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Fiction Publication: Most Of Us Are From Someplace Else

Published July 5, 2016 by Philip Ivory

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I’m pleased that today the online literary journal, “Literally Stories,”  published my short story, “Most Of Us Are From Someplace Else.” It’s about a group of eccentric characters who have created an unusual community in an abandoned railway station in a town in Pennsylvania. Read it here.

“Literally Stories” was launched in 2014, created “by writers for writers.”  It showcases a wide spectrum of short story fiction from new and emerging writers to more seasoned authors.

This story wouldn’t exist except for the “Write-to-Read” challenge issued last September by Writers Studio Tucson. The contest was open to past and present students of the Writers Studio and featured a writing challenged crafted by award-winning Tucson author Adrienne Celt. The writing prompt centered on the idea of “nested narratives,” inspired by the image of the matryoshka, or Russian nesting doll, containing smaller dolls.

I was honored that my entry was chosen as one of three winners of the contest, and I enjoyed the privilege of reading my story aloud at a Writers Studio event last November. (Read more about the event here.)

In accordance with Adrienne’s writing challenge, the story has a larger narrative in which are contained smaller back-stories about the residents of this oddball community, each of whom has suffered some disillusioning experience before finding a place to call home.

I hope you’ll read “Most Of Us Are From Someplace Else” and let me know what you think.

Thanks!

My Novelette Online: “The Yellow Man”

Published May 29, 2016 by Philip Ivory

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From “The Yellow Man” by Philip Ivory:
“All you have to do is lift up that circle in the middle of the floor. Do you see it? And then go down there, under the floor, and get something. You’ll know it when you see it.”
Indeed, there was a circle in the concrete of the floor, about the size and shape of a manhole, and it seemed to be moving slightly.
That wasn’t right.
“No,” said Allan.
His heart was racing. Something about the circle made him uneasy. All his instincts told him to stay clear of it. When he tried to understand why, it just made the fear worse.
“You have to,” said the Yellow Man. “Or things will never get better.”

My first published novelette, “The Yellow Man,” is now available courtesy of the venerable online journal, “Bewildering Stories.”  CLICK HERE to read it now. (Because of its length, the story’s been broken, like a dark wizard’s soul, into seven horcrux-like parts,  all of which are now available to read.)

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“The Yellow Man” is a puzzle box of a tale, dealing with  childhood loneliness, identity and the shadow world between life and death. You may find it a bit sad and scary — but perhaps also touching and surprising.

For those interested in such distinctions, a novelette  — something  more than a story and something less than a novella — is a piece of fiction landing somewhere between 7,500 words to 17,500 words.

This is by far the longest piece I’ve had published yet. I’ve written one other novelette, yet unpublished, that’s about the same length as this one. And I presently have a novel in the works, but it will be a while before that one’s ready for public consumption.

“The Yellow Man” began last year in my advanced class at Writers Studio Tucson. My thanks to WS teacher Renee Bibby and my fellow class members for their encouragement and feedback, which were essential to this tale’s development.

“Bewildering Stories,” which features quite a dazzling smorgasbord of prose and poetry that you really should check out, has also posted an author profile about me. CLICK HERE to see it.

Please read “The Yellow Man,” and post your reactions here on the blog. Your feedback means everything to me. 

Thanks for reading!

Upon a Time: How Fairy Tale Feeds Fiction

Published May 10, 2016 by Philip Ivory

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Tucson writer friends … unlock the mythic story-telling power of fairy tales, and enrich your own writing. Join our friends at Tucson Writers Studio for this enthralling and illuminating event at Tucson Hop Shop on Saturday, May 14.

Beer and fairy tales, a combination devoutly to be wished!

Follow the link to learn more:

Source: Upon a Time: How Fairy Tale Feeds Fiction

Fiction Publication: “On Hyacinth Mountain”

Published May 1, 2016 by Philip Ivory

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From “On Hyacinth Mountain” by Philip Ivory

He came across a boy, perhaps eight, blondish, crouched, examining ants in the dirt.
“Hello,” said Bradford.
Not looking up, the boy said: “They’re taking it apart.” Bradford leaned in to see a grasshopper, still writhing as ants partitioned chunks off to carry away.
“Are your parents here?”
“You think you’re smart. You shouldn’t have come back,” said the boy in a glum sulky tone. “One time too many.”

