tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54340020904196955682024-03-13T17:51:14.033-05:00Speaking of the Mad...M. Keaton's non-billable word countmkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-14365580352090212222023-10-31T16:07:00.003-05:002023-10-31T16:07:11.009-05:00Strange Aeon: 2023 Is Out<p> The fourth year of the anthology series is available and looks good. As always, it has been my honor and pleasure to work with both the authors in the anthology and those who submitted that I had to pass on. Thank you to everyone involved and to everyone who reads. Please don't forget to review the anthology on Amazon and ask you local library to pick up a copy.</p><p>Again, thank you all.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>M. Keatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738277935424414536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-1203930454649307202023-05-10T12:47:00.000-05:002023-05-10T12:47:04.523-05:00SA 2023 Submissions Completed<p>To the best of my knowledge, all manuscripts submitted for this year's anthology have been reviewed and all submitters notified of the decisions regarding their submissions. If you have not, please notify me ASAP.</p><p>Thank you,</p><p>MK</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>M. Keatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738277935424414536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-84994548765559895032023-04-29T17:53:00.005-05:002023-04-29T17:53:46.070-05:00Scheduling Update<p> I will be out of the office this week. If all goes well, the final contracts for the 2023 anthology will go out once I return.</p><p>Thank you,</p><p>MK</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>M. Keatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738277935424414536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-63292453384599878922023-03-29T11:55:00.004-05:002023-03-29T11:55:45.673-05:00SA 2023 Submission Window Update<p> Because of scheduling issues, I'll be closing to submissions early. </p><p>Instead of April 30th, we will be closing to submissions on April 14th. If this change will cause a hardship or if you are working on a story and simply need more time, please send an email and let us know.</p><p>MK</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>M. Keatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738277935424414536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-89002085491926805642023-02-20T12:17:00.003-06:002023-02-20T12:17:37.321-06:00Strange Aeon: 2023 now open for submissions<p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>Strange
Aeon: 2023 (Wonder)</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">
is a continuation of the Strange Aeon anthology series. As always, I
want good, solid stories in a cosmic horror/Lovecraftian vein.
I specifically say Lovecraftian rather than Cthulu because I’d like
stories across the entire Mythos, including additions by the original
group of Mythos authors like Robert Howard and Clark Ashton Smith.
[1]. In fact, I’d like to use more stories that do not have
specific Lovecraftian references and that move away from the
traditional Lovecraft style and voice. Try to avoid pastiche and tell
fresh new stories in your own settings. Style preference applies to
gore and sex as well: think early Weird Tales, no excessive language
or explicit sexual references. (You do not have to remove all
profanity from your submission—I can read around it—but, if your
story is accepted, you will be required to remove it from the final
version.)</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">I
am especially interested in stories of mad science, monster-based
horror, weird western, and stories that “peel the onion.” Indeed,
I cannot emphasize strongly enough the need for these categories.
Victoriana and Lovecraft era period pieces will have a much harder
time finding acceptance.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">The
theme of this year’s anthology is wonder and I am specifically
looking for stories that have a sense of grandeur and discovery. That
being said, please send anything you consider a good story. Feel free
to query for any questions. If you are planning to write a story
especially for this anthology, by all means query the idea first.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">For
this anthology I’m asking for non-exclusive rights and will happily
take reprints. Simply tell me the publication history so that I can
give proper copyright acknowledgment. I will prioritize original
stories over reprints and older, more obscure reprints over more
recent ones. Simultaneous and multiple submissions are acceptable;
please do so in a professional manner. For multiple submissions, feel
free to send all submissions attached to a single email. If you are
in doubt about a story or story idea, feel free to query.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Though
I am not especially interested in non-fiction or poetry, I will
consider it. At most, only one non-fiction piece and one work
of (long) poetry will be used.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">I’m
not overly concerned about length. 5,000 to 10,000 words is
preferable but I know that horror doesn’t always lend itself to a
strict word count and I’ll look at any length. (I think the longest
pieces that have been used have been just over 20,000 words and the
shortest about 2,000.) I don’t care about submission formatting as
long as it’s legible, clean copy. Electronically, I need the
manuscript attached as an RTF, DOC, or DOCX file. Please submit to
the email address mkeatonauthor (at) gmail (dot) com with the word
Submission in the header.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">The
goal is a final book with ten to 15 stories averaging 5,000 to 10,000
words apiece. I will be accepting submissions no later than the end
of April (or until the anthology is filled. If you are writing a
story specifically for this anthology and are concerned about the “is
filled,” feel free to query me in advance). I will update
these guidelines and notify any already accepted authors if the date
has to be pushed back. I plan to start making final decisions
beginning in May. All submissions should have final confirmation of
acceptance or rejection by the first week of May.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">What's
in it for the author? There will be a token payment of $20 and a
compensatory copy for the author, or $35 for authors outside the USA.
Contributors will get a bio to promote their own work. (I would like
to avoid a specific word limit on bios; please respect the reader and
the fact that every additional page raises the cover price. I reserve
the right to edit bios for space.) Copyright will be retained by the
author. Payment will be upon acceptance with comp copy to follow
release of the anthology. If, due to unforeseen circumstances,
the anthology is canceled, the author is, of course, to keep the $20.
[2]</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Important
Notes:</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">1]
Authors new to working in the Mythos may find this a bit confusing.
