Month: January 2013

Circle Gets the Square: Wheeler Wins Tarcher/Penguin Top Artist

| Ted Wheeler

You may recall this post from last summer wherein I celebrated the fact that my novel was a finalist for the writing portion of Tarcher/Penguin’s Top Artist competition.

I’m pleased to say that word arrived today that The Uninitiated won first prize!

Here’s the announcement from Tarcher:

“Ted competed with hundreds of terrific entrants and has won the top prize for his work, THE UNINITIATED. His prize consists of $5,000 and a one-page critique of his work from Sara Carder, Tarcher/Penguin’s Executive Editor of the one and only Julia Cameron. We thank everyone who submitted their fine work, and hope you will join us in extending a hearty congratulations to Ted!”

Thanks so much to the editorial and publicity teams at Tarcher. This is great recognition for my work, and an honor I’m very proud to receive. Last year was kind of a hard slog trying to finish the book amid some pretty big life events and challenges, literary or otherwise. And although the book is still unagented, I’m excited for this new progress. The Uninitiated is something I believe in wholeheartedly. It’s nice to know that the folks at Tarcher are in my corner too.

In the Spotlight

| Ted Wheeler

Midwestern Gothic interviewed me for the latest installment of their Contributor Spotlight series. Here’s a highlight:

How has the Midwest influenced your writing?
Almost all of my work is set in Nebraska, in the small towns and urban communities I’ve lived in or been to. I’m intrigued by the way geography and local history form the spirit of small communities—whether urban or rural—specifically from the lingering effect of historical trauma. So it’s become important to know local history, to recognize how different people identify themselves and others, and why this is so. Writing is mostly conjecture and projection, but, with my experience of living here my whole life, hopefully my work is an informed version of conjecture and projection.

Check out the full interview here.

And if you haven’t yet secured your copy of Midwestern Gothic 8, featuring my short story “The Mercy Killing of Harry Kleinhardt”, you should do so in either print or digital format, whatever’s your yen.

Thanks so much to Jeff and Robert for publishing this story, and now for featuring me in their blog spotlight as well.

Midwestern Gothic 8 Releases Today!

| Ted Wheeler

Now that the new year is here, Midwestern Gothic 8 (Winter 2013) is out and ready for purchase. The issue features my short story “The Mercy Killing of Harry Kleinhardt” alongside work by many other talented writers, including Michelle Webster-Hein, Joan Colby, and Eric Neuenfeldt. Read more about my story here.

Midwestern Gothic 8 can be had in print format for $12 (here) or in PDF format for $2.99 (here).