Chantal Boudreau's Blog - Posts Tagged "flash-fiction"
Appreciation and Disappointment
I’m going to start this blog post with a thank you. A group of my writer friends have deemed this week “Publishers Appreciation Week” in support of a publisher who is having a rough time with an author and Amazon, despite the fact that this publisher is following the rules and being very professional in the dispute. I’ve seen this happen more than once, where an author feels entitled to more than what is in their contract and makes a stink about it. I hope this passes and things work out for this publisher, who has contracted one of my stories (which will be published under my pseudonym.) Good luck, Gina.
That explained, I want to celebrate five of my publishers who have been great to work with and I feel deserve my thanks:
The first and probably most obvious is May December Publications – three novels published, two more in the works and hopefully, many more to follow. They have published my shorts in multiple anthologies. They have provided me with enthusiastic support and spectacular cover artwork (from Shawn Conn). I consider Denise and Todd good friends.
Find more details at http://maydecemberpublications.com/
The second on my list, and the first to purchase one of my stories, is Notreebooks. Eve is a great editor and I thank her for giving me my first real break.
Find more details at http://www.notreebooks.com/
The first publisher to accept one of my non-fiction works was Rymfire eBooks. I have now participated in a couple of their publications and I enjoy working with Armand.
Find more details at http://rymfireebooks.com
I have two pieces published with Crowded Quarantine Publications and I have my fingers crossed that there will be more. Adam is fun and talented, with a good eye for horror.
Find more details at http://www.crowdedquarantine.co.uk/
And lastly, I have to thank Dark Moon Books, and Stan, for giving me the opportunity to share pages with some writers I greatly admire. I have my fingers crossed for more to come with them as well.
More details at http://www.darkmoonbooks.com/
With my “thank you”s made, I have a comment now directed towards other writers regarding blurbs and sampling. I usually enjoy reading my writer friends’ book blurbs and flash fiction, but please, please, please make sure they are polished before sharing them publicly with others. It’s one thing to put out excerpts of WIPs, where people are aware you are still in the editing process, or casual blog entries with the occasional slip, but when you offer a book blurb that is supposed to properly represent that book and there are multiple grammatical errors, or you present a piece of “complete” flash fiction, that is supposed to be a solid example of your work, with a spelling error in the very first sentence, it might dissuade potential readers. I feel really disappointed when I see those types of mistakes, knowing that my friends’ promotional efforts might be doing more harm than good. You may not be able to control everything with regards to your books and stories, but at least take care of the smaller things you do control.
That explained, I want to celebrate five of my publishers who have been great to work with and I feel deserve my thanks:
The first and probably most obvious is May December Publications – three novels published, two more in the works and hopefully, many more to follow. They have published my shorts in multiple anthologies. They have provided me with enthusiastic support and spectacular cover artwork (from Shawn Conn). I consider Denise and Todd good friends.
Find more details at http://maydecemberpublications.com/
The second on my list, and the first to purchase one of my stories, is Notreebooks. Eve is a great editor and I thank her for giving me my first real break.
Find more details at http://www.notreebooks.com/
The first publisher to accept one of my non-fiction works was Rymfire eBooks. I have now participated in a couple of their publications and I enjoy working with Armand.
Find more details at http://rymfireebooks.com
I have two pieces published with Crowded Quarantine Publications and I have my fingers crossed that there will be more. Adam is fun and talented, with a good eye for horror.
Find more details at http://www.crowdedquarantine.co.uk/
And lastly, I have to thank Dark Moon Books, and Stan, for giving me the opportunity to share pages with some writers I greatly admire. I have my fingers crossed for more to come with them as well.
More details at http://www.darkmoonbooks.com/
With my “thank you”s made, I have a comment now directed towards other writers regarding blurbs and sampling. I usually enjoy reading my writer friends’ book blurbs and flash fiction, but please, please, please make sure they are polished before sharing them publicly with others. It’s one thing to put out excerpts of WIPs, where people are aware you are still in the editing process, or casual blog entries with the occasional slip, but when you offer a book blurb that is supposed to properly represent that book and there are multiple grammatical errors, or you present a piece of “complete” flash fiction, that is supposed to be a solid example of your work, with a spelling error in the very first sentence, it might dissuade potential readers. I feel really disappointed when I see those types of mistakes, knowing that my friends’ promotional efforts might be doing more harm than good. You may not be able to control everything with regards to your books and stories, but at least take care of the smaller things you do control.
