Robert J. McCarter

Live with Happiness

2026-06-08T08:00:45Z

Looks like I did it again! I commited romance, contemporary romance. My story, "Live with Happiness" is out in Romance for All Seasons: Sunkissed Summer.

This beach read of a story is about a heart broken romance writer who can't finish his beach read novel, The Girl of Summer (yes, it gets a bit meta, there is a story within a story).

This story takes place in the town of Kihei on the island of Maui and, yes, much of it takes place on the beach. It is, ultimately, a story about two people who have been through some tough times relationship-wise trying to find a way to trust again.

So lots of sun, summer, beach time, and romantic complications in Hawaii. Kihei is one of my favorite places in the world, and while I haven't been there in a while, I draw on those warm, summery memories for this story.

Here's the blurb for the book:

Summer. What a great time for romance! Beach holidays. Vacations to faraway places. Even a simple weekend getaway can lead to the kind of romance that will last long after that first breathless kiss in the summer sun or beneath a starry midnight sky.

Romance for All Seasons is proud to present a terrific lineup of stories sure to leave you with that wonderful ah! feeling romance readers live for! Fall in love with these all too human heroines and heroes who meet cute, meet silly, and meet again as they discover happily-ever-afters can be found when and where they least expect it.

Penned by a group of amazing short story writers, each of these tales will leave you believing in true love and happily-ever-afters!

“Campers Passing in the Night” by Thea Hutcheson

“All the Stars in the Sea” by Alexandra Brandt

“Live with Happiness” by Robert J. McCarter

“The Sun is Trying to Kill Me” by Dayle A. Dermatis

“The Sweetness of Summer in January” by Kari Kilgore

“Rehearsal Space” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

“Mondays at the Rock” by Terry Hayman

“South of the Border” by Christy Fifield

“Backyard Bramble” by Meyari McFarland

“The Mona Pizza and the Johnny Pesky Wannabe” by David H. Hendrickson

“Getting Away From It All” by Annie Reed

Be sure to check back with us in September for our next issue, Festive Fall!

Want something to read at the beach, or something that lets you feel like you are at the beach? Be sure to check this one out.

Woody and June Merch!

2026-04-20T08:14:59Z

Back when Volume 3 of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse came out, I did a Kickstarter that had some Woody and June merchandise that was only available through that Kickstarter.

Well, to make a long story short, the print-on-demand vendor, Printful, has made it easy to set up a little store, so the Woody and June merch is now available again at woody-and-june.printful.me!

Very fun! Pictured is the stainless steel water bottle, which I use all the time, and I'm happy to report is holding up very well.

Also available is a coffee mug and a mouse pad (my wife uses this all the time).

If you want a Woody and June memento, well, here you go. And if you have ideas for other merch, reach out.

If you are unfamiliar with the series, there is more information over here. And if you'd like to give it a try, the first episode, "Woody and June versus the Wannabe Warlord" is free to my newsletter subscribers (along with a bunch of other stories in a massive ebook).

2025: The Year in Stories

2026-03-22T16:19:58Z

Looking at the 2024 version of this post and reflecting on 2025, a theme is emerging: life is unpredictable and this has an effect on my ability to get stories out to you all.

I'm in the middle of a huge transition (which I will leave at that for now) which explains why it's so deep into the year before I got to this post.

In any case, here are the stories of mine, short and long, that came out in 2025. You can see all the previous years here .

March

Return to Carterville

I might have gotten a late start to 2025, but started out with not only a full novel, but with the wild end (for now) to the Carterville Mystery Series. So much fun! Read more.

May

Haunted by the Past: A Conner Bright Mystery

From Henry Carter in Carterville we jump to Phoenix private detective Conner Bright with the short story “Haunted by the Past.” In this mystery, Conner must face his past. Read more.

August

Writing Until the End

Another appearance in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, this one with a reprint of "Writing Until the End." This is a curious story about a writer whose characters really want him to do something for them (something, I can relate to). Read More.

The Devil You Know: A Conner Bright Mystery

With The Devil You Know, we wrap up Conner Bright's story (at least for now, that is). Conner is a truly interesting character, and this is the story where it all pays off. Read more.

September

I Am Conner Bright: Four Essential Conner Bright Mysteries

This is not a new Conner Bright story, but a collection all the Conner Bright stories. Together they form a novel-length story of one of my most interesting characters. Read More.

October

The Ghosts and Hauntings Bundle

Always fun to be in a book bundle. This time it was my first novel, Shuffled Off: A Ghost's Memoir, Book 1, taking its place beside a bunch of other great ghost stories!. Read more.

November

Winter Wonders: Twelve Magical Holiday Stories

After years of writing holiday stories, I finally got my own collection of them out, even in time for the season! Read more.

December

A Major Christmas Eve

But I was just getting started on the holiday season. “A Major Christmas Eve” appeared in Romance for All Seasons: Winter Warmth. Read More.

What it Takes to Make it In Hollywood

And finally, a different kind of holiday story, one that is dark and dangerous. “What it Takes to Make it In Hollywood” appeared in A Dark and Stormy Holiday. Read More.

Well that was 2025 and here we are already well into 2026. I better get busy with those publishings plans because I have a bunch more stories in the pipeline for you!

Charly with a Y and Wendi with an I

2026-03-09T08:05:23Z

Spring is almost here! And along with it, Romance for All Seasons: Spring Fling, an anthology of spring romances including my story "Charly with a Y and Wendi with an I."

Just like with the last issue of Romance of All Seasons, I'm delighted to have landed a contemporary romance story alongside a bunch of amazing writers!

This story, as you might be able to tell from the title, is all about the characters, Charly and Wendi. These two quirky best friends are getting ready to graduate college and go their separate ways, but might there be something more there for them as they experience spring in Phoenix, Arizona and reminisce about their past?

Here's the blurb for the book:

Springtime. A time for new love, new romance, and discovering that special someone who just might change your life in the best possible way.

Romance for All Seasons is proud to present a stellar lineup of stories of sweet springtime romance sure to leave you with that wonderful ah! feeling romance readers live for! Fall in love with these all too human heroines and heroes as they meet cute, meet silly, and meet again during that magical time of year when the world shakes off the ice and snow and cold of winter and turns its face to the warmth of the springtime sun.

Penned by a group of amazing short story writers, each of these tales will leave you believing in true love and happily-ever-afters!

“White Nun and Rocket Red” by Meyari McFarland

“Senioritis” by Annie Reed

“Lady Liberty” by Dory Crowe

“Playing for All the Marbles at the Frozen Four” by David H. Hendrickson

“Close Encounters of the Best Kind” by Dayle A. Dermatis

“Love Takes Flight” by Lisa Silverthorne

“Gnome Buddy Knows” by Christy Fifield

“Rise Creek” by Karen L. Abrahamson

“Heading for Extra Innings” by Kari Kilgore

“Charly with a Y and Wendi with an I” by Robert J. McCarter

Need something to thaw you out from winter, go take a look!!

What it Takes to Make it In Hollywood

2025-12-21T23:26:00Z

Today, a very different kind of holiday anthology came out. A Dark and Stormy Holiday features my story "What it Takes to Make it In Hollywood."

Lyn Worthen, the editor of the book, said "What it Takes to Make it In Hollywood" is a "deliciously convoluted tale."

And it is. It's about a man waking up in a snowstorm not knowing where he is, followed by the discovery of a dead body and his arrest. Things just get more complicated from there.

It's a crime story, a mystery, and has a hat tip to the Knives Out series of movies.

Yup, it was a fun one to write. If you want a different view on the holiday season, one that is a little darker and a little more dangerous, do check out A Dark and Stormy Holiday.

Here's the blurb for the book:

This holiday season, the wind whistles around the windows and a chill creeps down your spine. It’s winter noir — moody and pensive, in the Gothic tradition of "something's not quite right."

A Dark and Stormy Holiday offers twelve contemporary tales where ordinary people come face to face with the darker undercurrents of the season, from broken promises to desperate gambits that put everything at stake. Festive facades hide secrets, the falling snow conceals hidden risks. Sometimes touching, sometimes suspenseful, these stories take us over the river and through the dark woods into unsettling situations in stark contrast to the usual festivities.

And yet, they celebrate anyway...

Contains stories by Annie Reed, Lauryn Christopher, Dayle Dermatis, Brenda Carre, Karen Abrahamson, B.A. Paul, Meyari McFarland, K.M. Rockwood, Merrilee Robson, L.J. Hilse, Robert J. McCarter, and Fulvio Gatti. Edited by Lyn Worthen

A Major Christmas Eve

2025-12-01T08:04:56Z

I've written a lot of holiday stories over the last five years and this year I've got a bunch of them for you. Not only did my holiday collection, Winter Wonders: Twelve Magical Holiday Stories, get released, but now my short story "A Major Christmas Eve" has been published in Romance for All Seasons: Winter Warmth.

I must say I'm pretty delighted to be in this anthology for a bunch of reasons, but mainly because this is a contemporary romance anthology, so no ghosts, no spaceships, no elves. Given my scifi geek background, I'm just so pleased to have written a straight up romance that was good enough to land in this anthology with all these other amazing writers.

"A Major Christmas Eve" is a sweet second-chance romance between two older people that have been through a lot and think that love is done with them. It takes place in a lovely mountain town and features a bookstore called Major Books. It's a bit nostalgic, a bit sweet, and examines how finding the right person matters at any age.

If you are looking for some stories to warm up your winter this is a great choice!

Here's the blurb:

In this supersized inaugural issue, Romance for All Seasons is proud to present a stellar lineup of sixteen stories of sweet wintertime romance sure to warm your heart on the coldest, darkest nights of the year. Fall in love with these all too human heroines and heroes as they slip and fall, stumble and bumble, trip and even faceplant their way to happiness together.

Penned by a group of amazing short story writers, each of these tales will leave you with that wonderful “ah” feeling romance readers live for!

“The Idiot and the Odyssey” by Ron Collins

“The Four Dog Night” by Susan J. Kroupa

“A Waste of Cycles” by David H. Hendrickson

“Blue Christmas at the Starlight Lounge” by Stephannie Tallent

“Reindeer Heart Collision” by Dayle A. Dermatis

“Christmas Baggage” by Lisa Silverthorne

“The One-Hit Wonder of Mulberry Court” by Annie Reed

“Deerly Undeparted” by Robert Jeschonek

“The Nice Capades” by Melissa Yi

“Under Cover of Night” by Cate Martin

“A New Saturnalia” by Alexandra Brandt

“Chicken Dance” by Johanna Rothman

“It Takes Two” by Karen L. Abrahamson

“The Queen of Light and the Perfect Elf” by Tina Back

“The Baron and the Hanukkah Miracle” by C. S. Stein

“A Major Christmas Eve” by Robert J. McCarter

Be sure to check this one out!

Winter Wonders

2025-11-14T05:10:00Z

I love to write short stories, especially for a themed anthology. The restrictions (theme, content, length, and time) all funnel the creative energy in lovely ways.

But that's not the best part. The best part is the needs of the anthology pushes my writing in new directions and I end up with stories I would never have otherwise.

My new collection, Winter Wonders: Twelve Magical Holiday Stories is case in point.

This anthology only exists because back in late 2018, I started writing for the WMG Holiday Spectacular. This innovative holiday advent calendar of stories ran from five years (2019-2024) and I was lucky enough to land several stories in it and the following anthologies.

This collection is a direct result and has a bunch of great stories, some stand-alone and quite a few from my series:

The Magical Carterville Christmas Lights (A Carterville Mystery)
Emily Loves Christmas, Emily Loves Murder (A Walter Anchor Mystery)
Meet Cute: The Musical
Dealing Seconds
The Tinkerer’s Last Gift
A Grave Kind of Love (Takes place in my ghost world)
A Ghost in Time
A Hollow Earth Thanksgiving (A Hollow Earth Adventure)
Ghosted (Takes place in my ghost world)
Line Dancing with Vampires (A Conner Bright Mystery)
A More Adventurous Afterlife (Takes place in my ghost world)
The Great Turkey Heist

Here's the blurb:

The winter holiday season is full of wonders, represented beautifully by this collection of short stories by Robert J. McCarter.

It’s all here: from romance to mystery to time travel to action and adventure; from a musical to a period journey in the hollow earth; from Thanksgiving all the way through Valentine’s Day.

Each story provides a unique look on the wonders of our winter holidays, including:

Meet Cute: The Musical: A daring prose musical complete with the lyrics of five original songs
A Hollow Earth Thanksgiving: A rousing adventure in the hollow earth in 1899
Ghosted: A tender ghostly romance
The Great Turkey Heist: A nostalgic adventure where stealing a turkey means everything to three kids and their family
Line Dancing with Vampires: A action-packed crime story featuring Phoenix detective Conner Bright

If you love the winter holidays, curl up with Winter Wonders for a unique and unforgettable experience of the holiday season.

Go get your copy today!

Find out more about the WMG Holiday Spectacular.

The Ghosts and Hauntings Bundle

2025-10-04T12:44:38Z

Welcome to the spooky season! Fall is here and along with it one of the best holidays of the year, Halloween! This year, I get to celebrate it by being in a story bundle (this is where a group of similarly themed ebooks are bundled together for a low price)!

My novel Shuffled Off: A Ghost's Memoir, Book 1 is part of The Ghosts and Hauntings Bundle. For those of you not familiar, Shuffled Off is a first-person ghost story (yes, the ghost tells his own story) complete with this ghost perpetrating a haunting, coming to terms with his own death, watching ghosts perform Shakespeare's plays in the graveyard at midnight, and much more.

Here's a review of Shuffled Off

“The wry humor and raw emotional truth of JJ’s journey will have readers rooting for him from death to eternity.” Kirkus Reviews

And here's what Kristine Kathryn Rusch, award winning author and editor and curator of this bundle had to say about Shuffled Off

Robert J. McCarter writes about ghosts a lot, always with a surprising point of view. Here, the surprise is the science fiction edge to what is already a unique story. This novel, with its warmth, will touch your heart. – Kristine Kathryn Rusch

There are nine other books by some great authors (I know most of them personally and they are amazing writers; I'm proud to be included along with them) plus one of the anthologies in the bundle, Ghosts Among Us, includes a short story of mine called "Death by Vodka." This story takes place in the same world as Shuffled Off.

There's a few things that make this a wonderful offering:

The great stories, of course!
You get to set the price. You get 3 ebooks starting at $5 and 10 starting at $25
A portion of the proceeds goes to World Central Kitchen. They do amazing things feeding people and my wife and I regularly donate to them.

Check out of The Ghosts and Hauntings Bundle!

I Am Conner Bright

2025-09-19T07:08:17Z

Conner Bright is a fun character to write. He's my version of a classic private detective with the obligatory troubled past and problem with alcohol, he's also another one of my Arizona-based characters, but there's quite a bit more to Conner.

He's an Arizona native but looks like and talks like he's from the Australian Outback hiding in plain sight from his traumatic past. And although these stories are all contemporary mysteries, Conner catches the the kinds of cases that look like they are anything but (purple unicorns, chupacabras, hauntings).

With today's release of I Am Conner Bright: Four Essential Conner Bright Mysteries his story is finally all in one place.

If you've been reading Conner's stories over the years, there's nothing new here besides a little backstory on the character, but if you haven't, this is it! Inside this volume are:

While each story is stand aloner, together they weave a longer tale of Conner's struggles with sobriety and coming to grips with his past.

Fun fact: I took the cover photo at Pinacle Peak which is a very Phoenix kind of location. It's this craggy desert formation rising out of the sea of humanity that is the Valley of the Sun. I couldn't help but think of Conner as I hiked the trail.

You can find out about all the Conner Bright stories here.

Here's the blurb for this book:

Private investigator and Arizona native Conner Bright tries to hide from his past with a b-movie quality Australian accent, alligator skin boots, and a bowie knife strapped to his side, but it always seems to catch up to him.

This collection contains four essential Conner Bright Mysteries:

The Case of the Purple Unicorn
Chupacabra
Haunted by the Past
The Devil You Know

While each story is stand-alone, together they comprise a larger novel-length story arc in which Conner wrestles with the demos of his past, tries to keep his addictions at bay, and does his best to do a little good along the way.

From Robert J. McCarter, the author of Out of a Christmas Sky: A Carterville Mystery, comes a private investigator and four cases like no other.

Get your copy of I Am Conner Bright: Four Essential Conner Bright Mysteries today!

The Devil You Know: A Conner Bright Mystery

2025-08-15T07:00:00Z

Today is a big day for my Arizona private detective, Conner Bright! With the release of The Devil You Know, the promise of this crazy character really pays off!

Conner is my version of your classic private detective. He's got a troubled past, no money, a problem with alcohol, and the world never seems to give him a break. But there's more. Conner hides in plain sight in his native Arizona by running around looking like Crocodile Dundee and pretending he's from Australia.

Not only is this the toughest, most personal case Conner has taken on to date, it's the longest Conner Bright Mystery by far!

I love this story because it surprised me. A lot! I just had an idea for a fun opening and didn't think it would turn into a 170 pages of twisty mystery with a large dash of romance that is really a story of betrayal and redemption. For me this is the fun in the way I write since I go along for the ride too. That's right, I write mysteries like without knowing how it's all going to turn out!

Chronologically, it takes place a few months after “Haunted by the Past”.

This is a fun one, but if you haven't tried out Conner Bright yet, his first story, "The Case of the Purple Unicorn", is free to my newsletter subscribers!

You can find out about all the Conner Bright stories here.

Here's the blurb for this story:

When Conner investigates an apparent haunting at a Tempe bar called “The Devil You Know”, his past really catches up with him. One person already died after hearing a malevolent voice that no one else can hear. Can Conner get to the truth before anyone else dies? Can he confront his past and keep ahold of his tentative sobriety?

From Robert J. McCarter, the author of Out of a Christmas Sky: A Carterville Mystery, comes a private investigator and a case like no other.

Get your copy of The Devil You Know today!

Writing Until the End (reprint)

2025-08-10T08:08:21Z

My story, "Writing Until the End," is making its second appearance in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #39

I sure do love it when a story of mine gets reprinted!

Why? Well, when more than one editor says "yes" to a story and then writes you a check to publish it, that has weight, especially with a story that is as weirdly personal as this one.

If you read "Writing Until the End" you won't learn a ton about me, the "personal" part is the experience the protagonist is going through. I don't want to give away anything, but when I wrote this story, I was experiencing the same thing the protagonist is, just not literally.

Okay, to say just a little bit about the story, it is about a writer and his relationship to the characters he has created. It asks the question (the one I was asking myself): what does a writer owe those characters?

Interested? Check out Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #39 or read my initial blog post when this story was published in Gilded Glass: Twisted Myths and Shattered Fairy Tales:

https://robertjmccarter.com/2022/07/writing-until-the-end/

Haunted by the Past: A Conner Bright Mystery

2025-05-09T07:15:00Z

Today my story "Haunted by the Past" is out!

This is one of my Conner Bright stories and the first of three Conner Bright releases this year (or four if you count the collection another story will appear in). That makes this the year of Conner Bright. I've been writing about Conner for over ten years so it's about time he got some focus.

"Haunted by the Past" is a short story and cronologically takes place after "Chupacabra."

If you haven't tried out Conner Bright yet, his first story, "The Case of the Purple Unicorn", is free to my newsletter subscribers!

You can find out about all the Conner Bright stories here.

Here's the blurb for this story:

Investigating an apparent haunting inside the deserted Metrocenter Mall, a place he loved in his youth, Conner will face much more than he bargained for in this creepy, abandoned building. When this bizarre case takes a personal turn, can Conner keep from falling into his old, bad habits? Can he survive?

From Robert J. McCarter, the author of Unfinished Business: The Cases of Walter Anchor, Ghost Detective, comes a private investigator and a case like no other.

Get your copy of "Haunted by the Past" today!

Return Carterville

2025-03-07T06:49:45Z

Since The Blood of Carterville came out in 2020, Return to Carterville is the story I've been waiting to tell.

You see, in The Blood of Carterville I exiled the protaganist, Henry Carter, from the town that bore his name and I did it in such a way that returning was never, ever going to be simple or easy.

Given this fascinating small town full of quirky powers and the curious characters, I went back in time and wrote two more books to explore the conflicts at play in The Blood of Carterville: Out of a Christmas Sky and Destroyer of Carterville.

It was a good thing I did because the conflicts and characters got so much richer and more interesting.

And then, to go forward, I had to write Faces of Carterville and now, finally, Return to Carterville.

It's been a journey for me as a writer writing this series out of order and it's also been a joy. This town, these characters, these strange powers are such a wonderful creative playground. These stories often surprise me, and the characters certainly do! I love that I got to create this fictional town so close to my own home, and to honor this amazing land that I am privileged to call my home.

For reference, here is the correct order to read the entire series (and the stories do all link together and create a much larger story):

Out of a Christmas Sky
Destroyer of Carterville
The Blood of Carterville
Faces of Carterville
Return to Carterville

For a look at the whole series go to CartervilleAZ.com.

If you haven't been to Carterville yet, sign up for my newsletter and you'll get the newsletter exclusive free ebook Bits, Bites, and Rarities which contains the first part of Out of a Christmas Sky so you can see if Carterville is for you!

Here's the full blurb for Return to Carterville:

After the events of The Blood of Carterville, Henry Carter can’t return to the town that bears his name, not unless he can convince his enemy to release him from the promise that uses his own power against him and keeps him away.

But more than that, Henry must confront the Fortune Teller, who engineered Henry’s exile from his home and possesses the greatest gifts of all those with Carterville powers. The Fortune Teller sees the many futures and paid a great price to remove Henry from Carterville.

Despite this, Henry will try to return to Carterville, but to do so he’ll need some help. Can he and his friends find a way for him to return? Can they defeat the Fortune Teller? Can he do it in a way that he can live with?

From Robert J. McCarter, long-time Arizona resident and the author of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, comes a mystery and a town you will never forget.

2024: The Year in Stories

2025-02-17T09:43:01Z

Things happened in 2024, including a death in the family, health issues that needed to be tended to, and a very busy day-job. Because of all this, 2024 wasn't the story year I had planned for, which is, honestly, not surprising. Plans are guesses and my plans got me much further than I would have gotten otherwise.

So, here are the stories of mine, short and long, that came out in 2024. You can see all the previous years here .

January

Woody and June versus the Pod

We started out the year with Woody and June versus the Pod! Always nice to start a year with Woody and June. This is the first episode in Volume 3 and starts us rocketing towards the exciting conclusion of this saga. Read more.

February

Woody and June versus the Impossible Choice

Even more Woody and June with Episode 14 where Woody has to make a truly impossible choice as Volume 3 gains momentum. Read more.

March

A Nice Short Conversation

It was great to return to the pages of Pulphouse Fiction Magazine with "A Nice Short Conversation." This is an original story about an alien encounter with a human, told from the alien's point of view. Read More.

Woody and June versus the Reunion

There's no putting this story down now with Episode 15. Our heroes are entering enemy territory on their way to a climatic confrontation! Read more.

April

Woody and June versus the Standoff

Even more Woody and June (and Dallas too) in an epic standoff at Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Read More.

May

Woody and June versus the End

This is it. This is the moment where all three volumes and seventeen episodes lead to, where the promise of Woody and June really pays off. I love this series so much and this episode is everything why. Read more.

June

Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, Volume 3

And now all five episodes of Volume 3 are together at a great price. I am so happy where this series ended up. Read more.

July

Harry the Ghost Pirate

“Harry the Ghost Pirate” was reprinted in An Afterlife of Really Creepy Stories: Stories from Pulphouse Fiction Magazine. This is the third appearance of this sweet ghost story in the world of Shuffled Off: A Ghost's Memoir. Always fun when a story has multiple appearances.

A Nice Short Conversation

“A Nice Short Conversation” quickly made it's second appearance in The Alien Who Ate My Homework and Burped: Stories from Pulphouse Fiction Magazine.

Faces of Carterville

We are, very happily, back to Carterville with Faces of Carterville, the fourth book in the series. Read more.

September

Finding Time

I love this story collection, mostly becuase I love time travel stories. They are fun to read and, I have found, and a blast to write! Read more.

Okay, that's it for 2024 and the stories of mine that came out. Things didn't go as planned, but it turned out pretty good, all things considered. I'll take it.

Onward to 2025!

Finding Time

2024-11-08T17:42:20Z

Finding Time: 12 Meticulously Crafted Time Travel Stories is my latest short story collection, one I had so much fun putting together, but because of the vagaries of life it's taken me over a month to officially announce it here.

Why? Well, I'm not going to say much except that there was a sudden death in my family and the last thing I wanted to do was to talk about a new book.

I needed a breath, a break, some time to let the dust settle and to feel a little more like myself.

At this point, I don't think the dust is all the way settled, and to push the analogy, don't know that it ever quite will be. It was one of those losses.

But here we are and I really am happy with this collection of stories. It's all about our most precious resource, time, and examines it from many angles: sci-fi, fantasy, and even hard science fiction using Einstein’s theory of special relativity.

I was so inspired as I put this book together that I wrote a brand new story for the collection called, “Which Came First: The Chicken or the Time Traveling Egg?” As you might surmise from that title, there are definitely some lighter stories here and there are some heavier ones too. There is a lot of variety with the commonality of examining time.

We only get so much time, and it is entirely appropriate to examine our own use of time. These fictional stories have helped me do that. Maybe they will help you too.

Here's the blurb:

Time. Limited. Inescapable. Precious beyond measure. But what happens when time doesn’t follow the rules we all know? What are the possibilities? The perils?

In this innovative and thought-provoking collection, Robert J. McCarter, author of Contemporary Musings: Sixteen Contemporary Stories from a Sci-Fi Writer, explores the concepts of time and time travel from many different angles and genres. From fantasy to science fiction, from the wild west to the far future, from casual loops to Einstein’s theory of special relativity, and more.

Find time for an exciting journey into the past and the future through the fabric of time itself with these unforgettable, page-turning stories.

Go get your copy today!

The Holiday Spectacular 2024!

2024-10-30T06:26:54Z

This is the sixth year WMG Publishing has done the Holiday Spectacular and the third year I've had a story in it.

So what is the Holiday Spectacular? It's a program where for 35 days from Thanksgiving to January 1st, they will email you a brand-new holiday-themed short story. It is, basically, an advent calendar filled with holiday stories.

If you like the winter holidays and you like short stories this is for you!

There is a suprise element to this (just like with an advent calendar) so I can't tell you when my story will appear or what it's all about, but I can say that I love this story and am so excited to have it included here.

WMG is doing a Kickstarter for the Holiday Spectacular right now. It's the best way to get in with lots of fun stretch goals.

Come join the holiday fun!

Faces of Carterville

2024-07-12T06:49:24Z

I've been spending a lot of time in Carterville lately getting two new books ready for this year!

The first, Faces of Carterville, is out today!

This book is a little different than the other Carterville books.

First off, is it doesn't take place in Carterville! Note the subtitle is "A Henry Carter Mystery" not "A Carterville Mystery." If you read The Blood of Carterville then you'll have a good idea as to why.

Secondly, it's fairly short, a novella not a novel, about one hundred pages long.

And lastly, and most significantly, it is full of explicit spoilers for the other books. It's just the nature of where the story is and there was no avoiding it.

If you haven't read any Carterville books, this is not the best one to start with, but if you'd like to give the series a try, I am giving away some ebooks of Out of a Christmas Sky. You can enter for a chance to win until July 31, 2024.

Also, Faces of Carterville is 50% off ($1.99 in the US) until the end of July so go grab it now.

Coming later this year is the next full-length Carterville novel, Return to Carterville (see the cover below).

It's been so much fun being back in the world of Carterville, I hope you'll join me.

Here's the full blurb for Faces of Carterville:

After the events of The Blood of Carterville, Henry Carter can’t return to the town that bears his name, but that doesn’t mean mysteries don’t still find him.

When he travels to Pagosa, Springs Colorado to investigate a haunting, he’ll find more than he expects. In that sleepy mountain town, he’ll have to confront his past in unexpected and surprising ways and maybe, just maybe, gain a clue or two on how to do the impossible, return to Carterville.

From Robert J. McCarter, long-time Arizona resident and the author of The Blood of Carterville, comes a mystery you will never forget.

Find out more at CartervilleAZ.com.

Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, Volume 3

2024-06-05T05:00:00Z

Let me tell you a story, about a series of stories that wasn’t meant to be more than a single story. (I’m a writer writing about writing, it’s bound to get a get a bit meta.)

When I wrote a little story called Woody and June versus the Wannabe Warlord, I was doing two things: having fun; and training for a what I called my “short story marathon.”

Going quick is often useful as a writer. Thinking too much about the story you are telling will often give the time for the doubts to creep in and they’ll stop you cold.

And having fun is the only way to go or otherwise, why bother?

So back in 2017 while having fun and writing fast, this popped out:

“Maybe you’re smarter than I am. Maybe you get up in the morning with a clear direction for your day. Knowing what you want to do, having a clear list of things to get done, and checking them off one at a time. Like this:

1) Kill a few zombies for exercise; the apocalypse doesn’t mean you can stop doing cardio.

2) Outwit a psychotic, petty, wannabe warlord freeing your little group from his or her (the apocalypse is equal opportunity) cruel grasp.

3) Find enough food, water, and medicine to get through the day.

4) Lead your hearty band to shelter where you can sleep and not worry about zombies or psychotic, petty, wannabe warlords.

Yeah, you probably are smarter than I am.”

I had been watching The Walking Dead and really enjoying the themes the post-apocalyptic setting can bring, but the violence and the gore, and the... Well, it was a bit too much for me, so the above popped out and it had a great voice and I realized that my creative brain wanted to play in that world but wanted it to be different.

Because of the "training" I was doing, I wrote that first story very quickly.

As always, I read it to my wife, but with lots of warning about how it had zombies and probably wasn’t her cuppa. But it was. She LOVED Woody and June and pretty much insisted that I write more.

The release today makes this a strange moment for me. Today's release of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, Volume 3, marks the end of a very long road I have been on with Woody and June and their adventures. Not just writing, but producing the books, revisiting the beautiful Northern Arizona locations these stories take place in, taking pictures for the covers, running Kickstarters, and publishing the books.

From this one-off, "having fun" story that my wife loved so much and kept encouraging me to write more of them came seventeen episodes in three novel-length volumes that total over 250,000 words of action, adventure, and romance.

This has been a labor of love. Love of these characters. Love of my Northern Arizona home that these books pay tribute to. And love of my wife and my need to delight her with this lighter, more fun and more hopeful take on post-apocalyptic stories.

Will there be more Woody and June? Maybe, but not for a while. I have some ideas, but it's time to work on some other series.

Big thanks to everyone that supported this series either through beta reading for me, backing the Kickstarter, spreading the word, or just reading.

The blurb and newsletter offer are below, but I'm going to end this with something I also wrote at the end of Volume 3:

Until there is more Woody and June to read, remember that your life is an adventure and no matter what current “apocalypse” is befalling you, love hard, be kind, and take it all in stride.

If you are new to Woody and June, just sign up for my newsletter and you can read the first episode for free, Woody and June versus the Wannabe Warlord (plus a bunch of other stories, some exclusive to my newsletter subscribers).

You can find more about the stories and the release schedule over at WoodyAndJune.com.

Here's the blurb for Volume 3.

Love and the Apocalypse

Woody Beckman and June Medina defied the odds and found each other in post-zombie-apocalypse Arizona and made the friend of a lifetime in the free-spirited Dallas. No longer go-it-alone survivors, they now face the future together with something to lose. Each other.

After barely surviving the twisted “game” of the worst petty, psychotic, wannabe warlord of them all, Talia, they decide to go back to the Grand Canyon to stand with the survivors down at Phantom Ranch for a climactic showdown with Talia. But the zombies have started acting strangely, forming “pods,” and showing shocking signs of intelligence.

With everything at stake, can Woody and June beat the odds and survive Talia and the Zs, save Phantom Ranch, and allow their love to flourish all while keeping their humanity intact?

A story of adventure and love and taking things (even the apocalypse) in stride.

Ready for an amazing adventure? Get your copy today!

Woody and June versus the End

2024-05-08T06:00:00Z

When I sat down and started writing Volume 3 of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, I had the end in mind, in so much as I wanted to end this phase of their story.

These stories are many things: post-apocalyptic action and adventure stories; survival stories; an ode to the beauty of Northern Arizona; and a love story.

I knew where I wanted to take the love story, I knew that the central conflict of these books had to come to a head, but given the way I write, I didn't know exactly where things would end up but after the events of Volume 2, the direction Woody and June were headed in was clear.

And here we, finally, are. Today Woody and June versus the End, is available and you can now read about the dramatic conclusion that all three volumes were heading towards.

Is this the end for heroes or just an end? What I can tell you is that after this long (it's basically a double episode) action-packed episode, nothing will be the same for any of them.

If you haven't started reading Volume 3 yet, I recommend waiting until next month when Woody and June versus the Apocalypse: Volume 3 (Episodes 13 - 17) will drop.

You can find more about the stories and the release schedule over at WoodyAndJune.com.

Here's the blurb which will give you a taste of the madness our heroes are about to face!

Is this the End?

In a climactic battle between Woody and Talia, between the survivors of Phantom Ranch and Talia’s superior forces, between the now intelligent Zs and the living, can they survive, much less win?

With nowhere to run, Woody, June, and Dallas must face the end in the only way they know how. With courage. With determination. Together.

A story of adventure and love and taking things (even the apocalypse) in stride.

Ready for an amazing adventure? Get your copy today!

2023: The Year in Stories

2024-04-12T14:48:54Z

2023 was an interesting year for short stories. On one hand I wrote a lot of them, on the other hand, not many came out. There are various reasons for this, the biggest one being that Pulphouse Fiction Magazine was on hiatus.

All that said, here are the stories of mine, short and long, that came out in 2023. Even though I'm very late with this installment, this is my fifth year in a row doing this, and you can see all the previous years.

January

Woody and June versus the Seige

This is the last episode in Volume 2 and boy do things start to get strange--in the best way possible! No spoilers, but what happens here really sets this series apart and leads directly to what happens in Volume 3 (coming out right now). Read more.

February

Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, Volume 2

The omnibus edition of Volume 2 of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, finally lands! This series is so much fun. Read more.

March

The Last Flight of the Acurus

I'll always be very fond of this story. It was the first time I got paid for a story when it appeared in Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #58. It's also quite the adventure! Read More.

Just Another Pinball Wizard

I am delighted that "Just Another Pinball Wizard" appeared in Of Wizards and Wolves: Tales of Transformation. This book is honoring one of my writing teachers and is a particularly fierce tale (one of my rare horror stories) and definitely has something to say. Read more.

April

Gossamer Threads

“Gossamer Threads” was orginally published in Anomalous Readings: Thirteen Curious and Confounding Tales. Here it gets its very own stand-alone version. It was followed by another story in my very unique series of post-apocalyptic tales. Read More.

Destoryer of Carterville Kickstarter

I launched my second Kickstarter for the second book (and third written) in the Carterville Mysteray series. Read more.

May

Gossamer Ghosts

And here's "Gossamer Ghosts," the second story in a very unusual apocalypse. This was first published in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #18. Read more.

July

Contemporary Musings: Sixteen Contemporary Stories from a Sci-Fi Writer

After two years, I finally released another shorty story collection. While these stories are not my usual sci-fie and fantasy stories, I think these are some of my best short fiction. Read more.

September

Death by Cookie

“Death by Cookie” was reprinted in Three Sheets to the Wind. How can I not be tickled to be in anthology with other ghost stories? I do write a lot of these, after all. Read more.

With Light Years Between Us

“With Light Years Between Us” was reprinted in Destination Tomorrow or Yesterday. This is an interesting story; it mixes hard sci-fi (Einstein’s theory of special relativity, no less) into a very human story. Read more.

Wild and Wise

"Wild and Wise" is the second story in my Hollow Earth series. After appearing in Explorers: Cutter’s Final Cut, Issue Three, it got a stand-alone version as several more stories in this 1890s adventure series are about to roll out. Read more.

October

Destoyer of Carterville

With the Kickstarter over, Destroyer of Carterville, the second book the Carterville Mystery series, went out to the world. I believe this is the best book I've written of this type (a complicated mystery with lots of action). Read more.

The Blood of Carterville, Second Edition

Because I wrote this series out of order (The Blood of Carterville was the first book I wrote, but is now the third in the series), I needed to go back and make some revisions. Read more.

November

Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, Volume 3 Kickstarter

That's right, two Kickstarters in one year. What was I thinking??? That I just LOVE this series! That must be it. Read more.

A Hollow Earth Thanksgiving

To round out the year, I finally got a holiday story out in time for a holiday, Thanksgiving in this case. "A Hollow Earth Thanksgiving" is the third story in my Hollow Earth series and it first appeared in A Weird Holiday Season: A Holiday Anthology. Read more.

So that's 2023 in stories for me. Having stacked them all up, I guess that was a pretty good year for stories!

Woody and June versus the Standoff

2024-04-10T05:41:55Z

Woody and June versus the Standoff is the penultimate episode in Volume 3 and boy do things get crazy!. We are building up to a big ending for the volume and this episode sure ramps things up.

Woody is in bad shape. Dallas is captured and in what appears to be an inescapable predicament, and... well, if you've been reading you know there is a lot more going on.

This episode has high stakes, big surprises, and lots of what you expect from a Woody and June story.

You can find more about the stories and the release schedule over at WoodyAndJune.com.

Here's the blurb which will give you a taste of this crazy episode.

Hanging by a Thread

When Talia, the worst petty, psychotic, wannabe warlord of them all, uses Woody’s tricks against him in a sick game designed to kill Woody and Dallas, can he fight through his illness and find a way for both of them to survive? Can June find a way to rally the survivors at Phantom Ranch so they stand a chance against Talia and her superior forces?

With everything at stake, can Woody and June beat the odds and survive Talia and the Zs, save Phantom Ranch, and allow their love to flourish all while keeping their humanity intact?

A story of adventure and love and taking things (even the apocalypse) in stride.

Ready for an amazing adventure? Get your copy today!

Woody and June versus the Reunion

2024-03-06T06:37:48Z

It's March and it's Wednesday, so time for the next exciting episode of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, Woody and June versus the Reunion!

This is the 15th episode and the third in Volume 3. In this story, Woody and June have to face the consequences of their choices and the fallout of what they've been through and see if they can find a way forward, together (these stories are, at their heart, love stories, after all).

You can find more about the stories and the release schedule over at WoodyAndJune.com.

Here's the blurb which will give you a few more details about this episode.

Is Love and Understanding Enough?

Everything changes, but for Woody, June, and Dallas it happens all at once with Dallas getting captured, the Zs starting to act intelligently, June leaving to try to fight a war by herself, and Woody experiencing some disturbing physical changes.

With time running out can Woody and June find their way back to each other and rescue Dallas before it’s too late?

A story of adventure and love and taking things (even the apocalypse) in stride.

Ready for an amazing adventure? Get your copy today!

A Nice Short Conversation

2024-03-02T14:42:18Z

I am very happy to tell you all that my story, "A Nice Short Conversation," is out now in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine's, Issue #26.

It's been over a year since my last story appeared in Pulphouse and I'm happy to be back!

My reading goals for 2024 includes reading more short stories and as I result I've been reading plenty of stories from Pulphouse Fiction Magazine. I've found some real gems and am quite proud to have my stories included in such excellent company.

And, I must admit, it never gets old seeing my name on the cover of a magazine!

"A Nice Short Conversation" is the story of an alien encounter that results in a conversation, a very short one, at least from the perspective of the alien! Go check it out.

Woody and June versus the Impossible Choice

2024-02-07T07:00:00Z

Happy Woody and June Wednesday! It's February, so that means it's time for another exciting episode of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse!

This time it's Episode 14, Woody and June versus the Impossible Choice. In it, things get really tough for Woody when he is forced to make the hardest choice of his life. You might even call it an impossible choice.

This is the second episode in Volume 3 and things are really starting to heat up.

There are five episodes in Volume 3 and one a month will be coming out until we get to the Volume 3 omnibus in June. You can find more about the stories and the release schedule over at WoodyAndJune.com.

Here's the blurb which will tell you a little more about this episode.

Can They Keep the Band Together?

With the three survivors separated and Dallas captured by worst petty, psychotic, wannabe warlord of them all, Talia, Woody faces an impossible choice: does he go after June to try to stop her from throwing her life away or does he go back to the captured Dallas in a vain attempt to save her life?

With everything at stake, can Woody make the right choice so that they all live to fight another day?

A story of adventure and love and taking things (even the apocalypse) in stride.

Ready for an amazing adventure? Get your copy today!

Woody and June versus the Pod

2024-01-10T15:54:53Z

It's a new year (hello, 2024), a new month, and what could be better but to start another Woody and June versus the Apocalypse adventure!

Today Episode 13, Woody and June versus the Pod, the exciting start to Volume 3, is out! This episode starts up right after the end of Volume 2. Our survivors are just not catching any breaks.

I am so excited about Volume 3, it is where, in my not-so-humble opinion, the promise of Woody and June really pays off. It's a post-apocalyptic romp through Arizona in and around the Grand Canyon with zombies, yes, but it's also a love story, a story about friendship and finding your people, and the main characters are very relatable and likeable. It's lighter post-apocalyptic fare and so much fun!

Here's the blurb which will tell you a little more about this episode.

What Do You Do When the Game Changes?

What happens when zombies get curious and what they are curious about is you? That seems to be happening when one of the new zombie pods follow the three survivors as they make their way back to the Grand Canyon for a final showdown with the worst petty, psychotic, wannabe warlord of them all, Talia

When they find themselves ensnared in another one of Talia’s traps and in a confrontation with a zombie pod, can they survive, much less figure out what the Zs want?

A story of adventure and love and taking things (even the apocalypse) in stride.

Ready for an amazing adventure? Get your copy today!

A Hollow Earth Thanksgiving (part 2)

2023-11-10T08:00:00Z

"A Hollow Earth Thanksgiving" came out in November of 2021. It kicked off the The WMG Holiday Spectacular 2021 on Thanksgiving Day, in fact!

Now it's almost Thanksgiving 2023 and this unusual story of a beloved holiday is getting a stand-alone edition along with the rest of my Hollow Earth stories.

What can I say about this story without giving away too much? Well, it's 100% a Thanksgiving story, but it takes place in the hollow earth in 1889 so there is a lot of action and it's unlike any other Thanksgiving story you've read.

Here's the blurb:

A world within our world. A secret tunnel hidden under the Eiffel Tower. A small central sun at the center of our planet warming those lands in the hollow earth. Seas with no horizon because of the concave nature of those lands. Adventures beyond the imagination of the modern man at the dawning of the twentieth century.

Finding himself alone on his favorite holiday, American Thanksgiving, seasoned adventurer Marco Walker ventures out into the wilds of this amazing land in search of his friend, Nekta.

The thick, untamed jungle full of uncatalogued dangers is almost too much for Marco, but when he discovers a creature in need, he finds the true meaning of this holiday and maybe, just maybe, makes a new friend he can share it with.

From Robert J. McCarter, author of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, comes an imaginative story of adventure and companionship unlike anything before it.

And now all the links:

Woody and June are (almost) back!

2023-11-07T07:02:42Z

Action, adventure, and romance set in post-apocalyptic Arizona in and around the Grand Canyon... with zombies! That's Woody and June versus the Apocalypse in a sentence. This series is a blast to write and, from what readers tell me, a blast to read too.

Really, the apocalypse shouldn't be this much fun.

And that's what's different about Woody and June. Sure, things are tough, survival in the desert Southwest is hard, there's danger everywhere, and some really bad people, but Woody and June (and Dallas) keep their humanity and their senses of humor intact.

In this series I take on the post-apocalyptic themes and tropes, which are fascinating, but apply a lighter hand. There's peril and action, tons of it, but it doesn't get so gruesome that you would want to shut your eyes if you were watching a TV show (well... most of the time). The main characters are flawed, very human, but also very likeable.

Now Volume 3 is ready to go and I am launching it, just like Volume 2, on Kickstarter. If you back the campaign, you will be reading all the episodes months before everyone else (the five episodes that make up Volume 3 will be coming out one a month starting in December).

Plus, there's stickers, postcards, and Woody and June merchandise, all of this only available right now as part of the Kickstarter campaign.

Come check out the Kickstarter. You can back for as little as a dollar and join the fun. I'll be providing tidbits about Woody and June over there and if we hit some of our stretch goals I'll go out and create video location tours of some of the amazing Northern Arizona locations where these stories take place in.

There's a lot more information over on Kickstarter, including how this is totally risk free!

It's going to be so much fun! Please consider backing and helping bring this book featuring the undead to life!

Destroyer of Carterville

2023-10-06T06:05:00Z

It's been a few months since the Kickstarter for Destroyer of Carterville and now it's finally time for it to go out to the rest of the world!

I love this series and I really love this book. I think it's the best book I've written of this variety (a complicated mystery with lots of action). In addition, it rounds out this part of the series and reframes what happened in the other two books.

(If you don't recall, I wrote these out of order, starting with The Blood of Carterville, going back in time for Out of a Christmas Sky, and now filling in the gap between them with Destroyer of Carterville).

Not familiar with Carterville? It is a fictional town in Northern Arizona where almost everyone has some kind of power. Carterville is filled full of interesting characters, conflicts, mysteries, and surprises. (Lots more over at CartervilleAZ.com where you can see all the books and read samples.)

If you haven't tried Carterville yet, I'd recommend starting with Out of a Christmas Sky. If you're up to speed, go grab a copy of Destroyer of Carterville. If you want a quick read (and a few implicit spoilers) The Blood of Carterville is a good introduction to the people and powers of Carterville.

If you have been reading Carterville, the second edition of The Blood of Carterville was just released. I have a blog post all about that.

Need more information? Here's some reviews of the Carterville books:

"I loved it! Carterville is sooo much fun!! What a great cast of characters and a well-paced, page turner mystery!" A beta reader on Destroyer of Carterville

"Definitely the best Carterville yet! An excellent slow burn, action/drama with great character development, excellent Arizona presence/description and some great 'hooks' throughout." A beta reader on Destroyer of Carterville

"Interesting cast of characters and an engaging plot with paranormal twists" A GoodReads review of Out of a Christmas Sky

"…it is a very entertaining mystery… Well drawn, flawed characters and an interesting premise" A Kindle review of Out of a Christmas Sky

"Hope There’s More! Great New Series!" A Kindle review of Out of a Christmas Sky

"The truth and intelligence in Robert McCarter's books is above and beyond. I find his stories fascinating, and I would read any book he wrote. " A Kindle review of The Blood of Carterville

Here's the blurb:

Carterville, AZ. Population: 290. People with powers: 200

Just a sleepy former mining town turned tourist haven in the mountains of Northern Arizona until the "incident"-the meteorite that gave everyone in the town powers, but only while in or near Carterville.

When Winston "Smitty" Smith starts receiving bizarre threats, chief of police Henry Carter will put aside their long rivalry to solve this strange case that threatens the future of Carterville itself.

With not just Henry's life on the line, but those he cares about the most, can Henry find a way out of the deadly trap set by an enemy too powerful to beat?

From Robert J. McCarter, long-time Arizona resident and the author of The Blood of Carterville, comes a mystery and a town you will never forget.

The Blood of Carterville, Second Edition

2023-10-06T06:00:00Z

Along with the release of Destroyer of Carterville (see the blog post), today I am releasing the second edition of The Blood of Carterville.

(If you don't recall, I wrote these out of order, starting with The Blood of Carterville, going back in time for Out of a Christmas Sky, and just now filling in the gap between them with Destroyer of Carterville).

Now that I know Carterville so much better, the town, the characters, and the conflicts, this book, the first book written and now third in the series, needed some refreshing.

If you've already read The Blood of Carterville you already know what happened. I made no changes to the plot, just updated the descriptions and added an extra chapter at the end that makes it mesh better with Destroyer of Carterville.

If you haven't read it, I suggest starting with Out of a Christmas Sky and getting the full experience. Each of these books is stand-alone, but together they build a bigger story.

If you have read The Blood of Carterville and want check out the updated version, just contact me, let me know where you bought your copy, and I'll be happy to send you an ebook copy of the second edition.

I hope you all enjoy your visit to Carterville. I sure have!

Here's the full blurb:

Carterville, AZ. Population: 286. People with powers: 198

Just a sleepy former mining town turned tourist haven in the mountains of Northern Arizona until the “incident”—the meteorite that gave everyone in the town powers, but only while in or near Carterville.

Some people think that the blood of Carterville bestows powers, but when a tourist stabs police Chief Henry Carter’s best friend, everything changes.

Henry will do the unthinkable to save his friend. But when the crime gets complicated, can Henry find the culprit and save his town, much less survive?

From Robert J. McCarter, long-time Arizona resident and the author of Shuffled Off: A Ghost’s Memoir, comes a mystery and a town you will never forget.

This is the second edition of The Blood of Carterville released in October, 2023

Wild and Wise (once again)

2023-09-15T06:37:40Z

"Wild and Wise" my second "Hollow Earth Short Story" is ready to go... well, ready to go for the second time.

Back in 2021 it appeared in Explorers: Cutter's Final Cut, Issue Three. Today it gets a standalone edition (and look at that cover!)

These stories are so much fun. Action and adventure in 1889 in the hollow earth, written in the spirit of Jules Verne (who also appears in these stories).

Here's the blurb:

In the year 1889, seasoned adventurer, Marco Walker, finds himself alone in the hollow earth with its many dangerous creatures, but when Marco discovers what looks like human footprints near his encampment, everything changes. Has he found a friend or foe in these the wildest of lands?

From Robert J. McCarter, author of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, comes an imaginative story of adventure and companionship unlike anything before it.

Here is all the link goodness:

Time for some reprints!

2023-09-02T16:49:42Z

This happened a few years ago, occasionally WMG Publishing takes their Pulphouse Fiction Magazine stories and collects them into themed anthologies. I never know if mine will be in one of these until they come out, so it's always a fun surprise.

This time I've got stories in two of their anthologies. Check them out!

"Death by Cookie" appears in Three Sheets to the Wind. How can I not be tickled to be in anthology with other ghost stories (I do write a lot of these; I am finishing a new one up right now, in fact)? Read more about the story

"With Light Years Between Us" appears in Destination Tomorrow or Yesterday. This is an interesting story; it mixes hard sci-fi (Eisenstein’s theory of special relativity, no less) into a very human story. Read more about the story

Pulphouse Fiction Magazine Kickstarter, 2023

2023-07-26T17:21:34Z

After a brief hiatus, Pulphouse Fiction Magazine is back! And it's going monthly!

To quote part of my bio, I am "a regular contributor to Pulphouse Fiction Magazine." What that means quantitively is that I've got fourteen stories out in Pulphouse with more coming.

Short story writing is an important part or my work as a writer and Pulphouse is where a lot of my stories land, so that's why I'm excited about this Kickstarter

As a reader, I love Pulphouse Fiction Magazine. In its pages you'll find stories that are really good and really different. Genre doesn't matter for Pulphouse it's a vibe kind of thing and, fortunately, my stories fit well there.

The yearly subscription drive is going on over at Kickstarter. Check it out. As of this writing, there's about a week to go on the campaign, so don't delay! Not only is this the best way to get plenty of my short stories, there are a lot of other great writers publishing unique and amazing stories. Plus the Kickstarter has some very generous stretch goals--you'll definitely get your money's worth.

And just to put my money where my mouth (and short stories) are, I backed the campaign, even though I get the issues my stories appear in for free. I don't want to miss an issue.

Check it out!

Contemporary Musings

2023-07-14T15:41:58Z

Since I started the introduction to Contemporary Musings: Sixteen Contemporary Stories from a Sci-Fi Writer with a confession, I'm going to start this blog post with a different confession.

Writing about your writing is hard. Take this volume, where the stories span multiple genres and nearly a decade of my writing, how do I say something short and pithy about them all that will let you know if it's your kind of book or not?

Not sure, but here goes:

Like all of my story collections this one is themed and there is something that binds them together (besides me, the writer) and that is these are contemporary stories.

To be more specific, a lot of my stories take place in contemporary settings with something extra (like ghosts or powers), these are contemporary stories that are neither sci-fi nor fantasy. These sixteen stories are about our world, the one you and I are living in.

These are also some of my most personal stories. Sometimes when I write, I'm exploring something or going through something, and that was the case for many of these and that makes them, in my opinion, some of my best short stories.

There's a big mix of genres here: romance, coming of age, mystery, drama, and some that just aren't easy to classify. If you enjoy my sci-fi and fantasy, there's something in here for you.

Here's the blurb:

Contemporary Musings

What happens when you take the fertile imagination of a science fiction and fantasy writer and apply that to modern, contemporary stories? In these pages, Robert J. McCarter does just that, applying the wit, compassion, and character-oriented approach of his sci-fi work to stories a little closer to home with stunning results.

From what happens after “happily ever after” reaches its inevitable conclusion, to a tender coming of age story (or two), to a mouse-eyed perspective on human-sized problems. This collection runs the gamut from mystery to romance, from light to dark, from familiar to unique.

Buckle up for an extraordinary journey as McCarter masterfully blends sci-fi sensibilities with contemporary narratives, delivering a mesmerizing collection that defies convention.

Go get your copy today!

Gossamer Ghosts

2023-05-05T08:00:00Z

Following up on last month's release of Gossamer Threads, another story in the series, Gossamer Ghosts, is now out!

I'll refer you to the orginal post from when the story first came out in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine for a taste of what these innovative post-apocalyptic stories are like and get right to the links and the blurbs:

Gossamer Ghosts. The new release. Ebook and paperback editions available.
This story first appeared in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #18 and is still available there with a bunch of other great stories.

A story from an unusual apocalypse

The aliens came in peace and we met them with violence. After we attacked them, we thought they left for good, but the day the alien's gossamer threads fall, everything changes. Now the dead become gossamer ghosts, haunting the living, intent on balancing the scales of their lives.

In "Gossamer Ghosts," Glenn watches as events unfold that will change everything. Not knowing what they are, he welcomes the gossamer threads when they fall and witnesses the appearance of some of the first gossamer ghosts. Amidst the chaos of a changing world, he desperately tries to pull together the fractured pieces of his family and build something worthwhile as the world falls apart.

In this innovative short story of a "karmic" apocalypse, Robert J. McCarter, the author of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, shares an unforgettable vision of a future, one both terrifying and hopeful.

Ready for more Carterville?

2023-04-25T06:49:02Z

Not familiar with Carterville? It is a fictional town in Northern Arizona full of mystery and surprises and the location of the Carterville Mysteries. (Lots more over at CartervilleAZ.com where you can see all the books and read samples.)

Today the Kickstarter for Destroyer of Carterville launches!! This is the third book written, but the second chronologically and totally reframes the other two books. It's full of mystery, suprises, action, and adventure in the backdrop of a quirky mountain town where almost every has some kind of power.

These books are so much fun to write. Please go take a look (and see the video this nervous writer shot for this).

Gossamer Threads

2023-04-07T15:37:26Z

How to describe my Gossamer stories? I've only written two so far, but the concept is fascinating, so I want to do more. Let me try it say it succinctly:

The subtitle gives you part of the picture, these are stories from an unusual apocalypse, a "karmic" apocalypse if you will.

The aliens came in peace, and we attacked them, so they rained gossamer thread down on us and now when anyone dies and feels they've been wronged, their "ghost" haunts whoever they felt did them the most harm.

Imagine this for a moment: who do all the soldiers "haunt" that die in war? Who do those haunt that were cheated out of a livelihood and died? Who do those that are mentally unstable haunt?

This is really a unique and fascinating world for storytelling.

Gossamer Threads is the first story I wrote in this world. It's fairly dark and doesn't explore the questions above but some other interesting territory.

This story first appeared in Anomalous Readings: Thirteen Curious and Confounding Tales. It certainly belonged there but is getting a solo release today since the next one will be getting a solo release soon.

Here's all the links. The blurb is below.

Gossamer Threads. The new release. Ebook and paperback editions available.
Anomalous Reading: Thirteen Curious and Confounding Tales. The story is here with twelve other stories of mine. Ebook and paperback editions available. You can get a complete list of stories and read excerpts on the Anomalous Readings page.

A story from an unusual apocalypse

In "Gossamer Threads" eleven-year-old Ronny struggles to find a place in this new world. After his mother dies and turns into a gossamer ghost and his father leaves to protect him from the nightmares the dead visit on the living, Ronny sets out after them. But he finds a world full of lonely ghosts, dangerous people, and unimaginable challenges.

In this innovative novelette of a "karmic" apocalypse, Robert J. McCarter, the author of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, shares an unforgettable vision of a future, one both terrifying and hopeful.

Just Another Pinball Wizard

2023-03-13T14:13:09Z

My story "Just Another Pinball Wizard" was recently released as part of Of Wizards and Wolves: Tales of Transformation

This is a special book, and I am very happy to be part of it. It is a memorial anthology for writer/teacher David Farland and all proceeds go to the scholarship fund of the Superstars Writing Seminars, which David co-founded (that is him on the amazing cover!).

I've been to Superstars, met Dave a couple of times, and am a better writer because of his teachings. His death was sudden, and it feels good to do something to give back.

Now I have to talk about this story. On accepting it for this anthology, the editor, Lisa Mangum, paid me about the best compliment a writer can get. She said, "...gives me definite Stephen King-vibes" and "...it was one I kept thinking about long after I read it."

What you hope for as a storyteller is that there is something about your story that not only entertains your audience but leaves them thinking. And I don't mind the Stephen King reference either!

To tell you the truth, I didn't think Lisa would take this story. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was a good story, powerful even, and I definitely had something to say, but it is dark and I wasn't sure it would fit the anthology. "Just Another Pinball Wizard" is one of my rare horror stories and, thematically, explores what we will do to each other to feed our own addictions.

The book has gotten a nice review from Publishers Weekly:

“By turns heartbreaking and humorous—but always magical—this anthology is a fitting tribute that’s sure to please Farland’s fans.”
Publishers Weekly

And here's a video review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCmYnsqMgkM

Be sure to check this one out!

The Last Flight of the Acurus

2023-03-08T08:30:00Z

This story has been out for a long time (ten years now!) and it's finally getting a stand-alone release today! This is a special story for me for a bunch of reasons

It's the first time someone paid me for a story.
It was one of my first stories to be released in audio.
It's hard sci-fi, which I don't write much.
Some very personal things drove aspects of this story.

I wanted to do this quite a few years ago but couldn't find an appropriate image for the cover. For me, a cover is what makes a book start to feel real, so when I finally found the right image, I knew it was time.

There are a lot of ways to enjoy this story, some of them free. Here they all are (including the new stand-alone edition)

The Last Flight of the Acurus. The new release. Ebook and paperback editions available.
Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #58. This is where it first appeared.
Anomalous Reading: Thirteen Curious and Confounding Tales. The story is here with twelve other stories of mine. Ebook and paperback editions available.
StarShipSofa episode 394. This features an audio edition of this story as well as one of my other stories.

Read (or listen) any way you like. Here's the blurb for the story:

He'll risk everything to save his friend

Adventurous by nature and inspired by man's colonization of the Moon and Mars, Rajesh Wells became a belter, one of the pioneering men and woman living and dying in the asteroid belt.

But when disaster strikes and his ship is disabled, Rajesh finds himself facing his biggest challenge yet. With rescue a long way off and his commander and friend spinning helplessly towards an asteroid and certain death, Rajesh ventures out alone into the dark void to save her.

It will take all his courage, every trick he can come up with, just to survive.

In this taunt novelette of friendship and survival in space, Robert J. McCarter, the author of Seeing Forever, takes you to the asteroid belt with a surprising tale of friendship and bravery that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, Volume 2

2023-02-01T06:46:08Z

Drum roll please...

After these many months, the omnibus edition of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, Volume 2 is finally out!

Five new episodes with adventure, romance, and zombies that careens across Northern Arizona. These episodes make up a novel-length story that is a blast from start to finish.

If you didn't get in on the Kickstarter or weren't grabbing the episodes as they came out, well then, now is the time!

The stories are so much fun to write, and I think that comes through. If you want just a taste, the first episode, Woody and June versus the Wannabe Warlord, is free with a bunch of other stories to my newsletter subscribers. Sign up and get start reading!

Here's the blurb:

Love and the Apocalypse

Woody Beckman and June Medina defied the odds and found each other in post-zombie-apocalypse Arizona. No longer go-it-alone survivors, they now face the future together with something to lose. Each other.

After escaping the Grand Canyon and Phantom Company, June’s ex now wants revenge. Together with Dallas they’ll face off against Talia and her twisted “game” in a wild adventure across Northern Arizona. It will take every trick they can come up with, every ounce of courage, and all their ingenuity just to survive.

Can Woody and June beat the odds and let their love flourish in a world of zombies and psychotic, petty, wannabe warlords?

A story of adventure and love and taking things (even the apocalypse) in stride

Ready for action and adventure with a dash of romance and a generous helping of zombies? Go get your copy today!

2022: The Year in Stories

2023-01-19T14:39:41Z

There are many ways to mark the passage of a year. As a storyteller, it seems appropriate to take a look at the stories of mine that came out in a year. Each one is a victory. It's not easy to land a story with an editor and it's not easy to find the courage (and the time) to put your own stuff out there.

So here is the year 2022 in terms of my stories.

February

The Root Canal Tango

I just love that title--how the hell does a root canal and a tango go together? "The Root Canal Tango" manages that and appeared in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #16 . Read more.

