…there was a group of writerly friends — you know the type. Friends who had aspirations to literary greatness. One of these friends had the brilliant idea of posting three words as a prompt every day, and those participating would write 100 words of an ongoing story incorporating those three words. The friends thought that was a marvelous idea, and all took turns posting three words. At the end of a month, each friend ended up with an unusual and entertaining 3k word story.

Here it is naked. It was a blast to write, and I hope it’s as much fun to read.

Transmigration

By Nayskya

Marissa put the fish in his sock and sunk it down the well like the witch had told her. The full moon shone brightly in her liquid eyes, pulling out tears like strings of pearls.

She swayed to an unearthly lullaby, stretching her slim arms over her head towards the unbelievable moonlight. Her small feet moved in an intricate dance over the fragrant petals of gardenias, tissue-soft against her soles.

Marissa danced in mystery against the infection in her head. She danced in supplication, for mercy, until her feet throbbed with weariness. She bent, scooped up a handful of colourless sand and clenched it tightly.
She released the sand into the cool night air, watching it shimmer and fall to earth. “Thee art my ticket,” she whispered, while her heart railed against the black bitch-witch working the intricate, delicate spell.

Moving to the beach, Marissa retrieved a cushion of sea teeth she had fashioned from a worn pair of her beloved’s work pants. She held it close and inhaled, his masculine scent filling her nostrils.

From her hiding place beneath the banana-shaped rock, she pulled out her velvet spell bag. She knew it was a race to finish in time. He was depending on her; she couldn’t let him down.

Rummaging in her velvet bag, her trembling fingers closed upon the potion bottle wedged sideways between his picture, framed in tiny bones, and the spell book. Waves pounded a musical rhythm against the sandy beach.

She drank down the secret potion and chanted the words of power, the cumbersome syllables falling like stones from her dry lips. She drew the ancient symbols of protection and invocation with her pointed dagger.
The spell completed, seawater swelled until it exploded, drenching Marissa in salty tears cried over millennia.

To her credit she continued her chanting, never stopping even as she ducked the worst of the deluge.
Out of the heaving waves appeared the face of a man, framed by sea-foam, with dark hair and large, expressive eyes. His mouth was a rictus of agony as he fell back into the water.

“From the grip of she that holds you, I command thee!” shouted Marissa over the scream of the waves. “From the ash of a seared heart, as cheese from the wheel, I do claim thee!”

The man’s face reappeared, scarred with pain, his arms flailing. “Your friend needs thee – the grave plot closed to thee – return to those that love thee most!” Marissa’s voice was hoarse with salt and heartache.
Pulling out her jewelled dagger, she drew it down the inside of her left arm, a long line of heart’s blood dripping to the damp sand that shifted beneath her feet. The demon wind howled.

As soon as her blood hit the sand, the wind hushed to a murmur. Marissa’s body went stiff, locked to the earth. The angry sea disgorged its prisoner; a single tear snuck down Marissa’s cheek.

Unable to move, Marissa watched as a luminous ball of blue light danced over the still water and over the prone figure of the man. She saw him breathing as the light winked over him.

The clear blue light brushed over his hair and down the length of his body, illuminating the bleached pieces of driftwood strewn about. A mild breeze caressed Marissa’s skin; dried the tears upon her cheeks.

Marissa tried to move but the solid earth held her fast and all she could do was watch and wait. Months of preparation and sacrifice had sucked tears of blood from her. Her world trembled.

The light emitted a bright ray that struck Marissa resulting in her silhouette appearing as a shadow on the sand, bookmarking her place in one reality when another beckoned, seduced and demanded payment in full.

She heard the man pull in a tearing breath, saw him raise his head and blink furiously against the light. Her heart pumping double time, she became aware of an unexpected and heart-stopping call.

A crystal horn sounded as the man gained his feet. The blue light caressed him still, as if loathe to give up according to plan. He leaned his head back and voiced a thrilling answer.

A loud moan escaped him as the blue light fondled him. A red floor of tiny sea creatures formed under the man and flowed over his legs, up on to his torso. The light pulsed.

