Monday, May 23, 2011

And so it goes

It's been awhile since I did a blog post here. I've been working on various other projects, submitting work, getting accepted, getting rejected. Business as usual. Also procrastinating.

Last week I held off on announcing the inclusion of my one of my flash fiction pieces, Strands of Imagination, in a new publication, The Other Dance. This short piece was paired up with a lovely erotic watercolor by artist Rod MacIver. The reason I held off was two-fold: 1) I wanted to find out if I could use some art on my post and 2) I just was busy enough to not get around to it.

Now, less than a week after my piece went out (it was a newsletter form of publication, with works supposed to be archived at the site), The Other Dance, as well as the erotic art site, Wild Artist Erotica, is closed (that link is to the notice of closure). Luckily I took a screen shot of my work and bio before it disappeared in the ether.

But the saddest part of all this is that Emerald had been hired to be the editor of this and she was so excited (and a bit nervous as well) about this endeavor. It's been hard watching a friend get tossed on the waves like this. Emerald had written a lovely post announcing this, as well as one today explaining the sudden closure. There's not much more I can add.

While I'm saddened that my work, and the lovely art it was paired with, is no longer accessible, I find that I'm taking this in stride. I do believe that at some level, the societal shame that surrounds the erotic had a hand in this. At least that's what I read between the lines at the closure statement.

But this has just made me more intent on getting going on a project that I've been mulling for quite some time. So, watch for an announcement, hopefully within the next month. Also, I'm more committed than ever to my erotic writing. I've said it before and I'll say it again, and again, and again.

Fuck Shame!

2 comments:

Emerald said...

If it motivated you, Robin, that seems really one of the loveliest outcomes I can imagine. Thank you for letting us publish the beautiful "Strands of Imagination"—it went out to an undisclosed number of people in a solicited newsletter, and I am glad it had the chance to be read by any and all of them.

I appreciated your support when I first shared my offering and accepting of the editorship with you, when I asked to publish your work, and when I let you know about the conversation with Rod and that he had chosen to close Wild Artist Erotica down. And I appreciate it now.

Thank you, and I am truly eager to see the work and projects you have in store!

Love,
Emerald

Craig Sorensen said...

I agree with Em. I'm glad to see you are more motivated, and maybe that's a small silver lining in the dark cloud. I've always loved your works, and look forward to where you will take it.

My first story sale was to a magazine that announced its closure the day before my story was to be published, so I kind of have a feel for the disappointment. But, not long later, I found the story a new home.