Author: AJ Goodwin

Our Kickstarter is currently in Pre-launch!

Hello readers and writers and more!

I wanted to throw in a few quick updates about the anthology so far, but before we get into the details…

Check out this book trailer!

I made this trailer a little while ago to showcase just a few of the stories and poems we’ll have in the anthology!

Please make sure you follow the Kickstarter to get more information about our launch date: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/redeyesandtiredlungs/we-make-the-village-an-anthology-of-community

How is the process going so far?

Well, 26 authors have already signed their contracts for their works to be included in the anthology! I’ve sent out a payment to all but the most recent three, and it looks like I might have a couple more contracts to send out in the next couple weeks! So, we may end up with a couple more names on our list (go check out the Kickstarter! A list of the contributing authors is there!

We have 22 short stories, 4 flash fictions, 6 poems, and 1 non-fiction all edited and in the middle of formatting so far, and there still may be a few more to come.

Another exciting feature: I have a local artist doing some artwork within the book! I can’t wait to showcase them artwork; it’s lovely to be able to add even more to the anthology to make it amazing.

I think that’s all for now. Keep a close eye on that Kickstarter, as I’m planning on launching February 1st, which is coming up quick!

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Upcoming Reading Period

Hello! I just wanted to provide a short notice about the Call for Submissions for “It Takes A Village.”

We are still accepting submissions for this anthology! The final due date for submissions is currently June 1st. This does not count for re-writes or edits if I’ve requested them, as I will share the required due date for those separately.

We are starting to get quite a few submissions in, so I definitely recommend you submit yours ASAP! My reading period will start on May 10th. You can continue to submit after this date, but I will be prioritizing submissions from before that day and will be reading through until I’m caught up.

Thank you for submitting!

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Red Eyes and Tired Lungs Audiobook Sample

That’s right, it’s coming soon!

I’m still working hard on the audiobook, and I’ve even hired a second editor to help manage the workload. I don’t have a predicted date yet – these things take quite a bit of time! – but we do seem to be in the home stretch.

For now, I’d like to share with you this short, two minute audio sample so you can get a feel for all the awesome voices helping make this project a reality.

If you’d like to support the anthology, please consider picking up a copy of the eBook, which is available now! You can purchase it just about anywhere – even Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Fable, Smashwords, and more! If you would like to support the anthology but don’t have the funds to purchase directly, that’s okay – I’ve even made it available to libraries! If you have Hoopla or Overdrive (Libby), you should be able to pick up a copy of the eBook through those services. Then, please leave us a review and tell more people about it! Here’s the Books2Read link: https://books2read.com/u/bM2dQB If you don’t see your preferred retailer on that list, though, double check for it anyways. You’ll probably find it!

Waiting for the paperback edition? I’m hoping to get that into wide distribution soon! For now, if you live in Prince George, I have a few spare copies left from my initial print run available. If you’d like to purchase a copy (signed by the PG authors!) please send me a message and we can set it up.

That’s all for now. Back to editing for me!

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Red Eyes and Tired Lungs is Now Availble!

Hello readers!

I’m so excited to announce that the ebook edition of “Red Eyes and Tired Lungs: An Anthology of Wildfire” is now available wide!

What is this anthology about?

Last summer, I put out a call for Submissions asking Canadian writers for stories and poems about, or inspired by, Wildfire. Over the next several months I worked with twenty authors, putting together the anthology with their poems and stories. I also added many of my own – 4 stories and 3 sets of poems. We were all inspired in our own way. Sometimes from grief, sometimes through fantastical elements, but in every story we wrote about Wildfire. Wildfire as destruction, Wildfire as a force of nature, Wildfire as a part of creation. Thirty five new poems and stories are released into the world with this publication.

This anthology is the debut work for Winter Jewel Publishing as well! I have many more themed ideas – in fact, I have the next couple years of Calls for Submissons planned out. But to make the future ones a success, I need help with this one too.

