Category Archives: Fantasy

The Willows Magazine… (acceptance)

Today brings in acceptance no. 270, batting in a decent lifetime average, to The Willows – Atmospheric Horror and Dark Fantasy Magazine.  Think Weird Tales.  Think Lovecraft, Poe, Blackwood, Machen, but pre-war.  Think Anglo-American, Art Deco, Atmosphere to top it off.  And you’ve got yourself a vibe going for The Willows Magazine… 

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Link: www.thewillowsmagazine.com

Editorial staff includes Ben Thomas and Skadi meic Beorh.  I urge everyone to take a peek and try them out.  They are a paying publication, published quarterly.  The kind of stories you’d find someone reading in a turn of the century gentlemen’s lounge.  Below is a sample issue, to give you an idea what they look like; I’ll be appearing in a future issue.

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www.thewillowsmagazine.com

Other New Entries: “Bibliography, Magazine Credits”

OG’s Speculative Fiction (opinion guy; acceptance)

I just had an acceptance this evening to OG’s Speculative Fiction.,  a.k.a. The Opinion Guy! They’re a paying print-online publication, and award-winning writer Seth Crossman is the editor.  Over the years they’ve featured such authors as: Lou Antonelli, Kristine Ong Muslim, Jason Earl, Karen Romanko, Brian Dolton, and Angeline Hawkes…

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OG’s Speculative Fiction:

www.theopinionguy.com

For sample back issues, these are what they look like.  I have no idea yet what issue I got into.  It could be late this year or sometime next.  But each print issue is between 24 and 30 pages long.  And anywhere between 4 and 5 authors or poets per issue.  Two authors most of the time.  Must be hard to break into this market.

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That link again: www.theopinionguy.com

Other New Entries: “Bibliography, Magazine Credits”

The Ultimate Unknown #23, Summer 2001…

And now, direct from the DAGSTINE LAND archives… A Blast from the Past…!

Well, sort of.  I have to start cataloging some of these older magazine appearances.  Many of them have long since gone defunct (out of biz, basically), but it’s hard to believe that my name first started appearing in print years ago in small press magazines like this one. You may or may not recognize some of these zines of old but, who knows, you might recognize the names at least.  The authors who graced the interiors or covers way back. 

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 The Ultimate Unknown, Issue #23.. Summer 2001

SF Stories by: C. David Hay, Douglas M. Stokes PhD, Barbara A. Custer, Rhonda Jackson, Edward M. Turner, John Picinich, Rose Devi, Daniel S. Irwin, Erik Wilkins, Joanne Tolson, Travis Shephard, Josh Bingham, Terry Pieszchala, K.A. Williams, Kristy Mitchell, Joseph Veronmeau, Joseph Benjamin, Denny J. Corbin, David Combs (also the editor), DF Lewis, Lawrence Dagstine, J. Alan Erwine, and Susan L. Taylor.  Cover art by Chris Friend, who I believe also did the cover for the most recent issue of ‘Werewolf Magazine (no. 7)’…

Trust me, I wish URL’s were still available for these classic zines.  They don’t make them like they used to.  My first small press print magazines, other than Pablo Lennis, were between 1999 and 2001.   Every so often I’ll update the old with the new.  I have a lot more to catalog and archive, so this will become a new feature to my blog.

Until my next blast from the past… 😉

Lawrence R. Dagstine

Pablo Lennis, October 2007… (appearances)

I’ve got a new story this month in the October 2007 issue of Pablo Lennis.  Editor-in-chief John Thiel runs one of the oldest stapled-up science fiction & fantasy fanzines out there. He’s been putting it out since the 1980’s.  Pablo Lennis was also the first place to ever publish me, with a SF tale back in spring 1996, called: “The Empty Planet.”

