Words in Place

Monday Morning Chat at Fictionaut: Susan chats with ME!

2012-01-09T10:27:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited that Susan Tepper likes my story "Something about LA" enough to invite me to chat about the story and my process in writing it. If you get a chance today or sometime this week, hop on over to the Fictionaut site and find out what we talked about.

Monday Chat with Gay Degani

Read the story here: Something about LA

What's Up at Every Day Fiction this Month

2012-01-04T06:47:00.000-08:00

January’s Table of Contents

Jan 1	David Bright	HTML
Jan 2	William Doonan	Visions of Sugarplums: One Elf’s Descent Into Madness
Jan 3	Tony Burnett	Big Sweet Life
Jan 4	Milo James Fowler	Stone in the Sky and Bread Below
Jan 5	Elaine Olund	A Winter Break
Jan 6	Scott W Younkin	Heed the Sailor’s Tale
Jan 7	Dan Allen	Knock-Knock
Jan 8	Lydia S Gray	In Return
Jan 9	JC Piech	Imaginary Cowboys
Jan 10	Christopher Owen	Deepsleep
Jan 11	Joanna Bressler	The Shadow Woman
Jan 12	April Grey	Doing Time
Jan 13	Richard Ferri	Making Do
Jan 14	Cezarija Abartis	The Golden Rule
Jan 15	Allison Nast	Dear Baby
Jan 16	Wayne Scheer	Late Night Heroics
Jan 17	Dan Purdue	Just Jeff
Jan 18	Gustavo Bondoni	Christopher’s Retreat
Jan 19	Laura Crowe	Glass Ceiling
Jan 20	Ted Lietz	The Truth about Truth
Jan 21	A. E. Decker	The Quest
Jan 22	Michelle Ann King	There You Are, My Love
Jan 23	Jonathan Pinnock	Rôle-Play
Jan 24	Ben Carey	The Smell Of Things To Come
Jan 25	Gerald Warfield	Stonehenge in His Garden
Jan 26	Thomas Ecclestone	Grunt The Underling
Jan 27	Michael A Rose	Candy Sales Are Through the Roof
Jan 28	Jason Michelsen	Circus
Jan 29	Andy Leigh de Fonseca	Survival
Jan 30	Andrew Waters	Flame
Jan 31	Joyce Chng	Birth Story

EDP To Launch Every Day Novels

2011-12-14T07:55:00.000-08:00

This is exciting news. Every Day Publishing, the "power" behind Every Day Fiction and Every Day Poets has come up with a terrific new concept: Every Day Novels and they've recently announced that the Every Day Novel website for their first Every Day Novel, Lifting Up Veronica by K.C. Ball, is now live.

Lifting Up Veronica follows Michael Kovac, a sociologist from Ohio State University, as he travels to rural West Virginia in the summer of 1960 to shoot footage for a documentary during a week-long tent meeting at a Signs Followers church — a Christian sect best known for their practice of handling venomous snakes and participating in other potentially deadly practices…

Many of you already know K. C. for her many stories published at Every Day Fiction or from 10Flash, the genre flash site she found ed a couple of years ago. She has also written articles for Flash Fiction Chronicles and poems for Every Day Poets. K.C. Ball lives in Seattle, Washington. She became an addict of the written word as a child in Ohio and began writing fiction full-time four years ago. Her short fiction has appeared in print and online; she has won the Writers of the Future award and graduated from Clarion West. Lifting Up Veronica is her first novel.

EDP has a launch promotion up right now (20% off the subscription price) but that won’t last long, so anyone who wants to benefit from that shouldn’t wait. More information about the Every Day Novels concept can be found here: http://everydaynovels.com/about/

Link to to Lifting Up Veronica:

http://everydaynovels.com/liftingupveronica/

"Wounded Moon"

2011-12-10T23:02:00.001-08:00

Just read a review of Tim Johnston's Short Story America Anthology--a very nice one BTW--and was thrilled to see the main character of my story "Wounded Moon" mentioned! So thrilling to me so I had to share.

"Days laters, I’m still thinking about Mason, the shattered survivor in “Wounded Moon,” by Gay Degani. And Elaine, the disoriented middle-aged mother who sees her former self in her son’s rebellious girlfriend (“This Is Not My Beautiful Life,” by Ted McLoof). I’m haunted by the old woman, Irene, slowly slipping down the dark hallway of Alzheimer’s – where the same memory keeps changing shape (“Disengaged” by Jen Knox) – and the old man, Fergus, whose spite-filled fantasies keep him alive (“Fergus” by Laury A. Egan)."

--Margaret Evans, editor of the Low Country Weekly

Here's the link: A Comeback Story

Semper Fidelis: Always Faithful

2011-11-11T09:16:00.001-08:00

During WWII, my parents were Marines. My father was a Lieutenant who served as a pilot instructor, my mother was a sergeant in the motor pool at El Toro in California. They met on my mother's 21st birthday in a bar in Laguna Beach. He was from Iowa, she from Louisiana. They fell in love and when my father shipped out to the Pacific, they got married. They survived the war and moved close to my mother's hometown so my dad could get his Masters' degree in Economics at Tulane. They lived in Iowa too before moving to California in the mid-50's.They had two daughters and remained together until my father's death in 1983.

On this day of remembrance and thanksgiving, I honor my parents and all veterans who have served our country. Let those of us who are kept safe because of the sacrifice of others, continue to strive to be better people so we can have a stronger, more humane and ethical country. Let's put greed behind us, selfishness too, honor achievement and hard work, and move toward something good. Let us talk and plan without thought of what we personally benefit, but rather how everyone can benefit. Then perhaps when those men and women who die for us will not die in vain.

Semper Fidelis: Always Faithful

EDF's October Calendar

2011-10-07T06:45:00.000-07:00

I'm running a little behind this month, but here's theCalendar for October at Every Day Fiction.

October’sTable of Contents

10/1	Nicole Dunaway	Choices
10/2	M. Howalt	Focal Point
10/3	Len Hazell	Odin and Mr. Whitstuble
10/4	Sam Pelelo-Ray	Club
10/5	John Eric Vona	There Are Those Who Have the Stars…
10/6	Wayne Scheer	Just Drinks with Friends
10/7	Kaolin Imago Fire	Minimum Wage Fantasy
10/8	Sean Gibbons	Lights Like Stars
10/9	Barbara Mountjoy	Personally
10/10	Shamus Maxwell	Mank the Over-Sensitive
10/11	Shawna Mayer	Next
10/12	Erlynda Jacqui Chan	To Fly
10/13	Christopher Owen	Annie’s Book
10/14	Andrew Waters	Dancer’s Choice
10/15	Johann Thorsson	Seasons of Change
10/16	JC Piech	That Woman
10/17	Paul A. Freeman	Gifted
10/18	Sylvia Hiven	Dali Girl
10/19	Ryan Harvey	Foolish Mortals
10/20	Wanda Wande	Origami
10/21	Mark English	Giant Leap
10/22	Paula Cappa	The Nature of Sisters
10/23	James C.G. Shirk	All I Ever Was
10/24	Peter Tupper	Worn-Out Monsters
10/25	Aaron Polson	The Long Walk to Never
10/26	Brandon Nolta	All Those Things We Never Find
10/27	Oonah V Joslin	Hidden Communication
10/28	J. Chris Lawrence	The Widow’s Tale
10/29	Hector McCrillis	Scarecrow Sam
10/30	Lindsay Morgan Lockhart	Count to a Thousand
10/31	Gretchen Bassier	Lady Gaga’s Revenge

2011-09-21T12:23:00.000-07:00

Pomegranate Stories is now available as an eBook at Amazon.com for only 99 cents. If you prefer, the paperback edition is also available for $9.99. This is a chapbook of eight stories constructed around the relationships between mothers and daughters.

From Annie Clarkson's review of Pomegranate for the short review:

Pomegranate Stories is a brief glimpse into Gay Degani’s short fiction, and I want to read more. Her writing in this collection is visceral, has punch and explores the lives of characters that are not experiencing the easiest lives or relationships. There is some beautiful imagery and description and a very insightful approach to dialogue.

Here are some comments posted about the paperback edition of Pomegranate Stories at Amazon:

...by the end you wish there were twenty more stories to read. The stories are inspiring, thought provoking, emotional, and a pleasure to read. --John Towler

Gay Degani has a stunning voice, gripping and charged, and loaded with such authentic realism, that her literary stories borderline nonfiction horrors. --Erin Cole

Gay is a wonder at laying bare a fictional life and reminding you so much of your heart is in that character. She is a master at cutting to the quick of emotions and then layering them with humanity. --Kevin Shamel

The stories in 'Pomegranate' convince you Gay Degani's been in your shoes, thought your thoughts, felt your emotions. You realize that you are stronger than you thought you were, the ironies of life won't stop the rain from falling, and that we need to smile when the opportunities present themselves. Beautiful prose, beautiful stories, do yourself a favor and buy this book. --Jodi MacArthur

Alongside the growing number of short story collections published recently--some of them doing surprisingly well--comes this delicious little "sleeper" volume by Gay Degani, titled "Pomegranate Stories."

