New Short Story Published

My short story, "An Isolated Case" has been published in Occult Detective Magazine

Short Story Reprinted

My short story, "Crossing Avenue" has been reprinted in Polar Borealis #23, available free to download at https://polarborealis.ca/?smd_process_download=1&download_id=954 (The story originally appeared in the print-only literary journal, Meat for Tea: The Valley Review Vol. 14 #1, 2020.)

New Micro Fiction Published

My drabble (100-word story) "When AI Goes Rogue" is available to read free online in Fairfieldscribes Micro #24

Flash Fiction in Metastellar first year anthology

My speculative flash fiction, "Day Three", has been selected for inclusion in The Best of Metastellar Year 1, released today (July 29, 2022). The story originally appeared in Pulp Fiction #21, 2019, and was reprinted online Sept 3, 2021 by Metastellar. A bit of a departure from my normal style, very pleased by the validation of it's being reprinted and anthologized.

Leslie Gadallah and Canadian Space Opera

My essay, "Leslie Gadallah and Canadian Space Opera" has been reprinted on the Shadowpaw Press website to correspond with the re-release of Gadallah's The Legend of Sara.

I am incredibly happy to see the Legend of Sara back in print for the third time (after Five Rivers closed shop) as it is one of my all-time favourite Canadian SF novels. My essay was originally the Afterword in the Five Rivers edition, so contains spoilers--no reading it before the book! If you haven't read the book yet, go buy it! You won't be disappointed.

"Grandfather's Birthday Barbeque" published for third time

My short story "Grandfather's Birthday Barbeque" has been published in Siren's Call #58 Summer 2022.

The story is based on a real incident in my life, though of course taken one step further into horror. I think it came out okay... Siren's Call is available for free download.

The story previously appeared in Potatoe Soup Journal and The Best of Potato Soup Journal 2020.

"Deep Dive" Now Available in Audio

Photo by Eduardo Gutierrez on Unsplash

My short story, "Deep Dive" was released in audio today on the Bandit Fiction Podcast episode #10, read by Tony Reading. It starts at 21.12 into the podcast.

I am also the featured author interview on this episode; the interview starts at 33:42. The Interview is with host Daniel Hubbard.

"Deep Dive" was originally published by Ariel Chart July 9, 2020 and reprinted by Bandit Fiction, Dec 13, 2021 and now podcast March 29, 2022.

"Iceberg" Reprinted

Thanks to Flash editor Karen Schauber, the Miramichi Reader republished my 500-word SF story"Iceberg" Christmas Eve.

New Story Published

"Fami's Watch", A Fami and Watch story, was published in Polar Borealis #20 (Dec 2021) 12-14 today.

You can download a copy of issue #20 here.

My Story, "Time in the Garden" published.

My story, "Time in the Garden" was published in Lamp Lit Underground Vol 6, pp. 8-12.

The story is semi-autobiographical, but told from my Mom's point of view (or, at least, how I imagined it must have felt like for her).

Another story appearance

My short story, "Day Three", is up at Metastellar. The story is a reprint from Pulp Literature #21. (The lion on the mug in the background is by Kasia, my daughter.)

Many writers make the mistake of thinking that once they've placed a story, it's done. But there are many publications that take reprints (unless your story is freely available online--but even then, some audio markets might be interested) because their audiences seldom overlap. Putting some time into marketing your already published stories to reprint markets makes sense in terms of both potentially increasing readership and in gathering validation for your eventual collection of short stories. If I pick up a collection in a bookstore and see that all the stories were previously published, that increases my assurance that least one editor liked each story, even if the collection is now self-published...if there are reprints in "best of" collections or other journals, that's again as good as a testimonial... I still might not buy the collection if I don't know the publications or they don't seem to be my genre, or whatever, but at least I know it's not first draft vanity self-publishing.

New short story published

My short story, "The Prince and Pauper of Bay Street" has been published in the Collection, THE FICTION JUNKIE Vol 2 (2021) edited by Daniel Hodgson.

