Volume 2, Issue 6: February 2013

With the start of 2013 I stepped in to the role of Editor for the monthly flash fiction feature here at Kazka Press. I had enjoyed my stint as guest editor for the stories which were released in early October of last year and knew that it would be cool to have the chance to find the best of the submissions sent to Kazka each month for our readers’ enjoyment.

This month I read over two dozen stories on the theme of An Undelivered Valentine; from those submissions I chose three very different stories: Sylvia Spruck Wrigley’s “When You Come Back Again” where a woman waits for the return of her love in a post-apocalyptic setting, Charity Tahmaseb’s ”A Burden of So Many Roses” is a fantasy set in the halls of a contemporary high school, and Amanda M. Hayes’ “Arrow Shot” dips into classical mythology for its characters and setting. I enjoyed all three of these stories and hope that you will, too.

With February having rolled around, there’s a new theme for Kazka Press’ flash fiction submissions. This month I’ll be reading stories on the theme of “Spring Training.” As much as I love baseball, don’t feel a need to restrict yourself to only that literal reading of the theme; I’m always going to be more interested in stories which are excellent than those which hew closely to a stated theme. If you’re interested, please check out the submission guidelines.

Speaking of February, the current plans are for Kazka Press to release its California Cantata anthology toward the end of this month. With me having stepped into an editorial role at the press, this anthology will include my final story for the press, at least for the time being. It also will feature stories by Beth Cato and other great writers.

Until next month…

-Michael Haynes