Guest Post: Herika R. Raymer

Today Herika R. Raymer is back, and talking about all sorts of awesome things! Inspiration, genre writing, editing, and the fabulous cooperative Imagicopter – it’s all here! I’m in awe of all the things Herika is involved in (and does so very well at), and I can add from experience that if you are a writer or artist, you want to check out Imagicopter. It’s a great concept and has been a great experience for me so far.

So join me and let’s see what Herika has to say!

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Greetings and Salutations! Thank you Selah for allowing me this opportunity, truly! Well, I will try to make this Guest Post as interesting as I can.

My name is Herika R Raymer and I write speculative fiction in addition to being an editor for a horror anthology. Writing speculative fiction, from what I understand, means that I write across genres – mostly science fiction, steampunk, horror, and fantasy. I am currently dabbling with microstories (stories under 200 words) and flash fiction (stories under 1000 words), and have found it a rewarding challenge. I can say that most of my stories are horror and fantasy, as that seems to be what I am most comfortable with. Though I find it amazing that most genres cross a lot more than initially anticipated. I have noticed a lot of science fiction is also horror, and that fantasy can be dramatic as well as horrific. I can say that steampunk is definitely my favorite. For me, it is difficult to write, however I do love reading it!

How do I think up a story, or what is my inspiration? Depends on what I am experiencing at the time. I could be reading, watching a movie, listening to music, driving, or just daydreaming and something will click. Unfortunately, I do not always have a pen and notebook handy – yes I write long-hand as well as electronically – and some stories do get lost. The weird thing is that often they recur in my head, so I sometimes get a second chance. It is wonderful when that happens, because sometimes the sequel is better than the original. Writing is difficult because, once the story is done, then comes the proofing and finding a possible venue. I have always found that submitting stories is akin to auditioning for a new job. I am always nervous, pensive, and anticipating the response. It is discouraging when I get rejections, but the elation I feel at an acceptance helps keep my spirits up. One thing I will say for getting rejections, it has lessened my fear of the word ‘no’, and has given me bravery to try new things even in my non-writing life.

To find a selection of anthologies my stories are in, please visit my website at herikarraymer.webs.com

I am also an Editor for a horror anthology known as ‘Cover of Darkness’, available from Sam’s Dot Publishing. Being an editor has helped my own writing, and I do recommend becoming a slush reader for a publishing company – if they will let you. It is grueling work, I will not lie. You will see great stories, good stories, okay stories, and downright stinkers. However, what you glean from the good and greats helps you in the end, I believe. I became an editor after I met with, submitted stories to, and talked with the managing editor of a publishing company at a convention. He first assigned me to be an Assistant Editor to three anthologies and the task was to read the slush, pick out the stories I would recommend to publish, and then provide my reasons as to why. The same went for anything I was not impressed by. Once again, my reasoning must have been satisfactory because I was eventually promoted to Editor of ‘Cover of Darkness’. I make it sound like it happened fast, but this took time, and I still have to prove myself. If I start slipping, then I am sure another will be found to replace me. I also offer critique when and where I can, and simply hope that the writer does not take offense. It is amazing how many ‘thank yous’ I have gotten for taking that extra step. Other editors warn me that I might burn out from doing that, since you cannot help everyone and some people do not want help – not to mention it is time-consuming. They may be right, but I treat each story as I hope to have my own treated. If it is rejected, I would really like to know why and what I might do to improve it. My thinking is that I cannot be the only writer who thinks that way. A list of the ‘Cover of Darkness’ anthologies I edit for is also on my site.

I have more direct experiences with my geekzine ‘Imagyro’, available for free download at http://www.wix.com/imagyro/home. I usually have to put together most of the articles, but thankfully I do have some regular contributors. However, assembling the magazine still takes energy and I have to say that my experience with ‘Cover of Darkness’ has definitely helped.

