Congratulations to CALA writing instructor Karen Heuler, who is preparing to launch three new books with three different publishers this year! How exciting is that? At CALA we are celebrating this wonderful achievement and are delighted to share a brief synopsis of Heuler’s upcoming publications and some tips for writers.
When she began teaching at NYU SPS in 2005, Heuler thought it was remarkable to see how many people write well. However, an editor once told her that magazines receive a lot of really good stories, but they’re looking for the great ones. The field is crowded and competitive so any insight or advice from Heuler, an award-winning professional, is so valuable.
We asked Heuler about her inspiration and here is what she shared.
“I have the highest expectations for The Splendid City. It’s appeared on a number of lists about anticipated books this summer. It’s fast, quirky, snarky and fun – and it’s also political, but in a sneaky way. An apprentice witch loses her temper and changes an annoying coworker into a cat – which is against the rules – and so she and the cat are exiled to Liberty, a state that seceded from the US.” There’s stolen water, a missing witch, endless parades and animatronic presidential heads, and it’s all a bit spectacular and crazy. Angry Robot Books, which has tremendous followers known as The Robot Army, will ensure a successful launch. Pub: June 14, 2022. See The Splendid City
Heuler’s second and third upcoming publications are collections that incorporate stories written over many years. “My mother’s dementia was a shattering experience, and the stories in Forgetting were written as things went from bad, to worse. The stories are mostly realistic, though some are definitely odd and some are funny. They also incorporate magical realism occasionally, and the final one (dear to my heart) is a very dark fairy tale. There’s really nothing to do about tragedy other than write about it. Stories make sense out of horror as well as the ordinary. I’d been sending this collection around for a decade. I knew it was going to be a very hard sell – who wants to read a downer? Saying that some of it is quirky and funny, while it’s true, doesn’t convince anyone to publish it. I knew I would have to find a small press that was willing to take a chance, and I did.” Pub date: August 1, 2022, Bitingduck Press.
The final book, A Slice of the Dark, is a collection of speculative fiction – an umbrella term now used to encompass science fiction, fantasy, dark fantasy, and horror. These stories were also written over a number of years. “I write both literary and speculative fiction, and this one is mostly what’s referred to as dark fantasy. Most stories are recognizably our world, but things are not right.” In the title story, a man finds that objects are turning “dark” – meaning that they become shadowless and black. A woman’s fingers revolt. Neighbors get boxes marked “Do Not Open”– but they open them! This collection will be published by a beloved small science fiction and fantasy press Fairwood Press, in November, 2022.
Heuler says the best advice she can give is “to learn who you are and embrace the kind of writing only you are capable of. And have some humility. You can learn from everything in life, or you can remain a block of wood. Choose learning.”
Congratulations again, Karen and thanks for being an inspiration!
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Are you interested in writing and ready to take the plunge? Take a look at some of our Summer 2022 courses:
Writing a Strong Introduction to an Article or Essay
If you have already decided that you’re all in our Storytelling Certificate is a great option – see the link below for details:
Certificate in Storytelling: Narrative Tools and Applications