Since it’s already been brought to my attention that I write like a girl, why shouldn’t I publish a romance story? I’d like to say that my upcoming appearance in New Love Stories magazine is a response to that previous editor’s gender-based diatribe, but it isn’t. The short story has been with the editors for well over a year (424 days according to my response tracker software) but they kept in touch every few months to say the story was still under consideration and to ask if it was still available.
Since there are precious few markets for short romance stories and since this one pays well, I was content to leave it with them while they decided. Last night I received the contract by e-mail. Publication date isn’t fixed, but it might make the Nov/Dec issue. I also received a rejection letter for another story, but I already had a good market lined up for it in that eventuality, so it went back out in the post this morning.
Last night I finalized and posted my review of A Twisted Ladder by Rhodi Hawk. This is her first novel and it is a very strong debut. I’ve known Rhodi through conventions for a number of years, but this is the first time I’ve read anything she wrote and I was very impressed.
While I was updating the Onyx Reviews site, we received an automated phone call from the Emergency Weather services advising us that the approaching storm might have dangerous winds and damaging hail. We contemplated moving a few things out of the back yard (patio umbrella, for example) but decided to take a chance on it not being that bad. The much-needed rain came, and was significant, but no hail or substantial gusts.
According to my web hosting service, powweb.com, they are now running a completely green operation. “Our offices and data centers are 100% powered by renewable energy, which means your site is completely green.” I’m colorblind, but I thought it was mostly black and white with splotches of blue.
I didn’t get any farther with the new story in progress this morning, but I worked on revising the part that was already written. I’ve come up with a shifting point of view that isn’t my normal way of writing short stories. It starts out from one character’s perspective and shifts to the other’s, which is in a way symbolic of the way one guy’s paranoia rubs off onto the other. I’m hoping that won’t be too jarring for readers. It’s not an abrupt shift, but it does break a rule I normally abide by, which is: one POV character per short story. We’ll see how it plays out.
I’ve come to the conclusion that Jordon (Big Brother) is smarter than she gives herself credit for. Sure, she might not know the word “harmonica,” but when it comes to strategy and figuring out who might be lying and why, and what’s best for her game, she’s pretty savvy. I have to keep reminding myself how young these contestants are. Kevin’s a pretty smart guy, too, but he hasn’t taken command or made a stand when he might have in a couple of situations. It will be interesting to see what happens in the jury house. For all her bluster, I’ll bet Lydia doesn’t take Jessie to task like she said she would.
The Girl Who Played With Fire took a nice dramatic turn with a couple of violent homicides. It’s set up to look like to readers like Salander might be somehow involved. A definite turn for the better in this book.
