tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post6526136969139274828..comments2024-03-28T15:01:21.285-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: 2021 in ReviewLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-60188518234159356162022-01-03T00:02:18.689-05:002022-01-03T00:02:18.689-05:00:):)Jeff Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00316081079528920123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-57952010105509420772022-01-02T09:37:34.058-05:002022-01-02T09:37:34.058-05:00Thanks, Jeff! I don't know why I'm nor wri...Thanks, Jeff! I don't know why I'm nor writing as many flash stories, but sounds as if you're not either. I guess our latest ideas just take longer to write about.<br /><br />Pleased to hear that you're getting some reprints into anthologies. Why let 'em sit around idle, right?<br /><br />Yep, back to the grindstone. I plan to try to start a new story today. Best to you and yours, old friend, and have a great year. Thank you as always for your support of SleuthSayers!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-70760609061580547772022-01-02T04:38:34.761-05:002022-01-02T04:38:34.761-05:00Wow! Congrats, John! Me? Well I wrote more full-le...Wow! Congrats, John! Me? Well I wrote more full-length (as opposed to flash) mystery short stories this past year, and I intend to write a few more. I actually had a (non-mystery) story reprinted from a zine into a small,(small!) press anthology. As Hemmingway said I'm going back to the grindstone! Happy New Year everybody, and thanks for the good reads! Jeff Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00316081079528920123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-57441285462798858342022-01-01T17:48:01.262-05:002022-01-01T17:48:01.262-05:00Thanks, Steve. I look forward to seeing those upco...Thanks, Steve. I look forward to seeing those upcoming stories of yours.<br /><br />I'm honestly not sure I'm right, in my choice not to include Covid references in my stories (at least for the moment). I just know that the editors I've submitted those stories to did not like the fact that the virus was even mentioned, and told me so. That's still a little surprising, to me, but I learned my lesson.<br /><br />Once again, Happy New Year, and best of luck to you in all writing endeavors!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-24700487610858776532022-01-01T17:43:23.520-05:002022-01-01T17:43:23.520-05:00Michael, you're too kind--I'm well aware t...Michael, you're too kind--I'm well aware that you have a lot more going on than I do. I find it hard to edit my own writing, much less the writing of all those other authors that go into the anthologies you produce. Also, you've been successful in this crazy business for a lot longer than I have. <br /><br />I look forward to seeing your year's wrapup, and I wish you the very best for the coming year!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-39294688130315537552022-01-01T17:25:37.870-05:002022-01-01T17:25:37.870-05:00Happy new year, John, and congratulations on anoth...Happy new year, John, and congratulations on another incredibly fruitful year. 38 upcoming stories boggles the mind. I have seven, maybe eight, but I'm not sure if one proposed anthology has found a publisher yet. <br /><br />Thank you for the data on Covid-related stories, too. I have not used it in any story because I thought it would date the story too specifically. Now you've shown that for that or some other reason, it's the right choice. Steve Liskowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07107703903536520140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-70715340863324522872022-01-01T17:23:11.937-05:002022-01-01T17:23:11.937-05:00I'm sharing my numbers in my Tuesday post (Pre...I'm sharing my numbers in my Tuesday post (Preview: They aren't as good as yours.), so I'll just say congratulations on another successful year!Michael Brackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01072019804281421944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-82004953042414340572022-01-01T16:48:10.036-05:002022-01-01T16:48:10.036-05:00Elizabeth, I hope this year'll be much better ...Elizabeth, I hope this year'll be much better to both you and your husband--but any year in which you win an award's never all bad, right? And if your current submission is to the market I suspect it's to, maybe you only have three or four more months before you get an answer! (And I'm hoping it'll be an acceptance--if it is, it's well worth the long wait.)<br /><br />Keeping fingers crossed that your Puerto Rico trip happens! Best to you in both your personal life and your writing. Happy New Year!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-22852075817084504112022-01-01T16:34:54.032-05:002022-01-01T16:34:54.032-05:00All of you inspire me! I hate to admit that I am s...All of you inspire me! I hate to admit that I am so unproductive that I have a 100% hit rate for 2021, of the submissions that have received a response. Those two stories are 100 words each & one of them won an award in the BOULD anthology. My excuse? A disabled husband takes up quite a bit of my time, besides which I'm still recovering from sepsis myself.<br /><br />We went on two short vacations in 2021, one to visit family in Virginia. We were supposed to go to Puerto Rico in October but did not because of covid & related problems, so we went on a road trip to visit friends & family. Knock on wood, we're going to Puerto Rico on March 4!<br /><br />I have one (count 'em! one!) submission at a magazine that is known to take a long time to answer. It's been eight months so far.Elizabeth Dearbornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14714209544959819305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-50283699988457600382022-01-01T15:58:38.128-05:002022-01-01T15:58:38.128-05:00Eve, I'm glad to hear you've kept writing ...Eve, I'm glad to hear you've kept writing and are still writing, after all you've been through this year. I think creating fiction really is, or can be, therapy--I know I've used it that way many times.<br /><br />Keep up the great work!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-1255517346646207912022-01-01T15:40:01.013-05:002022-01-01T15:40:01.013-05:00Happy New Year! And Congratulations!
