Yet Another Update On My Fringeworks Submissions

Note: My last post on this was back in July.

If you can remember, I have a couple of stories with the Fringeworks folks that I was hoping would finally be out by the end of this year. One was Skarrett's Treasure in the Dead Men's Tales anthology and the other was The Fisherman and His Wife in Grimm and Grimmer IV. It doesn't look like that will happen, but there has been progress. I received an e-mail not long ago with an update on future books from Fringeworks. The information is also posted on their blog. An excerpt of their post follows:

OUR NEXT BATCH OF BOOKS

With some amazing covers on their way from Ben Baldwin, Jim Burns, Darrel Bevan and Martin Reimann we have six books currently in process. While it has been our fervent hope that we will get some or all of these released by the end of the year, there are no guarantees. The necessary delay caused by various negotiations and internal restructuring has now been overcome, and we are focused on fulfilling our existing commitments before moving forward on other projects. Our priority this year is on: Grimm & Grimmer#3 (edited by Colin Fisher), Grimm & Grimmer: Red (edited by Christine Morgan), Andromeda’s Children (edited by Theresa Derwin), Dead Men’s Tales(edited by Melissa Black), NeaDNAthal (edited by Chris Amies) and The Lavender Men by Adem Rolfe.

I believe the image for the cover of Dead Men's Tales will be based on this:

Potential cover image for
Dead Men's Tales
by
Darrel Bevan

You can see more of Darrel's work here. They are still working on getting an artist for the Grimm and Grimmer IV book, but it would be great if they could maintain the style Martin Reimann used for the first three volumes.

Anyway, that's what I've got at the moment. Someday, I hope to hold these stories in my hand as finished, published works. Then I can read them and see if I can remember what they're about! (Yeah, it's been a while.)

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

FSF Challenge - Jolly

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This week's writing challenge
from

Five Sentence Fiction

( Lillie McFerrin Writes )
is based upon the prompt:

Jolly

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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I know most folks are pretty busy this time of year, so I understand if you don't get a chance to read this week's post. Still, this one is for the season—and for all the future writers out there!
 

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Christmas Story

    "What's up with Grandpa?" Cathy asked while pulling the turkey out of the oven. "He usually hates the holidays with all the fuss and having so many relatives around."
    "That and getting nothing but those ugly ties and socks every year," Jake said while searching through the cabinets for the meat platter, "but this year he seems almost—dare I say—jolly."
    "It was Samantha's gift—you know, Bernie and Sarah's youngest," Grandma piped in. "Her present for him was a story she wrote and he was the hero."

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

Spam For Christmas

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This morning I checked the G-Mail e-mail account associated with this blog and found a present! Lots of spam.

All of the spam e-mails in my G-Mail account

I allow anonymous comments on this blog because I want the readers to feel free to comment even if the comment is critical of what I've written. And sometimes folks just don't feel comfortable putting their name out here. But the spammers have really hit me as of late. These all had embedded links to dubious web sites. They won't be published. Most are probably from "bots" so my warnings about such comments won't be heeded.

I have a duty not to publish links to sites potentially infested with viruses or malware, and they will continue to be deleted. I will, however, continue to allow anonymous comments as long as they are valid. I even allow embedded links if they are appropriate.

So far, I don't get so many comments that I can't read each one and reply to the valid ones and delete the one that aren't. But I do want to let any human spammers know that if there are questionable links or content, it won't get published here.

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

The Christmas Gift

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This story is for the 2014 Story Advent Calendar Blog Hop. It is a traditional-sounding fairy tale in the manner of the Grimm Brothers. I hope it is appropriate for the Blog Hop.

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The Christmas Gift

    There are many places to which the Christmas season brings magic, but none more so than the land of Halcynia.

    It was in this land that Ellora lived with her three daughters. Their names were Chloe, Zoe, and for some reason, Sarah. Chloe and Zoe were the youngest, and got along very well together. Sarah was the center of trouble in the house, always teasing her sisters and treating them badly. When the three were together, there was usually a problem, and Sarah was the cause.

    One day, just before Christmas, there was a terrible fight, and Ellora pulled Sarah aside.

