Peg Kerr's Journal

Today, for the first time in over twenty years, I sent out a short story for an editor’s consideration. It’s almost humorous how proud of myself I feel.

The story is called “The Hall of the Muses.” I wrote it in the hopes that Greg Ketter would take it for his anthology on bookstores (eventually published as Shelf Life), but Greg decided to pass on the story. I always thought it deserved a home, though, so I had a few writing friends take a look at it to suggest markets. And today, I sent it off. Given recent events in Minneapolis, it feels oddly topical.

Good heavens, I feel old. The last time I sent out a short story, I had to send it on the mail and include an SASE.

I will be reading the story aloud at a meeting of the Rivendell discussion group this Saturday (via Zoom). It’s one of the “Readings From Rivendell” series, so there will be other readers. Check out the invite on Facebook here to learn more. (Edited to add: I dunno why that Facebook hyperlink isn't working, but here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/events/736244700529880/).

This coming Saturday, April 19, I will be reading my paper that was presented at the Fantasy Matters conference on the Heart of Flesh/Heart of Stone at the monthly meeting of the Rivendell Group of the Mythopoeic Society, and you are all invited to attend. One of the main books I discuss in the paper, Sunshine by Robin McKinley, is also a topic at this meeting.

Here are two stories on the web which I suggest that people read on the topic "Heart of Flesh, Heart of Stone." The first one I discuss in my paper. Both are quite short:
"The Girl With the Heart of Stone" and mrissa's story "Water, Flesh and Stone." (You might also take a look at the essay I did for snapecast on the topic, concerning Severus Snape, here).

The meeting will be held at 1:30 PM at the Southeast Community Library,
1222 4th St SE in Dinkytown near the Minneapolis U of MN east bank campus.

Here's the bibliography for the paper:

Anderson, Hans Christian. "The Snow Queen." Tr. Neil Philip. London: Reader's Digest Association Limited, 2004.

The Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Bible Publishers, 1976.

Bobet, Leah. "The Girl with the Heart of Stone." Strange Horizons. Ed. Susan Marie Groppi. 12 Nov. 2007. <http://www.strangehorizons.com/2006/20060109/heart-f.shtml>.

Bull, Emma. "Why I Write Fantasy." Pulphouse: The Hardback Magazine. Ed. Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Eugene, Oregon: Pulphouse Publishing, 1990. 14-22

Byatt, A.S. "Ice, Snow, Glass." Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Women Writers Explore their Favorite Fairy Tales. Ed. Kate Bernheimer. New York: Anchor Books, 1998. 60-79.

Dickens, Charles. Nicholas Nickleby. New York: Penguin Books, 1999.

Hughart, Barry. Bridge of Birds. New York: Ballantine Books, 1984.

McKinley, Robin. "The Stone Fey." Imaginary Lands. Ed. Robin McKinley. New York: Ace Fantasy, 1985.

---. Sunshine. New York: Jove Books, 2003.


Hope to see you there.

The author in the schools gig went well. I visited 5 classrooms, talked for 50 minutes in each, and my throat is killing me, but the students were impressive. Much more lively and interested, and with much more intelligent and imaginative responses than the students whose classroom I visited last year.

( After I'd finished that, I got together with Inga, my architect expert. )

Cheers,
Peg