So, why not try it out? Give the anthology a read. Take a peek inside – if you like what you read, pick it up after!

Here are a few places you can purchase it: https://books2read.com/u/bM2dQB or also https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CW1D5P8S  Or check out if you can pick it up through your local library using Hoopla or Overdrive (Libby)!

No matter where you pick it up, you’ll be supporting future publications from us.

Also, if you want to help even more, spread the word! Let other people know about the anthology if you think they’ll be interested in it. Leave a review on your favourite website! Tell your friends! Word of mouth is always appreciated.

So pick up your copy today if you haven’t already!

And if you are a writer, make sure to check out our next Call For Submissions

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Call for Submissions: It Takes a Village

OCTOBER 2025 UPDATES:

The pre-launch page for the Kickstarter is up! If you’d like to follow the project, check it out here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/redeyesandtiredlungs/we-make-the-village-an-anthology-of-community?ref=130nsr&token=98e52a52

I am still looking for a couple more (in priority order): personal essays/non-fiction pieces, or flash fiction pieces. Preference for all under 1000 words, some room still for longer pieces (but not many). Please remember, this call is for Canadian writers/authors only.

Special interest in a flash fiction piece inspired by the cover (check out the Kickstarter to see what it looks like!) to include as a bonus story.

What I am looking for:

  • This anthology’s theme is “It Takes a Village” – I’m looking for stories about community: finding it, building it, maintaining it, being expelled from it. How do we build our villages as adults? How do we grow connections with those around us? What do we do when we’ve lost them? We’ve heard the phrase “It takes a village to raise a child” but also “The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.” How do we tackle these emotions as adults?
    • As this is a bit trickier of an anthology theme than the last one, the reading period is going to be much longer, and the final evolution of the anthology’s theme will come from what the overarching theme and tone from the submitted and accepted pieces create.
  • Poems, flash fiction, short stories, science fiction, fantasy, romance, literary, contemporary, and more. We want a wide variety of fictional stories!
  • Works from Canadian writers/authors only, with some preference for writers from British Columbia.
  • Special consideration/interest for writers who are Former Foster Youth or Adopted
  • Flash Fiction up to 1000 words
  • Short Stories up to 10000 words – very limited spots for over 5000-word stories
  • Poetry sets of up to 5 pages
  • Polished works – please don’t send your first draft. Make sure to put your story through revisions before sending it. Using a beta reader is also a good idea. Your work should be free of spelling and grammar errors.
  • If you would like to pick up a copy of our previous anthology to read what we’ve published in the past, check out “Red Eyes and Tired Lungs: An Anthology of Wildfire” (please note, if before April 30, 2024, it’s still on pre-order!)  

What I am NOT looking for:

  • Works written by AI.
    • There is always some pushback on this as many people ask “where is the line?” and the line is that has to be written by a human. What does that mean? If you, a human, write the words and then as you edit your work use something like Grammarly or ProWritingAid to help clean up your writing similar to line edits/grammar edits, that is okay. If you type into an AI like ChatGPT and say, “Write me a story about X”, that is not what we are looking for and will be rejected.
  • Unpolished works
  • Anything consisting of hate speech, bigotry, or otherwise similar offensive content.

Other notes:

  • Multiple submissions are allowed, but will be limited to only two per category.  EX if you have submitted two short stories, you can also submit poetry, but not another short story.
  • Simultaneous submissions are allowed (as in you can submit to other publications at the same time) but if you are accepted elsewhere, please notify us immediately.
  • Please no reprints.

Deadline:

  •  The deadline has been extended! Please read update at the top. Call will officially close once last submissions spots have been filled.

Pay:

  • As this is a passion project and I do not have the funds to pay standard rates for writing, I am currently offering the following payment option:

Receive a flat rate fee:

$5 for poetry sets (up to 5 pages)
$10 for flash fiction (up to 1000 words)
$25 for fiction stories up to 5000 words
+$2/1000 words for over 5000 for fictions stories up to 10,000 words
– Very limited spots available for this tier
– For example, a 10,000 word story would receive $35

The flat rate may increase if additional funding is acquired prior to payout dates.

