This week was a lot of catch up. I had a total of three column pieces go out for April’s HWA newsletter. A poem, a flash fiction were also finished. I still have two short stories due. I love staying busy. It keeps me from worrying about things.
Next week I’ll be pushing ahead on Soft Deadlines, my Kindle Vella story, the two short stories I mentioned before and applying for grants. Share any good ones you know of! After that, I should be caught up—finally. I will be able to finish edits on Inujini, my first novel and decide what to do with it. The world may burst into flames around me, but as long as I keep tapping away at my own world, I probably won’t notice much.
This week’s peek into one of my current WIPs is from “The Heaven Grift,” a short story I first published as an ebook back in 2015. It’s still one of my favorites. I’ve taken it out of the mothballs and freshened it up for Pen of the Damned. The whole story will be published on Pen of the Damned in May 2023. Watch for it here.
And with that, I’m off to bed. The judgey roosters have begun to crow.
From “The Heaven Grift:”
He spoke slowly so the words could filter through. “You do have a Pass. Everyone that’s not evil gets a free Pass upon death. Contrary to what you’ve been told while you were alive, it doesn’t matter what religion, race or sexual orientation you have been practicing. It doesn’t matter how bad your parents thought you were. Please rifle through your little pockets and give me your Pass so I can let you through.” He stretched his hand down to her and waggled his fingers again.