Five Star Literary Stories

… is a very cool site I’ve written about before. They invite editors of online journals, or print journals with online content, to nominate a favorite story from their archives. When a story is chosen, the editor introduces both the journal and the story, and a guest reviewer writes a short review, followed by a short bio. So you get introduced to a journal you may not know, and likely two writers as well. And it’s all about celebrating great short stories.

This month, I review Raleigh Holiday’s “Artificial Light,” a story published in Wag’s Revue.

Harold Digs His Way to China

A story originally published online in the literary journal 580 Split (and now posted here as a separate page–see ‘Other Works’ in the menu to the right), ‘Harold Digs His Way to China’ has beginnings I’m fond of, and which illustrate just how little you need as a writer to be launched into a world not your own.

Having owned an independent bookstore, I am fierce about supporting them. But I do enjoy browsing the Amazon site, not so much for the reviews as for the lists. One day I was researching graphic novels, and came upon the reading list of a precocious high school girl who clearly felt she wasn’t getting a compelling education at school, and so had set about putting together her own alternative education–which included everything from Classics to graphic novels. Here is her Amazon profile:

I’m Kitty, a 15-year-old girl built for speed and eating chocolate. Dad says I have an artist’s fingers so I must create constantly. I’m not the best artist, but some of my work is very nice. I draw manga and anime for a hobby, and to get extra money I write books, but none are successful. All I’ve ever gotten are rejection letters, so if you look up Kitty W in the author search… I won’t be there.

I simply couldn’t get this girl’s fierce, singular, restless voice out of my head. Though the story ultimately became more about the father, she was my way in. Thanks, Kitty, wherever you are.

Sotto Voce

I have a new story out in the second issue of this fine online journal. It’s called “Secret World” and is one of my Claudia stories.

A few things of note about Sotto Voce. From the start, they made a commitment to pay writers. It’s not a lot, but it’s more than a token amount, and they’ve already upped their rate from Issue 1. They also have a feature that allows readers to vote for what should be included in their print anthology. Finally, instead of the standard form rejection, they send writers brief notes from each editor/reviewer who read the piece.

Journals that show such respect for writers deserve our support. So check them out; vote for your favorite stories & poems; and order the print anthology when it comes out.

Finally, read a fascinating interview with editor Emily Thorp on Sotto Voce‘s unique review process, and some very humbling number crunching.