An Honest Lie Speaks

Wanted: Conceived and Written!

2011-12-01T12:37:00.010-06:00

Submissions are once again open for Open Heart Publishing's short story anthology, An Honest Lie!

The theme for this year's volume, Volume 4 is Petulant Parables.

Sounds fun, eh? Here's the scoop!

(Official Guildelines follow below.)

We are accepting submissions in the areas of fiction, well written misadventures from real life, and blatant lies that are fun and entertaining..

We’re looking for …

… the ironies in life

… the serendipity of it all

… the epitome of adventure

… the power of imperviousness

… the pull of naivety

… the view from a different angle

… the mix of mood, moment, and movement

… the wretched truth

… a clever lie

… the humor inside

… the mockery of it all

We’re looking for the perspective.

The subject is up to you.

(Please keep it clean. No political commentaries, testimonials, religious manifestos, travelogs, or poetry.)

* * *

Submissions should be at least 3000 words in length and no more than 6,000 words total, submissions will be disqualified for not meeting minimum or exceeding maximum word count requirements.

All submissions should be sent in .doc (Word 97-2003), .docx (Word 2007 and above), or preferably, in .odf (Open Office).

(Open Office is free to download at OpenOffice.org. You will find that it is quick to download, easy to use, and virtually identical to Word.)

Please use a legible 14 pt font, with page numbers in the top right corner.

Your story document should be attached to the email. Do not copy and paste the text into the body of your email.

Please include title and author name on all pages submitted.

Include the following information with your submission:

Full Legal Name

Nom de Plume

Email and Regular Mail Addresses

Telephone

A Short Bio (about 100-200 words)

E-mail your submissions to: ahlsubv4@yahoo.com.

Deadline for Submissions is March 15 2012.

Limit of two pieces for consideration unless asked for more.

Please also let us know how you heard about us!

If you would like to read any of our other volumes to get an idea of what type of material we are looking for, go to http://shop.debrincase.com.

For all other inquiries regarding submission formatting please visit our FAQ, located at the official anthology website:

http://anhonestlie.wordpress.com

We look forward to hearing from you!

* * *

Public engagements associated with this publication are for promoting the book and for promoting you as an author.

Pay for published authors will be based on royalty accrued via sales of merchandise, books sold, and attendance at public engagements.

The most popular author from each anthology will receive a book contract with Open Heart Publishing!

Attendance at public engagements is not mandatory.

All travel and travel associated expenses are author’s responsibility.

* * *

We are also seeking illustrators for this and other projects. Please e-mail us at sales@debrincase.com for further details concerning illustrations. Pay structure for original art will be based on the project it is for.

Good luck, and have fun!

Don't Wait and Don't Hesitate!

2011-11-27T18:15:00.012-06:00

An Honest Lie, Volume 3: Justifiable Hypocrisy is now available for purchase! This volume brings you more zany, unique, and intriguing stories. Here's a peek at what you will find inside!

Anna Likes to Die, by Will Terry

People in lines, at government offices, seem so drained of life you can almost see right through them. They shed opaque-like thin layers of plastic stripping off a severed limb. If they stand just right, with the sun, you can see straight through the organized tolerance for waiting and observe that beneath the translucent social mores is just another torn appendage like everyone else, waiting to be delivered to another line.

The Dognapper, by Yance Wyatt

Daniel exhibited unprecedented self-discipline in the following months. When he went to the supermarket with his mother, he refrained from buying video games and junk food. To avoid the temptation, he refused to walk down those towering aisles of kitsch, the ones gleaming with shrink-wrap. Instead he waited on the sidewalk with other men who didn’t want to go in. He loitered near the newspaper dispenser as they deposited their coins, then caught the door as they turned away, just in time for a freebie. There in the classifieds, Daniel circled terse descriptions of various breeds, but most of them were at least two-hundred.

Rolex Ruby, by Sally York

She picked up the laminated menu the waitress had left on the table when she’d taken Ruby’s order for a Bloody Mary, and studied it. She was hungry, but reluctant to blow twenty bucks on lunch. She still had about $7,000, but that would get chewed up by bills in a few months. She was weighing her decision when she heard pockets of laughter rise from some of the tables.

Civil Serpents, by Joshua J. Mark

“If it is clear, then say `Yes, Mr. Oculato, we understand.’”

“Yes, Mr. Oculato,” they all said in unison. “We understand.”

“Fine,” he smiled. “Point two is equally simple. If, having uttered the name of that fascistic den of iniquity, and having properly named it ‘the K-Mart of the mind’, you should then mention it again, for any reason, within ten minutes of having first mentioned it, and you must then say `and, you know, it is a communist country.’ Is that also clear?”

Furries, by Ruth Webb

The liquor was starting to hit him hard, but instead of the reassuring buzz he usually felt when drinking in character, Doug felt more and more insecure, unsure of himself. He kept looking down at his fox suit, which had seemed to fit his personality so perfectly a few months ago, and rejecting it as old, dated, slightly pathetic. He wondered if it was the condition of the suit itself, but thought, no, it was the fox persona that wasn’t working for him

Choosing the fox as his personal furry had not been a rash decision, he had pondered his furry animal at length. In addition to being beautiful animals, the strength of a wolf with the slinky sex appeal of a cat, foxes were sneaky, opportunists. But what really made the decision, what made the fox a definitive “Doug” character, was defined in one word, sly.

Melvin Gee’s Short Trip to Hell, by Eric Trant

Melvin noticed that where the angel’s bare feet touched the path, the grass crept toward the prints, pinching off the trail behind her. Melvin hurried to follow her, both of them walking toward a range of mountains several miles in the distance.

Holding her pen between her fingers, trying not to mark her robe, the angel rubbed her left shoulder as she walked; the ink stains on her robe spelled old habit. “Yes, I know what you’re thinking: the sky, this field, that little stand of trees, the mountains … beautiful. Peaceful, isn’t it. Makes you want to lay down and sleep. Don’t. This is the Old Garden, the one you cats got booted out of. If you fall asleep, or slip off this trail, or God help you if you steal one of those precious apples, you’ll get carried off. But I bet the big question is why I don’t have wings.”

“Actually,” said Melvin. “I was wondering about the path. It—”

“We don’t have wings anymore. Not since that whole fallen angel thing. ‘For security reasons,’ they said.” The angel glanced over her shoulder at Melvin. “Security! Ha! More like penance for a sin I didn’t commit. You should have seen my wings!”

The Easy Way Out, by Greg Kuehn

We were at the hospital a lot in the beginning. With all the testing they did on her, you would have thought she was training to be an astronaut or something. Neurological exams, MRIs, CT scans, a biopsy. The doctors and nurses, they knew, but they had to be certain. We all had to be certain. Then, it was certain. A glioblastoma multiforme brain tumor, grade 4.

