Photo courtesy Guest Blogger Sue Ann Jaffarian

Since I was a kid, I have loved short stories.  Amongst my favorites were “The Ransom of Red Chief” and “The Gift of the Magi,” both by O. Henry, “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, and “The Telltale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe. They packed fun, poignancy and terror in just a few short pages, providing word for word a powerful punch.

Short fiction has always been with us, but in the past few years it has been enjoying a resurgence in popularity.  When print magazines and online e-zines, always a great place to shop stories, started to fold or accepted fewer stories, many authors and writing associations joined together to publish anthologies with central themes, creating a reading smorgasbord for readers like me. Two of the best, though by far not the only great ones, in the past few years have been Politics Noir edited by Gary Phillips and Shaken, Stories for Japanedited by Timothy Hallinan.

Before this year, I had two short story publishing credits. One, titled “Ho Ho Homicide,” was in a holiday anthology a few years back and was recently purchased to be reprinted in a 2011 Christmas anthology.  My other published short story, “Love Bytes,” can be found in a romance anthology called Love At Large.

Now with the rocketing use of e-readers, short stories have another venue through which to reach readers. Priced anywhere from free to $1.99, short stories have become a hot commodity on Amazon.com and with other e-book retailers, and I have thrown my hat into the ring.

In spring of this year, I came up with an idea to write a series of short stories with a central theme and release them individually over the course of a year.  The series is called Holidays From Helland follows Zelda Bowen, a 30-ish, single woman living in Southern California, as she endures one crazy holiday after another with her dysfunctional family. The stories are funny and often heartwarming and heartbreaking.  The first one, “The Rabbit Died,” was released in June. The second, “Pull My Paw,” came out in July, and the third in the series, “Where’s Your Daddy?” has a September release. The first two have done remarkably well and have set the pace for the stories to come. I am planning on ten in all. They sell for $0.99 each and are available for Kindle and Nook.

Photo: Cover for new short story, "Where's Your Daddy?" by Sue Ann Jaffarian

Unlike my mystery novels, these stories are being published by me as an independent, and may open the door for me to publish novels in a similar manner in the future. I’m certainly not opposed to going that route and many traditionally published authors are now doing it with great success. It’s a brave new world for authors willing to take chances and step outside their comfort zone.

So what happens to Zelda and her clan when I reach the tenth story in the series? Will I abandon the idea of selling short stories online. Not on your life! I find these condensed tales fit well with my novel writing and allow me to stretch my author legs. They take less time to write than a novel and are less stressful, filling the gaps between book deadlines like creamy grout. I’ve already developed another short story series idea that will be totally different than anything I’ve written to date.  It will start up as soon as Holidays From Hell finishes up next spring. So stay tuned.

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In addition to short stories, Sue Ann Jaffarian writes three acclaimed mystery series: The Odelia Grey mystery series, The Ghost of Granny Apples mystery series and the Madison Rose Vampire Mysteries. She is also a full-time paralegal in Los Angeles and a motivational speaker. Check out Sue Ann’s website and  blog.

On Saturday, September 17, 2011, 2:00 pm, Sue Ann will be at the Buena Vista Branch Library (300 N. Buena Vista Street, Burbank, CA) presenting a free writer’s workshop:  “Turning Agent Woes into Agent Wows” discussing how to put your best foot forward when approaching agents.

“The Help” got a boost to number one at the domestic box office with a weekend estimate of $20 million. The comedy-drama is about a young southern white woman and her relationship with the black “help” during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Emma Stone, Viola Davis, and Octavia Spencer star.

“The Help” is based on the 2009 bestselling novel of the same title by Kathryn Stockett. The film’s budget, $25 million. In two weeks, it has made around $71 million and is getting some Oscar buzz as well.

After two weeks at number one, “Rise of the Apes,” fell to number two with around $16.3 million. Followed in third place, by the fourth installment of the “Spy Kids” movie series, which generated about $12 million. “Spy Kids: All the Time in the World” stars Jessica Alba and Joel McHale.

The attempted reboot of  “Conan the Barbarian” fell flat, coming in fourth with an estimate $10 million. This new telling of the mythical warrior Conan’s revenge story features Jason Momoa in the starring role. In two earlier film versions, “Conan the Barbarian” (1982) and “Conan the Destroyer” (1984) a rising action star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, played the lead character.

