Oh Garden, My Garden & Links

Pictures of people's tasty multi-colored gardens are filling my feeds. Unfortunately, this happened earlier this summer:

These are photos of the hail an hour after it came down and had already begun shrinking as it evaporated (usually it doesn't last so long around here.) The tomatoes, the tall plants you see in the back, came through it fine, but the little plants in the front--green beans, carrots, and three kinds of lettuce--bit the big one. I re-planted some, so we'll see if I get anything from that. Other than that, it shredded my veggies! Boo!

We're already planning how to change things next year. Cheap, homemade greenhouse on the way!

Last week I posted about the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which, no doubt, everyone's tired of hearing of by this time. I do have a video of more than 20 folks doing the challenge with us for my dad, who was able to be there for it, but there's a cleaned up version coming, so I'm waiting to post it. Because of the IBC, our team has raised $1,260 for the ALS Association! With 18 days left to our walk, that is phenomenal! Even better are the tributes friends have done for my dad and posted, including Samantha Redstreake Geary. I've seen a bunch of you bloggie peeps doing it this week, and it's been fantastic! My and my family's thanks out to you.

Now for some links.

Accepting submissions:

The Lane of Unusual Traders is a world in creation. They are asking for people to bring this lane to life by writing short stories for the lots on this lane. A prologue has been written, and now they want stories based on the theme for an anthology. 1500-3000 words. Deadline August 31. Payment is $300 AUD.

SubTerrain is seeking submissions of fiction, poetry, memoir, and essay for their 69th issue with the theme of "meat." Deadline is September 1. Maximum 3000 words. Pays $50 per page or poem.

Grey Matter Press has put out a call for submissions for Savage Beasts: an Anthology of Primal Screams. Your story must be inspired by music. 3000-10,000 words. Deadline September 5. Pays $.02/word.

Christina Escamilla Publishing is open for submissions to the Welcome to the Future Anthology. Deadline September 15. Short stories (2000-8000 words) or flash fiction (250-500 words). Pays $100 for short stories or $25 for flash.

Mslexia accepts articles, prose, and poetry from women. Theme for Issue 64 is "ancestors." Deadline is September 16. Pay varies by type of submission. They are also holding a Women's Memoir Competition. Cash prize and possible publication.

Contests:

The Ordinary Guru Project is holding the Ordinary Guru Contest. They want to know about ordinary folks who have changed your perspective in short story, essay, memoir, photo essay, cartoon, graphic novel, or poem form. First prize is $5000. Deadline August 31.

Poets & Patrons is holding the Helen Schaible International Sonnet Contest. Shakespearean or Petrarchan sonnets only. No entry fee. Deadline September 1. First prize is $50.

Brilliant Flash Fiction is holding a Finish the Story Contest. They provide a story beginning and you provide the ending. Winner gets 20 euro. 300 word limit. Deadline September 15.

Real Simple is offering the Seventh Annual Life Lessons Essay Contest. First prize is $3000 and possible publishing in the magazine. 1500 word maximum. Deadline September 18.

Other:

Uncanny: A Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction is looking for a submissions editor/slush reader. Unpaid volunteer position. Apply by September 2.

Do you have a garden? Any successful veggies or fruits yet? Any of these links interest you? Anything to add? Publishing news to share?

May you find your Muse.

[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday - Trespassing & Linkies

This week, I'm vacationing in Kansas. Behind the house we're renting is an abandoned house, barn, shed, and a building that's completely demolished, so we're not sure what it was, except that it has roofing tiles. I took a bunch of pics, but I'm only going to share a few. I left one in color, because the cellar windows were brown, which was odd since the other cellar windows were clear. I think you'll agree, this could be the setting of a scary movie (and yes, we did go into the cellar, fully acknowledging that if we were watching us in a horror film, we'd be screaming about how stupid a move that was.

Now for some links!

Please be aware that I am not vetting these publications, merely passing along information I've found online. Always do your due diligence in checking publications before submitting anything to them.

Accepting Submissions:

The Pedestal Magazine will open for submissions for their 74th issue April 1. They're seeking hybrid or multi-genre work. Each piece must include an element of poetry, prose, and art/photo. Pays $40 per piece.

Nightmare Magazine, though closed to general submissions, is taking submissions for their Women Destroy Horror Special Issue. Women only, horror (in case that wasn't obvious from the title). Closes March 31. To be edited by Ellen Datlow!! Pays $.08/word.

