Amazing Stories #606 (with me in it)

[takyris]

Looking for proof that the short story is not dead, as previous posters have posited? Interested in fiction that combines humorous nudity, dire bats, intelligent weapon ego checks, and proof that the spiked chain is not overpowered*? Or perhaps, after reading the most recent Martin or Jordan or Goodkind, you're thinking, "Man, I'm tired of setting. I wish some writer would come along and do dialogue and fight scenes without ever getting his settings a second glance!"

Well then, you're in luck. Um, using the term "luck" fairly loosely.

Amazing Stories #606 (the one with the Incredibles Dad on the cover) has a story by yours truly in it, and it's hitting bookshelves now. If you can't find it in stores, you can grab a copy at http://www.paizo.com/amazing. My story is a sequel to the one that appeared in issue #604, although I suspect that the intricate weavings of the continuing storyline are such that it can probably be appreciated on its own (and if the reviews are kind, there's a chance that there will be more "Hapless Dude and His Talking Sword" stories in the future). I have also heard that the rest of the magazine, even the parts without me, makes for excellent reading.

(Seriously -- I picked up a yearlong subscription after reading my contributor's copy. Good stuff on movies, games, books, and some fun stories -- and all the features and articles come at the subject matter from a writing or creating standpoint, so you're not listening to a jaded actor talk about playing a role she'd never heard of but took because her agent asked her to.)

If you feel like supporting the fiction market, or if you've found yourself thinking, "Man, that Tacky, he talks a good game, but I suspect he's pretty much a hack in real life... if only I could find some of his writing to prove it to the whole board!" then please, check out the magazine.

* Yep, it's all in there.**

** Metaphorically, at least.

 

[your father is]

I've never seen a "newsstand" copy of AS yet (and I've been going out of my way to look). Does anyone know if there is a way to order single copies of the magazine?

 

[takyris]

You can do it directly from Paizo. In terms of finding them in real life, the only place I've had any luck is Barnes & Noble -- apparently they'll be in Borders too at some point, but they're having some kind of distribution issue.

And thanks.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

but they're having some kind of distribution issue.

Where's the smily when you need it?

I've been looking for Amazing Stories since you announced that your first story with them was going to be published, and have yet to see a copy anywhere, including B&N. How does Paizo ever expect to sell magazines if they aren't out there for those of us who want to buy them?

I WANT to read your stories, I really enjoyed the ones I tracked down a few months ago through the library. I guess I'll have to do the same for these two.

Sorry to be negative Takyris, I'm really happy that your stories are getting picked up.

 

[takyris]

Yeah, no kidding. My computer-illiterate family has not been able to get the magazines from the bookstore, which is where they'd usually get 'em. That means that I've been sending them my few precious contributor's copies... :\

I know that they're working on it, though. I know that some of the trouble came from the name -- some folks looked at 'em, said, "Oh, we used to carry you, but your last issue didn't sell," and decided not to pick them up. I think.

In any event, it's possible that the next issue (this one) will be in bookstores -- I got my first "oh, we should have a few here in stock" answer from the book-people, which was a huge improvement over "no, we can't get it, no we won't get it, no, there's nobody you can talk to about it".

And heck, you're no more negative than I am. My giant publicity boost would be going better if anybody in the world beyond me could find the mags...

 

[ledded]

Cool, Taky, I'm glad to see ya getting published.

I read the couple stories linked from your web site and enjoyed them *immensely*. Very, very good stuff, kept me hooked until the last word and left me wishing there was more.

I'm actually thinking about breaking my anti-Paizo moratorium and picking up a few issues of AS now.

Any chance you'll do a Story Hour of some of your gaming exploits one day? The descriptions of some of your MnM games that I've read in a few threads just beg for a good short story or two to go with them

 

[barsoomcore]

Holy crap, Taky's in Amazing Stories!

*dances in associative joy*

Man, that's so awesome. Seriously, I'm grinning. Happy grinning.

I like to see people I think are talented doing well. And in Amazing Stories, a magazine I have many fond memories of. Didn't Robert Silverberg used to be Editor-In-Chief over there? Or am I... No, I'm pretty sure that's right.

Regardless, I think short fantasy fiction is an important thing, and I'm sure glad to see you getting a story sold, taky. I know you work hard on your writing, and you love it, and it shows, man.

I'll pick up a copy asap -- anything to wash the taste of Jacqueline Carey out of my mouth.

Not comparing your work to mouthwash. Or, not deliberately, anyway. Er. Never mind.

Congrats!

 

[takyris]

Thanks, B -- yeah, that was roughly my reaction when I got the news.

I think working hard is important (see my unnecessary stupid rant in the GRRM thread), but the second half is what does it for me -- once I got over the competitive deep literary writing stuff and started writing the goofy stuff I loved to read, I started selling stuff.

My friends are writing delicate social fabric stories that are important and deep and meaningful, and I'm writing what amounts to a fictional story hour. But from about as deep as I get... if I'm having a rotten day, and I'm tired, and I come home and have twenty minutes before the wife gets home and we have to start thinking about bills and dinner and such... well, I want those twenty minutes to be fun. So that's what I write.

Or try to write, anyway.

 

[your father is]

t;

I have found the single issues ordering page and should have my very own copy of #606 soon. I wanted to order #604 as well, but they're out of stock or something -- you're just too popular!

 

[barsoomcore]

Dude, we need to get together and beat up our friends.



Yeah, I've found EXACTLY the same thing. I struggled and sweated for YEARS trying to be a serious writer, when what got me started in the first place was writing about dinosaurs and swordfights and stuff. All my sales have been D&D products. No actual dinosaurs as yet, but plenty of swordfights. And stuff.

"If you don't love it, why on earth are you doing it?" is what I say.