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S.M. McCoy 9:26 pm on July 18, 2013 | 0 | # |
FYI: I’VE MOVED BLOG LOCATIONS!

New BLOG IS Heavensfiction, please join in the rest of the fun there.

Part 1 of the Penguins Fly Series

on self-publishing versus small press traditional publishing

by: Stevie McCoy
Guest Author: Dee Ann Waite

Writers are out there submitting queries like mad penguins – dressed to impress and waddling for a chance to fly – but for today’s writer, Dee Ann Waite, (Author of “The Consequential Element”) she had the contract in hand from a traditional press and still decided self-publishing was the best bet for her.

When I asked why she turned down her traditional small press contract she said, “Control: With the traditional route I would have had to give up the rights to my book, both hard copy and ebook format, for a minimum of two years.” Certainly a big thing to give up when signing a contract and it’s good to evaluate all avenues before signing anything. Some small presses end up going belly-up if they don’t have enough revenue to stay in the game. Most small presses are ran by literary enthusiasts who just love and want to support the arts. Publishing houses can’t run on love alone and sometimes they end up closing before the release of their signed titles, meaning signing a two-year contract can entail that you have to wait that long before submitting your work to another press for consideration, even
if they close their operations.

Traditional publishing also means Dee Ann Waite would have, “only [received] 35% royalties, and [she would’ve] had to do upwards of 60% of the marketing to get the word out.” That is another difference between the traditional and self-publishing route. How much effort will the publishing house be placing into your marketing campaign and is that worth the decrease in royalties? Dee Ann said, (Continue reading on the new blog Heavensfiction)

Please follow my new blog to continue getting updates in the future 🙂

You can reach Stevie on Twitter: @authormarie (updated)

Stevie is an editor currently interning with Girl Friday Productions. She has her bachelors in English and a certificate in editing. When she isn’t reading, writing, or editing she is sewing up a dress and dancing the night away with some salsa, bachata, foxtrot, swing and waltz.

Learn more about Dee Ann Waite on Twitter: @DeeAnnWaite1 , http://www.deeannwaite.com, or http://deeannwaite.blogspot.com
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S.M. McCoy 3:00 pm on January 18, 2013 | 2 | # |
Tags: flash fiction, glitterlady, story, tuesday tales, winner, writing
Tuesday Tales WINNER 73!

Challenge #73

By entering, every contestant agrees to shamelessly promote and praise the winner on twitter.

For all discussions about this challenge use hash tag #TuesdayTales

Please give a shout out to this week’s Tuesdaytales judge:

Laura Jamez

@LEJamez

writer of flash fiction; blogging about my writing; lover of all things horror

http://www.officemango.com

HONORABLE MENTION!

Keith Walters (@kbwalters) – took me back to my school days and games of spin the bottle, though have to admit in our day things weren’t quite as sinister.

Kevin S Julien (@JSHyena) – a nice reminder that sometimes our heroes need to be rescued.

David A Ludwig (@DavidALudwig) – I just loved the idea of a mischievous creature birling houses.

WINNER

Ray Morris (@iwrites) – from the start I was drawn in, great imagery. I too would have eaten the fruit. 🙂

Ray

@iwrites

I drive a truck, I want to be a writer. I take pictures, I want to be a writer. I read, but I want to be a writer. Did I mention I like writing?

chaoticlit.blogspot.com

Become the Fallen
Ray Morris

It sat on a pedestal in the center of the chamber, fat and ripe and inviting. Eternal life clothed in red flesh. Pale mist sprung up with each step she took, beginning to birl about her legs, twining around her body as a serpent lover.

Shapes began to appear, men and women dangling from the high ceilings on ropes of pearls and strands of diamonds. They moved about her, silent mouths open and inviting, feet brushing the marble floor with soft whispers of promise.

She reached out to take the forbidden fruit, warm to her touch, cold to her lips.

100 words
@iwrites

Everyone spread the word of the HMS, the winner @iwrites

Winners you may claim your first chapter edit by sending it to my email stevie(dot)mccoy(at)gmail(dot)com, I look forward to viewing your work!

