Nine

Finished and submitted my ninth story of the year this afternoon. This one's a 2,500-word bit of crime fiction.

72

 I received my 72nd acceptance of the year this morning, this time for a 5,800-word private eye story.

Eight

I was cruising my computer files this evening, looking for a story I'd roughed out a while back that I thought might fit an open call I'd seen. Instead, I found a nearly complete story I'd written in January 2006. With only a couple of minor tweaks and the addition of a title, I just completed my eighth story of the year. This one's a 1,300-word horror story, but I'll have go hunting for a place to submit it.

Seven

I finished and submitted my seventh story of the year this evening. This one's a 3,100-word historical private eye story with an unusual (for me) setting.

69-71

I'm a bit behind on posting. I received my 69th acceptance of the year on October 26, my 70th acceptance on October 27, and my 71st this evening. The first is a ghost story reprint and the other two are crime fiction, one accepted by a popular magazine and the other by an open-call anthology.

Six

I finished and submitted my sixth short story of the year. This one's a 3,750-bit of crime fiction, intended for an open-call anthology.

Five

I finished and submitted my fifth short story of the year this afternoon. This one's a 1,900-word bit of crime fiction inspired by an Independence Day weekend mini-vacation Temple booked for us.

68

I received my 68th acceptance of the year this afternoon, this time for a 3,200-word bit of crime fiction submitted on 7/22/21.

66-67

I received my 66th and 67th acceptances of the year this evening. One's for a 6,400-word bit of crime fiction. The other is for a 3,400-word bit of gothic horror.

Four

I finished and submitted my fourth story of the year this morning. This one's a 14,100-word PI story.

65

I received my 65th acceptance of the year today, this for a 2,800-word bit of crime fiction I submitted yesterday.

Three

I finished and submitted my third story of the year this afternoon. This one's a 4,400-word bit of crime fiction written to invitation.

63-64

I've received my 63rd and 64th acceptances of the year, the 63rd (crime fiction) a few days ago and the 64th (ghost story) today. Both are reprints.

Two

Today, I finished and submitted my second story of the year, a 3,650-word Cornell Woolrich-ish bit of fiction.

One

This has been an unproductive year for writing. On May 13, I finished and submitted my first story of the year, a 6,400-word bit of crime fiction.

3-62

I've been suite remiss in keeping this updated. Since my last post I've placed two additional original stories and 56 reprints.

2

My second acceptance of the year is a cheat. I'm using a bit of crime fiction I co-authored with Stacy Woodson in one of my anthologies.

1

I don't know which three acceptances I failed to report in 2021, but I ended the year with 30 acceptances, a combination of originals and reprints.

My first acceptance of 2022 arrived this evening for the reprint of a fantasy short story.

Six

I finished and submitted my sixth short story of the year this afternoon. This one's a 1,600-word Thanksgiving crime story.

Five

I finished and submitted my fifth story of the year this afternoon. This one's a 5,400-word PI story written for an open-call anthology.

23-27

I've been remiss in updating my sales. Since my last post, I've received my 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th acceptances of the year, all crime fiction. One was accepted by an anthology and four by mystery magazines, including tonight's acceptance for a collaboration with Sandra Murphy. If I've counted correctly, Sandra and I have sold five collaborations.

21, 22

I received my 21st and 22nd acceptances today, both crime fiction stories accepted by the same publication.

20

I received my 20th acceptance today, this for reprint rights to a story first published in 2019.

Four

I finished and submitted my fourth story of the year this afternoon. This one's a 4,900-word cozyish mystery I started August 16, 2020.

19

I received my 19th acceptance of the year this afternoon. This time for a 3,200-word bit of crime fiction. 

Three

I finished and submitted my third short story of the year this afternoon. This one's a 3,200-word bit of crime fiction I started writing in October of last year. 

Two

I completed and submitted by second story of the year this afternoon. This one's a 4,700-word private eye story I started 19 years ago.

15, 16, 17, 18

I've not been doing a good job of keeping up with this. Since my last post, I've sold a reprint and had three original stories accepted for publication. All are some form of crime fiction.

14, plus 2 more for 2012

I received my 14th acceptance of the year this morning, this time for a 7,400-word traditional mystery. And yesterday I received a copy of an anthology published in 2012 that contains reprints of two of my stories.

One

I completed and submitted my first short story of the year, a 5,800-word PI story begun back in February 2017.

