Writer
“Detecting Haley” is a new book but an older story. It is the first Walter Anchor case. “The Ghost Bride’s Gift” is the second and right now it is exclusive to and free for newsletter subscribers. This story was originally published with 9 other short stories as part of Life After: Stories of Life, Death, and the Places in Between. There is a reason for all of this. There is at least one more Walter Anchor …
Star Date: May 25, 2019 Greetings Readers! Since our last update, camp life has become unbelievably busy. We had been thinking that Olivia needed a four-pawed canine friend to help her feel more comfortable. She truly is a pack animal and she had been a bit of a sad sack over not being with her littermate, Sky, and other friends next door. So, I asked the universe for a male spaniel. The universe delivered not …
I’ve got it on my list to do a blog post about milestones–there have been a bunch so far this year–but this is a big one and I can’t wait. My story, “The Disappearing Neighborhood,” is out in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine: Issue #6! This is a big deal for a couple of reasons. First, it is my first professional sale. While I’ve been in a bunch of anthologies and gotten paid for a fair number …
I’m really excited to have my story, “Ashna’s Heart” as part of Swords, Sorcery, & Self-Rescuing Damsels. This is the story of a fire mage named Kyla who is willing do anything and everything to save her home and her people. But to do so, she must leave her home behind and set out in search of her mentor who stole Ashna’s Heart, which is the only thing that can quiet the volcano at the …
Star Date: April 27, 2019 Greetings Readers! The Spring winds are blowing away the remnants of Winter here in Flagstaff. In early April, Robert and I made a short getaway for a “working vacation” to Colorado. We were able to dip into hot springs and recover from a very long winter of snow, injured knees, and puppy care. Our sweet Olivia is maturing and developing the cutest little habits. She buries her biscuits in the …
Star Date: March 30, 2019 Greetings Readers! Wow this month has flown by! It started with Robert being at a writer’s conference in Las Vegas. He’s going talk more about that, but I must say how proud I am of his accomplishments there. His stories were well received, and he gained so much insight as to what editors look for before they buy a story for professional publication. He returned from the Vegas experience with …
In early March, I spent a week in Las Vegas at a workshop all about writing for anthologies and getting to understand how editors choose stories. I was one of 50 writers who wrote a bunch of stories, and then we read everyone’s stories to get the editor’s eye view of things (that was 1.3 million words!) and then the editors put together nine anthologies and talked about all 300 stories while we all watched. …
Post-Zombie Apocalypse Reporter, Aleia O here. Checking in after what I would call the ‘Flagstaff Snowpocalypse of 2019’, I’m happy to report that we have seen a few signs of Spring. The snow is still piled high in places, but we can see the ground around our home which Olivia really enjoys. Here she is using her tunneling skills; adorable! I’m not going to get ahead of myself with Spring fever yet because the weather …
Star Date: February 23, 2019 Greetings Readers! We have been very busy campers this month, mostly shoveling snow and keeping up with our new puppy, Olivia. First though, as the Camp Activities Specialist, I have nudged our author to make a slight change on Facebook. Currently, Robert has a Facebook Group, named “The Totally Official (and very fun) Robert J. McCarter Author Group.” After much discussion about the trials and tribulations of social media; a …
Post-Zombie Apocalypse Reporter, Aleia O here. Well who would have thought I would go from a life of service to a life of zombie apocalypse reporting? Not me! That is until Robert read me Woody and June versus the Wannabe Warlord. He told me it was a zombie adventure/love story. I am the first audience for every short story, novelette and novel Robert writes. Picture this: me making dinner, chopping various veggies in the kitchen; Robert …