Tara Lynn Masih's Blog, page 10

My Collection Is a Best Books 2010 Awards Finalist!

Just got word that my story collection was a finalist in the Best Books 2010 awards! If you haven't read it yet, or even purchased it, hope this pushes you over the edge. The list was full of wonderful indie press books. I have to admire the judges for not being swayed by big names and publishers who entered and judging on content. Thanks, USA Book News! (Mariko Bagai of BkMk Press was the winner. Congrats to Bagai.)

Complete list: http://www.usabooknews.com/bestbooks2...

I'm under Fiction and Literature: Short Story

Short Story in Pedestal Magazine online--Free!

I admit to being a bit old-fashioned when it comes to publishing my longer stories. I tend to prefer to see them in print, to be able to put the journal they appear in on a shelf. But some maazines have such a great rep, you can't pass them up. I'm very happy to have a story in the Oct-Dec issue of Pedestal, a highly regarded online mag. If you have time to read, hope you enjoy! And hey, it's free to read! No downloading necessary. :-)

http://www.thepedestalmagazine.com/ga...

How Reviews Can Sustain Authors

Some dreary news is coming out about fiction publishing. Especially as this year winds down. It got me thinking about book publishing--how do small press authors sell a book to a public who knows nothing about us? We don't get the big ads, the special podcasts, the book club buzz, the movies and perfume lines. So what's left? Blogs and reviews. Thanks to the many bloggers who are taking up the cause, who love to read, and take time to review books that would otherwise sell 20 copies to the author's family. Now, we can sell a few hundred :-).

Seriously, you hope a good review sells at least one copy, but reviews can do more than that for an author who doesn't have a large following. They can pick you up emotionally when your Amazon ranking plummets to that million range, and they can help you feel that the book has reached one more person. That happened for me when I read Angela Lam's review in Gently Read Literature. The review went further than many of the other reviews have gone, and it made my day (well, month, actually) to realize one more person out there "got it," and took the time to put down some very deep thoughts. What a wonderful gift to an author . . .
http://gentlyread.wordpress.com/2010/...

Interview on Jane Book Chats

Had a wonderful time being interviewed by members of Jane's Stories Press Foundation's group on TalkShoe this weekend. The new technology is really allowing for some wonderful interactions between writers and readers. Great questions, fun atmosphere. (Though I had to use my son's computer. If you have an old computer, it might have trouble.) Enjoy!
http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TC-803... (fast forward over first 5 mins before show started)

The Flash Field Guide and Psychology Today

What do these two have in common? Somehow, we landed on a list of writing books recommended by a top agent on the blog of Psychology Today, in his article on flash fiction. Is writing flash relaxing? You decide! http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/t...

Blog on Artistic ReNEWal

I was asked by Felicia Pride to write a brief blog as a first-time writer on the subject of renewal. It was an interesting assignment. Here's the result, plus some other artists' takes on the subject: http://www.feliciapride.com/blog/2010...

Blog Talk Radio Appearance Aug. 1

If anyone is available Sunday August 1 at 6:30 p.m., consider joining the Extreme Writing Now Network on Blog Talk Radio as they talk flash, read a piece of my work, and ask me a few questions. You can interact as well. Hope to hear from you! Should be fun. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/extremew...

The Drum-new online audio journal

I think I will always be a bit uncomfortable doing self-promotion. However, am posting this link because I think it's a wonderful new online mag and a good place to submit to. The Drum is an audio journal. How cool is that? If you can stand to hear your voice read your work, consider sending to them. Note I have a flash story up in the July issue, titled "A Haunt of Memory." http://drumlitmag.com

2010 Write a DearReader Contest

I was honored to be asked to contribute my collection as a prize that's part of a huge library of books to be given away to two winners of the annual DearReader Contest. Here's the link to the book page, and the rules can be found at the top. Good luck if you enter! http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/user...

Nationwide Group Read of the Flash Field Guide

Respected writer and educator Kyle Minor is sponsoring a group read of the RMP Flash Field Guide at his university. Here is his Facebook description:

I inherited an advanced flash fiction seminar when my colleague Rane Arroyo passed away last month, and I'm hoping to do right by the fall semester students who signed up for his class. We're going to be leading a nationwide group read of the Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Flash Fiction, edited by Tara Masih. I'm looking for other university professors who might want to partner with us in any way, big or small. We're going to be building an interactive website where, I hope, students writing and reading in the short form can exchange thoughts. I'd also like to make it a resource for readers and practitioners of the form, complete with interviews, craft essays, reviews of books, links to online journals, recommended stories, and so on. If you're interested, leave a comment here or send me a PM, and we'll see if we can work together in the fall.

YOU CAN CONTACT HIM ON GOODREADS, IF INTERESTED. HAVE FUN WITH IT! I'll post website when it's live, Tara