Well, I made it through March–barely. If you saw my FB post, you’ll know my computer crashed on Friday! Anyway, this is my last post for the month, and next month I’ll be posting on Tuesday, April 3 for the #YASH (Young Adult Scavenger Hunt). Come see. There are over a hundred book being given away. AND IT’S FUN.
On the first Wednesday–#IWSG–I’ll be at Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime. We have a super blog, so please come for a visit. I’ll leave a reminder here with a link, so I hope you’ll pop over and see what’s up there.
I’ve featured authors who are in that anthology, and today we have the last author of the month and a chance to chat about the publisher, Dancing Lemur Press. Take it away.
This is the third Insecure Writer’s Support Group anthology we’ve published, the first two being Parallels and Hero Lost. There are both challenges and delights when dealing with an anthology.
Juggling all of the authors can feel like herding cats sometimes. We have to keep track of each story’s edits, author information, and coordinate marketing with a group rather than an individual.
What’s refreshing is the variety that comes with so many viewpoints. Ideas pour forth in terms of promotions. Each writer is in a different location, broadening the marketing reach. Yet they all come together into one powerful dynamo.
For some of the writers, it’s their first publication, and that is just a joy to behold. Plus the stories are unique, which adds a little spice to the editing process. That will also add some spice for the readers.
Thanks for back story from the publisher’s point of view! And what you wrote about spice is so true. I read all of the stories, and each of them has a unique take on the theme. There’s something for every reader, and yet all will appeal because they are well-written.
Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.
Freedom Fox Press
Our trademark is not just a logo – the Dancing Lemur represents optimism, enthusiasm and belief. Our goal is to provide hope for the reader’s dreams and aspirations. Share the vision and come dance with us!
http://www.dancinglemurpressllc.com/
And now here’s Mary Aalgaard.
This is my first publication outside of magazine stories and producing my own play, and what a great way to start! The other authors are all creative and supportive. We’re working together to promote the book with such great energy.
A little about my story, One More Minute.The short story I wrote for the Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime anthology is about a woman who is making a major change in her life. She faces great danger in doing so and has a limited amount of time to pack up her life and leave.
I can’t believe I agreed to get a puppy! Honestly, I have enough people to take care of. The boys are only 8-years-old, and they can promise until they’re blue in the face that they’ll help take care of him, but I’ve seen their room! Ha! They can’t even remember to make their beds in the morning or put their dirty underwear in the clothes hamper in the bathroom – come to think of it, neither can their dad! If I had a dollar for very pair of dirty boxers I’ve handled!
Of course, Grayson got the boys’ hopes up by talking about the dog and showing them pictures of Golden Retrievers. I hope he doesn’t try to push all the work off on me like he does with the boys. I could count on one hand the number of dirty diapers he changed or school lunches he’s packed. He’ll have to be the one to train him for hunting.
Later that day…Well, who can resist a face like that!?! The boys absolutely fell in love with the puppy as soon as the owners introduced us to him. After much debate, and a family vote, we decided to name him Bo. Jake wanted to name him Cheerio and Justin was pushing for Vader. Grayson shot those names down, a little unkindly, IMHO, but when I said, “Bo,” he actually said he liked it.
Bo napped tucked up against my leg this afternoon. I couldn’t help but fall in love
Mary Aalgaard is a playwright and piano/theater teacher, living in the heart of Minnesota. She writes theater reviews and supports the arts through her blog Play off the Page. She teaches youth theater workshops in the Brainerd lakes area, writes articles for regional magazines, and works with both seniors and youth in multi-generational programs to enhance quality of life and build community. Her website is PlayoffthePage.com. You can follow her on her Play off the Page Facebook page, @MaryAalgaard on Twitter, and email her at Mary@playoffthepage.com.
I’m not doing a quiz this week…I know how disappointed you are, but it’s time for a spring break. Class dismissed.
Did you guess the authors for each of these justice themed books? Here are the answers.
A. Absalom,Absalom! is William Faulkner’s masterpiece. Its complex, fragmented structure is a reading challenge, but wow, does it belong among the literary greats in America.
B. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee hits the themes of racial injustice and the destruction of innocence. This author went to core issues of “class, courage, compassion, and gender roles in the American.”
C. The Dispossesed by Ursula K. LeGuin tackles the fight for social justice, economic inequality and racial inequality in this futuristic novel.
