Colleen Morrissey's Blog, page 4

A Review of “Shapeway” that Wants to Make Me Cry

Joe Sullivan has reviewed Monkeybicycle 9 on his blog, and he has this to say about my story “Shapeway”:

“I have not read a story I’ve loved as much as I love Colleen Morrissey’s ‘Shapeway’ from Monkeybicycle 9. I’ve read it several times. I’ve taken it to bed with me. I’ve smiled at it again and again and again. It’s so perfect, I can hardly talk about it… If you read nothing else in this issue, read this. If you need one reason to buy this issue, this is it: ‘Shapeway.’”

I have nothing coherent with which to respond to this review.  What is inside my head at the moment is essentially a prolonged, happy scream.

Thank you, Joe.  I appreciate it very deeply.

Please read the rest of the review at his blog.

I will read your fiction and nonfiction.

Hello, folks.  I’m now a fiction and non-fiction reader for Beecher’s, the grad-student-run literary magazine at the University of Kansas.  At the present moment, I am the only non-fiction reader, so, non-fiction submitters, your lives are almost solely in my hands.  The magazine, which is pretty darn gorgeous, is now open to submissions through April 1, 2013.  Submit here!

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Also, here is a new review of Monkeybicycle9 at NewPages.com by Justin Brouckaert.  He calls the magazine “a great read, issue after issue.”

“Weight Loss” featured on Instafiction

My story “Weight Loss” is being featured today on Instafiction, a great social media platform that gives you access to online short fiction every day.  Check out the overall project, which you can follow on Twitter and Facebook; it’s a great way to be exposed to new authors and venues.

My short fiction piece “Weight Loss” now available to read online

Got a surprise this morning: My short fiction piece “Weight Loss” is now live and available to read at Used Furniture Review!

I actually had no idea this piece had been accepted; in fact, due apparently to a submission manager error, I had gotten a rejection noticed from UFR.  Needless to say, it is now a happy mistake.

Another intensely kind review of “Shapeway”

Christopher McCormick of The Review Review has reviewed Monkeybicycle9 and has included some really wonderful things about “Shapeway.”  Here’s a preview…

“There is plenty to appreciate in Monkeybicylce9, but “Shapeway” – unbelievably Ms. Morrissey’s fiction debut – demands to be singled out by this reviewer…  I’d be surprised if Ms. Morrissey isn’t an avid reader of Alice Munro- she has the same compassion for her characters, imperfect but morally tuned, and a similar ability to write quiet sentences full of longing and heart, vacant of sentimentality. I’d be surprised, too, if I don’t see more stories soon from Colleen Morrissey.”

Read the review in its entirety here.  I really can’t say how gratified and flattered I am by this.  I’m so glad people are enjoying the story.  Thanks so much, Christopher!

Invisible Stagehands (or, now I have a Goodreads author profile)

I have a Goodreads author profile now, officially claimed since I discovered this morning that someone had referenced me with regards to Monkeybicycle9 on Goodreads– probably the good folks at Monkeybicycle themselves.  I am as brand new as you can get on the site, so friend me or do other Goodreads-related things, please!

Also was delighted to discover today that people had been searching me and coming across this website.

To you invisible people, hello.

And sorry about the other Colleen Morrisseys that come up on Google when you just search my name.  They are nuisances and clearly trying to steal my thunder.  I don’t have the Google magic that would put me on at least the first page of results for “Colleen Morrissey.”  Maybe the amount of times I’ve typed my own name in this post will help?

Some kind words about “Shapeway”

Jamie Yates at Chicago Ex-Patriate has reviewed Monkeybicycle9, and the review includes a few lovely things about my story “Shapeway.”  Here’s a preview:

“Some of the stories are complex, layered narratives, with an early example of this being ‘Shapeway’ by Colleen Morrissey…”

Please read the rest of the review at Chicago Ex-Patriate.  Thank you very much, Jamie!

The Law of Threes has been Fuflilled

Some more lovely news: My piece “The Bones in Mammal Hall” has been accepted for publication by Confrontation.  No word yet on which issue, but I will let you know when I know.

I actually originally submitted “The Bones in Mammal Hall,” to Confrontation and elsewhere, as a short work of fiction, but when I got the acceptance email this morning, the editor asked if they could categorize it as an essay.  I responded, naturally, that this was fine by me– I actually wondered when I first began to submit it some time ago whether I ought to submit it as nonfiction.  The setting is real, and it’s based on my surreal ramblings through the Natural History Museum at the University of Iowa, but I play with character and narrative voice in a way that seemed “fictional” to me.  This flexibility, I suppose, is what that new and useful term “creative nonfiction” is all about.  Whatever it’s being called, I am ecstatic that I get to unleash it on the world thanks to the kind folks at Confrontation.

 

 

Monkeybicycle9 drops today!

Today, Monkeybicycle9, in which my short story “Shapeway” appears, officially drops!  It’s available for purchase through Monkeybicycle‘s website, and if you order this week, they will send you a back issue of the magazine for free; that is two Monkeybicycles for the price of one, which is a steal.  That’s the lovely cover there on the right.  What a lovely pink addition it will make to your bookshelf.

Two Exciting Items

According to the Law of Threes, I should have one more awesome thing coming my way today.  But these two pieces of news are quite enough by themselves:

1)  Monkeybicycle9, in which my story “Shapeway” will appear, is now available for preorder at a discounted price of $10.  Regular listed price for the print version is $12, so you can use that saved $2 to buy the ebook version which I understand will be available after the print version.  (I know you’ll want to carry “Shapeway” around on your various devices in ebook form, but if you’re reading this I’m betting you’re also a print fetishist– thus the perfection of the preorder discount.)

2)  My story “Good Faith” has been accepted for publication by The Cincinnati Review, issue 9.2, which is slated to come out in November 2012.  I’m ecstatic to be a part of such a fine publication.

Pleased as punch, my friends, pleased as punch.  If you will be so good, consider purchasing yourself a fine edition of Monkeybicycle9, which I know you will enjoy, and I hope you like “Shapeway” as well.  Come back here and tell me how much you love it.