    "You will leave this house and not return until Christmas day. For every stranger you meet that has less than you, you will give them something of your own. You will do so until a stranger offers you a gift so wonderful it is beyond compare. On Christmas, you shall return and share it with your sisters. If you fail, I will ask you to leave this house forever."

    "But it's so cold outside and I have no place to stay! And Christmas is three days away! How will I survive?"

    "You will have your warm coat and I will give you some bread—but that is all. It should be enough for three days."

    So Sarah left her house and began her journey.

    On the first day, she met a poor girl who had no coat, so Sarah took off her own coat and gave it to her. The girl thanked Sarah, and as she began to walk away, Sarah asked the girl if she had a gift for her. The girl told Sarah she had nothing but the old clothes she wore and the coat she had just received.

    As Sarah continued on her way, she grumbled about how cold it was. She tore a strip of cloth from her long dress to use as a scarf.

    On the second day, Sarah met a man who had no food. She took the bread she had left and offered it to him. The man thanked Sarah, and as he started to walk away, Sarah asked if he had a gift for her. The man told Sarah he had nothing but the old clothes he wore and the bread he had just received.

    As Sarah continued on her way, she grumbled about how hungry she was and about the hunger pains in her stomach.

    On the third day, as Sarah was passing near some shops, a man ran by and dropped a small bag on the road ahead of her. An old man and woman saw the bag and picked it up. They found it contained several gold coins.

    "It must have been stolen," the old man said. "We must find who this belongs to."

    Only moments later, three soldiers came by on horseback. Seeing the man with the bag of coins, the officer in charge said, "He must be the thief. Arrest him!"

    Though the man protested, it was not until Sarah told the soldiers what had happened that they let him go and took off in pursuit of the real thief.

    As the man thanked her, Sarah said, "I am supposed to give you a gift, but I have nothing left."

    "You have told the truth and saved me from the soldiers. That is more than enough." The old man thanked her again, and they parted ways.

     As evening approached, Sarah hunted for a place to sleep out of the cold winter wind. She finally huddled under a large tree by the road, nestling into the fallen leaves for warmth. She was shivering and dreaming of the fireplace in her house when the old man and woman passed by again.

    "It is the girl who saved you from the soldiers," the woman said to her husband. "With no coat in this cold weather, she could fall ill—or worse—unless we help."

    The old man was puzzled. "What can we do?"

    "I have both a coat and a shawl. She may have my shawl. It isn't much, but it may keep her warm enough until the sun rises."

    The old woman wrapped the shawl around Sarah's shoulders and smiled at her. The shawl was old and tattered, but Sarah curled up within it, and soon her shivering stopped.

    When Sarah woke, it was Christmas morning, and she had no gift to share with her sisters but the old shawl. When she arrived back at her house, she prayed her mother would take pity on her and not make her leave home forever.

    Standing before her mother, she said, "I have failed. I did as you asked, but I received no precious gift and I have nothing to share with my sisters. I will pack what I have and leave."

    "Wait," Ellora said. "Where did you get this shawl?"

    Sarah told how the old woman had wrapped the shawl around her to protect her from the cold.

    "Don't you understand, Sarah? Her gift was not this tattered shawl. The gift she gave you was your life. There is nothing more precious than that."

    With those words, a sparkle of light grew within Sarah's eyes. "I think I do, but you said I must share this gift with my sisters. How can I share my life?"

    "It is the easiest thing in the world, but you must decide how. In the meantime, here is your Christmas gift."

    "You have a gift for me?"

    "Of course, Sarah. You may open it, if you wish."

    She opened the box to find it filled with her favorite cookies, all decorated with sugar and spices. Sarah started to take a cookie when she stopped. She turned to her sisters and said, "There is enough here for everyone," and offered them her gift. They all sat in front of the fire and told stories, enjoying a peaceful Christmas together for the first time.

    And so it was for every Christmas, and every day, thereafter.

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

Men Do Stupid Things: A Rebuttal

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For the most part, I limit this blog to subjects involved in my writing. Occasionally, however, I see something that requires a response. This is one of those times...

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The other day I saw news article on the Internet—and I use the word 'news' with a grain of salt—about how men are idiots and they do stupid things. It went on to give statistics and examples—you know, that scientific crap that nobody really believes—to support their case.

I beg to differ.