S. In The Crucible Arthur Miller used the Salem Witch Trials as an allegory for the anti-communist Red Scare and the congressional hearings of Senator Joseph McCarthy going on in the United States in 1953.
Quote of the Week: “I tend to be drawn to the weirder, darker stuff. Horror and sci-fi anthologies.” Unknown
I adore Mary. She’s such a good soul. So happy her story was accepted!
Thanks to Diane as well for the inside look at how much work it is to put one of these anthologies together.
Lee, I hope your run of bad luck is over. That sounded horrible!
Loved hearing from Dancing Lemur Press and finding out more about what it is like to put an anthology together. I can imagine it is interesting dealing with so many authors and edits. 🙂
Awesome reading part of Mary’s story!
Thanks for sharing!
~Jess
You have my sincere condolences on the computer crash:( Yikes.
This was a great excerpt! And very true to life:)
Many good wishes on the anthology.
I’m thoroughly impressed by people who can handle publishing other people. That’s a lot of work.
Woot to Mary and her story in the anthology!
I bet it’s a challenge for the publisher to work with so many authors for the anthology. So nice to read her point of view!
Having “managed” a lot of people in my younger days, I have no desire to take on that job again! A lot of work and a lot of psychology involved.
It was fun to hear things from the publisher’s POV, Diane! Like herding chickens, lol.
A character journal is a great idea, Mary! I’m going to have to try it. I loved your story. Heartbreaking though.
Thank you, Gwen. My character was begging for that journal!
Congratulations, Mary on having your story in the anthology. I’m so looking forward to reading all of them. It won’t be long. Have a great week, all.
One more month, and time flies!
Having many with ideas for marketing and such has to be helpful indeed as you herd all the cats up. haha Variety is grand.
Cats in a herd just does not work, but they do make life interesting.
I am sooooo looking forward to gobbling this anthology. Huge congratulations to all those whose with pieces in it.
Sigh on the computer issues front.
That quote you finish with speaks loudly to the weird and dark corners of my mind.
Did you write that quote? I’m curious who did and I’m on a search. 🙂
I can see how putting together an anthology would be a whole lot of work.
You bet. I’m glad it’s not my job, but I do try to make it an easier one for the kid doing it.
The anthology sounds great – hard, but rewarding work. Congrats to everyone who’s made it possible, and to all the authors included.
It’s an interesting experience doing an anthology from the author side of things. I’m always fascinated by the way we can write to one theme and NEVER come close to the same story.
Hi, Cheryl-Lee!
I enjoyed reading about the excitement and challenges of preparing a short story anthology for publication. Indeed it must be like herding cats at times. Congratulations to Minnesota Mary for getting her story One More Minute into Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime.
Your quote of the week resonates: “I tend to be drawn to the weirder, darker stuff. Horror and sci-fi anthologies.” Unknown
Whoever wrote that is on my wavelength. 🙂
Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Cheryl-Lee!
Thanks, Thomas. I like that handle, Minnesota Mary.
You have a new moniker.
Now, I would never have suspected that dark side in you. You must read the stories in the anthology and tell me what you think. I’m nervous because I haven’t written any tick tock adult horror before.
Hi Lee – congratulations to all entrants and to Diane for masterminding and pulling the stories together into published format – amazing you’ve done 3 anthologies via the IWSG group … – it’s great to see the support everyone gives – cheers Hilary
A lot of work goes into this publication. It has to be a labor of love.
Thank you for featuring DLP.
I love that Mary had a backstory with hers.
I liked her backstory, too. And her story was so touching.
Thanks!
It was fun to hear from Diane and what goes on behind the scene. Looking forward to reading Mary’s story.
I can’t imagine taking on 11 authors and herding them through this process! Diane’s quite brave, but then she has experience so that helps.
I messaged you about sending you some Tweets if you still can help with the launch. I’ll need an email. thanks.
Thank you for featuring me and my short story today. It is an honor and a thrill to be part of this amazing anthology and to share the pages with you and all the other fine authors!
Loved your story, Mary. Of course, I cried at the end.
Thank you so much. It is high praise to hear that my words evoked strong emotion.
There certainly are a variety of stories. That’s what makes the anthologies great!
I think that old saying applies here about the spice of life.