The sea creatures covered the man completely. Marissa was torn between loss and hope, watching this transformation. The selfish side of her dreaded this drastic resolution, knowing deep down inside there was no other way.

As the man changed, creatures swarmed, creating a new schnizzle. He sneezed several times, shaking the creatures but not dislodging them. “Gesundheit,” Marissa whispered, wishing she had become a wino before getting to this point.

The man continued to writhe, and Marissa knew she would remember how the red sea creatures fluttered against his flesh for the rest of her life. Oops – that probably wasn’t going to be for long.

She had not lost all – he’d survive. This was her purpose, why she’d paid the price demanded of her. The wind freshened and feeling returned to her numb body. She lunged toward where he lay.

Marissa screamed at the searing pain in her legs, as she bumped her toe against a half-buried rock in the wet sand. Her heart wanted to fly to his side, but her body betrayed her.

As bad as she wanted to reach his side, a giant ladybug trundled onto the beach and barred her way. Marissa fell to the sand as her reality started to fray at the seams.

She became blind to any and everything around her as colors merged and textures faded. The only thing that was left was love… she clung desperately to that in her journey to the next awaiting reality.

~ * ~

BIO: Nayskya is a four hundred year-old Russian mermaid who has given up her career of inseminating oysters to produce pearls in order to pursue a caree in fiction. She has no legs but has been known to knock out ten men at one blow of her powerful tail. She enjoys listening to the song of the whales and her hobbies include seduction, swimming with the dolphins and diving wrecks. She prefers swimming in cold waters, is studying English as her seventy-seventh language, and her greatest wish is for world peace.

~*~

Sock, fish, sunk
Unbelievable, tissue, lullaby
Mystery, head, infect
Bitch, ticket, shimmer
Cushion, teeth, pants
Banana, bag, race
Sideways, bottle, frame
Point, cumbersome, secret
Explode, duck, credit
Out, fall, boys
Cheese, grip, ash
Plot, friend, scar
Shift, damp, long
Lock, snuck, hush
Dancing, wink, balls
Brush, mild, bleach
Suck, wait, try
Result, bookmark, silhouette
Pump, blink, tear
Plan, horn, lean
Fondle, moan, floor
Torn, side, cover
Wino, gesundheit, schnizzle
Remember, oops, flutter
Lunge, wind, lost
Bump, fly, scream
Bar, bug, bad
Blind, love, any

There’s always something happening in the writerly world of Nettaland, and I really should be spanked for not blogging regularly. I could promise to be better about that, but I hate breaking promises. The shards are sharp and really hurt when you step on them.

Anyway, here’s the hodge-podge of what’s currently on the table:

~ I am closing on on the completion of a Special Project, and I’m excited. My client is happy with me, and says so here. Truth is, she’s been a dream client, and I can’t wait until “Lovers and Beloveds” hits the shelves. Believe me, you will love it. I think the pre-orders are open until July 15, but you can find out more information here. Hop on, because I have a feeling this thing is gonna blow wide open. Remember, you got the scoop here

~ With the completion of this project, I will have two openings for editorial services in about two weeks. Contact me for details.

~ Some of you who have followed me on my private blog are most familiar with my whining about “The Blood”. This is a short story whose history is ten times longer than the final word count. I won’t tell the story behind the story here (but I will if it’s published, promise) but suffice to say it’s been a long, torturous road with this thing. It is one of those stories that JUST. WON’T. LET. GO. I wrote the initial inception SEVEN years ago. Yes, you heard that right. It has been reworked and rewritten until I was satisfied, has garnered more rejections than a pimply-faced thirteen-year old at a high school dance, and I finally got to the point where I figured it was just going to be one of those stories that meant more to me than it ever would to anyone else.

Until one of my favorite magazines put out a call for vampire fiction. I sent it in. No word yet, but all signs look promising. I’ll post the link and tell the story should it be picked up.

~ One of my favorite authors has a new story up at Strange Horizons and it is LOVELY. Love her work. Check it out.

~ For those who are looking for a website and book cover designer, I can’t recommend Matt highly enough. He’s not only talented, the man’s a machine, great to work with, and an all-around nice guy, even if he is an Aussie . If you have a need, he’s your guy.

