Archive for category Fiction
Angels Among Other Things: Story Collection Released on Kindle
Posted by Michael Livingston in Fiction on November 20th, 2011
Angels Among Other Things
Some months ago, I published my first short fiction collection, Angels Among Other Things, as an Amazon Kindle e-book. I made no announcement of it at the time, primarily because I wanted to work the kinks out of the e-book. I have quite a bit of experience in digital publishing, after all, but formatting for the new e-readers is something I had not done.
Life got busy, and it was only recently that I was able to update the file and feel comfortable announcing it to the world.
So here we are, and just in time for the Holidays!
Angels Among Other Things collects nine of my short stories:
- A Very Young Boy with Largely Clipped Wings
- The Keeper Alone
- Dr. Williamson and the Master Speed
- The Angel of Marye’s Heights
- At the End of Babel
- The Hand That Binds
- After the Song is Sung
- The Catch of the Day
- Gnome Season
Two of these stories have never been published. One of them won Writers of the Future. The others are among my favorites for one reason or another. Because I like such things from other writers, I’ve written short blurbs about the origin and composition of each piece.
So if you’re wanting to load something up on your Kindle (or someone else’s) this Hannukwanzmastide season … Pick up Angels Among Other Things
In the meantime, I’ll be working to get the collection available for the Nook and other e-readers. 
Life Updates: 4xGuard, Classes, Tenure, and Writing
Posted by Michael Livingston in Academics, Fiction, Project XK (Jeep) on September 12th, 2011
The semester is in full swing here at The Citadel, which has clearly made my life busy again and contributed a bit to the quiet hereabouts.
But that’s not the only thing that’s been happening.
Earlier this year I was asked to be the Associate Director of the Honors Program, and only now is that job becoming a reality in terms of time spent on the clock. It’s exciting and fascinating, but it’s also a draw-down on my spare time.
On the plus side, I had more spare time to give to the job since two weeks ago my father sold 4xGuard, the Jeep accessories business I’d been helping him to run. The good folks at JeepinByAl are now in charge of the business.
Meanwhile, I’m readying my application materials for tenure and promotion, which are due at the start of November. While that seems like it’s a fair bit off, I have two conferences to go to between now and then, in addition to graduate exams to grade, plus the usual business of teaching.
And then there’s the fiction-writing business. I’m working on two novel-length projects right now, and I just returned from an extremely productive and enjoyable invite-only writers retreat this past weekend.
So life’s good. Things move forward. One step at a time.
“Purging Cocytus” Reviewed Again
Posted by Michael Livingston in Fiction on August 18th, 2011
I’ve been so busy — pleasantly so, what with going to Wales and all — that I somehow missed the fact that my short story “Purging Cocytus” has earned a second review (you may recall that the first review, from Lois Tilton, was quite good).
This time the kind words come from SF Site, where Sherwood Smith has reviewed Black Gate 15. Here’s what she has to say about my story:
In this horrific tale whose setup borders on science fiction, Danny’s grandfather has been in cryonic suspension but is now revived and has been returned to the family. The fantastic enters when Danny begins to have nightmares that the reader gradually recognizes as echoes from Dante’s Inferno. Powerfully and beautifully written, the story propels the reader, as well as Danny, to the inexorable and irresistible end. Again the theme of death and beyond comes up, this time with very dark overtones.
Hmmm… “powerfully and beautifully written.” I’ll take that!
Interviews and Interviews
Posted by Michael Livingston in Academics, Fiction on June 18th, 2011
As noted here before, this is a busy month, what with my being a student and all. But a few other things have been going on, including two interviews, both quite surprising.
The first surprise interview involved a writing class in Milwaukee, Wisconsin of all things. J. Boone Dryden contacted me about the fact that he would be utilizing one of my favorite short stories, “A Very Young Boy with Largely Clipped Wings,” in connection with its literary precursor, Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings,” to talk about theme and voice and other matters. One thing led to another, and I ended up on a web camera, being streamed from my office here in Charleston to a screen in Milwaukee to talk to a group of young writers about my work and my methods. They were perceptive and gracious. I had a great time.
The second surprise interview involved a new job here at The Citadel. Much to my surprise, I was offered the chance to become the college’s first “Associate Director of the Honors Program.” As an Honors Program alumnus myself (from Baylor University), I consider this quite the extraordinary honor, and it involved a bit of follow-up interviewing … the end result of which is it seems I will indeed be taking this new position starting in the Fall.
So I’m still busy.
Also, Child 1.0 turned 5, which has been great fun since he’s at last of an age when he can be excited about such things.
“Purging Cocytus” Reviewed
Posted by Michael Livingston in Fiction on May 29th, 2011
Lois Tilton has just published a review of Black Gate 15 for Locus Online. Included is a nice little review of my latest short story, “Purging Cocytus”:
Horror, in a setting that is more SF than fantasy. Danny’s grandfather has been in cryonic suspension but is now revived and has been returned to the family. On the day of the revival, Danny began to have horrific nightmares about crossing the landscape of Dante’s Inferno, guided by an old man. Readers know this is not simply the child’s imagination, as the old man quotes Dante in both Italian and Latin and the scenes are directly from the epic as well. …
This is strong stuff, as is the conclusion, all in support of the author’s theme that death is not to be denied.
Awesome!
Black Gate 15 Is Awesome
Posted by Michael Livingston in Fiction on May 13th, 2011
I was quite pleased today to find my copy of Black Gate 15 in my mailbox. The magazine is gorgeous, of course, and it’s filled with terrific writing and artwork. I’ve only read about a quarter of it so far — the issue is nearly 400 pages thick! — but I could not be more impressed.
Go out and buy a copy today!
(And enjoy my story, “Purging Cocytus,” while you’re at it.)
More Website Changes: Fiction Snippets
Posted by Michael Livingston in Fiction on May 3rd, 2011
You might notice something different about the sidebar over there: it’s the cover of one of the volumes holding my work, along with either a snippet of that work or a review of it. It’s a random selection that loads up with each new page, and you can also cycle through them by clicking on the review/snippet.
I’d pat myself on the back about the brilliance of this notion, but the truth is I saw the plugin used to similar effect on the website of old friend (and brilliant writer) Lon Prater. It was too awesome not to implement here.
At the moment, you’ll get a larger-size picture of the image if you click on the cover itself. That’s probably going to change pretty soon, though, as I’m planning to have it link you to my being-redesigned fiction page. One of the things I hope to be adding there will be the necessary links for you to read (or perhaps buy?) e-copies of those works for which I have the e-distribution rights.
It’s a brave new world, and I’m only slowly getting around to taking advantage of it!
Black Gate 15: Table of Contents
Posted by Michael Livingston in Fiction on April 27th, 2011
I mentioned in earlier posts that Black Gate 15 is coming soon to press and includes my latest short story. Well, John O’Neill has now released the full table o’ contents on Black Gate‘s website, and I’m still listed. So that’s good. ;)
I thought it was worth sharing the teaser John wrote for the tale:
“Purging Cocytus”
by Michael Livingston
A medical miracle revived the dead… or something that looked like them. From the author of “The Hand That Binds” (Black Gate 9).
Nice, eh? And that link he gives there sends you over to an excerpt of my earlier Beowulf-based story, which is accompanied by Matt Hughes’ wonderful artwork.
What a great magazine!
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