#IWSG: The anthology is here - Parallels: Felix Was Here #specfic #althistory

IWSG was created by the Captain Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh. Click here to visit the other IWSG participants. This month's co-hosts are Stephen Tremp, Stephanie Faris, Susan Gourley/Kelley, Bish Denham, Fundy Blue, M.J. Fifield, and Loni Townsend.

My insecurity and excitement revolve around the release of Parallels: Felix Was Here. No matter how many stories I have out, I always have release week jitters.

Do you get nervous when you release a new story?

Enter the realm of parallel universes! 

What if the government tried to create the perfect utopia? Could a society linked to a supercomputer survive on its own? Do our reflections control secret lives on the other side of the mirror? Can one moment split a person’s world forever? 

Exploring the fantastic, ten authors offer incredible visions and captivating tales of diverse reality. Featuring the talents of L. G. Keltner, Crystal Collier, Hart Johnson, Cherie Reich, Sandra Cox, Yolanda Renee, Melanie Schulz, Sylvia Ney, Michael Abayomi, and Tamara Narayan. 

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will expand your imagination and twist the tropes of science fiction. Step through the portal and enter another dimension!

Purchase the anthology at Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, Nook, and Smashwords.

Add to your Goodreads list.

Follow the blog.

My story in the anthology is "Folds in Life and Death." In 2001, the Curse of Tippecanoe strikes again. This story is set within the world of To the Future series, which I plan to start writing in the next few months.

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I'm sure many bloggers are trying to recover from the craziness that is April. I participated in the A-Z Challenge on the Parallels anthology blog, and it was a lot of fun, although I didn't get around to nearly as many blogs as I'd hoped.

I finished another edit of Marked (The Fate Challenges #1.5) and sent it to my next critique partner. This year I've written 24 of 41 chapters in Destined. I am almost finished writing "A Soul to Protect," a Soul Reaper short story. I've made progress on my outline for A Soul to Reap (Soul Reaper #1), but I didn't touch A Soul to Kill edits, although I have decided to rewrite it in first person instead of third.

My May goals include:

• Write 30 minutes a day in one project (Destined).
• Write 15 minutes a day in a secondary project ("A Soul to Protect" | A Soul to Reap).
• Rewrite A Soul to Kill. I'd like to complete at least half of this before the end of May.
• Edit "On Day 168" for the forthcoming UR anthology Ghosts of Fire.
• Outline A Soul to Reap.

What are your goals for this month?

2016 Current Stats: 117,811 words written and 766 pages edited

Two years ago in May, I published my first novel Reborn (The Fate Challenges #1). Although the rest of the series won't be out until 2017 (most likely), I have decided to run a sale. For this month, Reborn is only 99c, and you can purchase it on Amazon.com, Other Amazon Retailers, Google Play, iTunes, Kobo, Nook, OmniLit, and Smashwords.

#IWSG: Passion, Projects, and Plans | Cover Reveal Parallels: Felix Was Here

IWSG was created by the Captain Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh. Click here to visit the other IWSG participants.

Today's post seems to be brought to you by the letter P. *laughs*

My writing projects Destined (The Fate Challenges #3) and A Soul to Kill (Soul Reaper #0) have been on my mind a lot lately. I've noticed how I light up when I talk about A Soul to Kill and the Soul Reaper series in general. When it comes to reading, I want to dive into all the urban fantasy books. It's not that I don't enjoy Yssa's story. We've been together for ten years, after all, but I'm all excited about Soul Reaper. This passion has led me to ponder whether I should switch my projects #1 and #2.

And this idea has led to my insecurity for this month. I've made a commitment to finishing The Fate Challenges. People have read Reborn (The Fate Challenges #1) and I'm sure at least three of them are looking forward to the rest of the books in the series. Destined is the last book, and I just have to finish that first draft to have the series written. Will I be letting them down if I take even longer with writing Destined? Will I be letting myself down?

I feel guilty for considering switching the two, yet I also want my main passion to be my main project. It's not that I'll stop writing Destined. It'll just take me a few months longer to finish that first draft than I first thought.

So for this month I'll switch them and see how it goes. If I don't chicken out and switch them back midway through!

What are your insecurities this month?

As you might have seen on the IWSG blog last month, my story "Folds in Life and Death" is one of the ten stories in the IWSG anthology. Thank you so much for your congratulations and kind comments. It had been a few years since I last submitted a story, so I was shocked to find out my story was one of the ten chosen.