~ I’ve been asked to guest blog on Cape Cod Holistic, so that’s something I’ll be working on. I’ll post the link when it goes live — but it’s a great website and I’m honored to be asked to be a part of it. I’m contemplating subject matter, and hope to have something up in the next few days.

~ Ah, yes. Pallas. She tasks me, so she does. I’m really wondering, at this point, since the ending seems to be giving me fits, if I should just leave the ending alone and start editing from the beginning since the first chapter continues to bug the hellfire out of me. It’s the weakest chapter of the lot, in my opinion, and the more this beast sits in the trunk the more I see what’s wrong with it and how to fix it. I realize there’s no rules and I can do what I want, but the truth is I’m in uncharted territory here. I really need to finish this thing, but stuff like Life and Paying Work has had to take precedence. Stress. I haz it.

Other than that, I continue to plod along, and wonder why I didn’t choose an easier career. Heh.

It’s been awhile, I know. Already it’s been one of those years, and we’re not even halfway done yet. Oye.

I do want to bring your attention to two past posts of mine — It Can Happen To You and An Update On Writershire(dot)com. By all accounts, this company is mighty shady at best and a scam at worst. Like I said, most of my clients are wonderful to work with, but there seems to be one in every bunch. Fact of the matter is, if it feels too good to be true, it probably is. Beware of “rush jobs” at the last minute, and don’t be afraid to ask questions or investigate the company before you take on any work. If possible, get a deposit up front. I know there’s a lot of complaining from potential employers about being taken for a ride by unscrupulous writers, but the road goes both ways. Protect yourself.

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That being said, I’m going to introduce you to some potential employers I’ve done work for and with whom I’ve had a good experience. They pay, they pay on time, and they pay regularly. Some may not pay top dollar, but a bird in the hand and all that. I hope one or more of these work for you.

Constant Content is a great site to sell articles on just about any subject you might be interested. The pay rate is set by you, the writer, but keep in mind that CC takes a hefty commission. To me, it’s worth it because if there a topic for which I’ve done a lot of research for one client, I can spin that research and post it up on CC for sale. They pay once a month via PayPal, and the other thing I like about CC is their public request system. A client posts a request for an article, detailing the keywords required, and if it’s a subject with which you are familiar or may have research material hanging around, you can submit your article for consideration. If it’s not picked up by the requesting client, it is simply added to your articles for sale.

Constant Content does have a high standard and guidelines, so be sure to read them over carefully before submission.

Another reliable site in my experience is Textbroker. Pay is determined on your rating, and assignments are offered in a variety of different topics. You are rated by the client and the editorial staff, and the higher your ranking the more you are paid. Most assignments are short and sweet, between 200-500 words, and you can request a payout anytime after you reach the threshold of $10, paid twice per month via PayPal. The only drawback, if you can call it that, is you can only pick up one topic at a time. Pay close attention to the due dates…although there’s no penalty for missing one — it simply goes back into the pool — I think it’s rather rude to take a topic and not follow up, you know? Although it has been known to happen to me, too.

Although their vetting process could be seen as grueling, WiseGEEKS pays for all the testing articles, which is definitely a plus. Pay is dependent on the subject matter, but ranges from $10-$12 per 400 word article. There are three rounds of testing — you write three articles at a time, the topics are your choice, then reviewed by an editor. You are expected to improve and implement the changes suggested by your editor. They pay immediately during testing, but once you’re through the process, they allow you to write up to five articles but won’t pay until the proper paperwork is signed and submitted. (This is where I’m at right now.) You are also required to write at least five pieces per week. They have a strict format, and the questions you are answering can take some research, but you choose which ones you want to handle.

Those are just three sites I have done work for and recommend. If you have any questions, leave them here in the comments or email me at annetta.ribken(at)gmail.com and I’ll help you out if I can.

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The next post will be about my friend, Peat, who is currently being held hostage in the UK. I hope he gets home soon, and safely. In the meantime, the dude is kicking ass and taking names…with good reason. More tomorrow

Yes, that’s right. Monday is the new Saturday, at least for me, and I have to say I like Monday dressed up in Saturday’s clothes a lot better than what it usually wears. Of course, having a day off is most unfamiliar these days, but so far I’m digging it.

