Thursday, May 31, 2007
Bob Newhart and I: The Devil You Say?
Got another short in The Wittenburg Door Insider, illustrated with a picture of the Bobster in full red-cowl-and-horns costume.
Thanks WDI guys for the match-up. And for running another story of mine.
Read "The Devil You Say".
(Note: there's a link on the main 5/30 newsletter page to an AP story about an injured baby (referenced in my "article"). It's a disturbing story. If you read it and come away disturbed, I will say I told you so. You were warned.)
Thanks WDI guys for the match-up. And for running another story of mine.
Read "The Devil You Say".
(Note: there's a link on the main 5/30 newsletter page to an AP story about an injured baby (referenced in my "article"). It's a disturbing story. If you read it and come away disturbed, I will say I told you so. You were warned.)
Labels: Humor, In Print, Wittenburg Door, Writing
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Las Vegas: One Night Only!
Hey, got a six-hour layover here at Vegas' McCarran Airport. Free Wi-Fi. Quelle deal.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Downtown Dallas with the Birkses
After church this morning my brother and his family and I got together with friends from Seattle and their family. Rob Birks was the Best Man in my wedding, I was one of his groomsmen (not the Best Man, but the only one with appendicitis) when he married Stacy. It's been a couple years since I last saw Rob (5/14/05, in fact), so it was good to catch up.
We wound up going downtown to Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse for lunch (my first time there), and then walked down to Dealey Plaza to see the JFK assassination site (my first time there, too). Listened to a couple conspiracy theorists give their spiels. Brenda (my sister in law, for those of you who didn't buy the $5 program) pointed out the Conspiracy Museum near the JFK Memorial. Sounds like a definite destination sometime this summer.
Here are the pix I snapped with the camera phone:
We wound up going downtown to Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse for lunch (my first time there), and then walked down to Dealey Plaza to see the JFK assassination site (my first time there, too). Listened to a couple conspiracy theorists give their spiels. Brenda (my sister in law, for those of you who didn't buy the $5 program) pointed out the Conspiracy Museum near the JFK Memorial. Sounds like a definite destination sometime this summer.
Here are the pix I snapped with the camera phone:
- The Birks Family
- Gots to Get Me to the Zoo
- The infamous Book Depository
The "alleged" window is on the sixth floor, far right (one of the square sets, with the two panes that aren't "shiny"). - The Grassy Knoll
X in roadway is one of the bullet-impact sites - View from the Grassy Knoll
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Pay Per Post Update
OK, it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything about (or for) PayPerPost here, but I was doing some financial recordkeeping this morning (proud of me Julia and Angie?) and it turns out I’ve broken $100 with the PayPerPost income. Not enough to retire on, but every bit helps.
And I’ve only been PayPerPosting since February. Will I double (maybe even triple?) that by year’s end? If I keep averaging $25 a month, that’ll be $275. Not too shabby a Christmas fund...
So thanks, PayPerPost!
Do you want to get paid for ads on your blog? Click that link and find out more!
And I’ve only been PayPerPosting since February. Will I double (maybe even triple?) that by year’s end? If I keep averaging $25 a month, that’ll be $275. Not too shabby a Christmas fund...
So thanks, PayPerPost!
Do you want to get paid for ads on your blog? Click that link and find out more!
Labels: PayPerPost, Sponsored Post
Friday, May 25, 2007
Mr. Music
Dina sent me some pix of Phil's rilly-big school music shew. I'm sorry I missed it.
One thing's for sure: the boy can wear the heck out of an orange shirt.
- "Handsome Hair" with Shirt & Tie: 1, 2
- Singing
- Playing the Rubberband Box
One thing's for sure: the boy can wear the heck out of an orange shirt.
Labels: first grade, Music, Philisms
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Distant Passages, Volume 2
Way back in February I mentioned that my short story "The Fortunate Purgatory of Arthur MacArthur" would be appearing in a Best of 2006 kind of anthology. I got word today (getting a lot of words today) that Distant Passages, Volume 2 is now available for purchase.
