six blocks east of mars

Space Oddity

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:44:00 +0000

Other than my wife, Chris Hadfield is the coolest Canadian to ever live.

Truly, a rock star who is totally out of this world.

I Get Off On Submitting My Rejected Stories

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 23:10:00 +0000

Yep. Just like the post title says.

Big time.

I like challenges. A lot. And more than any challenge, I really enjoy trying to sell my newly rejected stories to another magazine. I get an adrenaline rush from it.

Seriously.

For me, it's the perfect challenge: the odds for acceptance are not in my favor, and I have just about two paragraphs (for the kinder ones, a page) to hook a slush reader/editor before they reject my story.

What warm-blooded, competitive person wouldn't get off on that?

Yesterday, Crowded Magazine rejected a story of mine, but I've already made some changes to it with the plan to send it out into the world again in the next few days (if not tonight).

Challenge accepted.

Oh, and next month when the submission period opens again for Crowded, I'll be submitting another story.

Double challenge accepted.

This is nothing personal against Crowded Magazine, any other magazine, or editors and slush readers. This is all about becoming better at the craft of writing. I take the feedback I've been given on my rejected story, apply it to my writing, and come out with an improved and sharper piece.

We all deal with rejection(s) in our own unique way. This is how I deal with mine.

Might as well have a little fun with it along the way, right?

Always Be Prepared

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 22:53:00 +0000

Just a matter of time.

FUNKY HISTORY: Building the world and characters of my Steamfunk story

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:31:00 +0000

cover art by Marcellus Shane Jackson

In 2004, I decided to set all of my science fiction stories (that's all I was writing back then) in Chicago, my hometown. I made that decision for a few different reasons:

· My wife (who is Canadian) and I had just moved with our one-year-old daughter to the Greater Toronto Area after teaching English in Japan for three years. My wife had taught mostly in Tokyo, and I'd taught in its far-flung northeastern suburbs.

· I was homesick. I hadn't spent more than a few months in Chicago the previous five years. Immediately after I graduated from college, and before I went to Japan, I moved to Montana for two years to work as a youth development coordinator with AmeriCorps VISTA.

· And I'd just read Nalo Hopkinson's Brown Girl in the Ring, set in Toronto, and re-read Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents, set in Los Angeles. Obviously, I was (and still am) fascinated with dystopian stories.

So what does all of this have to do with steamfunk and world-building? Well, I wanted to big up my hometown in my stories. I wanted to build my Chicago based on my experiences.

Nalo Hopkinson and Octavia Butler had incorporated Toronto and Los Angeles so smoothly into their novels that I was inspired to do the same with Chicago. Besides, it wasn't like there were a slew of speculative fiction stories out there featuring Chicago.

But as I started to write my stories, I found it difficult to use Chicago as my setting. I'd been away for too long. Chicago had changed a lot in those five years. It was hard to ground myself there while living in Canada.

And then I got a job in Chicago, and my family and I moved to the Northwest Side. I'd never lived there before. I still didn't feel grounded.

So I went back to my roots.

I was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Jeffrey Manor to be exact. Affectionately, we call it 'The Manor'.

(Don't let the name fool you, though. While it may sound a bit bou'gie, The Manor is anything but that. It's not Cabrini-Green, either, though.)

My moms was one of the millions of African Americans who went North from Down South during the Great Migration. She came to Chicago from Mississippi (by way of New Orleans) because her older brother had done so years earlier and found a good job.

That was my personal history, and I wanted to incorporate it into my stories. That pride to fictionalize my history had also been inspired by Brown Girl in the Ring. Nalo Hopkinson's use of West Indian/Caribbean culture in that novel and in Midnight Robber fascinated me to no end.

I wanted my stories to be just as interesting, just as rich, and just as personal as hers.

And now, almost ten years later, I think I'm on the right track.

Petal McQueen, the main character of "Mud Holes and Mississippi Mules", my short story in the Steamfunk! anthology, is a mix of my moms and my one of my more colorful aunts.

Petal's attitude is all my aunt. But her way of speaking, her word choice, is mostly my moms.

My moms still calls bad-ass kids 'no-good chaps'.

She, along with a fair number of people I know from Down South, still says, 'I'll whoop you like you stole a Mississippi mule.'

And one of her favorite sayings is, 'Now between you, me, and the fence post...'