Let me be clear: do not use characters, creatures, book names, or
anything else from modern authors. Modern authors are under
copyright. Lovecraft and the other members of his original “circle”
are largely under public domain. Please, do not accidentally
infringe on anyone’s copyright. Always check first. In addition,
gaming rules and supplements are also copyrighted works and should
not be used. If in doubt, only use Lovecraft’s own work as a source
just to be on the safe side. Better yet, create your own. This is
always important when writing but especially in the murky
pseudo-shared world of the Mythos where the lines are more difficult
to see. If you questions have or concerns about this, a quick
internet search should tell you what you need to know. (One exception
is if you wish to include Cobalt Green milieu references. Any Cobalt
Green tie-ins should be queried first but since I own the copyrights,
I also have the leeway to grant usage rights. Nevertheless, I would
still rather see your original ideas.)</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">2]
Since any publication, the first time, in any form, is by definition
a use of First Rights, if you sell an unpublished work, even on a
non-exclusive contract, then you have used your First Rights. And
once First Rights (North American, World, Print, E-, or whatever
other form they may be) are used, it's all reprints from there and
most places are no longer interested. I would love to see your
work, but I don’t want you to lose out on another market because of
confusion about the rights. As noted earlier, I am interested in
reprints for this project. One of the goals of this anthology is to
help writers and readers in this specific genre interest discover
each other. For this, reprints work very well.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>M. Keatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738277935424414536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-91274516901244013742022-12-28T11:07:00.005-06:002022-12-28T11:07:49.617-06:00Les Femmes Grotesque by Victoria Dalpe: Somebody Else's Book is Coming Out<p> Victoria Dalpe has been a repeat submitter to the Strange Aeon Anthologies and her story "City Planning" is in this year's presentation. It is now my pleasure to let you know that Clash Books is bringing out a single author collection of her work. The book is entitled <i>Les Femmes Grotesque</i> and is available for pre-order from the link below.</p><p><a href="https://www.clashbooks.com/new-products-2/victoria-dalpe-les-femmes-grotesques-preorder">https://www.clashbooks.com/new-products-2/victoria-dalpe-les-femmes-grotesques-preorder</a><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-vWVlOPgbtJ1OYw6un6NEy2LVZprNgXQ9Ay1ZGZUs9IHXtL_hyPF5M1OCRPrh_A5iHSlngh-lmpohzz5hkdXnYA3UXH6LqPLoHMkYG4LFzjt_mcWoJKS4HIQo5TNi3CxUECUSrwypTy55_bME95RG1oRQO9VUN0GyoOEZYk_RtEFx2JaJm4CRZiv/s240/lesfemmesVLD%20cover%20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="154" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-vWVlOPgbtJ1OYw6un6NEy2LVZprNgXQ9Ay1ZGZUs9IHXtL_hyPF5M1OCRPrh_A5iHSlngh-lmpohzz5hkdXnYA3UXH6LqPLoHMkYG4LFzjt_mcWoJKS4HIQo5TNi3CxUECUSrwypTy55_bME95RG1oRQO9VUN0GyoOEZYk_RtEFx2JaJm4CRZiv/s1600/lesfemmesVLD%20cover%20.png" width="154" /></a></div><br /><p>With blurbs by Gemma Files and Laird Barron, this book hardly needs my paltry comments but here goes: I liked it. I've been a fan of Ms. Dalpe since she sent me a copy of "Rig Rash" to read when I was putting together the first Strange Aeon anthology. And "Rig Rash" is in this collection; that alone makes the book worth the read. The stories range from cosmic horror to tales of creeping dread based in the human condition. There's a nice variety and balance and the collection is well-paced. Fair warning: like most horror fiction, the stories in the collection are "adult" but the gore and sexuality is in service of the story and appropriate, not merely to titillate the reader. I also read an e-version of the book so I can't speak to the quality of the printed volume. Clash has a history of putting out a decent product so that shouldn't be a concern. </p><p>All in all, it's a solid work reflective of Ms. Dalpe's style and, if you're looking for a dark, evocative read, worth acquiring for your collection. Pre-order today.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-28075893587124191882022-12-06T12:46:00.000-06:002022-12-06T12:46:02.910-06:00Strange Aeon: 2022 Hopeful Monsters is Live<p> And has been since the end of October. I delayed announcing it because there was a typo in the first run that had to be fixed. (And that was after making even more corrections from the ARC. Some years go smoothly and other years make up for it.)</p><p>Yes, the third year of the anthology is out, pretty, polished, and, best of all, really good.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Aeon-2022-Hopeful-Monsters/dp/B0BKRZKQ3Z/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10AJ83XUHEFPA&keywords=m.+keaton&qid=1670351943&sprefix=m.+keaton%2Caps%2C441&sr=8-1">Enjoy.</a><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQP7zj1pL_e4wLx4QhwBj2vpqWeKqchfT6tK5PGoQ7CDkm-ZZv2w5V4E7jpCawQbTyrICL8DtVxJ_nC3ybzq5NgZTNmEAERxk-uGDc_VJ42qsK9GJ49TWIljhBI2FUsICBFVL2HLeVslI654NzVpGJlbAYQNqrr4Cv9S_aSa8njKh3EaanZ0FUkrJ/s499/SA2022thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQP7zj1pL_e4wLx4QhwBj2vpqWeKqchfT6tK5PGoQ7CDkm-ZZv2w5V4E7jpCawQbTyrICL8DtVxJ_nC3ybzq5NgZTNmEAERxk-uGDc_VJ42qsK9GJ49TWIljhBI2FUsICBFVL2HLeVslI654NzVpGJlbAYQNqrr4Cv9S_aSa8njKh3EaanZ0FUkrJ/s320/SA2022thumbnail.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-80021073127420528642022-07-19T13:30:00.001-05:002022-07-19T13:30:18.194-05:00Strange Aeon: 2022 Anthology Submission Review Completed<p> My apologies for the delays but, at this point, everyone who submitted to this year's anthology should have been notified one way or the other about their submission. If you have not, please contact me immediately.</p><p>Thank you.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-80521904574760980242022-07-06T14:30:00.000-05:002022-07-06T14:30:14.538-05:00Possible Anthology Delay<p> I just wanted to let everyone know that it is likely that I will not get the rejection/acceptance letters out by the end of this week. I am experiencing a (hopefully minor) health problem that will probably preclude me working for the rest of the week.</p><p>Please know that your patience is appreciated.</p><p>MK</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-30398048380407920622022-04-04T11:56:00.004-05:002022-04-04T11:56:40.947-05:00Strange Aeon: 2022 is now open for submissions<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Yes, we're starting our third year. Thank you for your interest and support. The guidelines are below.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Strange Aeon: 2022 (Hopeful Monsters)</i> is a
continuation of the <i>Strange Aeon</i> anthology series. As always, I want
good, solid stories in a cosmic horror/Lovecraftian vein.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I specifically say Lovecraftian rather than
Cthulu because I’d like stories across the entire Mythos, including additions
by the original group of Mythos authors like Robert Howard and Clark Ashton
Smith. [1]. In fact, I’d like to use more stories that do not have specific
Lovecraftian references and that move away from the traditional Lovecraft style
and voice. Try to avoid pastiche and tell fresh new stories in your own
settings. Style preference applies to gore and sex as well: think early <i>Weird
Tales</i>, no excessive language or explicit sexual references. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am especially interested in stories of mad science,
monster-based horror, weird western, and stories that “peel the onion.” Indeed,
I cannot emphasize strongly enough the need for these categories. Victoriana
and Lovecraft era period pieces will have a much harder time finding acceptance.