Here's the line-up:
Price: $17.99 (includes shipping). That's about 75 cents per poem/story.
Check it out.
Here's the line-up:
Voices from the Void by Mirta Ana Schultz
Statuary by John Kuhn
The Smoking Man by S.T. Forstner
The Time May Be Right by Jaime Lee Moyer
Justice by L. S. King
Bibliotheca Temporis by Karen A Romanko
Sorrow's Shroud by Rachel A. Marks
Music for the Soul by Pam L. Wallace
Draco Nivalis Icarus by Johan Jönsson
The Fortunate Purgatory of Arthur MacArthur by Chris Mikesell
A Kabrisk's Son by Sean T. M. Stiennon
Two Cathedrals by Malcolm Deeley
Syllen by Nadia Williams
Just Another Work Day In Fairyland by Marcie Lynn Tentchoff
Dedication by T. L. Morganfield
The Hottest Fever in the World by Mikal Trimm
Without Wings by Kurt Kirchmeier
Dragon's Lament by Keesa Renee DuPre
Damage by Jane Lebak
After the Crash by Samantha Henderson
Heartwyrm by Micheal C. Planck
Tethered in Purgatory by Terry W. Ervin II
The Short Bus by Marsheila Rockwell
Price: $17.99 (includes shipping). That's about 75 cents per poem/story.
Check it out.
Not Exempt from the Finals
It's finals week here in Texas. Curious deal (from my p.o.v.), depending on how well you did during the final semester you can be "exempted" from taking the exam. In most cases you just get whatever your grade was going into the final; in some circumstances, though, you can get an automatic 100% on the final test without having to take it.
I, however, have not been exempted from the Final Round of AFCW's Genesis Contest for the Science-Fiction/Fantasy category. This is a good thing. The first 25-pages of my novel-length manuscript will be seen by some big names in evangelical publishing. No guarantees of anything happening, but pros looking at it can only help.
Full list of finalists, here. I'm thrilled that two other members of my writing group made the cut. (Wish we all had, though...) Two of the other four SF/F finalists are people I know from online: congrats, Sally and Val! (Congrats, Rebecca and Shannon, too.)
Winners will be announced Sept. 22.
I, however, have not been exempted from the Final Round of AFCW's Genesis Contest for the Science-Fiction/Fantasy category. This is a good thing. The first 25-pages of my novel-length manuscript will be seen by some big names in evangelical publishing. No guarantees of anything happening, but pros looking at it can only help.
Full list of finalists, here. I'm thrilled that two other members of my writing group made the cut. (Wish we all had, though...) Two of the other four SF/F finalists are people I know from online: congrats, Sally and Val! (Congrats, Rebecca and Shannon, too.)
Winners will be announced Sept. 22.
Mooch Off Brenda Coulter Week Continues
On Sunday friend Jen Tiszai mooched a "hugging for men" video from other friend, Brenda Coulter. Today I'm keeping the trend alive (all the cool kids are doing it) by poaching from her post about a Disneyfied PSA on copyright/fair use.
A Fair(y) Use Tale
Brenda linked directly to the Fair Use Project site at Stanford that produced the video. That didn't play too well for me, so I've linked to YouTube. (site link above takes you to the original vid.)
I may have mentioned it before, but I'm 14-year (with optional 14-year extension) copyright kind of guy. The Framers of the Constitution got that one (like they got most things) right.
A Fair(y) Use Tale
Brenda linked directly to the Fair Use Project site at Stanford that produced the video. That didn't play too well for me, so I've linked to YouTube. (site link above takes you to the original vid.)
I may have mentioned it before, but I'm 14-year (with optional 14-year extension) copyright kind of guy. The Framers of the Constitution got that one (like they got most things) right.