The Big Project has gone well, although it has been extended for another two weeks. This means fiction is still on hiatus, since writing 70k words in 4 weeks on the same subject tends to wear out the brain cells. That being said, I’m working on a piece for #fridayflash just in time for Valentine’s Day. I wrote it a long time ago, but it needs a good overhaul and some serious editing. I hope I can have it done by Friday.

In other writing news, check out this post from author Peter V. Brett on the e-book wars. He nails it dead-on, I’m thinking.

The Super Bowl was amazing this year, and although I’m not a Saints fan (sorry, the Giants have had, and always will have, my football heart) it was nice to see them win. I will admit that sometimes the commercials outshine the game, but not this year. In spite of that, this was my favorite Super Bowl commercial and it just tickles me to no end:

Doritos Samurai

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And finally, if you are at all interested in health care reform (and you should be!) check out this brilliant link from Kenny Wyland, who very effectively debunks the more persistent and stoopid of health care reform myths.

So, since it is a day off, I’m going to see what kind of trouble I can find. Heh.

I am very excited to present to you an interview with Jeremy C. Shipp. I first “met” Jeremy (in the internet way) through Twitter, which is one of the reasons I love Twitter so much. His tweets caught my attention — unique, funny, thought-provoking, just like the artist himself. This led me to his website, where I discovered a whole new world of fabulous, twisted fiction. His story, “Scratch”, made me cry. His book, “Vacation”, touched me and made me think, which is a wonderful thing for a book to do.

Come on in. But, you might want to leave a light on. Just in case there’s clowns.

1.    “Vacation” is your first published novel. It’s twisted and demented, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I’m not the only one. Why do you think it appeals to people?
First of all, I’m very happy you enjoyed the novel.
And the truth is, I still find myself shocked at how many people connect with Vacation.  This is a strange novel, and when it was first published, I didn’t think a large number of readers would appreciate an alternative fiction book like this one.  But, over the past couple years, I’ve received positive messages almost daily from myriad readers, and even from writers such as Piers Anthony, Jack Ketchum, Gary Braunbeck, Jeff VanderMeer, John Skipp.  The thought makes my head spin.  I feel so blessed.
With Vacation, I wanted to write the sort of book I enjoy reading.  A book where every sentence matters, where the meaning is complex and layered, where the overall perspective is unique.  And perhaps some readers appreciate Vacation for reasons such as these.
Also, the main character experiences a paradigm shift that’s extremely disorienting, difficult, satisfying.  It seems many readers who’ve experienced their own shifts can relate to this.
2.    The debate rages on regarding education and degrees. Do you think a college education is mandatory for a writer? Why or why not?

Every writer is different, and so some might benefit from a college education, and some might not.  Me, I have a degree in creative writing, but I regret the years I spent in that environment.  I went for the wrong reasons, and I didn’t quit because I was so used to making negatively motivated choices (such as those based on fear).  The system I trapped myself in almost changed me into a writer I’m not, and my authentic self barely hung on by a thread.  Of course, others would thrive where I wilted.
3.    How long did it take for you to write your first book? Was “Vacation” your first novel?
I started writing novels when I was 13, and I’ve been writing them ever since, one novel a year.  So Vacation wasn’t my first novel, by far.  However, Vacation was the first book I was satisfied with.  For the first time, I felt I accomplished everything I set out to accomplish.

4.    What is your writing process like? Give us an idea of how the strange machinations of your mind work.

My tales are usually sparked by a single image or idea that bursts in my mind.  If the thought affects me deeply enough, then I’ll brainstorm in a notebook.  I never write outlines, just ideas, snippets of dialogue, etc.  After that, I write the story, and I usually have some idea where the characters are going to end up, but I have no idea how they’re going to get there.  And so, I take the journey with them.
Writing has always been very challenging for me, because I obsess over almost every detail.  If I didn’t have so much fun with the process, I’d never write again.

5.    Was there a traumatic episode in your childhood that contributed to your fear of clowns? And what’s with the monkeys?