8-13, plus one more for 2014

I received an anthology today, published earlier this year, that contains reprints of six of my short stories. I also received an anthology published in 2014 that contains a reprint of one of my stories.

7

I received my 7th acceptance today. In what may be the fastest submission-to-publication timeframe I've experienced, I submitted "The 27 Club" last evening and awoke to find it published in today's Punk Noir Magazine: https://punknoirmagazine.com/2021/05/12/the-27-club-by-michael-bracken/.

5, 6

I received my 5th acceptance of the year back on April 14 for a collaboration with Sandra Murphy.

Today I received my 6th acceptance of this year, this time for a 7,300-word P.I. story.

4

I received my 4th acceptance of the year yesterday. This was an out-of-the-blue request to reprint one of my mystery short stories.

3

I received my 3rd acceptance of the year this afternoon. This one's for a 5,000-word P.I. story.

2

 I received my second acceptance of the year on January 30 but forgot to note it here. It was a piece of crime fiction.

The Eyes of Texas

 

1

 I received my first acceptance of 2021 earlier today. This one's a 5,600-word mystery.

Twenty-six

I finished, but have not yet submitted, my twenty-sixth story of the year. This one's a 2,100-word bit of dark crime fiction/non-supernatural horror. Trying to decide where to submit first.

Twenty-five, 37

I completed my twenty-fifth short story of the year this evening, a 5,200-word PI story. It was promptly accepted, making it my 37th acceptance of the year. This is, of course, a bit of a cheat as I wrote it for one of my own projects.

My 36th acceptance, which I failed to note when it happened, was a reprint accepted December 26.

Twenty-four

I completed and submitted my twenty-fourth short story of the year. This one's a 1,100-word bit of crime fiction begun April 27, 2019.

35

I received my 35th acceptance of the year this afternoon, this for the 15,000-word PI story I submitted two weeks ago.

34

I received my 34th acceptance of the year this evening, this for a bit of crime fiction.

My last acceptance post was for acceptance 20, so why the big gap? Turns out I had several reprints published this year that I didn't learn about until they were already published, and I just didn't get around to noting them all.

Twenty-three

I completed and submitted my twenty-third story of the year this afternoon. This one's a 15,000-word PI story written by invitation, and it's the longest piece of fiction I've completed in at least two decades.

Twenty-Two

I finished by twenty-second short story of the year this afternoon, a 1,300-word bit of crime fiction I started January 8, 2018. Alas, there don't seem to be any appropriate markets at the moment, so I'll hold onto it for a bit and hope something opens up.

20

I received my 20th acceptance of the year, but this one's a bit of a cheat—I'm co-editor of the series.

Twenty-one

I finished and submitted my twenty-first short story of the year this afternoon. This one's a 1,700-word bit of crime fiction.

Twenty

I finished and submitted my twentieth short story of the year this morning. This one's a 3,000-word bit of crime fiction begun on November 23, 2006.

Nineteen

I completed and submitted my nineteenth story of the year this afternoon. This is a 1,660-word bit of crime fiction for an established series, begun November 11, 2019. 

Eighteen

I finished my eighteenth short story of the year this afternoon. This one's a 136-word flash. With no known (or open) market, it goes into my file for submission later.

Seventeen

I completed and submitted my seventeenth short story of the year this evening. This one's a 5,600-word bit of crime fiction I started on August 14.

18, 19

I received my 18th and 19th acceptances of the year this afternoon. Both are for crime fiction. One was written by invitation for an anthology, the other was a slush-pile magazine submission.

Sixteen

I completed and submitted by sixteenth story of the year this afternoon. This one's a 4,700-word bit of crime fiction started on September 22 and written to invitation.

17

 I received my 17th acceptance of the year this afternoon, for a short bit of noirish crime fiction.

16

 I received my 16th acceptance of the year, this for a short piece of dark crime fiction.

Fifteen

I completed and submitted my fifteenth story of the year this evening. This one's a 2,800-word noirish story I started March 22, 2020.

Fourteen

This evening I completed and submitted my fourteenth short story of the year, which ties my productivity for all of last year. By word count I've completed about 7,000 words less than all of last year, but with four months to go, I suspect I'll meet or exceed last year's word count. Anyhow, this story's a 3,200-word bit of crime fiction begun March 26, 2019.

Thirteen

I finished and submitted my thirteenth short story of the year today. This one, a 5,000-word bit of crime fiction begun July 13, is loosely based on a historical event.

Twelve

I finished and submitted my twelfth short story of the year this afternoon. This one's a mystery I started May 13, 2018.