I have a fe...Happy New Year! And Congratulations! <br />I have a few in the pipeline, but nowhere near yours - or anyone else's, apparently. My husband's health issues wrecked March and April (and now December), the prison finally reopened and there was a wave of catch-up activity, but hey - I kept writing, and am writing, I swear to God, Josh, I am, so... <br />Huzzah to us writers! We take a licking and keep on typing!Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-77475684598897897802022-01-01T15:30:49.008-05:002022-01-01T15:30:49.008-05:00Happy New Year to you too, Liz. I recall that seve...Happy New Year to you too, Liz. I recall that several of the stories I had published this year appeared alongside yours, and I'm always happy when that happens. <br /><br />The thing that strikes me about your upcoming stories is that five of those seven are in high-profile magazines, and I'm sure you're proud of that (as you should be). I hope we'll be together in some of those.<br /><br />I too am looking forward to our SleuthSayers anthology--that should be a fun book.<br /><br />Thanks as always!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-85234969095896127772022-01-01T14:55:03.873-05:002022-01-01T14:55:03.873-05:00Happy New Year, John! I'm as much in awe of yo...Happy New Year, John! I'm as much in awe of your honesty and humility as I am of your proflificness (prolificacy?) and success. What I most appreciate this time is your telling us that you have 38 accepted short stories still in press. I find that very comforting indeed, since I'm waiting for a mere seven to appear: two in AHMM, three in BCMM, one in the SleuthSayers anthology, and one in the if-I'd-held-my-breath-I'd-be-long-gone-and-forgotten (but it is coming and it will be great) Jewish Noir II.Elizabeth Zelvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13944424094949207841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-20030503711243927812022-01-01T12:31:36.512-05:002022-01-01T12:31:36.512-05:00Thank you, Bob--and I know what you mean. I've...Thank you, Bob--and I know what you mean. I've often heard that you're a writer if you can't bear not to be writing. <br /><br />Sorry to hear about the medical issue, but sounds like that's behind you and you're back on track. And I suspect you were dreaming up future stories and novels even when you weren't putting them "on paper." <br /><br />I wish you the best, old friend, for the coming year. Stay healthy and keep writing!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-49870620642304585222022-01-01T12:18:47.629-05:002022-01-01T12:18:47.629-05:00Your record is awesome and inspirational. If I had...Your record is awesome and inspirational. If I had a fraction of your success, I'd be thrilled.<br />2021 was an off year for me, 6 publications with 3 scheduled. (My excuse is that I had a minor medical issue that kept me away from the keyboard for over two months. And not writing for that period of time bummed me out more than anything else. Proof that, successful or not, I'm a writer.)<br />Here's to a better 2022.rjpetyohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01456461141590991475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-89845482729376052992022-01-01T12:12:20.933-05:002022-01-01T12:12:20.933-05:00Joe, you're too kind. You have some great numb...Joe, you're too kind. You have some great numbers--and I think the best thing about your last year's record is that you said it's been your most productive so far. I'm sure that trend will continue. <br /><br />I believe I've read most of the stories you've published--we have indeed appeared in a lot of the same books and magazines--and I'm always impressed by them. Keep up the great work!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-76086944904109960162022-01-01T12:03:07.628-05:002022-01-01T12:03:07.628-05:00Best wishes to you also, Susan. We at SleuthSayers...Best wishes to you also, Susan. We at SleuthSayers are always grateful for your comments here.<br /><br />As for the breakdown of stories, I'm always surprised at exactly how those turn out. For things like POV, genres, subgenres, etc., I never consciously think about those things when I begin a story, and--as you know--every story is different and often takes it own way. Several things I know I need to do is experiment more with tenses, do more research into foreign markets, keep a better eye out for anthology calls, etc.<br /><br />Thanks again, and take care!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-15968696802957746132022-01-01T11:56:15.029-05:002022-01-01T11:56:15.029-05:00Thanks, Bob. Congrats to you as well. Sounds like ...Thanks, Bob. Congrats to you as well. Sounds like your success rate's going up steadily. I always enjoy your stories.<br /><br />I hope and expect '22 to be your best year ever.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-40640500277067816072022-01-01T11:04:49.686-05:002022-01-01T11:04:49.686-05:00Congratulations on another outstanding year, John....Congratulations on another outstanding year, John. I thought I was doing well--I certainly had my most productive year yet--but you continue to put us mere mortal writers to shame. When do you sleep, man?<br /><br />Since you asked: in 2021 I wrote 26 new stories, 20 of which have been accepted, 16 for anthologies and four for magazines. I saw 17 new stories published, plus two reprints, one in "Mysterious Press Presents the Best Mysteries of the Year" (alongside your own excellent "Biloxi Bound"). Of the 26 stories I wrote, the shortest was 1700 words, the longest was 15,600, and the total word count was 121,000. I currently have 13 stories scheduled to be published in 2022.<br /><br />All of which is to say that if there were two of me, we might have caught up to you!Joe Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06317560144998411460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-65560088534889810212022-01-01T10:48:31.673-05:002022-01-01T10:48:31.673-05:00John, you are a marvel, and a sign of what is poss...John, you are a marvel, and a sign of what is possible. I'm always interested in how you break down the high number of stories you write. Best wishes for continuing success.Susan Oleksiwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693057997469296068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-2962457440476094382022-01-01T10:41:11.773-05:002022-01-01T10:41:11.773-05:00John, your stats are amazing and inspirational as ...John, your stats are amazing and inspirational as always. Congratulations on another strong year. That hit rate is incredible.<br /><br />My '21 stats are much more humble. Still, '21 was my second best year ever for acceptances (5), with my best hit rate since '15. 4 stories pending response, and I have a couple more almost ready to go. <br /><br />I hope everyone has a great 2022.Bob Mangeothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07888391367916922601noreply@blogger.com