The Complete Prose Works, Part Two

In which we continue to list the places Bill's often-obscure short stories were published, assuming we can remember them.

I dug up a few more of my short stories, so we continue.

First though, an anecdote, or maybe even a cautionary tale. When my long-running, award-winning comic book series Fables was at its height, I was constantly sought out by many prose book publishers to write a novel for them. I took many a meeting with editors and assorted publisher representatives, at conventions and book fairs and such. I was always interested, but had an agent then, so my reply was always something like: “Sure. Work out the details with my agent, and he’ll let me know when to start writing.” Those deals never coalesced as I was too busy to follow up and my agent… well, he had far too many things on his plate too.

Fast forward to a few years later. Fables had just ended and at last I had time to follow up on all those offers. I tried to contact this publisher and that publisher, with the thought of saying something along the lines of, “I’m ready now.” But there was no joy in Mudville. Fables was done. It’s time had passed and it seemed my time of being in semi-hot demand had as well. Most publishers wouldn’t even take my call, or return my call.

The lesson then is this: If it’s something you want, strike while the iron is hot, no matter how busy you are. It’s just far too easy to become yesterday’s news.

That’s okay though. The book publishing industry had changed so much while I wasn’t looking, the door is wide open again, because all the doors belong to the individual writers now. If you want to do novels and prose short stories, or whatever, you own your own door. The catch is, you have to work your asp off both writing and selling the stories now. We’ll see if I’ve still got enough fire in my belly.

Fearless Space Pirates of the Outer Rings

This was included in an anthology called The New Space Opera 2 (meaning there was a previous New Space Opera), edited by Gardner Dozois and Jonathan Strahan. It’s about a young fellow from Earth named Danny who was captured by space pirates, in a case of mistaken identity, and then rises through the ranks of the crew of cutthroats, until he’s in line to become their new captain. As far as I can tell, this was written well before that same tale became the origin of Star Lord for the Marvel flick. Their character Star Lord has had so many origins and revamps, it’s hard to sort them out. The New Space Opera 2 was published in 2009 by Eos Books.

The anthology is still listed as available on Amazon, either as a paperback or a Kindle Unlimited e-book.

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf: A Black Tower Story

This was included in an anthology called The Fables Next Door, edited by R J Carter. It’s about a small team of immortals-for-hire (but only in a good cause) who call themselves the Black Tower Society. One of the immortals is a woman named Snow White, who definitely has no relation to the Disney version (Weird, right?) or the version whom appears in issues of Fables comics (written by some fellow whose name escapes me at the moment). It was published in 2024 by Critical Blast Publishing.

You can still find it on Amazon or through the Critical Blast website.

Comes the Hunter

Published in Issue 14 of Cirsova Magazine. This one has a weird history. Some time ago I was on a writing retreat in a Texas hunting lodge (off season), along with the other four members (at the time - it’s expanded since then) of the Clockwork Storybook writing group. One day we decided to have a bet. The conditions were simple. We each needed to write a prose story in that single day and have it ready to read that night. But it needed to include four almost random story elements. I forget three of them, but one of the things we needed to include in the story was some mention of hot peppers. I did so and I do believe I got a pretty nice story out of it. No, it’s not specifically about hot peppers, but there are hot peppers in it, and they do play a vital role in the tale.

Back issues of Cirsova Magazine are available on their website. It’s a bit hard to navigate, but do please persevere.

The Short Unhappy Immortality of Owen McKinty

Published in Issue 20 of Cirsova Magazine. When some fellow writers and I formed the Clockwork Storybook writers group and (at the time) publishing cooperative¹, in which we’d write stories that took place in a shared fictional town called San Cibola, the guys voted on a hard and fast rule: “No vampire stories, as vampires are done to death.” Before then I never wanted to write a vampire story, but I too often respond to being told no as an irresistible challenge. I started thinking of many new and unique vampire stories on the spot. This is one of those and it deals with something that hasn’t previously appeared in any vamp story so far (as far as I know).

This story is accompanied by an illustration of mine (not the one on the cover).

As with the other Cirsova mag above, you can find this on their website.

Beowulf: The Monster Maker

This was published in 2002 (I believe - I’m not entirely sure I still own a copy to look it up) by Clockwork Storybook. Strictly speaking, it’s more of a novella than a short story, but it’s certainly not a novel.

Also includes the Beowulf short story, Green Grow the Rushes Oh.

This book is out of print, and all of my copies have been sold or given away, but you can occasionally find a copy on eBay, or from other private sellers online.

I’m considering republishing this book, along with Hyde and Seek, and all the Beowulf short stories, in a single volume called The Complete Beowulf (So Far).

Beowulf: Hyde and Seek.

You’ll note the actual title is Hyde and Seek, rather than Hyde & Seek. The Clockwork fellow doing the cover assembly didn’t get the word how devoutly I hate the ampersand. When I caught the mistake, it was too late. Since my version of Beowulf is an immortal, this is an adventure he had when he was wandering the Old West, as in cowboy days.

Also includes the Beowulf short story, The Tenth Beast.

This book is out of print, and all of my copies have been sold or given away, but you can occasionally find a copy on eBay, or from other private sellers online.

Forthcoming Stuff

I have a few stories in the publishing pipeline. I don’t know when any of these will be coming out. Sometimes they tell me, but I can never remember.

First up is my story in a forthcoming anthology called Swords and Larceny² (pictured above). It’s edited by David Afsharirad and Mark Finn. My story stars a roguish character called The Hooded Crow. I think it might be available in October, but don’t hold me to that.³

I also have a story coming out in the Green Hornet: Detroit Noir City anthology of all new stories based upon the TV Series version of the Green Hornet. It will be published by Moonstone Books. My story is called The Green Hornet Murders. I’m not sure when it comes out.

I also have a story in the second issue of the all westerns story magazine called Go West. I think my story is called Only the Dead, but it’s been a while since I looked at it, so I’m only pretty sure that’s the title. The first issue of Go West is out and you can still find it on Amazon, but my tale is in the second issue, not yet out. Got it?

I do believe I also have a story coming out in an anthology to be called The Dragon Wears a Badge, but I haven’t heard from the editors in a while and I can’t find any information about it online. Of course, since my ability to find anything online is almost nil, don’t jump to any conclusions, please. In any case, it’s a theme anthology whose premise is stories about crime mysteries starring other-than-human-detectives. Cute, huh? My story is called Officer Jelly, about the shire reeve (sheriff) of a medieval fantasy town who happens to be a green ooze. I liked how it came out enough to have written many other Officer Jelly tales, which will come out sometime, and somewhere, but I’m waiting for this anthology to come out first, so I don’t step on any toes.

1. Never go into business with your friends. You’ll often lose both. Yes, by all means, form a writing group with your friends, providing they are writers, but don’t start a publishing cooperative.

2. Once again I’ve taken it upon myself to delete the hated ampersand. It’s my own weird cause and I don’t expect others to join the one-man pogrom.

3. Mark Finn has been interested in fantasy themed caper stories for some time. I was among the many play testers of his fantasy caper RPG, called… dammit, I can’t recall exactly what it’s called, but it’s got a clever title. Go to his substack and ask him. Do it.