There are only eight stories, and a few of those are short enough to qualify as Flash Fiction, but the content is so startling, so intense and provocative, so well written, that it feels like a much weightier volume. The stories are about mothers and daughters (and the men in their lives), but don't think `sentimental sweetness,' think `raw reality.' --Jackie Houchin

Writers! A Quick Exercise Solution!

2011-09-10T22:11:00.000-07:00

How long do you sit at your computer every day? You want to stay in flow, but it's not good for your neck, your back, the "seat of the pants" that you want to keep in the seat of the chair. Here's a possible solution: a work-out band that has the exercises printed on the band itself. Easy to jump up from your computer and do some "body work," allowing you to get back to work before you let go of the "flow."

My friend and exercise maven, Estelle Underwood, has come up with a useful and smart piece of equipment for exercise enthusiasts and those who aren't so enthusiastic, but find they need to do work those muscles anyway. Like me!!! Sooooo, here's her press release and all the links for you to find out everything you want to know about The Body Works Band!

BODYWORKSBAND HITS THE MARKET PROVIDING AFFORDABLE FITNESS & HEALTHIN AN EXERCISE BAND THAT’S AKIN TO HAVING A “PERSONAL TRAINER IN YOUR POCKET.”

Long-time fitness expert creates “carry anywhere” lightweight“BodyWorksBand”—fitness equipment less than a few ounces—just in time to get inshape for the holidays.

The BodyWorksBand (www.bodyworksband.com),a recession-proof fitness tool that addresses the fast-paced lifestyle ofpeople constantly on the go, is now available online – just in time to get inshape for the holidays!

Affordably priced at anintroductory rate of $14.95, thisunique product is an almost weightless resistance band that exhibitsillustrations of a full-body strength- training workout printed across theentire band. By having the instructionsprinted on the band, it’s like having a personal trainer with you at all times,and users of the BodyWorksBand canbe sure they are targeting muscles safely and efficiently. In addition, the BodyWorksBand comes with a handy brochure that lists clear verbalinstructions as to how to perform each exercise correctly, so an effectivefull-body workout is literally at your fingertips.

Founder and designer EstelleUnderwood, a certified personal trainer with over 25 years of experience andco-creator of “BoneJuvenate”, an exercise DVD for the prevention and treatmentof osteoporosis, was inspired to create the BodyWorksBand for her clients. Throughout her career, Estellewitnessed how many of her clients led intensely busy lives. From busy singlemothers to working professionals, it seemed everyone was seeking a way to keepup a fitness regime either at home or on the road. Estelle also recognized thedemand for a product without a huge learning curve or big price tag - somethingthat was accessible to those who couldn’t keep up full training sessions on aregular basis. The BodyWorksBand washer answer. By having the instructions printed on the band itself, Estelle hasdeveloped a product that simulates having a personal trainer with you at alltimes, and users of the BodyWorksBandcan be sure they are targeting muscles safely and efficiently.

In addition to being great fortravel, the BodyWorksBand is 100percent portable and convenient for use at home, work, hotel room, gym, oranywhere at all. With this one exercisetool, you can delight in receiving a total body workout that builds strength,increases muscle tone, and improves bone density—all achieved in minutes withthese consistent, easy to perform exercises.

The BodyWorksBand makes it easy to find time in your day toexercise. It is the simple, inexpensivesolution to fitness in today’s world.

About Bodyworks for Total Health

Bodyworks for Total Health is theprivate fitness studio of Estelle Underwood, located in South Pasadena,California.

For more info, visitwww.bodyworksfortotalhealth.com

Bluster-F**k up at Pure Slush

2011-08-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

I have a story up at Pure Slush this month.

Check it out : BLUSTER-FUCK

EXCERPT:

You don’t remember much about his wife because when Bluster-Fuck’s around, he opens his mouth and vacuums the room dry, pulling every last dust mote into his gut. Even the skin cells of your own face feel like they’re going to peel right off and zoom down his gullet.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE COMMENTS:

Douglas Campbell:

Wonderful, Gay. There are too many Bluster-Fucks running loose these days, and you nailed the type perfectly. Made me both laugh and shiver!

John "JAM" Arthur Miller:

I had NO idea what to expect with a title like that, but I'm glad I read it, lol! Great read, Gay!

Bev Elliott:

It has been my misfortune to know more than one Bluster-Fuck. Thank you for a story that allows us to poke fun at people who have problems getting social context clues.

Lucinda Kempe:

Bluster-Fuck. How divine. Wonder if the real bluster fucks of the world will recognize themselves? Ha! Neva. Brilliant job, Gay. You nailed him.

Every Day Fiction's August Calendar

2011-08-02T14:31:00.000-07:00

August’s Table of Contents

Find Every Day Fiction here.
_____________________________
Aug 1 Jennifer Foster Know Thyself

Aug 2 Andrew Waters One Way To Save a Farm

Aug 3 Gregor McGavin Going Nowhere

Aug 4 Michael Peralta Candyeyes

Aug 5 Jessica George Hungry Water

Aug 6 Daniel Vineberg True Love and Lousy Smoke Rings

Aug 7 Simon Kewin A Good Drying Day

Aug 8 Miles C. Hellyer Running From Home

Aug 9 Suzanne Conboy-Hill No Arrests in 2039

Aug 10 Cate Gardner His Name Carved on Empty Space

Aug 11 JR Hume Curse of the East Wind

Aug 12 Mary Caffrey Knapke Tomato Plants, $1 Each

Aug 13 Shane M. Gavin Just a Day

Aug 14 Anna Moriarty Lev A Night in the Park

Aug 15 Paul A. Freeman An Elizabethan Tale

Aug 16 Debbie Bennett Moira

Aug 17 Laura Davy The Guardians

Aug 18 Kevin Mathews Melon Heads

Aug 19 Douglas Campbell Fleur de Lis

Aug 20 Maria Deira Laundry

Aug 21 John Impey Divine Wind, Kami-Kaze

Aug 22 Sarah Goodwin A Three Way Division

Aug 23 Folly Blaine Eau de Public Transit

Aug 24 Linda Simoni-Wastila Poison Pill

Aug 25 Ranica Arrowsmith American Neighbor

Aug 26 Dale Ivan Smith Not So Invincible Overlord

Aug 27 Von Rupert To Grandfather’s House We Go

Aug 28 Ruth Schiffmann Meet Me at Woman Hollering Creek

Aug 29 Juliet Boyd The Rescue Plan

Aug 30 Jennifer R. Fierro Flowers for Clockwork Street

Aug 31 Brian Dolton A Loyalty Divided

Monkeybicycle, The Short Review, and me!

2011-07-29T16:51:00.000-07:00

This has been a surprising week for me with two stories coming out as well as a review of Pomegranate Stories over at The Short Review.

"Running the Fence" is up at Monkeybicycle today. I write fiction instead of memoir because my memories are somewhat hazy, but the channel and sump mentioned in "Running the Fence" really did exist and a boy in my class at Calle Mayor School did drown in the sump. His name was Ronnie Middlecoff and along with an assortment of kids on our block, we'd ride bikes, roller skate, play kick ball, girls taunting boys and boys teasing girls. Then the boys ripped wheels off of their skates and nailed them to pieces of cast off wood to make skateboards and life kept moving on.

I seldom actually played with Ronnie. I ate my cheese sandwiches on Debbie Stinson's porch, and there were plenty of girls around our age. Our street was a half-moon called Theo Drive on one end and Mayor Drive on the other, both emptying out on Calle Mayor. I lived on the island created between the smaller street with two names and the busy main boulevard behind us. On the other side of our arc behind that row of houses, was the fenced water channel and the sump. Later when they built South High School, they removed the sump.

Almost every house had kids, so occasionally we would play together, but not often. Still I have carried the memory of Ronnie's death not because we were best friends, but because he was the first young person I ever knew who died. I didn't really think we could die (kids I mean) before that. It shocked me, unbelievable.

I'm glad I've finally written a story about this. I've tried to do it for a long time, but I just couldn't figure out how to do it. As I said, my memory isn't great, he and I weren't really friends, but ye,t he been there, in the middle of our street, playing tag, or maybe it was hide and seek and then he was gone. He was only 10.

As for Pomegranate Stories, I am thrilled with the generous review Annie Clarkson has given it at The Short Review. You can read her write-up here:

the short review: Pomegranate Stories

And you can read the interview here:

the short review: Interview with Gay Degani

ORANGES at Every Day Fiction

2011-07-27T16:06:00.000-07:00

My short piece, "Oranges," is up at Every Day Fiction. It came out on Tuesday so if you want to read it, use this link: Oranges.

You can leave comments if you'd like. You just need to scroll down past the ad and click on Comments.

