Monday, November 23, 2009

Things Ruinous, Things Unexpected

If you haven't heard already, the magnificent Arkham Tales #5 is out, but dead on arrival. This will be their last issue. My short story, "Little Fingers", scheduled for a future issue, is now an orphan. But don't weep for her. Weep for good, weird fiction. Arkham Tales always provided a solid read. Head over and download the whole archive if you haven't already.

I dove editor-first into Loathsome, Dark, and Deep this weekend. I like it. The challenge...finding a publisher/agent for a weird, steampunkish romp through the Pacific Northwest in the 1880s, haunted by selfish men and monsters. Le sigh. Gonna be a damn good book, though. (so says the author bent on self-promotion...ha!)

The Chiefs rescued me from my post-Arkham Tales blues a little, thanks to an improbable victory (in overtime no less) over the reigning champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Maybe you can allow over 400 yards passing and win...

Okay, not a strategy to try again.

Finally, The Boris Karloff Blogathon starts today, and I have a little tribute up at my Classic Monsters blog. Check it out if you have a chance. Karloff was the consummate professional, and a real inspiration to just keep working...good things will happen. Yes, NaNoWriMos, that little bit was for you. *winks*

17 comments:

Rebecca Nazar said...

Sorry about Arkham Tales. I didn't see that coming. Again, another beautifully and thoughtfully produced one going under.

Better luck with Loathsome.

Carrie Harris said...

I for one would jump at the chance to read a weird steampunkish romp through the 1880s. In fact, I'm jumping right now. Jumping, I tell you.

Alan W. Davidson said...

I enjoyed the 'Loatesome' excerpts that you put up on your blog while working on it and look forward to its publication one day.

Jamie Eyberg said...

I was saddened by the loss, but their last issue was a good one to be sure. Going out with a bang as they say.

Matt said...

It really sucks doesn't it? You, Mercedes and I all had stories there for future issues. Would've been excellent if we all made it into the same issue. Ah well. Obviously no one magazine could contain our immense talents!

Aaron Polson said...

Becca - I had an awful feeling about Arkham. It just burned too brightly.

Carrie - Maybe Richard Simmons could step in and work this into some sort of routine?

Alan - I'll see what I can do.

Jamie - The last issue is good. Fairwell, sweet Arkham Tales.

Matt - "Obviously no one magazine could contain our immense talents" Har! I'm surely the mouse of that equation.

L.R. Bonehill said...

RIP Arkham Tales - another quality zine bites the dust. Interesting editorial in the final issue saying that readership has been low recently due to them being (at the time, temporarily) closed to subs. Is it only writers that read these things?

Good luck with Loathsome.

K.C. Shaw said...

That's terrible about Arkham Tales. We're losing so many good magazines lately. :(

Aaron Polson said...

L.R. - I think one of the ever-apparent facts of the short fiction world is that writers make up the majority of one's audience.

K.C. - More to come, I'm afraid.

Cate Gardner said...

A shame to see such a quality magazine go (I see Stitches is advertising in the last issue). I'm sure someone will gladly snap up "Little Fingers".

Loathesome sounds fantastic, I don't see how anyone could resist it.

Aaron Polson said...

Cate - Yes (about the shame). Thanks for the vote for Loathsome. Time will tell.

Fox Lee said...

That sucks about Arkham Tales : (

Danielle Birch said...

Sorry about Arkham, not good at all.

Am heading over to your blog, am a huge Karloff fan.

Aaron Polson said...

Natalie - Like a Hoover.

Danielle - hope you enjoyed the video. Plenty of Karloffian goodness out there in blog land this week.

Katey said...

Oh god, we didn't get the Steelers/Chiefs game in DC until overtime... worst overtime ever (for Steelers fans. For Chiefs fans, wooo! Let me rejoice vicariously through you, since my boys have given me nothing for two weeks!)

I'm really sad about Arkham too. It orphaned a story of mine, but yeah, that's really not the thing that's depressing. It was so quality, both in content and production :/

Barry Napier said...

Yup, my story "Accidental Deaths of the Dying and the Dead" has also been orphaned as a result og AT shutting down.

Good luck finding a new home for your story!

Aaron Polson said...

Katey - Big Ben is impossible to take down. I don't know how many times he sloughed off tackles like raindrops. Man...we all have orphaned stories.

Barry - Yikes! Good luck to all of us.