Republic by Robert Onopa

If you want to find some good sci-fi short fiction here's what you have to do: go down to your local bookstore, get a copy of the July/06 Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine and turn to page 117. Here's what draws me to this story by an author I've never read before - the prose is about as smooth as it gets. The story isn't laden down with obnoxious science fictiony stuff, it's just a good story about an Earth attempt to colonize another world. Echoes of Heart of Darkness. Anyway, a fine story, well told. There are others in the issue so it's well worth the $3.99.

Of course you can buy my book...

Available a month earlier than I had been told ... the Paperback version of my first book Precinct Puerto Rico is now available online. Just click .

Of course, if you head over to my website, there's a way to win a free copy. Click through here .

There again, there are plenty of independent bookstores that would be happy to help. Click here or maybe here or try over here .

Tell them I sent you.

ConMisterio

The good people running ConMisterio this summer have let me know what my panel schedule will be. I'm going to be talking about things like research and short story writing and I also have a thrity minute slot for talking about whatever I like or for reading a story. For that slot I think I will premiere a short story that I'm hoping to have finished by then. It would be a 1st person story where Viktor Petrenko first meets Elena Kojic.

Of course, if you haven't read "Viktor Petrenko, Have You No Mercy?" then you have missed one of my best stories and have no idea who Viktor is. You won't have read my story "Elena Speaks of the City Under Siege" because that hasn't come out yet from CrimeSpree . I believe that comes out in July, but really, I haven't a clue. In any event, that also was a successful story in my estimation. Not as much fun as "Stoop, the Thief" but then, what is?

When I talk about the short story, I need to the influence CrimeSpree and AHMM have had on me. I really do sit down to write wondering what Linda Landrigan and Jennifer Jordan would like to read. (Not exclusively, but they cover a pretty wide range of what I put together.)

Anyway, I'm excited to be headed off for Texas in mid-July. I hope the hotel is fully air-conditioned. Oh, and I'll be upset if I can't get into The Alamo. Last time I was in the neighborhood, I drove past it at night. Frankly, it didn't look quite large enough to hold John Wayne and that guy who played Jim Bowie.

Duane Swierczynski - Fraud? Scammer? Con Artist?

Just bought Duane Swierczynski's Complete Idiot's Guide to Frauds, Scams, and Cons. Wow. Con artists are mean. And inventive. If you were thinking of giving money to those guys with the Nigerian Windfall, I've got just one contraction for you - Don't!

If someone tells you there's mustard on the back of your coat, tell them you put it there and keep walking. Ketchup too. The jury's still out on other condiments.

If the bank calls you and wants your personal information, hang up. If E-Bay, PayPal, Amazon, Book of the Month Club email you and want you to confirm your name, address, SS#, bank account #s...that might be legit. I haven't read the whole book yet.

Also, if I read correctly, there is no quick way to lose fat. I know from personal experience there is no slow way either so that means there is no way at all.

Anyway, a great read. Now if he only wrote novels...