I had the opportunity to write a guest post on the website of the Association for Mormon Letters. I discussed the inspiration for and plans of Hemelein Publications, including the new Legacy of the Corridor publication series. This series highlights well known and lesser known authors from the Intermountain West, and the third volume comes out on April 19: Down the Arches of the Years by Lee Allred. I really enjoyed editing it, and I think you’ll like it.
Update for Summer 2021
I have several announcements to make:
A Universe of Stories was released on June 30, 2021. The official release event is on August 14 at American Fork Library at 11am. Come out, pick up your copy, and get signatures from the authors and the editor.
The Florilegium of Madness, a collection of short fiction and essays by D. J. Butler and co-edited by Callie Butler and myself, was released on July 28! It has a bunch of Hiram Woolley stories (The Cunning Man), as well as a bunch of other Cthulhu mythos and other dark fantasy stories. I enjoyed working with Dave and Callie to create this volume. This is the first collection of Dave’s stories, and the first in the Legacy of the Corridor publication series from Hemelein Publications. We’re still working on a release event for it.
We have a cover for Parliament of Wizards! This is the fourth volume in the LTUE Benefit Anthologies series that I co-edit with Jaleta Clegg. It comes out in February 2022.
I plan to be at FanX, too. Check out my schedule for more details.
Call for submissions open: A Hero of a Different Stripe
My co-editor, Jaleta Clegg, and I have a new benefit/charity anthology open for submissions! You can find all the details over on the Hemelein Publications website:
It’s open through June 20, 2021, so get your stories submitted!
Of parodies and quarantines
Everyone in the world seems to be under quarantine (of one level or another) right now thanks to the COVID-19 coronavirus. One of the effects is many people working from home as we practice the recommended “social distancing” to help slow the spread of the illness. This means more interaction with family members and exposure to things we might not otherwise hear.
For instance, my three-year-old daughter loves to listen to music and dance to it. During a recent session of this, she suddenly stopped and came over to the iPhone that was playing the music. After listening carefully, she burst out laughing and started repeating what she thought was some of the lyrics to it. As with many small kids (and even adults, sometimes), she misheard the lyrics, but that only made it funnier to her. She kept laughing and repeating her version.
People often ask writers where they get inspiration. The honest answer is: everywhere. Therefore, in the spirit of Weird Al Yankovic, I present the following parody for your enjoyment.
“Booger Face”
(to “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga)
Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah
I wanna pick ‘em like they do in toddler days
Dig ‘em let me stretch ‘em roll it baby blow with me, I love it
Snot and inhibition pick the best from in the dark
And after it’s been hooked I’ll flick it clean across the park
Oh, oh, oh
I’ll dig ‘em out, show off all my snot
Oh, oh, oh
I’ll flick them off, show off all my snot
Chorus
Can’t clean my, can’t clean my
No he can’t clean my booger face
(She’s got to clean nobody)
Can’t clean my, can’t clean my
No he can’t clean my booger face
(She’s got to clean nobody)
B-b-b-booger face, b-b-b-booger face
(Mum mum mum mah)
B-b-b-booger face, b-b-b-booger face
(Mum mum mum mah)
I wanna roll with him a snot pair we will be
A little picking is fun when you’re with me,…
Chorus (repeat)
Parliament of Wizards call for submissions is open!
The call for submissions for Parliament of Wizards, the fourth of the LTUE Benefit Anthologies, is now open! This anthology is in memory of Jonathan Langford, one of the founders of Life, the Universe, & Everything, an annual academic science fiction and fantasy symposium held in Provo, Utah.
Visit Hemelein Publication’s website to see the call for submissions. I (and my co-editor, Jaleta Clegg) look forward to seeing your amazing submissions!