What is ‘Imagyro’? It is the geekzine for the voluntary cooperative known as Imagicopter, comprised of authors, artists, and hopefully soon musicians. ‘Imagyro’ features interviews with the participants of Imagicopter as well as articles on conventions, book signings, and other possible venues like fairs as well as book and movie reviews. On the whole, Imagicopter’s goal is to raise awareness of local talent by offering lesser known talent a means to get their product in front of a larger crowd by use of networking and helping to promote one another. It is voluntary, free, and participants are free to leave whenever they choose. Unfortunately, it is not a publishing or promotional agency, so it does not guarantee sales or even an increase in presence. However, it does try. You can read more about it at the Imagicopter site just look it up on Google and go to the Wix site!

I have been with Imagicopter since its beginning, and have been amazed and delighted at its growth. I sincerely hope it will continue to grow and continue to help its participants. We are still in the ‘under five year’ stage, so we are still learning. Only, I do not think there will not be a time when we are not learning. Find us on Wix and on Facebook, ask questions, we would be happy to answer!

I hope you found this guest post informative, and thanks again to Selah Janel!

The Lost Manuscripts: Halloween Edition

HA! You thought you were safe…well I’ve saved this horrifying tale for the scariest day of the year!

This may be one of the most beautiful things my young self ever wrote, so take heed, grab someone for safety and moral support, and dare to read my chilling tale.

This little gem came from an assignment where we probably had to write something spooky about trick or treating or something that happened on Halloween. At that point in life I’d already gotten talked to by my parents about taking assignments too literally (I believe the week before we were asked to write our epitaphs or something and I vaguely remember writing something very serious that put my mom into tears, so this was probably overcompensation so I wouldn’t have to relive that moment ever again). This looks to be around ten years of age if I’m counting right.

Untitled Terrifying Halloween Tale

by young SJ

Hello, my name is Selah. This is a story about the spookiest Halloween ever. It all started when I was trick-or-treating with my friends, they tried to scare me half to death. They told me horrible ghost stories. They made frightening noises. They kept saying there was a monster around the corner. I was not scared. I had never believed in ghosts and monsters since I was little.

The night was dark and spooky. Shadows greeted us around every corner. The darkness was like a big, spooky shadow itself. The wind was howling and screaming into the night. My parents had told me not to stay out to late, but I forgot all about them!

All of a sudden, I had an idea. I ran into the darkness. I covered myself with mud and tree branches. Then I jumped out and yelled “Booga, booga, booga!” My friends ran screaming into the night. I laughed myself silly. My friends were sissies! But, I knew I should apologize.

Suddenly, I heard a screaming noise. I shook with fear when I saw a real, live ghost! A blood curdling scream came from my mouth. I turned and ran back home. I was right on time too. Now you know why this was the spookiest Halloween ever!!!!!!

***

See, I told you it was terrifying! You can tell it’s a school assignment because I didn’t change my name’s spelling (I had this idea at that age that if I changed just one letter no one would ever know I was inserting myself into my stories!) You can also tell that this is an assignment because I made the point to say that I apologized – this would go back to my mother checking my work and I didn’t want to get in trouble again, although I also added in a bit of street cred because there was no way I was allowed to trick or treat by myself (this was back in the day when you could be out all night and wander through the neighborhoods like pack animals). The booga booga booga was probably a phrase fixation of mine at the time.

So now I need to turn this into a legit horror story and somehow find a way to make the booga booga booga believable…hrm…I do like a challenge.

Anyway, Happy Halloween Everyone!

The Lost Manuscripts: Marvin Mummy

Another poetry edition. I forget how old I was when I did this one, but I know it was elementary school. My mother is the grand-high guru of crafty holiday home decorating, and she had come up with a way to make a mummy doll out of tights, stuffing, and muslin. The thing was nearly as tall as I was at the time, and we sat him in a chair or in the large picture window and let him peek out at the trick or treaters. I remember thinking that this was the best thing ever, and he was definitely a favored toy at the time for pretending that I was a witch student in my own magic haunted house that magically appeared on October 1.

Marvin Mummy

circa 198?

