My Penumbra Blog Entry: See it Before you Write it, Then Get Busy Day Dreaming

I did a blog entry for Penumbra Magazine. Read my words of wisdom  here.

RLR

Tangent Online reviews my story, "Path of Stones," and other Penumbra #8 Stories

Here's a link to Tangent Online's review of "Path of Stones" and the other stories appearing in Penumbra's #8, fractured fairy tale issue. 

And here's the review itself:

“Path of Stones” by Robert Lowell Russell

This retelling of “Hansel and Gretel” was obscure and somewhat tricky to recognize. It was like several old fairytales combined, but the style was artistic, imaginative and intriguing. It maintained a successful dark tone throughout and the near-ending was especially morbid right up until the final lines. I enjoyed the suspense.

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I'd call this a positive review. I tried to do something a bit different with "Path of Stones," and I think this is reflected in the "obscure" comment. I was always worried that the clues I had in the story, including the title itself, would immediately tip the reader that this was a Hansel and Gretel story, but I don't think that was the case.

 I'm glad they found it suspenseful. I prefer writing "action" stories, and there tend to be sequences in what I write where I WANT readers to constantly ask: And then what happens? And then what happens?  And then what happens? If you haven't read my Digital Science Fiction story, "Floaters," much of the middle of the story is a running (literally) gun battle and chase.   


I've got another story currently under consideration that is a guns blazin' tale filled with murderous cats. I didn't think "Path of Stones" was all that dark or morbid, but there's no doubt about this new story. 

Fingers crossed.


RLR

Penumbra's Fractured Tale issue is live! (includes my story, Path of Stones)

Penumbra's Fractured Fairy Tales issue is now live and includes my story, "Path of Stones."  Buy a copy. NOW!  I've only had time to browse the issue I was sent, but Penumbra does some really nice looking work.

RLR

A story so nice, they're printin' it twice! Reprint accepted by the Washington Pastime

I just received word that The Washington Pastime is going to reprint my story, "Leave the Stone," which originally appeared at Frontier Tales. No disrespect to Frontier Tales, but I really liked the look of TWP and I'm glad this story is going to get a little more exposure.

RLR

"Path of Stones" to appear in Penumbra's Fractured Fairy Tales issue (May '12)

I just received word that my story, "Path of Stones," will appear in Penumbra's Fractured Fairy Tales issue out this May.

This was welcome news after a rough week of final exams (I did well on the exams, but not as well as I wanted).

This will be my third pro sale, and if Digital Science Fiction and Penumbra both eventually become SFWA qualifying venues (and I believe that is their intent), I will be able to go from from associate to active status (one more goal met).

I will be sharing a TOC with Damien Walters Grintalis and others (whose thunder I won't steal until they've had time to break the news themselves).

I'll provide additional links as they become available.

[edit] And I just realized this makes ten published stories for me (plus a reprint). Double digits, baby!

RLR

Quick update: "The Question" is now live at Dunesteef for its Valentine's Day ep.

The Question

A positive review for Digital Science Fiction's Heir Apparent anthology with a blurb about "Floaters"

Dwayne Russell (no relation) writes a nice review of Digital Science Fiction's Heir Apparent anthology and includes a brief blurb about my story, "Floaters." 

Of course, there’s also something to be said for stories that simply want to drop you into the action and let you follow along.  Heir Apparent starts with one of these, “Floaters,” in which a security agent is sent on an expedition to bring back the body of an old comrade.  There’s only one problem:  the body’s identity has been forged.

There are also good reviews of the anthology on Amazon, though my story isn't specifically mentioned.


I'm going to count this as my first positive review. Diabolical Plots reviewed my Daily Science Fiction story, "Blessed are the Sowers," but they gave me a shitty review and I hate them. I had a guy call "Blessed..." "hammy" on Daily SF's FB page. Maybe that's my first positive review. How'd he know I liked ham so much?