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.

2014 Award Eligibility

This is my last year of eligibility for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. In the two years I've been eligible, I've:
1. Sold a total of 15 stories, all to pro or semi-pro markets, including: Apex Magazine, Intergalactic Medicine Show, Shock Totem, Ares Magazine, and Penumbra eMag.
2. Had four stories appear on the 2013 and 2014 Tangent Recommended Reading List.
3. Had a darn good time and wouldn't at all mind a nomination!

The following works, all published in 2014, are eligible to be nominated for the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy Award, et al, ad infinitum.

"The Burden of Triumph" - OSC's Intergalactic Medicine Show, November 2014
- Chosen as the audio production of the issue, read by Stuart Jaffe
- Appeared in the Tangent Online 2014 Recommended Reading List
- Author David Farland called it, "Thoroughly engrossing and icky."

"Bittersweet Bedlam" - A Darke Phantastique, Cycatrix Press (2014)

"So Praise Him" - That Ain't Right Anthology (2014)

"The (Zeroes and) Ones We Love" - Ares Magazine #1, July 2014
- Author David Farland called it, "Effective" and "quite touching."

"Splotch of Red" - Darkfuse Anthology #2 (2014)

"Shock" - Bastion Science Fiction Magazine #1, April 2014

"Servant of the Aswang" - Penumbra eMag Vol. 3, #6, March 2014
- Appeared on the Tangent Online 2014 Recommended Reading List

"Stanley P. Strauss, Destroyer of the Universe" - Stupefying Stories Showcase #14, February 2014

Reprint Sale: Burning Men

Pretty excited to announce that my story, "Burning Men," has been accepted by Sci Phi Journal!

Sci Phi Journal is a fledgling magazine with a special focus. Each story featured is speculative fiction with a philosophical bent, and is followed by a brief "Food For Thought" section which explores the "big idea/s" behind each work. Not sure what issue my story is slated for, but I'll be sure to post more information when it comes. In the meantime, feel free to check out their first three issues at amazon.com, both Kindle and in print.

Tangent Online 2014 Recommended Reading List

Two of my stories made the Tangent Online 2014 Recommended Reading List. They are: "Servant of the Aswang" (Penumbra eMag Vol. 3, #6, March 2014), and "The Burden of Triumph" (Intergalactic Medicine Show #42, November 2014). I'm really proud of both stories, so it's nice to see them get a bit of recognition.

Free to Read: The (Zeroes and) Ones We Love

You can now read the complete and uncut version of my story, "The (Zeroes and) Ones We Love," online at aresmagazine.com! This was the story that NY Times best-selling author David Farland once called humorous and "quite touching." Hope you enjoy it!

Sale: "A Ship to Heaven"

Excited to announce that my story, "A Ship to Heaven," was purchased by Stupefying Stories. Unlike my usual fare, this one is a rare breed of sci-fi and fantasy, with a dash of humor. Not sure when it'll drop, but expect to see it in ebook and in print!

Sale: "The Burden of Triumph"

Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show has accepted my story, "The Burden of Triumph." I'm told it will appear in the November issue as both text and an audio story. This marks my second SFWA qualifying story sale. Needless to say, I'm excited!

Free fiction from Penumbra eMag!

Musa Publishing has released all Volume 2 issues of Penumbra for FREE! Here's a list of issues that include my stories:

Ray Bradbury issue - "A House in the Woods" (fantasy)

Zombie Apocalypse issue - "Midnight Visitors" (dark fantasy)

H.G. Wells issue - "Burning Men" (science fiction)

"The (Zeroes and) Ones We Love" released by Ares Magazine

After a few months of unexpected delays, Ares Magazine's inaugural issue has finally shipped. Yesterday, I got my copy in the mail and, boy, is it something! Everything about it smacks of quality, from the graphics, to the layout, to the paper stock itself. Consider me a happy contributor.

