Phil Giunta's Blog, page 72
June 17, 2015
Support Your Favorite Author – Leave a Review
Reaching out to my readers here and I’m not even asking for a dime. 
Just requesting a few minutes of your time. If you’ve read any of my books–regardless whether you thought they were terrific, mediocre, or complete drek–could I ask you to take a few minutes and leave an honest rating and review on your favorite book site (Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, etc)? I would deeply appreciate the help. I am so grateful when people email me or tell me how much they liked my writing, but reviews help elevate a writer’s career and open doors, especially for independent authors.
Thank you so much for your continued support. Cheers!
June 16, 2015
Reading Beneath the Surface
June 7, 2015
Free Audio Story – “Don’t Go Fussin’ Over Me”
One of my stories from Somewhere in the Middle of Eternity is now available for your free listening pleasure on Prometheus Radio Theatre!
In “Don’t Go Fussin’ Over Me”, everyone else might think that Mona Bretton is nearing the end of her life, but Mona will have none of it—even when family members begin showing up to ease her passage to the other side…
“Don’t Go Fussin’ Over Me” Audio Story
June 1, 2015
Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s welcome back Burnout and Overwhelm!
Looking ahead at my summer schedule, it appears that I might be welcoming back two old friends known as Burnout and Overwhelm. Verily, they are not actually welcome as it were. More appropriately, they are once again thrusting their ugly mugs into my life.
In addition to a division-wide software upgrade at work that will begin tomorrow, I have also begun studying to renew my Microsoft certifications. The goals are an MCSA in Office365 (two exams) MCSE in Windows Server 2012 (five exams). Each exam is $150. Damn well better pass them the first time, bub.
As a distraction to what will doubtlessly be a rigid schedule to challenge my health and sanity, I shall need to ensure that I maintain the workout regimen that allowed me to shuck 30 pounds last year and added a few inches to the old biceps.
But, but, but…what about your writing, Phil? Yes, indeed. What about that?
The good news is that I just finished my third and final story for Elsewhere in the Middle of Eternity, the follow up anthology to last year’s Somewhere in the Middle of Eternity. As well as contributing three stories to that volume, I served as editor…and am doing so again. Most of the same writers are returning, and we’ll be joined by two or three new and wonderfully talented scribes. has once again graciously agreed to provide cover and interior art and is already on the job.
Thus, I shall look forward to leading EIME (in it’s abbreviated name, as volume one was often referred to as SIME) to completion with a tentative release of Summer 2016.
Last autumn, I submitted a paranormal mystery novella called Like Mother, Like Daughters (yes, Daughters is intentionally plural) to Firebringer Press and am awaiting a response. If fortune be with me, that might also debut in 2016 as an Ebook.
Last summer, an editor that I’m acquainted with put out an open call for Sherlock Holmes stories. As requested, I submitted a synopsis, then, in January, the story (one week before the deadline). While I cannot say much about it now, the project is being shopped around to publishers and I’ve been informed that there are a few interested parties. More updates to come.
OK, so those are the irons in the fire, but what about writing new material?
All new fiction is on hold until after I pass my Microsoft exams and complete this software upgrade at the job. I’ve been known to take on too much in the past and while I always manage to get it all done, it never fails to exact a toll on my mental and physical health.
Lesson learned. I’m only human, not an automaton. Either way, I’m at maximum bandwidth for the remainder of the summer. At least I have vacation and Shore Leave 37 to look forward to!
Serenity now…
May 22, 2015
Story-A-Day Writing Prompt
I missed this two weeks ago, but the lovely Julie Duffy from Story-A-Day had invited me back to provide a writing prompt for her website. Unbeknownst to me, my prompt was released on 08 May. However, I would like to mention that I actually don’t write blood and gore horror as Julie alludes to in her introduction.
If you’re a writer, click here to read my story prompt and consider joining Story-A-Day and posting your full story. Have fun!