We also have a title and cover art! Parallels: Felix Was Here will be out sometime in Spring 2016. Isn't it an awesome cover!?

Science Fiction/Alternate History

Enter the realm of parallel universes!

What if the government tried to create the perfect utopia? Could a society linked to a supercomputer survive on its own? Do our reflections control secret lives on the other side of the mirror? Can one moment split a person’s world forever?

Exploring the fantastic, ten authors offer incredible visions and captivating tales of diverse reality. Featuring the talents of L. G. Keltner, Cherie Collier, Hart Johnson, Cherie Reich, Sandra Cox, Yolanda Renee, Melanie Schulz, Sylvia Ney, Michael Abayomi, and Tamara Narayan.

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will expand your imagination and twist the tropes of science fiction. Step through the portal and enter another dimension!

---

In January, I wrote in Destined and A Soul to Kill and outlined A Soul to Kill. I also edited "Folds in Life and Death" and a friend's novelette and short story. I'm working on edits for another friend's novel. Unfortunately, I keep striking out on finishing the outline for Destined as well as editing Marked (The Fate Challenges #1.5).

Here are my goals for February:
Write 30 minutes a day in main project (A Soul to Kill).
Write 15 minutes a day in a secondary project (Destined).
Finish editing a friend's novel. I plan to finish it this week/early next week.
Edit Marked. Seriously! I've put this off for way too long.
Edit "On Day 168."
Outline Destined.

Current 2016 Stats: 29,868 words written and 214 pages edited.

Wednesday's Writing Update: Anthologies, Submissions, Vlog, Acceptance, and More

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

It seems like the past week was busy. First, look to your left on the blog. Yep, I have over 300 followers. Wow. Thank you. I'm so humbled by this. You see, I started the year out with less than 50, so I'm still trying to process having so many followers.

Second, I had two short stories come out this week.

The first one is "Folding Hope" in Stories for Sendai. The paperback version is now available on Amazon here. The Kindle version should be coming shortly. We're having the official launch on June 30^th, so if you are planning to purchase a copy—you really should...it's great—then purchase it on the 30^th, so we can increase the exposure of this anthology on Amazon. 

The second one is for my "Phantom Kisses," published under my pseudonym Cherie Wolfe. It's a paranormal erotic piece published by DFE Quarterly in their Erotica Quarterly, Vol. 1 Issue 3. To purchase a copy, you can click here. It will soon be on Amazon and other distributors soon. 

I submitted three short stories on Monday to various anthologies, and I have ideas for about three more I want to write and submit within the next month. Of course, I'll have short stories for Raven and the Writing Desk, which has my part II of our three-part story up now. 

Of those three short stories, I heard back from one Tuesday night. My horror story "Wishes" finally has a home! Wicked East Press accepted it for their Under the Stairs anthology. 

I'm working on Virtuoso again, but it's been slow going to find time. I have review books to read and review, questions to write for interviewees, and the general blog posts here and there and other things. I still hope to get a lot done this week and over the long holiday weekend. *crosses fingers* I will also pick up more editing assignments after the holiday weekend.

By the way, did you see my first vlog entry yesterday? If you did, what did you think? I know the sound/picture didn't mesh well, but we'll blame it on my webcam. I might eventually do another one. Also, if you don't have time to watch the entire thing, you can watch the first couple minutes and hear how I pronounce my name and the inspiration behind "Folding Hope."  

So, what has been going on with everyone else? Anything exciting? Mundane?

I've been interviewed...

Join me on Stories for Sendai blog where I've been interviewed. My story "Folding Hope" will be within this anthology. The release date is June 30th. You can read my interview here.

"Hounded"

I finished writing "Hounded" today. It is a mystery/were-creature short story that I have written for the anthology The Beast Within 2: Beast Unleashed. Here is what it is about:

Toby Hound is not only a private investigator, but he is also a were-hound. When the lovely and mysterious Catherine "Cat" Reynolds comes to his office, Toby is intrigued. The woman is certain her sister is missing, and Toby believes that she may be on to something when he discovers that four other women are also missing from the area in the past three months. His investigation takes him to a bar called the Wolf's Den that is run by a werewolf. Amanda "Kitten" Reynolds scent is there, and Toby knows that he is on the right trail. When Cat comes into the picture and screws up the investigation by being taken herself, Toby must race against time and the full moon to find Cat and Kitten before it is too late.

