Review of the Year

It's been a good one. I tried to count up how many individual pieces of work I'd had published and it was around 75! That is astounding. Amongst the best:

I won my third consecutive Micro Horror Prize with Smolensk the Second Time

First Love took an Honourable Mention in the Binnacle Competition

Every Day Fiction has taken Closer to the Truth for The Best of... 2009

Toe Tags Anthology took The Tourist Trap

Mind Antholgy 'Crazy Days' took Hidden

A man of Few Words Anthology had one of mine.

I was the first ever story in the fledgling mag 10FLASH with The Professional Job

Work by Oonah V Joslin appeared in every Quarterly Review of Bewildering Stories for 2009 and they have taken my Genie of the Jam stories which hopefully will be up in 2010.

I also completed my first year as Editor of Every Day Poets and I'm very proud of that. I've learned a lot in a year.

You never know what a year holds but I hope 2010 holds Health, Happiness and Success in all your endeavours - and of course mine too :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

John Hurt played it with style

I really enjoyed this evening with Quentin Crisp - An Englishman in New York :) John Hurt plays him so well there really is no barrier to belief. And he plays him with great humanity, which was a mark of the man himself. I remember seeing QC on stage some 30 years ago and it is a night I have never forgotten.

Ghosts in the Snow

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY FRIENDS

http://www.everydayfiction.com/song-of-everything-by-oonah-v-joslin/#commentshttp://www.everydayfiction.com/song-of-everything-by-oonah-v-joslin/#comm

Song of Everything is at Every Day Fiction today - a lovely little Christmas parable which I hope will be enjoyed.

And I would appreciate it if anyone can tell me why suddenly I can't place my urls in the text box! It make this site less then useless as a place for posting multiple links! :(

BwS Quarterly Review http://bewilderingstories.com/anthologies/355-365/355-365_antho2.html#short_poetry

Dream of Lost got in this quarter and there's work from friends John Stocks and Jennifer Stakes too so check it out!

Micro Horror Christmas Story

The Green Reaper is up at Micro Horror



and I'll post the url as soon as this site will let me but visit at www.microhorror.com and look in the list for now :)

And I'll leave it to you to decide which came first - the bourbon or the tree...

Prepare to be cosy

I trimmed the tree and put up lights and prepared to be cosy for the wee dark days before Christmas

Pay Pal

Re:Every Day Poets

This reply to a contributor from Camille, flagged up something I didn't realise was happening.

PAY PAL changed their fee structure without notifying anyone and has been skimming off $0.30 plus 2.9% of the paid amount. This was not the case when Every Day Poets was launched, We would love to walk away from PayPal altogether, but at the moment it’s really our only option for making payments in international currencies and is materially affecting both our operating costs and our business processes.

When did this start? I have to say I'm really disgusted. Mind you, if payment is made by cheque, it's the same story. So every way we look the 'bankers' win!

Once more unto BwS

I have a flash fiction there this week called Tranparency. Now the really interseting part is, it was inspired by reading around the subject of water on the internet. I sincerely hope that these two characters do not exist and are not carrying on such a synical conversation in an office somewhere in the developed world but they were born out of research and that's scary! I'm sure you'll agree...
http://bewilderingstories.com/issue364/transparency.html


misconception
www.staticmovement.com
The finance free Christmas was Gran's idea. Instead of exchanging things wrapped in paper, they would exchange wishes and that would cost nothing. So for a start, everyone contributed something to the dinner. ...

Micro Horror Prize 2009

A photo signed to me by Conrad Brooks that also carries the signature of Bela Lugosi amonst others which delights my husband!

and

DVD - Hillbilly Monster and Grandparents from Outer Space - oh yeah! :)

Thank you to Nathan Rosen for once again sending such unique prizes and th Conrad who donated them. They are in my office to spur me on to greater efforts.

December Links

It was frosty here this morning. Our first frost of the winter. 1st Dec and everything white :) Last year, we were coming back from Manchester and Leonard Cohen. Is that really a year ago? A few more to come this month. Keep checking back. Oonah

Misconception sometimes people miss the whole point of Christmas
misconception
www.staticmovement.com
The finance free Christmas was Gran's idea. Instead of exchanging things wrapped in paper, they would exchange wishes and that would cost nothing. So for a start, everyone contributed something to the dinner. ...

Transparency is my latest story at BwS http://bewilderingstories.com/issue364/transparency.html

A Dream of Lost a nightmare really, is described in this poem at BwS http://www.everydaypoets.com/decembers-table-of-contents-2/

The Damage is up at Dorsal here http://www.iceflow.com/doorknobs/DOORBODY2.html and it is in good company :) My friend John Ritchie is also in Issue 56 as a winning entry!

Check out the St Andrew's Day poem at EDP and our table of contents for December :)

http://www.everydaypoets.com/decembers-table-of-contents-2/

I have a poem at BwS http://www.everydaypoets.com/decembers-table-of-contents-2/ Thank goodness I woke up! ;)

What he said

I could have cloned another flower or two.
It would have been so easy to do
the dishonest work of a modern moment.

Is not what we have enough?
Sunshine, peace and flowers,
light enough for today?
© Oonah V Joslin

Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

to all my friends in the USA

Reunion

Noel and Rudi

Esme, Eleanor, me and Noel

What a lovely person my niece turned out to be and it was a real pleasure to meet her husband Rudi. We had a very nice meal together at The Happy Villa in Galgorm and Eleanor tells me the fried Icecream goes down a treat :)

Every Day Fiction

My story Calm Waters is due to appear at EDF tomorrow.
http://www.everydayfiction.com/ and please remember to pay us a visit at Every Day Poets too :)

My Winter Jasmine is in bloom.

