Beyond the Binding - Cover Reveal, IWSG, & Links

Here it is! The companion anthology to Composers for Relief, which includes a story from moi!

Embark on an exciting journey “Beyond the Binding” of the imagination with 29 authors from across the globe, in a groundbreaking collaboration where music meets fiction. Surrender to soaring compositions as they surge through the veins of every story, capturing the triumphant pulse of the notes in heart pounding sci fi, enchanting fantasy and gripping slices of realism.

All proceeds of the Composers for Relief  album and Companion Collection ebook will go to Gawad Kalinga (“give care”) and GVSP (Gualandi Volunteer Service Programme), to support the relief efforts for victims of the deadliest natural disaster in Philippines’ history, Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Ebook available from Amazon, Amazon UK, iTunes, B&N, Kobo, Sony, Diesel & Smashwords.

Composers for Relief album available on ITunes, Amazon, CDBaby & Spotify

(I'll add links to the e-books when I get those!)

Today is also the Insecure Writer's Support Group, created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Ninja, himself.

I don't know, I'm feeling a bit less insecure than usual, seeing as how I have a cover reveal for something I'm in!!! Squee! I've been so busy with non-writing that I haven't had a lot of time to write, BUT my hubster got me an awesome Christmas present, which I get to redeem this weekend: 2 nights at The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO! For those who are unaware, that's the hotel Stephen King was inspired by to write The Shining, and the hotel he began writing it in. I already have a game plan for what I will get done while there, AND I get to go on a writing retreat at the end of the month with a group of fellow writers. I think these two things will help me get that old energy and inspiration back. I'm incredibly excited about both, and hoping for okay weather, considering the weather we've been getting.

I hope everyone can find a means of inspiration and energy this month, whatever that may be!

Now for some links.

Accepting Submissions:

Houston Writer's Guild has opened an anthology call for Tides of Possibility, a sci-fi anthology. Deadline is February 15. Short fiction of up to 8000 words; flash fiction and poetry are okay. Pays half a cent per word, plus one person will be chosen by internal contest to receive a $50 bonus. 

Interfictions is taking submissions of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction through February 16 for their 3rd issue. Pays $.05/word for fiction. Other pay varies. They seek work that blurs the lines between literary genres.

Villainous Press is seeking fiction for their anthology, Steampunk: The Worlds Beyond. Deadline is February 28. They have specific guidelines, so please review carefully. Pays $15-$25, depending upon length of story.

Ninth Letter is accepting fiction, poetry, and essay through February 28. Pays $25 per printed page, plus 2 complimentary issues. 

Sybaritic Press is open for submissions from poetry to novel-length. They like horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and erotica. Pays royalties quarterly. 

Blog Hops (Also known as No Gary's Land):

The Last Krystallos is hosting the Love Bites Anti-Valentine Blog Hop. You can post anytime between now and the 11th. Post a flash piece on the theme. There are prizes!

Ali Cross is co-hosting IndieReCon2014 February 25-27. This is a free online conference for writers. JA Konrath and Barry Eisler will be taking part.

Kyra Lennon is hosting the WIP: The Movie Blog Hop with Rachel Schieffelbein. Cast your WIP and post the pictures/descriptions on February 28.

Of Interest:

Delve Writing is holding an online workshop entitled Say it Like a Pro: How to Talk About Your Book Articulately and Enticingly at PPWC or Anywhere. Chris Mandeville will be teaching this course (she's a friend of mine and a great presenter!) Price is $20 if you register before February 8. This is a 2-session camp, to be held Saturday, April 5 and Saturday, April 12, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM MT. It is online only and live.

Kirkus Reviews has several job openings right now. You can't go wrong working for the place that will be reviewing your books someday! Book Reviewer is one of the job openings.

Pikes Peak Library District is holding A Novel Evening: The Great Gatsby at Briarhurst Manor, Friday, February 28, 6 PM, to benefit the Manitou Library. 3-course dinner, silent auction, dancing, period costumes welcome.

