Rebecca Hart's Blog, page 21

Daily Frights: 366 Days of Dark Flash Fiction Now Available

Daily Frights 2012

Cover Price $24.99

 by Daily Flash Publications, an Imprint of Pill Hill PressDAILY FRIGHTS 2012: 366 DAYS OF DARK FLASH FICTION (LEAP YEAR EDITION) is 2012  flash fiction calendar anthology, with a 500 word or less short story featured  for every day of the calendar year. Filled with 366 short stories, this is a fun  and practical anthology designed for busy readers.

 
The anthology can be purchased from the Pill Hill Press Bookstore or at Amazon. Soon to be available at Barnes and Noble and other locations. There should also soon be eBook versions available for those of you who prefer that to a paper copy of the anthology.
 
My Story, Jason's Obsession is featured on June 24th. The anthology also features shorts by a number of other writers in one of my favorite critique circles.
 
Make sure to look for fantastic stories by Amaleen Ison, Mark Stone, Ruth Lauren Steven, R.C. Kinkead, and Kristine Goodfellow.
 

Tagged: Anthology, Flash fiction, Horror, Jason's Obsession, Pill Hill Press, publications, Rebecca Hart

Baker's Dozen Auction Results and Other Nonsense

Everything happens for a reason. Now, more than ever, I truly believe that to be the case.

As many of you know, I was selected as a finalist in this year's Miss Snark's Baker's Dozen Agent Auction for my novel The Call of the Sea (currently querying).

I was over the moon excited about making the final 25 for the adult fiction category and couldn't wait to see how the whole thing worked. (Well, I know how it was supposed to work – agents read your logline and first 250 words and decide if they want to read more).

As the day of the auction approached, I started to think about what the whole thing could potentially mean to my budding writing career. I could land an agent. This is serious stuff. The more I considered that, the more bothered I became.  The agent I had spent a solid year stalking on twitter and Facebook, the one I had decided before I even sent out my first short for possible publication would be the perfect agent for me, wasn't participating in the auction. I began wondering how I could go forward with this auction and not even query the one agent I really wanted to rep me. An agent that reps all the types of writing I do – fantasy, romance, some erotica, and even YA (in case Call of the Sea would make a stronger YA story than adult romance). Too perfect — how do I just ignore that?

Well, I'm not one for patience or for snubbing my nose at potential destiny,  so I decided not to sit back and wait, but rather query this "perfect" agent prior to the auction and at least give her the option of first refusal. If she said no, I still had the auction.

That query earned me a request for a partial (the first 30 pages of my manuscript) from said dream agent. The high I hit when I read that request — I can't even describe it.

The morning after I got that amazing email, the auction took place. The result of that?

Nobody wanted to read more. My entry sat on the blog for 24 hours and not a single bid. At the time, I was quite devastated and even a bit embarrassed. To think my work, writing I thought was quite good, didn't even get a nibble is quite a blow to a writer's already rather fragile ego (at leat this ones). What did my dream agent see that these 16 agents didn't?

This is where the old monster, self-doubt, creeps in. I began to second guess myself and my story. Had my dram agent only asked for the partial because I had stalked her for a year — like a sympathy request? Did the minor tweaks I made to the logline and query blurb between the auction submissions and the time I queries the agent made that much of a difference?

It took me a bit of time, but I did manage to convince myself that any agent worth a salt wouldn't waste their time requesting something they didn't have a genuine interest in. That despite stalking and flattery, they still have a career at stake, and who would risk their reputation by repping  something that sucked.  I could be wrong, I guess.

Either way, I got a partial request from my first choice agent on my first ever query letter — that is something I will never forget! I don't care how or why it happened, but I believe it all does for a good reason.  Sometimes it's better to not to look to deep into the whys behind some life's events.

It will be a while before I hear back from the requesting agent, most likely a month or so. I am hoping for the best, but no matter which way things go, I am sure it will be because that is what was meant to happen.

That isnt going to stop me from dreaming big, though.

 :)

Tagged: agents, Perserverence, query letters, writing

Daily Flash 2012: 366 Days of Flash Fiction Now Available

That's right. After what feels like a long wait, Pill Hill Press has announced the release of Daily Flash 2012: 366 Days of Flash Fiction (Leap Year Edition). The book is currently available in print format, with ebook versions to release in the coming weeks.

I managed to grab an awesome pic of the cover.

The collection features my short story, Parades (on June 23rd). Pick up your copy at the Pill Hill Press Bookshop or at Amazon now.

If you do grab a copy, please stop back and tell me what you think.

~Rebecca

Tagged: Anthology, Daily Flash 2012, Parades, Pill Hill Press, Rebecca Hart

Six Sentence Sunday: The Pirate and the Selkie (WT) #sixsunday

Welcome to another Six Sentence Sunday. In sticking with my ongoing #sixsunday theme of posting from my current WIP, here is this week's six.

As always, I would love to hear what you think, and welcome all comments.

Be sure to hit the banner at the top  or visit www.sixsunday when you have finished and it will take you back to the list, so you can check out some of the other great sites in the list.

Happy Sunday! Enjoy

 

Ellie held tight to her anger. "I await your clarification with bated breath."

He blew out a huff. "Your sarcasm is showing."

She kicked at the hem of her skirt, pasted to her legs by the wind. "Better than these blasted petticoats, I guess."

 

Tagged: #sixsunday, Fantasy, Romance, Six Sentence Sunday, The Pirate and the Selkie

Nanowrimo Check-in and Some Updates

So, as many of you know, either by participating yourselves, or through listening to the rest of us cheer and stress as the word counts dictate, we are in the throes of the annual Nanowrimo writing event. What do they call it — oh yeah– a month of literary abandon.

