Excerpt: November Elf at Hogglepot

Posted on March 22, 2013 by J. C. Conway

Here is an excerpt from “November Elf.” This is the transition. Up until this point, the story has been a traditional first-person past tense. But memory, especially with this character, is a tricky thing. And at his age it’s just beginning. Still, if the encounter is what he believes it to be, this portion of the story conveys, as best I could capture it for now, the confusion that should accompany the experience. If it is at all intriguing, please visit Hogglepot and read the story.

…

I felt a light tingle in my temples. Was he erasing my memory? “Hey, wait a minute!” I yanked the glasses from the bridge of my nose.

“You’ve had trouble remembering,” he said.

“Well yes, but—”

“Then it’s a fair trade,” he said. “You’ve been most kind. Thank you.”

“What trade?”

He stared back pleasantly. A bus arrived. Its door opened with a whoosh and a clunk.

“Third Street,” said the driver.

I shook my head. The door hissed closed and a cloud of diesel followed the bus away. I checked the time on my cell. If I didn’t get moving, the commute would be torture.

I don’t recall why I sat at the bus stop that day, but the moment is vivid in my memory.

…

There is more leading up to this point, of course, and a little more that folllows. The narrative has been described as light and “breezy,” although the story itself is anything but.

 

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Follow up on DA14 and the Russian Meteor

Posted on March 20, 2013 by J. C. Conway

Asteroid 2012 DA14, as previously discussed, passed record-close to Earth last month. On the same day a more news-grabbing, but smaller asteroid, the Chelyabinsk Meteroid, plunged into Earth’s atmosphere and streaked and exploded over Russia.

2012 DA14 was captured in numerous telescope and radar images. The following image shows the relative velocity of the asteroid as it is seen from the Canary Islands passing and moving away:

And the following is a radar image of the DA14 asteroid as it tumbles in its path past Earth, giving an interesting hint as to its shape and motion:

About half the size of a soccer field, the asteroid was discovered in 2012, and astronomers had plenty of time to prepare for its approach in order to watch and study as it passed.

The Chelyabinsk Meteroid, on the other hand, although another Earth-orbit cross asteroid, was about one tenth the size of 2012 DA14, made its final approach from the sun side, and was not discovered until its spectacular demise in Earth’s atmosphere February 15, 2013.

The image here illustrates the comparative size of the two asteroids with a helpful backdrop. The larger version of this image can be found at the B612 Foundation’s site, and is by talented illustrator Michael Carroll.

There are much larger Near Earth Objects. Many (and hopefully most or all) are known and being tracked. As to these recent visitors, the larger of the two–2012 DA14–might be big enough to mine for resources or convert into a small habitat. The smaller, while it still existed, would have been tight. But most asteroid-mining plans and habitat-conversion ideas focus on much larger bodies.

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IN VINO VERITAS Very Close to Production

Posted on March 16, 2013 by J. C. Conway

The drink-themed print anthology, IN VINO VERITAS, edited by Dorothy Davies, will be closed to submissions once it accepts at least 3,000 more words for publication. The anthology will be produced by Static Movement–the publisher that produces the online e-zine, edited by Chris Bartholomew, in which my second published short story, “Early Retirement,” appears.  Static Movement has produced well over one hundred differently-themed anthologies–most, if not all, still available on Amazon and other outlets. A list of Static Movements projects can be found here.

Two of my stories will appear in the new anthology. “Another Wrong World” is a science fiction flash story about a star pilot feeling sorry for himself in a hollowed-out asteroid bar. It was previously published last year by Indigo Rising Magazine. My short western, “Medicinal Need,” is a new story about a young cowboy struggling with a possibly fatal wound from a stray shot. Both stories revolve around a drink of one type of another–the theme of the anthology.

March 20 Update: IN VINO VERITAS will be closed to submissions at the end of March.

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The Search for Earths

Posted on March 12, 2013 by J. C. Conway

At just 217 light years, Nasa’s Kepler Mission has discovered three more planets of interest: Kepler-37b, Kepler-37c and Kepler-37d. Kepler-37b is the smallest extra-solar planet yet detected (smaller than Mercury and a little bigger than our Moon). Kepler37-d is a very large “habitable zone” planet–about twice the size of Earth; its gravity promises to be a stiff challenge for any visitors. The middle planet, Kepler37-c is much larger than Mars, just a little smaller than Venus and about three-fourths the size of Earth, making it an exciting find considering its location in the habitable zone of its solar system where liquid water is possible.