With this post, comes the close to a beautiful Series of #tuesdaytale challenges, due to my school and work schedule future postings are on a break until further notice. If you are interested in hosting/ continuing this series of prompts, please contact me and I’ll make an introductory post so people know where to go to 🙂

Thank you

~stevie
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S.M. McCoy 6:55 pm on January 10, 2013 | 3 | # |
Tags: flash fiction, glitterlady, story, tuesday tales, winner, writing
Tuesday Tales WINNER 72!

Challenge #72

By entering, every contestant agrees to shamelessly promote and praise the winner on twitter.

For all discussions about this challenge use hash tag #TuesdayTales

Please give a shout out to this week’s Tuesdaytales judge:

@hlpauff

Writer from Pennsylvania

http://www.hlpauff.com

HONORABLE MENTION!

@RGraceAllen – Edgy, vivid and wonderfully written. More!

@martieKay – A bit of sadness mixed with a bit of mystery. There’s a great voice to this story.

WINNER

David A Ludwig

I believe everyone has a story. I have several.

http://by.davidaludwig.com/

@DavidALudwig – A very grim end for the truest and most noble protectors, but a well-crafted tale for us. In a small amount of words, you created a rich world. I love the image of Pym standing alone amidst the results of his joke unable to believe what happened.

DEGENERATE

All essence vacated the degenerated shells with the first breeze to crawl over the cracked earth. Pym stood monstrously alone in what an hour ago had been the enclave of the Sun Ascetics. Accusatory pounding of his heart deafened him and threatened to split his head. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

He was paralyzed by the fear the slightest movement might destroy the shadows of what had been the worlds’ truest and most noble protectors. It was just supposed to be a joke.

The aphrodisiac was meant to loosen them up a bit, not violate their sacred vows.

100 words
@DavidALudwig

Everyone spread the word of the HMS, the winner @DavidALudwig and HMs @martieKay & @RGraceAllen

Winners you may claim your first chapter edit by sending it to my email stevie(dot)mccoy(at)gmail(dot)com, I look forward to viewing your work!
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S.M. McCoy 9:01 pm on January 2, 2013 | 0 | # |
Tags: flash fiction, glitterlady, story, tuesday tales, winner, writing
Tuesday Tales WINNER 71!

Challenge #71

By entering, every contestant agrees to shamelessly promote and praise the winner on twitter.

For all discussions about this challenge use hash tag #TuesdayTales

HONORABLE MENTION!

@Postupak – Running from a killer turned zombie apocalypse, I always enjoy a good flesh eater story. My only problem was that it ended too soon. I wanted more.

WINNER

Alissa Leonard

@lissajean7

It was a cute story about young man disobeying his mother to be in the presence of a beautiful woman… but what makes this story special was that his mother had reason to keep him from the sea. I loved it.

TUESDAYTALE STORY:

I watched as Claire relaxed into the water. The way the water caressed her body – was not something I should be thinking about! We were just friends, and I shouldn’t be here – standing three feet from the water. How had she talked me into this?

This wasn’t her fault. She just asked me to go with her to see the tidal pools and watch the tide go out. I just didn’t realize that entailed swimming. My mom was going to kill me, then ground me, then lecture me until sunrise…again.

“Why don’t you join me?” Her voice was so soft and velvety. It had power over me that was dangerous, especially here.

“I can’t.” I intended to speak normally, but my voice caught in my throat and came out a whisper. Why was she making me so nervous? She thought of me like a brother. I knew that.

She peeked at me through her lashes, “Oh come on, Mr. Mulligrubs, you’re not being very fun today. What’s wrong?”

“I’m just not supposed to be here. We should go.” I looked down. I was so embarrassed to have to admit to her that I wasn’t allowed here.

I heard a splash and looked up. She was sitting now – leaning back with her hands behind her. The strappy dress was clinging to every curve and I missed what she was saying. She looked annoyed.

“I’m sorry. I just –” She splashed me. A really good splash too. I was dripping.

