Foote Notes - September 2020

Greetings Foote Soldiers

Happy October!

I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure where September went. I swear the month only had 13 days in it considering how fast it went by.

How are you doing? For many, kids are back in school in some form. The pandemic still consumes our thoughts and actions, with simple chores and errands taking on new significance. I’m wearing thin myself, my emotions have been like an unattended pot on the stove, bubbling over and making a mess. One thing that I’ve found that’s helped the most is reaching out to friends. The simple act of checking on them makes me feel better. So I challenge you to reach out to a friend or family member after you read this and see how they are doing, remember we’re all in this together.

On the writing front…

My friend Jennifer Shelby sent a link my way from Dreamforge, Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine where they were holding a contest “How Science Fiction Gives You Hope for the Future.” and she encouraged me to submit. While I didn’t win, my entry got mentioned, and it also gave me the opportunity to think about a subject important to me.

I have started penning drabbles (100 word stories) again for several markets, and doing so has allowed me to pop up on some radars in the writing world. While I can’t tell you much about the project, I have been invited to take part in horror/supernatural themed anthology with twelve other authors in a shared setting. While the word count is narrow (6000-7000 words), I think I can hit the deadline for the first draft. Using characters and setting of another authors creation will be a fun challenge.

Another market I plan on subbing to this month is Engen Books “Myths from the Rock”. I gave myself the challenge of writing something from a non-western culture and this has thrown up some stumbling blocks. My beta-reader has rightfully mentioned the tightrope of appreciation vs. appropriation when writing another culture. When I have my story as perfect as I can make it, I will seek sensitivity readers. So, if you come from a Chinese background or feel qualified to speak for that culture, please drop me a note.

The only other thing on my calender is NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). I haven’t decided if I’m taking part this year or not, while it is a fun challenge, I also don’t want it to steer me away from my other commitments. Next months newsletter will show whether or not I’ve taken the plunge, stay tuned!

Story Corner
Chillers from the Rock

From Engen Books: 

Twenty-five short stories written by a diverse mix of some of the best suspense and horror authors in Atlantic Canada, including both award-winners, veterans of their craft, and brand new talent.

Edited by Erin Vance and accomplished genre author Ellen Curtis, this collection features the thrilling, creatively charged, astonishing fiction that showcases the talent, imagination, and prestige that Atlantic Canada has to offer.

Until this point I had never considered turning my hand to penning a horror story. As a dedicated coward, the scariest thing I’d ever read being “Where the Wild things are”, this call from Engen Books filled me with dread.

I considered giving this submission call a pass, but being accepted in the two previous “From the Rock” anthologies, I challenged myself and wrote “A Friend in Shadow”.

In my real life job, I spend a lot of time by myself on nights and weekends, and that can make one crave company no matter the form. One thing that I have to do is exterior patrols of the complex, which leads me to the rear loading area. The lighting is poor in this area, with only one wall based flood light, which creates some interesting shadows. There is one part in this patrol where my shadow appears behind me and “rolls” in front as if it’s sprinting past. I would be lying if I said I’d never tried to beat my shadow in a race. Often this was the highlight of my night and a source of amusement.

This “friendship” was the fodder for my story. I wondered what would happen if my shadow was real. Would it be friend or foe, could we work together to overcome an adversary? This was enough to get my brain churning, and I’m proud of the resulting story. Since then I’ve written more horror/supernatural inspired stories, but this one will always hold a special place in my heart.

Buy

Grump's Ground Rules for Mortals and other Non-Aggregates

Dear Grump: 

"I don't have a gargoyle tattoo /Guardian. So, if I was in the market for one, what should I be looking for?  I have sentient tattoos that move and talk. They lend me their magic and knowledge."

signed Ryely


Dear  Ryely,

Well, I know some gargoyle’s that I would gladly volunteer for this project if for no better reason than to get them out of my sight. You might not know this, but some gargoyles can be a tad cranky and unpleasant to be around. My cousin ‘Cranky Carver’ for example…

What? We’re under a deadline and this newsletter is already running behind? That’s not my fault, don’t be shaking your pen at me, Mr. Fancy Pants Author. Fine, fine…

Sorry about that, Ryely. The peanut gallery is out in force today. But getting back to your question, I’d look at some older members of my race. While powerful pillars of beauty such as myself would be a great asset to any magic-user, there is something to be said for wisdom.

Take my old Grandmama, for example, the holy chisel’s blessing on her soul. She was old long before they carved me into being. The sights she saw…

Worn, pitted with age and covered in lichen, my old Grandmama might not have been the most beautiful gargoyle out there, with her bent back and twisted claws, but there wasn’t much that she didn’t know. When you’re small and unassuming, many people don’t bother to pay you any attention, and that can be their downfall. Many a time my Grandmama won the day where stronger and younger gargoyle’s failed, using her wisdom and experience over their brute strength. Don’t get me wrong, my old Grandmama was a scrapper when the stone chips were down, we have a reputation for a reason.

So Ryely, my advice is that you seek out a gargoyle that other might overlook, who knows what you might find.


If YOU have a question for Grump, email peterjohnfoote@gmail.com with "Dear Grump" in the subject line.  


Author Highlight:

Arien Johnston

Every month I plan on showcasing an Atlantic Canadian Author chosen randomly from the membership of 'Genre Writers of Atlantic Canada'. 

International bestselling author, AR Johnston is just a small-town girl from Nova Scotia, Canada, looking to share her tales with others. 

She is known to write mostly urban fantasy, and as of late romance too. Though she goes where the muses lead her and you never know where that may be. 

She is a lover of coffee, good tv shows, horror flicks, and a reader of good books. 

She pretends to be a writer when real life doesn’t get in the way. Pesky full-time job and adulting!

Facebook Author Page
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Swap & Meet
Meet writers and get free stories. You just might find your new favourite author!
On sale until Nov 1st, 2020
The Meridian Fiend

University is supposed to be a gateway to higher learning. Unfortunately for Christine Delacroix, sometimes what you learn is better left in the shadows. Chris is plagued by nightmares of a horrific monster hunting her. Soon, reality blurs, and the search for the truth takes Chris down a dark path of demons, devils, and murder.

$0.99 Book
Author: Angela Churchill

AJ Ryan is a freelance fiction editor living in Newfoundland. As a lesbian writer, she often crafts her speculative fiction and romance stories with an LGBTQIA angle. Her first novella project is scheduled to release in early 2021. You can follow her novel project in her Thursday twitter posts (@AjRyan04).

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Free from October 1 - 31st!
The October Frights Giveaway!

Over a twenty (20) FREE stories and novels are in this spooky giveaway. 

So if you're looking to fill your reader with spine-tingling tales of horror from a talented group of authors, this will keep you up at night!

Free Stories

Submissions Tracker

September Submissions: 7                              YTD Submissions: 55 

September Acceptance: 4                                 YTD Acceptance: 16

September Rejections: 5                                    YTD Rejections: 33 

Notes: I made the time in September to submit some original stories as well as hunt for the elusive paying reprint market. Searching for markets can be a challenge, but is a good exercise when I need a break from writing.

Goodbye until next month

That's all for this month's newsletter, I hope you enjoyed it, as always feedback is appreciated.

All my social media links are below if you want to follow me. Also, if you know someone who might enjoy this newsletter, please pass it along.

Peter J. Foote

1506 Meghan Dr, Coldbrook
NS B4R 1A1 Canada

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peterjohnfoote@gmail.com

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