Jazzing It Up

Notice anything new?

If you stopped by over the weekend, you may have noticed more than this new look. I've been playing.

What do you think?

I think it's still not quite right, but it's the new one for now. Everyone needs a change every now and then to keep things fresh. So please indulge me :)

And . . .

I have a treat for you.

My flash fiction story - "Blues in the Night" - has been published in the premier issure of Dark Valentine magazine. My story is on page 16.

To tie all this into Monday-Is-Something-About-Writing-Day, here's the takeaway: Persistence Pays.

It hasn't paid yet with the new look, but it will before much longer.

It did pay with my story. This is a story I wrote a few years ago. It started life at about 3000 words. Couldn't sell it. Padded it by adding a subplot. No go. Yanked everything but the core. Changed the title. Twice. Adjusted the ending. No sale.

All along I believed in the story the character needed to tell. I tried fitting my edgy little story into all the markets I could find. I called it literary, mainstream, crime, spec fic, whatever the market wanted. But still no sale.

Then along came Dark Valentine.

They didn't ask for specific genre(s); they wanted dark across all genres. I love that magazine because the people there loved my story. They GOT it!

That's what we all hope for when we write . . . readers who get what we're saying.

Comments

Mason Canyon said…
CONGRATULATIONS on your story being published. Way to go, happy dance time!!! The new look is nice, but it doesn't really say Tiki Hut to me. I know you'll find one that is you.
Have a great day.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Mason Canyon said…
Okay, I'm back. I just read your story. Wow, I want more, what happens next?

Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Joanne said…
Writing is such an amazing process, isn't it? Kudos to you for not giving up on your work, and for revising and rewriting and tweeking until it found a published home! Raising my coffee cup in a congrats toast :)
Lydia Kang said…
congratulations! That is awesome! It's so great when someone "gets" your writing!
Carol Kilgore said…
Mason - That's exactly it ... it doesn't say Tiki Hut. Onward. I'll most likely have something new before Wednesday's post. Then I'll ask again - LOL.

Glad you liked my story. I don't know what's next. I'm not sure I want to live with Avery through a full novel, although it might be worth thinking about.

Joanne - Thanks, Joanne. Back atcha!

Lydia - Yes!
VR Barkowski said…
Love the new colors, but I agree it doesn't quite say Tiki.

HUGE CONGRATS on the publication of your story, Carol! Heading over to Dark Valentine to read it, stat.
Elspeth Futcher said…
Many congratulations Carol on your story being published. Pat yourself on the back a few times. Have you done it? I'm waiting...

I'm thinking of changing the look on my blog as well, I just need to learn how to do a few things...grrr.
Southpaw said…
Congrats! Patience wins out. I downloaded the magazine and hope to get to it tonight.

I know it doesn’t say “Tiki Hut” but I like the colors you’ve got going on.
Love your new look! Very fun and easy to read! And I love your last line-- readers who get what we write-- that is absolutely THE BEST. And when it happens you're validated as a writer and those who don't GET you don't matter!
Helen Ginger said…
It found not just a home, but the perfect home! Congratulations. And I like the new look. The blues and oranges are eye-catching.
Carol Kilgore said…
VR - Thanks. I'll get to work on the Tiki look. Hope you enjoyed the story.

Elspeth - Done!

Southpaw - I love these colors, too. Now to work on the look. Hope you enjoy.

Karen - Thanks. I just need to Tiki-ize it. I agree about readers who get what we write.

Helen - Thanks, all the way around.
Congratulations, Carol!

I love your blog's new look! Maybe you'll inspire me. :) My blog has been plain for a loonnng time, now!
Congratulations, Carol - that is awesome!
Anonymous said…
Congratulations, Carol! What wonderful news! I'll be sure to check it out. :)
Carol Kilgore said…
Elizabeth - It's easy, but I did have to temporarily switch browsers to get Blogger's design feature to work properly for me. That was probably Operator Error on my part.

Alex - Thanks.

Kimberly - Enjoy.
Kerrie said…
Congratulations! This is great news. I have a short story that I have been having the same issues with. I guess I just haven't found my Dark Valentine yet...but I will keep looking.
Aubrie said…
Congrats on getting your story published! I downloaded the magazine and read it. What a great picture to go with it and I love the cycle of things from start to finish. Great detail in the makeup and great portrait of a character in such few words. :)
Carol Kilgore said…
Kerrie - Keep looking. You'll find your Dark Valentine.Like mine, maybe yours isn't here yet.

Aubrie - I'm so thrilled you liked it. And the illustration. The artist, Pamela Jaworska, lives in Poland.
Lola Sharp said…
Persistance pays, indeed! CONGRATS!! :)

*tossing confetti*

Incidentally, I played around with the new design too, and there were palm tree backgrounds and other tike type backgrounds.
(If you need help finding them, let me know)

Happy Monday!
Love,
Lola
Unknown said…
Hi, Carol. I'm glad to be following your blog again. I used to blog All Write with Coffee. Happy you're following my new blog now.

CD
Perseverance is a quality all writers need and it does pay off in the long run, as you prove. Congratulations on the short story.

I like the new look of your blog.
Carol Kilgore said…
Lola - I love confetti!

I did see the palm trees and may need to go that route. I was hoping to achieve something with color, but I may need to shelve that idea - at least for the time being.

Check back Wednesday and see what I've got by then.

Clarissa - Oh yes! I loved that blog. I'm so happy you're back :)

Jane - Thanks, Jane!
So cool! Congratulations! And I like what you've done to the place. :)
Carol Kilgore said…
Thanks, Kathi. It's a start, but I think I still need to incorporate more of a Tiki look and feel. Stay tuned!
Anonymous said…
Echoing the congrautlation sentiment. And I like the new look though I must admit I had to check the address at first to make sure I'd found the right website.
Congratulations and best of luck with your future writing.
Glynis said…
Congratulations, Carol!

I like this new look.
Laura Eno said…
Congrats! I like the new look too.
Carol Kilgore said…
Cassandra - Yes, as much as I like this look, it doesn't quite say Tiki. You may find palm trees next time :)

Glynis - Thanks.

Laura - All the above applies to you, too. Thank you.
Talli Roland said…
Congrats Carol! That's fantastic!

And yes, I like the new look!

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