Musical Pencil

Blue Agave is live in The Orange Room Review's current issue - link to the left, as usual. I think this issue turned out very well. The editorial staff and contributing authors should be pleased. I'm heading out to see "Slumdog Millionaire" in a few minutes - read about it - seems to be a romantic/inspirational - destiny is the key sort of thing and I'm really in the mood for such. Hope you have a great weekend.

A short piece, a stone, is up at "A Handful of Stones" link is to the left. I like the idea behind the stone concept. It is sort of like haiku in brevity without the syllabic rules, etc. Check it out - maybe try a few yourself and send them in.

Got home from work - checked in box and there was a story rejection and two poem acceptances - both poems accepted by Children, Churches, and Daddies - one scheduled for November the other for December 2009...long ways away, but I think they are going to post them on the website in a week or two and use them in a print later, not sure about the details, need to re-read the email. Anyway, I'll focus on the acceptances and smile and simply send the rejected story elsewhere and see if it can find a home.

The poem "Deflated Contemplation" is now live at Oak Bend Review. This poem is a patchwork quilt of several previous poems, but I think it's better now than in its many various forms. Thanks to Sandee for posting it and gathering the poems of so many others. I was thrilled to see some names in this issue of poets I truly admire and the poems I've read (not my own, of course) were wonderful. I'm not sure if Sandee is quite finished with it, but what she has up so far is certainly worth a look.

Inside the Snowglobe is up at Shoots and Vines . This is an older poem I wrote based on a promt of "snowglobe" - imagine that. (link under pubbed poems on the left) Thanks for posting it, Crystal!

A bit of good news! MicroHorror accepted Tin Secrets - it is currently posted - link under published stories to the left. Insolent Rudder accepted - Cotton Candy Meltdown for their April issue. Two acceptances in one day - I love those kind of days - woohoo! A few days ago, Up the Staircase posted their new issue where Calloused Hands can be found - the link is also under published stories. Bolts of Silk accepted a new poem - Forgive the Birds , I'll post link when it's live.

Okay, it's Saturday. I've gotten some rest, had a healthy meal, went to the library and checked out several books. In my pile of books are the authors: Edgar Allen Poe, Emily Dickinson, Dorothy Parker, Joyce Carol Oates, Walt Whitman, Elizabeth Bishop, Flannery O'Connor, and Milan Kundera. I'm searching for inspiration. If I can't find it in those books, it isn't meant for me to find it this weekend. I've noticed how selfish I am in my writing and in a lot of other things I do or don't do. So often when I write poems, it is about my inner self and that has served its purpose in a cathartic way, but I feel this pull to remove myself from my writing - to be an observer of life and not step into the frame, but show others what I see and the significance of that snapshot as I interpret it in an emotional way that extends far beyond my own skin. Perhaps it is growing older and learning how short life is and how true happiness lies beyond one's own cluster...

50 to 1 has posted the little fifty word piece I submitted. It is based on a real event here in my home town. Hope you get a kick out of it. The kind people at 50 to 1 are just getting things started with their zine - please give them a look and support their efforts - even submit something if you are the writerly type. http://50-to-1.blogspot.com/2009/01/bridge-tenders-blunder-by-paula-ray.html

Heroin Love Songs accepted 3 poems Roadkill Lapdance, Labyrinth on the Tile, Wicked Vows submitted 1/23/09 accepted 2/8/09 will post link when they're live Flashshot accepted Gator Bait submitted 2/4/09 accepted 2/7/09 will post link when it's live Static Movement accepted Cotton Candy Sky submitted 2/2/09 accepted 2/2/09 scheduled for February issue link is in published stories Children, Churches, and Daddies accepted Laying it Down with Pegasus and Childhood Song - poems submitted 1/26/09 accepted 1/27/09 scheduled for the 11/09 and 12/09 zines MicroHorror accepted Tin Secrets submitted 1/13/09 accepted 1/20/09 It is already posted the link is under published stories Insolent Rudder accepted Cotton Candy Meltdown submitted 1/20/09 accepted 1/20/09 Should be out in the April issue - will post link Bolts of Silk accepted Forgive the Birds submitted 1/12/09 accepted 1/18/09 Will be notified when posted 50 to 1 accepted Bridge Tender's Blunder submitted 12/19/08 accepted 1/6/...

Flutter Poetry Journal has just posted their new issue where you can find "Where Wild Poisonous Mushrooms Grow". This is a confessional poem, written after the passing of my "Mema", who is my father's mother and pretty much raised me from the time I was eight until her recent passing. She had alzheimers, but had not gotten to the point she did not know I was there at her side in her last hours. I miss her terribly, but she lived to be 86 and I know she had a full and happy life. We all should be so blessed. Sandy, the editor of Flutter, works very hard to keep her site running smoothly and features a large number of writers, some who are just beginning as I am. Thank you, Sandy, you are greatly appreciated. I hope everyone reading this is safe and warm, surrounded by love, and filled with inner peace. I think I'm just finding that - inner peace - it is very powerful and I wish I could plant it in everyone I know, even the ones I don't know. I can't ...

This is day 1 of 2009 and I'm looking forward to unfolding the rest of it day by day. The first issue of Gutter Eloquence has been unveiled. You can find "Keep Your Pretty Words" in this issue. In addition, Gloom Cupboard has posted their 72nd edition. "Disappearance of a Pop Star" can be found in this issue. I certainly appreciate all the work it takes the teams involved for making such venues available to the public and providing a forum for writers, whose voices may not be heard otherwise. I'm sure there are many hours devoted to projects such as these with little reward. Thank you for all you do. As we begin our journey into the new year- may we hold onto those memories of our past, which brought us joy, and learn to let go of the stumbling blocks of sorrow. It is so hard to heal when we reopen old wounds again and again. My goal is to keep a positive outlook on the future, in spite of news reports or unfortunate situatutations I may be forced to deal wi...