Tag Archives: Blogging from A to Z 2013

A to Z Challenge, Niteblade

Q: Philosopher Quinn

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Philosopher QuinnI’ve blogged about Philosopher Quinn before. This story by Jens Rushing was included in our March 2008 issue and I really enjoy it still, four years later. Is it the most well-written thing we’ve ever published? Um, no, but I think it might very well be the most fun. The phrase ‘…to chase camels. Good times!’ has become a part of our family’s lexicon because of this story.

Here, just a little sneak peek:

“I’m sorry,” said Maris, wiping her eyes. “That’s very nice and all, but — what are you, sixteen?”

“Eighteen and three-quarters. What of it?”

“A teenager. Where’d you get Gretch and Chaggs?”

“Cheggs. They were family servants, but I offered them the chance to serve in my paradise, and they leapt at the opportunity.”

“Beats shovelin’ stables,” Gretch said.

“Verily, captain, our thanks is right bottomless. Does it please the captain for me to sop his boots with my tongue? The mud is honey in my mouth,” Cheggs said.

“Disgusting peasant!” Quinn kicked Cheggs, who howled and begged for another. “You see I am quite occupied keeping these curs in line. But that’s what they are — curs compared to philosophers like you and me. Mostly me. We are of a different breed than these villains. And that is why I have decided to allow you the honor and privilege of becoming my slave.” He smiled magnanimously.

Maris arched an eyebrow very slowly, as if the eyebrow weighed half a ton. “I honestly don’t know what to say.”

Quinn nodded graciously. “You display a certain animal cunning that I find endearing. In time, I may condescend to take you as a concubine.”

“Now I can think of a few things to say.”

If that made you smile, check out the rest of the story. If not, well there are lots of other stories you might find more to your taste over at Niteblade.

~*~

A2Z-2013-BADGE-001Small_zps669396f9This post has been written as a part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme this year is ‘Niteblade‘, which is the magazine I publish. I chose this theme to help draw attention to the magazine during this, it’s 2nd annual fundraiser.

My first post in this series was about choosing stories and poems to nominate for awards and I’ve gone through a similar process in deciding what to write about for these posts. Not only did I have to choose stories and poems I loved, but they also had to fit with the A-Z theme. Tricky!

 

 

A to Z Challenge, Niteblade

P: Poetry Editor, Alexandra Seidel

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Alexandra SeidelI have control issues, so it wasn’t easy when I handed over the role of poetry editor to Alexandra Seidel. But, like many things which aren’t easy, it was very much worth doing.

Alexandra has been the sole poetry editor for just over a year now and I’m extremely happy to have her in that position. She’s super efficient, reliable and because she’s allergic to bullshit I can always count on her for blunt answers, feedback or advice when I ask for it. Our poetry slush has never looked more impressive than since she took over as editor and though our tastes don’t always match I do want to take a moment to spotlight a few of my favourite poems that we’ve published since she’s been poetry editor 🙂

My favourite five, in no particular order:

Carnivoyeur by Rebecca Hodgkins – This poem is from the special vampire poetry issue. We actually wanted it to be a straight-up vampire issue, but we never got enough fiction submissions to pull that off. *shrugs* It doesn’t matter. I only mention because this is a vampire poem with a twist. You’re going to love it. Really.

Step
right
UP!

Red Eye by Lisa M. Bradley – Another poem from the vampire issue. This one is so beautifully evocative that I had a very tough time deciding between it and Carnivoyeur for the cover. I fell in love with lines like:

and picked too many locks
her tongue to each keyhole
to learn the mechanism

Give this one a read, you won’t be disappointed.

Crimson-Hooded by Sandi Leibowitz – As you might suspect from this title this is a re-telling of a familiar fairy tale. That’s something I have a great love for, and I thought Sandi’s poem did it very well.

The Second Law of Thermodynamics by Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman – I loved this one. If all the ice and snow imagery doesn’t make you shiver, the story will 🙂

The Maiden-Harp by Sara Cleto – I just now noticed that two of my favourite poems from the past year have the same name in the byline. This, like The Second Law of Thermodynamics, is full of a-freaking-mazing imagery and feels onion-like in its layers. I love it. Love.

~*~

A2Z-2013-BADGE-001Small_zps669396f9This post has been written as a part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme this year is ‘Niteblade‘, which is the magazine I publish. I chose this theme to help draw attention to the magazine during this, it’s 2nd annual fundraiser.