Rounding out the top five, the aninmated family film, “The Smurfs” with somewhere around $8 million. Final box office numbers out tomorrow.

The Kardashian sisters, Kim, Kourtney, and Khloé are about to become published novelists. That’s right. The reality show divas have written a novel and it’s called “Dollhouse,” according to the publishing industry website, Galleycat.

A fan of the sisters came up with the title and reportedly is featured in the book, which hits store shelves this November first. More here.

British author Jane Austen is a superstar in the literary world.  Only six of Austen’s novels were published: “Emma,” “Sense & Sensibility,” “Mansfield Park,” “Northanger Abbey,” “Pride & Prejudice, ” and “Persuasion.”  Austen died on July 18, 1817 at the age of 41, but  the writer still has plenty of buzz these days.

Her novels have been the inspiration for movies, TV series, and other books. Austen is as popular as ever.  Last week, an unfinished manuscript by Austen sold at auction for $1.6 million. The handwritten draft of “The Watsons,” including author editing notes, was purchased by the Oxford University Bodleian Library, according to publishing site Galleycat.  The manuscript is only 68 pages — and the first 12 pages are  owned by  a New York institution. More here.

Photo from www.charlottecarter.com -- Author Charlotte Carter in the batting cage ready to slam a homer, September 2010

Author Charlotte Carter is a mother of two and grandmother of five, but you’d never say she’s over the hill. Not with the activities Carter is involved in. The talented SoCal writer and ardent volunteer, has had more than 50 romance, mystery, and inspirational novels published.

A few years back, I was the moderator for a writers/authors group in Burbank and Carter was a guest speaker a couple of times. An experienced workshop facilitator, Carter has  participated in writers’ events at the Burbank library as well.

Carter’s newest book, “Montana Hearts,” hits store shelves today. It’s an inspirational romance about a transplant recipient who meets and falls in love with a rancher whose late wife donated the heart that saved her life.

Carter has another uplifting novel, ” Big Sky Reunion,” set for release next May. More details about her books on her blog,  Charlottecarter.com.  Also, on the site you can read about Carter’s other interests including her enthusiasm for sports, passion for the outdoors, and love of a funny line — she does stand-up comedy, too!

 Yes, Charlotte Carter is a one of kind inspiration.

 Writers around the world are pounding computer keys or scribbling as fast as they can in notebooks — as part of the annual Write A Novel in a Month project. It kicked off today and writers have until November 30 to produce 50,000 words — that’s a short novel of 175 pages. Last year, 165,000 writers reportedly took the challenge and 30,000 were victorious.

This popular creative writing venture is run by a non-profit, which has a host of sponsors this year including Amazon.com. The word count of 50,000 words is a lot, but I know writers who have taken this challenge and achieved that goal.

Organizers admit the project  emphasizes persistence and output, rather than the details of the novel writing craft. However, for those who have been procrastinating about writing “that novel” this is consider a good “kick-in-the-pants” to get cranking.

More details and a ton of support and encouragement here.  By the way, you have to be patient, the  National Novel Writing Month website is getting heavy traffic today so it’s a bit sluggish.

 Hot Hollywood Movie Deal

I thought it was a bizarre combination when the novel came out last spring: President Abraham Lincoln and vampires. No matter. Hollywood is hot to take this property to the big screen. Several studios were bidding on the project, but over the weekend, 20th Century Fox came out the victor, according to Nikki Finke & Mike Fleming over at Deadline.com.

Los Angeles Author Seth Grahame-Smith’s novel, “Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter” has our 14th President taking out the blood suckers and their slave-owning allies, in revenge for a vampire killing his mother. Oh, it’s going to be made in 3D. Wow! More on the deal at Deadline.com

WGA announces awards for New Media writing

The Writers Guild of America awards ceremony next February will include two new categories: Writing Original New Media and Writing Derivative New Media.  WGA-West President John Wells explained the need for the additions in a news release: ““New media writers play an essential role in entertaining, educating, and engaging audiences in the digital arena. These new awards pay tribute to their talents and to the diversity of work being done under Writers Guild contracts.”

