Flash Fiction Fridays: Nancy Stohlman's "After the Rapture" Flash Novel ...

Friday the 24th at 3 PM Pacific Time my interview with Nancy Stohlman, author, performer, and professor premieres on Youtube. I will also publish to my podcast host service to push out to Spotify, iTunes, Google Podcasts, and more. The audio is already posted to my Patreon in a patron-only level to allow my Patreon Patrons a chance to hear it first.

In this interview, I chat with Nancy about her latest flash novel, "After the Rapture," writing, life, routines, and about being a professor, and the importance of college.

Nancy Stohlman is the author of six books including Going Short: An Invitation to Flash Fiction (2020), winner of the 2021 Reader Views Gold Award and re-released in 2022 as an audiobook. Her fiction includes After the Rapture (March 7, 2023), Madam Velvet’s Cabaret of Oddities (2018), The Vixen Scream and Other Bible Stories (2014), The Monster Opera (2013), and Searching for Suzi: a flash novel (2009). Nancy’s work has been anthologized widely, appeared in the Norton anthology New Micro: Exceptionally Short Fiction and The Best Small Fictions 2019, as well as adapted for stage and screen. She teaches at the University of Colorado Boulder, as well as around the world through online instruction and destination retreats. 

CONNECT WITH NANCY ONLINE 

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: NancyStohlman.com

FACEBOOK: /nancy.stohlman

YOUTUBE: /nancystohlman

TWITTER: @nancystohlman

FLASH FICTION RETREATS: flashfictionretreats.com

Today's bout of traffic control

 I'd have to ask my brother for the time of the accident that we were almost part of earlier today. He is the one that called it in. Three semi trucks going down the 89 with no chains, two lost their momentum or traction, another tried to get around them and jack knifed. It all happened too fast for me to see although I remember seeing some pale green/teal. I was more occupied with "don't crash into this mess that's exploded." We then had to do traffic control on our side of the accident until CHP arrived, I remember the Super for... Caltrans I think... getting there before he managed to. It seemed like ages that we were there, my brother having to do control and relay messages, and had me tasked with holding a chosen turnaround point open for when the tow rig(s) arrived so that they could be able to back up to the stuck semis.

Tow truck operator somehow did not get the message from CHP that a place was being held for turnaround. He tried it behind the other part of the line. It took the blower to get them out. Quite the mess today was.

However, we are alive. And there were no injuries unless someone hurt themselves after my brother had done his checks. I'm done with excitement now. Thanks. This being in the right place at the right time? I'd like a little more warning.

Testing Pabbly Out

 I am trying Pabbly to see if it can save me time on getting posts sent out when there is news I want on both this blog and in my Discord server.

A Triumphant Return Home And To The Desk

I have been quiet here recently. My foray into Haiku Month got cut short as I was unable to keep up with the one-a-day pace due to, this time, a family emergency which resulted in a very long cross-country drive. This was easier on my back than I expected but there were OTHER health dilemmas that relegated me mostly to the back seat. The hours trapped in a truck barely able to move my feet around at least paid off. I saw two uncles that I had not seen in about 30 years. The one who we were most worried about seemed to be actually getting better while we were there, and hopefully that trend continues so that his grandchildren (my very small cousins) will have a bit longer with him and so he can meet the one currently gestating like an egg under a heatlamp.

For the record, my family seems to have a lot of Pisces and Aquarians... and I'd forgotten, temporarily that one of my cousins and I almost share a birthday.

I have a book review or two I need to type out, which I was unable to write out while on the road. I couldn't even doodle, the roads were that rough. The others I don't know how they could deal with me, and it was a good thing I had stuff on my phone and tablet to read since I couldn't doodle.

Now that I'm home, there's a comic script I'm finally able to read over since THAT apparently hadn't transferred to my tablet. *Raises her eyebrow at her iPad pointedly.* I need to settle in and do some sketches for that, some doodles and an art piece for another person, catch up on those haiku purely because I don't want that dangling over me and irritating me so I won't lose motivation for the upcoming Mermay, recheck where I am on printing out things I've edited for a client to send off to them, review what is left in the files & folders I was derailed on due to health the previous months, and write out questions for an interview.

I also need to remember to answer a cancer history questionnaire for an upcoming video appointment.

Also the spring seasonal quest for Dragon Hearts RPG needs to be hammered out.

So, yes... I'm quiet HERE but still busy behind the scenes.

When AI Art Becomes Exploitative and Unethical - interesting video

The above is an interesting video by Illiminaughtii discussing AI art, and also touches briefly on the uproar when Deviant Art included (all, originally) artists' work on the platform in the AI training set. Now, an artist has to opt-in to allow their work to be used by the training set, but at the start, it was all included by default. As an artist on Deviant Art, I was among the concerned and was relieved when they switched to being allowed the choice. However, there were many who deleted their work before that happened.

I believe it can be a useful tool, especially if the person continues to rework the piece created by whatever AI art bot they are using. However, it should be up to the artist as to if they allow their work to appear in the training set. There should also be some effort involved.

Attempting to move snow back for a spot

What is life like out here in McCloud at THG StarDragon Publishing? Well... Some days it is a lot like this. Exactly like this, in fact. We're sharing part of the attempted snow removal, premiering Dec 7 at 7 AM pacific time.

Ame's Unboxing & Reviews: Klearlook Monitor Riser

I was given the opportunity to look over and test a Klearlook monitor desk riser. Take a look at it with me and try it out.  If you like it you can find your own at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BC8QPBY4. I do not get any affiliate pay, but the chance to try it is enough for me.

Also, you get a peek at one of the bunnies.