“Sea of Tranquility: A Literary Anthology” Daily Activity Log August 16, 2024

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Submissions are closed. Thanks to all of you who participated in the submission process.

Caveat: We have received 85 pages of poetry,—even some haikus and free verse—or short stories which leaves us with approximately 9 pages to complete the anthology. This means that as few as 5 more submissions will complete the anthology. Submit now or forever hold your peace.

July 31, 2024

Samuel Peralta, (Sam) founder of the Lunar Codex, contacted Howard Camner, a SFWA member, and requested he put together an anthology to be included in the Lunar Codex for the next moon launch in February 2025.

Howard asked me to be a co-editor and I accepted.

We will include only works of present SFWA members and “The Old Guard”.

 Sam wants the anthology to be 100 pages long. Each member gets up to 2 pages maximum. 

Howard has ten (10) members of what he refers to as “the Old Guard” from Books & Books who also be submitting works to the anthology. The title page, introduction and table of contents approximately six pages. That leaves approximately 74 pages for SFWA members—which means between 37 to approximately 47 members (depending on length of stories or poems) will have a chance to get on the moon. 

One section of the book will be poetry and another section flash fiction/short stories. 

Samuel, Howard and I want the anthology submissions on or before August 27, 2024. This is our deadline!

Howard and I have decided the theme for the analogy will be “The Moon.”

Let the writing begin.

See you at Saturday’s meeting.

August 1, 2024

The Rules:

  1. Only two poems or two short stories may be submitted (Ergo, submit your best work) to the editor;
  2. All poems or stories must meet the “theme” requirement or they will be disqualified;
  3. Any poem or short story longer than two pages shall not be considered;
  4. All poems or short stories shall conclude with name of writer, his/her city, county and state of residence on you page. Failure to do this will disqualify poem or story;
  5. Howard is our only point of contact with Samuel Peralta;
  6. All submissions shall be emailed to: mortlaitner@bellsouth.net
  7. No entries can be submitted via US mail;
  8. Any submissions submitted after 5:00 PM on August 27, 2024 shall not be consider. CAVEAT when editors receive 100 pages of acceptable poems or stories, no further submissions shall be reviewed or accepted for the anthology. Samuel says, “The sooner we get anthology to NASA the better.” Ergo, time is of the essence.
  9. For SFWA members—They must be currently in good standing(dues paid) to make a submission;
  10. Howard will send completed anthology to Samuel;
  11. No font size under 11. If font size too small, submission shall be disqualified.
  • August 2, 2024
  • Submissions are already coming. One poem was rejected for failure to use theme. CAVEAT when editors receive 94 pages of acceptable poems or stories, no further submissions shall be reviewed or accepted for the anthology.
  • Note from Howard: Sam contacted me earlier and is excited about the anthology. He will get back to me with the title he wants and I’ll let you know. The exact launch date isn’t set yet, but it will be in 2025. Since it’s historic they need it perfect. A Falcon Heavy rocket will get our anthology there. I plan to go up to Kennedy Space Center for the launch. That might make a cool “field trip” for SFWA. (Thinking out loud). Thanks for everything. 
  • Moved deadline up five days, so that expert in formatting can get anthology ready for NASA and Samuel.
  • Howard has written the introduction. Mort is updating the table of contents and working on the cover page with Monica.

August 3, 2024

Mort discussed, “Sea of Tranquility: A Literary Anthology” at SFWA meeting. He went over project rules with the audience.

Holly sent out e-blast of this activity log to all SFWA members.

Monica DeZalvetz, Neil Crabtree and Travis Laitner volunteered to collate stories into Word doc and PDF format. SFWA Board approved a $500 budget for anthology formatting. Mort will consult with Neil concerning necessity to hire computer expert.

We have received 33 pages of poetry or short stories that leaves us with 61 pages to complete the anthology. No decisions on acceptance of poems have been made as of this date.

August 4, 2024

New rules:

Please no photos, graphics or copyright insignia in your submissions.

Neil Crabtree has come on board as compiler of the “Sea of Tranquility: A Literary Anthology.”

We have received 35 pages of poetry or short stories that leaves us with approximately 59 pages to complete the anthology.

I request that Holly resend last e-blast to all members and attach a copy of this daily activity log.