Experimenting
I’ve always believed that as a writer, it is important for me to push myself and stretch my boundaries. That means writing things outside of my usual genres and my comfort zone. My latest experiment was a bit of a failure and I have to admit, try as I might, science fiction is not my thing. Nevertheless, several of my test-readers did enjoy my latest flash fiction piece that got a thumbs down from both one of my regulars and the publisher for whom I wrote it. It isn’t really something I’d consider submitting elsewhere, so I thought it would make a good blog post. Have a read, and feel free to comment...
Turbulence
“Entering orbit, Captain.”
Captain Virginia Bendall reclined slightly and glanced out the window. This was only the third time she had ever visited New-Terra V, but the same could not be said for Chief Pilot Roberta Hadley, who had been born and raised on the planet. Hadley had learned how to pilot a small ship on New-Terra V as well, training to fly transport vessels in its particularly tricky convective weather patterns.
“Must be nice to be back in your home terrain, Chief Pilot,” Bendall said.
“Certainly, Captain.” Hadley grinned. “Familiar territory is always a treat.” Captain Bendall thought she sensed a hint of a laugh in the younger woman’s response – somewhat surprising coming from someone as straight-laced as Chief Pilot Hadley. Hadley was normally about as rigid as they made them. She even made her rather stiff captain look somewhat relaxed. “Descending into atmosphere, then we’ll be proceeding to the landing base at Ferrell.”
Because of the unusual weather patterns on the planet, it was far too risky to descend directly to Ferrell in the transporter, but the city was the only location on planet that could properly accommodate a space marine freighter crew on shore leave. Bendall had promised her crew a break after their last serious skirmish with their enemies, the kulpreets ,where they had had twenty percent casualties and five percent fatalities, heavy losses for a freighter. New-Terra V was their first opportunity for that break.
“I’m just glad we finally made it, Chief Pilot. Everyone here’s wound so tight somebody’s liable to snap. We all need a chance to loosen up a little. Since this is your home turf, the helm is yours. Take us in to Ferrell.”
Bendall was expecting Hadley to head southeast on the Delta Plains and circle around to Ferrell from there. It was the customary ride, long but smooth and easy, with nothing to look at along the trip other than fields and more fields of grain. But instead, after muttering “Loosen up, eh,” with a mischievous smile, the Chief Pilot swung a hard left towards the mountainous terrain to the southwest. It definitely was not the standard route to Ferrell.
“I don’t think I know this route,” Bendall remarked, gripping her seat tightly in response to the sudden change of direction. “Is it a short cut...a scenic route?”
Hadley answered only with a wicked little laugh and more acceleration.
The landing transporter swooped and dipped around rocky outcrops and spindly mesas, a couple of close calls giving Bendall a jolt of adrenaline. Then, as they reached a point just past a stretch of mountain range, the vessel dropped very suddenly, leaving Bendall’s heart in her throat. The transporter began to jostle and shake, a response to the powerful air currents whipping past them.
“Strong winds here,” the captain commented. “What are those?” She gestured toward a collection of lens-shaped clouds.
“Lenticular clouds,” Hadley replied. “We’re heading into the wave. Hang on tight!”
Bendall was about to ask why, but did not get the chance. The transporter began to shimmy so hard she thought it was going to shake the teeth right out of her mouth. She clamped onto her vibrating chair with such force she wouldn’t have been surprised if her fingernails had left grooves in the metal there. She expected to see Hadley do the same, but instead the chief pilot appeared to be taking in the full experience of the ride, tossing her hair and making quiet sounds of surprise.
The captain held her breath and clenched her jaw together, closing her eyes until the worst was over. She could hear Hadley panting and squirming in her seat, no doubt finding the ride equally disturbing as she did. When the shuddering of their ship finally stopped, Captain Bendall opened her eyes again. She was sure now that she had never flown this trajectory to Ferrell. A ride like that she absolutely would have remembered.
“Wow,” she exclaimed, still mostly breathless, as they arrived sooner than expected at Ferrell. Her extremities were numb from the vibrations and her knuckles still white with tension. She hadn’t exactly appreciated this short cut. “I’m sure of it. I’ve definitely never come this way before.”
