This Is My Blood.

I'm thrilled to announce another publication. My story, This Is My Blood, is included in the January 2020 issue of Outposts of Beyond.

While it's disappointing the publishers are retiring the magazine, I'm excited to have been selected for inclusion in the final issue. Fortunately, they are creating some new titles to take its place. Alban Lake has always been great to work with, and I look forward to subbing future stories to them.

This Is My Blood is a fantasy story, a genre I don't explore too often. I originally wrote this story very quickly to meet a themed anthology. Unfortunately, at the time, I had missed a single word when reading the requirements. Urban Fantasy. Yes, I'd missed the word Urban and written a Fantasy story. I didn't realise until after the story had been sent and had been sitting in the publisher's slushpile for about a week. But I did the right thing and emailed them, asking to withdraw it from consideration.  There was no point wasting their time.

The story has undergone a couple of minor tweaks since those days, but it's essentially the same tale. I love this story, and I'm very proud of it.

The Lady Who Sings to the Dead.

I'm so very pleased to be back in the pages of Outposts of Beyond.  A great little magazine, containing novellas, short stories, flash fiction, poetry, articles and reviews. I feel privileged. This is the fifth time I've been published by Alban Lake, and I look forward to having a new shiny copy of this issue in my hands.

My story, The Lady Who Sings to the Dead, is set in Australia long after an apocalypse but in a non-technological time. This story occurs in the same world and many years following the events depicted in two of my other stories, The Last of the Butterflies and Fireflies.

I love this world I've created. I love visiting it and I love writing in it. I really like some of the people who populate it.

I imagine there are many more stories to be told. For the time being, however, you can read this one.

Enjoy.


Table of contents:

The Lady Who Sings to the Dead by Steve Cameron
The One That Is All by Mike Adamson
The Voice of the Moroth by John Buentello & Lawrence Buentello
The Monster at the End of the World by Lee Clark Zumpe
The Steppenwolf Revisitation by Alan Ira Gordon
The Assassin Program by Christina Sng
The Quicksilver Wall by t.santitoro
The Unfolding by Melanie Smith
The Stories We Tell by Holly Day
Terran Vacations 2070 AD by Marge Simon
Water 2050 AD by Marge Simon
Meteor Shower BC by Marge Simon
The Ship by Marge Simon
The New Canadians  by Aaron W. Haney M.D.
Blade Runner 2049 Review by Kendall Evans
Integral Parts by Robert E. Porter

Another Impending Publication.

Did I mention I have another story being published in a few months?

I certainly hinted, back here, but I don't believe I have given any further details.

The Lady who Sings to the Dead is set in Australia long after an apocalypse but in a non-technological time. This story occurs in the same world and many years following the events depicted in two of my other stories, The Last of the Butterflies and Fireflies.

I can trace its origins to a tour I undertook many years ago in Port Arthur - a convict colony in Tasmania with a painful and violent history in the most glorious surroundings. Those familiar with Port Arthur will no doubt easily find the connection.

This will mark my fifth publication in Outposts of Beyond, the first since 2014. And it's good to be back. Alban Lake has always been a supportive, encouraging and fair publisher. I look forward to receiving my contributor copy. Keep an eye out for the release date in July.

As for other stories set in this same world? I have a few ideas. Watch this space.

Through A Crystal Ball, Darkly.

I'm thrilled Alban Lake has just published my story, Through A Crystal Ball, Darkly, in Outposts of Beyond #6.

This is now the fifth time I've been published by Alban Lake.  My work can be found in both Outposts of Beyond and Disturbed Digest. Thanks, Alban.

"What a great way to close out this year’s issues, with the long-awaited “The Felling of Wystwood” by Beth Hudson; Wayne Carey’s “Pooka;” and Sandra Unerman’s allegorical “The Lion Keeper’s Daughter”; plus another fine piece by Australia’s Steve Cameron, reviews of “Sand and Blood” and “The Breathless Stars,” and as always, much more. It’s time to order your copy, or better yet, a subscription. Head on over to our bookstore and look under O, please."

Some Time In Marrakesh.

My story, Some Time In Marrakesh, has just been published in Outposts of Beyond 4. It's currently only available in print, but the e-version should appear in the next few days.