Streets of Shadows is seeking submissions of stories that intersect between urban fantasy and crime. 2000-4000 words. Pays $.06/word. Deadline April 3. Go here for more info.

Passion Beyond Words has several themed issues open for submissions right now. All related to romance and/or erotica. Several have a deadline of March 31. Only payment is a contributor copy.

She Knows is open to writers on various topics relating to women, including fashion, entertainment, parenting, crafts, DIY, and local features. Short articles.

Contests:

The deadline for the Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest is approaching April 1. No fee to enter. First prize is $1000.

Zocalo Poetry is issuing their Zocalo Public Square Poetry Prize. It's issued to a U.S. poet who best conveys a sense of place in their poem. Closes for entries April 1. First prize $500.

Spark is holding a contest for both poetry and prose. The theme is "Fables." Grand prize is $500, plus a laundry list of other awesome prizes. No fee to enter. Deadline is April 1.

Of Interest:

Night Owl Reviews is holding a Spring Fling Scavenger Hunt. Opens April 1, closes May 15. You will be asked to fill in a series of blanks to enter, gleaned from various online resources. Each blank is accompanied by a prize you can win.

Fast Co-Create had an interesting article entitled How to be Prolific: Guidelines for Getting it Done from Joss Whedon. Worth a read!

M.J. Joachim has suggested a method for defeating the recent issues with Google Friend Connect. Join her for an ongoing blog hop if you're having problems with GFC.

What do you think of the abandoned buildings? Moody enough? Anything to share? Any good news? Have you been submitting? Any of these interest you?

May you find your Muse.

IWSG & Links

First, I've gotten behind on responding to comments and visiting, but I will be catching up, hopefully today! Sorry, but life has dealt me one swift kick to the booty after another! I intend to start kicking it back.

It's time for the Insecure Writer's Support Group, created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, wherein we writers share our insecurities with the group.

This one's going to be brief for me, but it's something weighing heavily on my mind. Right now, my fear/insecurity is that I will not find any measure of success with my writing in time for my parents to see it. I want to be able to show them that their support since I was a kid talking about growing up to be a writer meant something, that it helped me reach this point, that it's come to fruition. But it all seems so far away that I worry it won't happen in time. While I realize they're my parents and have faith in me, I don't want them to HAVE to have faith that it will happen; I want them to get to see it with their own eyes.

Now for a few links!

Accepting Submissions:

Running Out of Ink is accepting submissions of short fiction, any genre. Not a paying market.

Sword and Laser is accepting submissions for an anthology. Sci-fi and Fantasy themed. Deadline May 15. Pays $200.

Contests:

Potomac Review is hosting a flash fiction contest. Theme: Brackish. Deadline April 5. $1000 first prize, plus publication in the Potomac Review, and a one-year subscription to the Potomac Review. $20 entry fee.

Wild Thoughts is hosting The Best of Times Short Story Competition for humorous short stories. Deadline is May 31. First prize is $200. Entry fee is $6.

Blog Hops/Memes:

LiteraryCO (Colorado) is hosting Colorado Book Month, which includes a weekly themed meme in the month of March, as well as guest posts with Colorado authors and bloggers (yours truly, included), and lots of other fun stuff. You don't have to be a Coloradan to participate.

Just for Fun:

Emily Temple shared 25 Fascinating Photos of Famous Writers at Home on Flavorwire.

Anything interesting to share? Anything you're interested in above? What are your writing insecurities?

May you find your Muse.

[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday - Falls Be Gone & Links

I had something else planned for today, but had to delay it, so instead, I will finally show you the last photos of my Seven Falls trip. These ones are from up top, the pinnacle of our hike.

This way for more photos! Oh wait, no, down.

That's downtown Colorado Springs you see off in the distance.

We still had fires burning in October, which is the smoke you see. I think this was smoke from Rocky Mountain National Park, if I'm remembering correctly, and it had come quite a distance.

Helen Hunt Jackson's grave, though I believe it said the body had since been moved and reburied. Not a bad place to be interred. I think I'd be upset they moved me.

I just like this one because the rock looks like an angry rhino to me. Simple pleasures...

My favorite of this batch. This is the uppermost fall, number 7. I don't recall the name.

Now for some links!

Accepting Submissions:

Fringeworks has put out a submission call for their anthology Tiki Terror Tales. They seek scary short stories dealing with tikis. Submission deadline: midnight, April 2. Pays 5% royalties.