Anything of interest above? Anything to share? What do you think of the cover for Beyond the Binding? What are your insecurities?

May you find your Muse.

Composers for Relief: Spes et Libertas

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday week. I took a bit of a hiatus to enjoy family time and get some work done.

As I slip back into things, I wanted to share my entry for Composers for Relief, put together by Samantha Restreake Geary, Peter Ebbinghouse, and others. Composers for Relief is a collaborative effort, first by composers from multiple countries, and then by writers, asked to write pieces full of hope inspired by the gorgeous musical pieces put together by the composers. All proceeds from sales of the album, Composers for Relief: Supporting the Philippines, and of the upcoming e-book anthology featuring the written pieces (due out in January 2014), will go to Gawad Kalinga (Give Care), a charity supporting the people of the Philippines with food, assistance in rebuilding, and much more.

The piece of music I was moved to write to was Spes et Libertas (Hope and Freedom), composed by Iliya Zaki. You can go to Samantha's blog and look in the right sidebar to listen to the music as you read.


Spes et Libertas


Smack.

Bezumond struggled against the ropes that bound him, skin tearing as the fibers dug in, tightened. The whip fell upon his back again.

Smack.

His flesh ruptured, blood flowing down his back in a torrent, but still the whip was brought down upon him, feeding the fight that grew within him.

Smack.

His people stirred, moved by the stoicism with which he withstood the enemy's torments. They turned against their captors, fought for their lives.

Smack.

This would be the last time the lash would touch his back, for if his people could rise against this invasion, so too could Bezumond. As the braided leather arced through the air toward the torn flesh of his shoulders, he ripped his hands free of their bonds and grabbed the whip before it could strike him again. He heard the call of his people, scattered voices at first, but they rose even as the fighting continued, swelling together into a roar, a wave of sound that signaled to their enemies that there was no beating down the people of this kingdom.

No, there was no winning against men with souls of flame. No fierce storm, no crashing wave, no possible weapon could equal the power Bezumond's people bore within them.

He joined his men in this fight for their salvation. He met fist with fist, blow with blow, bodies clashing around him.

The man he fought drew a sword. Bezumond was unarmed, but he carried the only weapon he would ever need. Within him was the drive to save his people, the determination to see them through this. He could no more let them down than he could take his own life or the life of his dearest love, she who bore his unborn child within her, waiting on the other side of the gate to be saved. 

He unleashed the power that hungered within him, power that had been subdued by suffering as hope was stripped from him and from his people. The man fell before him, his brethren soon to follow, no match for Bezumond and his men. Where once his men had given up, resolved to die and have done with it, they now held the vision of freedom, and that hope burgeoned within them as they fought back.

The tide had turned.

No more were they overpowered, subjugated. No more were they held beneath the filthy boots of their invaders. A fierce glow overtook the battlefield as the sparks within each of them lit, flared up into the gallant flames they had once been. Their remaining enemies saw this, and fear filled them, took over their beings, for they held no flames within them. They were weak, cowardly, mere shades. Looking back, Bezumond couldn't understand how these gutless marauders had taken control, twisted his people's lives into the hell they'd been living. Not living, no, suffering, tolerating, barely surviving.

No more.

Solomon, his general, came up beside him, an axe at his side, stolen from one of the horde. Out of his chest grew a bright white light, flickering from him, seeming to surround him, to fill him even as it was created inside him. Bezumond knew the same was happening to him, to all of his men. His people, noble and righteous, would once more know peace and contentment, but this time they would be wise, as well.

Even as he thought forward to what they must do, their enemies fell at their feet, dying one by one, slayed by the brave men who stood beside Bezumond, prepared to take back everything that rightfully belonged to them. Theirs was a desire for life that could not be quelled. No one could destroy them now.

Inspired by their victory, but not sated, he and his men marched forward to reclaim what had been stolen. For theirs was a kingdom that would thrive forever, an empire of the soul.

May you find your Muse, as I did above. My thanks to Sam for presenting this opportunity to us.