Category: Apex Magazine

Containing Apex related *squeeing* or marketing ploys/editing related news.

Apex Magazine, Writing

Go East, Young Lady, Go East

Maggie Slater

So it’s official! Andy and I are now back in New England! We’re crashing with my folks for a couple of weeks while we do day-trips up to Maine for house hunting, and then we’ll be up in Maine full-time hopefully by the end of July so Andy can start classes in August. After almost a year and a half of limbo (two, actually, I realize now!) through the application process, MCATs, and paying student loans from chiropractic school, it’s almost surreal to think we’ve made it out the other side and can start moving forward again!

We had a fantastic time out in Portland, OR, and the city and the Pac NW will always be near and dear to our hearts, but it feels great to be back in New England, too. There’s just something about the location that resonates with me in a way no other place does. What can I say? It’s in my blood. :)

Today is also the first of July, which means it’s time for me to get back on the writing wagon, which has been terribly, terribly neglected from June. But like I mentioned in the post I did for Apex a while back  (“The World is Not Enough”), sometimes life gets in the way and that’s okay. I’m trying to remember that and cut out the continuous guilt-trips I’ve been putting myself through.

But before I’m done with the guilt-tripping, let’s take a quick peek at June’s horrific writing stats. :D

ANNUAL GOALS:

[   ] Finish the rough draft of the “Hope City” novel (which is my current novel project)

[   ] Summary draft/Begin a prose draft of new novel project

[ 1 / 60 ] Make 60 submissions attempts (submit 60 times) *Yay! Began submitting again!

MONTHLY GOALS:

[  0 / 12 ] Finish “The Thief Dilemma” with 1 chapter posted per month. *I’m late on this. Almost done, but June’s will be posted early July.

[   0 / 12 ] Read 1 “old” book (pre-2009) in genre (ex: Rendezvous with Rama) *Probably about 2/5 through The Day of the Triffids, and have been enjoying it! But didn’t finish. Now it has to take a back-burner seat to July’s “old” book. Once July’s is done (I’m thinking something short–maybe something by Lovecraft), then I can pick up Triffids again and finish.

[   0 / 12 ] Read 1 “new” book (post-2009) in genre (ex: Zoo City)* *For shame!!! Ok, so I’ve cracked open (virtually, via my Kindle) The Quantum Thief, and have REALLY enjoyed it so far, but haven’t gotten much past the beginning yet with all the driving and moving. Same deal as the “old” book–back seat to new book, and I’ll pick it up mid-month. Needed to start on this one a LOT earlier in the month. 

DAILY GOALS:

[   17/ 30 ] Write 500 words /OR/ edit for 30 minutes + 15 minutes of practice writing** *Did well for the first half of the month, and then everything hit the fan and had no time to even think about writing, much less actually sit down and do it. Some of the later days, I did manage to get some editing done, but it was sporadic at best. Still, not a total wash, but hopefully July will get me back on track.  

[   17/30 ] Read 1 short story per day*** *Same deal as above. Every day I did my writing, I did my reading also, but once the time slipped by, everything else did, too. I need to work on not saving this part and the writing to the same block of time before bed, because I find I fall into a pattern of reading flash fiction or very, very short stories only, because I’m half asleep and just want it done. Maybe I need to do my reading at breakfast… Hmm… Not a bad idea.

So there you have it! Nearly a complete wash this last month, but July is going to be better. I’m trying to approach these goals on a month-by-month basis so they’re a little less intimidating, and so I have a feeling of resetting the clock at the beginning of each month. Baby-steps. It’s all baby-steps. :)

Other than getting back on the writing wagon, we’re mid-house/apt-hunting, which is fun but always a bit stressful! I’ll be glad when we’ve got a place set for us, and have our stuff moved in. Hopefully, won’t be too long!

That’s it for now, though. Back to the grindstone!

P.S. – Oh, almost forgot! Apex just signed on with Diamond Books, which is a huge book distributor. We’re looking for a little help to finance getting the larger print-runs we need to put out for broader distribution. If you’ve ever read an issue of Apex Magazine, or enjoyed one of our books or anthologies, AND if you’ve got a few bucks to spare and would like to see Apex in your neighborhood book shop, please consider checking out Apex’s Peerbacker drive! You can find out more information about the drive here. :) Thanks!!

Apex Magazine, Journal, Publishing/Editing

Norwescon!