August 5, 2024

Samuel says, “The sooner we get anthology to NASA the better.” Ergo, time is of the essence.

For those of you that are planning a late submission, there is a good chance your your poem or short story won’t be going to the moon. What do they say about the early bird?

Read and learn about the Lunar Codex—https://www.lunarcodex.com/time-capsules

Read and learn about Samuel Peralta—https://www.future-chronicles.com/

We have received 37 pages of poetry or short stories which leaves us with approximately 57 pages to complete the anthology.

August 6, 2024

Our probable cover for our “Sea of Tranquility: A Literary Anthology” by Regine Fisher

“Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints (and our poems and short stories) on the Moon.” —Paul Brandt.

We have received 47 pages of poetry or short stories which leaves us with approximately 47 pages to complete the anthology.

August 7, 2024

We have received 66 pages of poetry,—even some haikus and free verse—or short stories which leaves us with approximately 28 pages to complete the anthology. This means that as few as 14 more submissions will complete the anthology. We’re getting close to the end writers.

Our compilers and assistant editors, Monica, Neil and Travis are working away on putting together the anthology.

I like Howards quote about our project, “We’re making history with this project.”

Howard reports, “Samuel is reviewing our progress and he’s satisfied.”

Many thanks to Holly White for distributing our requests for submissions.

Mort spoke at Tere Starr’s Miami Poets Soiree and convinced a number of poets to submit their works to the anthology.

August 8, 2024

Rule clarification: Just adding the word “moon” to one of your stories or poems doesn’t make it a “moon-themed” submission.

We have received 78 pages of poetry,—even some haikus and free verse—or short stories which leaves us with approximately 16 pages to complete the anthology. This means that as few as 8 more submissions will complete the anthology. Writers and poets, we’re getting close to the end of our anthology. Therefore, I recommend you submit now or you might dread it for the rest of your lives or not.

August 10, 2024

We have received 85 pages of poetry,—even some haikus and free verse—or short stories which leaves us with approximately 9 pages to complete the anthology. This means that as few as 5 more submissions will complete the anthology. Writers and poets, we’re getting close to the end of our anthology. Therefore, I recommend you submit now or you might dread it for the rest of your lives or not.

August 16, 2024

Submissions are closed. Thanks to all of you who participated in the submission process.

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August 1, 2024

Wear Gray on Mondays

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From now to election day wear gray every Monday to tell the world that Donald is way too old to be running the greatest nation on earth;
On Monday put on a gray tie or gray blouse to tell your neighbors that Donald’s ideas are way too old to make America a more humane nation;
On Monday wear your gray slacks or gray skirt to tell your coworkers that you’re not supporting the old man who belongs in a home and not the White House. But rather you’re supporting Kamala, a candidate with vitality, brains, and vigor;
On Monday as you put on your gray socks to tell everyone you support democracy and freedom of choice, not hatred and bigotry;
On Monday wear a gray belt or gray suspenders to remind your friends that old man Donald wants to be our first dictator, our first fascist, and our first racist president;
On Monday proudly proclaim you’re an American tired of the old conman, the old fraud, the old rapist, the old liar by donning a piece of gray clothing and telling Donald he’s not fit to be our president.

My hair is gray and so is my beard. Is that good enough?—Cary

Cary, that’s good enough.—Mort

Clever theme.—Barbara

Mort – Once again you are spot on!
Can’t wait to get my gray clothes out of the closet and proudly show them to our fellow Americans!—Richie

Richie, once again, thank you.—Mort

Excellent use of gray.

It hits the mark all the way.—Ricki

Ricki, another great poem.—Mort

Thumbs up.—Aimee

Thumbs up.—Dara

Thumbs up.—Richard

Thumbs up.—Jayne

Thumbs up.—William

Thumbs up.—Becky

Thumbs up.—Frank

Thumbs up.—Sandra

Thumbs up.—Maurice

Thumbs up.—Joanne

Thumbs up.—Gary

Thumbs up.—Gail

Thumbs up.—Michelle

Thumbs up.—Tuoi

Thumbs up.—Surelle

Thumbs up.—Michaelanne

Thumbs up.—Lisa

Thumbs up.—Patricia

Thumbs up.—Gail

Great theme.—Jason

Thumbs up.—Jose

Thumbs up.—Brian

Thumbs up.—Democratic Club of Lakes Area

Thumbs up.—Scott

Thumbs up.—Mei-lin

Thumbs up.—Sharon

Thumbs up.—Julie

Thumbs up.—Jane

Thumbs up.—Cindy

Thumbs up.—Sandy

Thumbs up.—Sue

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July 25, 2024

The Messiah Complex (Satire)

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As a highly religious fellow, I asked myself, “If I were Donald Trump and an assassin’s bullet nearly ended my life, what message would I take out of that experience?”