Breaking BAD is SOOOOO Good

2011-07-08T00:05:00.000-07:00

Just watched the final episode of last season's Breaking Bad. If any of you have read Robert McKee's book "Story" and struggle with his concept of "the negation of the negation," you really should see this series from the beginning. If there was ever a terrific example of characters who start out being one certain kind of person with certain ethical limits who then must become another kind of person in order to survive--the total opposite of kind of person to what that person is supposed to be--and then, yes, is forced to go BEYOND even that to "the negation of the negation!" this show is that example. Creating characters who go through hell is exactly what the creator and writers of this series do. It is amazing to watch this story unfold. Season 4 starts next week. Rent 1-3, Tivo it, Netflix it, stream it, rob someone's stash of DVDs, just SEE it.

July EDF Calendar is Here!

2011-07-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

7/1	Townsend Walker	It’s About a Moose?
7/2	Moana Brantwood	The Unwanted Wish
7/3	Charlotte Nash	The Two Boys
7/4	Mary Ann Back	Subdivision Smack-Down
7/5	Ruth Schiffmann	Deep Water
7/6	Annie Tupek	Eve of Destruction
7/7	Virgie Townsend	Even When
7/8	Gale Haut	Tentacular
7/9	Sandra Crook	Ouma and the Wood Pigeon
7/10	Sophie Playle	Screaming Red Paint
7/11	Stephen Duffin	Maud
7/12	Sylvia Hiven	Not Enough Venus
7/13	Wayne Scheer	A Good Citizen
7/14	Samantha Memi	Bouffant
7/15	Carla Sarett	For Better or Worse
7/16	A.I. Wright	Heaven for Heroes
7/17	Dean Giles	Harold Smalls’ Big Adventure
7/18	Paul Salvette	A Daughter’s Inquiry
7/19	Jeff Samson	Let The Bastards See Your Teeth
7/20	Michael Peralta	Scholar’s Mate
7/21	Randall Brown	Shades
7/22	Jamie Feldman	Rubber Boots
7/23	Jonathan Ruland	The Sounds in the Woods
7/24	Mary J. Daley	Long Ago and Far Away
7/25	Christopher Allen	…and Counting
7/26	Gay Degani	Oranges
7/27	Isabella Boettcher	Eggs
7/28	JR Hume	The Woman in Blue
7/29	Henry Lara	My Death in Three Parts
7/30	Mark Oliver	Great-Grandma’s Hands
7/31	Douglas Campbell	Dead In Blue Heaven

Flash up at Melusine & EDF's June Calendar

2011-06-05T11:43:00.000-07:00

Updates:

I have a short piece up at Melusine this month called "Abbreviated Glossary." If you have time, check it out here. Janelle has a lovely web journal up there. Melusine or Woman in the 21st Century.

I interviewed Tara Laskowski for Short Story Month at Jackie Vicks' A Writer's Jumble. Read all about this Smokelong Quarterly senior editor.

Oh and here's me reading my story "Soggy Sandy" at Blackberry Books in Vancouver. Not a great rendition, but I was nervous! Check it out:

Here's Every Day Fiction's June Calendar :

6/1	Leigh Kimmel	To Turn Back Time
6/2	Annie Tupek	Polar Explorations
6/3	A.G. Carpenter	Apology
6/4	Christopher Owen	Lessons Never Learned
6/5	Oonah V Joslin	Secular Rite
6/6	John Wiswell	Let Another One In
6/7	Michael Madden	Substance Q
6/8	Anna Purcell	Only Because You Could Always Return Them
6/9	Jason S. Ridler	Chasing Paper Dragons
6/10	Charlie Britten	Charity Girl
6/11	Eric Cline	That will Spoil his Day
6/12	Herb Shallcross	Java
6/13	Carmela Starace	Jody Ray Gets a Payday
6/14	Heather Holland Wheaton	Ruby Spell
6/15	Phil Oddy	The Dark
6/16	David Rees-Thomas	Far Past the Moon
6/17	Jeff Chapman	A Gift from over the Sea
6/18	Ruth Schiffmann	Daddy’s Girl
6/19	Howard Cincotta	Body Slam
6/20	David Macpherson	The Getaway
6/21	Terri Rochenski	Heart’s Wish
6/22	Todd R. Townsend	Lost Dancer in Memphis
6/23	Christie Isler	Hungry
6/24	Emily Spreng Lowery	A Life In Numbers
6/25	Lauren LeBano	The Infection
6/26	Jason Fischer	Two Kinds of Sleep
6/27	Elizabeth Creith	Fibonacci
6/28	Aaron Polson	What Julie’s Dad Doesn’t Know
6/29	John Eric Vona	Blood Oath
6/30	Sarah Evans	Mistaken

102 Story Links in Honor of Short Story Month 2011

2011-05-31T09:46:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of you who spent the time tracking down your favorite stories, we’ve created a long list of “Readers’ Choices” online at Flash Fiction Chronicles. There are STILL many many many terrific stories out there not on this list so we will have to do this again.

Please take the time to scroll through the list and read some pieces you might not have read before. Let the author know if you loved it. Share with others.

Poor Neglected Blog...

2011-05-27T09:18:00.000-07:00

Since the locusts and fire and quakes haven't gotten me yet and because there are a couple more dates on the apocalyptic calendar, I realize I should at the very least update here so that when the Eloi dig out the ruins of California (sometime after the great EQ when we've fallen into the Pacific and the drying up of the oceans, they will emerge from their hiding places), some archeological latter day Zahi Hawass will announce the discovery of The Lost World of La-La Land.

At least if I do an occasional update, I'll know the record will be straight.

LAUNCH OF THE BEST OF EVERY DAY FICTION 3

So we went to Vancouver, Tim and I, so I could attend EDF's official launch of its third "Best of" anthology. We had one glorious day, weather-wise, and then a couple with the expected drizzle. It was great to meet with some of the EDF staff and with authors K.C. Ball, J.C. Towler, and Peter Tupper. The signing was at Blackberry Books on Granville Island. Thank you, Joseph. Pictures on Facebook.

Tim and I also visited the Museum of Anthropology and were overwhelmed by their fabulous collection not only of Canada's First Nations but of other cultures also. The facility itself in beautifully designed and easy to get to out by the University of British Columbia and because we were exploring we found Jericho Beach and Park. So amazing. Pictures are on Facebook.

We also managed to fit in the Aquarium in Stanley Park where we saw our first belugas in person. More picture-taking. I love digital cameras!

WORK ONLINE

I do have some writing updates for 2011. I haven't been doing much writing these last five months, but some things have come out.

Advent at Sonora Review
Collateral Damage at Sonora Review
200 Nights at Corium Magazine
The Real War at Clapboard House
Standing Bellicose in Front of a Cracked Mirror in a Cold Detroit Alley at Sonora Review
Portent at Sonora Review
A Basic Truth about Some Girls at 50 to 1
The Nickel in print at Crimespree

I've been interviewed too.

Sonora Review interview
A Writer's Jumble interview

And I've interviewed!

Tara Laskowski at A Writer's Jumble
Michael Cooper at Smokelong Quarterly
Ethel Rohan at Smokelong Quarterly
Submishmash co-founder Michael A. FitzGerald at Smokelong Quarterly

And for sheer weirdness, I'm Wordnik saying a few random things!?!

Also out any day is "Wounded Moon" in the Short Story America Anthology.

An excerpt:

Mason took a slice of Spam out onto the cabin steps so he could bay at the moon. His plaid pajamas were stiff around the armpits from sweat and where he’d spilled evaporated milk a couple of days before. The flannel gave off a pungent smell, a strategic weapon against the incursion of pests, both the four- and two-legged kind.

These nightly summits between Mason and the moon were one-sided, the man in the night sky being taciturn by nature, but then nobody talked to Mason any more. Nobody except for the kid. And the kid was not one to chat.

Three months after he’d arrived at the cabin, with its pump over a primitive sink and an outhouse under the firs, Mason began to notice how night after night the moon constantly changed. Slow. Persistent. New moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full. It was full now, a deep yellowish-red, all the crests and valleys visible. What month was it? September? October? A hunter’s moon. A blood moon.

During the day Mason scribbled his lunar observations, doodling in the margins, his pen absently tracing craters and darkening seas within lopsided circles. Writing had been Dr. Leggett’s idea, a journal of thoughts, daily affirmations, the subject matter irrelevant. So Mason wrote, getting down everything he knew about the moon. He liked where it led him. The pages of text ate the hours. The almost-poems shimmered in the slanted light through the small cabin window. And his drawings, the curved cuticle of a crescent moon, the plump circle of the full. Eventually he asked the kid to buy him a book, something along the lines of The Idiot’s Guide to the Moon. All this interest in lunar activities seemed like a good sign to Mason, although he never let the word “recovery” take up permanent residence in his mind.

