Don't bite…

Don't bite my finger, see where it is pointing. This is known as a chbap, a Cambodian gnomic poem meant to be inspirational in Zen Buddhism to evoke enlightenment. When I found that chbap I fell in love with it because I immediately formed an image of a helpful stranger pointing to a faraway place – giving directions – when his listener misinterprets and goes for the finger. Haha – it appealed to my warped sense of humour. I planted it on my status on facebook but it seems the poem doesn't resonate so well with others. Ho hum. I am considering using it as the title of a short story on Monk Punk. I've never considered writing a story about this sub-genre of fantasy. The idea is that a lovable monk, of any religion and place, has adversity to overcome – as in any story – only set with a fantasy element.


I'm inspired to write it as a result of my Goliath short story being accepted in John Prescot's adult fiction – Monster Alphabet Book. One of the other contributors, Aaron French, is an editor for Static Movement, who are publishing a Monk Punk anthology. Hence my story. See the great cover art.


Almost simultaneously I have encountered news of anthologies from The Dead Robot's Society and Solaris. And of course, Adventure Books of Seattle are publishing an Escape Velocity anthology in the next few weeks based on contributors we accepted before the magazine folded, along with a few best from early issues. It seems there is a resurgence of publishers going for short stories. Reminds me to ask Wayne Goodchild what has happened to my submission to his Library of the Living Dead antho – Library of Science Fiction.


I'm helping son to move his family including my new granddaughter, to a new home in Nottingham this weekend. I'm spending nights in a Travelodge. Yes, I could have had a mattress on a floor but I find I can knock out a few thousand words on my own in a hotel room – rather like an office – whereas nothing comes my way on floors.



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Published on October 01, 2010 00:58
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