Tea and Sympathy at BwS

Poem in Bewildering Stories this week from Sun 15th but it's not really about tea and sympathy.
http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue361/tea_sympathy.html

Links to the Micro Horror Winners 2009

Congratulations to each of you. I hope you enjoy your prizes. Thanks to Nathan for his generous spirit and to Conrad Brooks for his participation in making this a great event.

Chris Allinotte for Make ’Em Cheer
Kevin G. Bufton for A Letter From the Trenches
Oonah V Joslin for Smolensk–The Second Time
Brian Laing for The King’s Grave
Caroline Robinson for Samhain
Chris Yodice for First Train to Deadman

Micro Horror Announcement

I am so very proud to have won a third Micro Horror prize and it was such a treat to see and hear Nathan and Conrad Brooks - a real movie maker :) making the announcement!
http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/microhorror/news-the-envelope-please/#comment-6741
Go see!

At the going down of the sun...

Two years ago The Brave was published in Every Day Ficiton. It was written for the memory of Jedlina Andrej Jacobson. Today we again remember those who fought in that most necessary war and those who like Andrew were parted forever from their homeland and their loved ones.

Andrew was born in Poland but is buried in St Mary's Churchyard in Morpeth along with many other Poles and men of many nationalities.

http://www.everydayfiction.com/the-brave-by-oonah-v-joslin/

November Links

Firm Friendship It's a humorous one
http://www.staticmovement.com/firmfriendship.htm

POEM Turquoise is at Boston Literary Magazine. I am always delighted to be there.
http://www.bostonliterarymagazine.com/fall09poetry.html#fall09turquoise.html

The Old, Old Story - you'll recognise it! Only the names change unfortunately
http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/the-old-old-story/

Gay Degani asked me to answer a couple of questions http://www.everydayfiction.com/flashfictionblog/

Update of October's Links

Just got my copy of Toe Tags :) You really, really want to read these 21 stories, you know you do :) The Tourist Trap http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fStoreID=1841476

The Professional Job at 10FLASH written for the challenge http://10flash.wordpress.com/the-professional-job/ and a right pickle!

A Lack of Breeding is at Static Movement this month and I'm sure you knew a Selena once... http://staticmovement.com/alackofbreeding.htm

Smolensk - The First Time, Micro Horror has a competition running once again and so I just had to send something. The theme is The Past
http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/smolensk-the-second-time/

Comallye - A longer than usual story from me. You know how they say you should write about what you know, you know? Well this one is a stew of unadulterated Ulsterisms. Watch the inhabitants of Glenslade walk the line of political correctness :)
http://bewilderingstories.com/issue355/comallye1.html

Definitions http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue357/definitions.html Both Feet in the Past http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/both-feet-in-the-past/

Definitions could be defined as a 'found poem'. I found it because of my husband's studies and the story of W.C. Minor's life was so ironic I just had to write about this remarkable and troubled man. It is about the curse of mental illness which affects the lives of not only those who suffer from it - whatever 'it' is. The definitions keep changing to suit the times. We no longer call people mad, cretinous, lunatic, criminally insane... In Minor's day Schitzophrenic was a term that hadn't yet been coined. It was undoubtedly the label they would have used in the C20th. Here, in the C21st, the label might be different. We are still awaiting the breakthrough that will lead to a cure. http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue357/definitions.html

The Bonaparte Tree http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/the-bonaparte-tree/

‘Moonwalking’ http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue358/moonwalking.html

The Vast Horror of it http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/the-vast-horror-of-it/

Holding On http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/holding-on/

The Old, Old Story at Micro Horror

Have a biscuit

Cinnamon shortbreads - bats, cats and creature pumpkins - go on, take one Mmmmm :)

Micro Horror

Here's a link for one by me and one by my friend (and mentor) John Ritchie
http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/holding-on/
http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/john-ritchie/dismas/

Family gathering of ghosts. All completely bats!

And a skeleton staff at the window :)

Le Phantome de la Maison, Salt & Pepper and SNUFF

Le Phantome de la Maison is a large candle holder ghost. Takes a chunky candle and the flames make him look like he's laughing.

Salt & pepper and SNUFF

Salt & Pepper are very affectionate as you see and SNUFF pops out of that cone like a jack-in-the-box. He's white cotton so most of the year he hangs from a candle tree just like a snuffer so he's especially pleased when it's Holloween.

These Ghosts are all from Scotland. Wick, Ed, Ted and Fred are a single candle from John o'Groats. Inset, from Inverness, Jasper, Casper and Spooky. Jasper is trying to look like Casper who can scare effortly. Spooky is just down right cute no matter what he does :)

More hauntings from my house

Boo, Boo-boo and Baby Boo superimposed on the curtain that hangs behind my front door all year round!

A ghost is for ever -not just for Halloween :)

Latest story at Micro Horror

http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/the-vast-horror-of-it/

Reep and Sweep

These two are tea light holders and very pretty. Wonder what they talk about?
Reeping and sweeping I suppose...

These 4 look after the houseplants. Percy, Rachel, Titch and Monty.

On a more literary note...

