Two markets

Neither of these markets is specifically seeking haiku or horror, but both are speculative, and it's been a slow week, so I thought I'd mention them anyway.

Residential Aliens: An online journal looking for "quality speculative fiction with a spiritual foundation." They want science fiction or fantasy stories, but nothing horror or R-rated. The current reading period is November-December. Payment is $1 (via PayPal) for fiction from 500-5000 words, plus a free link. Reprints and simultaneous submissions OK, and their response time is 1 week.

Silver Blade: "A quarterly journal of classic fantasy." They are still accepting works for their first issue (to be released at the end of November) but it looks like it will be quarterly online issues with a yearly print anthology. Looking for fiction from 100-4000 words, poetry, and artwork. Pays a flat rate of $5 per item, and they say they respond to submissions "within a couple of weeks."

Also, Abyss & Apex (which is currently open to fiction subs) will reopen to poetry submissions December 1st.

The holidays are fast approaching... if you're looking for a gift for that special writer in your life, check out my Out to Lunch Cartoons shop for mugs, postcards, journals, and other writing-related items featuring "Out to Lunch" cartoons from SP Quill Magazine. I've gone through recently and lowered almost all of the prices. (You can also get there from the ad towards the bottom of this page.)

A couple of good poems

Here are two poems I've read recently that really stuck with me. Both of them are technically excellent and evoke strong images.

- "April Again" by Charles Gramlich

- "When Again I Feel My Hands" by Marge Simon (scroll down past Tony Bernstein's article and the other poets)

Also, the official list of 2008 Rhysling nominations is online, if anyone hasn't seen it yet. I'm honored to have my name on the list, among so many larger-than-life poets, including David C. Kopaska-Merkel, Kendall Evans, J. Bruce Fuller, Marcie Lynn Tentchoff, Mike Allen, and Marge Simon.

Lastly, if anyone is looking for gifts for a fellow writer (or maybe for yourself), feel free to take a look at my Out to Lunch Cartoons gift shop. I've just lowered the prices on all the products, so now's a great time to buy something. If you're looking for a specific cartoon on a specific item that you don't see, just ask.

Gifts for Writers

It's that holiday time of year again, which means eating lots of food, trying not to throw up egg nog, and buying lots of presents. If you're looking for a gift for that special writer in your life (or any writer in your life), check out my CafePress.com shop, featuring writing-related cartoons from SP Quill Magazine. I've tried to make the stuff as cheap as possible, 'cause if you're anything like me, money's hard to come by. Check back often, as I'll be updating the site with new items and cartoons whenever possible.