Great Man Makes Semi-Finals in Alien Buddha Horror Showdown; Future Time Vol. 4 Received

The word came Friday, the 20th, from Alien Buddha Press:  Congrats on being a semi-finalist in the 2024 Horror Showdown.

From here, we have 3 guest judges who will help us get these 49 stories down to 5 finalists. And from there, it will be an open poll vote in the ABP FB group to get this year’s winner.

The reference goes back to the press’s acceptance of reprint story “The Great Man” for THE ALIEN BUDDHA’S HOUSE OF HORROR #7 (see July 21), a tale of post-revolutionary France, and political turmoil, and . . . guillotines.  But also a strange submission of sorts insofar as it was to a contest as well as just a publication, with a savory prize of $400!  And now with an update:  “The Great Man” has scored a second victory, publication (to come out, I understand, on October 2) and now the first preliminary judging too.  More to be here, of course, when it happens.

And one small thing more, For the editing process, I ask that you only now request changes that are not related to the plot of your story. Spelling and punctuation changes can be made. If you see anything with your story please let me know before the end of next weekend.  For which My okay went back Saturday evening.

Then also for Saturday evening, one more item:  my authors copy of ONCE UPON A FUTURE TIME, VOL. 4 (cf. June 27, April 30, et al.), an anthology of sf treatments of fairy and folktales, arrived in my mailbox.  Officially published in August, for more information, possible ordering, just press here.

My story in this:  “The Blue Man,” a variant on “Bluebeard.”