Hey all! You know how I post paintings to Byzarium which people can then use as inspirational spring-boards to write Flash Fiction submissions? And how each time I select a classic painting? Well, I got to thinking, and my thought process went thusly: I know a lot of artists. I know a lot of artists I would like to see get more attention. What if I asked some of those artists to submit a couple of their paintings or sketches, and I could pick one to use as a Flash Fiction Contest Image?

One important thing! I'm not going to be able to pay you for your art! So for the love of dawg -- don't create something specifically for this! If you've got some paintings/pictures in your DevArt account, and you'd like to get some exposure, swing one my way. Like I said, I won't be able to pay you, but I'll make sure your name and the link to your website is prominently featured. And you'll get to see what fictional weirdity your picture would inspire.

The weirder the better, and no fan-art, please!

Email me if you have any questions.

Here's the second batch of Bad-Fic winners! Check the April issue for more Bad-Fic.

	Love in Bloom - By Don Edwards.
	The Stars Like Flying Toasters by Laura Loomis
	Leftovers: Luncheon of Souls (The Saga Continues) by Kevin James Miller

Writing Treat
Sent in by Lisa Jonte: The Everchanging Book of Names

The June issue of Byzarium will be posted on Tuesday the 17th.  Sorry for the delay, but between freelance work and my preparation for MoCCA, there was no alternative.

Ack!  I'm going to post the June issue next week.  I'm back from MoCCA, but came back right in the middle of a deadline for a freelance project.  That has priority, but I'll be caught up on it by Monday.  Again, my apologies for the delay!

I'll update the June issue when I get back from MoCCA.  Thanks for your patience -- there's just no way I can get it done before.

	A Game of Cards by Melinda Selmys Food and high stakes poker, all equally apportioned.
	What My Bass Teacher Tried to Tell Me by Daniel C. Smith A simple message, elegantly written. Learn to love grammar - it's not your enemy!
	Natural Order by Laura Bickle Evicting unwanted tenants is always a tricky proposition.

Byzarium is still unable to accept submissions at this time.

My life is full of crazy, but I'm making headway, and there are good things on the horizon.  Yesterday I turned the first chapter of Book 2 of The Faerie Path manga in to my editor at Tokyopop.  I am now gathering together material and getting ready to go to MOCCA, along with my friends Karen Luk and Rachel Nabors in June.  More on that later!  I'm also deeply mired in a personal writing project.  So yes: BUSY. @_@

Your helpful grammar tip for the day:

Whose vs Who's

Whose is the possessive.

Who's is a contraction of 'who has' or 'who has'.

The first batch of Bad-Fic winners are online! I posted the issue on Friday, as promised, but last week was too crazy -- I was too exhausted to deal with it last week. Better late than never though, right?

Just a quick reminder: there were so many great Bad-Fic submissions that I've split the winners up into 2 batches. The second batch will appear in the July issue.

	The Lone Tower - By Val Cunningham.
	Love in the Hovering Garden by Gloria Weber
	The Purple Fairy Squid Teaches Aiethalynne-Bethe a Lesson by Theresa Tschetter
	Red Storm by Patricia E. Canterbury

I'm not even going to attempt to write summaries for these stories -- just read 'em. They're well worth it, especially if you're familiar with speculative fiction cliches.

Thanks to everyone for their wonderful Bad-Fic entries to the first ever annual Byzarium Bad-Fic contest!  We received so many great entries that we've decided to split them up into 2 issues -- the first batch will appear in the April issue (going online this Friday, the 4th), and the second batch will appear in the July issue.  Without further ado, here's the list of winners:

Patricia E. Canterbury - Red Storm

Val Cunningham - The Lone Tower

Gloria Weber - Love in the Hovering Garden

Kevin James Miller - Leftovers: Luncheon of Souls (The Saga Continues)

Laura Loomis - The Stars Like Flying Toasters

Donald B. Edwards - Love in Bloom

Theresa Tschetter - The Purple Fairy Squid Teaches Aiethalynne-Bethe a Lesson

Thanks again to everyone who entered!  I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of entries we received.

This leads in to the next order of business I wanted to discuss. Byzarium is going to have to be run on auto-pilot for the entire summer. I have already selected stories to fill those issues. It's getting to be con season and, between my freelance work, day job, and private creative projects, my life is about to go into over-drive. The summer issues WILL appear online, but we are going to have to remain closed to submissions until at least September.