There was that one time when I dressed up as a clown for Halloween and I was sucked into a mirror world where my reflection chased me around in a circus and tried to eat me, but I’m sure that has nothing to do with it.
And I’ve always loved monkeys.  Ninja monkeys, coconut monkeys, and the rarest of the rare: spork monkeys.
Coconut monkeys are the natural enemy of yard gnomes, but it’s my hope that one day I’ll be able to bring both species together in peace and harmony.  And when that day comes, we’ll put on a Charles in Charge musical.  I’ll play Buddy.

6.    Do your parents and siblings support your work? Do they read it, and how much does their opinion matter to you?

My parents and my siblings are all very supportive of my work.  One of my brothers is the only person in the world who’s read everything I’ve ever written.  My dad reads almost everything.  And my other brother and my mom don’t enjoy reading dark fiction, but they’re supportive, nonetheless.
I would keep writing even if every being on the planet hated my stories, but I do appreciate all the support I receive from my family, my wife, my friends, my readers.
The opinions of others matter to me, sometimes, but everyone’s opinion is different, so I have to take every opinion with a grain of delicious salt.

7.    Who are your heroes or literary influences?

Most of my heroes are people in my life.  My wife, my parents, my brothers.
As far as writing goes, some individuals who inspire me are: Arundhati Roy, Lois Lowry, Kurt Vonnegut, Brett Easton Ellis, Amy Hempel, Aimee Bender, George Orwell, Haruki Murakami, Chuck Palahniuk, Anthony Burgess, CS Lewis, Douglas Adams, Francesca Lia Block, Roald Dahl.

8.    What is your first clear memory?

My first memory is a nightmare.  A monster.  My second memory is a bit nicer.  I was in the park with my dad and brother.  The park maintenance people had emptied the pond, and there were barrels and buckets everywhere.  My dad lifted up me and my brother so we could look into every container and see the fish.

9.    “Vacation” deals with a lot of societal themes. What do you think is the future for our society, and has your opinion changed since you wrote “Vacation”?

I’m an anarcho-tribalist, and I believe that civilization is a good system for machines, but not for actual living beings.  Healthy social systems are those that work to benefit the people, but in civilization, people work to benefit the system.  It’s a bizarro world we’re living in, but the system is unsustainable.  It’s my hope that humanity will work hard to ease the transition into sustainable social systems.
My overall perspective about our society hasn’t changed, but every day, I’m learning new things about the world and about myself.  I’m always changing.

10.    Tell us about “Cursed”, which I understand comes out this fall. Is it different from “Vacation”, and how?

Vacation, to me, is a “global” novel, while Cursed is much more familial; domestic.  The focus of Cursed is the characters.  Their problems, their relationships, their complex thoughts and raw feelings.  When writing, I gave these imaginary people each a piece of my heart, and so I feel a deep connection with them.
With Cursed, I set out to write a book about neglect and other forms of abuse that society often ignores or accepts.  For instance, the physical and sexual abuse of children is almost always looked down upon, socially.  And yet, the emotional abuse and subjugation of children is quite normalized in our society.  Another example: people with disabilities are often seen as less than whole—as if they need to be cured in order to have meaningful lives.  Many disabled people suffer emotional abuse because of this idea.
In Cursed, the characters band together to try to deal with very strange problems.  Problems that society doesn’t recognize.

11. Another debate raging in literary circles is that of the roles of online publishing, indie publishing, and the role of traditional publishing. Where do you see the future of publishing going, and how much of an effect do you think the Kindle and other electronic readers contribute to this?

This is a complex issue, but I think I’ll give a simple answer.  In the fight between conventionality and diversity, in the end, diversity always wins.

Get your butt over to Jeremy C. Shipp, Writer Guy for some absolutely stellar short fiction. And don’t forget to pick up a copy of “Vacation”, and be prepared to rock. Look for an upcoming review of “Cursed”, right here on WordWebbing.

A huge thanks to Jeremy for taking the time to speak with me. It was an honor, sir.

Whether you’re a writer of fiction, non-fiction, or both, there will be times when you feel “stuck”. I don’t believe in writer’s block, but I do believe in writer’s constipation. I have found at this point, trying to force it will often cause more problems than it solves, although at times you just have to put your head down and power through it.