Maggie Slater

Ok, so that whole updating three times a week thing? Yeeeeah… Anyway! I’ve made it up to Norwescon and will be spending most days from 11AM-2:30PM in the dealers room at the Apex table, so do stop by and pick up a book! (Buying a book is good too, but if you just want to hold one for a few seconds and feel the heft, that’s cool too.) :D

Oh, yeah! I’ve also got copies of DARK FUTURES for sale at the Apex table, so if you want to pick up a copy (and you know you do), me and fellow author Deb Taber will sign it for you! (We promise!)

OH! Also, if you’re so inclined and aren’t swamped with other stuff, come see me read (FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN PUBLIC) at 9PM tomorrow night (Friday night) in Cascade 4. As a side note: there will be chocolate. :)

Apex Magazine, Publishing/Editing

Saturday Buzz!

Maggie Slater

So what’s new in the world of Apex/TZF? Let me show you. :)

Apex’s website has been undergoing some serious redesign to give it a bit more universal and updated appeal. Check it out along with new blog content here!

Have you seen the cover of Chelsea Burke’s new collection from Apex, Let’s Play White? You should! I am so excited about this one coming out, and can’t wait to get a hardcopy of it. :D

The Zombie Feed has been hosting guest posts by authors showcased in The Zombie Feed Anthology Vol. 1. So far, we’ve had posts by Lee Thompson, Nathaniel Tapley, Kristin Dearborn, and Elise Blose. While you’re over there, you can check out the latest Dear Putrescence post and our very popular [Ask Twitter] column which polls our readers for their answers regarding all things zombie!

And that’s your buzz for the day!

Apex Magazine, Journal, Writing

My Own Little Rabbit Hole

Maggie Slater

I could whine and moan about how I never have time to update, but I won’t. It’d be real nice to pick up the pace here, and maybe I’ll actually manage to do it this year! I’m hoping 2011 will be a good year for my writing–at least the end of 2010 seems to have been picking up. I sold “A Shepherd of the Valley” to The Zombie Feed anthology, which I’m excited about (summary: air control tower, shotguns, remote controls, a father missing his daughter, a desperate attempt to find meaning in an increasingly degraded world, and–oh yeah!–zombies!)! Am also very much looking forward to “The Tinselmaster’s Extended Ten-Day” on Daikaijuzine in February, and have another story holding for further consideration at a very respectable e-zine. We’ll see, we’ll see.

I won’t talk about New Year’s Revolutions for writing this year, because since last May, I’ve started functioning (accidentally) on a June-May calendar. Continue reading “My Own Little Rabbit Hole” →

Apex Magazine

Apex Halloween One Day Sale-THE CHANGED-40% off today only!

Maggie Slater

It’s not the end of the world—it’s just zombies. Chris is an ordinary guy with a boring job, a perfect fiancé, and plans for a happy, if predictable, future. But when the dead stop dying and become, instead, simply “changed,” ordinary isn’t so comforting anymore. Wandering stray animals suddenly develop a taste for flesh and brains, and while most of the human zombies might be harmless, can anyone really be sure?

For a novel that is both horrifying and satirical, THE CHANGED by BJ Burrow will make your day. Especially at today’s one day sale (Oct 27) of 40% off. Drop by the Apex Publications Store and get yours now.

Don’t forget, any customer who buys any book between Oct 15th and Oct 30th will have their name put in for a raffle of awesome prizes: A critique Apex Magazine Fiction Editor, Cat Valente, or $25 gift card for Amazon.com, or an Apex Minion pack, or a $10 gift certificate to the Apex Store.

http://www.apexbookcompany.com/the-changed/

Apex Magazine

Apex Halloween One Day Sale-Harlan County Horrors-40% off today only!

Maggie Slater

Perfect for Halloween readings or any time you want to be creeped
out, Harlan County Horrors, a regional based horror anthology by Apex
Magazine submissions editor Mari Adkins, is what you need. Especially at
today’s one day sale (Oct 15) of 40% off. Drop by the Apex Publications
Store and get yours today.

http://www.apexbookcompany.com/harlan-county-horrors/

Apex Magazine, Journal, Publishing/Editing, Writing

I am not a slacker!