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This year’s anthology is slanted more towards stories
showing protagonists “fighting the good fight” in the face of implacable horror
and fewer stories that are mood based rather than plot driven. That being said,
please send anything you consider a good story. Feel free to query for any
questions. If you are planning to write a story especially for this anthology,
by all means query the idea first. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For this anthology I’m asking for non-exclusive rights and
will happily take reprints. Simply tell me the publication history so that I
can give proper copyright acknowledgement. Simultaneous and multiple
submissions are acceptable; please do so in a professional manner. If you are
in doubt about a story or story idea, feel free to query.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Though I am not especially interested in non-fiction or
poetry, I will consider it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At most,
only one non-fiction piece and one work of (long) poetry will be used.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m not overly concerned about length. 5,000 to 10,000 words
is preferable but I know that horror doesn’t always lend itself to a strict
word count and I’ll look at any length. (I think the longest pieces that have
been used have been just over 20,000 words and the shortest about 2,000.) I
don’t care about submission formatting as long as it’s legible, clean copy.
Electronically, I need the manuscript attached as an RTF, DOC, or DOCX file.
Please submit to the email address mkeatonauthor (at) gmail (dot) com with the
word Submission in the header. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The goal is a final book with ten to 15 stories averaging 5,000
to 10,000 words apiece. I will be accepting submissions no later than the end
of June (or until the anthology is filled. If you are writing a story
specifically for this anthology and are concerned about the “is filled,” feel
free to query me in advance).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will
update these guidelines and notify any already accepted authors if the date has
to be pushed back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I plan to start
making final decisions beginning in mid-June. All submissions should have final
confirmation of acceptance or rejection by the first week of July.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What's in it for the author? There will be a token payment
of $20 and a compensatory copy for the author, or $35 for authors outside the
USA. Contributors will get a bio to promote their own work. (I would like to
avoid a specific word limit on bios; please respect the reader and the fact
that every additional page raises the cover price. I reserve the right to edit
bios for space.) Copyright will be retained by the author. Payment will be upon
acceptance with comp copy to follow release of the anthology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If, due to unforeseen circumstances, the
anthology is cancelled, the author is, of course, to keep the $20. [2]</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Important Notes:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Authors new to
working in the Mythos may find this a bit confusing. Let me be clear: do not
use characters, creatures, book names, or anything else from modern authors.
Modern authors are under copyright. Lovecraft and the other members of his
original “circle” are largely under public domain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please, do not accidentally infringe on anyone’s copyright. Always
check first. In addition, gaming rules and supplements are also copyrighted
works and should not be used. If in doubt, only use Lovecraft’s own work as a
source just to be on the safe side. Better yet, create your own. This is always
important when writing but especially in the murky pseudo-shared world of the
Mythos where the lines are more difficult to see. If you questions have or
concerns about this, a quick internet search should tell you what you need to
know. (One exception is if you wish to include <i>Cobalt Green</i> milieu
references. Any <i>Cobalt Green</i> tie-ins should be queried first but since I
own the copyrights, I also have the leeway to grant usage rights. Nevertheless,
I would still rather see your original ideas.)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since any
publication, the first time, in any form, is by definition a use of First
Rights, if you sell an unpublished work, even on a non-exclusive contract, then
you have used your First Rights. And once First Rights (North American, World,
Print, E-, or whatever other form they may be) are used, it's all reprints from
there and most places are no longer interested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would love to see your work, but I don’t want you to lose out
on another market because of confusion about the rights. As noted earlier, I am
interested in reprints for this project. One of the goals of this anthology is
to help writers and readers in this specific genre interest discover each