EDF's May Calendar of Stories

2011-05-05T09:17:00.000-07:00

EVERY DAY FICTION’S MAY CALENDAR

5/1	MarissaSertich	LeaveMewithanArtichoke
5/2	P.J.Monroe	Rembrandt’sE-mail
5/3	RichMatrunick	ThePaleFarmer
5/4	StewartBaker	MemoryBook
5/5	JRHume	HisMother’sSon
5/6	CeciliaRyan	Mum
5/7	RuthSchiffmann	SilentWitness
5/8	BethCato	ADancetoEndOurFinalDay
5/9	AmandaCapper	AMessage
5/10	WandaMorrow-Clevenger	RiversideRedemption
5/11	SamanthaMemi	TemptingTheWicked
5/12	MadelineMora-Summonte	Evie
5/13	FrancesGonzalez	Spindles
5/14	VanessaWeiblerParis	TeawithTess
5/15	CharlesKirby	RBIs
5/16	RandyHenderson	MostEpiclyAwesomestStory!Ever!
5/17	KevinShamel	Riveted
5/18	LeannaTimanus	NightVisitors
5/19	NickLewandowski	ForeignExchangeLosses
5/20	AxieBarclay	Kahlua
5/21	A.I.Wright	TimeServed
5/22	L.A.Stein	TroutLake
5/23	JamesC.G.Shirk	AndThen,SheWroteMeaLetter
5/24	BarryFriesen	HatTrick
5/25	GaryPattinson	ProgrammingBugs
5/26	Kip	Margaret’sDaughter
5/27	DouglasCampbell	Leaf
5/28	L.E.Elder	FirstTime
5/29	WayneScheer	Butterfly
5/30	NykiBlatchley	TheSat-NavofDoom
5/31	AaronPolson	TheThingAboutaHaunting

A Like Mother, Like Daughter Haiku

2011-04-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

My daughter's working on her teaching credential and a classmate did a "lesson" in one of her classes on poetry and haiku. Everyone had to try it. Here's what Hillary came up with:

Breeze on the bayou
Water remains still as glass
Sharp white teeth emerge.

Okay. You get it? Someone is going to die!

What I Dreamed Last Night

2011-04-27T10:11:00.000-07:00

It's hazy, really hazy, yet strangely vivid too. Rampaging horses, fear of death, packed belongings that turned out to not be the right belongings, searching and not finding friends, making new acquaintances who disappeared and reappeared for both good and evil.

Start with the maelstrom in my active mind while my body searched for the comfortable position, aching shoulder and neck, restless legs, sheets scrambled like eggs. The ending of the dream as the whirling images lock in is clearer but I don't want to start there, because there was a trick, a twist, a frightening turn of events, as if my brain was a movie house showing an old Brian DePalma offering--things are not what they seem.

The first thing I remember is feeling a heightened state of fear. Something was happening in the clutter around the "me" of the dream. Maybe I was on the deck of a boat--a ship-- crowded with noisy passengers surrounded by boxes and suitcases, shoving and pushing at each other. I am painting such a ship in Real Life from a story written by someone else.

Now I've dumped myself smack in the middle. I wander through the throng, losing sight of my own belongings, catching the face of someone I know who smiles in a friendly, but distracted sort of way, then she's gone and my sense of danger increases. Something bad is happening. And I wake up, relieved to find myself in my own bed.

Drifting back and I am on land but there is a crowd still, more roiling than before, with shouting, screaming, pushing, trampling too I think. There are new strong powers-to-be here--I think Nazis-- Some one tells me to pack, we need to leave quickly. So I pack the little antique washstand from my grandmother's house. It's small and I can't get everything I want to bring with me into it. I have to weigh the merits of each and decide. At some point I find myself in a huge room standing next to the washstand which is overloaded, and despite the fact it has casters, I know I won't be able to push it on a long journey. We're going on this journey. Everyone in this dream and if we don't something awful with happen.

But then the dilemma of taking my life's treasures with me is no longer a factor. Over a loudspeaker I hear that before we will be released we must go through a trial of stampeding horse, but someone reassures me it isn't as bad as it sounds. There is a western grandstand built around us and if we can climb high enough on the wooden structure we should be able to avoid the worst. I rummage through my washstand looking for small pieces of my life to jam into pockets, and find they've been stolen. I want to search more methodically, but there's no time and I scramble up the bleachers seats to a high spot.

There are people all around, everyone changing their mind about the best place to be. At the top I can look over to the outside of the arena and see herds of spotted horses galloping toward us. The gates below open and the horses rush in and while the bleachers shake, I feel hopeful that nothing will collapse and yet people are still scrabbling around me and when I look at where they've been, I see that the bleacher seats are winding away from the structure, leaving gaping holes in the grandstand itself. As more panicked people come toward the top, the wood edifice begins to sway and more horses thunder into the arena and more victims fall to the ground to be crushed.

I'm trying to recognize those who are in charge. They've seemed to morph into Nazi-Cowboys now and one old man in a stetson and an iron cross takes my hands and tells me not to worry. He leads me up a middle aisle and as we ascend, all the rows of seats below fall away. He pushes me down on a beach and leaves me there and the scene around me spirals into purples and reds and...

It was vivid, this dream. More than I can convey here. I think maybe I'll work on my emergency-disaster kit today. The last time I attended to it was 1987. You think that canned food is still okay?

At Crimespree, "The Nickel"

2011-04-17T16:19:00.000-07:00

My fiction story "The Nickel" which is set on L.A's Fifth Street is in the current issue of Crimespree. It's the story I submitted to the Sisters-in-Crime L.A. anthology last year, rewritten, and tells the story of a young up-and-coming movie star who witnesses a murder and hides out on Skid Row.

If you'd like to order a copy of the magazine, you can email Jon at the link below.

Crimespree Jon

Ask for issue #41.

Up at CORIUM

2011-03-31T14:39:00.000-07:00

“200 NIGHTS" is up at Corium this month if you get a chance to go over there and read it. Also this issue includes short-short fiction from

Robert Lopez
Sabrina Stoessinger
Miguel Morales
Tina May Hall
Sean Lovelace
Sean Lovelace
Jessica Newman
Sara Crowley
Kevin Spaide
Andrea Kneeland
Andrea Kneeland
Ken Poyner
Sean Ulman

and short stories from

Judith Ossello
Brian Oliu
Michael Kimball
Donna D. Vitucci
Cat Ennis Sears
Faith Gardner

Check out the poetry too.

Thanks Lauren, Salvatore, and Heather.

Every Day Fiction's April Calendar

2011-03-31T14:24:00.000-07:00

April’s Table of Contents

4/ 1 Elle Marie Gray Broken Rules

4/ 2 John Lander Up The Stairs

4/ 3 Sally York Baby Doll

4/ 4 Charlie Bowers Spermicidal

4/ 5 Kevin Shamel Tethered

4/ 6 George Maxwell Tea and Sympathy

4/ 7 James Van Pelt The Hurt Club

4/ 8 Ralph Uttaro House Rules

4/ 9 Lindsay M. Lockhart Settling Accounts

4/ 10 Kevin Luttery Remembering Sweetness

4/ 11 Ronnie Pruitt 3 Ways Not To Get Shot

4/ 12 Charles W. Kiley III Night

4/ 13 Alex Shvartsman On The Last Afternoon

4/ 14 Christina Arregoces The Dance

4/ 15 Jennifer R. Fierro Autumn in the Shenandoah

4/ 16 Yvette Managan Vestige

4/ 17 Jeanne Holtzman At Sea

4/ 18 Eric J. Guignard Hubert in Love

4/ 19 Oonah V Joslin Forever Scarlet

4/ 20 Adam Lucas Dr. Xiang/Mouth in Stomach

4/ 21 S. Hutson Blount Cleanroom Vices

4/ 22 Walt Giersbach Transformation

4/ 23 Sandra Crook Jessica and the Rabbit

4/ 24 Patrick Perkins Easter Egg Hunt

4/ 25 Shauna Roberts Rehearsal

4/ 26 M. Howalt Treasure

4/ 27 Matt Cowens Minor Rampage

4/ 28 C.L. Holland Answers

4/ 29 A.S. Andrews Pretending

4/ 30 Daniel Ausema Horns or Wings

A Piece up at 50 to 1

2011-03-19T22:46:00.000-07:00

50 to 1 has been on hiatus since real life has overcome Glenn Binger and his pal Sam, so fellow writer,Paul has now taken over and I'm lucky enough to have a piece in the second incarnation of this fun micro-fiction 'zine.
Check it out if and when you get a chance.

50 to 1

What's Left in The Binnacle Ultra-Short Competition

2011-03-06T17:47:00.000-08:00

Those of us who were lucky enough to be chosen to be published in The Binnacle's Seventh Annual Ultra-Short Competition just received our stories in the mail in a small blue box decorated with Jean Rauox's painting "Young Woman Reading a Letter." Inside the box were story cards, each with a story on one side and the biography of the author on the other. Totally cool. Emily Jiang's story, "Wedding Song" took top prize in prose, Toni Giarnese won in poetry, while Bunny Richards received the University of Maine at Machias Student Prize. The rest of us are published with Honorable Mention--and an honor it is. Please visit The Binnacle at Facebook and check to find out when the Kindle edition will be ready.