How to submit:

  • Please email your submission to winterjewelpublishing@gmail.com
  • Send your story in the standard manuscript format. If you don’t know what that is, click here: https://www.shunn.net/format/story/
  • Your email should be titled as follows: “ITAV 2024: STORY NAME : AUTHOR NAME”. If you include multiple submissions, please pick one as the main name for the email.
  • Your email should include:
    • What type of work(s) you are submitting
    • Word count(s)
    • Inspiration/information you would like to provide about your story
    • A short (~50 words) Author Bio
    • The submission document(s) attached as a Word file.
    • Pen name/Legal name information if different

Please allow two months for a response, or up to four weeks after the final deadline. If you have not received a response by that time, feel free to send a follow up email from your original email chain.

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Kickstarter Freebie

Hello Everybody!

As a thank you to everyone who has so far backed our campaign and to help give something back, I’m releasing this free bonus word search! It contains themes and topics from the anthology.

Don’t worry, if you have backed our anthology already, there are more of these waiting for you once we fund!

If you don’t know what our Kickstarter is or haven’t backed it yet, Click here!

Otherwise, here is the word search! Save it and see if you can find all the words. If you want to share it with others, please share this post or a link to the Kickstarter as well.

Thank you again to all the supporters! With your help, we will be able to get this Kickstarter funded!

(Yes, I added five extra Fire’s to search for. Actually, there may be even more than five. I wanted to have fun and see how many of those I could put in. Did you find more?)

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Call for Submissions: Red Eyes and Tired Lungs

NOW CLOSED FOR SUBMISSIONS

(If you really really really think you have something that fits and it isn’t January 20th yet, email a.j.goodwin.writes@gmail.com )

That’s right, I’m wanting to create an anthology that is inspired by (or perhaps a response to) the wildfires that are currently raging in British Columbia. Please read below for more information. Make sure to read fully to determine if this is the right call for you.

What I am looking for:

  • The theme is “Red eyes and tired lungs” so this needs to make some sort of appearance in your work. You don’t have to use those words exactly. We also want stories for, about, or by those affected by the wildfires.
  • Poems, flash fiction, short stories, science fiction, fantasy, romance, literary, contemporary, non-fiction, and more. We want a wide variety of stories!
  • Works from British Columbia writers preferred, but other Canadian writers will be considered. Preferably works also written about British Columbia, Canada, or inspired by somewhere in the province.
  • Flash Fiction up to 1000 words
  • Short Stories up to 5000 words
  • Poetry sets of up to 5 pages
  • Non-fiction up to 5000 words
  • Polished works – please don’t send your first draft. Make sure to put your story through revisions before sending it. Using a beta reader is also a good idea. Your work should be free of spelling and grammar errors.                

What I am not looking for:

  • Works written by AI.
    • There is always some pushback on this as many people ask “where is the line?” and the line is that has to be written by a human. What does that mean? If you, a human, write the words and then as you edit your work use something like Grammarly or ProWritingAid to help clean up your writing similar to line edits/grammar edits, that is okay. If you type into an AI like ChatGPT and say “Write me a story about X”, that is not what we are looking for and will be rejected.
  • Unpolished works
  • Anything consisting of hate speech, bigotry, or otherwise similar offensive content.

Other notes:

  • Multiple submissions are allowed, but only one per category.  For example: if you have submitted a short story, you can also submit poetry, but not another short story.
  • Simultaneous submissions are allowed (as in you can submit to other publications at the same time) but if you are accepted elsewhere, please notify us immediately.
  • Please no reprints.

Deadline:

 Currently we are looking at a submission deadline of October 31st. If we meet our submission cap, we may close the submissions early. Please check this page for active status. Once the submission window is closed, please do not submit any new stories.