The scientific objective of the Kepler Mission, according to NASA, is to “explore the structure and diversity of planetary systems” by surveying a large sample of stars to, among other things:

  • Determine the percentage of terrestrial and larger planets that are in or near the habitable zone
  • Determine the sizes and shapes of the orbits of these planets
  • Estimate how many planets there are in multi-star systems
  • Determine the properties of those stars that harbor planetary systems.

The Mission relies on a space-based light-detecting telescope that continuously searches a specific part of the sky for evidence of planetary transits across the face of distant stars.

The region of space surveyed, in the Cygnus and Lyra constellations, contains about 100,000 stars similar to our sun in the Milky Way galaxy.

You can help. Since 2010, the Citizen Science Alliance has made Kepler data available through a web site, http://www.planethunters.org/,  allowing people to participate in the process of identifying transit events that might evidence planetary orbits. The project has been successful. The NASA algorithms used to analyze the light signatures under observation are very sophisticated, but even so, a thinking human can often spot patterns and items of interest that an algorithm can miss–a potential that has already been realized multiple times.

The Mission has been highly successful, and is scheduled to continue at least through 2016. The growing list of planets confirmed can be reviewed at NASA’s site about the Kepler Mission at http://kepler.nasa.gov/Mission/discoveries/. We can be confident the Mission algorithms will find many more. But the more people that participate the better the chances of finding even more.

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Successful Seminar with Author Jane Porter Inspires Writers

Posted on March 10, 2013 by J. C. Conway

Author Jane Porter

The Yosemite Romance Writers hosted its first annual all-day writing seminar, Fiction Writer’s Spring Fling, feature accomplished author Jane Porter. The event was a success in that it delivered a first-class writing seminar and presented material relevant to fiction writers at every stage of their careers, from aspiring to those considering e-publication of their successful but now-out-of-print published books.

Jane Porter is an inspiration for writers. She discussed frankly issues of craft, motivation and business. Her experience is extensive, having published some 40 novels or more, and it is apparent she is practical and artistic. Her willingness to share her insights with all and to help less experience writers benefit from the lessons and observations she’s gained during her career is the mark of an accessible and down-to-Earth human being who is impossible not to appreciate.

the Yosemite Romance Writers (YRW) is a chapter of Romance Writers of America. The group includes members in and around the area, as well as a number of long-distance members. There are published and well-established authors as well as fledgling writers with a drive to learn and improve. The group presents an attitude and culture of confident cooperation, which added to the overall effectiveness and fun of the Seminar. We can only hope that the seminar was enough of a success for the YRW as it was for its attendees so there will be a chance the group will continue what they have started.

Winners of the YRW annual Smooch Contest were also announced. Congratulations to the grand prize winner, Sheri Humphreys and to each of the five finalists for their wonderful submissions of a “First Kiss” scene from an as-yet unpublished novel.

Copies of some of Jane Porter’s books were available to attendees. Information about Jane Porter, including news, activities, and a lot of very helpful information about her her work, can be found at her site, http://www.janeporter.com/index.php.

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Gentle Push to Appear in Tales of the Talisman

Posted on February 26, 2013 by J. C. Conway

My short story, “Gentle Push,” will be printed by Hadrosaur Productions in Volume 9, Issue 3, of Tales of the Talisman, edited by David Lee Summers. That will be the Winter 2013/14 edition. Tales of the Talisman (formerly Hadrosaur Tales) is a quarterly literary journal. The format is a 90-page, perfect-bound, printed magazine.

The hadrosaur talisman logo is inspired by a duck-billed dinosaur called a tsintaosaurus. These dinosaurs looked remarkably like early depictions of unicorns. The publisher chose this creature’s blend of science and fantasy as the symbol of its magazine and press devoted to publishing the finest quality speculative fiction. Hadrosaur Productions produces audio recordings, publishes Tales of the Talisman, and offers collections of short fiction and novels.

“Gentle Push” was previously published by the online journal, Mindflights. It is the story of an advanced alien being encountering a human for the first time under unusual circumstances near the former Earth colonies at Delta Pavonis.

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Closest Observed Visit of its Kind: 2012 DA14, February 15

Posted on February 5, 2013 by J. C. Conway

Most communications satellites circle the Earth in the Clarke Belt–i.e., in Geostationary Orbit 22,236 miles above Earth (about 1/10th the distance to the Moon). At that height, a satellite can orbit at a speed that matches Earth’s rotation, allowing the satellite to remain “stationary” relative to Earth’s spinning surface.

