Success!

Congratulations, Steve!!

That's super awesome Steve! Congrats!!!

I've just been shortlisted for the Ditmar Awards - in the Best New Talent category.

Good job!

Fantastic, Steve! Congratulations!

Looks good to me, Steve!

Congratulations Steve!

I received a pleasant email while I was at the WOTF workshop that Dark Discoveries Magazine wish to pick up my 4K horror story Metastasis. Dark Discoveries is an interesting UK horror media mag that publishes a few stories in every edition, paying pro-rates for dark fantasy and horror. I'm quite chuffed to make the grade and, fingers-crossed, the story will disturb a few people in the right way. It's also my second sale after WOTF, which is a nice relief...I was kind of wondering whether the first sale was a fluke (though I wrote Metastasis well before my WOTF story).

And congrats Ryan and Alex. Btw, after meeting Ryan in LA, I can confirm that he is both a hell of a writer and a great guy. My only regret is that too many 3am nights listening to Mike Resnick stopped me from staying up and talking to Ryan more.

It's also my second sale after WOTF, which is a nice relief...I was kind of wondering whether the first sale was a fluke

I'm sure it's not.

Congratulations!

Congrats Nick! Here's to more sales in your future.

Congratulations, Nick!

And WIotF success is never a fluke. The screening process is too intense. You don't get through unless you have the potential to keep succeeding.

That doesn't guarantee you will succeed again, since there are no guarantees. But it means that you can strive for more. You know how, so don't give up.

Good results in WIotF always remind me of this episode of Wings.

Helen: Excuse me, Mr. Tinsdale. There’s something that I need to tell you.
Mr. Tinsdale: Actually, Miss Chappel, upon reflection, there’s something I would like to say to you.

Edward Tinsdale pulls Helen aside.

Helen: Well, I just—
Mr. Tinsdale: I may have left you the other evening with the impression that your musical ability is non-existent. That is not quite true. I believe that you posses a glimmer of talent.

Helen is shocked.

Helen: A glimmer?
Mr. Tinsdale: Yes. The tiniest of glimmers, but it is there.
Helen: No, you cannot be saying this, because, see, I just got my life back—
Mr. Tinsdale: Of course, it means that you’re gonna have to practice 4, maybe 5 hours a day religiously, but I believe that there’s a chance that over the next few years—
Helen: No, you told me I stink.
Mr. Tinsdale: Oh, but you don’t.
Helen: Oh, yes, I do, completely and totally. P.U.! You said no self-respecting orchestra would have me.
Mr. Tinsdale: I exaggerated. I apologize.
Helen: No, you can’t be saying this. You said that I didn’t have a chance.
Mr. Tinsdale: But—but you do.
Helen: Well, take it back! Take it back!

Helen pushes Edward Tinsdale and grabs him by his suit.

Helen: You take that back!
Mr. Tinsdale: Miss Chappel, please!
Helen: You will not leave this island alive unless you take that back!

Joe carries Helen away from Edward Tinsdale.

Joe: Helen, get a hold of yourself.
Helen: Come back here! You can’t give me hope! What kind of monster are you?

Joe sits Helen on the counter. Edward Tinsdale and his wife walk out the airport,

Joe: Calm down.

Helen buries her face.

Helen: He said I had a chance. Joe, you heard him, didn’t you?
Joe: He didn’t mean it. He didn’t mean it.

Helen leans on Joe and he comforts her.

Brian: Well, Helen, if it makes you feel any better, I’ve always doubted your talent and I still do. I’m just trying to comfort her.
Joe: You gonna be alright?
Helen: What am I gonna do? I’m cursed with a glimmer of talent. I’m gonna be chained to that instrument for the rest of my life.

Helen jumps off the counter.

Helen: Goodbye, walks on the beach. Goodbye, fingernails. Goodbye, life.

Helen enters the kitchen.

Joe: Think she’s gonna be all right?
Brian: She’ll be fine.
Joe: I don’t know. I’ve never seen her like this before.
Brian: You don’t think she’s gonna do anything desperate, do you?

Helen starts playing the cello.

Joe: I’m afraid so.

It doesn't mean "you've made it." It means "You can do this, so keep trying! Write/draw, and don't let anything stop you!"

Congratulations, Nick!

Woo hoo, Nick!

Awesome, guys!

Ok, now that I've cooled down a bit from that I just sold my first story mania...

I just sold my first story!!! Yay!

*Clears throat* Ok, back into business mode. Now, I too have a story slated for inclusion in Tom's second volume of Mirror Shards. I wrote it specifically for the anthology, so I'm thrilled he liked it.

YEEEEHAAAAA, Marina! Great news!

Ok, now that I've cooled down a bit from that I just sold my first story mania...

I just sold my first story!!! Yay!

*Clears throat* Ok, back into business mode. Now, I too have a story slated for inclusion in Tom's second volume of Mirror Shards. I wrote it specifically for the anthology, so I'm thrilled he liked it.

Awesome! Congratulations!!

Very coolawesome!

Ok, now that I've cooled down a bit from that I just sold my first story mania...

I just sold my first story!!! Yay!

*Clears throat* Ok, back into business mode. Now, I too have a story slated for inclusion in Tom's second volume of Mirror Shards. I wrote it specifically for the anthology, so I'm thrilled he liked it.

Awesome! Congratulations, Marina. Very exciting. The first anthology was very, very good -- especially Annie's "Of Bone and Steel and Other Soft Materials." Glad that you'll be aboard for the second one.

Thanks all!

Congratulations, Marina!

Horray! That is awesome Marina! Can't wait to read it.

Congratulations!

Ok, now that I've cooled down a bit from that I just sold my first story mania...

I just sold my first story!!! Yay!

*Clears throat* Ok, back into business mode. Now, I too have a story slated for inclusion in Tom's second volume of Mirror Shards. I wrote it specifically for the anthology, so I'm thrilled he liked it.

Awesome! Congrats! And about time!

Thank you!

And about time!

Haha, I know what you mean.

Hey, congrats Marina!

Congrats Marina. I have one more which I would submit to Mirror Shards, but it's in consideration at Penumbra (the other wasn't strong enough to fit with the theme).

Well done, Marina...

Congratulations.

Steve

Thanks guys!

Congratulations, Marina!