Announcing String-of-10 THREE Winners « Flash Fiction Chronicles

2011-03-04T08:36:00.000-08:00

This year's String-of-10 THREE brought Flash Fiction Chronicles the best group of stories we've ever had. Sixteen anonymous semi-finalists were shipped off to writer Michelle Reale for consideration. To find out who won and to read an interview with Michelle, check out the Current Flash Fiction post.

Announcing String-of-10 THREE Winners « Flash Fiction Chronicles

Every Day Fiction's March Calendar

2011-03-01T07:59:00.001-08:00

Mar 01	Belinda Rees	Hart’s Tip
Mar 02	Deborah Winter-Blood	Veterans of War
Mar 03	Jakob Drud	9 of 10
Mar 04	Sylvia Heartz	The Magic Pillow
Mar 05	Carmela Starace	Autopsy of the Steele Family (in Six Chapters)
Mar 06	David Macpherson	The World Between Geometry and British Drama
Mar 07	Greg Likins	Temptation Drive-Thru
Mar 08	Andrew S. Williams	From Here to the Sargasso
Mar 09	James C.G. Shirk	Will Work for Food
Mar 10	Gretchen Bassier	Grisly
Mar 11	Rumjhum Biswas	Breakfast for Two
Mar 12	Ajit Dhillon	God Machine
Mar 13	Anisha Sridhar	It’s not Me, It’s You
Mar 14	Melinda Jones	Mother of the Boy
Mar 15	Shaun Simon	Television for the Dead
Mar 16	Bruce Holland Rogers	Dear Lisa
Mar 17	Paul Friesen	The Next Ice Age
Mar 18	Christopher Lockheardt	The Perfect Song
Mar 19	T.C. Powell	Strange Fate/George Morris’ Brother’s Dirty Old Shoe
Mar 20	Loren Arthur Moreno	And That’s Uncle Thom
Mar 21	Douglas Pugh	Impish balance
Mar 22	Chelsea Tudor	Pudge
Mar 23	K.C. Ball	Serves Him Right
Mar 24	Wayne Scheer	Harold’s Eulogy
Mar 25	JR Hume	Genesis
Mar 26	Jude-Marie Green	Another Nebulous Conversation onBus Trip to America
Mar 27	Paige Sinkler	Cold Feet
Mar 28	Vincent D. O’Connor	The Princess and The Bullfrog
Mar 29	Robert O’Shea	Bella’s Birthday
Mar 30	Dee Turbon	Privet
Mar 31	Sally York	Saving Nimoy

Up at Clapboard House

2011-02-15T18:01:00.000-08:00

Just found out I have a story up at Clapboard House! Here's the link: The Real War. Waiting on some other pieces to come out, a couple of micro-flashes and an interview at The Sonora Review (in-line), "200 Nights " at Corium and "The Nickel" in Crimespree in March as well as "Abbreviated Glossary" at Melusine in the spring.

I also have an interview up at SmokeLong Quarterly with Michael FitzGerald of Submishmash fame.

Best of Every Day Fiction Three List Released

2011-02-10T11:22:00.000-08:00

They've published the list of stories chosen for The Best of Every Day Fiction Three. Here are those you'll find in the table of contents sometime later this year when the book is released.

HIDDEN SHALLOWS • by Jonathan Pinnock
BURIAL OF THE BELLS • by Sarah Hilary
A FRIGGIN’ STAR • by Joel Willans
THE WALL • by Ben Loory
UNDER MY SKIN • by Melody Beacham
IN THE CARDS • by Lori Simeunovic
HOW TO BURN A HOUSE • by Aaron Polson
SO LUCKY • by Cathryn Grant
CANTICLES • by K.C. Ball
GROWN FROM MAN TO DRAGON • by Megan Arkenberg
TRAJECTORY • by Mickey Mills
INVISIBLE MEND • by Sarah Hilary
BEAUTY SLEEPING • by C.L. Holland
WHEN MOM’S SICK • by Kendra C. Highley
THE HAIRCUT • by Sharon E. Trotter
DUMPING THE DEAD • by Barbara A. Barnett
WITH THE BAND • by Alexander Burns
FAITH • by Aaron Polson
YOUR OWN PERSONAL GENIE • by Grá Linnaea
EL MYSTERA DEL TEMPO • by Brian Dolton
TEARS OF THE ANDROID • by JR Hume
INVASION • by Laura McHale Holland
THE MAPLE LEAF MANEUVER • by K.C. Ball
HOW THE HUMAN GOT HIS FREE WILL • by Deven D Atkinson
DEADACHE • by Deborah Winter-Blood
MUTILATION • by Michelle Klein
WATER’S EDGE • by Sarah Hilary
FLASH FLOOD • by Gay Degani
EF 5 • by J.C. Towler
WHEELCHAIR MEMORIES • by Laura T Praderio Lynn
SAFE IN SPARROW • by Sylvia Hiven
FIRE ON FALCON ROAD • by Mickey Mills
FOREVER IS A LOCKED DOOR • by Tanya Byrne
TRUCE • by A P Charman
THE DEATH METER • by Debbie Cowens
FIREWORD • by Deborah Winter-Blood
FODDER • by Paul Graham
HALF • by Fred Warren
DIFFERENCES • by JR Hume
AN INCIDENT AT GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE • by Townsend Walker
BAD SMILE • by J.C. Towler
DANCING SNOWFLAKES • by Stef Hall
DEAD WEIGHT • by Matt Cowens
THE SMALL PRINT • by Krystyna Smallman
BLOSSOMS WEEP, SPIDERS FALL • by A.R. Williams
LOVE AT THE MALL • by Evonne Gayle
THE DESTINY OF ARCHER DEFT • by Douglas Campbell
SHE’S A BITER • by Stephanie Kincaid
THE MIRACLE OF ST. JOHN • by Deborah Winter-Blood
ONLY AT THE END OF THE ROAD • by Jacky Taylor
STAGES OF GRIEF • by Tara Gilboy
SOGGY SANDY • by Gay Degani
PATRICK’S DAY • by J.C. Towler
CHANGEOVER DAY • by Dan Purdue
WHAT NAME DO I GIVE HER? • by Kevin Shamel
BILLY BOY • by Aaron Polson
RIPPLES • by Jennifer Campbell-Hicks
THE ORANGERY • by Christopher Allen
THE NEWLY DEAD OF WINTER • by Mickey Mills
COMPUTER EDUCATION • by John Wiswell
SPEED TRAP • by Patrick Perkins
DOUR CUTLER • by J.C. Towler
COVERED DISH SUPPER • by Jan Melara
TRYST • by Stacey Py Flynn
CHOCOLATE MILK • by Ladonna A. Watkins
SECRETS • by Fadzlishah Johanabas
STAMPEDE • by Deborah Winter-Blood
A MESSAGE FOR ME • by Zena Greene
MULTIPLICITY • by Robert Swartwood
HOLLOW JAKE • by Douglas Campbell
COG-WORK CAT • by Joyce Chng
WHAT IS LEFT • by Ariane Synovitz
FRESH IDEAS • by John P. McCann
MARY, MARY, QUITE CONTRARY • by T E Byrne
SNOWMAN • by Shaun Simon
CYCLES • by Stephen V. Ramey
THE FESTERING WOUND • by Cathryn Grant
THE BOY AND THE BROKEN BIRD • by Gavin Broom
DAVID YOUNG SAT ON THE ARMREST • by steven woods
TEHUELCHE • by Gustavo Bondoni
THE NOSE ON MY FACE • by Mary J. Daley
BRUSH STROKES • by Ruth Schiffmann
RENEWAL • by Wayne Scheer
THE VOTE • by Erin M. Kinch
TURN ABOUT • by Oonah V Joslin
WHY NOT ME? • by Kathee Jantzi
THE DANCE FLOOR • by Kyle Hemmings
DISAPPEARING GIRL • by Peter Tupper
FALLEN • by Amber Foster
THE COLOUR OF CRITICISM • by Jonathan Pinnock
PRECIPITATION • by Steven Saus
SEEDS • by Kit Lamont
CAPTAIN QUASAR AND THE “IF ONLY” ELIXIR OF OPSANUS TAU PRIME • by Milo James Fowler
FORGET, TO LIVE • by Ben Langdon
DOLL PARTS • by Shane Oshetski
PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW • by Bernard S. Jansen
THE SHOCK OF COLD WATER • by Douglas Campbell
THE INVISIBLE SWORD OF PATTERSON MITCHELL • by Robert J. Santa
THE OLD MAN DOWN THE ROAD • by Nicholas Ozment
GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS • by Erin Ryan

Every Day Fiction's February Calendar

2011-02-01T07:24:00.000-08:00

A new month and a fresh list of new stories. Be sure and drop in EVERY DAY!