There was crying and anger and fear. And love. There was love then.
In the beginning, I hated the hospital. I hated the surgeries, the chemotherapy, and the radiation treatments, what they each took from her. They took all the good parts. I hated the doctors and the nurses, the cheap toilet paper, and the vending machine dinners. I hated the unorganized piles of hunting and gardening magazines and the waiting.

They were constant reminders of the devastating illness that had been inflicted upon the wife I adored. But once the cancer began to worsen, and she grew weaker, trips to the hospital became a refreshing break from it all.

Suspension Bridge, by Dorene O’Brien

I told him that Paolo Caliari painted the Marriage at Cana, which now hangs upside-down in the Louvre, and that Federico Barocci paved the way for Baroque art with a largely unheralded painting of the first meeting of the Society of Carpenters.

He intermittently growled and purred as I spun the names off my tongue with a self-styled Italian accent, as I wove a strange tapestry of artistic truth and fiction that even I would be unable to reconstruct an hour later. But none of this concerned me because I’d quite naturally assumed the role of artist myself, experimenting with form and composition, manipulating content for dramatic effect, curating an inexhaustible repository of images and ideas. I was made to feel invincible by Tony’s insatiable appetite for interpretation and his apparent belief that I could provide it. I extrapolated world histories from painting titles, genealogies from family portraits, landscapes from a single hill.

Mike from the Mailroom, by William Walton

Most mornings I watch until she comes out to get the paper, usually about an hour after it arrives. My regular parking spot is just around the corner in front of an empty house that’s for sale. It’s perfect. I can see her house, but she can’t see me. No one else notices me either.

Sometimes she comes out with a cup, probably coffee, in her hand. That’s what she drinks at work. She comes out in her robe, with her hair all mussed up. She looks so natural, so vulnerable. As soon as she picks up her paper, I leave for work. That way I’m early enough to sharpen her pencils before the others arrive. I leave one or two unsharpened so she won’t notice.

Helping her without her even knowing brings me unspeakable joy. I used to go out to the parking lot to check the pressure in her tires. But since I have no way to correct it when it’s low without being noticed, I don’t do that anymore. It still worries me though.
Mostly I just love watching her, daydreaming about the time when we’ll be together. Of course, at work she has to keep things very professional, so my favorite times to watch her are at night and on the weekends.

The Great Oppression, by ME Johnson

I turned back to Mr. Jessen, my mouth full of more hate than blood for what he had just done to Jimmy. But by that time, Mr. Jessen had grabbed hold of Vera an’ was pushing her into his car.

“You leave her alone!” I cried as I rushed toward him, but he didn’t listen. He just laughed – laughed an’ laughed. That made me even madder. I started hitting him as hard as I could, pounding him with all the hate I could muster, which was quite a lot. But it didn’t do any good. He just kept laughing until he’d had enough. Then he pushed me away so hard I fell to the ground, skinning my knees an’ hands.

But I wasn’t done with him. I quickly got back up an’ charged him again. This time, he slapped me across the head so hard I got dizzy.

An’ then he hit me again, an’ again. I fell to the ground, my ears ringing, my heart racing, an’ my head hurting so bad I couldn’t think. That was all the time he needed to shove the wad of money in his pants an’ push Vera back in the car. She had tried to climb back out when he was hitting me.

As he got in after her, he yelled back at me, “You tell your Momma this money is mine. And you tell her she’s going to pay for lying to me!” Then he hit Vera a couple of times to shut her up ‘cause by now she was crying an’ bawling real loud.

“Etta, Etta!” She yelled. “Don’t let him take me away!” But I couldn’t help her. I couldn’t even help myself.

Even though my ears were still ringing, I couldn’t mistake the sound of his car door slamming shut an’ the race of his engine as he started it up an’ drove off. I’ll never forget the look on Vera’s face. She had pressed herself against the window, looking out at me in passing. She was terrified. I could see her lips saying the words, “Help me, Etta, help me!”

An’ then they were gone, lost in the shadows of the night. I must have stood there for a long time, not believing what had just happened. At least, it seemed like a long time. I looked back at Jimmy. He hadn’t stirred one bit, an’ suddenly, I knew something was terribly wrong with him.

Scent, by Donna Hole

Near the gates, he undressed and shifted, and was about ready to seek an entrance when he heard the clump of goat hooves. It sounded muffled, slightly odd, but Reggie decided the cement was distorting the sound. It felt good to be stalking hoofed prey, and Reggie took his time following the clumping sounds. Once he located the stomach rumbling noise, he tracked it from behind a hedge. When he could stand the sounds no longer, he leaped over the greenery, fangs and claws extended for a quick slash across where the neck should be.

What he landed on was a young girl wearing pink platforms and a matching pink skirt. Reggie was as startled as the girl, and tried to stop his attack mid-leap. He managed to close his jaws as his face connected with her chest, but the swipe of his paw left a deep bloody slash from shoulder to hip.

She screamed and kicked her heals against the ground, and the semblance of dying prey hit Reggie’s wolf senses with renewed strength. An efficient bite to her neck stopped her screams. Reggie sat back on his haunches for a moment, licking her blood from his lips and wondering what he should do now.

The Santa Fix, by Bill McCurry

As Max pressed the earpiece to his ear it began buzzing. He waited in silence while it buzzed three times. At the fourth buzz he glanced over at the woman and smiled. She did not smile back. At the seventh buzz Max stopped smiling too. At the tenth buzz Max realized that his right foot was tapping like a Geiger counter, and he willed it into immobility. Somewhere before the fifteenth buzz Max’s head had dropped, dangling below his shoulders like an ox in Death Valley. He glanced up and realized that the woman would happily beat him to death if only she had something heavier than lingerie in her shopping bag. But a glance at the boy showed nothing but beatific confidence on his face.

Just after the seventeenth buzz a concerned voice in the earpiece answered, “Hello?”

“What the h—“ Max erupted, and then he calmed himself as he looked at the kid from the corner of his eye. Max went on, “I’m calling from the elevator, and there’s a problem. We’re stuck at the eighth floor.”

“Who is this calling?” the voice inquired, having dropped into a calm and businesslike tone.

Max paused, aware that the boy was soaking in every word. “This is Santa Claus,” he managed to reply without grimacing.

Affectionating, by Helen Chapman

While Noreen used her cell phone to make the call, Denver stepped out of his truck to assess the job to come. Noreen was always surprised when she stood next to this man. She was not a small woman, but this former sheriff’s deputy fairly towered over her. And today, he wore his cowboy boots, giving him another two inches in height. Looking at him now, though, no one would ever think he had ever worked in law enforcement. With his long sun-bleached hair and tattoos, he might more readily be mistaken for a former inmate.

With Noreen leaning on the side of her car and Chuck still seated safely in the back seat, Denver noisily backed his big truck up to the rear of Achmed’s van. With as much squealing and thumping as he could manage to get out of his hoist, he began running the hook under the rear of the vehicle, just as the door of the trailer burst open and a short swarthy man emerged, followed closely by a very young woman holding one of the twins and an older, much heavier woman carrying the other. They rushed towards Denver as he got up from the ground without hooking the axle.