July

Gossamer Ghosts

I've got a couple of "Gossamer" stories now. I'm calling them "Stories from an Unusual Apocalypse." You have to read this one to understand; it's really different. It appeared in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine’s, Issue #18. Read More.

"Writing Until the End"

I'm pretty pound of this story. Gilded Glass: Twisted Myths and Shattered Fairy Tales is an anthology of myths and fairy tales and "Writing Until the End" is a writer's myth. This story is the last story in the anthology, making it the taste readers are left with when they are done with the book. Pretty cool! Read more.

Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, Volume 2 Kickstarter

Finally tried out Kickstarter. I love the platform (and support all kinds of campaigns) and wanted to find a way to get the entire Volume 2 of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse out to readers all at once. It worked out pretty well. Thanks to everyone who supported it. More Kickstarter coming in 2023.

September

Woody and June versus the Chase

This is the first episode in Volume 2 of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse. Rolling out one episode at a time post-Kickstarter. Read more.

The Tombstone Barber

This story about a cursed object that transports the holder back to Tombstone in 1881 often felt cursed with numerous times it almost sold. So glad it finally found a home in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine’s, Issue #19! Read more.

October

Woody and June versus Two Guns

Continuing the rollout of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, Volume 2. Two Guns is a real place east of Flagstaff with a strange, dark history. Read more.

November

Woody and June versus Winslow

This is one of those Woody and June episodes where I was just chuckling to myself as I wrote it. I do terrible things to Winslow and the corner made famous by the Eagles. Read more.

December

A Grave Kind of Love

This sweet and surprising ghost love story made its second appearance in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #21. Read more.

Woody and June versus the Infection

The penultimate episode of Volume 2 takes on the dreaded zombie infection itself. Things are only going to get crazier from here! Read more.

So, there's 2022 for you. It's in the rearview and working on 2023 now. More Kickstarters, more books, and a lot more stories!

Woody and June versus the Siege

2023-01-04T06:52:09Z

This is it. This is what it has all been leading to. Woody and June versus the Siege is the last episode in Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, Volume 2!

Because of the way I write, when I started, I had no idea how this volume of stories would end, and I have to tell you that what happens at the end of this episode blew me away!

(If that doesn't make sense, let me explain. I write without an outline, following the story and the characters as I write, so I experience the story as much like a reader as I can. I can be surprised and it's the best when it happens!)

Volume 2 is still very much the lighter, funner post-apocalyptic, Arizona, zombie adventure that is Woody and June, but this twist takes it to another level. I can't wait for you all to read it.

This is the longest episode yet (basically a double episode). Here's the blurb for Woody and June versus the Siege:

Outnumbered, Four Thousand to Three

Stranded in a treehouse built high in a cell tower and surrounded by thousands of zombies, Woody, June, and Dallas face their greatest challenge yet. How do the three of them escape four-thousand starving undead that want nothing more than to make a meal of them?

Can Woody and June beat the odds and let their love flourish in a world of zombies and psychotic, petty, wannabe warlords?

A story of adventure and love and taking things (even the apocalypse) in stride.

If you haven't started reading yet, you might want to hold off for a month. In early February the Volume 2 Omnibus comes out with all five episodes. If you can't wait, get your copy today!

A Grave Kind of Love (reprint)

2022-12-23T14:22:32Z

Just in time for Christmas, my story, "A Grave Kind of Love," is out in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #21!

This story, which originally came out in 2019 as part of The WMG Holiday Spectacular, is now in the Christmas issue of Pulphouse. It is a graveyard love story (with a twist) that takes place the world of Shuffled Off and has a cameo from Banquo.

I don't want to say too much, but this is a sweet Christmas romance about two ghosts finding each other and finding a way to let go of their pasts. Go grab it a bunch of other great Christmas stories!

2022-09-18T11:18:53Z

"The Tombstone Barber" is just out in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine's, Issue #19

This story has a history. I don't think I'll go into details, but for a while it seemed like this story about a cursed object was, itself, cursed. It got the attention of several editors, an honorable mention from the Writers of the Future contest, but no sale. Then I sent it to Dean Wesely Smith and it found its home at Pulphouse Fiction Magazine.

This is another one of my very Arizona stories. It takes place in modern day Arizona in Cottonwood and in Tombstone back in 1881.

This one took a bunch of research and takes a different view of the conflict between the Cochise County Cowboys and the Earps and Doc Holliday. It turns out the gunfight didn't occur at the O.K. Corral. I also rewatched the movie Tombstone as part of my research (the life of a writer can be so tough).

The story imagines another party involved and behind the scenes pulling strings; a barber, the Tombstone barber. The story revolves around his straight razor which is cursed.

This was a fun one to write and I'm glad the story itself has a happy ending in the pages of Pulphouse Fiction Magazine.

I really think this is a good one and hope you enjoy it! Go check it out.

Woody and June versus the Chase

2022-09-07T07:00:00Z

Woody and June are back!

The Kickstarter is over (which was fun and went well) and now the episodes will be releasing one a month starting with Episode 8, Woody and June versus the Chase, today!

Here's the release schedule for Volume 2:

Episode 8: Woody and June versus the Chase. Out today!
Episode 9: Woody and June versus Two Guns. Wednesday. October 5, 2022
Episode 10: Woody and June versus Winslow. Wednesday, November 2, 2022
Episode 11: Woody and June versus the Infection. Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Episode 12: Woody and June versus the Siege. Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Volume 2 (Episodes 8 - 12). Wednesday, February 1, 2023

And here's the blurb for Woody and June versus the Chase:

Some Exes Just Can’t Take a Hint

After escaping the Grand Canyon and Phantom Company, June’s ex now wants revenge and it will take every trick they can come up with, every ounce of courage, and Dallas’s help just to survive.

Can they beat the odds and let their love flourish in a world of zombies and psychotic, petty, wannabe warlords?

A story of adventure and love and taking things (even the apocalypse) in stride.

It's taken a while to get here, and I am excited for more Woody and June to get out into the world! The ebook for Woody and June versus the Chase is available now and the paperback edition will be available in a few days.

The Woody and June Kickstarter is Live!

2022-07-19T06:46:00Z

Creating a Kickstarter campaign comes with a bit of a learning curve. Of all the things that had to be done, shooting the video for it was the hardest for me. This was the part of the process in which I got in the way. Shy, introverted writer talking into a camera about his creative work?? Ack!

To rip off the band-aid, and since the Kickstarter is live!, here is the video. I think it turned out just fine. There's more to the story, which I'll be talking about on one of the Kickstarter backer updates:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/robertjmccarter/woody-and-june-versus-the-apocalypse-volumes-1-and-2?ref=259xf4

There's a lot I could say about Woody and June versus Apocalypse or this book, but it's all over there on Kickstarter.

There are pledge levels starting at $1, so getting involved is very affordable and I promise to do everything I can to make this fun and well worth your while. Please check it out!

Writing Until the End

2022-07-19T06:24:41Z

My story, "Writing Until the End," has just been published in Gilded Glass: Twisted Myths and Shattered Fairy Tales.

This is an anthology about new myths, different myths, and "Writing Until the End" is a writer's myth. It explores how aspects of a writer are reflected in their characters and ponders what a writer owes their characters.

If that sounds a little heavy, the story is actually a fun read and, given some of the featured authors in this anthology, in very good company.

This is a good one. Go check it out!

Pulphouse Fiction Magazine Kickstarter

2022-07-17T13:10:39Z

If you've been reading along, you've surely noticed I have a lot of stories coming out in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine. I'm at about twelve with more coming, which is the reason my bio now says that I'm "a regular contributor to Pulphouse Fiction Magazine."

I've very pleased about this. Yes, it's fabulous to get paid for the stories I write, but more than that, I really like Pulphouse. The stories are different and strange and surprising. I am humbled and delighted at the company my stories are keeping. If you like short fiction, this is a good place to read it.

Pulphouse is doing its yearly subscription drive over on Kickstarter. There's a couple of days left with some great stretch rewards. I've got more stories in the queue there, so if you want to read my stories and a bunch of other great stories, go check it out!

Woody and June are Back! (Almost)

2022-07-12T07:30:00Z

I've been waiting for this moment for a long time: my fun, post-apocalyptic romp through Northern Arizona is back with Woody and June versus Apocalypse, Volume 2!

Why so long, you might ask? Well, the last few years have been craaaaazy. You know this, you lived through them too. To tell you the truth, I was wrapping up the text to this in early 2020 when the pandemic hit and that just seemed like the wrong moment for this story which features an infection that took out most of humanity😱.

And then life happened, and I had a lot less time for publishing (although I kept writing). And then I wanted to do a different kind of launch, one where I can get this story to more people and that involved research and a fairly big learning curve.

So, today, I am happy to announce that Woody and June versus Apocalypse, Volume 2 will be launching soon on Kickstarter!

(If you are not familiar, Kickstarter is a crowd funding platform, one I've long used and enjoyed, but this is the first project I am launching on it).

With Volume 1, I released each of the seven episodes separately, one a month, and then finally Volume 1 omnibus. It took a while.

The big advantage of the Kickstarter is that you get all five episodes of Volume 2 all at once. After the Kickstarter is over, I will still be releasing the episodes one at a time through all the normal channels, but with Kickstarter you get all of them at once. No waiting, you can dive in and read them all! And, believe me, you are going to want to. Volume 2 has all the action and adventure as Volume 1, the same light touch, and it's a ton of fun, but things get more complicated for our heroes and the world gets richer.

The Kickstarter campaign also has some great stretch goals (bonuses everyone gets if we reach certain funding levels) that turn this into a great deal for you all.

The campaign hasn't launched yet, but it will soon. Can you do me a favor and go sign up to be notified once it goes live over on Kickstarter? Click on the green "Notify me on launch" button. This will really help the campaign get off to a great start.

Note: You'll need a Kickstarter account. If you don't have one and are worried about yet more emails, I've been a member for years and don't mind the one email they send a week.

(If you're late reading this and the Kickstarter is running, please join us. If it's after the campaign has ended, sorry about that.)

If you are new to and/or just curious about Woody and June, or you love it and are excited that it is back, this Kickstarter is for you and will be great fun. You'll help me launch the new book, get lots of great extras, including an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the origins of Woody and June!

Pledge levels will start at $1 with something for everyone. Let's do this!

Gossamer Ghosts

2022-07-02T10:09:41Z

I'm trying to figure out a simple and clear way to categorize this new story, but it's not easily done. Let me try. "Gossamer Ghosts" is:

Set during and after an apocalypse
An alien invasion story (but not the usual kind of alien invasion story)
A ghost story (but not my usual kind of ghosts, this is sci-fi not fantasy)
A story of redemption and reconciliation
A contemplation on the concept of "karma"
Part of a series, "Gossamer Threads" appeared in Anomalous Readings: Thirteen Curious and Confounding Tales

See. It's hard to pin down, which is probably why it's a good fit for Pulphouse Fiction Magazine's just released Issue #18!

To give you a better feel for this story I'm thinking of giving it a subtitle of "A Story from an Unusual Apocalypse" once I published it as a stand-alone.

I won't go on trying to explain the story, it is best experienced. If you've read "Gossamer Threads" you know the apocalypse I'm speaking of, but this story takes place before that one and isn't connected in any way except for the world and the time they both take place in.

Go check it out. As usual, you'll get a bunch of great (and unusual) stories in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine!

Chupacabra

2022-04-01T07:03:00Z

I've taken a break from publishing my own books, over a year-long break—file it under the COVID-19 pandemic—but that ends today. Chupacabra: A Conner Bright Mystery is out!

It's about a year later than I expected, but I'll take it. And, yes, for those of you that participated in my 2019 Campfire Tales program this is the same story I wrote as part of that, and I'm finally getting it out to the rest of the world.

Conner Bright is a fun character to write. He's my version of the hard-luck private detective. He's got a past. He has a drinking problem. And he's trying to make a better life for himself, but reality just keeps getting in the way.

This is a contemporary mystery series (meaning no sci-fi or fantasy, all mystery) that takes place in Phoenix Arizona, but sometimes it doesn't look like it is—Conner just catches the strangest cases.

Chupacabra is an 80-page novella. Here's the blurb:

When a bizarre murder in the desert gets blamed on the mythical blood-sucking Chupacabra, Conner gets called in to investigate. But nothing makes sense and when Conner uncovers the truth, he faces an impossible choice between what he cares the most about and his own life.

From Robert J. McCarter, the author of Out of a Christmas Sky: A Carterville Mystery, comes a private investigator and a case like no other.

Here's are the links:

The Root Canal Tango

2022-02-26T17:47:30Z

"The Root Canal Tango" is an interesting story title, isn't it? How in the world do those two things go together? On the one hand you have something universally dreaded and on the other you have a passionate dance that originated in South America. Well, as it turns out, combining those two things makes this a very Pulphouse story (you don't find "normal" stories there, which is probably why many of my stories fit right in).

This is a rather short story and was a blast to write. I'm so happy to see it in print in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #16 which is out now.

Since the story is so short, I won't say too much about it besides telling you that the title is absolutely correct. The story features a root canal and a tango going on at the same time. (Hint: It's a lot more fun than it sounds). Go check it out!

2021: The Year in Stories

2022-01-12T17:55:07Z

I don't think any of us had a clue what 2021 was going to be like. I expected to keep my publishing streak from 2020 going and get a couple of novels out. That's not what happened. Pandemic year #2 happened and I became rather deadline phobic and just had to have more flexibility.

I kept writing, did pretty good there, but didn't publish much myself. That said, this was a fantastic year for short stories. I had 14 come out from other publishers plus published 4 of my own. Not too shabby. Here's 2021 in stories one month at a time.

January

The Case of the Purple Unicorn: A Conner Bright Mystery

It seemed like it was time for this first Conner Bright story to get a stand-alone edition and a proper series page. Read more.

February

The Rescue of Jules Verne: A Hollow Earth Short Story

The start to another fun short story series got a stand-alone edition and a series page. Read more.

***

The Artist, the Engineer, and the Sleeping Dog

My first appearance of the year is "The Artist, the Engineer, and the Sleeping Dog" in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #10. Read more.

April

Death by Cookies

"Death by Cookies" is another story set in my ghost world and my first "Death By" story to come out. It appeared in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #11. Read more.

May

My Moment of Weird

Cave Creek is this fun shared world idea (where a bunch of writers tell stories in the same world) and "My Moment of Weird" appears in Open Ended Threat. Read more.

***

The Room of Possibilities

"The Room of Possibilities" appears in Bitter Mountain Moonlight and is my take on writing a Twilight Zone style story. Cave Creek is a great place for such stories and this one is pretty cool (if I do say so myself). Read more.

June

Death by Vodka

“Death by Vodka” appeared in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine: Issue #12, another story in my "Death By" series. Read more.

July

Bits, Bites, and Rarities

This huge 500+ page short story collection is available to my newsletter subscribers only and contains four stories you can't find anywhere else! Read more.

September

The Pearce Shootout

I'm particularly proud of this sci-fi/wester/time travel story with a heart and was so happy to see it in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #13. Read more,

***

Seeing Forever, Hardcover edition

For my first foray into the world of hard cover editions, I created a hardcover edition of my 2018 novel, Seeing Forever. Read more.

October

Wild and Wise

My second Hollow Earth story came out in Explorers. Read more.

***

Daisy's Heart

“Daisy’s Heart” was reprinted in in Twisted Robots, Oh, My!

***

Death by Vodka

“Death by Vodka” was reprinted in Ghosts Among Us

***

Dog People

“Dog People” was reprinted in Run!! Creatures, Critters, and Pulphousers.

***

The Pearce Shootout

“The Pearce Shootout” was reprinted in There’ll Be Blue Popcorn Without You!

***

Harry the Ghost Pirate

"Harry the Ghost Pirate” was reprinted in in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #14. Read more.

December

A Hollow Earth Thanksgiving

My third Hollow Earth story, "A Hollow Earth Thanksgiving" kicked off the The WMG Holiday Spectacular 2021 on Thanksgiving Day. Read more.

***

Emily Loves Christmas, Emily Loves Murder

And, finally, another story in my ghost world, "Emily Loves Christmas, Emily Loves Murder” appeared in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #15. Read more,

Wow! That was a lot. This really was a year for short stories. And there's more coming soon in 2022!

Emily Loves Christmas, Emily Loves Murder

2021-12-29T12:52:05Z

Who would like nothing better than to read a Christmas Day murder mystery investigated by two ghost detectives? One that involves something very unexpected under the Christmas Tree?

Well, if your like Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, that would be you. My new story, "Emily Loves Christmas, Emily Loves Murder," is a very Pulphouse story and features my ghost detectives Walter Anchor and Emily.

And if you like Walter and Emily stories, this would be you too. For those of you that have read these stories, this one is stand-alone and takes place sometime before the events of "The Red Arrow Murders." It's also the first truly short Walter and Emily story I've written.

Just like my last post, I'm behind the times a bit. This magazine came out before Christmas, but if you are still in the mood, there are a bunch of wonderfully different Christmas stories in this issue.

This marks my tenth story to appear in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine! Ten in a row, too!! If you like my stories this magazine is definitely worth taking a look at, so check out Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #15.

A Hollow Earth Thanksgiving

2021-12-28T15:10:54Z

I'm exceedingly late to the party here. I wound this up with a fairly vague post for the Kickstarter but then the story came out and life was a little more than overwhelming and I didn't get this out in a reasonable time.

Long story short, "A Hollow Earth Thanksgiving" kicked off the The WMG Holiday Spectacular 2021 on Thanksgiving Day! Pretty cool and really exciting.

This is the third story in my Hollow Earth series and while it is 100% a Thanksgiving story, it's probably not like anything you've read before. It's a period piece taking place in 1889 in the hollow earth. There's ton of action, surprises, plenty of heart, and it's an homage to the stories of writers like Jules Verne and H.G. Wells.

From the editor's introduction to the story:

Evocative and lovely, “Hollow Earth Thanksgiving” brings a sense of wonder to what is my favorite holiday.
Kristine Kathrine Rush

You can still get the story, if a bit late, as part of The WMG Holiday Spectacular 2021!

Ten Years of Shuffled Off: A Ghosts Memoir

2021-11-11T06:30:00Z

Shuffled Off was my first novel. Every novel, every story, feels like something of a miracle, but that goes double (or triple, or quadruple or...) so for Shuffled Off.

The original cover. Some folks asked me if I was the model for JJ here but I've never met the artist that put this together for me.

There are plenty of reasons for this:

It was the first!! It's not like I woke up one day and decided to write a novel and suddenly believed that I could. In fact, I didn't think I could write a novel, I didn't want to write a novel, and I was rather terrified of writing a novel.
So, you see, Shuffled Off being a novel was an accident. I was writing a story that just kept getting longer and longer as I kept getting more and more freaked out.
I had to write this story and the needs of the story overrode my own doubts and fears (spoiler alert, this is a good thing and often how it goes, and I think is true of the creation of art in general).
The characters seemed like real people to me. They still do. I felt kind of like I was listening to them and writing down their story. It was those people and just having to know what happened that kept me going despite myself.

So, it's been ten years today since Shuffled Off was released (11/11/2011). This seems like a moment to stop and reflect and be grateful.

I'm still writing. I've written over ten novels and over one hundred short stories. I've been a finalist in the Writers of the Future Contest and my short stories are in numerous magazines and anthologies at this point. I still love the process (well, most of the process) so the magic of Shuffled Off has carried me a long way since I stumbled into writing it.

Here's the back story:

This novel started in 2009 rather innocently. It didn't announce itself as a novel, I just had something big going on and I had found that writing was often a great way to processes personal things. And this was an unusual and very personal thing.

In the summer of 2009, a friend and a former business partner was murdered. It was a scandalous thing and it made major news outlets. At the time, I was writing short stories having gotten back into writing less than a year earlier. I was totally dedicated to writing just short stories, learning the craft, and building up my confidence before embarking on something as intimidating as novel writing.

But I was really having trouble dealing with what happened to my friend, so I sat down, and I wrote this passage (it's been edited a bit, but this is pretty much it):

When someone dies, the world doesn’t stop. It seems like it should, but it doesn’t. Sure if it’s a famous person, or a grisly murder, there is a period of piranha-like activity on the part of media. But that’s not stopping, that is just business as usual in the land of the twenty-four hour news cycle. Even then it settles down quickly and everyone gets back to their shaky, unsure life.
It would be useful if it did stop. You know, take a moment, get your bearings, and deal with the practical and emotional details that engulf a death. But no, no stopping, no break, you just gotta continue your drunkard’s walk down the path of life.

I had been writing enough to recognize that this wasn't my voice, but a character, and then I typed the following and I was sunk.

When I died, the world didn’t stop, not a bit. I wasn’t expecting it to, but it would’ve been nice, you know?
The death effect is kind of like throwing a stone into a pond: a famous person is like a rock—it stirs things up; an everyman, like me, is more like a tiny pebble—it effects the immediate surrounding but has no discernable effect on the whole. In the end neither one really changes things much; the world doesn’t stop. Life goes on.

Redid the covers when Book 3 came out. I hated to lose JJ on the cover but I needed more flexibility and speed.

This was personal, I was grieving someone's death, but it wasn't me telling the story, it was a character taking his own journey of grief, trying to come to terms with his own violent death and I got to follow along and work through my own grief.

(To be clear, there is nothing in the book that relates to my friend's death. It was just the themes and feelings of his death that catalyzed the book and all the other books and stories in this series).

So, in 2009 I wrote the above and had to keep writing. This was still the days when I thought you should have an outline to write anything, but I wasn't finding myself doing that much. I just kept writing the story and was fine when it was a short story. But then it was novelette, and I was uncomfortable, and then a novella and I was kind of freaking out, and then it reached novel length and...

And I had to keep writing. Because there was no outline, I was experiencing this as much like a reader as a writer can. I kept writing so I could know what the ending was. I had to know what the ending was.

Oddly (or maybe not so oddly) this still happens to me. I'm okay with writing novels at this point and sometimes I actually know when I'm writing a novel, but my focus is still the same, writing the story and letting the length of what I am writing be dictated by the needs of the story.

(This whole style of writing made me nervous until I learned that Stephen King (and others) wrote that way. If it's good enough for him it's good enough for me.)

There are some lessons here and if you are a writer or want to be a writer, these might be useful. Or if you are creating any kind of art, these might help. While I'm not a famous writer, I am a consistent, and productive one, and creating these stories are a big part of what keeps me sane and fulfilled. So here we go.

Lessons Learned:

Trust the process. When it comes to storytelling, this is an ancient and very human act, as is music, dance, and visual arts. Parts of your brain already know how to do it. There is craft involved, to be sure, and that takes lots of time and practice, but telling stories is something we all know how to do.
Get out of the way. In some ways this is a repeat of the first item but from a different perspective. Shuffled Off took over two years to complete because I kept setting it aside and looking at it like it might bite me. I don't regret the time it took, there was a lot I needed to learn and experience, but one of the things I've gotten better at is getting out of the way.
Have fun! Look, creating art and putting it out there can be hard on the ego. In many ways I have found that if you want to know the size and shape of you own ego put your art out. You'll learn a lot about yourself when people love, hate, or don't care at all about your art. That part is not easy. And you could be out hiking or hanging with friends or family instead of making art. So be sure that it is fun. If it's fun, you'll keep at it. If it's not, you probably won't (And saying to have fun doesn't mean it won't be hard, too).
Let go of perfect. Nothing is perfect, your art won't be. It can't serve anyone if you don't let it go. And, pro-tip here, at some point your art will get worse if you mess with it too much. Your time, after a point, is better spent taking the lessons you learned and creating something else.

To put myself and my own insecurities on display, let me give you a relevant example of me not doing great with the above. While I have six novel-length works in the world of Shuffled Off, I've only written two from the point of view of JJ Lynch (the character that was coming through in that passage up above), even though I've had ideas for two or three more novels from JJ's point of view since I wrote Shuffled Off.

Why? Well, besides having fun and perusing a lot of story ideas, the miracle of those first few books really intimidated me. I wasn't trusting the process. I wasn't getting out of the way. I wasn't having fun. And I was worrying about perfection.

Yeah, this isn't always easy.

I don't have any kind of timeline, but I'm back listening to JJ in the mornings and continuing his story. At first I was worried that I've changed as a writer since then so I wouldn't be able to capture JJ, but as it turns out JJ has changed too so it wasn't actually something to worry about and all I needed to do was trust the process.

It feels good to be hanging out with JJ again and appropriate for this anniversary. He's still doing crazy things and getting into trouble. He's still surprising me which is so amazing when it happens.

I wanted to do more to mark this occasion, but other factors got in the way (including two other novels in two other series I am trying to complete). This reflection is part of what I can do to mark this anniversary and one more thing. I am giving away an electronic copy of Shuffled Off to all my newsletter subscribers and encouraging them to gift it to someone if they already have a copy.

If you are already subscribed to my newsletter, the email is in your inbox or will hit it soon. If not and you would like a copy to read or give away, go sign up and I'll get the ebook to you.

If you want to help me celebrate, share the book with someone or go over to Amazon and write a review (it can be just a few sentences). The book has 33 reviews right now, JJ and I would love to see that go up a bit.

And if you got this far you must be a fan (or a friend or family), so my thanks to you for checking out some of my writing and sharing this strange and wonderful journey with me. In these crazy times I've come to know more and more how import stories are to our sanity, so I hope you have something good to read where you can escape and learn and grow.

Cheers!
Robert

Links:

Visit the series page and take a look at all six books. That JJ really started something
Sign up for my newsletter for a free copy of the ebook (limited time offer, good through November, 2021)
Buy a copy of Shuffled Off (I'm okay with that too!)

We did a reading for the book on 11/11/2011. Here's a nice blurry photo of me reading the book (hey, I'm a shy author). Looking at some of the other pictures, lots of loved ones have shuffled off since that day. The romantic in me hopes some of them are hanging out with my buddy JJ.

The Holiday Spectacular 2021!

2021-10-26T14:30:22Z

I'm going to apologize in advance because I'm going to be a little vague here. There is a good reason, I promise.

Every year for the last three years, WMG Publishing has done their innovative Holiday Spectacular. It's a program where for 38 days from November 25 to January 1, they will send you a brand-new holiday-themed short story. It is, basically, an advent calendar filled with holiday stories.

Each story is a surprise. I don't even know when my story will be appearing on the calendar, which is part of the fun. And this is why I'm going to be vague here. Frankly, if I even told you the title of my story it would give a bunch away so I won't do that.

I can tell you a couple of things about my story:

It's an adventure story and a ton of fun.
It takes place on a holiday you are likely very familiar with but celebrated in a totally unique way.
It's part of one of my series.
And... it's so much fun (I think I said that already).

This program is created and edited by Kristine Kathrine Rush, who has won awards for both writing and editing. I was happy to be in the first Holiday Spectacular and am thrilled to have a story in this year's program, particularly this story.

I'll stop being vague and tell you that there is a Kickstarter going on right now for the Holiday Spectacular 2021 (Kickstarter is a crowd funding platform if you aren't familiar). This isn't the only way to sign up, but they throw in a ton of extra goodies for the Kickstarter so it's the best way to sign up.

If you like the holidays and you like short stories, please check it out!

Harry the Ghost Pirate

2021-10-23T17:42:45Z

My story "Harry the Ghost Pirate" sets sail again, this time in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #14!

This is a story about some ghosts that are looking for the Lost Dutchman Mine in the Superstition Mountains near Phoenix, AZ... and they dress and talk like pirates. But more than that, it's a sweet story about souls trying to find their place in this world. As a bonus, this story happens to be a great introduction to my ghost world!

This story first appeared in X Marks the Spot: An Anthology of Treasure and Theft in the spring of 2020. Looking through my blog, it seems that I didn't ever blog about it. I wonder why? Hmmmm what was happening in the spring of 2020?!?!

These are strange times, aren't they? But this is a lovely story and totally worth a read:

Grab it as part of Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #14
Or check out X Marks the Spot: An Anthology of Treasure and Theft

This has been a hell of a week for short stories landing, there's also "Wild and Wise" in the Explorers anthology and Four other stories in four different anthologies! So that's six stories in six different places in one week. Wow!

Plenty to read, that's for sure!

Four Books, Four Stories, One Day!

2021-10-22T13:48:43Z

This writing thing can gain momentum on you in surprising ways.

A couple of days ago, WMG Publishing dropped five new Stories from Pulphouse anthologies and four of them have stories of mine! If you've been reading this blog, you know my short fiction has been appearing in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine regularly. Well, sometimes they take stories from the magazine and remix them into themed anthologies.

That's what just happened. Four books, four stories, one day. Crazy!

I knew they were doing these anthologies but I had no idea if my stories would make it in them until they dropped. What a fun surprise.

For those of you that have been reading Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, these are not new stories, but if you haven't, this is a great way to read one of my stories and sample the wild and amazing fiction that is in those pages.

Here are the anthologies and the stories of mine that are in them. I've written a bit about why the story and anthology might be for you.

"Daisy's Heart" is in Twisted Robots, Oh, My! : This one is obviously great if you like robots. "Daisy's Heart" is a pretty serious sci-fi story and is, frankly, one of my best sci-fi shorts. You don't have to take it from me it made the Tangent Online 2019 Recommended Reading list!! Read more about the story

"Death by Vodka" is in Ghosts Among Us: Clearly for you if you like ghosts. This story takes place in my ghost world, so if you've read Shuffled Off or any of those books this could be a fun one for you. Read more about the story

"Dog People" is in Run!! Creatures, Critters, and Pulphousers: This is a good bet for creature lovers. What I can say about this story is that it's a ton a fun and I loved the critter in it so much that I wrote a whole novel with her in it. Read more about the story

"The Pearce Shootout" is in There’ll Be Blue Popcorn Without You!: This story is an innovative sci-fi, time travel, western. And whatever image that conjures in your mind, I bet there are some surprises in this story for you. Read more about the story

Wild and Wise

2021-10-19T19:15:11Z

"Adventure" is one of my favorite words. While my days are spent largely at a computer, I do like to have adventures. Whether it's a hike on a mountain (which I did between starting and finishing this post), exploring somewhere new, learning something challenging, or reading a good story I'm all in on adventure.

That is reflected in a lot of my writing but very much so in my Hollow Earth stories.

The Explorers anthology was recently released and has my second Hollow Earth Adventure story, "Wild and Wise."

This picks up right after the events of "The Rescue of Jules Verne" but it is a stand-alone story. It's sits alongside a bunch of other great adventure stories in Explorers.

Since this story is part of an anthology, I don't have a formal blurb for it yet but we can certainly qualify it as an adventure. After descending into the wilds of the Hollow Earth and rescuing Jules Verne, Marco Walker at first thinks he's alone down there but soon finds out he's is being watched, by someone or something...

The best part is there is a third Hollow Earth story that should be out by the end of the year (more details soon).

Here's your links to adventure:

The Explorers ebook can be purchased here and the print book is available here.
Learn more about "The Rescue of Jules Verne."
Check out the Hollow Earth series page.

Seeing Forever, Hard Cover Edition

2021-09-07T10:07:00Z

This is a bit of an experiment.

My paperback books are all released as Print On Demand (POD) which has revolutionized book publishing. It makes it possible for me to release all these books as paperback.

Well, now POD has come to hard cover editions and the Seeing Forever hard cover is just beautiful. The picture here is of the proof copy which Amazon, rather ungracefully, mars the cover with that grey stripe which the final edition won't have.

It's available on Amazon if you are interested.

Not familiar with this book? Learn more over here.

There's more hard cover books to come. If there is a book of mine you'd like to have a hard cover edition of, let me know in the comments.

The Pearce Shootout

2021-09-01T08:50:56Z

Okay, I'm really excited about this one!

My story, "The Pearce Shootout," is just out in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #13.

I finished this story a few years ago and have just been waiting for it to hit. Here's a few reasons:

It's a sci-fi/western involving a unique form of time travel (well, I think it's unique and haven't seen the idea used before).
It's a western and there's a shootout!
It's a unique concoction of the sci-fi/western/time travel tropes and I'm quite sure you'll find something you haven't seen before.
One of the characters was inspired by a dear friend that is no longer with us.

I think that last bullet deserves a little more attention. This story was a bit of an experiment, the progenitor of my Campfire Tale program I did back in 2019. For a charity auction, I created a gift certificate entitling the winner to have me write a short story to order.

Edgar Allan posing at a trip to a museum

A friend of ours won the gift certificate and asked that I write a story that involved a ghost town and a character named Gayle in honor of his late wife.

Gayle was a very good friend of ours and her loss was a hard one, so invoking her name for this story set the bar quite high. She gifted me the very thoughtful gift of a poseable Edgar Allan Poe figurine that is watching me as I type right now.

This story features a character named Gayle who (not coincidentally) looks rather like our friend and has a fierce spirit and a big heart (also not coincidentally). Given the circumstances of the story (it takes place in 1893) this character is not our friend but a tribute to her.

I like to think it turned out pretty well and am so excited it found a home at Pulphouse Magazine and is finally out! Take a look and let me know what you think.

Bits, Bites, and Rarities

2021-07-26T09:50:28Z

My new book is out and it's not for sale!

It's called Bits, Bites, and Rarities: The Worlds of Robert J. McCarter and is a sampling of my many worlds and series. Maybe "sample" is the wrong word. Most of these are full stories with only two novel samples in the book.

But you're probably wondering about the "not for sale" part. Well, it's not. It's a free ebook, but only for my newsletter subscribers.

So if you are one of those, watch your inbox, the link was sent to you recently. If you are not, you can sign up right now!

This book is my way of saying thank you for your interest in my writing and it's packed with stories (750+ pages worth) as well as new backstories written for each entry in the book. It's divided into three sections and here's the full table of contents:

Bits (these are the samples)

Shuffled Off: A Ghost's Memoir novel sample
Out of a Christmas Sky: A Carterville Mystery novel sample

Bites (full-length stories)

The Disappearing Neighborhood
The Case of the Purple Unicorn: A Conner Bright Mystery
Woody and June versus the Wannabe Warlord
The Rescue of Jules Verne
Detecting Haley: A Walter Anchor Ghost Detective Story
Meteor Attack! Neutrinoman & Lightningirl: A Love Story, Episode 1
Daisy's Heart
My Love's Past: An Angelica and Ash Time Travel Adventure (this is part 1 of Where the Past Belongs)
The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes

Rarities (stories only available in this ebook)

Death by a Kiss
The Mystery at Molas Pass. (This story takes place in the world of Neutrinoman and Lightningirl)
Park's Law of the Apocalypse. (This story takes place in the world of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse)
Forgiveness in Time

Some of these stories are for sale and you can go buy them if you like (just click on the story names above) or you can sign up for my newsletter and get them all for free.

And I get it. There is too much email in the world. But I will only email about once a month and I'll do my best to keep it entertaining and keep you updated on my releases. You can opt out at any time, so go grab the book and see what you think.

Death by Vodka

2021-06-26T11:37:13Z

After last issue's "Death by Cookie", Pulphouse Fiction Magazine is back with another story in the same vein with "Death by Vodka" appearing in issue #12.

In case you missed the last one, my "Death by" series are short stories in my A Ghost's Memoir world where ghosts tell their own stories about how they died.

"Death by Vodka" is the story of ghost reaching out to his wife after the events of a bad day lead to his death. And, yes, vodka is certainly involved. JJ Lynch appears in this story too and we get yet another glimpse of the afterlife from another point of view.

Go check it out!

This marks my fifth short story to be released this year! You can check out all my releases over here.

The Room of Possibilities

2021-05-05T18:34:06Z

Welcome to Cave Creek, Nevada, a small town about an hour from Las Vegas where all kinds of strange things happen. Cave Creek, created by best selling author Dean Wesley Smith is a place "Where the Unexpected Meets the Real World." It's also a "shared world" meaning multiple authors are writing stories in this world, not just Dean. And I'm happy to say that I am one of those authors.

I won't say too much more about Cave Creek and it's secrets, just grab one of the books and check it out.

When Dean first talked about the idea of Cave Creek, he said it would be similar to The Twilight Zone (the orginal version), Well, I was hooked. As I kid I could watch episode after episode of that show. Short, strange, and often ironic. Although the terms wouldn't have meant anything to me then, the show was an anthology series, and each episode was, essentially, a stand-alone short story. Hmmm... maybe there's something there that got my developing brain thinking about stories.

My story "The Room of Possibilities" appears in Bitter Mountain Moonlight and is my take on a Twilight Zone style story based in the very strange town of Cave Creek. When you read the opening and the closing, just imagine Rod Serling doing the voice over and you'll totally get the vibe.

Here's some links for you:

Go grab the Bitter Mountain Moonlight ebook
Look at all the books on the Amazon series page
Check out my blog post about "My Moment of Weird" my other Cave Creek story that is just out!

I'm having a great time with Cave Creek so far, hopefully they'll be more stories set there in the future. Stay tuned.

My Moment of Weird

2021-05-05T18:14:46Z

I won't say too much more about Cave Creek and it's secrets, just grab one of the books and check it out.

My story, "My Moment of Weird" was just released as part of the Cave Creek Anthology Open Ended Threat. This is a sweet action/adventure story about a couple of kids that help out at the local paper and the adventure they have when they run into someone unusual in the desert. The story has a bit in common with the movie E.T. And, no, the big secret of Cave Creek is not aliens, it's something else. The idea for Cave Creek is a great one and lets each writer kind of do their own thing all in the same Nevada town.

Here's some links for you:

Go grab the Open Ended Threat ebook
Look at all the books on the Amazon series page
Check out my blog post about "The Room of Possibilities" my other Cave Creek story that is just out!

I'm having a great time with Cave Creek so far, hopefully they'll be more stories set there in the future. Stay tuned.

Death by Cookie

2021-04-22T18:11:52Z

"Death by Cookie" marks the return of JJ Lynch.

If you've read my A Ghost's Memoir series, this is good news. This may only be JJ in a supporting role and it may only be a short story, but it's been a while since JJ appeared like this in any of my writing. Last year he had a couple of brief cameos in a few Walter Anchor stories, but he is a major part of this story.

In many ways, JJ is the reason I'm a writer. When I was writing Shuffled Off--it was just a short story at first, I had no desire to write a novel--it was his clear voice in my head that kept me writing that story which turned into my first novel and then a whole series of novels and stories.

This story is also a glimpse of what JJ has been up to. We left him apprenticing with Banquo (who also appears in this story) and this story shows some of that.

If you haven't read Shuffled Off or any of my other ghost stories or books, not to worry. This story is completely stand-alone. If you have this will be a an extra fun treat.

You will also get the first public look at my "Death By" series of stories, where all kinds of ghosts tell stories revolving around how they died. There'll be another one out soon and a collection of them one of these days.

JJ and all that history aside, this is a very personal story and takes a look at dementia from the perspective that only a ghost can provide. And it's just one of the stories in this magazine. As usual I'm very happy with the company I am keeping here.

It is available right now!

The Artist, the Engineer, and the Sleeping Dog

2021-02-26T14:44:50Z

Today my short story "The Artist, the Engineer, and the Sleeping Dog" came out in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #10.

This is my first story to hit in a magazine or anthology for 2021 and is a story I am particularly proud of. For one thing, it's a "big swing" story, meaning I was trying something new. It's also one of a series of stories that I wrote where dogs feature prominently. I wrote quite a few of these in 2019, another one being "Dog People" which came out a while back and led to the novel Where the Past Belongs.

These stories try, through fiction, to capture the magic of having a dog in your life and being a dog person. This one particularly. And I am a huge dog person and if you are too, these stories might just be for you.

So go check it out and let me know what you think!

Oh... and it doesn't get old seeing my name on the cover of a magazine 😃

The Rescue of Jules Verne

2021-02-19T09:30:00Z

There's a pattern emerging with my 2021 releases so far. Just like with last month's release, I'm taking a short story that is already out there and giving it a stand-alone release.

The reasons are the same:

I love this story
It will soon be part of a series
It gives the series a chance to grab readers in a different way.

And this story is pretty different. It takes place in 1889 and follows explorer Marco Walker into the wilds of the hollow earth to rescue none other than Jules Verne.

Yeah, that's pretty cool and I think deserving of some attention. If all goes well there will be three of these stories out by the end of the year.

Here's where you can get this story:

Stand alone-ebook, on sale for $0.99 for the next few weeks
As part of Creatures Featured: 13 Stories of Monsters and other Creatures

Here's the blurb

In 1889, seasoned explorer Marco Walker descends into the hollow earth on a desperate mission to rescue Jules Verne on the behest of the Hollow Earth Society. He finds himself in an untamed land with dangers at every turn and must use his skill, his wits, and every last bit of his experience to rescue Verne and survive this hostile and spectacular land.

From Robert J. McCarter, author of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, comes an imaginative story of adventure and companionship unlike anything before it.

The Case of the Purple Unicorn

2021-01-30T18:21:12Z

It's a new year so time for a new release. Well... in this case not a new story but a new stand-alone release for an old story.

Under a slightly different title, this short story goes back to 2014 where it appeared in an anthology called One Horn to Rule Them All: A Purple Unicorn Anthology. And it has appeared as part of two of my short story collections: Creatures Featured: 13 Stories of Monsters and other Creatures and Anomalous Readings: Thirteen Curious and Confounding Tales.

It was even on the site for free for a bit as part of my Saturday Stories program (you can still read a free except).

In fact, if you want to read this story, one of the two anthologies above is a better buy, even with the ebook on sale for $0.99 in the US for the next few weeks.

So, being the perceptive reader you are, you might be wondering why release it alone. And that is a good question and the answer is pretty simple: because of the future.

Conner Bright is a series, a small one as of yet, but a series nonetheless. Which means that, happily, there will be more coming out this year. So "The Case of the Purple Unicorn" get's it's time in the sun for the future Conner Bright mysteries to come.

Here's where you can get it:

Stand alone-ebook
As part of Creatures Featured: 13 Stories of Monsters and other Creatures
As part of Anomalous Readings: Thirteen Curious and Confounding Tales
And, as part of One Horn to Rule Them All: A Purple Unicorn Anthology

That Conner Bright gets around. And you'd be right in thinking that this story appearing in so many places reflects my fondness of the character and the story.

Here's the blurb

When a little girl swears she saw her great uncle murdered by a purple unicorn, Conner takes the case expecting to face nothing more than a little girl’s overactive imagination. But in this short story, Conner must confront his past and put his life on the line to protect his young client.

From Robert J. McCarter, the author of Unfinished Business, comes a private investigator and a case like no other.

2020: The Year in Stories

2021-01-21T14:51:47Z

Besides continuing to write new stories, 2020 was about publishing, from start to finish. I did a challenge with Dean Wesley Smith he calls "The Great Publishing Challenge." The challenge was to publish one major book a month for an entire year.

That's what I was up to in 2020 with all the releases; 14 in all, two of them didn't meet Dean's criteria. I meant to blog about it, but 2020, you know, so below is a list of everything that came out.

This was aided by the fact that I had a lot of stories and books that were past the first draft stage and needed to get finished. I figured this was just the motivation I needed, and it was. My last challenge (I wrote 30 short stories in 34 days) with Dean was hard, but this was hard in a different kind of way. Doing something consistently over an entire year takes some doing.

There was also some short story action, but it wasn't my focus, so not nearly as much as 2019.

And without further ado, here's my 2020 in stories, one month at a time.

January

The Ghost Bride’s Gift

Walter Anchor had a big role to play in 2020 so we started off with this novelette. This was not long enough for Dean's challenge, so onward.

Creatures Featured

This is my third short story collection, this one features many of the the "creature" stories I have written

February

Off Book

After much too long an absence, Neutrinoman and Lightningirl came back with some spectacular action at the Hoover Dam!

March

A Long Hard Fall

More fun with Walter and Emily, ghost detectives! Again, too short for the challenge, so why not one more this month?

The Blood of Carterville

And now time for a new mystery series based in a fictional town in Northern Arizona where almost everyone has some kind of power.

April

Hard Times

More superhero action and adventure!

May

“Breathing in the Stars” appeared in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine: Issue #9.

Death of a Dentist

Back to Walter Anchor in this story that goes deep into Walter's death and gets him on the track of his murderer.

June

Elemental Factors

Now we're winding up Season 2 of Neutrinoman and Lightningirl with the longest episode yet (and introducing intriguing new members of the team).

July

A Hollywood Kind of Murder

Walter was an actor before he was a dentist. In this episode he's back in Hollywood working on a very strange case.

August

Neutrinoman & Lightningirl: Season 2

With season 2 complete, an omnibus edition made sense. You can read more about it on my blog.

September

The Red Arrow Murders

This is what all the Walter and Emily case were leading to. And it's not quite what Walter expected.

October

Unfinished Business: The Cases of Walter Anchor Ghost Detective.

And Walter and Emily gets their own omnibus. All six cases are here, over 5 0 0 pages of mystery!

November

“A Grave Kind of Love”

This 2019 short story came out in Joyous Christmas, just in time for the holiday season.

Out of a Christmas Sky

This new entry in the Carterville world officially makes it a series! It's a mystery series revolving around a chief of police in a small town where almost everyone has some kind of power.

December

Where the Past Belongs: An Angelica and Ash Time Travel Adventure

I was very happy to end the year with this brand new novel (and perhaps start of a new series).

Okay, so no wonder I was so tired at the end of the year. Whew, that was a lot.

Thanks to everyone that's been following along and picked up some of these. And those of you who have left reviews, well, I can't thank you enough!

On to 2021.

Where the Past Belongs

2020-12-26T06:30:00Z

There's a lot to say about this book. Mostly because it's about something very near and very dear to my heart: the relationship between dogs and people (and cats and people, too). Also because much of this book was written during the first COVID-19 lockdown in the Spring of 2020 and I've been fascinated with how this insane year has influenced the art created.

But before I get into that, feel free to jump ahead to the sales info and the book blurb.

Okay, so let me set the scene. It was January, 2019 and my wife Aleia and I were at the Grand Canyon celebrating her birthday. We got there just before eight inches of snow fell, making the canyon even more spectacular than usual. Here, see for yourself (click on the pics for a closer look):

We hiked, we blazed new trails in the snow, and saw very few people. It was utterly magical.

We were also grieving the loss of our beloved spaniel Madison about six months earlier. We were without a dog in our lives which has been very rare for us.

During that trip, I was writing for anthologies as part of a workshop. The trick was, I only had one week to write a new story so I was writing while we were there.

Take all these factors (beautiful surroundings, missing Madison terribly, and needing to write) and add in the adorable corgi named Aspen we met on the rim and out popped a story called "Dog People" featuring an alien telepathic corgi that calls herself Angelica Huston.

("Dog People" was published in Snot-Nosed Aliens: Stories from Pulphouse Fiction Magazine and I have blogged a bit about it previously).

If you know me, you know I am a dog person, I really am, and there was no way I could not write more about an alien telepathic corgi. Just no way.

Late in 2019, I wrote a novelette that introduced time travel into the mix and was an adventure with Angelica Huston and a grieving middle aged geek named Ashton. The story, which stands alone just fine, was a blast to write and early this year I wanted to continue it. Because, you know, 2020 needed all the fun that I could bring to bear. The story, as all the best ones do, had a mind of it's own and it expanded into the novel that I am releasing today.

As a brief postscript: I guess it's not surprise that Aleia and I decided to adopt a puppy on that trip. Our neighbor was fostering an adorable mixed breed puppy that had lost her mama dog early and had had been recently rescued with her siblings. She was only 3 weeks old when rescued, so we knew there would be challenges ahead, but we just couldn't let her go back to the shelter and take the chance she wouldn't find a good home. This was crazy, in the best way, because neither of us had had a puppy in the last 30 years and they need a lot. I mean A LOT! It wasn't easy, but Oliva is over two years old now and we adore her and can't imagine our lives without her. (Scroll to the bottom of this post for the ultimate adorableness of Olivia right after she came to live with us).

Now on to the detail of the book:

Where the Past Belongs: An Angelica and Ash Time Travel Adventure

The full blurb is below, but here's the quick take:

The Where the Past Belongs ebook is on sale for the next few weeks for $2.99 in the US
It is also available in paperback.
I've got a dedicated page for the book where you can start reading right now.
I'm giving away giveaway of 100 ebooks over on Goodreads to celebrate the release.

The book comes with a warning which I feel obliged to share with you here:

WARNING: The following story contains a twisting time travel plot and is unapologetically sentimental when it comes to the animals we humans share our lives with. The author and the publisher can not be held responsible that if, after reading this novel, you feel a very strong desire to find an animal in need and take very, very good care of it.

And here's the full blurb:

When the alien telepathic corgi known as Angelica Huston saves middle-aged geek Ashton Bach’s life, they embark on the time travel adventure of a lifetime and everything changes.

With Angelica, Ashton defends the most powerful technology in the universe from desperate alien cats in hopes of undoing his greatest regret. But when Ashton discovers the truth about his past, he will do anything to turn back time, forget about time travel and alien dogs and cats, and return to his old life.

From Robert J. McCarter, author of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, comes a fun, touching, and unforgettable time travel adventure for dog and cat lovers everywhere.

Get your copy now!

Oliva is about 9 weeks old here

Out of a Christmas Sky

2020-11-28T08:01:00Z

This is a happy day for me because Carterville is officially a series!

Today the first Carterville novel, Out of a Christmas Sky is out. This is a Christmas murder mystery with plenty of suspects and lots of twists and surprises.

It's also a quarantine novel, drafted May - July, 2020 fairly early during the COVID pandemic. I mention this for a couple of reasons:

As I wrote about previously, I'm very curious what kind of art this environment will produce. This is an example.
Because of the stress of lockdown, I was dedicated to having a lot of fun with the book. That, hopefully, will show. It's a mystery, for sure, but because of the nature of Carterville, there's some pretty quirky stuff in here.

To switch things up, I'm going to go into FAQ mode to get you more info:

Since this is a series, which book should I start with? Each book is stand-alone, but things do change in Carterville. If you haven't read the first book I released, The Blood of Carterville, starting with Out of a Christmas Sky is a good choice because it takes place several years earlier. The official chronological order of the books are:

Out of a Christmas Sky
Unnamed 2021 novel (just finished the first draft!)
The Blood of Carterville

As a bonus, the ebook for Out of a Christmas Sky is on sale in the U.S. for the next few weeks for $2.99.

How "Christmassy" is the book? I (love/hate/don't care about) Christmas. Most of the action takes place on Christmas day and, as such, is surrounded by many of the trappings of Christmas. But it is most definitely not a Hallmark or Lifetime Christmas movie. If you like first-person mysteries told by a cop and don't absolutely hate everything about Christmas, you should be good. If you love Christmas, all the better.

Can I read a sample? Sure. There is a lovely series page that has samples for both books.

Will there be more books in this series? Yes! These are a lot of fun to write and I am currently working on a long Carterville novel right now that I expect to be out in 2021.

Can you tell me a little more about the book? Sure, the blurb is right below.

How can I get it? Now that's a good question! The ebook is on sale in the U.S. for the next few weeks and is available everywhere. The print edition will be out any moment.

Here's the full blurb:

Carterville, AZ. Population: 293. People with powers: 201

With a dead woman dressed as an elf found on Christmas morning in snow-globe-perfect Cartervile, it falls to police chief Henry Carter to solve the murder. But Henry knows the victim, and his suspect list soon fills up with the people closest to him

With no allies and powers involved, Henry risks his life to solve the crime and to find some kind of justice for his friend.

From Robert J. McCarter, long-time Arizona resident and the author of The Blood of Carterville, comes a Christmas murder mystery and a town you will never forget.

Some Holiday Cheer (just a wee bit early)

2020-11-01T10:09:00Z

I don't know if you noticed, but this last week or so the sweet holiday movies started hitting our lists of things to stream. And while late October may seem a little early, that doesn't feel as true in 2020 as it has some other years. I don't know about you, but I could use a break from the pandemic, and the election here in the US, and the storms and fires, and the endless news. A story with winter cheer and a happy ending seems like a really good idea right about now.

Along those lines I've got a few items for you:

Joyous Christmas is out and available as a single book. This was part of an innovated story-a-day program last year called The WMG Holiday Spectacular. Joyous Christmas has my story from that program, "A Grave Kind of Love," in it (which I blogged about last year). That's a story in the Shuffled Off world (and graveyard) so it's a pretty good fit for this time of year too.
The WMG Holiday Spectacular 2020 is up on Kickstarter. I don't have a story in this one but I know a lot of these writers and they are fantastic. Getting a story a day in your inbox might be a nice balm for this very strange year.

Hop you all are staying safe and staying sane out there!

Robert

Unfinished Business

2020-10-24T05:53:00Z

Sometimes a title makes all the difference. It's like this sprinkle of magic that makes a project come together and suddenly it all makes sense. And that is true for Unfinished Business: The Cases of Walter Anchor Ghost Detective.

Unfinished Business encapsulates the journey of an earth bound spirt (i.e. ghost) perfectly. And especially Walter Anchor as he tries to solve his own murder. As I was finishing up Walter's stories earlier in the year, the title came to me and I knew it was perfect, capturing one of the themes that run throughout these stories.

And then I found the image for the cover. I've been sitting on it for months and so love it! The vibe is just perfect for Walter Anchor, Ghost Detective.

Back in January I told you all that Walter was going to be one of the stars of my writing this year, and this here is the moment. Granted, all six of Walter's stories in this collection are already out but putting them together makes it into the longer story I originally conceived of.

Walter changes and grows as he and Emily solve these six cases. He goes from being a brand new ghost to confronting the hard reality of exactly how he died. And it's a whopper of a story with all of them combined. The print edition is over 500 pages long and if you haven't been buying them as they came out, now is the perfect time to grab a copy.

The Unfinished Business ebook is on sale for $2.99 (in the US) for the next few weeks. There is a print edition available too ($19.99 in the US).

For you Shuffled Off fans, there's a few cameos in here from that series. I keep thinking about JJ and the gang. There's nothing new there yet, but you can get a glimpse of them here.

Here's the blurb for the book:

Walter Anchor wants nothing more from his afterlife than to solve his own murder, complete his unfinished business, and move on.

This failed actor turned dentist teams up with a ghost named Emily to find his murderer. But when they solve a series of cases that lead him to the truth about his death, he gets more than he bargained for. Can he face the reality of his own death, save the woman he still loves, and do the unthinkable before anyone else dies?

From the author of Shuffled Off: A Ghost’s Memoir comes a mystery unlike anything seen before.

Unfinished Business includes the following Walter Anchor Ghost Detective books:

Detecting Haley
The Ghost Bride’s Gift
A Long Hard Fall
Death of a Dentist
A Hollywood Kind of Murder
The Red Arrow Murders

Get your copy today or see all the books in the series.

Living in Carterville and Time Traveling

2020-10-20T14:30:49Z

2020 has been a difficult and unusual year. You all are living through it too, so you know what I'm talking about. The COVID-19 pandemic alone would make it a very unusual year much less the racial tensions, political madness, unprecedented wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, and economic disaster (and a bunch more has happened since I started writing this post a couple of weeks ago).

This new reality changes things. The obvious huge things (illness, death, people loosing their homes, economic hardship) to small things (like what and how I am writing and what I am doing when I'm not working the day job).

I know, my approach to writing in the midst of all this madness is not that significant. But I do wonder how a year like this changes what kind of art is created or other ways that we express ourselves.

I've been fairly cognizant of this since the pandemic hit and everyone was locked down in spring and keeping an eye on my own process. And it's been different.

Since May I've been writing two novels back to back in my Carterville mystery series. That's a long time to be writing from the same character's point of view in the same small town but it's been nice. The mystery part of it is comforting too, because in stories like this the mystery gets solved in the end. The problems we are facing feel so big right now it's hard to imagine them ever getting resolved in a way that works for even a majority of us.

So, lingering with a small town cop solving mysteries and trying to be a decent human being while he's at it. Yeah. That does feel like 2020 has had an effect. It's been a joy to figure out lots of details about this quirky little town and the people living there—I've even got a map drawn.

The first novel, which is tentatively titled Out of a Christmas Sky, is due out in November. While I was writing it, George Floyd was killed, the whole country was focused on policing, and #BlackLivesMatter was in the news every day. This had an impact. If you've read my books most of them are filled with very human people trying to be decent in a world that is often not. Trying to get by. Trying to contribute something. But writing a fictional cop these days took some thought and care.

Henry Carter, the protagonist of these novels, is a middle-aged white guy, which I also happen to be. It's been nice to write closer to my age. I am, by no means, Henry, but I get to reflect on the aging process through him and that has felt good.

Henry lives in a very small town that he's spent almost his entire life in and that also resonates with this muted 2020. I'm mostly at home, mostly doing the same things and seeing the same few people. Another thing about Henry I can relate to.

There's comfort food and comfort reading, I guess this has been comfort writing for me.

I've also time traveled back to the past with these books. These two novels take place before The Blood of Carterville. When I write a story I almost always start at the beginning and head towards the future. I usually do that with series too. But in this case I was so fascinated with the conflicts that came to a head in The Blood of Carterville, I wanted to go back and explore them.

This has been a soothing set of guiderails as I write. I know what happens in a couple of books so I need to make sure we end up there, although, to be sure, the journey has been fascinating with lots of surprises.

I'm sure it will be quite a while before we understand this unprecedented year we are living through. Some of the ways this year is changing us is obvious, but lots of other things, small and large have changed too.

What's different for you?

The Red Arrow Murders

2020-09-26T06:00:00Z

It's release day! The Red Arrow Murders is out!

It's been a long journey with Walter Anchor. The idea for a ghost detective came to me when I was working on To Be a Fool, which came out in 2013. I started his first story while that novel was finishing up. I was having so much fun with it that he and Emily have a cameo in To Be a Fool.

The initial thought was very simple. If JJ Lynch (the ghost in Shuffled Off and To Be a Fool) can write his stories, what other kinds of ghosts and other kinds of stories can be created in this fascinating world where ghosts tell their own stories.

And I needed someone very different from JJ. Someone older. Someone with a very different history (failed actor turned dentist fit the bill there). Someone what would approach the afterlife very differently.

The other part of the equation was a 2012 writers conference I went to put on by Kevin J. Anderson. He was talking about his forthcoming Dan Shambles: Zombie PI series. That combined with the thoughts of other ghosts telling their own story and there we go. If a zombie can be a PI why not a ghost? And what if the ghost was trying to solve is own murder? That is how Walter Anchor was born.

So here we are and in The Red Arrow Murders, it's time for Walter to finally solve his own murder, to find out exactly how he died.

I won't give anything away, but I can tell you it's not quite what Walter expected.

This is a different story for Walter and Emily. It's the longest story so far and more intense in a lot of ways. It's winding up this phase of Walter's afterlife and brings to a culmination Walter's journey from the five previous cases (there's a nice series page for Walter where you can see all the books). It also hints a new direction for Walter.

I'm really excited to be at this point with Walter. That initial idea has blossomed in ways I couldn't have imagined. I hope you all have enjoyed his adventure too.

The Red Arrow Murders is on sale for $0.99 (in the US) for the next few weeks.

Here's the blurb:

Walter Anchor spends his afterlife solving murders in the hope of one day solving the toughest murder of all. His own.

But when he and his partner and best ghost-friend Emily stumble upon a series of murders committed for a ghost to find, for Walter and Emily to find, everything changes. Can he face the reality of his own death, save the woman he still loves, and do the unthinkable before anyone else dies?

From the author of Shuffled Off: A Ghost’s Memoir comes a murder mystery unlike anything seen before.

Get your copy today or see all the books in the series.

Neutrinoman & Lightningirl: Season 2

2020-08-28T07:44:00Z

With the series I write, I always think of them in terms of the wider story arc, and in the case of Neutrinoman and Lightningirl in terms of Seasons.

I call them "Seasons" for a reason. There is a larger story being told across all the episodes. And, yes, "Season" and "Episode" sounds like a TV show on purpose. It's the way I think of this. These three books (Off Book, Hard Times, and Elemental Factors) move the broader story arc along and put our heroes in a very different place and (hopefully) leave you all wanting more.

This is a big book. The print edition clocks in at over 480 pages. There's a ton of action, adventure, and the continuing love story of Nik and Licia.

The subtitle of this series is "Neutrinoman and Lightningirl: A Love Story" for a reason too. The first season tracked pretty well with a standard romance (meet cute, problems along the way, a hopefully happily every after), but Season 2 goes past that and looks at the relationship as it matures and changes and grows.

Honestly the whole love story thing is why I got into this series. I am so lucky to be with the same amazing woman for thirty years now (wow!) and I think the standard romance leaves a lot of the better parts of a long relationship out.

So, Season 2 is out today! It's also on sale for a great price (there are three books in there). The blurb is below, but here's the essential data.

The ebook is on sale for $2.99 in the US for the next few weeks. This is a great price compared to the individual books if you haven't gotten into it.
The print edition will be out soon. It's a deal too, but not as much as the ebooks. That big page count ups the cost.
If you have't tried the series yet, the first episode ebook, Meteor Attack! is free when you sign up for my newsletter.

And here's the blurb:

Everything will change…

Nik Nichols (aka Neutrinoman) and Licia Lopez (aka Lightningirl) face their greatest challenges yet with an impossible mission, a forced separation, and new, unexpected enemies at every turn.

With their secret identities revealed and their relationship with the military souring, will they find the strength to keep saving the world and stay in love? Can they form a team powerful enough to meet the looming alien threat?

From the author of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse comes Season 2 of Neutrinoman and Lightningirl: A Love Story, including Off Book, Hard Times, and Elemental Factors. A fun, romantic, superhero adventure unlike anything you've ever read before

Get a copy now!
Learn about all the books in the series.