Let's take the examples they provided:

1. James Burns of Michigan, who died while attempting to repair his truck from underneath while it was still in motion

Rebuttal: This is not stupid. This is a challenge. Imagine how much time you would save if you could change oil or replace a muffler while on your way to work in the morning. Yeah, I know, you say it isn't possible. But they used to say that about flying and whether Boston could ever win a World Series again. Take Citroen cars (please). They can drive down the road on three wheels. In theory, you should be able to change a flat tire without ever stopping. It might get a little dicey if you had to go through a toll booth, so you'll want to keep off the interstate. And just because this one particular guy died doesn't mean you should stop trying. How many others have done the same thing and lived? You never hear about those folks, do you?

2. Polish farmer Krystof Azninski, who won a "contest of masculinity," trumping his friends - who had stripped naked and were hitting each other over the head with frozen turnips - by cutting off his own head with a chainsaw

Rebuttal: Okay, this is just out-and-out cheating. I've read the official rules on naked turnip thumping, and chainsaws are specifically prohibited. More than likely he'll never be allowed to participate again. I must admit, however, I can understand the temptation to side-step the rules. Mix a bunch of Polish guys together with a few too many turnips, and the competitive urge to win can be overwhelming. 

3. A terrorist who posted a letter bomb with insufficient postage and, upon its return, unthinkingly opened his own letter

Rebuttal: Now this was the Post Office's fault, plain and simple. One little "Postage Due" stamp was all that would be required to make everybody happy here, but that was just too much trouble, wasn't it? Unfortunately, this is just the sort of incident that gives a black eye to all the good postal workers out there.

I offer to you that men aren't stupid. We're just really, really curious. We want to know how far that nail gun will shoot. And how far away you can be and still have the nails penetrate flesh. Or how many beers can I have and still do a "wheelie" all the way across the cow pasture on my motorcycle? (And, no, I wasn't worried that the bike would get away from me and hurt someone else. There was plenty of barbed wire around the field to stop me.)

Anyway, we're constantly seeking out this knowledge for everyone's benefit. It's just not always obvious that this is what we're doing. You never know when that one tiny morsel of wisdom could make all the difference. And that's why we do what we do.

Thank you for listening to my rebuttal.

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

Poetry And More Wanted!

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I saw a couple of places asking for poetry (and other forms of writing and art) and thought I'd pass them along. Writers are always looking for places to submit work, and it's often difficult to find places requesting poetry. Sorry—other than exposure, they don't pay.

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From the Balloons Lit. Journal website...


BALLOONS Lit. Journal

Submission Guidelines

BALLOONS Lit. Journal reads submissions ALL YEAR ROUND, but anything received after 31 Jan 2015 will be considered for Issue 2.

We are primarily looking for quality materials that appeal to readers aged around 10-16. Having said that, we won't be too excited seeing conventional materials for readers of that age group. Rather than writing anything specifically for BLJ's readers, you should consider if we could find in your submission, however complex and philosophical, the elements that could enlighten and amaze the young minds.

We invite poetry and fiction submissions by email. All works must be original, previously unpublished and written in English. But if you also have fantastic art and/or photographic work that we think suit the journal, we will let them in too. We love pleasant surprises. If you have anything which we have never imagined before, feel free to try us.

How to Submit
All submissions to BLJ must be emailed to editorblj@yahoo.com. Or you may use the green button below. 

 

SUBMIT NOW

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Your submission should include a cover letter with your brief bio note (be concise, precise and unique!). If the author is a school child, we'd love to know his/her age too. Please also note the following submission instructions for the different categories:

Poetry: 3-5 pieces. Any style that you find appropriate (feel free to surprise us!). Attached them in a single WORD doc.
Fiction: 1 piece. No more than 2000 words. Proofread, Font 12, common Font Types. Attach it in a WORD doc.
Artwork: 3-5 pieces. We take the common file types like JPG and GIF.

You may of course send in more than one category of work. But please do not send in materials of the same category before your work is accepted by us or before you can assume your work is not taken by us (i.e. after 3 months' time).

Simultaneous submission is certainly encouraged. But again, if your work is accepted elsewhere, while we'll congratulate you, please kindly withdraw your submission or piece(s) by contacting us as soon as possible.