“What you think you doing, man?” the man, presumably Achmed asked. “Get the hell off my van.”

The Skin Script, by Stephanie M. Lorée

She smiled. “I’ll try to keep my hands to myself.”

He caught himself grinning as he began. “Talk to me about you. I want to know it all.”

“You already do, limner,” she said, “but I’ll tell you anyway.”

As he filled in her future, she relayed her past. And when the pain ceased, they smiled. Together they whispered deeper truths under florescent lights. Skin against skin.
Twice Jules negated her death. Maybe his too, he couldn’t know.

Years would pass in guile and secret rendezvous. Mistakes that might have led to their discovery, simply erased. No taint of their love allowed on her neck, no exchange of passion interrupted by a curious father.

Her skin consumed him as he worked. The smell of iron and ink. The smooth delicacy of her touch. The flavor of peppermint lip-gloss. The heat. He might illuminate her body, but she carved a channel inside Jules. She liberated him from a prison of plastic walls and cold steel. Worse, she made him laugh.

Our Storybook Bear, by Debrin Case

And so our storybook bear allowed the mouse to scurry ahead of him as they wound their way into the fiefdom of Lesser Mousefield.

Along the way he found that as he grew into being more awake he had more strength and what began as slow plodding steps on all threes, he learned a galloping maneuver that allowed him to keep his head raised.The crafty mouse wound his way between warehouse

shelving with thousands of decrepit boxes, and darted under a salmon colored couch with a missing seat cushion.

“This way friend bear,’ he squeaked, and there under the couch was a mouse hole unlike any other seen before by neither man nor beast. About the archway of the entry point into Lesser Mousefield was a solid silver frame upon which was engraved the words “The citizens of Lesser Mousefield welcome you”.

* * *

Ready to read more? Get your copy now! You can either visit http://ahlvol3vote.debrincase.com where you can purchase a copy as well as cast a vote for your favorite author, or you can simply visit http://shop.debrincase.com to buy your copy. See you there!

2011-06-15T17:24:00.010-05:00

Congratulations to our new authors!

This year’s submissions for An Honest Lie, Volume 3: Justifiable Hypocrisy were an exciting mix of creatve, unique, and quirky stories. We absolutely loved all of them and regretted that our allowance of space would only permit publishing a small percentage. The authors chosen for this volume were equally interesting, and we know they will please our readers as well. In addition to our returning authors, we have ten new authors whom we would like to introduce to you now.

From Westmoreland, Tennessee, meet Helen Chapman!
Helen boldly brings us a story straight from the courtroom of real justice. You'll quickly applaud the double-edged karma in this story!

From Los Angeles, California, meet Yance Wyatt! Yance skillfully weaves us a tender story about childhood loss. You'll be touched by the wisdoms learned in this story!

From Toledo, Ohio, meet Stephanie M. Lorée!
Stephanie’s unique and visionary work tells a creative story about fore-ordained love, and fore-ordaind lives. You’ll quickly agree that this story is unlike any other!

From Orland, California, meet Donna Hole!
Donna’s story brings us a new twist on werewolves that you won’t see coming. This story might make you sad, it might make you glad, and it might make you think that it’s rad!

From Farmington, Michigan, meet Dorene O’Brien!
Dorene brings her unique vision to us in her story about the lengths that love will take us to in order to make the right impression. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with this story!

From South Williamson, Kentucky, meet Ruth Webb!
Ruth brings us a touch of humor and irony, balanced with charcter and reality in a story about an extreme hobby. This is one convention you’ll want to attend!

From Carrollton, Texas, meet Bill McCurry!
Bill brings us a timeless, yet refreshingly new Christmas story about a department store Santa who is given a lesson in humility. This is one Santa story you don’t want to miss!

From Chattanooga, Tennessee, meet Gregory Kheun!
Gregory brings us a controversial story about the dreadful realities of terminal illness. This story will bring you tears, and at the same time, anger and anguish!

From Staatsburg, New York, meet Joshua Mark!
Joshua brings us a wily and delightfully intriguing story about ultimate deception. You’ll be praising this story for some time to come!

From Flushing, Michigan, meet Sally York!
Sally brings us a good-samaritan story with a refreshingly wicked twist. This story will keep you guessing at who the real victim is
right up to the very end!

Please join us in sending huge congratulations to all these gifted authors!

2011-05-19T11:56:00.004-05:00

Submissions for An Honest Lie, Volume 3: Justifiable Hypocrisy are now closed. We are delighted at the number and quality of all the submissions we received. It will truly be a challenge to pull out the stories that will become Volume 3: Justifiable Hypocrisy. Pat yourselves on the back! You've done a great job!

As we do each year, submissions will again open in the fall, 2011, for our next volume and we'll give you the information on it as soon as we have it. We're looking forward to seeing what you'll have for us!

12 More Days

2011-05-02T19:43:00.007-05:00

With only 12 more days to go, the email postman has admitted that he's swamped with letters and envelopes, all of them brimming with exciting new stories that have been submitted for our next volume of An Honest Lie, Volume 3: Justifiable Hypocrisy.

However, don't let that panic you. He has assured us that no matter how busy he gets, he'll make sure your script(s) will be delivered - as long as you send it on-time, he'll deliver it on-time.

So, turn on the lamp, dust off those pages, stock up on pizza, lock the door, and let those keyboard keys fly!

12 days to perfection. 12 days to submission. 12 days, and not a day more.

Submission guidelines are below. FAQs are even belower.

Send submissions to ahlsubmissionsv3@yahoo.com. We'll be waiting.

Still have questions? Ask them at ahlsubmissionsv3@yahoo.com.

* * *

It's Not Over Yet

2011-03-14T21:10:00.004-05:00

We are extending this year's deadline for An Honest Lie, Volume 3: Justifiable Hypocrisy. The extended deadline is May 15, 2011. Two more months to polish up that story and send it in! If you need information on submission guidelines, just read the posts below.

Don't forget, extended deadline is May 15, 2011 !

def.i.ni'tion

2011-02-21T21:26:00.015-06:00

Justifiable Hypocrisy:

- this year's theme for An Honest Lie, Volume 3, and this year's big challenge! Yes, it's a bit tougher than in previous years, but it's nothing you can't wrap your keyboard around!

Here are some inspiring words for motivation:

jus'ti.fi.a.ble a.; that can be justified, vindicated, or defended.

jus'ti.fy v.t.; justified, pl. pp. justifying, p. ppr. [ME. justifien; OFr. justifier; LL. justicare, to act just toward, to justify; L. justus, just, and -fricare, from facere, to do, make]

1. to prove or show to be just, or conformable to law, right, justice, propriety, or duty, to defend or maintain; to vindicate as right

2. to declare free from guilt or blame; to absolve; to clear

3. in theology, to pardon and clear from guilt; to treat as just; to pardon

4. to supply good or lawaful grounds for; to warrant

5. in printing, to adjust (type) in lines by proper use of spaces

Syn - excuse, defend, warrant, maintain, vindicate.

jus'ti.fy v.i.;

1. in printing, to agree; to fit; to conform exactly, to form an even surface or true line with something else, as type.

