So, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re doing it again. Bettin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 on the ponies.<\/p>\n
The Bet <\/a>started two years ago as a wager between myself, Catherine Ryan Hyde<\/a>, Kimberly Pauley<\/a>, and Andrew Smith<\/a>. It was based on a story I read about Stephen King wagering on sports with his son where the loser had to write a short story from a title supplied by the winner. This sounded fun. So I put out the call on Twitter to see if other authors were interested and three brave souls stepped forward. We settled on betting on the Kentucky Derby.<\/p>\n No money changes hands. Only story titles. The losers spend the next month crafting stories around a title not of their own choosing while the winner gets to…I don’t know….gloat? (Some, like Catherine, think that the winner is a loser because they don’t have to write a story. The amount I agree with her is inversely proportional to how many deadlines I’m on at the time of the Derby.)<\/p>\n The horses selected this year are:<\/p>\n Catherine<\/span><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s My Lucky Day<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Kimberly<\/span><\/strong>: Fear the Kitten<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Andrew<\/span><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 Oxbow<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Brian<\/span><\/strong>: Revolutionary<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n We write the stories and then make them available for free. Links to previous short stories can be found here <\/a>and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Check back after the Derby on May 3 for a list of the titles we’re inflicting on each other. Then give us a month for a new batch of stories. As always, it promises to be a hoot.<\/p>\n PS–All my writing friends have new books out (or about to be out). You should give them a gander:<\/p>\n Still Sucks to be Me…Even in Paris<\/a> by Kimberly Pauley<\/p>\n Always Chloe and Other Stories<\/a> by Catherine Ryan Hyde<\/p>\n