Response Time

This is a tricky question. We'll endeavour to process every submission as quickly as possible. But, you know, having a full time job means time is always a concern to us. If your submission is of great quality and relevance and arrives at the right time, we may be able to send you an acceptance within hours. Otherwise, as any other journals, it may take months. But I hate sending (and receiving) robotic rejection letters. So, if you don't hear from us THREE MONTHS after your initial submission, you can assume that your work has not been chosen for that particular issue (and we're very sorry about that!). We apologize that we are unable to give individual response to authors whose work we do not take. But we love your participation and value your trust all the same. Keep your good work coming!

Rights

By submitting your work to BLJ, it is assumed that you indicate your consent for us to publish your work in our journal. After publication, all rights revert to the author.

Go to their website to submit (or browse)
                       by clicking on their name: BALLOONS LIT. JOURNAL

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From the Fishfood Literary and Creative Arts Magazine website:

FISHFOOD

LITERARY AND CREATIVE ARTS MAGAZINE

• Prose
• Art.Photography.Images
• Audio
• Videos
• Issues
• Submit

Submit

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

FishFood Magazine only accepts original, previously unpublished work from authors.

Literature
We accept short fiction, creative nonfiction, micro fiction/flash fiction, all types of poetry, submissions in French, personal essays, letters and diaries. Please only submit nontraditional poetry, meaning poetry that speaks to the readers visually more so than lyrically.
* All literary works submitted should be a maximum of 5 pages *

Images
We accept illustrations, sketches, drawings, photography, portraits, sculpture images and other art projects. Please specify during submission if the image being submitted is a painting, drawing, etc... .

Media & Arts
We accept literature in audio form, short films, documentaries, clips, songs, music videos and other interesting media.

What We Accept:

Types of acceptable documents and images can be viewed on our Submittable page.

We accept multiple submissions (up to three pieces). 

We accept simultaneous submissions, however, please make sure to inform us immediately if your work has been accepted elsewhere so we can withdraw your submission. In the case of withdrawal, we are willing to accept another submission as a replacement. If your work has been declined, you may re-submit twice more for consideration. We will not accept another submission afterward. For ongoing submissions, you submit again the following month.


* FishFood Magazine does not offer monetary payment, however, contributors receive the satisfaction of gaining exposure and recognition for their talent through selection for publication.
* Please make sure you have read and consented to our terms of agreement before submitting your work.

Please submit your work via SUBMITTABLE.

DO NOT FORGET!

Please sign up for our newsletter prior to or after submitting to FishFood! 

Go to their website to submit (or browse)
                       by clicking on their name: Fishfood Literary and Creative Arts Magazine

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

Here's Lookin' At Me, Kid

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It's interesting to see where the folks live who read my blog. Fortunately, Blogger does provide some basic info on that sort of thing. And here's the result as of the beginning of December 2014:

It always surprises me that Ukraine is my #2 audience (BTW, thanks!). Looks like I've got to do something to stir up interest south of the equator, however. I do want you folks down there to know it wasn't an intentional slight!

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

HB Challenge #13 - Bad Hair Day Part II

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Just a reminder: It's okay to leave comments!

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Horror Bites Challenge #13

From the Office Mango website:

I never thought it would happen but I finally have some people who just can’t live without Horror Bites Challenges. On the one hand this makes me feel fantastic but then again it does appear that I will have to be a bit more dedicated and organised.

We are at the start of winter here in Scotland which I hate. The dark mornings and nights, the miserable weather – I just want to run away to the somewhere sunny. Also it is nearing the holiday season but as we don’t start Christmas until after my sons birthday I am taking us back to sunnier times with this challenges picture. Not that I want a sunny story mind.

1:  Tales can be posted on your blogs & then just add to the wee linky tool, or add as a comment if you don’t have a blog.

2:  A word count of 200-350.

3:  Try to scare me, or at the very least create a little bit of darkness.

4:  This will be a fortnightly (two weeks) challenge from when the post goes live, so you’ve got plenty thinking time.

So come on what are you waiting for, go find your inner demons and get your scare on!

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Odd. I thought dark mornings and nights with miserable weather was summer in Scotland...

(Just kidding! Actually, I'd like to vacation there someday.)

This is a continuation of the Horror Bites #11 challenge.