There is no “cure” for writer’s constipation – chances are you’ll encounter this uncomfortable state of affairs more than once in your freelancing career, but there are some things you can do that may have the same effect as a bran-loaded muffin. The next time you find yourself stopped up, so to speak, try one of these methods and see if you can’t get yourself moving again in the right direction.

Turn off the time sinks. That’s right. Turn off Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, etc. Oh sure, you can justify it by saying, “I’m networking, and that’s part of the job,” and it’s true. However, if you can’t get your articles, chapters, or other work written because someone just sent you a cool new app on FB, or you’ve gotten a notice of a new follower on Twitter, it’s time to pull the plug. Set aside a specific time for networking every day, and stick to it. Trust me, you won’t miss anything that you can’t catch up on later, and you’ll be amazed at how much more you can accomplish. In the same vein, close down the chat programs. If your friends don’t understand why you can’t spend an hour chatting, they don’t understand your job. Educate them politely, and schedule free time for a good chat session when you can participate without sacrificing valuable work time.

Turn off outside distractions. Turn off the phone, turn off the television. Turn off the music, even, to give yourself a chance to think without any distraction whatsoever. Hear that? Yeah, that’s called “quiet”, and it’s wonderful. It might be difficult for you to shut the phone down especially if you have children or parents to worry about, but an hour or two a day won’t hurt. If you can’t turn the phone off because of possible emergency calls, at least screen them and only answer if there IS an emergency.

Change your tools and venue. Sometimes, the old ways work best. If you’re used to working on a keyboard, grab a pen and a pad of paper instead – you know, that round thing filled with ink and that stuff made out of trees? Change your location. Instead of working at your desk, try working at the kitchen table, the local coffee shop, the library, from bed. You might be totally surprised at how a simple change can loosen up the thinking process.

Work more than one project at a time. Freelancing is a juggling act in the best and worst of times, and you most likely have more than one project going, anyway. If one has you bugged up, unless you’re up against a hard deadline, put it aside and pull out the next thing. If you don’t have another project to work on, pull out a sheet of paper (or open another document in your word processor program) and free write for ten minutes about anything that comes into your mind. Sometimes, all there is to doing it is to – that’s right – do it.

Take a time out. Walk around the block. Eat lunch anywhere else but at your desk (don’t play; I know you eat lunch at your desk almost every day.) Take a drive; work out for thirty minutes, read a book. Or how about this – take a day off! Freelancers are notorious for working long, crazy hours, and that seems to be a requisite of the job. However, if you don’t take some time off, you’re going to burn out. Guaranteed. So, take a break and don’t feel guilty. You will be pleasantly surprised how a well-timed break, interaction with other people in person, and relaxing away from the job will rejuvenate and energize, making you that much better at your job.

The next time you find yourself constipated, try one of these suggestions. Some of them might be as uncomfortable as eating a bowl of twigs and bran, or they might be as tasty as a fresh-baked muffin. Either way, the goal is to get the words moving, and any or all of these suggestions should do just that.

If you have any suggestions of your own that have worked for you, please share them!

Wow. And the first days of June. Holy shiznola, where did May go?

Let’s take a little stroll, shall we, and fondly remember what did happen in May.

I found a couple of copy gigs that have become small eggs in my basket. Not enough to really earn a whole lot of money, but eggs are eggs and I’ll take them.

I finished Part One of a three-part project and it went really well. I’m very pleased about that. I received another nibble about my editing services, and I’m really happy about that. I love editing. Love. It.

I’ve settled in to the new digs a little bit more and it’s become increasingly homey. I still have a lot to do, but it’s getting there. I especially like the squirrels that run back and forth across the roof. The pitter patter of little rodent feet is so…funny. Heh. I put out crackers and popcorn in the morning for breakfast, and I’ve actually caught one of the little buggers on video munching away.

As long as they eat outside, we’re cool.

Mother’s Day was particularly difficult. The first one since Momma passed. I was dreading it, and I was right to dread it like I did. It knocked me off-kilter for a couple of weeks, actually, if I’m to be completely honest. The next bad spot I see ahead of me is her birthday. Trying to put a positive spin on it is not easy. I miss her every day, with every breath. I keep waiting for it to ease, but it’s not happening. And that’s just something I’m going to have to accept, at least for now.