Chief Pilot Hadley glanced back at her with eyes gleaming and cheeks flushed, her expression filled with delight. There appeared to be something of a glow to her. She slumped back in her seat with a satisfied sigh.
“I know,” she said. “It’s the turbulence...”
Turbulence
“Entering orbit, Captain.”
Captain Virginia Bendall reclined slightly and glanced out the window. This was only the third time she had ever visited New-Terra V, but the same could not be said for Chief Pilot Roberta Hadley, who had been born and raised on the planet. Hadley had learned how to pilot a small ship on New-Terra V as well, training to fly transport vessels in its particularly tricky convective weather patterns.
“Must be nice to be back in your home terrain, Chief Pilot,” Bendall said.
“Certainly, Captain.” Hadley grinned. “Familiar territory is always a treat.” Captain Bendall thought she sensed a hint of a laugh in the younger woman’s response – somewhat surprising coming from someone as straight-laced as Chief Pilot Hadley. Hadley was normally about as rigid as they made them. She even made her rather stiff captain look somewhat relaxed. “Descending into atmosphere, then we’ll be proceeding to the landing base at Ferrell.”
Because of the unusual weather patterns on the planet, it was far too risky to descend directly to Ferrell in the transporter, but the city was the only location on planet that could properly accommodate a space marine freighter crew on shore leave. Bendall had promised her crew a break after their last serious skirmish with their enemies, the kulpreets ,where they had had twenty percent casualties and five percent fatalities, heavy losses for a freighter. New-Terra V was their first opportunity for that break.
“I’m just glad we finally made it, Chief Pilot. Everyone here’s wound so tight somebody’s liable to snap. We all need a chance to loosen up a little. Since this is your home turf, the helm is yours. Take us in to Ferrell.”
Bendall was expecting Hadley to head southeast on the Delta Plains and circle around to Ferrell from there. It was the customary ride, long but smooth and easy, with nothing to look at along the trip other than fields and more fields of grain. But instead, after muttering “Loosen up, eh,” with a mischievous smile, the Chief Pilot swung a hard left towards the mountainous terrain to the southwest. It definitely was not the standard route to Ferrell.
“I don’t think I know this route,” Bendall remarked, gripping her seat tightly in response to the sudden change of direction. “Is it a short cut...a scenic route?”
Hadley answered only with a wicked little laugh and more acceleration.
The landing transporter swooped and dipped around rocky outcrops and spindly mesas, a couple of close calls giving Bendall a jolt of adrenaline. Then, as they reached a point just past a stretch of mountain range, the vessel dropped very suddenly, leaving Bendall’s heart in her throat. The transporter began to jostle and shake, a response to the powerful air currents whipping past them.
“Strong winds here,” the captain commented. “What are those?” She gestured toward a collection of lens-shaped clouds.
“Lenticular clouds,” Hadley replied. “We’re heading into the wave. Hang on tight!”
Bendall was about to ask why, but did not get the chance. The transporter began to shimmy so hard she thought it was going to shake the teeth right out of her mouth. She clamped onto her vibrating chair with such force she wouldn’t have been surprised if her fingernails had left grooves in the metal there. She expected to see Hadley do the same, but instead the chief pilot appeared to be taking in the full experience of the ride, tossing her hair and making quiet sounds of surprise.
The captain held her breath and clenched her jaw together, closing her eyes until the worst was over. She could hear Hadley panting and squirming in her seat, no doubt finding the ride equally disturbing as she did. When the shuddering of their ship finally stopped, Captain Bendall opened her eyes again. She was sure now that she had never flown this trajectory to Ferrell. A ride like that she absolutely would have remembered.
“Wow,” she exclaimed, still mostly breathless, as they arrived sooner than expected at Ferrell. Her extremities were numb from the vibrations and her knuckles still white with tension. She hadn’t exactly appreciated this short cut. “I’m sure of it. I’ve definitely never come this way before.”
Chief Pilot Hadley glanced back at her with eyes gleaming and cheeks flushed, her expression filled with delight. There appeared to be something of a glow to her. She slumped back in her seat with a satisfied sigh.
“I know,” she said. “It’s the turbulence...”
