxz03t3pqrXNI366OHW_1Bx33AFGysUwiIVG5tiJvW27_G17qCh8ycgNwvOAFWbu-vzcC7D27ARhAz-rTeIcH5XR11vCdeJ_1VXsWNLqIntdaIjYSyCvyASidpFn9l3bkIMjd1_yQ1gopxzwGvKizUlaw1TQKzlCYcD1uqX" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="498" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtCMbhR01EYm0hq8y7efxz03t3pqrXNI366OHW_1Bx33AFGysUwiIVG5tiJvW27_G17qCh8ycgNwvOAFWbu-vzcC7D27ARhAz-rTeIcH5XR11vCdeJ_1VXsWNLqIntdaIjYSyCvyASidpFn9l3bkIMjd1_yQ1gopxzwGvKizUlaw1TQKzlCYcD1uqX" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-36460232645420456402022-09-14T21:37:00.001+09:002022-09-15T21:39:51.248+09:00Wednesday Limerick: Giving Birth to a Minotaur<p>When a horny queen chooses to marry a bull</p><p>The offspring are often uncarriable. </p><p>Since above the boy half</p><p>Juts the head of a calf,</p><p>Minor tears & many tears are invariable.</p>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-2186978756654645522022-09-14T17:36:00.009+09:002022-09-14T18:02:18.008+09:00Lockdown Fantasy #4 and #5 both launching in September 2022.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_o-PSYqVrhZXLnG3n2x6xJppSRq3lH2ylDVFA_dEhj7y7hHRxgdPYtymnWiryvBFJPoG3qeLl4eThfKT2Q47mPxQ-Zyzqa8Qx_Z8kYGgp8dwFVIe_dX8rtIZ1O1NqLvv03h5O-tqpOHsarNsjdvp5YjmI8O2K_jcmkZjSfR38NDCYxhfBdjnrMZ96ow/s2048/BHP%20Lockdown%20Fantasy-4%20(Malomenire%20the%20Mad).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_o-PSYqVrhZXLnG3n2x6xJppSRq3lH2ylDVFA_dEhj7y7hHRxgdPYtymnWiryvBFJPoG3qeLl4eThfKT2Q47mPxQ-Zyzqa8Qx_Z8kYGgp8dwFVIe_dX8rtIZ1O1NqLvv03h5O-tqpOHsarNsjdvp5YjmI8O2K_jcmkZjSfR38NDCYxhfBdjnrMZ96ow/s2048/BHP%20Lockdown%20Fantasy-4%20(Malomenire%20the%20Mad).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_o-PSYqVrhZXLnG3n2x6xJppSRq3lH2ylDVFA_dEhj7y7hHRxgdPYtymnWiryvBFJPoG3qeLl4eThfKT2Q47mPxQ-Zyzqa8Qx_Z8kYGgp8dwFVIe_dX8rtIZ1O1NqLvv03h5O-tqpOHsarNsjdvp5YjmI8O2K_jcmkZjSfR38NDCYxhfBdjnrMZ96ow/w200-h320/BHP%20Lockdown%20Fantasy-4%20(Malomenire%20the%20Mad).jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTokalXhNZQjoGd8YghfwkdTd1TbDEzYZcZhlDZKxvo8BLtebx8iyFoIi_9lH2gYBtUE68WhHgm8rvwh1brV8oGM99hxMC9iEZsRqrY6WC-RgnORUbKGQEtZ9pnWxOxz_W3K4Ol-9DOzA6YL8lZR4mIlHCsu6r_LldpydXr-yq_ico3uCvJVILcjgxhg/s2048/BHP%20Lockdown%20Fantasy-5%20(The%20Final%20Spell%20of%20the%20Archmage,%20Astromote).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTokalXhNZQjoGd8YghfwkdTd1TbDEzYZcZhlDZKxvo8BLtebx8iyFoIi_9lH2gYBtUE68WhHgm8rvwh1brV8oGM99hxMC9iEZsRqrY6WC-RgnORUbKGQEtZ9pnWxOxz_W3K4Ol-9DOzA6YL8lZR4mIlHCsu6r_LldpydXr-yq_ico3uCvJVILcjgxhg/w200-h320/BHP%20Lockdown%20Fantasy-5%20(The%20Final%20Spell%20of%20the%20Archmage,%20Astromote).jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Two of my humorous fantasy stories told in rhyming verse will be among those published this month (September 2022) by Black Hare Press, in their most current Lockdown anthologies. Each volume includes several fantasy short stories or poems by a selection of talented writers.</p><p>In LOCKDOWN FANTASY #4, "Malomenire the Mad" tells the "sordid" story of a powerful wizard who becomes so insanely jealous of his apprentice that he plots his death by giving him unsurvivable tasks. It introduces the young wizard and future archmage, "Astromote".</p><p>In LOCKDOWN FANTASY #5, "Final Spell of The Archmage Astromote", takes up the tale of Astromote near the end of his illustrious, centuries-long career, as told by one of his former students. It concerns the archmage's quest for just the right ink and parchment to complete a final spell vital to mankind's survival. </p><p>Only 99 cents on Amazon:</p><p>15th September - <a href="https://books2read.com/lockdown-fan-4" target="_blank">Lockdown Fantasy #4</a></p><p>20th September - <a href="https://books2read.com/lockdown-fan-5" target="_blank">Lockdown Fantasy #5</a></p><p><br /></p> <p></p>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-9838990100887554912022-08-08T22:56:00.002+09:002022-08-08T22:56:47.076+09:00Eldritch & Ether: Speculative Fiction Poetry (now available)<h1 style="text-align: left;"><b>Eldritch & Ether</b></h1><p>With a lot of support from the good folks at Black Hare Press, including volunteer readers, and co-editor Ximena Escobar, we compiled and edited this quality collection of speculative fiction poetry over several interesting but arduous months. It was published April 28. 