World Weaver Press is still seeking sci-fi adventure stories for their Far Orbit: Speculative Space Adventures anthology. Pays $.01 per word, plus paperback copy of the anthology. Can be up to 10,000 words to fully develop the adventure. Submissions deadline is March 31.

Lena Corazone is looking for writers' success stories for an anthology. Pays $50. Your success does not have to involve getting published, just some aspect of your writers life and success.

This Mutant Life is accepting submissions for its 2013 anthology. They must have neo-pulp or superhuman influence. Up to 4000 words. Submission deadline is June 30. Pays $.01 per word and an e-copy.

Silver Boomer Books has an open anthology entitled Longest Hours - Thoughts While Waiting. Deadline April 15. $5 payment for poetry, $10 payment for prose, plus a contributor copy.

Contests:

The Montreal International Poetry Prize is open for submissions for their contest. Early entry deadline is March 31. If you're in a developing nation, your early entry fee is $15. If you're in a developed nation, your early entry fee is $20. There is a $20,000 CDN prize purse and anthology publication (80 entrants will be published).

The L. Ron Hubbard Writers (& Illustrators) of the Future Contest is a quarterly contest. The next deadline will be March 31, with the new quarter opening for submissions April 1, and so on and so forth. First prize is $1000. They're seeking short stories and novellas in science fiction and fantasy. No entry fee. They also have a contest for illustrators that you can find on the same page. There are limitations on how many times you can have been published and still enter.

The Diana Woods Memorial Award in Creative Nonfiction has been created in her name to help writers of creative nonfiction. Your entry should be an essay on their choice of topic up to 5000 words. Award is $250 and publication in Lunch Ticket.

Enchanted Conversation has a monthly contest to seek works to publish. They accept 1 short story and 1 poem (or some combination of that) each month, based upon fairy tale format. You must read their guidelines, as there are specifics you'll want to be aware of. Prize is $25 Amazon gift certificate and publication.

Blog hops/fests:

Kelly Hashway and Beth Fred are hosting the Sweets Blogfest March 6. Write about your favorite sweet, whether that's food, romance, or anything else sweet you come up with.

Other:

The Martha's Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing will have their annual summer writing seminar July 7-12. The program fee is $975 for the week, which includes a professional consultation. Lodging is not included.

Anything of interest to add? Any of these you're excited about? Missing fall color? Yearning for spring yet? Or are you enjoying the winter weather (I am!)?

May you find your Muse.

I'm Home! And Links

Hi all!  I made it home safely last night, after several hiccups, adventures and an emotional breakdown that was a long time coming.  I wrote up an entire big huge post about it all, only to have Blogger or Google Chrome freeze up on me.  It's 2:40 AM, and I need to get to bed, having been going non-stop since this morning.  So my apologies for a lack of post, but here are the links, at least!  I'll be back on schedule come Monday.

(Also, I guest posted at the A-to-Z blog on Blog Hops/Fests & Memes, as part of the continuing Blogging Basics series for beginning bloggers).

Without further ado, links:

Accepting Submissions:

Massacre Publishing is accepting novel-length submissions at this time.

Samhain Publishing is seeking manuscripts in horror, urban fantasy, romance and erotica.

Kraken Press is seeking novellas and novel-length fiction in horror and weird fiction.

Blog Hops/Fests/Memes/Contests:

Andrew Leon, of Strange Pegs, is hosting the Great Chocolate Contest, wherein you write a short story set in the Imagination Room from his book, The House on the Corner.  Due February 6.  Chocolate prize, plus possible publication in a collection of short stories.

Mina Lobo, of Some Dark Romantic, is hosting the Lunar Lovin' Hop January 27 and 28.  She asks that you photograph the full moon on the 27 and post it on your blog.  That's it!

You have one more day to participate in Jamie Ayres What Are Your 18 Things Blog Fest.  Post about your bucket list by tomorrow, the 24th.  There are a variety of prizes up for grabs.

Stephen Tremp, Mark Koopmans, Elise Fallson, and C.M. Brown are hosting the Reintroduce Myself Blog Fest January 28.  The rules?  Just tell us something interesting about yourself.  Another easy one!

Michelle Wallace and Elise Fallson are hosting the She Said What Blog-o-versary and Giveaway Bash February 18-20.  They'll be posting a cartoon, to which you will add the dialogue.