2/1	Diane Arrelle	Running Away
2/2	James Fabris	Amnesia’s Dream
2/3	Therese Arkenberg	The Last Veteran
2/4	Sylvia Hiven	Right As Rain
2/5	Olivia Chadha	Squirrel
2/6	Errid Farland	Amos Waters
2/7	Patrick S. Tomlinson	Vatican Direct
2/8	Andrew Shepperson	Son, Water, Father
2/9	Sally York	The Aunt Alva Punishment
2/10	H Su	The Love Game
2/11	Samantha Memi	Fire in the Heart
2/12	Michael Batton Kaput	Love Story
2/13	Sierra B. Ryan	The Art of Opening an Oyster
2/14	James C.G. Shirk	Valentino, Not
2/15	Tom Hoisington	The Ballad of Chuck Leather
2/16	Aaron Polson	Soul Marbles
2/17	Larry Hodges	One Brushstroke at a Time
2/18	JR Hume	Changeling
2/19	Scott Loring Sanders	Donations
2/20	Kristina Meyer	Baggage
2/21	Jonathan Pinnock	Around the Block
2/22	James Kidd	Running Away From Home
2/23	KJ Kabza	Hero
2/24	Nila E White	Bollyman
2/25	A. F. White	Billy
2/26	Oonah V Joslin	Living the Lie
2/27	Katherine Lopez	Rain
2/28	Benjamin Jacobson	Anarcho-syndicalist Endgame

Looking Back: Movies:Part 1

2010-12-27T14:05:00.000-08:00

Not sure I'm ready for a retrospective on 2010 yet, but thought I might get started.

One thing is certain, this year rattled by like a runaway train on an unrepaired part of the track. Nothing smooth, just a lot of jumping, leaping, clanging going on at high velocity. It's a messy blur, but here I go.

I'll start with movies, maybe? Didn't see very many. Finding less and less out there that I am willing to go see, but there were a couple I liked. I just looked for a list of movies released in 2010 to refresh my memory but can't find one that isn't a top 10. I haven't seen anything in the top 10. Yikes. That's pretty sad. What movies can I remember seeing?

Sherlock Holmes (hated it). Why? I didn't have that much of a problem with Robert Downey, Jr.'s take on the character of Sherlock Holmes. Well, I did, but could have tolerated it since it was aimed at showing us a young Mr. Holmes. BUT I did hate it because there was no story, or at least no story that worked for a Sherlock Holmes story (or any other in my book). Sherlock Holmes working against someone taking over the world just seems stupid to me. SH is about brains, finesse, clarity of thinking, observation, small details, and stories that are real enough that I feel transported to a different time and place. This movie lost me in the first 15 minutes and although I admit there was some humor throughout that I enjoyed, overall it was a borefest. Noise and action are just noise and action without a story that matters. Give me Basil Rathbone anytime.

Iron Man 2 (hated it). Like the first one well-enough though I'm tired and bored with superheroes in general. This one, however, sucked the big one. Boring from the very beginning with the preening show put on by Iron Man. I think it was on purpose--the preening--because eventually I caught on that IM really wanted the world to think he'd lost it (I think). But the boring part is unforgivable. There's some old saying I've heard that one minute of screen time feels like 10 minutes to the audience one the point is made, but the makers of this movie either didn't know about this or didn't give a shit.

Oh crap. The review below? That movie was in 2009. THAT's shows you how many good movies came out before December this year. I'm leaving this though, because I haven't yet found a 2010 movie I like as well

500 Days of Summer (kind of loved it ~~considering what else was out there this year~~). This had charm. I enjoyed both the characters and the fact that, as I recall, they don't end up together. This felt real and fun and authentic to me. Not one of the greatest movies I've ever seen but a real oasis for someone who wants more story and character, less ka-boom.

Date Night (meh). Wanted to love it, but it was boooooriiiing. Love Steve Carell, like Tina Fey, and hoped that there would be a terrific story for these two, but this wasn't it. Again the problem is/was the screenplay itself wasn't really developed. I think people writing comedy these days need to go back to the 80's and learn about structuring a movie so that the comedy builds, that there is conflict for the characters through out, with each other, with the enemies, with the world. For example, it might have helped if Steve and Tina (can't remember their names) had some real problems between the two of them, any meaningful conflict at all. As any eighties comedy would suggest, people cannot get along, there must be misunderstandings that the main characters must work through themselves in addition to fighting outward forces. The whole thing with the drawers being left open--what a great gag I thought-- but it was never brought up again. Comedy requires setup and pay-off and escalating pay-off at that. I don't remember much about this except disappointment and I don't really want to see it again enough to analyze everything I found disappointing. Hopefully they might make another, better movie together in the future.

Alice in Wonderland (meh) Forget the 3-D. I would have enjoyed this movie much more had I seen it in 2-D. I didn't mind the combining of varies Lewis Carroll stories for this particular movie and thought Helena Bonham Carter was pretty amazingly good and Anne Hathaway was pretty dreadful. I wouldn't bother to see this again...or recommend it.

How to Train Your Dragon (like it). Not one to adore kids' movies, but liked this one. It was surprisingly entertaining.

That's for today and maybe more tomorrow. I finally found a list of 2010 movies here: http://www.leesmovieinfo.net/WBOYearly.php

Every Day Fiction's December Calendar

2010-11-30T07:32:00.000-08:00

December begins tomorrow bringing with it a fair amount of chaos. However, remember when you need a short break Every Day Fiction provides flash fiction that can be read during a coffee break.

Table of Contents

Dec 1	Joyce Statton	Tidings
Dec 2	J.D. Rice	Questions
Dec 3	JR Hume	Dust on the Sun
Dec 4	Susan Kaempfer	How to Embarrass Mum and Dad
Dec 5	Ken Liu	The Letter
Dec 6	Joe Alan Artz	Knott Travel
Dec 7	Kurt Kirchmeier	Clicks and Whirs
Dec 8	A. F. McKeating	Listening
Dec 9	Randall Brown	Just Like Earth Girls
Dec 10	Karen Laine	Taking Chances
Dec 11	Brittany Michelson	Truth In Lemonade Stands
Dec 12	Alex Fleetwood	The Meaning of Hard Work
Dec 13	John Impey	Refrigerator Sphinx
Dec 14	Mark Wolf	Koggie and the Autonomous House
Dec 15	Omenka Helen Uchendu	If Only God Were Watching
Dec 16	Kaolin Imago Fire	It Comes Down to This
Dec 17	Elizabeth	Your Smile
Dec 18	Howard Cincotta	Silent Velcro
Dec 19	Mary J. Daley	Ready or Not
Dec 20	Richard Lamb	Making Merry
Dec 21	H.P. Mandrake	Long Goat
Dec 22	Ben Carey	The Girl with the Red Ribbon in Her Hair
Dec 23	Wanda Morrow-Clevenger	Roses and Peppermint Candy
Dec 24	Digby Beaumont	Who Knew More than Karen Carpenter About a Broken Heart?
Dec 25	Kip	Kringle
Dec 26	Heather Holland Wheaton	Coats
Dec 27	Patrick S. Tomlinson	Earth Girls are Hard
Dec 28	Elizabeth Perfect	The Night the Planes Stopped Flying
Dec 29	Dee Turbon	One Kiss
Dec 30	Sandra Crook	The Old Ways
Dec 31	P. Djeli Clark	The Machine

FFC Listed as one of BEST Online Consumer Mag Markets!

2010-11-26T13:00:00.000-08:00

Terrific news came this morning. And I should have figured it out for myself! EDF's Camille and Jordan sent congrats on Flash Fiction Chronicles being listed in the Nov/Dec Writers Digest as one of the 25 Best Online Consumer Magazine Markets!!! Who knew?! Not me! I knew EDF and 10 Flash were listed and SmokeLong Quarterly mentioned too, but it never occurred to me that FFC made one of the lists!!! Yippee!!

A Story for Veteran's Day

2010-11-11T08:15:00.000-08:00

Dawn's Early Light

The morning he was to leave, I slipped into his room. Pale light through curtains lined-up like soldiers, tall, straight, at attention. I had to admit it looked a little glorious, but then I turned back to my boy. The quilt my own mama made was pulled right up to his chin, his mouth was open, his breathing soft like feathery wind.

Sweat glistened on his forehead and as I stroked the dampness away, he opened his eyes, confused for a moment but comfortable too. Warm. Safe under his own mama's gaze.

They say the worst thing in the world is to bury a child. I testify to that. Toby went to war because he was told it was the right thing to do. Not by me. Never me.

by Gay Degani

Steve Lowe is giving away books!

2010-11-10T07:19:00.000-08:00

Steve Lowe is having a promotion at his website Shitzengiggles and giving away FREE BOOKS. Check it out here: http://steve-lowe.com/2010/11/09/who-wants-a-free-book/!

Phew! What a fun couple of weeks!