Labels: Brenda Coulter, Friends, Humor, Movies
Monday, May 21, 2007
Silver Screen Gauntlet, Dallas Edition
A friend of mine further south in Texas has challenged me to watch three (potentially five) movies that inform her writing:
I challenged her to:
She's officially started Shaun. I've finished Fried Green Tomatoes. Always a pleasure to see Mary Stuart Masterson, who I've crushed on since the '80s. I can't think of an actress whose passing I've felt as strongly as Jessica Tandy's. (On the guys' side that would be Ossie Davis.)
I probably won't get to either of the others until after my trip next week, but I'm looking forward to them. My friend Angie's done quite well this year with stories in Infuze and another upcoming in Issue 3 of Relief (pre-order now!). A lot of that, I know, is hard and persistent work. But I see some FGT in the stories of hers I've read, too; so it's interesting to see that influence coming into play.
Got a movie that's influenced your career, writing or otherwise? Can't commit to seeing it (though I'll try -- as long as it doesn't feature Julia Roberts), but feel free to share with the group.
- Fried Green Tomatoes
- A Love Song for Bobby Long
- Bastard out of Carolina
(The Color Purple or Places in the Heart may substitute for BooC, since the local Blockbuster didn't have that stocked last time I was in)
I challenged her to:
She's officially started Shaun. I've finished Fried Green Tomatoes. Always a pleasure to see Mary Stuart Masterson, who I've crushed on since the '80s. I can't think of an actress whose passing I've felt as strongly as Jessica Tandy's. (On the guys' side that would be Ossie Davis.)
I probably won't get to either of the others until after my trip next week, but I'm looking forward to them. My friend Angie's done quite well this year with stories in Infuze and another upcoming in Issue 3 of Relief (pre-order now!). A lot of that, I know, is hard and persistent work. But I see some FGT in the stories of hers I've read, too; so it's interesting to see that influence coming into play.
Got a movie that's influenced your career, writing or otherwise? Can't commit to seeing it (though I'll try -- as long as it doesn't feature Julia Roberts), but feel free to share with the group.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Good Blurb
The finishing touches are being put on Coach's Midnight Diner, the coming-soon fiction anthology I've got a short story in. Here's a working-blurb for my story, written by the magazine editor, Coach Culbertson:
I've seen draft quotes of the other stories and this is something you're going to want to get in on.
When details firm up on blurbs and CMD availability expect to hear more.
In R'lyeh, Jesus Walks
Chris Mikesell
Winner of the Jesus Vs. Cthulhu Category
Take a romp through space and time as Jesus and Lucifer take a trip to the sunken city of R'lyeh by way of a comic book convention. Filled with humor and poignancy, Mikesell puts a fascinating twist on the Cthulhu mythos that will keep you laughing and thinking the whole way through.
I've seen draft quotes of the other stories and this is something you're going to want to get in on.
When details firm up on blurbs and CMD availability expect to hear more.
Labels: Coach's Midnight Diner, In Print, Writing
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Not Quite Stephen King
OK, talentwise nowhere near Stephen King.
However, this morning I took my computer down to Starbucks to work on a short story. A horror short story even. Afterwsrd I was walking along the sidewalk when I noticed a paper in my laptop bag was falling out of the side pocket.
I stopped to move things around and cram it back in.
Just as I finished, a driver 20 feet down the road slammed his brakes, and -- to avoid hitting the car in front of him -- jumped the curb and squealed along the parkstrip and sidewalk till he reached the corner.
About where I would have been if not for the loose piece of paper.
By Stephen King's accounts in On Writing, getting creamed by a careless driver is no hot fudge sundae of fun and puppy licks. So whatever angel plucked the paper out of my laptop bag -- or imp whose plan to vex me backfired doubly so -- thanks a bunch!
However, this morning I took my computer down to Starbucks to work on a short story. A horror short story even. Afterwsrd I was walking along the sidewalk when I noticed a paper in my laptop bag was falling out of the side pocket.
I stopped to move things around and cram it back in.
