Aaron Polson's Blog, page 56

Why I'll Never Make a Living as a Writer

A comment made in response to Robert Swartwood's recent post about the state of short fiction has stuck with me, pestering me like a bad rash. (here's the full entry and comments)

from Jeff (commenter #3):

"I blame us – writers, but also editors and publishers of short fiction. My wife, who is not a writer but an avid reader, is rather fond of telling me (when I am down, depressed, and angry) that if I want people to read what I write, I have to write things people want to read. This advise goe...

Waiting for the Lion

Loaded with linkage today, folks.

So the most-magnificent Jodi Lee made my inbox happy with a home for "Tiny Fingers". The accepted-then-released story from the first run of Arkham Tales will appear in Jodi's forthcoming Ante Mortem . I know Natalie L. Sin will be among the TOC, so a big Huzzah! there.

(I don't know that I've squeezed more links into a single paragraph before...)

Robert Swartwood's novelette "Through the Guts of a Beggar" is available with nifty download options. You know you wan...

Spider and I (Part 1)

"Spider and I" originally appeared in The Devil's Food, although I doubt anyone but contributors have seen a copy. As far as I know, none of the authors were paid for their stories. A damn shame. Now the book isn't even available (except perhaps through used sources). Another tragedy. Stories are meant to be read, after all.

I'll post a piece each Friday for the next few weeks, eventually revealing the whole thing.

"Spider and I"

by Aaron Polson

We leaned on a window ledge in our abandoned fa...

"Billy Boy" Up at Every Day Fiction

Head over to Every Day Fiction for "Billy Boy" today. It's quick and (relatively) pain free, promise. As always, I appreciate your comments (and vote...wink, wink).

The story was inspired by the classic folk ballad "Charming Billy" (lyrics here--you'll have to scroll down) and a (mostly) abandoned strip mall in Lawrence where my carpool used to meet. Kind of spooky looking in those empty stores.

Tim O'Brien, one of my favorite authors, wrote a story entitled "Where Have You Gone, Charming ...

WIP Wedesday: Split Decision

My WIP kinda-sorta young adult novel (as yet untitled but set in my fictional town of Springdale, just a hop down the road from Broughton's Hollow of The House Eaters) split in two last night. For a moment, I thought it was going triplicate.

I've shifted POV to 3rd person and will run two parallel story lines. Both Andy and his sister Phoebe (yes, her parents named her Phoebe after Holden Caulfield's sister in Catcher in the Rye) will have chapters. Phoebe was just too strong to hold back....

Time Travel Anyone? (Plus a Smattering of Cover Art)

Permuted Press (yes, that Permuted Press) has guidelines up for a new time travel themed anthology. I'm sure competition will be tight, but my muse doesn't seem to care right now. Check out the guidelines here. They open in April.



I shared the link to "The Awful Majesty of Being Gary" last Friday, but I couldn't help sharing the cover art to Port Iris #1.

Green is such a lovely/creepy color, don't you think? The morbid little grave, strange little dude, and shafts of light are just perfect. Por...

So, Yeah. Monday After Spring Break.

And my brain is a mess.

A former student (who graduated ten years ago...Gawd I'm old), posted a comment on Facebook: "went to the book store earlier to buy a 'Where's Waldo' book. When I got there, I couldn't find the book anywhere. Well played Waldo, well played."

Yes, my students used to call me Waldo. I'm tall, relatively thin with dark hair, and wear glasses. I'm sure you can understand the comparison.

In the "Local" section of the blog, this is pretty cool in an indie-filmmaker sort of w...

Howard's Game Part 8; Port Iris #1 Up

Transcript of Missing Child Report from Action 6 News, Springdale, October 1st, 2009

Anchor: We have a new Amber Alert this evening for a ten-year-old from the Suncrest Heights neighborhood. Michael Renfro has dark brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen leaving Suncrest Elementary after school this afternoon. According to his parents, Michael walks home from school traveling south on Harvard Avenue to Sixth Street. Any information regarding Michael can be directed to our tips hotline, (811...

Howard's Game Part 8

Transcript of Missing Child Report from Action 6 News, Springdale, October 1st, 2009

Anchor: We have a new Amber Alert this evening for a ten-year-old from the Suncrest Heights neighborhood. Michael Renfro has dark brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen leaving Suncrest Elementary after school this afternoon. According to his parents, Michael walks home from school traveling south on Harvard Avenue to Sixth Street. Any information regarding Michael can be directed to our tips hotline, (811...

Howard's Game Part 7

Missing Springdale Man Found Dead

(from the Springdale Sentinel, September 30, 2009)

A body found Tuesday morning behind a residence in south Springdale is that of a man who was reported missing since the 17th. Springdale police identified the body, found buried behind the residence at 1352 Harker Road as that of Richard N. Talbot, 39.

Mr. Talbot had been reported missing on the 25th by his wife, Lindsay Talbot. Mrs. Talbot could not be reached for comment. Police spokesperson Mitchell Saunders ...