A Hollywood Kind of Murder

2020-07-25T07:03:00Z

Okay, Walter Anchor used to be an actor so why not have him solving a murder in a Hollywood? A murder with a particularly Hollywood kind of vibe. He's a ghost after all and moving about is easy. That is the starting point to this unique murder mystery.

Long ago when I was in high school and then again briefly about ten years ago, I did some acting. As a teenager it was plays, lots of them, among other things. As an adult I was in a few student films at the local university. Performing scared me, a lot, and I loved it, a lot. Both of those things bringing with it plenty of adrenaline and lots of excitement So it's not too surprising that I have a character that tried to make a go of one of my first creative loves.

My writing has changed and evolved over time as I improve my craft and get better at performing with words. This may seem like an odd thought, but I sometimes think of writing as a slow motion performance, or the recording of one. Sure, there is editing and I don't have to get everything right the first time through, but it feels like I am performing with words. It connects to my experience with acting more than you might think at first thought. It's less adrenalized than a live performance but still plenty scary and lots of fun.

This is a fun story mixing a quirky murder with a Hollywood setting and a couple of ghost detectives. It's also an important story in terms of my ghost world (which started with the novel Shuffled Off). It takes another step in exploring the question of "what if ghosts were real and the living knew it and believed it?"

A Hollywood Kind of Murder is on sale for $0.99 (in the US) for the next few weeks.

This story is a Campfire Tale (my 2019 experiment with reader-assisted stories) so it is free to my newsletter subscribers, as well as Detecting Haley, the first Walter Anchor story.

Here's the blurb:

Walter Anchor spends his afterlife solving murders in the hope of one day solving the toughest murder of all. His own.

When a case brings him to Hollywood, Walter takes on a murder that could only happen in Tinseltown. An actor playing the part of a corpse murdered during the filming of a funeral scene. Walter will deal with an interfering ghost and confront his past as a failed actor to solve this case. But can he stop the murderer before someone else dies?

From the author of Shuffled Off: A Ghost’s Memoir comes a murder mystery unlike anything seen before.

Get your copy today or see all the books in the series.

😜 Pausing Stir Crazy Stories 🤪

2020-06-30T17:00:27Z

I am ending the Stir Crazy Story program, for now at least. I am leaving Meteor Attack! up for free for a while seeing how there are six episodes in the series now, but it feels like this program has run its course.

When I started this, it was just COVID-19 and the world was on lock down. It's a lot more complicated now with the economy, the racial unrest, and political madness all on top of the surging pandemic.

It's been fun seeing some books get out there. A big "thank you" to those of you that helped spread the word. I still think fiction has a role to play during these times, but I think there are more important things to say right now, so time to wrap this up.

Stay safe. Stay sane. And be kind.
Robert

P.S. If you are not subscribed to my newsletter and want a few free ebooks, feel free to sign up.

Elemental Factors

2020-06-27T09:45:00Z

Today I am wrapping up Season 2 of Neutrinoman and Lightningirl: A Love Story with Elemental Factors. This season delighted me because in the writing it took so many interesting turns that I didn't expect (yeah, I know it sounds strange, but it's the way I write. I follow the characters and they sure surprised me here).

I don't have a timeline yet, but there will be a Season 3. There is a lot more adventure, fun, and romance to go.

Here's the quick take:

As usual it's on sale in the US for $0.99 for those following along. The sale is only for the next few weeks, so best grab it now.
In August, the Season 2 Omnibus will be coming out with Off Book, Hard Times, and Elemental Factors. If you are behind reading this series, it's worth waiting for so you can get three episodes for a great price.
Episode 1, Meteor Attack, is free right now as part of my Stir Crazy Stories program. So is episode 2, Toxic Asset. I'm wrapping up Stir Crazy Stories this month so now's a great time to grab them if you haven't tried this series.

Okay, hope you are all doing okay in this crazy world we are living in right now. Maybe some fun action/adventure is just the thing. Here's the blurb.

A team arises…

After his split from the military, Nik Nichols (aka Neutrinoman) sets out to recruit other quantum metamorphs to defend the earth from alien aggressors.

But when a routine flight turns into a desperate struggle to save the airplane and the hundreds of people onboard, Nik must find new strength and new abilities to face a strange new enemy. Can he save the airplane and survive long enough to form his team and defend the planet?

From the author of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse comes a fun, romantic, superhero adventure. Elemental Factors is episode 6 of Neutrinoman and Lightningirl: A Love Story.

Get a copy now!
Learn about all the books in the series.

😜 Stir Crazy Stories: Toxic Asset 🤪

2020-06-03T16:31:43Z

I have no words for what's going on right now in our world (writing this in early June, 2020), at least ones that seem useful. Except be kind. We are all on this planet together and kindness seems needed more than ever.

The book choice for this slot was made before the particular madness descended, but it somehow feels right. "Toxic" is a good way to describe our current situation.

And while I don't think that giving away some books will change the world, I am hopeful it will provide some escape and relief.

Toxic Asset is the second book in the Neutrinoman and Lightning: A Love Story series. Action. Adventure. Romance. It's a fine way to escape for a few hours.

(As of this writing the first episode, Meteor Attack! is free too, so you can really get into the series.)

All the details are on the Stir Crazy Stories page at robertjmccarter.com/stircrazystories. I’ll be keeping that page up to date as this program continues.

Stay safe and stay sane out there, and be kind to each other!
Robert

Death of a Dentist

2020-05-29T07:27:39Z

There's are best practices for writing a series and then there are... what I did with this series.

It has been an education on what not to do. My wife once jokingly called this story (in a different form with a different name) my "white whale." She cast me as Captain Ahab on a quest to exact my revenge on Moby Dick.

It wasn't quite that bad, but it was a struggle. An unusually difficult one.

Here's the best practice that I knew about and ignored on these Walter Anchor books: have a series "bible" so you can keep everything straight as you are writing stories in a series.

I didn't do that. I got a fun idea in my head and went off writing. And the way I write, that's not really an impulse I want to suppress (at least not much). It's the fun of writing, especially when it comes to mystery, that keeps me at the keyboard. Start with the mystery, see where it leads, and hopefully be surprised just like the reader will be.

I ended up doing the first four of these (there are going to be six shortly) without a proper bible and ended up with a lot of continuity issues and had to spend a lot of extra time editing.

This has been a very good lesson to learn. I am currently working on another series, on the second story in it, and believe me I have a good bible setup and it's helping so much.

The lesson here is be spontaneous after you have prepared.

In any case, Death of a Dentist dives deeply into my ghost detective's backstory and heads him towards the coming conclusion of this round of stories. Walter's afterlife has been consumed with solving his own murder and he's about to confront the reality of his death. This is the story that points him in that direction.

Getting here feels pretty good. Sure I made mistakes, but I overcame them, learned along the way and have six very different mysteries (he's a ghost detective after all!).

Death of a Dentist is on sale for $0.99 (in the US) for the next few weeks. These can be read out of order, but if your are curious about the series, the first episode, Detecting Haley, is free to my newsletter subscribers.

Here's the blurb:

Walter Anchor spends his afterlife solving murders in the hope of one day getting good enough to solve the toughest murder of all. His own.

But when his partner and best ghost-friend Emily convinces him to relive his last few days to find a lead in his very cold case, everything changes. He finds his past and his relationships much more complicated than he remembered and uncovers an unthinkable clue. A clue, that if followed, will force him to reevaluate his life and his afterlife

From the author of Shuffled Off: A Ghost’s Memoir comes a murder mystery unlike anything seen before.

Get your copy today or see all the books in the series.

Breathing in the Stars

2020-05-23T09:15:54Z

Back in 2017 when I was doing my Short Story Marathon, stars kept coming up thematically. Or, more specifically, that feeling I get when I look up at the Milk Way on a cold clear night. Over and over stars appeared in those stories. There was this feeling I wanted to convey, this thought, this concept. And while a lot of the stories benefited from the idea, I knew it wasn't quite there.

Until I wrote "Breathing in the Stars." Then I knew I finally got it. And I'm so happy the story found a home in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine.

I may be biased, but I love Pulphouse Fiction Magazine. The stories are all a bit different, all very well written, and never quite what you expect. If you are a short fiction fan, it's definitely worth checking out.

Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #9 is available everywhere.

😜 Stir Crazy Stories: Shuffled Off 🤪

2020-05-11T13:00:46Z

While things are starting to open up here and there, self quarantining remains in place for many, so time for another Stir Crazy Story.

This time it's my first and best reviewed novel, Shuffled Off (4.8 stars with 35 reviews as of this writing). This book will always have a special place in my heart. It was hard, it took a long time, but so many parts of the project was quite magical. There is an innocence to this book--it was my first novel, after all, and I can't ever approach a novel this way again.

"JJ’s heartrending passage, kicking and screaming, through Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ five stages of grief for his lost life, is relatable for any reader who has lost a loved one too soon…. The wry humor and raw emotional truth of JJ’s journey will have readers rooting for him from death to eternity."
Kirkus Reviews

All the details are on the Stir Crazy Stories page at robertjmccarter.com/stircrazystories. There are three books for free right now.

If you've read Shuffled Off already, please spread the word. Fiction can provide a very important escape right now.

Stay safe and stay sane out there!
Robert

P.S. Here's the blurb for the book:

Sometimes death wakes you up...

Death comes for us all, but when JJ Lynch dies, it's one hell of a wakeup call. He's forced out of the rut of his going-nowhere meat-life and must embrace his new after-life. With a gallows sense of humor, JJ fights his way through the five stages of grief on a journey you will never forget.

Along the way he has to confront the bardo (his own personal hell) and delicately tie up his loose ends. If he's not careful, one of his loved ones will die.

