Acceptance notes from Ghoti, Frigg and Argotist

No doubt, despite their many rejections, I still owe much thanks to editors—who seem to have some sixth sense when I need some cheering up.

Received such an enthusiastic e-mail from Ghoti yesterday that I couldn't help but smile:

Dear Ms. Ang,

So glad to have you back! We'd love to publish "This Closing Book", "Something Like Blood" and "To That Disquieting Presence . . ." for our Winter issue, which will be up in January. If you're happy with that (clap your hands?) feel free to update your bio and/or send an email confirmation that none of these awesome poems has been picked up by another journal (yet).

All the best!
The Editors
(Jillian)

And today an acceptance note from FRIGG Magazine. I've sort of given up on that submission (dated 13 June 2005 in my Sentbox) so it's been a terrific surprise. Such a kewl 'zine, too with surreal imagery and layout.

Plus, quite possibly the fastest turnaround time in the history of 'zines (rivaling that of Stride Magazine): The Argotist received, accepted and posted my poems at their site yesterday:

From a Ouija board
Roundabout
Apostles Outside the Cathedral

Still... my idea, basically, on birthdays remains:

Hah!

Poems in Loch Raven Review

Four poems up in the Fall 2005 issue of a new 'zine, Loch Raven Review (Western & Eastern Poetry sections):

In his lungs
Towards 47th San Seviera Drive
A Father’s Life
Crazy Love: egg tanka series.

Rejection slip from Diagram. Durn, that's such a tough market... trying out their style preference is fun though and worth the rejections. Hee.

Have remained internetless since last night--the modem got frizzled. Short circuit suspected. Slept most of the day. Have a migraine brewing again.

John S. Vick posted a glowing review...

of my book at Amazon.com.

I'm totally thrilled and doing the dance of joy!
Teehee, can't resist an in-house joke between myself and the detached swivel-chair wheel -- as Dr. Lecter would say: People will say we're in love.

Thank you, John!!

* * * * * *

My poem, Miss Wei Sells a Dozen 15-Catty Carp to Lord Chou's Attendant is up in the fall issue of flashquake. And I'm delighted to read Susan Culver's Murphy's List of Lost Things there, too! I read that back when we were doing the poem-a-day challenge together. Yoooupppeeee!

Civ 3 review inspiration

Was reading some Civ 3 strategy guides when I came across this hilarious tidibit at IGN.com--am posting it here since it looks like a great diving board for a poem:

And for some reason, someone thought it would be cool to add the sound of birds chirping to the game. This is honestly probably the most irritating aspect of the game. It's bad enough to hear real birds chirping outside my window because I've been up for 10 hours playing this game. When the game makes chirping sounds it triggers a Pavlovian response in me that makes me feel more tired than I am.

-- Steve Butts

Have finished my revisions for the day and tomorrow will start another double round of poem-a-day challenges at Blueline and ITWS. I *deserve* this afternoon off!!!!

Sometimes I think I'm a bee (Greek)

Recent buzz words:

• revisions (a.k.a. the list poem massacre)

• Civ 3 (or the day I woke up Greek--after exterminating the Romans and launching the spaceship)

• rejection slip from Lost Horse Press re: scrying sand mss (a.k.a. as Lost Hope Case--the rejection was good, positive, especially since I've totally trashed the old mss. Hee.)

• and lastly, book-shopping today!!

Have ordered my half-year's supply of poetry books: "The Beauty of the Husband" by Anne Carson; "How Things Are On Thursday" by Ros Barber; "The Book of Judas" by Brendan Kennelly; "Signs Round a Dead Body" by Deryn Rees-Jones and "The Beautiful Lie" by Sheenagh Pugh for my birthday. Something to look forward to, at least... together with imminent botulin injections around the eyes.

My Third Secret Love Poem is up at leaf press (Monday poem)... as sort of consolation prize for rejecting my secret love poem mss on account of my current address. Sigh.

Some days I speak Greek, think Greek, feel Greek and totally indifferent to my surroundings (which includes a dusty chocolate Easter egg that cries out to be ravished).

These past two days...

I've behaved: have recorded my poems for the fall issue of 2River View, revised around four poems today and submitted stuff here and there. Have also updated the 2005 credits and links in the website.

Also, the clothes mound on the living room sofa is has incredibly halved! Have ironed and put away some... or, as my darling hubby puts it, I have distributed the mound elsewhere.

Everything seems calm and content. Have begun spaceship construction in Civ III as Shogun Tofugawa... which means the game is about to end. Couldn't resist: have wiped out the Chinese and Roman civilizations--mainly because they were "in the way." Funny how these games simulate real life so well.

Have also discovered the breathtaking surreal art of Giovanni Cannizzo at deviantART which I'm hoping to use for the next issue of NG. Yay! Very excited about it.

Back from S. Primo (Bellagio)

And not very happy about it. First, the ride back home was terrible... it literally rained (and hailed) cats and dogs in the freeway, then we came home and discovered that some idiot neighbor switched off our electrical current. The freezer leaked water all over the kitchen floor and I had to say a sad goodbye to all the (ex)frozen meat, seafood, potatoes... and my beloved provision of chopped onion.
Just wait until I get my chair on that %$&#@ who did this!

To top it all, all computers seemed to have gone on vacation, too and wouldn't connect to the internet until tonight.

Also found a a rejection letter in the mailbox from CavanKerry Press regarding my mss, "The Lean Season". Handwritten under the form letter:

Arlene--
This is so beautifully written, but CRP has put a hold on considering any manuscript from outside the US.

Sigh!!!!