NYC Midnight FF Challenge 2019

My second place for round one NYC FF Challenge 2019

It’s that time of year again. The results have just come in for the first round of the NYC Midnight Flash Fiction challenge. My stories do a little better each year. Honestly, I’d like to be challenged this way on a weekly basis. No telling how fast I might improve… “Bracketville, Texas, November 1964,” placed second out of my group. They only posted the top fifteen stories from each group, so I’m not sure how many were in the group. There are 125 groups, and we write again this weekend!

This story, by the way,

Long Lost Story

I just came across a long lost story! I never knew this micro-story I wrote won a prize. I was looking for the judge’s name from a previous story of mine that won a prize (“The Understanding”), when I stumbled across another flash piece I’d obviously sent them that was chosen top story that week and published on their website, but I never heard about it. Maybe the email got caught in a spam filter. In any case, HERE is my story, “Shit Happens.”

I have to agree with judge, Kelly Griffiths. It could use a better title… 
Story found on Cracked FF Competition website. "Shit Happens" by Kim Davis

Many of my readers already know that I spent quite a few years working aboard yachts. This story is a kind of snapshot image of a disaster at sea. I vaguely remember reading something about a volcano becoming an island and how very suddenly that happened. I never witnessed the birth of a volcano, but I have experienced some very scary stuff. The big wide ocean is no place to mess around!

 

If you enjoyed this long lost story, here are a few other stories I’ve written that may interest you: “Do You Know the Bunny Hop?,” “Strings of Solace,” “The Understanding,” and “The Meek Inherit.”

Do You Know the Bunny Hop?

“Do You Know the Bunny Hop?” Origins

I wrote “Do You Know the Bunny Hop?” for a competition in which it placed but was not published. I don’t remember the entire prompt, and I’d have to search to figure out who sponsored that original competition. I was attracted to the idea of writing about someone with aphasia, and I imagined my own grandmother as the afflicted person. She never left the house without dressing for success, as if she was going to work in an office—high heels, wool suit, jewelry. So that is how I dressed my character. That’s where the similarity to my grandmother ends, since my grandmother did not have aphasia. But someone’s grandmother did. The hot dog vendor who parks his cart on the little lady’s street corner is the still point around which the story turns. He is a good man who befriends an aging woman. Through his simple acts of kindness and humor, this story draws its meaning.

Many thanks to Epoque Press for publishing it. Click HERE to read “Do You Know the Bunny Hop?”

You’ve signed a contract. Now what?

These notes accompany a talk I’ve given at a few writers conferences.—Kim 

Traditional Publishing versus Self-publishing

The publishing world has changed dramatically over the past few decades. With the ease of self-publishing now, why would you even consider traditional publishing?

  1. The traditional publisher shoulders the expense of production,
  2. With a team of professionals at their disposal, a traditional publisher can produce a more commercially competitive product than you can on your own.
  3. The traditional publisher will handle the distribution and order fulfillment for you, and
  4. They will take care of the broad strokes when it comes to marketing and promoting the book.

Working with an Agent…

Read the full article on LinkedIn.

Strings of Solace–on Jerry Jazz Musician

Origins of the story

I wrote “Strings of Solace” for my first MFA workshop. It’s been languishing in my “to be published” pile for far too long. I’m proud to be able to share it with the world at last. Of course, It’s been through many edits since it’s earliest version, but that is what writing is all about. Rewriting!

The story actually derives from some of my own experiences when I went to Chicago, many years ago. Yes, I play guitar, and yes, I have crippling stage-fright. That’s the reason none of my friends have ever heard me play. And I do have a beautiful little Washburn mandolin I eventually learned to play. And, no, my daddy was not a famous musician!

Many thinks to Jerry Jazz Musician for publishing “Strings of Solace.”

“Strings of Solace” — a short story by Kimberly Parish Davis

Basking in the Feeble Glow of Recognition

Someone Remembers Me

I had an inkling. I knew my friend planned to say something about me in the inaugural issue of the ASAT News, because as I was packing up and preparing to depart Sam Houston for good, Barbara Miles and I went across the road for a burger and a beer.  I shared my plans, but heard no more about it, so I felt a bit of unexpected nostalgic gratitude on finding the mention this morning. It’s only small, but I appreciate the recognition just the same.