Just as I finished, a driver 20 feet down the road slammed his brakes, and -- to avoid hitting the car in front of him -- jumped the curb and squealed along the parkstrip and sidewalk till he reached the corner.
About where I would have been if not for the loose piece of paper.
By Stephen King's accounts in On Writing, getting creamed by a careless driver is no hot fudge sundae of fun and puppy licks. So whatever angel plucked the paper out of my laptop bag -- or imp whose plan to vex me backfired doubly so -- thanks a bunch!
Labels: Writing
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Happy Day, All You Mothers
... I mean, Happy Mother's Day!
Last week my folks flew out for a visit. Since Bill and Brenda were working during the day, I got to play tour guide a couple times (to the half dozen spots I know to tour guide to).
No word from Dina today on how Phil's treating her. Guess it's going so well she doesn't have time take break for a phone call.
Last week my folks flew out for a visit. Since Bill and Brenda were working during the day, I got to play tour guide a couple times (to the half dozen spots I know to tour guide to).
No word from Dina today on how Phil's treating her. Guess it's going so well she doesn't have time take break for a phone call.
Labels: Family
Saturday, May 12, 2007
No Troubles With Tribulation
I missed out on the CFBA tour for Tribulation House two weeks ago. So let me make up for lost time by mentioning the book now.
This is the third in Chris Well's Kansas City Blues cops-vs-disorganized crime series. This time around a local church has predicted the Return of Christ(TM), set up an alternative Halloween spookhouse (the titular Tribulation House -- not to be confused with the rival church-sponsored Armageddon House), almost puts paying off the mob to a church board vote (several times) ... and then one of the deacons takes a mob "loan" to buy a $22,000 boat, figuring Christ's return will spare him from having to pay it back (or the consequences of not paying it back).
And that's just in the first half of the book.
Cops Pasch and Griggs are back, as is G-Man O'Malley, and plenty of comic book goodness. There are couple bargain-basement extortionists wandering around the story, a would-be city hall reformer, and the new Mr. Big on the block -- Ted Massey -- who's working a real estate angle that's got everybody wondering.
If you've read Forgiving Solomon Long and Deliver Us from Evelyn you're probably already reading TH. If not, you've got a nice little trilogy (so far) to work through this summer.
Hey, look -- here's the first chapter!
Enjoy.
This is the third in Chris Well's Kansas City Blues cops-vs-disorganized crime series. This time around a local church has predicted the Return of Christ(TM), set up an alternative Halloween spookhouse (the titular Tribulation House -- not to be confused with the rival church-sponsored Armageddon House), almost puts paying off the mob to a church board vote (several times) ... and then one of the deacons takes a mob "loan" to buy a $22,000 boat, figuring Christ's return will spare him from having to pay it back (or the consequences of not paying it back).
And that's just in the first half of the book.
Cops Pasch and Griggs are back, as is G-Man O'Malley, and plenty of comic book goodness. There are couple bargain-basement extortionists wandering around the story, a would-be city hall reformer, and the new Mr. Big on the block -- Ted Massey -- who's working a real estate angle that's got everybody wondering.
If you've read Forgiving Solomon Long and Deliver Us from Evelyn you're probably already reading TH. If not, you've got a nice little trilogy (so far) to work through this summer.
Hey, look -- here's the first chapter!
Enjoy.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Short Story Announcement
I just got word this morning that my short story, "In R'lyeh, Jesus Walks," won top honors in the Coach's Midnight Diner "Jesus vs. Cthulhu" contest. Coach's is a fiction anthology debuting this summer that will feature genre short stories of a Christian-worldview nature. It's a sibling publication of the Relief Journal, which features more literary fare.
Right now, between the things I've published at the Wittenburg Door Insider and the things I have "accepted, but pending," I'm over the total number of things I had published all last year. (That's not counting the things I've subbed but have yet to hear back on.) That most all of them are in paying markets is a super big plus, too.
Coach's Midnight Diner isn't on sale yet, but I'll point you in the right direction when they begin taking pre-orders.
