Tim Weed's Blog, page 21

Short fiction collection a finalist for the New Rivers Press Many Voices Project

I actually got a call about this a few days ago, but I didn’t want to post it here until it was “official,” i.e., until the public announcement had been made. Anyway, now that is is official, I am honored to report that my short fiction collection, provisionally titled Crime and Fly Fishing,  has been selected as one of ten finalists for this year’s Many Voices Project prize! New Rivers Press is a wonderful Minnesota-based organization whose mission, in part is to “publish and promote enduring contemporary literature.”  The Many Voices Project (MVP) is an annual competition the press has run since 1981 for “new and emerging” writers, meaning writers that have not published more than two books of creative writing. MVP is the oldest competition of its kind and has a prestigious reputation, and I couldn’t be more excited to be among the finalists. Please keep your fingers crossed!

Prize winning story “The Afternoon Client” is up at Writer’s Digest online

“The Afternoon Client,” the Ninth Annual Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Crime Award winner, is up at Writer’s Digest on-line. You can read it here, although I prefer the formatting here.

Apparently it’s a “bonus on-line exclusive,” so you’d better get it while it’s hot . . .

Back into the time capsule

Excited to be heading back to Cuba with National Geographic Expeditions from March 30 to April 7! I’ve done this particular itinerary a good number of times now, and there are almost always surprises — most of them pleasant, all of them fascinating.

Then again, it’s impossible to be in Cuba on any given day and NOT have a fascinating experience of one kind or another. This is particularly true because the island is undergoing such a rapid period of change; every time I return there are changes, most of them subtle, some of them not. Don’t worry, I’m taking notes!

If anyone is looking for an opportunity to experience for yourself what I’m talking about, here’s an upcoming program I particularly recommend.

New short fiction for younger readers out at Stone Crowns Magazine

Thrilled to announce publication of my story “Faces in the River” in Stone Crowns Magazine. You can download the full issue here for FREE for your e-reader or as a pdf to read on your desktop. The story is accompanied by some wonderful artwork by S.P. McConnell.

This story grew out of  historical research I did for my upcoming novel, Will Poole’s Island, which will be released by in July 2014. It was inspired by a little-known landmark in our part of southern Vermont, a detail of which is pictured here. These petroglyphs near the Connecticut River, sacred to the Abenaki people, are very much worth a visit if you’re going to be in the Bellows Falls area. If you don’t know how to find them please feel free to get in touch.

Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy “Faces in the River” and the rest of Stone Crowns Magazine Issue #3!

New short fiction out at Sixfold

Hey everyone, my short story “The Afternoon Client,” winner of the Crime Category in the 2013 Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards, is now up at Sixfold. You can read it on-line here, or, if you’d rather have a a print version of the entire winter fiction issue and at the same time support  the  efforts of this innovative little review, you can order the paperback here.

I hope you enjoy the story!

Story Wins Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards

Just found out a story of mine won the 2013 Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards! Crime category, if you can believe it. Very pleased, and I didn’t even have to commit a crime. Though I did write about one . . .

The story is titled “The Afternoon Client.” It will appear in January at Sixfold, and again in May/June at Writers Digest on-line. I’ll post the links once they’re up.

New Cuban Contemporary Art program

Very excited to be heading back to Havana with a group of artists and art appreciators for a week focusing on Cuban contemporary art. This innovative new program, sponsored by the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, will give us a fascinating glimpse into the current art scene in a country known for an incredible depth of talent in the visual arts. Of course, we’ll also have a chance to experience the other great things about Cuba, including the warmth and dignity of its citizens, its unique time-capsule ambience, and of course the great and ubiquitous Cuban music. We’ll be visiting studios, galleries, museums, schools, and community arts projects, and will have a chance to experience the art and history of Cienfuegos, Trinidad, and Playa Girón as well. 

¡Viva Cuba!

Spain and Portugal with National Geographic

Very much looking forward to heading back to the Iberian Peninsula! This time it’s in my continuing capacity as a featured expert for National Geographic Expeditions: On September 30 I’ll be flying to Lisbon for a journey through Portugal and Andalucía, finishing up in Madrid on October 11. I’ll be giving talks on history, art, Goya, and Hemingway, and generally trying to be as helpful as I can both with trip logistics and in terms of helping travelers make personal connections with the fabulous life and culture of one of my favorite parts of the world. Coincidentally, I’ve just posted a craft analysis on For Whom the Bell Tolls, which may be of interest if you’re a writer or a close reader of Hemingway’s fiction.

Back in the U.S. on October 12.

Cuba talk at Brattleboro Museum and Art Center

Very pleased to be giving a talk at the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center on contemporary Cuba. I’ll address some of the important historical aspects leading up to the present moment, with a special focus on Cuban art and the fraught Cuba – US relationship. If you’re in the area, it would be great to see you there!

Click here for the details.

Dublin bound, and Inishbofin!

Very much looking forward to joining a group of talented young writers in Dublin, Ireland, from July 5 – 12. I’ll be giving a talk on the Jungian Shadow in fiction (see this post for a preview), and we’ll all be heading off to the small island of Inishbofin near Galway. There we’ll have a chance to share our work, create some new work, explore the stark Irish landscapes with journals in hand, and no doubt participate in many lively discussions about life, love, and the writing craft. Sláinte mhaith!