Here is the link to read about my change of positions and locations.

So Close

My Flash Fiction submissions keep placing

The results are in for round two of the 2018 NYC Midnight Flash Fiction competition. I needed to be in the top five for my group of 30. I was the sixth. 🙁 I scored 19 cumulative points for my first two stories. My nearest competitor scored 20.

I’m proud of that. for a competition with 3000 competing in the second round alone, I feel proud to have done that well.

Look for “Apocalypse” in a journal soon

The story is called “Apocalypse,” and it’s about a young boxer. The good news is that I’m now free to submit it to other publications. I’ll let you know when it finds a home.

Web Design and Book Publishing
by Kim Davis

Web design was a natural skill to develop when I started to promote my first book, and that is exactly what I did. Today, I am a web designer as well as a writer and most recently, a publisher. It started when my cousin asked me to write search engine optimized copy for his websites to earn some extra cash, but I discovered that I wanted to go beyond just copywriting. I wanted to create entire websites. It was the early 2000’s, and the field was wide open for web designers. I hung my virtual shingle, and Sublime Design Studio was born.

Sublime Design Studio

I have been designing websites for small businesses, individuals and nonprofits since 2001. Yes, I am also a writer and editor, but I love to mix it up with a bit of design. I keep my credentials up to date with online courses so that I know what the current web design trends are and how to duplicate them. Of course, authors are some of my favorite clients, but they are not my only clients. I work most with WordPress, but I am familiar with all the common content management systems on the market today. In addition to WordPress, these include Squarespace, Joomla!, and Drupal. My daughter, Jacqueline Davis, has joined my web design business, Sublime Design Studio, and her skills as a photographer and film editor really enhance our offerings. HERE is our portfolio of web design projects. And here is a PowerPoint presentation that showcases some of our favorites.

Madville Publishing

Madville Publishing logoFrom 2012-2015, I went back to University to get an MFA in creative writing, editing, and publishing. I wanted credentials, and I wanted validation as an author. My business skills and my knowledge of the software associated with digital design landed me with a job at Texas Review Press, where I spent a couple of years running things between managing directors from 2016-2018. Now, I’ve started a nonprofit indie press, Madville Publishing. With my daughter, Jacqueline’s help, we have produced seven books and our editorial calendar is booked out through 2020, with a book a month scheduled. I am the managing director, which means I select what we publish, write the contracts, do a large portion of the editing, and sometimes I do layout design, typesetting, cover design and ebook conversions. I call upon a network of talented editors and designers I know to help.

I Placed–NYCMidnight Flash Fiction Challenge

I write flash fiction for fun. A few times a year, I write flash fiction very fast to address a crazy mixed-up prompt. That’s what I call fun, but it is even more fun when someone else likes the result. My story for round one of this year’s NYCMidnight Flash Fiction Challenge is titled “A Weakness for Pearls.” It’s about a spy at a charity fundraiser. Somehow an air conditioner had to come into play, and it all was required to happen within 1000 words.

The NYCMidnight Flash Fiction Challenge is a massive competition with a hefty entrance fee, but I really enjoy it. For several years now, these competitions have made me produce not one, but three short stories I am proud of. Whether I win this competition or not, I’m writing. I have something to revise and edit until it shines, and each year, I’ve been proud to have at least a couple of those stories place respectably in the NYCMidnight competition.

So, the news today is that my first round story for this year, “A Weakness for Pearls” has done well! According to the NYCMidnight website there were over 3000 entries this time. On the results page alone, there are 1500 entrants listed, and this only shows the stories that placed in the top 15 for each of 100 categories. It’s massive, so I’m very pleased with 6th place in my category!

placement NYC Flash Fiction Challenge

The History of the Madisonville Sidewalk Cattlemen’s Association

My History with Madisonville Sidewalk Cattlemen’s Association

I wrote this piece for the Madisonville Sidewalk Cattlemen’s Association many years ago. As you will read, I have a personal interest in the history of this organization. I also designed and have been looking after their website for quite a few years.

 

You can read the full article here: sidewalkcattlemens.com/history.htm