2. in law, (a) to show an adequate reason for something done; (b) to prove qualified as surety.

hy.poc'ri.sy, n. [LL. hypocrisis; Gr. hypokrisis, a reply, acting a part, feigning; from hypokrinesthai, to play a part, to pretned; hypo, under; and krinesthai, to contend, dispute} - a feigning to be what one is not; the acting of a false part; a deception as to real character and feeling, especially in regard to morals and religion.

3,000 to 6,000 words no later than midnight, May 15, 2011.

(We've extended the deadline!)

You can do it!

For complete submission guidelines (recommended reading), scroll down to the next post and/or visit www.anhonestlie.wordpress.com.

(Definitions from Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language, by Wiliam Collins Publishing, Inc.)

Get to work!

2010-10-27T14:54:00.011-05:00

Calling for submissions for Volume 3 of An Honest Lie!

The theme for this volume is

Justifiable Hypocrisy.

We are accepting submissions in the areas of fiction, well written misadventures from real life, and blatant lies that are fun and entertaining.

We're looking for ...

... the ironies in life

... the serendipity of it all

... the epitome of adventure

... the power of imperviousness

... the pull of naivety

... the view from a different angle

... the mix of mood, moment, and movement

... the wretched truth

... a clever lie

... the humor inside

... the mockery of it all

We're looking for perspective. The subject is up to you.

(Please keep it clean. No political commentaries, testimonials, religious manifestos, travel synopses, or poetry.)

***

Submission Guidelines:

Please note: submissions will be disqualified for
not meeting minimum or exceeding maximum word count requrements
and/or not following submission guidelines.

1. Submissions should be at least 3,000 words in length and no more than 6,000 words total.

2. All submissions should be sent in .odt, .doc, or .docs format, in a legible 14 pt font, with pages numbered in the top right corner. Do not send .pdf files.

3. Please include title and author name on all pages submitted.

4. Include the following information with your submisison:

Full Legal Name (with nom de plume)

Email and Regular Mail Addresses

Telephone

A Short Bio (about 100 words)

How you found out about us and/or this submission call.

5. Deadline for submissions is now May 15, 2011.

6. Please submit your manuscripts to either

ahlsubmissionsv3@yahoo.com

or to

http://anhonestlie.submishmash.com/Submit

***

Please read F.A.Q. (below) for further details and other common questions
before contacting our editorial department.

If you need to contact us, we can be reached at either of these two addresses:

sredohp@yahoo.com

and/or

ohpjreditor@yahoo.com

We will respond to your inquiries as soon as is possible.

***

Public engagements associated with this publication are for promoting the book
and for promoting you as an author.
Attendance at public engagements is not mandatory.
All travel and travel associated expenses are author's responsibility.

Pay for published authors will be based on royalty accrued via sales of merchandise, books sold, and attendance at public engagements.

The most popular author from each anthology will awarded a book contract with
Open Heart Publishing!

We are also seeking illustrators for this and other projects.
For futher details, and/or to submit illustration samples, contact us via e-mail at ohpcareers@debrincase.com.

We look forward to hearing from you!

***

Have you heard?

2010-10-07T16:06:00.007-05:00

We're releasing our next selection, An Honest Lie, Volume 2: Delusions of Insignificance! Just look at the great cover! Wow!

From now until October 21, 2010, you can pre-order your copy (ies) and save $2.00 per book. That's $14.55 + shipping/handling for yet another great group of short stories.

We have a fine selection this year. Hop on over to our website to read excerpts, meet the authors, order books, and have an opportunity to vote for your favorite author! Just visit http://www.anhonestlie.wordpress.com/.

The official rlease date for his volume is Octobr 31, 2010. The price will then go back to its original $16.55 + shipping/handling. (You can order directly from our website.) E-books will be $10.00 per copy.

This volume, as with last volume, will be available at Barnes & Noble, and later on Amazon. However, ordering through our webisite ensures that each author gets full credit for the sale - and of course, a vote or two. Just visit the website above.

Submissions are not yet open for Volume 3: Justifialbe Hypocrisy. However you now know the theme and can get started on that masterpiece. Stay tuned for more info. We'll be back in pleny of time to let you know when submissions are open.

In the meantime, I'm going to spend some time helping you with grammar, usage, and mechanics - so you can avoid some pesky errors. We'll go through a variety of composition topics, so check back often!

Good to be read by you again,

ME Johnson, Senior Editor, An Honest Lie

http://www.anhonestlie.wordpress.com/

Only $3.00!

2010-08-16T12:21:00.004-05:00

IT'S THE BEST DEAL EVER!

That's right! Starting tomorrow, August 16, 2010, we are offering a special deal on the Ebook version of An Honest Lie, Volume 1: Encouraging the Delinquency of Your Inner Child.

This volume includes great tales like Dilemma, by Ilan Herman, and My Dead Isn't Dead, by Alyssa Cooper. There is also tale about a boy who falls into a little old lady's trap, and one about ... well, author Germaine Shames titled it Counter Indications of Trance on Male Labido.

This is a limited time offer!

From August 16 to August 31, 2010,

Open Heart Publishing is offering

An Honest Lie, Volume 1: Encouraging the Delinquency of Your Inner Child

in Ebook for only $3.00 per copy.

Hot, is it not?

Not only will you be getting a great book for pennies, you will also be helping one of our authors get a book deal!

Here's how it works. Head over to the Voting Portal. There you will find a list of the authors. Click on the author of your choice, and then at the bottom of their page, you will find a button for purchasing your $3.00 copy. When you purchzse it, the author automatically gets 500 points.

Don't know who to vote for? You can find story excerpts right here on this blog.

You can also read each author's bio and interview by going to the Voting Portal, clicking on the author's name, and then clicking onthe author's photo.

This is a limited time deal, so don't delay ... act NOW!

Sales Ends August 31, 2010

* * *

“Why did the squirrel cross the road?”

2010-07-20T15:30:00.010-05:00

Do you know why?

We didn't, so we took it straight to the source and asked a bunch of squirrels.

(Silly squirrel! What were you thinking?)

Yes, all we got from them was a bunch of useless chatter.

Not wanting to let the question burn itself out, we turned to some of the world's greatest minds. Clearly, that wasn't such a good idea, either.

Desperate in our quest, we locked ourselves in and ordered take-out to stay alive. There we sat, 24/7/52, willing the question to give us it's answer. But all that happened was that the question just sat there and stared right back. (After all, it's only a question.)