15

I received my 15th acceptance of the year this evening, this time for a 300-word flash, accepted by the same publication as my 14th acceptance.

Note: With this acceptance, I've now had as many acceptances as I did in all of last year (and last year was a particularly slow year).

14

I received my 14th acceptance of the year this evening, this for a 182-word flash. I don't think this is the shortest story I've ever sold, but it must be darned close.

Eleven

I finished my eleventh short story of the year this afternoon. It's a 180-word bit of flash fiction. I'm unsure where to submit it.

13

I just received my 13th acceptance of the year this afternoon. This is to reprint a 2,500-word horror story.

Ten

I completed and submitted my tenth short story of the year this evening. This one's a 2,600-word bit of crime fiction written specifically for an open-call anthology.

12

I received my 12th acceptance of the year this evening, a 4,300-word bit of crime fiction. This one's a bit of a cheat; I'm co-editor of the anthology.

Nine

I finished and submitted the ninth story of the year this evening, a 5,800-word crime fiction collaboration with Sandra Murphy that we began writing September 23, 2018.

Eight

I finished and submitted my eighth short story of the year this afternoon. This one's a 7,400-word quasi-police procedural I started September 22, 2019.

Seven

I completed and submitted my seventh short story of the year this evening. This one's a 7,500-word bit of crime fiction I began writing on February 23.

11

I received my 11th acceptance of the year a few minutes, ago, this time for a 6,000-word story about a female sheriff dealing with her first homicide.

10

I received my 10th acceptance of the year, this time for a piece of crime fiction written specifically for an open-call anthology.

Six

I finished and submitted my sixth short story of the year this afternoon. This one's a 7,150-word quasi-police procedural started on April 22, 2019.

Five

I finished and submitted my fifth story of the year. This one's a 7,400-word PI story that I started writing in May 2006.

Four

I completed and submitted my fourth short story of the year this afternoon. This one's a 1,670-word bit of crime fiction begun January 24, 2008.

9

I received my 9th acceptance of the year this morning, for another bit of crime fiction.

8

I received my 8th acceptance of the year today, for a bit of crime fiction.

Three

I finished and submitted my third short story of the year this evening. This one's a 1,600-word bit of crime fiction.

6, 7

Some days are filled with surprises. Today is one of them. I checked my Submittable account because I'd heard nothing about a few submissions from last year and discovered that two stories had been accepted—one yesterday and one 20 days ago. One—the acceptance from 20 days ago—is from a publication where I've placed several stories, and the other is a new market where, I think, this was my third submission.

I thought Submittable sent an email notifying users of acceptances, rejections, and etc., but I didn't receive notice about either acceptance (and I check my spam folder several times a day).

Anyhow, these are my 6th and 7th acceptances of the year, one a private eye story and one a bit of noir crime fiction.

Two

I finished my second story of the year this evening. This is for an anthology I'm co-editing, but I'll not count it as an acceptance until my co-editor weighs in.

Though this year is off to a slow start, completing two stories the same day is good.

One

I finished and submitted the first story of the year this afternoon, a 3,400-word collaboration begun at the 2019 Malice Domestic.

5

I received my 5th acceptance of the year this afternoon, this for a collaboration with James A. Hearn.

4

I received my 4th acceptance of the year, this for a bit of noirish crime fiction.

3

I received my 3rd acceptance of the year this afternoon, this time for a ghost story submitted about ten months ago.

2

I received my 2nd acceptance of the year yesterday, this for a bit of crime fiction written in 2018 for a tribute anthology that is just now entering production.

1

I received my first acceptance of the year yesterday. This one's a bit of crime fiction written for a music-themed crime anthology.

Fourteen

I completed and submitted my fourteenth short story of the year a few minutes ago. This one—my fourth collaboration with Sandra Murphy—is a 5,700-word cozyish mystery.

Thirteen

I completed and submitted my thirteenth story of the year this evening. This one's a 3,200-word bit of crime fiction.

15

I received my 15th acceptance of the year a few minutes ago. This one's for a crime/horror mashup.

Twelve, 14

I finished my twelfth story of the year awhile ago—a collaboration with Trey R. Barker—and today I'm counting it as my 14th acceptance of the year. A bit of a cheat, perhaps, because the story will appear in next season's Guns + Tacos novella anthology series that Trey and I created and co-edit.

Eleven

I completed and submitted my eleventh story of the year this afternoon. This one's a 3,000-word bit of crime fiction written to invitation.