All of that characterization made it into my story. All of that characterization gives Petal McQueen and the steamfunk world I built in "Mud Holes and Mississippi Mules" some breadth and life.

And all of that characterization made this story so fun to write.

Here are some of the other contributors to the Steamfunk! anthology who share their experiences writing, reading and living steamfunk:

Milton Davis – Milton Davis is owner/publisher of MVmedia, LLC . As an author he specializes in science fiction and fantasy and is the author of Meji Book One, Meji Book Two and Changa’s Safari. Visit him: www.mvmediaatl.com andwww.wagadu.ning.com .

Ray Dean – Growing up in Hawaii, Ray Dean had the opportunity to enjoy nearly every culture under the sun. The Steamfunk Anthology was an inspiration she couldn't pass up. Ray can be reached at http://www.raydean.net/.

Valjeanne Jeffers – is an editor and the author of the SF/fantasy novels: Immortal, Immortal II: The Time of Legend and Immortal III: Stealer of Souls, Immortal IV: Collision of Worlds and The Switch: Clockwork. Visit her at: http://valjeanne.wordpress.com andhttp://qandvaffordableediting.blogspot.com/.

Rebecca M. Kyle – With a birthday on Friday 13, it's only natural that the author is fascinated with myths, legends, and oddities of all kinds. Ms. Kyle lives with her husband, four cats, and more rocks and books than she cares to count between the Smokies and Cumberland mountains. Visit her at http://bexboox13.blogspot.com/.

Carole McDonnell – is a writer of Christian, supernatural, and ethnic stories. Her writings appear in various anthologies, including So Long Been Dreaming: Postcolonialism in Science Fiction, edited by Nalo Hopkinson; Jigsaw Nation; and Life Spices from Seasoned Sistahs: Writings by Mature Women of Color among others. Her reviews appear in print and at various online sites. Her novels are the Christian speculative fiction, Wind Follower, and The Constant Tower. Her Bible study is called: Seeds of Bible Study. Her website is http://carolemcdonnell.blogspot.com/.

Balogun Ojetade – Author of the bestselling “Afrikan Martial Arts: Discovering the Warrior Within” (non-fiction), “Moses: The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman” (Steamfunk); “Once Upon A Time in Afrika” (Sword and Soul); “Redeemer” (Urban Fantasy) and the film, “A Single Link” and “Rite of Passage”. Finally, he is Co-Author of “Ki-Khanga: The Anthology” and Co-Editor of “Steamfunk!” Visit him:http://chroniclesofharriet.com/.

Hannibal Tabu – is a writer, a storyteller, and by god, a fan. He has written the novels, “The Crown: Ascenscion” and “Faraway” and the upcoming scifi political thriller “Rogue Nation”. He is currently the co-owner and editor-in-chief of Black geek website Komplicated at the Good Men Project, and uses his Operative Network website (www.operative.net) to publish his poetry, market what he's doing, rant at the world and emit strangled cries for help.

Geoffrey Thorne – Geoffrey Thorne has written a lot of stuff in a lot of venues and will be writing more in more. It's his distinct pleasure to take part in another of these groundbreaking anthologies. Thanks for letting me roll with you folks. For more (and God knows why you'd want more) check out http://www.geoffreythorne.com/.

I AM A STEAMFUNKATEER! Why I write and read Steamfunk

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 13:41:00 +0000

cover art by Marcellus Shane Jackson

Three years ago, I was all about steampunk. So was the entire science fiction/fantasy genre, it seemed.

People were writing steampunk novels like they were going out of style. And they might have, had steampunk not become the movement it is. I talked a little about that here.

But as much as I liked steampunk back then, I wasn't ready to write steampunk short stories, yet. I had just barely wrapped my head around writing fantasy, which was a huge leap forward for me and my writing career.

I wrote my first short story when I was 11 years old. I'd always identified myself as a science fiction short story writer. Writing fantasy felt so alien to me (yeah, I can be punny when I want). Sci-fi and cyberpunk were my comfort zones.

And then, a little over three years ago, Purple Zoe said she was putting together a black fae anthology. I was intrigued. I'd never heard of black fae, let alone read a story with one as a character.

To this day, I can't remember how it happened, but somehow I came up with an idea of a coal-dust faery who granted the poor and downtrodden coal dust—the black gold that moved the gears of my steampunk world.

Check that. Steamfunk world.

