February 2023 Update

Recent Publications

Poetry:
“The Frankenstein Creature, in Other Genres,” Eye to the Telescope, Issue 47, January 2023, http://eyetothetelescope.com/archives/047issue.html

Reviews:
Hypatia’s Wake, by Susan Andrews Grace, The Miramichi Reader, posted January 15, 2023, https://miramichireader.ca/2023/01/hypatias-wake-by-susan-andrews-grace/
 
Pirating Pups: Salty Sea-Dogs and Barking Buccaneers, edited by Rhonda Parrish, published in Shelter of Daylight, January 2023, Hiraeth Publishing, https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/shelter-of-daylight-january-2023
 
Tumblehome: One Woman’s Canoeing Adventures in the Divine Near Wilderness, by Brenda Missen, The Miramichi Reader, posted January 30, 2023, https://miramichireader.ca/2023/01/tumblehome-one-womans-canoeing-adventures-in-the-divine-near-wilderness-by-brenda-missen/
 
Worth More Standing: Poets and Activists Pay Homage to Trees, Edited by Christine Lowther, The Miramichi Reader, posted January 23, 2023, https://miramichireader.ca/2023/01/worth-more-standing-poets-and-activists-pay-homage-to-trees-edited-by-christine-lowther/
 
Short Stories:
Several of my stories can now be accessed at the Read Me A Story, Ink website, a reading resource for kids, parents, and teachers, located at https://readmeastoryink.com/stories-to-read-now/. Joining Andi’s Birthday, which was already on the site, are In Other Words, Mission to Galavia, By Ox and Axe, and Changes. Mission to Galavia is a sequel to In Other Words, while By Ox and Axe takes Paul Bunyan to the stars.
 
What I’m Working On
This month, I’ll be working on reviews as well as short stories, primarily; some poetry as time or inclination permits.
 
Coming Soon
One poem is scheduled to appear in the February 2023 issue of Spaceports and Spidersilk, while others will be included in the February issue of Scifaikuest. I’ll also have some reviews appearing in various venues in February.
 

January 2023 Update

My dog Chet (seen at left chilling with a new acquisition) always enjoys getting a new toy, and I suppose I like new things too. As I write this paragraph, it's January 1, 2023, and a new year always represents new opportunities and a fresh start. 

Not that 2022 was a "bad" year from a writing perspective. I had around 40 poems of various lengths published, as well as a poetry collection. Five original pieces of fiction saw publication for the first time in 2022, and two reprints made it into anthologies. As well, 27 book reviews and one article appeared in print or online venues. 

December 2022 Highlights

In December 2022 I had a poem and a short story appear in New Myths Issue 61, Winter 2022. The poem, “Ghost Train,” is based on experiences walking the trails in Earl Rowe Provincial Park in Ontario. I also had “At the Magical Furniture Store” appear in Polar Starlight Issue 7, December 2022. These items can be viewed for free by following the link provided (as is the case for the A World of Curiosities book review, the Not a Princess review, and the “Cruising” short story, another Quicksilver and Pepper tale.)
 
Recent Publications
Poetry:
“At the Magical Furniture Store,” Polar Starlight, Issue 7, December 2022, https://polarborealis.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/POLAR-STARLIGHT-7-December-2022.pdf

“Ghost Train,” NewMyths.com, Vol. 16, Issue 61, Winter 2022, https://sites.google.com/newmyths.com/newmyths-com-issue-61/issue-61-stories/ghost-train

“Proxima Set-up Crew Opts to Stay,” Star*Line Vol. 46.1, Winter 2022.
 
[shuffling cards], [stunning discovery], Scifaikuest November 2022, print, Hiraeth Publishing
 
Reviews:
Not a Princess, But (Yes) There Was a Pea, and Other Fairy Tales to Foment Revolution, by Rebecca Buchanan, Star*Line 46.1, Winter 2022. The review is posted on the SFPA web site, https://www.sfpoetry.com/sl/slreviews.html
 
A World of Curiosities, by Louise Penny, posted on The Miramichi Reader web site December 10, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/12/a-world-of-curiosities-by-louise-penny/
 
Short Stories:
“Cruising,” NewMyths.com, Vol. 16, Issue 61, Winter 2022, https://sites.google.com/newmyths.com/newmyths-com-issue-61/issue-61-stories/cruising
 
What I’m Working On
This month I expect to be working on a variety of items: poetry, fiction, book reviews, and creative non-fiction. There are several January and February 2023 submission calls I’m interested in, so lots of work to do to polish pieces up and send them out.
 
