I finished work on the chapbook last night, and as soon as I get an illustration from Ben (who did all the art for Dancing Barefoot), it’s going to a local print shop. I doubt I’ll have it on Friday, but I will have it at the convention on Saturday and Sunday. Oh, and I gave it a title. It’s called "More Than This."
I spent the first half of today working on Games of our Lives, then had an epiphany (to be discussed on today’s RFB) that lead me to write a fictional short story called Language Barrier.
It’s with my editor, but I have a little excerpt which I can share now:
I became aware of voices behind me. Two women. They spoke with heavy Russian accents.
"Martina," one of them said, "you don’t understand. He пребывания вне поздно, никогда не выбирают вверх после себя, and doesn’t even know me!"
"Sophia, вы возбужены –" She was older than the first.
"I am not excited, and don’t talk to me like I am a child. Будете вы моим другом или не?"
"Of course I’m your friend. And of course I want you to be happy –"
"So why won’t you support me?"
An Escalade pulled up in front of the restaurant, bass thumping, temporarily turning the window into a mirror. I caught a glimpse of their reflection: Martina, the older one, faced away from me. Her hair was huge and processed. She wore a light colored top. Sophia, younger, had black hair and pale skin. The Escalade drove away and I squinted my eyes against the midday sun. I looked down at the tan line on my left hand. Two months and it still hadn’t gone away. Two months and I still felt bitter, when I didn’t feel numb. Two months and I was alone in a restaurant, fantasizing about fucking a girl I hadn’t even seen, based on her sexy Russian accent.
More to come . . .
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Very nice, man. I look forward to reading more of that…
Eric in Portland
Holy cow, that’s good.
Very excellent. I look forward to reading more!
Also, Wil why didn’t you mention that you’re on “I Love Toys” on VH1 this week? Ya look great as usual! 🙂
My curiousity has been piqued… I definitely want to read more!
Niiiice. I don’t know where in the story this passage occurs, but you’ve gotten my attention and drawn me in for the duration. This post is just what I needed to read after quite the manic Wednesday. I’ve mentioned this before – but it bears repeating. I’ve spent the past ten years kicking and screaming against literature and writing in general. The curse of reading too many dead white guys is a general apathy towards current writers. Everytime I read something of yours it’s the intellectual kick in the pants I’ve been needing.
“Hello. My name is Stephanie and I am a writer. I’ve been writing now for 18 years. I lived in denial during my twenties, but I stand here before you, ready and willing to accept the consequences of my actions.”
I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of this short story – please please please post the details as to where I can find it. (Today’s RFB?!? I’m still a n00b here – what does that mean?!?) I’m glad I ordered your book from Barnes & Noble. I look forward to reading that and the reading the rest of your stuff.
Я не говорю русского на всех. Я попытался перевести что первое предложение на babelfish. Оно был несколько несвязен. Я все еще не имею никакую идею первое предложение actaully говорит. Спасибо снова!
I like it a lot!
I can’t wait for more.
Very nice, but your Russian doesn’t really make sense… Not entirely sure what you were trying to have them say. Otherwise, though, it’s nifty the way you introduce the women. Let us know what happens next!
Yeah, I don’t speak or understand Russian, so I just used babelfish to do some literal translations.
When this is actually done, I’ll have some help from a native Russian speaker.
I’m a literary newb. What’s a chapbook and will it be published? BTW, both your books have been order from my local Borders store. They will be in soon and I cannot wait to read them.
Back to the chapbook, I’m totally into it after only a couple of paragraphs so if it won’t be widely published, please let us know how we can order one. Please!
I’m enticed to read more, so by that measure, a worthy effort. More so, the idea and style are excellent. I eagerly await more.
Gorramit Wil, that’s not fair just posting that little bit…I want to know the whole story. It’s like reading a sample of a novel before it gets published.
a chapbook is a small paperback booklet, typically containing poems or fiction…
wicked snippet, can’t wait to read it.
Interesting. I see you’ve already acknowledged the Russian is a Babelfish victim 🙂
(Not that anyone cares deeply, but from a Slavic perspective what’s confusing for me other than the literal translation is the use of “вы” for “you”, which is the polite form. Generally people on the same social strata – like friends – would use “ТЫ” instead. So, the “don’t speak to me like I’m a child” part is kind of mangled because, well, the form of the noun being used is the polite form normally used to address your elders or those “above” you socially. But that also sometimes affects the endings of the verbs following it, so it’s best left untouched at this point 🙂
Here endeth the lesson…
I’m just a bit disturbed by the explainations my brain is giving me for the comment about the tan line on the left hand…
Hey Wil, first time commenting on your blog, (been reading a while, just too lazy to comment :D)
Anyway, this sounds like a decent short story, gonna have to use babelfish to translate the Russian, but can’t wait to read more.
It doesn’t have to be brilliant all the time Wil. It just has to be real.
Sorry last one meant to be posted after Burrito 7… about the whole blog like s and dislikes thing.
I do like your short story but its not one I come here for :O) I like it when you talk about whats going on with you.
You’ve got my attention.
Oye! Its the same thought I always have when I read Steven King…. How does your wife feel about this?