Though the term hadn't been coined in 2009 (at least, I don't think it was), my short story was definitely steamfunk. Just look at my worldbuilding:

My protagonist, Bijou LaVoix, is a twelve-year-old Louisiana Creole girl who has just moved to Chicago with her mother.

My coal-dust faery, Asha, is a beautiful shade of ebony.

And nearly every child in my steamfunk world has some sort of steam-powered prosthetic or steam-powered enhancement because a polio epidemic has ravaged Chicago. Bijou has a steam clock heart.

Writing "Bijou LaVoix and the Coal Dust Faery" was one of the most enjoyable writing experiences I had—in a long time. I'd taken a sub-genre I liked, flipped the script, and made it mine.

My steamfunked Chicago reflected my heritage and my background:

Like Bijou's mother, my mother was born in Mississippi moved to Louisiana, and then migrated north to Chicago. Like Bijou, I was a latch-key kid. Like Bijou, I took public transit to school (not a steam locomotive, but look hard enough, and you'll find one in Chicago). And like Bijou, I also had a very small, core group of friends in elementary school.

So it made sense for me to submit a story to the Steamfunk! anthology.

Steamfunk is me. I am steamfunk.

I can't help but write it.

Here are some of the other contributors to the Steamfunk! anthology who share their experiences writing, reading and living steamfunk:

Malon Edwards – Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Malon Edwards now lives in the Greater Toronto Area. Much of his speculative fiction features people of color and is set in his hometown. Malon can be reached ateastofmars.blogspot.com.

Valjeanne Jeffers – Valjeanne Jeffers is the author of Immortal, Immortal II: The Time of Legend, Immortal III: Stealer of Souls, The Switch II: Clockwork and Immortal IV: Collision of Worlds Visit her at http://www.facebook.com/l/GAQHync5dAQELhG-ZYioznHu4XdpmGVjPHLVMOi5sqNSNbg/valjeanne.wordpress.com and http://www.facebook.com/l/oAQGmdGxgAQEg4FxO57Ot1Tb-0vW-XEdGEjPA4IMSKsJxmQ/www.vjeffersandqveal.com

Steamfunk! Anthology - Table of Contents

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:22:00 +0000

cover art by Marcellus Shane

Yesterday, I mentioned the Steamfunk! anthology has been released, and I'm part of a week-long (give or take) blog tour discussing the anthology and the newly coined sub-genre.

Below is the Table of Contents for the anthology (which includes my story, "Mud Holes and Mississippi Mules"), with links to the contributors' pages. Check out their pages and what they have to say about steamfunk.

I assure you there will be diverse and interesting discussions going on.

Steamfunk! Anthology - Table of Contents:

Ronald T. Jones – Benjamin’s Freedom Magic

Malon Edwards – Mud Holes and Mississippi Mules

Hannibal Tabu – The Sharp Knife of a Short Life

P. Djeli Clark – Men in Black

Geoffrey Thorne – The Tunnel at the End of Light

Ray Dean – A Will of Iron

Kochava Greene – The Refuge

Carole McDonnell – Oh, Western Wind

Rebecca McFarland Kyle – Once a Spider

Josh Reynolds – The Lion Hunters

Melvin Carter – Tough Night in Tommyville

Valjeanne Jeffers – The Switch

Balogun Ojetade – Rite of Passage: Blood and Iron

Milton Davis – The Delivery

The STEAMFUNK ANTHOLOGY: What – and Why – It Is

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 16:38:00 +0000

cover art by Marcellus Shane

On February 20, two of the hardest working independent editors in the business - Milton Davis and Balogun Ojetade - released the Steamfunk! anthology under Milton's MVmedia Publishing.

I'm pleased to say my short story, "Mud Holes and Mississippi Mules", is included in the table of contents.

Now, some of you may be asking yourselves, 'What exactly is steamfunk? I've never heard of that.' Well, before we define it, let's start with steampunk.

For many, steampunk is an idea, a movement, a political statement, a lifestyle, a style of dress, or a way of life. Wikipedia, that venerable source of information we know and love, defines steampunk as:

"a sub-genre of science fiction that typically features steam-powered machinery, especially in a setting inspired by industrialized Western civilization during the 19th century. Therefore, steampunk works are often set in an alternate history of the 19th century's British Victorian era or American "Wild West", in a post-apocalyptic future during which steam power has regained mainstream use, or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power."