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Bad Hair Day Part II

    "Hi, I'm Colonel Sanchez. You must be Mrs. Henderson, the biologist."
    The woman turned from the window and nodded.
    "They've just filled me in—well, as much as they can—on the hot site."
    "Did they tell you anything about the people there?"
    "Not really. They've set up a perimeter, but what's going on inside is anyone's guess."
    "If they're not going in, does that mean they don't expect anyone to come out?"
    The Colonel took a deep breath and said, "Don't read too much into that. That's what the military does, you know—set up perimeters—even if all they're guarding is a latrine."
    She bit her lip and looked away.
    "I'm sorry, Mrs. Henderson. I wish I had more. But we'll be there soon. Your husband was—is the geologist there?"
    "Yes. I was talking to him on the phone when we lost the connection. He was describing what had erupted when a lot of noise started up in the background. I couldn't tell what was happening. He told me to hold on and dropped the phone on the desk. Then there was shouting. After a few seconds, the line went dead."
    "And that's the last time you heard from him?"
    She turned and stared out the window.
    "Yes."

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211 words without the title... 

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Previous Horror Bites challenges: 

Lemonade (#12)
Bad Hair Day (#11)
Cross Words (#10)
The Door (#9)
Wrapped in a Mystery (#8)
If The Shoe Fits (#7)
You Won't Feel A Thing (#6)
The Wings of Death (#5)

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

FSF Challenge - Trust

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This week's writing challenge
from

Five Sentence Fiction

( Lillie McFerrin Writes )
is based upon the prompt:

Trust

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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No picture for this one...
 

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Broken

    Bernard stormed in the door after work, still fuming from the argument he'd had with his boss. He tried to put out the fire with one beer after another, but they only stoked his rage until the careless swing of a fist sent Isabelle's treasured  porcelain doll crashing to the floor. She picked up the pieces as a tear glistened on her cheek.
    "Don't worry, honey, I can fix it," he said, though the distant look on her face told him more had been broken than the delicate figurine.
    "You said you'd never hit anyone—again."

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

FSF Challenge - Irritation

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

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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I have to have a little fun sometimes.... 

This is a follow-up on a FSF challenge written long ago and far away (which may be found HERE).

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Strange Loop II

    Wendell pressed the button to execute the code to correct his own errant programming sending coordinated pulses of electromagnetic energy flowing through the matrix of coils and condensers that controlled his vessel. As it took effect, he could feel an unsettling temporal shift as his tumble through time slowed, finally coming to a stop. Once at rest, he looked at his monitor and saw nothing. He checked his instruments, and when he again saw nothing—and I mean absolutely nothing—he scrolled through the supposedly corrected code on his computer and found he had inadvertently entered three "shift and rotate" instructions instead of two, effectively obliterating the universe. Unimaginably irritated with his childish error, he pulled at his hair and said between clenched teeth, "I must be more careful next time," before realizing the sentence he spoke no longer had the slightest meaning.     

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

A Mention On Twitter

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Miranda Kate listed me (@WOKRSmith) with a group of flash fictioneers to be followed on Twitter!

#FF #Writers you need to be following @StuffedO @WOKRSmith @craigstone_ @drmagoo @surlymuse @MisterManz @Evermore_Evil @BrewedBohemian
— Miranda kate (@PurpleQueenNL) November 21, 2014

Thank you, Miranda!

Note: You can find Miranda HERE or HERE.

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

Horror Bites #12 - Lemonade

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Just a reminder: It's okay to leave comments!

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Horror Bites Challenge #12

From the Office Mango website:

Ok having been prompted a few times by certain folk (you know who you are people) about when then next challenge is, I finally caved, even though I’m in the midst of falling behind in NaNo.

So here is the next HorrorBites, hope you lot are happy I had to put my son in a box at B&Q. [the staff were a bit bemused and we didn't explain]

1:  Tales can be posted on your blogs & then just add to the wee linky tool, or add as a comment if you don’t have a blog.

2:  A word count of 200-350.

3:  Try to scare me, or at the very least create a little bit of darkness.

4:  This will be a fortnightly (two weeks) challenge from when the post goes live, so you’ve got plenty thinking time.

So come on what are you waiting for, go find your inner demons and get your scare on!