Maggie Slater

I may not have blogged in a bit, but I haven’t been sitting on my butt eating bonbons in front of the TV, either! (Ok, there’s been a little of that, but COME ON! 30 Rock season 4 just came out on instant play for Netflix! :-D)

What I *have* been doing, however, besides plugging away at the reworking of the summary draft (shockingly, there’s some good stuff here, and not nearly as much crap as I first estimated!), and brainstorming for NaNo (I think I’ve got a good one! Woo!):

My post on fitting in time to write with a busy schedule blog post is up at Apex’s blog!

The first part of my six part mega-review of The Zombie Survival Guide is up at The Zombie Feed!

And general med-school-applying-helping-ness and essay-proof-reading-helping-ness along with that other stuff like the day job, seeing the hubby, occasionally seeing friends, eating, sleeping–you know, those silly extracurricular things. :-)

Also topped off “A Shepherd of the Valley” and will hopefully be taking a crack at revising that one soon! I’ve yet to read it from front to back, so I’m more than a little anxious about how much work it’s actually going to take to kick into proper shape, but whatevs. I’ll get it there eventually (eventually = Oct 31). Oh yah! And I also need to make costumes for Halloween, make a spiffy tablecloth, try to get the apartment clean (*somehow*), and try not to go insane. :-D No biggie.

*CRAZY DANCE*

I’m okay now.

Apex Magazine, Journal, Writing

On Getting Enough Sleep, and Relaxing, etc.

Maggie Slater

At last, it’s Friday! Which means I get a second shot at having a relaxing weekend. I’m not sure quite what happened last weekend: I think it started with a very late-night viewing of Inception (quite interesting) on last Friday night, and after getting to be no earlier than 2AM, I was thrown off my sleep patterns for the rest of the weekend. Monday rolled around (followed by Tuesday), and my brain just fuzzled. Plus, it was just a busy week at work anyway, which probably wasn’t helped by my fuzzy-brainedness.

Writing was terrible this week. I started off well, and then, like a hot pile of soap-slicked China plates, it all came crashing down in a heap of anti-productivity. This put me in a terrible mood, which I’m sure people felt during the course of the week. Even now, my patience is frayed thin. I’m tired. I’m grumpy, and I’m annoyed that I wasn’t as productive as I wanted to be this week, even though I felt like I was redlining-busy everyday.

So this weekend, the goal is to relax. Well, the goal tonight and Saturday is to relax. Catch up on my sleep. Reset the internal, dysfunctional clock. Breathe easy for a day. Get the stress levels back down to a good, reasonable state. Soothe the snippy temper. Get back into that good, happy groove-mind. I’m going to ban myself from internal nagging: if I don’t get anything useful done tonight and tomorrow? No problem.

I might write this weekend. I might paint. I might lay around and watch movies I’ve already seen a million times, and be bored. That’s okay. If I want to play Plants vs. Zombies for six hours straight? Totally fine. If I want to nap the entire day away? Also good. The only thing on my to-do list is to relax.

Sunday, I do have some things I need to get topped-out. I need to clear out my last submissions, because those folks have been very patient. I need to do some hard-core book formating. I need to get a proper, updated head shot, ‘cuz let’s face it folks, that chain-saw picture is about two years old. I need to write up a short bio (ugh, I’m so bad at those. Almost as bad as I am at picking a restaurant for dinner when I’m already starving). :-P

But today, and tomorrow: it’s all about relaxing. And I’m very much looking forward to getting back on track.

Also: I lost count of word-count. I can tell this is going to be something I have to train myself to watch.

APEX ANNOUNCEMENT: Apex Magazine Issue #15 is out! You should check it out and read it. *pokes!*

APEX BLOG ANNOUNCEMENT: There are a bunch of really neat posts on Singaporean SF at the moment, which you should check out if you’re as interested in international science fiction as I am! Plus, my blog post “SLUSH LESSONS: Balancing Pain–Things to Consider When Throwing Rocks At Your Character” is up on the Apex Blog also! :-) You know you want to read it. *Jedi mind-tricks: This is the post you’re looking for.*

UNRELATED NEWS: Editor-in-chief of Apex Publications, Jason Sizemore, is launching a new venue called The Zombie Feed. Featuring reprint fiction (brought back to life) mixed in with some fresh blood, The Zombie Feed will release a work of short zombie fiction weekly, starting with HP Lovecraft’s “In the Vault” as this week’s story. You can subscribe for the year for just $15, or buy each story individually for a measly $1.00! If you like zombies, or brains, you’re bound to find some favorite short fiction appearing here, and perhaps find some new authors of undead stories that you’ve never tasted- I mean- “experienced” before. Check it out!