 

December 2022 Update

We were fortunate to enjoy good weather (meaning, not a whole lot of snow and what we have had hasn’t stayed long) through November. On the morning of December 1, though, as I post this, there is white stuff falling slowly from the sky, as if warning us that the spate of pleasant weather won't last, so I feel a little like my dog Chet, shown in the image above seeking a warm spot to hide out. 

Through the month of November, I tackled the National Novel Writing Month challenge. Having found last year that for me, personally, shooting for the target of 50,000 words resulted in burnout, I set a more modest target of 25,000 words and an attempt to write daily through the month, both of which I managed to do.

Recent Publications
Reviews:
The Madness of Crowds, by Louise Penny, posted on The Miramichi Reader site, November 11, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/11/the-madness-of-crowds-by-louise-penny/ 

The Zone: Rediscovering Our Natural Self, by Rob Wood, posted on The Miramichi Reader site November 18, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/11/the-zone-rediscovering-our-natural-self-by-rob-wood/

Articles:
“Taking Flight with Speculative Poetry,” published in Hope Clark’s Funds for Writers newsletter November 11, 2022.

What I’m Working On
I made progress on several short stories during the month of November. Some have already been sent out in response to submission calls. Others will require some editing and refinement in the coming months. I remain grateful for K.M. Weiland’s books as I progress through the short story process. During November, I spent a lot of time using her Creating Character Arcs workbook to set the foundations for stories I was working on.

Coming Soon
During the month of December, I have a couple of pieces scheduled to appear on the New Myths site; more about that with the next post.

 

 

November 2022 Update: Neosapiens Anthology Launch and Other News

On November 1, the Neosapiens anthology, published by New Myths, launched. I have two pieces appearing in this volume, a short story titled “Into the Ring” and a poem, “From Cat, to Fiddle.” The above meme developed by the publicity team features a line from “Into the Ring.” As you might gather from the meme, “Into the Ring” features a canine protagonist. Maybe I can blame it on my love of Thornton W. Burgess nature stories as a child, but for some reason writing stories featuring animals seems to come naturally for me. Neosapiens is the third New Myths anthology I’ve been fortunate enough to have my work included in, with the others being Passages and Twilight Worlds.

Recent Publications

Poetry:
“After the Quest is Over,” Eye to the Telescope, Issue 46, Quests, October 2022, https://eyetothetelescope.com/ 

“Cleaning Out the Desk,” “Constant,” and “Golden Years,” Paddler Press, Issue 6, Changes, October 2022. https://paddlerpress.ca/issues-trip-log/

“Do the Gods Laugh?” Star*Line 45.4, Fall 2022, http://www.sfpoetry.com/starline.html 

"From Cat, to Fiddle," Neosapiens: Best of New Myths Volume III, NewMyths, https://www.amazon.com/Neosapiens-Best-NewMyths-Anthology-III-ebook/dp/B0BJ829NVX

“Get It Over With,” Thema, Vo 34, No. 3, Get It Over With, https://themaliterarysociety.com/

“[Proxima colonists],” Spaceports & Spidersilk, October 2022, Hiraeth Publishing, https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/spaceports-spidersilk-october-2022-edited-by-marcie-lynn-tentchoff

Reviews:
First-Time Listener, by Jennifer Zilm, posted on the Miramichi Reader site October 10, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/10/first-time-listener-by-jennifer-zilm/

Stone Woman, by Bernadette Gabay Dyer, posted on the Miramichi Reader site October 26, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/10/stone-woman-by-bernadette-gabay-dyer/

Short Stories:
"Into the Ring," Neosapiens: Best of New Myths Volume III, NewMyths, https://www.amazon.com/Neosapiens-Best-NewMyths-Anthology-III-ebook/dp/B0BJ829NVX

What I’m Working On
This past month, I got some traction on drabbles and short stories. In November, I’ll give NaNoWriMo another shot, with some amendments. Last year, I pushed hard to get the target 50,000 words and then experienced short story burnout for a few months after. This time, I’m not going to pressure myself to hit specific word count targets. I’m also going to work, as the mood dictates, on poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction rather than focusing on fiction. Still, the attempt to write something every day, or as often as other commitments permit, is something I find of value.

 

October 2022 Update

Recent Publications

Poetry:
“Run Run Renegade,” Radon Journal, Issue 2, https://www.radonjournal.com/run-run-renegade

“Wondering,” JOURN-E: The Journal of Imaginative Literature, vol. 1, no.2, Autumnal Equinox 2022.

