James Dorr's Blog, page 20

Agricultural Entry for August 3rd Sunday Write

The Bloomington Writers Guild’s “Facebook page August Sunday Write challenge” came to my attention today, the 22nd, while I was at the Monroe County Library in the form of its first “answer,” by Writers Guild member Wendy Cartwright. So, brought to my mind (as well as having while there at least glanced at MC Shana Ritter’s prompts), I thought I’d best go at it while all was still fresh.

Thus, while still at the library presumably doing work, my entry for August may be a bit short:

3. How does your garden grow?

It grows quite well, thank you. The pitcher plant drowned two more only last Thursday, in fact, though the Venus flytrap’s looked a bit wilted lately. I think it may have sprained its jaw the other week, that night the herd of urban deer thundered through — venison fragments scattered everywhere! I’m sure you remember. But most of the other plants are absolutely thriving, especially those that prefer their food cooked now that we’re into these extra hot, global-warminized days.

Thus short, maybe sweet, at least well-fed like last month’s crow (see July 21, et al.), come and see Wendy’s entry as well on Facebook’s “3rdsundaywrite,” here, as well as perhaps others by the time this is posted.

Alien Buddha to Publish Crow and Rat

This was the call, as published in the Bloomington Writers Guild’s weekly Newsletter (with my suspicion the note about me is a local add-on — you there, Joan?):

Alien Buddha Love Anthology

Call for submissions: THE ALIEN BUDDHA LOVES YOU
Deadline November 1, 2023
Send up to 10 pages as a word document to abuddhapress@yahoo.com
poetry, prose, flash fiction memoir and art that capture the essence of these themes:
Chapter One: The Alien Buddha Loves You (on the theme of love and all its nuances)
Chapter Two: The Alien Buddha doesn’t love you anymore (breakup stories)
Chapter Three The Alien Buddha Loves you after dark (just keep it publishable, Red says.
Joan says “I’m looking at you, James Dorr.”
Please include a 3rd person bio and a social media link

But local notes apart, there was something about it that attracted me, especially “Chapter Three”– and not just the pushing the “keep it publishable” part. In fact a past story of mine came to mind, originally published in the UK in Eibonvale Press’s 2018 HUMANAGERIE, “Crow and Rat” (cf. December 26, September 8 2019, et al.), a tragic tale without consummation, but set on a far-future Earth where daytimes could be deadly, and dripping with love. So Saturday, August 5, I thought, why not?

Came the reply today from Editor Red: ­Thank you for your submission.

I am happy to include your story in the anthology.

There will be a preview to see sometime before it goes live.

The Alien Buddha makes up its mind fast!

The Stygian Lepus 5, Cyclops Is Published

So it’s actually August 7, although the issue itself says July, but a delay of only a few days is hardly a big deal. The important thing is that issue 5 of THE STYGIAN LEPUS, with my story “The Cyclops” (see August 5, July 31), is now officially published.

Thus it’s up and available now on the e-magazine’s site, although possibly some small corrections may still be made over the next few days, for last-minute notes that might come in late. And best of all, the Australian publication is free and can be read now, with “The Cyclops” itself coming first at the upper left of the page.

It’s a short (although a little bit sad) tale, originally published by DARK MOON DIGEST in their initial YOUNG ADULT HORROR special edition, June 2013, “The Cyclops” being a recently born but fast-growing baby, with some most definitely out-of-the-ordinary qualities. So he has difficulties blending in, but on his own seems to be getting along okay.

Or at least surviving.

However, as far as relating to others . . . well, why not find out from “The Cyclops” itself by pressing here?

Creative Nonfiction, Fiction Rule 1st Sunday Prose

After a two-month summer hiatus, the “Bloomington Writers Guild’s First Sunday Prose and Open Mic” (cf. May 7, et al.) re-opened for August to a healthy crowd in the back conference area at local Morgenstern Books. Leading off was former Indiana State Museum Fine Arts Curator and author of numerous books about Indiana visual artists, Rachel Perry, now turning her attention to “creative non-fiction” with an example of the latter, “The Life of a Painting,” stemming from an early experience as a model for an at-the-time artist-boyfriend. She was followed by actor and author Greta Lind, with past appearances in ALL MY CHILDREN and RUDY as well as more local co-facilitating Young Women Writing for (a) Change and acting in two audio drama series, WFIU’s THE ERNIE PYLE EXPERIMENT! and Starrynight Productions’ THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ, reading from the beginning of her 2021 debut novel, SPLIT OPEN.

After the break, the festivities resumed with about eight readers for “Open Mic,” of which I came third. Explaining it as a early October 31 reading of sorts, it having recently been accepted as a reprint for THE SIRENS CALL’s upcoming Halloween edition (see July 14), I chose the tale “Death and the Vampire,” originally published in WEIRDBOOK, about an encounter between “casket girl” Aimée and a black-robed figure that called itself Death, and may have known more than it should about who was or was not a vampire.

And then one more note from MC Joan Hawkins, there won’t be a First Sunday Prose for September, but it should be back again as scheduled for October.