Recently, astronomers have discovered a new asteroid, 2012 DA14, orbiting the sun in a path that crosses Earth’s orbit. It’s about the size of half a soccer field. When asteroids are first discovered, their orbits cannot be discerned. It takes movement and additional observations to calculate an object’s trajectory. Astronomers now know its orbit. On February 15, 2013, it will approach Earth from the south and will pass, at its closest, to within 17,200 miles–5,000 miles closer than our communications satellites.

“This is a record-setting close approach,” according to NASA’s head of asteroid tracking, Don Yeomans. “Since regular sky surveys began in the 1990s, we’ve never seen an object this big get so close to Earth.”

Passing in mostly daylight, it will be difficult to see from the Western Hemisphere, although it might be visible for a short time to persons in Europe, Asia and Australia.

2012 DA14 is larger than a space shuttle and about 20% larger than the asteroid that is now believed to the responsible for the 1908 Tunguska explosion that leveled a forested area in Siberia nearly the size of Tokyo.

NASA Television will provide commentary starting at 2 p.m. EST on Friday, Feb. 15. You can watch it on your own television if you get NASA TV, or online here.

The asteroid will not hit Earth. But its passing is an unparalleled event that will draw lots of attention from Earth radar and tracking systems–a wonderful surprise for the day following St. Valentine’s Day.

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Call for Submissions: Drink-Themed Anthology

Posted on January 23, 2013 by J. C. Conway

Attention writers: IN VINO VERITAS is a drink-themed short-story anthology edited by Dorothy Davies and published by Static Movement.  The anthology will be available as a print edition for sale at Amazon and other outlets. It is a “for the love only” market (i.e., exposure only, no pay). Reprints are acceptable with proper disclosure.

invinoveritasFrom the editor:

“Send me your drink related stories! In bars, pubs, parties, picnics, barbecues, people drink. What happens when they drink, do they flip, become strangers to those who know them, become clowns … the choice is yours! Just keep drink in the heart of the story and see where it goes! Dark or light, let’s have a range of stories in this anthology.”

Submission Guidelines can be found here.

To date there have been 26 stories accepted for publication in this anthology for a total of more than 63,000 words. Static Movement publishes its anthologies when the accepted stories reach at least 70,000 words. Included in the anthology will be the reprint of my flash story, “Another Wrong World,” first published in Issue 23 of Indigo Rising Magazine.

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Call for Science Fiction Submissions

Posted on January 14, 2013 by J. C. Conway

Science Fiction Writers: Hogglepot is now open again for submissions and is specifically seeking science fiction pieces. The free online magazine, edited by Brooke Johnson, usually responds with an acceptance or rejection in less than seven weeks. Short stories accepted now are presently queued for the May issue. It is a non-paying market with good exposure and a quality presentation. According to Hogglepot’s Facebook page:

“Most of our published stories are of the fantasy variety, so we want to shake it up a bit. until we have a nice balance of science fiction to fantasy, science fiction stories will take priority in the submission queue.”

Specifically sought are steampunk, space opera, dystopian sci-fi, and other sub-genres. Writers interested is submitting to Hogglepot should review the submission guidelines at http://hogglepot.com/submissions.php and should peruse its issues. My short fantasy tale, “November Elf,” appeared in the November 2012 issue.

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“Seed of Doubt” Audio Now Available

Posted on January 4, 2013 by J. C. Conway

Audio versions of stories in issue seven of Untied Shoelaces of the Mind are now available for streaming, including my short literary piece, “Seed of Doubt.” Issue seven was produced in text format in November 2012. After initial publication, Untied Shoelaces streams from its site audio versions of its stories, using various voice talents. Seed of Doubt is read by editor in chief, Geoffrey C. Porter, and I think you will like it. The running time is four minutes and twenty-two seconds. You can find the audio stream by going to the story; below the title are two handy options: “Printer Friendly” and “Audio.” The site also allows readers to rate and comment upon stories. “Seed of Doubt” is one of my first non-genre literary pieces and was fun to write.

A piece of trivia for those interested in western philosophy: The male protagonist in “Seed of Doubt” is Bobby Fisk. Although it does not appear in the final, published version of the story, Bobby’s middle name is “Rene.” Feel free to comment if you know why that may be.

Please take the time to enjoy “Seed of Doubt” and the other wonderful stories in issue seven of Untied Shoelaces of the Mind. The Untied Shoelaces editorial team of Geoffrey C. Porter, Eva M. Wheelbarger (romance and humor), and Jeffrey E. Breault (sci-fi/fantasy), review stories with great care and do not produce an issue until they have enough stories of the type and quality they desire. The stories for issues four through six are also available in text and audio at Untied Shoelaces’ main content page, and the content of issues one through three are just a click away.

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