Foote Notes - May 2020

Greetings Foote Soldiers

So what do you think about the face-lift? Nice, isn’t it? I have James from Goonwrite to thank for it. I’m slowly building my brand as a Speculative Fiction author and having consistent graphics through all my social media accounts is part of it.

An old piece of fan art recently popped up on my timeline, my avatar from Nerd Fitness. NF (for those who don’t know) is a just like it sounds, a place for nerds to get together online and cheer each on as they get healthy. Between 2014 & 2016 I was very active there with Petefeet the Halfling Monk, and I chronicled my journey with a diary. This diary was told from the POV of my avatar and mirrored what was going on in my actual life, which I turned into a story. This was a hard period in my life, the end of one long-term relationship, my confused feelings for a friend, and finally meeting my (now) wife. This piece of art sent me digging deep into the interweb where I finally found all my old posts. After two days of sorting, I ended up with 76K words! I have no idea if there is a future project there, but once found I felt I should save it.

That’s the old me, but what about now?

I’m still slowly plugging away on a horror themed short story that takes place on a sailing ship for an invitation only collection. I only have a rough idea of where the story is going since I’m trying to “pants” it, but I like what I’ve written this far.

I’ve also signed up for a 10-week writing class with Matthew LeDrew of Engen Books. My short fiction isn’t too bad, but as I have no formal writing education, there are several basic things that I need to improve upon if I want to graduate to novel length projects. So, I’ve signed up and am using my 2017 NaNoWriMo novel draft as my class project. I’ll let you know how it goes as classes progress.

I've been "tooned"

For those that follow me on twitter , you know that I try hard to be a supportive member of the #writingcommunity.

My latest challenge to the community was a simple one, make ten positive comments on fellow members tweets, even simple words of encouragement.

This resonated with Toronto based artist Robert Westall, and the first “comment” came to me as a caricature.

Please show your support to Robert by following him on Instagram (oddnogginz) and his website. Thank you Robert, I love the picture!

Story Corner

Worlds: A Science Fiction Microfiction Anthology.

From Black Hare Press:

"Stories of new worlds, new creatures, alien colonisation, humanity's new home, space accidents, alien snackcidents, evil planets, military mashups, alien autopsies, and much, much more.

What miracles can more than one hundred debut to bestselling authors do with 100 words?

More than three hundred 100-word drabbles from around the world."

Worlds was my first time writing a ‘drabble’ (100 word story) and I was lucky enough to get three (Static, Farewell, Day Surgery) within the covers of this collection from Black Hare Press.

Black Hare Press is a small, independent publisher based in Melbourne, Australia. They aim to make opportunities for authors all around the globe to take part in short form story anthologies in various Speculative Fiction and Horror genres.

Right from the start I found Ben, Bree, and Dean to be welcoming and supportive of their authors, looking to forge long-term connections for mutual benefit.

I’ve always felt that a community, in particular a writing community, is stronger when it works together. I’m glad I subbed those first stories to BHP, it’s led to some wonderful opportunities.

Buy

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

My chisel be damned author insists that I thank Ben from Steelhaven Studio for the new artwork first, I'll be honest I don't hate it.

Dear Grump,

Hey there! Vilding here. If you didn’t know it, I’m a 16-year-old goblin and I’m the best assassin of everyone in my clan. However, due to debt, last year, I was placed in the service of a very wealthy dwarf family. I like it. It’s nice. I get to follow their son Wolfred around the world and protect him from getting into too much trouble. Problem is, see, that Wolfred wants to marry me. I like him, I really do. He’s young and brave and handsome – for a dwarf – and really handy with that axe of his, but I’m not sure I’m in love with him. Plus, my family wouldn’t be pleased, no sir! Not that I’m looking for any advice, but if you were me, what would you do?

Dear Vilding,

You know when I first started doing this advice column I thought people would ask me where to sell stolen spaceship parts, how to hide a body in 4-easy steps, poisonous plants for every season. But no, I get relationship advice.

Yeah, yeah, stop poking me, Mr. Author.

