You Write the Caption, Episode 22

I was driving into work yesterday when I saw something that made me go, "That needs to be my picture for this week's caption contest." Thankfully, I didn't get into a wreck using my phone to get this picture.



I'll reveal the winning caption on Monday, in the next episode of "Ask Uncle Kerouac." You can check out yesterday's "Ask Uncle Kerouac" to see the winner for last week's caption contest.

Don't forget to catch tomorrow's Wildcat Wednesday episode of my webcomic when Frank and Hip continue their steampunk adventure.

Ask Uncle Kerouac, Episode 23

The Wildcat's Lair pays a visit to Cafe Caturra on Grove Avenue in Richmond for its latest episode on dealing with addiction to technology! Watch, laugh and learn, dammit.



Feel free to share each week's episode of "Ask Uncle Kerouac" by embedding it in your own blogs, Facebook profiles, what have you.

You can also get Uncle Kerouac's advice by sending your questions to him at AskUncleK@gmail.com.

And don't forget to come back tomorrow for the latest picture in our weekly You Write the Caption contest.

Wildcat's Writer Weekend

This weekend, I've been more "Bill, the Writer," than "Bill, the Wildcat." It's been a LOT of fun. Last night, I attended the release of the anthology Front Porch Flash Fiction at Velocity Comics. The book included my short story "Cheaters Never Win."



Just as exciting for me as seeing my story in print was being joined in the anthology by two of my friends, Katharine Hearndon ("365 Ways to Cook Chicken") and J.T. Glover ("Sufficient Pangs").

Every copy of the book's first run sold out last night. I hope Sink/Swim Press will release a second run, and if they do, I'll be sure to let you know. Until then, you won't be able to buy a copy.



We celebrated the book release with some of our friends, and my wife and I didn't get to bed until about one o'clock. Normally, we'd just sleep late to recover, but such was not an option. At 5:45 this morning, we crawled out of bed and drove to Harrisonburg, Virginia, for the Write-Brained Network writers workshop. My wife and I are friends of Ricki Schultz, the founder of the Write-Brained Network. She did a great job organizing the event. It included several folks we've gotten to know well through our work with James River Writers: Tiffany Trent, David L. Robbins, David Kazzie and Clifford Garstang. My wife and I also met fantasy writer Jodi Meadows and her agent Lauren MacLeod. Jodi's debut novel Incarnate comes out January 31st. I've really been looking forward to this book which offers a nice twist on the idea of reincarnation.

If the world keeps recycling the same million souls, then what happens if someone is born who's never had a past life? And what happens to the soul who lost the time of its rebirth?

An advanced reader's copy of the book was given away as part of a drawing at the end of the event, and guess who won it? Heh. I can't wait to read it! My webcomic's cat Frank was just as excited.

Incarnate has generated a lot of buzz. What's really cool for me is that this is the first printed copy of Jodi's book which she has autographed. Not only did she make it out to me and my wife, but to Frank, as well.





The prize from the drawing also included something that has me just as pumped. I won a critique by Tiffany Trent of the first ten pages of my manuscript. That will be a great help as I'm putting the polish to my young adult, vampire hunter novel.

In the meantime, Frank has called dibs on reading Jodi's book first, but after a busy two days, we're off to bed. I don't think Frank plans to let our copy of Incarnate out of his sights anytime soon.

Frank & Hip Get Steampunked, Episode 27

If you'd like to catch this storyline from the first episode, just go here.

















Catch the next episode on Wildcat Wednesday!

If you haven't submitted a caption in this week's "You Write the Caption!" contest, then go do it. No, don't keep reading. Just go caption. No, seriously, quit reading and go caption the picture. Dammit. Why are you still reading??? Gah! Fine. Well, just be sure to watch Monday's "Ask Uncle Kerouac" to find out what the winning caption will be.

Frank's Fantasy Football, Season Two Preview

Can't wait until next week's vlog update on "Frank's Fantasy Football?" Just got to our league's page on NFL.com to follow the action as it happens this weekend.

And while you're waiting for the battle of football follower egos to unfold, why not post a caption in this week's You Write the Caption contest.

Frank & Hip Get Steampunked, Episode 26

If you'd like to catch this storyline from the first episode, just go here.

















Catch the next episode on Frank Friday!