My stocking dummy

Marvin Mummy

Sits in the big chair

While he stares

On Halloween night

He gives the children a fright

My stocking dummy

Marvin Mummy

I actually think this one is pretty cute, and it gives me a nostalgic, warm feeling every time I read it. Takes me back to the days of mass decorating and when every little thing seemed magical and full of possibility. We still have Marvin somewhere. I may have to drag him out of his slumber for Halloween.

The Lost Manuscripts: The Ocean Fairy

That’s right. You’re getting two of these in a row! Mwahahahaha…(watches stats plummet).

Today’s piece is from my prolific fantasy computer lab  period in 1990. (I know I had more than this. I’m really sad I threw out as much as I did while cleaning. I could’ve had material forever.) And I’m sorry, it’s another fairy piece. I know. I’m sorry. I was ten.

The Ocean Fairy

Once there was a king of the sea named King Neptune. He was always lonely. You see, he was the only one of his kind. One day he took out a gigantic magic shell that his grandmother had given him. He created a fairy of the sea. He named her Mantia. He told her to create people who had fish tails from the bottom up to the waist, and human from the waist up. So she did, and everything was good. King Neptune got married and had a son that would soon be called King Triton.

The End

Part of me is cringing SO HARD and the rest is laughing hysterically. Apparently this is what happens when Little Mermaid Prequel meets myth meets Genesis or something. First off…how could Neptune have a grandmother if he was the only one of his kind? And so…he creates a fairy to create stuff for him? Bwuh? And apparently all this creating was just so he could get it on. So like a man, even a merman. Although I am giving myself a million bonus points for the name Mantia…lord, that’s just hilarious.

So yep, take that Disney sequels and prequels and midquels and dayquils and nyquils! You may have many things, but I have Mantia the creation sea fairy!

Lord, this just makes me wonder what I was fed when I was a child…

The Lost Manuscripts – Poetry Edition! A Strange Day

I have no idea when I wrote this, but my guess is probably around third or fourth grade. I’ll have to get my scanner working because some of these have illustrations that are just priceless. Anyway, proof that even at an early age I was trying to expand my horizons…into poetry! (watches as everyone flees in terror) Today’s Lost Manuscript is entitled…A Strange Day.

 

A Strange Day (circa 1988/89?)

I saw an ear of corn playing a horn.

I saw some jeans trying on some jeans.

I saw some cows wearing purple bath towels.

I saw the letter K jumping in the hay.

It has been a very strange day.

Actually, my poetry probably hasn’t improved much since then. I…dunno. I was reading a lot of rhyming stuff at the time? Blame it on a younger sibling? I want to say I probably saw similar stuff being done elsewhere and did my spin on it…and I kind of want to say I may have won some sort of prize in school for this, but I don’t really remember. I’ll have to go digging in the scrapbook, because this was a hand-written, hand-drawn edition. And man, I thought my handwriting was bad now, geesh…

The Lost Manuscripts: The Magic Leaf

It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these, so let’s open up the vaults!

Today’s piece of my tragic writing past is from November 20, 1990, so I would’ve been ten or so. I will warn you, this was when I was neck deep in my self-insertion fantasy phase (though some could argue I’m still going through this phase to certain degrees). This was also when we had set writing time during computer lab, so I would churn out tons of these things while other people were making pictures with letters and dashes (though I did enough of that, too). So without further adieu, today’s cringe-worthy piece is ‘The Magic Leaf’!

Once upon a time there was a very nice fairy. She was in charge of the seasons. One fall day, she found one special leaf that was more beautiful than all the other leaves. She gave it a golden heart. Now it was magic.

One day a little girl named Adrina found the magic leaf. The fairy told her if she rubbed the leaf it would turn her into a fairy. Adrina rubbed the leaf and she did turn her into a fairy. So the two fairies flew off to fairy land.

The End

You have no idea how embarrassing it is to admit that I spent my childhood writing things like that. Yes, I was a true sparkly, candy-sweet, princess-wannabe, twirly dress-wearing, girly girl. Shut up.