2010-11-06T13:56:00.000-07:00

Wednesday night was the signing at Vroman's for the W.W. Norton Hint Fiction Anthology edited by Robert Swartwood. I enjoyed meeting fellow contributors Jenn Alandy, Jeremy D. Brooks, Daniel A. Olivas, Robin Rozanski and A. J. Slye. The bookstore personnel were wonderful and the audience much appreciated. Signed copies are now available at Vroman's. Think Christmas! Think independent bookstores!

New Reviews and Mentions of the Hint Fiction Anthology
Los Angeles Times
The Washington Post

Here's a list of current stories by me online:
Something about LA at Litsnack
Body-Snatching at LITnIMAGE
Isla Vista, 1970 at Foundling Review
Closed Down at 50 to 1

Thriller! A Young Adult Anthology is out with my story, "Gravity Island," included. Available at a discounted price at the Pill Hill/Static Movement Online Store.

There's a new review up at Sonar4 Landing Dock Reviews of Pomegranate Stories. Check it out here.

Goals for November

2010-11-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

I'm always writing about goals and then ignoring them, but I'm going to be perverse and keep posting them until I get it right. Goal #1 is the novel. You've heard it before and most of you probably don't believe it will happen, but it will! It will!

My other main goal is to get some help at Flash Fiction Chronicles. Denny Lee Vanvick has agreed to help out but I think I need a couple more editors. So if you are interested in applying to be an assistant editor, send me a note and tell me what part you'd like to play. Or if you are interested in having a once a month feature column at FFC, I would like to consider that as a possibility too. If interviewing, writing craft posts, finding articles, proof-reading, gathering news bits, or posting a weekly photo prompt appeals to you let me know.

What else for November? My son and his wife are coming for early Thanksgiving so I'm looking forward to that. My goal is to be in a good work place (meaning a few posts ahead at FFC and significant novel progress) by the time they get here so I can reeeellllllaaaaaxxxxx and enjoy their visit.

I think that's it. I also want to enjoy the signing Wednesday night at Vromans for the Hint Fiction anthology. Editor Robert Swartwood will be out for that and I hope lots of people come. It's at 7:00 November 3 upstairs at Vromans in Old Town.

The New Yorker Reviews Hint Fiction Anthology

2010-10-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

Hint Fiction Anthology,
edited by Robert Swartwood

WOW!!!! Robert Swartwood's Hint Fiction Anthology is featured on the New Yorker website today and it's all positive.

For those of you who live in the So Cal, you can meet Robert (plus local authors and me too) at Vromans on Colorado Blvd in Old Town Pasadena on Wednesday, November 2, at 7:00 p.m.

Directions to Vromans

HINT FICTION ANTHOLOGY REVIEWS
The New Yorker Review of Hint Fiction Anthology
Boing Boing
NPR
WOW's The Muffin
Tom Kepler Writing
Three Guys
Jason Jordan and His Blog

Body-Snatching at LITnIMAGE!

2010-10-24T15:50:00.001-07:00

Invasion of the Body Snatchers, 1956

I'm excited to have a piece at LITnIMAGE. If you have time to check it out, here's the link: Body-Snatching. Thanks Roland.

And a special treat: Find the trailer of the 1956 movie here.

Published in Foundling Review

2010-10-22T17:51:00.000-07:00

Bank of America, Isla Vista, 1970

I have a story up today at Foundling Review called Isla Vista, 1970. Check it out if you have time.

Every Day Fiction's October Calendar!

2010-09-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Every Day Fiction is looking for someone to read stories for consideration in the ezine. It is a fabulous learning experience. Here is the application: http://www.everydayfiction.com/stories/wp-content/uploads/volunteer-slush-readers-wanted.pdf

October Line-Up

Oct 1 Zoe Palmer/Space to Breathe

Oct 2 Lynsey Miller/Mine

Oct 3 Sarah Evans/Being Bold

Oct 4 Matt Cowens/Fire Safety

Oct 5 Leigh Kimmel/The End of Her Line

Oct 6 Debbie Cowens/No Smoke Without Fire

Oct 7 A.L. Sirois/Closed System

Oct 8 Stef Hall/After The Fire

Oct 9 C.L. Holland/The Girl With the Clockwork Heart

Oct 10 Felicia Aguilar/Brutal Truths

Oct 11 Robert Schladale/That’s A Promise

Oct 12 Ben Langdon/The Girl On The Beach

Oct 13 KJ Kabza/How the Snake Got the Fork in His Tongue

Oct 14 Rasmenia Massoud/House Cleaning

Oct 15 Robert Edward Sullivan/Level Up

Oct 16 Rachel J Bailey/The Golden Toad

Oct 17 TFAhan/Panhandle Oil Rig

Oct 18 Stephanie King/Siren Song

Oct 19 Carmela Starace/And They Called It Puppy Love

Oct 20 Erin Lawless/Succubus

Oct 21 Liz Penn/One Step Behind

Oct 22 Martin Brick/The Perils of Thoughtful…

Oct 23 Alex Shvartsman/Good Advice

Oct 24 AJ Smith/Never Tell

Oct 25 John Impey/The Trial Of The Flea

Oct 26 Nathaniel Johnson/Bullyboys

Oct 27 Autumn HumphreyThe Valley of Death

Oct 28 Meghna Pant/Family Dinner

Oct 29 Jessica George/Fresh Snow

Oct 30 JR Hume/The Condemned Man

Oct 31 Tom Kepler/Spider

SmokeLong Quarterly Reader? Me!

2010-09-20T17:48:00.000-07:00

Just to let you know I'm reading for SmokeLong this week as "Reader." Send in your BEST stories!!http://smokelong.submishmash.com/Submit

Nominations for the 4th Annual Micro Awards

2010-09-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

The 4th Annual Micro Award will be open for submissions from Oct 1 - Dec 31, 2010.

The Micro Award is presented annually for flash fiction not exceeding 1000 words. Stories of all genres originally published in 2010 are eligible. Editors may submit two stories; writers may submit one. The winner of the $500 prize and all other finalists will be announced on Feb 17, 2011.

Visit the website for official rules and submission guidelines: http://www.microaward.org/.

There will be blood!

2010-09-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

Love that line and I've just given some of my own to AJ Brown over at his Type AJ Negative blog. If you've got time to read my rather long interview, that would be great, but also check out John C. Mannone's post over at Flash Fiction Chronicles about Seducing the Muse.

Minor Changes

2010-09-04T16:10:00.000-07:00

Doing a little online house keeping today by combining my "official" website with my Words in Place blog since it's time to keep things simple (time as it refers both to age and season!!) So if you look me up as "gay degani" and click on http://www.gaydegani.com/, you'll end up here. Or if you click on http://wordsinplace.blogspot.com/ you'll end up here. See how easy that is?

I've also brought over a couple of pages from my website, one is a summary of how to give specific purpose to drafts of a work-in-progress and the other is a list of books under 300 pages. These are all that remain of my English 1A website. I've also tried to unclutter the main page of the blog. Now some of the items that used to be in the right hand column have their own pages. Under Words in Place heading you can now find links to my writing online, interviews, articles, and reviews of Pomegranate Stories.

I hope to add a new "about me" page as well as a page feature past prompts from Flash Fiction Chronicles.

Shaking the Summer Heat

2010-08-25T11:29:00.000-07:00

My office is upstairs in our garage which means when it is 88 degrees outside, it's about 100 inside. I've had a busy summer, distracting and since July, not much writing getting done, letting things like being kicked off the Internet for a few days and the hot weather deter me.

BUT! I woke up this morning motivated and ready to ignore all the little procrastination hurdles that have kept me from getting down to it, and just get down to it. I feel kind of normal again. Yay! So I'm going to set up some goals here just to help me stay focused.

Writing! Goals!

1. The Novel

No. I haven't finished another draft and I haven't even looked at it. However, something I heard in Steve Almond's class at Tin House finally resonated with me. I've tried to complicate this project beyond my abilities and therefore have added years to the project. The good part of this is that my skills have certainly improved so when I do get this sucker done, it will be better than it would have. The bad part is I wouldn't let go of my idea that if I worked hard enough, I could bend some rules and make something really original work. And that's a great idea. It is, but not if the idea gets in the way of the story itself.

I have a good good story. I love my story. But I think I've been too in love with my story and need to get out of my own way--as they say. So thanks Steve, for your "think twice before you

wrinkle time" suggestion. This thinking this through business has led me to feel confident that I can get this project done this fall...and done with a minimum of angst. Much grass to you.

2. Short Stories

God, I love writing short stories, especially flash. And I will always write them, but what I'm thinking now is that I've gotten lazy. I love flash because I have so much going on in my head...ideas are never a problem...and the shorter format allows me to use the ideas that won't hold up to a longer format. However, some of the WILL and SHOULD and I often feel resistant to doing this... or as I said, I get lazy.

One of my goals is to work on recognizing whether a story needs to be flash or longer--me, myself, before offering it up. Maybe come up with questions to put each "start" to a test of whether it should be worked long or short?? Not sure what I'll do, expect I plan to pay more attention so that pieces that fail as flash will eventually get the depth they need.