My latest Competition entry on the Napoleonic theme is now up at Micro Horror
http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/the-bonaparte-tree/

There is a fantastic crop of horror there in this year’s competition so why not stay a while and …drool.

Bewildering Stories this week features a poem by me ‘Moonwalking’
http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue358/moonwalking.html

‘Breathe’ by John Stocks who is also a North East poet
http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue358/breathe.html

and a story ‘Sir Simon’s Well’ by Welsh writer and friend, Jennifer Walmsley
http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue358/simons_well.html

Check them out.

Let me introduce you to my family of ghosts

Soot & Snow are garden ghosts who preside over a bowl of shamrock and black grass. They have a candle each inside at Hallowe'en. As you see, they're dead friendly! More tomorrow!

Poem at BwS

Definitions could be defined as a 'found poem'. I found it because of my husband's studies and the story of W.C. Minor's life was so ironic I just had to write about this remarkable and troubled man. It is about the curse of mental illness which affects the lives of not only those who suffer from it - whatever 'it' is. The definitions keep changing to suit the times. We no longer call people mad, cretinous, lunatic, criminally insane...

In Minor's day Schitzophrenic was a term that hadn't yet been coined. It was undoubtedly the label they would have used in the C20th. Here, in the C21st, the label might be different. We are still awaiting the breakthrough that will lead to a cure.

http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue357/definitions.html

Where did you get that hat,,,

We had a nice walk on the beach today - a bit nippy! But nice ;)

Another Micro Horror

Both Feet in the Past http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/both-feet-in-the-past/ is up now.

Got it!

Just got my copy of Toe Tags :) You really, really want to read these 21 stories, you know you do :)http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fStoreID=1841476

Smolensk - The First Time

Micro Horror has a competition running once again and so I just had to send something. The theme is The Past http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/smolensk-the-second-time/ Smolensk - The First Time
Napoleon's army passed through Smolenk twice in 1812 and the first pyrrhic victory of an already weakened force, was followed by the dubious success of reaching Moscow only to retreat in one of the harshest of Russian winters over already scorched earth, by the same route on which they arrived. This story gives a voice to that horror.

Pippa Little

National Poetry Day I attended a reading by Pippa Little at Morpeth Library. Good event. Good poetry. Nice work, Pippa :)

Com'allye at Bewildering Stories

A longer than usual story from me. You know how they say you should write about what you know, you know? Well this one is a stew of unadulterated Ulsterisms. Watch the inhabitants of Glenslade walk the line of political correctness :) http://bewilderingstories.com/issue355/comallye1.html

October Links

Just got my copy of Toe Tags :) You really, really want to read these 21 stories, you know you do :) The Tourist Trap http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fStoreID=1841476 First up The Professional Job at 10FLASH written for the challenge http://10flash.wordpress.com/the-professional-job/ and a right pickle! A Lack of Breeding is at Static Movement this month and I'm sure you knew a Selena once... http://staticmovement.com/alackofbreeding.htm Smolensk - The First Time Micro Horror has a competition running once again and so I just had to send something. The theme is The Past http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/smolensk-the-second-time/
Comallye - A longer than usual story from me. You know how they say you should write about what you know, you know? Well this one is a stew of unadulterated Ulsterisms. Watch the inhabitants of Glenslade walk the line of political correctness :) http://bewilderingstories.com/issue355/comallye1.html
Definitions http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue357/definitions.html Both Feet in the Past http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/both-feet-in-the-past/

Definitions could be defined as a 'found poem'. I found it because of my husband's studies and the story of W.C. Minor's life was so ironic I just had to write about this remarkable and troubled man. It is about the curse of mental illness which affects the lives of not only those who suffer from it - whatever 'it' is. The definitions keep changing to suit the times. We no longer call people mad, cretinous, lunatic, criminally insane... In Minor's day Schitzophrenic was a term that hadn't yet been coined. It was undoubtedly the label they would have used in the C20th. Here, in the C21st, the label might be different. We are still awaiting the breakthrough that will lead to a cure. http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue357/definitions.html

The Bonaparte Tree http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/the-bonaparte-tree/

‘Moonwalking’http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue358/moonwalking.html

The Vast Horror of it http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/the-vast-horror-of-it/

Holding On http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/holding-on/

The Old, Old Story at Micro Horror

Every Day Fiction

The Devils Within - a gentle tale of revenge at EDF

http://www.everydayfiction.com/the-devils-within-by-oonah-v-joslin/

Russ Heitz says: Wry humor. Very real people. And a nifty little twist at the end. All Oona Joslin trademarks.

Thank you Russ!

The stepping stones over the River Wansbeck in Morpeth.

Toe Tags Anthology

I was approached to write a story for this horror anthology some time back and now it's available at http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fStoreID=1841476

Mine is the one about... Why don't I just let you find out for yourselves :)

My shortest chiller

A Celebration of Life http://www.thefrontview.com/2009/09/celebration-of-life-oonah-v-joslin.html in the very prestigious View From Here :) Just love the picture they chose :)

September and mellowing

Showing signs of autumn colour along the river walk in Morpeth now.

September Bonus

Pure Research made it into the BwS Quarterly Review. That's where the editors put their favourite pieces from the last 12 issues and I'm very proud to have a great track record for being there. I was surprised it was this story that made it this time and not one of my poems. There you go...