"Hounded" is 4,741 words long, which is good, since the anthology is calling for stories from 2,000-5,000 words. "Hounded" is now with my critique buddies, so when I hear back from them and make changes, then I'll be ready to submit it.

In other news, I didn't get anything else accomplished today. I do plan to work on Moonlight Murders this week, if I get a chance.

Rejection and Disappointment

I received another rejection email. This time, it was for my fantasy/dark fantasy short story "Eclipse". Here is what was said in the rejection letter:

Thanks for submitting this story, but I'm going to pass on it. It didn't quite work for me, I'm afraid. Best of luck to you placing this one elsewhere, and thanks again for sending it my way.

------------------------------

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John Joseph Adams

Editor

The Way of the Wizard

www.johnjosephadams.com


I must admit that I am more disappointed by this rejection than the one by The Pedestal Magazine for "Only One". I really liked my story "Eclipse". I will try to find somewhere else for it. It is one of those stories that I can expand upon, so I might make it longer, so I can find another place to submit it. I don't know.

On other disappointing news, I found out that my publisher Mystic Moon Press is having some problems. I don't know if they are going to go under or find a way to work this all out. I figure for now I'll wait and see what is going to happen. I still plan to finish up Moonlight Murders, but I will be holding onto it once it is finished for either MMP to fix their problems or for two years until my contract is up or until MMP breaks my contract and the rights to Liam O'Hare revert back to me. I'll just have to wait and see. I'll keep everyone updated on what is going on.

Right now, I only have one other story out there. It is "Hell Has No Fury" for the All About Eve anthology. They are holding the story for consideration, but I'll have to wait until September likely to find out if it is accepted.

*sighs* It's all very depressing with what is going on, and I'm considering having ice cream for lunch to make it better. *laughs glumly*

Submission: Eclipse for The Way of the Wizard anthology

I submitted "Eclipse" today to The Way of the Wizard anthology. I believe it followed most of the criteria he was looking for, except perhaps showing magic from a different cultural view. I did blend some cultures into Eclipse (Egyptian/Greek), but those are more traditional views. "Eclipse" takes place in a different world, and I do believe Raven Woodcroft is quite extraordinary in her magical abilities of being a light thief and bringer of darkness, despite not being an evil character. Of course, evil and good have very fine lines in the short story. I do hope that JJ Adams will hold the story for consideration and not just reject it out of hand, but we'll have to see. He said he would be quick with rejections, so hopefully I'll know one way or the other before long. Of course, if he holds it for consideration, then I'll have to wait until after March 2010 to find out if my story was accepted.

I do have some plans for "Eclipse" if it isn't accepted by The Way of the Wizard anthology. I was originally going to search for another publishing place, but I think if it isn't accepted with the anthology that I might submit it to Mystic Moon Press. I do not have a fantasy story there, and I think having a mystery, horror, and fantasy stories up there with them would be a good threesome and show my various talents in the three genres. The only question is do I leave it the way it is and submit it or do I continue the story and have it have a more resolved ending? I am uncertain about that, and I could go either way. Of course, these things will only happen if my story isn't held for consideration.

If "Eclipse" is rejected, I have another wizard story in mind, so I will keep trying.

Eclipse

I finished writing "Eclipse" today. It is a fantasy/dark fantasy short story that I plan to send to the Way of the Wizard anthology. The reading opens up on July 1, so I will likely submit it then. "Eclipse" is 4,174 words long. Here is the blurb on what it is about:

Raven Woodcroft has a very special magical ability. She can steal light and create darkness. She has even taken away the light of the moon; and thus, she acquired the nickname Eclipse. She is a world-class thief in a land that is torn between warring magics. When the Sorceress Mordetta of the west calls for Raven's talents, the young woman answers. The Sorceress wants her to steal a book from the infamous and mysterious Magician. No one has ever been to his castle or seen the enigmatic Magician. Raven is up for the challenge, but as she enters the Magician's castle, she realizes that she has met her match and is captured. Will she manage to escape with the book? Or will she give the Magician what he wants for a price?

I'm really excited about this story. I've had Raven Woodcroft in my mind for a long time and have been wanting to find a place to use her. We'll have to see if Eclipse will find a home or remain the orphan thief she is.