Life is not easy, even when you're a ghost.

~~~

Using technology developed at the University of Arizona, JJ communicates from beyond the veil to tell his mind-bending story of life beyond death in his own words.

Hard Times

2020-04-28T08:50:00Z

Hey, it's release day! Hard Times: Neutrinoman and Lightningirl: A Love Story, Episode 5 is out.

I'll have the blurb below, and yes, it's on sale, but as this release has been approaching I've realized something strange.

Even though I wrote this book several years ago (I'm really behind with this series) and planned its release last December, it's a book for this moment.

For those not familiar with this series, it's a boy-meets-girl kind of story, one where they are both superheroes and they have to keep saving the world while falling in love and trying to build a relationship. It's fun with realistic characters and some crazy action.

But in this episode our protagonist, Nik Nichols (aka Neutrinoman), is "detained," locked away, struggling to get by with almost no human contact. He's dealing with serious isolation. During the spring of 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic you would call this extreme social distancing.

That's the 2005 timeline, this books is told from two different times. In the 2025 timeline, our heroes have long been isolated and they're looking to do something about that.

See. It's so weird. A coincidence, I know, but one that feels bizarre given what we are going through in the world right now.

I love this episode. It's one where I was really surprised because everything does change and the series moves itself in a different direction.

So it is on sale now for the next couple weeks for $0.99 (in the US). Here's the blurb. Check it out, it's a fun read and given the isolation elements may be a good way to reflect a bit on it.

Everything will change…

Detained in a secret government prison and stripped of his powers, Nik Nichols (aka Neutrinoman) must face a new kind of enemy.

Deprived of human contact and with only a faceless interrogator to talk to, Nik must battle his inner demons, find new abilities, and dig deeper. Can he survive prison and find a way to face the looming alien threat?

From the author of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse comes a fun, romantic, superhero adventure. Hard Times is episode 5 of Neutrinoman and Lightningirl: A Love Story.

Get a copy now!

Learn about all the books in the series.

😜 Stir Crazy Stories: Seeing Forever 🤪

2020-04-18T14:08:21Z

We past five weeks of staying home here this week and 2020 is not at all the year any of us thought it would be.

I've got a lot to be grateful for. I have plenty of work to do and can get into the forest with the dogs, but boy is strange.

This far in, I'm able to read fiction again and have been enjoying one of Jim Butcher's Desden Files books. Very entertaining. As I write this, the first one is on sale for $2.99 if you want to check it out.

I know I'm lucky in all of this and even with that, it's a lot.

So, to help you all keep from going stir crazy it's time for another free book. No email required. No strings attached.

This time it's Seeing Forever, my 2018 sci-fi novel.

"In this quiet but far-reaching thriller, author McCarter explores the essence of what it means to be human… Sci-fi as it should be: engaging, moving, and grand in scope." – Kirkus Review

All the details are on the Stir Crazy Stories page at robertjmccarter.com/stircrazystories. There are two books for free right now.

So go grab the book, spread the word, escape a little.

Stay safe and stay sane out there!
Robert

P.S. Here's the blurb for the book:

A life worth living?

After suspending himself for decades he is about to enter a virtual world called “Home” to take one last look around. But Home is not what he expected and what he finds will change everything.

When is forever too long?

From Robert J. McCarter, author of Shuffled Off: A Ghost’s Memoir, comes an unforgettable sci-fi novel of life, loss, and love beyond the biological.

😜 Stir Crazy Stories: Meteor Attack! 🤪

2020-04-04T12:08:56Z

Coronavirus. Worldwide pandemic. COVID-19. It's everywhere and lots of folks are doing what they can to help out.

I'm doing my part. Staying isolated (not that hard for an introvert that works from home), keeping up on the news, keeping busy with the day job as the company I work for tries to adapt to these circumstances, but it doesn't feel like enough.

Not being in the healthcare field, it feels like I can't do nearly enough. But being a writer, I can at least provide some entertainment. So I am going to start giving away ebooks, one every week or two while everyone is cooped up.

First up is Meteor Attack! All the details are on the Stir Crazy Stories page at robertjmccarter.com/stircrazystories. I'll be keeping that page up to date as this goes along. Once this gets rolling, I expect there to be two or more ebooks available for free at a time.

There is no obligation, no email required, no strings attached, no requests made. Just giving away some entertainment because we all need to escape some, now more than ever.

Please pass the word if you know others that might be interested.

Stay safe and stay sane out there!
Robert

The Blood of Carterville

2020-03-28T09:11:30Z

It's release day! The Blood of Carterville is out today and I am so excited.

I know, we are in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic and things are crazy out there, but I think of this as me doing my part. I'm not a medical professional or part of the many professionals directly needed right now, I am a writer. And I do believe entertainment is vitally important. We all need to escape.

The blurb is below, but here are the quick points:

This is a novella, about 100 pages long in print and will take about 2.5 hours to read.
The ebook is on sale for $0.99 (in the US) right now.
It's a mystery set in a fictional town in Northern Arizona where everyone has powers (but only while near Carterville).
I am hoping this is the start of a series. There are so many stories to tell here.
There's a lovely landing page for the book where you can go read the first chapter right now.
The Blood of Carterville is certified virus-free. It's a fine place for a brief escape amidst all this.

Here's the full blurb:

Carterville, AZ. Population: 286. People with powers: 198

Just a sleepy former mining town turned tourist haven in the mountains of Northern Arizona until the “incident.” The meteorite that gave everyone in the town powers, but only while near Carterville.

Some people think that the blood of Carterville bestows powers, but when a tourist stabs police Chief Henry Carter’s best friend, everything changes.

Henry will do the unthinkable to save his friend. But when the crime gets complicated, can Henry find the culprit and save his town, much less survive?

From Robert J. McCarter, long-time Arizona resident and the author of Shuffled Off: A Ghost’s Memoir, comes a mystery and a town you will never forget.

I hope you all are staying safe and sane out there. I can't keep you safe, but maybe I can help keep you sane with books like this one. I'll have an announcement shortly about more efforts along those lines.

A Long Hard Fall

2020-03-15T07:23:00Z

If you haven't heard about this series yet, Walter Anchor is a ghost detective. He's from the same graveyard as JJ Lynch and the ghosts in Shuffled Off and the rest of the books in that series. In fact, he and his sidekick Emily have a cameo in the 2nd book in that series, Of Things Not Seen.

I love these stories. Walter was a struggling actor, and then a dentist, and now he's a ghost trying to solve his own murder. Except the case has gone cold so he's practicing by solving other murders.

So take a crime procedure drama, cross it with a first-person ghost story, add a dash of noir, and you have Walter Anchor, Ghost Detective.

Today the third story, A Long Hard Fall is out. It's the shortest of them (about 50 pages in print) and is stand alone and a great way to dip your toe in if your are curious. The ebook is on sale for $0.99 in the US for the rest of the month and a print edition will be along in a couple of days.

There will be new episodes out in May, July, and September with an omnibus in October. Stay tuned.

Here's the blurb:

Walter Anchor spends his afterlife solving murders in the hope of one day getting good enough to solve the toughest murder of all. His own.

But when his partner and best ghost-friend Emily finds a body on top of a skyscraper killed by a long, hard fall, it leads to more clues and more suspects than the two of them can handle. It will take a team of ghosts working together with the Tucson police department to solve a murder this bizarre.

From the author of Shuffled Off: A Ghost’s Memoir comes a murder mystery unlike anything seen before.

Get a copy today!

Off Book

2020-02-27T07:45:22Z

Okay, so I'm bit of a romantic (okay, okay, a big-ole romantic) and I love certain types of superhero stories. Most of the time, those that are on the fun side of the spectrum. So my series Neutrinoman and Lightningirl: A Love Story is not really a big surprise.

The first episode, Meteor Attack! came out in 2012, and Protocol X in 2014. The idea for the big whopping epic story came to me early on in my writing and it's what I started work on after the more heavy themes of Shuffled Off.

It wasn't supposed to take this long to role out more episodes. A few things conspired to keep me away from it for a while:

Big whopping epic story. My tendency is to write close-up intimate stories. And this series has a lot of that, but it also has a lot of characters and moving parts and other epic story challenges. I knew when I first conceived of it that it would take a lot of words to tell this story and the scope of it takes extra time.
Back log. I've written a bit about this before, but I had some tough years with my mother's care and death that got me way behind in finishing and publishing some of my books. We're getting to the end of that backlog. Finally.
Woody and June versus the Apocalypse. This series, which dominated last year, is a close cousin of Neutrinoman and Lightningirl (romance, adventure, and is playful with genre tropes) and it cut in line and got out first. I know, rude, but Woody and June is a blast too, so I think we can forgive them.

But now we're back, baby! Off Book is out today (only $2.99 in the US, such a deal) and two more books are scheduled for this year (plus the Season 2 omnibus edition). I'm really glad to be here. I love these characters and this story. Season 2 is, even for me, very surprising. The story really takes off in directions both surprising and delightful.

Here's the schedule (and now that it's public you all can hold me to it):

Off Book, episode 4: Out today
Hard Times, episode 5: April, 2020
Elemental Factors, episode 6: June, 2020
Season 2 Omnibus (episodes 4-6): August, 2020

The blurb for Off Book episode is below, but now I will conduct a brief Q&A with myself to, hopefully, answer any questions you might have:

Q: Are these books stand alone, can I start with Off Book?
A: These stories are structured kind like a TV show, with a story line resolving in each book, but a longer story line running through all the books. This being the first episode in season 2, and season 1 being a while back, there is plenty in there to get you into the story or refresh your memory. So, yes, you can start with Off Book, but will have a better experience starting from the beginning.

Q: I've heard you give away episode 1, Meteor Attack! to newsletter subscribers. Do you mind if I sign up just long enough to grab the book and go?
A: Thanks for bringing that up, and no, I don't mind at all. You are welcome to grab the book and go. If my emails don't work for you, then certainly don't stick around.

Q: I don't like email (we all get so many). Is there another way to keep up with releases?
A: So many. Here are a few:

Follow me on Amazon.com or Bookbub.com, and they'll let you know when a new book comes out.
Join me on facebook or twitter. I announce all releases there.
Keep an eye on my blog, I'll announce here, of course.

Q: Are you actually going to finish the series? I have started too many series that authors never finished.
A: Well, it is my intent to do so, but I don't have a crystal ball and while I have some pretty psychic characters, I'm not one myself. I can tell you that my characters tend to start bugging me when I leave them for too long (lately it's been Woody Beckman and I've been hearing whispers from JJ Lynch from the Shuffled Off world). Don't look at me like that. I'm a writer, I'm supposed to have voices in my head. Really!

Q: So if you are going to finish the series, how many more seasons are left?
A: Good question and I don't have an answer. At least one, maybe two more seasons. Because of the way I write, I won't know until I get there. But I am determined to get there or else Nik and Licia won't leave me alone. I really want to know how it all turns out too.

Q: Where is this wonderful book available?
A: The ebook is available everywhere. The print book will be available any moment.

Q: I know some folks that might like this series. Where do I send them to find out more?
A: In honor of Season 2, we've got a lovely page for the series at Neutrinoman.com.

Okay, enough talking to myself. The blurb and the lovely cover are below. Hit me up with any questions you might have in the comments.

An Impossible Mission…

When Nik Nichols (aka Neutrinoman) and his new partner Quinn Rask head to Las Vegas on an off book mission to try to capture Chaosboy, they end up with much more than they bargained for. An impossible mission to stop a new powerful q-morph named Gaia bent on the destruction of Las Vegas.

They’ll need Lightningirl and all the luck they can get to stop Gaia. This time, what happens in Vegas, definitely does not stay in Vegas.

From the author of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse comes a fun, romantic, superhero adventure. Off Book is episode 4 of Neutrinoman and Lightningirl: A Love Story.

Creatures Featured

2020-01-29T08:11:00Z

Creatures Featured

Starting in 2016, I've been releasing a short story collection every other year. I haven't exactly been planing it, it's just turned out that way.

2020 starts with a collection of my stories, and the theme this time is creatures. There's a few stories from my other collections, some more from the anthologies I've contributed to, and a bunch of never-before-seen stories.

I'm very proud of these stories and they run the gamut of genres and themes but all of them include some kind of creature. The ebook is available now and the print edition will be up any moment.

The ebook is on sale for $2.99 (in the US) right now, but goes up to $4.99 on February 12th.

As with my other collections there are musings about the book's theme and backstories for each tale, for those of you who enjoy that kind of thing.

Here's the blurb and the cover:

Two dragons, a kraken, Cthulhu and a bunch of zombies, lots of monsters here. A couple of unicorns, a naiad, the Grim Reaper, and the Devil, plenty of creatures too.

From the fertile imagination of Robert J. McCarter comes Creatures Featured, a collection of 13 stories that cross genres and take some old stories in exciting new directions. Each tale featuring his unique style of storytelling.

Expect surprises and wonder at the creatures featured here.

Get your copy here!

The Ghost Bride's Gift

2020-01-24T18:37:25Z

2020 is going to have a couple of stars when it comes to my writing. Walter Anchor is one. He's a ghost trying to solve his own murder, his stories based in the same graveyard as the A Ghost's Memoir series.

Hist first case, "Detecting Haley" was part of my first short story collection, Life After, and last year it was released stand-alone. (It's also free to my newsletter subscribers, so sign up if you haven't already).

"Detecting Haley" is just the beginning of Walter's journey. Today, "The Ghost Bride's Gift" is out and every other month through September there will be another Walter Anchor mystery to read.

In October I'll be releasing and omnibus edition with all six stories.

Here's the details on "The Ghost Bride's Gift" :

Walter Anchor wants to solve his own murder, but with no leads and nothing else to do he solves other murders to pass the time.

When his best ghost-friend Emily finds a dead bride alone in a hotel without a scratch on her, things go from bad to worse for Walter. The bride looks just like his ex-wife. Seeing her forces Walter to come face-to-face with a past he wants to forget.

Can Walter reconcile with his past in time to solve the murder and save the ghost bride from the ghostly hell known as the bardo?

From the author of Shuffled Off: A Ghost’s Memoir comes a mystery unlike anything seen before.

The ebook is available everywhere with the print edition soon to follow.

2019: The Year in Stories

2020-01-18T10:54:36Z

2019 was a hell of a year for me as a writer. Books released. Short stories sold. Lots of new stuff written, and lots of things learned.

Seems like I should have something awesome and reflective to say about this, but about all I can come up with is, wow! I hit the 10-year mark on writing and maybe that did it, plus all the crazed persistence is paying off. Maybe I got lucky. Maybe both.

In any case a lot of my writing hit the world in 2019. Here is a month-by-month view.

March

Episode 1

Woody and June versus the Wannabe Warlord

We kicked off the 8-month Woody and June extravaganza. If you missed the fun, this episode and the second one is free when you join the Woody and June Fan Club.

April

My story "Ashna's Heart" appeared in Swords, Sorcery, & Self-Rescuing Damsels, starting a very good 2019 for my short fiction.

Episode 2

Woody and June versus the Fungus-Head Zombies

Episode 2 of Woody and June arrived, also free when you join the Woody and June Fan Club.

May

"The Disappearing Neighborhood" appeared in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine: Issue #6. This marks my first professional short story sale! This story made the Tangent Online 2019 Recommended Reading List.

Detecting Haley

We had big plans for the Walter Anchor series in 2019, but all we had time for was splitting out the Walter's first case into it's own book (it is also in my short story collection Life After). 2020 is now looking like Walter's year. Stay tuned!

Episdoe 3

Woody and June versus the Grand Canyon

June

Episode 4

Woody and June versus the Ex

July

For a Horse Named Corwin

This story first appeared in Anomalous Readings: Thirteen Curious and Confounding Tales, but I like it so much I figured it deserved it's own book (and look at that cover!)

Episode 5

Woody and June versus the Third Wheel

August

"Daisy's Heart" appeared in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine #7 . This is the first time my name has appeared on the cover of a magazine! This story made the Tangent Online 2019 Recommended Reading List.

“Dog People” appeared in Snot-Nosed Aliens: Stories from Pulphouse Fiction Magazine

Episode 6

Woody and June versus Phantom Company

September

Episode 7

Woody and June versus the Daring Rescue

October

Episodes 1 - 7

Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, Volume 1

All seven episodes in one volume (at a great price).

A Boy, a Girl, and a Ghost

At long last, a new novel in my ghost world. I believe this it be my best novel and am so happy to see it out in the world!

December

“A Grave Kind of Love” came out as part of WMG’s Holiday Spectacular 2019.

"With Light Years Between Us" appeared in Issue 8 of Pulphouse Fiction Magazine and marked my second cover appearance!

That was a very busy year writing-wise. Thanks to all of you that read these, all my beta readers, the editors that bought my stories, and my wonderful wife for making this year possible.

Planning for 2020 is well underway and who knows, it might just beat 2019!

A Fun Way to Start the Year

2020-01-11T08:46:11Z

Pretty exciting stuff to start out 2020 on the short story front. Two of my stories made the Tangent Online 2019 Recommended Reading list!!

"The Disappearing Neighborhood" and "Daisy's Heart" both from Pulphouse Fiction Magazine made this list.

I'm floored. Really. These are my first pro sales so it's amazing to see them here. You can view the entire list over on TangetOnline.com.

Plus, a host of my short stories will be published in 2020. First up is "Breathing in the Stars" which will appear in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #9.

Stay tuned!

With Light Years Between Us

2019-12-21T09:05:11Z

Excuse me for a moment while I go all sci-fi on you. Only for a moment, I promise.

If you hop on a space ship and travel fast, I mean really fast, as in approaching light speed, you will experience time very differently than someone on Earth. Specifically less time will pas for you than for the person on Earth.

This gets into Eisenstein's theory of special relativity if you want to go all google happy and search for it.

For my story "With Light Years Between Us" all that science stuff is the backdrop for a very human story. A couple seeing each other for the first time in a long time. A lot longer for one of them.

"With Light Years Between Us" is just out in Issue 8 of Pulphouse Fiction Magazine. I really love this story and so happy that it found a home.

Take a look and let me know what you think. Does the mix of a very human problem with a sci-fi twist work?

And, yup, that's my name on the cover!!! This is my second one. Maybe this short story writing thing is going to work out okay 😊

Oh, and for the very observant of you, yes, "With Light Years Between Us" is from my short story marathon back in 2017. I first mentioned it by name on Day 16. That's another sale from those 30 stories!

A Grave Kind of Love, Part 2

2019-12-20T17:08:21Z

I am very lucky to be part of WMG's Holiday Spectacular 2019. This is a story-a-day subscription for the holiday season. Romantic stories, suspenseful stories, and stories that celebrate all kinds of winter holidays.

My story, "A Grave Kind of Love," is a sweet Christmas romance... that takes place (in part) in a graveyard... with ghosts!

Yes, this is the Tucson graveyard of Shuffled Off and all the "A Ghost's Memoir" books. JJ, Jesus, and Lela are event mentioned in it, but this is a story with two new ghosts.

This story went out to subscribers on 12/10, but this time of year is just nuts-o-rama with the day job, so it's taken me a bit to blog about it. I wrote about this story-a-day thing in October when it was a Kickstarter campaign, but you can still get all the stories (and the story will be part of an anthology next fall). All the details are over here.

Oh, and I've read many of the stories in this project and there are some astoundingly good ones by some great writers. Really worth it.

All the Ghost Books On Sale

2019-11-24T15:02:20Z

Through next Wednesday (11/27/2019), all the ebooks in my ghost world are on sale over at Amazon. This is a great time to pick them up if you haven't already.

A Boy, a Girl, and a Ghost is $0.99. This is my latest, and I think best, book.
Shuffled Off: A Ghost's Memoir, Book 1 is $0.99. This is where it all began. My first novel.
Drawing the Dead is $0.99. My second novel and when I started to feel like this writing would really turn into something.
To Be a Fool: A Ghost's Memoir, Book 2 is $1.99. This is the direct sequel to Shuffled Off
Of Things Not Seen: A Ghost's Memoir, Book 3 is $1.99. The complex story of JJ's best dead friend Jesús as he confronts his past in Mexico

I have no idea when or if we'll repeat a sale like this, so now is the time if you don't have one of these books.

Sorry, these are Kindle only at the moment. All prices are USD.

UPDATE: This promotion is only available at Amazon.com.

October Review-o-Rama

2019-11-04T09:13:42Z

So, October.... boy, there was a lot going on. Some of it planned, and some of it more like "scramble like a maniac to get things done." Lots of good stuff, so I think it all bears a little repeating. I would have been easy to miss something.

Here we go.

October 11: A Boy, a Girl, and a Ghost

The new novel is released! We are getting some stellar review so far:

And, in this one, I think the author has achieved a pairing of reality with fantasy, as well as a trueness to the character of the protagonist, that soars even above many of my other favorites of his. Just read it. You don’t want to miss this one!
Amazon 5-star review

LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! Great characters, great story line, great twists. What a fun read!!
Goodreads 5-star review

I couldn’t put it down, eagerly anticipated each page, and read every last word. Not necessarily an easy story, but one that reaches deep into your heart and soul and leaves a lasting mark, just like a great love story ought to
Amazon 5-star review

The e-book is available for $5.99. But if you can wait a bit, it goes on sale for $0.99 from November 21 - 27.

October 23: Saving the World Story Bundle

This story bundle has 10 books of great fiction and in each one somebody saves the world. It's an fun antidote to our crazy world. It features Meteor Attack! Episode 1 of Neutrinoman and Lightningirl: A Love Story. Great fiction, tons of fun. Name your price and a portion goes to charity, but for a limited time only so go grab it now.

October 23: Woody and June versus the Apocalypse 🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️

Episodes 1 - 7

The end (for now) of the fun romp through post-zombie-apocalypse Arizona. It's action. It's adventure. It's romance.

The first seven episodes came out together as a single volume of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, available from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and others.

I had so much fun writing these (and I hope you'll have as much fun reading them). If you want to dip your toe in the waters, join the Woody and June Fan Club and get the first two episodes for free and find out how much fun this is!

October 26: Chupacabra: A Conner Bright Mystery Story

This is my latest Campfire Tale and absolutely free to newsletter subscribers. If you are a newsletter subscriber, the link to the story was in the October newsletter. If not, you can sign up and start reading it today.

It's a story about a Phoenix based private detective that ends up with the weirdest cases. A mysterious murder is blamed on the legendary Cuhupacabra and Conner must solve it before he becomes the next victim.

Ok, see what I mean? That was a busy month!

Happy reading to you all!
Robert

Chupacabra: A Conner Bright Mystery Story

2019-11-02T07:46:21Z

I've got a new story is out. This one is, technically, a short novella at about 80 pages long. I wrote it as part of my Campfire Tales program. It's where you guys fill out surveys to help me write my next story and then get to read them, as long as you are a subscriber to my newsletter. (Yup, I'm trying to bribe you, but it's a good bribe 😊)

If you are a newsletter subscriber, the link to the story was in the October newsletter. If not, you can sign up and start reading it today.

Here's the blurb. Conner Bright is a great character, I hope you all enjoy the story!

This case just might kill him...

To hide from his past, Phoenix private detective Conner Bright looks and acts like Crocodile Dundee. His latest murder case involves a man found in the desert with a look of terror on his face, his blood drained, and fang marks in his thigh.

A couple of the deputies blame the murder on the legendary chupacabra, a lizard-like monster that sucks the blood out of its victims.

Conner knows better, but this case will make him confront his past and do everything he can to avoid becoming the next victim of the chupacabra.

A page turning mystery by the author of the Walter Anchor Ghost Detective series.

Here's the cover. These Campfire Tales get a generic cover. If I release it for sale we'll do something different.

Camp Activities Specialist Bulletin #10

2019-10-26T05:45:05Z

Star Date: October 26, 2019

Hello Campers!

I just love the month of October! Mostly it’s because October is our author’s birth month. We always try to take time out to celebrate birthdays in a special way, like traveling to beautiful places, hiking, and enjoying some favorite foods. This year for Robert, the favorite food was homemade gf/vegan mac ‘n cheese and coconut birthday cake for dessert. We didn’t need to travel too far to catch some of the beauty of the aspens showing off their Fall colors. Olivia and Teddy enjoyed the birthday too.

We have had much to celebrate in October with the release of several new stories, the Woody and June Versus the Apocalypse omnibus, and the stunning new novel, A Boy, A Girl and A Ghost. This Y.A. (young adult) story also appeals to grownups. It’s a ghost story. It’s a mystery. It’s a love story. It’s a story about the challenges of being a kid and having cancer. A story of family secrets and transformation. It’s being well-received by our author’s readers and I think it makes a great holiday gift for a person of any age.

Here is the monthly update on Campfire Tales. You can visit the landing page to learn about the history of this project and see how your Campfire Cues have inspired our author to write short stories, novelettes and more. Here’s the short-version Campfire Tales update:

Campfire Tale #2, The Mystery at Molas Pass is available now. You can grab it for free if you sign up for Robert’s monthly newsletter! {Please note that we don’t share your info with anyone, anywhere.}
Campfire Tale #4, entitled Chupacabra, a Conner Bright Mystery, is complete and also free when you sign up for the newsletter.
Campfire Tale #5 is entitled Stationary Objects and includes words like dancing, materializing, and flummox. It features a shapeshifter on a space station. We'll get this story moving just as soon has Robert has a chance to read it to me.
Campfire Tale #6 will include a special guest star appearance by Woody Beckman.
For Campfire Tale #7, the Survey Monkey is open until November 9^th. This time you will choose:
1. An era for the story: 1890, 1965 or 2065
2. The story location: Sussex, England; San Francisco, CA; or Paris, France
3. A single word of your choice

Woody and June fans, if you have not already done so, you can grab the omnibus edition here!

If you have not done so yet, please visit Robert’s new Facebook Author Page! As always, if you have a question or comment, please leave it below.

Happy Reading!

Saving the World

2019-10-25T16:16:59Z

I don't know about you, but it looks like the world could use a bit of saving these days. Just a brief dip into the news and it's hard not to think that.

As a mild mannered citizen of this planet, I feel fairly helpless to do anything about it on a large scale. I mean, I do my part, I do the things I can that I think make a difference, that I think matter. But as a writer... well, there I can at least imagine something different. The good guys winning. Epic adventures. Disaster averted.

That pretending can be pretty important. On a bunch of levels:

The escape a good book can provide.
The experience of hope a good narrative can take you through.
As humans we learn through storytelling, it's important stuff.
The ideas and thoughts it can generate.

This might seem like a strange way to introduce this bundle of very entertaining books, but there is a reason entertainment takes off during tough times. We all need to escape. We all need hope. As a writer, I find myself playing more on the "fun" side of my writing and as a reader I'm doing the same thing.

Fun. Escape. Adventure. Hope. The inner child wants to play, wants to know that everything will be okay. Right?

If you need an escape, the Saving the World story bundle might just be for you. It features the start of my superhero / love story series, Meteor Attack!

It's a great deal (with some minor limits, you get to name your price) and some of the money goes to charity. It features some of my favorite authors and might just be what we all need right now. Check it out now, this offer is only available for a few weeks.

Interested in finding out more?

Dean Wesley Smith, the guy who put this together, goes through what's in the bundle
Ron Collins, a gift story teller (and fellow Arizona writer), talks about his contributions.

So join us. Have fun. Escape. Experience the world being saved at storybundle.com/action

Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, Volume 1

2019-10-23T05:27:39Z

While I've been releasing the Woody and June stories as episodes, short fun reads that take about an hour, I always intended those episodes to come together to form a larger story.

And here it is. Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, Volume 1. All seven episodes, one fun story, one crazy romp through post-apocalypse Arizona.

The ebook is on sale for $3.99 right now (it will go up to $5.99 in a few weeks). The print edition will be available in the next day or so. You can get it on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and others

The blurb is below, but if you'd like to get ebooks of the first two episodes for free, join the fun over at the Woody and June Fan Club (no obligation, unsubscribe at any time).

Love and the Apocalypse

When Woody Beckman meets June Medina, neither expects the adventures that will follow. Dedicated go-it-alone survivors, they’ve learned not to trust anyone in post-zombie-apocalypse Arizona.

But when regular-guy Woody must save tough-as-nails June, they realize that to survive they must learn to trust each other.

As the pair deals with everything from zombies to psychotic, petty, wannabe warlords to the harsh Arizona deserts, they start to realize that they might just prefer facing this crazy world together.

A story of adventure and love and taking things (even the apocalypse) in stride.

Episodes 1 - 7

A Grave Kind of Love

2019-10-19T14:06:02Z

Want to read my holiday-themed love story about two ghosts? "A Grave Kind of Love" is part of this amazing Kickstarter called The WMG Holiday Spectacular. 35 holiday themed stories, one each for 35 days in your in box. Plus holiday anthologies and all kinds of fun bonuses.

I don't think this has ever been done before. So many types of stories by a host of amazing authors. What a way to celebrate the season.

There's just a few days left. Check it out!

A Boy, a Girl, and a Ghost is out!!

2019-10-11T06:00:24Z

Today is the happiest kind of day for a writer. Release day! Here is where you get to take a look at what has been rattling around my brain for such a long time.

I'll keep this short and sweet:

A Boy, a Girl, and a Ghost is available on Amazon for only $2.99 (it goes up to $5.99 in just a few days).
The print edition will be along at any moment for $17.99.
We have a couple of giveaways going on that are about to end, so enter now if you are interested. We are giving away 100 Kindle copies over on GoodReads and five signed paperbacks.

My Best Book

I love this story. I wrote about this more in the afterword of the book, but this book is the reason I am still writing. After a difficult time in my personal life, I almost walked away from writing. Reading this book after not having looked at it for several years is what brought me back to writing.

I really do believe this is the best book I've written. It goes deep into family and love and what makes life worth living. It fits very well with Shuffled Off and the other books in my "A Ghost's Memoir" series, but like Drawing the Dead, focuses on the living.

Give it a try. Go read the first chapter right now for free. Let me know what you think.

The Blurb

A Novel of… Love, Life, & Family

A Boy. Sixteen-year-old Aaron Wade. With his “second strike” with leukemia in remission and his health restored, the summer of 1977 feels like a turning point… until he starts to see a ghost in the Cedar City, Utah graveyard.

A Girl. Seventeen-year-old Helena Monfort. She grew up too early, the tough girl with a bad reputation that just needs a friend.

A Ghost: Lionel Malak. A simple man, he doesn’t understand why someone would murder him, but longs for justice so his spirit can rest.

After Helena escapes a date gone bad, a boy, a girl, and a ghost meet in the Cedar City graveyard under the stars. A chance meeting turns into a friendship, a murder investigation, and an exploration of life, death, friendship, and family you will never forget.
From the creative mind of Robert J. McCarter, author of Shuffled Off, comes a novel of love, life, and family (with a ghost).

What Early Readers Are Saying

"A wonderful coming of age story..."

“It was a rollercoaster of emotions through the whole thing…”

"The characters will quickly find their way into your heart and stay there..."

“A book that makes you fall in love with every character--their strengths, weaknesses, their stories, their 'skeletons in the closet,' their humanity.”

And Just For Fun

I recently got some new software for creating fun marketing images for books. Here's an image of the new book sitting on someone's bed-side table, just waiting to be read.

Or a little beach reading on your ebook reader before it gets too cold

Or take it to the pool with you

Camp Activities Specialist Bulletin #9

2019-09-28T05:42:44Z

Star Date: September 28, 2019

Happy Fall Campers!

The late Summer sunshine has gently given way to cooler temps and a riot of yellow flowers here in Flagstaff. We’re trading in short sleeves for those warm sweaters now that there’s a chill in the air. I think there’s nothing quite like reading a good Campfire Tale alongside a steaming mug of hot apple cider or a spiced rum toddy.

As usual, our author has been busy as a squirrel preparing for winter. He’s got several new stories, an omnibus, and a novel coming out in October! A Boy, A Girl and A Ghost is one of the most touching, humorous and thought-provoking stories I’ve ever read. Robert calls this an “everything” novel; sort of like the everything bagel in book form. It’s a YA (young adult) story, but grownups will be impressed with it too, especially grownups who have kids; or have kids who have had cancer. It’s a ghost story. It’s a mystery. It’s a love story. It’s a story about family and transformation. Truly fantastic!

Let’s get down to the monthly update on Campfire Tales. First and foremost, this project now has its own landing page where you can learn about the history of this project and see how your Campfire Cues have inspired our author to write short stories, novelettes and more. Here’s the short version Campfire Tales update:

Campfire Tale #2, The Mystery at Molas Pass is available now. You can grab it for free and sign up for Robert’s monthly newsletter in one step! {Please note that we don’t share your info with anyone, anywhere.}
Campfire Tale #4 is entitled Chupacabra: A Conner Bright Mystery. It is complete and is off to the proofreader. You'll be able to read it soon!
Campfire Tale #5 is written and is entitled Stationary Objects and includes words like dancing, materializing, and flummox. It features a shapeshifter on a space station.
Campfire Tale #6 will include a special guest star appearance by one of these characters: Woody Beckman (from the Woody and June Versus the Zombie Apocalypse series); Nik Nichols from Neutrinoman and Lightningirl; or JJ Lynch from Shuffled Off). You can still vote on this tale’s guest star up until October 11^th!
The same day that the Tale #6 Survey closes, another will open for Tale #7. It's going to be fun, you will get to pick the era and location. Watch Robert's Facebook page or twitter feed, he'll post in both places as soon as it's available.

If you have not done so yet, please visit Robert’s new Facebook Author Page! As always, if you have a question or comment, please leave it below.

Happy Reading!

Everything you need to know about A Boy, a Girl, and a Ghost

2019-09-14T14:44:56Z

Lots more details below, but here are the highlights:

A Boy, a Girl, and a Ghost is available to pre-order on Amazon for only $2.99 (it goes up to $5.99 shortly after release)
I think this is my best book yet, and am excited for you all to read it.
We are planning a $0.99 sale in November (but don't you want to read it ASAP?)
To celebrate the release, we are giving away 100 Kindle copies over on GoodReads and five signed paperbacks

A Bit About the Book

When I was talking to beta readers about the book, I called it by "everything bagel" book, because it packs a lot of different elements. It is:

A YA (young adult) book
A coming of age story
A love story
A ghost story
A murder mystery
A cancer kid story

The story takes place in 1977 in Cedar City, Utah. Even though it's in the same world as Shuffled Off and Drawing the Dead, the book is stand-alone (kind of has to be since it’s 1977).

The Blurb

A Novel of... Love, Life, & Family

A Girl. Seventeen-year-old Helena Monfort. She grew up too early, the tough girl with a bad reputation that just needs a friend.

A Ghost: Lionel Malak. A simple man, he doesn’t understand why someone would murder him, but longs for justice so his spirit can rest.

The Release Plan

The book comes out on 10/11/2019, but you can pre-order on Amazon for only $2.99 right now.

Since you all are following along, here's details on the release plan so you can get a great deal now or hold out for an even better dealL

Until 10/18, you can get the book for only $2.99
On 10/18 the price goes up to $5.99
Sometime in November we are planning a $0.99 sale. Keep an eye out on facebook or twitter for the timing of this
We are giving away 100 Kindle copies over on GoodReads and five signed paperbacks. Enter both by 10/11/2019

Note: This is Amazon exclusive for now. If you don't buy ebooks on Amazon, reach out to me before the release date and we'll work something out.

What Early Readers Are Saying

"A wonderful coming of age story..."

“It was a rollercoaster of emotions through the whole thing…”

"The characters will quickly find their way into your heart and stay there..."

“A book that makes you fall in love with every character--their strengths, weaknesses, their stories, their 'skeletons in the closet,' their humanity.”

A Boy, a Girl, and a Ghost

2019-09-07T10:05:28Z

Coming soon. More information shortly, for now just a glimpse.

Camp Activities Specialist Bulletin #8

2019-08-31T20:46:35Z

Star Date: August 31, 2019

Hello Readers,

On a bit of a serious note, on July 21^st a wildfire broke out in Flagstaff that threatened several neighborhoods. Our home was not in immediate danger, but we have friends whose homes were right on the line. The “Ready, Set, Go” details were shared widely on social media and stories of neighbors offering transportation, food and shelter for animals and people were uplifting even as the fire burned dangerously hot and fast. Fire crews worked tirelessly to keep everyone safe and for that we are so very grateful. We are also grateful to you readers who offered kind thoughts and support during that time. Now there are several communities in east Flagstaff standing by and sandbagged up for a possible catastrophic flood. Homes and businesses have been preparing in case the rains come heavily down the scar that was left by this fire. Please keep those kind thoughts in place for our mountain home.

Here’s this month’s update on Campfire Tales. First and foremost, this project now has its own landing page where you can learn about the history of this project and see how your Campfire Cues have inspired our author to write short stories, novelettes and more. Here’s short version Campfire Tales update:

Campfire Tale #2, The Mystery at Molas Pass is available now. You can grab it for free and sign up for Robert’s monthly newsletter in one step! {Please note that we don’t share your info with anyone, anywhere.}
Campfire Tale #3 is entitled A Hollywood Kind of Murder. This Walter Anchor mystery is a part of a series that will be released as a collection later this year.
Campfire Tale #4 is entitled Chupacabra, a Conner Bright Mystery is complete and off to market.
Tale #5 is being written now. It will feature a shapeshifter on a space station and incorporate words such as procrastinate, materialize, and flummox. Should be a fun story; thank you for helping Robert to create it!
You can leave your Campfire Cues for Tale #6 at the Survey Monkey until October 9, 2019. Get in on the fun and challenge Robert to write a new story using cues from the following:
1. a guest star from one of Robert’s fiction worlds (Woody Beckman from Woody and June versus the Apocalypse; Nik Nichols from Neutrinoman and Lightningirl: A Love Story; or JJ Lynch from Shuffled Off)
1. a story element (a surprising twist; a mystery to solve; or a laugh out loud moment)
1. a single word of your choice

In other news, I am also the Post-Zombie Apocalypse Reporter and President of the Woody and June Fan Club. Join the club; it’s free and fun. If you do, you’ll get the first two episodes of the Woody and June series FREE. If you have not done so yet, please visit Robert’s new Author Page! As always, if you have a question or comment, please leave it below.

Happy Reading.

Dog People

2019-08-17T14:32:40Z

My story "Dog People" is out in Snot-Nosed Aliens: Stories from Pulphouse Fiction Magazine.

This is a new story, one I wrote in January when my wife and I were up in the Grand Canyon for her birthday. We had gotten there right before eight inches of snow fell on the canyon and were there after the storm and saw the canyon at its most beautiful.

We were also between dogs, it having been about six months since we lost Madison. We were still missing her so very much and I had been taking some of my thoughts about dogs and what they mean to us and putting them into stories.

I had one week to write this story for this anthology as part of a workshop I went to.

Well, take the location, the dog obsession, and the topic "snot-nosed aliens" and this story popped out.

As I was writing, I just kept chuckling to myself I was having so much fun. Aleia kept asking me what I was laughing about. Well she soon found out, I read it to her before I turned it in, and she loved it.

And, interestingly, while I was writing this story we decided to adopt Olivia. Neither of us had had a puppy for about 30 years, so it's been quite an adventure. Not like the one in this story, but an adventure nonetheless.

I don't want to give anything away, suffice it to say you've never read an alien story like this one.

Go check it out!

This caps off my truly amazing week of story releases. First, Woody and June versus Phantom Company, then "Daisy's Heart", and lastly "Dog People."

Daisy's Heart

2019-08-17T14:25:16Z

I am very happy to report that my short story, "Daisy's Heart" is now available in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine #7!

This is another one of the stories I wrote in 2017 during my Short Story Marathon. And if I do say so myself, I think it's one of my best short stories. It's about a girl who wants to become an android to deal with the emotions of her tumultuous life and ends up growing up and revolutionizing the building of androids.

And... for the first time ever, my name is on the cover! Amazing. I hope you go grab a copy and see. There are some fantastic writers in this issue: Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Kevin J. Anderson, Annie Reed, Rebecca Moesta, and others. And the ebook is a deal at $4.99!

This has been a big week for releases. First, Woody and June versus Phantom Company, then "Daisy's Heart", and lastly "Dog People".

And here's that beautiful cover in all it's glory:

Woody and June versus Phantom Company

2019-08-14T06:10:09Z

For reasons I can't imagine, I haven't been posting here when an new episode of Woody and June comes out and here we are up to episode 6!

Ok... well I guess I can imagine. It's been a busy year. In any case, episode 6 is out. The blurb is below but if you'd like to get ebooks of the first two episodes for free, join the fun over at the Woody and June Fan Club (no obligation, unsubscribe at any time).

Desperate Times Call for Foolish Measures

When Woody Beckman meets June Medina, neither expects the adventures that will follow. Dedicated go-it-alone survivors, they’ve learned not to trust anyone in post-zombie-apocalypse Arizona, except each other.

When outmanned and overpowered by a trained paramilitary group, can Woody and June find a way to survive, much less stay together? Can the mercurial Dallas be trusted?

Can Woody and June survive the humans, escape the unforgiving desert, and find out if there is really anything between them?

A story of adventure and love and taking things (even the apocalypse) in stride.

Episode 6

Zombies and the Dog Days of Summer

2019-07-31T06:00:07Z

Post-Zombie Apocalypse Reporter, Aleia O here.

Greetings Readers,

The dog days of Summer are finally here, and as usual dogs are on my mind. We’ll get to Woody and June’s adventures in a sec but first, please indulge me with this little update on our pups. It’s so hot now that Olivia is shedding like crazy and Teddy is finally well enough to go to the groomer. He seems to really love his new summer cut and Olivia seems to really love him. Here are a few pictures to contrast what he looked like when he came to us and what he looks like now. There’s also one of a pre-haircut snuggle we captured one morning when Olivia (unprompted by me) put her paw around our little guy. The cuteness is almost too much!

Despite the fact that these pups have filled up our hearts and our home, Robert is still working like crazy on writing new stories with detectives and ghosts, heroes and villains. Which brings me to Woody and June!

Episode 5

In the first several episodes our heroes have faced various challenges from Flagstaff to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back to the top! The story is exciting and truly a travelogue that details some of the wild and wonderful places in northern Arizona. Earlier in July we released Episode #5 Woody and June versus the Third Wheel, where our adventurers made their way to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon under cover of darkness. During the long, arduous climb up and out of the canyon they also picked up an extremely untrustworthy third wheel.

Next up is Episode #6 Woody and June versus Phantom Company. This is the penultimate episode, meaning the one before the last one. Without giving too much away, I want you to know that you are in for a wild ride. . . on the Colorado River! Yes, two amateurs must raft down the churning, treacherous, frigid waters of the Colorado River to rescue a friend who has been captured by Talia and her gang of thugs.

Now, I must admit that I am not inclined to raft the Colorado River, even though everyone else I know just can’t wait to (or already has). Robert had a first-hand experience rafting the upper Colorado before we met. His story-telling in this episode imparts some of the derring-do that takes place on the river when rafts meet rapids and swirling currents. The river’s danger cannot be understated. This page-turner will have you shivering and holding your breath alongside our heroes. Here’s a three-minute peek at running the famous Lava Rapid on the Colorado River.

You will be able to grab Episode #6 on August 14^th and as a reminder, for Fan Club members Episode #5 Woody and June Versus the Third Wheel is available for just $0.99 (until August 14^th) at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and others . Episodes #1, #2, #3, and #4 are available for $2.99. Friends can still join the Fan Club and receive the first two episodes FREE. If you are enjoying the story, please share the word with your friends, and/or write a review. If you have not received your copy yet, you can do that here.

If you are not already a member of the Woody and June Fan Club, you are now cordially invited to join! It’s my joy to act as the Post-Apocalyptic Reporter, offering regular updates about how the apocalypse is going and snippets about Woody and June’s adventures. To sweeten the deal, Fan Club members receive FOR FREE, the first episode, Woody and June versus the Wannabe Warlord. You’ll get other free stuff like digital wallpaper and Zombie Arizona post cards. There’s also behind-the-scenes glimpses of all things Woody and June.

Camp Activities Specialist Bulletin #7

2019-07-27T06:00:17Z

Star Date: July 27, 2019

Greetings Readers,

Summer Camp here in Flagstaff has been busy and it’s finally quite hot. Yes, the dog days of summer are here. Our pups are so hot that they only want short walks these days. Teddy got a summer haircut from a professional groomer and he looks adorable. Olivia has been daily shedding the last of her winter coat. They love to play and sometimes cuddle. Here they are in Teddy’s pre-haircut snuggle that Olivia initiated and Teddy seemed to enjoy.

Here’s this month’s skinny on Campfire Tales. First and foremost, this project now has its own landing page where you can learn about the history of this project and see how your Campfire Cues have inspired our author to write short stories, novelettes and more. Feel free to send folks there who you think might want to read these stories.

Here’s short version Campfire Tales update:

Campfire Tale #2, The Mystery at Molas Pass is available now. You can grab it for free and sign up for Robert’s monthly newsletter in one step! {Please note that we don’t share your info with anyone, anywhere.}
Campfire Tale #3 is entitled A Hollywood Kind of Murder. This Walter Anchor mystery is a part of a series that will be released as a collection later this year. It is almost finished and will be going out to market soon
Campfire Tale #4 is entitled Chupacabra, a Conner Bright Mystery. Your cues for Tale #4 included a Big Event (murder) and a Small Event (kiss). Conner is a colorful detective with an Aussie flare. He has a propensity for delving into mysteries that are full of fantasy and mythical creatures. Stay tuned!
You can leave your Campfire Cues for Tale #5 at the Survey Monkey until August 9, 2019. Get in on the fun and challenge Robert to write a new story using cues from the following:
1. a setting for story (island, space station or lair)
1. the antagonist (alien, clown, or shapeshifter)
1. a single verb of your choice (some verbs so far include materialize, flummox, procrastinate).

If you have not done so yet, please visit Robert’s new Author Page! As always, if you have a question or comment, please leave it below. Happy Reading.

For A Horse Named Corwin

2019-07-26T08:36:56Z

Long ago, in another life time (or at least it feels that way), I lived on an 80-acre ranch outside of Globe, Arizona and had a white horse named Snoopy. For years, I rode this horse nearly every day. Often to herd our two milk cows in and at other times to explore the landscape of our hilly desert home. And whether I rode him or not, I cared for him. My horse. My friend. My responsibility.

Snoopy found a new home before high school was over and I left Globe and moved into this technology-oriented life.

But I never forgot what it was like to ride a horse and to care for it and to love it. The textures and the smells. The feelings.

For a Horse Named Corwin draws on that other lifetime of mine. It originally appeared in Anomalous Readings: Thirteen Curious and Confounding Tales last year, but because I love the story so much, I've split it out into its own little book.

My quick description of it is "A gritty sci-fi western with a talking horse (no, not Mr. Ed, a sci-fi talking horse). " The full blurb is below.

If it sounds like your thing, it's on sale right now for $0.99 or grab it and twelve other stories of mine for $3.99 in Anomalous Readings: Thirteen Curious and Confounding Tales

Centuries ago when the Ancestors settled on the desert planet of Valdrin, they imposed a technology quarantine. No electricity. No genetic modifications. No exceptions.

Evan Wilcox snuck back home with his genetically modified horse, homesick after roaming the galaxy, longing for the simple life.

But when the once-in-a-generation purge begins, the Ancestors deploy their considerable resources to capture Corwin. What will Evan Wilcox do for his best friend, for a horse named Corwin?

A gritty sci-fi/western about a man and his horse from the unique imagination of Robert J. McCarter.

Followup #3: Short Story Marathon, Two Years Later

2019-07-13T16:34:41Z

Two Years On

Two years. Wow, I really can't believe it. A lot has happened to these stories since this crazy experiment was finished:

4 stories have sold (over 13%) and I have a few more sales pending (check the links out below, one is available to read for free online). If all goes as planned that will hit 20%. Amazing. These stories are my first professional sales. See by blog post about The Disappearing Neighborhood.
3 of these stories I have released as part of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse. Another 10%
3 stories are still waiting for me to get back to them. Really not the way to do it, but I've had other priories.

So doing a little math, if I end up selling 6 stories and publish 3 myself (there will be more at some point) that means 9 out of 30 stories made it out into the world. To put that in perspective, I've had plenty of years when I didn't even finish 9 stories, much less sold or published them, and I certainly didn't do the bulk of the work in 34 days. This has been a total game changer. Two years on, I am writing more, publishing more, and selling a lot more stories. Volume means practice, and like any art form, practice is crucially important (you know, it's how you get better).

What's Next?

More of these stories will be coming out. Keep any eye on my blog here, on my facebook page or twitter.
Woody and June versus the Apocalypse: Three of these stories were written during the challenge. In total there are seven and make a nice novel-length arc that will take a couple more months before it's all released. I think the pressure of the process had a big part in this actually happening--I didn't have time to overthink it. These are fast reads and so much fun. I'm giving away the first two episodes, if you are interested.
When I write more in the series, both the "Death by" and "In Time" stories will get their own collections adding to the count of these that end up getting out there.

Story Summary

#	Story	Total Words	Done?	To Market
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes	Released
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes	Sold, coming soon in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes	Sold and available in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes	Released
5	Home in Time	4483	Yes	Yes
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	5972	Yes	Yes
7	The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes	2532	Yes	Sold, read it now for free
8	Android Eve and Adam	3512	Yes
9	A Long, Hard Fall	8475	Yes	Yes
10	Fitz’s Second Chance	2800	Yes
11	Fake Jake	1565	Yes	Yes
12	With Light Years Between Us	4670	Yes	Sold, coming soon
13	Life and a Starling	2278	Yes	Yes
14	Dancing Kite	1524	Yes	Yes
15	Jump in Time	8768	Yes	Yes
16	Death by Vodka	2100	Yes	Yes
17	Death by Cookie	4094	Yes	Yes
18	Ela and the Naiad	3655	Yes	Yes
19	Is Anyone Receiving This?	1717	Yes	Yes
20	Breathing in the Stars	2400	Yes	Yes
21	Woody and June vs. the Ex	10232	Yes	Released
22	Article Seventeen	2918	Yes	Yes
23	One Last Trick	4312	Yes	Yes
24	Death by Apathy	3373	Yes	Yes
25	A Changeable Face	5241	Yes	Yes
26	Last Days with Mary	2818	Yes	Yes
27	Let Go the Stars	861	Yes	Yes
28	Goodbye Mrs. Hopkins	1329	Yes	Yes
29	Death by a Kiss	3912	Yes	Yes
30	Through Other Eyes	3372	Yes

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The Mystery at Molas Pass

2019-06-29T18:30:29Z

It's release day! A very special one at that. Our first release of a Campfire Tale is "The Mystery at Molas Pass."

Aleia did a lovely roundup of were we are with Campfire Tales this morning, but I wanted to just highlight the release.

As with all Campfire Tales, the story is free to newsletter subscribers (and exclusive to them for a while). If you are one, look in your inbox, the email went out this morning with a direct link. Or hop over here and enter your email to get the book (and to get put on my email list if you are not already).

This story is free for a limited time, so go grab it now.

Enjoy!

Here's the blurb:

Benjamin Katz does not think much of his superpowers. In an age where the powerful quantum metamorphs battle an alien threat, he can only transform into a diminutive superhero knows as The Boy.

But when he stops at Molas Pass in the mountains of Colorado and witnesses people disappearing, he gets drawn into a mystery and a conflict that feels much bigger than anything he can handle. He must set aside his doubts and learn to believe in himself to face down a powerful force and solve the Mystery at Molas Pass.

From the author of Neutrinoman & Lightningirl: A Love Story, comes a tale of a small hero with a huge heart.

Camp Activities Specialist Bulletin #6

2019-06-29T05:30:56Z

Star Date: June 29, 2019

Hello Readers,

It’s finally Summer here in Flagstaff and we are a bunch of happy campers now! It rained and snowed several times during the month of May, so we have an abundance of wildflowers blooming and my garden is full of little stone people, colorful perennial pansies (who knew such a thing existed), dianthus, snap dragons, daisies, and herbs. Early morning will usually find our author typing away at a new story and me tending to the garden while Olivia and Teddy watch from the deck.

Speaking of the pups, after eight weeks together, they have found their stride in relationship. They play together beautifully with lots of friendly grrrrr noises, sparing, and boxing. They sometimes sleep nose to nose. Olivia routinely brings toys to Teddy and asks him to play tug. At eight months old, she is still so puppy; a little wild, but so affectionate, loving, and sweet. She never gave up her effort to show Teddy that she can be a good playmate. In recent weeks, he taught her how to play gently (so as not to scare him) and she taught him how to play with toys. He is now healthy and feeling more confident as a family member. He is my little Teddy Bear and I’m composing several dog songs for both him and Olivia. We feel so grateful to have both canines in our home and our lives; they make us better people. They help us to smile, rest, compose songs, laugh and take breaks from working too much or too hard. They are expressions of love.

And speaking of LOVE, Robert is loving the Campfire Tales project! If you are new to this idea, Campfire Tales is an ongoing project where Robert writes short stories based on your cues and suggestions. Once he has several stories, he will turn them into an anthology. In a recent attempt to use your cues, our author tried to write a short story and ended up on a detour. The good news is that your prompts have inspired him to write longer tales in new worlds. The Blood of Carterville is a stunning novella that is out to market. The current survey details are noted below.

As for our Camp Activities! Here’s the update:

Campfire Tale #2, The Mystery at Molas Pass is being released on 6/20/2019 and newsletter subscribers can read it for free! If you are not a subscriber, you can grab the free ebook and sign up in one step, right now.
Campfire Tale #3 is entitled A Hollywood Kind of Murder and is almost done. This is a genre mashup (Sci/Fi Fantasy and Mystery) along with words you suggested including eyebrow, beryllium, and bassackwards. This Walter Anchor mystery is a part of a series that will be released as a collection later this year.
Campfire Tale #4 is underway using your cues from the last survey. According to your cues, the “Big Event” will be a murder and the “Small Event” will be a kiss! Some of the interesting words you recommended: pufferfish, Einstein, cinnamon, and hypoxia
Click on over to the Survey Monkey to offer your Campfire Cues for Tale #5. This survey will close on August 9^th and asks you to choose:
1. a setting for story
2. the antagonist
3. a single verb of your choice.

For my part, in addition to serving as the Camp Activities Specialist, I am also the Post-Zombie Apocalypse Reporter and President of the Woody and June Fan Club. Join the club; it’s free and fun. If you do, you’ll get the first episode of the Woody and June series FREE. If you have not done so yet, please visit Robert’s new Author Page! As always, if you have a question or comment, please leave it below. Happy Reading.

Woody and June Update!

2019-06-26T05:00:44Z

Post-Zombie Apocalypse Reporter, Aleia O here.

Teddy and Olivia

Happy Summer Everyone! Thanks to the long snowy winter in Flagstaff, the wildflowers are blooming in abundance. Olivia has been enjoying the summer life with her new friend, Teddy. He’s been with us for eight weeks. He’s an older gentleman; a sweet and affectionate cocker spaniel rescue. He’s sometimes a bit overwhelmed by Olivia’s ardor but they are very fond of each other.

During the summertime out west, there is often smoke in the air from the wildfires that seem inevitable and more rampant with each passing year. We remain vigilant about fire watch, clearing pine needles from around our home and staying tuned for fire news. The smoke-filled air is evocative of apocalyptic times. Which brings me to Woody and June!

In the first several episodes our heroes have faced various challenges from Flagstaff to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The story is exciting and truly a travelogue that details some of the wild and wonderful places in northern Arizona. The plot really thickens in Episode #4, Woody and June Versus the Ex (available from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and others). Their daring escape from a zombie tourist horde at The Grand Canyon led to their being captured and taken to a compound at Phantom Ranch where they encounter a dangerous and dreaded “ex” lover who is one-part soldier and two-parts crazy!

On July 10^th we will release Episode #5 Woody and June Versus the Third Wheel, where we learn that for too many reasons to count, our heroes really need to escape from “The Ranch.” Of course, from the bottom of the Canyon the only way out is up! During Woody and June’s treacherous climb up the North Kaibab Trail from the Phantom Ranch they realize that they’re being followed. Somewhere near the Supai Tunnel our heroes lay a trap for and apprehend their stalker, who then becomes their extremely untrustworthy third wheel.

For a sneak peek behind our author’s process, I thought you might like to know about the part he calls “research.” I feel very lucky to participate in research because it includes traveling to wonderful places. For instance, Robert had already written the entire Woody and June series, but he wanted to confirm an important detail in Episode #5 about the Supai Tunnel. We had planned to visit Grand Canyon North Rim in celebration of our 25^th anniversary last August, so it made sense to include a sunrise hike down the North Kaibab trail to the Supai Tunnel. Here’s a video of Robert introducing the scene and a photo of our anniversary celebration the day after the hike, and some of the fun Woody and June covers.

Supia Tunnel

The trail down from Supai Tunnel
Happy Anniversary!
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episdoe 3
Episode 4

You will be able to grab Episode #5 on July 10^th and as a reminder, for Fan Club members Episode #4 Woody and June Versus the Ex is available for just $0.99 (until July 10^th) at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and others. And we've extended the $0.99 sale on Woody and June versus the Grand Canyon, just in case you haven't had a chance to grab it yet. It is available from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and others.

Episodes #1 and #2 are available for $2.99. Friends can still join the Fan Club and receive the first two episodes FREE. If you are enjoying the story, please share the word with your friends, and/or write a review.

If you are not already a member of the Woody and June Fan Club, you are now cordially invited to join! It’s my joy to act as the Post-Apocalyptic Reporter, offering regular updates about how the apocalypse is going and snippets about Woody and June’s adventures. To sweeten the deal, Fan Club members receive FOR FREE, the first two episodes. You’ll get other free stuff like digital wallpaper and Zombie Arizona post cards. There’s also behind-the-scenes glimpses of all things Woody and June.

Detecting Haley

2019-05-25T14:45:56Z

"Detecting Haley" is a new book but an older story. It is the first Walter Anchor case. "The Ghost Bride's Gift" is the second and right now it is exclusive to and free for newsletter subscribers.

This story was originally published with 9 other short stories as part of Life After: Stories of Life, Death, and the Places in Between.

There is a reason for all of this. There is at least one more Walter Anchor story coming out this year and I am writing another Walter Anchor mystery right now, so I need to split the first case out as stand-alone.

There's a bunch of fun stuff happening in my ghost world and this is part of it (more details soon).

The Detecting Haley ebook is on sale for $0.99 on Amazon for the next couple of weeks.

Or for $3.99 you can get it with 9 other stories as as part of Life After: Stories of Life, Death, and the Places in Between which is available here:

Amazon.com: Paperback , eBook
Barnes and Noble: Paperback, eBook
Kobo: eBook

Camp Activities Specialist Bulletin #5

2019-05-25T06:25:27Z

Star Date: May 25, 2019

Greetings Readers! Since our last update, camp life has become unbelievably busy. We had been thinking that Olivia needed a four-pawed canine friend to help her feel more comfortable. She truly is a pack animal and she had been a bit of a sad sack over not being with her littermate, Sky, and other friends next door. So, I asked the universe for a male spaniel. The universe delivered not one, but two options. Yes, two golden-colored male spaniels made their appearance to my inbox within two weeks of each other. Both were elders; one was not neutered which presented some challenges for Olivia ☹.

On April 23^rd we took in the neutered male, Teddy. At first glance the vet who tended to Teddy thought he was about 2 years old. With some research, the shelter determined he is about 8 years old. We know that rescue pets take time and patience, but they are so grateful and loving when they settle in. Because of his former life, he’s much like an 8-year-old puppy. He’s still learning the basics of “how to use a doggie door,” “how to play with toys,” and that it is safe to eat inside.

Teddy has a host of medical issues that have made for many trips to the vet, special food, and meds. Busy times. As for Teddy and Olivia, this is a May/December relationship for sure. It took three weeks before he felt well enough to play with her. He’s still stand offish with her because, well, she’s a PUPPY! He is super affectionate with people, (especially with our author) and we are glad to call him family now.

All that going on leaves little time for me to write, but our author is busy as a bee! “Campfire Tales” is an ongoing project where Robert writes short stories based on your cues and suggestions. Once he has several stories, he will turn them into an anthology. The current survey invites you to select from a list of big and small events and suggest some words to be woven into the tale. If you want to be part of the fun, click on over to the Survey Monkey.

As for our Camp Activities! Here’s the update:

Campfire Tale #1, “The Pearce Shootout”. . . looks like it has found a home! No contract yet so more details down the line a bit.
Campfire Tale #2, “The Mystery at Molas Pass” is being released June 29th and you can read it for free if you are subscribed to Robert's Newsletter!
Campfire Tale #3 is a bit of a story in itself. Robert has tried to write a short story with your cues, but he ended up on a detour. The good news is that your prompts are inspiring him to write longer tales in new worlds. The Blood of Carterville is a stunning novella that is out to market right now and getting some great feedback. He's also working on a new Walter Anchor Ghost Detective Story, which is also looking like it's going to be a long one, so he's going to try again for a short story using that awesome word, “spaciotemporal”! Please keep those prompts coming.
The Survey Monkey to offer your Campfire Cues for Tale #4 will close on June 9^th
If you have not done so yet, please visit Robert’s new Author Page!

As always, if you have a question or comment, please leave it below. Happy Reading.

The Disappearing Neighborhood

2019-05-12T08:40:20Z

I've got it on my list to do a blog post about milestones--there have been a bunch so far this year--but this is a big one and I can't wait.

My story, "The Disappearing Neighborhood," is out in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine: Issue #6!

This is a big deal for a couple of reasons. First, it is my first professional sale. While I've been in a bunch of anthologies and gotten paid for a fair number of stories at this point, this is the first one I was paid a professional rate for.

Secondly, I appear with some amazing authors. People I really admire and who are fantastic story tellers. Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Kevin J. Anderson, and Annie Reed just to name a few.

And third, this is my second story that came out in April. "Ashna's Heart" is a part of Swords, Sorcery, & Self-Rescuing Damsels.

And I'm pleased that "The Disappearing Neighborhood" was chosen. I wrote the story back in 2017 during my Short Story Marathon and it was a leap, one of what I call my "experimental stories." The story itself is a metaphor for... well, I don't want to spoil it. Go check it out. Like all Pulphouse stories, it doesn't go down the usual path.

Here's the blurb for the issue:

The Cutting Edge of Modern Short Fiction

A three-time Hugo Award nominated magazine, this issue of Pulphouse Fiction Magazine offers up fifteen fantastic stories by some of the best writers working in modern short fiction. No genre limitations, no topic limitations, just great stories. Attitude, feel, and high quality fiction equals Pulphouse.

“This is definitely a strong start. All the stories have a lot of life to them, and are worthwhile reading.”—Tangent Online on Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #1

If you like good short fiction, please check out Pulphouse Fiction Magazine: Issue #6.

Self-Rescuing Damsels

2019-04-28T12:28:53Z

I'm really excited to have my story, "Ashna's Heart" as part of Swords, Sorcery, & Self-Rescuing Damsels.

This is the story of a fire mage named Kyla who is willing do anything and everything to save her home and her people. But to do so, she must leave her home behind and set out in search of her mentor who stole Ashna's Heart, which is the only thing that can quiet the volcano at the heart of her island home.

I just love the back cover copy:

THESE LADIES AREN'T WAITING.

Twenty bestselling and award-winning authors offer enchanting tales of women and girls forging paths through darkness and peril. Cleverness, curiosity, and determinations make worthy heroines in fantastical new worlds.

If this sounds like your thing, go grab a copy! Or check out the audio book!

More stories coming out soon. Stay tuned!

Camp Activities Specialist Bulletin #4

2019-04-27T05:30:54Z

Star Date: April 27, 2019

Greetings Readers! The Spring winds are blowing away the remnants of Winter here in Flagstaff. In early April, Robert and I made a short getaway for a “working vacation” to Colorado. We were able to dip into hot springs and recover from a very long winter of snow, injured knees, and puppy care. Our sweet Olivia is maturing and developing the cutest little habits. She buries her biscuits in the couch or under my pillow if she’s not hungry. She has an unusual trilling sound that she makes when she is very tired. While trilling, she uses all four paws and turns her blanket into a messy nest before collapsing into sleep. We call this ‘beating up the beddy’. . . ADORABLE!

Olivia action shot from Colorado

When not tending to puppy Olivia, our author has been busy as usual with various projects. He’s working on a novel that will be released later this year, as well as a few short stories; one for a pirate anthology promises to be a big hit with ghost loving fans.

“Campfire Tales” is an ongoing project where Robert writes short stories based on your cues and suggestions. Once he has several stories, he will turn them into an anthology. This month's survey invites you to select from a list of big and small events and suggest some words to be woven into the tale. If you want to be part of the fun, click on over to the Survey Monkey.

For my part, in addition to serving as the Camp Activities Specialist, I am also the Post-Zombie Apocalypse Reporter and President of the Woody and June Fan Club. With the state of the world being so precarious for so many reasons, an apocalypse is not out of the question. The humorous spin Robert has injected into the Woody and June stories is just what I need to lift the corners of my frown into a smile. I’ve heard the entire series and just want to hear more. Even re-run listening makes me laugh. Join the club; it’s free and fun. If you do, you’ll get the first two episodes of the Woody and June series FREE.

As for our Camp Activities! Here’s the update:

Campfire Tale #1, “The Pearce Shoot Out”. . . still standing by for the market response. I can’t believe how long this process can take. Our author is a very patient man!
Campfire Tale #2, “The Mystery at Molas Pass,” is going to be available for you to read in the very near future as a micro-release by Arapas, Inc. Stay tuned!
Campfire Tale #3 is being written as we speak. It’s a mash up of genres (sci-fi/fantasy and mystery) using words like eyebrow, spatiotemporal, bassawkwards, and maybe wombat!
Visit the Survey Monkey to offer your Campfire Cues for Tale number four!
If you have not done so yet, please visit Robert’s new Facebook Author Page!

As always, if you have a question or comment, please leave it below. Happy Reading.

Camp Activities Specialist Bulletin #3

2019-03-30T07:41:02Z

Star Date: March 30, 2019

Greetings Readers! Wow this month has flown by! It started with Robert being at a writer’s conference in Las Vegas. He’s going talk more about that, but I must say how proud I am of his accomplishments there. His stories were well received, and he gained so much insight as to what editors look for before they buy a story for professional publication. He returned from the Vegas experience with a lot of new insights and a horrible upper respiratory virus that lingered long.

Meanwhile, I was holding down the fort with Olivia. She is growing and changing fast; she needs A LOT of exercise and we spent many hours walking in the forests while Robert was at the conference. I discovered that working (even part time), puppy care, and house-holding can be pretty overwhelming without Robert around. I fell to a virus just as he was getting better. We’re both better now, but we’re a little behind in keeping up Camp Activities! Here’s the update:

The first Campfire Tale, "The Pearce Shoot Out" is getting great feedback with potential publishers, so it’s taking a little longer than we thought to get it into print. We’re hoping for news soon about this story. Please stand by.
The second Campfire Tale, "The Mystery at Molas Pass," is now written! The protagonist is a superhero man whose power is that he can become a very strong little boy. This Tale is set in the Neutrinoman and Lightningirl universe; an action/adventure with a mysterious twist. And yes, the word, “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” was used in this story!
We’ve collected some great campfire cues for the genre mash up (third) Campfire Tale. We are extending the survey to collect a few more cues before Robert will begin to write this one. The Survey Monkeywill be open until April 9^th.
If you have not done so yet, please visit Robert’s new Author Page!

As always, if you have a question or comment, please leave it below. Happy Reading.

Olivia in "mighty hunter" mode

Vegas, Baby!

2019-03-30T04:30:19Z

In early March, I spent a week in Las Vegas at a workshop all about writing for anthologies and getting to understand how editors choose stories. I was one of 50 writers who wrote a bunch of stories, and then we read everyone's stories to get the editor's eye view of things (that was 1.3 million words!) and then the editors put together nine anthologies and talked about all 300 stories while we all watched.

Best of all, they were paying professional rates for those stories.

It's kind of like The Voice for writers, although it's not that glitzy with 50 writers and 5 editors in a hotel meeting room for six days. No spotlights. No sequins. No stages. Just six days all about writing and stories.

So, yeah, way intense and I learned so very much. Some of my stories made the cut and they'll be rolling out starting this summer (and for quite some time following). I'll post as they hit the shelves.

Unfortunately I came home with a terrible head cold (as did many of the attendees). When it comes to viruses, what happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas.

Below are some fun photos from the trip.

Writers (and curious readers), below the pictures are more details on the nuts and bolts and wow of this workshop.

The Madness of Fremont Street, Part 1
Me and the amazing Dean Wesley Smith
The Madness of Fremont Street, Part 2
The Container Park, Part 1
The Container Park, Part 2
The Container Park, Part 3
The Madness of Fremont Street, Part 3
The Madness of Fremont Street, Part 4

For Writers

Here are the details if you are a writer and might want to do something like this.

The Anthology Workshop is put on by WMG Publishing, the company owned by long-time writers and teachers Dean Wesely Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch. It's done annually and you can find out more about over here.

First off, this takes a lot of time. Something I underestimated... a lot.

The writing is done in two three-week blocks starting in November and January where you write a story to fit an anthology (and the editor of that anthology). One story a week, six in total (there was a surprise on week three, so we had the opportunity to write eight stories). This is a doable pace if you block out the time and have enough stories under your belt.

The reading, which I only got about 75% of the way through, takes even more time, especially for slow readers like me. But wow was it eye opening. The reading starts in late January and the proper pace is 10 stories a day (and that's roughly 50,000 or more words a day if you read all of them all the way through). So you'll be inhaling as many stories as possible. And these stories are good--this is an invite-only workshop so the writers know what they are doing.

After all of that, you arrive in Las Vegas and the real nail-biting fun starts. It really is like The Voice when the judges get to your story and you get a yes, no, or maybe with concrete feedback on what worked and didn't work. And you get to hear the same for all those stories you read and compare your reaction to the editors.

Spoiler alert: writing is subjective, it was rare that the editors were unanimous in their opinions. This is an important lesson. Writing is an art and the experience of art is subjective. Getting an editor to say "yes" takes writing the story they want well at the right time. (Even that is an oversimplification, for example if you are having a bad day, a story may hit you very differently than on a good day.)

Witnessing five editors talk about 300 stories (most of which I had read at least some of) is a hell of an education. This is the kind of behind-the-scenes things a writer never gets to witness. Having an editor tell you why your story worked or didn't work for them is so valuable. Themes emerged and I came away knowing what aspects of my writing that I want to strengthen.

And on top of this, you get to hang out with 50 serious and accomplished writers and 5 editors (all of whom are writers, too). The networking is another huge benefit of this. I met some fantastic people and picked up lots of tidbits for the business end of this that will take me a while to incorporate.

The bottom line: lessons learned, friends made, stories sold, fun had! Yes, this did take a lot of time, but it will be paying dividends for years to come! I suspect I'll be doing this again at some point.

For a very complete analysis of the workshop, check out Ron Collins's blog posts from 2018 where he was one of the editors (note: the workshop has moved from Oregon to Vegas since then).

Woody and June Wednesday... Ready. Set. Go!

2019-03-13T06:00:43Z

Post-Zombie Apocalypse Reporter, Aleia O here.

Checking in after what I would call the ‘Flagstaff Snowpocalypse of 2019’, I’m happy to report that we have seen a few signs of Spring. The snow is still piled high in places, but we can see the ground around our home which Olivia really enjoys. Here she is using her tunneling skills; adorable!

Olivia in the Snowpocalypse!

I’m not going to get ahead of myself with Spring fever yet because the weather folk are saying another foot may be coming this week. Hmmm, good thing we have shovels and plows here. I suggested to Robert that he write an episode where Woody and June need to slog through four feet of snow and take a little rest at the historic Little America Hotel in Flagstaff.

At any rate, as President of the Woody and June Fan Club, I’m excited to announce that today is the big day! We are releasing Episode #1 of the Woody and June series to the general public (it's on sale for $0.99 until episode 2 comes out). If you are a member of the Fan Club, you may have already received and read the pre-release copy of Woody and June versus the Wannabe Warlord. If you did, and if you enjoyed it, please share the word with your friends, and/or write a review (at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and others). If you have not received your copy yet, you can do that here.

If you are not already a member of the Fan Club, you are now cordially invited to join! I’ll be offering regular reports about how the apocalypse is going and how Woody and June are doing. Fan Club members will receive FOR FREE, the first episode, Woody and June versus the Wannabe Warlord. You’ll get free stuff like digital wall paper and Zombie Arizona post cards. You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes view of all things Woody and June.

Our team has enjoyed a lot of laughter while brain-storming (no pun intended there) about the first fun merch item for this post-apocalyptic zombie romantic adventure. Robert designed a Flagstaff, Arizona post card with his own photo of Mt. Eldon. He added a few zombies and a clever tag line that will make you smile. If you want to receive a snail mail post card with hand-written messages from Woody and June, you can provide your snail mail address here. We promise not to mail any other item or share your information with anyone else (although we will add you to the Woody and June Fan Club, since this is a fan club only kind of thing). Let the adventure begin!

Camp Activities Specialist Bulletin #2

2019-02-23T06:00:55Z

Star Date: February 23, 2019

Greetings Readers! We have been very busy campers this month, mostly shoveling snow and keeping up with our new puppy, Olivia. First though, as the Camp Activities Specialist, I have nudged our author to make a slight change on Facebook. Currently, Robert has a Facebook Group, named “The Totally Official (and very fun) Robert J. McCarter Author Group.” After much discussion about the trials and tribulations of social media; a desire to reach more readers through gentle audience building; not wanting to bug people or be marketing gorillas; and the different levels of commitment it takes to join a group versus “liking” or “following” a page, we decided to set the Group aside for a while and create an Author’s page. If you are a Group member already, thank you for being part of the adventure. I hope you will hang with us via “liking” and/or “following” the new page. If you are not part of the Group but enjoy Robert’s writing and want to keep up with his projects via Facebook, you can simply visit the new page and do the same. We hope this new approach will widen the reach a little bit without being pesky.

Our first Campfire Tale, “The Pearce Shoot Out” is still out to market. Meanwhile, based on your campfire cues from the last survey, Robert has begun work on the second Tale. It looks like he will be writing a mystery with a man/boy superhero as the protagonist that loves to say bazinga and catywampus!! Other words he will try to include are anthropomorphic, peculiar, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, obelisk, and benignity.

We’re excited to start the next Campfire Tale cycle! You are now invited to click on over to Survey Monkey where you can offer your campfire cues. It will take less than a minute unless you must REALLY ponder your choices. For this cycle, Robert is offering a genre mash-up! Here are three questions to answer as follows:

Choose one of these genres: Sci-Fi or Fantasy or Contemporary
Choose one of these genres: Mystery or Romance or Action/Adventure
Choose one word that must be used in the story

For questions 1 and 2 the most popular answers will be mashed up for the story (such as Sci-Fi/Romance or Contemporary/Mystery). For question 3, he will use as many words as possible that fit the story. The Survey Monkey will be open until March 9^th so visit soon and pitch your ideas.

As always, if you have a question or comment, please leave it below. Happy Reading.

Introducing Woody and June

2019-02-06T08:00:37Z

Post-Zombie Apocalypse Reporter, Aleia O here.

Well who would have thought I would go from a life of service to a life of zombie apocalypse reporting? Not me! That is until Robert read me Woody and June versus the Wannabe Warlord. He told me it was a zombie adventure/love story. I am the first audience for every short story, novelette and novel Robert writes. Picture this: me making dinner, chopping various veggies in the kitchen; Robert sitting on the floor in the hallway reading aloud to me. While he reads, I listen, make comments, give feedback. He often will pause while reading and say, “ok, wait a sec” while he wildly makes corrections to his odd grammar choices, or looks for words that better fit the tale.

I was reluctant to get into this Woody and June business because:

I am not a fan of zombie stuff; vampires yes, zombies, no.
I am worried enough that we are already living in an apocalyptic time given the blaringly impossible news headlines about greedy politicians, nukes, fatal epidemics, and climate disasters.
I am a very visual person, so I have nightmares if I’m exposed to gore and violence, especially the brain-eating stuff zombies are known for. Last, but not least, did I say this already?
I am not a fan of zombie stuff!

I am, however, a very loyal fan of various artists, songs, movies and writers. I tend to gush and celebrate the likes of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Ghost Busters, Meryl Streep, Tom Robbins, Stephen Colbert and others. Since Robert knows me so well, he often remarks that I am “such a fan.” Hearing him read the first couple paragraphs, I was hooked; an instant FAN! So, it makes sense that I become the founding member and reporting voice for the Woody and June Fan Club.

The story is immediately light-hearted and fun. There is a hint of problematic zombies, lots of detail about our home city, Flagstaff, and an introduction to two characters that are going headlong into an adventure. Woody is humorous, easily distracted, and innovative. To fend off zombies, his weapon of choice is a baseball bat. June is tough, guarded, and super independent. Her weapon(s) of choice. . . guns. They make an interesting pair right off the bat (no pun intended).

According to Wikipedia, the term “fan” has roots from the 1800’s when boxing enthusiasts took a “fancy” to the sport. For modern sports fans, it’s a short version of the word “fanatic.” I prefer the “taking a fancy” approach. I truly fancy Woody and June, and I think you will too. It’s a breath of fresh air, despite the stinky zombie characters.

If you are already a member of the Fan Club, welcome! If you are not, you are now cordially invited to join! I’ll be offering regular reports about how the apocalypse is going and how Woody and June are doing. Fan Club members will receive FOR FREE (and before release to the general public), the first episode, Woody and June versus the Wannabe Warlord. You’ll get free stuff, like a collaboratively designed (by me and Robert) Woody & June Zombie Valentine, digital wall paper and digital Zombie Arizona post cards. You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes view of all things Woody and June. Let the fun begin!

Camp Activities Specialist Bulletin #1

2019-01-26T04:00:27Z

Star Date: January 26, 2019

Greetings Readers! I’m here to let you know that Robert has completed the first Campfire Tale, and what a story it is! It’s on the way to market now, and I’ll keep you updated as to when and where you will be able to read it. The title is “The Pearce Shoot Out". Suffice to say it’s a western with a bit of a sci-fi twist. Robert did a lot of research into the gunslinging wild west culture of the late 19^th century in the Arizona Territories and it really pays off in this tale. He also watched the movie, High Noon, to get some insight into the ways of those old west revenge stories.

One of the characters in this story is Gayle, named after a dear friend we lost to kidney failure in 2015. As mentioned in my introductory Campfire Tales notes, the winner, Jim selected the name, genre and setting for Robert to write the story. Gayle was Jim’s wife, best friend, and travel companion. Together, they used to take their dogs on road trips around the southwest. They explored abandoned mines, ghost towns, archeological ruins, defunct railroad tracks, and dusty rutted roads. They camped and hiked in vast quiet deserts, hidden valleys, hoodoos, and on high mountains. Gayle had an adventurous spirit and didn’t balk at riding those rough, untraveled roads or the occasional encounter with wild animals like cows (inside joke that one). She was strong and feisty, and she navigated her medical challenges like she did the road; with good humor and trust. She was a dedicated mother, a good friend and sister, and a great dog mom.

We all miss Gayle so much. She was a thoughtful gift giver and it was with high excitement that she presented Robert with the small Edgar Allan Poe figure he travels with from time to time. She thought he should be “at least as famous as Edgar, maybe not as crazy.” He was deeply touched by that gift and even today, Edgar watches over him as he writes. Robert wrote "The Pearce Shoot Out" in her memory and honor. In developing the character, Gayle, he tried to capture a little bit of her tenacity, integrity, and that soaring spirit. I’m sure that anyone who knew our friend, Gayle, will enjoy this tale.

Edgar posing on an antique register in Old West museum in Utah

We’re also excited to start the next Campfire Tale cycle and that’s where you come in! Newsletter subscribers are now invited to click on over to Survey Monkey where you can offer your campfire cues. It will take less than a minute unless you must REALLY ponder your choices. There are three questions to answer as follows:

Choosing the genre (action/adventure; mystery; romance; sci-fi)
Choosing the protagonist (male, female, transgender, zombie, ghost, etc.)
Choose one word to be used in the story

For questions 1 and 2 the majority of votes will be used to frame the next Campfire Tale. For question 3, it’s author’s choice! The Survey Monkey will be open until February 9^th so visit soon and pitch your ideas.

If you are not a newsletter subscriber, go sign up now and get in on the fun!

As always, if you have a question or comment, please leave it below. Happy Reading.

Stories I Love: December 2018

2019-01-20T12:45:22Z

Well, we are at the end of a year of Stories I Love.

It was a worthwhile experiment for me. I read 367 stories, most of them very good, many of them astoundingly good, and I learned a lot about what impresses me as a reader and what kind of writer I want to be.

All of these stories that I read, an editor paid for. That means they loved them. And what is clear after all these stories, these 1.26 million words, is that love is subjective. When it comes to stories, after a certain level of craftsmanship, it's all about taste.

Yes, this is quite obvious, something I knew going into this, but after spending all these hours and all this focus, I know it in my bones now. Just because I don't like a story, it doesn't make it bad in any objective way. It's just not for me. The same goes for all the rejections that come in for my stories or all the not-so-good reviews on my books. It's more about them than me. I didn't provide them with what they wanted. My job as a writer is to tell the best stories I can, stories that I love, and know there are some folks out there that will love them too.

This experiment, such as it is, ends here. The side-effect of all this short story reading is that I only read two novels last year and am really missing longer narratives. I also didn't read as much non-fiction as I would have liked. You may see this feature pop up from time to time as I find stories I love, but not monthly anymore.

So far this month I've read Stephen King's novella Elevation (quite good) and am deep into a long novel.

Here's the December roundup.

Stats

Stories read in December : 25

Words read in December : about 122,000

Stories read this year, so far: 367

Words read this year, so far: 1,260,000

OMG I So Love These Stories!

These are what I consider “must read” stories. As in you MUST read them! Now!

Now Dress Me in my Finest Suit and Lay Me in My Casket
M. Bennardo
Clarkesworld, free, approx 2,000 words
A poignant and short story about a astronaut facing a deadly mission and reflecting back on how her grandfather prepared himself for death. It packs a punch.

Credit to My Nation
Sandra McDonald
Asimov’s Science Fiction, $2.99 per e-issue, approx 6,700 words
A mildly sci-fi story about a non-binary individual returning to the Bahamas for a funeral and looking at their past and the past of their country. This story does what sci-fi can often do best--it magnifies our current cultural reality by casting it as fiction with sci-fi elements to intensify it.

Taking Icarus Home
Suzanne Palmer
Asimov’s Science Fiction, $2.99 per e-issue, approx 7,500 words
A bitter sweet story of man among the stars with superb world building and a satisfying ending.

For those that followed along, thank you. I hope you found some gems among the stories I listed.

If any stories have touched you recently, let me know in the comments.

Saturday Stories: Shogun Dreams

2018-12-29T06:00:13Z

[thrive_leads id='3788']

There is nothing remarkable at all about Jeffery Smith. Not his name, not his job, not even the cancer that is threatening his life. But when his disease inspires him to start living his life instead of just dreaming it, the most remarkable things happen.

Shogun Dreams

(Excerpt)

Robert J. McCarter

Jeffery Smith was a wholly unremarkable man. He was neither old, nor young; neither short, nor tall; neither skinny, nor fat, although he did have the appropriate middle-aged bulge around his waist. He dressed unremarkably in jeans, which he looked slightly awkward in, and a long-sleeved white dress shirt buttoned all the way up to the top. Even his phobias were entirely unremarkable: spiders, airplanes, and intimacy.

Jeffery Smith was the kind of man that would go to a party and no one would remember he had been there. When he left a job, it often took his coworkers several days (or even weeks) to realize that he was gone.

Jeffery Smith was dying, but in the most common way. Stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer had just been discovered. Statistically speaking—and being an accountant, Jeffery knew statistics—he didn’t have much time.

But today, on this Monday in March, Jeffery Smith felt remarkable. The previous week he had gone in to see his doctor for a cough that would not go away. He was surprised by the call from the office to come in (he thought he had the flu, or maybe even bronchitis). He was even more surprised when his doctor solemnly told him of his diagnosis. There would be MRIs and more tests to type the cancer and determine the treatment, but the doctor was sure of the diagnosis.

And, perhaps most surprising, is what Jeffery did after the appointment: he went to his place of employment, the accounting offices of Richards, Parson, Thomas, and Gosling, and promptly gave his two weeks’ notice. When he told his boss, Alan Gosling, the news, Mr. Gosling promptly sent him on to HR, and HR, seeing that he had nearly one hundred days of vacation and sick leave accrued, told him to pack up his cubicle and leave. Now.

And so he did, filling a banker box with his few meager possessions: a tiny flag of Japan; some anime action figures; a few manga; a Final Fantasy IV poster; and other miscellaneous office flotsam.

Jeffery was dazed by the suddenness of it all, although he was not surprised; he knew he was just a salaryman, an easily replaceable cog in the workings of Richards, Parson, Thomas, and Gosling. He stood outside, banker box in hand, for a full five minutes wondering what to do. Then something remarkable occurred to him, so he walked to the bus stop and took the bus to the mall.

Jeffery Smith, banker box in hand, stood at the front counter of Dream Makers. He had stood there for some three minutes, but the receptionist hadn’t noticed him. This was normal. He studied her, as he often did when people didn’t notice him. She was young and thin and beautiful with blonde hair, very white teeth, and was showing a slightly more than tasteful amount of cleavage. Unremarkably, Jeffery did not mind waiting.

When she finally looked up and noticed him standing there, she said, “Welcome to Dream Makers. How can we make your dreams come true?”

“Umm…” he began. “Ahh…” he continued. Jessica (which is what it said on the receptionist’s name tag) just sat there smiling evenly, showing off her dazzling smile and perfect teeth. “Well… You see…” Jeffery continued to stammer and start. “I want to dream.”

“Excellent,” Jessica said. “Just one moment and I will have one of our Dream Specialists come speak with you.”

Jeffery Smith sat across from Dream Specialist Mindy Miner. She too was beautiful, with a dazzling white smile, and plentiful cleavage on display. But she was a brunette, not a blonde. Something for everyone, Jeffery thought.

“Would you like some coffee?” she asked.

Jeffery paused, normally he only had the one cup in the morning, but today was different, today was special. “Yes, please.”

“How do you take it?”

“One sugar with cream.”

When Jessica had delivered the coffee, Mindy smiled at him and said, “What dream can we fulfill for you today, Mr. Smith?”

Suddenly over being shy about his dream, Jeffery let it come tumbling out. “Japan! I want to experience an epic adventure in the land of the rising sun. It should take place in the 17th century and start off like the miniseries Shogun, but end happily with the daring English adventurer finding love and embracing the new culture as his own.”

Jeffery Smith had watched Shogun with his father when he was eight years old (over the strenuous objections of his mother). It was then that he had fallen in love with the Japanese culture. Much of his adult leisure activities revolved around Japan: manga, anime, aikido, faulting attempts to learn the language, and tending to his three bonsai trees.

“Very good, Mr. Smith. We can do that. I presume you have seen the miniseries numerous times?”

“Oh yes, at least twice a year since the DVD came out.”

“Very good, that will help. And I suppose you would like our deluxe package, which includes: extended REM; advanced hypnosis—”

“Yes, yes, all of that. It will feel real, right?”

“Absolutely real. Guaranteed.”

The interview went on for quite some time with Mindy asking specific, and often embarrassing, questions about what he wanted to experience. Nudity? Sex? How much sex? How explicit should the sex be? Even what positions he liked and attributes of his preferred sexual partner. Jeffery Smith answered these questions, slowly, with his face beet red. He came to the unavoidable conclusion that the typical Dream Makers client wanted to dream of sex and romance.

On Tuesday, Jeffery Smith went to see the Dream Makers physician, Doctor Chahel Sen, for a physical. Doctor Sen was a beautiful man with shiny black hair, smooth brown skin, and kind brown eyes. Jeffery was worried that his health condition would cause problems. When he told Doctor Sen of his diagnosis, the doctor asked, “Are you currently being treated?”

“No,” Jeffery answered. “Not yet. They still have more tests to do before a treatment plan can be determined.”

“Then it will not be a problem, sir. Many of our clients come to us as after a diagnosis such as yours.”

Jeffery Smith felt sad to hear this. He thought for once in his life he was doing something remarkable. It was upsetting to hear his reaction was common.

On Wednesday he went to the Dream Makers psychologist, Doctor Karen Thompson. She too was beautiful, with long brown hair and shining blue eyes. But, much to Jeffery’s relief, she was not displaying any cleavage.

They started with a brief hypnosis test (to make sure he was a good candidate) that left Jeffery with a brief and shining image of him fighting Darth Vader with a samurai sword. Maybe it was her affable manner, maybe she had done something while he was hypnotized, but soon she had him talking with ease about his parents, his childhood, and how he felt about his diagnosis.

As he was leaving she asked him one last question, “Why don’t you just go to Japan, Jeffery?”

“What?” he asked, surprised by the question. He couldn’t imagine that particular question was Dream Makers approved.

“You long to see Japan; you could just get on a plane and go see it.”

“Well… I… You see…” he stammered. “I don’t have much time. I want the epic adventure.” He didn’t mention what was, perhaps, the real reason: his fear of airplanes.

On Friday he received a call from Dream Makers telling him that he had passed his exams with flying colors and that development of his program was well under way. Was he available for a Monday evening appointment?

The rest of Friday and the weekend passed with excruciating slowness. He spent his time watching Shogun, Godzilla movies, Memoirs of a Geisha, Cowboy Beebop, Ghost in the Shell, and many other of his favorite Japanese movies. Interspersed with his movie watching, he went to the dojo twice to practice aikido (or “falling down and getting up” as Sensei referred to it), ordered and ate Japanese takeout, and danced around the room singing: “Turning Japanese, I think I’m turning Japanese, I really think so.”

Sorry, but the free week of this story is up. Don’t miss the free one week window of the next one, sign up for my email newsletter, join my facebook group, or follow me on twitter.

This and nine other stories are part of Life After: Stories of Life, Death, and the Places In Between available as an ebook or paperback:

(The ebook is on sale for $0.99, through 1/31/2019)

Amazon.com: Paperback , eBook
Barnes and Noble: Paperback, eBook
Kobo: eBook

Signed copies are available in the bookstore.

Ten Years of Writing

2018-12-27T06:00:23Z

Ten years ago, right about now, in the lull between Christmas and New Years, something magical happened to me. There were no work deadlines, no personal emergencies and I was reading Ursula Le Guin’s collection of essays on fantasy and science fiction, The Language of the Night.

One of the essays hit home for me and made clear what I love so much about speculative fiction (science fiction and fantasy). The power it has to boldly go where other types of fiction can't go. Putting a story in another time or another world allows us to look at things with a clarity and perspective we don't achieve with real world stories. The speculative portion provides much needed distance.

I remembered a story I had started in 2003 and pulled it back out because it was just the kind of story Le Guin was talking about, something I had started but never finished (like everything up until that point). I started writing, for the first time in five years, and had one of the most amazing creative experiences of my life. The story poured out of me, I couldn't type fast enough. It was a high, a rush, one of those "peak" experiences. Before that, the doubts and second guessing just got in the way, and while I really wanted to write, I just couldn't finishing anything. This moment left no choice, the creative forces just shoving my ego aside and forcing me to serve the story. It wasn't about me, it was about the story (an important lesson, that).

This event, which has never happened quite like this again, was my creative brain sucker punching me and changing my life. I was knocked into a different reality and I am grateful.

Since then I've written over a million words, have published six novels and two short story collections (with more coming very soon), completed nearly 100 short stories and novelettes, appeared in a bunch of anthologies, and found an enduring passion I hope to be doing for decades more.

Don't get me wrong, being a human, I've still got an ego and it can still make the writing difficult and having this second career on top of my day job keeps me extremely busy, but I wouldn't change it. I am always happiest when I am being the most creative. With writing I can explore my hopes and fears, create new worlds, and be constantly amazed by the stuff my subconscious comes up with when I get out of the way and let it flow.

That story I mentioned above is called "The Turing Test Will be Televised." It uses sci-fi to explore grief and what we will accept to assuage our grief. It also pokes fun at reality TV shows and the invasive nature of advertising in our society.

So, thanks to Ursula Le Guin for all her amazing writing and the catalyst it was, to my wife for her constant support over this decade long journey, to my mentors and teachers who have helped along the way, to my editors who have improved my stories, to my beta readers and proof reader who find all my crazy mistakes and make me look good, and everyone that have given their precious time to read one of my stories.

To make that gratitude more concrete, I am putting my first short story collection Life After: Stories of Life, Death, and the Places In Between on sale for $0.99 on Amazon for the next month. This collection contains "The Turing Test Will be Televised" as well as nine other stories, plus some reflections from me on each story. Go check it out!

So onward! There are more stories to tell.

Campfire Tales

2018-12-23T18:21:58Z

Aleia O’Reilly, here. I’m Robert’s wife and recently designated “Camp Activities Specialist,” here to introduce Campfire Tales. This idea has developed over years of Robert offering raffle and silent auction items for local fundraisers. Winners were able to join the creative process by naming characters before the story was written. . . Such fun! Blinky, Leila, and Father Finnegan are a few so named. Most recently Robert offered a gift card in which the auction winner would not only name a character, but also choose the type of story and setting. Our winner, Jim, chose the name ‘Gayle’ in an abandoned ghostly mining town. Robert’s working on that story as we speak.

As you may be aware, Robert is no stranger to the process of writing a story based upon various cues. He has participated in writing stories for several fund-raising anthologies with themes like unicorns, dragons, and undersea creatures. With the help of our Newsletter readers, he will produce the Campfire Tales Anthology. As the Camp Activities Specialist, I get to set up the steps, track the progress, and keep you all informed as to how he’s doing with the writing. So, without further ado, here are the steps:

Step 1: If you are not already a Newsletter reader, go to the Newsletter Sign Up page, enter your email, then click on “Sign Me Up.” This will make you eligible to give Robert Campfire cues!
Step 2: Imagine you are gathered around a crackling campfire wishing for a good story.
Step 3: Answer a couple Survey Monkey questions that will determine parameters for the story. . . ghosts, time travel, funny, scary, etc. (it’ll take you less than 1 minute unless you have to think really hard about your choices).
Step 4: Robert will select from your requests and write a story inspired by you.
Step 5: After Robert’s author processes are complete, Newsletter recipients will get to read the story for FREE by the light of your own campfire, candle or Kindle.

I’ll be joining you around the campfire regularly to keep you updated as to his progress. I hope to hear from you with your ideas for Campfire Tales! If you have any questions about the process, leave a comment for me below.

Stories I Love: November 2018

2018-12-12T16:05:18Z

I'm discovering something interesting about the stories I love. There are a few common qualities:

Immersive. Beautiful language is nice, but what I want is a story that pulls me in and takes me somewhere else.
Strong ending. I need some plot. I need things to happen. And I need that to resolve in some way at the end. I've read lots of stories that are gorgeously written but spend all their words on description and the story just doesn't move much. I also don't want be confused at the end.
Unique. It's good for a story to have something different, something unexpected. I'm not talking about twists, but about a story that makes me think thoughts I haven't thought before.

If you take two of the above, you have a good story. If you have all three, and it fits my tastes, you end up with a story I love. There are some good ones below, two you can go read right now.

Stats

Stories read in November: 33 Words read in November: about 120,000 Stories read this year, so far: 342 Words read this year, so far: 1,138,000

OMG I So Love These Stories!

These are what I consider “must read” stories. As in you MUST read them! Now! A Catalog Sunlight at the End of the World A. C. Wise Clarkesworld, free, approx 6,600 words I wish I had written this one. Wistful. Sweet. Moving. A very human take of a life nearing its end on a planet nearing its end. Octo-Heist in Progress Rich Larson Clarkesworld, free, approx 7,300 words This story is so fun. It is a cyber-punk flavored sci-fi story featuring an octopus involved in a heist. So well written, crazy fun!

Saturday Stories: The Free Story Roundup

2018-11-24T04:00:10Z

[thrive_leads id='3788'] If you are in the US, this is Thanksgiving weekend and I imagine you are spending time with family and enjoying some tasty leftovers. And even if you are not in the US, I hope you are taking time to nourish yourself in this crazy world with friends, family, and good food (and, yes, I know there is a ton of shopping going one, but don't forget the friends and food). In any case, I've decided to take a short break from posting full stories here, but instead have compiled a brief roundup of where you can go read (or listen to) my stories for free online. The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes, is featured on the Saturday Evening Post's Fiction Friday When Mister Grim Came Calling, in up on my website, right here. Death by Starlight, you can read this story at Every Day Fiction or listen to it at StarShipSofa Last Flight of the Acurus, is also featured in the same StarShipSofa podcast. So enjoy, everyone. I'll be back in December with a full story (for a limited time of course). If you are enjoying this, do me a favor and spread the word to folks you think would enjoy these stories.

Stories I Love: October 2018

2018-11-08T15:48:32Z

I was lucky enough this year to attend the Austin Film Festival, which is about film, but is focused on writers. I went to four days of an amazing conference listening to and meeting some successful screen writers and podcasters. It's a different world, but it's still storytelling and I learned a lot I bring it up because I really wanted to hit the story-a-day goal this month and knew I wouldn't have time while in Texas. So, on the plane ride there, I read three stories quickly and completely focused. Normally it's something I fit into the cracks of the day, reading a bit here and there. All three stories were excellent (some are below). The excellence wasn't really surprising, I was reading them from one of the top magazines, but it wasn't lost on me that I was finding more to love in these three stories than I normally do. I've pondered this for a while and come to what seems like an obvious, but no less important lesson: as readers, we get back what we put into a story. Full attention makes for a better reading experience. Totally obvious, right? This means that in some cases when I don't love a story, it's what I brought to the experience, and no fault of the writer. This being another aspect of the subjective experience of art, an aspect of it that is much more in our control. This is also a lesson that has been growing for me this year as I've read all these stories. As a writer, I must keep in mind that my reader will often be distracted. I need to keep grounding them, pulling them back in the story, and reminding them what's going on. I don't think it is wise to assume my reader is fully focused on my story. And it is definitely not wise to assume my reader knows everything I do. Obviously you can go too far with this and over explain, but I've found over and over stories that are well-written but don't seem to take into account the distracted reader or assume I know things I don't. These stories didn't work as well for me as they could have. Ok, enough rumination, on with the stories!

Stats

Stories read in October: 31 Words read in October: about 121,000 Stories read this year, so far: 312 Words read this year, so far: 1,002,000 (broke the one million words read mark!)

OMG I So Love These Stories!

These are what I consider “must read” stories. As in you MUST read them! Now! The Queen of the Peri Takes Her Time Corey Flintoff The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction July/August 2018, $8.99 for the ebook issue, approx 5,400 words The name Corey Flintoff rang some bells but seemed out of context with sci-fi. It turns out, I heard his name many times on NPR and now he is writing fiction. This story is exotic and beautifully written and so worth a read. Often stories based in other cultures lose me, lacking common language, but this one didn't do that. It gave me enough details to draw me into it's exotic locale without over doing it. Excellent! How to Become a Robot in 12 Easy Steps A. Merc Rustad Lightspeed Magazine, free, approx 5,000 words This is a quirky story with an unconventional structure about a woman who wishes she could become a robot. It's also touching and charming and very well written. The Huntsman and the Beast Carrie Vaughn Asimov’s Science Fiction, September/October 2018, $2.99 per e-issue, approx 11,000 words This charming story puts a fun spin on a familiar fairy tale. It is very well written and engaging. Her Monster, Whom She Loved Vylar Kaftan Lightspeed Magazine, free, approx 1,800 words This short story is a beautifully written epic myth. It's all the more impressive because it's just not the type of story I can write, which lets me just gaze on in awe without envy or feeling inadequate (writers and their delicate egos!)

Saturday Stories: A Postscript for Elizabeth

2018-10-27T06:00:00Z

[thrive_leads id='3788'] Hugh is a holographic surrogate, one he created of himself while he was alive, while he was dying. Now he has to find a way to help his grieving wife, Elizabeth, find a way to get on with her life. This story was a semi-finalist in the Writers of the Future Contest in 2013

A Postscript for Elizabeth

(Excerpt)

Robert J. McCarter

Day 1

“Hello, Elizabeth,” I said as you dropped the bag of groceries you had just come in with. I watched as broken eggs mixed with spilled orange juice. You looked tired, as if you hadn’t been sleeping much. “Hugh?” you said, staring at me. “But… you’re dead.” “Sorry for the surprise, hon.” I understood, I had died only twenty days earlier. I smiled as best I could, but it didn’t seem to ease your mind. I moved my little round platform so you would understand. In the dim light my holographic nature hadn’t been obvious. You blinked, your eyes as big and brown as ever. You twirled your hair with your right index finger, just like you did the first time I said hello to you at the grocery store. I was newly divorced and helpless in the store; you took the time to get me oriented. “I… I don’t understand,” you finally said as you squatted and started gathering up the spilled food. I had surprised you, but you hadn’t been as surprised as you might have been. It seemed like you had been expecting to see me, like you had spent the last twenty days not quite believing I was really gone. “I guess you don’t remember,” I began. “That fancy life insurance policy we bought a few years before my diagnosis. It had a Holographic Surrogate benefit. When the reoccurrence happened, I activated it.” As you put the groceries away and cleaned up the mess, I explained it all to you. The scanner they gave me, how I spent months recording my memories, how they assembled the holographic me from all of that after I died. “But… but…” you stammered, a glass of Pinot Grigio in your hand. “You—no, Hugh—didn’t tell me. Why didn’t he tell me?” I didn’t like that. You were thinking of Hugh as someone different than me. “You would have tried to talk me out of it,” I stated. You nodded in answer and took much more than a sip of your wine. “Why are you here? What do you want?” you asked. I smiled and took a sip of my holographic wine. With my platform right next to the table it almost looked like I was real, not some hologram pretending to sit and to drink. I wanted to look normal and put you at ease. “I am here to help you, Liz. I know my death—Hugh’s death—must still be so hard, the house so empty. I am here so you don’t have to come home to an empty house every night. I am here so you can still tell me about your day.” You nodded as tears ran down your cheeks. “What I want, Liz, is to love you.” What I desperately wanted was for you to accept me.

Day 3

“You pick,” I said. “Seriously?” you asked, seated on the big overstuffed couch. I had positioned myself to the right of you. It looked as if the couch extended beyond the arm and we were sitting together. “Seriously,” I answered. “Don’t you think that’s a bit out of character? Hugh was never that fond of my taste in movies.” My brow furrowed as I searched my memories. “Sorry, I am not perfect. I have many of your husband’s personality traits, and many of his memories, but not all.” You nodded, your stare lingering on my holographic face. I hated it that you weren’t accepting me as Hugh, but I knew pushing it wouldn’t help. “All righty, then,” you said, turning your attention to the flat screen on the wall. “Show me all the rom-coms you think I might like.” The flat screen turned itself on and began showing movie trailers.

Day 4

“What do I call you?” you asked over breakfast. Oatmeal with blueberries and black coffee. It made me happy to see that you were eating. “My name is Hugh,” I said. “But you are not my Hugh.” “I am, Liz. I am parts of your Hugh, maybe not all of him, but enough. My name is Hugh.” Your lips pursed and your eyebrows narrowed. After a moment you nodded slowly. “Parts, eh? ‘H’ then, I will call you ‘H.’“ You turned your attention back to your breakfast. Your lawyer brain had locked in on a decision and that was that. I smiled, it was so you. An artist and a lawyer; when we met my friends said it would never work, but it did. After eating, you grabbed your bag to go and turned back and said, “Bye, H.” The smallest of smiles played on your lips. I rejoiced.

Sorry, but the free week of this story is up. Don’t miss the free one week window of the next one, sign up for my email newsletter, join my facebook group, or follow me on twitter.

This and nine other stories are part of Life After: Stories of Life, Death, and the Places In Between available as an ebook or paperback:

Amazon.com: Paperback , eBook.

Signed copies are available in the bookstore.

Stories I Love: September 2018

2018-10-04T18:28:15Z

Well, September was not like last month, I actually got some short stories read, but not up to the old pace. Earlier in the challenge I worked well ahead of that one story per day pace, but with August off and September at half speed, I've really got to step it up. Streaks have power (like when I never missed a day) and losing the streak has made it hard to get things going again. If not for this public accountability, I probably would let the whole thing go. But that's one of the reasons why I decided to make this public. As a short story writer, I need to read short stories. Period. So while this month is thin, I will be kicking it up in October. Got to get to 365 (at least!) by the end of the year.

Stats

Stories read in September: 18 Words read in September: about 49,000 Stories read this year, so far: 281 Words read this year, so far: 895,000

OMG I So Love These Stories!

These are what I consider “must read” stories. As in you MUST read them! Now! Dandelion Elly Bangs Clarkesworld, free, approx 5,800 words With an unusual structure, this beautifully wistful sci-fi tale looks at three generations of women exploring a mystery and what it means to humanity. A lot is packed in it's short length. And for me, if you describe a story as "beautifully wistful" I'm there. James Brown Is Alive And Doing Laundry In South Lake Tahoe Stefanie Freele Flash Fiction Online, free, approx 1,000 words This story shouldn't work. It breaks all the rules (like changing point of view character every paragraph, for example), but boy does it work. It is brilliant and humorous and at 1,000 words there is no reason not to go read it. RIGHT NOW!

Saturday Stories: Memories of the Breakers

2018-09-29T06:00:02Z

[thrive_leads id='3788'] Smith erases memories, he’s one of the best. He can remove your traumatic or dangerous memories and and lighten your spirit. But the Order of Mnemosyne requires that the Eraser then erases their own memory of the encounter, leaving Smith with very little left of himself. Now’s he’s met a client whose memories put her in danger. Can Smith erase her memories, protect her, and somehow keep something of her for himself?

Memories of the Breakers

(Excerpt)

Robert J. McCarter

The breaker rolled past the window next to me, a sandy, foamy blur; I thought I could make out a jellyfish being pressed against the glass. It was outlined there for a moment and then gone. All that motion and chaos just inches away from me made me nervous. The restaurant was nice, simple: glass, and chrome, and black lacquered wood. Understated. They let the waves crashing against the prow-like point of the building and the breakers rolling past the sides do the talking. Elegant. Rare. Expensive. You could feel the waves, as they ceaselessly crashed against the building, see the waves roll past, almost taste the waves. “Excuse me, are you…” she said, startling me from my reverie. I stood up glancing at her, took her proffered hand, smiled, and said, “Yes.” First impressions are important, and in this case she aced it. Not only was she a looker, she had done me the courtesy of not saying my name. Well, at least not saying what she thought my name was. We sat and I ordered some wine, a Grenache. Wine being the rarity it was, and this restaurant having the prices it did (you had to pay for the view after all), I was hopeful that I was making a good first impression too. My services don’t come cheap, so I can afford to make this kind of gesture. She was like most clients. Shy about getting down to business. I knew better than to rush it, she would come around to it. They always did. We chatted about the restaurant, the hotel that contained it, and the view. They call this place, appropriately enough, the Breakers. It was built 20 years ago on dry land in anticipation of the sea level rising. She had me order for us both, further endearing me to her. We had the seared sea bass, with steamed broccoli and roasted red new potatoes. They were prepared simply and elegantly, allowing the quality of the food to come through. Over coffee I could tell she was going to broach the topic. There was the sighing, the shifting of position, the excessive stirring of the coffee, the twirling of her shoulder length red hair. She was almost there. I just smiled (which I am told by reliable sources is quite irresistible) and continued the small talk. She laid a thin, long fingered hand on the table; a band of pale skin where her wedding ring once was (off for the night, or off for good—I wasn’t sure). The nails were a deep shiny red. Again I found something to like: none of those garish adaptive colors for her. Class. She took a deep breath. Here it comes. There was a sharp crack against the window next to us. I looked over and saw most of a face, with a tattered body trailing it, pressed against the window before sliding past. By some trick of the current the body was pushed against the glass and dragged along the entire length of the room. She screamed and a wave of screams followed the body’s trajectory as the corpse made its presence known. Scrambling to her feet, she bolted. I didn’t think I would ever see her again.

The chaos of the place swirled around me, and I just sat there and let it wash over me like the waves on the other side of the glass. I was quite content to watch it all and sip my wine. They all acted like civilians—except for the maître d’—letting fear rule them when whatever the danger that ended that person’s life was clearly past. The maître d’ with his broad shoulders and square jaw calmly took care of them, directing his staff like they were his troops. He exuded a cool efficiency that I admired. It was not, unfortunately, enough for the civs, who chattered and wandered about like children babbling over and over about what had happened and how horrible it all was. It always surprised me how the presentation of death rattled them so. Didn’t they know they were all going to die? After he had dealt with them he came over to my table; I had just finished the wine. “We are so sorry for the inconvenience sir,” he said. I found his use of the word inconvenience amusing. A stubbed toe was an inconvenience, a delayed flight was an inconvenience, a dead body floating by was… was… Well, it wasn’t an inconvenience. “Tonight will be, of course, on the house,” he continued. “No need,” I said, laying down some bills on the table as I rose. “I feel somewhat responsible.” “Sir?” “Well, given his state of decomposition, I can’t be sure, of course. But I think that I am the one that killed him.” I delivered this with a small smile. The maître d’ was truly a pro, his expression not changing one bit. He swept up the bills, which were far more than what the meal cost, made them disappear and replied, “Very good sir. Will there be anything else?”

Sorry, but the free week of this story is up. Don’t miss the free one week window of the next one, sign up for my email newsletter, join my facebook group, or follow me on twitter.

This and twelve other stories are part of Anomalous Readings: Thirteen Curious and Confounding Tales available as an ebook or paperback.

Buy the ebook now from: Amazon.com, Kobo.com, BarnesAndNoble.com

Signed paperbacks available from my store

Stories I Love: August 2018

2018-09-05T17:46:51Z

Last month I said I was going to take a break from reading short stories, and boy did I. I did't read any. Not one. And this is a good thing. My wife and I desperately needed to get out of town, so we did just that, rambling through beautiful locations in Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. For some of this time, I didn't read any fiction, didn't watch any TV, or really consume stories beyond chatting with fellow tourists about what they were up to. Instead, we spent tons of time outside (a few pictures below). I did read a novel (completed it on 9/1, but only the last few pages) and I loved it. It clocked in at over 500 pages, so it was a bit of reading, and it is a story, so instead of the usual format, here's a bit about Powers by Ursula K. Le Guin. After reading her masterpiece, The Left Hand of Darkness and a few other of her books, I adopted a policy of reading anything by Le Guin. When I used to spend more time at my local used book store, she's one of the authors I would check for and would always buy used hardcovers if I could. This doesn't mean that I have loved all of her stories, but she is master of writing and of story telling and is fiercely intelligent. Any time I've spent with Le Guin has always been worth it. Her passing this January was a great loss to the world of writing and reading. So, Powers, the 3rd book in the trilogy Annals of the Western Shore, was on sale. I snatched it up and I was not disappointed. This is a rich fantasy story about a slave named Gavir and follows him from a young slave to a rich family through tumultuous times trying to find his place and his freedom. As with most Le Guin books I've read, especially fantasy books, she doesn't quite do what you would expect from the genre, much to the better. Thematically there is a lot going on with the concept of freedom and what it means to be free. Go check it out.

Rambling

Here's a few pictures from our recent travels. This is Supia Tunnel on the North Kiabab Trail of the Grand Canyon (about 2 miles from the North Rim and 1500 feet down). One of the things we did in our ramblings is visit some story locations for an upcoming novel. (What do you think takes place here)? And here's looking down into the canyon from the tunnel. The trail is on the left next to the cliff: And for another novel, I had cause to visit the Cedar City Graveyard (in southern Utah), where a lot of the novel takes place (hmmm, could there be ghosts in a book soon? Stay tuned!) I hope you all have found some great stuff to read. Feel free to talk about it in the comments.

Saturday Stories: Jack Who Works the Beanstalk

2018-08-25T06:00:45Z

[thrive_leads id='3788'] Jack is just another orphaned kid working the tourists, except Jack lives on Mars and works the Pavonis Mons Beanstalk Terminal guiding visitors through the delights and dangers of New Chicago City. But his new client is a mysterious man named Aldan who wants to go into the Maze and take on one of New Chicago City’s most dangerous men. There is something different about Aldan, but Jack needs money to save Mary and can’t turn back now. Can Jack survive and maybe, someday, find a way up that beanstalk and off of Mars?

Jack Who Works the Beanstalk

(Excerpt)

Robert J. McCarter

Jack looked small for his age, which was fine by him. Looking like he was ten when he was twelve was a competitive advantage. He had more experience, he knew more. When you’re competing for scraps from tourists, or the proceeds of an occasional lift, you took what you could get. And today he needed it all. Mary was counting on him. Jack ran his fingers through his stringy brown hair, his sharp blue eyes watching everyone and everything. His face was dirty, his clothes ragged, and he walked with a slight limp. All of it on purpose. His mouth still had the metallic tang from the cheap antibiotics he had taken and he wasn’t quite healthy, but he was well enough. Jack stood in his usual spot, under the scant shade of a mesquite tree in front of the Martian beanstalk terminal high on the slope of Pavonis Mons. The beanstalk rose before him out of sight; at first appearing large, about eight meters in diameter, but then thinning to an apparent thread as it reached to the red-tinged heavens. Several times a day cars slid down it bringing visitors or cargo from orbit. From here you had “the best view in the universe,” as he was fond of telling travelers. Pavonis wasn’t nearly as tall as Olympus Mons, but sitting on the equator it was ideal for the beanstalk and there was water below the surface from ancient glaciers for the city. You could see New Chicago arrayed on the southern slope of the volcano below, and beyond it green patches of agri-land and the still mostly red expanse of Mars. And beyond that you could just make out the bulk of the CO2 mines as they continued to work, thickening the still thin atmosphere. Jack longed to ride up that beanstalk, to escape to the moon, to the asteroid belt, or even Earth. But a sonofawhore like him never got to leave. He was destined to have a hard life of subsistence on a Mars that the rest of the solar system was no longer so enthralled with. “Hey, mister,” Jack said to the man who had just exited the towering glass-faced terminal, its Gothic-inspired architecture harking back to when Mars’s future was much more promising. The man was dressed well but simply, and carried a metal briefcase. “Mister, do you need a guide? I’m the best, none better in all of New Chicago City.” The man, who had a bland, forgettable face, looked down at the boy and their eyes locked. Jack always made eye contact with his clients. He knew it made him appear trustworthy, and he got to learn about them that way. “What’s your name, boy?” the man asked. “Jack, my name is Jack. What’s yours, mister?” “Jack?” the man asked, shaking his head and smiling, pointing over Jack’s shoulder at the beanstalk. “You’re Jack, there’s the beanstalk. That’s good. I like that. Aldan. Call me Aldan.” Jack’s brow furrowed; he didn’t understand what was so amusing about his name. “OK, Mister Aldan, where can I take you?” “You don’t know about Jack and the Beanstalk?” Aldan asked. Jack shrugged, sticking to business. “I’ll give you a good deal, only 50 creds for the day.” Their eyes had remained locked for the entire exchange. That never happened; nobody looked you in the eye for that long. And Jack noticed something odd. The man had exited the terminal out into the bright Martian sunshine, but the irises of his gray eyes hadn’t constricted, not one bit. He would either have to be so high on kethylin that he couldn’t walk, or he was an artificial. “50 creds, huh? Looks like you could use more,” Aldan said with a smile. “How about 75 a day for the next two days.” “Sure, Mister Aldan, sure,” Jack said with a smile that masked his concern. No one ever offered more, ever. And while he had heard rumors of artificials, he had never seen one. Most days after an exchange like this, Jack would have come up with a convenient illness and begged off. But not today, even though he was barely well. He needed the money and Mary needed him.

On Earth, in Chicago, they wouldn’t have really called it a car. It was a three-wheeled, open-air cart with a large solar panel on the top. It was adept at navigating the narrow sloped streets and sharp turns. “Come on, Mister Aldan,” Jack said, tugging on the man’s sleeve as he moved quickly, his limp becoming more pronounced. “Come meet Junior, best driver in all of New C.” Junior had brown skin, with bright green eyes, and was leaning against his car working his teeth with a bit of wood as the two approached. “Junior,” Jack began, “this is Mister Aldan, and he has important business here, real important business. He needs a driver and I told him you were the best.” “Happy to help,” Junior said with a tip of his wide-brimmed hat indicating for the others to get in his car before following. “Where can I take you, Mister Aldan?” “To the Maze, please,” Aldan said casually, pointing down to the chaotic jumble that clung to the western edge of the orderly New Chicago streets. Junior threw Jack a piercing glare. “Uhh, Mister Aldan,” Jack said, “that is not a safe place. Are you sure you want to go there?” “Sure,” Aldan said, “I got the best guide and best driver in all of New Chicago; it shouldn’t be a problem, should it?” Jack swallowed, forced a smile on his face, and said, “Nope.” He studied the man further. He was tall and thin and he sat with his hands on his lap, and both feet on the floor looking forward. His metal briefcase sat between his feet. Jack stole a few glances at the case; it was made of a burnished metal with two small black rectangles along the top edge. Jack figured they were fingerprint readers. He began regretting the 75 creds a day; he should be getting more for this kind of work. “So what’s your business in the Maze, mister?” Jack asked once Junior had started driving. Jack knew Junior didn’t want to go, his tensed shoulders as he gripped the steering wheel told the story. “I promised my aunt I would look up a relative of ours.” “Yeah, what’s his name? The Maze is pretty big and if I can tell Junior which way to approach it, that would really help.” “I think they call him Carl,” Aldan said. Jack saw Junior’s shoulders rise up another notch. “Carl, huh? He doesn’t go by Carl the Caterer, does he?” “Yes. That’s it.” Junior gasped and Jack saw his knuckles go from brown to white as he gripped the steering wheel. Jack “accidentally” kicked the back of Junior’s chair. “OK, mister,” Jack said with his heart beating fast and a smile on his lips. “Junior, go around the south end. You can park there and I’ll walk Mister Aldan in.” “Your funeral,” Junior mumbled.

Sorry, but the free week of this story is up. Don’t miss the free one week window of the next one, sign up for my email newsletter, join my facebook group, or follow me on twitter.

This and twelve other stories are part of Anomalous Readings: Thirteen Curious and Confounding Tales available as an ebook or paperback.

Buy the ebook now from: Amazon.com, Kobo.com, BarnesAndNoble.com

Signed paperbacks available from my store

Stories I Love: July 2018

2018-08-09T06:00:52Z

Time has a way of changing the game on you. My initial goal for this challenge was not to read a story every day, but to read 365 short stories this year (subtle difference). But, through July, I managed to not miss any days and to read at least one story a day (I can be a bit of an overachiever). But, that goal, was carefully worded to give me wiggle room that I am now finding myself needing. I won't go into details, but life has gotten tough and I am feeling the need to step away from my regular patterns and regroup. That doesn't affect what happened in July (I read 41 stories), but for the rest of the year I expect my short story reading to get sporadic. I am still aiming for that 365 goal. I will still post monthly if there are stories I love. For now, on to July.

Stats

Stories read in July: 41 Words read in July: about 126,000 Stories read this year, so far: 263 Words read this year, so far: 850,000

OMG I So Love These Stories!

These are what I consider “must read” stories. As in you MUST read them! Now! Last Gods Sam J. Miller Clarkesworld, free, approx 5,700 words A dark and fierce examination of the good and terrible in all of us. This story takes a hard look at the comfort and harm of religion. As my personal life darkened, my taste in stories did too. This one is powerful. The Plagerist Hugh Howey Machine Learning: New and Collected Stories, $2.99 for the ebook, approx 11,000 words Hugh is a thoughtful writer and, from what I've observed of him online, a thoughtful human being. This collection has a lot of good stories, but this one I loved. I have a thing for exploring what's real and what makes a life worth living (I write about this kind of thing a lot) and this story dives right in. Luitenant Tightass Kristine Kathryn Rusch Asimov’s Science Fiction, $2.99 per e-issue, approx 12,000 words Ok, so Kris is an amazing writer. She writes these stories that seem simple and straightforward, but in the end hit home with their themes and are so immersive. This story from her Diving Universe is no exception as it follows Lieutenant "Coop" Cooper on an early mission as he learns important lessons on being too by the book. Select Character Hugh Howey Machine Learning: New and Collected Stories, $2.99 for the ebook, approx 3,500 words I loved the themes of this absorbing story. It's simple, subtle, and takes on a lot of stereotypes.

My Stories

I'm excited to say that a collection of my stories came out in July: Anomalous Readings: Thirteen Curious and Confounding Tales. As part of that we've started a new series called Saturday Stories, that will feature a story of mine once a month, in full, but only for a week. The first story was "Connor Bright and the Case of the Purple Unicorn." The full week is over, but an excerpt remains. Don’t miss the free one week window of the next one, sign up for my email newsletter, join my facebook group, or follow me on twitter.

Recomendations

I've done this in the past a bit, but will do it a bit more formally going forward: Machine Learning: New and Collected Stories by Hugh Howey. There are a lot of fine and thoughtful stories in this collection and as of this writing, it's on sale for $2.99 for the ebook. Clarkesworld. It's free online, why aren't you reading it already? I will admit I don't love all of these stories, but when they hit... wow! (And as an aside, find a way to pay for it if you can, writers getting paid and all. I subscribe to it on my Kindle).

Saturday Stories: Connor Bright and the Case of the Purple Unicorn

2018-07-27T08:00:32Z

[thrive_leads id='3788'] Connor Bright dresses and talks just like Crocodile Dundee, but that’s just his way of hiding from his past. He’s a private detective in Phoenix, Arizona and his next case involves a man slain by what appears to be a purple unicorn. He doesn’t think unicorns are real, but Irene, his new eight-year-old client, saw her great-uncle run down by one. Now Connor has to solve the murder, keep his own demons at bay, and make sure Irene doesn’t become the next victim of the purple unicorn.

Connor Bright and the Case of the Purple Unicorn (Excerpt)

Robert J. McCarter

The ringing of the phone is like a dentist’s drill to my sodden consciousness. I groan, realizing I hadn’t managed to get undressed when I tumbled into bed. Again. I feel for my cell phone on the nightstand, my hand connecting with a half-eaten microwave burrito before finding it. “G’day, you got Bright,” I say, remembering even in my hungover state to use my B-movie quality Australian accent. “Got a job for you, but you’ve got to get here quick.” The voice is feminine and a tad husky. Detective Trisha Sanchez. Why the hell is she calling me? After that jacked-up stakeout, I’m her least favorite private investigator in the Phoenix metro area. “What kind of a job?” I say, my voice rough from too long in a noisy bar working as a bouncer and too many cheap beers afterward. I look around my shit hole of a bedroom. Dirty laundry, trash, the spring heat of the desert morning flowing in the open window. “And can they pay?” An Australian accent is easy. Just elongate your vowels—”paay” instead of “pay”—and throw in the occasional “mate” and “g’day.” In the desert southwest, that and changing my name to Conner Bright, keeps my past at bay. “They can. It’s a murder, Bright, so get your ass out here now. No booze or I’ll throw you in the drunk tank.” “Aces. Happy to help.” “Texting you the address now.” She hangs up. After some mouthwash for breakfast, I stop by the old cookie tin that sits on the top of my little entertainment center. It’s got a shameful layer of dust on top and holds the ashes of my father inside. “Hey, Dad,” I say, without a trace of an Australian accent. “I’ve got a case. An important one.” Sitting next to the tin is a DVD of Crocodile Dundee. My dad took me to that movie in 1986 when it came out. I was thirteen and loved it, but not as much as he did. When we exited, he’d said, “Now that’s a man, son. That’s a man.”

I get out of my 1976 El Camino, my cowboy boots crunching on the dry ground as I approach the murder scene. It’s a hot day, and since the El Camino doesn’t have air conditioning, I’m already sweating. I’m at a little ranch in the desert between Phoenix and Wickenburg, Arizona. This is a big deal. There’s lots of cowboys and lots of guns around here, but not that many murders in the sticks. I get the usual assortment of looks as I duck under the yellow tape. Looks of surprise from folks that don’t know me, looks of recognition or disdain from those that do. The disdain belongs to Trisha Sanchez, the detective who called me in. And the looks from the others, it’s what I expect. I’m tall and slim; at 6’5” and 170 pounds, some people call me scarecrow. I’ve got a bowie knife with an eleven-inch blade on my belt, a crocodile claw hanging around my neck, and a wide-brimmed bush hat on my head, all to go with my Australian accent. “G’day, Detective,” I say, tipping my hat to Sanchez as she strides away from the murder scene. She’s in her late-thirties, short and wiry, wearing reflective sunglasses. “Your client’s in the house,” she says, grabbing my arm and pulling me away. I resist a moment, watching Helen Montana, one of the medical examiners, leaning over the prone form of a gray-haired Mexican man that has a ragged hole in his chest. “Where we goin’?” I ask. “To see your client, Irene. She asked for someone to help her solve this murder.” “And you called me?” Something isn’t right. She pauses, her hand still locked around my bicep, her head jabbing back to the scene. “At this point we’re ruling it an accident. The victim, Edwardo Campos, has got a big hole in his chest, and we found a bull running loose with blood on his horn.” She starts to pull me forward again toward the one-story ranch house. It’s small with blue vinyl siding that was popular in the seventies. The blue has started to fade, and the house looks like it has seen better days. “Then what the hell am I doin’ here?” Sanchez smiles, showing her perfectly white teeth, looking something like a shark. “The kid says she saw it happen.” I shrug. “She says it was a man riding a purple unicorn that killed her great-uncle.”

Sorry, but the free week of this story is up. Don’t miss the free one week window of the next one, sign up for my email newsletter, join my facebook group, or follow me on twitter.

This and twelve other stories are part of Anomalous Readings: Thirteen Curious and Confounding Tales available as an ebook or paperback.

Buy the ebook now from: Amazon.com, Kobo.com, BarnesAndNoble.com

Signed paperbacks available from my store

Saturday Stories: A Brief Introduction

2018-07-21T10:59:40Z

I write a lot of short stories (I’ll be hitting 100 finished short stories and novelettes later this year) and I am looking for a way to both get them out and share them with all of you. So I'm going to post some of them here, on this website, for free. This whole free thing is a “thank you” to all of you that follow along here or on facebook or twitter. I’m coming out with my second short story collection: Anomalous Readings: Thirteen Curious and Confounding Tales on July 27, 2018 and to celebrate I will be releasing three of the stories in their entirety, right here. You might be wondering what the catch is, because writers need to get paid, right? Well there isn’t really a catch, but there are details:

Each story will be complete on the site for one week only. After that it will be replaced by an excerpt. This is about thanking you all for following along, so you have to, you know, follow along.
Each story will be available for purchase somehow and somewhere. That’s the “writers need to get paid part” for those of you that enjoy the stories and want more.
I want to do this monthly, but for now this will be a limited run of three months and three stories in support of Anomalous Readings. What if you love this and want it continue? Well, spread the word. If this goes well, I will turn it into a monthly feature.

Okay, so that’s the scoop. Stories will be announced in my email newsletter (you are signed up for that, aren’t you?), on facebook and twitter. The first one, Connor Bright and the Case of the Purple Unicorn, will be here next Saturday!

Stories I Love: June 2018

2018-07-04T11:05:26Z

So, the 2018 is halfway over, how did that happen? Somehow spring always seems to be that way, gone in a flash of lengthening days, a warming sun, and fresh air. I'm well over half way to my goal of reading 365 stories this year and haven't missed a day yet (thanks to the abundant supply of very short stories being published). I've been thinking about beginnings a lot. Short stories in particular. When a reader starts a new story, particularly from a writer they don't know well, it's a delicate thing, like a nervous first date. If the story comes on too strong, get's too strange too fast, or doesn't present itself clearly, a lot of readers will get scared off. It's a brand new relationship between the story and the reader. It's a delicate thing, easily spoiled, and best handled with care. With all this reading, I've found a lot of stories that come on way too strong or dive in too deep too fast, and I can't follow. Or, in many cases, don't really want to follow, knowing that the story is not the kind of experience I am looking for. In other words, if the first date doesn't go well, it's best we say goodnight politely and part ways. This "good first date" is something I am working on in my own writing. When a reader hits one of my short stories or books, we are complete strangers, best make a good first impression. On to the June stories!

Stats

Stories read in June: 35 Words read in June: about 126,000 Stories read this year, so far: 222 Words read this year, so far: 703,000

OMG I So Love These Stories!

These are what I consider “must read” stories. As in you MUST read them! Now! The Deeps of the Sky Elizabeth Bear Clarkesworld, free, approx 5,500 words To my point above, the "first date" on this story was a bit rough, but I stuck with it because of the beautiful imagery and Elizabeth Bear is well respected pro. As it turns out, this is a story told from the point of perspective of an Alien, an excellent reason for the difficult start. It this case it paid off in the end, this is a stunning story. Rules of Biology Dale Bailey Asimov’s Science Fiction, July/August 2018, $2.99 per e-issue, approx 5,500 words This is excellent speculative fiction (the broader term for sci-fi and fantasy) that takes a devastating "what if" involving a man abandoning his daughter and uses fiction to make it visceral and real. Ephemera Ian R. MacLeod Asimov’s Science Fiction, July/August 2018, $2.99 per e-issue, approx 12,000 words This is the lead story in the July/August 2018 issue for good reason. It's the story of, KAT, an AI librarian in a far future after humanity has extinguished itself. KAT must face the decision of letting go of the past and the ephemera of humanity she was created to curate or move into a very different future. Just Wow.

Of Things Not Seen Stands Alone

2018-06-14T12:30:30Z

I made a mistake last year when I released Of Things Not Seen: A Ghost's Memoir, Book 3. It's the subtitle and the "Book 3" part that is misleading. Kind of. It is Book 3 in the series and features Jesus, the secondary character from Shuffled Off and To Be a Fool. It also overlaps with the events of To Be a Fool and follows Jesus from the time he leaves at the end of part one, until the time he returns at the end of the book. So it is Book 3, but it also stands alone. If you haven't read any of my first-person ghost books, you can pick it up and read it, just fine. If you've only read Shuffled Off, it will definitely work for you. It stands alone and is part of the series. Looking back, I can see how this happened. 2016 was too difficult a year to get a book out and as I got the wheels going again on releases, I really had to get this book out. Because it was very hard to write and that had led to procrastination for the whole lifetime of the book and I had to get it out to get my releases back on track. I delayed starting the book because it intimidated me (which, btw, is not a bad thing at all, just uncomfortable). I delayed finishing it because of the amount of research needed. And then things got tough and I didn't have time. That said, story-wise, I think this is one of my best books. It weaves Jesus's tumultuous past as a child on the streets of Mexico City, with his present as a ghost attending to the dying nun that saved his life. It's a book about faith, as Jesus suffers a major crisis of faith while at the same time falling in love. (And yes, I totally get that a guy named "Jesus" that just happens to be a Catholic ghost having a crisis of faith is... well, I guess that depends on your point of view, but I will say it was fun to write) If you've read both Shuffled Off and To Be a Fool and want another JJ book, well, I feel you. I have a few more swimming in my head, but I ask you to try this one. At the end, you'll know Jesus very well and there is a lot to learn from his journey and he's the kind of character you'll root for, just like JJ. So, you might be asking why I'm babbling about this now. It's mostly because I wanted to be clear about this and because I'm giving away some signed paperbacks of Of Things Not Seen. If you are interested, go enter now, spread the word, check out Jesus's adventure while he has a crisis of faith and falls in love. The first few chapters of the book are here on the website, so you can start reading right now!

Stories I Love: May 2018

2018-06-05T14:19:16Z

Artists should get paid. Woops, I probably just lost a bunch of people there, but bear with me. A lot of the short stories I list in this series are "free," but I encourage you to find a way to support the publications you love. I put free in quotes on purpose up there, because all the publications I list here pay their authors, most all of them pay professional rates, so the stories are not free to the publications, although they might be free for you to read. Authors should get paid. Publishers should get paid. If you find yourself frequenting a publication find a way to support it. They offer subscriptions and anthologies, and Patreon or Drip subscriptions. Artists should get paid and those that produce art too. End of the soap box, on to the May stories!

Stats

Stories read in April: 37 Words read in April: about 147,000 Stories read this year, so far: 187 Words read this year, so far: 604,000

OMG I So Love These Stories!

These are what I consider “must read” stories. As in you MUST read them! Now! The Substance of My Lives, the Accidents of Our Births José Pablo Iriarte Lightspeed Magazine, Issue 92, free, approx 7,500 words An amazing story about being different and the kinds of assumptions we all make about each other. The Satyr of Brandenburg Charlotte Ashley The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction March/April 2018, $8.99 for the ebook issue, approx 9,000 words It took a bit to settle in to the environment and names (the story takes place in France with fantasy elements), but once I did it was great fun. Wonderful dialog and great fight scenes. Laurie Stephen King StephenKing.com, free, approx 7,000 words I'm not much of a horror reader, but I love how Stephen King writes (and btw,this is not a horror story). He has a way of totally sneaking up on you while he renders believable characters in a rich world. This story has a bit of sudden violence (very King) but ended up really getting me with the emotions he was playing with. Free and well worth the read. The Things That We Will Never Say Vanessa Fogg Daily Science Fiction, free, approx 1,200 words A beautiful story about the many possible futures and how some things will never be no matter what we do. Very potent for its short length

Followup #2: Short Story Marathon, One Year Later

2018-06-01T17:37:45Z

The Short Version (TL;DR)

Time flies when you're writing like mad... I started this whole thing a year ago today, which is so hard to believe.
The stories have done well in the market, "The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes" found a home with The Saturday Evening Post, several earned Honorable Mentions from Writers of the Future Contest, plus more good news I can't talk about yet.
I'm still living with these stories (in some good ways and some bad ways, too).

The Longer Version

Why So Long to Update?

Well, busy, but I bet you guessed that. And thirty stories with a total of over 118,000 words is a lot to wrangle. But more than that, I had some good news to share (which I still can't share) and that led to so much procrastination. I didn't want to come talk about these stories without some good news. That rectified itself in March when "The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes" landed at The Saturday Evening Post in the New Fiction Friday series, it's just taken me a while to get to this post. And even more than that, was a bit of embarrassment because I haven't finished all these stories yet. A few were set aside because they needed some revisions (and the siren of "new" is hard for me to resist, so that kind of thing takes time for me to get to), and others were set aside because I was writing more stories in the same series. There are also some good reasons for the delay, like the Woody and June stories turning into a novel-length book that will be out soon!

What was Created

Well, 30 stories, obviousness, but really, a lot more than that:

Confidence in my ability to write well and quickly.
A great credit from The Saturday Evening Post.
Several more Honorable Mentions at the Writers of the Future Contest,
A novel-length collection of serialized stories: Woody and June Verses the Apocalypse (more coming soon).
At least two short story collections down the road once I write some more stories for them
A bunch more experience and a lot more stories to send out to market.

What's Next?

Well, there will hopefully be more good news soon about some of these stories. I have a strict policy of not talking about sales until a contract is in hand, so I can't say anything else. It's not official until you have a contract, which means it's not real, which means I don't talk about it (beyond being vague and annoying like I'm being here)
I got distracted by Woody and June, some anthologies I wrote stories for, writing a novel in another series, and releasing two books. I'm getting back to the straggling stories and will finish them soon.
Woody and June!!! Guys, these stories are so much fun and early feedback is excellent. Woody and June would not exist without this challenge. I can't wait to share their stories with you.

Stay tuned. This adventure started a year ago, but the benefits of it will last for a long time.

Story Summary

#	Story	Total Words	Done?	To Market
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes	Part of Novel
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes	Yes
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes	Yes
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes	Part of Novel
5	Home in Time	4483	Yes	Yes
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	5972	Yes
7	The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes	2532	Yes	Yes, Sold!
8	Android Eve and Adam	3512	Yes
9	A Long, Hard Fall	8475	Yes	Yes
10	Fitz’s Second Chance	2800	Yes
11	Fake Jake	1565	Yes	Yes
12	With Light Years Between Us	4670	Yes	Yes
13	Life and a Starling	2278	Yes	Yes
14	Dancing Kite	1524	Yes	Yes
15	Jump in Time	8768	Yes	Yes
16	Death by Vodka	2100	Yes	Yes
17	Death by Cookie	4094	Yes	Yes
18	Ela and the Naiad	3655	Yes
19	Is Anyone Receiving This?	1717	Yes	Yes
20	Breathing in the Stars	2400	Yes	Yes
21	Woody and June vs. the Ex	10232	Yes	Part of Novel
22	Article Seventeen	2918	Yes
23	One Last Trick	4312	Yes	Yes
24	Death by Apathy	3373	Yes
25	A Changeable Face	5241	Yes	Yes
26	Last Days with Mary	2818	Yes	Yes
27	Let Go the Stars	861	Yes	Yes
28	Goodbye Mrs. Hopkins	1329	Yes	Yes
29	Death by a Kiss	3912	Yes
30	Through Other Eyes	3372	Yes

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Stories I Love: April 2018

2018-05-08T15:12:34Z

Everything is a tradeoff, including this goal of mine to read 365 short stories this year in a quest to become a better short story writer. Several things have gone by the wayside to make room for this reading:

Non-fiction reading. I’m so far behind reading Wired Magazine it’s ridiculous and I’ve got a shelf full of non-fiction books I haven’t gotten to.
Novel reading. I’ve only read two novels this year, one in April since I was on vacation for a bit and could dedicate more time to reading. (I am not tracking novels or words read in the stats below)
General internet wandering. Just don’t have time.

This is not to highlight this as a bad thing or a serious thing, just to say even with simple things like this there is a tradeoff. If you add something new to your day, something else has to go. Simple. Another consequence of all this short story reading is I have become pickier. While I haven’t bailed on too many stories, I can feel that I’ll be doing more of that soon. I’ve become attuned to the kinds of stories I like, so why read a bunch of stories I know after the first few pages I’m not going to like. Well... there are reasons, like widening horizons and learning form writers with very different styles, but my tolerance is going down. And this is probably a tiny glimpse as to what it is like to be an editor having to read through a slush pile. You’re really looking for any excuse to get to the next story that will work for your publication. For stories to make this list, they have to not only be well written, but be my kind of story. When I send stories out to market they have to be well written and the kind of story the editor is looking for. I knew this, but this challenge is giving me a better feel for it. It’s also helped me to understand what kind of stories I really like, which feeds directly into the kinds of stories I write. After four months of this, it’s clear I’m giving some things up, but for now this is a good tradeoff, one worth doing. One more note, which I’ll expand on one of these months: If you’re out there reading free stories, please consider supporting the publications you read so they can, you know, keep paying the writers. Ok, so on to the April stories!

Stats

Stories read in April: 34 Words read in April: about 103,000 Stories read this year, so far: 150 Words read this year, so far: 457,000

OMG I So Love These Stories!

These are what I consider “must read” stories. As in you MUST read them! Now! Carouseling Rich Larson Clarkesworld, free, approx 5,300 words This is such a touching and haunting love story. Rarely have I read a sci-fi story this beautiful. I just put a reminder in my calendar to read this one again in a month or two--it’s that good. So what are you doing? Go read it! Divine Madness Roger Zelazny Lightspeed Magazine, Issue 92, free, approx 2200 words This story is from 1966 and shows why Zelazny was a master. It’s short and beautiful and touching and written with such depth and flair. Amazing. Read it. A Burglary, Addressed By a Young Lady Elizabeth Porter Birdsall Lightspeed Issue #49: Women Destroy Science Fiction, $3.99 for the issue, approx 5,600 words So much fun. This story is a delightful combination of sci-fi and Victorian manners. Very unusual and a fun read. This story is not free on the site, but this issue of Lightspeed is amazing and huge and a deal at $3.99.

Seeing Forever is Out!

2018-04-14T01:00:42Z

Maybe you can tell from the above image, I'm very excited about the release of Seeing Forever. Today is launch day, where this baby goes out into the world for you all to read. If I could put on a firework display to celebrate, I would. There is something I can do to celebrate. I've extending pre-sale pricing on the Amazon ebook a few more days. It's $2.99 right now but goes up to $4.99 soon. If you want the deal, go get it now. This story started out quite innocently. I started writing what I thought would be a short story about a man who had transferred his consciousness to a computer and was pondering whether his "life" was still worth living (thematically similar to several short stories I published as part of Life After: Stories of Life, Death, and the Places In Between). That was in February of 2014, and this story took on a life of it's own and the world grew, the themes got rich, and a tantalizing mystery unfolded (I write much like a reader reads--I usually don't know how it's going to end, and I certainly didn't here). As it went in 2013 and 2014, I got a ton of first drafts written, but not much finished and then some difficult times came and finishing long projects just wasn't possible for a few years. Then, in 2017, I pulled out this book and two others that I had forgotten a lot of the details about (One of them, Of Things Not Seen, came out last year). While my wife cooked, I would sit in the hallway and read them to her (something we both love). While reading Seeing Forever and those other books with several years of distance, much like a reader, I found that I loved the stories and had to get back to serious writing, and absolutely needed to get these books out. Those three long-set-aside books convinced me to start writing seriously again. It's taken a long time to get here, but I am so glad you can read this story now. It's an investigation of humanity, friendship, love, loss, and what makes a life worth living. While it's sci-fi, if you've read any of the books in my "A Ghost's Memoir" series (Shuffled Off, To Be a Fool, and Of Things Not Seen) you will be right at home with the themes and will likely enjoy the different perspective science fiction allows. Here's all the details on the book. If you do read it, please let me know what you think. Where to buy:

Paperback: Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com (and wherever you buy print books)
Signed paperbacks are available on the site, right here
Ebook (exclusive to Amazon for a bit): Amazon.com
Seeing Forever is part of Kindle Unlimited for the next 90 days. If you are part of the program you can read it now at no additional charge.

Not sure yet, you can start reading for free:

Read the first four chapters on the site
Download an extended sample ebook (the first 16 chapters, about 40% of the book)

And last but not least, a big shout of thanks to the people that helped make this happen. They're all listed in the books acknowledgment but I would be remiss if I didn't mention my amazing wife Aleia who always supports these creative endeavors, and my Publishing Assistant, Elizabeth, who has helped make the release of Seeing Forever worthy of the fireworks above. And thanks to you for following along on this journey. If you do pick up Seeing Forever, I hope you enjoy it! Robert

Stories I Love: March 2018

2018-04-05T08:12:16Z

Short stories are important. For readers and writers. The “short” part allows for risk taking and experimentation. It allows both the writer and the reader to try something new with a much smaller investment in time. On the writer's end, it has the additional benefit of being a great way to learn. The act of finishing a story, feeling that, doing it over and over is very important. As a reader, short stories are valuable to me because I get to experience a greater diversity of worlds, ideas, writers, and styles. They let me dip briefly into another world and get back to my day. A well-crafted short story can be very satisfying and the “short” nature lets you experience more. As a writer, short stories are important to me because they are a great way to play and learn and grow. They let me take chances, try different things, and experiment. When I started out, I was only going to write short stories for a good long while. My first novel, Shuffled Off, was a complete accident. The story kept growing, so I kept writing, and it grew into a novel--and terrified me in the process, I didn’t think I was ready. To this day, many of my novels are kind of accidental--the stories just get too long (and yes, this is the happy sort of accident). Enough rumination, let’s get to March’s stories!

Stats

Stories read in March: 42 Words read in March: about 165,000 Stories read this year, so far: 116 Words read this year, so far: 367,000

OMG I So Love These Stories!

These are what I consider “must read” stories. As in you MUST read them! Now! Dix Kristine Kathryn Rusch Asimov's Science Fiction, $2.99 per e-issue, approx 18,000 words So this is not a short story, it’s a novella and much longer than the other stories I’ve read for this challenge. That said, it’s an engrossing story with only three characters and two locations and one rather thorny problem. It’s gripping and a master class in character development. Kris has won a lot of awards and rightly so. Unfortunately, it’s hard to buy individual copies of Asimov’s, but on the plus side, it’s worth the subscription. The Case of the Passionless Bees Rhonda Eikamp Lightspeed Issue #49: Women Destroy Science Fiction, free, approx 5,600 words A robotic steampunk version of Sherlock Holmes in a surprising mystery. Enough said, because if that doesn’t make you want to read it, I don’t know what will. Ghosts of Mars Kevin J. Anderson Daily Science Fiction, free, approx 1,000 words This is a lovely ode to the power of human imagination, our eternal need to explore, and how fiction plays a role in that. By the Mother’s Trunk Lisa M. Bradley Fireside Fiction, free, approx 1,900 words This is a short piece of historical fiction told from the point of view of an elephant. Very unique and very well done.

My Stories

Hopefully this isn’t unseemly, but I had two stories land in March, and I do love them, so here they are! The Stars in Hoshi’s Eyes Robert J. McCarter The Saturday Evening Post, free, approx 2,500 words I wrote this one last year during my short story marathon last year. The story is about a middle-aged woman going through some very difficult times when she notices something special about Hoshi, the Korean woman that does her nails (more about this one over here) The Kraken’s Story Robert J. McCarter Undercurrents: An Anthology of What Lies Beneath, $6.99 for anthology, approx 5,000 words This story takes a monster’s eye view of an ancient conflict, the story is told from the point of view of a young Kraken (more about it and a sample of the story here). If you are interested in more frequent updates about the stories I love, I’m posting some of the free ones throughout the month over on my facebook group.

Seeing Forever Extended Sample

2018-03-30T09:00:11Z

Some books are just yours. You know them when you read them. There's something about them that speaks to you. Sometimes it's a time and a place and an age you are and the books just sings to you. When I was first diving into fiction it was J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings or Robert A. Heinlein Stranger in a Strange Land--I couldn't get enough. As I aged, new books came like Nancy Kress's Beggars in Spain and Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness. I could go on, but you get the idea. These are my books. Even years later, if I pick them back up, they still sing to me. Maybe not quite the same, I'm different now, but the joy of them is still there. I firmly believe that something artistic, something creative, isn't quite whole until it starts to find it's people. Like those books found me. Now it may seem a bit presumptuous, I'm no Tolkien or Heinlein or Kress or Le Guin, but I want the same for my books, I want them to find their people. I've been at this long enough and gotten enough feedback to know that these books have their audience, their people, it's just a matter of finding them. The ebook revolution has made that a lot easier, but there's a flaw in the implementation. Take Amazon, if you go download the sample for Seeing Forever (not available right now since it hasn't been released), it will cut you off at 10%, rather inelegantly, not waiting for a chapter end or stopping at a good spot. For example, I got the sample to Stephen King's The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger and with all the intros and forewords the sample didn't contain one page of the story. Not one. So, to remedy that, I've prepared an extended sample of Seeing Forever. It is the first sixteen chapters, about 40% of the book. If you get that far, you'll know if it's your book for sure. There's a PDF version if you don't have an ebook reader, so go ahead, get the extended sample and see if this is one of your books. Don't want to bother with downloads? I got you covered there too. Chapter 1 is on this site to read right now, with more chapters rolling out soon. Seeing Forever a sci-fi book, but not the kind that just for science fiction fans. It delves deeply into themes of loss, love, and mortality. It ponders religion, atheism, and what it might be like to live forever. It's also an epic adventure past human biologic and mortality. Most of these things, if you've read any of my ghosts books, are themes I often contemplate. If you like the ghost books, you will probably like this one. But, now you can find out for sure. For free. No risk besides a bit of time. And while I'm not a famous author, I do know that Seeing Forever is the kind of book that will have people that love it. One of my beta readers absolutely adores it. It's his book, is it yours? Go find out.

"The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes" is Out!

2018-03-16T08:26:39Z

I got the email while I was on a work call. The Saturday Evening Post wanted to buy a story of mine called "The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes". THE SATURDAY EVENING POST! This is the American magazine that was started in 1897, has featured famous illustrations by Norman Rockwell, and contained the best American writers like Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury, and John Steinbeck. It was dizzying to say the least, and it was pretty much beside the point that they didn't want the story for their print magazine, but for their online "New Fiction Friday" series. The best part about it being online is that you can go read it. Right now! How did this happen you might ask? Well, last year during my Short Story Marathon. I wrote some contemporary stories (i.e. not science fiction or fantasy). Dean Wesley Smith, who I did this crazy challenge with, said to send it to a "mainstream market," so I figured I might as well aim high. (Don't be fooled, that laissez faire attitude took years and hundreds of rejections to get to). I just figured, why not? So I sent it in for inclusion in the print magazine and five months later that email hits my inbox and I am having a hell of a time concentrating on that meeting. The story is about a middle aged woman going through some very difficult times when she notices something special about Hoshi, the Korean woman that does her nails. That image above is a picture of the Milky Way. It's part of the story, so take a good look at it and go read "The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes" over on the Saturday Evening Post website! Feel free to leave a comment below, I'd love to hear what you think about the story. And for those of you keeping track at home, that's two short stories coming out in two days! This is turning out to be a very good week for short stories.

“The Kraken’s Story” is Out!

2018-03-15T08:05:51Z

The monster lurks right below the surface, huge and cruel, ready to lash out with its tentacles and destroy the ship, crushing it, taking it down into the depths, feeding on the crew. That's the story we've all heard, but what does the story look like from the other side? From the "monster's" point of view? My latest short story "The Kraken's Story" is out today in Undercurrents: An Anthology of What Lies Beneath. It takes a stab at that, exploring the world of the creature below the ocean and its view of the men above the water. Sound interesting? Go pick up a copy of Undercurrents. Want to know a bit more? Here's the first scene of the story:

The Kraken’s Story

Robert J. McCarter

The school of fish is close. I can feel them and taste them, and although I hunger, it is not time to feed. My mother is beside me, her mind closed to me as we wait. I hate waiting, but I am nearly a full cycle past my time as an egg, and I must learn to control my impulses. We float, my mother and I, in deep waters, but near the boundary of the shallows. There are other beings near us—some common fish, some predators—but they all give us a wide berth. Even though I am not mature yet, I am larger than anything in the sea except for my own kind. The dolphins visited recently, and since then my mother has been tense and quiet. She has not told me what tales they shared, but they could not have been good. I think it is why we are here. Something is coming, I can hear it, but it is not a familiar sound. It is coming from the direction of the shallows, from the place where the rock rises out of the water. Mother tells me there are creatures there, strange creatures that live in the no-water and are somehow able to breathe. Watch, daughter. Taste, feel. Tell me what you think it is, Mother says to me, her mind a comfort to mine. I watch and I taste and both are foul. The thing slices though the surface of the water in a smooth, straight line. Its shape is long, narrow, and unnatural, and what I feel . . . I cannot describe it. There are beings on this thing in the no-water, and their minds are chaotic and troubled, worse than the surface of the sea when it is whipped up by the no-water when the lights stab down in bolts that shake. And the thing is large, larger than some of my kind, larger than me. I feel something I have not felt since I became larger than the other predators. Fear. I do not understand, I tell my mother. They are enemy. You must destroy them. My mother is tense and worried. How? It is large—larger than me, almost as large as you. Follow, she tells me, diving down and swimming rapidly along the shelf of rock. I follow, pushing water from my mantle and letting my tentacles relax and lengthen so that I move fast and catch up with Mother. We glide down into deeper, darker waters, passing several sharks and a school of large fish with yellow tails. It is still not time to feed, so I keep moving until we come to the floor of the ocean. There is something there I do not recognize. It is large, as large as my mother, covered with algae and sand. It is long, its shape unnatural, and has stiff, straight things, like tentacles that stick straight up. I can taste it; it is made of trees, which my mother has told me grow above in the no-water. What is it? I ask. Look at the bottom. I swim down and look. It is shaped like the horrible thing that passed above us. It is called ship, and this is what the Great Mother wants us to do with them. She wants us to bring them down. They are terrible; they destroy. You must learn to defeat them.

If you want to read the rest, go grab Undercurrents! This anthology is a fundraiser for the Don Hodges Memorial Scholarship which helps writers learn the business of writing by sending them to the Superstars Writing Seminar. So your purchase goes to help writers learn this crazy business.

Seeing Forever is Almost Here

2018-03-09T08:15:40Z

My next novel, Seeing Forever, is just over a month away (4/14/2018)! It explores some of the themes of my ghost books (love, loss, what makes a life worth living) but does this using science fiction. Paul Cruz is not a ghost, he’s a man who has transferred his consciousness into a computer. It also breaks new ground, for me, exploring the philosophical and religious implications of a non-biological human consciousness, and some of the political difficulty that comes with that. It also explores what human relationships might be like while living in a more fluid way. It’s a fun, fast read, and if early readers are any indication, you’ll have trouble putting it down. The full description is below, but if this sounds like your kind of thing here’s what you can do right now:

The ebook is available for preorder on Amazon.com. Go reserve your copy for $2.99 (it goes up to $4.99 right after launch).
I’m giving away 100 ebooks over on Goodreads, go enter to win.
Sign up for my newsletter so you don’t miss any important announcements

There’s more coming too. If you want the latest, come join my facebook group.

A LIFE WORTH LIVING?

Paul Cruz is no longer human. He’s a Singular, his consciousness technological, no longer biological. He was there at the beginning and helped ensure the survival of all the Singulars. Free from the limits of flesh and blood, he wanted to live forever, but now that he’s lost what he cares about the most, forever is too long, much too long. After suspending himself for decades, he is about to enter a virtual world called “Home” to take one last look around. But Home is not what he expected and what he finds will change everything.

When is forever too long?

From Robert J. McCarter, author of Shuffled Off: A Ghost's Memoir, comes an unforgettable sci-fi novel of life, loss, and love beyond the biological.

Seeing Forever: Cover Reveal

2018-03-05T08:14:55Z

Coming 4/14/18

Stories I Love: February 2018

2018-03-03T14:01:06Z

A lot of good stories that I read don’t make it onto this list. Some very good stories. This is not “stories I like,” these are the stories that hit all the right notes, immerse me in their world, possess me until they’re done, and end in a resounding way. Here’s a few things that kept some of the good ones from making it on this list (cataloged here as a reminder to myself and any other writer who happens to be reading this):

Indeterminate gender of the protagonist. I’ve seen this several times. One story never made the gender clear (and the name didn’t help), another revealed halfway through it was a woman, when I had been imagining a man.
Pacing. I read this superbly written story that just built and built the character’s problem and then, in something that amounted to the protagonist shrugging their shoulders and hoping the problem goes away, the story ended. I think this is about writing a short story at a pace suited for a much longer story. Short stories, no matter the length, need a solid ending. They should not be the first chapter in a longer story.
Indistinct visuals and setting. I’m not the most visual person in the world (and you can count on your readers interpreting very simple descriptions differently than you do). Some stories I just can’t “see” and that makes it hard for me to “feel” them, and that makes them very hard to love.

Just as a reminder, all the stories I read in February are loved, an editor bought them and put them in their magazine. Many of them are excellent in many ways. These are the ones that worked very well for me. Your mileage will vary. This is part of my year-long commitment to read more short stories (at least 365) on my quest to become a better writer.

Stats

Stories read in February: 33 Words read in February: about 120,000 Stories read this year, so far: 74 Words read this year, so far: 203,000

OMG I So Love These Stories!

These are what I consider “must read” stories. As in you MUST read them! Now! Each to Each Seanan McGuire Lightspeed Issue #49: Women Destroy Science Fiction, free, approx 8,000 words I am at a loss as to how to explain this story. It’s sci-fi. It’s military. It’s feminist. It’s about women being genetically and surgically modified to become, essentially, mermaids. But that falls far short. It is superb and easily worth the price of the entire issue (which I paid for, but with the link above you can grab it for free). Mother Tongues S. Qiougy Lu Asimov's, Jan/Feb 2018, $19 for the print issue, approx 4,000 words This story has really stuck with me, and with all the stories I’m reading that says a lot. It’s delicate and beautiful, telling the story of what price a mother will pay for her daughter’s future. (For reasons I can’t fathom it’s actually hard to find an ebook version of this issue. I got it through a subscription, but shouldn’t it be easy to buy the issue?) The Four Thirty-Five Annie Reed Fiction River: Editor’s Choice: An Original Anthology Magazine, $6.99 for the anthology, approx 4,000 words This is my kind of story and beautifully wrought. I can’t tell you why it’s my kind of story, that would give too much away, but trust me, this is another good one by Annie Reed (who was in last month’s roundup). The Hole Where Andy Used to Be Sean Vivier Flash Fiction Online, free, approx 500 words It’s HARD to tell a story in 500 words (with characters and things happening), but this touching little story nails it. It’s quick and free, go read it! H&D Plumbing Courtney Floyd Fireside Fiction, free, approx 1,000 words A fun little story about a toilet possessed by a demon. A bit ghostbusters, plenty strange, and lots of fun. It’s short, it’s free, what are you waiting for!?

"The Kraken's Story" Available for Presale

2018-02-23T12:22:15Z

My next short story, "The Kraken's Story," is up for presale in Undercurrents: An Anthology of What Lies Beneath. This is another fundraiser for the Don Hodges Memorial Scholarship which helps writers learn the business of writing by sending them to the Superstars Writing Seminar. There are some big-time pros in this book, like Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta, and Jody Lynn Nye (as well as some less well-know writers like... you know... me!). "The Kraken's Story" is the tale of an ancient conflict told from the "monster's" point of view. Yup, the "monster" is the protagonist and the story unfolds through her eyes. You get to learn of her world, her challenges, and her beliefs. Good stories, for a good cause, go check it out!

Stories I Love: January 2018

2018-02-02T12:44:30Z

There are two things writers must do a lot of:

Write
Read

Simple, right? I write some on a daily basis, I am also regularly reading fiction, but I have long known I've been deficient in my short story reading. I read short stories from lots of sources, but not enough. So for 2018 I have challenged myself to read 365 short stories, preferably from markets I submit stories to. This will be entertaining and good for my short story writing. I'll get a better feel for markets and what they like and I'll be infused with ideas from other writers. Some of my best stories have been a reaction to other stories, kind of like, "That was a fun idea, but I wished they'd done _______," and then I go and fill in that blank and write that story. Other times it's just ideas that dive down into my subconscious and come bubbling up later. As I learned last year with the Short Story Writing Marathon, public accountability can be very helpful. So every month, I'll be here telling you about the stories from the previous month that I LOVED. Why loved? Why not review all of them? Well, first off stories are very subjective. The stories I'm reading are all stories that some editor paid for, so they must have loved them. Second off, I'm not a professional critic, nor do I want to be. I'm just going to share stories I love with you and maybe you'll love them too (and if you're fond of my writing that just might work out okay). Some of these stories you'll be able to click through and read for free, some will be only available for purchase. I encourage you to try some of the pay-only magazines and anthologies I will talk about here. This is a great time for sci-fi and fantasy short stories. I'll babble on about the importance of short stories in a further installation of this, but for now, let's get to it.

Stats

Stories read in January: 41 Words read in January: about 83,000

OMG I So Love These Stories!

These are what I consider “must read” stories. Read them now or I will hunt you down! A Rabbit Egg for Flora Caroline M. Yoachim Fireside Fiction, free, approx 1,600 words Charming and inventive near sci-fi with a strong ecological message. Caroline has lots of professional credits and it shows. Hehua Millie Ho Fireside Fiction, free, approx 4,000 words Dark, fierce, terse, and packs a hell of punch. I need to go track down more of Millie’s stories. This one’s free, so seriously, go read this one right now! Black Fanged Thing Sam Rebelein Shimmer Magazine, free, approx 5,000 words A dark, foreboding wow that brings Stephen King to mind. I don’t even know how to describe this story. Spud Wrangler Kent Paterson Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue Zero, $4.99 for the anthology, approx 3,000 words Ok, so this story is about cowboys that herd Idaho potatoes. Yes, you read that right, but Kent is such a great writer that this story is a glorious hoot. I’ll be reading this one again as a writer, just so I can try to learn how he pulled it off. The Library of Orphaned Hearts Annie Reed Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue Zero, $4.99 for the anthology, approx 4,000 words A magical story about hearts and how they heal. Annie’s writing is magic, seriously. She is another writer I will be actively seeking out as a reader and studying as a writer.

Drawing the Dead on Sale (January Writing Update)

2018-01-05T09:35:17Z

It's a brand new year, and I have a lot in the writing pipeline. The last few years have been pretty thin on releases and I am going to remedy that this year. So, to that end, I am planning to do a monthly update on all things me and writing. I want to make this worth your while, so here's the deal. Each one of these monthly updates will have one or more of these:

A Release
A Deal
A Freebie

A good month will contain all three! Hopefully that will keep you all engaged and feeling good about giving me a bit of your precious time. So, for January 2018, we are starting with a deal and a chance at a freebie. Both are for the ebook version of Drawing the Dead. Chance at a Freebie: If you get your ebooks from Amazon, I am giving away 30 books (with a 1 in 10 chance of winning). Don't worry, nothing onerous here, you just need to follow me on Amazon. Enter the giveaway now. Deal: The ebook for Drawing the Dead is on sale for $0.99 (down from $4.99) until 1/31/2018. If you haven't read this one yet, it's in the same world as Shuffled Off, but focus on the living interacting with the dead. It's got a medium with unique abilities, a rich man with a secret, a romance, and is set in Hawaii. You can find the book here:

Amazon.com: eBook. BarnesAndNoble.com: eBook. Kobo.com: eBook.

If you haven't read this book and your thing is reading paperbacks, I don't want to leave you out. Just reply to this email and I'll get you a coupon code for 50% the print edition from my store (and I'll even sign it if you like). Still curious about Drawing the Dead? Here's how one reader described it on Goodreads:

At first glance, I thought Drawing the Dead would be rather morbid and depressing. However, after reading it, I realized it was far from that. The main character, Viki, had so many layers and was fascinating to read about. The story was captivating and unlike anything I have read. It was exactly my kind of novel. I loved every second of it and would definitely like to read more about Viki. I also kept thinking that the novel would make a great movie, as the characters were very likable. I highly recommend this novel. It is a quick read, and it will leave you wanting more.

And here's the offical blurb:

Life and death are not that far apart…

What happens when we die? Viki Dobos knows. Her job is to help people talk to their dearly departed. She draws the deceased, and they come to life on the page… briefly. When a rich Russian man hires her and whisks her away to Hawaii, everything changes. The rich man wants her to do the forbidden, and a handsome man she meets on the beach needs her more than he knows. Viki will have to confront her past, face her fears, and risk everything to help them.

From the author of A Ghost's Memoir series (Shuffled Off and To Be A Fool) comes an unforgettable story of life, death, and the strange places in between.

On the Launch Pad

I just sent my next novel, Seeing Forever, off to the proofreader. More coming on that soon.
I have a short story in an upcoming anthology that should be out soon.

Ok, that's it for January, I'll be back with an update next month. Hope you all find a good book to read to start the year off right. Thank you! Robert

New Release! Of Things Not Seen, A Ghost's Memoir, Book 3

2017-08-15T12:00:45Z

Wow, there is a lot to say about this one, but I'll keep it brief up here an expand down below.:

The new ghost book is here!
The ebook is on sale for $2.99 until 9/1/2017 for all you early buyers. $4.99 after that. Available from Amazon.com. Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.
Signed print books on sale in the bookstore for $12.99 (down from $15.99). Print copies also available from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.
You can read the first chapter right now!
This book works quite well stand-alone if you haven't read the other two. If you have read the other two, Banquo has a nice cameo.
The whole series had new covers.

Now, some details:

This is the 3rd "A Ghost's Memoir" book, long sidelined by personal challenges. Unlike book 1 and 2, this is Jesus's story and follows him from when he leaves Tucson in To Be a Fool (book 2) and goes down to Mexico City and back. It goes deep into his back story as a child on the streets of Mexico City, follows him as he tries to help the nun that raised him who is on her death bed, and tells the story of how he met the ghost Lela. This books is a crisis of faith and a love story, at the same time. It was definitely a stretch, but I think it turned out quite well. Jesus's story is fascinating and moving. Here is the official back cover blurb:

A QUESTION OF FAITH, A MATTER OF LOVE... Jesus Dominga is a Catholic ghost. His faith told him that he would go to heaven or hell upon his death. But instead he finds himself an earthbound spirit. Now Jesus has left his ghostly friends in Tucson to return to his home in Mexico City where he will confront his past and his faith, and help the dying nun that saved his life. There he finds a challenge greater than he imagined and a love he didn’t believe possible.
~~~
Using technology developed at the University of Arizona, Jesus communicates from beyond the veil to tell his mind-bending story of life beyond death in his own words.