Jennifer Stakes has a great poem there, Chess. But really, everything there is worth reading - it's the best of the best of Bewilderment :)

http://bewilderingstories.com/anthologies/343-354/343-354_antho2.html#poetry

Every Day Poets on Facebook

We now have a Facebook page. Please become a fan of Every Day Poets.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Every-Day-Poets/172633159615?ref=nf

Micro Horror needs help

Nathan Rosen is one of the most encouraging editors in the e-zine world. I'm not just saying that because of this wonderful trophy - he really is a very caring man and he's in financial straits. This could mean the closure of the mag. but more than that for himself and his wife.

The problem has been medical bills apparently. It is unconscionable that in a so-called civilised country, a man should face ruin because of illness in the family. That is a real horror story!

In this country we should value our National Health Service above all other things.

The banks' dodgy dealings have not only stolen our pensions and our savings. They even threaten livelihoods and lives.

What price the wealth of the few?

The health of the many.

Not good enough damn it!

I appeal on Nathan's behalf. Go to www.microhorror.com and donate a few dollars if you can.

My Writing Room

This is where I do my work including editing EDP. It looks out into the back garden and through to our little conservatory. Not a bad place to work :)

Two new poems up today

I have two poems online today!
The Trouble with Turquoise at http://www.bostonliterarymagazine.com/fall09poetry.html#fall09turquoise.html and
Fret at http://bewilderingstories.com/issue354/fret.html

I agree with Nick Ozment

“Jobless recovery?” Sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it?

It sure does to working folks like you and me. Those two words really illustrate our government’s priorities: we are “recovering” as long as Wall Street corporations are doing better. To all those jobless people, it doesn’t look like much of a recovery.

Government numbers can be very misleading. Why has inflation barely moved these past four years? The inflation number the Federal Reserve reports does not include food or gas costs. That number is only relevant to Wall Street corporations—which indicates who our government really serves, doesn’t it? For the rest of us, the number is practically meaningless. Do you use gas? Do you eat? You know that those costs have gone through the roof the past four years and soak up a much larger slice of your dwindling budget! But who’s your politician going to listen to: you, or the corporations that funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars into their campaign war chests?

How about the current jobless rate of 9.7%? Politicians say, “Well, at least we’re nowhere near the 23% of the Great Depression.” Well, ummm… If that number is calculated the way it was during the Depression, it comes to 19% (which includes people who have given up and are no longer actively searching, as well as people who want to work full-time but can only get part-time employment). If you don’t manipulate the numbers, our unemployment rate is right now close to what it was during the Depression. But of course we live in a reality now where people can, with a straight face, speak of a “jobless recovery”—which is only a recovery for people who are so rich they don’t need jobs.

Well said, Nick

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Morpeth a year on

This time last year, torrential rain caused extensive flooding in the North East town of Morpeth. Cars floated down The Wansbeck, people were evacuated, homes were ruined and historic buildings damaged.

Since then the town has made a remarkable recovery and once more the river is a tame and pleasant companion to this ancient, pretty, market town.

Just this afternoon I met a total stranger in Morrisons and we had a most interesting conversation about literature, C.S.Lewis to Bill Bryson through Asimov - shocking the things that go in these supermarkets! :)

Anyway, this one is for

The Wansbeck

Water seeps through thirteenth century walls,
inundating present gift-shop stalls.
The Chantry sings the river’s song.

That sanguine stream that snaked its way through town
drowns years in minutes. Snake turned serpent-bound,
joins in singing the river’s song.

Untamable, it finds its torrents course
and hungry for possession, takes by force.
Still louder grows the river’s song.

Be gone, it sings, litter my banks no more.
I will flow freely where I’ve flowed before
and you will learn the river’s strong.

© Oonah V Joslin 2008

September Links

On the very last day of the month The Devils Within http://www.everydayfiction.com/

And http://www.thefrontview.com/2009/09/celebration-of-life-oonah-v-joslin.html This one I really like. A Celebration of Life - one of my shortest chillers ever! And my first in this very smart publication :)

The Trouble with Turquoise at http://www.bostonliterarymagazine.com/fall09poetry.html#fall09turquoise.html
Fret at http://bewilderingstories.com/issue354/fret.html

You know all the songs is up here and I garantee you do know all the songs but who wrote the lyrics? http://www.short-humour.org.uk/writersshowcase/youallknowthesongs.htm

A Tall One all right! Over at Micro Horror http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/tall-one/

Matter Matters just sort of expanded outside the parameters of my normal length and I was so pleased that it got a home at BwS where you can read it now.
http://bewilderingstories.com/issue352/matter_matters2.html It's about matter and love matters and what matters... Hence the title, I suppose.

Big Bad John is over at http://www.iceflow.com/doorknobs/DOORBODY2.html now

and over at Static Movement you can read
Slivers of Memory http://www.staticmovement.com/sliversofmemory.htm
sliversofmemory
“We just got in the way,” Todd laughed. He always prided himself that, being a year and a half older, he remembered things that much better. That was how the arguments always began – not that they ever came to blows but they usually parted in sullen mood. “D'you remember Granddad's car?”

Please read the daily poems at http://www.everydaypoets.com/ too.

September at EDP &EDF

EDP's Table of Contents for Spetember's e-zine is here:

http://www.everydaypoets.com/septembers-table-of-contents/#respond

Check it out.

