Monday, February 29, 2016

FELIX WAS HERE!

Please welcome the winner of the 
IWSG Anthology Contest

Parallels: Felix Was Here!

L. G. Keltner



I can remember the day when the story “Felix Was Here” began to form in my mind, though I can’t recall the exact date.  I was looking through a list of publications that were looking for submissions and contemplating how amazing it would be if I had the courage to submit something to one of them.

The details are fuzzy now, but I remember an anthology was asking for stories inspired by the 1939 World’s Fair.  I didn’t have time to write something for it, and even if I did, I didn’t have the confidence at the time to write the story.  This all happened about a year ago, and I hadn’t yet found the confidence to really start putting myself out there.  Still, the idea began brewing in my mind behind the scenes.  In my spare time, I started researching the 1939 World’s Fair out of curiosity.  The idea of the World of Tomorrow intrigued me.  People were so excited about the possibilities and they looked eagerly to the future to provide a better life.  That hopefulness stuck with me, and I started to wonder what might have happened if someone tried to make that future happen.

That question followed me over the next several months.  I considered writing the story, but several things stopped me.  Time, other projects, etc.  The biggest thing stopping me, however, was my own insecurity.  As much as I loved the idea, I didn’t know how to go about writing it.  I was afraid of failure.

Then the IWSG short story contest was announced, and I knew I needed to enter.  It was simply too good an opportunity to pass up, so I started brainstorming ideas.  I soon had a list of ideas drawn up, but none of them felt quite right.  My mind kept stubbornly returning to the characters Felix and Betty and the society inspired by the World of Tomorrow.  The idea still intimidated me, but I’d also realized that this story needed to be told.  It was going to keep bugging me until I did it.

With a bit of research and a lot of patience, I wrote the story that had been nagging at me for months, and now here we are.  “Felix Was Here” is going to be shared with the world, and I feel pretty good about that.



Coming May 3, 2016
Preorder HERE

PARALLELS: FLEX WAS HERE

Tagline:

Utopia isn’t meant for everyone.


Blurb:

Betty’s family lived in a small Brooklyn apartment when the 1939 World’s Fair offered the nation a stunning vision of the future.  A charismatic man worked with the government to make that vision a reality.  Six years later, Betty has a nice home, a good husband, and all is right in her world.

When someone casually mentions the name Felix in conversation, everything changes.  Betty’s dreams suddenly revolve around a boy named Felix.  A boy she doesn’t recognize.  Sleep deprived and confused, Betty begins to question the foundation upon which she’s built her idyllic life.
Pre-Order HERE!

L.G. Keltner has been trying to write novels since she was six years old.  She’s wanted to be many things over the years, but the dream that survived into adulthood was that of being a writer.  She graduated from Drake University in 2008, but she’s still learning every day.  L.G. lives in Iowa with her husband and children.







Thanks L. G.
 Congratulations! 

What do you think folks - do you find stories that just won't let go until you put them on paper?

*****




21 comments:

L.G. Keltner said...

Thanks for letting me stop by your blog today! You're awesome!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

And it ended up being top story! Now you know - don't hold back next time.

Pat Hatt said...

Always great to get that nagging story out and having it done and a winner to boot.

cleemckenzie said...

Good stories just must come to the page. Glad L.G. followed through.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

I can't wait to check it out!!

Chrys Fey said...

I can't wait for the anthology! I want to read ALL the stories! :D

Sheena-kay Graham said...

Congrats on being part of the anthology.

Michelle Wallace said...

Thank goodness you gave in to the nagging and didn't let your insecurity win!

Julie Flanders said...

This story sounds SO good! Congrats to LG! I am so looking forward to reading all of the entries in this Anthology.

L.G. Keltner said...

Definitely! It's always worth it to try, because you never know!

L.G. Keltner said...

Agreed! At the very least, I knew I'd feel better having finally written it. Winning was an unexpected bonus.

L.G. Keltner said...

That they must, and I'm also glad I followed through!

L.G. Keltner said...

I can't wait for you and everyone else to get the chance!

L.G. Keltner said...

They're all good! You won't be disappointed!

L.G. Keltner said...

Insecurity must be conquered! I owe my nagging brain big time!

L.G. Keltner said...

Thank you! I can't wait for release day!

Juneta key said...

Congrats, pre-ordered my copy.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

Yolanda Renée said...

Thank you L. G.!
I love having you here, and it's so exciting to be included in an Anthology with with you. I especially appreciate you keeping up with the comments, so cool! The damn flu is kicking my ass!
Stay well, all of you, and thanks for dropping by!

L.G. Keltner said...

Yay! I hope you enjoy it!

J.H. Moncrieff said...

I love stories like that. I'm so glad you had the confidence to write it and submit. It sounds delightfully creepy.

Congrats again! :)

L.G. Keltner said...

Thank you!