Thanks Scanner and everyone else on Open Salon.
In a nutshell...
As of this morning, Haggard & Halloo Publications, published my flash fiction story “A Sensuous Moment”. It appears with my real first two initials and last name: JR Alonso. Please read it at their site. If you feel inclined, please comment and rate it. (I know I’m self-promoting. I can’t help myself: advertising, marketing and sales is in my blood.)
Now for the back story…
Back in July, our own home-grown and ever popular writer at large, Scanner or Scanman or The Dude, posted “A Thank You Note to Open Salon”. In this post, he thanks all the OS members who have helped him develop his writing skills by proofreading, editing and offering constructive criticism of his work. Why?
Well, around that time, Scanner took the plunge into the unknown and submitted his story “The Mexican Godfather” to Haggard & Hallo Publications. After what he called several nail-biting months, The Dude got published. We all rejoiced at his accomplishment for several reasons.
The first reason was that one of our own bloggers got published (and we all have to root for the home team). The second reason was that it was Scanner. A Blogger, who had never really considered writing before, and joined OS just for the experience, Scanner (who is a fast learner) quickly rose above the ranks as one of the most beloved writers on Open Salon. The last reason: it has always been tough to get published. The Internet has made it even harder for not just unknowns such as me to get published, but it has made it even hard for established writers to get some of the action. There is just too much competition to get published even on unpaid sites such as Haggard & Halloo Publications.
Emboldened by Scanner’s success, I followed him to Haggard & Halloo Publications’ website, and explored it. I even set up a free account with them. I commented on Scanner’s story as well as a few others. For some time, I studied the site. Eventually, I took the plunge and submitted “A Sensuous Moment” which appeared here on Open Salon back in April of 2010.
And guess what? This morning while having my morning coffee, I fired up my laptop and checked out their site. I could not believe my eyes when I noticed that my flash fiction story was gracing their home page. I was truly shocked and awed.
I encourage all Open Salon writers of poetry and fiction and even non-fiction to visit Haggard & Halloo’s site. If you want to submit a work, check-out their guidelines section and have lots of patience.
Like Scanner, I want to thank all my friends at Open Salon especially the Weekend Fiction crew for encouraging me to keep writing.
As some of you know, I was laid off back in December, and I am in the job search mode: nothing has materialized so far. Being published has made my day even if I didn’t get paid.
Trudge abides!


Salon.com
Comments
I've bookmarked the site and will check it out later. I'm getting a nice collection of sites that aren't porn!! Whoo!! :D
I've mentioned you in my lastest post!!
Now back to read the rest of your post.
R♥
Next you'll be at book signings, etc. ;)
~R~
I only wished you had a good cup of Java to wash that down so here it is buddy!
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___(β)_(βββββββββββ)
_____(β)ββββββββββ)
__________(ββββββ)
____βββββββββββββββο»Ώ ♥
βββ¦ββ¦ββ¦ββββββ¦ββ¦β¦β¦ββ¦β¬β¬ββ¦β¦ββ
ββ¬ββ¬ββ¬ββ¬ββββββ¬βββ£ββββββββ¬β
β ββ ββ©ββ©ββββ©β©β©ββ©βββ©ββ©β©β©ββ¬ββ
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`
the Sal's girls comment - She's fun to ponder
`
informing the cop
she was speeding home
to study math
`
Cop accepts bribes . . .
books. pi. apple pie
and vanilla bean ice cream
`
Congratulations - Seriously
`
You poster/commenters do
remind me\cops who stop
ay, no ticket\cops who bum
`
So - What do we folks do?
We no or do visit Baptist?
Whatever we do `Blessed.
`
informing the cop
he was speeding to church
to help the poor
Yesterday,when I was on Matt's blog,I suddenly had the impression thatI am on philosopher's plateau.Later on ,Zumalicious' blog even confirmed this.
OS has a lot of outstanding writers,and today we can start a party for YOU!!!
Being without a job is depressing and demoralizing.I have been through this myself.The most important issue I had during this time was to keep afloat.
I checked on your birthday and suggest this is the biggest gift you could hope for.
As for me:I KNEW from the first post I have read that you ought to be a winner!!!!
Rated with a loud YIPPIEH:
JR
Damon, thanks, and Scanman certainly is a righteous dude.
Phyllis, thank you. True! Why mess with perfection?
Michelle, thank you.
Scanner, I should be thanking you (and I did) for being the juggernaut. Next time, it will be the New Yorker for all of us.
Tink, thank you, and I'm glad I added to your collection. Also, thank you for the plug on your post.
Fusun, thank you, and thanks for all your PM editing comments.
Lunchlady2, thank you.
Persistent Muse, you should check out their site. They will definitely publish you.
girf, I have lots of help from my HP.
Blinddream, book signings and guest apperances on Ellen for all of us.
eyespye, thank you.
Algis, Scanner is The Dude! Thanks for the virtual cup of joe. It is better than the one I'm drinking right now.
Alysa, thank you. Your hard work on maintaining the Weekend Fiction Club has paid off. There is always room for a hot pocket. :)
Art, you really should check them out.
Heidi, Open Salon does have a great talent. Finding work is a full-time job with very high stakes. Thanks for the words of encouragement.
Good luck with the job search.
Perfecting a USP - Unique Selling Point in a CV ,Career History isn't easy for each job app but you'll get there with perseverance Geezer.
"Press send please FRed(tm)."
AtHomePilgrim, thanks! As the New York motto says,"Excelsior!"
CreekEnd UK, I saw your comment and replied. Thanks. The USP is key to getting that job.
Scarlett, I saw your comment and replied. Thank you. That paragraph was dense.
Seth James, I saw your comment and replied.Thank you!
Eirca K, I could not have done it without his example.
ASH, thank you. Hopefully, the next door will have a paycheck.
Rita, thank you. H&H publishes a lot of poems. You should check them out.
So . . .
Congratulations! I'm a big fan of tiny fiction (Trifecta's 33-word challenge and 3-sentence challenge come to mind: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/), and a bigger fan of those who support and encourage it. Put this at the top of your resume, I say.