And the Sale

The ebook is $2.99 everywhere (Amazon.com. Barnes and Noble, and Kobo) until 9/1/2017. Consider this a thank you for those following along. The print book (signed) is $12.99 in my bookstore right now. They'll be on sale until 10/1/2017 if you still like paper and/or autographed copies.

New Covers

There's a few reasons for this, but mostly because now that there are three in the series, they really need to look it. I was also going for a more contemporary look because I have found that a broad spectrum of people enjoy these books. While I love ghost covers of the first two, it was time for a new look. Let me know what you think.

Followup #1: Short Story Marathon

2017-07-31T12:57:31Z

The Short Version (TL;DR)

I was a different person during the challenge. Focused. Driven (well, more driven). Exhausted, but happy.
I prefer writing stories quickly, just letting the story take you over until it is done.
I'm itching to do something like this again, but I have other priorities right now.
It will be quite some time before I'll know how these stories did.

The Longer Version

The Experience

Wow. This was so intense. I've been using the term "fierce focus" to describe it. It was both exhausting and exhilarating. I loved being possessed by story after story (and yes, possessed, is kind of what it feels like, but in a good way), constantly moving to the next. I was aware that I was different on the challenge. Most spare moments where spent writing. Many other activities (particularly running and showering) would feed the creative processes more than normal. I got about an hour less sleep a night and was up early every day writing with no days off. Lots of small things got pushed aside to make room for the challenge. A whole lot less entertainment was consumed. I also did some "bad habit" kind of things during the challenge:

Ate breakfast and lunch at my desk most of the time.
Very few breaks
Didn't get enough sleep.
Worked way too many hours between my day job and the writing.
I didn't read.

The pace was not sustainable, not with averaging over 4 hours a day and working my job and keeping my life going. There were some tough days with the fatigue. But, all that said, I was happier during the challenge and I miss it. I miss being deep in story all the time.

Transitioning Back to "Normal"

This challenge wrapped on July, 4th, and after that I worked for two more days while helping my friend get ready to leave Flagstaff forever. We then drove a rental van towing a car from Flagstaff, Arizona to Oceanside, Oregon. On the way we had two tires blow out on the car carrying trailer and over eight hours on the side of the road waiting for repair. Which is to say, it was an intense trip and had a level of immediacy that pulled me right out of challenge mode. I kept writing, a little every day. I spent a few days in Oregon (even got to go see Dean down in Lincoln City one day!), and then back home and had a lot of catching up to do. I've written two stories and a half stories since the challenge ended. About 18,000 words. That, totally, feels like a snail's pace at this point.

Writing "Fast"

I prefer it. No doubt about it now. And writing "fast" has nothing to do with typing speed (that's why it's in quotes). It's just about hours spent. The process is difficult (I was quite sure each of the stories was awful at some point) but very immersive and rewarding. The feeling of a story snapping into focus and changing from a bunch of words into a real story is... well, it's amazing. Having that happen nearly every day is... wow.

The Stories

Dean's doing his own challenge this month (writing 4 novels in a month) and has slowed down on the reading, which is all good by me. He's been through 17 of the 30 so far. The ones he says "get to market," I am doing that as fast as I can. I have 3 out now with more back from my proofreader waiting final changes. That said, it's going to be months before I know how the stories do in the market. Some of the series stories (like Woody and June) I'm going to hold onto for a bit since the world building is still going on and some of the earlier stories will need tweaks.

Next Steps

My current focus right now is to get 3 novels out that I have in the pipeline. I am writing every morning, but my spare time goes here right now.
Get the stories out to market and keep them there for a reasonable time.
I'm trying to improve my production workflow so that I can release more frequently. I've got two nearly finished novellas in addition to the novels that need to get out. I also want to release some of my longer stories independently. Production will get a lot of attention for the rest of the year.
Cook up the next challenge.

I'll be back when it makes sense with an update on this (and news very soon on my next novel, Of Things Not Seen).

Story Summary

#	Story	Total Words	Done?	To Market
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes	Yes
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes	Yes
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes
5	Home in Time	4483	Yes
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	5972	Yes
7	The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes	2532	Yes
8	Android Eve and Adam	3512	Yes
9	A Long, Hard Fall	8475	Yes
10	Fitz’s Second Chance	2800	Yes
11	Fake Jake	1565	Yes
12	With Light Years Between Us	4670	Yes
13	Life and a Starling	2278	Yes	Yes
14	Dancing Kite	1524	Yes
15	Jump in Time	8768	Yes
16	Death by Vodka	2100	Yes
17	Death by Cookie	4094	Yes
18	Ela and the Naiad	3655	Yes
19	Is Anyone Receiving This?	1717	Yes
20	Breathing in the Stars	2400	Yes
21	Woody and June vs. the Ex	10232	Yes
22	Article Seventeen	2918	Yes
23	One Last Trick	4312	Yes
24	Death by Apathy	3373	Yes
25	A Changeable Face	5241	Yes
26	Last Days with Mary	2818	Yes
27	Let Go the Stars	861	Yes
28	Goodbye Mrs. Hopkins	1329	Yes
29	Death by a Kiss	3912	Yes
30	Through Other Eyes	3372	Yes

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Day 34: Short Story Marathon. FINISH LINE

2017-07-04T16:35:03Z

Summary

And... done! A quick pass on "Through Other Eyes," a bit of cleanup, and off to Dean! And if you are wondering, I was up early and writing. Started another story that is a follow up to "Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March." I wanted to dig into Woody and June #5, but needed to do some research first. Not a lot of writing today, but I gotta write!

Stats for the Marathon

Here's the number for this thing as planned and as executed (since I did very little for the challenge today, I used 33 for the per day stats).

	Planned	Actual
Stories	30	30
Average Story Length	3,500	3,955
Total Words	105,000	118,638

Words/Hour Finished	700	863
Total Hours	150	138
Days in Challenge	60	33

Finished Words / Day	1,750	3,595
Hours / Day	2.50	4.17

Key call outs:

I did this much quicker than I though and that made the hours/day high and my days very long.
Stories were longer than expected and finished word pace was better than expected. Total hours came in under my estimate which helped keeping the quicker pace.
I'm glad I did it faster. 60 days is way too long to keep this kind of challenge going. I think if I had taken that much time I would have ended up with longer stories. The faster pace forced me to get better at shorter stories and got me to the point, at the end, where I wrote 4 stories in 2 days.
This completely blows away all my productivity records. Looking back at my records, the most words I ever wrote in a month was 35,000. The scale has been completely re-calibrated.
This was exhausting and often difficult, but it was also extremely rewarding and frequently fun. I'm more in as a writer now than when I started.
This would not have happened without the steadfast support of my wife, Aleia, friends cheering me on, and the guidance of Dean Wesley Smith. Seriously. I feel so lucky and am so grateful for all the support.

I'll be back soon with more reflections. I've got a busy few days and then heading out of town (glad not to be writing stories on a challenge, though I will be writing).

Next Steps

This is how things look today (will change, of course, as these things always do):

Slooooow down some. No days off and some very long days, need to gear down a bit.
Catch up on all the little business and household things I set aside while doing this.
Reading fiction. That went to nothing a week in. I just didn't have the energy or focus for it.
Focus on writing Woody and June for a while. Both Aleia and I love this series and they've been so much fun to write. It will be a novel and likely will be serialized somewhere (stay tuned)
I've got 39 stories (with this challenge and the 9 I wrote in my training month) to wrap up and keep at market. That's going to take some time. I'll follow up from time to time on how these stories fare out among the editors.
My third "A Ghost Memoir" novel, Of Things Not Seen, is back from the proofreader. That will be my next release and I will be re-branding the covers on the first two novels, so that's going to take some time.

If you're interested on future developments, sign up for my newsletter (big blue box on the top right of the page). I don't email often and it's always about releases or sales.

Final Story Summary

#	Story	Total Words	Done?
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes
5	Home in Time	4483	Yes
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	5972	Yes
7	The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes	2532	Yes
8	Android Eve and Adam	3512	Yes
9	A Long, Hard Fall	8475	Yes
10	Fitz’s Second Chance	2800	Yes
11	Fake Jake	1565	Yes
12	With Light Years Between Us	4670	Yes
13	Life and a Starling	2278	Yes
14	Dancing Kite	1524	Yes
15	Jump in Time	8768	Yes
16	Death by Vodka	2100	Yes
17	Death by Cookie	4094	Yes
18	Ela and the Naiad	3655	Yes
19	Is Anyone Receiving This?	1717	Yes
20	Breathing in the Stars	2400	Yes
21	Woody and June vs. the Ex	10232	Yes
22	Article Seventeen	2918	Yes
23	One Last Trick	4312	Yes
24	Death by Apathy	3373	Yes
25	A Changeable Face	5241	Yes
26	Last Days with Mary	2818	Yes
27	Let Go the Stars	861	Yes
28	Goodbye Mrs. Hopkins	1329	Yes
29	Death by a Kiss	3912	Yes
30	Through Other Eyes	3372	Yes

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Day 33: Short Story Marathon

2017-07-03T19:27:42Z

Summary

Last story today! Really, can't believe it. Last night when I was pondering it, the pressure descended. Last story of the challenge, better make it good. Nope. By the morning I had shaken that off. Pressure like that is terrible for the creative process. I got right to it, coming up with a interesting title, "Strange Ways," and started typing out a sense-filled opening about a homeless man that doesn't make eye contact because when he does, he sees visions of that person's next significant life experience. It ended up at 3,400 words and got renamed to "Through Other Eyes." A quick pass through "Goodbye Mrs. Hopkins" and "Death by a Kiss" and #28 and #29 are out to Dean. Wow. Last story of this challenge. It's been a long, exhausting, incredible journey. #30 won't go out until tomorrow, so I'll hold off on any reflecting until then (and likely more later when I get some distance). But one, tiny reflection. At the beginning I planned for 2 days a story and 60 days in total. On both Saturday and Sunday I wrote 2 stories a day. Today, having only one story to write, was almost mellow. Yeah, this thing has certainly changed the scale of writing for me on many levels.

