FSF Challenge - Frozen

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Writers! Share the best blog post, story, or poem you've written in 2013 here: Best of 2013

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This week's writing challenge from Five Sentence Fiction ( Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt: Frozen

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.

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Shameless plug section!

The horror anthology, Gothic Blue Book III - Graveyard Edition  by Burial Day Books, includes my poem, The Ballad of Drunken Jack. Available on Amazon for Kindle or in paperback.

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What could be more appropriate than this prompt. I got up this morning and checked the thermometer and it was reading 6°F (that's about -14° Celsius). Brrrrr... I've been way over my head with work to do, and thus short on time, so I thought I'd toss out a quick poem instead of a story -  free-form this week.

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Winter Walk

Along the path,
  there are few reminders
  of a previous life.

Bare twigs,
  brown grass,
  the tips of dry and brittle leaves poking through the snow are the only clues.

I remember blue bells blossoming in this glade,
  a flash of gray as squirrels chased between those trees,
  and minnows darting to and fro in the stream.

Where they have gone I am not sure,
  but a single, transient robin promises their resurrection
  before it, too, flies away.

With evening's approach, I walk on,
  my thoughts of another time
  replacing the frozen world around me.

                                                      K. R. Smith

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Original image source: http://savoringservant.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

FSF Challenge - Sparks

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Writers! Share the best blog post, story, or poem you've written in 2013 here: Best of 2013

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This week's writing challenge from Five Sentence Fiction ( Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt: Sparks

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.

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Shameless plug section!

The horror anthology, Gothic Blue Book III - Graveyard Edition  by Burial Day Books, includes my poem, The Ballad of Drunken Jack. Available on Amazon for Kindle or in paperback.

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This is Part III of a Five Sentence Fiction story I wrote some time ago called Wardrobe Malfunction. It was based on a dieselpunk/steampunk story from another FSF writer, Rogue Tinker. It was followed by Part II, called Escape. And by continuing the story, I get to use the word dieselpunk again, which for reasons unknown, excites me.

When we last left our heroine, she was hanging on to the side of the enormous analog computational engine that controlled the city's infrastructure, and though having freed herself, was still in danger as the section she was holding on to was slowly rotating.... What will she do?

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Buckle Down!

     As the section of machinery to which Ysabelle was clinging slowly rotated, she heard a metallic ping as the buckle from the goggles that had held her captive fell into the huge clockwork, finally depositing itself in the small area between one of the precisely balanced flywheels and its supporting structure, alerting the world to its location by a high-pitched squeal emanating from within the shower of sparks produced as the metal of both ground away. Easing her way to the edge of the moving section, careful to keep her feet under her while holding tightly to the framework high above the ground, she hoped to be able to dislodge the old buckle as the rotation brought her close the whining flywheel before it became unbalanced, destroying the entire device like some huge demonic dreidel. As it passed in front of her, Ysabelle took her knife and deftly flicked the errant bit of metal from its lodgings, ending the noise and fireworks, and bringing a bit of surreal peace to her lofty perch. Taking advantage of her location at the edge of the rotating section, she slipped the knife back into the sheath within her boot and reached out for the relative stability of the adjacent framing, stepping off onto the solid beams that held the heavier pieces in place with a nonchalance that defied the altitude at which the acrobatics took place. Quite pleased with herself, and finally able to rest her weary body, Ysabelle didn't seem to mind what felt like a few drops of rain on her arm—until she looked up to see oil dripping from a gearbox even farther above and realized her job was just beginning.

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

This Week's Free Photo - Sunset Near DC

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It's been well over a week since my last "weekly" image, so I'm posting two pictures for the price of one!

The sunset was quite nice this evening - although it was starting to get quite cold. The sun on the wispy clouds gave them a beautiful color, and with the deep blue of the sky in the background, I had to get out the camera and take a shot.

Here's the second one. 

You can click on the picture to see a larger version. And if you do use it, the red text below can be used for attribution.

Stop back again! I'll have another photo for you next week! Well, maybe...

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Top image "GB_SUNSET_1.JPG" ©2014 K. R. Smith - www.theworldofkrsmith.com - may be used with attribution.

Bottom image "GB_SUNSET_2.JPG" ©2014 K. R. Smith - www.theworldofkrsmith.com - may be used with attribution.

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Shameless plug section!

The horror anthology, Gothic Blue Book III - Graveyard Edition  by Burial Day Books, includes my poem, The Ballad of Drunken Jack. Available on Amazon for Kindle or in paperback.

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

FSF Challenge - Clutch

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Writers! Share the best blog post, story, or poem you've written in 2013 here: Best of 2013

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This week's writing challenge from Five Sentence Fiction ( Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt: Clutch

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.

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Shameless plug section!

The horror anthology, Gothic Blue Book III - Graveyard Edition  by Burial Day Books, includes my poem, The Ballad of Drunken Jack. Available on Amazon for Kindle or in paperback.

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Hot romance - well, almost...

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Hold On!

     Jack was deeply entangled in a kiss with his girlfriend Tricia, the first one he'd had since returning from his deployment, when he felt something warm on the inside of his thigh. He broke off the kiss and smiled at her, saying, "Not that I mind, but a train station is a bit public, don't you think?"
     When Tricia could only reply with an expression of complete confusion, Jack glanced down to see a small boy hugging his leg.
     Tricia, still perplexed after spotting the child, looked back at Jack said, "Well—he's not mine!"
     A moment later, an embarrassed young woman came over to grab the boy away saying, "I'm terribly sorry—you see, he was born after my husband was sent overseas, and he thinks every man in a uniform is his father."