I’m also kind of amazed that this piece is so…boring. Amazingly enough, my playing pretend sessions would last for like five hours as a kid, yet when I put words to paper I would get…this. So that’s disappointing. Although, if I may….I know this sounds a little dry and meh, but allow me to channel my inner-ten-year-old for a moment, and I can probably tell you what I really meant to write. Ahem.

The Magic Leaf (Re-interpreted)

Once upon a time (because all really good stories start that way) there was this fairy, and she was beaaauuuuuuutiful! She had long blonde hair, and a sparkly purple dress, and irridescent wings that flashed all the colors of the rainbow when she flew! Her eyes were bright purple and she was secretly a princess but didn’t know it, but that’s not in this story. Anyway, it was her important job to make all the leaves and flowers change when the seasons changed, like in Fantasia, but it was all up to her and no one else. So she flew all around the world tapping the flowers and trees with her magic wand, turning them fall colors and making them gooooooorgeous. There was one leaf that was much more beautiful than all the other leaves in the whole wide world. It glowed green and yellow, and had delicate little veins and pretty scalloped edge. The fairy knew that the leaf had to be special, so she gave it a golden heart (she didn’t paint a gold heart on it, but actually gave it a heart of golden love so it would know when someone special touched it so it could share its magic with ALL the right people!)

One day, a little girl named Adriana was walking through the deep green forest. She was by herself, but she knew her way because she lived nearby. Her name was Adriana, which is nothing like Selah, but enough like Ariel so it’s still something I like but no one will ever guess that I want to be the little girl in the story. Adriana found the special magic leaf and KAPOW! the fairy appeared and danced around her! Adriana wasn’t as beautiful as the fairy, but she had long brown hair and deep blue-green eyes, and everyone loved her because she was sweet and kind and always did what she was supposed to. The fairy told Adriana that if she rubbed the leaf it would turn her into a fairy. Knowing it was her chosen destiny because her mother had told her so in a bedtime story long ago, Adriana rubbed the leave and GUESS WHAT?! SHE ACTUALLY BECAME A FAIRY! WITH WINGS AND EVERYTHING! They were almost as big as she was, and they lifted her right up off the ground, and made a soft little buzzing noise when she moved them. And they were blue, which is almost as good as purple, with silver edges. She was so excited that she had finally fulfilled her chosen destiny, and GUESS WHAT?! SHE WAS ACTUALLY A FAIRY PRINCESS, TOO! The leaf made her and the fairy sisters, so they flew off to fairy land where Adriana could be taught to change the seasons, too! They lived there forever in a big, gigantic castle, and everyone loved them and always listened to what they had to say. And the seasons were always beautiful and perfect from then on.

The End

Thaaaat’s better! (cracks knuckles). Although I probably should not admit to being able to write like that now that I really shouldn’t be writing like that. Fun as hell, though..(sly grin)…if I had a death wish I’d send it to a few publisher friends I have. But yeah, I can almost guarantee you THAT was the version that was going through my head so long ago. Don’t ask me why it didn’t translate.

Oh let’s be honest…the in-my-head version would’ve had forty pages dedicated to the dresses the fairy and Adriana wore, alone.

Didn’t you just miss these things? Heh Heh Heh…

The Lost Manuscripts: Here’s an idea for Mother’s Day!

So my early childhood writer self did not, in fact, remain limited to fantasy stories. Nope, I also decided that it was my destiny to be a self-help/instructional writer as well. So today we are visiting my short essay on a project you can do with everyone in your life. In fact, I highly suggest you do this as a unique Mother’s Day present this year. I remember my mom loving things like this when I was a kid so why shouldn’t she love it now that I’m…not as much of a kid on the outside? Try it and see how speechless you can make your mom!

And as usual, unless they really make me cringe I’m writing these verbatim so remember that my spelling and grammar have improved somewhat since I was ten.

HOW TO MAKE SILLY LOOKING ANIMALS

(By SJ age ten)

This is how you can make your own silly looking animals. You will need paper, a pencil, and some crayons. First, get out one piece of paper and fold it in half. Second, think of two animals, like a camel and a dog. Next, draw the first half of an animal on one side. Then, draw the last half of the other animal on the other side of the paper. Now, unfold the paper and see your silly looking animal. Finally, color and name your animal.