“See. Now you have no excuses. You’re already wet.”

“It’s not about being wet…” I lost my voice completely as she stood, dripping and glorious, and walked toward me.

“Triston, don’t you want to come in with me?”

“Of course, but –” Blood was pounding in my ears.

“Your Mom’s not here. She’d never know. I promise not to tell.”

“Oh, she’d know when all hell broke loose.” Now she was confused. “Nevermind. I just can’t.” She’d never believe me about my father. Or the curse. Or his rage at how my mother had tricked him. If he ever got a hold of me…

“It’s okay. I understand.” She turned her sad eyes away from me and started to walk away.

“No! It’s not –”she turned back and tripped on something. I stepped forward and caught her.

I looked down.

Water seeped into my shoe, holding my ankle in a vice-like grip. Don’t panic. I could feel my heart racing. He probably won’t kill me. “Claire. Go. Tell my mom what happened. Tell her I love her…”

“What do you mean? That’s not funny. Just come with me.” She was so beautiful. And smart. And funny. And perfect. I leaned in and kissed her. I’d dreamed of it many times. This was way better. I only stopped when the water swelled around us. I pushed her toward the car, “Go! Don’t look back. Tell her I’m sorry.”

The tidal wave came in fast and engulfed me, dragging me out to sea.

499 words
@lissajean7

Everyone spread the word of the HMS, the winner @lissajean7 and HM @Postupak

You may claim your first chapter edit by sending it to my email stevie(dot)mccoy(at)gmail(dot)com, I look forward to viewing your work!
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S.M. McCoy 4:13 pm on December 19, 2012 | 0 | # |
Tags: flash fiction, glitterlady, LEJamez, rebekah postupak, story, tuesday tales, winner, writing
Tuesday Tales WINNER 70!

Challenge #70

By entering, every contestant agrees to shamelessly promote and praise the winner on twitter.

For all discussions about this challenge use hash tag #TuesdayTales

I am happy to have this week’s Tuesdaytales Judgemasters take over:

Rebekah Postupak

@postupak

Writer, teacher, executive assistant, and believer that coffee is a moral imperative.

JUDGE’S COMMENTS: Here are my picks for yesterday’s Tuesday Tales. Great response and some absolutely fantastic stories–many strong contenders. Poor Santa never had it so rough. Or so good.

HONORABLE MENTIONS!

* Alissa Leonard @lissajean7. For a clever unveiling of where Santa gets his toys (though my daughter is now a bit flummoxed over her Barbie dolls).

* Jeffrey Hollar @klingorengi . This story had me hooked at its title, and Santa’s raw courage sealed the deal. Go Santa, GO!!! awesome.

* Lisa McCourt Hollar @jezri1. For the best line out of ALL the stories: “He uttered a hungry HO.” Oh my word. Hysterical.

WINNER

& Heir to a 1st chapter edit

* Laura Jamez @LEJamez . Perfectly and beautifully written, this story wrenched my heart right out. It’s a vision that will haunt its readers’ dreams for a long time to come. Gorgeous, tragic, and well-deserving of the win.

Laura Jamez

@LEJamez

writer of flash fiction; blogging about my writing; lover of all things horror

http://www.officemango.com

The Night Before Christmas

Christmas Eve and no one in the department had expected a call quite like this. Smoke still billowed out of the top floor of the apartment block, yet falling masonry no longer crashed to the pavement below. Once the building was deemed safe to enter, the firemen made their way to the top of the building putting out small fires on route.

Turning the last corner the firemen were faced with a sight that would haunt their dreams. Injured Reindeer littered the floor, a large man in a red suite sat weeping in what was left of a broken sleigh.

100 words
@lejamez

Everyone spread the word of the HMS, the winner @LEJamez and @postupak REBEKAH for the awesome judgemastery!

AS WINNER! Laura you may claim your first chapter edit by sending it to my email stevie(dot)mccoy(at)gmail(dot)com, I look forward to viewing your work!