So what do you do with a question like that? You toss it out and wait to see what comes back.

“Why did the squirrel cross the road?”

“Because the car swerved to miss it.”

- Jess Dunn, Baltimore, Maryland, US

“He was enticed by the big, shiny nut! Fulfilling our most basic needs is the driving force in our lives. After that, curiosity and the need for adventure push us to take risks.”

- Claire Ibarra, Key Biscayne, Florida, US

“Well, that’s a long story. He wanted some fried rice from the corner store, which happened to be on the same side of the street as his house. On his way to the store, he saw Julian coming toward him, but on the other side of the street. Julian owed him twenty bucks from last week when the squirrel paid his bar tab at the neighborhood bar. Julian’s girlfriend had kicked him out of the house earlier without his wallet, and the poor dude had started drinking without even realizing that he didn’t have any money to pay the bartender. The squirrel, being a pretty nice guy, fronted him the dough. Now he wanted his twenty bucks back, so he crossed the street to get it from Julian.”

- CB Calsing, New Orleans, Louisiana

“He lost his nuts. He saw it on Youtube. He was riding the chicken. Because if chickens can do it, squirrels can do it, by God.”

- Eric Trant, The Colony, Texas, US

“To retrieve its nuts from the other side. “

- Terry Sanville, San Luis Obispo, California, US

“In addition to being an aspiring author, I am also an expert in squirrel behavior, having obtained my Ph.D. in Sciuridae Psychologe from Acorn University. Squirrel motivation falls into three major categories: (1.) The desire to mate; (2.) the desire for food (foraging/hoarding); or (3.) the desire to jump into the middle of the road, turn around halfway to the yellow line, double back, dart between the tires of a vehicle and narrowly avoid getting hit by oncoming traffic. From these motivations, we can conclude that there was either a very attractive female squirrel on the other side of the road, a large cache of nuts or an oncoming semi-trailer with questionable brakes.”

- Patrick Scalisi, Naugatuck, Connectitut, US

“Because he was stapled to a chicken. Duh.”

- Rob Rosen, San Francisci, California, US

“Our hero squirrel crossed the road after a perilous journey across the park. So close was the single tree pockmarked with the nuts that he could almost feel the rough cap that topped them, the smooth sides that protected the center. His nose twitched before that tree loomed above him, ready and willing to become his new home. Oh...wait...was this a serious question?”

- Cynthia D. Witherspoon, Spartanburg, South Carolina, US

“To bust a nut.”

- Dennis Thompson, Malo, Washington, US

“The squirrel crossed the road for the same reasons we do. Either something it wanted was on the other side or something it wanted to get away from was on this side. Maybe he had a "babe" squirreled away across the road, and lust beckoned. Perhaps his "spousal unit" got on his case so often he felt she was chewing his nuts off, and he decided to hit the road. Kind of like us. One rodent behaves pretty much like another.”

- William Walton, Corpus Christi, Texas, US

So, now ... DON'T BE SHY ... why do you think the squirrel crossed the road? We’d like to hear your answer! Leave a comment or send your answer to ahlsubmissionsv2@yahoo.com.

If we like it, we’ll post it.

Please let us know what city/state/country you are writing from.

The MAILBOX is CLOSED

2010-03-30T13:29:00.004-05:00

Submissions are now closed for An Honest Lie, Volume 2: Delusions of Insignificance.

We'd like to thank everyone who sent in a story and encourage you to submit again next year. We will be announcing next year's theme this fall.

For those of you who did submit, we will be announcing our results no later than April 15, 2010.

Good luck, and stay tuned!

A Schreeeech-ing Halt

2009-12-29T18:57:00.003-06:00

So there you sit, without the slightest clue what to write. In some circles, it’s called lack of inspiration. In other circles, it’s called writer’s block … and guess what ... you’ve got it. You came down with it a short (or maybe not so short) time ago, and hang-the-kangaroo-upside-down-with-its-britches-still-on, you can’t think of a darn thing to put down on paper.

You’ve tried thinking of titles first. You’ve tried thinking of characters first. You’ve tried thinking of new plot lines first. You've even tried finding self-help hints. None give you any inspiration whatsoever. So what do you do? (Give up, if only for the moment. Maybe something will come to you later.)

But something doesn’t come. And the longer you let it rest, the more insurmountable it gets. Pretty soon you give up hope too, and decide that a different career path would serve you better. You obviously aren’t going to be a famous author anytime soon.

It’s a pretty sad state to be in, crushed beneath the immense weight of that block, choking for air … I mean, inspiration. But ... what if I told you that you don’t need a jack hammer or a stick of dynamite or a ten ton ball to crack that pesky block and get it out of your way? What if I told you that you could break it with the simplicity of two little words, “what,” and “if.” Put them together and what do you get?

Well, let’s just take a look and see. Let’s pick one of those mundane and worthless story ideas that have been floating around in that empty vaccuum of grey matter known as your mind. Here's an example.

Mom was driving to the store when …
a. Her brakes failed
b. It started to rain
c. A happy little squirrel ran into the road

I don’t see much inspiration there. Do you? They all sound like the same old mundane and over-used story lines that none of us can bear to hear again. So, let’s come to a screeeech-ing halt, rewind, and start all over again … only this time, let’s put those two little words to work.

Mom was driving to the store when …
a. Her sex appeal failed
b. She started to cry
c. A monstrously scary creature ran into the road

Poor Mom. We can already see it’s going to be an eventful trip.

Let’s try another example. (This is fun.)

Detective Joe arrived at the crime scene to find …
a. The investigation well underway
b. The murder suspect already under arrest
c. The serial killer had struck again

Yawn. What if …

Detective Joe arrived at the crime scene to find …
a. The investigation team had already ordered pizza
b. The murder suspect gunning down the investigation team
c. The fingerprints on the murder weapon matched his

Poor Joe. We can already see he’s going to have to work late tonight (if he doesn't wind up in the slammer first.)

Okay, so your sleepy muse needs one more example. Here goes!

The Girl Scout walked up to the door and ...
a. Rang the doorbell
b. Quickly practiced her sales pitch
c. Put on her cheeriest smile

I’m not buying any cookies. How about you?

Okay, then. What if …

The Girl Scout walked up to the door and …
a. Busted the door down
b. Quickly released the safety on her gun
c. Picked her teeth clean with her fingernail

Well, I’m still not buying any cookies … but as you can tell, those two little words have inspired some most interesting thoughts. Just imagine the power you could have at your fingertips!

I definitely feel inspired now. In fact, I have so inspired myself that I’m going to leave you to your own “what ifs” and go work on mine. I want to see what happens next. Caio!

Red Carpet Rolls Out

2009-12-29T18:30:00.011-06:00

The short story anthology An Honest Lie, Volume 1: Encouraging the Delinquency of Your Inner Child is now available to story lovers world-wide.

