Rejection and other news

I got a rejection for "Eclipse" today from Shimmer. Here is what they said:

Dear Cherie,

Thank you for allowing us to consider "Eclipse," but I'm afraid I'm going to pass.

This hits the basic points of a fantasy story, but moves a bit slow and overall doesn't do anything that is new. We're generally not a good fit for otherworld fantasy. It's not right for us, but I hope you find a good home for it soon.

Good luck with your writing!

Best Grá Linnaea

Associate Editor

--

Shimmer Magazine

www.shimmerzine.com

Personally, I don't know if I agree with what was said. I am going to send it elsewhere, but I haven't figured out where yet. If I still have no luck, then I'll probably try to work on it some more before sending it out yet again.

As for other news, I did receive an email from Jodi Lee about "Wishes" for Dead Bells anthology. This is what she said:

Good afternoon, Cherie,

Thank you for your submission of "Wishes" to the Dead Bells Anthology.

It is my pleasure to let you know I would like to add it to our shortlist, pending a tiny re-write, if you are agreeable.

Unfortunately, I guess it wasn't clear that bodies wouldn't mummify immediately - they would mummify instead of rotting, over time. If you would change those areas in your story, I would be very interested in having a second look.

If you do so, please attach the file to a reply to this email, so it doesn't get lost in the submissions queue. Thank you, and I do hope to see "Wishes" again soon!--

Jodi Lee

Editing Portfolio - http://tinyurl.com/JodiLee

LeeLite Design - http://tinyurl.com/LeeLite

The New Bedlam Project - http://www.newbedlam.com

Dead Bells - http://www.jodilee.ca/deadbells/- Show quoted text -

So as soon as I got home, I made the necessary changes and resubmitted it to her. I'm really hoping "Wishes" gets in. I think it is really perfect for the anthology.

I haven't heard anything back about my four other stories out there. I should know about a few of them very soon. *crosses fingers*

Submission: Wishes

Thanks to the two best readers in the world, I was able to finish up "Wishes" and submit it to Dead Bells anthology. I had a lot of fun writing this horror story, and I hope it has a good chance to being accepted. According to the response email, I should know in a week or two whether or not "Wishes" still has a chance. I am glad yet nervous that there is such a short response time. It means that I'll be checking my email even more often. *laughs*

Currently, I have five short stories out there that I'm waiting to hear back from. Here is what I have:

"Once Upon a December Nightmare" is with Wild Child Publishing. According to their website, they have a six to eight week response time. I should know by the end of September to mid-October. I have heard no response at all from them at this time.

"Hell Has No Fury" is with Wolfsinger Publications for their All About Eve anthology. Their deadline is August 31, and they say it can take up to a month after the deadline to get back to you. I have heard back from them, and my story is being considered, but I won't know anything definite until sometime in September.

"Bella's Battle" is with the Skulls and Crossbones anthology. Their deadline is September 1, and their response time is one month. I should know sometimes in September whether or not my story is accepted. By the way, the day after I submitted "Bella's Battle," I saw the most adorable pirate bumper sticker on a car. I took a picture of it, and I'm hoping it is a good sign that my story will get in.

"Soul Survivor" is with Emerald Tales for their Volume I, Number 2 issues. The deadline is September 1, and I should know by October if it was accepted.

And, of course, I know have "Wishes" out there, and I should know something in one to two weeks.

I also have my short story "Eclipse." As soon as September comes, I'm going to submit "Eclipse" to Fantasy Magazine. They have a week response time, so I should know quickly whether or not it is accepted once I send it.

It's very exciting to have all these things out there. I can't wait for September! I will also be finished with my first novel in September too. It'll be a good month, hopefully.*crosses fingers*

"Wishes"

I finished writing a short story "Wishes" today. It is a horror story, and I plan to submit it to Dead Bells anthology. I'm really excited about this little short story that is 2,771 words long. I love how it ended, and I tried my best to make it very scary. The premise for Dead Bells anthology is that the calendars were wrong and every person dies except the protagonist when January 1, 2010 comes around. The writer then has to write what they think happens to their character.

This is the summary:

Aurora has never been a social butterfly, and when a New Year's Eve party turns terribly wrong, she wishes that everyone would just leave her alone and die. As New Year's Day 2010 comes around and she wakes up, she realizes that all is not right in her world. A freak ice storm has knocked out the power, but it is the terrifying mummified bodies that cause her to worry. Has her terrible wish come true? Or is something else to blame for everyone's deaths? As night approaches, will she even survive?

In other writing news, I hope to get some written in The Phoenix Prophetess today too, since I plan to finish chapter thirty-three this week.