Remember there is no TUESDAYTALES for the next 2 weeks… each Tuesday lands on a holiday, CHRISTMAS and NEWYEARS! In place of this Holiday 2 week span, I have decided to have a Tuesdaytales 2 week entry period, of which there will be a prompt available for you to enter your story to with up to 500 words extended count and it will close for entry on January 2nd. You are welcome to either enter your story in the comments per usual or just enter your link to your story from your blog. Thank you!

~GlitterLady

You can check out all the rest of the entries of Tuesdaytales week 70 HERE

OR check out the archive of all the tuesdaytales to escort you to your tuesdaytales needs HERE
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S.M. McCoy 3:15 pm on December 14, 2012 | 1 | # |
Tags: flash fiction, Hlpauff, story, tuesday tales, winner, writing
Tuesday Tales WINNER 69!

Challenge #69

By entering, every contestant agrees to shamelessly promote and praise the winner on twitter.

For all discussions about this challenge use hash tag #TuesdayTales

I am happy to have this week’s Tuesdaytales Judgemasters take over:

@SareeseFeet

Well I live in Ohio and I love to write words and music with a passion.

http://theworldislookingstrange.blogspot.com

HONORABLE MENTIONS!

@nickjohns999 Nick Johns – This tale had a fascinating poetic quality in its structure and repetition. Reading it was like watching a ball of yarn unravel.

WINNER

@hlpauff

Writer from Pennsylvania

http://www.hlpauff.com

The writing in this one really set up a strong picture for me. Both characters were skillfully painted in the vivid phrases and dialogue. And creating a 100-word historical fiction tale seems like a challenge all its own.

TUESDAY TALE

Jacob jolted awake to loud screaming and yelling in the hallway. His heart raced and his hands gripped the railings of the bed until his knuckles turned white. The noise multiplied and grew louder until it was right outside his room.

The door flew open and Williams staggered in holding a beer.

“It’s over! They’ve surrendered! They’re calling it Armistice Day!” he shouted and ran back into the hallway to join the celebration. A wave of relief washed over Jacob and he smiled.

When that moment of peace faded, his eyes turned to his legs. His war was just beginning.

100 words
@hlpauff

Everyone spread the word of the HMS, WINNER and @SareeseFeet for the awesome judgemastery!

I would also like to invite our winner @hlpauff to be a judge for Tuesdaytales on January 8th, (after next week there will be 2 weeks off from Tuesdaytales due to them landing on Holidays being Dec 25th and Jan 1st) please let me know if your available 🙂 you can view the judgemaster guide here

You can check out all the rest of the entries of Tuesdaytales week 69 HERE

OR check out the archive of all the tuesdaytales to escort you to your tuesdaytales needs HERE
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S.M. McCoy 3:42 pm on December 6, 2012 | 0 | # |
Tags: agbeyer, flash fiction, postupak, story, tuesday tales, winner, writing
Tuesday Tales WINNER 68!

Challenge #68

By entering, every contestant agrees to shamelessly promote and praise the winner on twitter.

For all discussions about this challenge use hash tag #TuesdayTales

I am happy to have this week’s Tuesdaytales Judgemasters take over:

@agbeyer

I’m Aaron, and I write stories about strange worlds like ours.

http://erroneousmaximus.blogspot.com

HONORABLE MENTIONS!

@hlpauff – Your tale was vivid and visceral. I saw the devastation of the post-apocalyptic world you created, and watched the knife plunge into his calf as he carved out a meal for his son and wife. Masterful storytelling, and if I could pick two winners this would be one of them.

@bullishink – Ruth, your story’s ending cracked me up completely. The dialogue made me curious about the ending, which was total gross fireworks. Thanks!

WINNER

I fell in love with this story the way the two characters in it did. The idea that a world might exist where true love is ripped to shreds to fulfill a seemingly benevolent fairy godmother’s dream of utopia is too good. In so few words you artfully gave us a world that could easily (and should, in my opinion) fill a book.

Glitterlady note: It’s like she just can’t stay away from #tuesdaytales, She lives and breathes these 100 word tales and this will be her 4th Win!