I also appeared in issues 2 and 3, so I'm thrilled to have had three in a row. At this stage I have nothing slated for issue 5 so the run should end here.

I absolutely love the cover artwork for this issue. I have no idea who the artist is, but The artist is Laura Givens, and I'd like to congratulate her on her work. I'm pretty sure the editors at Alban Lake didn't commission the artwork just for my story, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't specially chosen just for this issue. It reflects my story so accurately it could easily have been commissioned art.

Some Time In Marrakesh was based on an incident that actually occurred to my wife and me when we were wandering around that great city. We were on our way to the souks when....

No, I'll leave you to read the story. The opening scene is very close to reality.

Thanks, Alban Lake, for publishing me again.

Through The Storm.

I started teaching at my new school a couple of weeks ago, and I feel like I'm just starting to settle in. After nine years at my last school, it has been quite a change. Different methods, procedures, texts, classes, students, culture and so on.

My new colleagues have been fantastic - very encouraging, giving and supportive. I've been able to ask them for advice and help as I get up to speed with what's being taught. I came in to teach a couple of classes in the very last week before their assessment, which meant I not only had to read and comprehend the texts in a matter of days, but also had to look at what they'd been taught and what was expected from them.

But I feel like I'm (almost) on top of it all now.

In writing news, I don't have much to offer at the moment. The change of school has meant writing has taken a back seat for the past month, although I plan to get some new writing done shortly. I have a story due for publication in Outposts of Beyond next week and another story due for publication in Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine anytime now.

I also had a story placed on hold for further consideration a couple of days ago, which is really exciting - or at least it will be if it is purchased.

All in all, life is pretty good. And although I fear change, I think I'm adapting to my new surroundings rather well.

Tales Of Marrakesh.

I love waking up to acceptance emails.

Alban Lake, publisher of Outposts of Beyond, has bought another of my stories. I love this story. Not only is it a twist on the Aladdin tale, but elements of the story actually happened to me when I was in Marrakesh with my wife.

A magical city, a magical time.

I now have four stories scheduled for publication in the first four months of next year.

A pretty good start to 2014, don't you think?

Stone The Crows, Cobber!

Fair dinkum!

For those that don't know me personally, I'm Australian. I was born in Scotland but I emigrated here with my parents when I was about one year old. And despite having lived virtually all my life here, apart from a six year stint in Japan, and identifying myself as Australian, it was only a couple of months ago that I actually took up citizenship.

So yes, I'm a true-blue, dinky-di Aussie.

And so I was thrilled to receive my contributor copy of Outposts Of Beyond #2 this week, and find the fantastic blurb the editor, Tyree Campbell, had written for my story, The God Thing.

"You may have noticed that Steve Cameron tends to take matters just a bit over the edge. We call it pushing the envelope, or thinking outside the box. I’m not sure what they call it in Australia, where Steve lives and writes and says things like “Crikey” and “Fair dinkum,” and drinks beer out of schooners. But he has a way with ideas. Here he blends science fiction and theology. Or is it the other way around?"

Yup, that pretty much nails it. Except that in my state we drink beer from 'pots', not 'schooners'.

I will add that the two main characters in this story are based on two people I know rather well, and their theological discussions are based on conversations I've been part of.

It's available in e-format and print.

Fair dinkum indeed.

The God Thing.

I'm pleased to announce Alban Lake has just published my story, The God Thing, in Outposts of Beyond #2.

With fantastic cover artwork by Laura Givens, and a TOC that includes not only my story, but work by M. Keaton & Beth Powers among others, what isn't to love? And it's great to see my own name on the cover.

Since this is my second publication with Alban Lake (with another scheduled for January) I guess I'm now part of the Alban Lake family.

The October issue of Outposts of Beyond, featuring science fiction and fantasy tales seasoned with a few dabs of poetry and filled out with a couple fine articles, is now available for purchase. The stories include “Fleet,” by M. Keaton; “Sparkles,” by Beth Powers; “The God Thing,” by Australia’s Steve Cameron. There’s poetry by multiple Rhysling winner Robert Frazier, and by England’s Deborah Walker, among others. Finally, there are two excellent essays, one on character development by Rachel Holt, the other on being Goth, by Kimberly Richardson. All this is wrapped inside a really kicking cover by Laura Givens. Come try us out, see what we can do.