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2018 Best New Talent - Short and Sweet Festival Sydney
2014 Pushcart Prize nominee. (more)

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Showing posts with label Published. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Published. Show all posts

5th Anniversary - In Pictures


2012









I do like this shot. Looks natural. Totally setup of course. My step-daughter took it with a digital SLR.








'







Had a fantastic night as MC'd by Jack Peck









































Jack Peck




























Hazzy Bee






Hazzy Bee



Original cover - that never saw the light of day




At Travis Little's Book signing in England. What a guy.


The box arrives





Many years in the making. Not the book, the publication.
(I know, it's a horrible shot...)










My fifteen minutes. 



Alas all the copies are gone now, so if you have one, you never know...
(I may yet make an ebook available).









This was a little flyer I added with the book.



The writing of Bottomless River 

  

A novella 

Anthony J. Langford 


The initial draft of Bottomless River was hand written on a train going to and from work over several days in 2006. It was simply a short story then. I tend to get enthused about most things I write, but I let them sit for a while before typing them up and begin the redrafting process. It’s then that I can determine whether it’s any good or not.
I liked the story. It was personal and there was something emotional and raw about it. I spent more time on it and it grew. I let my partner read it and she liked it, and she is quite critical of my writing. She pushed me to get it out there. I searched around for somewhere to publish it but it was too long to qualify as a short story and too short for a novel. Most publishers don’t print novellas, for reasons unknown. You’re guess is as good as mine. Perhaps the cost of printing them makes them expensive and they don’t believe that people will invest in something with a limited amount of pages. I disagree. I think in this time strapped age that they’re due for a major comeback. (A novella is usually between 10,000 and 40,000 words). Some famous writers wrote novellas, including Franz Kafka, Albert Camus and Fyodor  Dostoyevsky. Did you know that Animal Farm, Dr. Jeykll and Mr Hyde, The Old Man and the Sea, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Of Mice and Men were all novellas?
Every year I would give Bottomless River another draft until finally in 2011 I came across Ginninderra Press. I gave it one last polish and submitted it in May. A month later they came back with a yes. And it’s taken a further 11 months to get it released.
A long genesis for a little book with a big heart.




Not one. Not Two.. Not three... ah it's five.



Five poems at Poets Corner. How lovely!


Published through Wolfian Press.




Available right here!



Or

if you want it signed, I can order it and send it to you. Email: anthonyjlangford2@yahoo.com.au

More Poetry

Next post, a brand new video... a little satirical number called Media Mirage. See you then!




1 Story - 7 years - 27 rejections - Boom

Story

In 2008 I wrote a story called Officer Material. It's based on a young soldier's diary accounts from World War II. He did not agree with the machinations of war and was horrified by what he saw. And yet, he was a professional and did his job. He survived. 
I took that concept and applied it to a story.


The Grind

Over the next two years I gave it a few more drafts and finally began sending it out. Normally I tend to give up on sending material out if it keeps getting rejected because I just don't have the time. Plus its deflating and I'm the sensitive type. 


Acceptance!

I believed in this story (and a few others) so I persisted. Really persisted. Finally, it paid off. 
Morpheus Tales has published it in their brand new 27th addition. I only just realised the irony of that. haha 27 rejections! Con-incidence? You be the judge.


Please support me and of course the publisher. Inexpensive. Or send me an email, I'll purchase it, sign it and send it to you. anthonyjlangford2@yahoo.com.au  
Thank you.












Peace.



Five 'Innovated' poems published


I have five poems published in Issue 10 of Innovate Magazine.
It's available for only 2 Pounds right here, with 50% going to a cancer charity. You couldn't ask for a better deal.
Innovate contains many poems as well as stories.




My Poetry samples
(intros only)


Fall 

The music of rain
plays sweet at night
mocking irritant by day
when time
does not belong to us.
...

and


Ill-fitting handshake 

He ran around the outside
She struck from within
He wondered where her mind was
She believed all was justified
Only the unhinged
Believe they’re on target
...




I save my best work for submissions so these are of higher quality than usually posted on this site.
(in my opinion anyway).

Print copies also available


Print Version

PDF

with a 50% donation to charity 

Kindle US

Kindle UK

Kindle India


More Poetry

Cheers for supporting the arts!


Three Anniversaries and a little history



It's two years this July '15 since my debut Poetry Collection was released and just over three years since my novella Bottomless River was released.



The latter is out of print but I still have copies of Caged Without Walls available if you're interested. Yesterday I discovered that Better Read than Dead in Newtown were still stocking it. Well, they had a copy which was sold. Very nice to hear. Made my day.





As a matter of interest, this is the original cover which I put together. Back in 2012 I was considering self publishing it along with other stories until I found a publisher. A couple of those stories have since been published, most not. What do you think of the cover?





Speaking of anniversary's, its just over ten years since this Aussie classic album, Crossed Lines by 78 Saab. It received great reviews but not sales. Typical. They have been overlooked in a big way. Hopefully one day sense will prevail. They split up a few years back. No Illusions is the opening track. Do yourself a favour, track it down.





See you soon for new poetry and videos and who knows what else?






The Agony but not the Ecstasy





The Agony and Non Ecstasy of Publishing 



      I recently came as close as I ever have in ten years to having one of my novels accepted by a legitimate publisher. I sent it off, (the entire novel rather than the usual first few chapters) and heard back within a couple of months. They said they liked it and would be interested in looking at it again if I were to make a few changes. It wasn’t anything to do with the story but about the narrative voice. Essentially they wanted it more immediate.  I told them it would take a while as I have a pretty busy life with two jobs, parenthood etc. They said they were okay with that.