Ares Magazine features an original playable tabletop game, articles and, most importantly, original fiction in every issue. Here's the TOC for the fiction:

The Zeroes and Ones We Love by Samuel Marzioli
Frojo by Eric Juneau
Man Alone by Drew Arrants
Neanderthal Sunset by A.J. Onia
Darklanders by Matthew Wuertz
The Race by John Buentello and Lawrence Buentello
Disruption of Destiny by Gerri Leen
Salt by Aaron Gallagher
The Fall pt 1 by Kenneth Steven.

Copies of the issue, and subscriptions, can be ordered through their publisher's website: One Small Step Store.

New Cover for Ares Magazine #1

Ares unveiled their newest cover for their debut, and it's a beautiful thing. My story is second on the left side. According to their Facebook, the issue was late to print, so there will be a delay in shipping out the first issue.

Reprint Sale: "Smart Money"

Toasted Cake has accepted my story, "Smart Money," for their weekly podcast. Perfect for those who want a fast bit of entertainment for their morning or evening commutes, or on the jog. "Smart Money" originally appeared in Stupefying Stories Showcase #1. No word yet on when it'll be released.

"Stanely P. Strauss" now live!

My story, "Stanley P. Strauss, Destroyer of the Universe," is now live and free to read on Stupefying Stories Showcase 14, February 2014!

Sale: Stanley P. Strauss, Destroyer of the Universe

I just signed a contract with Stupefying Stories for my humorous sci-fi, "Stanley P. Strauss, Destroyer of the Universe." No official word on when it'll appear, but there's a rumor going around that it'll make its debut in a forthcoming Showcase very soon.

"Burning Men" Tangent review!

Tangent's Stevie Barry reviewed my story "Burning Men" today. Very happy that he enjoyed it so much! Click here to read the entire review, including his take on five other stories written in honor of sci-fi legend H. G. Wells.

"Smart Money" released today by Stupefying Stories Showcase

Rampant Loon has just launched a webzine called Stupefying Stories Showcase, and in its inaugural issue is my story "Smart Money." The best part? It's free to read online, just so you can have a taste of what Stupefying Stories is all about.

"Burning Men" released today by Penumbra eMag

My story "Burning Men" was released today in Penumbra's H. G. Wells themed issue. The story is a dystopian science fiction piece, clocking in at a modest 2,000 words. It's available for purchase for $3.99 in every e-book format here.

Writers of the Future again

Just got word that my story "The Burden of Triumph" made the semi-finals for the 1st quarter of Writers of the Future Contest. That's one of eleven spots, and among the top 20 out of thousands of submissions. Really nice to have made it that high in back-to-back quarters. As before, Mr. Dave "Farland" Wolverton will be providing me with a free critique. I'll probably update this post later to quote some highlights.

Writers of the Future Contest

I failed to mention that I was a semi-finalist of the Writers of the Future Contest last year, fourth quarter, 2012. That means I made it within the top 16 stories and, considering there were as many as 2,000 submissions, that's pretty neat! Though officially it still counts as losing, I did get a personal critique from award winning, NY Times best selling writer, David Farland. This was what he had to say:

"First, congratulations on being a semi-finalist this quarter. The competition was tough, and this [story] came very close to being a finalist ... [The] sense of humor that you displayed got me hooked in paragraph one, and I read it to the end and found that it was quite touching. So this is publishable as it stands ... [It] was quite effective. Congratulations on a fine story."

I was very flattered by his comments, and very appreciative of his and Joni Labaqui's time. Still looking for a publisher for this story, but I'm confident I'll find someone soon. If you're interested, the results have been posted: here.

Space & Time Magazine

I just got my contract from Space & Time and sent it back out to them. After the week their website was down, I was beginning to fear they'd folded without a sign. Glad to know that's not true. I also learned from the contract that I can expect my issue to drop sometime between now and 2015. No joke! Not that I'm complaining. The moment I get that fresh printed copy in my little hands, all the months or years of waiting will feel like seconds. Granted, it'll feel like something between 1 and 64,281,600 seconds, but still!