Clyde and Friends Children’s App
I just heard from the developer of the Clyde and Friends children’s app. The narrator for the app has recorded the sound files. The developer said he has a wonderful deep voice, which is how she imagines Clyde would sound, if he could talk. She is still looking for a few more zany sounds (crashing, rain, etc.) and will start uploading everything next week, as time allows. She’ll let me know the online preview link before it is published, so I’ll have an opportunity to review it.

Palpable Imaginings Anthology of Fiction Short Stories
The cover designer plans to send cover design ideas to me on Monday, and the interior layout right after she sends some cover proofs to me. She hopes to get an interior proof to me before the holiday weekend.

Heart Whispers Anthology of Poetry
I just did a quick review of the main layout of the electronic files of Heart Whispers and didn’t see anything I wanted to change, so I just ordered the physical proof from the printer. For those keeping score at home, the cost of the physical proof was $2.86 plus expedited shipping and handling which brought the total to $14.30. It is scheduled to arrive on July 2! Once I review the physical proof–most likely the day it arrives–IF I find nothing I want to change, I’ll OK it for release to Amazon.com and other outlets. Normally, it would show up for sale on Amazon.com within the next 24-48 hours, but due to the July 4th U.S. Independence Day holiday followed by the weekend, it may not be released until July 7 or 8, still way ahead of schedule.

Slices of Life Anthology of Non-Fiction Short Stories
Nine writers have contributed 24 stories, but at 21,348 words I’ve decided it needs more content before publishing it. I’m targeting 30,000 to 35,000 words. I’m officially re-opening this project for writers to present more of their creations to be considered for possible inclusion in this anthology. Please send non-fiction stories to me at russtowne@yahoo.com. If more production cost money is collected than is needed, the extra will be returned to the writers, prorated based on total production costs paid by each writer. If not enough production cost money is collected, I will pay the difference.

Twists Anthology of Flash Fiction and Short Stories
I initially envisioned this as a collection of all my own work, and to this point that has been the case with 28 of my stories comprising 10,940 words. I’ve just decided to open this project to other writers to present their creations to be considered for possible inclusion in this anthology. Please send non-fiction stories to me at russtowne@yahoo.com. Due to the extreme differences in length between flash fiction (at around 300 words or less) and short stories (which for this publication can be anywhere from a few hundred words to perhaps 7,000), it doesn’t seem fair to prorate costs and royalties per story, so I’m going to try something a bit different for Twists. The cost proration will be 3 cents per word included (using MS Word’s word count), and the royalty proration will be based on the total dollars paid by each writer, rounded to the nearest dollar. If more production cost money is collected than is needed, the extra will be returned to the writers, prorated based on total production costs paid by each writer. If not enough production cost money is collected, I will pay the difference.