This weekend I was invited to speak at the Batesville (Arkansas) High School ComicCon March 4-5. I will be speaking on my writing and on The Chamber Magazine and my second publishing endeavor, Rural Fiction Magazine.
At Arkansas Post 2020
This weekend I was invited to speak at the Batesville (Arkansas) High School ComicCon March 4-5. I will be speaking on my writing and on The Chamber Magazine and my second publishing endeavor, Rural Fiction Magazine. I will provide more details as I learn them and as I develop my talks.
Being invited to the ComicCon was a pleasant surprise. This is the first time I have been invited anywhere to speak on my writing. I am flattered.
I am looking forward to this opportunity to speak about three of my favorite passions.
If you dabble in writing mainstream/literary stories and poems (or of any genre) that have a rural setting or concern rural themes, please consider submitting them to RFM. Currently, RFM is not accepting stories of over 5,000 words. There is no pay, but the author does retain all rights. Guidelines are on the website and closely resemble those of The Chamber.
Rural Fiction Magazine was established to explore the beauty and drama of rural America.
Rural Fiction Magazine seeks primarily mainstream/literary stories and poetry set in the rural US. Although it may take occasional forays into other genres (such as horror, fantasy, science fiction, etc.), all works it publishes will be related in some fashion to rural America. Therefore, the mainstream and literary genres seem most suitable for our mission.
I intend to start out by publishing a few stories either weekly or monthly, depending on the amount of submissions we receive. I am capping the word limit at 5,000. All submissions must be in standard manuscript format (you can find out the details of this on Google). Response time may range from a day to a month, but will most likely be within a week. Send all submissions and inquiries to slatterypublishing@gmail.com.
RFM will publish interviews with notable writers and poets. This may be sporadic initially. This will be by invitation only
I am trying to come up with ideas on how to conclude Lycanthrope. I think focusing more on developing the protagonist’s (Peter’s) character through interior monologue would help not only reveal more of his nature, particularly through showing his perspective on the world, but would help generate more ideas on how to wrap up the book…
I am trying to come up with ideas on how to conclude Lycanthrope. I think focusing more on developing the protagonist’s (Peter’s) character through interior monologue would help not only reveal more of his nature, particularly through showing his perspective on the world, but would help generate more ideas on how to wrap up the book.
As I surfing YouTube last night, I came upon a one-man, one-act play version of Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground starring Larry Cedar as the collegiate assessor. Excellent production. This is the kind of interior monologue I am talking about.
I have started to read Notes from Underground several times, but never could finish it before being pulled off onto something else. I am enjoying this production. It seems to be holding true to the text as I recall it, though, of course, this production is a severely abridged version of the novel. Any audiobook version of Notes… lasts about five hours, whereas the stage production lasts about 90 minutes. I enjoy productions like this one, set in the appropriate period, because they help me visualize the events. I still need to sit down and read the novel through in one sitting though to appreciate it as it was intended to be appreciated.
However, I do find Cedar’s interpretation of the collegiate assessor fascinating. I like his active acting style. Though I am not an actor (though I have one or two WIP’s that are plays), his technique seems ideal for the stage and particularly for a one-man show, which demands that the protagonist keep the audience riveted. Some people may consider it somewhat melodramatic, but I would disagree. I think it is ideal for the play and for expressing what is going on in the characters’ minds. I recommend watching this production to anyone, particularly to those with an interest in 19th century Russian literature.
Going to his YouTube page, I see that Larry Cedars has several similar one-act plays to be viewed, including at least one based on one of Kafka’s work. I will make it a point to watch as many of these as I can.
The Chamber Magazine publishes new dark stories and poems every Friday at 10:00 a.m. US central time. Take a moment to check out what is now online at The Chamber Magazine…
The Chamber Magazine publishes new dark stories and poems every Friday at 10:00 a.m. US central time. Take a moment to check out what is now online at The Chamber Magazine.
You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumbler, though you may have to scroll down a bit to find them.
Also stop by the gift shop to see what is new there. New products pop up often.
Rural Fiction Magazine (RFM) is seeking mainstream and/or literary fiction and poetry that explores the beauty and drama of rural life on both an emotional and intellectual level. That said, RFM is willing to look at any other genre (horror, fantasy, noir, mystery, thriller, adventure, etc.) so long as it has a rural setting and addresses topics or themes of interest to people in rural areas. For that matter, although RFM expects the vast majority of submissions to be set in the US, but we are not adverse to seeing works set in rural areas of other nations. Remember, this is going out over the Internet. People all over the world will be able to read the stories published here, be they from Canada, England, Mexico, Tahiti, Japan, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, or wherever.
For the foreseeable future, RFM will be a monthly, online-only magazine publishing on the first of each month. The deadline for submissions is one week before the publication date. Anything received after that will be considered for the next issue.
The Chamber Magazine publishes new dark stories and poems every Friday at 10:00 a.m. US central time. Take a moment to check out what is now online at The Chamber Magazine…
The Chamber Magazine publishes new dark stories and poems every Friday at 10:00 a.m. US central time. Take a moment to check out what is now online at The Chamber Magazine.