No matter how you view or define steampunk, this sub-genre of speculative fiction has definitely transcended literature these past few years.

Google 'steampunk', and you'll find numerous links for steampunk clothing and jewelry (especially on Etsy), steampunk societies (both real world and virtual), and, of course, steampunk literature.

What you won't find much of is people of color.

That's where steamfunk comes in.

But you say, 'Wait. What about the movie Wild Wild West? It has Will Smith, Selma Hayek, and that huge steam-powered spider. And if you google steampunk and click through far enough, you'll find some dapper brothers wearing bowler hats and vests and some fine sister wearing corsets and riding boots.'

And you're right.

But steampunk literature often marginalizes or overlooks people of color. We aren't the main characters. The nuances of our societies aren't depicted in detail, if at all. In short, we're noticeably absent.

Which is why the Steamfunk! anthology was created.

Wikipedia won't give you a steamfunk definition, but Balogun defines it as:

"...as a person, style of dress or subgenre of fiction that seeks to bring together elements of blaxploitation films and merge it with that of Steampunk fiction...a philosophy or style of writing that combines the African and/or African American culture and approach to life with that of the steampunk philosophy and/or steampunk fiction."

And that's a good, solid start for this new movement.

Below are some the writers with stories in the Steamfunk! anthology. Over the next week or so, they will also discuss on their blogs the anthology, what steamfunk is, and what steamfunk means to them.

Check them out for more insight into steamfunk and their own work.

Be Still, My Ticking Steam Clock Heart

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 03:01:00 +0000

This is very cool.

I haven't really thought much about how my character Bijou LaVoix's steam clock heart would look.

But it probably would look something like this.

*source: respiringsteam.tumblr.com

Listen to the Sun Sing

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:41:00 +0000

This is one of the coolest things I've ever heard.

And not just because I wrote a story about a solar prominence who comes to Earth and is worshipped as a god.

It's audio of how a solar eruption sounds on Earth. As io9 suggests, listen to it with headphones on.

It's a pretty cool experience.

courtesy of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Four in the Morning Gets Talked Up Real Nice

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 16:45:00 +0000

The Four in the Morning anthology, which includes stories from Ed Erdelac, Lincoln Crisler and Tim Marquitz, gets a nice write up by Nila White over at SFFWorld as part of their fantasy/horror 2012 review.

You have to scroll down to the bottom of the page for the review, but here are some of Nila's kind words for my novelette, Half Dark, which is part of the anthology:

"Each story presented is deserving of praise, but Half Dark by Malon Edwards really blew me away. The story has a language and rhythm all of its own that surprised me at every turn and sway of our heroine. What can I say? She and Mr. Edwards captured my heart and I look forward to more stories set in the dark, ethereal world of Half Dark. Check it out."

I agree. You should check it out.

Happy Anniversary, My Lovely Wife

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 01:40:00 +0000

Eleven years ago in Japan, I met this beautiful, spunky Canadian girl at a Christmas party I'd gone to on a whim. She'd been dragged to it by her American roommate. We talked, we laughed, we liked each other.

As the beautiful, spunky girl was leaving the party, we exchanged numbers, and she told me she would call me the next week because she had tickets to a New Year's Eve party at a bar in Tokyo, called Sugar High. Days went by, but she didn't call.

Being me, I wasn't really surprised by this. But I did have another option. I'd met a cute Australian teacher at one of the branches of the English school I taught at, and she and her friend were going to watch the fireworks in Yokohama Bay. I could come along if I wanted.

I didn't want to.

I wanted to spend New Year's with the beautiful, spunky girl (who was also an English teacher), so I took a deep breath and gave her a call. She swore up and down that she had been planning to call me. I didn't believe her, but it didn't matter. We made plans to go for dinner at Elephant Cafe before meeting her American roommate and their other friends to go to Sugar High.

The beautiful, spunky girl and I didn't think the dinner was a date, but our friends told us it damn sure seemed like one. On the two-hour slow train ride from Mito (where I lived) to Tokyo that night, I told myself not to expect anything. Just have fun--enjoy dinner, have a few drinks, dance a little, and go back home when all was said and done.

And that's what happened (though, it was a bit more fun for the beautiful, spunky girl when my lips started twitching during dinner from the anaphylactic reaction the shrimp was giving me).

But I didn't die at dinner and we managed to enjoy it, and then we had more drinks than we could count at Sugar High, where we danced all night. When midnight struck, we kissed. It was nice and innocent.