May 20, 2015
Book Review: I Am The Salamander by Michael Jan Friedman
After his cancer mysteriously goes into remission, Tim Cruz wants nothing more than to resume the normal life of a teenager. He returns to his high school in the middle of the spring semester only to confront the stares of his classmates, the bully who once harassed him on a weekly basis, and the most gorgeous girl on campus, who had been a childhood friend until they drifted apart.
Yep, it was comforting to see that so few things had changed…except for Tim Cruz. He was fifteen pounds lighter, his hair was still growing back from chemo, he’d learned to despise crowds, and…oh, yeah…his skin was beginning to change colors when he was under stress.
What?
Tim dismisses this anomaly at first, along with the bizarre, intermittent flashes of light, until he returns to his uncle’s aquarium to get his old job back. There, he witnesses a little girl flailing helplessly in the piranha tank. Naturally, he dives into save her, only to find that she becomes even more frightened of him than of her ordeal. Worse, piranhas had claimed two of his toes—which grew back over the course of a few days.
Much like the hand he tore off as a distraction after knocking out a gunman in the school auditorium by leaping on top of him—from the ceiling where he had crawled from the projector booth.
What is going on here?
That’s exactly what Tim Cruz would like to know and is determined to find out, even as an anonymous blogger, known only as Blog Boy, begins reporting incidents of this strange creature known now as The Salamander.
Tim later realizes that in addition to moving through water at inhuman speeds and his ability to cling to walls, he can also see in infrared when needed, and stun his opponents with a neurotoxin transmitted by touch.
And that ain’t all.
As Tim tries to determine the origins of his amazing powers, he learns that a clandestine group of government agents wants to dissect him in an effort to build an army of super soldiers. They’ll stop at nothing to get what they want—including threatening Tim’s family.
Can this young cancer survivor evade capture, avoid revealing himself to the public, protect his family, manage his schoolwork, stave off the bully, and…oh yeah…deal with the unexpected affections of the most gorgeous girl on campus?
All without telling his mom?
I Am The Salamander is a fast-paced, fun read. You can’t help but sympathize with typical high-school nerd Tim Cruz, who finds himself suddenly thrust from one life-threatening ordeal into another, all the while admirably maintaining his composure and resilience through an inner strength born from his battle with the deadliest of diseases.
May 18, 2015
Book Review: Partners in Wonder by Harlan Ellison
As an avid admirer of Harlan Ellison, I was excited to find a cache of his books in fine to excellent condition at a used bookstore late last year. It was a rare and wonderful discovery, as I hardly ever find Harlan’s backlist in such a quantity in any single location.
Partners in Wonder was one of the books I found that day. It is an anthology of collaborative stories between Harlan and some of the most famous SF and speculative fiction writers of that Golden Age such as Ben Bova, Robert Silverberg, A.E. Van Vogt, Robert Bloch, and others.
While these may not be considered the best works from Harlan or his co-conspirators—which Harlan himself admits in one instance during his brief introduction to “The Power of the Nail”—there is a wide variety of tales that demonstrate the depth and breadth of these august scribes. All told, it is an entertaining collection.
Speaking of Harlan’s introductions, each story has one and I enjoyed being regaled by his recollections of how each collaboration was born as much, if not more in some cases, than the stories themselves.
My favorites yarns in the bunch include:
I See a Man Sitting on a Chair, and the Chair is Biting His Leg – written with Robert Sheckley
Up Christopher to Madness – written with Avram Davidson
The Human Operators – written with A.E. Van Vogt
Wonderbird – written with Algis Budrys
The Song the Zombie Sang – written with Robert Silverberg
Street Scene – written with Keith Laumer
May 16, 2015
Free Fiction on Audio
Undoubtedly, you noticed the Free Fiction menu here on my website. Under that menu, you will find three flash fiction stories. Two of those stories are now available for your free listening pleasure on Prometheus Radio Theatre. Click the link below and enjoy!
Man to Man written and read by Phil Giunta
