Sunday, January 31, 2010

Pomegranate has made its way over to Amazon

My collection of mother-daughter stories has made it over to Amazon. Here's the link: Pomegranate. For those of you who already have a copy and like what you've read, I'd be thrilled if you could meander on over and give me a review.

For those of you who haven't gotten a copy, and you are willing to share your address with me, I can send you a signed copy during the month of February for $12.oo, shipping on me. Just contact me at gaydegani@yahoo.com.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Best of Every Day Fiction Two Launched

I'm pleased to announce that I have two stories, "The London Eye" and "Stranger on the Porch," in this year's The Best of Every Day Fiction TWO.

Here's the official spiel:

Flash fiction is perfect for your coffee break, your commute, or whenever you have a few minutes for yourself. Crafted with gemlike precision, every flash fiction piece tells a complete story, never using more than a thousand words.
The Best of Every Day Fiction Two brings together one hundred flash fiction pieces selected from Every Day Fiction’s second year of publication.

Following the success of The Best of Every Day Fiction 2008, this volume brings you a hundred more bite-sized tastes of science fiction, humour, romance, fantasy, horror, and surrealism along with more traditional literary pieces, from authors all over the world. Whatever your fiction preferences might be, this book is sure to introduce you to some new favourite authors and perhaps expand your literary horizons.

Pages: 316Publisher: Every Day Publishing (January 15, 2010)Language: EnglishProduct Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inchesShipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
Now available directly from Every Day Publishing: CLICK HERE TO ORDER

I don't have my copy yet so if you're in it, please comment below!!!!

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Resolution Road

I’m heading into familiar territory in 2010.

I’ve travelled this blacktop many times before and run out of gas, gotten a few tickets for tail-gating, speeding, and driving myself into a ditch. But the good thing about traveling over paths I’ve already been down is that I’m beginning to notice so much more about the experience.

I’m picking up details and nuances and having epiphanies about the asphalt itself, where the bumps are, the sudden curves, the cracks, the narrowing lanes, and to prepare in enough time to take advantage of the upcoming divided highway. And too I seem able–because of my growing acquaintance with the road itself–to find time to look in all four directions.

The rearview mirror reveals where I’ve been, and I’m grateful for the miles covered. I begin to notice and appreciate the roadside vegetation, the swooping hawk in the sky, the deep scary woods with its never-seen-before dirt lane, and the distant mountains across the meadow glistening in the afternoon sun.

There is only one beginning to each new year, each new month, each new week, and each new day. One of my resolutions is to remain aware of those beginnings, to hold onto the freshness and energy that comes from waking up each morning and recommiting to my personal landscape: my family, my friends, and of course, my writing.

I’ve been practicing consistency and focus. Wait! Focus should be listed first, then consistency. Focus is the most important tool in embracing a dream, developing a talent, accomplishing what one sets out to accomplish. And though many believe that if one has a passion, focus shouldn’t be an issue, it often is.

Focus slips into the ditch as easily as a car with a distracted driver. My first two priorities, family and friends, constantly challenge my focus. They are hard to deny, but they are also my support group, my inspiration, and without them, what would be the point?

But balancing them with my writing isn’t always easy. They need me. They want me. And I feel compelled. But it is this very struggle between them and the work, that conflict, that gives me my “drive.”
Consistency is impossible without focus. There is no way I can stay on the highway if I’m not paying attention. At least somewhere in my brain, I must remain aware of other cars, smelly semis, and jack-asses in Lexi and F-150s. So focus first. Consistency second.

Climbing into that old beater, backing it out of the garage, and into the street every single day is essential…or at least five days a week like the normal folks. Sometimes my perception is the beater just isn’t going anywhere. The batteries dead, the engine won’t start, and I’ve run out of gas. Must’ve lost focus yesterday when I drove by that gas station when I should have stopped to fill up. Damn.
But it’s a new day so I call on the WRITER’S version of triple A–a good story by someone else, a prompt from Meg, a note to Sarah or Sharon, and get recharged, regassed, back on the road. And each experience gets me closer to my destination. Even the running out of gas. Oh that’s a story! What if me and my family are out for a Sunday drive and we run out of gas or have a flat tire? With my mother-in-law? What if an escaped convict descends on us? What might happen next?
I’m pretty sure Flannery O’Connor knew how to get back on the road and I can too because today is a new day, a new week… Well, you get the drift.


This post originally appeared at Flash Fiction Chronicles on January 4.

Sunday, January 03, 2010

Writing with Syle Deadline February 5

If any of you remember, I went to Banff in September of last year (yes, last year as in 2009!) and loved it.

It is a one-week program including class time with some of Canada's best writers. The location is gorgeous, the food delicious, and there is plenty of free writing time. I loved the people there who were sincerely interested in my progress.

Here's the note I received along with all previous participants that I am posting here for any of you who are interested.:


Hello you Stylistas!

Just a note to say that the deadline for the Spring session of Writing wth
Style is coming up on February 5th. You may be interested in applying, or you
may want to pass this on to your writer friends.

Here is the faculty for Spring Style:

Jan Zwicky--poetry
Mark Abley--creative nonfiction
Pauline Holdstock--historical fiction
Lee Gowan--first chapter novel

Here's a hotlink for anyone who wants to know more: http://www.banffcentre.ca/programs/program.aspx?id=945.

Happy New Year, and happy writing!

Liz Philips

Director, Writing with Style

The Banff Centre


Friday, January 01, 2010

Spotted & Sought up at 10Flash

My story "Spotted & Sought" is up at K. C. Ball's 10Flash Quarterly this month. If you have time to stop by that would be terrific. Here's a direct link: Spotted.

Other pieces featured this month include Jodi MacArthur's "The Sower," Megan Arkenburg's "Fugitive 135711400," DJ Barber's "Wanderers Two," and C. L. Holland's "On the Penitent's Road."

Is it time for me to begin listing my new year's resolutions? Probably, but I'm not up for it tonight. The Ducks lost, UCLA lost, bad times for the Pac 10, but mostly, me? I'm just tired. So I'll start some of my new year tomorrow and Sunday, but the real beginning will be Monday morning. Back to the routine which I have to admit I like.