We received more than 4000 submissions for this volume, and out of those have put together seventeen very interesting tales, all based on the theme "Encouraging the Delinquency of Your Inner Child."

The book, a 6 x 9 inch, 246-page paperback book is available both in print and in E-Book. To find out how you can obtain your very own copy, please visit our website at http://openheartpublishing.debrincase.com/

UPDATE:
With the inaugural launch well under way, we are now moving forward with An Honest Lie, Volume 2: Delusions of Insignificance. Submissions are now closed. We will be announcing our results no later than April 15, 2010.

The VOTING is OPEN

2009-11-01T14:21:00.010-06:00

Vote for your favorite author today and help them win a book deal!

Every year An Honest Lie showcases new authors who are all vying for the opportunity to earn a book deal with Open Heart Publishing, and that is where your help is required. In order to win this book deal they require your votes.

Just leave a comment here on their voting portal to give them one vote, or if you are serious about helping your favorite author win this book deal then give them 500 points by purchasing a copy of An Honest Lie Vol. 1: Encouraging the Delinquency of Your Inner Child.

You can either vote and/or purchase copies directly at:
http://ahlvol1vote.debrincase.com. This link will also provide you with story excerpts and bio info for each author.

So vote today, vote often and encourage others to vote for your favorite authors here.

Voting ends October 31st, 2010

Once again, here's that link!
http://ahlvol1vote.debrincase.com.

* * * * * * * * * * *

It's That Time Again

2009-10-10T11:51:00.010-05:00

Calling for submissions
for Volume 2 of
An Honest Lie

Theme: Delusions of Insignificance

We are accepting submissions in the areas of fiction, well written misadventures from real life, and blatant lies that are fun and entertaining..

We’re looking for …

… the ironies in life

… the serendipity of it all

… the epitome of adventure

… the power of imperviousness

… the pull of naivety

… the view from a different angle

… the mix of mood, moment, and movement

… the wretched truth

… a clever lie

… the humor inside

… the mockery of it all.

We’re looking for the perspective.

The subject is up to you.

Please keep it clean. No political commentaries, testimonials, religious manifestos, poetry, or profanity.

* * *

Submissions should be at least 3000 words in length and no more than 6,000 words total, please be sure to read our FAQ’s for further details before submitting. Our FAQ’s can be found to the left of this post, or by going to www.anhonestlie.wordpress.com/faq.

All submissions should be a WORD document, sent in .doc or .docx format, in a legible 14 pt font, with pages numbered in the top right corner. Please include title and author name on all pages submitted.

Include the following information with your submission:

… Full Legal Name (with nom de plume)

… Email and Regular Mail Addresses

… Telephone

… A Short Bio (100 words)

Please also let us know how you heard about us!

Email your submissions to: ahlsubmissionsv2@yahoo.com.
Your submitted story should be an attachment to this email, and not part of the body of email text.

Deadline for Submissions is March 15 2010.

Public engagements associated with this publication are for promoting the book and for promoting you as an author.

Pay for published authors will be based on royalty accrued via sales of merchandise, books sold, and attendance at public engagements.

Attendance at public engagements is not mandatory.

All travel and travel associated expenses are author’s responsibility.

Limit of two pieces for consideration unless asked for more.

We are also seeking illustrators for this and other projects. Please e-mail us at ahlsubmissionsv2@yahoo.com for further details concerning illustrations. Pay structure for original art will be based on the project it is for.

UP is WHAT

2009-08-29T11:11:00.011-05:00

Friday, August 28, 2009

We have our round-tip scissors, paste glue with brush, and colored construction paper in hand and are busy cutting and pasting together Volume 1 of An Honest Lie. (I've already spread a thin layer of glue on the palm of one hand and am letting it dry so I can have fun peeling it off later.)

Our artists have been just as busy as our authors and deserve their share of kudos. Together, they're making a great book!

We are also busy scheduling book-signing/reading events. (We had to get a big calendar for that one!) Check back later for dates and times!

Uh, oh. Glue is drying. No more playing around now. It's back to work for ME!

* * *

Contact us at:
www.ahlsubmissions@yahoo.com

Go To:
An Honest Lie
Life At OHP
Open Heart Publishing

* * *

WRITE NOW

2009-08-15T15:46:00.011-05:00

Author and Publisher Debrin Case invites DFW authors to take a journey of self discovery with the assistance of intuitive writing through his course, “Write Now.”

Debrin will be conducting the course in two parts,
“Understanding Yourself, Write Now,”
and
“Accepting Yourself, Write Now.”

Course dates are being scheduled now. All sessions for the course will be held at The Center for Spiritual Living in Dallas, 4801 Spring Valley Road Dallas, TX 75244.

The course will be available through preregistration and at the door. Course fee is $30.00, covering both “Understanding Yourself, Write Now” and “Accepting Yourself, Write Now.” Preregistration is encouraged as class size is limited.

If you want to preregister, or would like to inquire on future dates for this course, please send an email to writeaboutme@debrincase.com.

“Understanding Yourself, Write Now”

“Understanding Yourself, Write Now” teaches methods of tapping into the deep inner truth about you as an individual through a process of simple exercises engineered towards releasing your inner scribe and allowing you a direct connection to the hidden universe that resides within us all ...
… allowing you to connect to the myths, memories, rhymes and reasons that populate our inner-world and that have a direct hand in the creation of our very lives.
Once connected you will not only be able to have direct communication with the scribe within, but also be able to pick up the proverbial quill and take an active role in the recreation of yourself through the use of a Journal as well as a Manifest.

* * *

His Coffee is HOT!

2009-07-24T10:23:00.006-05:00

After sprinkling my chair with sharp rusty tacks and adding some tranquilizers to the publisher's coffee, I finally have my desk back to myself again! All in all, though, it was a nice little vacation and I have to admit the publisher did a nice job with upkeep on these posts.

How about those featured authors! They wrote us some very fine stories that you'll soon get to read. And while we are getting them ready for print, you can visit our Junior Editor's Blog to read more about them! You can also go there to find out what's up at Open Heart Publishing and An Honest Lie!

And don't forget that we'll soon be releasing information on the next volume of An Honest Lie, so keep those pencils sharp!