other. For this, reprints work very well.</p><br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-91189339105902879712021-10-01T12:24:00.001-05:002021-10-01T12:24:06.378-05:00Strange Aeon: 2021 is live<p> The 2021 edition of the Strange Aeon anthology, in all its purple Lovecraftian glory, is officially available.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3d1gQ0go0w/YVdDRpRoRFI/AAAAAAAAAU8/AHf1Sj18HMIKMPi2TUcHdEMmEcruc1z3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s499/SA2021thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3d1gQ0go0w/YVdDRpRoRFI/AAAAAAAAAU8/AHf1Sj18HMIKMPi2TUcHdEMmEcruc1z3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/SA2021thumb.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br /><p>I just finished okaying the proofs and making all the ordering arrangements. I still have to get the comp copies off to the contributors and review copies to marketing but if you're chomping at the bit for the new anthology (and why wouldn't you be?), it is available in time for you to order a hard copy or twelve for Halloween.</p><p>MK</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-61842570424179080522021-06-28T13:05:00.002-05:002021-06-28T13:05:44.579-05:00Anthology Update<p> Coming into the final month of submission reading, there are a few things I could specifically use (if anyone cares).</p><p><br /></p><p>I'd really like a good weird western, a solid detective story, and something lite to balance against all the grimness. I'm still reading everything but those three types would help balance the anthology (and, honestly, with the fewer direct Lovecraft references, the better; just good stories).</p><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-35647641233652972782021-05-21T12:51:00.001-05:002021-05-21T13:04:05.504-05:00Strange Aeon: 2021 Submission GuidelinesWe've decided to do the anthology again this year. Please pass the word along to
any authors you know who might be interested. <div><br /></div><div><i>Strange Aeon: 2021 (Fearful
Wisdom)</i> is a companion volume to last years <i>Strange Aeon: 2020 (Lovecraftian
Tales)</i>. That alone tells you much of what you need to know. Like last year, I
want good, solid stories in a cosmic horror/Lovecraftian vein. I specifically
say Lovecraftian rather than Cthulu because I’d like stories across the entire
Mythos, including additions by the original group of Mythos authors like Robert
Howard and Clark Ashton Smith. [1]. In fact, this year I’d like to use more
stories that do not have specific Lovecraftian references and that move away
from the traditional Lovecraft style and voice. Try to avoid pastiche and tell
fresh new stories in your own settings. Style preference applies to gore and sex
as well: think early Weird Tales, no excessive language or explicit sexual
references. Although open to all forms of cosmic horror, science fiction horror
is more of a focus in this year’s anthology. I am especially interested in
stories of mad science and stories that “peel the onion.” Victoriana and
Lovecraft era period pieces will have a much harder time finding acceptance. </div><div><br /></div><div>For
this anthology I’m asking for non-exclusive rights and will happily take
reprints. Simply tell me the publication history so that I can give proper
copyright acknowledgement. </div><div><br /></div><div>Simultaneous and multiple submissions are acceptable;
please do so in a professional manner. If you are in doubt about a story or
story idea, feel free to query. </div><div><br /></div><div>Though I am not especially interested in
non-fiction or poetry, I will consider it. At most, only one non-fiction piece
and one work of (long) poetry will be used. </div><div><br /></div><div>I’m not overly concerned about
length. 2,500 to 10,000 words is preferable but I know that horror doesn’t
always lend itself to a strict word count. </div><div><br /></div><div>I don’t care about submission
formatting as long as it’s legible, clean copy. Electronically, I need the
manuscript attached as an RTF, DOC, or DOCX file. Please submit to the email
address mkeatonauthor (at) gmail (dot) com with the word Submission in the
header. </div><div><br /></div><div>The goal is a final book with about ten stories averaging 5,000 words
apiece. I will be accepting submissions no later than the end of July (or until
the anthology is filled. If you are writing a story specifically for this
anthology and are concerned about the “is filled,” feel free to query me in
advance). </div><div><br /></div><div>I will update these guidelines and notify any already accepted authors
if the date has to be pushed back. I plan to start making final decisions
beginning in mid-July. All submissions should have final confirmation of
acceptance or rejection by the following week. </div><div><br /></div><div>What's in it for the author?
There will be a token payment of $20 and a compensatory copy for the author, or
$35 for authors outside the USA. Contributors will get a bio to promote their
own work. (I would like to avoid a specific word limit on bios; please respect
the reader and the fact that every additional page raises the cover price. I
reserve the right to edit bios for space.) Copyright will be retained by the
author. Payment will be upon acceptance with comp copy to follow release of the
anthology. If, due to unforeseen circumstances, the anthology is cancelled, the
author is, of course, to keep the $20. [2] </div><div><br /></div><div>Important Notes: </div><div><br /></div><div>1] Authors new to
working in the Mythos may find this a bit confusing. Let me be clear: do not use
characters, creatures, book names, or anything else from modern authors. Modern
authors are under copyright. Lovecraft and the other members of his original
“circle” are largely under public domain. Please, do not accidentally infringe
on anyone’s copyright. Always check first. In addition, gaming rules and
supplements are also copyrighted works and should not be used. If in doubt, only
use Lovecraft’s own work as a source just to be on the safe side. Better yet,
create your own. This is always important when writing but especially in the
murky pseudo-shared world of the Mythos where the lines are more difficult to
see. If you questions have or concerns about this, a quick internet search
should tell you what you need to know. </div><div><br /></div><div>2] Since any publication, the first time,
in any form, is by definition a use of First Rights, if you sell an unpublished
work, even on a non-exclusive contract, then you have used your First Rights.
