The Illumination of Queen Bees

Dearest reader,

My situations really have improved since last week. I've received a bit of inspiration and almost have a story done for the open submission for Cross Genera Magazine. I'm really excited cause after being a in a dry spell for the last two months it hasn't been easy. It's not like I'm just pouring out words like they simply can't be contained (though that is really amazing and I love when that happens) but it's not like I'm trying to extract blood from a stone. So that's good. I hope to send out a portion of it it for this months Lunacy Project. Sign up for this month (or for a year?) if you'd like to have a little story to read come this Saturday -which is this months full moon.

For those interested in what its about: it's a story about a woman looking back on her life, the magic she's made, the lives she's impacted, dignity, and choice. Should be a little controversial but hey, I'm not writing for children here. I think we can discuss sticky issues and raw topics through many means and stories (fictional or other-wise) are excellent places with our culture to have these discussions.

In other news Pill Hill Press, the publisher for the anthology I've been published by is no longer in business. This is a sad day. They really gave so many new authors the chance to show their work, myself being one of them. I wish the editors over at PHP the best of luck. I send them my love and luck.

This does mean that I have the rights to my story back. Therefore, instead of attempting to resell the story to another publisher, I have chosen to publish it on my own website and it is free to you. You can read it right off the site or can download a free PDF version. If you are so inclined to throw a few bucks my way I've put up a $1.00 donation button on the page. This will help pay for the website hosting services so it would be greatly appreciated. I really do hope you enjoy the story. I enjoyed writing it and am very proud of it. I really do consider it the first stepping stone to being considered a published author and that is why I'm really happy I'm able to bring it to you. 

Thank you all and have a great week!

New Moon, New Names, New Projects

Happy New Moon Everyone.

So as you know these last few weeks (if not months) has been a very big transitional period for me. Graduation, then all the shifting duty’s and attitudes around the farm, not to mention the ever present changing of the seasons, then that ended and I moved back to Lakeville. That's a lot for less than seven months. Now I’m looking for a job in the non-profit sector as opposed to agriculture (still wondering if that’s the right choice). On top of all that, I’m really trying focusing on the writing, which if you are reading this blog, I do truly thank you.

With all of these changes I feel the need to renovating and reconstructing my public identity. I’ve been published under Charles Grabuski in the Roaring Muse, The Naked Feather, and the short story The Illumination of Queen Bees (P.S. there are only two copies left). I have an urban occult story out for consideration from Anarchron Press in the UK under then name Charles Joseph Grabuski. I really hope that one will get published cause that would be awesome. Send some prayers and energy my way. But my full name sounds to clunky. It’s a bit long and I’d like something a bit more condensed; a byline that maybe sounds and looks a little more authorial.

In the new moon light (or absence thereof) I’m choosing CJ Grabuski as my new byline. I like it. It’s quick, to the point and retains my last name which I truly do love. Future husband, please realize that I will be keeping my last name but will consider hyphenating.

With this new name, I’m also switching email addresses. I’m keeping my university e-mail (grabu004@d.umn.edu) as my main/professional address but for the writing, the short stories, and The Lunacy Project, I’ve created cjgrabuski@gmail.com. Either will be ways fine ways of contacting me. The website is currently under development as I construct something more professional than the Google site. I’m keeping it up and running for now seeing how I’m trying to stay focused on the writing aspect of the whole thing. In fact, besides sending off three resumes, I've started a novella today.

Speaking of the New Moon: there’s just over a week left to sign up for this month’s story (or sign up for a whole year if the spirit moves you). This month’s story is really good. I’m really proud of it. I hope you in turn will find it just as good.

NEW PROJECT

Kailey Mo Becker is an amazing graphic designer and dear friend of mine and together we have created the Ten Words or Less project. Simply put, I’ve written little phrases from various stories I’ve gotten published or put up on the blog. From these ten words (or less) she creates beautiful pieces of art. She has a passion for typefaces and a keen eye for fresh design. If you like them, like the page, share it on your wall, tell your friends. If you would like a print,  please let either her or me know by shooting us an e-mail. They are 6inx6in so keep that in mind. We are currently working out printing and pricing options. There will be a formal page on each of our websites once things are finalized. In the mean time check back often for more updates on the project. Thank you for your support.

A Forest of Courage in print... or so to speak et alt

My new piece, A Forest of Courage, is featured in the May 2012 edition of With Painted Words. It's short, less an 1,000 words, so check it out. With Painted Words was the first magazine to publish my work and I am so grateful to them for choosing another of my short stories. Support them and their contributors and supports (i.e. Pill Hill Press i.e. the people who published my story The Illumination of Queen Bees) with moneys or words of encouragement.  

P.S. BUGS! (the anthology where you may find The Illumination of Queen Bees) I've been told will be available for kindle/nook/e-readers someday. I thought that it would be available soon after its release but that seems not to be the case. If you don't want to buy a hard copy, you can help all of us contributors by easily clicking on the "Tell the Publisher" button on this page.

P.S.S. It is summer once again and I be working hard at Red Goose Gardens. This also means I will be updating the blog more often then... never... which has been the trend. So add me to your RSS feed. I'll be posting short segments of thing I will be submitting, the little bits of imaginative non-sense that form during my long hours in the fields, and general updates on what's going on I my life.  Check back often for a little bit of everything.