With a crazy fast turn-around time, the editor of The Crimson Pact anthology, Paul Genesse, emailed me yesterday to let me know he likes my story and wants to publish it in the anthology! I’ve spent a goodly portion of yesterday and today editing and emailing back and forth with him. He’s very nice and extremely flattering, and I’m beyond thrilled to be included in this project.

Big thanks have to go to Steve Saus, who got me involved in the anthology, and who remains an incredible source for advice and inspiration.

I also have to give credit to Erik Larson, author of The Devil In the White City, which inspired much of the story I submitted to the anthology. More about that in the future, when the anthology is closer to publication and I’m promoting the Hell out of it. I should probably write a review of this book at some point, since I loved it–which is high praise from me, The Girl Who Dislikes Non-Fiction.

The only downside to this is that I now need to write the two sequels to the story (yes, there are two sequels!) while the characters and setting are still fresh in my mind, which likely means neglecting other submissions…but a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!

First, however, I need a break–I’ve been recovering from the flu for two weeks and I’m about to start Field Experience for school, so writing will be taking a back seat for a few weeks. Then, hopefully, I can return to it fresh-faced and ready to take on new challenges. I suspect it’s good to take a break while riding high on success, and not when I’ve burned myself out pushing myself too far, too fast!

I just wrapped up (in a nice blood-red bow) my submission for The Crimson Pact anthology and sent it off to the editor for his approval or rejection. This is the scary part, when my baby has been birthed and raised and taught right-from-wrong, and now has to hold its own against other children on the playground, or else come home crying with skinned knees. Oh my dear little story, I hope I raised you right!

The wait to hear from an anthology I’m really excited about can be excruciating, and this is one I want very badly to be a part of, which only makes the wait even more painful. The only good distraction is: more work! So, like a mother who has sent her first youngling off to kindergarten and dislikes the quiet of the empty house, I shall conceive again!

Here are a few steampunk anthologies/publications that have deadlines coming up:

The Red Penny Papers – February 28th

Dreams of Steam II: Of Brass and Bolts – May 31st

Pill Hill Press Weird Western Anthology – Open until filled

I haven’t decided which I’ll submit to first, but I think I might start something for the Red Penny Papers, since it has the closest deadline.  A girl has to choose a suitor somehow, yes?

Please, have a seat. How much honey do you prefer in your tea? Make yourself comfortable.

This blog is a place for ruminations about writing, reading, and the genres of steampunk, horror, and science fiction. Posts will include book reviews, convention reviews, promotion of my own work, and other related topics. So stay tuned! Hopefully there will be something for everyone.