Stats for Today

Strategies Employed: Just write. Lessons Learned: I am so lucky to have the support, health, and energy to pour into this creative endeavor. A huge thank you to my amazing wife Aleia for letting me take all these many hours to do this. I could not have done this without her support and her ear listening to all these stories. Words Written: 3,600 Hours: 3.9 Stories Sent to Dean: 2!

Story Summary

#	Story	Total Words	Done?
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes
5	Home in Time	4483	Yes
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	5972	Yes
7	The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes	2532	Yes
8	Android Eve and Adam	3512	Yes
9	A Long, Hard Fall	8475	Yes
10	Fitz’s Second Chance	2800	Yes
11	Fake Jake	1565	Yes
12	With Light Years Between Us	4670	Yes
13	Life and a Starling	2278	Yes
14	Dancing Kite	1524	Yes
15	Jump in Time	8768	Yes
16	Death by Vodka	2100	Yes
17	Death by Cookie	4094	Yes
18	Ela and the Naiad	3655	Yes
19	Is Anyone Receiving This?	1717	Yes
20	Breathing in the Stars	2400	Yes
21	Woody and June vs. the Ex	10232	Yes
22	Article Seventeen	2918	Yes
23	One Last Trick	4312	Yes
24	Death by Apathy	3373	Yes
25	A Changeable Face	5241	Yes
26	Last Days with Mary	2818	Yes
27	Let Go the Stars	861	Yes
28	Goodbye Mrs. Hopkins	1329	Yes
29	Death by a Kiss	3912	Yes
30	Through Other Eyes	3353	No

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Day 32: Short Story Marathon

2017-07-02T20:03:07Z

Summary

Late start writing today at 6:45 a.m. (hey it's a Sunday) and wrote a short time travel story called "Goodbye Mrs. Hopkins." I thought it was going to be another piece of flash fiction, but not quite. At 1,300 words it's very short. It is story #28. I'm liking these very short stories right now. It's like getting a nice gentle down hill stretch for the end of this marathon. And then, because the finish line is in sight and it's a Sunday, I wrote another one of my ghost world "Death by" stories. This time I stole a trick out of Dean's playbook and started with a fun title and let that prompt the story. #29 is "Death by a Kiss" and is 3,900 words. These "Death by" stories are turning out to be great for overall world building. I want to do some more novels like Drawing the Dead in that world that are more scifi-ish and go into how the world changes if ghosts can communicate with the living. These stories have been great to dive into aspects of that. A quick pass on "Last Days with Mary" and "Let Go the Stars" (slightly different title now) and #26 and #27 are off to Dean. I ended up going with the first version of "Let Go the Stars". The lesson there is, to give a story some time to air before deciding it doesn't work. Heard back from Dean on story #13, "Dancing Kite." He liked it, just suggested that I make the child protagonist a tad older (good call). It's worth pointing out that my "emergency" 1.5 hour story worked for him. Wow. One more story to go!

Stats for Today

Strategies Employed: Seeing the finish line is giving me a last burst of energy Lessons Learned: When your writing a new story every day for a while it gets a lot easier to write a new story every day (go figure!) Words Written: 5,400 Hours: 5.2 Stories Sent to Dean: 2!

Story Summary

#	Story	Total Words	Done?
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes
5	Home in Time	4483	Yes
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	5972	Yes
7	The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes	2532	Yes
8	Android Eve and Adam	3512	Yes
9	A Long, Hard Fall	8475	Yes
10	Fitz’s Second Chance	2800	Yes
11	Fake Jake	1565	Yes
12	With Light Years Between Us	4670	Yes
13	Life and a Starling	2278	Yes
14	Dancing Kite	1524	Yes
15	Jump in Time	8768	Yes
16	Death by Vodka	2100	Yes
17	Death by Cookie	4094	Yes
18	Ela and the Naiad	3655	Yes
19	Is Anyone Receiving This?	1717	Yes
20	Breathing in the Stars	2400	Yes
21	Woody and June vs. the Ex	10232	Yes
22	Article Seventeen	2918	Yes
23	One Last Trick	4312	Yes
24	Death by Apathy	3373	Yes
25	A Changeable Face	5241	Yes
26	Last Days with Mary	2818	Yes
27	Let Go the Stars	861	Yes
28	Goodbye Mrs. Hopkins	1321	No
29	Death by a Kiss	3906	No

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Day 31: Short Story Marathon

2017-07-01T20:06:22Z

Summary

Another tough start this morning, but not as bad as two days ago. After a few false starts, I dug into a new story called "Last Days with Mary." It's #26 and 2,700 words long and is another, very different, android story. It features an unlikable protagonist and I almost aborted, but got a good start on it early and then went for a run. My run was shorter than the 10k I wanted, my body is physically tired from these many long days. But, on the run, I could better see the potential for the story, so carried through. And, I must keep reminding myself, it's all practice. Read it to Aleia and she liked and I liked it too now. Edited "A Changeable Face" (formerly called "Face of Clay") and sent it out to Dean. Last night, Aleia suggested that it would be possible to get two stories done in a day and wrap this thing up sooner. It wasn't exactly a challenge, but tell that to my crazy brain. Since today's first story was such a reasonable length and something popped into my head, I wrote a piece of flash fiction (finally! I've been trying for so long) called "Letting Go the Stars." It's 900 words, I'm and not at all sure if it works, but this is practice, right? So that makes #27. So then I go for a walk with Maddy and realize I didn't hit this story from the right direction and came back and wrote it again. Now it's first-person and 800 words. I read them both to Aleia and we both like the first version better. Go figure. The story being so short, it wasn't a big deal. But I am coming to see a pattern here: I'm convinced a story doesn't work right after I write it. If I give it a little time, I like it a whole lot better when I read it to Aleia or the next day. In either case, what I think of the story doesn't matter. Get it out. Let the market decide. Since I'm so close to the end, I decided to skip the month-end roundup and just keep moving. I'll do more reflecting once it's all done and I've had some time to digest.

Stats for Today

Strategies Employed: Running (this is a reliable helper) Lessons Learned: I seem to keep needing to relearn some lessons, like "It's all practice, so relax and have fun. There is no 'bad story' police, nothing is going to happen if you write a stinker." Also, get the story out and let the market decide. Words Written: 4,600 Hours: 5.25 Stories Sent to Dean: 1

Story Summary

#	Story	Total Words	Done?
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes
5	Home in Time	4483	Yes
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	5972	Yes
7	The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes	2532	Yes
8	Android Eve and Adam	3512	Yes
9	A Long, Hard Fall	8475	Yes
10	Fitz’s Second Chance	2800	Yes
11	Fake Jake	1565	Yes
12	With Light Years Between Us	4670	Yes
13	Life and a Starling	2278	Yes
14	Dancing Kite	1524	Yes
15	Jump in Time	8768	Yes
16	Death by Vodka	2100	Yes
17	Death by Cookie	4094	Yes
18	Ela and the Naiad	3655	Yes
19	Is Anyone Receiving This?	1717	Yes
20	Breathing in the Stars	2400	Yes
21	Woody and June vs. the Ex	10232	Yes
22	Article Seventeen	2918	Yes
23	One Last Trick	4312	Yes
24	Death by Apathy	3373	Yes
25	A Changeable Face	5241	Yes
26	Last Days with Mary	2800	No
27	Letting Go the Stars	900	No

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Day 30: Short Story Marathon

2017-06-30T21:39:50Z

Summary

Finished up "Death by Apathy" and sent it off. That makes 24 stories out the door in 30 days! Aleia really liked this one, but I didn't think much of it yesterday. A little time away, another pass through, and one small flourish at the end, and I like it now. It's a nice addition to the series. Started a new story, "Face of Clay" (tentative title), #25. It's 5,100 words long. I had a flash of an odd image last night and ran with it. It's more than I bargained for today, in terms of length, but it's done. It's interesting and turned out differently than I expected. Read it to Aleia and off tomorrow. I wanted to do a month roundup on this challenge so far, but no time tonight. Only five more stories, so that finish line is getting close.

Stats for Today

Strategies Employed: Massage (Aleia gave me one last night and I am in a much better mood today) Lessons Learned: Follow the story, see what happens. At the worst, it's practice. Words Written: 5,200 Hours: 4.9 Stories Sent to Dean: 1

Story Summary

#	Story	Total Words	Done?
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes
5	Home in Time	4483	Yes
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	5972	Yes
7	The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes	2532	Yes
8	Android Eve and Adam	3512	Yes
9	A Long, Hard Fall	8475	Yes
10	Fitz’s Second Chance	2800	Yes
11	Fake Jake	1565	Yes
12	With Light Years Between Us	4670	Yes
13	Life and a Starling	2278	Yes
14	Dancing Kite	1524	Yes
15	Jump in Time	8768	Yes
16	Death by Vodka	2100	Yes
17	Death by Cookie	4094	Yes
18	Ela and the Naiad	3655	Yes
19	Is Anyone Receiving This?	1717	Yes
20	Breathing in the Stars	2400	Yes
21	Woody and June vs. the Ex	10232	Yes
22	Article Seventeen	2918	Yes
23	One Last Trick	4312	Yes
24	Death by Apathy	3373	Yes
25	Face of Clay	5100	No

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Day 29: Short Story Marathon

2017-06-29T20:55:29Z

Summary

So I think I worked too much yesterday. I got up a little late, and made it to writing at 6:30 a.m., but couldn't get anything going. I started several stories but I was either heading into already covered territory, or bored, or clear it would be a long story. So I gave it until 7 and switch to my day job. At lunch I finally got an idea that drew me in and started another ghost story, "Death by Apathy." Finished it in the evening and it's 3,300 words. Read it to Aleia. Took another pass on #23, "One Last Trick." And out it goes to Dean. Finally got the time to send #2, "Daisy's Heart," out to market.

Stats for Today

Strategies Employed: Persistence Lessons Learned: The creative mind needs adequate sleep. Words Written: 3,900 Hours: 4 Stories Sent to Dean: 1

Story Summary

#	Story	Total Words	Done?
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes
5	Home in Time	4483	Yes
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	5972	Yes
7	The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes	2532	Yes
8	Android Eve and Adam	3512	Yes
9	A Long, Hard Fall	8475	Yes
10	Fitz’s Second Chance	2800	Yes
11	Fake Jake	1565	Yes
12	With Light Years Between Us	4670	Yes
13	Life and a Starling	2278	Yes
14	Dancing Kite	1524	Yes
15	Jump in Time	8768	Yes
16	Death by Vodka	2100	Yes
17	Death by Cookie	4094	Yes
18	Ela and the Naiad	3655	Yes
19	Is Anyone Receiving This?	1717	Yes
20	Breathing in the Stars	2400	Yes
21	Woody and June vs. the Ex	10232	Yes
22	Article Seventeen	2918	Yes
23	One Last Trick	4312	Yes
24	Death by Apathy	3370	No

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#	Story	Total Words	Done?
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes
5	Home in Time	4483	Yes
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	5972	Yes
7	The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes	2532	Yes
8	Android Eve and Adam	3512	Yes
9	A Long, Hard Fall	8475	Yes
10	Fitz’s Second Chance	2800	Yes
11	Fake Jake	1565	Yes
12	With Light Years Between Us	4670	Yes
13	Life and a Starling	2278	Yes
14	Dancing Kite	1524	Yes
15	Jump in Time	8768	Yes
16	Death by Vodka	2100	Yes
17	Death by Cookie	4094	Yes
18	Ela and the Naiad	3655	Yes
19	Is Anyone Receiving This?	1717	Yes
20	Breathing in the Stars	2400	No
21	Woody and June vs. the Ex	1700	No

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Day 23: Short Story Marathon

2017-06-23T20:31:03Z

Summary

Up in front of the computer just before 6 a.m. again, no idea what to write. My brain came up with an interesting sentence written from the perspective of an android that has just been powered up and doesn't know what happened to the world. It's one of those "paint yourself in the corner" openings with an unconventional structure. But hey, take a chance, there is still a lot of stories to write here. After an hour of slow going, it felt like I was stuck in that corner and wouldn't find a way out. But then, a shower, and boom, it came into focus. Not sure how sellable this one is, but it's short and interesting. Story #19, "Is Anyone Receiving This?," 1,700 words. Read it to Aleia who liked it, and off to Dean tomorrow. Another pass through #18, “Ela and the Naiad”, and off to Dean. That makes 14 in a row. Less writing today. Resisted the urge to do more. Needed to slow down a bit. The fatigue had forced me to be more relaxed about it today. Not sure what the weekend will bring, but I plan to be mellower about this than I have, even if that means the end of the streak. Oh, and I wanted to discuss sending out "The Disappearing Neighborhood" yesterday. There's some cool facts here:

It was my "write a story start to finish in a day" experiment from day 5.
Dean really liked the story.
My proofreader found very little wrong with it besides a few typos and a bunch of missing commas (typical for me).

This bodes well for writing quickly. We'll see how the markets like it.

Stats for Today

Strategies Employed: Shower! Lessons Learned: Trust the process. Trust the experiences. Relax. Write. Words Written: 1,900 Hours: 2.25 Stories Sent to Dean: 1

Story Summary

#	Story	Total Words	Done?
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes
5	Home in Time	4483	Yes
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	5972	Yes
7	The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes	2532	Yes
8	Android Eve and Adam	3512	Yes
9	A Long, Hard Fall	8475	Yes
10	Fitz’s Second Chance	2800	Yes
11	Fake Jake	1565	Yes
12	With Light Years Between Us	4670	Yes
13	Life and a Starling	2278	Yes
14	Dancing Kite	1524	Yes
15	Jump in Time	8768	Yes
16	Death by Vodka	2100	Yes
17	Death by Cookie	4094	Yes
18	Ela and the Naiad	3655	Yes
19	Is Anyone Receiving This?	1700	No

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Day 22: Short Story Marathon

2017-06-22T20:32:11Z

Summary

Did a short session early, but cut it off to go run before the heat hit and the work day started. That sure helped; got my body moving and my emotions perked up too. The pace of this challenge is starting to wear. Oddly this can give me trouble starting a story, but once the story takes hold, I'm all there. It just takes me. Last night, while I was waiting to read "Death by Cookie" to Aleia I banged out a couple of sentences. In the morning, I looked at some story starts (which I don't seem to be interested anymore) and just went on with those few sentences. A short session in the morning, more at lunch, and then in the evening. "Ela and the Naiad" is a fantasy story and about 3,800 words. Read it to Aleia. Off it goes tomorrow. I'm beginning to think that with enough practice you can take any old thing and build a story up from it. Another thing the fatigue has brought is less wondering "what am I going to write next?" Lately, I just don't know. I write. "Death by Cookie" off to Dean. The streak is at 13. Two weeks here I come. Heard back form Dean on story #5, "Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March." That one needs a bit more work. Took a few minutes and entered corrections from my proofreader on story #2, "The Disappearing Neighborhood" and sent it off to market. This was one of the ones Dean said to get out there and now it is.

Stats for Today

Strategies Employed: Exercise! Lessons Learned: If you are there and give them time, stories will grow out of nearly anything. BONUS: you'll get stuff you never dreamed of. Words Written: 3,900 Hours: 3.6 Stories Sent to Dean: 1

Story Summary

#	Story	Total Words	Done?
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes
5	Home in Time	4483	Yes
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	5972	Yes
7	The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes	2532	Yes
8	Android Eve and Adam	3512	Yes
9	A Long, Hard Fall	8475	Yes
10	Fitz’s Second Chance	2800	Yes
11	Fake Jake	1565	Yes
12	With Light Years Between Us	4670	Yes
13	Life and a Starling	2278	Yes
14	Dancing Kite	1524	Yes
15	Jump in Time	8768	Yes
16	Death by Vodka	2100	Yes
17	Death by Cookie	4094	Yes
18	Ela and the Naiad	3800	No

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Roundup for the second week: Total Words Written: 26,500 Total Hours Writing: 28.5 Average Words/Day: 3,750 Average Hours/Day: 4 Stories Sent: 5 Total Words Sent: 25,000 Average Words/Story: 4,600 Stories are still too long on average, but I've gained some ground this week. I've got family visit and a road trip in early July, so want to keep ahead for then when writing will slow. Key Lesson of the Week: Have Fun and Just Write! Get out of your head and JUST WRITE. If you care to catch up on the week, here are the links: Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12, Day 13.

Story Summary

#	Story	Total Words	Done?
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes
5	Home in Time	4483	Yes
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	5972	Yes
7	The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes	2532	Yes
8	Android Eve and Adam	3512	Yes
9	A Long, Hard Fall	8475	Yes
10	A Unexpected Guest	2786	No

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Day 13: Short Story Marathon

2017-06-13T21:10:45Z

Summary

Back to "A Long, Hard Fall" this morning. I think I was tired at the end of the day yesterday (5,000 words is a lot for me) and needed to clean up the plot a bit, and the climax got tossed and replaced. It's a murder mystery, so the villain needs to have an understandable motivation, and it needed another little twist. I, honestly, couldn't figure out the end and finally gave up and started writing and... you guessed it, the ending came and I got some amazing twists, but it got kinda out of control and is over 8,000 words long. Oops. Read it to Aleia, and boy does it twist around. Cleaned up "Android Eve and Adam" a touch and sent it Dean. That's 4 stories off in 4 days. With the length of "A Long, Hard Fall" that streak will probably end soon. Heard back from Dean on story #2, "Daisy's Heart." He said very nice things about it, so perhaps something will come of this story. I'll keep you posted.

Stats for Today

Strategies Employed: Just write. Lessons Learned: When you don't know what to write, just write. Words Written: 3,850 Hours: 4.1 Stories Sent to Dean: 1

Story Summary

#	Story	Total Words	Done?
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes
5	Home in Time	4483	Yes
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	5972	Yes
7	The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes	2532	Yes
8	Android Eve and Adam	3512	Yes
9	A Long, Hard Fall	8300	No

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Day 12: Short Story Marathon

2017-06-12T21:41:58Z

Summary

Decided to go back to the world of Shuffled Off and have some fun with my ghost detectives Walter and Emily (their first case is in Life After) in a story called "A Long, Hard Fall." I had written a 900 word start last month and tore into it. It's like I'm spending time with old friends and am having so much fun. This is going to be a longer one, but given how easily it's flowing and how much fun I'm having it's all good by me. I'm almost to the end, but not quite. Just caught Aleia up and read "The Disappearing Neighborhood" to her. Got a few changes, turns out reading it to her works much better than reading it to myself. Sent "The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes" off to Dean. That makes 3 stories off in the last 3 days! This morning Aleia asked me what "Hoshi" means, a name I pulled out of the air. Turns out it means "star." Wow. Don't know how stuff like this happens, but it's pretty amazing when it does.

Stats for Today

Strategies Employed: Working in a much loved world with great characters. Lessons Learned: Fun is the way to do this. Dean says it endlessly but it's sinking in with this story. It's so much easier when you are having a blast. Words Written: 5,000 Hours: 4.75 Stories Sent to Dean: 1

Story Summary

#	Story	Total Words	Done?
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes
5	Home in Time	4483	Yes
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	5972	Yes
7	The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes	2532	Yes
8	Android Eve and Adam	3420	No
9	A Long, Hard Fall	5902	No

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Day 11: Short Story Marathon

2017-06-11T13:03:08Z

Summary

Had a interesting image occur when I walked Madison (our ridiculously adorable spaniel) last night of an android walking along a sand dune all alone. So took that this morning and did 1,000 words and realized that the perspective I was writing it from was too cold, but got a better bead on the story. After a break, started over and worked on it on and off between doing yard work and other Sunday type stuff. It ended up at 3,400 words and is titled "Android Eve and Adam." Read it to Aleia and she helped me find that one missing element and figure out the title. A few more things to fix, but almost there. Got feedback from Dean today on story #1, "Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies," but didn't look at it right away. This is tricky stuff. Dean suggests I might not want to read these until after the challenge is over and emphasized the importance of keeping him out of my head while I write (my own stuff in the mix is quite enough, I assure you). The problem there is I would just wonder and my imagination could easily be worse than reality. Also, his feedback is one of the reasons I'm doing this. So the deal I made with myself was to read it after the writing of the day was done. And... Dean liked the story (and normally doesn't like Zombie stores), said it would be as a better novel--I agree on that--and told me to get it in the mail. Nice feedback, the story worked, happy about that, but... Here's the thing about a story once it's born. People will love it, people will hate it, and getting caught up in either side can get tricky. Yeah, either side. The first 5-star review I got for a novel from someone I didn't know freaked me out for weeks. I was sure I couldn't live up to that reader's love of that book. It's all twisty human ego here and dangerous territory. So, for this feedback from Dean I am drafting a few rules:

Only read them after the writing for the day is done.
Take appropriate action (i.e. send the story on or save it for revisions) and then LET IT GO.

To go back to the run/write thing, you can't be too in your head in writing, thinking about every little thing and what people like and don't like, just like you can't be thinking about running and all the muscles and little actions that happen when you run. In both cases there are times to learn, to reflect, to try new things, but for the most part when you run, you need to RUN and when you write, your need to WRITE. Not think about it, but DO it. We'll see how that goes. Sent "Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March" off to Dean.

Stats for Today

Strategies Employed: Explored a random, interesting idea, knew when to throw words out. Lessons Learned: Keeping expectations and judgements out of the writing is difficult. Words Written: 4,500 Hours: 5.5 Stories Sent to Dean: 1

Story Summary

#	Story	Total Words	Done?
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes
5	Home in Time	4483	Yes
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	5972	Yes
7	The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes	2530	No
8	Android Eve and Adam	3420	No

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Day 10: Short Story Marathon

2017-06-10T20:27:08Z

Summary

Day 10! Into the double digits here on this marathon of writing. Didn't know what to write this morning and browsed some exiting starts and saw one I had tried 3 different times that had a simple, poetic idea and ignored the starts an started over. It is tentatively titled, "The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes." Got 1,600 words done early before working and then went for a run at lunch and the story snapped into focus. Also realized that the beginning of the story did not present the characters problem soon enough. Back to it in the afternoon and finished up at 2,500 words. Better length for this challenge. Added two sentences to "Home in Time" and sent it off to Dean. Took an hour and cleaned up "Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March." Read both "Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March" and "The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes" to Aleia (she liked both) and can send them off to Dean tomorrow. I've been writing enough lately (including last month's ramp-up for this) that I am becoming more aware of my processes. I don't start with an outline, I just dive in and write, starting with an idea or a line or a question. Some observations on this process:

Writing the opening is a bit slow, requiring a lot of hopping back and forth as I get to know the character and the story. This continues as the story grows, but less and less. The beginning is infinite possibilities, the end is a narrow target.
Everything is lean when I first write it and I tend to come back and add more details to characters and setting, and add sensory information.
By the time I get to the end, there is always a few tweaks needed earlier in the story, to accentuate theme, nail down plot, or to bolster important characteristics
After sitting with the story for a while things always occur to me that I missed
Random bits that pop out early in the story with no thought often become the little gems the story ends up being built around.
For much of the story things feel flat and lifeless and at some point it pops into focus and is a STORY. This often happens at the point where the story touches me or surprises me--since I don't know where the story is going, I get to be surprised.
There is always doubt. Always. I've written seriously for almost 8 years now, but each story has an "oh shit" moment (or many of those) where I just know it's not going to work. Most all the time, if I just keep at it, keep following the story along, and it works out. Trust is essential. Trust in the process, trust that the subconscious/creative mind knows stories and can take almost any random bits and assemble them into a STORY. Practice, of course, is essential here.

Stats for Today

Strategies Employed: Reused existing idea. Lessons Learned: I can write a sub 3,000 word story if I try to write a 1,000 word story. Words Written: 3,100 Hours: 4.5 Stories Sent to Dean: 1

Story Summary

#	Story	Total Words	Done?
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes
5	Home in Time	4483	Yes
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	5972	No
7	The Stars in Hoshi's Eyes	2530	No

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Day 9: Short Story Marathon

2017-06-09T21:17:30Z

Summary

Busy day and away from my computer for most of it. First meetings and then a summer picnic with the company I work for. Up early, the early sunrise waking me up earlier than normal which is not fun but good for this challenge, and back to "Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March." Worked on it more in the evening and added 2,800 words and found the end. This one flowed and was so much fun to write, but it's around 5,600 words and, once again, too long. This fantasy story is directly inspired by the Tiffany Aching books by Terry Prachett (they are awesome) and that was the fuel I was burning on this one. Not sure how to gear down to shorter stories. I'm thinking of trying to write some flash fiction (1,000 words or less) and maybe, just maybe, that will keep the count down, even if I go over 1,000 words. Read "Home in Time" to Aleia. It needs one tweak and I'll send it of to Dean tomorrow.

Stats for Today

Strategies Employed: Having fun! Lessons Learned: Inspiration of other writes can be a powerful fuel. Words Written: 2,800 Hours: 2.75 Stories Sent to Dean: 0

Story Summary

#	Story	Total Words	Done?
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes
5	Home in Time	4448	No
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	5600	No

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Day 8: Short Story Marathon

2017-06-08T21:38:09Z

Summary

Got back to "Home in Time" and finished it. It's ready to read to Aleia, but no time today. It came in at 4,450 words, again longer than planed. Later, grabbed a 875 word fantasy start from my training month, tentatively titled "Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March," and added 2,00 words to that and it's really flowing. It's got 1,500 or 2,000 words to go. I am out all day tomorrow so we'll so how much I get done.

Stats for Today

Strategies Employed: Story start Lessons Learned: Story starts can really help get things moving on a long haul like this. Words Written: 4,000 Hours: 3.75 Stories Sent to Dean: 0

Story Summary

#	Story	Total Words	Done?
1	Woody and June vs. the Fungus-Head Zombies	5101	Yes
2	Daisy’s Heart	5800	Yes
3	The Disappearing Neighborhood	2773	Yes
4	Woody and June vs. the Grand Canyon	6070	Yes
5	Home in Time	4448	No
6	Wink, Plum, and the Bones that March	2873	No

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I did a quick spreadsheet to get an idea of what this is really going to take. It comes down to two things: Distance: 30 stores at 3,500 words per story on average (a big guess) is 105,000 words Speed: Finished words are what count here. In my old style of writing I wrote first drafts as quickly as I could, looking back as infrequently as possible. This strategy served me well for my first few years when getting to the end was the most important thing. I would then move on to the next first draft and get to revisions when I could. My speed for first draft is over 1,000 word per hour. That won't work for this challenge. I need a way of writing that ends in a nearly finished, clean first draft. I've read Dean Wesley Smith's blog for years and he has a process where he cycles through the story and when he gets to the end, it's basically done. I am adapting that (see below). It's still a guess, but I think this will bring my speed down to around 700 words per hour. Hours: That turns 105,000 words into 150 hours or 2.5 hours per day for 60 days. For those that like spreadsheet's here you go:

Stories	30
Average Story Length	3,500
Total Words	105,000

Words/Hour Finished	700
Hours Needed	150
Days in Challenge	60

Finished Words / Day	1,750
Hours / Day	2.50

The math here, which is pretty brutal, shows what it will take to write these stories. And honestly, it's a lot. But it's a marathon, there is no expecting it to be easy.

Training

You couldn't get off the couch and go run a marathon, right? You would train, and plan, and get support where you needed it. So I have taken this month and trained for this short story writing marathon My best short story writing year, in terms of number of stories finished (short stories and some longer novelettes), was 12 for a total of 44,000 words. My best year in terms of words (with longer stores) was 8 stories and 54,350 words. That doesn't represent my total output, I was also writing novellas and novels during that period, but it shows that this is a big leap in terms of short story output, so training is required. To make the above math easier there are two variables that can be attacked. 1) 3,500 word average length; and 2) 700 finished words per hour. I have been training on both of those ends. Getting better are doing shorter length stories, and working towards the "clean first draft" idea. This months training has resulted in completing 9 stories for a total 45,000 words. A big leap, for sure, but a few of these stories had been started previously and I just finished them this month. It does, though, help show me the way.

Rules and Definitions

I guess I should pause and define some things for clarity:

The stories for this challenge need to at the stage where you send it to a beta reader. This is not quite ready for market and is missing final changes and copy editing, but it is nearly done.
One thing Dean did a bit was use some existing story starts and I'm going to do that too. This would be a previously written opening that I take up and finish. Think of it as running down hill for a little bit. My rule for this is that if I use a story start, the final story must be four times the length of the start. So, a 1,000 word start must result in a 4,000 word story to count. No grabbing stories that are 90% done.

Strategies

You don't run a marathon the same way you run a sprint. You do what you can to make it easier on yourself so you can finish the race without injury. The same is true here. I have no intention of creating 30 brand new worlds, one for each story. I won't be writing stories that need a bunch of research. This is a very particular kind of challenge and I will do what I can with my writing to make it easier. Here are some of the strategies I've prepared:

Story starts (rules on use above) to get me started or get things moving on tough days.
Worlds. I have a list of worlds I've already written in, that I know the characters well.
Lighter stories. A lot of my stories have some pretty heavy themes, so I am going to lighten it up a bit.
Serialized stores. Like writing in the same world, but more so. During my training month, I've come up with some fun worlds where I can write a series of stories that interlink into a larger story. Think of a television series that wraps a story line every week, but tells a larger, more complex story over the season.
Team. I've got Dean, my wife, and a bunch of other people on board and encouraging me. This kind of challenge can't happen without support.
Variety. I plan to write all kinds of stories at a variety of lengths to keep things interesting.
These blog posts. Taking this public adds a layer of accountability. Thanks for following along.

In running terms, this is about knowing the course, taking into account the length, understanding the weather conditions, taking into account your nutritional needs, and making a plan that makes sense for that. Oh, and one more strategy, really the most important one: Have Fun! This will take a lot of time and a lot of focus so if it's not fun, it's just not going to happen.

Run Your Own Race

This is a maxim for running, that you have to run the race your way, not like other runners. This, of course, applies to many areas of life, including writing. I described Dean's style up above (as well as I understand it, that is) and as I've been training this month, I've been experimenting with it. It helps, but I can't quite do it like he does. What happens to me is that after I get to the end and have a fairly clean first draft (much, much better than in the past, but not super clean yet) my mind is still mulling over the story. A day or two after, I keeping getting insights that will make the story better, usually with only minor tweaks. I remember things I've forgotten, or understands characters well enough to add a bit of depth. Sometimes I remember bits about the story that were in my head, but never made it onto paper. Also, with math above and the fact that I have a job and lots of other responsibility, 30 stories in 30 days is just not possible (yet). So, running this race my way will look something like this:

Write the first draft as quickly and cleanly as possible, cycling back when stuck, making corrections earlier in the story as soon as I think of them.
Let the story sit for 24-48 hours before finishing it, then read it to my wife (because I see so much that I missed when I read it aloud)
Send it off to Dean and my other beta readers.

This will mean I won't produced any stores for the first few days, but after that I should be able to keep them coming regularly. This requires that I juggle a few stories at a time, but that's worked out fine this month.

What to Give Up

I need to average 2.5 hours per day for 60 days. That means that I have to give things up to write this marathon. The same, of course, is true for running a marathon. It takes a lot of time and a lot of prep. You have to give things up. What I will give up:

My best writing time is early in the morning, so I will be expanding on that by shortening my morning exercise and banning facebook, email, and the internet until my morning writing time is over.
My consumption of entertainment (Netflix, Hulu, reading, etc.) will have to go down, a lot. I will be entertaining myself with my writing.
Lunch breaks will be for writing whenever possible.
I've cut back my running some, still running 3 times per week, but a bit shorter. One big challenge at a time is enough.
Writing will happen 7 days a week (this has been part of my training)

What I will not do is:

Give up much sleep
Stop working. If possible, I will cut back just a little bit.
Ignore my friends and family

The trick here is to give up thing that are less important than this challenge, not the things that are more important. I can't go hide in a cave until I get this done. Life will continue as usual.

But... But... But...

Every few days the doubts assail me. It goes something like this: "This is crazy, you don't have enough time, you'll never get it done." "You are not that good of a writer, so why even try?" Or, simply, "Are you crazy?" The doubts, the fears, the judgments, they will be one of the hardest things about this, I suspect. So what to do about it? I've got a goal, a plan, and support. During runs, some miles suck, just the way it is, and the same will be true here. My plan is to keep busy, keep writing, keep moving no matter what that nattering little voice in my head has to say. Simple, right? But, easy? Nope.

On Your Marks...

The fun starts in a couple of days. Stay tuned for the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

A Short Story Writing Marathon: Introduction

2017-05-28T14:16:04Z

Run/Write: The Briefest of Intros

A Short Story Writing Marathon

What in the world is a short story writing marathon? Well, there is no official description, but I've decided to do a challenge started by one of my writing mentors, Dean Wesley Smith, and applying run/write thinking to it, it is a marathon because I'm going to write 30 short stories, one after the other, for however long it takes. A running marathon is 26.2 miles, so it seems fair to call a writing marathon 30 stories. The term "marathon" also properly captures the need for training, preparation, and pace. And just like if I was running a marathon, I have a target race time. I am shooting for 60 days. Here's what the math on that looks like (lots of guesses, but a starting point):

Stories	30
Average Story Length	3,500
Total Words	105,000

Words/Hour Finished	700
Hours Needed	150
Days in Challenge	60

Finished Words / Day	1,750
Hours / Day	2.50

Dean wrote 30 stories in 30 days in April. He's a long-time professional that I think of as the equivalent of someone who can run a marathon in 2.5 hours. Me, I'd be happy to run one in 5 hours. So he did 30 stories in 30 days, I'm going to try for 60. And if I don't make 60? I'll keep going until I finish the "race." This really is all Dean's fault. I've been coming out of some difficult times personally and loved following his daily posts in April when he wrote those 30 stories (yup, I'm copying that too. Doing this in public and recording what I learn will help me do this). A light bulb went off when I was reading those blog posts and I knew that this was possible (more about strategy in the next post). Dean offered to be first reader for a few writers crazy enough to try this. With the support of my wonderful wife and my amazing team of beta readers, I took Dean up on his challenge. The madness... err... fun, starts on June 1st.

But Why?

Why would anyone want to write 30 stories in 60 days (or 30 days for that matter)? Well, why would anyone want to run 26.2 miles in a few hours? The answers are individual, of course, but for me here are some of them, in no particular order:

To prove I can. Getting my writing productivity to this level really changes everything and will force me to confront the doubts that slow me down.
Because life has been tough for a few years and I need a fun, and yes, fairly overwhelming, challenge.
Because I love short stories and I love to write.
It's time to take this to the next level.

What's Next?

The next blog post will be about preparation and strategy from a very run/write perspective. Once June 1st hits, I will blog about it once a day until the writing marathon ends (i.e. the 30 stories are written). These posts will be short, as I will need to save my time for writing the stories. After it's all said and done, I'll do a wrap up post and a few months after the dust settles a followup to see what happened with all those stores and how it changed things for me. Feel free to follow along. This is going to be interesting. Next post: A Short Story Writing Marathon: The Plan Daily posts start with Day 1.

Dragons!

2016-11-05T10:46:09Z

First the good news: I've got a new story out today! "Dragon Years" is part of Dragon Writers: An Anthology. This collection features best sellers like Brandon Sanderson, Jody Lynn Nye, Todd McCaffery, and David Farland. It's also another fundraiser for the Don Hodges Memorial Scholarship which helps writers learn the business of writing. As I usually do when submitting to anthologies, I came at the subject of dragons from an unusual angle. "Dragon Years" is the story of an old man reflecting on a long life and the amazing creature he discovered in the forest of North Korea while MIA in 1952. It's a story about life, loss, healing, and friendship. The dragon in it (and there is a wonderful dragon) embraces the gentler eastern view of the dragons as opposed to the fiery and destructive Norse version. This was a tricky to story to write, hopping through several different times and telling a fairly expansive story in 5,000 words. But there is something very satisfying about pulling off a difficult story like this, and something even more satisfying about it getting picked out of a field of talented writers. I am proud of this story and hope you will go check it out. And now the bad news: This is likely my only release this year. Since 2011 I've come out with at least one book a year, but because of unusual demands on my time on both the professional and personal sides of my life, it doesn't look like the novel I planned for this year will come out until next year. I am disappointed, of course. I don't think any of us like to confront our limitations, but there is really no choice here. This novel, Of Things Not Seen, is the third "A Ghost's Memoir" novel and is very close. It follows Jesus down to Mexico City as he comes to terms with his childhood, tries to help the dying nun that saved his life, and meets a mysterious new ghost. There were some hints of Jesus's journey in To Be a Fool and I can't wait to get this one out, but it will be a while longer. Stay tuned for more ghosts next year, but in the mean time: Dragons!!! You can find them here: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2fn01LN B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dragon-writers-lisa-mangum/1124844276?ean=2940156700790 Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/dragon-writers

Join the Team

2016-05-04T03:00:12Z

The free Meteor Attack! promo is almost over (May 1-5). If you want to get it for free on Amazon, get over there now! If you missed the promo, just sign up for my email newsletter and you can get the first copy for free (click the big green "Subscribe Now" button to the right). And if you want to keep reading and get Toxic Asset for free, just write an honest review of Meteor Attack! on Amazon.com and fill out this form (more details here). You can keep doing this and read the entire series for free. If you're wondering what this is all about, it's pretty simple. I love these stories and know some of you out there will too. I'm going to keep writing them for a while (the overall story is a long, wild, and epic adventure). I'm looking to form a team of Neutrinoman and Lightningirl fans that help get the word out about the series. Join the team. Join the adventure. After all, what could be better than our heroes "falling in love and saving the world"? I have some other fun ideas once the team gets going (free ebooks is just the start). So, start reading, and stay tuned! #teamNMLG

Adventurous Adventures and Heroic Heroes

2016-05-02T03:00:41Z

[caption id="attachment_1335" align="alignleft" width="300"] Adventurous and Heroic![/caption] This post's title, "Adventurous Adventures and Heroic Heroes" may seem a bit odd. I mean, aren't all adventures adventurous and all heroes heroic? Well, in short, no. Let me give you a few examples: Ever tried to drag a recalcitrant teenager (and I am speaking here from when I was one) on what seems to you like so much fun. Like hiking five miles to see Native American petroglyphs you just learned about. Or scouring the mall for that perfect gift for your hard-to-please aunt. A teenager is not likely to be excited, one person's adventure is another person's slog. Or, to put it another way, adventurous adventures are the fun ones and not all are fun. And heroes? Don't know if you are paying attention to the current world of superheroes and fiction, but dark, gritty, and brooding seems to be in. Antiheroes abound. There are many protagonists that are at least as dark and disturbed as the villains they battle. Humans so twisted and flawed you wonder how the human race has gotten this far. Don't get me wrong, I can certainly go for this at times and love stores with shades of moral grey, but at other times I just want my heroes to be heroic. Did you ever see the first Superman movie (1978, staring Christopher Reeve). That adventure is adventurous and that hero is heroic. Clark Kent is not free from problems, challenges, or worries, but the sense of wonder never abates and the heroic quality of Reeve's Superman is never in question. There is a sense of fun, a lightness, a positive feeling when the credits role (in sharp contrast to the current Superman movies.) And again, I am not saying all heroic adventures should be like this. Just some. If you haven't guessed it already, that's part of where I am coming from with the Neutrinoman and Lightningirl series. Nick Nichols and Licia Lopez, unlike Superman, are just a regular people who becomes superpowered and try to figure it all out (while falling in love, of course). I am trying to write adventures that are fun and heroes that are everyday people with good hearts. They struggle with the same things that we do (self-doubt, dealing with their limitations, loss, grief, regret... you name it) but there remains a lightness and a sense of fun to it all. Hope. To celebrate the Adventurous and Heroic, I am giving away the first episode, Meteor Attack! for free. There are two ways to get it:

The ebook version is free on Amazon.com from May 1-5.
Or sign up for my email newsletter and it's yours (click the big green "Subscribe Now" button to the right).

And the rest of the series is free if you do me a small favor. Write a short, honest review of the book (say, Meteor Attack!) and I'll send you the next one for free (that would be Toxic Asset). You can read more about the deal over here. The review doesn't need to be fancying or anything, it just needs to be honest. What did you like about it? What didn't you like? A couple sentences is plenty. Why honest, you might ask? Well, not everyone likes the same thing, what you don't like might be exactly what someone is looking for. (For example, some folks might want more adventure and less characterization and romance in these books. That's a fair criticism, but like most opinions it is just a matter of taste. Someone else might read that and know it's just the kind if thing their looking for). With this free offer, you might wonder if I'm trying to get you hooked. Well, of course I am! I love these books (i.e. I'm hooked myself) and want to do what I can to get them to a wider audience. If you have a little time and can do reviews, you can read them for free. If you don't mind paying a few bucks for them, great. Either way works for me and heroic adventures await. And to dip back down to the philosophical, briefly. Part of this is personal. Life is short, I want my own adventures to adventurous. To have a sense of fun and wonder. I want my life to be... well not exactly heroic, but to have a sense of purpose, of meaning. This certainly informs the kind of characters I create (heroic) and the kind of adventures they have (adventurous). Hope your current adventure is adventurous. Cheers, Robert

Why I Quit Writing (Almost, Kinda, Sorta)

2016-04-18T08:11:05Z

While this blog is focused on my recent experience with writing, the principles apply to whatever your passion is. [caption id="attachment_1340" align="alignleft" width="300"] Image courtesy of Pansa at FreeDigitalPhotos.net[/caption]

Writing Is...

Writing is easy: you're just making things up and recording them. Writing is hard: it's a subjective art and getting better is challenging and talks a long time. Add on to that the endless rejection and the fact that you have to learn a business as well as an art and it can be daunting. This is true for any passion.

The Essential Discipline

The essential discipline of a writer is the act of writing new words. Not reading, not editing, not fixing the grammar and spelling, not learning about writing or business--although all those are important. The foundational act is writing brand, spanking new words. Without those new words nothing is ever started, and therefore nothing is ever finished. Period. This was well taught to me by one of my mentors, Dean Wesley Smith. He drives it home on his blog, in his classes, and in his writing books (all highly recommended). In fact without Dean, I don't know that I would ever had finished my first novel. I've recently blogged about running, so let me translate it into those terms (where it will be so very clear): the essential discipline of a runner is running. Not reading about running, or talking about running, or learning about running, or thinking about running, or shopping for running gear. It's putting your running shoes on and doing the miles. Period. If you don't run, you're not a runner. If you don't write new words, your not a writer. The same goes for painting, biking, acting, gardening, skiing, etc. For writing it's easy to get stuck in a endless loop of editing, polishing, trying to make your story perfect, but at a certain that turns into avoidance, because, sorry, your story will never be "perfect". All the arts have the same pitfall and it's very human to get caught up in the trappings of what you love instead of doing what you love. We don't want to look silly or fail. It's risky to put your passionate self out there.

I Did Quit

So, for me, I learned this lesson about writing and created a rock-solid discipline of writing new word. Every morning, at least five days a week, before I did anything else on the computer, I wrote and wrote and wrote... and wrote... and wrote... and wrote... Frankly it's my favorite part of the process (those new words, that first draft). It's when the you step into a flow state and let the story come. Before the doubts creep in and you start thinking--as I do with every story--that's it''s all crap and I should just give this up. But those unfinished words started to pile up. At least 300,000 of them in the form of three novels, two novellas, and smattering of short stories. And that stack unfinished work started to weigh on me. Think of it as a tall, tottering stack of paper in my psyche, threatening to come crashing down at any moment. Or consider them children that weren't grown up yet, successively yammering at me for their turn. Stories that want to be told don't go away. They keep floating up from the subconscious. Add to that some general unhappiness and last July I decided that I had to stop writing new words. That is the "I Quit" part of this.

Almost, Kinda, Sorta

But I didn't stop "writing" in the larger sense. I kept at the less fun parts of the game (editing and producing). I came out with a short story anthology last year, and have one novel nearly done (out with beta readers) and a second one getting close. I started to pay attention to those neglected stories. I also took the void of my morning writing and put it to good use. I started journaling (for the first time, really) and reflecting on my challenges and problems. I learned a lot from that and it has helped me find a better path. That stack of unfinished work is still large, but the break allowed me to make significant progress and get over some of my own crappola (getting the third draft of that novel done was all about me getting out of the way--and that is not easy, but well worth doing). And this is the "Almost, Kinda, Sorta" part.

Writing Again

In January, I started writing new words again, started back up that essential discipline. I pulled a neat trick on myself to make starting back in easy (which I'll share at some point) and have been focused exclusively on short stories. Why shorts? Well, they are a lot easier to finish, are a fabulous way to improve your craft, and my novel and novella backlog is still sizable--I don't want to get overwhelmed by unfinished stories again. Besides, short stories play a big part in overall scheme to have a life that has more time for writing.

Take Aways

If you're a writer or not, these concepts might just apply to whatever passion you have when the going gets tough (which it always does):

While new words are the essential task, and the fun part for me, finishing is actually a lot more rewarding (or running that race you've been training for, or finally showing some of your artwork or posting that blog, or doing an open mic, or... you get the idea).
It's okay to mix things up and take breaks, try new things. Shouldn't our passions be fun?
Taking stock and working towards a better state of balance always makes sense.

Cheers! Robert

New Passions at Any Age

2016-03-15T18:36:30Z

See those smiles. That's my wife, Aleia, and I after running our very first 10k last month at the Sedona Marathon. I'm 52, my wife is a tad older (being a gentleman and being married for so long, I shall not divulge her age). This day was the highlight of our year so far. Why? Well for me, it's a brand new adventure. I only ran briefly as a boy and hated it. For my wife it's the rekindling of a life-long love of running. It's the newness that I want to focus on here. It's a new passion. I stumbled into running last summer when I was 51. It's actually the fault of my Fitbit. Wait, let me back up a bit further. Last spring I was unhappy, not getting much writing done, not enjoying my work, dealing with a lot of difficult family issues that couldn't be ignored. I had been in this stew of dissatisfaction for a while. It wasn't pretty. I didn't like myself. I was overdue for some change but all the changes I considered were massive (quit my job, stop writing, have us sell everything and move away--in other words, do something radical). While Aleia was away helping a sick friend, I had an epiphany: 1) Big external changes weren't prudent--I needed to be happier first before making a big decision; 2) If I moved more, I would feel better. That was it. Nothing earth-shattering, just realizing I needed to start small and that exercise had a good chance of helping. So while my wife was away, I bought the long-pondered Fitbit and built a platform for my desk to turn it into a stand-up desk. This began the adventure of becoming more active. Not to say that I wasn't active before. I walked some (mostly with our dog, Madison), was in good health, and loved to hike, but didn't get out to do it much. I was active, but it's a relative thing, you know. I was less active than I had been in the past. So I built that platform for my desk and got my Fitbit One and started geeking out on the data and slowly increasing my activities. No 10,000 steps per day for me to start with, I at about 5,000 steps and slowly built up over months. I started standing for most of the day at my desk (I got a stool so I could sit when I needed). And amazing things started to happen. My chronic lower back pain eased up, my neck didn't hurt all the time anymore, and I got happier. The exercise definitely helped, but there was something else that was a tonic for my mood. Control. So much of what happens on a day to day basis is out of our control, the external world coming at us like a hurricane and demanding our time and attention. But, meeting my slowly increasing step goals--I could do that. Standing instead of sitting--yup, under my control. Using the pull-up bar I finally got back up in my office--great. And this became a game for me. On busy days I would strategize how to get those steps in--park further away when running errands; instead of sitting down when I had 15 free minutes, go for a brisk walk; bounce to the music at my desk and score some steps on my Fitbit that way. Movement became a game I played everyday. It was the one battle I knew I could win if I just planned a little. I slowly got in better shape and started feeling better. And then this exercise thing became addictive. Come fall, those 10,000 steps a day just weren't that big of a deal. I wanted more. Running became the next game. My friend Peter recently ran his 100th marathon and I talked to him about it. As he will often say, "running is my crack," so he was all for it. He told me about Jeff Galloway and running intervals (i.e. running some, walking some). What? When you run you don't have to run the whole damn time!? So I gave it a shot and did as Peter suggested and tried running for 1 minute and walking for 1 minute. It sucked. I hated it. In retrospect, being over 50 and living at 7,000 feet elevation, that was a bit too ambitions. I got one of Jeff Galloway's books, read it, and dialed back to walking for 40 seconds, and running for 20 seconds for all of 20 minutes. And that did it. Bam! I was hooked. I felt like a total wimp at that pace, but my body could handle the load and I felt amazing after I ran. It was a revelation--this is why people run. I honestly had no idea before. I have slowly built from there. That 10k, I ran most of it and completed the 6.2 miles in 64:17. Not earth shattering or anything, but a respectable time for my age and my newness to the sport. So back to the new passion thing--and here's is what I'm trying to get to. I absolutely love it that I've found a new passion in my fifties. No regrets that I didn't start running twenty years ago. Why? Because it gives me hope. I picked writing back up in my forties and it became a huge passion, and now running in my fifties. What's next in my sixties or seventies? What new, undiscovered territory will I find then? What delights of this human experience still await me? And to circle back around to control again. Actually, "control" is not the right word; I'm not talking about a level of control where everything turns out exactly like you want--where's the adventure in that?--but about seeing positive change when you show up and do the work. More like responsibility (as in the "ability to respond"). Part of the delight of running is that as I do the work, I get better at running (same is true for writing, but that's another blog post). This is an area in my life where it is all up to me. I've run on snow covered roads (carefully), in 20 degree weather with single-digit wind chill, with snow flying nearly vertically--and loved it every time. Not that's it's easy, it's not, and that is part of the charm--again for another blog post. And progress is not linear--I've hit plateaus and dealt with sour muscles and limped around with a sore knee when I pushed to hard. It's hard but doable and the little victories keep coming. In our complicated, chaotic world, that is so very valuable. My two takeaways:

It's never too late for a new passion
Finding areas in our lives where our efforts make a measurable and productive change is a joy.

So what are your passions (or new passions)? Are you giving them the time they deserve? Cheers! Robert

LOVE the Love

2016-02-12T08:02:33Z

Special deals for Valentine's Day (free and 50% off!)

Valentine's day is almost here. It's a mixed bag for many, I get that, but I just LOVE love! We humans seem to do better with a partner and I have been blessed with a fabulous one! My wife, Aleia, inspires me to be a better person, improves each and every day of my life, is the one person that I know is always there for me. She is my partner, and she is an amazing one. My life is with out a doubt better because of her. Challenges? Of course, but I couldn't imagine walking down the road of life without her. And she inspires me when it comes to writing. My ghost books are inspired by her work and her compassion. My superhero books are inspired by our love. No, these books aren't a veiled account of our romance (we didn't risk our lives to save the Earth from a meteor!), but they are inspired by the fact that I am in a beautiful long-term relationship. The idea of writing about superheroes was fun, but wasn't enough to pull me into the project, but writing about two superheroes that are trying to save the world and are falling in love at the same time? Yeah, I'm up for that. And we go way past the typical romance ending. That part is interesting to me. What happens after our couple first falls in love? How do they keep together through hard times, how do they keep falling in love over and over again? What does a love that spans decades look like? So, I've put a couple of the Neutrinoman & Lightningirl: A Love Story books on sale for Valentine's day. 50% off for signed paperbacks! If you are interested, your options are below. In any case, if you've got a sweetie, keep them close for Valentine's, let them know you love them, show them that you love them, LOVE the Love. If you don't have a sweetie, then spend some time with someone you do love and make sure they know it. And remember to take in the love coming your way. Enjoy your Valentine's Day!! Robert P.S. As if on cue, Aleia asked me to read something to her last night (I read my stories and books to her first before they go anywhere). We were pretty caught up, so I grabbed "Off Book," which is episode 4 of the superhero/love story series and something that won't be out for a while. She got right back into the characters and the story and was laughing in all the right places. It was a good reminder of how much fun these books are. So yeah, I don't know when, but there is more coming of superheroes falling in love and trying to save the world!

Valentine's Day deals:

Ready to jump all the way in? Signed paperback copies of Season 1 (Episodes 1-3) are 50% off in the bookstore through 2/19.
Want to dip in your toes, then signed paperback copies of Episode 1, Meteor Attack! are also 50% off through 2/19.
Like ebooks? Meteor Attack! is free if you sign up for my newsletter. Details are on my home page. This offer will be around for a while.
Still unsure? Start reading an excerpt of Meteor Attack right now! No commitment required.

A Year in Stories, 2015 Edition

2016-02-02T13:40:41Z

Last year, I did a roundup of 2014 writing-wise and what stories had come out. I wanted to do another one around the first of they year, but January has just gotten away from me. So, better late than never, here's what stories came out in 2015: December

This isn't about a released story, but it is worth noting: I was a finalist in the Writers of the Future contest. Very excited to almost win this contest, something I've been working towards for 5+ years.

October

Life After: Stories of Life, Death, and the Places in Between came out. This is a collection of short stories that go very well, thematically speaking, with my ghost novels (there is even a brand new ghost story in it). Start Reading Learn More

“Laura’s Magic Clock" appeared in A Game of Horns: A Purple Unicorn Anthology. This is the second year in a row I landed in one of these unicorn anthologies, and I do love this story (and proceeds go to a good cause). Go get it! Learn More.

July

Two of my short stories (“Death by Starlight” and “The Last Flight of the Acurus”) were featured on StarShipSofa podcast, episode #394.

These are both stories of survival in space, old fashioned sci-fi with a bit of a twist. Acurus was my first sale and appeared in Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, Issue #58. Starlight is a piece of flash fiction inspired by Acurus and appeared in Every Day Fiction.

The narration is beautifully done by Katerine Inskip. Go take a listen now!

January

Neutrinoman & Lightningirl: A Love Story, Season 1 (Episodes 1 - 3), the omnibus edition of the first three episodes of my Superhero Love story came out

Go get it! Learn More.

Looking towards 2016 Back in the 2014 roundup, I looked forward to 2015 and what I was planing to release. It didn't quite turn out as I planed (Life After being the sole prediction to come true). This year, I think I'll be a bit more conservative:

A Ghost’s Memoir, Book 3. Back to the world of Shuffled Off with a novel told from Jesus’s point of view. Those observant readers will notice this was on the slate for 2105... This year it really, truly should come out.
A short science fiction novel (my first) that explores life and love in a post-biological existence. This is pretty likely too.

I hope there is more, but both of these projects are well along. Enjoy 2016 and go read something amazing!

Life After Sale

2015-11-06T10:15:09Z

For the next week (through Thursday, November 12th), the Life After ebook is on sale for $0.99 on Amazon.com! Writing short stories is where I started with this crazy adventure. My first novel was an accident and in many ways the short form is my first love writing-wise. You get to experiment and take chances, you get to explore and learn, all of it without the risk of time and effort that goes with a novel. These stories encompass the breadth of my writing and I'm quite proud of them. Here's what some of my early readers have said:

“A wonderful short story–well written, nice character development and makes a significant point.” “So simple, yet so poignant” “This is another one of my favorites of yours. It brings tears to my eyes when I read it. It hits so close to home.” “I thoroughly love your Shuffled Off stores. You have such a voice.” “Really liked this one a lot. I like the crossover between Shuffled Off – super well done and made me appreciate and recall Shuffled Off.” “Masterfully done… evocative… good story!” “I love the concept, how they handle it, and the ending.” “Your voice/character is overwhelmingly terrific.”

Go grab the ebook for $0.99 Read more about Life After Read a sample of "Detecting Haley" Enjoy the Adventure!

Back to the Graveyard

2015-10-16T01:00:47Z

I love my ghost friends: JJ, Jesus, Banquo, and all the rest--they are so real to me. With three novels down and a fourth in the works, I must. My "A Ghost's Memoir" world (Shuffled Off, Drawing the Dead, and To Be a Fool) with it's SECI chamber (basically a typewriter for ghosts) just begs for more stories and more ghosts. Tales of those who have "shuffled off the mortal coil," live among us, and are trying to find their way. Enter Walter and Emily. These two have been on my mind for a long time, back when I was writing To Be a Fool. For those of you with a copy, they make a cameo in Transmission #44. Walter was a dentist and an out of work actor before that and has become something of a detective since his murder. His best dead friend and cohort is Emily. She died when she was four-years old, and still looks it, but comes with the worldliness of someone dead eighty years. The two of them are trying to solve Walter's murder. Their story, "Detecting Haley: A Walter Anchor Ghost Detective Story," is out today! It's part of a collection of my short stores called: Life After: Stories of Life, Death, and the Places in Between. This story is Walter and Emily's first case where they investigate the murder of a dental assistint that used to work for Walter and stumble into a world of intrigue that had infected Walter's dental practice. This is what I hope to be Walter and Emily's first story. They are a blast to write and I am loving playing with the murder mystery genre. What a taste? Start reading an excerpt from Detecting Haley. Life After is full of stories that thematically go along with those "A Ghost's Memoir" novels and run the gamut from sci-fi to fantasy to contemporary fiction. From Walter and Emily solving murders as ghosts; to the story of a couple who knows exactly how their going to die; to a dying man that created a holographic simulacrum of himself to comfort his wife after his passage; and more. These are ten stories of life on the brink and life after death--with a brief backstory on each, for those that like that kind of thing. If you liked Shuffled Off, you'll love these stories.

Making Art With Your Friends

2015-10-08T06:37:40Z

Writers are strange. Their imagined worlds are often so compelling that the "real" world has trouble keeping up. Writer brains are different, they will imagine a character they love and then imagine all the ways they can make that characters life a living hell (often with a triumphant ending, of course). They think about story constantly. What works and what doesn't. What satisfies and what disappoints. How we learn from story and how we are moved by them. They're different, strange beasts. They're artist. And as I've been doing this for a while, I've met some of these folks and gotten to know them. In 2012 and against this year I went to the Superstars Writing Seminar where a few hundred of us gather, learn, talk, and play. But more importantly for me, I get to feel at home. I'm surrounded by people with the same affliction as I have. They know the how hard it can be to keep writing some days, how bad yet another rejection can be, or the sheer joy of selling a story or delighting a reader. They too love story enough to give up all they can for it. They too feel compiled to tell stories. It's home. The Superstars gang call it "tribe," which has the right ring to it. We share something common (the story telling affliction) and we help each other out. This year, for the second year in a row, the tribe has come together and created a collection of short stories. All proceeds from that collection go back to help the tribe in the form of the Don Hodges Memorial Scholarship Fund (Don, one of our tribe members, passed away this year and the scholarship fund was renamed in his honor). The fund is used to pay the tuition of writers that can't afford it. The whole thing is the tribe helping the tribe (if you're a writer, go find out about the scholarship right now). For the second year in a row, one of my stories was selected to be included--and having read the first collection, One Horn to Rule Them All: A Purple Unicorn Anthology, I am honored. My tribe knows how to write. These are good stories. Perhaps I should back up a bit and explain the unicorn thing. Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta lead our tribe and put on the Superstars Writing Seminar. In one of the talks Kevin gives he says something along the lines of, "If an editor asks you for a story about a purple unicorn, you write a damn good purple unicorn story." It's about being a professional. Well, in 2014, someone stood up and said that they'd like to read those stories, and someone else offered to edit it, and the tribe went to work and made it. And this tribe thing is for real. One brief example. Last February at the end of the seminar, Kevin stood up (keep in mind this is a best selling author that teaches not for the money but for the love of his art) and named each one of us in the audience by name. I don't think this was planned, he just stood up and did it. Close to two hundred of us. From memory. Showing what this tribe thing was all about. It was a hell of a moment. Kevin is a shining example of something I've experienced so much on this journey: writers reaching out to help other writers. So back to this year's anthology. It's called A Game of Horns: A Purple Unicorn Anthology. The stories had to follow two rules: 1) There had to be a red unicorn and 2) the story has to revolve around a conflict. I have a story in it called "Laura's Magic Clock." Neither the conflict or the unicorn are what comes first to mind. The conflict is internal--a man dealing with a devastating loss that he feels responsible for. The unicorn? Well it's a clock--maybe a magic one. So, go see what my tribe created. Go help some writers learn this strange business we are in. Go enjoy some great stories. Go see the art my friends and I made.

Two Short Stories Available in Audio

2015-08-30T15:15:08Z

Two of my short stories ("Death by Starlight" and "The Last Flight of the Acurus") were recently featured on StarShipSofa podcast, episode #394. These are both stories of survival in space, old fashioned sci-fi with a bit of a twist. Acurus was my first sale and appeared in Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, Issue #58. Starlight is a piece of flash fiction inspired by Acurus and appeared in Every Day Fiction. The narration is beautifully done by Katerine Inskip. Go take a listen now!

A Valentine's Gift

2015-02-13T06:00:15Z

Falling in love and saving the world... For the next five days Meteor Attack!, the first episode my Superhero/Love Story series, is free over on Amazon. It's Valentines day after all. What could be better than love, action, adventure, and a dash of humor? And in many ways this series is a Valentines to my own love, without whom I wouldn't be able to write a love story that spans the decades (and I'd be a rather miserable bloke, too). Here's what some readers have said about Meteor Attack!:

“Perfect balance between sci-fi, humor, and romance.” “Loved it, loved it, loved it. I’m a major sucker, though, for a good love story. You had me emotionally involved from the get-go.” "I grew up reading Sci Fi.. Authors like Andre Norton, Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, etc....And Meteor Attack! reminds me very much of that style of Science Fiction." read more “…had me howling/falling out of my chair.”

All the rest of the episodes (Toxic Asset, Protocol X, and the Season 1 Omnibus Edition) are on sale starting on the 14th. But don't wait. The sale won't last long. Check it out. Spread the word. Tell those you love that you love them. Happy Valentine's day!