You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumbler, though you may have to scroll down a bit to find them.
Also stop by the gift shop to see what is new there. New products pop up often.
Rural Fiction Magazine (RFM) is seeking mainstream and/or literary fiction and poetry that explores the beauty and drama of rural life on both an emotional and intellectual level. That said, RFM is willing to look at any other genre (horror, fantasy, noir, mystery, thriller, adventure, etc.) so long as it has a rural setting and addresses topics or themes of interest to people in rural areas. For that matter, although RFM expects the vast majority of submissions to be set in the US, but we are not adverse to seeing works set in rural areas of other nations. Remember, this is going out over the Internet. People all over the world will be able to read the stories published here, be they from Canada, England, Mexico, Tahiti, Japan, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, or wherever.
For the foreseeable future, RFM will be a monthly, online-only magazine publishing on the first of each month. The deadline for submissions is one week before the publication date. Anything received after that will be considered for the next issue.
The Chamber Magazine publishes new dark stories and poems every Friday at 10:00 a.m. US central time. Take a moment to check out what is now online at The Chamber Magazine…
The Chamber Magazine publishes new dark stories and poems every Friday at 10:00 a.m. US central time. Take a moment to check out what is now online at The Chamber Magazine.
You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumbler, though you may have to scroll down a bit to find them.
Also stop by the gift shop to see what is new there. New products pop up often.
Rural Fiction Magazine (RFM) is seeking mainstream and/or literary fiction and poetry that explores the beauty and drama of rural life on both an emotional and intellectual level. That said, RFM is willing to look at any other genre (horror, fantasy, noir, mystery, thriller, adventure, etc.) so long as it has a rural setting and addresses topics or themes of interest to people in rural areas. For that matter, although RFM expects the vast majority of submissions to be set in the US, but we are not adverse to seeing works set in rural areas of other nations. Remember, this is going out over the Internet. People all over the world will be able to read the stories published here, be they from Canada, England, Mexico, Tahiti, Japan, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, or wherever.
For the foreseeable future, RFM will be a monthly, online-only magazine publishing on the first of each month. The deadline for submissions is one week before the publication date. Anything received after that will be considered for the next issue.
Rural Fiction Magazine (RFM) is seeking mainstream and/or literary fiction and poetry that explores the beauty and drama of rural life on both an emotional and intellectual level. That said, RFM is willing to look at any other genre (horror, fantasy, noir, mystery, thriller, adventure, etc.) so long as it has a rural setting and addresses topics or themes of interest to people in rural areas. For that matter, although RFM expects the vast majority of submissions to be set in the US, but we are not adverse to seeing works set in rural areas of other nations. Remember, this is going out over the Internet. People all over the world will be able to read the stories published here, be they from Canada, England, Mexico, Tahiti, Japan, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, or wherever.
For the foreseeable future, RFM will be a monthly, online-only magazine publishing on the first of each month. The deadline for submissions is one week before the publication date. Anything received after that will be considered for the next issue.
From now on, I am not deciding which submissions will be published after thee glasses of Cabernet. I have had no problems yet and I intend not to make any.
Rural Fiction Magazine (RFM) is seeking mainstream and/or literary fiction and poetry that explores the beauty and drama of rural life on both an emotional and intellectual level. That said, RFM is willing to look at any other genre (horror, fantasy, noir, mystery, thriller, adventure, etc.) so long as it has a rural setting and addresses topics or themes of interest to people in rural areas. For that matter, although RFM expects the vast majority of submissions to be set in the US, but we are not adverse to seeing works set in rural areas of other nations. Remember, this is going out over the Internet. People all over the world will be able to read the stories published here, be they from Canada, England, Mexico, Tahiti, Japan, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, or wherever.
For the foreseeable future, RFM will be a monthly, online-only magazine publishing on the first of each month. The deadline for submissions is one week before the publication date. Anything received after that will be considered for the next issue.
Guest columnist Richard H. Fay is back today, as he continues to give us his very personal view of genre fiction, which he has been a part of as a reader, writer and illustrator for decades. You can read his blog here, and we also recommend checking out his Zazzle Store.
One of the more ridiculous notions floating around in the science fiction writing world today is that you cannot mix genres, especially science fiction and horror. As it was once explained to me by an adherent of this notion, if something with the trappings of science fiction (like the movieAlien) elicits a sense of horror or dread, it is actually horror, not science fiction. What rot! Not only is this type of genre gatekeeping annoying as heck, it also neglects to acknowledge the reality of the situation.
This is a touching, dramatic, and dark work that is well worth anyone’s time.
Alexandar Tomov Jr. is a Bulgarian freelance writer and film director who wants to expand his presence abroad. He is seeking film agents, directors, and people from the film industry from the West to evaluate his art, help with publicity, and distribute his movies abroad. He makes surreal and mystical cinema, expressing his ideas through symbolism. His films delve deep into the human subconscious, exploring hidden desires and feelings, solutions, and the strange ways by which they guide life. He also examines these themes in his short stories. He would also like to expand into advertising. He has unique and outstanding ideas on how to utilize promotion to result in increasing sales.