Have you submitted a caption in this week's "You Write the Caption!" contest? If not, get to it, people! I'll announce the winning caption in Monday's "Ask Uncle Kerouac."

And tomorrow, find out who will be the eighth fantasy football team owner for this year's league in the Wildcat's Lair.

You Write the Caption, Episode 21

Today was the first day of school for my daughter and son (Thank God!), and this week's picture for "You Write the Caption" is in honor of this glorious event.



I'll reveal the winning caption on Monday, in the next episode of "Ask Uncle Kerouac." You can check out yesterday's "Ask Uncle Kerouac" to see the winner for last week's caption contest.

Don't forget to catch tomorrow's Wildcat Wednesday episode of my webcomic when Frank and Hip continue their steampunk adventure.

Ask Uncle Kerouac, Episode 22

The Wildcat's Lair is back after getting knocked out for a week by Hurricane Irene, which leads in perfectly to today's question.  Watch and enjoy.



Feel free to share each week's episode of "Ask Uncle Kerouac" by embedding it in your own blogs, Facebook profiles, what have you.

You can also get Uncle Kerouac's advice by sending your questions to him at AskUncleK@gmail.com.

And don't forget to come back tomorrow for the latest picture in our weekly You Write the Caption contest.

Hurricane Irene is a BEE-EYE-TEE-CEE-ACHUH

Thanks to Hurricane Irene, the Wildcat's Lair is without power right now, and not sure how soon we'll be getting power back. With that in mind, I've made the command decision to give the Lair this week off (translation: Frank refuses to work under these conditions, the lazy bastard cat). Normal insanity will resume Monday, September 5th.

Frank & Hip Get Steampunked, Episode 25

If you'd like to catch this storyline from the first episode, just go here.












* See previous episode "Frank & Hip Get Steampunked, Episode 4"



Catch the next episode on Wildcat Wednesday!

Oh, have you forgotten to submit your caption in this week's "You Write the Caption!" contest. Shame on you, if you have! Go caption it now! I'll announce the winning caption in Monday's "Ask Uncle Kerouac."

And visit the Lair on Facebook to vote on the eighth fantasy football team owner for this year's league in the Wildcat's Lair.

Thursday Randomness: Cheaters Never Win

Next month will see two of my stories appear in different anthologies. Last week, I unveiled a bit of graphic artwork I created to promote one of those stories entitled "The Deadlands," which will appear in the anthology Four in the Hole. I'll include wallpaper versions of that graphic for your computer at the end of this entry. First off, a few details on the other short story.

I wrote "Cheaters Never Win" back in 2008. It's one of the few pieces of flash fiction I've ever written, coming in at just a little more than 500 words. The story might well be one of the darkest things I've ever written. A husband, having learned his wife has cheated on him, exacts his revenge by forcing her to take part in a deadly game. I don't want to say much more than that, lest I give too much away. After all, there's only so much one can reveal about a flash fiction story.

A local publisher, Sink/Swim Press, is including "Cheaters Never Win" in their anthology Front Porch Flash Fiction. The book comes out September 9th. They're holding a release party that night at Velocity Comics, and I can't wait to go!

I'm also excited about this anthology, because it will include stories from two friends of mine, Katharine Herndon and John Glover. I met John at last year's James River Writers Conference. Speaking of which, Katharine is the chair for this year's JRW Conference, which is being held October 7th and 8th at the Library of Virginia (you can expect me to blog about that as we get closer to the conference). I've known Katharine for many years, and my wife and I were even in a writers critique group with her called "The Ten Page Club" (or "XPC" for short). It was in this group that Katharine read an early version of my other short story, "The Deadlands." Ah, yes... that's how I bring this blog entry back to my other short story.

So, here's the wallpaper for "The Deadlands." I've included the usual sizes for your enjoyment. Nothing makes a computer look more chipper (or would that be "chipperer?") than a picture of the end of the world.

               

800 X 600                  1024 X 768                  1280 X 960                  1280 X 800

Frank & Hip Get Steampunked, Episode 24

If you'd like to catch this storyline from the first episode, just go here.






* "International Bureau of Draconic Affairs"













Catch the next episode on Frank Friday!

Don't forget to submit your caption in this week's "You Write the Caption!" contest. I'll announce the winning caption in Monday's "Ask Uncle Kerouac."

And visit the Lair on Facebook to vote on the eighth fantasy football team owner for this year's league in the Wildcat's Lair.