A story that has been my record holder for most rejections has at last been accepted for publication. The glorious literary magazine involved will go to press later this month. Perhaps, also later this month, I will go into the West and be nearer this luminous journal.

The latest issue of Stone Canoe is now available and includes my story “Tell Us About Your Best Kiss.” The launch party was at the XL Projects Gallery in Syracuse—these people know how to roll out a new issue! I was able to chat with the wonderful editors and snag my contributor’s copies. It’s a beautiful journal inside and out—326 pages of talented writers and artists. I am honored to be included among them.

Stone Canoe has accepted one of my stories for publication! I’m grateful this piece found a home because it contains passages that are easy to dislike if the reader isn’t in the right frame of mind. Even though the story plays with the intersection of those elements and the reactions to them, it’s all for naught if an editor dismisses it out of the gate. So thank you, wise Stone Canoe editors.

Also, I said I wouldn’t post acceptances any more but it has dawned on me that such a practice would leave this blog even more desolate than it already is.

“Weather Reports” is now available in issue eight of mud luscious. Discarded bio note: “Chris Wilson and Hoa Ngo both used to live in Missouri and teach English. Now they live thousands of miles apart and only have time to discuss the weather.” Chris Wilson adds “If I’ve moved, please let me know.”

“Ascend” is now up at Right Hand Pointing. My recurring dream converted to flash fiction.

“Archaeology” is now up at Tuesday Shorts. Unfortunately, it coincides with the final issue of the magazine. This happened once before—my publication marking the death of another small journal. The curse continues…

Update: The journal’s site is gone but I linked to their permanent Blogger archive. Thanks Kristen!

Titular just published my story, “Resident Evil.” It’s great to find an editor who isn’t scared off by the so-called horror elements of the piece. Thanks to Titular and thanks to five-year-old Morrison, who first proclaimed it “good!” last Halloween.

I recently had writing accepted at Right Hand Pointing and Tuesday Shorts, which I’m pretty happy about. One thing I’ve noticed is that the preferred blog etiquette seems to be to announce when the work is finally published rather than upon acceptance. So that’s what I’ll be doing in the future although I wanted to mention these great journals whose positive responses mean a lot.

Six Sentences just published “Do Not Search for Me.” It was a good exercise trying to fit something into their length limit and really the most suitable venue for a Facebook reference.

My friend Chris Wilson and I have a collaborative piece forthcoming at Mud Luscious.  I think it may be the first collaborative writing I’ve done.  And the last!  Just kidding, CW.