Since I have been so lax in my blog postings and updates while I have been trying to submerge myself in the current WIP in the hopes of having it complete before the end of this month, I thought I would dedicate a blog post to the progress and maybe toss out a few personal updates as well.

Nano progress in going fairly well. It is always hard to find the time to pump out at least 1500 words after a 10 hour day, but I have been able to stay close enough to my goals that I have been able to make up most of my lost time over the weekends with a more concentrated "marathon" session. To that end, my boyfriend Pete and my two daughters have been FANTASTIC about being supportive and quiet, especially on the weekends.  Pete and Casey even take turns telling me to get my ass back to the laptop to "get writing!" Man, I love that.

I've scheduled with my job to take some state mandated days off next week, so I will be home working on finishing Thanksgiving week. If all goes well, and with the wonderful support of critiquers that are staying with me and going over the chapters as I pump them out, I should be able to make my goals and get the work finished, leaving me a week to get the final edits done and maybe even get a copy to a few beta readers before December rolls around.

One can only do their best And that is the plan.

On to my good news.

I was informed that my novel, The Call of the Sea has been selected as one of 25 finalist in the Miss Snark Baker's Dozen Agent auction. I am over the moon about that, as you can imagine. They accepted 100 entries (don't think they got quite that many applications, but close) and mine was chosen as a finalist, meaning that about 15 literary agents will be checking out my logline and first 250 words and potentially requesting chapters, partials, etc.

While my top pick agent (shout out here to Ms. Sara Meigbow of Nelson Literary — my dream agent) is not participating in the contest, some of my other top five agencies are.  Plus, I will be hopefully sending Sara a query letter on the story as well (come December), just because I can't let go of the idea that she is "supposed" to be my agent.

It has been one heck of a year and I expect 2012 to be even better

Tagged: Baker's Dozen Agent Auction, Nanowrimo, Updates

Six Sentence Sunday: The Pirate and the Selkie (WT) #sixsunday

As many of you know, the annual Nanowrimo madness is in full swing. Around this time, my blogging efforts always suffer, but I tell myself it will all be worth it in the end. My concentration for Nano is not a new novel, like most, but rather to add 50k words to my fantasy romance WIP.

In tribute to the madness, my Sunday Six this week comes from directly from the pages of my 4,000 new words, courtesy of Nanowrimo. (There have been absolutely no edits done before posting this six — Be gentle )

 

*   *   *   *

Daniel lurched forward, grabbing Mama before she crashed to the floorboards, and swept her into his arms. He quirked a brow at Ellie. "That went well, don't you think?"

Ellie tossed him a glare. "I couldn't see her from outside, I thought she passed out."

"She did."

 

Tagged: #sixsunday, Fantasy, Romance, Six Sentence Sunday, The Pirate and the Selkie

Let the Nanwrimo Madness Begin

On the eve of all writer's favorite time of year, Nanowrimo, I thought I would toss out a quick post to advise anyone who might be interested that I will be a participant again this year. I am happy to buddy up with anyone else that happens to be interested in joining the madness. My nickname there is Rebelhart69 Feel free to add me.

Are you participating in Nano this year? What is your personal goal for the event (besides 50k words)? Do you think this sort of event helps with your writing or has a negative effect?

Love to hear your thoughts.

Tagged: Nanwrimo, writing

Six Sentence Sunday: The Pirate and the Selkie (WT) #sixsunday

Since we are coming up hard on the heels of the annual Nanowrimo madness, I thought I would concentrate my Sunday Six on my current WIP, which I hope to finish up during this year's event. The Pirate and the Selkie is a fantasy romance with historical elements. I am just in love with these characters.

Enjoy!

He [Daniel] held up his hands. "Before you blow that simmering temper of yours, hear me out."

Ellie settled back down on the edge of the desk, arms folded. "Oh, don't you worry your pretty head about that. I'll be happy to listen to you tell me why you think you have a right to decide what I do or where I sleep. You have my complete attention."

Tagged: #sixsunday, excerpt, fiction, Pirate and Selkie, Six Sentence Sunday, WIP, writing

Recent Acceptance News

I haven't had an opportunity to rave about my recent good news due to some major busy-ness in my family life. Rather than bore you with the details, I will get right to the heart of the matter.

I have received two acceptances this week for flash pieces I submitted. Cue fanfare and confetti!

The first, Parades , is a flash story about a little girl, Emma, who must come to grips with the true purpose of the parade her mother tells her they are going to attend. Parades will be featured in Daily Flash 2012: 366 Days of Flash Fiction (Leap Year Edition) being published by Pill Hill Press. The anthology should be release in November 2011.

The second story, Jason's Obsession, is a a flash horror story about a young boy named Jason, who has an unhealthy obsession with fire. The piece will be featured in Daily Frights 2012: 366 Days of Frightening Flash Fiction (Leap Year Edition) also being published by Pill Hill Press and due for release this November.

Two stories, two anthologies and two publishing credits. Hooray for October!!

The beauty here is there are 366 stories in each book and quite a few of my fellow writers and friends from the critique group I belong to will also have their stories feature. Congrats to one and all. I can't wait to get my hands on copies of these upcoming anthologies.

I will be sure to post up the cover art when it becomes available.

Tagged: acceptances, Daily Flash 2012, fiction, Horror, News, Pill Hill Press, writing

And the winner is...

Congratulations to Eva Flowers!!

Your name was selected in a random drawing this morning, so you are the winner of the free electronic copy of Cutlass and Musket: Tales of Piratical Skullduggery!!


Watch for an email from me this week! And thanks for following the blog and participating in the Hop.

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