And once First Rights (North American, World, Print, E-, or whatever other form
they may be) are used, it's all reprints from there and most places are no
longer interested. I would love to see your work, but I don’t want you to lose
out on another market because of confusion about the rights. As noted earlier, I
am interested in reprints for this project. One of the goals of this anthology
is to help writers and readers in this specific genre interest discover each
other. For this, reprints work very well.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-2878444617572489352020-10-22T22:40:00.002-05:002020-10-22T22:40:14.263-05:00Anthology "Strange Aeon: 2020" now live and available!The anthology is completed and available. Now, as you all know, the machine and I have a running fued so let's see if it will let me give you a link to the book and a cover image.
https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Aeon-2020-Lovecraftian-Tales/dp/B08JHW1QYL/ref=asc_df_B08JHW1QYL/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=464036610911&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17089924619148490866&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1016643&hvtargid=pla-971844933802&psc=1#ace-7448806443
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLhx7DOQ8DI/X5JQbeTZGYI/AAAAAAAAASE/E-mYPC1y-ZweXwVkVcNzUxVc66ShvXb1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s499/Small%2BCover.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="313" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLhx7DOQ8DI/X5JQbeTZGYI/AAAAAAAAASE/E-mYPC1y-ZweXwVkVcNzUxVc66ShvXb1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Small%2BCover.jpg"/></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-21994632762293276702020-08-31T17:39:00.002-05:002020-08-31T17:39:07.441-05:00Anthology Submissions CompletedAll the authors who submitted to the anthology should have recieved a reply by now. If I have missed you, please let me know ASAP; I certianly didn't mean to leave you in the dark.
MK<div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-62203959554172269442020-08-05T22:32:00.006-05:002020-08-06T16:31:46.011-05:00Anthology Submissions Closing August 13, 2020Due to wonderful and enthusiastic response, I am forced to close the anthology to further submissions. Everything I have already recieved will be reviewed and authors that have already quieried should, of course, already send their stuff along ASAP.
Thank you all. Now MUCH editing and formatting must occur. Please be patient. To heck with that, be excited and impatient and spread the word that this thing is on track.
MK<div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-70274709687983915352020-07-12T18:58:00.003-05:002020-08-06T16:30:57.952-05:00Official (Updated) Lovecraft Anthology Guidelines--Closed to Further Submissions 8/13/2020Closing to further submissions August 13. For more information, see above post.
The guidelines are simple. The working anthology title is Strange Aeon: 2020 (Lovecraftian Tales). That alone tells you most of what you need to know. I want good, solid Lovecraftian stories. I specifically say Lovecraftian rather than Cthulu because I’d like stories across the entire Mythos including additions by the original group of Mythos authors like Robert Howard and Clark Ashton Smith. [1] Likewise, specific Mythos references are not as important as getting the right style and tone. For example, I would happily take Smith’s Seed From the Sepulcher over a Deep One tale. This style preference also applies to gore and sex: think early Weird Tales. Having said that, science fiction horror is strongly encouraged; this is not an anthology of period pieces. For this anthology I’m asking for non-exclusive rights and will happily take reprints. Simply tell me the publication history so that I can give proper copyright acknowledgement. Simultaneous and multiple submissions are acceptable (please do so in a professional manner.)<br />
<br />
Though I am not especially interested in non-fiction or poetry, I will consider it. At most only one non-fiction piece and one work of (long) poetry will be used.<br />
<br />
I’m not overly concerned about length. 2,500 to 10,000 words is preferable but I also know from personal experience that horror doesn’t always lend itself to a strict word count. I don’t care about submission formatting as long as it’s legible, clean copy. Electronically, I need the story either in the body of an email or an as RTF file. Please submit to the email address mkeatonauthor (at) gmail (dot) com with the word Submission in the header. The goal is a final book with about ten stories averaging 5,000 words apiece. <br />
<br />
I be receiving submissions no later than the end of August (or until the anthology is filled.) I will update these guidelines and notify any already accepted authors if the release date has to be pushed back. All submission received before the end of August should have final confirmation of acceptance or rejection by the following week. [2]<br />
<br />
What's in it for the author? There will be a token payment of $20 and a compensatory copy for the author; but the really useful part is that each contributor gets a bio to promote their own stuff. (I would like to avoid a specific word limit on bios; please respect the reader and the fact that every additional page raises the cover price and I reserve the right to edit bios for space.) Copyright will be retained by the author. Payment will be upon acceptance with comp copy to follow release of the anthology. If, due to unforeseen circumstances, the anthology is cancelled, the author is, of course, to keep the $20. [3]<br />
<br />
Important Notes:<br />
1] Authors new to working in the Mythos may find this a bit confusing. Let me be clear: do not use characters, creatures, book names, or anything else from modern authors. Modern authors are under copyright. Lovecraft and the other members of his original “circle” are largely under public domain. Please, do not accidentally infringe on anyone’s copyright. Always check first. In addition, gaming rules and supplements are also copyrighted works and should not be used. If in doubt, only use Lovecraft’s own work as a source just to be on the safe side. Better yet, create your own. This is always important when writing but especially in the murky pseudo-shared world of the Mythos where the lines are more difficult to see. If you questions have or concerns about this, a quick internet search should tell you what you need to know. <br />
<br />
2] This is not a plug for Amazon. My intent is to be as transparent as possible about the process, quality of the final product, and anything else involved that might be a consideration for you as an author.<br />
<br />
3] Since any publication, the first time, in any form, is by definition a use of First Rights, if you sell an unpublished work, even on a non-exclusive contract, then you have used your First Rights. And once First Rights (North American, World, Print, E-, or whatever other form they may be) are used, it's all reprints from there and most places are no longer interested. I would love to see your work but I don’t want you to lose out on another market because of confusion about the rights. As noted earlier, for this project, I am very, very interested in reprints for this project. One of the goals of this project is to help writers and readers with this specific genre interest discover each other. For this, reprints work very well.<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-22239350283277581762020-06-28T14:58:00.000-05:002020-06-28T14:58:05.876-05:00Working on a New Lovecraft Anthology<br />