Stygian Cyclops Proof Received, Returned

THE STYGIAN LEPUS, that is. And the email came late yesterday evening, opened this morning: Dearest esteemed contributor,

The fifth issue of the STYGIAN LEPUS Magazine is now available for you to review before launch. . . . Please check your name, story, bio, and social links are satisfactory. Feed back to us as soon as you can so we can make any necessary changes.

The story is “Cyclops” (see July 30) and, as far as I’m concerned, the transcription is perfect. I did add some social media info if they want to use it. but otherwise, as of this Saturday early afternoon, the editors have received my “okay” and it’s full speed ahead.

The email went on,: We will launch in 24 hours, but changes can be made after that, for a period of 2 weeks. Which means it could be out in only hours, though I haven’t received official word yet (and even at that it may be technically late as I think the cover date says “July,” though that may be changed too). In any event I have more email to read so, for now, more information will be on its way.

Black Infinity “Creature” Proof Received, Okayed

Sometimes it’s a couple of days to receive and proofread an edited story, sometimes to read through and sign a contract. Or sometimes either can be done right away. So today, the latter: the proof copy for “The Bala Worm” (see July 31, just below) arrived in the wee hours of this morning, and has already gone back to Editor/Publisher Tom English.

No problems, no typos. And so, at least from this end, the tale of a modern dragon in Wales is on course for hoped-for publication for BLACK INFINITY issue 10, themed “Creature Features,” by the end of this month.

For a bit of a tease: I looked at my watch, then out the window where she was pointing. Below us, through the trees, was the lake. The sun was just starting to rise on the other side.

“Look,” she whispered. “Above the sun.”

Then I saw it. A sudden redness, far in the distance. The color of flame.

“Keep looking,” she said. “They move rather quickly.”

I saw it again. A definite flame. Much nearer this time. And then a shape, as if it were descending to catch an updraft from the lake, a form of a bat with a sinuous neck, a tail trailing behind it. Flying right toward us.

“Look in its talons,” Sylvia whispered. I tried to, but suddenly it was right over us, making the roof shake with the wind it stirred in its passage. I ran out the library, into the hallway, trying to find a room with a window on the other side of the house that I might look out of. But when I had found one, the — the thing — was gone.

More here when it’s known.

Black Infinity Dragon Contract Received, Signed

This is one of those “this is being mostly written two days ago, but I needed the public library computer system to complete the action” posts, as, yes, usually involving a contract that’s beyond the cave computer’s retro-capacity to sign all by itself. Ah, the wonders of FAX!

In this case, the email came Saturday afternoon, July 29, from BLACK INFINITY editor Tom English: Hi James . . . Hope you’re doing well. Here’s the contract for “The Bala Worm” in BLACK INFINITY 10: Creature Features. Please sign and return at your earliest convenience. I hope to have the book out in late August. Thanks again for a great creature story.

The story, “The Bala Worm” (see May 12), sent on a second try to answer this call: The theme of BLACK INFINITY 10 will be CREATURE FEATURES. Think 1950s or ‘60s SF movies. I need stories with monsters, beasts, insects, man-eating plants, etc. — some type of “creature.” The thing is, “The Bala Worm” is about a dragon and normally I think of dragon stories as being a sub-genre all to themselves, whereas ’50s-’60s “creature features” — well, even giant lizards, radioactive bad breath and all, ought at least have the decency to be from Japan and preferably by-products of nuclear testing.

But then consider: as Coca Cola New is to Coke Classic, even Godzilla has as an ancestor traditional Chinese and Japanese dragons. And England and Wales have their own dragons too. Or in any event, “The Bala Worm” — huge at 7300-words as past stories of mine in BLACK INFINITY go, originally published in 2008 in Ricasso Press’s BLACK DRAGON, WHITE DRAGON (as well as reprinted in THE TEARS OF ISIS, cf. center column) — turned out to be just what Tom had been looking for to fill out the issue’s planned menagerie.

Or anyhow (now comes the part for Monday, today) the contract, completed, has been returned to BLACK INFINITY as of about noon.

New Australian “Bunny” Hops to Accept Cyclops

So it isn’t the money, but a combination of name — THE STYGIAN LEPUS — and a very new magazine, electronic with print edition to follow, and just a bit exotic perhaps as an Australian publication. No harm in perhaps gaining a few new readers.

And anyway the story I sent Wednesday, July 26, would be a reprint and is very short, at only about 700 words and originally published in the first DARK MOON DIGEST YOUNG ADULT HORROR in 2013. A perhaps . . . unusual . . . story called “The Cyclops,” about a baby born with cyclopia, with only one eye among other problems, but almost preternaturally intelligent. And how he begins to learn what he is through other family members’ reactions.

The kind of thing that’s not all that artistic in terms of fine literature, but that I think maybe — and I’m not that sure — might be kind of important.

So anyway DARK MOON DIGEST had seemed to agree, and today, Sunday the 30th, THE STYGIAN LEPUS seems to think so too: We’re delighted to let you know “The Cyclops“ has been selected for publication in the July 2023 edition.

Please complete the contract here . . . and we’ll let you know when the online edition is live, and when the print edition is available to purchase.