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First of all, this is not a continuation of the Horror Bites #11 challenge. That may come later.

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Lemonade

    "Look, I have a nursery to run. I can't spend all day answering questions."
    "I understand, Ma'am, but there have been a number of missing persons in the area and we found blood in your parking area."
    "Anyone could have stopped there. It's not closed off at night."
    "Perhaps. But we have to go where the evidence leads us."
    Lucretia looked over the officer's shoulder to see an arm dangling from one of the outdoor storage benches. Her assistant, Nathan, was supposed to take care of that. Good help, apparently, was hard to find. She grabbed the policeman, pulling him away.
    "You see these hydrangeas? They must be watered every day! I don't have time for this!"
    "Alright, Ma'am. But we may be back."
    "Fine. Whatever."
    Lucretia waited until the police got in their cars and drove away, then snagged Nathan as he walked by.
    "Imbecile! The police are all over the place and you leave body parts out in plain sight!"
    "Sorry. I didn't have time to grind it—"
    "I don't care! Get rid of it and make sure the grinder is cleaned and well hidden—"
    She was interrupted by her phone, which she answered unceremoniously.
    "Yes? What do you want?" She paused, then continued in an apologetic tone. "Yes. I'm terribly sorry. You need another batch of liquid fertilizer? I doubt I have enough in stock."
    Lucretia started to check the inventory report on her clipboard when she noticed Nathan standing uselessly beside her. She covered the phone and said, "Well? Go and do as you were told!" She shook her head as she watched Nathan amble over to the bench to address his earlier indiscretion. "And they say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
    In a moment of enlightenment, she muttered, "Exactly!" As her eyes continued to follow Nathan, the grin on Lucretia's face widened. Returning her attention to the phone, she said, "I don't think there will be a problem. It appears another shipment has just arrived."

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334 words without the title... 

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Previous Horror Bites challenges: 

Bad Hair Day (#11)
Cross Words (#10)
The Door (#9)
Wrapped in a Mystery (#8)
If The Shoe Fits (#7)
You Won't Feel A Thing (#6)
The Wings of Death (#5)

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

Tales for the Bully Box Now Available!

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Tales from the Bully Box, the anti-bullying anthology with my story One Above Zero is now available on Amazon!

To purchase, follow these Amazon links

Tales from the Bully Box (US Kindle)

Tales from the Bully Box (US Paperback)

Tales from the Bully Box (UK Kindle)

Tales from the Bully Box (UK Paperback)

Here's the blurb posted on Amazon:

Book Description

Publication Date: November 4, 2014  | Age Level: 8 - 14

Bullying stinks, but knowing what to do about it can make things better. In Tales from the Bully Box, you will find short stories about kids just like you. They get bullied, and sometimes they even bully. But most of the time, they are bystanders who have to figure out what to do when they witness the bullying all around them.

In "Hailey’s Shooting Star," one-handed Hailey proves her worth on the basketball court and as a friend. In "The Eyes on the Back of My Head," you’ll get to stare straight into Mike Mansky’s soul with a pair of super-secret laser eyes. Filled with stories that take readers on a journey from the classroom to summer camp and the basketball court to the mall, Tales from the Bully Box inspires kids to be the best friends they can be.

This is very different from the stories I usually write. It's also for a younger audience, and that took some adjustment. I'll have to see what sort of feedback I get before I decide if I should write again for this demographic. It was fun, though, and it's probably good that I wrote this, even if I never write another of this type.

My story, One Above Zero, is about a girl who is bullied because of health problems that alter her appearance. They're not huge changes, but for kids of this age group, differences are magnified. And sometimes people are hurtful even when they don't intend to be.

If you're interested in the book and its subject, you can learn more on The Bully Box website. And remember, the authors of this anthology have donated their efforts to this cause. We are not promoting this for monetary gain.

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

FSF Challenge - Envy

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

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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The dark innocence of a child...

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The Color of Resentment

  
 

    Tabitha tugged at her mother's dress and said, "I wish I had a pretty pin to wear like Sarah, but I never get anything nice like she has."
    "Hush, child, and try not to draw attention to yourself."
    She gazed at the golden star on Sarah's coat, barely able to control the urge to steal it for herself.
    As Tabitha's mother pulled her into the shadows, she glanced back and pouted, "Sarah must think she's so special. She even gets to ride the train for free."

