is a story of mine in the new Mouth Full of Bullets (http://www.mouthfullofbullets.com/)
B.J. Bourg is trying something new this month. He's going to a print journal for all the new stories. I applaud his chutzpah in a time when most print journals disappear after one or two issues. So if you want to read this exciting story about an aged couple who find a fun way to entertain themselves in their retirement in Mississippi, you'll have to buy the issue for $6.
Speaking of which...With the exception of the eclectic The Spinetingler, it seems like all the other crimes zines have a definite preference for really hard-boiled stories. I sometime write stories like that but at other times I write stories that are not so...tough. I wish someone would come along and start a zine for the other sort of stories. Not necessarily cozies, but for stories where heads don't have to fly across the room.
Goal for the fall: learn the names of all the characters on The Office. I realized last night I still don't know the name of the older, thin, white man who lurks in the corners. And I'm also not sure of the older woman (not Phyllis) who appears less often. I am worried that these names are coming more slowly because 1) I am too old now to learn 12 new names 2) because they look like real people and not movie stars so I find them difficult to sort out. Either way, it sucks.
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12 comments:
Patti: Congrats! on MFOB. Looks like I'm finally gonna' have to pony up a few bucks to read one of your stories. [And glad to do it.]
Re; Hard hard-boiled: As a reader I tend to skip the parts about splattered spleens and knuckles full of teeth--stuff like that bores me pretty damn quick--maybe it's because I was a paramedic for waaaayy too long or because I find a lot of that stuff just doesn't move the story along. [Plenty of exceptions though; one story in particular, whose title and author seems to have fallen through this sieve I call a brain.]
I consider what little writing I do to be from the Pink Floyd school of hard-boiled; most of my graphic material is delivered as a "short sharp shock."
John McAuley
I know it may seem like I only like hard boiled stuff at DEMOLITION, but my taste is pretty eclectic and really relies more on voice than anything else. Just in case anyone is reading this and wondering if we might be open to something different. The only thing I don't like is BORING.
Thanks, John. Good analogy! Ha! I hate to make people pay for my stories though but probably the other ones in there will make it worth it. Shoot them one so I can return the favor in the next issue.
Bryon-I considered including Demolition along with Spinetingler, but didn't know how you'd feel about it. You do like the literary stuff more than most, that's why I send them to you or Sandra. My three stories for Demo all have a tad of that.
The guy in the corner's name is Creed, but they rarely mention his name. Easily my favorite character in a cast full of my favorite characters.
You can learn way more than you ever wanted to know about The Office at http://www.officetally.com/
And congratulations on the story:)
Thanks, Jeff. Wow I don't think I've ever heard anyone say his name then. Creed? I think he's a spy. Hard to pick a favorite. Maybe Toby?
"I wish someone would come along and start a zine for the other sort of stories. Not necessarily cozies, but for stories where heads don't have to fly across the room."
Oh, but just think, some sort of fantasy piece where a person's head can detach and literally fly around the room could be very cool... in a creepy kind of way. Totally kicks the ass out of brain-eating zombies if you ask me.
Congrats on the story.
Creed, by the way, is his name in real life (Creed Bratton) and long before The Office he was the lead guitarist in the Grass Roots.
BTW: I've been a fan of your writing for a long time and will gadly pay a couple of bucks to read the next one.
r2
Hey, thanks R2.
Can't picture him playing a guitar for some reason.
Thank goodness for Spinetingler, Sandra.
There's an episode called "Booze Cruise" from season 2 in which Creed picks up the guitar and does a great instrumetal blues. It's fun to watch. You can find it on YouTube.
Your piece in Murdaland, Scarecrow, reminded me of Poe. I mean that as a supreme compliment. I was enthralled the entire story.
r2
Congrats, Patti! As for zines - have you tried The Back Alley? They do hardboiled and noir but they don't seem to have heads lobbing across the room. www.backalleywebzine.com
Thanks again, R2. That story was a little over the top for some people, I'll bet. Glad to hear you liked it. And I remember that episode now. I had only remembered Kevin playing at Phyllis' wedding.
Sandra-I sent them a story two months ago but haven't heard from them yet. It was a story that was dark but no crime took place, so I don't know...One of those betweeners-between lit and crime fiction.
Thanks for the tip on the format change for the magazine, and, indeed, congratulations. Does it feel different to you to have a hardcopy sale to having a webzine sale? There's the permanence of the former, unless like myself you keep mislaying the issue you're in...while the webzine is always easy to find...until it's taken down...
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