So signed and sent — their motto: “our bunny leans to the dark side” which may add a little excitement as well. More to come when known.

Sunday Double-Header: Good Food, Good Listening

On a pleasant, though still possibly overly-warm summer afternoon, Bloomington Writers Guild members were offered a double treat. The first was the Guild’s annual summer picnic, getting back into its normal time-and-place rotation, a kaleidoscope of fried chicken, potato salad, cole slaw (that just on my first plate), cheeses, sweets, berries, three kinds of tea, lemonade, and more. Then, some of us leaving a little early to get there by 3 p.m., “Last Sunday Poetry Reading and Open Mic” at Morgenstern Books (cf. June 25, et al.).

Before what seemed a record crowd, the poetry featured two Asian Americans, the first local member and Appalachian born and raised, “AppalAsian” educator and poet Lisa Kwong, reading entries from her 2022 BECOMING APPALASIAN, as well as a second book in production, tentatively titled APPALASIAN BAPTISM, including her 2019 Sundress Publications Poetry Broadside Contest winner, “Searching for Wonton Soup,” and other nominees for various awards and prizes. Following her, IU English faculty member, non-fiction writer, poet, and translator of fiction from various Indian languages into English, Mahasweta Baxipatra, with work in multiple publications including LAST STANZA POETRY JOURNAL, MUSE INDIA, and CREATIVE FORUM: JOURNAL OF LITERARY AND CRITICAL WRITINGS, presented a cornucopia of short poems on such themes as frustrated expectations, thoughts, facets of history, art, memory, and poetry itself.

But then there were two “Open Mic” sessions as well, one at the picnic where I read a short piece from a recent “Third Sunday Write” based on the prompt “What would you have in your picnic basket? Maybe share a recipe or two. Who would you share it with? Where are you?” which, I not having such a basket myself, might best be titled THE VAMPIRESS’S PICNIC (and keeping, thus, with the occasion, for which to read for yourself see June 3). And the second the poetry Open Mic session with 23 listeners still attending(!), where I was second of about ten with two poems, both on subjects suggested/inspired by a non-local friend, speculative poet and Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Society (SFPA) activist Marge Simon, “Musical Summer” (a challenge-poem, to include the words “Vermin,” “Theremin,” “Decision,” and “Vitamin” in twenty or fewer lines) and, based on an illustration and title also by Marge, “Emile’s Ghosts.”

Miasma, The River in Us All Officially Out, Distribution in Progress

This also from Thursday — the news seems to cluster, sometimes, at the ends of months — from Editor Dibyasree Nandy (see July 5): We are extremely excited to share THE RIVER IN US ALL… with the world. Please find attached a print replica of the anthology, which we hope you enjoy as much as we enjoyed putting the book together.

And also the blurb (this from Lulu’s site): Dive into an ethereal world of rivers and stories with THE RIVER IN US ALL…, a spellbinding modern fiction anthology published by CultureCult and edited by the acclaimed poet and author, Dibyasree Nandy.

This anthology brings together 29 captivating short stories from 27 talented authors around the globe.

Discover tales that effortlessly transport readers across the ebb and flow of time, resonating with the unstoppable current of life itself. These beautifully crafted stories range from heartwarming to haunting, taking readers on a captivating journey through the interconnected threads of humanity. From veteran writers to emerging voices, these authors have contributed their literary prowess to create a one-of-a-kind anthology that celebrates the powerful symbiosis between our existence and the timeless flow of rivers.

This also was one, I had noted, that didn’t have much money in it for the authors, but was (just as THE RABBIT HOLE, below) directing a portion of sales to charity, in this case to go towards “the care of street animals in Kolkata.” And in any event, was open to at least some reprints. But also was willing to pay to put out a classy product, as the blurb continues: The exquisitely illustrated book features ink artworks that add another dimension to the book, their flowing brushstrokes mirroring the very essence of the rivers within us.

That is to say, a book one might be proud to appear in — as well as, with an Asian publisher, possibly might be distributed into some extra out of the mainstream places.

So my part in the lineup — third, in fact, on the contents page, a prime position where, hopefully having hooked the reader with the first one or two stories, an editor will now place one of his/her biggies in hopes of beguiling said reader to stay — is one of the book’s longer tales, “Miasma,” originally published as a story-chapter in my mosaic novel TOMBS: A CHRONICLE OF LATTER-DAY TIMES OF EARTH. A tale of a boy and a far-future river on a dying Earth, on a voyage that takes him to the sea.

So, completing the blurb: Immerse yourself in a unique literary adventure, celebrating the profound connection we all share with rivers—the life force that flows within us all. But with one caveat also, that (from the letter, again) [p]resently, the illustrated paperback is only available on Lulu. The anthology, in both paperback and ebook forms, shall be available in more outlets online in the next few weeks, whose notifications shall be given on our social media pages. So complete distribution may take some time (indeed, I’m not sure the actual paperback is even on Lulu quite yet, at least as of my check earlier Thursday).

But for ebook fans, I think it may already be available in Kindle at least, on Amazon’s site; so for more information (including, one hopes, when it might be there in print as well), possible ordering, one may check here.