My first post in this series was about choosing stories and poems to nominate for awards and I’ve gone through a similar process in deciding what to write about for these posts. Not only did I have to choose stories and poems I loved, but they also had to fit with the A-Z theme. Tricky!

 

A to Z Challenge, Niteblade

O: Oil Change

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SentryOil Change is a poem by Greg Schwartz from our March 2008 issue which I like. Greg has been a regular contributor to Niteblade and another notable poem of his is Sentry, the illustration for which was our cover in March 2009. I really enjoy Greg’s poetry because it’s accessible without being boring and dark without being cliched.

We used the illustration for Sentry as the art on a set of postcards we had printed in 2009. There are still a few of them kicking around here. If you’d like one just drop me a line (as a comment, an email, whatever) with your snail mail address and I’ll drop one in the post for you. There’s a link on the card for a free download of a past issue of Niteblade, so not only do you get a cool picture, but that too.

Win/win, right?

(There’s also still the giveaway for a copy of the special poetry issue of Niteblade. We haven’t many entries yet so the odds are in your favour — Giveaway)

~*~

A2Z-2013-BADGE-001Small_zps669396f9This post has been written as a part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme this year is ‘Niteblade‘, which is the magazine I publish. I chose this theme to help draw attention to the magazine during this, it’s 2nd annual fundraiser.

My first post in this series was about choosing stories and poems to nominate for awards and I’ve gone through a similar process in deciding what to write about for these posts. Not only did I have to choose stories and poems I loved, but they also had to fit with the A-Z theme. Tricky!

 

A to Z Challenge

M: Marge Simon

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If you are viewing this anywhere but on my original blog, you probably aren’t seeing this gallery correctly, and for that I apologise. I just couldn’t think of a better way to show off some of the work Marge Simon has done for Niteblade. She’s been with us since the very first issue and I hope she’ll be with us up until the last.

Trying to imagine Niteblade without Marge’s artwork is impossible, it just wouldn’t be the same. To me there is something magical about having my words illustrated, and I wanted to offer that to all the writer’s whose work we published in Niteblade. I like to think that though we aren’t able to offer more than a token payment for their work the illustration offers some compensation for that. Like it’s a part of the payment. Judging by the feedback I’ve received from authors, they tend to feel that way too.

What’s more, Marge’s support of Niteblade has always gone above and beyond. She’s been there for me, personally, from the beginning as I struggled to figure out this whole ‘editor’ thing (I’m still working on that LOL) and for the magazine too. Always willing to donate to the cause, spread the word or submit her work (Striped Pajamas, for example, or Daughter O Daughter).

Thank you, Marge. You’re awesome and I adore you (and your art).

Marge is donating the original art from some of her Niteblade covers as perks for our fundraiser, so if you like what you see in that gallery (and how could you not?) pop over and check that out.

~*~

A2Z-2013-BADGE-001Small_zps669396f9This post has been written as a part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme this year is ‘Niteblade‘, which is the magazine I publish. I chose this theme to help draw attention to the magazine during this, it’s 2nd annual fundraiser.

My first post in this series was about choosing stories and poems to nominate for awards and I’ve gone through a similar process in deciding what to write about for these posts. Not only did I have to choose stories and poems I loved, but they also had to fit with the A-Z theme. Tricky!

Blogging from A to Z 2013:

A: Award Nominations
B: Brenda Stokes Barron
C: Cato, Beth – The Pacifier
D: December 2011 (Giveaway open until April 30th)
E: Evil Bird
F: First Loves for the First Time
G: The Gnome’s Spectacles
H: Happy Halloween, It’s a Bloody Puppet Show
I: Incense Sticks
J: Jason L. Huskey, The Marionette
K: KV Taylor, The Silver Quarter
L: Lucien E.G. Spelman, Family Jaunt
M: Marge Simon

 

A to Z Challenge

L: Lucien E.G. Spelman, Family Jaunt

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NitebladeI don’t often like long poetry, which is why, when I was the poetry editor, there wasn’t a lot of it. We did publish a few longer pieces though, and one of the ones which stands out strongest in my mind is Family Jaunt by Lucien E.G. Spelman. A funny and scathing commentary on television and its effect on imagination, this poem made me smile the first time I read it, and I smiled again just now re-reading it for this blog.

Lucien’s poetry also appeared in our March 2009 issue. Clockwork Bird is also well worth a visit if you have a minute or two.

~*~

A2Z-2013-BADGE-001Small_zps669396f9This post has been written as a part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme this year is ‘Niteblade‘, which is the magazine I publish. I chose this theme to help draw attention to the magazine during this, it’s 2nd annual fundraiser.

