The Lone Waltzer

The Forge

2006-09-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

All right.

I have received a response from Mistress Laura McCutchan at Morbid Outlook. She said that my story is being considered for the October or November issue.

I have not received any response at all from Byzarium on a story that I sent them a month ago. I'm not sure if they even have it. But geez.

"A Tail" was rejected from Chiaroscuro. Pity; it's a good story. But their reasons were valid. That first paragraph wasn't very good. I've sent it to Strange Horizons. Ah well. We'll see what happens.

I've also finished the first draft of a story called "Gilead." I'm not sure if I like it much, though -- the title doesn't fit the subject, and the subject is, in my opinion, frankly dull. I doubt that i'll do much with it.

Also, I am now officially affiliated with Riot Lit. Thank you, N. Frank Daniels, for having the courage to stand up to the publishing industry, and thank you everyone who cares enough to support them. Riot Lit is a writers' collective for those who do not believe that the publishing industry, as it stands, is doing anyone any favors. They stand for the good and the right (not politically) in writing today. Plus, there's a Bizarro guy there. Hurray! The collective can be found at www.riotlit.com

I have finished "Night Watch." I can't wait to get a copy of the movie. I've also finished China Miéville's "Iron Council." It was good, but kind of like "King Kong" -- each section is interesting, but you sit back when you finish it and think, "You know, this could have been shorter." Not by much, mind you, but I feel that "The Scar" is a better book.

Daryl Scairiot has a new album out. He is a freakin' genius, I'll tell you. His music is soulful and beautiful and honest, without ever seeming overly earnest or too ironic. His violinist is wonderful, too. He can be found at www.darylscairiot.com and on CDBaby. Cool guy. Very cool.

That's about all that's happening right now for me. I'll leave before this becomes blather.

Sent!

2006-09-06T13:56:00.000-07:00

I sent out my story "A Tail," last seen eavesdropping on the previous post, to Chiaroscuro Magazine. They pay. They're supposed to get back to you in no more than three months. Finger crossed, wood knocked, rabbit foot touched, they'll accept the poor thing and take it in out of the cold of net-based inboxes.

Also, I'm more than half-way through Sergei Lukyanenko's "Night Watch," the Russian fantasy a film was made from. It's incredible. The storylines are Chandler-esque in their complexity and the tarnished idealism of their hero, with one difference: Vampires. Sweet! I recommend that you find yourself a copy straight away.

A New Story

2006-09-02T05:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I finished a short story that I want to send out. It plays with the Venus and Adonis myth, as well as that of Actaeon, but it's reset in Brugge. Poor Actaeon. What did he do to deserve death?

Anyway, I plan on sending it to Ideomancer.com. I need to reformat it to meet their standards, but that won't be hard.

My stuff from Amazon still isn't here. Oh well. Monday will come.

I have yet to hear back from Morbid Outlook or Byzarium.com about the stories I sent them. I may send a follow up to Morbid Outlook. An appropriate amount of time has elapsed, I think.

That's about it for stuff going on around here. It's a cool, gray Saturday in northern France.

To quote the famous(ly fatuous) Edward R. Murrow, "Good night and, good luck." Except that it's not night. it's the thought that counts, no?

I Am Edgar

2006-08-31T00:48:00.000-07:00

Finally, I have my blog set up. Geez. That was annoying yesterday.

Hello everyone, my name is Edgar Mason. I'm a writer of genre-bending science fiction, fantasy and horror. You could say it has YA appeal -- many of the stories have youthful protagonists -- but I hope that any appreciative readerof these genres would find them interesting.

I have written reviews as Theo deRoth, which have appeared in Rambles.net and Legends Magazine. I'm trying to get some of my short stories published. I've sent stuff out to Morbid Outlook and Byzarium.com, and am eyeing Ideomancer.com with longing.

I enjoy reading, writing, listening to music, making music, fencing and knitting. I like the last two a lot because they require the use of pointy metal things. I am currently reading "The Faerie Queene," "Paradise Lost" and "the Orthodox Church," and am listening to the Beeb World (dis)Service.