The guidelines are simple. The working anthology title is The Year’s Best Lovecraftian Horror: 2020. That alone tells you most of what you need to know. I want good, solid Lovecraftian stories. I specifically say Lovecraftian rather than Cthulu because I’d like stories across the entire mythos including additions by the original group of mythos authors like Robert Howard and Clark Ashton Smith. Likewise, specific mythos references are not as important as getting the right style and tone. For example, I would happily take Smith’s Seed From the Sepulcher over a Deep One tale. This style preference also applies to gore and sex: think early Weird Tales. Having said that, science fiction horror is strongly encouraged; this is not an anthology of period pieces. <br />
<br />
I’m not overly concerned about length. 2,500 to 10,000 words is preferable but I also know from personal experience that horror doesn’t always lend itself to a strict word count. I don’t care about submission formatting as long as it’s legible, clean copy. Electronically, I need the story either in the body of an email or an as rtf file.<br />
<br />
The goal is a final book with about ten stories averaging 5,000 words apiece. I’m working on having internal black-and-white line art and a paperback size layout. Unless something changes, I’ll probably use Amazon KDP for e-book and print and the goal is to release the book officially on Halloween. Logistically that means I need the stories submitted ASAP and certainly no later than the end of July.<br />
<br />
What's in it for the author? Mainly exposure. There will be a token payment of $20 and a comp copy for the author but the really useful part is that each contributor gets a bio to promote their own stuff. (I’m trying to avoid a specific word limit on bios but please respect the reader and the fact that every additional page raises the cover price.) Copyright will be retained by the author and rights will revert to the author on publication. Payment upon acceptance with comp copy to follow at release.<br />
<br />
On a personal note, I know of at least two workshop submissions that I would take in a heartbeat if the stories were finished and even though it’s not expressly Lovecraftian, I would love to include Fade’s mermaid story.<br />
<br />
The decision to do this anthology was based on, first, the “Covid situation” (we need a convention but we can’t have a convention.) The second was the staff at my local bookstore repeatedly bringing up the fact that they can’t keep Lovecraftian horror on the shelves but no one is putting it out. This is a small attempt to alleviate both things.<br />
<br />
Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions and thank you for your time and support. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-86373747700115049262018-12-03T12:21:00.001-06:002018-12-03T12:27:40.997-06:00Review in SFRevu ReviewSFRevu Review has a review of the latest issue of Abyss & Apex including Calx in Rime. Feel free to jump over and have a look. (Now we attempt to outsmart the machine cabal and insert the link.) <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=18221"></a><br />
<br />
Bah, machine wins this round. The link is http://www.sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=18221<div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-19272898344980702152018-10-01T13:45:00.001-05:002018-10-01T13:52:24.175-05:00"Calx in Rime" now in "Abyss & Apex" magazine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.abyssapexzine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/CALX-IN-RIME-Illustration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://www.abyssapexzine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/CALX-IN-RIME-Illustration.jpg" width="400" height="400" data-original-width="130" data-original-height="130"></a></div>(Now we wait and see if you get the image or the machine cabal continues to plague me.)<br />
<br />
I am happy to announce that I am once again in Abyss & Apex magazine and that you can read the story on-line for free (although I encourage you to support the good people at A&A).<br />
<br />
Hop over to http://www.abyssapexzine.com/ ( <a href="http://www.abyssapexzine.com/"></a> )and take a look.<br />
<br />
And feel free to leave lots of positive comments. The editors over there are kind enough to not only publish me but to do it twice now and both time let me go over the official word count. Let them know that they made the right decision.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7JP7KCTBes/W7JqN0DGr-I/AAAAAAAAANQ/vEcN-nVohQI7TOB45Ekk6rCmLxse6bMGACLcBGAs/s1600/CALX-IN-RIME-Illustration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7JP7KCTBes/W7JqN0DGr-I/AAAAAAAAANQ/vEcN-nVohQI7TOB45Ekk6rCmLxse6bMGACLcBGAs/s200/CALX-IN-RIME-Illustration.jpg" width="200" height="200" data-original-width="130" data-original-height="130" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Okay, I'm bad at hype. "Calx and Rime" is a good piece that's action and horror. Not gore or shock but a clean, solid story. Is it good? Well, my dear wife thinks that it should be turned into a screenplay and made as a Bruce Willis movie for late night Syfy. I think we all know that her opinion is worth more than mine. I think it's worth your time to read and I think you'll enjoy it.<br />
<br />
MK<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-68696420200590875582016-12-20T15:12:00.003-06:002016-12-28T12:28:13.152-06:00Happy Chanukka and Merry ChristmasIf I'm correct, the 25th of Kislev is the 24th of December this year. Even if not, it is my most sincere with that you all have, not just a happy and merry time, but a period of peace, love, and fellowship with family and friends.<br />
<br />
God bless and protect,<br />
MK<br />
<br />
<br />
Edit: I seem to be off by one day on Chanukka. Nevertheless, the sentiment remains the same.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-19641683465597369612016-07-11T12:03:00.000-05:002016-07-11T12:03:13.666-05:00Somebody else's book is out--Pirate Vs. MonstersI had the honor of editing this anthology (the first time I've edited an anthology, in fact.) It's just out and I haven't even seen the final print but I know the stories--they cover a wide variety of styles and subjects and all the authors were courteous and professional to work with. Feel free to skip over and take a look. <br />
<br />
https://www.amazon.com/Pirates-Vs-Monsters-Neal-Privett-ebook/dp/B01HU8ZLI0/183-7458467-4796036?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=0ENGV10E9K9QDNSJ5C82&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B01HU8ZLI0&linkCode=xm2&tag=flatwave-20<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pirates-Vs-Monsters-Neal-Privett-ebook/dp/B01HU8ZLI0/183-7458467-4796036?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=0ENGV10E9K9QDNSJ5C82&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B01HU8ZLI0&linkCode=xm2&tag=flatwave-20"></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yh19LWJxraA/V4PQ5105VWI/AAAAAAAAAL8/1Lyr6MGeGCUbc3d1_2naeAzfvM6eOeL1gCLcB/s1600/PiratesvsMonsters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yh19LWJxraA/V4PQ5105VWI/AAAAAAAAAL8/1Lyr6MGeGCUbc3d1_2naeAzfvM6eOeL1gCLcB/s320/PiratesvsMonsters.jpg" width="213" height="320" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-72569330059225522532016-06-06T12:29:00.001-05:002016-06-06T12:29:40.298-05:00A Commencement Address I Was Not Asked to GiveA Commencement Address I Was Not Asked to Give<br />