Afterward, we went out for curry and naan to burn a little time before the first trains of the morning started running again. It had been the perfect night. But the beautiful, spunky girl and I were about to part ways. It hadn't been a date. Just a night of fun with some new and old friends.

And then, the beautiful, spunky girl's American roommate, Sara, pulled me aside as we made our way to the train station, and said, "You should come home with us. You can sleep in the living room."

Being me, I politely declined. But Sara insisted. She wouldn't take no for an answer. It was as if she knew what would happen that night. I certainly didn't.

As we got back to Sara and the beautiful, spunky girl's apartment, I started to settle into the tiny living room/kitchen. But Sara, the matchmaker she is, said it was too cold out there, I should sleep in the beautiful, spunky girl's room, and then produced an extra futon.

I didn't decline this time.

And me and the beautiful, spunky girl--Anne--have been together ever since. We liked each other so much, we got married the following year on Christmas Eve.

And now, ten years later, my beautiful, spunky wife, I'm so glad I called you.

I love you, and I look forward to another ten years with you.

Happy Anniversary.

Lest They Drink and Forget the Law - Electric Spec

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:39:00 +0000

Electric Spec cover art

The latest issue (and last one of the year) for Electric Spec is now live and features my short story "Lest They Drink and Forget the Law."

Give it a read and let me know what you think, whether you like it or not. Seriously.

I can't get better as a writer if people don't tell me the bad, along with the good. And don't pull any punches, neither.

I can take it. I wear my big boy pants every day.

Electric Spec Table of Contents:

Lest They Drink and Forget the Law - Malon Edwards
Wolfshead - L. Young
Ximena - D.L. Young
A Magician's Silver - Jesse Knifley

Special Feature:

Author Interview - Rebecca E. Taylor (David E. Hughes)

Editor's Corner:

The Last Car in Town - Lesley L. Smith

Had the Bun

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:30:00 +0000

Wish I had this Chelsea bun

I posted this more than a year ago over at An American WhereWolf in Canada, my alter ego website.

That was where I was supposed to post things about Canada that tripped me out.

You see how that's going.

Anyway, it held true then to the American WhereWolf, and it still holds true to him, er me, today:

Canada is one tripped out place.

Happy Halloween!

*************************************
If you’re Canadian, you know what the title means. If you’re an American from the South Side of Chicago, you look at your Canadian wife like she’s got lobsters in her head when she uses that Canadian slang for the first time in the nine years you’ve known her.

A few nights ago, as my wife and I were getting ready for bed, she looked at the track pants she had on and said, “These pants have had the bun.”

The look on my face must have said I thought she truly did have lobsters in her head (which I’m convinced is more Canadian slang) because my wife started laughing hysterically. She was actually doubled over, holding her stomach, red in the face and unable to catch her breath.

You would have thought I was the one with weird sayings coming out of my mouth.

After my wife wiped the tears from her eyes and caught her breath, she told me to google “had the bun.” Turns out, Canadians and Commonwealthers say it all the time.

It even has an Urban Dictionary definition: “Canadian expression similar to ‘had the biscuit’, meaning something that is used up, beyond further use, or broken beyond repair or use.”

And here’s the Urban Dictionary use it in a sentence:

“My Chevy’s so old, it’s had the bun, so I have to get rid of it.”

More googling found you can interchange “had the biscuit” with “had the bun.”

My wife says she’s also heard UKers say both phrases. I say Canada is very much a foreign country sometimes.

Another Fading Light Review

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 23:29:00 +0000

Kick ass cover by Jessy Lucero

It looks like the Fading Light anthology, edited by the Exquisite Marquis Tim Marquitz and includes my short story, "Blessed Be the Shadowchildren, is racking up the favorable reviews.

Michael R. Collins starts his review with a tangential mention of his last review of After: Nineteen Stories of Apocalypse and Dystopia, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling:

"Tim Marquitz tackles this intriguing possibility in Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous. Physically as impressive as After, particularly thanks to evocative cover art by Jesse Lucero, Marquitz’s anthology incorporates thirty tales of the end … the bitter end, in nearly every possible definition of bitter. The tales are linked, however, by a common image, indicated by the title, Fading Light."

