Author: Karlo Yeager Rodríguez

First Acceptance of 2023

At first, I was skeptical of what my own eyes saw: We're pleased to accept. . . I read it and re-read it before YES and Oh my god I can't believe it came galloping out of my throat. My story Up In the Hills, She Dreams of Her Daughter Deep In the Ground (a short I'd written last year and had already gathered 10 rejections) had been accepted for publication for Strange Horizons. I'd submitted this story to their submissions period earlier this year with the grim resignation that comes with a story that's already had a difficult journey - merely another place to park the story to avoid thinking about it for a while. This story - inspired by a retelling of a Grimm's fairy tale, The Juniper Tree - was one I felt was the best thing I'd written so far, and yet not only would...

Folktales and Fairy Tale Retellings

Sometime last year, I set out to challenge myself and set up a goal to write a handful of retellings of folk- or fairy tales, but with a decidedly Puerto Rican twist. I had managed to successfully write a series of in-world ones for As the Shore To the Tides, So Blood Calls to Blood, so why not give it a try? I'd argue that All Good Children, Come Out to Play falls within that challenge - even though I probably wrote the first draft of that story sometime in late 2015. What I ignored was that All Good Children. . . was written around 6 years ago, during which time I'd consistently submitted it until around 2019, when I ran out of pro-paying places to send it to. I sent it a couple places more in 2022 until it was accepted at khōréō after 20 rejections. Ah, I thought, but...

Brave New Weird Nomination

Tenebrous Press included my flash fiction piece, "Got Your Nose" (Pseudopod) in their shortlist for their Brave New Weird 2022 award. Truly an unexpected surprise for me, but I'm honored to share the shortlist with so many accomplished and talented authors. I have to admit that "Brave New Weird Nominated author" has a nice ring to it. Final decisions will be made public by 12/1/2022, so here's hoping I make their table of contents! ...

Awards Eligibility for Karlo Yeager Rodríguez, 2022

In response to the upcoming awards season for science fiction and fantasy I submit my work for consideration and hope it will be remembered when you cast your ballots for the Nebulas, Hugos, Locus Awards, the World Fantasy Awards, and so on. You have my thanks. Short Story Category – Fiction Under 7,500 Words Vanishing, published by Seize the Press, Issue #1 (February 2022). This story's merely an urban legend - or is it? Got Your Nose, published by Pseudopod's (Flash On the Borderlands LXII). Sometimes, kid's games are deadly serious business. All Good Children, Come Out to Play, published by khōréō magazine, Issue 2.3. Sometimes, kid's games extend beyond this earth. ...

Upcoming Events

December's going to be a busy, with several things happening during the month. Contests, conventions and a few other things apart from my usual podcast schedule and the holidays are all coming up. First, I have an entry in Pseudopod's Flash Fiction Contest VII that - barring a last-minute upset - will very likely make it into the final round as of writing this. If you're interested in what made it to the final round, go check it out. Second, I'll not only be attending my very first WorldCon (DisCon III), but I'll be on two panels: December 16, 4:00 PM (Virtual) Reviewing: Widely or Deeply - (with A.C. Wise, Arley Sorg, Jake Casella Brookins, Gary K Wolfe, Penelope Flynn) Presented with all of SFF to review, how does a reviewer determine their beat? Should they read widely, and address work as a knowledgeable generalist, or read deeply within their specialty, and...