Well, here’s my version of the thoughts that ran through Donald’s brain in that millisecond when he heard the shots, felt the warm blood running down his neck, and headed for the ground.

Lord, since that bullet nearly clipped off my ear I’ll take it that your message to me is to start listening and obeying to your commandments. You’ve warned me that I better change, or you won’t be so forgiving next time.

Well Lord, here’s my list of everything I’m gonna do to correct the error of my ways.

  1. I promise to stop sinning to regain your favor;
  2. I’ll stop being a narcissist;
  3. I’ll start finding compassion in my heart for other people’s problems;
  4. I’ll stop hanging out with racists and handing them my megaphone;
  5. I’ll no longer walk in the darkness and pray to the Devil;
  6. I’ll stop lying;
  7. I’ll stop stealing money from charities;
  8. I’ll start reading the Good Book;
  9. I’ll stop calling our brave soldiers “Suckers and Losers;”
  10. I’ll stop trying to steal elections;
  11. I’ll no longer make a habit of practicing the Seven Deadly Sins;
  12. I’ll stop selling our secrets to the enemy;
  13. I’ll stop being an insurrectionist;
  14. I’ll start paying my fair share of taxes;
  15. I’ll never separate babies from their mothers again;
  16. I’ll never take a woman’s right to choose away from them again;
  17. I’ll stop making fun of the disabled;
  18. I’ll stop selling sneakers and Trump Bibles;
  19. I’ll stop nominating unethical and heartless judges to the Supreme Court;
  20. I’ll stop disgracing the office of the presidency;
  21. I’ll tell my followers to start traveling down the straight and narrow road of redemption;
  22. I’ll withdraw from the race for president and the Republican party;
  23. I stop paying for sex with whores and porn stars;
  24. I’ll stop molesting and raping women;
  25. I’ll remain faithful to my wife;
  26. I’ll burn my signed copy of Mein Kampf;
  27. I’ll learn to love people who are not just white straight men;
  28. I promise to support gun control;
  29. I’ll stop being a traitor;
  30. I won’t hangout with pedophiles;
  31. I will tear up my contract with Beelzebub, the one where I gave him my soul for fame, money and power;
  32. I won’t try to become America’s first dictator;
  33. I learn the meaning of the following words: Empathy, honesty and faith;
  34. . I’ll try to be a nice person and not kill democracy in America.

As Trump was thrown into the back of his black limo and he realized he was safe, he looked through the sunroof at the blue sky and white clouds and whispered:

“Lord, you realize I was joking. I was kidding around. I’ll never do any of that crap on that list.”


Thumbs up.—Gary

Hey Mort! Genius! Thumbs up!!

Thumbs up.—Donna

Thumbs up.—Howard

Thumbs up.—Sandy

Thumbs up.—Paul

Thumbs up.—Laurie

Thumbs up.—Sue

Thumbs up.—Sharon

Thumbs up.—Aimee

Thumbs up.—Joel

Thumbs up.—Gary

Thumbs up.—Sandy

Thumbs up.—Devorah

Thumbs up.—Alan

Thumbs up.—Paul

Thumbs up.—Lori

Ha.———-Jason

Thumbs up.—Lorraine

Thumbs up.—Ray

Thumbs up.—Eva

Thumbs up.—Joanne

Thumbs up.—Donna

Was this posted to TOI? Nisan

Good one.—Barbara

Thumbs up.—Bobby

Thumbs up.—Ruth

Thumbs up.—Neil

Thumbs up.—Donna

Thumbs up.—Sandra

Thumbs up.—Perry

Thumbs up.—Kathleen

Thumbs up.—Lorraine

Perry, Thanks for sharing.—Mort

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July 19, 2024