2022.</p><p>It even features four of my own speculative fiction poems, in the last section, following Ximena's poems. Highly recommended, especially for those with "dark" tastes, as befits the <a href="https://www.blackharepress.com/">Black Hare Press</a> brand.</p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tkhMhBqtRLbCu3ZJ4SxonXaOYu8lBOvETfgia5JaTkXRxCO3_kZyi5G1M_wO73b_YXHRe7Waoy80tL0Q7YWcGNEn1FosLiLqHwe_NHBa-4xuZ4lFTs4b7iXInMNH78m0BhVN41eosxvC76k0_2YhToozbVSisAQmypt1eLx_UIOAma7_xbkhT5G5BQ/s500/Eldritch%20&%20Ether.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="326" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tkhMhBqtRLbCu3ZJ4SxonXaOYu8lBOvETfgia5JaTkXRxCO3_kZyi5G1M_wO73b_YXHRe7Waoy80tL0Q7YWcGNEn1FosLiLqHwe_NHBa-4xuZ4lFTs4b7iXInMNH78m0BhVN41eosxvC76k0_2YhToozbVSisAQmypt1eLx_UIOAma7_xbkhT5G5BQ/w261-h400/Eldritch%20&%20Ether.jpg" width="261" /></a></p>Order your copy here: <a href="#">readerlinks.com/l/2317394</a><br />Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-83432192590934024332022-08-08T22:38:00.002+09:002022-08-08T22:38:24.879+09:00Poetica # 7: An Inner Circle Writers' Group Poetry Anthology Now Available<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Poetica # 7: An Inner Circle Writers' Group Poetry Anthology</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Just published, this seventh anthology of poetry from Clarendon House Publishing, edited by Grant Hudson. My humorous poem, "The Final Log of Captain Courage" is included.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWujf-v6lwNQ-lUPMUkhHwD2h96z2g32YU8t229YQP4sW3O96t5VOPbltREjSC_NWCjxwxeciNI-VcD4VyKiw9K7QHxvzC7H0KShk1Aept7vcyTigY8PLpuI1B-PAPk657LrsQsIU_pP-EJonKz1FwV313wql6ql0T2o36gqU13rNULiJL6hjwjsVMQ/s1500/ICWG%20Poetica%207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWujf-v6lwNQ-lUPMUkhHwD2h96z2g32YU8t229YQP4sW3O96t5VOPbltREjSC_NWCjxwxeciNI-VcD4VyKiw9K7QHxvzC7H0KShk1Aept7vcyTigY8PLpuI1B-PAPk657LrsQsIU_pP-EJonKz1FwV313wql6ql0T2o36gqU13rNULiJL6hjwjsVMQ/w266-h400/ICWG%20Poetica%207.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p></p><div><span class="a-size-extra-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 36px !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Available here <a class="yiv3026094771" fg_scanned="1" href="https://www.clarendonhousebooks.com/anthologies" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.clarendonhousebooks.com/anthologies</a> and/or on Amazon, including Kindle.</span></div><div><br /></div><p> </p>Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183668008648478905.post-66829008063539949862022-04-17T02:29:00.004+09:002022-04-17T02:43:04.545+09:00World of Myth Magazine Anthology IVThe World of Myth Magazine (<a href="#">http://theworldofmyth.com</a>) publishes scores of FREE stories, poems, plus art each month. At year's end, they publish a "best of" compilation, which for 2021, included one of my stories: "Dark Trek". <br />I'm surprised to realize I am first sharing this with you only now.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="#"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGJGn0bR8KZemERKJX3x6p87OrBpndpi4l8Litt-4zJy4fGdEf5jP__t6oHTi1QYpk0h1wC84REX6ojbCtQ5QPyTFH--nvbFWMTayDnYGDgxsVmsilwFv3qmoC40X3GKAj9tV9zO6WNX44p2tbQU5EN723Y1vgbxNnEfRCykBLM8k9d1pFg3Kida_hg/w266-h400/World%20of%20Myth%20Magazine%20Anthology%204.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><br />Purchase from Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NCDPBLC" target="_blank">HERE.</a>: (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NCDPBLC)Shawn M. Klimekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440856240721921811noreply@blogger.com0