A Letter from the Publisher's Desk

2009-06-12T15:24:00.008-05:00

Hello all,
First off I want to thank everyone who participated in the open call for submissions to our yearly anthology “An Honest Lie”, we had roughly 4000 submissions and if we had let the deadline date continue on, I dare say, we may have had another 4,000 more.
This happened in no small part because of you.
Not only with your many submissions, but your word of mouth helped us to exceed our initial projections and have a large enough body of work to create a unique anthology, with a unique purpose.
Open Heart Publishing is built upon the principles of equality, philanthropy and opportunity.
Equal pay for equal effort, equal opportunity for all participants, equally providing a stage on which to perform, equally providing new audiences with an entertaining and hopefully enlightening product, equally encouraging a spirit of joy and abundance, and above all else… equally giving the opportunity to be published for those we decide to work with.
Philanthropy is not just monetary services for charities and causes; it is oftentimes the sweat of your brow that encourages growth for these organizations. We at Open Heart Publishing, encourage this spirit of Philanthropy by building fund raising efforts within charitable organization, through a program we like to call the opportunity.
This year’s Opportunity project is going amazingly well, the kids of the Jr. Church of CSL Dallas, have created an amazing storybook album, which includes a musical score written for the story by Lisa Umbarger and Jennifer Mayes.
In honor of the book, they have also named their musical interpretation
“The Cave of Colors”
Scheduled release date Oct 2009

And Opportunity for all
Simply put means just that. We are going to be doing our best to promote you, to promote OHP, to promote, promote, promote… (Did I say promote?) Our products, that it may very well be sickening. It may be considered undignified, it may even be considered uncouth, unruly and unheard of.
So What?
We’re here. We’re wacky; we’re the new publishing paradigm so get used to it (smirk)!
We are creating opportunity for you, and we are creating opportunity for ourselves.
Point in fact, our third book which will also be out in October.
“A Children’s Book of Necromancy”
Written by: Debrin Case (yep that’s me)
Illustrations by: Darcy Melton
Scheduled release October 2009, find out more about this project here.

So without further adieu, the roster for the inaugural edition of “An Honest Lie” is as follows
Invited Guest Author: Melissa Cantrelle
Author: Germaine Shames
Author: Brittney Dillard
Author: Ilan Herman
Author: Alyssa Cooper
Author: Corina Calsing
Author: Bob Clark
Author: Victoria Joyner
Author: Jon Forisha
Author: Becky Warner
Author: Alex Francani
Author: Will Terry
Author: Eric Trant
Author: Robert Dean

Congratulations, to the winners, and to those not chosen thank you for taking the time to submit your works to us.
Our next edition opens its doors for submissions in November 2009, with a brand new wacky theme guaranteed to challenge your creativity. And I want to invite everyone that tried before, and those who have not tried just yet to be sure not to miss this opportunity when it opens up again.
So until the fall, I am sincerely wishing you all the best of success in everything you experience in your life, and a heartfelt well done to our chosen contributing authors.

Debrin Case
Publisher: Open Heart Publishing

Your Stories Are GREAT!

2009-05-27T09:24:00.004-05:00

It’s a good thing I keep a spare set of keys for these handcuffs in my pocket. That silly publisher thinks I can’t get free, but I can. An editor needs a break every now and then, you know? (And a sundae!)

Speaking of sundaes, I’ve certainly earned them. I’ve been reviewing lots of terrific stories and have to congratulate all of you on a job well done. We’ve received quite a variety, from both new authors and established authors, from quite a variety of locales too. It’s going to be hard to have to pick out the few that will be published in the inaugural issue of An Honest Lie. I may have to resort to the old reliable method of eenie-meenie-miney-moe in order to choose those well-earned few!

Ah, so many great stories, so little time to make a decision. My deadline of June 15th is fast approaching. When it arrives, I’ll have lots of letters to write and stories to edit … guess I’ll be burning the midnight oil. I may have to get my new assistant a pair of roller skates so she can make those trips to the ice cream shop in record time. Oh, didn’t I tell you I have a new assistant?

She’s really smart and very clever, and I know she’s going to be a huge help. Her name is Rhia Johnson (same last name as mine … how sweet is that?) She holds a master’s degree in Library Sciences and brings with her years of experience in education. More importantly, she has good connections at the ice cream shop.

Ah, I think I hear the publisher heading my way. I’d better put those handcuffs back on. I’ll be back as soon as he leaves. I want to talk a little on tips for all you writers who are interested in submitting for Volume Two of An Honest Lie. Oops, here he comes … gotta dash! Keep up the good work, and check back soon!

* * *

www.anhonestlie.wordpress.com

Your Time is UP!

2009-05-16T00:01:00.005-05:00

That's right folks, the deadline has come and gone and no more submissions will be accepted for the inaugural edition of "An Honest Lie".

Be sure to check back in the near future with more news concerning our this issue, our authors, and more exciting information.

Now please excuse me while I handcuff our wayward editor to her desk... silly thing, she thinks she gets a sundae for every piece she reads.

The Window is CLOSING!

2009-05-05T17:12:00.004-05:00

Inch by inch, closer and closer, squeaking and creaking and screeching each millimeter of the the way ... are you ready?

By my watch, it’s only 10 more days until deadline! And you know what happens when deadline arrives, right? Yes! You are correct! I get one hot fudge sundae for every story I read. (mmmmm.)

Now, I know you want to polish your story up and have it looking its best before you send it off, but remember, it's the story inside that I'm looking for, not the pretty coat it's wearing. You've made it eat its veggies, put it through its daily workouts, tucked it in warm and safe every night ... and for some of you, you've even followed it to school. But deadline is almost here, and the time to make it trim and fit is coming to an end. So, pick that story up, put a bow in its hair, give it a kiss to be sweet, and tell it not to dawdle on the way.

I have my spoon ready.

The Count is UP!

2009-04-11T10:34:00.005-05:00

Response to our Call for Submissions has been wonderful! So wonderful, in fact, that we've been able to persuade the publisher to make a few increases around here. (It's about time!)

First, we are all going to get more padding for our chairs. It will be such a relief. We're almost out of Blister-Aides!

Next, and far more importantly for you, the publisher said your stories have been so good, he wants to see MORE ... so if you haven't sent a submission in yet, now is a good time to do so! Submission guidelines are at http://anhonestlie.wordpress.com/

We have also increased the word count requirement. You now have 1000 - 4000 words per story ... and we would like to see closer to 4000 than 1000.

Don't forget, you are allowed to submit two different pieces. Feel free to either submit them both at the same time, or submit one, see how it fares, and then try the second one. We would actually recommend the latter. Regardless of whether we accept or reject your piece, we will, as much as possible, give you our comments on it. Sometimes, comments on the first submission can apply to the second as well, giving you a better chance for opportunity with the second piece.

Last, and even more far more importantly for all of us, I have been asked to let you know that there is a career job opportunity for Booking Director that is now available at OHP (Open Heart Publishing ... the publisher of An Honest Lie.) So, if you, or anyone you know might be interested, please visit OHP at http://openheartpublishing.debrincase.com/ (click on "Opportunities at OHP" at top right.)

* * *

http:www.anhonestlie.wordpress.com

The Pencil Is BLUNT

2009-02-28T15:51:00.002-06:00

Naw, not really. You guys are doing a great job. I haven’t had to use that red pencil once yet.

A lot of you have asked for a little more time to get your pieces ready, so we’ve extended the deadline. You now have until May 15th, 2009 to submit your work.

And again, you are allowed to submit more than once.

Also, we will be revising the F.A.Q.'s in the upcoming week. Please check back for new details there.

