I had some time to add another recipe to The Crying Chef.  This one is for Mexican Fiesta, AKA taco salad.  If you need a quick but tasty meal tonight, I suggest it.  It’s really good!  I wouldn’t eat it if it wasn’t.  🙂

I have a side project that I work on every now and again.  Recently, I added a new recipe: soft batch chocolate chip cookies.  They’re to die for.  Head on over to The Crying Chef to find out how to make them.  Just look at the picture.  Don’t they look yummylicious?

Phil is such a wine connoisseur, he decided to make a video and share his knowledge with the world.  Obviously, he knows nothing.  Phil is one crazy man, and this is part of the reason why I love him.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMyZJQV8EvI&feature=c4-overview&list=UUAIRjiJQu1ooPGq6ypJYRtQ[/youtube]

I guess that part about me saying you wouldn’t hear from me for a while was a lie.  I took this rejection harder than most, but tomorrow is another day.  Three other literary magazines have this piece.  Maybe one of them will bite.

Rejection Letter #34 – McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern

Dear Gabrielle,

Thank you for sending us “Jenny of Lebanon.” We rely on submissions like yours, since a good portion of what we publish comes to us unsolicited. Unfortunately, we can’t find a place for this piece in our next few issues. But please feel free to submit again in the future. Our tastes and needs continuously change.

Thanks again for your efforts, and for letting us see your work.

Sincerely,

McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern

At least they waited until after my birthday to tell me.  There’s that, at least.  It may be a while before #34 shows up.  There’s no indication that the other magazines  I’ve submitted to are currently rejecting or accepting anyone at great speeds.  So, it may be a while until you hear from me again.

Rejection Letter #33 – The Kenyon Review

Dear Gabrielle Olexa,

Thank you for submitting your work “Jenny Kissed Me.” We regret that we are unable to publish it.

Your work has received careful consideration. Unfortunately, the large number of submissions prevents us from commenting on many worthy manuscripts.

We very much appreciate your interest in The Kenyon Review.

The Editors

Carved by Phil

Happy Halloween, all!

Phil is so crafty.  He can do anything, including tolerating me, which is somewhat of a task.

It’s the Chinese New Year cat, if you couldn’t tell.

Here’s to hoping I get no rejection letters in the next few days, for I refuse to be bummed on my birthday!!

There’s not a whole lot to say at this point.  Found this waiting for me after taking Meili, our dog, on a late night stroll.

Rejection Letter #32 – Mikrokosmos Literary Journal (MOJO)

Dear Gabrielle,

Thank you for sending us “Jenny Kissed Me.” We appreciate the chance to read it. Unfortunately, the piece is not right for us.

Sincerely,

The Editors of mojo

This came on Tuesday.

It’s short, to the point, and they were fast about it.

I’m really close to burning “Jenny Kissed Me” and spreading her ashes in my backyard.

Rejection Letter #31 – The Massachusetts Review

Dear Writer:

Though your work has been declined by our editors, we thank you for allowing us to consider it.

Sincerely,

The Editors of The Massachusetts Review

Monday.  Rejection.  Bleh.

At least I didn’t have to wait very long for it.  I always like it when people are quick to tell you what they’ve decided, even if it’s bad news.  I’m sad, though, that another opportunity for “Jenny of Lebanon” has fallen through the cracks.

Rejection Letter #30 – Colorado Review

Dear Gabrielle Olexa,

Thank you for sending us “Jenny of Lebanon.” We’re sorry we can’t use it, but we appreciate having the opportunity to consider it.

Sincerely,
The Editors
Colorado Review

I almost have the same amount of rejection letters as I am old.  Just two to go.  Nearly three.

I received this one two days ago.  Honestly, it didn’t bother me.  I had given up on it a long, long time ago.  I submitted “Jenny Kissed Me” to The Lifted Brow on December 1oth, 2012.  I had queried, too, in June or July, I can’t remember, but this was the first I had heard from them.  I’m not entirely sure what took them so long.  From what I can tell, I don’t think they were reading any submissions for the last several months, and thus were rejecting no one, including little ole’ me, until just recently.   I’m just glad that they let me know, even if it did take close to a year.  And they were polite and apologized for that.  If I ever write another story that I think they’ll like, I’ll give them another go.

Onward and upward, as they say . . .

Rejection Letter #29 – The Lifted Brow

Dear Gabrielle,

Sincerest apologies for the delayed response.

Thank you very much for your fiction submission to The Lifted Brow. It means a lot to us that you think of the Brow as somewhere you’d like to see your work published.

Unfortunately we’re not able to use your work in the magazine in this instance.

Reading the magazine is the best way to figure out what kind of fiction we like to publish, so if you’re not a subscriber, maybe have a think about becoming one.

Thanks again for taking the time to submit.