a wild shot

So I heard about this short story contest with a three grand prize. Just heard about it a couple days ago, and as I've looked over some of my previous work, I've come to the realization that I should never EVER submit something right after I've written it. Fortunately, this contest doesn't appear to have any restrictions on previously published material, so I sent 'em "Spike. Resonance." Officially, it's 18 words below the minimum word count, but... screw it. It's the strongest piece I have, especially in terms of what it appears the judges want. So... wish me (lots of) luck.

For the ladies...

It's Business Time.

Issue 9 stats

So here are the stats for the previous issue:

Issue Nine (live from 6/15/05-9/14/05) 6/15-6/30: 22373 page views 7/1-7/31: 39198 page views 8/1-8/31: 31918 page views 9/1/9/14: 14023 page views Total Issue 9: 107512 page views

Only about a 4% increase from issue 8, but that issue also included the Dybek and Almond pieces, which probably brought in some readers we don't usually have. So we're still growing, albeit at a slightly lower rate than I'd like. Could also be an effect of summer. I don't, alas, have numbers comparing Summer '04 to Spring '04, so I don't know if that's to be expected. Will be interesting to see how Issue 10's numbers compare, as folks return from vacations, back to work, back to school.

Technorati tags: SmokeLong Quarterly, flash fiction, short stories, literary magazines

Issue Ten is live!

Man, I LOVE this issue. Working with Joe Young has been amazing. And Marty Ison's cover this time just blows me away. I couldn't stop staring at it the first couple days it was in my hands. And the writing! Whoosh! Amazing. Stories by by Anne Marie Jackson, Bruce Holland Rogers, Nathan Leslie, Edgar Omar Avilés (translated by Toshiya A. Kamei), Jeff Landon, Cally Taylor, Joshua Hampel, Otis Brown, Kuzhali Manickavel, William Reese Hamilton, Laura Stallard Petza, Patti Jazanoski, Nance Knauer, Astrid Schott, Antonios Maltezos, Tom Saunders, Robert Bradley, Alan Girling, Bob Arter, and Suzanne Lafetra. Click the pic. You'll be glad you did.



Technorati tags: SmokeLong Quarterly, flash fiction, short stories, literary magazines

a little bit o' recognition

Well, this feels good. Found out about two different sources citing SmokeLong today, NewPages.com and the brand new All Write Stuff. NewPages.com lists Stuart Dybek's Brisket among its recommended reads, and All Write Stuff gives a complete review of the mag (along with reviews of FRiGG and NOÖ Journal, a couple fine mags where I've been fortunate enough to appear). A snippet from that review:

This is an e-zine done right! For quality fiction that provides a lasting poignant effect, Smokelong Quarterly raises the bar.

Nice to get a little recognition. :)

And now, back to assembling the latest issue, which comes out tomorrow.

Technorati tags: SmokeLong Quarterly, flash fiction, short stories, literary magazines

an easy way to help

This site was pointed out by a poster over at another site I regularly visit. I'll paste directly what the site says below. To get there and be part of the chain, click here.

Help in creating a network of people in support of the youngest victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The patients of the New Orleans Children’s Hospital have been evacuated to Houston in the aftermath one of the worst natural disasters in US history. Help raise money to assist these children and their families in this very difficult time.

Here are two ways you can help:

1) Raise money just by joining this campaign. Oxygen will donate $1 for every person that joins.*

2) Donate directly by contacting the Texas Children’s Hospital. Be sure to reference "Katrina Kid Relief" in the "in honor of" field.

Help connect people together who want to send their love and support to these families.

Technorati tags: New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans Childrens Hospital, hurricane relief

It's baaaaaaack!

insolent rudder is officially accepting submissions again! Woohoo! Here are some guidelines for y'all.

Technorati tags: insolent rudder, flash fiction, short stories, literary magazines