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Lineup of scifi & fantasy writers, SF poets, and serialists include the usual suspects: Joanne Tolson, Albert Manachino, Chester Cuthbert, Joe Napolitano, Gary Every, Mel Waldeman, Steve Sneyd, Lawrence Dagstine, and more! Published monthly, John Thiel, alongside Elmwood Kraemer, also write the zine’s science fiction television, movie, and book reviews.

They accept SF, Fantasy and Poetry via SNAIL MAIL.  Payment is one contributor copy and some decent small press exposure (circulation 100 to 150).  Sample copies are only two dollars.   Submission address below:

Pablo Lennis

30 N. 19th Street

Lafayette, Indiana 47904

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You can also find me in their March 2007 issue.  😉

Other New Entries: “Magazine Credits, Movies & Videos, Readings & Reviews”

Other New Entries: “Unplanned Parenthood 1, Unplanned Parenthood 2”

(entry edited for mistaken author name/particular issue…)

Sam’s Dot Publishing… (Aoife’s Kiss; 6th acceptance)

Hey, so I’ve just had my 6th Brand New short story acceptance to Aoife’s Kiss & Sam’s Dot Publishing for what will be one hell of a collection! We’re talking well over 40,000+ words of speculative fiction & horror.  Some of my best works from 2007, too! These stories will be separate from all current and upcoming tales set to be featured in the “Aoife’s Kiss” magazine component.  Any tales floating out there which don’t make the collection, by the way, will still be considered for publication in the magazine for 2009 and beyond.

Appearances for Aoife’s Kiss Magazine: September 2007, March 2008, June 2008, December 2008, and… The Short Story Collection.

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Sam’s Dot Publishing: www.samsdotpublishing.com

Aoife’s Kiss: http://samsdotpublishing.com/aoife/cover.htm

There may be illustrations, too, because I’ll be assigned an artist.  Creative control, layout, and all that other fun stuff will be discussed.  40,000+ words worth of stories.  So it’s sure to be fun.  I’ll keep you updated again come November or December.  🙂

Lawrence R. Dagstine

Sam’s Dot Publishing (Aoife’s Kiss; 5th acceptance!)

It’s happened again, folks.  And in a short period of time.  I’ve just received my 5th Print Acceptance to Sam’s Dot Publishing’s Spec-Fic Magazine, Aoife’s Kiss.  This month you can find me in their quarterly “September” Issue with a story called “PET“.

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I have other news, too, the Aoife’s Kiss-Sam’s Dot Publishing Short Story Collection might contain my later stories (meant to appear in March 2008, June 2008, and December 08).  Not the magazine component.  This means that they’ll appear exclusively in the collection instead.  For more info on Sam’s Dot Publishing, simply go here:

www.samsdotpublishing.com

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For Aoife’s Kiss click here: http://www.samsdotpublishing.com/aoife/cover.htm

For Aoife’s Kiss Submission Guidelines: http://samsdotpublishing.com/aoife/AKGuidelines.htm

I can’t give out too many details quite yet, but I’ll keep everyone posted as to the status of the collection, future print or online issues of any Sam’s Dot Publishing productions I’m in, and more!

Lawrence R. Dagstine 😉

Sein Und Werden Vol. 2, No. 2… (Now Available!)

The Autumn 2007 Issue of Rachel Kendall’s UK-based magazine, SEIN UND WERDEN, is now available for purchase.  Volume 2, Issue #2.  Themed Issue…”Clowns & Ghosts”.  My story would be a ghost story.  There’s TWO VERSIONS to this magazine.  One is an online version with tons of great authors, and the other is a special print version with tons of great authors as well. 

I’m in the print version with, “The Nightmare of Bayhurst”. 

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Go here: http://www.kissthewitch.co.uk/seinundwerden/2_2/index.html

With fiction by: Peter Tennant, Lawrence R. Dagstine, Jeff Crouch, Emma Lee, Kenneth Mulvey, Dan Smith, Serena Spinello, Tim Horvath, S Musick, David Mclean, Steven Pirie, Rhonda Carrier, Mark Howard Jones, Alexis Child, Ken Klinger, Peter Schwartz, Brent Powers, Willie Smith, John Brewer, Rob Plath, Spyros Heniadis, Sean Kilpatrick, Bendi Barrett, Jason Hereux, and Phil Doran.