But then, further on, Collins gives a brief mention of my story:

"Or possibly, just possibly, the sun itself has lost something so essential to its being that it has already begun to dim when the story opens. Malon Edward[s's] story “Blessed Be the Shadowchildren” considers that possibility in a tale of tortured love, celestial kidnapping, and blackest revenge."

I think that's a good description of the story.

Check out the review, which is well-written and in-depth. If you see what you like, buy a copy of the anthology. It comes in Kindle and paperback.

After Papa Died - Expanded Horizons

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 15:30:00 +0000

Can't believe I almost forgot this.

The September issue of Expanded Horizons is now live. Why do I mention that? Well, I'm glad you asked.

Not only does Issue 37 of Expanded Horizons include speculative work from contributors living in four different countries, it also includes me.

Wow. That sounds really vain and conceited.

Let me try that again.

The September issue of Expanded Horizons is now live, and it includes my flash fiction piece, After Papa Died.

The short short was first published in the Lunewing Black Faery Anthology, put out by Purple Magazine.

Have a read of "After Papa Died" and let me know your thoughts on the Forget-Me-Not Faery.

Image credit: prezzey/Expanded Horizons

Martian Solar Eclipse

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 17:56:00 +0000

Phobos might as well be walkin' on the Sun

Who knew solar eclipses on Mars were such a common event?

Solar eclipses on Mars are so common that one of its moons, Phobos, scoots across the disk of Sun on a near-daily basis.

Why? Because Phobos is only 3,600 miles away from Mars. In comparison, our Moon is 249,000 miles away from Earth.

Mars rover Curiosity caught Phobos in transit across the Sun on September 13 (pictured to the right).

A ho-hum sight for all of those caverns and channels on Mars, but not for first-time visitor Curiosity.

Here's hoping there are many more eclipses for the rover to see.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space Science Systems

Fading Light Review

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 16:29:00 +0000

Kick ass cover art by Jessy Lucero

I've been a bit busy lately with the 9-5, so I haven't had the chance to collect all of the recent reviews for the Fading Light anthology (edited by Tim Marquitz) into one post.

But I just have to share this excellent review by Mihir Wanchoo over at Fantasy Book Critic. I love reviews like this, and not just because my short story is being praised:

Blessed Be the Shadowchildren by Malon Edwards - The story carries on the excellence of its predecessor. It’s a story within a story, with the first thread about Levi, the narrator and his friend Lali trying to find something in a land wherein the sun is dying. The second thread deals with the reason for the sun’s death and the hubris of the god who caused it. A twisted story and very well written by Malon Edwards, this story was another one that took the book theme and played it out to a different tune.

These kind of reviews truly do anthologies with a large number of stories justice. The reviewers are very careful not to give away spoilers and plot points, but they tease you with just enough information that you can't help but want to read each story. Not every reviewer is adept at doing this, but Mihir does it very well.

Have a read of the review. It is very insightful - for each story and the anthology as a whole. And if you are so inclined, get a copy of the anthology and let me know what you think.

Personal Air and Land Vehicle: Codename GoBot

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 17:30:00 +0000

If Scooter were badass, he would look something like this

No, that's not Photoshopped. It's an actual flying car.

The future is here, people.

You better get your "drying" license now. I hear they only give them out to fans of the GoBots, though.

Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about.

You're looking at that picture and having warm, fuzzy thoughts about Scooter right now, aren't you?

And that was way before the theme song from the GoBots started running through your head.

image courtesy of PAL-V / Spark design & innovation

Love's Gonna Getcha

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 19:24:00 +0000

Just saw this review linked by Jha over at Silver Goggles about the soon-to-be released Japanese steampunk novel, Stormdancer.

Say it ain't so, You're Killing Me, say it ain't so!

But Kayla and Cynthia say it is so. And my first Book Lovin' crush, no less.

The review at You're Killing Me is in-depth and contains spoilers, but with good reason.

They take the errors, inaccuracies and plain ol' WTFery to task. They set the record straight on Kristoff's use of Japanese culture and language, and excoriate his objectification of women. They break my heart.

No. Scratch that. Kristoff breaks my heart. Stormdancer breaks my heart.

I was very much looking forward to picking up Stormdancer and reveling in my book love.

I should have just listened to KRS-ONE.

Now tell me what the f*ck am I supposed to do?

Rhetorical question.

Though, I could write my own.

Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 04:48:00 +0000

Kick ass cover art by Jessy Lucero

At first, I didn't want to submit a story for the Fading Light anthology.

