Blogetary (Weblog + Commentary = Blogetary)

Where ya been? Where ya goin’?

Friend of mine asked where I was published and where he could find me. I hadn’t made a proper list of it, really, until he asked. It kinda made me feel good to see that list. It’s short, but I worked hard for it. And I know if I continue to work on it, it will get longer. It’s a nice feeling. Not that I can rest on any laurels – if laurels can be had – but it’s nice to see anyway:

Sultry Shades of Christmas (erotica)
Arch and Quiver volume 1 (out of print)
I have a short story and poem on SheVibe.com (erotica)
And another poem on SheVibe.com (it’s a little ways down, called Spirit Lover)
Short story and poems online at Pen Noir (dark, scifi)
Issue 25 (March 2008 I think) of Aoife’s Kiss, which you can buy here (part way down – Poem is called Learning Alchemy, girl on cover on magazine)
Summer/Winter Issue of Electric Velocipede (two poems) which is online, but you can also buy a hard copy
And then a Christmas story online at Mindflights.com
I MAY be having a holiday paranormal romance published in January. I don’t know, yet. It’s been an almost maybe for a few months and the publisher has had bronchitis, so, not sure. When I DO know, I’ll let you know.
Also in January, on the 19th, online at Bewildering Stories, I’ll have a short story published called Scary Things.
In March 2009, I’ll have a short story published in Aoife’s Kiss.
In April 2009 I’ll have a short story published in Beyond Centauri (kids magazine by Sams Dot Publishing – same publisher as Aoife’s Kiss).
In July 2009 I’ll have a short story published in Beyond Centauri.
In September 2009 I’ll have a short story published in Aoife’s Kiss.

So, my goal is to make sure I keep working on this list. Persistence pays off. And as the tortoise told the hare, “slow and steady wins the race” (which is the name of the short story in April’s Beyond Centauri).

So, where have YOU been, and where are you going?

I got an acceptance on a story! Whoot!

This won’t be a true review because I can’t be objective. Joyeux Noel is an excellent movie, however, I cried through most of it. And it just brought home to me how much the Fatheads That Be screw everything up for the rest of us. I respect the men and women who protect and serve our country. I also respect those in other countries who chose to serve their own countries. But isn’t it about time that the Fatheads in Charge figured out that if they were less obtuse, we’d need less protection? And maybe those people could do other things to serve? Like help in times crisis? Bring in food to places where it’s needed? Help in other ways that DOESN’T include killing someone just like them who wants to be home with their families just as much as they do?

My father is British and though he and my mom divorced when I was fairly young, my mom always made sure we were aware of Boxing Day as one of the holidays celebrated by my father’s country. My sister andi I got teased by friends who would say, “yeah, it’s the day you box everything up and put it away, hardy-har” and then we would patiently explain that it was the day that the servants got tips from their employers and when people who worked Christmas Day were allowed to celebrate their own Christmas. But nobody listened.

It is also St. Stephan’s Day (first Christian martyr – killed by stoning) and is traditionally the day when people make donations to people in need. If you would like more information, I found the above pic and information here. In other words, after having a good time the day before, it’s the day set aside for appreciating everything you have and giving to others. I’m proud that it’s part of my heritage. I’d like to wish you a Happy Boxing Day and hope that you enjoy the time you spent with your families and think about how you can spread some of that joy around for others.

Happy Boxing Day!

May hope, peace, joy, and love follow from this year into the next! 

And may the New Year bring you your heart’s desires, whether they be for security, prosperity, romance, or adventure

(or whirled peas).

Yes, time once again for another contest, this time for an autographed copy of the Winter 2008 issue of Electric Velocipede.  If you haven’t had a chance to read EV, then here’s a chance to try for a free copy! It’s a great ‘zine with lots of good speculative fiction as well as speculative poetry (and a couple of my own poems, of course).

This contest will carry us into the new year with a due date of January 1, 2009. All you need to do is leave a comment on this specific blog entry by midnight January 1. I will put all entries into a hat or do a random number generator thingy and announce a winner on January 2, 2009!