Artwork for Vol. 2, No. 2 by S Musick and John Brewer

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I urge you to pick up a copy.  These are some hot names in the UK’s short fiction market, and who can resist stories about clowns and ghosts? The art is fantastic! Get yours now or just click on the link below: 

http://www.kissthewitch.co.uk/seinundwerden/print.html

Aoife’s Kiss #22… Sept. 2007 (Now Available!)

Issue #22 of Aoife’s Kiss is now available, September 07.  This will be my first appearance out of four over the next 15 months… And guess who made the cover? 😉

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http://samsdotpublishing.com/aoife/cover.htm

I’ll also be coming to the March, June, and December 2008 print issues.  This issue’s line-up is pretty impressive; plenty of fiction and poetry, too.

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Fiction, Poetry, and Illustrations by: Laura Sanger Kelly, Sharon Maria Bidwell, David M. Fitzpatrick, H. Ann Dyess, Tyree Campbell, Skadi meic Beorg, Lawrence R. Dagstine, Domyelle Rhyse, John McDonnell, Beth Langford, Jonathan Moeller, Lawrence Barker, Christine L. Golden, Tim Scott, Kim McDougall, Rachel Swirsky, Neal Wilgus, Modena DeBrosse, Rich Magahiz, Caitlin M. Mattison, Tracie McBride, David C. Kopaska-Merkel, Shelly Bryant, M. Frost: Temple, and Teresa Tunaley…

 Available for order or subscription through THE GENRE MALL:

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http://www.genremall.com/contents.htm

Other New Entries: Mad Ramblings, Magazine Credits 1, Unplanned Parenthood 1…

Aoife’s Kiss, December 2008… (4th print acceptance!)

Wow.  Today would mark my 4th Print Acceptance into Aoife’s Kiss (published by Sam’s Dot Publishing), and when it comes to paying prints, four would be the record for a single magazine.  December 2008 is a good ways off, of course, but there are only so many slots per quarterly issue in a magazine, and being able to fill or snag most of them (even if they’re small press, even if a few are reprints) is a nice feeling.  But there’s more… So please bear with me.  In the meantime, here are links below to learn more about Aoife’s Kiss:

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(sample issue w. Robert Reed below)

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For Aoife’s Kiss Guidelines: http://samsdotpublishing.com/aoife/AKGuidelines.htm

For Sam’s Dot Publishing Info: http://samsdotpublishing.com

Lawrence Dagstine’s Upcoming Appearances in Aoife’s Kiss: September 2007, March 2008, June 2008, and December 2008 (may go in collection, this one).

Ah, yes, the “more” part.  Sam’s Dot Publishing is interested in doing a collection with me.  A short story collection.  Whether these are previous appearances, all new stories, horror or scifi, themed or unthemed, I don’t know yet.  But there is talk of a short story collection.  I think the latest accepted tale might actually go in there, too.

However, if so, I probably wouldn’t start it until 2008.  My kid is less than a week old, and he needs me right now (also, for the fact, my nights have been sleepless!).  Oh, and if you haven’t had a chance yet, please be sure to check out “Unplanned Parenthood” for a peek at the little guy.  😉

Yours Truly,

Lawrence R. Dagstine

Written Word Magazine #4… (August 2007)

The August 2007 Issue of Written Word Online Magazine (www.writtenwordmag.com) is coming out in a few more days.  I’m in this month’s edition with a story about parenting an orphan robot girl.  A deadly robot girl.  “Planned Parenthood“.  I haven’t decided yet if I’ll work on a longer version to this story down the road.  With my whole inner ear out of wack right now (yeah, vertigo sucks), and my Internet time limited because of it, well, my writing’s been pretty much on the backburner. 

