My 2016 Writing Year in Review

By all accounts, 2016 was a good year for my writing. I had a number of originals published, all of which I'm proud of, and tied my all-time record for 11 stories sold in a single year. While my output was low, I did end up extensively rewriting a number of old, trunked stories that eventually sold, and even started my first novel.

Originals:

My absolute favorite is "Pagpag," which appeared in issue #89 of Apex Magazine (October). Paula Guran called it, "A poignant, textured story," and it's free to read at Apex Magazine's website.

That same month, The Spectral Book of Horror Stories Vol. 3 released "Penelope's Song," a sad, but (I think) ultimately hopeful tale about a developmentally disabled girl who must defend her group home from a monster.

"The Last Great Failing of the Light," a dark, second-world fantasy--about hope and loss in a dying world--came out July 16th in Myriad Lands Vol. 2: Beyond the Edge.

"Winter Fever," a horror story inspired by my fever dreams, appeared in the final issue of the great Shock Totem (#10, March 2016). Inspired by my own fever dreams.

"Midnight, San Francisco"--a rare (for me) science fiction story and among the first stories I ever wrote--appeared in Stupefying Stories Showcase on September 16th.

Reprints:

"Multo" was included in The Best of Apex Magazine Vol. 1 (January) and in the Apex Magazine 2015 Sampler (February). "Smart Money" appeared on Evil Girlfriend Media (March). "So Praise Him," my Lovecraft meets Pentecostals horror story, appeared as a Digital Fiction Short Story in June and then again in the Digital Fiction anthology "Largely Deceased" in July. "Multo" also appeared in Expanded Horizons #50 (June). An updated and slightly expanded version of "Burning Men" was published in Sci Phi Journal (August), and "Love in the Time of Alien Invasion" is forthcoming in Fantastic Stories of the Imagination's POC flash fiction anthology (Kickstarter in December, and an ebook in 2017).

Forthcoming Stories:

I also made a few choice sales that will appear next year, including "A Mundane Encounter With a Civilized God" (IGMS, February 2017), "Behind the Walls" (Single Slices, 2017), "Beyond the Reach of Darkness" (Fifth Spectral Book of Horror Stories, October 2017), a newly polished version of "Servant of the Aswang" (Apex Magazine, 2017?), and "A Thing in All My Things" (Pseudopod, 2017).

Halloween costume

Not everything is writing all day, every day. Sometimes I take a break and Halloween with the best of 'em.

I wanted to make Mario look as real as possible, not the cartoony version most people dress up as. It took me three months to grow the beard that I would eventually shave down into a suitable mustache. For the heck of it, I played the theme song on my cell phone, tucked into the front pocket. People seemed to get a kick out of it.

Pagpag released in Apex Magazine #89

Pagpag was the third, though far from last, story I wrote inspired by Filipino folklore and urban legends. The antagonists in this are based on the aswang, though unlike my previous story "Servant of the Aswang," I've taken some liberties with the folklore to give readers a little something new. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Apex #89

The issue features original fiction by Kristi DeMeester and me, as well as a reprint by Adam Roberts. You can purchase a Kindle version of the issue at Amazon.

"Midnight, San Francisco" released in Stupefying Stories Showcase

Bruce Bethke accepted this story in 2012. It was among my first sales and one of the few positive things that kept me writing. However, it was immediately slated for a "sooper sekrit" project that would eventually never see the light of day. I queried probably twice a year on this one, until a few weeks back Bruce finally had a solid answer. To paraphrase, "I want to release it this Friday on Showcase." To which I said, again paraphrasing, "Yes, please." And he did!

Midnight, San Francisco

I don't write many sci-fis anymore, but this little number fits right in with my "Smart Money" and "Stanley P. Strauss, Destroyer of the Universe." They're all silly and might even make some of you laugh.

Reprint Sale and old sale update

I'm pleased to announce Expanded Horizons purchased "Multo" for their June issue. Not sure exactly what day it'll go live, but I'll try to post an update when it does.

"Burning Men," which has been out of print since Penumbra eMag folded, will again see the light of day this August from Sci-Phi Magazine. It's been slightly expanded and polished since its debut. I'll post more about it when it goes live as well.

Reprint Sale: So Praise Him

Digital Horror Fiction has acquired the reprint rights to "So Praise Him," my H. P. Lovecraft meets Pentecostals horror short. It's one of my favorites and I'll be glad to get more eyes on it. No word yet on when it will be published but, as always, I'll be sure to update when the time comes.

Smart Money reprint LIVE!

A slightly repolished version of Smart Money is now live at Evil Girlfriend media! If you haven't read it before, now's your chance. It's an oldie but goodie.

Mae Heaney on Servant of the Aswang

Mae Heaney, The Celtic-Pinay Mom, shared a brief introduction to her performance on "Servant of the Aswang." Check out her blog about it if you have the chance, and listen to her other readings at Cast of Wonders and Cast Macabre listed at the bottom.

Win a paperback copy of 2015 Apex Magazine sampler

Win a paperback copy of 2015 Apex Magazine sampler, featuring stories by Ursula Vernon (“Pocosin”), Sarah Pinsker (“Remembery Day”), Samuel Marzioli (“Multo”), and Mari Ness (“Inhabiting Your Skin”). 

All you need is a Twitter account. Click here for more details.

Sales and releases from January to March, 2016

I've been a bit slow on the update, but I plan to fix that now. First, sales:

Pseudopod Podcast accepted a second story from me, this one a slighter piece entitled, "A Thing in All My Things." It originally appeared in Urban Fantasy Magazine. Really looking forward to hearing this one read, but we'll have to wait until at least 2017 for that.

Apex Magazine picked up my story, "Pagpag." This is the third of three stories I wrote that were inspired by Filipino folklore and urban legend and I couldn't be more pleased! The first, "Servant of the Aswang," originally appeared in Penumbra eMag and was recently released on audio by Pseudopod. The second, "Multo, originally appeared in Apex Magazine, was reprinted in The Best of Apex Magazine Vol. 1, was voted Apex Story of the Year for 2015, and was released on audio by The Overcast. No word, yet, when "Pagpag" will be released, but the contract has been signed. Can't wait to see what people think!

Guardbridge Books has accepted my story "The Last Great Failing of the Light," a dark second world fantasy, for their Myriad Lands anthology. Contract signed and already working on edits!

Releases:

The Best of Apex Magazine Vol. 1, including my story "Multo."

Pseudopod #480, featuring my story "Servant of the Aswang."

Shock Totem #10, including my story, "Winter Fever."