Ok, Vilding, back to your problem.

As an assassin, this kinda answers itself, doesn’t it? Is the coin that good that you can’t just slip a blade between some ribs or ‘accidentally’ have your back turned when the stone chips are down? I’m sure there are other jobs out there for someone with your talents.

Oh wait, I take it you LIKE this Wolfred character?

Fine... Let me think.

Ok, this is how I see it. He’s young right? and if the Mother of Chisels is generous, he’ll have a long life, longer than some other races, like say goblin... It isn’t easy to talk about, but look at me, I’m 489 years old, I have lichen on my butt older than you.

My advice? Have some fun with him, smash up a couple taverns, shed some blood, but let him know that is as far as your relationship will go. I know dwarves, some have been friends, and one thing they all have in common is their sense of tradition. Either he will mature and his eye will go elsewhere or one/both of your families will step in and you’ll find yourself out of a job.

Live for today, tomorrow will sort itself out.

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

Author Highlight:

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

A.E. Hellstorm was born in Stockholm, Sweden, but spent several years of her childhood in Portugal and Greece. As an adult, she moved from Europe to Canada and is now enjoying the scenery of the coastal city of Saint John, New Brunswick.

She has been writing ever since she learned how to hold a pen at the age of five. As of today, she has published three novels and one short story in the unique series of the Field Researchers and planned several more. The first book, In the Hands of the Unknown, was awarded the IndieBrag Medallion in 2018. The same year, her children’s story A Tale of Wind and Sky was awarded the Fog Lit Books for Young People Prize. Other than that, she has written a play, Marsvindar, that was staged at Rosenlundsteatern in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1992. She has also participated in two anthologies, Karbunkel in 1994 and the 2014 Wyrd Companion Book, as well as the IndieBrag Cookbook in 2020 and the FCAS’ Myths, Legends & Fairytales Comic Book in 2020.

When she doesn’t write, she enjoys curling up in a recliner with her cats, a book, and a large cup of tea.

Facebook Author Page

Website

Swap & Meet

Meet writers and get free stories. You just might find your new favourite author!

A.F. Stewart

Eva has mother issues.
And now she has a missing sister.
Rushing home to help with the search, she tumbles into family secrets, local legends, and worst of all, a ghost that haunts the nearby river. What connection does she have to the lingering spirit and is the ghost really responsible for her sister's disappearance?
What horrible mystery surrounds the truth about her birth mother?
Can Eva confront her tragic past and save her sister?
Or will the ghost finally claim its own?

Free Story

Lockdown Sci-fi Collection #1

Science Fiction adventure stories for LOCKDOWN.

FEATURED AUTHORS

At the Skin and Fin by Jo Seysener
Au Jus by D.M. Burdett
Campfire Songs by Kimberly Rei
Europa’s Secret by Zoey Xolton
Hive Mind of the Universal Donor by Shawn M. Klimek
Memory of a Past Life by Dale Parnell
Mission Ryan by Gabriella Balcom
Revenge by Jacob Baugher
The Bunker by David Bowmore
The Irony of Prosperpine by Galina Trefil

Free Novel

Sherry D. Ramsey

Acacia Sheridan is a private detective with a special gift for communicating with the supernatural. When patrons of a local homeless shelter start turning up dead, with suspicious-looking bite marks on their necks, a local vampire is an obvious suspect. But as Acacia digs deeper into the case she starts to wonder…could even more sinister forces be at work?

Free Novelette

Submissions Tracker

May Submissions: 7 YTD Submissions: 37

May Acceptance: 0 YTD Acceptance: 9

May Rejections: 2 YTD Rejections: 21

Notes: May saw a slight improvement on my submissions, though it's certainly not where I want it to be. Some of that can be blamed on the pandemic causing publishers to rethink their plans for 2020, and some of it is because I'm lazy and searching for markets takes time.

Goodbye until next month

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

I'd love to hear what you're reading, please shoot me an email and tell me!

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

peterjohnfoote@gmail.com

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