My short story, “Woe is Me, Poor Child, for Thee,” is published!
My Christmas horror story, “Woe is me, Poor Child, for Thee,” is published in the 2021 Deathlehem anthology!
One foggy Christmas Eve, an ex-con mall Santa seeks camaraderie in a California Delta watering hole—and learns that the spirits of the season don’t always rest easy.
Billy Foraker had it all: lovely family, big house in the ‘burbs, good job making good money. Then he lost it all and traded the American dream for a prison cell. Now he’s a free man again, trying to rebuild his life, but his past is still out there, waiting for him in the Delta tule fog.
The Colour Out of Deathlehem contains 24 holiday horror tales to prolong the spirit(s) of the season well into the new year. Plus, proceeds from sales support the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, so you get to do good while getting some good scares. What’s not to love?
The Kindle version is available now; print is coming soon. Grab a copy and a mug of cocoa and get your scare on!
And now that I’ve sounded all dignified and professional when announcing this achievement, I’m going to drop the mask:
SQUEE!!!!! I got a story published!!! SQUEEEEEE!!!!!
Ahem. Sorry about that. But I did warn y’all that when the announcement came, there would be exclamation points and squees.
Oh, and one final warning: This story may ruin, “Coventry Carol,” for you forever. If the creepy lyrics haven’t already done that. Seriously–have you ever actually listened to those lyrics?
8 Comments
Bobbiem91
YEA!!! I liked that story. Great for you. I love how you are forging ahead. I’m still waiting for you to sell that time travel book. Keep querying agents. It’s too good not to.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! I’m reworking the beginning of Vanishing (again!) and plan to query once that’s done.
alexjcavanaugh
Congratulations – that’s awesome. Sorry you didn’t make the IWSG anthology, but you did gain a new fan in one of the judges who just had to know who wrote that story.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! And I’m glad one of the judges enjoyed it. It sounds like the competition was stiff, and I’m excited to read the winners!
Rowena
Congratulations and commiserations, Janet. I entered a short story in the SBS Emerging Writer’s competition. I was really pleased with my entry but it didn’t place, and it didn’t make the anthology. By the time I found out, I was busy doing other stuff and so it wasn’t quite as painful as it might’ve been. I submitted a story for a newsletter and there was never any mention that it wouldn’t go ahead and I talked it through with the editor beforehand, and then when I received the newsletter, it wasn’t there. I really felt shafted. Not even a courtesy phone call to let me know. I haven’t replied yet.Not quite sure what to say and could say a lot and wondered it would be better to just walk away. Don’t want to associate with people like that. This writing business is fraught with difficulties.
Best wishes,
Rowena
adminuser
Thanks–and I’m sorry you had such a bad experience with a story just being omitted. I get that editors are busy, but as you say, it’s just courtesy to let writers know when their story isn’t going to be published. And you’re right–this business is a difficult one, and it’s rough on the ego.
Rowena
Yes, indeed!
Retirement Reflections
Congratulations, Janet!