Mrs. Shushman has long avoided death. One night during the Morton Downey Jr Show, however, she finds Death rummaging in her closet.
Ah, the short story. Such lovely, petite packages of beginnings, middles and ends! Many devotees of the short story find themselves speeding through shabby copies of literary magazines while sitting in waiting rooms. But what if there was another option?
Well, here it is! You can have the WHOLE story without having to purchase a subscription or having to pilfer copies from your health care providers. You can read it in stunning 12 point Times New Roman font, double spaced, with absolutely NO advertisements! And best of all, in the long run, you can support the creation of a larger collection of short stories coming out later this year.
“Mrs. Shushman Says Goodbye” is the story of a woman who has long cheated death only to find death rummaging in her closet during The Morton Downey Jr Show. For a mere $2, you can have a PDF of “Mrs. Shushman” sent to your e-mail with an e-mail message from me thanking you for your support. Would you like to do more? How about putting yourself or someone you know as a character in this story? This is a very short kickstarter campaign. By raising the $250, I will be able to pay for postage, and send nice, clean, unbent copies in big envelopes with cardboard inserts via the U.S. Postal Service. PLUS, I will be able to go to an event where “Mrs. Shushman” will be critiqued by other writers thereby making her story even better. Most packages will be mailed out mid-September. Rewards including the anthology of short stories will have the anthology delivered separately as soon as it is produced which should be Spring of 2013.
Mrs. Shushman Says Goodbye
Death sat on the top row staring at the orange, sickly glow of the streetlamps. Several teenagers near the treeline behind the bleachers drank beer and smoked dope. The awkward guffaws of boys trying to posture as men and the giggles of girls willing to let them prove it echoed across the mostly vacant fields. None of them looked at Death. To them, the dark, huddled figure sitting alone seemed nothing more than another bum loitering in the park.
And Death felt a bit like one. Having spent so much time in ---
You've just been called in to your appointment. Do you want to know what happens? Are you considering slipping the magazine into your purse? If so, please consider supporting “Mrs. Shushman Says Goodbye."
All stories from this project will be collected and used in an anthology coming out Spring 2013. My ultimate goal is to do this and projects like this with other short stories from the collection in order to fund the production of this anthology. The anthology will cost $1900 (including printing, professional services and registrations of copyright and ISBN). With 10 stories projected for the anthology, that means each story has to raise about $190. If each campaign raises this amount beyond the target for every short story produced, the anthology will be right on track.
So, why $250? $250 covers the cost of paper, printing, postage, packing materials, and the cost of having "Mrs. Shushman Says Goodbye" critiqued by other writers ($65). Everything above that goes to the anthology. If I am able to raise $375, then Mrs. Shushman will have paid her full share towards the anthology. $1325 will mean that the six stories mentioned in this campaign will have paid their way... So, every pledge counts!
FAQ
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Share with your social media! Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Friendster, Pinterest, on your blog, on your webpage... anywhere to get the word out. This is a very short campaign. Spread the word!
If you would like something interesting to write about "Mrs. Shushman Says Goodbye:"
Mrs. Shushman has long cheated death, until one night during the Morton Downey Jr. Show, she finds Death rummaging in her closet. A fantasy story about the way we look at life when death is sitting on our sofa eating crackers.
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Yes! it is #byebyeMrsShushman
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Many of my stories have romantic elements in them. Mrs. Shushman does not. I write fantasy, science fiction, and dabble in horror. I chose the "heart" theme because this whole project is my heart. It is an opportunity for many of my favorite short stories to see the published light of day. Mrs Shushman and the story "A Day In The Real" are both fantasies. "The Date" is general fiction. The high school reunion story I am working on is general fiction in a science fiction setting with a very strong romantic element. The story "The Minimalist" which will be a bonus story should I make the stretch goal of $375, is science fiction with an emotionally satisfying albeit somewhat stomach churning ending.
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PITTER PATTER---I will e-mail you a thank you for supporting my short story project. Every little bit counts!
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HEART---I will e-mail you a thank you for supporting my short story project, AND I will send you a pdf attachment of “Mrs Shushman Says Goodbye.”
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GOOD HEART---All the benefits of Heart PLUS “Mrs Shushman Says Goodbye” printed on 8.5x11 paper with a title page that is signed with a personal note telling you how much I appreciate your support mailed to your address. For those outside of the U.S., please add $5 international shipping for a total of $10.
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DEAR HEART---All of the benefits of Good Heart PLUS an mp3 attachment of my reading of “Mrs Shushman Says Goodbye.” I actually do readings quite well. Give a listen to the video if you want a sample of my reading voice and style. For those outside of the U.S., please add $5 international shipping for a total of $15.
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OPEN YOUR HEART---All of the benefits of Dear Heart PLUS a hard copy, pdf, and mp3 of “The Date”- a short, short story of a young woman ending up in a place she did not intend. For those outside of the U.S., please add $5 international shipping for a total of $30.
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BLESS YOUR HEART---All the benefits of Dear Heart PLUS your first name (or someone you pick) and description used as one of Mrs. Shushman's 3 likable grandchildren who are mentioned in the story. I may have to make some changes (not to the name however) in order to work with the story. For those outside of the U.S., please add $5 international shipping for a total of $30.
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HEART IN LOVE---All of the benefits of Open Your Heart PLUS a hard copy, pdf, and mp3 of the short story “A Day In The Real”- a story of two strangers who meet for lunch and discover life, death, and immortality. PLUS I will mention you in a special thank you in the upcoming anthology, and I will send you a copy of the anthology as soon as they are printed. For those outside of the U.S., please add $5 international shipping for a total of $55.
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HEART FELT---All of the benefits of Heart In Love including the special thank you in the upcoming anthology and a copy of the anthology as soon as they are printed. PLUS I will put your first name and description (or the name and description of someone else if you prefer) into a short story about a terrible high school reunion. Your character and the other reward recipients' characters will be mingling at this imaginary reunion, and the plot will revolve around these interactions. This is a "disaster" story involving bad potato salad, off-planet sub-divisions, and a whole lot of 20-year-old baggage, but all of the reward characters will survive (mostly) intact. I may have to make some changes to the character you give me, but I will give you some options on where you want your character to go and will try to stick to that. This story will be included in the anthology and online, and I retain all rights to it. For those outside of the U.S., please add $5 international shipping for a total of $80.
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HEART OF GOLD---All of the benefits of Heart In Love including the special thank you and copy of the anthology. PLUS one brand new short story where you pick the characters. I will use the names and the descriptions of two people you give me and write a short, slightly bizarre story about their interaction. Could be a love story or a coming of age story. I'm open to suggestions, and will take the story where it leads me. Of course, this benefit is used at my discretion and I may have to make some changes to the characters you give me. Just a note- this story will appear in the anthology and online, and I retain all rights to it. For those outside of the U.S., please add $5 international shipping for a total of $105.
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SWEET HEARTS---All of the benefits of Heart of Gold including the special thank you and TWO (2) copies of the anthology as soon as they are printed. PLUS for the special story, I will dedicate this story to you (or who you tell me) and also to the love of your (or his or her) life. This story will be an unusual love story with a happy ending. Of course, this benefit is used at my discretion and I may have to make some changes to the characters you give me. Just a note- this story (including the dedication) will appear in the anthology and online, and I retain all rights to it. For those outside of the U.S., please add $5 international shipping for a total of $205.
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