It feels good to be accepted. Much better than not being accepted. Ask anyone.

This weekend I got some nice accepting news. A story I submitted to an anthology publication has been accepted. I was a runner up, and only got the crown because someone else bowed out, but I’ll take the acceptance any way I can.

More later when it is made official by the acceptors.

Last night I finished the 4th re-write of my Elvis Sightings novel. Resubmitted it to an interested agent. But now I feel a gaping hole where the re-writing used to be.

Feels a lot like when you save up for some big purchase like a new car or awesome laptop, you buy it, then feel…not much.

So I am turning my attentions to my zombie novel. 1st person or 3rd? I think in 1st.

The interested agent suggested “Writing to Sell” to help me overcome some, er, writing challenges. I have to admit it helped. A lot. At least with Elvis Sightings. One of the premises is he-man character of a story must do something that can not be done. It is a variation on a number of thematic approaches to story, but that particular central problem is pretty primal.

I found that dynamic for ES, but not yet for zombie. It is gnawing at me.

I remain optimistic that zombie will fill the hole left by Elvis.

From the classic Italian horror film, Zombie

I know I said I was working on a sequel to Elvis Sightings. And I am. But I got distracted by the wonderful world of zombies.

A friend of mine told me about a couple of publishers looking for zombie material so I turned my attention to where I knew I would find fertile ground. Besides, I’ve done zombies once with Resident Evil, I figured I had the zombie patois down. Ngggggg Unnggggggg Guuuuhhhhh. You know.

So I’ve been working on two premises for zombie based stories. One follows a fairly traditional zombiepocalypse scenario, but I think I found an interesting twist on it.

The second, which is the one I really, really like, well, I’m not going to tell you. I think its such a good idea I don’t want you to steal it. Sorry.

As a byproduct of working on these zombie pitches, yet another friend of mine turned me on to Cliffhanger Books and a new short story anthology they’re working on called Paramourtal. A supernatural romance collection that is a play on Paramour and Mortal. I think the title is clever. In fact, I thought it was so clever I immediately turned my attention to crafting a zombie romance to submit.

Why should vampires get all the love?

With “Elvis Sightings” finished, my comic book work complete, and no other projects on my plate, I’m starting work on a new book. Trying to decide between a follow up to “Elvis Sightings,” or something thematically similar. A big part of me wants to break up with Floyd, the protagonist of “Elvis Sightings,” but from a commercial perspective, it might be better to have two books with the character than just one.

I’m also working on a bunch of comic book pitches. Fingers are crossed.

My manuscript is in the hands of an Uber-Agent. She isn’t going to be my agent, but she likes me and is willing to help me line up an agent that might be right for me.

Progress!