66, 67, 68, 69

I received four acceptances in today's mail, all for confessions. Three were written this year and sold on first submission; one was written in 2004 and sold on fifth submission, to the magazine that originally rejected it in 2004!

There have only been three years since 1976 when I recorded more acceptances--71 in 2004; 77 in 1995; and 84 in 1991--and there's still more than a month left in the year!

Free "News Flash"

November 20-November 26th is National Puzzle Week, and Untreed Reads is offering all mysteries (novels, collections, short stories, novellas, series) are 30% off all this week. Some titles, including my short story "News Flash," featuring Waco, Texas, private eye Morris Ronald "Moe Ron" Boyette, are free.

Read an excerpt and order your free copy of "News Flash" here.

Published

My story “The Bear Family Christmas Project” appears in the anthology Christmas Warmth (XoXo Publishing) edited by Cynthia MacGregor.

Fifty-two

I finished and submitted my fifty-second short story of the year this evening, a 3,700-word Valentine's Day confession that I started writing on August 18.

Published

My story "Mother's Christmas Gift" appears in the December issue of True Confessions.

63, 64, 65

I received three acceptances yesterday, my 63rd, 64th, and 65th acceptances of the year. All were for confessions scheduled for January publication.

Published

My story "Woman in White," scheduled for the Winter 2001 issue of Big Pulp, is temporarily posted at their website: http://bigpulp.com/issues/2011_12/bracken_womaninwhite.html.

Published

My Christmas story "Bright Lights, Big Hearts" appears in the December True Story, on newsstands now.

Recognition for Many Genres, One Craft

From the editors of Many Genres, One Craft, a writing textbook to which I contributed, this news:

First, the book was an Award-Winning Finalist in the Business: Writing and Publishing category of The USA Best Books 2011 Awards, sponsored by USA Book News.

Second, it was named #5 in 10 of This Year's Terrific Writing Books by The Writer Magazine in their December 2011 issue!

210

No, this isn't the number of stories I've written this year or the number of acceptances I've received. This is a different, but equally important number.

This morning I weighed 210 lbs. This is my lowest weight in 20+ years.

Mid-summer 2006 I was near my peak weight in the mid-230s (my peak was 239 several years earlier). Through a combination of circumstance and intent, I slowly took weight off until I was in my mid-220s when I had my quadruple heart bypass in September 2008. The cardiologist wanted (and still wants) me to lose more weight.

Ever since then, my weight has bounced around. I would work to pull it down to the mid-210s, only to see it climb back up to the mid-220s. And it's always easier to gain weight than lose weight.

This summer, again through a combination of circumstance and intent, I began losing weight again. Only this time my weight has continued to drop; I've not yet had it bounce back up.

I've lost weight through a combination of smaller portions, better food choices, and a modest increase in exercise. If I could kick my worst habit--the over-consumption of Mountain Dew--I would probably lose weight faster.

Why am I posting this news in my writing blog? Because I suffer from the same malady as many writers: Too much time with my ass in a chair, mindlessly munching on snacks as I write.

If you suffer from this same malady, perhaps it's time to make some changes in your life.

Get up, get moving, and get healthy.

I know I'm better off for having done so.

62

I received my 62nd acceptance of the year this evening, this time for a fantasy involving a dragon.

61

I received my 61st acceptance of the year Sunday, for a story about love and death, but I've been so overwhelmed with work that I'm only now able to post the news.