Other:

B2C, or Business to Community, is a forum on social media.  Possibly interesting to check out for writers/bloggers.

Red Room is an online community of writers, with many available features.  Definitely worth checking out.

Anything to share?  Anything up there stoke your interest?  

May you find your Muse.

[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday - Ents? Or Trees? & Links

Happy Hump Day!  Today I figured I'd share a couple interesting trees from my trip up Seven Falls.  I love interesting trees, and while we lack some cool types of trees (for instance, weeping willows), we do have a few that stand out for their own reasons.

One thing I see a lot of around here are trees that make me think of the Ents in The Hobbit, not because they are giant or even the same sort described, but because erosion of the soil on inclines exposes the roots and makes it look like they will uproot themselves and start walking at any moment.  And sometimes the roots grow in quite interesting ways.

Here are a couple that caught my attention on our walk.

This guy met us at the top of the stairs.

I just liked that the root on this one had scampered across a boulder, then stretched across the pathway.

It's always fun when trees, shrubs or plants grow out of  a boulder.

Another tree that has grown through a boulder, leaving a giant crack.

"Start spreading the news...I'm leaving today...I want to be a part of it...!"

Come by tomorrow for a visit from Christine Rains on her 13th Floor Blog Tour!

Now for links!

Disclaimer: I do not research, nor do I necessarily have experience with, these companies/publications.  Please do your research and check into any publication before submitting.

Accepting Submissions:

Aletheia Writing & Art Magazine is looking for fiction, non-fiction, interviews, photographs and artwork.  Mostly geared to teens.  Does not appear to be a paying market.

Indigo Mosaic Publishing is open for submissions on multiple anthologies, including Chocolate Dreams.  Each anthology pays in royalties.

World Weaver Press is seeking submissions for an anthology entitled Far Orbit: Speculative Space Adventures.  Pays $.01 per word.  Open January 1 through March 31, 2013.

M. Bennardo is putting together a short anthology of one-sentence stories.  Pays $15 per story.

Contests:

The Delizon Annual Short Story Competition is on for 2013.  Cash prizes for 1st through 10th place, with 1st being $1200.  Deadline April 15, 2013.  $25 entry fee.

Blog Hops/Fests: 

L.G. Keltner, of Writing off the Edge, is hosting the Beginnings Blogfest in celebration of her 1 year blogoversary.  You simply blog about a beginning that's important to you, any beginning.  January 9, 2013.

Don't forget the Choose Your Own Apocalypse Blogfest this coming Friday, the 21st!  How do you think the world will end?

Anything to share?  Seen any really cool trees?  What's your favorite type of tree to see photographed?

May you find your Muse.

[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday - Santa's Cog & Links

This weekend I took my kids and my nephew up the side of Pikes Peak on the Manitou Cog so they could visit Santa up on a really cold frozen mountain.  It's something we've pondered doing for years, so I finally sucked it up and forked out the big bucks.  Totally worth it!  They have a great crew working to insure the kids have a good time while they're up there, and a fabulous Santa and Mrs. Claus.

We got a nice snowfall the night before, which made it perfection.  Everything was frosted in white, and the elves had a snowball fight, which the boys loved watching.  It distracted my nephew from his frozen toes.

The cog station

The side of our train 

The front of the cog, wreath and all

Some festive decorations

Santa's place!

Some scrawny winter-bald aspens, surrounded by lush pines

More festive decorations.  Really, what's more fun that decorations in nature?

Before I go onto the links, I'd like to mention that I will be starting Friday posts, likely after the 1st of January.  After the last A-to-Z, in which I had tons of fun researching Wild West figures and outlaws, I had considered doing Friday historical posts, but I was so burned out that I ended up not doing it.  However, people seemed to enjoy them, and I know I enjoyed doing the research, so even if no one reads them, it will get me back doing something I love to do.  I may have to start it earlier just to make up for all the blog hops/fests I've been doing.

Also, Christine Rains will be visiting The Warrior Muse Thursday, December 20 for her 13th Floor Blog Tour, promoting her new book, The Marquis, the first in her 13th Floor series.  We've got a great giveaway and a little fun planned, so come visit next Thursday (and Monday and Wednesday, of course!).

Without further ado, the links!

Taking Submissions:

Electric Spec is taking submissions of speculative fiction.  They prefer science fiction, fantasy and the macabre.  Paying market.

Carina Press is accepting submissions in multiple arenas.  They pay 40-50% royalties, digital first, print maybe.