The WGA will be accepting submissions through November 23, 2010. Details on eligibility and the new awards on the WGA -West website.  

More on the Facebook movie

“The Social Network,” the new movie about Facebook, is the number one flick in the nation. Also, now there’s growing Oscar buzz surrounding the movie. Deadline has that as well as a tidbit about how the screenwriter of the film, Aaron Sorkin, collected a cool $3 million for his work. Who says screenwriting doesn’t pay the bills?

Catching up on …

Some good obits and remembrances of some recently departed celebs over on the  Los Angeles Times website – among them, Actor/Artist Tony Curtis and  TV Producer/Author Stephen J. Cannell.  Cannell was not only a great talent, but a generous writer who was willing to share his knowledge and experiences with other scribes.  I heard Cannell speak to writers’ groups a couple of times — and each time he was terrific.

President Obama raises $1 million & snarls traffic in Southland  

It happens almost every time a U.S. President visits the Southland. The bad traffic situation gets worse. That’s what occurred today, when President Barack Obama dropped in for one of those high-ticket priced Hollywood -type fundraisers.

Obama reportedly raised $1 million dollars for the Democrats and the ire of some Southlanders over the traffic problems caused by his visit. Nice report and photo on the Los Angeles Times website.

“The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”

Photo: PR NewsFoto/Columbia Pictures/Merrick Morton -- Actress Rooney Mara

 Actress Rooney Mara has won one of the most sought after roles in Hollywood. Columbia Pictures announced today that Mara has been selected to star in the film version of  Stieg Larsson’s mystery blockbuster, “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” and the other two adaptations in The Millennium Trilogy. David Fincher will direct.

Since being published in the U.S., “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” has sold over 5 million copies. The Millennium Trilogy has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, according to a PR Newswire press release.

 All three books, including “The Girl Who Played With Fire” and “THe Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest” currently are at the top of the New York Times Best Sellers List.  The  Millennium Triology is considered a literary phenomenon.

Photo: PR NewFoto/Columbia Pictures/Merrick Morton -- Actor Daniel Craig

Also, Actor Daniel Craig is set to star in “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.” Deadline.com has more on the casting and the upcoming productions.

Sylvester Stallone king of the Box Office

Actor and Filmmaker, Sylvester Stallone, is hot again. Stallone co-wrote, directed, and starred in the number one film in country right now, “The Expendables.” The action flick about a group of mercenaries out to take down a South American dictator, debuted over the weekend with a winning $34.8 million.  The cast includes Mickey Rourke, Dolph Lundgren, and Jet Li as well.

“Eat Pray Love,” the move version of Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling memoir about her adventures traveling the world, opened in second place with $23 million. Julia Roberts stars, but that was not enough for this chick flick to win the race to number one.

The action-comedy, “The Other Guys” grabbed third with  $17.4 million, the sci-fi thriller, “Inception” earned $11.4 million for fourth and rounding out the top five, the new action-comedy, “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World ” with $10.6 million. Based on a graphic novel, “Scott Pilgrim”  is about a 20-something musician who’s life chances dramatically when he falls for a mysterious woman. Michael Cera and Mary Elizabeth Winstead star.

A familiar scary face, Freddy Krueger, topped the Box Office this weekend. A remake of the 1984 “A Nightmare on Elm Street” debuted red hot — with an estimated $32.2 million — to become the number one film in the country. This fright franchise is apparently very much alive. It now includes 9 slasher films, novels, a TV show, and comic books. In the 2010 reboot/update Krueger is up to his old tricks of stalking and killing victims by first attacking them in their dreams. The horror flick stars Jackie Earle Haley, Kyle Gallner, and Rooney Mara.

In second, the animated adventure fantasy “How to Train Your Dragon” with around $10.8 million. Next, a couple of romantic comedies. “Date Night” nabbed third with about $7.6 million. Close behind in fourth, earning $7.2 million, J-Lo and company in “The Back-Up Plan.” 

Rounding out the top five, the new family comedy “Furry Vengeance,” which had trouble attracting an audience. It managed only $6.5 million in its debut. Brendan Fraser, Ricky Garcia, and Brooke Shields star in this film about some furry critters who launch a protest against a new development in the wilds of Oregon.