Backstory: "Angels Unawares"

This installment of my "Backstory" series not only celebrates a short story of mine that is now available as an e-book on Smashwords, but it also represents a major step into the "Way-Back" machine.  "Angels Unawares" is the first story I ever published in any form.  It was originally posted onto a site called www.sffworld.com back in 2003 and no longer appears on that site.  Granted, publishing there at the time was really easy: Just post your story.  No editors, no acceptances or rejections.  The first story of mine to actually get accepted by an editor was "The Other Woman," which is also on Smashwords and which will be the next "Backstory" entry.  But I digress.

"The Other Woman" is now available on Smashwords

One of my earliest published works, "The Other Woman," is now available for download in a variety of e-book formats on Smashwords for $0.99.  The story was originially published in 2005 in Southern Comfort: A Charitable Anthology, and it represents the first of my stories ever to be accepted into an anthology.  The link is as follows:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/145782

Backstory: "The Siege of Peter Marak" (Part 2)

For a long time, I've toyed with the idea of a character who isolates himself into his house as a defense against some sort of threat.  This character would then be approached by someone in dire need, thus presenting him with a choice: Protecting himself and thus sacrificing a bit of his humanity, or trying to help the person in need and then exposing himself to whatever it was that he feared so much in the first place.  After trying to make that idea work in other contexts, I finally found a home for it in "The Siege of Peter Marak."  The dilemma of whether to face his fear or save himself is the driving force of this story.

Backstory: "The Siege of the Peter Marak" (Part 1)

Like "The Alabama Hammer," this is a story that has become one of my pesonal favorites.  Like "Darkest Before Dawn," this is also a story that will need more than one blog entry to thoroughly unpack.  So, without further ado, let's delve into "The Siege of Peter Marak."

I've always been the kind of person who says, "If I'm well enough to drive myself to the doctor, I'm not sick enough to need a doctor."  Whereas I don't have a problem with my wife or kids going if they're sick, I usually will try to treat myself with over-the-counter medicine or even home remedies when I come down with something.  Most of the time, that strategy works out well enough and saves money on co-pays.  However, in late February/early March 2011, I got something that I couldn't shake.  What I thought was just a routine cold steadily got worse and worse, until finally Cindy insisted that I burn a sick day and go to the doctor.

Backstory: "Traveled So Far"

Years ago, Arthur C. Clarke wrote a short story entitled "The Star."  It was award-winning and critically acclaimed, and it was even adapted for the 1980s version of The Twilight Zone.  With all due respect to the late Mr. Clarke, however, it's not one of my favorites.  Without recapping/spoiling it here, suffice it to say that its approach to the Christmas story is cynical to say the least.

Zero Hour available for download on Smashwords

Zero Hour: Stories of Spiritual Suspense is now available in e-book format on Smashwords.  No matter what kind of e-reader you have, you can download your copy for $3.25 at the link below:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/117798

Thanks for checking it out!  Also, I'd like to thank my editor/publisher Lyndon Perry for all of his hard work on this project.  Philippians 4:13.--SMS

Backstory: "Just Passing Through"

This story is proof positive that "shelving" an incomplete story does not necessarily mean that it will never get finished.  I actually started "Just Passing Through" back in 2007, with the idea of making it into a novella of about 10,000-20,000 words or so.  In time, however, I came to a dead end and tabled it, leaving off with Colby confronting Verdict in the sewer.  It wasn't until Crossed Genres magazine announced an issue dealing with villains that I came back to this piece.  In rereading it, I came to an important decision.

Backstory: "Judgment Day"

The inspiration for "Judgment Day" actually came from a mixture of sources, like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle coming together to from a picture.  Among the different elements coming together were:

• The tendency of many Christians to ignore the Scriptural directive of Matthew 7:1-2, "Do not judge so that you will not be judged.  For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you."  Yes, we're supposed to hate sin, but we're also supposed to love the sinner and try to lead them to the path of righteousness.  How often do we get the first part right, only to miss the second completely?

Backstory: "Fealty"

As I have had a number of short stories published since the release of Zero Hour, I've decided to revive the "Backstory" series to share for all posterity what my thought processes were with each story.  Well, OK, maybe posterity won't be overly interested, or maybe they will.  Either way, this will allow me to get this information off my chest and to keep the blog going, good enough reasons for me anyway.

New Story on Fear and Trembling: "The Siege of Peter Marak"

Just wanted to take a minute and let you know that I have a new story up on Fear and Trembling.  The title is "The Siege of Peter Marak," and it's the story of a man with a crippling phobia, faced with a terrible, life-or-death choice.  Here's the link--and the artwork that they used for this one is awesome:

http://www.fearandtremblingmag.com/2011/11/the-siege-of-peter-marak/

Of all stories I've had published so far, I must admit that this is one of my own personal favorites.  I'd really like to get your feedback.  I'm also trying something a little new with this story, in that I allude to another of my works in it, in an effort to "connect" some of my stories.  So please, give it a read, and leave a comment.  I'd really like to hear from you.  Philippians 4:13.--SMS

New Story on ResAliens: "Traveled So Far"

Hey, just wanted to let y'all know that I have a new, Christmas-themed piece of flash fiction on ResAliens.  The title of the story is "Traveled So Far," and the link is here:

http://www.resaliens.com/2011/11/traveled-so-far/

It's a pretty quick read, so please check it out and leave me some feedback.  Thanks!  Philippians 4:13--SMS

New Short Story Up: "Just Passing Through"

My most recently published short story, "Just Passing Through," is now up on the Crossed Genre website.  Click on the link below to check it out:

http://crossedgenres.com/archives/033-villains/just-passing-through-by-stoney-m-setzer/

Thanks for all of your continued support, and I hope you enjoy it.  Philippians 4:13.--SMS

"When Morning Stars Sing"--Now Available!

Just wanted to let everyone know that "When Morning Stars Sing," an anthology of "spiritually infused speculative fiction" edited by Lyndon Perry, is now available.  It also features my short story, "Judgment Day."  I hope you'll check it out!  Just click the link below:

https://www.createspace.com/3652810

Thanks for your continued support!  Philippians 4:13.--SMS

New Short Story Up: "Fealty"

Hey, my most recently published short story, "Fealty," is now up on Crossed Genres.  Here's a link to take you directly to it:

http://crossedgenres.com/archives/032-sidekicks-minions/fealty-by-stoney-m-setzer/

Thanks for checking it out, and as always, your feedback is welcome.  Philippians 4:13.--SMS

New Kindle release: "Angels Unawares"

I've just released another new short story on Kindle!  This one is entitled "Angels Unawares."  I actually wrote it back in 2003 and briefly had it posted on http://www.sffworld.com/, but this is a new, revised, and (I think) improved version of the story.  It's only $0.99, so check it out!  The link to purchase is below:

http://www.amazon.com/Angels-Unawares-ebook/dp/B005A59D4Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1310005980&sr=8-3

Thanks, and Philippians 4:13.--SMS

New Release: "The Widow Greer"

Hey everybody, just wanted to announce my new release on Kindle, "The Widow Greer."  It was not included in Zero Hour itself, but it is a sequel to one of the ZH stories, "The Watchman."  Follow the link below to get your copy for just $0.99!

http://www.amazon.com/The-Widow-Greer-ebook/dp/B0058F9E2M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=books&qid=1309345204&sr=8-2

Thanks for your continued support!  Philippians 4:13.--SMS