| I am so pleased to announce that this month my new story. Hark the Four Tushinski Sing is available for a free reading on Short Édition. I’m sure I’ve talked about Short Édition before. My favorite market! Short Édition has short story dispensaries all over the world. You can see a map here. They are in the most remote places. People in those places can read your stories for free! They give these stories to people all over the world! Instead of paying a dispensary for drugs, or junk, you are getting short stories to enrich your life FOR FREE. Not only do they treat their readers well, they treat their authors like royalty! They pay very well- and they pay royalties, good royalties! They inform you when you’ve reached 600 readers, or 1000 readers. They really are a shining light in the publishing world and I will continue to submerge them with tales as long as they will let me. I hope you read and enjoy my story about my father. I miss him dailyAlso out this month, at the end of the month Is the audio Spanish version of Dirk Quigby’s Guide to the Afterlife (All you need to Know to Choose the Right Heaven.), La guía de Dirk Quigby al más allá.: CÓMO ELEGIR EL CIELO MÁS ADECUADO PARA USTED ) Narrated by the wonderful Rafael Silva-Calderon. I quote his very touching letter to me,”I almost cried in the very last part…Because at the end, if there is a God, he is everything.”If you DM me, I will send you a free code for an audio copy of this book in either English, Spanish or short story form. All the readers are fabulous. ! And how you gotta pick the right heaven if you don’t have all the options spelled out for you?”Impish and delightful—a hilarious Zagat’s Guide to Heaven!”—Ray Bradbury”A fantastical, profound, hilarious and rollicking good ride through the heavens and hells of the afterlife! A wonderful book.”—Margaret Cho The New York Journal of Books.”This is the most delightful book this reviewer has read in a while…. The Guide to the Afterlife is a mixture of fact and fiction, faith and mysticism at its best.”The Midwest Review of BooksShopping around for where you spend eternity can prove quite overwhelming…a quirky and offbeat novel, the laughs roll together well with plenty of substance. “Dirk Quigby’s Guide to the Afterlife” is excellently composed and a read that is fun and very hard to set down.Boring Is Safe S. F. WeeklyA mock ZAGAT Guide to the Lord’s domain, Dirk Quigby’s Guide to the Afterlife is a sly and satirical glimpse into what would happen if a Madison Avenue mad man gave heaven a PR makeover. King clearly relishes her many opportunities to skewer the advertising industry and the pious, indulging in jokes at the expense of religions both venerable (Catholicism) and questionable (Scientology). As the book’s framing narrative develops, the titular ad man finds that his succinct reviews of the world’s religions (using a convenient ZAGAT-style rating scale) inflame believers of all faiths. It’s a risk the real-life author is also taking. Considering her vocal support for scientific research and rational thought, and her role as an adviser for a number of science advocacy organizations, she probably doesn’t mind a bit of religious controversy. All the better for us nonbelieving heathens: As King demonstrates, the devil also has the best jokes.In other book news, I have a short story, The Great Unconformity a novel, Gods & Monsters, one poetry on the Nebula Reading List. If you happen to be a SFWA member, I would surely appreciate a thumbs up.In other lovely news… I received this message on instagram,”Hi Elizabeth! I’m trying to get ahold of you because I work at Inn on the Russian River in Monte Rio. The hotel recently sold to a new owner and we found a beautiful painting of our reception office that the internet seems to think is yours. We love the painting so much and want to credit the artist. Let me know a good place I can reach you at to confirm. Thanks, Cass.”  ME: :I painted this piece many years ago in trade for my mom staying at the Inn for a couple of nights! I’m so glad you like it and found me!”Cass: Aww that is so sweet! I’m so glad I found you! The power of Reddit!Me: “Once again – thank you for finding and crediting me! It SOOO much – often I fell like I’m shouting into a distant wind, so it’s lovely to know you have and cherish my painting.So- if you like a piece art or writing, or theater, or science, or just remember a kindness, or a good teacher, REACH OUT! Reach Back! It’s so lovely to know that someone somewhere is appreciating your work!A Long Lost Friend of sorts, a woman who studied piano with my mother, Betsy Wesley, now, Dr Betsy Ellen Wesley recently reached out to me. Years ago, in another life, possibly another dimension I played the flute. We did two or three recitals together. Now she’s an emergency doctor and also a comedian! Laughter is the best cure, but most doctors aren’t so literal.Last month Long Lost Friends, Andrea Goyan interviewed Joe Mynhardt of Crystal Lake Publisher. And this month we are interviewing writer Ai Jaing and Publisher Larry Moore of Broadstone Books. He is the fabulous publisher of, An Illegal Feast.In other carnivorous news, my carnivorous plants are loving this weather. I’m not unless I’m at the beach in the water. It’s really hot and humid here.I love feeding the little bird outside my window, but of course pigeon show up to eat their droppings. Kevan has instituted a war against the pigeons so far the winners are pigeon six Kevan zero some of his efforts. I am enjoying this almost as much as I’m feeding the little birds. |
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