Jeremy wants an Update

I haven't looked at this blog in nearly three months, but I checked it today and found a comment from my good friend Jeremy. It appears Jeremy wants an update.

I guess this blog really turned into a chronicle of my publishing life, so I'll continue in that vein. Things are going well. I finished a first draft of my first novel. I'm hard at work finishing up my collection of short stories. It should be done in about three weeks. Plus, I had a story called "Under the World" picked up by Harpur Palate. They tell me it's a last minute acceptance, so it should be out sometime this February. Before AWP, anyway. I've had positive responses on the story from a few other journals as well, which is exciting.

P.S. for Jeremy: the story is online. Check the Willow Springs website.

"Safest Place You've Ever Been" Online

I got my two contributor's copies of Willow Springs issue 62 in the mail today (of course both were bent and stuffed brutally into my mailbox). I decided to check the website to see if it had been updated, and was happy to discover that not only was the new issue up, but also my story, "The Safest Place You've Ever Been," is available online. It looks like a great issue with a great lineup. It's pretty cool to be published in the same book as Tony Hoagland, Stacia Saint Owens, Tess Gallagher and especially David Shields. Easily the most impressive collection of authors in any mag where I've been included. Although it was also cool to be near Russell Banks on Conjunctions. Don't call me greedy, but I'm hoping some of the new pieces I've sent out recently might pique a little interest as well.

Black Warrior Review Issue 34.2 now out!!

We actually finished the new issue of the Black Warrior Review quite a while ago. In a rush to have it out for AWP, we basically put it together in two months, which meant it was all we were doing. The last few weeks of slush reading, contest reading, accepting, editing, and proofing were rough. But we did it and although this one doesn't have as many big names, I think it's even better than the last.

We called this one the "Contributor Love Issue" which means we solicited former contributors to nominate work by "new voices." For awhile we weren't too sure how the feature was going to turn out, but we ended up publishing two fiction stories (which I'm especially proud of) and two essays. I have to say I love all the stories in this new issue, and I find myself going back to them sometimes to reread certain passages. Check out Steve Davenport's "Mackey Rottler's Q to Z," Steven Tuttle's "The Two Mr. Greens," and M. Lynn Qualey's "Lack." "Lack" is up on the BWR website for your reading pleasure. Unfortunately two of my favorites, Nate Martin's "We're Pregnant" and Laura LeCorgne's "The Point of View Shifts" were not put on the site. Nate has posted his story on his blog, so you can read it here. To read the others you'll have to purchase the mag.

I know the authors in this issue won't ever read this, but I want to thank them for being so compliant and studious with the editing process. We had to do everything so quickly and sometimes I felt as though I pushed them. This is never a good thing. I was a much better editor on this issue, and I think that's one of the reasons behind my feelings for the fiction in this issue. Of course the poetry's great, too, as is the non-fiction and the art.

Buy it. But more importantly, read it!

My story...

"Same Life/Different One" is now up on Web Conjunctions! Enjoy.

More Good News

I just got an acceptance for a story today from Willow Springs. They've always been a magazine I've respected, so I'm very honored they decided to include me. I've already received a call from the fiction editor and it seems as though they have a very effective and professional way of working with their writers. The story should be out in June, and I'm looking forward to seeing it in print.

Roll Tide

I've been shameless in my following of Alabama's recruiting successes this year. With another four star athlete committing to 'Bama today, the updated rankings tomorrow will show us in second place on rivals.com and third on scout.com. There's a good chance that if we get Julio Jones, who my inside sources tell me is a lock, we'll move up past Notre Dame as number 1. No, I haven't paid for any memberships, but I've thought about it, which is just as bad.

When Saban got here all the posters around town said "The Process Begins," which is one of the worst sports taglines I've ever heard. I'd think you'd want to distance your football from anything that sounds mechanical or mathmatical. I guess not. What will next year's be? "The Process Continues"? Or "The True Process Begins"? Let's hope so. Roll Tide.

Good News Today

I got great news yesterday when I found out my story "Same Life/Different One" was accepted for publication on Web Conjunctions. In my mind, Conjunctions is probably one of the five best magazines publishing fiction, and they are one of the few places where being placed on their website is just as good as being in the magazine.

I don't know exactly when it goes up, but put a link to the story when it does.