Right now, between the things I've published at the Wittenburg Door Insider and the things I have "accepted, but pending," I'm over the total number of things I had published all last year. (That's not counting the things I've subbed but have yet to hear back on.) That most all of them are in paying markets is a super big plus, too.
Coach's Midnight Diner isn't on sale yet, but I'll point you in the right direction when they begin taking pre-orders.
Labels: CMD, Contests, Wittenburg Door, Writing
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Phil's Bug Hunt
On a recent outing around home (Oregon), Phil found a snail and beetle that he thought were pretty cool. Here's his "I found cool bugs" face.
This is the beetle (nice hand-modeling, Phil!). I've seen them before; they have really cool iridescent green coloring. Dina said the snail didn't show up well in photos. Sorry.
Here's my favorite pic of my favorite cheeseball.
This is the beetle (nice hand-modeling, Phil!). I've seen them before; they have really cool iridescent green coloring. Dina said the snail didn't show up well in photos. Sorry.
Here's my favorite pic of my favorite cheeseball.
Labels: Philpix
My Interview With The Pope
...appears in this week's Wittenburg Door Insider.
After the statement in last week's Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, equating jokes about the Vatican with terrorism, I "sat down" with "Pope Benedict XVI" and got "on the record" a dozen more things that are also "not funny."
After the statement in last week's Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, equating jokes about the Vatican with terrorism, I "sat down" with "Pope Benedict XVI" and got "on the record" a dozen more things that are also "not funny."
Labels: Humor, In Print, Wittenburg Door
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Book me, Dano
Okay, nothing quite so dramatic as that (or detective McGarrett's hair), but I did get fingerprinted this evening as part of the background check process of becoming a teacher. Took the older two nephews along. They have no interest in spending additional time at the Collin County Detention Center. Stay in school, kids. Don't do drugs.
But speaking of books, we wound up at four comic book stores yesterday. Two in Plano, two just over the Richardson city limits, in Garland. The first shop only allowed one free comic per person; I thought "this'll be a long day." But things went better at shop #2: 4 comics per person. The day was essentially over at shop #3, where it was one per customer again, with a twist: one of each, per person. We went to shop #4 mostly because it was down the street, but also to stock up on the Clone Trooper non-HeroClix figure. Turned out to be a good move since shop #4 also had Mon Calamari non-HC figures, too ... and a loose ewok (and a few other figures) running around in the bottom of the giveaway box.
Hope y'all had a good weekend, too.
But speaking of books, we wound up at four comic book stores yesterday. Two in Plano, two just over the Richardson city limits, in Garland. The first shop only allowed one free comic per person; I thought "this'll be a long day." But things went better at shop #2: 4 comics per person. The day was essentially over at shop #3, where it was one per customer again, with a twist: one of each, per person. We went to shop #4 mostly because it was down the street, but also to stock up on the Clone Trooper non-HeroClix figure. Turned out to be a good move since shop #4 also had Mon Calamari non-HC figures, too ... and a loose ewok (and a few other figures) running around in the bottom of the giveaway box.
Hope y'all had a good weekend, too.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
What's Better Than Free Comic Book Day?
OK, maybe We Pay You to Take Our Comic Books Day, but you probably wouldn't get many decent mags on such a day.
According to the official FCB Day site there are four participating shops within a not-too-far distance from here. There's also a fifth that's not mentioned.
Saturday's gonna be a busy day.
According to the official FCB Day site there are four participating shops within a not-too-far distance from here. There's also a fifth that's not mentioned.
Saturday's gonna be a busy day.
Labels: Freebies
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Return of the First-Time Visitor
OK, I get first-time visitors all the time (33 yesterday) -- but this is the first time since early August ('06) that I've had a "new" country show up in my stats log.
So, Libya, welcome. Thanks for putting me on a Homeland Security watchlist.
So, Libya, welcome. Thanks for putting me on a Homeland Security watchlist.