13

I received my 13th acceptance of the year this afternoon. This one's yet another bit of crime fiction.

Ten, 12

I received my 12th acceptance of the year this evening. This one's for a locked room mystery I co-authored with Sandra Murphy. And just to keep my count correct, this qualifies as my tenth story of the year.

Nine

I completed and submitted my ninth short story of the year this afternoon. This one's a 1,600-word bit of crime fiction.

Eight

I finished and submitted my eighth short story of the year this evening. This one's a 4,400-word PI story.

11

I received my 11th acceptance of the year this afternoon. This will be a reprint of a horror story first published in 1985.

10

I received my 10th acceptance of the year earlier today. This is yet another bit of crime fiction.

9

I received my 9th acceptance of the year this afternoon, this time for a bit of crime fiction.

8

I received my 8th acceptance of the year on Friday, just after I arrived in my hotel room at ArmadilloCon. This one's for a bit of crime fiction submitted back in February.

Three Brisket Tacos and a Sig Sauer

Three Brisket Tacos and a Sig Sauer, the second episode in the Guns + Tacos serial novella anthology series created and edited by Trey R. Barker and me, releases August 1.

Joseph “Joey D” Garrett owes everything to his Aunt Sylvia, including a stint in the Stateville Correctional Center. When he’s released, Joey returns to the only life he knows, and he soon becomes an instrumental part of his aunt’s plan to rob four banks in a single day.

Before that can happen, though, Joey meets Gloria Sanchez, and she turns his life upside down. Gloria’s everything his aunt isn’t, and their developing relationship makes him think about how life could be if he weren’t so dependent on Sylvia. When he’s forced to choose between the two most important women in his life, Joey finds the answer in a take-out bag from a taco truck. 

Order from Amazon. Better still, order from Down & Out Books. Or, even better still, order the entire first season from Down & Out Books.

The Eyes of Texas

The Eyes of Texas, an anthology I edited, featuring 17 private eye stories set in Texas, releases just before the Dallas Bouchercon. Read the official press release:

TAMPA, Fla. - July 17, 2019 - PRLog -- Down & Out Books is pleased to announce that THE EYES OF TEXAS: PRIVATE EYES FROM THE PANHANDLE TO THE PINEY WOODS edited by Michael Bracken will be published on October 21, 2019 in trade paperback and ebook formats.

About THE EYES OF TEXAS …

Texas has it all, from bustling big cities to sleepy small towns, and law enforcement alone can't solve every crime. That's where private eyes come in. They take the cases law enforcement can't—or won't. Private eyes may walk the mean streets of Dallas and Houston, but they also stroll through small West Texas towns where the secrets are sometimes more dangerous. Whether driving a Mustang or riding a Mustang, a private eye in Texas is unlike any other in the world.

The Eyes of Texas features seventeen original tales of Lone Star State private eyes from Trey R. Barker, Chuck Brownman, Michael Chandos, John M. Floyd, Debra H. Goldstein, James A. Hearn, Richard Helms, Robert S. Levinson, Scott Montgomery, Sandra Murphy, Josh Pachter, Michael Pool, Graham Powell, William Dylan Powell, Stephen D. Rogers, Mark Troy, and Bev Vincent.

Meet the editor …

Michael Bracken, an award-winning writer of fiction, non-fiction, and advertising copy, has received multiple awards for copywriting, two Derringer Awards for short fiction, and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer Award for lifetime achievement in short mystery fiction. The author of several books and more than 1,300 short stories, he has edited six crime fiction anthologies and provides editorial services to book and periodical publishers.

Michael regularly speaks about writing, editing, and publishing at conferences, conventions, and corporate seminars, and has taught non-credit courses for writers at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He's been a guest speaker in classrooms at various universities, including Baylor University and University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

He received a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing from Baylor University and currently serves clients and publishers from his office in Hewitt, Texas.

In its ninth year as an independent publisher of award-winning literary and crime fiction, Down & Out Books (https://downandoutbooks.com) is based in Tampa, Florida. For more information about the book, to request a review copy of the book, or to inquire about an interview with the editor, contact info@downandoutbooks.com.

Guns + Tacos interview

Brian Drake interviewed me about Guns + Tacos, which launched today. I explain how an offhand comment from co-creator and co-editor Trey R. Barker led to this new novella anthology series from Down & Out Books:

https://briandrake88.blogspot.com/2019/07/guns-tacos-new-anthology-series-from.html