Chantal Boudreau's Blog, page 10

Snips and Stings

I’ve been on a bit of a blog hiatus thanks to a series of events. Prepping for summer vacations has kept me busy and we’re in full-fledged gardening season (my garden looks lovely so far), which also takes me away from my computer. Add to that jugger and some heavier than normal editing demands and making time to blog is not all that easy. I’ve also been waiting on some ToC information to share that has yet to arrive. But I’ve decided I‘ve delayed long enough for that.

So on Sunday, for a couple of reasons, jugger didn’t happen (we played in light rain on Thursday), and gardening was a no go. My daughter’s class trip has come and gone, and while I have some edits to check over and some submissions I hope to make today, I have a few moments to spare.

I had mentioned about my efforts to network, and while my efforts continue, I’ve found at least one of the forums discouraging. I see people trying to contribute in a rather brash or blunt way(some of whom are social filter-challenged), other people taking offense, some harsh remarks (downright vicious at times) and some apologies, a little joking around, some lauding of new successes with a round of congratulations, arguing over rules and regulations, and writers who are also editors complaining about submissions they receive, but very little of anything productive or helpful. And I’m physically not in close proximity to the majority of the people on the forum, so any discussions of gatherings or meet-ups exclude me because of the distance involved. I feel very much like an outsider because of this and because I am new there.

I was hoping I might see more discussions of calls for submissions, tips and suggestions, problems and advice, encouraging talk and interesting stories – there are some, but I’d have to say more negative or neutral posts so far, a few of them accompanied by a sense of superiority from some writer who thinks he’s better than another. After observing several threads, I’m loathe to comment for fear of being pounced upon and attacked, or at least drawing a passive-aggressive snide remark or two. Even quite innocent comments seem to be vulnerable. The introvert in me is telling me to start avoiding the forum because it is putting me off writing, rather than motivating me.

As much as I was looking forward to participating and broadening my contacts and knowledge, it’s pretty pointless if it deters me from writing. So I might give it a little more time, in hope things improve, but if not I’m going to go back to just doing things on my own again. Maybe that’s how it’s meant to be.

I think that’s why I like gardening. The only things there that stings are the fire ants.

Once Upon a Scare Blog Tour: The Evolution of a Mash-up

I’m not overly fond of most mash-ups, but I love reading and writing mash-up fairy tales. I’ve loved them ever since reading Tanith Lee’s Red as Blood story collection when I was a teenager. I had played with an assortment of them before I wrote “Without Family Ties”: horror versions of Cinderella and The Little Mermaid, a cyberpunk version of Jack and the Beanstalk, a Nordic dark fantasy version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and an adult dark fantasy version of Rapunzel. So when I set my sights on Pinocchio, I’d had some practice.

I decided I wanted a modern setting with a story centered on some sort of ritual doll, so I sent out some research feelers. When I came across the description of an unusual collection of 140 spiritual and cultural art objects from sub-Saharan Africa on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C. called “In the Presence of Spirits,” I knew I had my inspiration. The exhibit included ritual dolls, masks and spiritual symbols of power that dated from about 1850 to the mid-20th century.

After reading through the available material, I decided the rituals of the Kongo (or Bakongo) and the Ambo peoples worked best for the mash-up. Their traditions included the nkisi, bakisi, baganga, mpungo, ovana, and rituals that could be completed by a single individual, such as my version of Geppeto, Jojo. My research also provided the traditional materials used to create the ritual dolls and the fertility stones. After I was done reading, I had plenty to work with.

Considering Geppeto constructed Pinocchio out of a desire to have a son, I chose a similar ambition for Jojo with Berko. Add the elements of a Kongo power figure and Ambo fertility magic along with his desperation and an evil twist, and the stage was set for horror. The challenge was then for me to match up the plot points and characters in the story with aspects of the original fairy tale. Top it up with an extra helping of fear and I had myself a mash-up.

If you are curious to see the end product, “Without Family Ties” is now available as part of the Once Upon a Scream horror mash-up anthology. My next mash-up WIP is a modern dark fantasy version of Sleeping Beauty with an Asian back-drop.

Networking and Nova Scotia

Thanks to some of my latest successes, I had the good fortune of meeting a fellow bluenose genre fiction writer so I could lunch and learn more about my cohorts in the province. He and a few others (now including yours truly) decided its about time we try to organize ourselves within the province so we can network better, organize events together and approach organizations as a unified group (that whole “strength in numbers” thing.)

It turns out organizing writers is a bit like herding cats, but we’re slowly getting somewhere and our group keeps expanding.  I’m gradually finding out about other local writers and writing groups, and my discoveries led me to join SF Canada.  I see plenty of networking opportunities ahead of me, and I’m feeling less like an isolated little blip of algae floating around in a big, mostly empty pond.  I still won’t be able to make most of the anthology book releases I’d like to attend, most of them happening out of province, or out of country, but at least I’ll have better means to connect and share.

The one good thing about all of this is that I’m starting to feel less like an impostor who has fluked out a couple of times (surrounded by others on ToCs that have multiple pro sales and awards to their names) and a little more like someone who is achieving new goals regularly and has something to show for my efforts.  I may not be “there” yet but I’m progressing with baby steps and getting closer all the time.

My goal for this current month is to write and submit three stories to three specific pro-rate calls for submissions (I also have a fourth planned for next month).  I’ve finished one story and I’m a good way into the second, so I think this is reasonably easy to accomplish.  I may have nothing to show for it but three rejection letters and three potential re-submissions for future blitzes, but I figure it’s worth a try.