My first post in this series was about choosing stories and poems to nominate for awards and I’ve gone through a similar process in deciding what to write about for these posts. Not only did I have to choose stories and poems I loved, but they also had to fit with the A-Z theme. Tricky!

Blogging from A to Z 2013:

A: Award Nominations
B: Brenda Stokes Barron
C: Cato, Beth – The Pacifier
D: December 2011 (Giveaway open until April 30th)
E: Evil Bird
F: First Loves for the First Time
G: The Gnome’s Spectacles
H: Happy Halloween, It’s a Bloody Puppet Show
I: Incense Sticks
J: Jason L. Huskey, The Marionette
K: KV Taylor, The Silver Quarter
L: Lucien E.G. Spelman, Family Jaunt

 

A to Z Challenge, Niteblade

K: KV Taylor, The Silver Quarter

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The Silver QuarterK could only stand for KV Taylor and her story, The Silver Quarter. I’ve spoken about this story before (right here) and that is because I love this story. It’s the kind of fantasy I wish we got more of at Niteblade. The kind that reminds me of the books I used to devour (between romance novels LoL) when I was a teenager.

Also worth mentioning is that working with KV during the editing process was a dream. She was articulate, flexible, open to feedback and super quick at responding. Authors, lemme tell you, when you’re sitting on this side of the desk that all makes a huge difference. Huge. You know how Neil Gaiman says that the key to success is being good, being fast and being pleasant (I’m totally paraphrasing) and that you don’t need all three? Well, he’s totally right from where I’m sitting, but KV had all three.

~*~

A2Z-2013-BADGE-001Small_zps669396f9This post has been written as a part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme this year is ‘Niteblade‘, which is the magazine I publish. I chose this theme to help draw attention to the magazine during this, it’s 2nd annual fundraiser.

My first post in this series was about choosing stories and poems to nominate for awards and I’ve gone through a similar process in deciding what to write about for these posts. Not only did I have to choose stories and poems I loved, but they also had to fit with the A-Z theme. Tricky!

Blogging from A to Z 2013:

A: Award Nominations
B: Brenda Stokes Barron
C: Cato, Beth – The Pacifier
D: December 2011 (Giveaway open until April 30th)
E: Evil Bird
F: First Loves for the First Time
G: The Gnome’s Spectacles
H: Happy Halloween, It’s a Bloody Puppet Show
I: Incense Sticks
J: Jason L. Huskey, The Marionette
K: KV Taylor, The Silver Quarter

 

A to Z Challenge, Niteblade

J: Jason L. Huskey, The Marionette

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The MarionetteMaybe it’s because I used to struggle with jealousy and an overactive imagination. Maybe it’s because I love marionettes. Maybe it’s just because the imagery in this poem is so damn good. Whatever the reason, The Marionette by Jason L. Huskey stands out in my mind as favourite poem. Not just a favourite from Niteblade, but a favourite just straight-up. There is one stanza I love in particular:

Put your hand
on the phone, now up,
now down,
now share it into pieces
with the wall.

The emphasis there is mine. Now share it into pieces / with the wall. I freaking love that line. Share it into pieces. It gave me shivers the first time I read it, and I love it still.

<3

~*~

A2Z-2013-BADGE-001Small_zps669396f9This post has been written as a part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme this year is ‘Niteblade‘, which is the magazine I publish. I chose this theme to help draw attention to the magazine during this, it’s 2nd annual fundraiser.

My first post in this series was about choosing stories and poems to nominate for awards and I’ve gone through a similar process in deciding what to write about for these posts. Not only did I have to choose stories and poems I loved, but they also had to fit with the A-Z theme. Tricky!

Blogging from A to Z 2013:

A: Award Nominations
B: Brenda Stokes Barron
C: Cato, Beth – The Pacifier
D: December 2011 (Giveaway open until April 30th)
E: Evil Bird
F: First Loves for the First Time
G: The Gnome’s Spectacles
H: Happy Halloween, It’s a Bloody Puppet Show
I: Incense Sticks
J: Jason L. Huskey, The Marionette

 

A to Z Challenge, Niteblade

I: Incense Sticks

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Incense SticksIncense Sticks by Ajay Vishwanathan is actually an example of a story which I shouldn’t have published in Niteblade, but I couldn’t help myself. I have a soft spot for stories set in exotic locations, whether they be real or fictional. If they can transport me somewhere else, I tend to fall in love with them. That was the case with this story, and I had to have it. Even though the fantasy/horror element was very faint, if it was present at all. No, in retrospect I really shouldn’t have accepted Incense Sticks for Niteblade, but I’m not sorry that I did 😉

Another fine example of a transportive story is Women of Straw by Kyle Hemmings. Not only did I fall in love with this story, but it’s much more appropriate for the pages of Niteblade. Or Infectious by Lilah Wild. Hungry by Tai Dong Huai. I could go on and on. But I won’t. Because if I post too many links here you won’t visit any of them, and you really should. At least one or two. You won’t regret it.