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

Beneath the Old Oak Giveaway

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Lisa Shambrook is hosting a giveaway for her new book, Beneath the Old Oak. I already have a copy (I began reading it this morning), so I don't need one. But you do! Hop over to her blog and check it out!

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Beneath the Old Oak is released today (see previous post to see all its design elements and read a free sample)…and to celebrate I’m offering a signed paperback to one lucky reader!

Pop over to my Facebook Author Page and Comment, Like and Share the post to have a chance of winning…Meg’s old oak tree is her solace, all you need to do is comment on the Facebook photo telling us your favourite tree and a signed copy could be winging its way to you!

To win you must comment on the original photo on my Facebook Page…

The Giveaway is open internationally and until Wednesday 12th November 2014.

Beneath the Old Oak by Lisa Shambrook is available now in eBook Amazon UK Amazon US and paperback Amazon UK Amazon US.

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved except for those owned by Lisa Shambrook, which is most everything on this post...

Artsy Weekend

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I had a busy weekend! Not writing, but relaxing.

I attended two shows: The Fleetwood Mac concert at Verizon Center on Friday and the musical play Little Dancer at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts on Saturday.

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Fleetwood Mac

This is their first tour since Christine McVie rejoined the band, so I wanted to see them. They have a few years on them, so you never know if you'll get another chance. I snapped a few pictures with my old camera phone, but they don't show much.

Stevie Nicks

Lindsey Buckingham

At closing - Christine McVie sitting at keyboard on left

I have to say, they sounded better than the last time I saw them. That's been a while, and Christine McVie was not with them for that concert. And Christine sounded stronger than when I heard her before and I can't even remember how long ago that was. Not bad for someone in their seventies. Perhaps the hiatus was good for her.

When they first started, the sound was a little muddied—something I've noticed during other concerts at the Verizon Center. The sound seemed to be better during the last half of the concert as if the sound crew did a little tuning as things progressed. Still, the Verizon Center is not the best place to listen to music. (Works great for hockey games...)

The songs selected were all of the Fleetwood Mac standards—The Chain, Dreams, Go your Own Way, Landslide, etc., so there were no surprises. It was a good show, however, and especially so for the older Fleetwood Mac fans. Despite a lot of younger attendees, there was a definite "graying" of the crowd to which I must admit my own contribution.

The hall appeared to be sold out, or nearly so. Since they've already made plans to return here in a few months for another show, the DC area must be a successful venue for them. And I'm betting they'll sell out again.

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Little Dancer

I saw this play at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. If you've never been to the Kennedy Center, there is a lot of white marble and gold paint. Some parts look like the world's biggest mausoleum.

By Tom (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)],
via Wikimedia Commons

 

The play is about the dancer that became the model for Edgar Degas' sculpture La Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans (Little Dancer Aged Fourteen).  From the web site:

Part fact, part fiction, and set in the harsh backstage world of the Paris Opera Ballet, this world premiere Kennedy Center musical is inspired by the story of Marie van Goethem, a young ballerina who posed for Edgar Degas and became, inadvertently, the most famous dancer in the world. Torn by her family's poverty, her debt to the artist, and the lure of wealthy men, she struggles to keep her place in the corps de ballet--a girl on the verge of womanhood, caught between the conflicting demands of life and art.

Edgar Degas [Public domain or CC-BY-2.0
 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)],
via Wikimedia Commons

I had mixed feelings about the play. The actors, singers, and dancer did a great job, but many of the songs, while very nice, are not memorable. You probably won't be humming them a few days later was you might after seeing other musicals. The story makes the play worth seeing, but probably only once. If you like dance, it will satisfy you. There is a long dance number in the second act that would tax a marathon runner, yet the dancers in this group did it without appearing the slightest bit out of breath. The small orchestra gave a wonderful performance.

The play is tied to an exhibition at the National Gallery of Art where the original wax sculpture and other works of Degas will be displayed through January 11, 2015.

As a disclaimer, I wish to say that I am not a person who attends many plays or knows a lot about them. These are only my uneducated opinions.

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

FSF Challenge - Marriage

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

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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Another short one...