[read this story now!]

I’m pleased to announce that my story, “On Hyacinth Mountain,” has been published in the May 2016 issue of “Devolution Z” magazine.

“Devolution Z” is subtitled “The Horror Magazine,” which should give you a clue that “On Hyacinth Mountain” comes from the grimmer, scarier end of the story spectrum.

So yes, the story’s a bit grisly and depraved but, I hope, not bereft of literary quality.

I developed the story last fall while taking the Advanced Class at Tucson Writers Studio, taught by Renee Bibby. Renee and my fellow students provided excellent feedback to help me deepen the story. I only began sending it out in April and, after a rejection or two, “Devolution Z”‘s acceptance came rather quickly.Embed from Getty Images

Sorry, this time you’ll have to buy the magazine to read the story. Follow the link to Devolution Z, which will take you to Amazon where you can order either a digital version for Kindle ($2.99) or a print copy ($6.99 cheap!).

It’s the first time a story of mine will be available on Kindle or in a physical publication, so I couldn’t be more excited. I’m really grateful to the dark, twisted minds at “Devolution Z” for welcoming me into their fearsome fold.

Two of my other fiction pieces continue to be on the schedule for publication in “Bewildering Stories” and “Mystic Illuminations.” I’ll let you know when they go online.

If you get a chance to read “On Hyacinth Mountain,” I’d love to hear your comments, so feel free to share here on the blog. Thanks, and don’t read it with the lights out!

Two New Fiction Acceptances

Published February 24, 2016 by Philip Ivory

I’m very excited to announce that within the space of about a week, I received word that two fiction pieces of mine have been accepted for publication in two different online journals. That’s in addition to my first published piece, “The Dead Outnumber the Living,” which was published in Dali’s Lovechild last December.

One of the new stories, “The Yellow Man” is quite substantial, officially a novelette. And a spooky, moody one, to boot. It is slated to go online in “Bewildering Stories” on March 15. I understand it may be broken into pieces to accommodate its length.

The second new endeavor is a flash fiction piece titled “Apparition on the Threshold,” only about 600 words. I didn’t know if I would ever find a home for this mysterious, otherworldly piece, an account of an uncanny childhood vision that may or may not have happened … or perhaps never will. I was delighted to find an online journal called “Mystic Illuminations” that said “Apparition on the Threshold” was right up their alley. It should be online soon.

Both stories were developed with the help of the teachers and students at Writers Studio Tucson, where I’m working to further my skills.

I’ll post again on each piece when they are available online, telling a bit more about their genesis and development. Stay tuned. Thanks.

First Fiction Publication: “The Dead Outnumber the Living”

Published December 4, 2015 by Philip Ivory

I’m happy to announce my first fiction publication.  Early in the year, I set a personal goal of getting something published by the end of this year. To my surprise, I’ve actually achieved that goal. Today.

It’s an ominous, imagistic piece of flash fiction (under 1000 words) titled “The Dead Outnumber the Living.”

It’s being published today in the monthly online magazine, “Dali’s Lovechild,” a very cool literary journal with an oddball, offbeat aesthetic that I enjoy very much.

So click here to read my first published piece of fiction, “The Dead Outnumber the Living,” in Issue 15 of Dali’s Lovechild.

Please leave a comment here or on the Dali’s Lovechild site if you like the story, or even if you don’t! And check out the rest of the issue.

To quote the Dali’s Lovechild editors:  “As Salvador Dali understood, all art is multi-faceted. Even his most surrealistic pieces contained a piece of truth, a piece of humanity. He knew that you could not have the absurd without the truth embedded somewhere inside.”

