K. Marvin Bruce

  So, just when I get started picking up steam in fiction, something drags me back to non.   I suppose the fact that I’ve had four nonfiction books published while my novel has been repeatedly rejected has something to do with it.   In any case, “Easy Chair” is now available on Coffin Bell . One of my Breck stories, this tale was inspired by my experience in higher education.   It’s a hostile environment.   If you’ve ever lost a job as a professor, you know what I mean.   Revenge is something that frequently comes to mind. A fun bit of horror that considers if trying revenge is really a good idea, “Easy Chair” had a relatively easy time with publication.   Unlike almost all of my stories, it was never rejected.   I revised it quite a few times before sending it out, but still, that’s remarkable. My very first published story as an adult (I don’t really count those from high school—who knows anything then?), “Hide and Seek,” was also never rejected...

  I hope you’re comfortable.   With apologies for interrupting The Space between Atoms once again, I’m wanting to share another small success for this struggling writer.   A story I submitted to Coffin Bell about a year ago has just been accepted for publication.   Its title is “Easy Chair.” I know many people that work in publishing.   Although many websites are in a constant state of updating, changing daily or often more frequently than that, publication takes time.   Editors I know often take weeks even to get to submissions they receive.   Those submissions have to be read and compared with others that have also arrived. Many times a story has to go to outside readers and/or an editorial board.   These are all busy people.   And, of course, unless you’re a household name, you’ll be part of the slush pile for awhile. I used to find that off-putting, but the slush pile is a reality of a world where lots and lots and lots of people want t...