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Original image source: http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/761px-A_youngster_clutching_his_soldier_father_gazes_upward_while_the_latter_lifts_his_wife_from_the_ground_to_wish_her..._-_NARA_-_535527.jpg

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

January Submissions Update

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This is just a brief update on my submissions...

The Fisherman and His Wife (Short story - humor/fairy tale) Accepted a long time ago, and I'm still waiting for something back from Fringeworks... Perhaps being published posthumously is an option.

Skarett's Treasure (Short story - humor/horror/pirates) Also accepted a long time ago by Fringeworks (for the KnightWatch Press imprint). Mellissa Black, the editor, just sent me an e-mail promising the edits would be on their way to me soon. Apparently, I'm one of the last four to be worked on. At least there is some progress! Hallelujah!   

A Matter of Personal Taste (Short story - horror) was submitted to Penumbra - actually a re-submission of a slightly reworked version of what was posted on The Were-Traveler. Waiting for a response at this time, but they've just closed submissions, so it might be a while.

The Disappearance of Mr. Becker (Short story - horror) Submitted to The Were-Traveler  for their Lovecraft/Poe issue - awaiting acceptance/rejection.

Hunting Season (poetry - haiku) - A haiku about zombies for the Dreamscape Press anthology, Haiku Of The Dead, has been accepted! (virtual high-five here) A haiku about zombies... Yeah, me and Tennyson, we're like buddies. Funny, though, how any acceptance makes you feel so good.

Metal Monsters (poetry - haiku) - A steampunk haiku, also for a Dreamscape Press anthology called Clockwork Kiru, has been submitted. Still waiting on that one. Yes, a steampunk haiku. I'm very versatile. And desperate...

Todd's Little Friend (flash fiction - horror) - A flash fiction story based on a visual prompt for Massacre Publishing - just submitted for their Spring Contest. Their acceptance period is still open, so I'll have to wait - "ever so patiently," he said while tapping his fingers on the desk. With a publisher name like Massacre Publishing, I probably didn't have to tell you it was a horror story.

I have a few other things in the works, and I'll put an update out when something really exciting happens. Okay, so it might be a while...

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Image "Feathered Quill And Ink Pot" by Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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© 2012-2013 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

A Tale Of Two Magazines

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Writers are always looking for two things: a place to sell their work and a source of fresh reading material. Within the last few months, the pool for both has become a little drier.

First, it was Electric Velocipede that published its final issue. This is from the Electric Velocipede blog:

Issue 27 Editorial
A Remembrance of the Future

November 18, 2013
by JohnK

As many of you already know, issue #27 is going to be the final issue of Electric Velocipede. After a lot of thought—and more stress than I need—I’ve decided it’s time to cease publication.

Yesterday, I saw that Innsmouth Magazine will also cease publication. This is from their blog:

Goodbye Innsmouth Magazine 

by IFP 

January 14, 2014

Well, it had to happen sometime. Innsmouth Magazine says a fond farewell with its final issue, number 15, this spring. We’ve had fun putting together this little zine, but don’t make enough sales to keep it afloat. So, it must go. More details about the final issue later on.

In both cases, the funds coming in from sales didn't cover what was need to break even, let alone make any profit. That meant that the editors were putting their own cash and time into the magazine with little to show for it other than a busy schedule trying to get the stories out.

One thing that this makes clear - if we want these small publishers to survive, the authors and readers have to spread the word about them. Not just to promote our own work, but to get the word out in general about a publisher or a magazine. Perhaps readers can't expect so much for free. Many of the magazines make back issues free and authors often make their books available for free. Sometimes this is good, but we have to remember that for many this is more than a hobby and that they have a life and family, too, even if it isn't apparent. 

The point is that we all (readers and authors) have to do our part if we want these formats to survive, especially those that deal in horror fiction and other genres that aren't the most popular. That might mean spreading the word or putting your money down to buy an issue of a magazine, or even a back issue, or another author's book that sounds interesting.

Anyway, that's all for now, and thanks for listening! I'll let you get back to reading that story now...

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© 2012-2013 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

FSF Challenge - Moments

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Writers! Share the best blog post, story, or poem you've written in 2013 here: Best of 2013

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This week's writing challenge from Five Sentence Fiction ( Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt:  Moments

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.

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Shameless plug section!

The horror anthology, Gothic Blue Book III - Graveyard Edition  by Burial Day Books, includes my poem, The Ballad of Drunken Jack. Available on Amazon for Kindle or in paperback.

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This is sort of a prose poem, and I dislike prose poems. They're not really poems, in my opinion. So this is just a weirdly formatted story. So don't tell anyone about this...

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Never Enough

     He needed a moment to hide his fear when she said "yes" to the prom.
     Then he hesitated a moment before his first kiss.
     A few years later, he took a moment to stare into her eyes when she said she would marry him.
     And he said he wanted a moment as he stood by her bed when they told him she hadn't survived the birth of their child.
     But there weren't any left. 

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Original image source: http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/moments1.jpg

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© 2012-2013 K. R. Smith All rights reserved