“On Fridays” to be published in Thema (USA)

As I wrote in arecent blog, every few years I get this urge to rewrite the 17 stories from Loversand Strangers Revisit­ed.  The first story,“On Fridays” has just been accepted by Thema as a reprint in their A NewRoutine issue (summer 2025).

After submitting another story, I thought, whynot try “On Fridays” as a reprint since it fit the theme?  I didn’t know if they accepted reprints—it was previouslypublished in The Literary Review in 2003, which I acknowledged in thecover letter.  Figured I had nothing tolose.

When I received an email from Thema,the subject line stated, “Acceptance,” so I knew that it contained good news.  I forgot which story I had sent them.  I was even more surprised when it was “On Fridays.” I had completely forgotten I had sent itas a reprint.  I double checked to make surethat I had in­formed them.  As a reprint,the story will earn less than it would have as an original story, but I’m notcom­plaining.

So now the stories from Lovers andStrangers Revisit­ed have been (or will be) published 83 times in 12 coun­tries(12 stories in USA and UK).  Not bad,which is exactly why I get this urge every few years to rewrite these stories, becauseyou just never know when another one will be published.

This is also thereason I spent two years rewriting six novels (and two collections of storiesand a play), because you just never know. You must trust the writing process and keep submitting your work andkeep your fingers crossed that an agent or an editor will say, hey, this is notbad…in fact, it is quite suitable for our present needs…

           —Borneo Expat Writer