This is just a quick note to let everyone know that on every Friday in September (i.e. the 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th), I will be giving away the Kindle version of my very small short story collection Diabolical: Three Tales of Vengeance and the Sorcerer Jack Thurston…
The new cover for Diabolical as of October 2020.
This is just a quick note to let everyone know that on every Friday in September (i.e. the 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th), I will be giving away the Kindle version of my very small short story collection Diabolical: Three Tales of Vengeance and the Sorcerer Jack Thurston. Follow the link to get yours on any of those Fridays. Here is a quick synopsis from the book’s webpage:
“Jack Thurston is a retired professor of medieval literature and history. He is also a widower and father and a retired sorcerer who has returned to the black arts to exact horrifying revenge for the death of his wife, daughter, and brother. Jack has an intriguing position in the universe at a focal point of life, the afterlife, logic and reason, anger and hatred, the ancient and the modern worlds, grief and his attempts to escape grief through self-destruction. Though he wants to have the peace he once found with his wife, Agatha, he is pulled in many directions by circumstance and by his powerful negative emotions. These stories are included in the collection A Tale of Hell and Other Works of Horror.”
While you’re there, check out the other books I have available or go to Slattery Publishing to see what blank notebooks are available.
Check back on both pages frequently. I occasionally give away Kindle versions of my works. Unfortunately, Amazon won’t allow me to give away hard copies of my books, but I try to keep the prices as low as I can.
Although I am experimenting with different sizes, most of the notebooks are 6″ x 9″ and contain 200 lined, paginated pages with colorful covers. If you purchase one, please leave a review of it on Amazon, so that I can learn how to improve.
This is a reprint of an article that originally appeared on August 25, 2021.
Because I currently live in a rural area, I have decided to experiment with opening another magazine: Rural Fiction Magazine. The idea came to me while I was driving to the pharmacy in the nearby (about 17 miles from my residence) town of Dumas.
While I enjoy immensely working with The Chamber Magazine, it does have a disadvantage or two. The primary disadvantage is that the local populace does not seem to be made up of the type of people that are drawn to dark fiction. But then, can you name a community that is drawn to dark fiction? To me, they seem more the type of people who would be drawn to mainstream or literary fiction, particularly that with a bent toward farm life, agriculture, hunting, etc.
Yes, I am living in the Bible belt. The nearby (five miles from my residence) town of Gillett has a population of 700 and five rather nice churches. I don’t expect a lot of horror and thriller fans live there.
Then it struck me that maybe I should try to start a magazine centered around farm life.
I grew up in a rural area in Kentucky, so I have the background for it. I am not a big farming enthusiast however. My family had small farms as sidelines back in the day to bolster the income from their standard, 40 hours/week, blue collar jobs.
Besides working with my dad and occasionally relatives in their gardens and fields, I have little experience in farming. The closest I ever came to being a farmer is when my folks wanted me to join the Future Farmers of America when I was in the sixth grade and I had to write a very boring paper on soil and erosion in order to meet the requirements. I never went to any meetings or gatherings.
Then it occurred to me that the stories in the magazine wouldn’t have to be about farming per se, but the rural life and the beauty and drama it holds. After all, all stories are first about people then about the genre. People living in rural areas have the same dramas, love stories, hopes, dreams, nightmares, and complex relationships the rest of the world does. So, the magazine would ultimately be about the same plots, but with different settings.
Later, I did a quick search of Google to see what extant magazines deal with fiction set on farms. I found nothing “farm fiction” per se. Then I had another idea and set for “rural” and “fiction”. Apparently, there is such a genre as “rural fiction”, but there doesn’t seem (at least in my quick, superficial scan) a magazine with a title anything like “rural fiction” or even specializing in it, though short rural fiction pops up here and there in various magazines. There seems to be a niche open.
Thus, I have a name for my new project: Rural Fiction Magazine (RFM).
I took a WordPress website that I had that wasn’t going anywhere and changed it rather quickly and completely into Rural Fiction Magazine. I developed a quick business plan and put up a submissions page. I am now hoping and waiting for the first submission. I am also developing a marketing and publicity plan.
Hopefully, I will be able to drum up some community support for RFM and maybe draw in a few community dollars in the form of advertising when that time comes. For now, the only sources of cash flow from this magazine I have at the moment are in the Gifts page and a few affiliate links. I hope to expand on this soon and find other ways to fund this endeavor.
Bottom line: Rural Fiction Magazine is up and running though without any stories or poems. Hopefully, they will come soon as I expand my marketing campaign.
If you dabble in writing mainstream/literary stories and poems (or of any genre) that have a rural setting or concern rural themes, please consider submitting them to RFM. Currently, RFM is not accepting stories of over 5,000 words. There is no pay, but the author does retain all rights. Guidelines are on the website.
Phil Slattery, Writer, Publisher 