Category Archives: Upcoming Projects

OK, Now What Am I Working On?

Amidst all of the turmoil, chaos, and uncertainty that continues to be 2016, I must admit that it was not a bad year for me as a writer. I always wish I’d done more, of course, but I’m grateful to have four stories and an essay published across three anthologies, one of which was a second place contest entry that earned me $250. Click on each cover below for more information about the books.
Write Here Write Now Cover Elsewhere in the Middle of Eternity Beach Nights
 
Last month, I had a short vignette accepted for the 2017 anthology of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group. That book will be titled the Write Connections and is slated for a March release.
 
I also finished my first of what I hope will be three stories for Meanwhile in the Middle of Eternity, the third volume in the Middle of Eternity speculative fiction series (no release date yet) and I’m working through a gods and monsters tale that is due in six weeks. YIKES!
 
Most importantly, I wrote the first four chapters of an SF novel that has been in development since 2012. It’s one of those projects that, at first, I simply tinkered with between other stories, but I finished the outline in 2015 and wrote four chapters over winter before being pulled away onto other projects. I intend to switch my focus back to this novel and complete the first draft in 2017, even if that means postponing or turning away some other projects. Only so many hours in the day and while I love writing short stories and editing anthologies, it’s been over three years since my last novel was published, so I’m overdue! 
Shout out if you’re working on any cool projects!

Second Place in Rehoboth Beach Short Story Contest!

Well, I haven’t seen the official word posted yet today, but I also wasn’t told to refrain from making an announcement. So, I suppose now it can be told…
 
I received a phone call from Nancy Sakaduski, editor at Cat and Mouse Press, and organizer of the annual Rehoboth Beach Reads Short Story contest. In May, I submitted a story that focused on a WWII veteran, his granddaughter, and the fire control towers built by the US Army along the Delaware Coast during WWII to protect the bay from German incursion.
 
Nancy called to tell me that my story, “Tower 16”, took SECOND PLACE, which earns me $250 in addition to publication in their 2016 anthology, Beach Nights (see cover below)! Thank you so much, Nancy!
 
According to the info on the Cat and Mouse Press website, the official list of winners (20+ stories to be published, of which the top three collect cash prizes) have been, or are in the process of being, contacted and I imagine there will be an official announcement on their website and Facebook page soon.
 
This was wonderful news in and of itself, but for me personally it also provides one more connection to a town that I’ve come to consider my second home. My wife and I were married in Rehoboth Beach, we’ve vacationed there for the past several summers with wonderful friends, and some of my books are on the shelves at Browseabout Books, Rehoboth’s most popular indie bookshop.
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Special thanks to writer and editor pal Ramona DeFelice Long for reminding me about the contest at the Write Stuff conference in April. I had wanted to submit something for the past two years, but was always busy. You know what they say, everything happens when it’s supposed to!
 
Stay tuned for more news on this!
Beach Nights

Write Here, Write Now!

I am proud to announce that my essay, “You Will Live Through It: A Letter to My Younger Self” will be published in April as part of Write Here, Write Now. This is the second anthology published by the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group.
The book will premiere at the Write Stuff writers conference, April 7-9, 2016 in Bethlehem, PA. It will be available initially in paperback, then Kindle a few weeks after.
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Write Here Write Now Cover