What's in this newsletter:

MY NONSENSE
GOOD NEWS
TA-DA
FLASH FICTION PLACE
CLEAN FUNNIES
SCIENCE BLURBS (For all of us Layman Science Nerds, with "inquiring minds that want to know" and who aren't afraid to ask.)
BOOK NEWS
FREE STUFF

MY NONSENSE
I've been busy. Wanna know why? Well, I'll tell you anyway. I became a grandmother again a few months ago and just found out that I'm going to be one again in the spring. (Not the same parents) Ain't life grand? My oldest grandson is now an Airman First Class in the United States Air Force, and he is stationed nearby so we get to see him often.

I finished my latest collection of short stories, FAIRY TALES WITH A FREUDIAN FLAIR, and it will be out sometime after the first of the year from Atlantic Bridge Publishing. http://www.atlanticbridge.net/ Two years in the making, it was a hoot to write. Two of my books are now available in trade paperback (see the GOOD NEWS section to find out more.) And I started a new review site The Popper Gazette: http://jopop.us/jopop.html so you can see, I have been busy

The Holidays are upon us. Fast year, huh. I wish you all a wonderful time with family and friends during this time.

Enough rambling. It's great talking to you again. Now on with the newsletter....
Jo


GOOD NEWS!
My short story "Billy's Brew," a humorous take on Roswell and the fun we have with aliens here, is now published at SBD's Science Fiction & Fantasy. http://tinyurl.com/2zs2
If you have time, pop over there and give it a read. You can even vote for it. The stories with the most votes go into the anthology. I hope you enjoy it AND VOTE FOR ME!

Hey folks,
I'm in the Author's Spotlight at http://www.lifeandcareercoaching.com/writingtips.html
Cool!!

THE ADMINISTRATOR, a collection of short stories will be available in trade paperback from The Fiction Works by the end of the year. To find out more about the book and/or to download the electronic version go to http://www.fictionworks.com/etheadministrator.htm

A new interview with me is up at Flashshot. http://flashshot.tripod.com/jopop.htm
We discussed flash/micro fiction and had a great time. Take a look if the spirit moves ya.

TA-DA!
It's finally here! Sound the Ram's horn is now available at Hard Shell Word Factory in both e-book and Trade Paperback. For the download, go to Hard Shell Word Factory http://www.hardshell.com/ebooks.html type "Sound The Ram's Horn" without the " in the search bar and click search. The e-version is a measly 5 bucks. Or if you prefer a Paperback, go to http://tinyurl.com/2v9f for the Trade Paperback version.
Think about the great Christmas present that this book will make.

FLASH FICTION PLACE
For those interested, I have set up a "post your story" flash fiction page on the Popper Gazette
http://jopop.us/jopop.html It is a non paying market, but is a good way to get your work out there. This is not a list to join or anything. Just a way to share some of your work with the reading public.

Here are the simple guidelines:
JoPop's Flash Fiction Page is for lovers of flash fiction. Feel free to post your flash fiction stories UP TO 100 WORDS ONLY! Longer ones will be deleted. This posting site is open to any author of flash fiction, published, unpublished or under-published, and all readers/lovers of flash fiction.

Each month, one will be chosen as best of the month, and the winner will get a special "winner" graphic to display in your email, on your website or any place you please. The winning story will be posted in the "Flash Fiction Winner's Circle" on the Popper Gazette Website. (Authors retain all rights, and if you sell your story and wish to have it removed from our site, please let us know in writing (emailremoveflash@jopop.us with the title of your story, and it will be removed within 5 working days.)

Have fun!!!

Also:
The JoPop Gazette http://jopop.us/jopop.html is open for reviews of books, magazines, and I wouldn't be adverse to adding a short story category to that.

I have no reviews for magazines or mystery as yet. I would love to have anyone who does reviews (or even if you don't usually write reviews,) if you have recently read a book/magazine/ezine/short story that you really liked and want to write a review about, I have an online submission form that you can submit reviews to. If they are well written and honest (no flaming--you can always find some good to say. If you have negatives, that's ok, just temper them with positives.) I will post/publish them. (Hey, a publishing credit is a credit, no matter how small, right?)