M. Keaton<br />
<br />
Congratulations. To reach this point, you have spent the majority of your life jumping through someone else's hoops, dancing when they say dance, and reaching goals they set. And, of course, not dying. So congratulations; you're roughly as qualified to face your life as a circus seal--honk the horn, clap your hands, get a fish.<br />
<br />
That's probably overly harsh, in presentation if not in fact. Getting that precious piece of paper into your hands has, for many of you, been work and it is an accomplishment. You've learned a few skills in spite of the system and a handful of truly good people along the way have taught you the occasional real lesson. I do appreciate what you've done but at the same time it falls to me to warn you that nothing you've faced so far, and certainly nothing you've learned in school, has prepared you for what's coming. While everyone else is giving you speeches about dreams and goals and changing the world...well, why should I be any different? Let's talk about dreams and goals. And how you've been lied to.<br />
<br />
You've been taught to dream wrong. We live in the era of the thing, of the end product and not the process, of the montage in place of diligence. You've been taught to dream of what you will get and what you will be. You've been told to dream of being doctors and lawyers and captains of industry. You've been told to dream of big houses and nice cars and faster tech. In short, you've been taught to dream of things.<br />
<br />
Is the measure of a man to be the things he owns and the titles he holds? Is a man no more than material possessions and success a measure of external acclaim? Is the man who works with his hands, the man whose fingernails are dirty and who lives by the sweat of his brow, a failure? Is the woman who makes a home and raises healthy, wise children an example of a wasted life? If a man builds an empire and loses it to illness or fate, do you honestly believe that he is less than the man who built nothing because at least the man who did not build or risk has a big screen television? If you believe this then I must say to you that, in this life, you are damned. Stay hidden in academia and live beneath your parents' wings because you will never survive outside the largess of others and you will never know fulfillment or joy. These dreams are not enough, cannot be enough, and to settle for them is to condemn yourself to life of confusion and sickness of the soul. <br />
<br />
You must dream bigger. You, the builders of the future, must dream, not of what, but of why. You must dream of meaning. Do not dream of being a doctor; dream of learning the skills of a doctor so that you can give healing to the sick and comfort to the suffering. Do not dream of being an astronaut because it is a thing you want, dream of it because it will let you lead mankind to the stars and a better future. Do not dream of being something because it is a thing you want, dream of it because of what it will allow you to give and to make. Always, always know why you desire a thing and what you dream of doing with it. Only in reasons, only in the whys, do the things have meaning. The day you desire a thing--a job, a title, or an object--and you don't know why you want it and what process, what cause, it will further, that is the day you have failed, no matter how big the thing. Alexander looked upon the world he had conquered and wept because there was nothing left. A man can do great things with an empire. He can do great things for an empire. An empire for its own sake is despair.<br />
<br />
If the measure of a dream is in its meaning and if the value of a thing is its purpose, then everything is of value. This is more important than it sounds. In this day of things, you've been taught to dream of big things, that bigger is better and less is failure. But the freedom of meaning comes with the freedom from boxes and an appreciation of true value. Is it a noble dream to want to cure cancer? Maybe. If your reasons are right. If your methods are right. If you act out of love rather than selfishness. Is it a noble dream to want to dig ditches? The answer is the same. Obviously, our society would disagree but I put it to you that a man who cured cancer for no greater reason than money and power, for the things he would get, is in his heart less of a man than the man who labors day in and day out to dig good ditches because he wants the water to flow as it should so that his neighbors fields will not be flooded and the roads will not wash away. The man who cures, cures for himself but the man who digs, digs for everyone. The latter is a better man. No glamour, no riches, no TV interviews and tickertape parades but his dream is bigger, his purpose nobler, his value--his real value--much, much greater.<br />
<br />
Crazy? Surely, you say, a cure for any disease, for whatever reason, if worth more than some track in the dirt. How can I even compare the suffering of millions to some mud?<br />
<br />
And I answer, worth more to whom? To society, to industry, to the government? Where does you heart lay? Where do you owe your service? To the masses, to the greatest good for the greatest number? To your family, your neighbor, your self? To your God, your cause, your art or your vision? Who do you serve?<br />
<br />
Every man will give a different answer and that is as it should be. Because you don't answer to me or anyone else; you answer to yourself, to your own purposes and your own meaning. I did not say the actions--the things--were equal or that one was better than the other. I said one man was better than the other. You are not measured by what you are; you are measured by who you are. To act in service and love is better than to act merely for personal gain.<br />
<br />
These things, these motives, the world cannot see. It can't even understand. That's why being free is hard. It is a lonely life and no one else can justify it for you. I'm not telling you this so you can be popular and rich; other people have stuffed your head full of that already. I'm telling you how to look at the face in the mirror as you grow older and be able to meet the eyes staring back. I'm talking about dignity and self-respect, of a life without regrets. I'm talking about how not to feel the soul-crushing emptiness of despair on your deathbed when you realize that all the toys and fans in the world don't amount to a handful of ash.<br />
<br />
And what good is a cure for cancer if the roads have washed out and it can't reach the people who need it? You are too small to know what truly matters and what doesn't, to see which of your actions change the world and which merely spin you wheels. And what if the ditch digger slaves his entire life to put his child through medical school and it is that child who finds even greater cures for even worse diseases? Well, more the fool are we for trying to be the judge and jury. If we do everything we do for a reason and the reasons are good, then our greatest failing is not being omniscient and that is out of our hands. <br />