I had just finished writing the longest piece of fiction I'd ever written, Half Dark, for the Four in the Morning anthology. Work was crazy. I was working long hours, I was mentally spent. I just wanted to curl up into a ball - mentally and physically - and stay that way. Forever.

Or at least until the premier of the third season of Walking Dead.

And then I saw Jessy Lucero's cover art for Fading Light. Talk about being inspired. All of my tiredness went away after seeing that cover.

I mean, just look at it. That is seriously one kick-ass cover. The design, the color scheme, the artwork - the friggin' tentacles coming out of that friggin' sky! - I just had to be in that anthology.

No exaggeration, that is one of the best covers I have ever seen. Ever.

Tim Marquitz has put together an excellent anthology, starting with the cover. I can't tell you how pleased I am that I submitted my story, "Blessed Be the Shadowchildren", to Fading Light.

I think you'll be pleased with it as well. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Now Approaching Bradbury Landing

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 12:37:00 +0000

Curiosity finally gettin' its roll on

Cool news out of NASA about Mars rover Curiosity—and it has nothing to do with StarHawk Guy.

On Wednesday, NASA named the clearing where Curiosity touched down on Mars after Ray Bradbury.

A very fitting tribute, if I must say so myself.

Chronicle on, Curiosity.

Chronicle on.

Image by NASA / Reuters

Book Lovin': Bow Chicka Wow Wow

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 12:58:00 +0000

Now, that's what I'm talkin' 'bout

Let me explain what book lovin' is.

I see a cover, I read the blurb and I have an immediate and intense desire to buy that book.

Why? Because I'm certain I will love it.

So, yeah...I think I just found my next book love.

You had me at chainsaw katanas.

Release date September 18, 2012.

But don't tell wifey.

She just may want to get in on the action, and her book lovin' is much more intense than mine.

Last thing I need is my books loving her more than me.

Fading Light: an Anthology of the Monstrous

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 02:53:00 +0000

cover art by Jessy Lucero

This year has definitely been the year of the anthology for me.

So far, I've had short stories published in four anthologies, with another one, Fading Light, set to be released September 1.

Here's the description for Fading Light:

Born of darkness, the creatures of myth, legend, and nightmare have long called the shadows home. Now, with the cruel touch of the sun fading into memory, they've returned to claim their rightful place amidst humanity; as its masters.

Fading Light collects 30 monstrous stories by authors new and experienced, in the genres of horror, science fiction, and fantasy, each bringing their own interpretation of what lurks in the dark.

And here's the blurb for my story, "Blessed Be the ShadowChildren":

The Sun is dying, mortally wounded by an asshole god and his jealousy. There's hope (and love) in the slow, dark death to come, though. But only if fifteen-year-old Levi and Lali can reach the warm arms of the Bright Lady before the horde of pursuing Biloko devour them - intestines first.

I seem to be saying this a lot lately, but this story is not like anything I've written before. And that's a good thing.

What's a bit tripped out is I almost didn't submit to this anthology. But more about that later.

In the meantime, keep this one in your digital to-read-some-extremely-messed-up-stuff-later pile.

I think you'll like it.

The War of 1812 - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 17:19:00 +0000

I have a very unique perspective being an American citizen and Canadian resident.

I can work in Canada. I can go to school in Canada. I can vote (absentee) in America. I get the coveted Canadian health care. I see some Canadians going to America for treatment because that coveted Canadian health care takes so long to get.

But probably the most interesting part of this perspective is hearing what Canadians think of Americans from inside their country.

Erin McLeod couldn't stop Alex Morgan's game-winning header

And after the Canadian women’s soccer team lost 4-3 to the U.S. women in a very controversial match, Canadians don’t think much of us Americans right now.

Controversy came when, in the 78^th minute of regulation, Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod was given a foul by the referee for (what was perceived as) wasting time. According to the rules, an indirect free kick is given to the opposing team as a result.

So let me set the scenario for you: Canada is leading 3-2 against the top ranked team in the world, America. Canada has been dominating the match so far. There are 18 minutes left in the game. If Canada wins, they go to the gold medal match against Japan. Japan beat America in the 2011 World Cup. Canada hasn’t beat America in 11 years.

And the referee has just called one of the most obscure fouls in all of sports.

Megan Rapinoe celebrates after her wicked strike

But wait, it gets better.

