I haven't been around as much lately...

because I've been really focused on getting finished with what I started three years ago.

Next week, Wilderness House Literary Review is publishing one of my flash fiction pieces. It's coming out in their October volume, so I'm guessing it will be 'there' on October 1st or so. I was surprised last weekend to receive an email from another lit mag, very well-known in the flash fiction world (they hadn't seen the email I sent them, withdrawing this story from their consideration) - telling me they'd be honored to publish the story, telling me I could pick the art that went with it, and a couple of other things. I couldn't accept, of course, but it was damn gratifying.

Then, Tuesday, I heard from the Potomac Journal, and they accepted the last of the three stories I had out there. Their next issue doesn't come out until early 2010, but I don't care. I'm happy as hell that I'm gonna be in it.

Whittling down my words to flash stories is hugely helpful - helps me see what can 'go' as I'm editing down my novel. I wanted to mention that to you all in case you might wanna think about doing the same thing, if you think it might help you, too. I can honestly feel a difference as I read through - I can pick out the extraneous, and that's a good feeling. If you're at all interested, I bet you'll feel it as well! Good luck with your writing, you all!

Where would you go...

if you could move somewhere else? When you close your eyes and envision yourself somewhere else, where is it?

Because JB and I are now asking each other that question.

Here are the criteria:

1. We need to wait until next summmer or so when the youngest of our combined clan goes on to college.

2. We hate the cold. We don't mind if we only see summer and a winter that seems like spring, ever again.

3. We love the water. Especially the ocean.

4. We love pubs and interesting people and hanging out for a laugh and a story here and there.

5. We will need to work - college ain't inexpensive - so we need some English speakers around us, somehow.

6. Our combo plan family are around the East Coast of the U.S., and in Britain, so the trip to both places needs to be easy. (It will be super easy if we stay somewhere in the States besides the DC area - too cold in the winter), but that's not set in stone, as we are fully aware, and in no way lying to ourselves, that we do not have forever to do whatever. We want our move to be gratifying, because 'we are all terminal cases', as Irving said Garp said, and we want to live, finally, the way we want to live, in a place we choose to be rather than in a place we're stuck, family commitments, etc.

Whatcha got? Any ideas?

Miscellany...and pics of Robin Jr.

1. Been in Indiana on a business trip for a couple of days, and got back in a few hours ago. The pace of life is SO very different there, and that's not a bad or a good thing, but only an observation. I stayed at a Hyatt in downtown Indianapolis that had been built in the mid-1970s, which just happened to be the age of the other Hyatt I was in quite a bit, back in the day, for drinks in their excellent (then) bar, in Louisville. I actually had one of those hey baby it's deja vu all over again feelings the whole time I was in that place, and it weirded me out a bit.

2.I wasn't kidding when I said I was drilling down with my writing; started sending out flash pieces in mid-August, and I had results in the form of a story published in the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette (most of you guys saw this on EE's and thanks for the notes!) which made my freaking day. A couple of days ago, I was told I had another piece accepted, this time for the October issue of the Wilderness House Literary review. I'm relieved this is happening. Relieved may be an odd way to put it, but truly, relieved is how I feel. Like I said a few weeks ago, I'm getting quite serious about this whole process, and I'm working to move it forward. Both of these are direct excerpts from my novel, so yep, I'm happily relieved that total strangers like what I write.

3. Thought you might wanna see some summer 2009 pics of my older baby girl, Robin Jr. (She actually friended me on Facebook. I thought I'd pass out!) Robin Jr. is working on her degree in Illustration, she loves her friends and her lifestyle where she is, and I love that she loves it, since I love her so much.



(RJ's the one in the middle, if ya can't tell....)



(RJ's on the left)



4. I wish August hadn't ended yet.

5. How are you all?