@Postupak

Rebekah Postupak

Writer, Mommy, Pretend Gardener (pleeeease don’t die, little plants!)

TUESDAY TALE

The only daughter of a widower cobbler, she was kind and brave and golden as the sun.

The youngest son of a faithful miller, he was tall and dark with the soul of a lion.

They met one day at market during a transaction of no particular interest, and love fell upon them like a thunderclap: roaring, toothsome, and inescapable.

But their stars had betrayed them.

She was fated to marry a pure-hearted prince disguised as a pauper; he, a fiery runaway princess. So the law of the land decreed, for in some worlds only fairy godmothers’ dreams come true.

100 words
@postupak

Everyone spread the word of the HMS, WINNER and @agbeyer for the awesome judgemastery!

I would also like to invite our winner @postupak to be a judge for Tuesdaytales on DEC 18th, please let me know if your available 🙂 you can view the judgemaster guide here

You can check out all the rest of the entries of Tuesdaytales week 68 HERE

OR check out the archive of all the tuesdaytales to escort you to your tuesdaytales needs HERE
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S.M. McCoy 3:26 pm on November 30, 2012 | 0 | # |
Tags: bullishink, flash fiction, glitterlady, story, tuesday tales, winner, writing
Tuesday Tales WINNER 67!

Challenge #67

Sorry for the delay 🙂

By entering, every contestant agrees to shamelessly promote and praise the winner on twitter.

For all discussions about this challenge use hash tag #TuesdayTales

I am happy to have this week’s Tuesdaytales Judgemasters take over:

@bullishink

HONORABLE MENTIONS!

Thank you to everyone who participated!! You made it wonderfully impossible for me to make a decision! I truly enjoyed every story!!

HMs: @etcet and @NSisifo for the Firefly references, which were totally unexpected and absolutely delightful!

WINNER

@SareeseFeet

Well I live in Ohio and I love to write words and music with a passion.

http://theworldislookingstrange.blogspot.com

Winner: Tome – There was something so haunting about this piece that I kept coming back to it. I loved the phrase ‘firefly stomped out’ because its so striking. The story was compelling and the story craft impeccable. Kudos!!

Tuesdaytale

I saw six hands encase the boy- the man, the thing in the dark. Glowing bright, he cried, “Hallelujah! Take me, my sins!” before he descended into the damp earth. He was gone in a blink, a firefly stomped out.

My spellbook fell onto the hallowed ground. The trees stared at me as I backed out of the clearing. I was an interruption, but now it was my turn. If I desired.

His sins were six- at most! Mine? They would be so many more.

I had been so willing to sell. I had not understood the price.

100 words
@SareeseFeet

Everyone spread the word of the HMS: the winner and @bullishink for the awesome judgemastery!

And I’d like to invite the WINNER to judge on December 11th please review the judge guide here

You can check out all the rest of the entries of Tuesdaytales week 67 HERE

OR check out the archive of all the tuesdaytales to escort you to your tuesdaytales needs HERE
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S.M. McCoy 3:12 pm on November 15, 2012 | 6 | # |
Tags: agbeyer, flash fiction, jmfilipowicz, story, tuesday tales, winner, writing
Tuesday Tales WINNER 66!

Challenge #66

By entering, every contestant agrees to shamelessly promote and praise the winner on twitter.

For all discussions about this challenge use hash tag #TuesdayTales

I am happy to have this week’s Tuesdaytales Judgemasters take over:

@jmfilipowicz

Author of Wardroids, an ebook coming in 2013 from Double Dragon Publishing.

J M Filipowicz lives in a quiet condo on the surface of the moon.

http://www.jmfilipowicz.com

+ The judge will be posting the winner on her own blog as well, so be sure to stop by!!

HONORABLE MENTIONS!

@LupusAnthropos . I was pretty sure this one was going to be in the running as soon as I read it. I chuckled at the creative position of the gynoid’s off switch (which is left up to the reader’s dirty imagination). Also “Nippon” as the name of a company that makes female robots was a nice touch.