My friend Peat is doing awesome. I’m so happy for him, I can’t even tell you. Classic case of a good guy making good.

I’ve “discovered” another great writer, and I love it when that happens.

Conversations with the Inner Circle of Netta have prompted me to finally start my own project. (I know, it’s about time, isn’t it?) It’s my second novel, untitled, based on my experiences in the hotel industry — with a Netta-twist. I believe the proper term is “urban fantasy”. I am way excited about this, to the point I’m actually dreaming about it at night. I’ve got a start, but it’s a real juggling act in between the non-fiction. Sometimes it’s difficult to switch between the left brain and right brain, especially when you only have two brain cells to start with. Heh. You either have two on one side and none on the other, or they’re split up and lonely without each other.

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So, goodbye to May, and hello, June. Let’s see what you have in store. As long as it involves words and squirrels, I’m sure it will be interesting.

As a reader and a writer, it is the greatest joy of my life to discover new and amazing authors that rock my universe. It doesn’t happen often enough, but when it does, I’m flying like Aladdin on his magic carpet. By “new”, I mean “new to me”, so sometimes my ravings may elicit the response of, “Oh, jeez, know THAT writer, been reading them for YEARS, where the hell have you been?” Still, sometimes we need to be reminded of Golden Oldies, but sometimes we’re lucky enough to catch a rising star, and that’s really exciting to me.

I don’t confine myself to one genre — as a matter of fact, although I recognize the need for labels (marketing purposes, don’t you know) I don’t like them. I love finding material that either crosses the boundaries of genres, or blurs them so they’re not so sharp or delineating. Like a chalk hopscotch, doused in a misty spring rain. I’ve always been of the opinion that although good writers will do well in any genre — a word is a word is a word, and if you know how to wrangle them, it doesn’t matter what the task is — I further believe that writers do their best work if they are in love with their genre of choice. In other words, especially in this profession, you have to love what you do or it’s gonna suck.

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So, there I was, twittering on Twitter, when in the twitter-stream a very nice young man, who is planning to release a book this fall, was letting it be known he would participate in an interview to anyone who was interested. Of course, I’m interested, I’m always interested. Are you kidding? That’s like throwing a shiny thing in front of a magpie.

I traveled to his blog to check out his work — the first story I read was Scratch .

It was nothing like I expected. Oh, I’ve read horror, lots and lots of horror, and most of the time, especially in shorter works, I’ve found horror rather — unsatisfying. You know, too much gore for the message, or too little. Something that looks on the surface to be horror is really comedy dressed up in a shroud, and it’s often empty, like a zombie’s eyes. Nothing in there, can you dig it, just shock value and if there even is a message it’s lost in the horror of a good story gone bad rather than standing on its own torn up, blistered feet. Good horror is really difficult to write in a way that doesn’t come across as parody.

Not so in this case. This story blew me away. Actually, it made me cry. It made me cry because there is such truth embedded within, it burned my eyes. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of Vacation, and next up will be my review. All I’ll tell you right now is, I wasn’t disappointed.

Even if horror isn’t your “thing”, I encourage you to give this guy a turn on the dance floor, even if horror is not your favorite genre. Because underneath the horror aspect, there’s a story, can you dig it — an awesome, mind-blowing, thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining story. You can’t get better than that.

Definitely check it out, and keep your eye on Jeremy C. Shipp. I know I will.

ALL my eyes, because he’s tricksy.

Cleaning and hauling was the first step. Then came the actual, physical move, which was much simpler because, well, I don’t have much. But then, oh dear and beloved friends and neighbors, came Screw Hell.

To say the previous tenants left a mess behind them is an understatement of the century. Still, I’ve dealt with that. I’m sure the garbage men have a voodoo doll of me full of long, wicked pins, but I’ll give them cookies at Christmas. I’ve even cleaned out the garage and hoo doggy, that was some kind of fun. I did not run across any dead critter bodies, for which I was eternally grateful, but otherwise, it was gross. Still, I’ve dealt with that.

