Family Coat

Bewildering Stories has published one of my short stories, "Family Coat," which is up in Issue 441.

You can read part 1 here: http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue441/family_coat1.html

You can read part 2 here: http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue441/family_coat2.html

"Family Coat" is the story of a young man who finds a way to break through his old fears and inhibitions from past and present hurts and problems and move forward in his life.

Chasing the Blues Away

This poem, "Chasing the Blues Away," was originally written 10-15 years ago when I was hanging out in places like St. Nick's, the Snake Pit, Smalls, and Sloans (if you're from L.A., you might know about some of those, even if they are closed now). The poem, however, didn't find a home until it was accepted and published in the Summer 2010 issue of Poetry Quarterly (www.poetryquarterly.org). You can hear me reading the poem here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuZs3SWRq7M

New short story out now in Beyond Centauri

Out now in the 9th Anniversary issue of Beyond Centauri (July 2011), is my short story, "Gramma and the Giant Tomato Worm." There was a bit of a mix up when it went to print and it reads "Rachel and the Giant Tomato Worm", but if you decide to get a copy just cross it out or think "Gramma", cuz it was written as a tribute to my gramma, Helen Christine Avant Oliver.

If you're not sure about getting this copy of Beyond Centauri, then click here to hear the beginning of the story and see if you'd like to have a go at it.

"The G.O.D. Factor" update

I have posted some of this in bits and pieces in different parts of the interwebs–and put it up on my website as well–but thought I would put up a blog that updated everyone on things happening with "The G.O.D. Factor."

First of all, if you didn't hear, "The G.O.D. Factor" made Sam's Dot Publishing's bestseller's list for June 2011! Yay!

Second, if you're still on the fence about getting yourself a copy, then there are a couple of places where you can read about it, including Charles Gramlich's Razored Zen, Christina Rundle's blog, as well as in the July 2011 issue of the Larchmont Chronicle (click on the Larchmont Chronicle link to see the article) and the Illuminata.

And finally, if you happen to be in the Los Angeles area in August, I will be having a book signing at Chevalier's Books, 126 N. Larchmont Blvd., on Saturday, August 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. If you are going to be in the LA area (and even if you've already bought the book) on August 20, I would love to have you drop by and say hi!

So, that's the news! Stay tuned for more information on "The G.O.D. Factor"!

One of my very first stories...

Disclaimer: This was supposed to be a vlog. I've been meaning to vlog, or post something, for the last couple of weeks (or at least since the week after "The G.O.D. Factor" came out). But, I got busy. Got distracted. And it's been hot, which means I've been feeling sweaty, uncomfortable and unattractive and not wanting to sit in front of any camera, let alone a tiny one embedded in my computer. Besides, all the fans going non-stop make for this background white noise that gets picked up by the sound and then it's all down hill from there....

So, just remember, this was supposed to be a vlog, but is now going to be a blog. And we'll see how soon I actually post it....

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Back in May, when I was posting my countdown vlogs to the release of my novella, I went digging through old photographs for pics for some of the material I was reading. I found a bunch of photos I had totally forgotten about in the process, shared them with some people, and then also, in the very bottom of the chest where I keep the photographs (in no particular order), I found what must be one of my very first stories or books. I thought people out there might get a kick out of seeing one of my first stories.

It had everything.

1) A compelling story (if you can read it, that is):


2) Action and illustration:
(I think this was supposed to be a kite, or maybe a monster?)


Walking along the road (I think those bumps on my head are supposed to be rubber bands for pony tails - or I was channeling Princess Leia way before her time):


At the beach (are those supposed to be musical trees? Trees in the shape of musical notes? I don't know.). And then on the next page (hard to see), I THINK that's supposed to be a Christmas tree and a wreath:



And then of course it has FAMILY. Here you see me and who I think is supposed to be my little sister (see, I even labeled it, "Rachel" and put a red bow on my head so you'd know it was ME.). And again with the musical notes, or maybe they're just supposed to be our golden slippers! Who knows?:


And then finally, me and my mom. My mom is the one with the purse, at the top. At least, that's what I'm assuming. And somehow the number "5" is involved in our day.


And we lived happily ever after, or so I'm assuming.

The End.