And my story The devils within is coming up in http://everydayfiction.com/ on the 30th Sept. :)

http://www.jonathanpinnock.com/2009/08/ello-ello-whats-all-this-ear-then/
Thanks for the plug Jonathon :) Jonathon has a story there on Sept 1st folks!

Oonah Joslin is now on Facebook

Find me on facebook and join me as a friend. The Notes Section gives you an overview of all my work online.
Thank you for visiting.

Nick Ozment at EDF

with a weird one!
http://www.everydayfiction.com/orange-dreamsicles-and-belly-rings-by-nicholas-ozment/#comments

Nick is one of the editors of Every Day Poets http://everydaypoets.com and an all round good egg.

Visit both sites why don't you? And if you missed mine the other day - see below!

True colours is up at EDF http://www.everydayfiction.com/true-colours-by-oonah-v-joslin/#comments
and an interview at www.writewords.org.uk where I am trying to promote EDP :)

I've been doing a garden tidy up and making jam this week. I really must get subbing! September is nearly upon us.

A good week

Apart from hearing from Eleanor, (see below...)

I have a another piece published and one taken for September. see links...
http://www.short-humour.org.uk/writersshowcase/iwannabelovedbyyou.htm

And the Perseids were very cooperative on Wednesday. From our wee patch of sky we got two southern bound passenger jets - very high... One northern bound (yeah I know!) satelite and more than a dozen meteors - one was so big and bright I could hear it hiss! Okay - but it was spectacular and the night air was balmy and so were we for we stood for an hour getting a crick in the neck!

I had a piece of carpet - off-cut put in my little watching the rain room

EDP was off and then on-line and I finished the choices for September and we may have another team member soon - it's h u s h ;)

Not a bad week!

Surprise message - From my niece :)

I was surprised and delighted when this dropped into my e-mail box :)

There is a new comment on the post "A WEE DRAP OF HOSPITALITY • by Oonah V Joslin". http://www.everydayfiction.com/a-wee-drap-of-hospitality-by-oonah-v-joslin/Author: Eleanor Boshuisen (Kyle)Comment:

I realise this is an old story, but I never knew my Aunt was so talented. Aunt Oonah, this is a great story. I'm coming to Ballymena for a holiday. First time since we left, and I'm going to make sure I see the Causeway. Daddy gave me this site name and told me to go here. I'm not sorry he did, Love Eleanor

I haven't seen Eleanor for Ohhh 35 years maybe? All I can say is I'm glad you dropped by, love and if we can arrange it, I'll see you soon. X :)

Temporary Glich at Every Day Poets

www.everydayfiction.com and www.everydaypoets.com are both temporarily out of order - that's right - I can't get to them either...

Our trusty technogeniuses, Steven and Jordan are on the case, so hopefully we'll be back online soon.

To all those who had poems due up over this time, my apologies. They will be up! Just as soon as we get back on.

Just keep checking back to the sites.

August Links and general update

True colours is up at EDF http://www.everydayfiction.com/true-colours-by-oonah-v-joslin/#comments
and an interview at www.writewords.org.uk where I am trying to promote EDP :)

Short Humour has a naughty piece called I wanna be loved by you http://www.short-humour.org.uk/writersshowcase/iwannabelovedbyyou.htm That should bring a smile to your cheeks :)

At Micro Horror this month there is s story I really like The Visitors. http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/the-visitors-2/ This took a long time to get right but I think I nailed it!

I have a little story at Static Movement called Rosebay Willowherb. http://www.staticmovement.com/rosebay.htm
Rosebay Willowherb start to grow in July and develops pinkish cruciform flowers - but uneven. It likes to travel along railway lines and verges and in September it grows a beard of seeds that are curly and fine. I always associated it with the return to school. It's a weed. People don't like weeds. But isn't a weed just a plant in the wrong place? And don't they deserve their chance too?

and I'll be up ay EDF later this month too so watch out for True Colours. I'll put the link up when it's live.

Boading is now up at http://thepygmygiant.wordpress.com/2009/07/21/baoding/#comments

I was computerless for 6 weeks and it's been really difficult to edit a magazine or get any writing done. Luckily, our local Community Project had free computer access and I was able to get there twice a week but if any of you have been thinking I was a bit hands-off recently, that is the reason.

We also needed a new washing machine - it never rains but it pours... And I turned 55 - a milestone only because I took early retirement.

I want to thank Constance Brewer for doing a lot of what I normally do at EDP - she's a star!

So there may not be many links for August. I have a lot of catching up to do.

I plan to send some voice files to Bewildering Stories this month though, reading my poems. So if anyone is desperate to hear my dulcet ramblings, watch this space - or BwS. In fact watch BwS anyway - always worth reading!

August the 5th is our 29th Wedding Anniversary. That is something of an achievement in this day and age. I wouldn't trade him for - Antonio Banderas! He wouldn't trade me for Scarlett Johansen - yeah, just joking!

I'll add links if and whenever...
Have a nice August.

Congratulations

to my friends Tania H, Vanessa Gebbie, Anne Brooke and Nik Perring who also got work accepted in the Binnacle contest. They all are or were writewords members.

July Links

First out of the box at the new 10Flash, is a story by me http://10flash.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/issue-1-july-2009/ A Hell of a Holiday for a poor librarian.