So now I’m off to do some promotional work before I get the kids to bed.  And over the next few days I’ll be watching for my name to be added to the SF Canada membership list.  Maybe I’ll make some new writer friends once that happens.

BOOK 5: Once Upon a Scream

Once Upon a Scream A Horror Fairy Tale Anthology Once Upon a Scream…there was a tradition of telling tales with elements of the fantastic along with the frightful. Adults and children alike t…

Source: BOOK 5: Once Upon a Scream

Blitz’s End – April 2016

Today marks the end of this year’s spring blitz. These last few days have been made up of recycling rejections from the month and one poetry submission.  While I did receive an acceptance in April, and one that made me especially happy, it wasn’t from any blitz submission but one of the extras I manage during the year.  I’m hoping I see at least one “yes” out of 30 submissions, but so far all I’ve seen were “no”s.  That usually happens when my focus is on pro-rate venues (unintentional this time, but that was how it worked out.)

Now my attention will be turning to my garden and May promos of newly released anthologies, but I’ll still plug along with more stories.  I’ll continue to post as anything else interesting comes along.

Here’s to good news and better weather.

Clockwork Canada (Anthology)

Clockwork Canada: Steampunk Fiction Release date: April 2016 Publisher: Exile Editions Edited by: Dominik Parisien Cover by: Steve Menard ISBN: 978-1550965797 About the Book Welcome you to an alter…

Source: Clockwork Canada (Anthology)

April Blitz 2016: Into the Homestretch (#21-23)

Another shot at a pro-rate venue and a couple of new venues leaves me with only a week left to go in my blitz. I’m scurrying to hunt out new submission calls as I get to the last of my unsubmitted stories.  A busy weekend hasn’t left me with much time: gardening (which will hopefully grow as nicely as last year’s), a well-needed shopping trip, a teenage sleepover, a weekend fandom event and tax time have me somewhat occupied this weekend – and next week isn’t any less busy.  I’m looking forward to May, just so I can have a brief breather.

That’s all I have the time for — more later.

 

 

April Blitz 2016: Rejoicing (#18-20)

In the midst of quick rejections coming fast and furious from the pro-rate venues, nothing keeps my spirits up quite like an amazing acceptance.  I’ve submitted to the last six Tesseracts call for submissions.  In the past, I’ve received three “maybe”s with two rewrite requests but none of them turned into a “yes”.  I submitted to the last call with great trepidation.  I don’t normally write science fiction and while I thought my story had merit, I wasn’t sure if others would feel the same way.  I don’t know if you can imagine just how thrilled I was to find an e-mail in my inbox informing me of my acceptance – no “maybe,” no rewrite, just a “yes”.  I will have a story in Compostela – Tesseracts 20.  I was tickled.

And there are other parts about this wonderful happening that make it even better.  I grew up reading Spider Robinson’s books – Mind Killer, Time Pressure, and my favourite, Night of Power, and he’s editing the anthology along with James Alan Gardner.  Also, another of my favourite science fiction writers (I’m currently reading his latest novel, Quantum Night) Robert J. Sawyer will be appearing in the anthology.  So of the many goals I hope to achieve some day, I can happily cross this one off my list.

This is the best thing I can think of to counter the sting of another rejection and give me the courage to send out more.  Oh, and encourage me to keep writing of course.

So I’m going to hit that send button and enjoy my warm fuzzies.

April Blitz 2016: Good News and some Gratitude (#14-17)

I have been diligent about submitting this month, and I’ve managed to dig up some untried venues with themes suited to my work, including a YA podcast, an online magazine with strange topics and a new pro-rate venue, where I sent my latest completed tale.

I would have posted my progress yesterday but I was distracted by some truly “squee-worthy” good news, that I unfortunately can’t share until later in the week. I’ll just say I managed to achieve one of my writerly goals and it involves working with someone I highly respect.

So I’m feeling grateful for this and for the lovely weather that allowed me to enjoy some jugger today.  I have to go hunting for more new venues tomorrow, so I might not be posting again for a couple of days.  I can guarantee I’ll definitely have a post up on Wednesday.

Have a great week[image error]

 

April Blitz 2016: My Lucky Number (A Baker’s Dozen)

Let’s hope today’s pro-rate submission proves as lucky as my lucky number. Today was a YA urban fantasy submission – not my usual fare. Hopefully it will at least get a better perusal than the last two. The rejections came back in less than 24 hours, which always has me wondering if they even bothered to read them at all. Perhaps they eyed my cover letter and when they didn’t recognize my name, they hit the “automatic rejection” button, sending out that form rejection letter without any further fuss or muss.  Disappointing, even though I was anticipating a rejection.

But that won’t happen with today’s submission, as it’s a blind read. It gives me a fair kick at the can, the judgement based on story quality and not name recognition. I wish all publishers used this method, but name recognition can help guarantee sales, so I understand why the pro-rate venues might show some bias. You need sales to fund those pro-rate payments to the authors. I’ve only had two if you use the HWA standards …one based on the SFWA, so I don’t rate active membership yet (you need three and a certain minimum total word count), but I never will if I don’t keep trying.

Besides, 13 really is my lucky number.  I was born on a Friday the 13th (appropriate for a horror writer,) received my first novel acceptance on a December 13th, and the anthology containing my next horror mash-up is coming out on May 13th (see the cover of said anthology above and find details here.)

Hopefully some of you can join us for the online release party.  Knowing the Horror Addicts crowd, I’m sure it will be a blast.