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Undying Devotion

  
 

"I'm sorry to hear about your wife, Mr. Jennings."
"Thank you, Sarah. She was good to me, and I miss her very much."
"How long were you married?"
He looked away, then speaking softly, said, "Forever."

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

For Tess

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My first pass at this poem was for Lillie McFerrin's Five Sentence Fiction, and is posted here. The ending is a bit dark and ominous, and I had reservations about writing it that way. The autumn is a time for reflection, and about enjoying nature at its best. The clear air, the bright colors, the holidays—there is so much about the season I enjoy. After the beginning of the year, however, there are the cold, short days of winter. While winter has its own charms, it can also be a dreary contrast to the fall. Just ask anyone with seasonal affective disorder. Perhaps that is what came out in my first poem. I had even thought about writing two versions of the same poem. When Tess made comments with some of the same concerns that I had, I decided to add a version with a brighter ending.

This one is for you, Tess.

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Autumn Dream

  

Twisting, turning, colors burning,
On the wind they dance,
Slowly strolling, gently rolling,
Down the lane they prance.

The season's call makes others fall
Like red and orange snow,
Forming waves of brown and beige
And yellow all aglow.

Then frosty nights trim leaves in white,
A fragile crystal lace,
And frigid air, despite due care,
Nips every child's face.

Spread like charms across the farms,
Pumpkins now appear,
And apples feed the occasional steed
Or wandering white-tailed deer.

Though hints of snow on north winds blow
That whisper wintry ways,
Young couples smile and pause a while
In dreams of autumn days.

                                                 K. R. Smith

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

Somebody Loves Me

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Well, maybe not me personally. But someone liked my poem. Close enough...

 

I chanced upon a review of Gothic Blue Book III on Goodreads by Die Booth, and she mentioned my poem, The Ballad of Drunken Jack.

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'Gothic Blue Book III: The Graveyard Edition', published by Burial Day Books, is named after the Gothic Blue Books of the 19th century which were often abridged versions of popular gothic novels and as such were looked down upon as poor quality. The name and tone of 'Gothic Blue Book III' is where the similarity ends however, because this book is a great read full of entertaining new horror fiction, with most of the stories featuring a graveyard in some capacity.

These tales tend more towards the suspenseful and unsettling than the gory - although a few of them are outright terrifying. There's even a couple of poems thrown into the mix, and as someone not generally very fond of poetry I can confirm that I absolutely loved K.R. Smith's traditional-feeling murder tale 'The ballad of drunken Jack'.

The standout for me though has to be Jessica McHugh's 'Auntie Grave', personally one of the best horror shorts I've read in a long time, beautifully written, believably characterised and memorably unsettling.

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I couldn't have asked for a better review if I'd written it myself. (And, no, I didn't.)

Thank you, Ms. Booth! In my unbiased opinion, you are a person of superior intellect with refined literary tastes.

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

Orange You Glad You Dropped By?

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It seems I am forever apologizing for my titles (sorry!), but I had to get the color orange in there somehow!

I have a new short story coming out as part of an anthology for middle-grade school kids. The title of the story is One Above Zero. It's about a girl named Zoe who is the target of bullying by her classmates because of a health problem. The book is Tales From the Bully Box and will be published by Elephant’s Bookshelf Press.

The anthology is in support of an anti-bullying effort by PACER. Orange is the color they have chosen to show support for their cause. And today, October 22, 2014, is designated as Unity Day when their supporters wear orange.

A post by Cat Woods, the editor and a contributor, describing how this project came about is found on The Bully Box web site. For kids interested in the book, Cat has this post.

The book is in the final stages of preparation, but the cover is ready and here it is!

More on this when the book is released!

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

This Week's Free Photo - If You Ever Thought Your Day Was Bad

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Yes, it's been a long time since I posted a weekly photo. I apologize. I've been meaning to put this on the blog since the summer, but I've been busy. It has nothing to do with writing, but every writer has a rough day, so... 

All I can say is, if you thought your day was bad, imagine how the guy with the red truck feels.

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Image TOW_TRUCK_GETS_TOWED_WITH_TRUCK.JPG ©2014 K. R. Smith - www.theworldofkrsmith.com - may be used, in whole or in part, with attribution.

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