Out of Time at Static Movement, might make you think that heaven is not all it's cracked up to be... We're all addicted to time. http://www.staticmovement.com/outoftime.htm

Just Life is a nice little slice of domestic discord over at The Pygmy Giant, http://thepygmygiant.wordpress.com/
who have also just accepted Baoding - and if you don't know what that is - it's balls. I'll put a link up when it's live.

Lonely Road is over at Micro Horror this n month. http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/lonely-road/

Brand New at Clockwise Cat. This one is unusual but I hope you will enjoy it anyway.
http://clockwisecat.blogspot.com/2009/02/brand-new-by-oonah-v-joslin.html

Over at Bewildering Stories this month I take a sceptical look at education and funding in Pure Research http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue344/pure_research.html

While you are there check out Jennifer Stakes' poem, Chess - excellent work Jennifer!

BwS Quarterly Review and MIND

My poem, Spring's Uplift was chosen for inclusuion in the second QR by the editors of Bewildering Stories.
http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue331/springs_uplift.html
I'm delighted to be there once more. And from what I've read so far, it's an excellent Issue. John Stocks is there too - that;'s two of us from the North East of England

I also had a message from
Vagabondage Press LLC
New Directions in Art & Literature
to say that my story Hidden would be included in an anthology of writing from people who have suffered depression or mental illness. Did I want to use my real name? I told them definitely! I have never been diagnosed with depression but I have suffered from it nonetheless and I think it is a thing that people suffer in silence and it affects a lot of lives either directly or indirectly. Of course sometimes it has a definitive cause - but that does not lessen its effect. So when this anthology comes out, please buy a copy and support MIND. It is a worthy cause!

Dave Telfer

Local writer Dave Telfer gave a talk last night about his newly published book, Artur's Eats which is suitable for all ages and set in 1000 AD Edinburgh.

It was lovely to meet a fellow sufferer and a priviledge to meet Dave who is 71 and see his enthusiam for writing shine through. He's now working on a sequel and a prequel. Well done, Dave. Lang may yer lum reak!

You can but his book at http://www.arturseats@aol.com

A Taste of Success

Dear Oonah,

It is a true pleasure to inform you that you are one of the honorees in the Sixth Annual International Ultra-Short Competition sponsored by The Binnacle at The University of Maine at Machias. This does not mean that you have won any of the cash prizes, but that we would like to include your work, "First Love," in our 2009 Ultra-Short edition.

We had over 900 submissions from twenty-one countries and six continents, most of which were worthy of inclusion in a volume such as this. From this wonderful gathering of works we chose fifty-seven pieces, including yours, that we felt had the greatest merit.

Isn't that GREAT :)

However my computer has crashed so if anybody out there would like to give me a cash prize - I'm all ears. ;(

June's Links

I don't think there are many this month but Oblong Box is up at Static Movement and I think you'll like it. http://staticmovement.com/oblongbox.htm

Blending In is at EDF http://www.everydayfiction.com/blending-in-by-oonah-v-joslin/

All on the One Telly is at Doorknobs... and here's the link. These are very specific challenges involving a date and a phrase 1925 in this case - so I'm always delighted to get in. And I always hope the story doesn't seem too forced. http://www.iceflow.com/doorknobs/DOORBODY2.html

The Real Thing is now available to read on Micro Horror - I'll leave you decide which real thing I meant but the editor described it as "funny, sexy & bizarre" and I think that sums it up. It's certainly one of my more imaginative flights of fancy ;).

http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/the-real-thing-2/

Days of Damselflies is at Bewildering Stories this week - a contrast if ever there was one. I like to use the full range of my dubious talents.

http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue340/damselflies.html

Living Proof was written using as many ...no get it for yourself... :)
http://www.short-humour.org.uk/writersshowcase/livingproof.htm

I'm still wondering what's happening at Flash Scribe who accepted two stories from me way back and hasn't put either up yet. I e-mailed them but got no reply. I live in hope...

Angels and Demons

This is one worth seeing on the big screen! Ron Howard is a genius, of course and if you suspend your disblief about that much anti-matter meeting matter over a city, then it's probably the best explosion you'll have seen. - Very entertaining and the woman isn't there as romantic interest - for a change :)

And if you've never see The Dish - an Australian film of some years ago, I strongly suggest you celebrate the 4oth anniversary first moon landings in July, by getting hold of a copy. It's simply one of the best written scripts I know and the more you watch it, the funnier it gets.

Why I will not be seeing Star Trek

That's right! I won't pay a single penny to Paramount's coffers to see this travesty.

Did I miss something about the ideas upon which the original series was based? I thought Star Trek was about a better future...

In this film we are to be served up a Mr Spock who flies into a rage and attacks Kirk. Surely having just left Vulcan Spock would be more, not less logcal than in the first series.

Spock is supposed to have been bullied on Vulcan because of his racial mix... That is not the Vulcan of the first series or indeed any other. Vulcans had rejected emotion by the time Spock was born.

As if that was not a poor enough descriptor of racial portrayals or should I say betrayals in this Flick, we have an Uhura who is being treated as a sex object - wow isn't that original!

And Kirk is a peeping Tom, a person unfit to serve in any command capacity even in our day let alone in the 23rd century!

They are trying to persuade us that wrecking a car is Star Trek stuff?

They just don't get it, do they? Enterprise was deeply unpopular with the fan base because it became entirely given over to a temporal war involving a species whose name was too close to Muslim for (at least my) comfort. The series was American Foreign Policy badly scripted. Now we are to have Trex and the City.

No thank you Paramount.