***

Man, wikihow here I come! What amuses me about this is that I was so procedural. In an ironic twist of fate when I was eleven (a year later than when this was written) we had a class assignment that was similar where we had to mash-up animals and name our creature. In that instance everyone in class did the two animal thing and I think I actually may have put together the parts of like forty different animals and written a whole dissertation about the creature’s habitat, food habits, and hobbies. Don’t ask me what in my brain changed from age ten to age eleven, but apparently I decided that typical methods were not for me within that time! I wish I still had that picture – it was a riot. All I remember was that it was some sort of four-legged thing with a giraffe neck and part of the head was like a gator with these really shiny silver teeth because I was in love with my silver crayon and I may have tattooed its butt like a My Little Pony. So compared to eleven-year-old SJ, this ten-year-old version is truly the lame how-to craft book author version. But since your mom may not want a forty-animal hybrid picture for Mother’s Day, or in the event that you’re not feeling comfortable with being that off-the-cuff, I suggest with sticking with the tamer version. Though I would write a little poem to go with it and sign your name at the bottom – moms dig stuff like that. Add some flowers picked from your garden (especially dandelions) and you’re golden! And in the event if your mother is not thrilled with receiving this sort of thing on her special day…well…remember that this advice is coming from my ten-year-old self via time travel and scrapbook.

SJ: the lost manuscripts – A Story of the Middle Ages

In interviews and guest posts around the web I’ve mentioned that I’ve been writing since I was a kidlet. Whether it was little writing assignments for school, making ‘books’ about family vacations or holidays, or plunking away on the little sky blue toy typewriter my parents got me when I was five, I’ve been making up stories for a long time.

And as I’ve been cleaning I’ve found a few of them. Sadly, a few really epic ones I remember must have gotten thrown out (Not surprising. It takes a lot to un-fire trap my room and at some point things have to go.) but I’ve found quite a few. And they are HILARIOUS. I love kids because they’re just so nutty and I was no exception. So off and on I will inflict these bits of my childhood on you (including pictures when applicable because I was also a deranged illustrator at that point in my life.) And then I’ll offer some commentary because obviously things have changed since I was five or ten.

So this one is the very first typed story I have recorded evidence for. I’m sad because I know there was at least one more where I went to great pains to describe my devastating beauty (I may have been reading a lot of Snow White at the time) but sadly that one must have gotten trashed. Oh well.  And don’t worry – I can’t bring myself to type these things up as is so I’ll correct any spelling/grammar. Without further ado I bring you…

A Story of the Middle Ages

 

Once upon a time sometime during the middle ages there lived a dragon named Jack. He was a mean dragon who liked to eat princesses. One day a princess named Arora was running through the forest. She passed a cave which belonged to Jack . Jack grabbed Arora and said “Now I will eat you for my dinner, my fair princess!”

The next day everyone knew about the helpless princess. The king told Sir Sigamore to go and save his daughter. When Sir Sigamore reached the cave he said ‘Hit the road, Jack and set the princess free!”

Jack said “Oh yeah?! You will have to fight for your princess!”

Sir Sigamore then took his sword and killed the evil dragon. When Sir Sigamore and Arora returned to the castle they got married and they lived happily ever after.

 

The End

Obviously this was before I reached my strong heroine phase…or learned about contractions. You may think that the spelling of Arora was a mistake. No…genius child that I was, I was convinced that as long as I changed like one letter of a name that no one would EVER figure out what princess/character/whatever I had in mind. There’s some awesome evidence of this later on that still kills me. Don’t ask me what/who the knight was named after…I probably listened to my father talking about the tales of King Author and was trying to make up a proper Authurian name. What I love most about this is that the WHOLE POINT of that story was the obvious pun. Ah, yes – that’s me all over. Thinkin’ I’m funnier than I really am since the age of five.