I'm looking for panel/presentation ideas for the Writers Cantina in June. I've been accepted as a panelist/presenter, but no one has come forward to say, "You do such a fantastic job at writing _____ in your books that we want you on a panel to discuss ______, or we would like you to do a presentation on _______." I think there are at least two reasons for that. First, I'm relatively unknown (and I'm using "relatively" as a soft form of "entirely"). Second, I haven't attempted to tout expertise on any particular genre, technique, or trope. Although I've received compliments on several aspects of my writing, I'm hesitant to claim expertise on anything. If you have ideas, share them with me -- even if they're more comic than useful.

I submitted three short stories recently: a weird western, a space cowboy story, and a story inspired by a Jethro Tull song. They were great fun to write. Writing short stories takes away from my novel writing time, but they offer more immediate satisfaction. There's a word limit, so the story has to fit into a box of a small size and can be finished within a week or two. Additionally, there are genre or other parameters to which the story must adhere. There's also the tide of hope that rises when the story is complete and can be sent off for consideration. Finally, even if the story isn't accepted at the original destination, it could be accepted somewhere else or put in an anthology of my own. -- All that to explain why I don't have any progress to report on the bugmageddon novel, but that's about to change.

Let me remind you of this:

Flash Fiction Contest: Submit a story of 500 words or less. The story must include a pool table OR a piece of farm machinery. Submit your story in the body of your email, or you may attach it as a .docx or pdf. The winner will be awarded his/her choice of one of my autographed paperbacks (delivery in continental U.S. only). I retain no rights to any stories presented. If the winner and runner(s) up consent, I'll post their stories on my webpage. Fair warning: Don't exceed a PG-13 rating. Let's make March 20 the deadline to submit your story.

I've received a few entries, but I'm looking for more.

Clicking on these links helps my newsletter stay viable and eligible to keep including links to free stuff like this, so do check out these giveaways and discounts:

Monsters and Mayhem

Mysteries and Thrillers

Fantastic Free Fantasy

The link below is for a book about a dinosaur hunt in the Congo--a comedy adventure that includes cannibals and crocodiles. The author lives in South Africa. Have a look:

Kyle Jantjies, The G.L.O.A.T.

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Honor Roll with special thanks to these subscribers:

Lois for her stunning review and heroic defense of The Shrinking Zone.

JBudd for reviews of Threading the Rude Eye, In Death Bedrenched, Power to Hurt, The Shrinking Zone, Clamorous Harbingers, Promise of Carnage and Flame, Truth in Flames, and Crisis in Fire and Snow.

Colleen for leaving ratings for several of my books on Amazon.

Rob for leaving a review of Threading the Rude Eye.

Michael for leaving reviews of Threading the Rude Eye, and The Shrinking Zone.

Mayra for a review of Threading the Rude Eye.

Gloria for a review of Threading the Rude Eye.

ShannonC for a review of In Death Bedrenched

Jan for reviews of Threading the Rude Eye, Power to Hurt, Clamorous Harbingers, Promise of Carnage and Flame, In Death Bedrenched, The Shrinking Zone, Truth in Flames, Justice in Season, Justice Resurgent, Crisis in Fire and Snow, and Smoke.

Bonnie for a review of In Death Bedrenched, and Crisis in Fire and Snow.

PAR for a review of Threading the Rude Eye

-There are many other reviews of my books, of course, but I don't know whether those reviewers are also subscribers to this newsletter.