~*~

A2Z-2013-BADGE-001Small_zps669396f9This post has been written as a part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme this year is ‘Niteblade‘, which is the magazine I publish. I chose this theme to help draw attention to the magazine during this, it’s 2nd annual fundraiser.

My first post in this series was about choosing stories and poems to nominate for awards and I’ve gone through a similar process in deciding what to write about for these posts. Not only did I have to choose stories and poems I loved, but they also had to fit with the A-Z theme. Tricky!

Blogging from A to Z 2013:

A: Award Nominations
B: Brenda Stokes Barron
C: Cato, Beth – The Pacifier
D: December 2011 (Giveaway open until April 30th)
E: Evil Bird
F: First Loves for the First Time
G: The Gnome’s Spectacles
H: Happy Halloween, It’s a Bloody Puppet Show
I: Incense Sticks

 

A to Z Challenge, Niteblade

H: Happy Halloween, It’s a Bloody Puppet Show

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Happy Halloween, It's a Bloody Puppet ShowHappy Halloween, It’s a Bloody Puppet Show. I loved this story. It’s the kind of story where I can see the ending coming from a long way off, but I don’t care. Something about the voice of the tale really pulled me in, it reminded me of a simpler time in my life, of elementary school and Halloweens when I was a poor kid wearing an orange garbage bag with holes cut out for my head and arms as my costume (I was a pumpkin!). It spoke to me, and because it spoke to me you can imagine my glee when its author, Bill Ratner, agreed to record it as well as allowing us to publish the print version.

Amazing.

So Happy Halloween, It’s a Bloody Puppet Show became our first ever audio story, and if you haven’t listened to it, you’re missing out. Later that year Bill also submitted (and recorded) his story Basement Shade which is also a great story. It doesn’t touch me in the same way that Happy Halloween does but that, I suppose, is because it has a totally different atmosphere to it 🙂

~*~

A2Z-2013-BADGE-001Small_zps669396f9This post has been written as a part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme this year is ‘Niteblade‘, which is the magazine I publish. I chose this theme to help draw attention to the magazine during this, it’s 2nd annual fundraiser.

My first post in this series was about choosing stories and poems to nominate for awards and I’ve gone through a similar process in deciding what to write about for these posts. Not only did I have to choose stories and poems I loved, but they also had to fit with the A-Z theme. Tricky!

Blogging from A to Z 2013:

A: Award Nominations
B: Brenda Stokes Barron
C: Cato, Beth – The Pacifier
D: December 2011 (Giveaway open until April 30th)
E: Evil Bird
F: First Loves for the First Time
G: The Gnome’s Spectacles
H: Happy Halloween, It’s a Bloody Puppet Show

A to Z Challenge, Niteblade

G: The Gnome’s Spectacles

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The Gnome's SpectaclesBack in June 2008 we published “The Gnome’s Spectacles” by Chris Burdett. It’s one of my favourite poems from Niteblade. To this day I don’t know if Chris was retelling a story from a fairy tale or mythology, or if it’s a completely original concept. I’m good either way LOL

What I loved about this poem is that it was accessible but not boring. Evocative, but not pretentious. My daughter, then 11 years old, would have understood it and yet it was deep enough that anyone could appreciate it. Plus, who doesn’t love a story/poem where bad deeds are rewarded in kind?

You reap what you sow…

~*~

A2Z-2013-BADGE-001Small_zps669396f9This post has been written as a part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme this year is ‘Niteblade‘, which is the magazine I publish. I chose this theme to help draw attention to the magazine during this, it’s 2nd annual fundraiser.

My first post in this series was about choosing stories and poems to nominate for awards and I’ve gone through a similar process in deciding what to write about for these posts. Not only did I have to choose stories and poems I loved, but they also had to fit with the A-Z theme. Tricky!

Blogging from A to Z 2013:

A: Award Nominations
B: Brenda Stokes Barron
C: Cato, Beth – The Pacifier
D: December 2011 (Giveaway open until April 30th)
E: Evil Bird
F: First Loves for the First Time
G: The Gnome’s Spectacles