Rejection 147

Form rejection from Pebble Lake Review. This dry spell must end.  I am very thirsty.

Tomorrow I plant a shit load of seeds and do my special rain dance.

Second Rejection for Same Story, Same Magazine

Canteen sent me a rejection for an essay back in the fall, saying it almost made it into the issue and asking if I'd like a free copy of the new issue, as a consolation prize.

Yesterday, I got another rejection for the same piece from them, and this time it was a form letter.

A Review at Five Star Literary Stories!

I don't think I've ever been reviewed before.  This is kind of exciting. Myra Sherman reviewed bearcreekfeed and my story, "The Tackiness of Souls," at Five Star Literary Stories.  Thanks, Myra, for your kind words.  You made my day.

Kind Rejection from Tarpaulin Sky Press

I received a letter yesterday letting me know my novel wasn't chosen for publication from Tarpaulin Sky's open reading period.  At the bottom of the page though, there was a really nice little handwritten note from C & E saying they sincerely hoped another publisher would pick it up and soon.  I am boundlessly happy about this.  If everyone who submitted got a little note like this, don't tell me.  I would rather live in blissful ignorance.

You Give Me Growing Pains, Theodore Huxtable

What's sure to be a miraculous reading will be taking place tonight at the Black Rock.  The Marvelous M. Lady has set up a Rec Room based around 80's sitcom characters. The list of readers is formidable.  These people will steal your Zubaz right from under you in the alley after school.  They will leave you pantsless with no regrets:  Lindsay Hunter, Zach Dodson, Nicolette Bond, Meg Barboza, Tobias Bengelsdorf, Allison Gruber, Erin Teegarden, and myself.  Watch out.  Not even your slap bracelets are safe.

I will be reading a story about playing strip poker with my childhood idols - the two blond bimbos that Larry and Balki liked on Perfect Strangers.

Here's the details.  See ya there.

Rec Room March 4, 2009 8pm Black Rock Bar 3614 N Damen

New Issue of Wheelhouse

There's a crap ton of amazing new work up at Wheelhouse. Check out: Rachel Zolf, Rob Halpern, Amy King, Andrew Lundwall, Reb Livingston, Jeff Crouch, Matina Stamatakis, Steven Hendricks, Larissa Shmailo, Jac Jemc, Nico Vassilakis, Elisa Gabbert, Kathleen Rooney, Carol Novack, Joe Balaz, Elizabeth Kate Switaj, Stan Apps, Juliet Cook, Ana Bozicevic, Meghan McNealy, S. Jason Fraley, Patrick Carrington, Christina Marie Darling, Joy and Dubblex Leftow, Matthea Marquart, & Emily HolmesMy little baby story is right here.

Rejection 146

Way anonymous rejection from Front Porch.

Rejection 145

I received a lovely little sheet of paper from The Paris Review today, telling me they are not interested in what I sent them.  I had never submitted to them before and decided it would be fun, kind of like the time I slept on the street outside the Holiday Inn with my friend, Kira, to wait in line to try out for the WB's Popstars Show (kind of like American Idol, but even worse). This was almost as satisfying and hilarious.  It is hard to beat a white 17-year-old singing 30 seconds of "Say My Name" in earnest.

Rejection 144

Fence has quickened up their response time.  I waited almost a whole year last time.  This rejection came in just four months.

Anyone want to makeout?  I'm bored.

Rejection 143

At AWP, on the last day, I was standing at the Fairy Tale Review, when a very kind and pretty lady named Sarah Blackman recognized my name.  She was from Diagram, and said that she remembered my name from my submissions and that I should keep sending work because she liked what I was doing.  I felt fancy and special and immediately sent them work.

Yesterday I got a rejection from them that was not the encouragement rejection letter I've gotten the past few times.  It is just the rejection letter.

Barf.