Okay, the Publisher is heading this way. I’d better sign off before he sees me.

(I wonder if my red pencil would make a good chocolate candy skewer … skewer the candy, nibble the edges, then slurp up the middle ... mmmmm.)

P.S. Don't forget to stop by the website at http://www.anhonestlie.wordpress.com/. It has lots of new and revised information.

http://www.anhonestlie.wordpress.com/

Thinking Time is OVER!

2009-01-16T08:56:00.002-06:00

The holidays have come and the holidays have gone.

Have you started that story for me yet?

http://www.anhonest.wordpress.com/

The Vacation is OVER !

2008-11-21T16:38:00.004-06:00

What, you didn't know I went on vacation? Yeah, baby! I saved every one of the little umbrellas from my little umbrella drinks for proof. I had to do something. The Publisher has been at my desk for days now, typing and writing and writing and typing ... he so loves his Q's and his A's.

You must go see what he had to say! Check out The Publisher's FAQ's at the bottom of this page.

http://www.anhonestlie.wordpress.com/

The Bulb is OUT !

2008-11-16T09:56:00.002-06:00

You may have noticed on your last visit to our website that some things rather left you in the dark. Sorry, but we had a light bulb burn out, right over there behind the text on the Call For Submissions page. You couldn’t read a thing.

Well, we knew we had to get it fixed, but no one knew what to do. Some of the staff thought we should find the Janitor. Some of the staff thought we should panic. The rest of us wanted to get back to work, and knew we wouldn’t be able to until we got this problem solved, so we went off in search of the Janitor. It seemed like the best idea at the time.

We searched for weeks (months, really.) And no wonder! It seems he had left the building. We found him down the street at the homeless mission doing volunteer work.

Anyway, he agreed to come back with us, changed the bulb, and now everything is brilliant! once more. Some of the staff suggested we should hire a cleaning service. Some said we should start paying the Janitor so he’d stick around more. And some decided that since the new bulb would eventually burn out, we should start worrying about it now. (They even wanted to write up a list of protocols so we would know what to do next time.) The rest of us just wanted to get back to work, so we did.

In the end, someone called in the Decorators to make some improvements. We don’t know who it was, but we suspect it might have been the guy that refills the water cooler. Anyway, the moral to the story is that thanks to the Janitor, the place is even more brilliant! than ever.

Check it out for yourself! http://www.anhonestlie.wordpress.com/

(I wear my sunglasses when I go over there.)

Uh, oh. Here comes the Publisher. He looks like he wants to write something. Gotta go!

http://www.anhonestlie.wordpress.com/

The Editor is HUNTED !

2008-11-07T09:34:00.002-06:00

As an editor I spend a lot of time reading. Yeah, you were pretty much aware of that already. It’s pretty amazing, I’ll tell you! And I don’t have to lift a finger to do it. Someone else brings me a box of chocolates (usually my assistant.) Someone else brings me your submitted work (usually my assistant.) And someone else gives the Publisher his tranquilizer (usually my assistant.)

Now, I might be familiar with the brand of chocolates that my assistant brings, but usually, I don’t know you, who submitted the work I am now going to review. Nor did I have to seek you/your work out. You did that for me. You sought me out!

As a busy person, I think this is just great. Let someone else do the seeking. Let someone else do the searching, the questing, and the research.

I just sit back here in my comfy chair with my box of chocolates and read, judge … and when I have to, clean up the copy. I do this because this is what a good editor does. He/she eats chocolates, reads submissions, and cleans up copy.

Already I feel like a pampered star.

Today, the last chocolate in my box was a cherry filled one, as in filled with a real cherry, not just some cherry-flavored creamy whatever stuff. It was so good! When I ate it, it brought to mind three things. One, how yummy it tasted; two, why weren’t there more in the box; and three, why is it that I, by definition of title, have to wait for writers to come find me?

Yes, why is it that I’m supposed to be the hunted, and not the hunter?

Why can’t I be the hunter once in a while?

Look, there are 5,672 of you over here at this site, and another 2,867 of you over there at that site. One click of my well-trained mouse and you are f-o-u-n-d, baby!

"Whhk-tish!" Head ‘em up, move ‘em out, ride ‘em in!

This should be fun! Now, where’s that assistant of mine? It’s time for the Publisher to have his tranquilizer and I need more chocolates.

http://www.anhonestlie.wordpress.com/

The Suitcase is PACKED !

2008-10-19T15:05:00.002-05:00

You’ve all been sending me some really nice pieces and I’d like to see more. I have my private snack cabinet all stocked up and I got a new pillow for my chair just yesterday. I’ve sharpened all my red pencils too. So, let’s start stuffing that mailbox, okay?

Have you been by the website lately? Our deadline has been moved. The Typesetter let us borrow a cog, and with a little teamwork, we brought it up here to the front office. Now everyone can see it.

And I hear The Publisher has been working on tour dates for 2009. Yeah, I guess it’s not too early to pack the suitcase. (I think you should all bombard him with suggestions.)

Well, I can’t chat with you too long today. The window washers are here and so there’s this really cute guy hanging from ropes just outside my window. I don’t think I’ll be able to concentrate on anything. Where’s that granola bar? Ah, there. Yes, I’ll just put my feet up now and watch the view out the window.

http://www.anhonestlie.wordpress.com/

The Mailbox is OPEN !

2008-10-12T13:39:00.002-05:00

Yes, our mailbox lid is open, hanging, dangling, like an open mouth awaiting a morsel. (Greedy little bugger!)

I guess that means I’m going to get really busy. The Publisher has put the word out, and The Great Submission Rush will soon begin.

Yes, I’ll get to meet a lot of great writers; but honestly, I don’t know where I’ll put them. My desk is stacked to the brim already.

I’ve spent days looking for that folder I titled “submissions,” the folder I’ll be putting your stories in … the folder that will probably accompany me wherever I go.

I know it’s here somewhere, under all these pieces of paper. I guess when I find it I’ll have to tape it to my forehead. I might have to tape this blog to my forehead too.

As I was saying …

As you may expect, we’ve been terribly busy getting this inaugural issue together. I personally have typed my fingers to the bone. The illustrator has turned blue. The typesetter has left the building. I don’t think he’s coming back. And truthfully, if The Publisher gets any more excited about it, none of the rest of us will be able to stand it. So, in the end, we’d all be much better off here if someone would just give him an ink pen to play with ... please.

Where was I? Ah, yes. We know you have some splendid masterpieces ... just the type of thing we’re looking for, those quirky, unusual things that only your inner child could come up with. And we’d like to see them.

Please don’t make me beat them out of you. I’m too tired. Just stick them in the mailbox, okay?

Oh, there’s the phone again. I have to run! You get back to work on that story; and by the way, if you haven’t checked out our website yet, you should. It explains everything I’m not going to here.

http://www.anhonestlie.wordpress.com/