Apex Magazine, Journal, Publishing/Editing, Writing

Flying Silver BEEEEEEANS!

Maggie Slater

So actually, a lot has happened over the course of this last week, but I’m going to try to keep this brief, because–I’m not going to lie–I want to play some XBox this afternoon because I haven’t actually done that in oh…. I can’t actually remember the last time I got on the XBox not to watch a movie/TV show with Andy, but to actually play a game. No wait, I think the last time was two or three weeks ago–(HA! so I guess I can remember. Yes, I’m a dork)–for a bout of Resident Evil 5, co-op, on Veteran. Andy and I have been slowly working through it, but it’s the four or fifth time through the game, so I hardly count it as playing a *new* game. I haven’t even finished Dead Space yet… Do I even have that here, or maybe it’s still loaned out… I may have to look around.

Also, I want to watch a movie, because I didn’t do that enough last night after getting out of the theater from “Inception” at 1AM in the morning. lol I wish I owned “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.” I can’t watch that movie too much–it’s too heavy–but there’s just something about it… Then again–I could totally enjoy watching something like Harold and Maude right now, too. Haven’t seen that in aaaaaaaages… Or 2046, because who doesn’t love a Hong-Kong SF flick about a writer’s romantic life? Come on. You know that sounds awesome. And it has Zhang Ziyi in it! ZHANG ZIYI! Though I love the writer girl who’s in love with a young Japanese business man more–because she’s sweet and smart, and I relate to her. :-)

Also: I’ve decided to stop slushing for a while. I’m still definitely with Apex, doing a bunch of other awesome stuff behind the scenes, but I wanted more time to work on my own writing, and I needed more time to do the other stuff for Apex that I’ve been working on. I’m finishing up the tail end of my slush pile this weekend, and then I’ll be free and clear for a while at least, until I get the “craving” again to slush, and then I’ll jump back in. Next up: Movie/Game Time.

Word-count since 7/23: 4,473

Apex Magazine, Journal, Misc

EUREKA!

Maggie Slater

They’ve finally programmed a robot (other than Roomba) to do something I desperately need help with!

Granted, we’re not quite to the evolved state of being able to do this quickly (it currently still stares at the laundry as long as I do when trying to figure out how to fold it), but someday. Someday.

I keep giggling whenever it pauses to look at the towel. I can just imagine it thinking: “What the hell is this?” and then, “This isn’t my towel. How’d it get into my laundry?” before going on and folding it anyway. (Because, really, what else are you supposed to do with a strange, clean towel? I ask you.)

That happens to me from time to time. :-)

Will post more about Norwescon/etc./etc., but I’m so tired right now. Quick highlights!:

+ Got proofs for “Memories of Hope City”
+ Met (briefly!) Cherie Priest, and she liked my coat ^_^
+ Met a bunch of Apex authors from Close Encounters of the Urban Kind
+ Laughed at parents tweaking out when they realized that what their kids were looking at was Bizarro lit
+ Hung out with Apex Editors Jenn Brozek and Deb Taber
+ Sat in a hot tub
+ Andy got a job! (***YAY!***)
+ Came home, and kitties were still alive, and had not gotten face/claws/paws/ears/tails caught in the automated feeders!(1) (***YAY!***)
+ Went to critique group & am totally jazzed to start editing backlogged fiction drafts
+ Hung out with writer’s group folks
+ Ate at Pok Pok for Sadie’s birthday, shoveled sinfully delicious foods into my mouth with my hands, and YES, it was that good. Whiskey before hand on an empty stomach probably helped, but the waiter told us it was best to eat with our hands, so there! Don’t you judge me.

– Exhausted.
– Tired.
– Need to catch up on a bunch of Apex Submissions this weekend
– Need sleep.
– Over Socialized & Grumpy
– Brain-frizzled.
– Did I say exhausted yet?

Why, oh why is it only Wednesday?! T.T

(1) The kitties have not (even Oz!) ever gotten their faces/claws/paws/ears/tails caught in the automated feeders, but I always worry about it because when the little tray is turning to reveal the new food, Oz always dive-bombs the bowl with his face before it’s done.