June Potpourri

It’s a “mixed bag” of unrelated items for sure.

June is bustin’ out all over, and so am I. At least, in the literary sense. Here’s what’s happening this month for me:

• I’m featured in Afterthought Literary’s May issue—my short story is now online here: https://afterthoughtliterary.com/buxton-manning/

The story (Stood Up) is a departure of sorts for me. Oh, it’s weird, and has a twist, but it’s the first time my protagonist is a woman, and it’s not the bouncy/fun/humor kind of thing I usually do. I’m happy it got picked up for publication (credit only, no cash). I’ve got a couple of other short stories out there and plan on writing a few more this summer. I loved that format back when I was a freelancer and put it aside once I started writing novels, but I’m going to try for a mix now.

• This Thursday (June 4) from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm, I’ll be kicking off “13 Nights of Authors” at Riverfront Books in downtown St. Helens. The new series runs in conjunction with the popular “13 Nights on the River” music festival, which is happening just down the street in Columbia View Park. The author event features thirteen local authors in a variety of genres. We’ll speak for about half an hour and then be available for Q&A and to sell and sign our books. If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll stop by…it’s gonna be fun.

• My presentation on Thursday will be a nice warm-up for another one-man performance later this month, as I’ll be speaking as part of the “Power of the Pen” program at Courtyard Fountains in Gresham (OR) on June 17 at 2:00 pm. On that day, I’ve got an entire hour to fill. I need to work on my ad-libs, and I hope everyone asks lots of questions.

• Our local Authors’ Alliance is kicking off our second anthology. This year, the theme is “A Great Escape.” There’s a group meeting on Saturday (6/6) at 12:30 pm, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to attend (two other events conflict with the time/date, and the spousal unit is calling dibs). It doesn’t matter for my part (I’ve already got my assignments for editing/helping with the cover, etc.), and I finished my short story already (it’s being beta read as we speak). Still, I’d like to be there for support. “We’ll see.”

• My sixth novel as Buxton Manning: The Heart Before the Course, has gone to “the editor” (aka my strongest fan and fiercest critic, more commonly referred to as “wife”). She’s got a lot on her plate, so I doubt very much that I’ll be able to publish it before the end of the month, but…one never knows. Cover reveal:

  

  It’s kinda like “A Man Called Otto” only with balls...golf balls.

• And finally…I have resurrected another old novel, one that was never published because it was never finished. I was 50K words into the sequel-of-sorts to Keeler Creek Days, entitled Keeler Creek: Homecoming Week, and I thought things were muddy as far as the plot, there was no ending, and I had yet to figure out a way to include the “star” of KCD, a belligerent Roosevelt elk named Balzar. I actually started to winnow the chaff and replot it all twice before until I threw up…my hands, and gave up. Well, this time I think I’ve got it…gonna take most of the summer to wrangle something readable out of my gourd and put it to paper, but I feel very, very good about it. But, as I always say, “we’ll see.”

Comments?

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