How to submit:

  • Please email your submission to a.j.goodwin.writes@gmail.com
  • Send your story in the standard manuscript format. If you don’t know what that is, click here: https://www.shunn.net/format/story/
  • Your email should be titled as follows: “SUBMISSION 2023 : STORY NAME : AUTHOR NAME”. If you include multiple submissions, please pick one as the main name for the email.
  • Your email should include:
    • What type of work(s) you are submitting
    • Word count(s)
    • Inspiration/information you would like to provide about your story
    • A short (~50 words) Author Bio
    • The submission document(s) attached as a Word file.
    • Pen name/Legal name information if different
  • Please allow six weeks for a response. If you have not received a response by that time, feel free to send a follow-up email.

Pay Rates:

As this is a passion project and I do not have the funds to pay standard rates for writing, we are offering two payment solutions. You can receive a nominal contribution fee, or participate in payment splitting.

  • Receive a flat rate fee:
    • $5 for poetry sets (up to 5 pages)
    • $10 for flash fiction (up to 1000 words) *updated Jul 13
    • $20 for fiction and non-fiction stories (up to 5000 words) *updated Aug 3
    • The flat rate may increase if additional funding is acquired prior to payout dates.
    • Payments will be distributed by e-transfer or paypal.
  • Participate in the payment splitting (based on profits paid by Draft2Digital):
    • 2% for poetry (up to 3 poems)
    • 2% for flash fiction (up to 1000 words)
    • 4% for fiction and non-fiction stories (up to 5000 words)
  • If you are selecting the second option, here is some things to consider:
    • The payments will be processed and distributed through Draft2Digital
    • You will have to make an account through Draft2Digital
    • Draft2Digital only distributes payments of at least $10. If we have not sold enough books that your part of the payment would be under $10, Draft2Digital will not distribute the funds.
    • Draft2Digital is an American company, and so more information to collect the payments will be required. For example, non-US writers who live in a country that have a tax agreement with the US will be required to complete a W-8 BEN form.
    • The percentage is not based on the book sale price. It is calculated after all fees have been deducted by Draft2Digital and other distributors as required.

Thank you for your interest in this submission!

Kickstarter Announcement

That’s right, I’m revealing it with just the title. We’re doing a Kickstarter!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/redeyesandtiredlungs/red-eyes-and-tired-lungs-an-anthology-of-wildfire

I’m planning on launching it January 1st, so make sure to click the “Notify me on launch” button. This Kickstarter will be to fund the audiobook edition of the anthology, so you can also listen to all the amazing stories and poems!

This anthology has 17 contributors, with a total of 16 poems and 12 stories (fiction and non-fiction). I should add a caveat of “so far” since there is a few more writers I am working with to get their work ready for inclusion.

What sort of stories and poems will you find in this anthology?

There is…

… a poem grappling with waiting for news after an evacuation…
… a story about the beast that haunts during the summer season…
… a poem about trying to find the bright side in a smoky summer…
… a story about a loveable dog dealing with an evacuation…
… a poem about the anatomy of a wildfire…
… a story about a break-up as wildfires get closer…
… a poem about the potential future of Vancouver…
… a story about a dryad who tries to locate the source of a wildfire…
… an acrostic-type poem that lists all the types of vegetation and habitats lost in wildfires…
… a story about a little boy who converses with flames…
… a good-bye to the color red, to the fires, until they come again…

And many more! If you want to read these, well, check back soon!

I’m actually so incredibly excited about where this is at, how it’s going, and where we are heading. It’s been amazing working with so many talented writers as they share their heartfelt works. I’ve been able to learn and try so many new things with this project, trying on all sorts of hats as this anthology comes together. I can’t wait until I can finally hold it in my hands.

So, that’s why I’ve been so radio-silent and terrible at updating this. I’ve been very busy, I swear! That’s not even to talk about what I’ve got going on in my non-author life. But I’ve been working hard to get all this together and have it look as beautiful as I am able to make it.

Thank you for reading!

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