Those of us who loved Star Trek, loved Gene Roddenbury's vision of the future. We loved the Science of Star Trek - the humour of Star Trek - the equality of Star Trek both sexual (short skirts notwithstanding) and racial and we know the history of these characters. This, like Enterprise, is a betrayal of the Star Trek universe and there are many more fans who, like me, will not buy into it.

May Links

First up this month is Taken for a Ride in EDF http://www.everydayfiction.com/taken-for-a-ride-by-oonah-v-joslin/

Second is Ritual Dance in Micro Horror http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/ritual-dance/

Brink is up at Static Movement http://staticmovement.com/brink.htm

Living Proof is over at http://www.short-humour.org.uk/writersshowcase/livingproof.htm How many homophones can you find? Don't ask me! I didn't count them...

and I got short listed at Erbacce...very pleased about that.

Random Harvest: Why not check out all my work at BwS using this link.
http://www.bewilderingstories.com/bios/joslin_bio.html

May

I'm a bit slow starting this month because my father-in-law died. I wrote a poem for the occasion.

His Voice

No star shone bright as his face when he sang
in the front row of Swansea’s Male voice Choir.
No voice was ever raised or ever rang
so true and honest, nor with such desire
always to speak the truth but speak it kind
for he never spoke ill of anyone.

His voice was reason and his counsel wise.
He lived his life with laughter in his eyes
no side, no hidden motives, no disguise
that was the true stature of the man
and why his voice will never lose its power
for those who gather now to say Nostar.

(Nostar is Welsh for goodnight.)

Short Story Library Anthology 2008

http://shortstory.us.com/2009/04/readme-publishingreleases-ssl-best-of-2008-anthology/

Please follow the link

Please buy the anthology

The collection was edited by Casey Quinn and written by:
Derek Eyring, Emily-Jo Hopson, Melonie Magruder, Jennifer Walmsley, Usiku, Michael Lee Johnson, Adam Jeffries Schwartz, The Faerie Kat, Roger Young, Daryl Baldwin, Paul Harris, John Yamrus, Oonah V Joslin, Jennifer Sturch, James Mulhern, Joshua Scribner, Nick Allen, Nathaniel Tower, Christopher S. Silva, Jo Orbell, A’keith Walters, Deidre Woollard

April Rations

The title says it all about this blog spot entry for EDF http://www.everydayfiction.com/flashfictionblog/sometimes-life-gives-you-a-kick-up-the-backside/#comments

Spring Uplift is at BwS this week and a response to the questions Don posed about Not His Last Duchess - just to show I occasionally think about what I write. ;)
http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue331/springs_uplift.html
http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue331/ch330resp_duchess.html

The Pygmy Giant has just published an etheree inspired by my niece, Seren. It's called
Hide 'n- http://thepygmygiant.wordpress.com/ The Wonderful World of Woolworth
will also be appearing there soon. Watch this space, as they say...
http://thepygmygiant.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/the-wonderful-world-of-woolworths/

I say rations because I have not been submitting much and so this month's offerings are small but we begin with Micro Horror and my flash Patterns for Life
http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/patterns-for-life/
I hated that wallpaper with the roses on... I hate wallpaper in general. My walls are plain. In any pattern there are always faces...

And in Static Movement, Closet Key. Sometimes a single event sparks the crisis and there's no going back...
http://staticmovement.com/closetkey.htm
This was one I revised and revised!

In case you missed it, this came at the vwery end of March: Brand New is my first piece in Clockwise Cat http://clockwisecat.blogspot.com/2009/02/brand-new-by-oonah-v-joslin.html There will be another at a future date.

and Not His Last Duchesss made it into the BwS Quarterly Review - my 6th in a row! I assure you that is no mean feat. The editors there runa tight ship and I am so honoured to have been chosen so many times.
http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue330/last_duchess.html

Micro Horror Delivers

You hear of sites that offer prizes, and sometimes the prize doesn't materialise. I have had two unique prizes from Micro Horror, each of which was accompanied by a hand written letter from Black Nate himself!

They are treasures beyond the dreams of avarice for me, who never thought to be published at all and never thought I'd write h o r r o r :)

March

Brand New is my first piece in Clockwise Cat
http://clockwisecat.blogspot.com/2009/02/brand-new-by-oonah-v-joslin.html

FOCUS at EDF http://www.everydayfiction.com/focus-by-oonah-v-joslin/ and I have to say, this is perhaps my favourite story of mine :) Go on - take a break ;)

Not His Last Duchess if you like people watching,and Robert Browning, you'll like this:
http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue330/last_duchess.html

Full Flavour at Bewildering Stories, is not just a poem - it gives you a useful address to visit in Barcelona - believe me, you've never tasted chocolate :) http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue329/full_flavour.html

3 poems in The Ranfurly Review
http://www.ranfurly-review.co.uk/issues/The_Ranfurly_Review_Issue_6.pdf
Touching a Legend
Spring Chant
Exploring Parts of the Impossible

Two stories in Doorknobs&Bodypaint Issue 53
No Serenade
The Sweet Smell of
http://www.iceflow.com/doorknobs/DOORBODY2.html
my friend John Ritchie has two there as well this months :)

Post Post Mortem at Micro Horror this month reaches, I think, my upper limit on the gory story. But you never know ;) http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/category/author/oonah-v-joslin/

Random Harvest? http://www.bostonliterarymagazine.com/fall08drabble.html#fall08universal.html

EDF will be publishing Focus later this month - I'll post the url when it's up, and there should be several others to come so keep coming back, please.