Hope you enjoy!

We are on the downhill slope into the Christmas season. Santa is due in just 3 days! Put your stockings up!

I have been announcing this in other blogs I have elsewhere, but in case you missed it on Blogger, Live Journal, MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn or Tribe (takes a breath), then read about it here. If you are looking for a seasonal story to get you in the mood, then look no further and check out my short story, Santa is My Homeboy on Mindflights.com.  And have a very merry yule!

It’s not even out yet, but already Chandra Rooney’s Tarot Cafe: The Wild Hunt is garnering positive reviews. The Tarot Cafe is a manhwa by Sang-Sun Park, The Wild Hunt being the manhwa’s first novelization. This is also Chandra Rooney’s first published novel (though she’s got many more in the pipe just waiting to be picked up, published and read).

If you’d like to know more about Chandra Rooney and her writing, check her out here.

Time to pick which Icelandic elf you are for Christmas. For those of you who don’t know the Yule lads here is a short description:

Jólasveinarnir
The Yuletide Lads

Jólasveinar first appear in the 17th century as the sons of
Grýla and Leppalúði, who had appeared in the 13th century,
and had a reputation for stealing and eating naughty children.

The Jólasveinar were counted as numbering either nine or thirteen,
but their names are at least 70.

Thirteen of the most commonly accepted names of the Jólasveinar are:

Stekkjastaur – Enclosure Post
Giljagaur – Crevice Imp
Stúfur – Itty Bitty
Þvörusleikir – Pot Scraper Licker
Pottasleikir – Pot Licker
Askasleikir – Bowl Licker
Hurðaskellir – Door Slammer
Skyrgámur – Skyr Gobbler
(Skyr, an Icelandic yoghurt)
Bjúgnakrækir – Sausage Snatcher
Gluggagægir – Window Peeper
Gáttaþefur – Doorway Sniffer
Ketkrókur – Meat Hooker
Kertasníkir – Candle Beggar

A few of the other names used for the Jólasveinar follow,
as they are descriptive of their natures, with an English translation:

Baggi – Bundle
Bandaleysir – Strap Loosener
Bjálfansbarnið – Idiot Child
Flotgleypir – Fat Gobbler
Hlöðustrangi – Barn Roll
Kleinusníkir – Donut Beggar
Lampaskuggi – Lamp Shadow
Móamangi – Moor Charlie
Reykjasvelgur – Smoke Gulper
Smjörhákur – Butter Greedy
Svartiljótur – Blackugly
Svellabrjótur – Icebreaker

As can be seen from the names the Jólasveinar are thought of
as playful imps, whose main interest seems to be to get their hands
on some of the seasonal food and other goodies.
Or they are lurking about trying to do some minor mischief.

I’ve decided my name is Smjörhákur – Butter Greedy.

“One, two, three, four, five,” huffed the voice in the dark.

“What are you doing?”

“Push-ups. I can’t sleep. Do you think she’s come yet?”

Christmas visits were made by Mrs. Claus at our house. I shrugged, then remembered my sister probably couldn’t see.

“I don’t know.” I took my flashlight out of the drawer next to my twin bed and flicked it on.

“Ow!”

“Sorry,” I sniggered, and turned the flashlight to the clock on the bedside table. “Jeez, Heath, it’s only midnight!”

“I’m going to check anyway.”

I slipped out of bed to follow Heather out the door and down the hall.  Lights twinkled on our little tree, displayed in the corner of our duplex’s small living room. Below the tree, placed carefully before Mrs. Santa’s unwrapped gifts, were two stockings, stuffed full of candy, toys, and nuts. My sister turned to me, “Commencing, Operation Santa.”

Back in our bedroom we pulled the pre-stuffed stocking and unwrapped gift from under Heather’s bed, checking through the contents.

“Do you think she’ll like it?”

“I hope so.”

It was our first year of playing Mrs. Santa for Mom. It was one of the best Christmases we ever had.