Answers for Are Muffin Tops Collapsible?

Busy!

A cappella Zoo began accepting submissions today and I've been reading and reviewing ever since my David went home.

New discovery: I love being an editor! It's what I want as my career. Throughout high school and college I thought: I'll teach creative writing or I'll be a librarian. Editor was a fallback. Not anymore.

In a different part of the forest, Pif Magazine has published my story "Answers for Are Muffin Tops Collapsible?"!

The Transformation of a Wallpaper Baby

Soundtrack.

Tuesday night a volunteer (with a pretty voice) from my university's Alumni office called to check up on my productive life. I felt embarrassed by instinct, as one who self-consciously calls herself a bum.

A bum in the fact that I'm 23 years old and have yet to rent a room of my own, drive on the interstate without a fire-breathing driving instructor, or have a desk with my name on it, or at least my own stack of Post-its.

However, this Pirate who Doesn't Do Anything has been busy lately.

I've published three articles on Examiner.com, one on Howcast. Six stories and my name are being printed or typed into six different creative publications, two of which are up to read. I'm excited about my free contributor's copy for Relief which hits the press in Febuary.

Plus! David and I polished off our song, "Surprise Paper Bag", last Sunday and he wants to preform it at Paramount!

I'm not bragging on myself. One fact of proof is that these are not monumental accomplishments and I have a long way to go. Secondly, because I know something about myself that you may not. I am so small.

I brag in God as a little girl who couldn't leave her house or mother a few years ago. As one who entertained thoughts of giving up. As one who probably will take antipsychotics for the rest of my life. As one who knows just how much I need help and strength from the Lord.

I'm a wallpaper baby, not able to join the game of musical chairs for the sticky glue on my back, unless my hand is gripped by an able and loving friend.

Yes, I'm small, but I'm growing! Growing, growing, I'm growing.

Girl vs. Kangaroo

Almost four years ago I began assembling ideas and words around the image of a girl fighting a boxing kangaroo.  I've edited it countless times since then and have sent it out only for it to boomerang back. 

But! After two or three years of submitting to magazines, my story "Little Coping Skill" has been accepted for publication!

By Hawk and Handsaw, if you're wondering.

Praise Jesus, I'm living the way I've always wanted!

Rejoice, I will Say it as Many Times as I Want to, Rejoice!

A very happy evening for me!

Mom told me when I got in the van after work that I'd had a phone call.  I never get calls.  Being a good girl, I won't lie, I was irritated - I wanted to talk to David.  I'd been missing his calls all day and fate's dirty finger was playing with the last straw in my box.

It was an editor, though! (Good thing I remembered to say "this is she.") My short story "The Legs Come Off Easily" has been selected for publication! And by A Capella Zoo, a magazine I respect!

This is the first magical realist story I've gotten published.  It feels so good to be in my genre... Sigh.

So celebrate this great end to a trying day with me!

(I did call David, directly afterwards.  He says I get kisses tomorrow, ^v^)