Sunday, May 31, 2009

End of May round-up

Actually, May went pretty well. I think it's my positive attitude, although at times I had to grit my teeth to get a smile out. While I am an optimist, I'm also a grouch, which is an odd combination. I'm also getting grouchier every year that goes by.

I received about 10,000 rejections this month, but I also got two acceptances. "Orcs and Trolls" will hit Every Day Fiction on June 12 and "Long Way Home" will appear in the June issue of Semaphore magazine. Actually, the June issue is already up (actually, that makes sense--it's a New Zealand magazine so it's tomorrow there already, right?), so you can go read "Long Way Home" now if the mood strikes you. The cover of the June issue is amazing; I love it so much I really wish this was a print magazine instead of online.

Also, my story "The King's Messenger," the one with Kristof the weredeer in it (his first print appearance, which is why I'm so pleased with the story despite the fact that it is, hmm, possibly not my best ever), is now available at AnthologyBuilder.com. I updated it just a little before sending it in, and changed the title to "Kristof and the King's New Car." Yes, I know. Worst title ever. I don't know what I was thinking.

Also in writing news this month, I got a partial request from an agent for The Taste of Magic, and I actually wrote a flash story! I've also been working on the fourth Weredeer book, now tentatively titled Stag in Ruin, and the new project that still doesn't have a name. Little Sparrow hasn't had any lovin' this month, but that's only because it needs a little more simmering time.

I have so many books I want to write that they're practically stacked up in a holding pattern waiting to land. Never mind Stag in Ruin, which is after all a sequel; after the untitled project, I've got Little Sparrow, Tiger (what is this, a zoo?), an untitled YA book about a girl who learns she has inherited her estranged father's gift for charming animals, and Charmed Circle, which I think is going to be a sort-of-sequel to Evil Outfitters, Ltd. At least Evil Outfitters is already written.

Onward into June!

13 comments:

Jamie Eyberg said...

You had a very productive May. congrats on the two acceptances. I love that New Zealand magazine (that I discovered only after you had mentioned it. thank you)

K.C. Shaw said...

I hadn't come across them before I found them on Duotrope, but I like them too. Duotrope's led me to a lot of good markets, both as a writer and as a reader.

BT said...

Hi KC - I've just read your piece in Semaphore - very nice, and totally not predictable. I kept playing my mind ahead, as I'm sure most writers do, but never came up with the right path - that's a good thing.

Congrats on the acceptances.

K.C. Shaw said...

Thanks, it's not my favorite story but it was interesting to write. I actually had a completely different ending originally, but I rewrote it before sending it to Semaphore. Apparently the rewrite worked. :)

Aaron Polson said...

A very nice May indeed. I'm off to read Semaphore...

(Hope June is twice as nice and half as nasty)

Aaron Polson said...

Perfect ending, by the way.

K.C. Shaw said...

Thanks! I hope your June is awesome too!

Danielle Birch said...

Yay for the acceptances and here's to more in June. Loved the Long Road Home too – great ending.

Cate Gardner said...

I've printed out your story to read later at work. :)

Congrats on a fantastic May and good luck with all your book projects.

K.C. Shaw said...

Danielle--Thanks! I'm really glad the ending works.

Cate--I suspect you have at least as many book projects lined up as I do. Good luck to you too!

Carrie Harris said...

Yowza! Good luck with all those projects (makes me tired just reading about them all) and congrats again on the acceptances!

Cate Gardner said...

Noooooooo, I wanted the stranger to recognise Pierce's name. Though as it stands, a perfect and apt ending.

K.C. Shaw said...

Thanks! In the first version, he did recognize Pierce's name, but that seemed too easy. :)