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That Link Again: www.writtenwordmag.com

Written Word has featured such authors as Gary Beck, Rick Novy, Eric S. Brown, Kristine Ong Muslim, Vera Searles, Karen L. Newman, and more.  They’ve become pretty popular, switching to a monthly or bimonthly format. 

The idea and inspiration for my story, Planned Parenthood, came about around December of last year, when I learned my fiancee was pregnant.  And speaking of parenthood… Only two-to-three weeks to go… My son will be here! I am worried though, as the baby turned “breech” on us.  There are risks involved.  Preparing for the birth has taken up a lot of my time.  I’ll have an “Unplanned Parenthood” column on the right-hand side down the road, and this new blog website of mine will also grow into my family homepage.

So stay tuned and watch some great things grow with it.  🙂

Sein Und Werden… (acceptance)

Just got an acceptance into Rachel Kendall’s magazine, Sein Und Werden.  I’ll have a short story in either the print or online version(s); won’t know which one though until sometime before or after August 20th.  

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Link: http://www.kissthewitch.co.uk/seinundwerden/sein.html

Sein Und Werden is a UK-based publication.  The magazine usually features fiction of a surrealistic, existential, literary bent.  But the issue I’ll be in is a “themed” issue.  Ghosts and Clowns.  My story, of course, will be a ghost story.

Theaker’s Quarterly Fiction #16 (appearance)

Here’s a magazine which I highly recommend, put out by Stephen Theaker.  It’s from the UK.  Print.  Available through LULU.   It’s called “Theaker’s Quarterly Fiction“.  I appear in Issue #16 with a short SF piece, called, “Our Plight on Amaros”.

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You can buy your copy here:

http://www.silveragebooks.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/books/books.htm

 

Route 66… (acceptance, and plug!)

Just had a short (and I mean short) accepted to Route 66, a new upcoming magazine with a slightly new and innovative theme.  Stories that can fit inside your pocket… Stories that are exactly 66 words in length… No more, no less.  Talk about a written exercise.  It took me about 2 hours to chop words for my accepted tale, entitled: “The Mortician’s Pride.”

Kimberly Raiser, talented and refreshing author-turned editor, is looking for submissions for the premiere issue, and I promised I’d give her a little plug.  Route 66 will accept any genre and debut in Early 2008.  Can you write a story in exactly 66 words?

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Route 66 Details/Guidelines: www.route66magazine.wordpress.com

Route 66 Submissions: route66magazine@aol.com

Kinships #7 (Now Available; Final Issue)

I’m currently in the latest and final issue of Kinships Magazine.  Issue #7.  I headline the last issue with a much older religious SF story, called: “Men are from Ganymede, Women are from Callisto.” This is actually my THIRD credit with the story. It originally appeared in Silverthought (www.silverthought.com) first, then Nova SF #18 not too long after.  So I now retire it within the pages of this cute little small press paying publication.

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Link: http://anotherotherkin.tripod.com/angelicpress/Kinships/index.htm

I know, the magazine cover’s a little slanted.  Anyway, this issue also features fiction and poetry by Jason Gaskell, Kristine Ong Muslim, Aurelio Rico Lopez, Lee Clark Zumpe, and many others.  Hmm… I see they misspelled my name on their index homepage… 😦

Aoife’s Kiss, 3 acceptances (count, three! prints)

I’ve got some extraordinary news.  I’ve just received my third print acceptance to the Sam’s Dot Publishing genre magazine (www.samsdotpublishing.com), Aoife’s Kiss.  This has been a great year for me in general in the small press and semi-pros, as I’ve gotten a whole lot of paying and print acceptances.  I’ll be reaching 260 publishing credits soon!