I am not at this time asking for books or anything to review myself. I have a backlog I've already promised, but I'd love to have some reviews from any of you who are interested. There is no pay except a byline for the reviewer because I'm just doing this to kind of showcase works that deserve showcasing and to give new writers to get their name up in lights.

CLEAN FUNNIES (No. I didn't make these up. Someone smarter than me did.)

There's this little guy sitting inside a bar, just looking at his drink. He stays like that for half-an-hour. Then, this big trouble-making truck driver steps next to him, takes the drink from the guy, and just drinks it all down.

The poor man starts crying.

The truck driver says: "Come on man, I was just joking. Here, I'll buy you another drink. I just can't see a man crying."

"No, it's not that. Today is the worst day of my life. First, I overslept and was late to an important meeting. My boss, outraged, fired me.

When I left the building for my car, I found out it was stolen. The police said they could do nothing.

I got a cab to return home, and after I paid the cab driver and the cab had gone, I found that I left my whole wallet in the cab.

I got home only to find my wife was in bed with the gardener.

I left home and came to this bar. And when I was thinking about putting an end to my life, you show up and drink the darn poison ..."
***

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT!
1.You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to walk and talk.
Then you spend the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up.
2 .Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own children.
3. Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.
4. Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for
word what you shouldn't have said.
5. The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that
there are children more awful than your own.

***
ADVICE FOR THE DAY!
Be nice to your kids. They will choose your nursing home.

AND FINALLY: IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TENSION AND YOU GET A HEADACHE, TAKE THE ADVICE ON THE ASPIRIN BOTTLE: "Take two aspirin" and "Keep away from children" ......You've gotta admit, there's some wisdom here.
.....

SCIENCE BLURBS (These are for real, folks.)

SCIENTISTS PLANNING TO MAKE NEW FORM OF LIFE
from The Washington Post <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17496-2002Nov20.html>

JAPANESE RESEARCHERS DREAM OF RECREATING MAMMOTHS FOR
SANCTUARY IN SIBERIA
from The Associated Press http://tinyurl.com/2ztb


BOOK NEWS
Here is where I do my shameless self promoting, so bear with me on this, okay? If you haven't already done so, take a look at some of my books.
JUMP START YOUR WRITING CAREER WITH ELECTRONIC PUBLISHERS, an EPPIE 2002 Finalist, from Atlantic Bridge Publishing http://www.atlanticbridge.net/publishing/jumpstart.htm

THE ADMINISTRATOR, an EPPIE Award Winner & a Frankfurt Awards Nominee, from The Fiction Works http://www.fictionworks.com/etheadministrator.htm

SOUND THE RAM'S HORN, a Frankfurt Awards Nominee coming soon from Hard Shell Word Factory http://www.hardshell.com/ (Will be available in ebook and print)

See them all and more at http://www.sjoanpopek.com/

FREE STUFF:
The Writer’s Room Newsletter
News for writers of fiction, non-fiction and freelancing. Furthermore, every issue will post an article on personal growth/development which is very important as reaching success as a writer.
Published/edited by: The Writer’s Room http://writersroom.tripod.com/index.htm
Simona Nielsen, publisher/editor
Every subscribing member will receive a FREE e-book: ‘How to get published’ by Michael LaRocca. Thanks to Michael LaRocca for sharing this book with us.
To subscribe send a blank e-mail to: TheWritersRoomNews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Free SPAM filter program. MailWasher really works to cut down on your spam. I use it. Get it free here. http://www.mailwasher.net/

FREE PUZZLES, BOOKS AND BRAIN TEASERS. Go here. http://www.sjoanpopek.com

There's more, but If I write much more, you'll quit reading (if you haven't already, and in that case you're not reading this anyway) so I'll STOP.
Jo

PS:
Remember to take life easy. You only go around once. Go slow so you don't miss anything.
Feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends, family or anyone else you want to annoy. But
if you do, all I ask is that you forward it in its entirety with full credit to me. After all, I'm gonna be famous someday, and you can frame it and say you knew me when. And my name is not Anonymous!