You just never know what will inspire you to write. Recently, mystery writer and editor Sandra Ruttan posted an entry challenging her readers to define a new genre called “Cozy Noir.” I didn’t enter this contest, but the phrase stuck in my head. I couldn’t get rid of this image of some detective bear channeling Humphrey Bogart to solve a murder.
The idea got so stuck in my head, I was compelled to get out of bed in the middle of the day (and I really needed to be sleeping, too) and punch out a bit of flash fiction with the ideas that were running through my mind. The result was something along the lines of film noir meets “Toy Story.” The main character is none other than Ted E. Bear. Funny enough, my son took my sunglasses the other day and put them on his favorite stuffed bear. I took one look and went, “It’s Ted!”Anyway, I digress. The point of this little entry is blatant self-promotion. My short short story entitled “Unstuffed” has found its way into the latest issue of Spinetingler Magazine as one of their examples of “cozy noir.” Am I excited? Um, hell yeah! Spinetingler is also planning to publish my other short story “I am Sam,” but that’s for a later issue even though that was accepted before “Unstuffed.” There’s something oddly fitting about this goofy story, which is shorter than this blog entry, being my first publishing credit. While a lot of my writing is dark and brooding, I’m more of a goofball in real life, and this story reflects that.
So check out the latest issue of Spinetingler. You’ll find my story in the magazine’s four-pack of cozy noir tales. For all those who’ve followed my blog and my discussions about my writing, here’s your chance to get a look at some of my fiction work. The first example of many, I hope.
8 comments:
Aw, if I'd known you had a mascot we could have put that on the site!
V. cool - I'll be mentioning it tomorrow too. Provided I've recovered from this issue by then.
I like your story, Bill.
A lot.
I'm hoping to write one of those cozies, but just to write one. I'm ineligible enter the contest. The collection of them in the current Spinetingler were wonderful.
But just think of all the fun we'll have reading those entries Mindy!
M.G. & Sandra, thanks so much. Been a treat reading through the issue, too. You do a nice mix of quirky and dark... which is just right for someone like me as a reader.
Great job Bill! As the owner of a puppy, I appreciated the realness of the situation!
Way to go, baby! Keep pounding out those stories!
Zinnia, thanks so much. Definitely trying to keep the creative juices running! "Unstuffed" made for a good start.
H.E., I actually owe you a bit of thanks, because I don't know that I would have taken a shot at writing a piece of "flash fiction" if not for the entry with your western in it. Gave me the courage to pound out my story. Writing short stories intimidates the hell out of me!
Hey thanks for the thanks! And keep it up because it seems to suit you well. I'm in the opposite camp here - writing the novel is a huge intimidation for me.
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