(This particular story is mainstream, not SF.)

New Story in On Spec Magazine

My short story, "Hand Delivered", (a prequel to my WIP-novel) came out in On Spec Magazine, #116, (June, 2021).

Amazing Stories' reviewer (and the editor of Polar Borealis) Graeme Cameron, called it "Enjoyably old-fashioned space opera, yet psychologically astute and offering much food for thought."

The same issue features Cat Mcdonald's in depth interview with me, which Cameron also included in his review, calling it "tremendously inspirational" and that "it’s crammed with pertinent and valuable advice on writing and editing. You owe it to yourself to read it."

So pretty pleased with all of that.

"Birthday Barbeque" Reprinted in Best of 2020 Collection

I'm pleased to have my short story "Birthday Barbeque" reprinted in Potato Soup Journal's "Best of 2020" collection. The Amazon blurb says "These fiction and nonfiction stories from around the world range from the transformative to the inexplicable. The end of a love story hangs in a tree, a family barbecue enters the twilight zone, and a woman seeks the ultimate backdrop for Zoom meetings, with unexpected consequences." I'm rather flattered that "Birthday Barbeque" is one of the three stories highlighted in the blurb.

The story idea came to me at a family barbeque over 15 years ago but it took me a while to get it to work on paper. With Twighlight-style stories, one has to walk a fine line between over-explaining and being too obscure. Pleased that the editors must have thought I got that right.

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3gGHpaT

Ebook: https://amzn.to/3j1zYfU

New Short Story Published

Was super excited when I got my copy of the Scottish SF&F magazine, Shoreline of Infinity_#21, in which my story "Al/ice" appears, to realize I got my own interior Andrew Owens illustration! It's totally great! (I think the last time I rated custom interior illustrations was 1989 in the first issue of _On Spec_ Magazine.)

The story features Fami and his friends, previously seen in "Fami's Dissertation Defense" published _Ripples in Space_ (Spring, 2020) and in and "Detour on the 8-Fold Path" published in _Neo-Opsis Magazine_ #31 (Nov, 2020). "Al/ice" is the origin story for Fami meeting Julia. There's one more Fami and the Watch story looking for a home, and two more that still need to be written, and then I can put out a reprint collection of stories about Fami and crew...

You can get a copy of issue #21 (or other Shoreline of Infinity issues/books) at https://www.shorelineofinfinity.com/

Old Short Story Published

Received my copy of the newly released _The Chorochronos Archives_, edited by Jessica Augustsson, with my story "Sermon on the Mount" [which originally appeared in On Spec Magazine, #106, Vl 28 (3) (January 2018).] Very pleased with the cover and with everyone at JayHenge. I will definitely submit stories to them again. A class operation... recommended.

New Short Story Published

Just received my copy of Mythic #15 with my story, "Jerry" in it. Pleased to find my name on the cover, rather than my usual "and other stories" spot.

Pushcart Nomination

I am honoured that editor Janna Liggan nominated my story, "Weathering" for a Pushcart Award as one of the six best of the year in Lamplit Underground Magazine.

The story is free to read at https://online.fliphtml5.com/dnitz/jtai/#p=12

Christmas Story

My Christmas story, "Ransom and the Christmas Tree" is up and available free to read at Abyss and Apex magazine:

https://www.abyssapexzine.com/2020/12/ransom-and-the-christmas-tree/

Pleased to have any connection to Abyss and Apex. Great to deal with.

C.P. Hoff Book Included as a Kirkus Reviews Books of the Year

C.P. Hoff, a former EssentialEdits.ca author, is included in this year's "Kirkus Reviews Books of the Year" list:

for West of Ireland

Hoff's first novel, A Town Called Forget was edited by both Elizabeth McLachlan and Robert Runté and was accepted by Five Rivers Publishing and edited there by Lorina Stephens. A Town Called Forget went on to be longlisted for the Leacock Medal for Humour, and is still available as an independant publication following Five Rivers closure earlier this year.

West of Ireland was edited by legendary editor Adrienne Kerr.