@klingorengi Jeffrey Hollar for creating a humourous dialogue between two memorable characters, as well as a gynoid on an extension cord.

WINNER

Aaron Beyer. In the short space allotted you’ve created a story that has everything: violence, betrayal, finger painting in blood. I got a real sense of this world and the relationship between the two characters. Also great lines involving “sanitizing lubricant” and “skull-brains and blood pudding” put this entry over the top for me.

@agbeyer

I’m Aaron, and I write stories about strange worlds like ours. I also write copy and do all sorts of design stuff for online games.

San Francisco · http://erroneousmaximus.blogspot.com

TUESDAY TALE:

“Gynoid Enforcement called – they want you at Central tomorrow morning. Something about your Turing? Wear that purple dress; Makes you look like a little girl again.”

“Shutup.” Haley whispered painfully, hoping her lifelong John heard. She flushed her system with sanitizing lubricant, kept in a place where other women kept babies, and left a slick puddle on the bathroom tile.

“What?” He came to check on her, punishment in his breathing pattern, slipped, and cracked his skull-brains out like blood pudding. Haley fingerpainted and thought. Where to go? She was registered, but there were places where that didn’t matter.

100 words
@agbeyer

Everyone spread the word of the HMS, WINNER and @jmfilipowicz for the awesome judgemastery!

I would also like to invite our winner @agbeyer to be a judge for Tuesdaytales on DEC 4th, please let me know if your available 🙂 you can view the judgemaster guide here

You can check out all the rest of the entries of Tuesdaytales week 66 HERE

OR check out the archive of all the tuesdaytales to escort you to your tuesdaytales needs HERE
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S.M. McCoy 3:12 pm on November 8, 2012 | 0 | # |
Tags: bullishink, fiction, flash, ruth long, tuesdaytales, wakefieldmahon, winner
Tuesday Tales WINNER 65!

Challenge #65

By entering, every contestant agrees to shamelessly promote and praise the winner on twitter.

A Warm WELCOME TO some NEWBies : @satiricalmonkey @SareeseFeet @RGraceAllen

Follow them and welcome them into the #tuesdaytales fold

For all discussions about this challenge use hash tag #TuesdayTales

I am happy to have this week’s Tuesdaytales Judgemasters take over:

@WakefieldMahon

He writes. Sometimes, and even get paid. He runs a web site to encourage you to Keep writing, his friends!

http://www.wakefieldmahon.com

HONORABLE MENTION!

@LupusAnthropos
The writing wolf captured both the essence of things remembered and the way in which the loss of a thing once forgotten, still rips at the heart.

WINNER

@BULLISHINK

A reader by birth, paper-pusher by trade and novelist by design, story-telling is my passion.

I wanna be Elmore Leonard when I grow up.

California · http://www.bullishink.com

Ruth Long

This story evokes the themes of beauty and the beast. The tangible emotions left me with a catch in my throat. The death of passion at it’s saddest.

TUESDAY TALE:

By the time they got his power under control the town was buried beneath concrete chunks. Placing her hands around his wrists, like manacles, she absorbed the remnant of power undulating beneath his skin. He quieted, worn out as a child after a tantrum, and leaned into her warmth. She waited until he was asleep to implant the interference chip that would wipe his power and memory. Her job as regulator was to protect civilians at all cost, even when it meant she’d never again taste the rough vodka kisses or hear the lilting melodies of the man she loved.

– – – – –
@bullishink / 100 words

Everyone spread the word of the winner @bullishink and honorable mention @LupusAnthropos and @WakefieldMahon for the awesome judgemastery!

I would also like to invite our winner @bullishink to be a judge for Tuesdaytales on November 27th, please let me know if your available and check out the judgemaster guide 🙂

You can check out all the rest of the entries of Tuesdaytales week 65

OR check out the archive of all the tuesdaytales to escort you to your tuesdaytales needs HERE
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Stevie McCoy

Paranormal Romance Author, Home of Flashfiction, Author Interviews, and over all confetti throwing in honor of everything writerly.
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