What has bugged me up inside the actual abode are screws. Yes, you heard me. S C R E W S.  The previous tenant had a serious fetish for screws. It’s incredible. I have enough screws to supply a third world country, all painstakingly unscrewed from the walls and various other nooks and crannies. I’ve taken down hooks and hinges that don’t hinge anything; wood screwed to door and window openings, and screws that are just inserted into strange places on the walls with no discernible function whatsoever. I have found caches of screws with different personalities; wood screws, metal screws, ceramic screws, concrete screws, short screws and screws that look long enough to skewer a cow.

Hey, I guess you could say I’ve been well and totally screwed. Heh.

So, the work continues, because it seems everywhere I look, there’s a screw lurking. I really need to get them all out of the space I’m hoping to transform into an office (this writing and working from a decrepit TV tray from a Most Uncomfortable Chair isn’t working so well) so I can finish priming the walls for a coat of possibly periwinkle (or maybe pink; I haven’t decided) paint. I need to decide on a floor choice, too. Carpet? Vinyl tiles? Oh, decisions, decisions. I’ve already painted over the black ceiling. *sigh*

It’s a work in progress. I’m trying to be patient. I’m trying not to let the screws get me down.

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In addition to all this, I’m trying to organize my time to Maximum Efficiency. How’s that working out, you ask? Uh, okay. Fine. Oh, all right, maybe not so much. I’ve still met every deadline, and I’m not complaining. I know it will be a lot easier once the office space is complete and I can spread out.

In the meantime, I have a couple of interviews with some fabulous people coming up; reviews of various reading materials for which you will pledge to me your undying gratitude; a gaggle of great links to amuse, entertain, and enlighten; ramblings and observations from the mind of a working freelancer on the edge.

I know you can’t wait.

In the meantime, I’ll be unscrewing, editing, and while working on projects to pay the rent, I’ll also be trying to appease the Fiction Monster that’s been poking the soft gray matter of my brain and keeping me awake at night.

It’s hungry.

It’s been a while since my last link-love, and I usually do it on Wednesdays. However, I’ve run across some great info over the last few days; some news, some fun, some thought-provoking, some helpful. Dig in!

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“Strange Bird” is a must-read for this Monday. Written by JD Riso, it’s a story of a trip to Costa Rica, told in a personal and very unique way. Excellent read.

Sun and Oracle combine forces. What do I care, you say? Sun is responsible for Java, one of the most widely-used software technologies, and this union may give pause to giants like Microsoft. The software universe may never be the same.

If you’re single and looking, living in the Montana region, this young man is looking for a sweetheart. Forget Match.com, eHarmony, or any of the other meat markets — check this guy out. He seems real. It’s not “Rock of Love” but I’ll be keeping an eye out and wishing him well. Heh.

Is there anything better than ice cream? Why, yes, yes there is. FREE ice cream. Hit your local Ben & Jerry’s on April 21st and get you some.

Finally, the sequel to “The Da Vinci Code” is slated for a September 15th release by Doubleday. 5 MILLION copies ofThe Lost Symbol will be released to a long-awaiting public. Amazing. And that’s just the FIRST print run.

Unfortunately,scientist and professor Stephen Hawking has been reported as “very ill” and has been hospitalized. Author JG Ballard passed away this weekend. Very sad…condolences to Ballard’s fans and family, and good wishes to Mr. Hawking.

Nick Usborne has provided a page of some fabulous information for freelancers. WOW. Excellent resource.

If you’re looking to monetize your website, here are 6 Fool-Proof Steps to Make More Money With Your Website. Very detailed and informative.

10 Websites for Book Lovers — need I say more? I know, I know…you’re cursing me now, but you’ll thank me later.

And finally, you know I couldn’t just end this edition of Link Love without a couple of fun time-wasters. Take a look at this video if you’ve ever wondered what sheep herders do with their spare time, and then you can turn your brain to oatmeal with Seinfeld’s 100 Quotes About Nothing. Heh.

I’ll probably do another Link Love post soon — two weeks without internet access, and the stuff piles up. The next one will be strictly writing related.

Until then, enjoy the Monday. The best thing about Mondays are, they only come once a week. Heh.