Therapy

So, I was reading through this week’s issue of Hellnotes. Like most authors, I’m sure, I started off by checking to see what was in it about me! I had submitted the news about my story being accepted for the MWA anthology a couple of days ago, and wanted to see if it made it in. The news item began, “Bev Vincent…has sold two stories…”

Two? What was t’other?

Reading on, I learned that my flash story (< 1000 words) “Therapy” was the final tale accepted for the Hellnotes-sponsored Wee Small Hours contest. I’ve been trying to crack this market since it was first announced last fall. My two previous submissions didn’t make the cut and I discovered the competition was strong, both in quantity and quality. I posted those previous stories as free content on my web site. I liked “Therapy” a lot, though, and told myself after I submitted it that if it didn’t win I would try to market it somewhere else. I’m thrilled that it was accepted for the Hellnotes site and I hope you’ll check it out when it goes online on April 15th. I’ll be sure to remind you.

Also in Hellnotes was a link to a new message from Dan Simmons. Simmons is one of my favorite authors. I think I’ve read everything he’s written except for his last two sci-fi novels. I’m trying to find place in my reading schedule to devote to these two large, complex, daunting books back to back. Anyhow, check out his message. It’s as chilling a cautionary tale as I’ve ever read. It’s a short story that could be published in any major magazine or an essay that wouldn’t be out of place in the NY Times or the Washington Post.

I finished my editing pass through Missing Persons this morning. Now I have to wait for the result of my agent’s final read-through to see what has to be done before we declare it ready to submit.

My one bit of bad news this week—I found out yesterday I’m going to have my first root canal. Seems one of my teeth went and died on me, so it’s necessary to clear out the nerve material in the roots, fill them full of gunkum to keep the tooth from getting infected, and have a crown installed. Apparently, if the inside of a tooth gets infected, your body’s immune system can’t get at the source of the infection, which can lead to serious problems.

I have to go to an endodontist on Monday morning for the root canal procedure (it’s tooth 15, second from the back on the upper left), then back to my regular dentist for the crown. I’ve been reading up on the procedure and it doesn’t seem as bad as its reputation, especially since I’m not in pain at present, but I might have fodder for a future story.