Below are links to websites that I either think are greatly entertaining or support a great cause, or are somehow related to who I am and what I do. (And some of them are just blatant plugs for the places that publish my writing.) So, check them out and see what you think.
The First Line: a magazine that publishes quarterly. They publish twelve stories each issue that all start with the same first line that they have given. It’s an exercise in where different stories can go even when they start at the same place. (Check out the Winter 2006 edition to read yours truly.) I really like this idea. Even if they hadn’t published my story, they would be on here.
Adventures for the Average Woman: a magazine that publishes stories that are women centered. Ok, yeah, so that sounds kind of narrow, but the stories are actually pretty good, and their not all “chicks only.” So check out their Nov./Dec. 2006 issue if you would like to read my story: Sisters of Monte Cristo.
Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine: Ok, just to make this perfectly clear, I have never been published in this magazine. In fact, they rejected one of my stories a few months ago. So, it’s definitely not a plug. However, it’s a really good good magazine, with great science fiction and fantasy short stories and novellas. Out of their Oct/Nov double issue, there was only one story I didn’t really like, and that one was at least ok, it just didn’t develop as much as I was hoping. I would be honored to be published by these guys in the future.
Digital Blasphemy: this is just amazing artwork. It’s all digital rendering. It’s fantastic. If I could get permission, I would put samples up on this site. Maybe I should ask about that. Anyway, it’s really good. A lot of it is creative and abstract. But a lot of it is realistic too. So realistic that people always ask me where I got “that photo” when they look at my background. They really are astounding. Just take a look. You have to pay for most of it, but there is a free gallery if you’re broke like me.
Bright and Shiny Things: bright and Shiny Things is a small jewelry store that I used to go to all the time whenever we skied in Snowmass, CO. (Which was a lot back in the day.) They have beautiful sterling silver pieces, which I am particularly partial to. They also have an amazing selection of gold and platinum jewelry and use everything from semi-precious to precious stones. If you’re ever in the vicinity, they are worth taking a look at.
Flickr: this website has excellent photography and some very amusing images. Definitely worth a gander.
Writer’s Market: Writer’s Market is an excellent resource for any writer. The website has an excellent search engine to find publishers for your writing no matter what you write. The book has thousands of listings and an excellent index to help you in your search, as well as great advice, and examples of cover letters etc.
Rock Climbing: RC.com is a useful site to get information about rock climbing in specific areas. It can also be useful for getting information on equipment etc. But take everything that you read there with a grain of salt. There are a lot of jerks who post on the site who just “like the sound of their own voice” only make that applicable to text. And always remember, nothing you find online is a substitute for actually learning how to climb with a guide or an experienced climber.