Megan Rapinoe—midfielder for the States and probably one of the best midfielders in the women’s game today—takes the indirect free kick awarded to the States and the ball goes off the arm of not one, but two Canadian players.

I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried.

Now, if you know me, you know that I’m a somewhat more than casual soccer fan. My son and daughter both play soccer (my daughter, a midfielder, scored her first goal ever a few weeks ago, the game winner—woo-hoo!) I love watching both men’s and women’s soccer, within various professional leagues.

So when Canadian supporters (fans and analysts alike) say a proper handball is when the player extends the arm away from the body to impede the ball, I can’t dispute that. It sounds right, though.

And when those same supporters point to the missed handball call on Rapinoe in yesterday’s game (if I remember correctly, she was sliding in the box to block a shot), I throw their logic right back at them. Rapinoe didn’t extend her arm to impede the ball. She did extend her leg, though.

Even this soccer noob knows that’s okay.

So here’s where my unique perspective comes into play.

I was a History minor in college at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (with a major in Rhetoric, Creative Writing focus). I loved American History, a love fostered by Mr. Chappelle my junior year in high school at Thornwood.

One of the things I’m sure I learned during history class at university was the War of 1812. What did I learn? Beyond the war being fought in 1812, all I can give you is an, “I ‘unno,” and a shrug.

You know what the Canadians learned about the War of 1812? That they kicked America’s ass.

They even make commercials about it. No, seriously.

Every time there’s a break in Olympic coverage on CTV or TSN, Canada runs commercials about how they kicked the ass of the American invaders and drove them out of this wonderful land (which wasn’t called Canada at the time, if I remember correctly).

I swear that commercial runs a good 20 times a day, especially during the Olympic events America is participating in.

And they say only Americans beat their chests and wave their flags.

Okay, so maybe Laura Secord doesn’t beat her chest and wave a maple leaf flag in the War of 1812 commercial, but that victory for damn sure resonates with Canadians.

One Canadian supporter, interviewed during the game by the Toronto Star, actually described yesterday’s U.S.-Canadian soccer game as: “It’s like the War of 1812 all over again. But with women, so it’s smarter.”

I suppose you can guess her gender by that statement. And no, that wasn’t a sneaky diss.

Christine Sinclair (#12) reacts after losing to the United States

I must give props to Canadian forward Christine Sinclair, though. The U.S. couldn’t stop her; they could only hope to contain her. And she’s all class, too.

But here’s where that unique perspective comes in again.

When asked about the controversy after the game, Sports Illustrated columnist Greg Wahl quoted her as saying: "We feel like we didn't lose, we feel like it was taken from us," said Sinclair afterward in a particularly bitter moment. "It's a shame in a game like that, which is so important, that the ref decided the result before the game started.”

Note his word choice of “bitter” to describe the moment.

In a bit of juxtaposition, Toronto Star columnist Cathal Kelly used the same Sinclair quote, and then followed it with: “After last night, the committee that gathers to decide the Lou Marsh Award for Canada’s top athlete next year can start drinking at noon. It won’t be a very long meeting.”

Kelly is right, though, I should also note that his headline for the column is: London 2012: Canadian women robbed in soccer semi.

I bet no American women woke up this morning thinking Canada got robbed.

Which brings me back to my unique perspective a third time.

As we were watching the game yesterday, my Canadian wife asked me who I was rooting for. I answered, “America, of course.”

It’s my birth country. Despite its many, many deep flaws and faults and issues, it has given me perspective and helped to shape the man I am today—for the better, I like to think.

But I also wanted Canada to win. After every goal Sinclair scored, I quietly cheered inside.

How could I not?

I have a Canadian perspective, too.

Top Photo: David MOIR/REUTERS

Middle photo: mARK J. REBILIAS/usa today sports

Bottom photo: FRANK GUNN/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Four in the Morning Review - The Atheist's Quill

noreply@blogger.com (six blocks east of mars) — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 13:40:00 +0000

Here is an in-depth, straightforward and honest review for Four in the Morning from The Atheist's Quill.

For obvious reasons, I'm pleased with the review. It's solid and insightful, and not just for my piece. N. E. White, the reviewer, is struck by Ed's piece, "Gully Gods," as well.

Give the review a read and let me know what you think, especially if you've picked up the anthology.

And if you haven't picked up the anthology, then you should.

There is good reading to be had.