Related flashback: I remember, when I lived back east, looking at Dali’s famous “soft watches” masterwork, “The Persistence of Memory,” at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and being astonished at how small it was. The painting suggests great scope and power. But in real life, it’s tiny!

“The Persistence of Memory” (1931) by Salvador Dali.

My flash fiction piece arose out of an exercise I did back in February during classes at the Writers Studio Tucson with Janelle Drumwright.  My thanks to Janelle for encouraging me with the piece and helping me develop it.  (Please hurry over and read her most excellent essay, “You, Dear Writer, are not the Narrator,” which was a winning entry in the 2015 Carve Magazine blog contest. It explains much of the creative ethos behind the Writers Studio, a system of study which has had a hugely beneficial effect on my writing.)

I’ll keep pushing. I have a number of other stories out for consideration, and a few others I’m polishing now. I hope … hope …. to have more acceptances to report in the months ahead.

I’ll keep you posted. And if you’ve had a recent fiction sale that you’re excited about, go ahead and let us know in the comments below.

 

Public Reading of My Story

Published November 13, 2015 by Philip Ivory

On Nov. 7, 2015, I had the privilege of reading my short story, “Most of Us Are From Someplace Else,” at a public event held by the Writers Studio Tucson.

I’m in the advanced class of Writers Studio, and was eligible to enter the 2015 Write-to-Read competition.  I was honored to be named one of three winners, along with Jenny Hedger and Lisa Harris.  The judge was Tucson novelist and friend of the Writers Studio Adrienne Celt.  Here we are all together last Saturday:

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At Tucson’s first Write-to-Read Event. From left to right: Jenny Hedger, Lisa Harris, Adrienne Celt and Phil Ivory. (Photo by Writers Studio Tucson.)

We had an excellent turnout, so good in fact that many had to stand while the three stories were read.  I want to thank my good friends who came out to support me and other writers.

The Writers Studio Tucson is doing a great job putting together public events like this to encourage the growth of local writers.

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Lots of literary Tucsonans turning out for the 2015 Write-to-Read event on Nov. 7. (Photo courtesy of Kim Kloes.)

Reading my story was a very rewarding experience. It was a little nerve-wracking at first, looking out at so many faces and not knowing if people were enjoying or even following my story. But I started to hear laughter at some appropriate points and I knew that the audience was with me. After that, I was able to relax a bit and enjoy the experience.

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Phil Ivory. (Photo courtesy of Kim Kloes.)

I know, as a listener, it can be hard to follow a story being read. Become distracted for a moment and you can lose the whole thread, and there’s no paging back to reclaim your bearings. So I tried to read as clearly and deliberately as possible.

I got lots of positive feedback afterwards, both on the read and the story itself, and I’ll be submitting the story for publication shortly.

Congratulations to my fellow writers, and special thanks to Adrienne as well as Writers Studio teachers Renee Bibby, Janelle Drumwright and Lela Scott MacNeil for putting this fantastic event together.

Writers Studio: My First Contest Win

Published November 6, 2015 by Philip Ivory

Very excited … I recently submitted a story to the Writer Studio Tucson’s first “Write to Read” Contest.  My entry,”Most of Us Are From Someplace Else,” was chosen as one of the winners.  That means I get to read my story in its entirety at a public event tomorrow night here in Tucson.

I’m grateful to the teachers at Writers Studio Tucson for helping me grow as a writer and for spearheading this contest and hosting the reading.  Also, thanks to local author Adrienne Celt for creating the writing prompt for the contest, which reflected structural elements in her fine novel, “The Daughters,” available on Amazon.

Looking forward to seeing many fellow writers and other friends at the reading tomorrow.

You can read the contest announcement below:

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FROM WRITER STUDIOS TUCSON:
The Writers Studio Tucson teachers are excited to announce our first ever Write-to-Read contest, featuring guest judge Adrienne Celt, whose debut novel The Daughters was published in 2015.

Join us for a reading of the three winning stories! Lisa Harris reading “Spilled Milk”; Phil Ivory “Most of Us Are From Someplace Else”; and Jenny Hedger reading “Threads.”