Also don't forget to check out Every Day Poets. We have some great poems over there this month - one a day - every day - a poetic tonic you can't afford to miss.

Leonard Cohen at MEN Arena

I was delighted to find I'd been quoted as a fan review on this site. My praise was barely enough but I am pleased it was communicated to a wider audience. Thank you.

http://www.webheights.net/speakingcohen/tourrevf12.html

Special Links

My Technopolymorph picture is done. This is the prize for 2008. I know this sounds crazy but it'll fit lovely in my living room. You can see it at http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/microhorror/news-presenting-the-2008-contest-illustrations/#comment-5232

Also WriteWords pal NickAllen and I have a story each there just now. Mine is called A Whisper in the Dark his is Nightshift right beside one another. http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/nick-allen/nightshift/

And maybe you'd like to pop over and read the first installment Nick Ozment's book at http://knighterrors.blogspot.com/ It's very entertaining :)

Also Nik Perring's story An Unhappy Man has been nominated for the month's best at Six Sentences. If you like it he'd really appreciate your votes. Obviously! Here's the link: http://sixofthemonthjan09.blogspot.com/

Are all my friends called Nick? Well, better the devil you know... ;)

February's Links

I play this...game in the wee dark days before Christmas that as the light fades it's really February and five o'clock. It helps somehow to foreshadow the lengthening days. Speaking of shadows, it's Groundhog Day and my cat saw her shadow - on the snow.

Links? Here's the first one:
http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue323/cc_joslin.html
I'll just say it's not a story. It's not a poem. And if you are in academic mood, go read it.
and again BwS
The Writing Room http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue324/writing_room.html

EDF Broadens the Mind http://www.everydayfiction.com/broadens-the-mind-by-oonah-v-joslin/ No, that's the name of the story :)

Whisper in the Dark is up at Micro Horror http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/whisper-in-the-dark/

Rainbow Pie and Star Chips anyone? At Short Fiction U.K.
http://www.short-fiction.co.uk/newstories/show_story.php?story_id=2100
Because sometimes you have to feed the imagination.

Explanation is up. I always liked this one. http://staticmovement.com/explination.htm

3 poems in Shine

Catching the Wind is a favoutite of mine. Haiku Housewife is fun. Intelligence is surreal but funny. http://www.theshinejournal.com/joslinmrsoonah.htm

Twisted Tongue 12 is out at last with my story On Top of the World
You’ll be pleased to know that Twisted Tongue Magazine issue 12 is now available, with another fabulous cover from the talented Steve Upham. Inside we have two interviews for you with Matt Browne and Dr Kim Paffenroth; an article by Alexander James, Nine Weeks to Write it, Nine Years to Right it; several extracts to entice you; thanks to all of our wonderful contributors: Karen Cole Peralta, Aliya Whiteley, Harry Hughes, Bill Schweizer, Jeff Gardiner, John Morgan,Gary Hewitt, Paul Johnson, Janey Brewer, Brian Wright, Jessica Lynne Gardner, Robert Knox, Aaron A Polson, Theodore Carter, S H Hughes, K S Nixon, Tina Koenig, Jade Eckert, Ginny Swart, C M Clifton, Oonah V Joslin,Pg 30 :) Jonathan Pinnock, David Towsey, Tonya L Lambert, John Morgan, Alexander Salas, Jim Steel,Glen Batchelor, Ben Eubanks, Mel Fawcett, Jeff Carter, Lynette Mejia, Rebecca, Colin Campbell, Brian Rosenberger, Dr Charles Frederickson, Greg Schwartz, Ramona Thompson, Jonathan Hayes, Peter Egypt, Sherie Davis, P S Gifford, Len Hecht, Luigi Monteferrante, R Jay Slais, Caroline Barnard-Smith and C J Carter Stephenson. You will also find details on how to win FREE books; this issue is over 95,000 words—larger than your standard novel.
You can download issue 12 as a PDF version for FREE or buy a printed edition from: http://www.lulu.com/content/5948171

Happy New Year & Links

I don't think there are many this month as I have been so busy but yesterdays can be included:
Picture of Innocence is based on a real young arrogant Pisseur somewhere in the Lacaune area in 1976. And I was innocent and embarrassed and I never smoked that cigarette - it was my first. I should have made it my last. I gave up 10 years ago.
http://www.everydayfiction.com/picture-of-innocence-by-oonah-v-joslin/
Open and Closed is at Every Day Fiction this month. A little Sci-Fi piece with a twist.
http://www.everydayfiction.com/open-and-closed-by-oonah-v-joslin/#comments
The Frost Lady is at MicroHorror now. http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/oonah-v-joslin/the-frost-lady/
On Top of the World at Twisted Tongue http://www.twistedtongue.co.uk/index.htm
Survival of the Slowest at Short Humour :) http://www.short-humour.org.uk/writersshowcase/survivaloftheslowest.htm
The Gospel According to http://www.short-humour.org.uk/writersshowcase/thegospelaccordingto.htm who said it's not the real thing? Oh, Unbelievers! ;)

That anthology, 'People of Few Words', has now been published via Lulu.com, and a paperback copy can be obtained at:
http://www.lulu.com/content/3174559
I have a story in that Anthology so please - buy it!