A Year in Stories

2015-01-15T15:32:22Z

2014 had come and gone in a flash of challenges, business, and unique experiences. Some good, some bad, many a humbling mixture of the two. As this blog is mostly about my writing, I thought I would list out my writing releases as a way to both catch you up on what I have been doing and as a way to reflect on my artistic life. So here goes! December

Protocol X. Episode 3 of Neutrinoman and Lightningirl: A Love Story. Start Reading Learn More

October

Toxic Asset. Episode 2 of Neutrinoman and Lightningirl: A Love Story. Start Reading Learn More

"When Mister Grim Came Calling" This is a previously published short story I posted on my website in honor of Halloween. You can read it right now.

September

"The Path of the Faerie King" made it's second appearance an a children's book. This one is raising funds for kids with autism. This is the first story I wrote to get published so it is quite dear to me and I am happy to see it out there again, especially for a good cause. Go Check it Out!

August

"Conner Bright and the Case of the Purple Unicorn". This short story appeared in the anthology One Horn to Rule them All: A Purple Unicorn Anthology. The story is a quirky contemporary mystery about a private detective hiding from his past and trying to keep his demons at bay while doing right by his young client. This anthology is headlined by the amazing Peter S. Beagle, with art by the awesome James Artimus Owen and is raising funds for the Superstars Writing Seminars scholarship program. Learn More

April

"Death by Starlight" appeared in Every Day Fiction. This is a very short (600 words) experimental piece. In the acceptance email I got, the editor used the phrases “poetic imagery” and “vivid language” to describe it. I am very happy this story found a home. Go Read it Now

Lining them up like that, it sure looks like 2014 was a good year for getting stories out there. I would have liked to have done more, but that is the way of our passions isn't it? We can never get enough. Looking towards 2015

More superheroes. I written previously about this series. They are a delight to write (and hopefully to read) and I just can't help myself. More, just around the corner.
A Ghost's Memoir, Book 3. Back to the world of Shuffled Off with a novel told from Jesus's point of view.
A short story collection. These stories fit well with the themes of Shuffled Off, Drawing the Dead, and To Be a Fool. There will be a fun new ghost story form that universe, but the rest of the stories explore the themes of life and death in many different ways.
There is a lot more in the pipeline and I'll be getting out as quickly as I can.

Hope you have a wonderful 2015 lined up in front of you.

The Heart of the Hero

2015-01-07T18:42:18Z

I love myths. I love the grand displays such stories can make. Heroes can be heroic. They can display courage and sacrifice themselves for the greater good. They can face their fear and overwhelming odds and still take action. And that's fun to watch. Superheroes stories are modern myths. My latest superhero/love story adventure is out. Protocol X. In it we get to the heart of our super-hero, Nick Nichols / Neutrinoman. He's a romantic. He's a bit of a boy scout--always trying to do the right thing. He's in love and that love is not returned. He's struggling with his powers, fighting for his life and the lives of those he cares about, dealing with the media, and the challenges facing him are just too much. Heroes doubt. Heroes struggle. Heroes do their best. Nik is doing his best to get the girl and save the world. This book is a lot longer than the first two episodes (Meteor Attack! and Toxic Asset). It's a more complicated story, not that I planned it that way. It's all Nik's fault, really. When I write, I do my best of follow the characters. In other words, I don't have it all figured out when I start. I sit down, tune in, and start writing. It often feels more like I am listening than creating. And that's why this story is longer. Something happened, something unexpected, and Nik being Nik did what he would do. The story went in a direction I hadn't planned, thought of, or anticipated. So I kept writing, kept following, intrigued by what had happened, wanting to know how it would all turn out. Nick revealed himself through his actions. The heart of the hero, if you will. Nik has a strong moral compass (one of his qualities that I like the best). That can sometimes lead him into more trouble, or in the case of this book, it leads him to an alien he calls "Sarah" and it changes the course of the entire story. And let me tell you, when this happens (the characters taking the story in directions I hadn't anticipated) I just love it. It makes for a better story and it is actually fun writing a story when you don't know how it will end (and a bit scary too, I will admit). These kinds of surprises are my favorite part of writing. If you read this one, the whole sequence with Sarah came from out of the blue. If you like your heroes with a strong moral compass, if you like romantic protagonists, if you like action, adventure, and a bit of humor, then Protocol X (and the entire series), just might be for you. Want to know more?

Haven't read Episode 1, Meteor Attack! yet? No problem, just sign up for my email newsletter and I'll send you a free copy of the ebook..
Start reading a sample of Episode 3, Protocol X or just go buy it.
Other blog posts about this series.
Meteor Attack!: Start reading now. Where to buy.
Toxic Asset: Start reading now. Where to buy.

A Story for Halloween

2014-10-30T08:09:35Z

Back in 2009 when I first started to get serious about writing, my wife was putting together a lovely little writing group. It was a group of good friends that wanted to write various things. A couple of us were doing fiction, others a children's book, and my wife was working on creating a book that would help others do what she does. We met at the little Flagstaff airport on the second floor, sitting on comfortable couches, watching the planes take off and land. It was a safe space to incubate as a writer and really helped me get moving. I distinctly remember reading this story up there out loud to the group. No one else was upstairs and the group was quiet as I read. When the story was over there were a few shivers and some laughs. This is not a Halloween story per-say, but a creepy take on the grim reaper, envisioning him as a gentleman in this sci-fi/paranormal story about a man who will do anything to avoid the inevitable. So turn the lights off and read this by the erry glow of your computer screen. Below is the intro, follow the link the read the full story.

When Mister Grim Came Calling

When Mister Grim came calling he always presented his card: a crisp white rectangle with just the two words, “Mister Grim,” in bold black letters. He kept them in a slim sliver case with a monogrammed “G” on the lid. He was frightening: tall and gaunt; white hair and clothes; pale, almost translucent skin; and long bony fingers.The first time I met Mister Grim was after I had a heart attack, he was standing over me in my hospital bed. “Who are you!?” I asked, shocked by his presence and his visage.“I am Mister Grim,” he answered with a rictus grin, handing me his card, “I will be your guide, when the time comes, for the journey.” He talked slowly, spacing each word out, with a dry crackling rasp of a voice.“My what?” “I was just next door taking care of another pilgrim and thought I would pop by. It wasn’t clear if you would be traveling today. I thought we could get to know each other.” His manner was oddly formal and incongruent with his appearance. We talked for a time. It was very uncomfortable for me, but Mister Grim seemed oblivious to my reaction to him. He was interested in my past, my childhood particularly. He wanted to know if I had ever seen ghosts, or fairies, or other “spiritual” beings. I answered his queries using as few words as I could, like a child trying to get away from the interrogation of a parent. He eventually left, or I fell asleep, and the next thing I knew I awoke with a tube down my throat surrounded by my family. I dismissed it as a dream until I came across that card underneath me in the bed. When I touched it, a shiver ran down my spine, and I thought I could hear that rasping voice echoing down the hallway. After I got home from the hospital I had a dream, well more of a memory, about my father — he died of a massive heart attack at the age of 37, two years younger than I was at the time. My mother and I stayed by his bedside in the hospital for days on end. One night when she was out, he woke up briefly, with eyes wide, and grunted something unintelligible — in my dream it sounded like “gggrrrriiiimmmmm.” That was the last sound he uttered, he died less than an hour later. I woke up in a cold sweat, crying and incoherent; my wife thought I was having another heart attack. After that I was driven, haunted even, by my Dad’s last word and the image of Mister Grim standing over me. I taped Mister Grim’s card to my treadmill and got busy getting healthy: I gave up smoking, lost 40 pounds, starting eating better, and paid more attention to my wife and kids. I even told my wife the whole story. At first she thought I was crazy, but when she saw the changes I was making she became my most enthusiastic supporter. Read the full story This story and others are a part of Life After: Stories of Life, Death, and the Places In Between

Meteor Attack! is free in October

2014-10-13T18:21:12Z

To celebrate the release of Toxic Asset (Episode #2 of Neutrinoman & Lightningirl: A Love Story), Episode #1, Meteor Attack! is free over on Noisetrade. It's free. It's fun. These books are a blast to write and a blast to read. Check it out! One quick thought on why I love these stories: they tickle the hell out of the boy in me, let the die-hard romantic in me come out and play, and even please the serious, yet sometimes goofy adult in me. They hit me on so many levels (could explain why I'm spending so much time on them). Links and more links:

Meteor Attack! for free on Noisetrade (for a limited time, through 10/31)
Meteor Attack!: Start reading now. Where to buy.
Toxic Asset: Start reading now. Where to buy.
Other blog posts about this series.

Toxicwasteman: A Villain? A Hero?

2014-10-07T18:46:46Z

Superheroes need super-villains, right? Someone stronger than them that can be the obstacle our hero must overcome. An embodiment of evil that makes the goodness of our hero shine through. Right? But, that has never made much sense to me. We are all the heroes of our own story and the villain in someone else's. It's a matter of perspective.

"Everyone is necessarily the hero of his own life story." -- John Barth

But I'm writing an epic series of superhero books (with that long view of a love story interwoven). Don't I need a nasty villain? Well yes, and no. I need a character that contrasts Neutrinoman and Lightningirl. I needed a character that is very different. I need someone who is not a straight arrow like Neutrinoman, someone who has a moral compass, it's just a very different moral compass. Someone who sees the world and this crisis differently. I need Toxicwasteman. He's the villain of this story, but he is also the hero of his own story. He's also a blast to write and I smile every time he is in a scene. He's a little over the top, he's smart and driven, doesn't care about the rules or what people think, and is more than a tiny bit nuts. And in Toxic Asset: Neutrinoman and Lightningirl, A Love Story, Episode 2, he's kind of the star of the show. In Episode One, Meteor Attack!, we met Nick/Neutrinoman and Licia/Lightingirl. We were confronted with the two threads of this adventure (love story and alien threat). Now it's time to get deeper into the world of our once regular people facing extraordinary circumstances. Now it's time for Neutrinoman to face off against Toxicwasteman. Ready for the adventure to continue? You can start reading a sample now or find out how to buy here. If you haven't read Meteor Attack! yet, it's available in paperback as well as ebook formats. It's also free right now over on Noisetrade. Here's what some readers have said about the series:

“Love—the best superpower! Enjoy a witty fun adventure as your heart strings are tugged to play a hauntingly familiar love song.” “Perfect balance between sci-fi, humor, and romance.” “This was a surprisingly, visual, sweet, exciting page turner! A great read!” “Loved it, loved it, loved it. I’m a major sucker, though, for a good love story. You had me emotionally involved from the get-go.” “Beautiful love story draped in outrageous humor. Romantic comedy at its best.”

Here's the link roundup:

Meteor Attack! for free on Noisetrade (for a limited time)
Other blog posts about this series.
Meteor Attack!: Start reading now. Where to buy.
Toxic Asset: Start reading now. Where to buy.

Wayne's Legacy

2014-10-04T16:31:47Z

Ten years ago today, my dear friend Wayne died. Wayne was young (just shy of 43) and danced with cancer for thirteen months before his death. The ending was difficult and sad. Wayne's contribution to my life is anything but. He has changed me for the better in so many ways. I've blogged about Wayne before. Here and here. On this anniversary, it only seems right to reflect on Wayne and his legacy in my life. He touched many people, but this is my personal account. These are the ways that Wayne is still in and still touching my life. My writing career. Back in 2003 after Wayne was diagnosed with brain cancer, I found myself feeling very vulnerable. Wayne was the happiest and healthiest person I knew. If he could get cancer, anyone could. I found myself turning back to fiction after a very long absence and channeling those feelings into my writing. I actually finished and submitted my first short story ("Tiresias 1, Tiresias 2"--this one is very personal and unpublished). I also outlined and started another story called "The Turning Test Will be Televised." This story too, is very close to my heart, and in many ways communicates clearly what I am up to as a writer and what kind of topics I tend to take on. It was this story that I went back to and finished in late 2008 when I started writing seriously. My third novel, To Be A Fool, draws on what I experienced with Wayne in hospice, and my first novel Shuffled Off wouldn't be without what I learned with Wayne at the end. Literally that I write, and what I write is because of Wayne. My love of Bruce Springsteen music. Wayne and Bruce are from the same town, Freehold , New Jersey. So as you might imagine, Bruce was often played at Wayne's house, and was, of course, played at his memorial. I went with Wayne to see Springsteen on the "Ghost of Tom Joad" Tour (just the Boss and a guitar, it was a holy event for him). To this day, I buy Bruce's new albums and listen to them. Partially because I want to represent Wayne and his love for the man, partially because the music has gotten under my skin so deeply. And, interestingly enough, I listen to Springsteen a lot more since Wayne died. I feel closer to Wayne when I listen to Bruce. Further Shore. For those of you that don't know, Further Shore is the little non-profit my wife, Aleia, formed after Wayne's death. She, you see, is an amazing human being. She gave up her massage practice to care of Wayne for thirteen months and then after he passed, she took all that she learned and started helping others. She goes into the most difficult of circumstances and does the most amazing things. She helps those that are ill, those that are dying, those that are overwhelmed and need of her unique expertise. She took the most difficult of losses and turned it into a way to help others. Wayne was Further Shore's first client (before there was a Further Shore). Without Wayne, there wouldn't be a Further Shore or the amazing work the organization does. Wayne's House. After Wayne passed, my wife and I and our friend Peter bought Wayne's house from his father. It is used to this day by Further Shore as a retreat house. We still call it "Wayne's House." It's a wonderfully peaceful place where people can come and safely learn about some very difficult things. Whenever I go there, I say hi to Wayne. Not because I think he's there, but because that house is so much him, that I can't help but be flooded by memories when I'm there. My Wife. Aleia moved out here with Wayne in 1989 and they were a couple. I met her in 1990, and the three of us began an interesting and challenging journey. Aleia eventually married me and the three of us became best friends. It wasn't an easy path to get to that point, but it was the most rewarding of journeys. There is nothing more important in my life than Aleia, and that came through Wayne. Friends. Many of the friends Wayne made are still my friends. Wayne's father is like a father to me. The web of connections he created around him still exists. Food. Wayne loved to eat and he loved to cook. He was a professional caterer called "The Food Doctor." He was a free sprit in the kitchen and taught me to trust my instincts when it came to food. If you are interested, we put together a cook book of recipes from Wayne and his friends. This is another little piece of his legacy; proceeds benefit Further Shore. My outlook on Life. Wayne taught me to be intensely grateful--he was for everything, and hanging out with him helped me get past some own crap and see the beauty in day-to-day life. Wayne demonstrated how to live simply, happily, and gracefully. Wayne was uncompromising in the life he led and taught me a lot about how to create the life you want. In the end, when Wayne was in hospice, he let me be with him to help him live those last few weeks (while there was no denying he was dying , we focused on making those last days the best they could be). It was an honor. It was also the hardest thing I've ever done and the best thing I've ever done. His life changed me and so did his death. He kept teaching me until the end (and beyond, really). I could go on. But I think you get the picture. My life today has Wayne written all over it--in fact I can't even imagine what my life would have been like without Wayne. And for that, I am very, very grateful. And I am not the only one. Wayne had a way of touching people deeply and keeping friends forever. And although it might sound odd, given that he's been gone for ten years, Wayne is still my friend. In some ways you can measure the value of a life in terms of the legacy left behind. And ten years on, Wayne's legacy is still very much alive in mine and a lot of other peoples' life. I miss him, sometimes terribly, but I am beyond grateful that we was part of my life and continues, through his legacy, to be part of my life. We all get to live and we all must die. My hope is to live as well as my friend Wayne and to die with as much consciousness and grace as he did. Miss you, Wayne!

Death by Starlight now available!

2014-04-18T07:46:48Z

Every Day Fiction just posted my story Death by Starlight. This is a very short (600 words) experimental piece. In the acceptance email I got, the editor used the phrases “poetic imagery” and “vivid language” to describe it. I am very happy this story found a home. Go over to the Every Day Fiction site and check it out. Also, if you'd like new stories in you email every day you can sign up for them on the site for free. This story has it's roots in "The Last Flight of the Acurus" which appeared in Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #58. I was in the editing process with that story when I wrote this one. (If you've read both, you'll see the connection).

Fractal Friday: Vision Quest

2014-04-11T06:00:22Z

A couple of creative incarnations ago, I went deep into the creation of fractals. I will go more in depth on that soon, but for now know that these images are all math. The landscape viewed is the inside of one (or more--sometimes they are layered) mathematical equations. First up is "Vision Quest" created in 2002. It is a single formula image (i.e. came out of a single mathematical equation). For me, this one evokes the feeling of being on a mysterious journey. [caption id="attachment_628" align="alignleft" width="1024"] Vision Quest. © 2002. Robert J. McCarter[/caption]

What is Enough?

2014-03-29T15:37:56Z

Live is busy, isn't it? Not just a little either--it seems to demand more of me than I think I have on a regular basis. Maybe you too. I've got my day job (programming) and my writing job (if you're here, you know about that) and my non-profit job (helping my wife do her amazing work) and we've been remodeling our bathroom and dealing with all the other things a life brings. And for a long time I kept thinking: It's not enough. I can't do enough. I can't get enough work done. I can't get my books out fast enough. I can't keep up with my rapidly changing profession. I can't do enough for my family. I can't keep my desk clean or my to do list under control. And I certainly don't update this blog enough. But what is enough? I was thinking on this back in January when my wife and I got away for a week to celebrate her birthday. We left town, holed up in a small cabin, and let go of as much of all of this as we could. Had time to think. Time to read. Time to catch up on sleep. And I came a realization: It is never "enough." Hang with me. Enough is in quotes above for a reason we'll get to shortly. It's never enough because we are human beings. So that meal you just had that tasted great and filled your belly–not enough, you're going to be hungry again soon. That great cleaning you just gave your house–not enough, it'll be dirty before you know it. That project of the heart you just finished and feel so satisfied about–not enough either, you'll be longing to do something again soon. That work you heroically did for you company–yup, not enough, they want more from you today. It's just the nature of being biological and experiencing time. Things change. While we are taking care of one thing another thing is getting behind like some game of whack-a-mole. [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="320"] Photo by Joe Mazzola[/caption] Life is the endless chasm of need that can never be completely filled for more than a moment. And this is a good thing. Because it means we are alive. And here is where my realization came in. I get to decide what is enough. When I've given enough of myself and when others have given enough to me. Is it "enough" in a absolute sense? Only for a moment. But the truth is that we decide. How much is enough in our relationships, in our jobs, in chasing our passions, in having fun. We decide how much is enough. No quotations around enough above. That's our enough, not the world's. So I have started doing a little ritual after my morning Chi Gung. I say something like (it varies): Just for today I am enough for this world and this world is enough for me. I still work hard, this just helps take the pressure off a bit. Helps me remember to celebrate those little moments of balance when things are briefly "enough," helps me walk away from things when I've made some progress (even if it doesn't feel like enough), helps me realize that there will always be more to do. If you are walking through your life feeling you can't do enough or you don't have enough. Take a moment. Take a deep breath. Let it be enough, just for that one moment. Feel yourself calm. Let your shoulders relax. Smile. And yes, this is just attitude. But attitude is everything. ...And that is enough of a blog post for today. I have a lot more coming story-wise and am excited to share. It is all taking longer than I'd like, but it is coming. I worked on one of them today and that is enough.

A Fool's Journey

2013-10-12T18:35:43Z

My new novel, To Be a Fool: A Ghost's Memoir, Book 2 is here and I've got a huge sale going on! Well, partially here. The ebook is out and the print book will be coming soon (I'm taking preorders for it now). This book begins right where Shuffled Off ends, furthering the adventures of JJ Lynch, Jesus, and Banquo in the afterlife. Here's what a few of my early readers had to say:

"And wow... I cried so hard reading this the first time, I had to stop for a while because I couldn't see well enough. What an incredible book!"

"...even better than Shuffled Off. Definitely worked well as a sequel."

"If anyone you love has died, or may die before you do, READ this book!"

More on the book (and sale) in a moment, but first I want to get a bit reflective, just like our friend JJ.

The Big 50

A few months back when I was trying to pick a launch date for the book, it seemed it would be ready in October. Well, on October 16th I turn 50, so that seemed like the perfect date. 50 is a milestone. Three novels published is another milestone. Why not combine them? And I've been thinking about this aging thing a bit (those zeros on the end of you age tend to inspire that). I've at times been unperturbed, other times apprehensive, and as of late grateful. Aging can be a difficult process. Our bodies change, our capabilities change, and then our self image is forced to change because of that. I spent some time in the apprehensive realm: How the hell did 50 years pass me by? What do I want to do with the rest of my life? ...And other predictable questions. But, what I want to talk about here is gratitude. On October 4, I got word that my old friend, Herb, passed away. I lived with him during and after college, he was one of the college gang, and we experienced a lot together during that crazy time (before wives, mortgages, and in his case, kids). Herb fought a long and hard battle against cancer that ultimately ended. It's sobering. Right away I added him to the dedication of To Be a Fool along with a high school friend, another college friend, a more recent friend, and a beloved pet. All of them having passed since Shuffled Off came out. Yeah, sobering. Life is unpredictable, it's length unknowable. And this brings me to gratitude. There are many things that am grateful for: my wife, my work, my home, my family and friends, and on and on. But just like everyone, I often get caught up in what is wrong and what I don't have. But the reminder Herb's passing afforded me is that I do have what is most precious: life. I have days on this planet when these friends of mine no longer do. Many people, some very dear to me, don't get the chance at 50 years. Each day, it is a gift, thus the gratitude. This is not that profound a realization, or even new. But it is a good reminder: Life is short, be grateful as much as you can.

The Sale -- 50% off for the BIG 50

I am generally a private person. I don't usually publicize my birthday like this. But this year I am really grateful to be here on Planet Earth, really grateful to be having stories to share, and so grateful for all of you that have enjoyed them and supported me. So… from now until the end of October, to celebrate my birthday, To Be a Fool and all the other autographed paperbacks in my store are 50% off! To take advantage of this sale, go to the bookstore on my website, and enter the code BIG50BASH when you checkout. That's it. The print version is slightly behind, I should have them by the end of the month at the latest, so your order won't ship until I get those in (thank you for your patience). Shipping is $5 flat rate for each order, no matter how many books you buy. So stock up and enjoy! Feel free to share this code if you know someone that might enjoy one of my books and wants an amazing deal on an autographed copy.

The Book

You may be wondering about the title of this missive: "A Fool's Journey." Well it goes back to To Be a Fool. In it, JJ comes across the concept of the Fool card in the Tarot. The Fool is the beginning of the deck and is about starting a journey in youthful exuberance and innocence. In many ways, this is a very apt description of JJ and his journey in the afterlife, particularly in this book. He just dives in and makes it up as he goes along. Sometimes harrowing, sometimes rewarding, his journey is always FOOL-ish and fascinating. And as I dive into my 50's, I hope to be like JJ and keep growing, keep living, keeping loving, and keep writing...

Links and Such

I've got a nice sample of To Be a Fool up on my site, you can read right now. The ebook version is out and available here:

Amazon.com: eBook.
BarnesAndNoble.com: eBook.
Kobo.com: eBook.

You might have noticed that the print version To Be a Fool costs a few more dollars than Shuffled Off or Drawing the Dead. Well that's because it's 50% longer. More pages (396 vs. 280) have increased the cost a bit, but I think it'll be worth it. To Be a Fool is a longer, richer story. Oh, and if you live in Flagstaff and have a bit more patience, just contact me [link] by the end of the month and let me know what books you want and I'll get them to you (and honor the discount) when we cross paths next. Thank you so much! Robert

Now In Print - Meteor Attack!

2013-07-27T16:28:18Z

Falling in love and saving the world…

If you recall, I released the first episode in my Superhero/Love Story series ("Neutrinoman and Lightningirl: A Love Story") last year. I'm still busy at work on it (two more episodes are in the pipeline) but in the meantime I have gotten the first episode into print. You might notice a rearrangement of the title. The episode name, "Meteor Attack!" is now the title and "Neutrinoman and Lightningirl: A Love Story" is now the subtitle. Same book, just a better ordering of the title. The cover has also been tweaked a bit. These stories are blast to write and from the feedback I've gotten, a blast to read! Here's what some folks have said:

"Loved it, loved it, loved it. I’m a major sucker, though, for a good love story. You had me emotionally involved from the get-go." "Beautiful love story draped in outrageous humor. Romantic comedy at its best." "...had me howling/falling out of my chair." "Perfect balance between sci-fi, humor, and romance."

If you haven't taken a look yet, please give it a try. You can read the prologue and the first few chapters now. [thrive_leads id='3967'] Episode 2, "Toxic Asset" will be out later this year.

In Other News

To Be a Fool, the next book in the "Ghost's Memoir" series in in the final stages. I expect to have it out in October. More JJ, Jesus, Banquo and the gang. Here's a sneak peak of the nearly finished cover and the blurb: Who wants to rest in peace? Want to have a happy afterlife as a ghost? Then, stay out of the bardo (your own personal hell); avoid your old meat-life—it only leads to trouble; and take your time with your unfinished business. In other words, rest in peace. But, resting in peace doesn't work for JJ Lynch. He will have to break all the rules and risk everything to do the right thing and find his way in the afterlife. Using technology developed at the University of Arizona, JJ communicates from beyond the veil to tell his mind-bending story of life beyond death in his own words. Thanks and happy reading! Robert

Finding Inspiration (the making of Drawing the Dead, part 2)

2013-04-10T16:02:40Z

This is the second, and last, part in a series on my novel, Drawing the Dead. You can read the first part here. In the first installment of this series, I talked about the formula for this novel, or really for any novel. Now I will talk about inspiration. Writing a novel is a long process, and as I writer, I find there has to be something in it for me. Beyond just the accomplishment of writing it, I need something that gets me excited and keeps me excited. The Idea In the last post, I talked about the dream my wife had (where she drew our dead friend and he came to life on the paper) that inspired this book. That was the starting point, the unique and exciting idea that got me involved. And really if you are going to take the many, many hours it takes to write a novel, there needs to be something interesting and fun to explore. A lady that draws dead people who then come to life and talk to the living, certainly qualifies. The Artist The protagonist for this book, Viki Dobos, is an artist. That had its appeal (I do love the arts), but it didn't give me traction until I found an inspiration for her. When I look at the stories I've told, I can pick out certain parts and tell you where they came from. Sometimes (actually often) I steal bits of my own life and experience and use them; sometimes I steal things from friends and family; sometimes I hold someone I love close when I write a character. I've never "based" a character on a real person (I actually have no idea how to do that right), but in the case of Viki Dobos I did use a real person as inspiration. My friend VTara Rusher was a wonderful artist, loving mother, and good friend. (Yup, I just referred to her in the past tense… we'll get to that shortly). Viki Dobos, is an artist and a woman. My need to draw from something real to create my fictional character took me immediately to VTara . Her art has this soft, vibrant fell to it that fit well with what I wanted. VTara had a calm, steady presence, and was very likable, very easy to be around. And, to me, VTara was always creating art. Closet doors turned into a mural of the San Francisco Peaks; a headboard with vibrant colors radiating forth; textured paint on the walls. VTara was always an artist, and that is what I needed for Viki Dobos. Someone who lives and breathes their art. In 2011, when I started writing the book, VTara was in remission. She had been diagnosed with colon cancer in 2008. The old saying is that it takes a village to raise a child, well it takes a village to deal with a disease like cancer. VTara's journey was part of our lives. My wife's non-profit, Further Shore, stepped in and helped her along the way. Her step by step progress was a part of all of our lives for those years. So, when I started writing about an artist character, Viki Dobos, I could think of no one but VTara. I saw it as a way to honor her and our friendship, and as a celebration of her returned health. In 2011, during the book signing for Shuffled Off, I told her what I was up to, and that I wanted her to read the book. She was gracious and encouraging. Unfortunately VTara's health took a turn for the worse after that. The third reoccurrence happened in early 2012, and in April 2012 she went into hospice. My feelings around this were complex. I was sad, of course, but I felt this sense of urgency. I really wanted VTara to read the book. I had no idea if she would like it, but I wanted to let her know that she inspired me, that I loved her. And this book, with her being an inspiration for parts of it, seemed like a way to make tangible how I felt about her. I won't speak much about hospice here, but often times, at the end like that, people are very particular about what they want to do with their time (not surprisingly). Luckly, VTara still wanted to read the book. At the time I was working on revisions, getting it ready to send out to my beta readers. So I double timed it and got the manuscript to her. Normally, the first time a story leaves my head is when I read it to my wife. This is an important part of my process. I read it aloud (and find lots of mistakes I wouldn't otherwise) to her. In many ways, Aleia is my prime audience. I want to write things that move her. But, in this case, VTara came first. While I was reading it aloud to Aleia, VTara was reading it on her own. Fittingly, she was the first one (besides me) to finish the story. I got to sit with VTara for a while during her hospice time, a week or so before she passed. Aleia and I went over. I remember VTara sitting on her couch and Aleia and I in chairs across from her. She was quiet, very internal, and peaceful. We talked quietly of many things. I wanted to asked her about the book, but I didn't bring it up, letting VTara lead. We did end up talking about it for a few minutes. She told me that she loved it. I remember her telling me how she liked how much time was spent on the beach (much of the book takes place on Maui). She said that boundary between earth and sea represented well the emotional journey that characters were on. It was a very VTara comment. I asked her what she thought of the "art" in the book and she said that I had done good. I miss VTara. I miss her calm, loving presence. I am sad that she won't be creating any new art (at least not that I can see). But, I am grateful that she got to be a part of this piece of art. I am grateful for her friendship. We feel her absence, and our community dearly misses her. Not surprisingly, the book is dedicated to her. So if you knew her and you are reading about Viki Dobos, realize that Viki is not VTara, but that artistic sensibility, that intuitive nature, that gentle presence is inspired by VTara. The Location I love Hawaii. Specifically the island of Maui and the town of Kihei. I LOVE IT. Warm weather, beautiful beaches, great snorkeling right off the beach, dry, sunny weather. What's not to love, right? I started Drawing the Dead in early 2011. I got the first 10,000 words done (about 40 pages), and then things fizzled. I had already placed much of it on Maui in and around Kihei (my wife and I have been there several times), but things just were not clicking. I wasn't sure if the story was right. So then in June of 2011 we spent a glorious week on Maui. Since the book was in progress I was thinking about it and we scouted for locations. One day we took a long walk down the beach from our condo at the Hale Pau Hana in Kihei down to the Grand Wailea in Wailea. I knew I needed a high-end house on the beach so I took my camera and we went scouting for it. I ended up finding the perfect house and snapped some pictures. I also was at a restaurant the characters go to, the beaches they walk, and went on a trip up the volcano to Haleakala National Park, they go on. All scouted live and in person. So when we got back, I read my wife those 10,000 words. She loved the start of the story, and that combined with the vividness of our recent journey to these locations and the words just flowed. I was inspired. One of my beta readers is familiar with the area and he told me the locations felt real. And they do, because they are. Old Friends When I wrote Shuffled Off, I got very attached to the characters. They are real to me. I know their words come out of my brain through my fingers, but they feel like separate people. People I like, people I want to spend more time with. So, back when I was first contemplating Drawing the Dead, I was finishing up Shuffled Off. I realized that since Viki Dobos drew the dead, I could involve JJ, Jesus, and Banquo (they are ghosts, after all). I liked how the story was shaping up in my mind, but brining in JJ and the gang for a cameo gave me the boost I needed to commit to the project. I also got to do some fun things. Since Drawing the Dead and Shuffled Off share the same fictional universe (which they have to if JJ and company were going to show up), that let me do a lot of creative things. For instance the book Shuffled Off exists in Drawing the Dead, it provides a key piece of information. And since a sequel to Shuffled Off is coming (it's called To Be a Fool) I could give tiny clues to it in Drawing the Dead. And lastly, there is an oblique reference to yours truly at the end of the book (look for it, it made one of my beta readers laugh out loud). Lots of inspiration went into this book: the premise (drawing the dead), my friend VTara, the location, and bringing in old friends. It made all the difference. Interested in reading it? You can read the first few chapters right now. [thrive_leads id='3729']

A Novel Writing Formula (the making of Drawing the Dead, part 1)

2013-04-03T14:37:38Z

This is the first part in a series on my novel, Drawing the Dead In this installment I talk about the formula for how I wrote this novel. A behind-the-scenes look at the parts that made up the whole. Before we get started, here's the blurb for the book, so you know what it is about:

Life and death are not that far apart… What happens when we die? Viki Dobos knows. Her job is to help people talk to their dearly departed. She draws the deceased, and they come to life on the page… briefly. When a rich Russian man hires her and whisks her away to Hawaii, everything changes. The rich man wants her to do the forbidden, and a handsome man she meets on the beach needs her more than he knows. Viki will have to confront her past, face her fears, and risk everything to help them. From the author of A Ghost's Memoir series (Shuffled Off and To Be A Fool) comes an unforgettable story of life, death, and the strange places in between. And now onto the formula...

The Dream If you're going to do something big, it really helps to begin with a dream. Writing a novel is no exception, and this one started with a literal dream. First a little back story. My wife, Aleia, has a rich dream life. Much more vivid and memorable than mine. I rarely remember my dreams in the morning, and when I do, they don't stay with me long. Aleia often wakes up full of them and tells me her dreams before we get up. It's the early part of the day before my brain is fully online, when reality hasn't quite formed, when she tells me. I enjoy hearing them, but just like my own dreams, I promptly forget them. Her dreams (and mine) are nebulous cloud-like wisps that are often gone as soon as they form. But not always… One morning, I think it was early 2011, she woke up and told me her dream. She is sketching in charcoal our dear friend Wayne who died in 2004 (I've spoken about him here). After she is finished the drawing comes alive and Wayne talks to her. As soon as she told me about it, I said, "That would make a great story." Maybe that was the key (linking a dream to a story possibility), but it stuck in my brain, like a seed in fertile ground. Soon the idea took root and the sketch of a plot was clear. The story would revolve around a medium named Viki Dobos who drew the dead (in pastels, a slight divergence from the dream), and helped her clients talk to their dearly departed. This is what Aleia was doing in her dream, and something we all wish we could do. That dream was the hook for the story and the hook that got me engaged. Do Something that Scares You Writing a novel is scary. No doubt about it. My first novel, Shuffled Off, was something of an accident. I wasn't trying to write a novel. I was just following the story and a novel is what happened. When I first conceived of Drawing the Dead, I didn't think it was going to be a novel. I was absolutely sure it would be about 30,000 words (around 150 pages) making it what is called a "novella." So, in my mind this wasn't a novel I was writing, so not scary yet. But the scary part was there…. A female protagonist. You see when stories come to me, I don't argue with them. Changing Viki into a male character to suit my comfort level, would have been a disaster. Following the story as it came to me… well, that's all I can do. Ursula Le Guin has a wonderful collection of essays on writing called The Language of the Night. This is the book that got me back to writing at the end of 2008. In it she talks about the writer delving deep into the collective unconscious and coming back with stories. More like a discovery than a creation. It has always been this way for me. The stories and characters lead, I follow. So a female protagonist it would be. Scary, but as it turns out in art, scary is good. Scary means you are trying something new, stretching yourself, growing. Follow the Characters I mentioned above that I though this book would be a novella. I was sure of it. And, every time I told Aleia this she would gently disagree. "No," she would say, "I think it's going to be a novel." I (again) didn't want to write a novel. Writing them is a long and arduous journey and takes a lot to bring to form. But, my process is to follow the characters, and that is what I did. There are two different styles of writing that are on opposite ends of the spectrum. One is the "discovery writer," that sits down and does it by the seat of their pants. The other is the "outliner," that plans each scene before writing a word. I lean way towards the "discovery" end. While I had a basic plot in mind when I sat down to write, I didn't have an outline of any kind. (And yes this is very scary too… and very fun.) So what happened to the novella that turned it into a novel? The characters took over and that 30,000 words turned into 63,000 words. I remember right when it happened (sorry, not going to mention it, no spoilers), and it is the best feeling. I had characters, I knew who they were, but imagine what it feels like when they start doing things you didn't plan. When they take over the narrative and complicate your story (and make it better). Honestly this has happened with every novel I've written (there's a third one coming later this year) and it is really my favorite part of writing. When this happened I told Aleia, "Looks like it's going to be a novel." She just shook her head and said, "Uh-huh." Stephen King talks about this in his book, On Writing. He says (and it's been a while since I read it, so this is paraphrased) that he wants to be surprised as a writer, and believes if he is surprised, his audience will be too. It's kind of like writing like you’re a reader. You're on the journey too, not exactly sure what is going to happen. Help (lots and lots of it) While writing is a solitary activity, you can't write a novel alone. (Well, I guess you could, but I wouldn't recommend reading one that was 100% solo.) I had lots and lots of it for Drawing the Dead:

9 Beta Readers (you know who you are--thanks so much!)
1 Editor, the amazing Joshua Essoe. www.joshuaessoe.com
1 Proof reader, Diana Cox. www.novelproofreading.com
1 Medical consultant, Jordyn Redwood. www.jordynredwood.com
1 Artist, Barry Miller (BTBArtist). www.btbartist.co.uk
...and 1 Amazingly supportive wife (seriously, she's amazing… check out Further Shore, what she does with her days)

Do you see what I mean? That's a lot of help, and each one of them made this a better book. And believe me, you don't want to read my un-edited and un-proofed text (I'm sure there are plenty of mistakes in this blog post. All those folks aren't helping me on this.) The Formula So, if I had to come up with a formula for writing a novel, this would be it: Novel = Dream (literal or otherwise) + Do Something Scary + Follow the Characters + Lots of Help Drawing the Dead is a product of this formula. Interested? Read the first few chapters right now. Read about my inspiration for this book in the second part of the series. [thrive_leads id='3729']

Drawing the Dead: An Introduction

2013-03-26T14:56:03Z

I am very excited to announce that my second novel, Drawing the Dead, is almost ready! I have a sample of the print edition in my hands and only a few things remain left to do. I expect the novel to be out sometime in April. So, it's time to make introductions.

The Blurb

First off, here's the back cover blurb:

Life and death are not that far apart… What happens when we die? Viki Dobos knows. Her job is to help people talk to their dearly departed. She draws the deceased, and they come to life on the page… briefly. When a rich Russian man hires her and whisks her away to Hawaii, everything changes. The rich man wants her to do the forbidden, and a handsome man she meets on the beach needs her more than he knows. Viki will have to confront her past, face her fears, and risk everything to help them. From the author of A Ghost's Memoir series (Shuffled Off and To Be A Fool) comes an unforgettable story of life, death, and the strange places in between.

A Little Background

I'll have some extensive posts on the "back story" of Drawing the Dead soon, but for now here's a little spoiler-free taste:

Drawing the Dead takes place in the same "universe" as Shuffled Off. That means that ghosts and the concept of the afterlife established there, apply to this book. And, most importantly, it means that JJ and the gang get to make a cameo.
You might have noticed the above blurb mentions "A Ghost's Memoir series" and "To Be a Fool." Yup, JJ will be back soon, and this book gives a sneak peak a what is coming for JJ.
This book hits many of the same themes as Shuffled Off (life and death), but does it from a different angle. While Shuffled Off focuses on the dead and their interactions with the living, this book focuses on the living as they peer across the veil to the world of the dead.

Interested?

If you'd like to know more, you can start reading right now. The first three chapters are on the site.

Pre-release Sale

The paperback version of Drawing the Dead will be priced at $14.99. Right now, I have signed copies on sale for $11 for the next few weeks until it is officially released. This is my way of saying "thank you" for your support. The pre-release books will ship shortly after the book is official out, and there is a $5 shipping charge no matter how many books you purchase. Signed copies of all my print books are for sale in the store, so the more you get the better deal shipping is. OK, so there it is, introductions are made. Watch this space for more info on Drawing the Dead!

Now in Print and Coming Soon

2012-12-08T15:01:30Z

It's been a long time since I've had any writing news to report. Not that I haven't been writing, I have. And writing a lot. I just haven't gotten anything new out the door. Much is coming next year, though (see below). Today I want to talk about two stories now available in print.

New Sun Rising: Stories for Japan

This is a charity anthology with all proceeds going to the Red Cross to continue to help recovery from the 2011 tsunami in Japan It is a lovely collection that contains my story "Shogun Dreams." "Shogun Dreams" is a story about Jeffery Smith, a wholly unremarkable man, that through a personal challenge becomes quite remarkable. I am very pleased with this story and glad it got in the collection and can do it's part to help people in need. So, what to read some great stories for a great cause? It's available in print and as an ebook at Amazon.com.

Probability: Resolve now in print

I know some of my readers prefer print. So, I am going back through all my ebook-only titles and one by one will be releasing them in print. With Print on Demand (POD) the way it is these days, there really is not much reason not to do this. This one is priced at $4.99 and comes with a sample of The Turing Test Will Be Televised at the end. One hitch, the way the economics of a POD book this cheap you can only get it from Amazon. You can buy them here. I'll have a few in stock soon, so if you want a signed copy let me know. At some point I'll get a better online bookstore going.

Coming Soon

I have two novels coming very soon. The next one, Drawing the Dead is nearly done and I expect to have it out around February. This book occurs in the Shuffled Off universe, but focuses on the living communicating with the dead (instead of the other way around like Shuffled Off). The protagonist is Viki Dobos, she has a gift and when she draws the dead the come to life briefly and talk to the living.

And later this year will be To Be a Fool: A Ghost's Memoir, Book 2. JJ and the crew will be back!

And there is more coming in 2013. I can't wait. Thanks for reading.

Robert

Superheroes and Love Stories

2012-04-13T14:47:25Z

I am struggling with how to introduce my next major release. Should I talk about my writing process and how this project came about? Should I talk about motivation, give you a peak into my strange brain. And all of that is pretty interesting (at least to me), but not really that important. It's the story that is important. This project is a pretty significant departure from Shuffled Off: A Ghost's Memoir so part of me thinks I owe you all an explanation. There are no ghosts in sight. There's no deep examination of the human grieving process. What's there is action, adventure, and humor. Superheroes and superpowers. Love and Romance. I guess I should talk a bit about motivation. I can sum it up pretty succinctly: I Love My Wife. Yup, I am writing about superheroes and world ending disasters because I love my wife. Bear with me. I'll explain. I have found a trend in my writing that my stories often look at love (The Turing Test Will Be Televised, for example). Not in the normal romance mode (boy meets girl / boy loses girl / boy gets girl back / boy and girl live happily ever after), but in a way that is a bit more real, a way that looks deeper. You see I am a romantic. One that has been in a wonderful committed relationship since 1990. So, I have a need to tell stories that talk about love; that go deep into love. Now, you might ask, how do superheroes get mixed into this? And frankly, I'm not sure. The ideas come, and I listen. It's my job; it's the deal I've made with my subconscious: you tell the stories, I'll write them down. So the idea that came crashing down on me about a year ago was to tell a big epic story about superheroes combined with a big epic love story. Neutrinoman and Lightningirl: A Love Story (Episode 1, Meteor Attack!) is the first release in this series. This is a novella (about 24,000 words or 100 pages long), and is the beginning of this very long story arc. It's somewhat of an old-fashioned serial; each "episode" will tell a complete story while moving the larger story along. It's also first-person (which I think is pretty unusual for this kind of thing) told from Neutrinoman's point of view. It's full of adventure, humor, and romance. I am, at once, trying to be playful with the superhero genre, while at the same time filling it with believe characters and (given superpowers) realistic situations. It was a total blast to write. So this is not a "boy meets girl" (or "boy meets boy" or "girl meets girl") story. It is an attempt to capture the feel of a long term relationship (the very beginning for this release). It will follow love as it changes and grows. It is about ordinary people (that can do some unusual things) trying to have an ordinary life in the middle of extraordinary circumstances. Here's what some early readers had to say:

"Perfect balance between sci-fi, humor, and romance. I can't wait til this dynamic duo meet Toxicwasteman and friends! " "Loved it, loved it, loved it. I’m a major sucker, though, for a good love story. You had me emotionally involved from the get-go." "Beautiful love story draped in outrageous humor. Romantic comedy at its best." "...had me howling/falling out of my chair." "A great story… Fun! Leaves you wanting more." "I really enjoyed the book… A superhero love story with humor."

Interested? You can read the the blurb and the prologue and first three chapters over on the new website: neutrinoman.com. The ebook is available at Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com. No print edition yet, but once I have three episodes done, I plan to gather them up in a print edition. I hope you have as much fun reading it as I did writing it. Robert P.S. For those ghost lovers out there, not to worry. More is coming, much more.

Fiction Gumbo

2012-03-20T18:13:13Z

It's been a long time since I have blogged. Life has been busy, and I have saved most of my writing energy for writing (there is a lot in the pipeline, which I am very excited about). But, in the last few months, I have released three novelettes. A novelette is longer than a short story, but much shorter than a novel. In this case they are all about 10,000 words or 40 pages long, and take about an hour to read. The "gumbo" in the title of this post refers to what the dish might be if you mixed all three stories together. You see, there is quite a bit of thematic overlap and I think they would go together nicely. Lots of similarities: sci-fi; looking at how technology effects our lives; relationships; and consciousness. But lots of differences: small and intimate vs. big and sweeping; contemplative vs. action/thriller. Plus, as with any good gumbo, there is a secret thematic ingredient that runs through all three of these stories and really ties them together (secret, of course, until you read them). I think if you mixed all of them together and simmered them for a good long while it would make a fine fiction gumbo, with a satisfying blend of textures and flavors. So, here's what's on the menu:

Probability: Resolve In a future New York City, Nan did what any mother would do--what she had to do to protect the child under her care. Someone died, and now she is on trial and must defend her actions; her very existence is at stake. For her the rules are different; Nan is not your normal Nanny. This is a novelette (approximately 9,000 words or 35 pages long long). Available from: Amazon.com BarnesAndNoble.com

The Turing Test Will Be Televised: Walter is an old man, one of the oldest. He just wants to live a quiet, simple life with his wife Camille and watch his favorite reality show, “The Big Hookup.” It is being broadcast live from the Moon this season with a new twist: one of the gentleman suitors isn’t human--he’s an artificial--but the female contestant doesn’t know.It’s a test. Can she tell which one is the artificial? Can Walter tell?Walter knows artificials, and is sure he can spot it, but things aren’t going to go quite as planned.This is a novelette (approximately 10,000 words or 40 pages long). Available from: Amazon.com

Ghost Hacker, Zombie Maker: Ghost Hacker (noun): an individual that uses programming knowledge and social engineering to repair or alter the virtualized neural duplicates of the deceased (commonly called "ghosts"). Zombie Maker (noun): bullets with a biological payload that makes their victim compliant and malleable for a short time before causing catastrophic damage to the neural tissue resulting in a painful death. Boss used to have a career as the lead animator for a high-end virtual actress. Boss used to have a life, and a name, and the face he was born with. Now that is all gone and he makes his living fixing the virtualized neural duplicates of the dead. He's a Ghost Hacker. But now, even that is at risk. Somebody is shooting Zombie Makers at him and he's afraid he's been found. All he's got is his wits and his best friend Lucy--a virtual of Boss's creation--to figure out how to save what he has left. Ghost Hacker, Zombie Maker is a sci-fi thriller. This is a novelette (approximately 10,000 words or 40 pages long). This ebook also contains "Hacking the Ghost," a short Ghost Hacker story. Available from: Amazon.com BarnesAndNoble.com

Help Me Name a Ghost

2011-12-02T15:50:45Z

It has been two months since Shuffled Off: A Ghost's Memoir first appeared on Amazon.com. I am happy to say that people are reading and really enjoying it. The feedback as been amazing and I am grateful for each and every reader. To be honest, the feedback has also humbled me and been a rather disorienting experience. I have consistently told that it is a "page turner" and "hard to put down", and even more amazing things like: "superbly written;" "I haven't been that unable to put a book down since I read the Harry Potter series to my kids;" "This is not your average ghost story and SO worth reading. Mr. McCarter, please write more;" and "...an emotionally engaging story underpinned by rich characterizations, dark humor and believable technology." And these are wonderful to hear, but a real shift in who I am as a person. Don't get me wrong, I love the feedback and I want more, but I feel myself changing. Going from writing on your own with just a few people reading it to having many people reading your work is a most interesting transition. My writing (and to some extent, my life) has suddenly gone from quite private to public. As brand new author I am starting at zero, and the progress in the last two months has been wonderful, but I would like to kick it up a notch, and for that I need your help. So, what do people do when they love a book? The talk about it, they tell their friends, they write about it. To that end I am running the Name the Ghost Contest to encourage people to do what comes naturally. You see all this feedback about Shuffled Off has consistently come with words like "I look forward to and await with giddy anticipation his next novel", and "I look forward to a sequel to this book and many more!" It's clear people want more of JJ and the gang, and I want more too. Just like all of you I want to see what happens next. So I have decided to write a sequel. I will probably start in January after I have a few other writing projects completed. Which brings us to the Name the Ghost Contest. One lucky winner will have the right to name (with some reasonable limits) a ghost in the new novel. Pretty cool huh? All you have to do is what comes naturally: spread the word. For each thing that you do (buy a book, post a review, write a blog post, talk about it social media) you are eligible to be entered into the contest (up to 20 times per person). The contest goes through the March 1st and anything you've already done qualifies you. All you have to do is fill out a form that tells and shows me what you did and, boom, you're entered. UPDATE: The contest has ended, so I have removed the related links. Interested? Read the rules or enter now! And thanks again for reading and keep that feedback coming.

100 Rejections and Counting

2011-10-19T17:53:13Z

Back in March I blogged about hitting 50 rejections for short fictions after close to two years of submitting. Well, now, about seven months later I have hit the big 100. The first 50 rejections took 2 years, the second took 7 months. What's changed? Well I have a full enough pipeline to have 8 to 10 stories out to market at once. This has done a lot to speed up those rejections. This is the result of writing more words, writing more consistently, and getting stories back out quicker. Has anything thing changed psychologically? A little yes. As the number goes up it does get a bit easier, but not as quickly as it did in the beginning. I still find myself hoping with certain stories and certain markets. Hoping that this will be the one--and then it isn't. That is still tough. One of the recent rejections was one of those, but even then the sting doesn't last as long as it used to. It's all still form rejections from the bigger markets, although I do get nice notes pretty regularly from the smaller markets. This has had a bit of a side-effect. I find myself wanting to submit to them more. They take the time to communicate, and that is valuable and appreciated. I have three stories in print in various charity anthologies, and a forth one accepted. And that is wonderful. But I am still wanting that first sale. To have someone like a story enough they will pay me to publish it is a significant milestone. Something else has changed. I am moving into publishing my own works. I released my first novel, Shuffled Off: A Ghost's Memoir this month. I had enough feedback from my beta readers to know I had something good. I am also getting ready to release some of my novelettes. These are too long for all but a few professional markets, and I have gotten good feedback (like two honorable mentions from the Writers of the Future Contest). So yeah, 100 rejections and counting. Keep them coming. I love writing. I love the experience of reading something after I have some distance from it, or hearing a reader's reaction. I love the process so I am sticking with it. 100 rejections, 1000 rejections. It's all good. I'll be here writing. Because you know, I'm a writer, and that's what writers do.

Dead Friends, Living Friendships

2011-10-04T22:09:25Z

Recently I went to the see the final Harry Potter movie. To anyone looking on, it appeared that I was alone, and physically I was. But really I wasn't. My friend Wayne was sitting there next to me. We had gone and seen the first Harry Potter movie together in 2001, it seemed only fitting that we go see the last one in 2011 despite the fact that he died in 2004 (I mean, why should a little thing like that get in the way?). Wayne is dead, but our friendship lives on. Most people get this… metaphorically. Our loved ones that are gone live in our hearts. The things they taught us, they ways in which they changed us, made us better, go on after they are gone. We are changed, and hopefully improved, by having known them. And I mean that, I do. But that's not quite all I mean. I talk to the dead. Now don't freak out and run away. I’m not a ghost whisper, or a psychic, or a mental patient. I am just a man who has had his share of loss and has found it useful to talk to the dead. I try not to get hung up on if it is "real" or if I am "making it up"; I just sometimes talk to those that are gone. Like in the theater with Wayne waiting for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. You see Wayne loved the movies, and while he was alive we went all the time. He would call me up in the middle of a work day and tempt me away from my computer. It was fun and simple and easy; and very good for me. I don't have anyone in my life that does that now—living that is. I still sometimes hear him tempting me, whispering in my ear about some promising action flick. I took Wayne with me to the latest James Bond films. I had no choice, really. He was a huge Bond fan and didn't live long enough to see the Daniel Craig version while he was alive. How could he not be there with me for Casino Royale? It was a darker, tougher Bond, but it was fabulous. He would have loved it… he did love. I know, he told me. Now remember when I said not to get too caught up in whether this is "real" whether I "made it up"? You see it doesn't matter. If it is real to me, if it helps me to talk to my dead friend, then so be it. There's limits of course. I have doubts, plenty of them. It took me a while after Wayne's death to get to the point where I could talk to him. Too soon and I was too deep in the grief. And it's been a while since he left, so it doesn't happen as often as it used to; life has changed a lot since 2004. But sitting there, waiting for Harry Potter to start. Who else would be there with me? When my friend Jeff was murdered in 2009 I started writing. Not about Jeff, but about death. I didn't know Jeff as well as I knew Wayne, but the circumstances and suddenness of his passing hit me hard. I had to write. I didn't even know what I was doing when I started. It began as a quiet meditation on death:

When someone dies, the world doesn't stop. It seems like it should, but it doesn't. It would be useful if it did stop. You know, take a moment, get your bearings, and deal with practical and emotional details that engulf a death. But no, no stopping, no break, you just gotta continue your drunkard's walk down the path of life.

Then a few paragraphs later I was surprised by:

When I died, the world didn't stop, not a bit. I wasn't expecting it to, but it would've been nice, you know?

Soon I learned his name was "JJ", and he had died suddenly and he was dealing with the life he left behind and his new after-life. And before I knew it I had a novel, Shuffled Off: A Ghost's Memoir. Nearly 300 pages full of ghosts and friendships and adventures, all from the ghost’s point of view. This wasn't a book I wanted to write, this was I book I had to write. For me it was a trip to the other side and a chance for the dead to talk (even the fictional dead have a lot to say). I don’t pretend to have the answers, and maybe I am making it all up. But, I do know that friendship can go beyond, as Shakespeare would say, the shuffling off of this mortal coil. Do you have dead friends you miss? Maybe you should try talking to them once in a while. Maybe they are waiting to hear from you. Maybe it will do you some good. You can find Shuffled Off: A Ghost's Memoir at Amazon.comand BarnesAndNoble.com Postscript I wrote this a while back but was waiting for the release of Shuffled Off to post it. So, as it turns out, today is the seventh anniversary of Wayne's death, and today at 9:34a I got the notice from Amazon that the book was officially available on the Kindle. To be fair the book showed up on Amazon yesterday, but just wasn't official. And to be clear, I didn't plan for the book to come out today, I have just been moving at my best pace to get it out and today is the official day. Spooky? Strange? Hell, I don't know. What I do know is that I miss my friend Wayne and I kinda think he's still around helping me out, helping this book get out. So thanks Wayne, love you man.

Welcome

2011-09-28T21:07:49Z

Hi, My name is Robert J. McCarter and I am a writer (among other things). Very soon now, my first novel Shuffled Off: A Ghosts Memoir is coming out so it seems I need a site for readers. This is that site. Here I will be posting about my writing and releases. If you are interested in less focused ramblings (often about the writing processes), check out my other blog: notabug.net. In the mean time feel free to contact me use the button on the left, or sign up for my newsletter on the right. I won't send emails very often (probably less than 10 times a year) and my newsletter subscribers will be getting free stories and learning about releases before everyone else. Thanks for stopping by! Robert

Indie Adventures – Part 5 – Bringing in the Pros

2011-09-17T16:22:47Z

New to this series? Start with: Indie Adventures – Part 1 – The Starting Line This series is titled "Indie Adventures," and I am going the indie route with the publishing of my novel, but that does not mean that I am doing it all myself. Indie is about control, it is not about who does the work. So, indie does not mean you have to do all the editing and proofing, create the cover art, typeset the book, format it for ebooks, create your support websites, etc. What it does mean is that you are the captain of your own ship; that you decide what happened with your book at each step of the way. So, for me, I decided to bring in the pros in two area: Proofing and Cover Art. Why? Because I knew I needed help.

Proofing

While I could have kept using volunteer resources (and I am going to do that a bit more) I decide it was worth looking into getting a professional proofreader. I had two (very good) reasons for doing this: 1) Writers are notoriously poor at finding their own mistakes--they're just too close; and 2) I am a poor speller and a messy writer. While I am getting better there is still a lot of cleanup that needs to happen with my text. Oh, and there was one more reason: In each of my beta rounds, and with each of my readers, new issues were found. To make my book the best I can, it seemed prudent to get someone who does this for a living to take a look. Finding the Pro: I used Diana Cox, whom I read a guest blog post on Joe Konrath's site. I emailed her and we were off and running. Results: Diana was great to work. She took a Word document with change tracking on, made two passes through it, and returned it to me. I spent a couple hours going through her changes (most of which I accepted) and that was that. She found many (hundreds) of small, mostly grammatical, things. Now, I don't think my manuscript is perfect and error free, but it is pretty damn close at this point. Cost: Diana charges $3.50 per 1,000 words. My novel is 62,000 word, bringing the cost to $217. Diana was kind enough to give me a new client discount (I don't know if she is still doing that), so I paid less, but frankly her rates are very reasonable, and it is very much worth $3.50 per thousand words. Contacting the Pro: Fair warning, Diana is busy, so if you want to user her contact her as early in the process as you can to get on her calendar. You can email her at support@novelproofreading.com, or visit her web page at www.novelproofreading.com.

Cover Art

OK, this is fun because I can tell this tale with pictures. When I did my first beta round I mocked up a cover for the book. My main reason for doing it is I wanted to make the book "feel" more real. I'm not sure why it was important, but it was. So I put together a very simple cover using some stock art. I couldn't quite pull off what I wanted (I was going for the text to look engraved), it was beyond my ability. But it did server the purpose I intended it to. So, here is my cover:

(click on image to see a bigger version)

I knew someone with more skill could do a better job, so on July 4th during a thank-you lunch for my short story Beta Readers (who also read the novel) Peter suggested using Steve Staal who had done quite a bit of work for his wife. Later in the evening they showed my some of Steve's work and I was impressed. So Steve started with the gravestone concept and proved what talent and skill can do. Check it out:

(click on image to see a bigger version)

A little bit better than my attempt, huh? He's a pro, you can tell with just a glance. When I first saw the version with the ghost on it I was completely blown away. I sat there saying "wow… wow… wow…” for a good five minutes. It was one of those experiences you don’t get very often in life--having a vision of something and seeing it go much further than you could have ever taken it. The process was a lot off fun too. Steve and I communicated via email. He would send me a draft, and I would make comments, and he would send me a better version. Great fun. And covers are important, they are the first thing a reader sees and they need to grab a readers attention as well as conveying important things about the novel. That ghost there is the novel's protagonist. His name is JJ. Want to hear something odd? Several of my beta readers, when rating the cover, commented that the JJ on the cover looks like the JJ they imagined. Amazing! Here is a look at the full back and front covers and the spine:

(click on image to see a bigger version)

Finding the Pro: Recommended by a trusted friend who had done a lot of work with him..

Results: As you can see for yourself: Amazing!. Cost: This cover is done as a work-for-hire (I am buying the copyright) for $500. Worth every penny. I am sure this cover will help sell the book. Contacting the Pro: You can email Steve at stevestaal@sswebworks.com or visit his website at www.sswebworks.com. But, uhh, don’t keep him too busy, I am going to need him for upcoming projects.

Conclusions

Going indie does not mean going it alone. When you need help, get it. Your book will be better off for it. And find a true professional (which I was lucky enough to do in both cases). Yes, it does cost money, but your book is a product and you need to invest time as well as money to make it the best it can be. Next up: Producing the Book Don’t miss: Indie Adventures – Part 1 – The Starting Line, Indie Adventures – Part 2 – Beta Readers or “How the Hell Do I Know If This Book is Any Good!?”, Indie Adventures – Part 3 – Evaluating the Beta Read, and Indie Adventures – Part 4 – Beta Round 2 (or One More Time for Good Measure).

Indie Adventures – Part 4 – Beta Round 2 (or One More Time for Good Measure)

2011-07-23T13:47:08Z

If you missed it, See Indie Adventures – Part 1 – The Starting Line, Indie Adventures – Part 2 – Beta Readers or “How the Hell Do I Know If This Book is Any Good!?”, and Indie Adventures – Part 3 – Evaluating the Beta Read Before we get into Beta Round 2, first a word from our sponsor.

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But seriously folks, I wrapped up Beta round 1 over 3 months ago, and only now am I getting Beta round 2 wrapped up. Ouch. Very Ouch. It's not that I haven't been writing; I have. My short story goals are going very well; it is just that I was not focused on the novel. Today that changed. Why, you ask? Because I actually sat down, created an Excel spreadsheet, and now have a timeline with all the many things that need to happen to get this novel out to the world. Seeing that it is likely going to be September before I can get everything done has lit a fire under my arse. So without further ado: Beta Round 2 (or One More Time for Good Measure): If you'll recall from my ramblings that occurred from the evaluation of Beta round 1; my trusty beta readers found lots and lots of little corrections (and many of those correction didn't overlap; in other words, everyone found unique issues), this sold me and doing it one more time. My imperative is to release a novel that is well written and professional. Going the indie route makes this double important, the stigma of "self-publishing" not being completely gone. So round 2 is more of the same. I used the same procedure (printed out manuscript, red pen, critique… see the other posts for more details) as Beta round 1. This round was smaller, 2 instead of 5 (with one of the 2 being me, more on that in a bit). I have a few observations from this round

One of my beta readers did not read (it was going to be 3). It is a good idea to plan for this kind of attrition; it's going to happen.
Everyone, yet again, found unique issues.
Far fewer issues were found. I am very please with this, it is a sure sign that the manuscript is shaping up.
I have ended up feeling better (and more confident) about the book.

