Was a time when people knew enough to respect a god damn ninja.
Today, over at Out of the Gutter’s Flash Fiction Offensive, a group of friends learn what happens when you dishonor a man who takes his name very, very seriously.
Click on our friend below to read the tale of Robert, Ninja.
So if you haven’t heard (not like I haven’t reblogged, or Twittered, or Facebooked about it) I won the 1st AJ Hayes Memorial Writing contest.
The only thing I’ve won prior to this was third place in my age group at a local 5K – so understand, I’m sort of hyped about this.
I’m not fortunate enough to have known AJ (Bill) Hayes, but based solely on the respect given to him in the crime writing community, I’d like to imagine that he would have gotten a real kick at where I placed him in my story. If there’s one thing I’m learning about the crime/noir writing community; it’s there are a lot of talented and genuinely awesome people involved.
Anyway, please do me a favor and check out the winning stories:
3rd Place: Jen Conley THE REPAIRMAN
2nd Place: Ray Nessly THE BALLAD OF BILLY HAYES
1st Place: Angel Luis Colon SHOTGUN WEDDING
I’m really proud of this piece and genuinely shocked to have beaten what I think are really, truly excellent stories.
Anyway, enjoy!
Angel
So I’ve got two agent queries out in the wild.
Two doesn’t seem like much, but holy crap does it terrify me. You’d think that wouldn’t be the case – that I’d be over that initial trepidation you get when you email a journal a piece for the first time.
I mean, come on, I’m published now. There’s been success – small, sure – but still, dude, success. I shouldn’t be scared of others reading and judging my work. To be honest, I’m not.
At the same time, this manuscript is different. Most writers know the time we put into lengthy pieces. Shit, at 60K words, this isn’t even my longest piece. There’s something intimate about it – something raw that short and flash fiction can’t capture. You spent so much time, laid your soul bare and now it’s time for a person – a professional – to decide if they even want to read the WHOLE thing based on a small taste.
I’ll stop being flowery. Let’s just say it’s definitely got me anxious. For all the right reasons, though.
Anyway, here’s to the coming rejections (maybe the occasional validations/acceptances). I ain’t about to quit. I’ve still got a lot of material to put out there, and this writing scene I seem to have barged in on is full of remarkable, kind, and fascinating people.
That’s been my favorite part.
Be easy,
Angel
Angel Luis Colón 