<br />
I'm not saying to lower your aim and settle for anything less that what you truly feel you should do. I'm saying that all true dreams--that noble goals based on meaning--are so big and so important that even the smallest of these are worth pursuing and are greater any dreams of mere things.<br />
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A final point before I'm thrown out. You have been told to dream great and big dreams. Has anyone told you what to do when you fail? For that matter, has anyone told you that you will fail?<br />
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You will. Of the few things in life that is certain, failure is one of them. That's because failure isn't an ending; it's part of the process. You don't win on your first try, there is no silver bullet, and even people who get struck by lightning and win the lottery don't know what to do with it. You start, you fall, to get back up and you try again. And again and again. It's called learning. Failing is as much a natural part of progress and pursing your dreams as breathing. The only time you really fail is when you quit. And sometimes not even then.<br />
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Listen. Despite what you've been led to believe, you don't cross the stage, get a degree, walk outside, and have someone hire you for your dream job at maximum salary and plenty of perks. Most of life is taking what you can get, making the most of it, and building up to that great goal that you may or may not ever reach. There will be setbacks and failures and unexpected detours. Maybe you'll change your mind and dream a new dream. None of it matters. What matters is you. Who you are. Why you are.<br />
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Because in every step, you will find the why. In everything you do, there is a reason, there is a meaning. You don't have to flip burgers at minimum wage because you have to because you're a loser in life. You can choose to provide food, service, and a pleasant work environment to the people around you instead. Where other people see a janitor mopping the floor, there might really be a man learning the business from the ground up while providing a needed service and meeting people he would otherwise not get to meet. Or maybe he is "just" the janitor, taking care of the cleaning and the trash so that the guy he works with has the time to find a cure for the wasting disease. Or maybe he's working this job to make the seed capital to start the next great business. You don't know; you can't know. What you can do is choose to find the meaning in everything you do, every step of the way, and in doing so make every moment of your life significant. <br />
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There is a word for this, an old, rarely used word. Teleology, the study of meaning. There's an even older word. Wisdom.<br />
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In our pursuit of science and knowledge, in the desire to know how and what, we have forgotten why we sought these things to start with. We have forgotten why. We have abandoned why. Because to ask why, to ask what we are to do with knowledge and what is its purpose, is to oblige ourselves to use that knowledge. No longer can we be passive, no longer removed observes, to acknowledge meaning is to act. Meaning and purpose mandate a response. The very act of wondering drafts us into a war that we can never escape. A war for meaning, for significance, for duty and honor and sacrifice, for all the antiquated, romantic, demeaned concepts that today's society sneers at. Cynicism and condescension are masks for fear and apathy. The truly noble, those who truly dream of causes worthy of pursuing, have grown up. They have left the playground for the battlefield. This day I exhort you, leave behind your peers, leave behind the opinions of others and the approval of your society. This day declare the only acclaim you seek is your own and that of your God. This day put aside childhood and stand as adults. Dream as adults. Strive as adults. Measure yourselves as adults. <br />
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Welcome to freedom. Terrifying isn't it?<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-60334142019834404032016-04-25T12:24:00.002-05:002016-04-25T12:24:34.324-05:00Still not dead: a status updateI don't update often so it's hard for readers to tell if I'm busy, lazy, or laying bleeding in a ditch. Well, recently I haven't been updating the blog because I've been (slowly) updating life. Like pushing a rock up a mountain in hell, we are gradually, grudgingly trying to actually enter the twentieth century. That's right: a house. After almost a decade living in a tin can, we're again trying to fight the system and achieve the great dream of living in the same building as my books.<br />
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Do we have financing? No. Maybe. Yes but the bank won't commit to it until I jump through even more hoops and then they'll only pay part of it and even then they don't want to let us build what we what, just what they want. Do we have a builder or the like? Nope. They don't want to talk to me unless I have financing (even though one of the things the bank wants is to know who my builder is--everything is a circle.) Do I have "permission" from the county? Yeah, hard to wrap my head around that one, that I have to get permission to use my own land for my own purposes. I'm starting to consider "gray market" options. Or I might have to put a lawyer on payroll to deal with the local kleptocracy.<br />
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But what we do have is the decision that it will be done, somehow. The perk test is done, the septic is laid out (though not installed), and we actually know how much space we have to work with. It might take another year and I might have to skip a convention or two (hope not) and it definitely is cutting into my writing but...<br />
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More information when I have it.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5434002090419695568.post-84597790165003342752015-10-21T10:57:00.000-05:002015-10-21T10:58:17.716-05:00Somebody Else's Book Is Outhttp://prose-press.com/blog/2015/9/19/maxim-gunn-author-debuts-new-heroine-castle-dark-now-available-from-pro-se-productions#commentsWrapper=<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7TMbst2uyFE/Vie1h5GwIEI/AAAAAAAAALo/OvujtEYTCoQ/s1600/Castle%2BDark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7TMbst2uyFE/Vie1h5GwIEI/AAAAAAAAALo/OvujtEYTCoQ/s400/Castle%2BDark.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Now why, you might ask, would I be posting someone else's book on my blog? Because I did the editing.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Cat's gotta eat; man's gotta write.
Chaos, on behalf of M. Keaton</div>mkeatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806651017475319161noreply@blogger.com2