3. Online Presence

Facebook, Flash Fiction Chronicles, Zoe, Fictionaut, Every Day Fiction, all these things have helped me become a better writer and I will not give them up. What I need to do though is make certain that I don't spend more time than I have just floating around. I am pretty good at not letting these take up too much of my time and I feel they are important--doing my part to support the online writing community and to also keep me abreast for my own writing as to what is happening out there in the ether--but I perhaps need to figure out a more efficient way of working and perhaps ask for help more often.

New Fiction and Non-Fiction Up

2010-08-11T17:29:00.000-07:00

My story, "Socks," is up at Metazen this month and I also have a piece on craft up at Flash Fiction Chronicles called Using Essay Techniques in Fiction.

I'm back from much traveling about and anxious to get into the groove of writing everyday. After a wonderful experience at Tin House, I have several stories and my novel that I want to complete and have some new approaches to try. Steve Almond
was a terrific help to all of us who were part of his class in July. I urge those who need an emersion experience to consider attending the Tin House Writing Workshop next year. Three lectures a day, workshop time, and readings every nice can rev up anyone's motor--and commitment. Now go out and read Steve's book, Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life: A Book by and for the Fanatics Among Us.

EVERY DAY FICTION Reads for August

2010-08-09T08:01:00.000-07:00

Every Day Fiction features a new flash story 365 days a year.

August’s Table of Contents

Aug 1/Carol Ann Fears/Existential Snare
Aug 2/Brother Greg/Art Moron
Aug 3/Kit Lamont/Seeds
Aug 4/Milo James Fowler/Captain Quasar and the “If Only” Elixir of Opsanus Tau Prime
Aug 5/Trish Bowcock/Confinement
Aug 6/Joshua Tate/The Easy Target
Aug 7/Oonah V Joslin/Moving Times
Aug 8/A. S. Andrews/Wherein Fear of Karma Dawns Too Late
Aug 9/Cat Rambo/The Investigation
Aug 10/Pam L. Wallace/When Pigs Fly
Aug 11/Jason Stout/Her Cousin
Aug 12/Ben Langdon/Forget, To Live
Aug 13/Victorya/Pepito and the Ferret
Aug 14/James Kidd/Holes In The Walls
Aug 15/Peter C. Loftus/Sword and Fish
Aug 16/Janel Gradowski/Burning Love
Aug 17/Shane Oshetski/Doll Parts
Aug 18/Maureen Wilkinson/When Violets Bloom
Aug 19/Peter Tupper/The Problem of Pain
Aug 20/AJ Smith/Old Jim
Aug 21/Kate Larkindale/In The Bedroom
Aug 22/Bernard S. Jansen/People Need to Know
Aug 23/Tim Galati/A Sunrise Enlightens
Aug 24/Douglas Campbell/The Shock Of Cold Water
Aug 25/Suzanne Warr/The Immortal Horse
Aug 26/Lynsey Miller/Tuesday Afternoon
Aug 27/Robert J. Santa/The Invisible Sword of Patterson Mitchell
Aug 28/Nicholas Ozment/The Old Man Down the Road
Aug 29/Stephen V. Ramey/Beauty and the Butler
Aug 30/Ed Buchanan/The Weatherman
Aug 31/Erin Ryan/Going through the Motions

UP at Smokelong Quarterly!

2010-07-26T07:15:00.001-07:00

I'm thrilled to announce the new Smokelong Quarterly double-issue is out! My story, Complicit, was a Smokelong Weekly feature back in February and is now up again as well as an interview of me by Tara Laskowski. Beth Thomas and Tara are the senior editors of Smokelong taking over for the wonderful Dave Clapper and it's clear they are determined to continue to make Smokelong beautiful and relevant (and I'm not saying that because I have a story there!)

And one more shout out to those who gave me feed back on "Complicit" when I was revising it, especially Randall Brown of FlashFiction.net.

COMPLICIT

INTERVIEW of me BY TARA LASKOWSKI

Two More for July

2010-07-15T05:57:00.000-07:00

"Amok" is up at The Molotov Cocktail and "To Have and to Hold" at Every Day Fiction. Both are short and quick.

The Binnacle's Seventh Annual Ultra-Short Competition

2010-07-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

Look for me down there in purple and a couple of writing buds too.

The Binnacle is proud to announce the winners and honorees in its Seventh Annual International Ultra-Short Competition.

Top Prose Prize: Emily Jiang - Wedding Song

Top Poetry Prize:Toni Giarnese - Dancing

Top UMM Student Prize: Bunny Richards - Lions in Winter

Honorable Mentions

Adrian S. Potter - Incantation

Alan C. Baird - Hack

Anne Earney - Blue

Barb McMakin - Hopscotch

Barbara Fleming Phillips - First Day of High School

Britt Kaufmann - Last SongCaroline Michalicki - Underground Spudway

Christina Beasley - How the Natural Collects the Divine

Colin Meldrum - House-sitting

Daphne Nichols - Ed and Dorrie, 2009

David Mohan - Before the Lights Went Out

David Jack - There Ance Wis A Laddie Ca’d John - A Scots Limerick

Dave Yost - Homeostasis

David Ochs - All in a day

Debbie Okun Hill - Lying on a Beach Blanket Too Long

Diane Smith - The Rodeo

Donna L. Turello - Miracle

Ed Parrot - Tiburon

Ellen LaFleche - Jesús, the Miner of Gold

Elyse Shapiro - Seasonally Tragic

Emily Spreng Lowery - The Birthday Party

Fehmida Zakeer - Auspicious Numbers

Gay Degani - What's Left

Geoffrey Hoffman - Ruth among the Teacups

Graves Collins - Ghormley, My Shamrock Heritage

Harold Bauld - Trivium

Hema Raman - Go Figure

Jari Thymian - From the Other Side

Jiayan Yu - Dormant

John Gosslee - The Paradise Birds

Josh Byer - A Rough Idle

K. S. Dearsley - The Case of the Geometric Pattern

Kathleen Rivera - Cloud Watching

Kelly O'Neill - In a Moment

Lori Pollard-Johnson - Easy It Ain’t

Lynda La Rocca - The Houseguest

Margot Zucker Mindich - Coming In On the Fire Island Ferry 1977

Max Speed - Hands Off

Meg Eden - Names

Mitchell Noel Kelly - Off the Top of Your Head

Myra Merritt - Beyond

Patti Jazanoski - As Jehovah Is My Witness

Petra Angelen - My Secret Aunt Who Never Was

Pervin Saket - Neighbors

Philip Sultz - The Speck

Rachel Cordasco - (R)evolution

Robert Craig - A Gig to be Missed

Russell Marsh - Late Shift

Ruth Almon - The Change

Samantha Priestley - The Talent

Sue Ann Connaughton - An Elegant Revenge

SuzAnne C. Cole - Pyramids

V S Adams - Past Contempt

Vanessa Gebbie - Swarf

Summer Workshop!!!!!!!

2010-07-07T23:56:00.000-07:00

I'm very lucky. I'm on my way to the Tin House Workshop tomorrow. I'm excited and more than a little ADD. Okay. It's 11:51 at night. My plane leaves at six am tomorrow. I have to get up at 3:00 am. Clothes are neatly stacked on my bed. Just about everything is BLACK. I have no idea what to put into my suitcase. Will it be cold or hot? I pray for cold. I look so much better in a sweatshirt.

I'm going early so I can finish a couple stories and go to Powells. Maybe lose 5 pounds? Does my hotel have a gym? Then I could buy something that isn't black and hot and oh, dear. I hope it's raining.

I just printed up everyone's piece 11 of them changing them all to garamond 11 pt. single spaced so I can manage to carry my brief case. And what am I doing? FACEBOOK! Well, I was doing FB until they told me this was too long so I moved it on over to my blog.

But what I should be doing is looking for flash drives, extention cords, power cords, cat cords (whatever that's called), phone cord, my phone, my notebook I put together with my ticket information, and my camera, my camera charger, my ipod, my earphones, my neck pillow, my earplugs--the days of a writer traveling light are long gone--so what I really want to do is go look at the second half of So You Think You can Dance!

Genre Safari!!! @ Flash Fiction Chronicles

2010-07-06T04:18:00.000-07:00

At Flash Fiction Chronicles, we're planning to spend some time posting various articles about genres and sub genres. We have several writers committed to writing posts, but are on the look out for more. These can be opinion pieces (most discussion of genre falls under the classification since since few people agree), but they should all exhibit knowledge either from experience or research regarding the conventions they discuss.

Genre Safari!!! « Flash Fiction Chronicles

The Element of Surprise and Story Structure

2010-07-04T11:48:00.001-07:00

If you're a writer and you know your use of language is strong but you are struggling with story structure (most of us do) watch this video of Alex Wong and Twitch on So You Think You Can Dance at UTube. Alex and Twitch

Look for "build." How it starts, how it grows, how each change in the music brings a fresh surprise. Strong stories achieve the same kind of surprise.