Anyway, Aoife’s Kiss is a great magazine.  It’s available at places like Clarkesworld Books (www.clarkesworldbooks.com) and The Genre Mall (www.genremall.com), or you can get it direct from their website (they also have a decent circulation):

http://www.samsdotpublishing.com/aoife/cover.htm

My acceptances start off with September 2007’s “PET” (a sort of speculative lycanthrope tale), then I will reappear in the March 2008 and June 2008 Issue. Look for me! Here are what some “SAMPLE” Covers to the magazine look like:

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About it: Aoife’s Kiss is a magazine of fantasy, science fiction, horror, sword & sorcery, and slipstream, published quarterly in March, June, September, and December. Aoife’s Kiss publishes short stories, poems, illustrations, articles, and movie/book/chapbook reviews. Treat yourself to a subscription–you deserve it.

See you soon with some MORE fiction acceptances. 😉

Tales of the Talisman 3.1 (Now Available)

Issue 3.1 (Summer 2007) of Tales of the Talisman is NOW AVAILABLE… featuring such authors as Jack Mangan and Ken Goldman, and of course, me.  My story is entitled: “The Ice Mines of Pluto.” The magazine is edited and published by David Lee Summers, and the cover artist is Laura Givens.  Visit Tales of the Talisman and get your issue now at:

www.talesofthetalisman.com

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Tales of the Talisman 3.1 (Summer 2007)

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June 25th is almost here, and I’m excited.  Tales of the Talisman, Issue 3.1, will be a great issue.  You know why yet? Because it features a story of mine.  An updated version of my SF tale, “The Ice Mines of Pluto”, which first appeared back in early 2006 in The Fifth Di (http://samsdotpublishing.com/fifth/cover.htm), and also on the speculative fiction site, Silverthought (www.silverthought.com).

Anyway, after three publishing credits on my Ice Mines piece, I’m happy to finally be part of Tales of the Talisman.  It had been a goal of mine to make it into this magazine for close to seven years, even back when it was called Hadrosaur Tales.  But I finally did it.

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The magazine is published quarterly with full color covers and ISBN, sold and read almost everywhere in the world (or at least where genre magazines are sold), and it’s edited and put together by David Lee Summers.  Why not check them out.  Below you’ll find a superb looking preview of the upcoming cover art (hope I made cover!) and a link to their site.

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www.talesofthetalisman.com

Issue 3.1, featuring: “The Ice Mines of Pluto” by Lawrence R. Dagstine

Lawrence Dagstine – Speculative Fiction Author

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Howdy, folks.  My name is Lawrence Dagstine, and I’m a writer of Speculative Fiction, as well as a former small press magazine editor.  What is speculative fiction? Well, it’s in the realm of science fiction, fantasy, and horror.  A sub-genre of all three of the mentioned, or perhaps just two? Something hard to define or coin, I’d say. 😉

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Let’s say a science fiction story has elements of fantasy (the fantastical) or elements of horror (the horrific) in it, then it’s consdered a piece which crosses genres and it is therefore speculative in nature.  Which means you can’t really call it a 100% sci-fi.

I decided to start this blog website, when time permits, as a lot of people have been suggesting I do it, especially with the recent increase in the last year in the small press with my writing credits. Since 2005, I have jumped from roughly 120 fiction publishing credits to 260+, found out I’ve been talent-scouted by various small houses, published a 170-page fiction magazine with a stellar line-up of award-winning and award-nominated authors (The Literary Bone), and I have about 30 more credits on the way between now and early 2008 in various print and online publications. These are things I will keep all who visit here informed on, with banners, magazine and book covers, and future links, whether it be print or online. I’m also the author of four books, available through Amazon and Barnes & Nobles.com, as well as a few libraries and independent bookstores, one of which is a short story collection. The other three are espionage titles and a western novel.

I’ve been writing since spring 1996, right out of journalism school. I thought I would pursue a career as a freelance writer, and though I’ve had a small number of articles published, creative writing and reading SF literature is what veered me towards fiction and traditional prose more.

Anyway, this is just the first of many blogs, so all of you who visit can track my progress, my personal life (if I wish to share a tidbit or two), my points and views and my upcoming publications.

Yours Truly,

Lawrence R. Dagstine