Sylvan Dell is open to submissions of creative and educational books for kids, primarily in earth and physical science.  Paying market.

Blog Hops/Fests/Contests/Events:

Brandon and Bryan of A Beer for the Shower are throwing the Party Like Slim Dyson Contest, wherein you describe a party their character Slim Dyson might like.  You can view Slim Dyson's story on their blog (Check the sidebar).  You can win a signed manuscript.  Make the party anything you want!  December 17.

The Gifts Aren't Only From Santa Event will occur on December 14 and 15.  You will find games, giveaways, free YA novels and discounted novels, which will benefit Children's Hospital.

Of Interest/Other:

Steve Rosenbaum posted about "How to De-Risk Book Publishing."  He talked about the changing publishing world and how to build a modern platform.

Random House is launching three new digital imprints.

Anything to share?  Ever heard of the cog?  Or similar?  Have you visited Santa this holiday season?  What would you ask for?

May you find your Muse.

[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday - A Grizzly Sight & Links

It's [Mostly] Wordless Wednesday again!  Today's photos are of a playful grizzly at the local zoo (bet you thought I misspelled "grisly/grizzly" in the title!).  The reason I haven't posted these before is that I was taking the photos from behind very thick, filthy, scratched, splashed and slobbered upon glass.  So...the photos suck, BUT he is just so cute I had to share him, anyway.  And, hey, you don't come here for professional photos, right?

Before I get to the grizzly, I want to say thanks for all the feedback on responding to rejections.  Also, my final Fraterfest update is that I finished the book by Jones, and started the book by Harrison, but did not get that one finished.  "The Ones That Got Away" was a great collection of short stories.  The very first story gave me goosebumps.  If you ever read it, you'll know what I mean.

Okay, heeeeeere's the Griz!  (This is one time I recommend you do NOT click on the photos to enlarge them...)

Stepping in for a dip

Look, a stick!  nom, nom, nom

Thanks for the floss

 

This is the best toy ever!

Linky Time:

Taking Submissions:

Stymie Magazine is open for submissions.  They are looking for work that is sports themed or has something sports related as part of it.  Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, photographs, creative non-fiction, etc.  As far as I know, this is not a paid market.  However, I recently contacted the founding editor, Erik Smetana, about something unrelated to making a submission.  He got back to me promptly and was a nice guy, in addition to being professional.  If I ever have anything sports themed, I'd be delighted to work with Erik and Stymie Magazine.

The Potomac Review is taking submissions of prose and poetry (also photographs if you inquire first).  Submission window is Sept. 1 to May 1.  Pays in contributor copies.

[PANK] is taking submissions through November 30.  Poetry and prose.  They also take book reviews and blog posts via separate means.

Contests:

Grubstreet Reads is having a flash fiction contest.  (That link will take you to their Facebook - I am having problems getting to their website).  Determined by reader votes.  Possible prize of a Kindle Fire.  300 word maximum.  Enter directly on their Facebook by clicking on the Flash Fiction tab at the top of the main page.

Giveaways:

Bish Denham at Random Thoughts is having her Second Annual Blogtoberfest and giving away five books/sets of books.  Simply requires you to leave a comment to be entered.

Rebecca Hamilton will be holding her Forever Girl Anniversary Tour and Giveaway in January.  She's looking for people to help on the tour and host giveaways, for which she will provide two e-books for your giveaway.  You set the rules for your portion of the giveaway.  She'll also be doing an item giveaway that is separate, but overlaps this one.  Those slots are full, but you can still try to win the prizes.

Challenges/Blog Hops:

Marie Landry at Ramblings of a Daydreamer is hosting her 2nd Annual Spooktacular Paranormal Reading Challenge from October 1 through Halloween.  She is challenging participants to read and review at least three paranormal books this month.  There will be a prize drawing for participants.

Other:

Carol Kilgore at Under the Tiki Hut put together the Writers' LIKE ME Project to help writers get their links out there and get to know each other.  You can post your various links to your books, Facebook, blog, website, Twitter, GoodReads, you name it.

Writer's Digest posted Sherman Alexie's Top 10 Pieces of Advice for Writers.

Book Riot posted 5 Women Writers Tougher Than Hemingway.

That's it for this week.

Anything to share?  Anything in here sound good to you?  What about those tough female writers?  Ever seen a grizzly not in a zoo?  

May you find your Muse.