Reviews:
Aquariums, by J.D. Kurtness, translated by Pablo Strauss, posted on the Miramichi Reader site September 19, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/09/aquariums-by-j-d-kurtness-translated-by-pablo-strauss/
 
Runs With the Stars, by Darcy Whitecrow and Heather M. O’Connor, posted on the Miramichi Reader site September 10, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/09/runs-with-the-stars-by-darcy-whitecrow-and-heather-m-oconnor/

Short Stories:
“Roll of the Dice,” Cosmic Crime, September 2022, Hiraeth Books, https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/cosmic-crime-stories-september-2022-edited-by-tyree-campbell-1
 
What I’m Working On
Short stories and reviews are currently my main focus. I expect this will continue into October.

 

September 2022 Update

“Where has the summer gone” sounds so cliché, but that doesn’t lessen how true that statement feels this particular year. Already, students are preparing to return to school, the leaves in the deciduous trees are starting to turn, and birds are gathering in anticipation of a voyage south.

Recent Publications
Poetry:
“Cats Of the Future” and “Unexpected,” Utopia Science Fiction, August/September 2022, https://www.utopiasciencefiction.com/product-page/august-september-2022

“The Cycle Repeats,” Scifaikuest August 2022 online, https://www.hiraethsffh.com/scifaikuest-online

“En Vacances in Quebec City” and “Watching Softball,” Paddler Press, Vol. 5, Summer Fare, August 2022, https://paddlerpress.ca/?post_type=product&p=504&preview=true

[if an infinite number] and “New York, New Reality,” Scifaikuest August 2022 print, Hiraeth Publishing, https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/scifaikuest-august-2022-edited-by-t-santitoro

“Now You’re Gone,” “Without Her,” and “To The Robin, Building a Nest in My Eavestrough,” Samjoko, Summer 2022, https://www.samjokomagazine.com/nowyouregone-lisatimpf

In August, a review of In Days to Come, my speculative poetry collection, was posted on The Future Fire web site: http://reviews.futurefire.net/2022/08/timpf-in-days-to-come.html#more

Reviews:
A Life Spent Listening, by Hassan Khalili, published on the Miramichi Reader site August 28, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/08/a-life-spent-listening-by-hassan-khalili/

The Messy Lives of Book People, by Phaedra Patrick, published on the Miramichi Reader site August 31, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/08/the-messy-lives-of-book-people-by-phaedra-patrick/ 

Resonance: Essays on the Craft and Life of Writing, edited by Andrew Chesham and Laura Farina, published on The Miramichi Reader site August 20, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/08/resonance-essays-on-the-craft-and-life-of-writing-edited-by-andrew-chesham-and-laura-farina/

State of Terror by Hilary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny, published on the Miramichi Reader site August 2, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/08/state-of-terror-by-hillary-rodham-clinton-and-louise-penny/

Short Stories:
“The Chienchat Conundrum,” published as a reprint in Professor Feiff's Compleat Pocket Guide to Xenobiology for the Galactic Traveller, JayHenge Publishing, https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0B97YTX6X

What I’m Working On
In August, I got back to working on short stories, while continuing to chip away at my book review to-do list. I’m expecting much the same trend will continue in September, as I have developed a few story ideas in response to submission calls for speculative fiction stories.

 

August 2022 Update

It’s always nice to get exposure for your work, and in July, Sandra Lindow posted a lovely review of In Days to Come on the SpecPo blog, link below: https://specpo.wordpress.com/2022/07/08/in-days-to-come-a-review/
 
Also, one of my poems was published in a short collection, Cocoa Cabin, by Pearl Pirie back in 2014. Pearl has been catching up with authors she had worked with in the past, and her follow-up with me is posted at the following link:
https://pearlpirie.com/checking-in-with-lisa-timpf/
 
Recent Publications
Poetry:
“What Awaits,” Polar Borealis Issue 22, July 2022, https://polarborealis.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/POLAR-BOREALIS-22-July-2022.pdf

[time jump to Noah’s era], Star*Line 45.3, Summer 2002

[canine deity], Spaceports and Spidersilk, June 2022, Hiraeth Publishing

Reviews:
Bad Actors: Second Pi in the Face, by Ira Nayman, The Miramichi Reader, July 4, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/07/bad-actors-second-pi-in-the-face-by-ira-nayman/
 
From Your Hostess at the T&A Museum, by Kathleen Balma, Star*Line 45.3, Summer 2022
 
What I’m Working On
I’m putting together a collection of nature-related poetry for a submission call that ends in August. I’m also finishing off some book reviews. On the writing side, I’m working my way through The Ode Less Travelled by Stephen Fry. This book was recommended by a member of SF Canada, and I’m finding it very helpful.
 
Coming Soon
Several poems and one short story are scheduled to come out in August. More on those as they get published.