Like I said, I was one of the readers on this round, and it did me a world of good. First of all, it has been a least a year since I sat down and read it from start to finish (and yes, this book is taking me a very long time to write; it's my first, so I'm OK with that, there is a lot to learn, and a lot to get over). Not only do I have 6 readers telling me the loved the book, I did too. It may seem a bit strange, but enough time had passed for me to be more objective when I read it. As happens with books that I really like, I got to the point where I couldn't put the book down (and yes, I knew exactly what was going to happen, and yet it was still hard to put down), and I was a bit sad when it was over. This novel is my kind of book. It may not work for everyone, but I am finally convinced that it works a novel and has an audience. I am not saying it is a great book or that I am a fantastic writer. What I am saying is that, based on my Beta readers feedback and my own experience, it is a real-live readable novel with interesting characters, an interesting plot, and provides a satisfying emotional experience. Maybe what I am saying more succinctly is that I have finally got past enough of my own crap to see and believe in the novel that I have written. And that is huge. And if that took an extra 6 months or a year to pull of it is easily worth it. Next up: Bringing in the Pros Don't miss: Indie Adventures – Part 1 – The Starting Line, Indie Adventures – Part 2 – Beta Readers or “How the Hell Do I Know If This Book is Any Good!?”, and Indie Adventures – Part 3 – Evaluating the Beta Read

The Writers of the Future Contest - A Class Act

2011-06-07T16:00:21Z

The Writers of the Future Contest (WOTF) is a class act. If you write speculative fiction (sci-fi or fantasy) and aren't a pro, then do yourself a favor and submit. I have been sitting on this for a while, since it wasn't public, but I recently got my second honorable mention (2 honorable mentions in 3 tries). This one is for fun sci-fi adventure novelette called "Ghost Hacker, Zombie Maker". Here is what is classy about this contest:

No entry fees, WOTF is the real deal.
The contest is only open to new writers (they have a very specific definition).
Winners get published in a well regarded, widely distributed anthology.
Winners get paid professional rates (above in many cases) for their work.
There is a big, glitzy awards ceremony every year.
Winning comes with a week long workshop taught by professional working writers.
Honorable mention gets you a public mention and a beautiful certificate.

I've talked about this before before: it's tough to break in. It is a long road filled with loads anonymous rejection. This organization treats new writer with respect, but more than that is actively cultivating the next generation of spec-fi writers. I've had a few email exchanges with Jodi Labaqui the, Contest Director. The first time, I just wanted to cry. I had sent just a simple thank-you for letting me know my story had been received. I was shocked to hear back for Joni in the first place, but she replied with such enthusiasm and encouragement that I was moved . The normal vibe regarding submissions is: leave us alone we are just so damn busy. And I get it and I understand it, but with WOTF they have the resources to be more generous with their time. And, when you are just starting out, dealing with the isolation and rejection, that can have a big impact. Last year Brad Torgersen blogged extensively about his experience and the value of being a WOTF winner (he even went so far as to quantity in dollars--he came up with a $10,106 value, just for the tangibles). Do you see what I'm talking about? This is an amazing organization and an amazing opportunity. This may sound strange, but they give so much, I have had concerns about selling to other venues before winning WOTF (and thus no longer being qualified). What they do sounds so amazing , I really, really want to win. Don't get me wrong, I will take a sale gratefully from any direction, this is just an indication of how awesome it is to win WOTF. So back to the honorable mention. It is there, clearly, to encourage writers like me. But it is not just an email. It is that, plus a public mention, plus a certificate. See, this is a class organization. Those extra little things really make a difference. Well, it has for me. I have submitted every quarter since I found out about it. So kudos and thanks to L. Ron Hubbard (who started the contest in 1938, and whose legacy this is), Joni Labaqui and all the rest of the folks at Author Services (the company behind it all), and the judges who are doing such amazing things for the spec-fi community.

Too Much To Do? Get Over It

2011-05-27T14:11:09Z

So you got too much to do? Yeah me too. Sucks doesn't it? The day is just never long enough, you can just never get to it all. It is frustrating and maddening. Right? You work all day, and having nothing left for yourself or your family when you get home. Your weekends are filled with doing what you couldn't get done during the week. You would like to do something worth doing in the evenings, but your days take all you got and all you can do is flop down on the couch and watch TV. Sound familiar, right? "I've got too much to do." It is a thought that spends too much time bouncing around my head. I just can't seem to get to the things I "really" want to get too. There are so many things that I "have" to do that the things that would bring the most joy are swept to the side. I have been thinking about this a lot lately and I think that, in general, this thought is not a useful one. We do have too much to do, but what if we didn't? What kind of life would you have if there weren't so many things worth doing? If you got up every morning having nothing to do beyond feeding and caring for yourself? Now sure, if your burned out, that sounds good. And it would be nice if happened once in a while. But what if that is the way it was day after day, week after week, month after month? What then? What kind of life would that be? I don't think it would be a very good one. We all need purpose in our lives. We need dreams and desires and things to overcome. And that kind of life leads to….

Too Much To Do

Yup. There it is. You have too much to do because you are actually living a life. Some of the benefits of having too much to do:

It makes you choose; decide what is important in your life.
Gives you purpose and meaning.
Challenges you to grow.

Not working for you? Still hating how much you have to do? Here are some more thoughts on this (in no particular order):

Perhaps you need to look at the definition of "Have To". There are probably many things in your life that you rush to do that don't need the be done quickly. Most of the time, little or nothing will happen if it doesn't get done. Some things in life are both urgent and important; but most are not. Most things actually can wait. So that email, or text message, or phone call: urgent, but (in most every case) not important.
Ever been sick, flat on your back, unable to do a thing? Of course you have. What happened to all that things you had to do that day? Did the world end? Doesn't seem to have, and those things were waiting for you when you got well. Somehow the world gets by without our constant attention and business.
Allow small bad things to happen. So you go to bed at a decent hour and as a result a few bills are late. Big deal. So you miss a deadline you really wanted to keep, but trade that for some quality family time. Way to go. Author Tim Ferriss talks about this on his blog and in his book, The 4-Hour Workweek
Give something up to do more of the things you want. Some low hanging fruit for this: TV, facebook, twitter, games, Angry Birds, texting, obsessive email checking, etc. You get the idea. Downtime is important, I am not talking about giving that up, but there is stuff we all do that could be eliminated to make room for things that are more important.
Some folks are addicted to the urgent (whether that urgent item is important or not), so that is how they live their lives. Not you or me of course. Oh no, not us.
There are lots of tools and techniques out there to help manage your time so you do what is really important. Find something that works for you and use it.

So, here are my two main points (in case it's not obvious):

Having "Too Much To Do" is a sign of a life worth living, so stop fighting it, celebrate it.
You can always make more room for what is most important. Your gonna have to give something up, but them's the breaks.

OK, there you go. Off to do more stuff; my "to do" list will not be done my the end of the day--as usual--which is fine, there is always tomorrow.

New Sun Rising: Stories for Japan

2011-05-25T06:58:49Z

This all started with 100 Stories for Haiti, and has moved on from Haiti to Pakistan to Queensland and now Japan. On March 11, 20011 a devastating earthquake and tsunami struck Japan. We all saw the news, saw the devastation, witnessed the drama at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. When disaster strikes, what do you do (besides watch it play out on the news). Well, writers write. Which makes sense, it is what writers do, right? They write. So another disaster, another anthology raising funds to help those effected by the disaster. This one is called "New Sun Rising: Stories for Japan" with all proceeds going to the Red Cross to aid in the relief efforts in Japan. New Sun Rising is a little different: the content will include stories, poetry, and artwork; all content must celebrate Japan and the Japanese culture; there is not a set number of stories; the maximum story length is much longer (7500 words versus 1000 or 500). So, when the call went out, I wrote. And this was a tough one for me. My knowledge of Japan pretty casual, and I have never been there. My first attempt died within the first few pages; it was a clever concept, but was going to require huge amounts of research and take far to long to write (and would probably be too long). My second attempt fared better; and I ended up with "Shogun Dreams". It is the story of an ordinary man that is transformed by a medical diagnosis and fulfills his life long dream of going to Japan. It is longer than my other charity stories (3,600 words), which is nice, allowing the story to have a broader scope. It is sweet story and has a mild sci-fi element to it. It took a lot of research and was tough to get right. My beta readers took me to task for my initial ending, but after extending the story, we ended up with a solid story. And I am very excited to say that "Shogun Dreams" has been accepted for the anthology! I really love this story and am quite proud of it. I am glad be able to contribute in this small way to help Japan. I'll keep you posted as things progress. What to know more about New Sun Rising? Website: http://booksthathelp.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NewSunRising Blog: http://storiesforjapan.blogspot.com/

100 Stories for Queensland is Here!

2011-05-14T09:09:54Z

100 Stories for Queensland is here! So, you can read some great stories (include "Soggy Shoes" by yours truly) and help with the recovery from recent devistating flooding in Queensland, Australia. There is a good FAQ up on the official site. Here are some excerpts:

What is 100 Stories for Queensland? 100 Stories for Queensland is a charity anthology of flash fiction, that is, short stories of under 1000 words, in aid of the survivors of the worst flooding in history in the Australian state of Queensland. 100 Stories DOES NOT contain real life accounts of the floods. Everything between our covers is fiction – or so our authors tell us! Where does the money go? Money from the sale of the book goes to The Queensland Premier’s Flood Relief Fund. 100% of the sale price of the eBook is donated. 100% of the wholesale price (less printing costs) of the paperback is donated.

Ready to buy? Here are the options:

eBook: Directly from the publisher
Print book: From Amazon.com

If you are reading this prior to Tuesday, May 17th 2011, and want a print copy, hold off on you purchase. There is an Amazon Chart Rush being organized to on the 17th to push the onto the Amazon bestseller list, increasing sales, exposure, and help to the flood victims.

Indie Adventures – Part 3 – Evaluating the Beta Read

2011-04-15T18:40:19Z

If you missed it, See Indie Adventures – Part 1 – The Starting Line and Indie Adventures – Part 2 – Beta Readers or “How the Hell Do I Know If This Book is Any Good!?” So you did your homework and setup up your beta readers (see part 2). This includes, in brief:

Picked good, enthusiastic readers that would read the kind of book you wrote.
Set them up with your manuscript (printed with red pen, or electronic with "track changes" on)
Gave them a critique to fill out.
Gave them simple instructions and lots of gratitude.

Now you wait, on pins and needles, desperate to find out whether you really have a book. And if this is your first time out, believe me, it is a valid question (one that you can't answer, thus the beta readers). This process took a while for me (about 5 weeks total), and I let it. Some of the readers got back to me very quickly, some took a while. When I was about 5 weeks out I did send out an email and ended up shifting one reader to Beta Round 2 (oh yes, I am doing two rounds of beta reads). Interview With a Beta Reader The day has finally come, your first reader has let you know they are done, what now?

Thank them, and keep thanking them.
Meet with them in person (if possible) or by phone. You want the highest bandwidth communication you can get. Email or IM isn't going to work that well.
Meet with them as soon as you can after they are done, so the story is still fresh. If practical, buy them lunch or coffee, or beer, or whatever.
Look over their critique, and their red-lining and make sure you can read it and it makes sense.
Chat with them about what they liked and what they didn't like. Ask questions of you need to about their critique comments. Use the face-to-face time to get a better sense of how they viewed your story.

If all goes well, your reader liked your novel, and found it to be a "Novel". Some of my readers expressed surprise at how fully formed my novel was. I took it as a compliment. Really they didn't know what to expect (and frankly, neither did I). My main concerns with the interview was:

Is it really a "novel"? In other words, did it "feel" like they were reading something they could have gotten at the bookstore or library
Did they enjoy it?
What was the experience like?

Do these interviews as your readers finish up. Dealing with Feedback, Some General Rules OK, so not everyone will love every word you write. Got it? Each of your readers will have an opinion about your book, some you like and some you don't like. This is not rocket science. Of course it logically makes sense, but emotionally it can be complicated. Keep in mind: This is not writing by committee. This is your baby, and you make the call. Your obligation is to listen with an open mind and consider what your readers are saying. None of this is about anyone being right or wrong. This is a very subjective experience for everyone. While all my readers really liked the book, some didn't buy certain things, some didn't like certain parts, some characters where not quite there for them. And that is fine. What can be hard is sorting out what is true for them, and what might be true for the audience at large. You will also find some of your readers going to town with the smallest of things in the book. I was surprised by what some choose as their favorite part. It was really interesting, and will inform what I do if more books are written with these characters. Evaluating the Quantitative Critique In Part 2, I presented a two part critique, the first part has 8 elements that are evaluated 1-5. After they are all in, start with them. Joe Konrath, in his original presentation of this, says you need at least 35 on the crit sheet to be ready. And yeah, this is a pretty high bar. So, take a spreadsheet put in the numbers for all your readers, and calculate the averages (or if you don't like those new-fangled spreadsheet thingies, do it by hand). The scores for my book ranged from 35 to 38.5, with an average of 36.5. Wow, was that a relief. Woop! Woop! There be a book here. I see one factor here (and only one) that is easy to change: Grammar / Spelling. My average there, is not bad, 4.13. This is one area you can, and will, nudge your score up while working on your book. For this book, I expect this to come up about half a point during this process. That takes the average to 37. The most important mark in this critique, for me, is "Overall Enjoyment". If the books is not enjoyable, the rest just doesn't matter. And this is interesting, there I got my highest marks. It came in at 4.88 (I got three 5s and one 4.5). Now it really is time to celebrate! I don't have enough data to say why "Overall Enjoyment" was higher. Many of the critique elements are very subjective, but perhaps that one is more so. Beta Edits So, now you know. Either you have a book people are enjoying, or you don't. If you don't, it maybe time to go back to the drawing board. If you do, then time to incorporate the edits. They come in two varieties:

Red-lined corrections.
General feedback (from the non-quantitative portion of the critique, or the interview).

The first one is easy: go forth and put in the changes that make sense. If this is spelling or typos, this is really easy, just do it. For other, more subjective changes, do it if it makes sense. When I am unsure about a suggested change I read it aloud, before and after. I take whichever one sounds better. An interesting aside: I was worried about all my beta readers finding the same typos. This did not prove to be true. My two best typo finders only had about 30% overlap in what they found. I had worried that maybe I should be doing one at a time (with corrections in-between, which would take a long time), but if this experience is indicative, that is not necessary. The other feedback (this character was a little thin; this part was confusing; this part was boring) is harder to deal with. My best advise, use your gut. A more complete version of that would be: take it in with an open mind, give your subconscious some time to chew on it, and listen to your gut. Confessions and Bit of a Rant I should make a confession here. Well maybe several:

I am not a professionally trained writer (and glad of it).
I hate to rewrite.
I am young to this game.
What I am saying works for me, your mileage may vary.

What I got from my beta readers did not leave me thinking I needed to rewrite (thankfully). What changes I made were small and delicate. This book was being enjoyed, and the last thing I want to do is screw that up. I think that what makes a book a "good" book is, actually, a bit of a mystery. There are, certainly, some well understood basics (character, plot, quality of the prose, etc.), but beyond that why does one book stand the test of time and another one doesn't? Sure, some writers can hit the best seller lists over and over, but most can't. There is luck, and timing, and a lot that I don't think we understand fully. I only say this to suggest that if your novel is well received, maybe you don't know exactly why. And if you don't, tread carefully. Everyone writes differently so do what works for you. I can tell you some very professional writers out there don't do much, if any, rewriting on their own books (for example check out this blog post by Dean Wesley Smith). Dean's basic premise is this: you use a different part of your brain to write vs. rewriting. They are different skill sets, and not many are good at rewriting. For me the process is about getting out of the way and letting it come to me. That is why I give things time, and go slowly and carefully when doing anything beyond basic grammar and typo fixing. There is this "where the hell did that come from?" that happens a lot in my writing. It is, in fact, one of my favorite parts of the process. I sometimes put the most casual reference early in a story, when I don't know where it is going, and somehow in the end it is very, very important. I am not saying I never rewrite, just almost never. Each story is different, each writer is different (i.e. there is no "right" way to write a book). Honor that. What is Next? So you did a beta round, used that to evaluate, and hopefully, improve your book. What is next? For me, it is on to Beta Round 2. Next up: Beta Round 2 (or One More Time for Good Measure) Don’t Miss: Indie Adventures – Part 1 – The Starting Line and Indie Adventures – Part 2 – Beta Readers or “How the Hell Do I Know If This Book is Any Good!?”

The Psychology of Writing, Part 2: The Shock Box

2011-04-07T19:26:21Z

If you missed it see: The Psychology of Writing, Part 1. Writer L.M May just did a fantastic blog post titled: Fiction Writers and Learned Helplessness. In it she talks about some of the psychology behind what is happening in the writing world today with the indie vs. traditional publishing camps. The whole post is great, and well worth reading, but I want to focus in on one aspect. But first, go read it now. I'll wait… I want to focus on the "Submission Box Experiment" she presented. In describing what happens to a writer when they submit something for traditional publishing she comes up with a metaphorical red box that you stick your hand into every time you submit a work. If you get a "no" back from the editor, the box delivers a shock; no response from the editor, and the box doesn't do anything (and you are left wondering and anticipating); a "yes" delivers a pleasure inducing opiate. There is one response she missed. It is the "I enjoyed reading your story but ______" response. The "but" being along the lines of: "your ending completely sucked"; "it has been done a million times"; or the nebulous "it didn't quite work". (And yes, I have gotten versions of all those.) That response delivers both the shock and the opiate, leaving you in a very strange manic-like state. I am calling this metaphorical contraption the "Shock Box." Because, for me and most new writers, that is what it does most all of the time. I would like to briefly note that all of this applies to any artistic/creative endeavor that has a "gatekeeper" system. So how do you deal with that? I mean imagine it. You are a beginning writer and as you submit (more than likely) you are subjected to shock after shock, no after no. Over and over. And that is often all the feedback you get, the painful "no". No advice on how to improve, just the sting of knowing it wasn't good enough. The first time I got the nerve up to put my hand in the box, I got the shock (predictably), and stopped writing and submitting for more years than I would care to admit. And, admittedly, I didn't know what the hell I was doing; I just knew that I had: 1) actually finished a story and 2) that story moved me and was hugely cathartic to write; and 3) was the very best I could do. Was my response realistic or reasonable? No, but we are talking about human psychology here. But, if you're going to make it, you keep going. You put up with the shocks, try to become immune to them (although you never will, not completely), and as L.M. May described, you develop coping mechanism. Some of the coping mechanisms she mentions are:

…. I contend that the mental games that fiction writers have developed like “The Race” (where points are awarded for the number of submissions out and the goal is to get as big a number as possible), competitions to see who can get the most rejection forms, and “a short story a week” are coping mechanisms for fiction writers to be able to keep putting their hand back into that red box.

Stephen King famously impaled his rejection letters on a spike in his office--clearly a coping mechanism appropriate for Mr. King. Here's a few more not-so-constructive ones that are pretty easy to fall into:

Believe that no one understands you, and no one "gets" your art. Let your ego run away with you and fully embody the "misunderstood artist" archetype.
Demonize traditional publishing and go indie-only. (Where you will have to confront the specter of no one buying your self-published story. Yeah, that could hurt too, because at first you will be learning a new skill-set and not know what the hell you are doing).
Keep writing, but stop submitting.
Edit your stories to death, trying to make the perfect--whatever the hell that is--so that your production basically dries up.
Give up.
Drink.
Give up and drink.

So my advice? Just keep writing and submitting. Make up any constructive game you need to get through the shocks. Have faith, your skin will grow thicker (if mine has, than I believe that yours can). And find an audience that likes your stories, even if it's just you, or your wife, or your mother, or your dog. Actually your primary audience has to be you. It has to be. Yup, I am telling you to write for yourself. Because if you don't love the stories you write and the characters you create; if you aren't moved by the words--how the hell are your going to stick you hand in that box time and time again and get shocked over and over? To keep writing, it has to server you at a very primal level. So, write something, submit something, and stick your hand into that box. You'll survive. Don't miss: 50 Rejections and Counting and The Psychology of Writing, Part 1.

Coming soon: 100 Stories for Queensland

2011-04-05T18:30:13Z

100 Stories for Queensland now has a release date: Tuesday, May 3rd. This charity anthology has my story "Soggy Shoes" in it, and this one is for flood relief in Australia. All proceeds go to Queensland Premier’s Flood Relief appeal. I've seen the galleys and it looks fantastic. So all you charitable minded readers (or just readers who like good short stories) get ready. I'll keep you posted as details come in. Read more about it in my previous blog post.

Indie Adventures – Part 2 – Beta Readers or "How the Hell Do I Know If This Book is Any Good!?"

2011-03-26T18:34:11Z

If you missed it, See Indie Adventures - Part 1 - The Starting Line. It is a serious question. How the hell do you know if your book is any good? Or movie, or game, or song. If you are on your own going indie, how the hell do you know? Ask your Mom, or your spouse, or your best friend? Not quite, you need to be a bit more objective than that. A common axiom in writing, is that writers are not a good judge of their own work (I think the same applies to most artists and their art). The story comes out (or through) you, making your relationship with the story distinctly different than anyone else's relationship. You are very close to it. It is your child. And even if everyone in the world thinks your child is ugly, you don't. You love your child. (In reality the relationship of an writer and their work is much more complicated.) This is where Beta Readers come in. They are often called "First Readers," but owing to my background is software development "Beta Readers" works much better for me. Just like in software, Beta indicates the phase in your work where it first leaves the cushy confines of your computer and ventures out on a limited basis into the world. Beta is where you find out if you have something or not. I just finished up my first Beta round with the novel I have under development. It took about 5 weeks (these folks are volunteers, it sometimes takes them a while to get around to reading your book). Here are my recommendations for choosing Beta Readers:

Pick people who love to read.
Pick people who will be honest with you even if they think it will hurt.
Make sure what you have written is something they would ready anyway. You don't want to send your romantic comedy story to someone who hates romantic comedies. You want to give it to someone who loves, and knows them. To put it in another context: you wouldn't ask someone who hates chocolate to taste-test your new chocolaty confection (yeah I know, everyone loves chocolate, but you get the picture).
Pick enthusiastic readers. You are asking them to spend quite a few hours of their rare leisure time reading your book. You want them to be into it (you also want it happen in a timely fashion).

There are other desirable, but I don't think necessary, traits:

Experienced writers. Although, avoid grammar elitists like the plague. It's a novel, most people don't care that grammar is to-the-letter perfect, it just has to serve the story.
Experienced editors. Just make sure they know you are not expecting a full edit.

I had 5 readers in my first round. I have four results in and am moving forward (the 5th was a maybe anyway). How many beta readers are ideal? I don't know. I think you need 3 at a minimum, and about 6 as a max. You need a few opinions (and everyone will have different opinions), but not so many that you can't manage it. The Goals of a Beta Read

To find out if your story is any good.
To find out how other people see your story, including its strengths and weaknesses.
To find out what you have left to do to get the story ready to publish.

You are not looking for everyone to love every bit of what you have written. This is not writing by committee. You are trying to find out if you story has these basic qualities:

Realistic characters that your readers care about.
A plot that is engaging and understandable.
An experience that causes your reader feel something.
An enjoyable experience. Cause, ya know, this is entertainment.

Bonus items are:

Making your readers think a little.
A rewarding cathartic experience.

Finding Beta Readers I had discussed the project with a few people as I wrote it and some expressed enthusiasm and interest in it, so I started with them. I have some Beta Readers for my short works, so I went to them next. I also tapped into a writer's group that I had briefly been part of. All in all, it was easy to find readers. I was delighted by the level of interest and enthusiasm I encountered. And when I step back, I get it. If I knew someone who had written a novel that sounded interesting, I would be delighted to read it too. The Mechanics of a Beta Read I printed my manuscript on pre-punched paper (which tons of time) and put them in a three ring binder. In it I includes:

A letter with a big thank you and a few guidelines.
A critique sheet for them to rate the book and some open ended questions. This is crucial, you need a uniformed way to get data back. You, of course, want them to feel free to tell you anything they want, but you need to cover the bases on some basics.
The novel, double-spaced, in manuscript format.
A red pen (forget about finding notes written in your manuscript in black--not fun).

I asked them to:

Read the manuscript
Make notes on the manuscript of spelling errors, grammar errors, passages that caused them problems, and things that they liked. (Don't forget that last one, you want to know what works as well as what didn't work.)
Give me a few minutes of their time when they are done to discuss their thoughts on the book and their experience.

You might be asking yourself why a printed manuscript? Well my main reason is that I hate reading long things on the computer, and I think lots of people do. Also, computers are work, novels are fun. I have one reader who will be reading in my second Beta round that wants it electronically, so I will deliver it that way. I also delivered the critique electronically (after my first reader to finish typed his answers out because it was easier for him) The Critique I started with a slightly modified version of Joe Konrath's crit sheet. To that, I added some free form questions to help me get a little more in my reader's head (and to help them think about the story and what they liked and didn't like). Here is what it contained: (Feel free to use or change as you see fit. If you think of some great questions that are not in here, please contact me)

Rate the story in each of the following categories using 1 through 5 (5 being the best): The Hook - does the story pull you in right away and then hold your interest? The Conflict - what is at stake in the story, and how is the tension used? The Characters - are these compelling, real people that you care about? Setting and Mood - does the story make you feel like they are really there? Pace and Style - how well does the writer use the words to move the story along? Resolution - does it have a satisfying ending? Grammar and Spelling - are they perfect, or do they serve the story when they're not? Overall Enjoyment – was this a story you would actually buy? Story Title: ________________________________ Reviewer: _________________________________

Category Rating: 1-5 (5 is best)

The Hook

The Conflict

The Characters

Setting and Mood

Pace and Style

Resolution

Grammar and Spelling

Overall Enjoyment

Total

Bonus, a few short answers to these questions will be very helpful. Who was your favorite character, and why? Who was your least favorite character, and why? What was your favorite part of the book, and why? What was your least favorite part of the book, and why? Which, if any, parts of the story did you find surprising? Would you be interested in reading a sequel to this book? Would you recommend this book to friends? If so, why, and how would you describe it (i.e. what would you tell them to get them interested in reading it)? What books (or even movies or TV shows) would you compare this book to if you were telling someone about it?

Conclusions Taking your novel out for a spin for the first time is scary (well at least for me it was). It took an effort of will to say I am done messing with this, I have to find out if I have something. And it is not like you can skip this step (well you can, but that would be foolish). It is best to find some enthusiastic readers, set them up with clear instructions, a good critique, a red pen, and let them go to town. Next up: Evaluating the Beta Read Don't Miss: Indie Adventures - Part 1 - The Starting Line.

Indie Adventures - Part 1 - The Starting Line

2011-03-19T10:01:33Z

The publishing world is changing. Fast. A brief look at some writers blogs out there (Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Joe Konrath) will orient you to the changes. I can sum it up briefly in one word: Indie. The indie movie industry and the indie music industry are well established. It is, simply, when an artists takes control of their art and brings it as directly as possible to the consumer. Less corporate-centric, more artist-centric. Until recently the only term for this in the publishing world was "self-publishing," or worse yet "vanity publishing." It held a stigma to it that if you couldn't convince a company to invest in your art, it wasn't worth while. There were gate keepers that had to be dealt with. The only way around them was difficult and expensive (printing your own books in quantity, getting distribution, getting stores to buy them, etc.) With the rising popularity of eBooks and the ease of POD (print on demand), this stigma is evaporating as quality indie work gets published. With Amazon and Barnes and Noble it is now easy for an author to get their works out. And indie authors are starting sell large numbers of books (Amanda Hocking has sold around 1 million of her books in the last year). "Indie" seems to be the new moniker, which, appropriately, aligns it with the indie move and indie music scenes. I am in the final stages of writing a novel, which I plan to go indie with (perhaps down the road I will discuss the why of that decision). I have decided to document this process here. I have two main goals:

Document the process for my own use as a reference. I think this will go a long way in helping me learn the lessons I need to learn.
Help other authors wanting to go indie. The numbers are growing, and perhaps these posts will be of use.

I am at the beginning of the process, so instead of looking back in retrospect, I will be going forward step by step and documenting the good, the bad, and the ugly of what I am doing and learning. I do have a background in old-school self-publishing. In 1994, my wife and I formed Little Hummingbird Publishing to publish her book Rainbow Warriors Awake! An Invitation to Remember. In 1999 we published a fractal video that my wife, a musician friend in New York, and myself created called LightTones - A Journey of Color, Music and Fractal Imagery. I learned a lot from those experiences, including how difficult it is to reach an audience, and how very much time and effort it takes. I am hopeful that the current environment will be considerably easier (although I don't expect it to be "easy"). I also have a background in business. I have been making a living as a freelance programmer for most of the last 20 years. I also have been a part of quite a few corporations, and have extensive accounting experience. I will, hopefully, be applying these experiences to this endeavor. I am at the starting line. A nearly finished novel and a lot to learn and do to get it out the public. So the adventure begins. I don't know where this is going or how it will turn out, but it should be interesting. Next up: Beta Readers or "How the Hell Do I Know If This Book is Any Good!?"

50 Rejections and Counting

2011-03-01T15:50:45Z

On 3/18/2009 I submitted a story called "As I Shall at Death" to Flash Fiction Online. It was rejected, and that rejection was psychologically hard. Now, nearly two years later, I am around 50 rejections and counting for a total of 15 stories. I am not completely sure of that number, I have a spreadsheet that I track stories and markets on and track rejections and acceptances. The numbers on the two pages of the spreadsheet don't agree (one is 47 and one is 51). And I don't care that the numbers don't match. And that is telling. The first rejection (and the one above wasn't exactly my first, but the first of this round of writing) was tough and, irrationally, made me wonder what the hell I was doing. The 10th rejection was hard, but doable. By the time I got past 20 rejections it stopped being a big deal. It can still be tough, but most of the time it is not. I still hope that these stories find a good home, but it has become less personal. I sometimes feel bad for the story, not myself, when the rejection comes. I like these stories (most of the time) and I want them to succeed; I'm rooting for them. At 50 rejections and counting, my reaction is now: OK, where else can I send this story, and what can I send to the market that just sent a rejection? The rejections transform slowly from something terrible to a sign of life. If I am getting rejections, it means I am writing and submitting. The regular rejections are now the thump-thump of my writer's heart. So bring it on, reject away! I am going to keep writing and keep submitting whether you reject them or not.

Doing What You Love + Lending A Hand = AWESOME

2011-02-08T14:52:33Z

Doing What You Love + Lending A Hand = AWESOME. My story, "Soggy Shoes," was accepted for the 100 Stories for Queensland anthology, and I am personally thrilled to be able to contribute and to get into print again. It is my first non-scifi/fantasy story and is a sweet little romance (as in: boy loses girl, boy admits he's and idiot; boy gets girl back). What is happening to Australia is reminding me a lot of what happened to Flagstaff, albeit on a much smaller scale, last summer. We had a devastating fire, followed by flooding, with a few very unusual tornadoes thrown in for good measure. When disaster strikes we humans seem to be pretty good at pulling together and helping out. In our modern age this is greatly aided by technology, make the world that much smaller. This is a bunch of writers, from all around the world, voluteering their time doing what they love to help those in need. And as I've mentioned before, there is something so beautfiul about being able to help out, doing what you do, from where you are. So all you folks that love to read, please consider buying a copy and do what you love (reading) while helping those in need. All proceeds go to Queensland Premier's Flood Relief appeal. Remember: Doing What You Love + Lending A Hand = AWESOME. And come on, you know you love to read! Stay tuned for more details, the book is expected out on March 8th.

100 Stories for Queensland

2011-01-26T13:48:07Z

I am just putting the final touches on a submission for 100 Stories for Queensland. Like 100 Stories for Haiti and 50 Stories for Pakistan before it this is a charity anthology to help those in need. In these case the flood victims in Australia. I just found out about it two days ago, and was confronted with the void of the blank page yesterday morning when I sat down to write something for it. I seriously had no idea what to write about, but as I am learning, I just trusted the process and wrote the first image that popped into my head and let the story flow from there. I of course had to plow through some of the psychology of it; after all I have been accepted at the last two of these and there was the brief terror of failure (made worse by previous success). I did get over it, and did my best. I am hopeful it will help; either way I'll be buying a copy. There is not much time left, but it's not too late. The constraints can be very focusing (time, length, content), and very useful. Why not go for it? Read about the project. Submit a story. Oh, I almost forgot. Nick Daws who was involved in the other two projects blogged a bit about the editing process and what they are looking for. Check it out; I just love it when an editor pulls back the curtain.

Somewhere Between Denial and Depression

2011-01-25T18:24:10Z

I wrote the following last August the 12th as we struggled with our dear Emerson's illness. We helped her on to the next life on about August 25th (I don't remember exactly what day it was, and I don't really want to.) I am posting this now because in looking back at it, there is something to what I was getting at, and mostly, because there is enough distance now that I actually can post it. There is a place I am trying to find. A rare and mysterious place. It lies between the tall cragged peaks of denial and the void of depression. I know there is a middle ground, but somehow I keep going from one to the other. I am high on a peak seeing the "big picture" and ignoring realities. The air is thin up there, and the way treacherous, it is easy, oh so easy, to fall down into the pits of depression. In those pits I feel the weight of reality, smothering me, overwhelming me, holding me down so that I don't seem to be able to move. Until I gather the strength to run away and find myself back up at the heights of denial. Back and forth, back and forth, bouncing between the extremes. What is causing all this, you might ask? Well it's a tumor. Not on me, or my wife, but on our beloved dog Emerson. Both vets we went to see said it was cancer, and agreed that the only treatment available is amputation of the leg. Down, down, into that dark pit. Death, loss, morality. But she doesn't seem to bothered by it: but up to the jagged heights where the air is thin; she can beat this, she's just fine. I have been making this journey from denial to depression often enough that I am starting to get a glimpse of the land in between. It is a vast territory, little visited by man. A place of wonder and enchantment, but also fundamentally disturbing. It's called "I don't know." It goes like this:

I don't know what is going to happen with Emerson.
I don't know how long she has to live. As a 12 year old dog, the odds say that she only has a few years at best, but I don't know. She could, conceivably, outlive me. Because… I don't know.
I do know she has a tumor. I do know that it appears to be cancerous. And I don know it has grown a lot over the last year.

Up at the heights of denial we want to pretend that what we fear doesn't exists, that we are "above" it, but in truth we are just fearful and disconnected. In the depths of depression we fell crushed by the weight of enevitabililty, convinced that the worse will happen, but really we don't know and are driven to a different place by our fears. In the land of "I don't know" we realize that the future is not knowable. That we can do our best, make the best decisions we can but we will never know if they are the "right" decisions. And what is that anyway? The "right" decision. By what measure--our fears not being realized? Well that's not really possible in this case, is it? Death is inevitable for Emersion, for me, for you--all of us. And do you fell it? The desire to escape not knowing even if it is only into the thin air of denial, or the thick stew of depression. Despite the tumor, I don't know when she will die; I don't know how long she has to live; and I don't know how she will die. Not the most comfortable place, this land of "I don't know." No, not comfortable at all. But better, much better, than denial and depression. And just because I know the land of "I don't know" is here doesn’t mean I am not still scaling that mountains or tumbling to the depths. I'm human. When looking at loss, it's what we do. Each time I climb to denial or tumble into depression I try to tarry a bit longer in that place in between. I try to keep reminding myself that I truly don't know. I've been through this before with dogs, and friends, and jobs, and relationships, and dreams, and best friends. It's not easy giving up what you love. What I have learned is that the only thing I know much of the time, is "I don't know."

The Psychology of Writing, Part 1

2011-01-15T18:11:00Z

Writing is hard… No, no, that's not it. Writing is not hard; getting your writing read is hard. Hmm, that's not exactly it either. Dealing with the rejection that goes with writing is hard. Actually dealing with success is hard too. It's the psychological aspect of it you see. If you are trying to get traditionally published (and for short fiction, I definitely am) it is a strange, strange dance. You do your best writing a story. Have some friends proof it for you (and probably not be straight with you about what they think about it; they don't want to hurt your feelings); send it off to an editor; and more than likely get a polite "no thank you," or if you are really lucky, a tersely worded "not quite bub." So how do you get better? The simplest advice is to write a lot and read a lot. Good advice, that, but not always satisfying, and it doesn't appear to be particularly efficient. This is an "art" after all, and the quality of your writing is pretty damn subjective. Another thing you can do is join a writers' group. But hey, they're in the same boat you are. How do they know if your writing is any "good." Or you can go to a workshop taught by professionals. Which takes time and money, but is probably a good idea, provided you have the psychological fortitude to do it. I would like to do that someday (soon), but I haven't had a proper alignment of those three aspects (time, money, and psychological fortitude, that is). It's a strange roller-coaster. Some days I love my stories and characters; some days I think it's all crap and a huge waste of time. Some days the words flow out and are a joy; some day's it's just work. So I slog along, writing as much as I can, keeping stories out to market, collecting rejections, and sucking the high of an editor actually giving me a "not quite bub" for all it's worth. The two stories I have had published were an unbelievable thrill, and powered me for a long time. And it is hard work--psychologically. It's one of those things that force you to grow, to get out of your comfort zone, to push on against the odds (well it does that for me, at least). It's kind of the "eat your vegetables" aspect of it. It may not be fun, but it is good for you, and you grow. I didn't really expect it when I got back into writing, and at first I didn't like it at all, but I am coming to appreciate it. Or maybe a better metaphor is running. For runners, there is a lot of pain and discipline and work, but you keep at it for the "runner's high." Yeah, that sounds a lot like it. A writer keeps writing for the "writer's high." Things like:

An editor commenting on your story (even if it's just to say it didn't completely suck and has potential)
Reading your own story months (or years) later and being moved by it
The days when the words flow and you have no idea where they are coming from
Seeing your word in print, or online
Watching someone ready your story and seeing them laugh, or cry, or otherwise "experience" it.

The psychology of writing is complicated. It messes with your ego, digs deep into your psyche, and it is changes you (well it is certainly changing me). Hmm, maybe it is not the writing exactly that is doing the changing, but I am changing and growing to be a writer; changing into a writer. There is an axiom about writers. It is simply, "writers write." Which is true, but it hides the huge psychological aspects of the art. What I have found is the most challenging aspect is not story ideas, or grammar, or submissions, but the psychology of it all. So if you are a writer struggling with the psychological aspects of it, my advice to you is: Take a deep breath and keep writing. You are not alone, all writers go through this, and keep going through this. It is just a part of the game. OK, time to take my own advice. Deep breath... back to writing... Don't Miss: The Psychology of Writing, Part 2: The Shock Box

50 Stories for Pakistan is Here!

2010-11-16T11:22:02Z

50 Stories for Pakistan

Helping the victims of the floods

Produced by www.bigbadmedia.com

Book Preview

Actually, "50 Stories for Pakistan" has been out since October 28th, and I am remiss in blogging about it. This is in no way a comment on my enthusiasm for it, just a testament to just how busy things have been. It is a beautiful book and I am proud to be part of it. It is availible on Blurb here: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1678288. My copies came last week and they look great! It has been doing well there too. It is a Blurb Best Seller, and was featured as a Book of the Week. So what are you waiting for? If you like good short fiction go buy it!. If you like win-win situations (as in you get a cool book, and help people at the same time), go buy it! If you want to read something I've written (my story "A Fluttering" is number 44), GO BUY IT!

50 Stories for Pakistan

2010-10-12T13:10:30Z

Greg McQueen, the force behind 100 Stories for Haiti is at it again. This time it's a book to support the victims of the flooding in Pakistan called 50 Stories for Pakistan. Once again he sent the call out for submissions, this time a limit of 500 works and "no stories with any violence, death, or mass destruction." With 20 million people displaced by the flooding, I was inspired by by the effort. I had a hard time with the constraints of the story. We lost one of our four legged friends, Emerson, in August, an my writing has been reflecting my mood: dark. But finally, an image came to me several days before the deadline and I got a story written. That story, "A Fluttering," has been accepted for the book. In fact I just finished proofing it and two others stories from the print ready PDF Greg sent to the authors. I loved the stories I read and am looking forward to reading the entire thing. This is my second published story (the first being "The Path of the Faerie King" in 100 Stories for Haiti) and I am thrilled! Rejection is a big part of this writing thing, but having someone say yes every once in a while is such a help. And the intent behind these books is amazing: writers writing to help those in need. The book we be out soon, and just like 100 Stories for Haiti before it, it is a great opportunity to enjoy some wonderful fiction and help some people in need. I will post again when I have details on where you can buy the book. Read my posts on 100 Stories for Haiti.

Finding the Time

2010-09-18T10:35:12Z

Writer John Scalzi has a great post on finding the time to write: http://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/09/16/writing-find-the-time-or-dont/ It is written with his usual sharp pointed wit, and right on the money. Here are some of my favorite bits:

"So will you please just shut the fuck up about how hard it is for you to find the time and inspiration to write, and just do it or not."

"Being a writer isn’t some grand, mystical state of being, it just means you put words together to amuse people, most of all yourself." "And if you need inspiration, think of yourself on your deathbed saying 'well, at least I watched a lot of TV.'"

The thing is, his advise rings true for all of our don't-have-the-time-for dreams. Life is unpredictable and is always presenting us with the unexpected, but let's face it: if you really are passionate about something you find time for it. To do something you are not doing, you have to give something else up. Period. We only have so many minutes in a day. If you're not (insert you dream here) what are you willing to give up to do it? Because you are going to have to give something up. Whether its down time, or bad habits, or facebook, or tv, or sleep, or a previously cherished dream--something's got to go. If you aren't willing to give something up, do you really want it? (Maybe, but not enough.) I've spent much of my life wishing I was doing/learning something I wasn't doing/learning. Better to go for the dream or just let it go.

A Lesson in Light

2010-04-22T18:42:52Z

When I started this blog, I intended to include some of my photographic work and thoughts. It has taken a while to get to it, but here we go. Light is everything for photography, quite literally. I didn't knew that, but didn't really "know" it until last October at a KOA in Oklahoma. We had just spent the month in Rochester, NY and were on our way back. The whole time there I was hoping for an early shift to the fall colors so I could get some spectacular pictures. Fall did not come early, and I was left with only managing a few poor shots of some changed leaves. On the way back we arrived at our Oklahoma stop early in the afternoon, so I was out playing with the camera. Again I was confronted with some beautiful individual leaves and trees that had turned, but not the larger color soaked landscape I was after. As you can see the leaf it self is lovely, but nothing special. I then took the leaf and held it to the beautiful blue sky to get it to pop. Better, but not great. I mean it just a leaf right? Then rotating and playing in/with the light I found just the right angle. Wow, what a difference (this image has not been color corrected). The sun was low in the horizon and hitting the leaf at an angle from behind, literally illumining it. Same leaf, same day, different light. It makes all the difference. It's not the fall landscape I was looking for, but it portrays fall in a beautifully intimate way. I have a series of these "illumined leaf" images. I'll get the put together at some point.

Page 190

2010-03-23T18:29:39Z

My copies for "100 Stories for Haiti" came in about a week ago; a box shipped all the way from England. My wife was out, so I waited for her to get home to open the box. I was feeling a strange mixture of emotions and I really wanted someone to share the moment with and to make it real (because this all still wasn't feeling that real). When she got home I opened to box, grabbed a book and opened it (without flipping or hesitation) to page 190. Now, there are 100 stories in this book so they are all rather short – mine being just 3 pages long. As it turns out the pages I opened to (190 and 191) is the only place in the book you can find just my story. [caption id="attachment_140" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Page 190"][/caption] Yup, that's right: I grabbed the book and opened immediately to my story. 290 places I could have opened it and I landed on the one with my words. I started reading, not knowing it was "The Path of the Faerie King," and my mind flipped about: "My this is familiar… Holy crap, I wrote this!" Wow. You know this experience, overall, has been rather magical, but what are the odds? [caption id="attachment_141" align="alignright" width="150" caption="There I Am (bottom right)"][/caption] The other delight is to see my name is there right on the cover with the other authors (the cover design allowed all 100 names to appear, very nice). If you haven't already, go out and buy a copy (you can set your own price for the eBook version).

100 Stories for Haiti is Here!

2010-03-04T08:11:22Z

Woop! Well the book is out! 100 Stories for Haiti, which contains my story "The Path of the Faerie King" is on sale now. Here's how you buy: Preview the eBook at Smashwords. Buy the eBook at Smashwords, you set the price. Buy the paperback from Bridge House Publishing in the UK. £11.99 + P&P. So, go grab a copy, enjoy some great fiction, and help people in the process! For those of you that know me, if you would like a paperback copy I have a bunch coming from the UK and can pass them on to you at my cost (buy purchasing them in bulk I have gotten the postage down). If you are interested, contact me. Read all my posts about this project.

A Big "First"

2010-02-09T18:34:30Z

A contract, I just filled out a publishing contract! The 100 Stories for Haiti project is rolling along and legal issues needed to be dealt with. The first-ness of this continues, and I am doing my best to have the presence of mind to feel and enjoy the experience. Life is, of course, full of firsts: first step, first kiss, first date, first love, first heart-break, first car, first house, first job, first bike, first friend, first broken bone, first pet, first shave, first drink, first child, first death of a loved ones. These are markers on our journey and never come again. Some of these you invite, some you don't; some you notice, some you don't; some are significant, some aren't. This one is definitely invited, noticed and significant. While I hope to deal with many publishing contracts in the future there will be no other first one, no other one like this. Ahhhhhhh. It feels good. It feels good. Previous posts on this project: I’m a (Soon To Be) Published Author 100 Stories for Haiti

Goodbye Friend Leo

2010-02-02T18:23:01Z

Leo, the dog, is a neighbor of mine and a friend. Today the cancer claimed his body and he is off to his next adventure. Yes, I am one of those dog-centric types and I have called many dogs friend. Indeed dogs have been some of this man's best friends. Leo was a bright buoyant spirits always up for digging into the enjoyment of being alive; always bounding up to see you with an enthusiastic greeting. He was one of those beings that was joyful in a simple, uncomplicated and consistent way. (To those of you that are not dog-centric: while this is more common in dogs than us humans, it is still somewhat rare and is truly a gift.) After the high of yesterday's good news, here I am back mucking in the tougher emotions of life. Leo was a regular, although not central, part of my life and he will be missed. He is close enough for me to feel it, but removed enough that I can have some perspective (believe me if it was one of mine I would be an incoherent mess). In these circumstances we meet grief head-on for, what I believe are, the right reasons. If you don't love, you don't grieve. It is a natural part of the process, and the comparatively short life spans of our four legged friends give us the opportunity to confront this kind of loss more frequently than we would otherwise (and much more frequently than we would like). It forces us to get up close with mortality often before we have to let go of a two legged friend, and certainly before it is our own turn to let go of our own lives. Don't take this as being maudlin, it's not. I've lost enough four footed and two legged loved ones to accept the reality of my mortality and theirs (OK, well "accept" may be too strong a word, let's say I get it intellectually, but emotionally it's still sometimes challenging). Letting go is never easy, but by embracing the reality we can allow their passing to be more bearable and their time with us more sweet. We all deal with grief differently; some ways are constructive, some ways are destructive. It is good to understand how you experience and express grief, and channel it, as much as possible, into the constructive. I have found that I seem deal with it through writing. I pour it into stories (or in this case a blog post). Last year when a friend of mine died suddenly and traumatically I had no choice but to sit down and write (after the shock had worn off). Much to my surprise, I ended up drafting and entire novel, something I didn't know I was capable of. Years ago when a dog of mine died I built a shed and then a few years later wrote a story. For me I have found that grief requires expression, and once an adequate expression is found things get a bit better. I still miss my friends, but the expression, when I have found it, made it much more bearable. Other constructive expressions I have seen (and sometimes used) are: intense physical activity, telling stories and remembering, starting a non-profit, changing professions, going back to school, getting busy living, and helping others. My wife and I had the opportunity to go over and say good bye shortly before the vet arrived to afford Leo a compassionate and gentle passage. It was bitter-sweet. Today my heart goes out to Leo's family (his two legged parents and is four legged best friend Bonnie). I took a few pictures of him recently during our week of snow. He had just come through a tough patch and was feeling well enough to dig in and really enjoy it. Goodbye Friend Leo.

[caption id="attachment_101" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Leo"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_104" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Just Hang'n in the Snow"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_105" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Leo and Bonnie"][/caption]

I'm a (Soon To Be) Published Author

2010-02-01T19:06:22Z

I just got word from the 100 Stories for Haiti folks; “The Path of the Faerie King” has made the cut! I am, needless to say, very excited. This will be my first published story and is a wonderful balm for all the rejections I have been receiving. This is a big "first" and I am happy and proud that my first published story is being used for a Haiti fundraiser. Yup, now I can go around and tell folks I am a "published author." OK, OK, I won't let it go to my head—this is just the first step in many—but for now I am going to enjoy the moment. Next up, getting paid for a story. I'll post back here again when I hear more and when the books go on sale and them funds can start getting raised. Sincerely, Robert J. McCarter (Soon To Be) Published Author ;-) Check out my previous post on this project.

100 Stories for Haiti

2010-01-27T11:58:14Z

Author Greg McQueen is putting his time where is heart is and leading a project called 100 Stories for Haiti. It is a book project whose sales proceeds (as an eBook and a paperback) will go directly to the Red Cross for relief efforts in Haiti. I stumbled across this project on John Scalzi's blog on Monday (the original due date for the stories) and just had to start writing. There is something wonderful about leveraging what ever it is you do to help (in this case writers donating stories and creating a book). I had wanted to do something, and we will be donating money directly, but this really spoke to me. Another interesting aspect of this was the constraints: get it done now; 1000 words or less; and a story with "Heart, Compassion and Hope." They extended the deadline to today and I just finished and submitted "The Path of the Faerie King." If the tears my wife shed while she read it are any indication, I hit the mark on the "Heart, Compassion and Hope" theme. I am hopeful they will select the story, and no matter what I am buying the book. My hat is off to Greg and his team -- this is an enormous amount of work they are trying to do in a very short time. UPDATE: The story was accepted!

The Wonders of "Avatar"

2010-01-11T10:58:09Z

I saw Avatar a few weeks ago and left the theater feeling something I hadn't felt at the movies in a while: Awe. The immersive quality of the experience made me feel like a boy again (and that in itself was worth the price of admission). The NY Times nailed it in their review of the movie:

Few films return us to the lost world of our first cinematic experiences, to that magical moment when movies really were bigger than life (instead of iPhone size), if only because we were children. Movies rarely carry us away, few even try. They entertain and instruct and sometimes enlighten. Some attempt to overwhelm us, but their efforts are usually a matter of volume. What’s often missing is awe, something Mr. Cameron has, after an absence from Hollywood, returned to the screen with a vengeance. He hasn’t changed cinema, but with blue people and pink blooms he has confirmed its wonder.

The story, admittedly, is a little simplistic, but honestly while I was in that theater with my 3D glasses on, I didn't think about it; I was lost in the splendor of the world Cameron created. (This was my first time seeing a 3D movie with this new technology - the first film in my home town to be displayed with it.) So, if you like that experience of wonder in the movies, and haven't seen Avatar yet - Go! Skip the reviews and just immerse yourself into the awe of it.

What is the future of eBooks?

2010-01-10T11:47:45Z

Author JA Konrath has done a lot of thinking and writing on eBooks (not to mention making money selling them). If you are interested, check out his recent posts on the subject: E-Volution: http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2009/11/e-volution.html. While I don't agree with the time-frame (tech always seems to evolve slower than expected), it is an interesting take on what the future of eBooks might be like. JA Konrath's 2010 Ebook Predictions: http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2009/12/ja-konraths-2010-ebook-predictions.html. My own thoughts are: Blame the Kindle. Amazon was the first to come up with a reader and store that was truly compelling. It looks like they have competent competition now with Barnes and Noble's nook, so we should see even more progress here. This is a Generational Shift. As kids grow up with eReaders, adoption will accelerate. I think there is more entropy with books than with music, and also clearer advantages with digital music (which has never been a tactile experience). That tactical aspect of it is what many people fear loosing with eBooks. Paper Won't Go Away. At least not in a short enough time frame to matter. For me certain kinds of books lend themselves to a digital format: fiction and other "once read" kinds of books. Books that I want to annotate, study, or use as a reference I can't see an eReader working (at least not yet). It's Green. I haven't really seen this mentioned much, but there is a significant savings in terms of trees, cost of production and distribution to eBooks. This savings is not, unfortunately, reflected in the pricing of an eBook, which is really a shame. Cheaper and better for the planet would be a convincing combination.

Out With Kindle for PC In With Kindle for iPhone

2009-12-10T18:58:09Z

I blogged previously about Sampling Books with Kindle for PC, this is a brief follow-up. I am no longer using Kindle for PC. The problem is I don't like to read on my PC. I spend all day at it working, and the last thing I want to do is read a book on it. While I had great expectations, it didn't work out they way I thought it would. But, something else has worked out. A few weeks ago I got an iPod Touch and immediately downloaded Kindle for iPhone. While the screen is small, it is surprisingly readable and has achieved what I was hoping Kindle for PC would. I have been trying out samples of books, and also reading some free books (20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, a sci-fi classic that I never got around to reading). Maybe this isn't true for everyone, but I read differently on my computer, and really can't bring myself to do my leisure reading on it. You might ask why didn't I get a Kindle instead? The answer is versatility. The iPod Touch does a lot of things I wanted (contacts, calendar, games, apps, as well as ebooks), and since AT&T doesn't work at my house an iPhone was out of the questions. The Touch was the next best thing. Kindle for the iPhone is not perfect; it is missing some of Kindles better features (dictionary look up, and Wikipedia integration), and has some annoyances (it won't let me copy text so I can easily look up things on Wikipedia myself, and I can't get properly formatted books from Project Gutenberg on it -- everything has to come from Amazon), but it is getting me what I wanted: A decent ebook experience. I still think there is a place for the Kindle and other larger eBook readers, but for now, this will do.

Cory Doctorow's "Little Brother"

2009-12-05T17:06:56Z

I read Cory Doctorow's Little Brother a few weekends ago, and I loved it. I think it's a good book, let me explain why. Doctorow recently wrote about how sci-fi is really about the present and not about the future on his blog (http://craphound.com/?p=2391 )

Mary Shelley wasn’t worried about reanimated corpses stalking Europe, but by casting a technological innovation in the starring role of Frankenstein, she was able to tap into present-day fears about technology overpowering its masters and the hubris of the inventor. Orwell didn’t worry about a future dominated by the view-screens from 1984, he worried about a present in which technology was changing the balance of power, creating opportunities for the state to enforce its power over individuals at ever-more-granular levels.

And while I don't know that I wholly agree with him, that view point permeates this book. This book is about a not-too-distant future where a terrorist attack had created an atmosphere where people are willing to trade their freedom for the illusion of safety. In other words, it's about the world we live in today. This is a "Young Adult" YA novel with a 17 year-old hacker protagonist who goes up against the government to take his city back after the attack. It a good story, a fast read, and hart to put down. But intertwined in the tecno-geek thriller fun are things that are good to understand about the world we live in now. When I was reading this book it reminded me strongly of Heinlein's The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (one of my favorite books from one of my favorite authors). I reread it about a year and half ago, and while Heinlein missed on lots of tech stuff the core of what he was writing about was still relevant, still interesting, and the book is still a great read today. He writes about (mind you in 1966) artificial intelligence, alternate social/family configurations, freedom, and revolution. Heinlein often wrapped up his ideas about humanity and society into these wonderful easy to consume stories. As a result these stories often had long pieces of exposition that where necessary to convey the concepts. These stories had a great effect on me in my youth, opening my mind and making me--I believe--a better person. This is the same thing Doctorow is doing in Little Brother. He's writing about technology, privacy, freedom and safety in our post-911 world. Yes, there are long "educational" passages, but it rarely slows the story down and is interesting. Yes, the sci-fi is not far future, and there are no ray-guns or space ships, but it is still fun. Yes, it's written for young adults, but this not-so-young adult really enjoyed (and learned from it) He's definitely got a message that he wants to get across and is not shy about it, but it is an important message. And even if you don't agree with his politics, what this book has to say is worth hearing and considering. And along the way you will learn a lot about cryptography, networks, surveillance and other relevant topics. Heinlein set my expectations of what good sci-fi should do: It should entertain, educate and make you think. Doctorow does that here. Highly recommend. I hope lots of Young Adults and Older Adults read this book.

Burning Down the House

2009-11-21T17:47:41Z

Today a house in my neighborhood was used as a live test for local fire crews. It is not often (as in never) that you know when a house is going to burn, and can enjoy the destruction in a guilt-free way. The Highlands Fire District has been planing this since July and went to extraordinary measures to make this a useful and safe event (from road closures, asbestos removal, weakening the roof so it would cave in on itself, berming and other changes to the property to contain the fire, to removing feral cats and much more). I was lucky enough to be on site with my camera and got the scoop about what was going on from Chief Pond. Two things struck me about this: how fast the house went--once the fire was fully engaged it was down in less than half an hour; and I didn't get closer than 40 yards, but the amount of heat it was putting off was tremendous. Kudos to the crews and planning, it all went off without a hitch and we had quite the show. Below are a few pictures of the event. I have also setup a full gallery with lots more images View the full gallery [Update] See other coverage here.

Does School Kill Creativity?

2009-11-14T16:02:38Z

This TED talk by Ken Robinson from 2006 is about creativity, how to nurture it and what our school system does to it. Insightful. Very Funny [ted id=66] Some great quotes from the talk:

"If you're not prepared to be wrong you will never come up with anything original." "We stigmatize mistakes." "We are educating people out of the creative capacities" "We don't grow into creativity, we grow out of it. Or rather we get educated out of it"

Sampling Books with Kindle for PC

2009-11-12T18:19:57Z

I just downloaded Kindle for PC, and am reading the sample chapters from Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. This is going to change the way (or change back to the pre-internet way) I shop for books. If there is a Kindle version of a book I think I might want to buy, I will be downloading the sample and finding out if I really like. (The two people I know that own Kindles listed this as one of the things they love about it.) While Amazon has had their "Look Inside" for many books, I have never found it to be the equivalent of being in the bookstore, and so have rarely used it. Kindle for the PC, on the other hand, looks like it does provide the experience that I want. It also allows me to do it on my own time and at home (something a bookstore can't replicate.) The "sample" for The Lost Symbol is the first six chapters - nice. If I get hooked, I will buy (and isn't that what they are gambling on), if I don't I will be able to spend my money a book I like more. I am still on the fence about buying a Kindle, and I don't plan on reading whole books on my PC, but the Kindle for PC definitely has found a place on my computer. Now if only the had more books with Kindle editions. Hey publishers, get with it - these samples are looking like a competitive advantage to me (and don't make them short - give us enough to tell if we really like the book). Update: Check out my followup to this post: Out With Kindle for PC In With Kindle for iPhone.

How Bad Do You Want It?

2009-11-11T20:59:44Z

After 17 years, 138 rejections and 870,000 words Brad Torgersen finally made his first pro fiction sale. I guess he wanted it bad, I guess you gotta want it bad. Check out his post for more details. Think he had to do all that writing? (See my last post with my thoughts on the whys of pursing your art.) Wow, 138 rejections. Wow. Congradulations Brad.

The Arts Are a Job Too

2009-11-11T10:14:38Z

I gotta admit it, the arts are like a siren to me. The romance of being an actor (did tons of that in high school), a artist (a video called LightTones), a photographer (here are some recent ones), or a writer just gets me. No, it is not enough to be wildly creative, as I am in my programming day-job, I wanna be cut loose with my muse, damn the income, hoping that "if you create it, they will throw money at you." Well Patrick Rothfuss recently went on a tare about his now successful writing job, declaring that "everyone hates their job sometimes." So the arts are a job too, like any other? Suck! And not always fun? Arrgh! And to top it off to make any money in the arts you gotta compete with a large group of doe-eyed romantics like yourself competing for the few slots that actually pay money (or doing it for no money just for the love of it). No, I am not that naive. I know it takes a lot of hard work to get good at your art, and then a lot of patience and a bit ton of luck to have any monetary success with it. So why bother? Seriously, why? I can't answer that question for anyone else but me. For me it is because I have to. The stories I am writing are the stories I have to tell. For me. The photos I take, I take because I have to be out there taking them. Would I like to make money doing it? Oh yeah! Will I keep doing it even if I don't make money? Oh yeah! It's like that. And you know, I think it has to be like that. I bet that Patrick had to write The Name of the Wind (and since he started working on it in 1994 and still hasn't finished the following two books, I think that qualifies as a had to.) And thank you Patrick for writing it, it is an awesome book (and if you dig fantasy that takes place in a stunningly rich world, run, don't walk and get this book). And rant away Patrick, you can hate your job sometimes, just please don't quit it -- at least not without finishing the trilogy.

Category	Rating: 1-5 (5 is best)
The Hook
The Conflict
The Characters
Setting and Mood
Pace and Style
Resolution
Grammar and Spelling
Overall Enjoyment
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