I spent two months working hard on it. I updated the voice and made lots of small changes and deletions and even injected a small sub-plot. I thought it much better than it was and hoped they would agree. (I never mentioned it to anyone as I’m kind of superstitious about these things). 
I sent it back.


A month went by. Nothing. Another couple of weeks passed. Today I received a reply. It took me ten hours to bring myself to open the email. They liked the changes... yet decided that it wasn’t for them after all.


Wow. Thanks!


Now I know how John Kennedy Toole felt. His journey was very similar. So close yet rejected after giving them what they wanted. (Though I was dealing with a smaller press, which I won’t name.) When you invest your heart and creative soul into a project and have a little hook dangle in front of you like that, it can give you hope.






It’s a very frustrating experience. I’m pretty pissed off I guess. I finished writing the damn thing six years ago and can’t get a look in. Well, I got a look in this time. Be careful what you wish for!












To be honest, I didn’t get my hopes up too much because there’s mostly rejection in this game... you can’t afford to get excited. I stopped doing that years ago. After all, tell me another occupation where you spend a decade working with no result? Yes the novels are written so that is something unto itself. And no I won’t self-publish because for me personally, I would feel like I failed.




Yes I should get back on the horse, but I’ve been doing that for so long the poor thing’s about to croak from old age.








*2021 Update. Tired of their games and the every shrinking market, especially with the diversity driven craze which has pushed me even further to the side, I decided to go my own way in 2020.





My Books







Published in India and the U.S.

Picture





Three poems, two publications, two continents, one happy chappy.


After a fairly quiet couple of months I have two publications this week.
One is a poem called To belong...  published in the Spring edition of Vayavya from India.
It can be read on line. If you're time strapped, my poem is right here.





Photo




The Stray Branch, accepted two poems a year ago.

Unfortunately it cannot be read online but is available to order in print for $10 U.S, quite reasonable considering the cost of new books. It has many great stories and poems and is a healthy 138 pages long.














I don't expect anyone to buy it on my account but if interested email me anthonyjlangford2@yahoo.com.au and I'll ensure you get a discount. If ordering outside of the States, the shipping is more affordable if you buy more than one; a decent birthday present.

Purchase.


Coming soon,
A new video poem, The Moat, a self imposed exile.


Next month,
A special book offer to celebrate the one year anniversary of Caged Without Walls.


Until then,
Stay sane.
=]



My work dumped at The Literary Yard





I have four poems up at The Literary Yard, out of India.
This is my first acceptance for the year. Usually there's a grace period but they've put them up straight away.


They all have accompanying photos (which I didn't source), to match the poem.
One is about a relationship, another about online behaviour... ah, you can figure it out yourself.
If you could leave a little comment on their site, it would be fantastic.



INVITATION NOT REQUIRED


ALLOWING A LOVE TO DIE IS NOT A MURDER





breakup



ARENA OF FLIGHT



IT’S A WONDERFUL TASTE



Thank you if you got through them all or left a comment. It's good for them too.

Cheers.
Have a great week.

AJL







The 2013 Published List




How was 2013 for you? 

Could have been better? Could always be worse...








Easily my most prominent year in terms of published works.

All are poems except where noted.
These are acceptance dates, not publication dates. (eg some still yet to be published).
Most were online though some were also in print form.
Too many to link to though a simply search should reveal most.



Jan
Peaks and troughs – Gloom Cupboard
Alone not home –  Decades Review
The Flow
The Long Wick Loathing - The Stray Branch  
Reminisce-zero – Bluestem

Feb                                
Trail blazers – Full of Crow Poetry
One down to another - Red Ochre LiT
Enough - Foliate Oak
Her Teenage Universe (video)
The final result (video)
Blue Moon - Misjudge Your Limits
She was slim once (story) – a tribute to a tornado victim - Microliterature 
This Tiny fortune (video) -  Otioliths

The Fat City Review
March
Not me for Dinner! (Children’s story) – Brumbles
Past catching up and overtaking – Fat City Review

May
No sense nonsense – Subterranean Quarterly
How much is that future in the window - Leaves of Ink

April
Shut for business - Mad Swirl

June
I cook the sausages (story) - Forge Journal


Bookstore in Glebe, Sydney. Sharing the table with Nabokov (Upper left). About as good as it gets. I'll take it. 



July
Caged without Walls (Poetry collection) - Ginninderra Press
Seminars of success – Five Poetry Magazine
Scum of Antiquity
Crown of Razor Blades
Turning Point
Words, spheres and the essence

Drunk Monkeys - Original Fiction, Poetry, TV Recaps, Film Reviews, and Essays since 2011I remember the day – Aperion
Treachery (video) -  Glass Coin
This tiny fortune (video)
The Imposter    
Prefer the Well
It’s not always there, where you hope


August
Sound State Statement - Clutching at Straws

Picture

September
The fleeting - Linden Avenue
In Memoriam (Story)  – Drunk Monkeys


October
Alienation Prevails (Video)
Everything Old is New (Video) – Red FEz
The past is only today, faded – Nazar Look (Romania)
(The Really Important stuff from 2012 – Best of Vine Leaves Literary Journal 2013).

November  
Human Spiking  - EgoPhobia (Romania).
Pointed Down
Thirst for a dead label
Improve on original
Well planned foundations

(City of Great Large published in January nominated for Pushcart Prize)


December
A Marriage Made in Haste – Dead Snakes
An ingrained grainy institution
Bar flying 










May slow down a little in 2014; attempt to concentrate on other things. See what transpires.
Hope you have a great year ahead.