Pardon Me While I Do Balki’s Dance of Joy
A little while ago I launched myself into a Flash Fiction Contest run by Needle Magazine so I could win a T-Shirt and look awesome while advertising their rag as I ran errands to pick up dog food and buy groceries.
Because, you know, that’s kind of what I do.
I didn’t get my name selected for the T-Shirt. That was sort of disappointing, because it’s a cool T-Shirt, and I like free clothing.
But then one day I get this message from Steve Weddle, the editor of said rag and one of my favorite Twitter pals, and he’s asking me if they could run my entry in the Summer issue of Needle.
And after I gasped so loudly my kids both almost burst into tears, I replied, very calmly, yes you can.
And now that the Summer issue is being announced I’m going to jump up and down in front of you all and shout, “LOOK!!!! I did it!!!”
While I do not know why my entry was chosen for the issue, I’m awfully glad it was. I love the online fiction magazines, and they’re nice to read while lying in bed in the dark because all I need is the light from the screen so I don’t keep Rich up with the overhead light.
But for some reason having my very first published piece ever in a solid, hold it in your hands, real honest to God print magazine is exciting beyond belief.
Exciting enough to choke me up occasionally.
And for that I want to thank Steve and the good folks who work on Needle from the bottom of my heart.
The issue is coming out in a couple of weeks, and I’d love it if you’d purchase a copy. I edited my entry and rewrote it in the third person, and if you clicked the link above you noticed the story has been removed from that post. The title has been tweaked a bit as well. The story, “Under the Rug,” begins-
“How’d you say you got this again?” Sally fired up her lighter. “And this time, breathe.”
Jessie was parked on Sally’s kitchen chair with her ass on the edge. Forehead on the table, her eyes were watering with that agony specific to puncture wounds.
“He was on Owen’s bed when I got up to pee. I walked past the door and saw him.” She lifted her head for a moment. Sally held the tip of the embroidery needle in the flame of her lighter, and as Jessie watched it began to glow. Her stomach swiveled.
For the rest of it, and for other stories by some truly awesome writers (right now I feel like that person who walks into a party and stands, shuffling their feet, while everyone who knows one another laughs and chats with ease) go on over to Needle’s website and order your copy in a couple weeks.
To paraphrase-
My mother thanks you. My father thanks you… and I thank you.
And thank you Chuck, because if you hadn’t forced me to come out of my shell I’d have never seen my name in print.
27 Responses to “Pardon Me While I Do Balki’s Dance of Joy”
Are You Gonna Eat That? by Julie Summerell is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at jasummerell.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://sheltergirl.blogspot.com.
Share This
Trash Talking
 | Elisangela on Glass Houses |
 | Mohamed on Flash Fiction Challenge: Toxic… |
What a fantastic milestone. Well done!!
Thank you!
ROCK THE HELL ON JULIE!
Congrats! Much awesomeness and it totally doesn’t surprise me one little bit that you are being published. Reminds me that world does, in fact, make sense sometimes. Should be the first of many publications I think.
Congrats again!!!
Thank you lady. I’m a bit excited.
Kick ass! Congrats!
Thanks! I might shower to celebrate.
Yeah!!!!!! I am so happy for you!!!! Now I can say I knew her way back when….. I am so excited for you!!!!!!!!
Hi there.
A wonderful response.
I entered the same competiton for the Tee-shirt and my name wasn’t drawn either.
My pieces of flash were left where they were too, though just being up there and having my stories read by so many visitors was a thrill.
I was lucky enough to have another story of mine accepted, though, and I echo all you said about what it means. I tried to tell my girlfriend last night about the people who were going to be inside with us rubbing shoulders and, much as she smiled and tried, she just didn’t get it.
You’ve said it well enough that I can leave it alone -perhaps I should show her what you wrote and point out that it’s not just me.
Equally I’d like to thank all those Needlers out there.
Brilliant.
It’s better than waiting for Christmas, isn’t it?
nigel
I just read your “About Me” on your blog, and I have to say that yes, you have been lucky.
Isn’t it great?
This is way better than Christmas.
Damn, my swiss cheese brain, I can’t remember if I read it, though I’m sure I read all the entries.
Congrats! Look forward to reading it (again?).
I’m waiting on that Tits Up from your swiss cheese brain.
Started a Lansdale book the other night (The Bottoms), and due to the chaos in this house I needs some shorter stuff for sure.
Thanks for the congrats!
Rock on!
Soon, I’ll be able to say, “I followed her on Twitter before she was big.”
You can tell everyone, “Yeah, yeah, She used to get hammered and live tweet bad SyFy Originals and get eaten by patio furniture. From what I hear, she still does.”
Thanks for popping in.
GET OUT WITH YOUR BAD SELF! Way to go, Jooles!
Thanks!
Congratulations!
Thank you m’dear. We need to get together again somehow soon.
Congratulations! Someday I hope to have the pleasure of writing a similar post.
you know, i have a feeling it won’t be that long
fingers crossed.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
Wow — huge congrats! Psyched to share an issue with you.
Me too! I mean, with you, not with me.
More coffee please.
Thanks, man.
Wow, congratulations Julie. How exciting for you. Can’t wait to get a copy!
Thanks! And if I might be so bold-
You should grab a copy of the first issue too, because it rocks.
Jesus Christ. Good for you, girl.
Yet another great reason to pick up NEEDLE. Congratulations and well earned! My jealousy, let me show you it.
I’m sorry for the delay in this huge CONGRATULATIONS!! I haven’t had a chance to catch up with your blog in awhile and was doing so this afternoon and got to read this incredible piece of news! I know you’re thrilled and I’m thrilled for you