Tales from the Raven

At 3:00pm, eastern standard time, I joined the pilgrimage of WOTF hopefuls from all around the world.  I posted my Keela story (a.k.a. Voice of the Sea) to the Writer’s of the Future Contest.
Some may believe the seasons hold sway in the hearts of man, but within the red-eyed world of wannabe proffessional speculative fiction [...]

Sharan jumped down the stairs, two at a time, and dodged out the broad front doors.  She slowed her pace as she skimmed through the crowd of students, then broke into a trot.  If she could just hurry, if the 3:06 bus could be a little late, she would still make it.  She swung round the corner of a [...]

What with the food banning proposed in NYC and lawsuits elsewhere, I’m thinking that we’ll soon see ’speak easies’ for fatty fried foods such as the eternally evil McDonald’s french fries.
I can see it now– the dark alley and back door entrance.  The soft knock and murmured password.  The hooded, hidden figure shows you to your seat–and [...]

We took the kids (on Saturday, I’m behind) to the Carnivore Preservation Trust, just outside of Pittsboro.  It’s a very cool and happening place with leopards (including the last Barbary), ocelots, tigers, servals and, of course, the darling but ferocious kinkajous.  Yes, that’s the same little critter that bit Paris Hilton . . . and then ordered out for a [...]

Mary, editor-in-chief, emailed this morning to say she is closing JWP.  Of course we’re all sad to see it go, because it was fun and had potential, but I find I’m feeling the most bummed because now I have nothing to put on my ‘publications’ page. 
Rather a self-centered attitude, no doubt.
On the positive side, that empty page (as of [...]

You are hereby commanded to pay your respects to the Great and Terrible Aquatic Ruler, here on a visit to land in his robotic chariot.
“All Hail Pinkie, the Fish King!  Bow before him or suffer his wrath!” 

I have just one word this week:
Cold >n A nasty bug, often viral, which takes up residence in the warm recesses of the sinuses, throat, lungs, or other preferred part of the body.  General symptoms include, but are not limited to: sneezing, coughing (also known as ‘hacking up a lung’), shivering with aches and pains, [...]

Okay, so it’s not all bad.  Occasionally I know the title of a story before I begin it, and may even ‘hear’ the title in my head and jump from it to the story.  But . . .
The other hundredth-millionth percent of the time (can you tell I struggle in math?) the title is the [...]

Ms. Locken felt a light touch on her shoulder.  The soft voice of the flight attendant penetrated her sleepy thoughts.
“Hmm?”  She asked.
“We’ll be landing soon.”  The attendant sounded slightly anxious.  “You asked that we wake you. . . can I get you anything?”
Ms. Locken rolled to her side, then into a sitting position. 
“No, thank you,” she said.  [...]

This NASA link with pictures and info about how water boils in space is a great help for obscure and weird facts a writer needs to know for credibility. 
That’s what I love about NASA.  They may not make American taxpayers happy with their space progress, and they really need to keep their shuttles in better working order, but they’re [...]