I was feeling positive about all this querying business until I read this bit at the Missouri Review:

Acceptance rates for electronic and regular submissions are the same: currently, less than 1%.

Pardon me while I sink into the slough of despair. One percent? Really? That's like the most devastating slush pile comment I've ever read. It makes me think I just hugely wasted my time on THE BELIEVER and TIN HOUSE because they probably get way more submissions. (I might have slightly better odds at ZYZZVYA and RIVER TEETH as they are somewhat smaller markets. At least that's what I'm telling myself.)

Okay, I'm over it. The whining stops now, promise.

I have another essay that should be good to go tomorrow (I just have to make sure they can standalone and are not dependent on the rest of the book to explain characters relationships, etc. Most of these are all pretty close to that anyway.). I was thinking to send it to the MISSOURI REVIEW but now I'm thinking maybe GEORGIA REVIEW as I likely have a snowball's chance in hell at MISSOURI. But then I was wondering if it would be better for me to stick to more western publications (the one I sent to THE BELIEVER was about St Exupery so not so regional). Westerners might be more inclined to take a chance on the Alaska setting.

But then again, other locations might find Alaska more appealing as it is something different. (This is why writers go insane you know - it's not the writing, it's the trying to get to get published.)

Beyond writing news (and really this blog should not be so much about writing), there is a ton of reading. I'm finishing up a nonfiction book on vampires from National Geographic which is quite interesting as it looks at the long literary and medical history of the myth. Great stuff and perfect for vamp loving teens - especially if they want to write a book report on their favorite subject but haven't found a title that's acceptable to teacher yet. I'm also deep in titles for the upcoming Booklist focused on science titles - lots of psychology and genetics and that kind of thing. All interesting in one way or another although none is really my personal cup to tea (but easy to recommend).

For the October column I've got two books on the less savory history of the south: THEY CALLED THEMSELVES THE KKK and SPIES OF MISSISSIPPI. Seems like if I'm going to do my annual scary books column then I should include the truly scary, don't you think?

Plus I'm finishing up THE VERY BEST OF CHARLES de LINT for a standalone review. I've actually read most of these stories before but it's a good chance to show new readers how to get to know his writing and why it's so great. (He's a must for urban fantasy fans, hands down.)

And I've going through A UNIVERSAL HISTORY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF BOOKS just because it is interesting (although rather depressing) and Jack Kerouac's journals - but that's for my western book. And Jincey WIllet's WRITING CLASS because I need something fun! ha! (Just finished Carrie Vaughn's KITTY AND THE SILVER BULLET - Big fun and I'm loving the heck out this series.)

I also just finished Amber Benson's MG ghost story AMONG THE GHOSTS and it was a cute little Nancy Drewish mystery that included elements of Scooby Doo wackery, boarding school setting and why scientists can generally not be trusted. Overall very nice for the 8-12 set and will be reviewed in my October column. My only complaint is about the cover which just seems odd to me. The little girl is certainly "Noh" (short for Noleen) but the ghosts look creepy as all get out and the background looks like some kind of gothic nightmare but none of that is true. The dead kids are all fun and quirky and sweet (and drawn that way in the interior illustrations) and nothing happens at night. This is a case where I think the pub might be trying to appeal to readers who aspire to TWILIGHT but are too young for it but they are going to miss the kids of the correct age who just want a fun adventure story. It's some false advertising, that's for sure.

My reading pile is really absurd in a lot of ways. It's totally all over the place and to a certain degree drives me crazy. But on the flip side I find it is a kind of crazy that helps me write and makes me think and that's all good. Mostly right now I just want to get the October column done as I'm still a bit behind from AK this summer. I want to get a jump on Nov and Dec very soon. (Nov is "Tell Me the Truth" - nothing on Dec yet other than rich fun novels, I think.)