The Legacy of Lost Things featured in the New York Times this Sunday, November 30th

The New York Times is going to feature my upcoming novel, The Legacy of Lost Things in this Sunday's paper. I can't be grateful enough to have such a wonderful team of people. Bleeding Heart Publications accepted my novel for publication in January 2014 and only several months later I was flown to Chicago by Hamazkayin to accept the Tololyan Literary Prize at their annual awards ceremony. 

Since that time BHP and I have worked on edits and I've become closely acquainted with my publicist Scott and his videographer Hugh, who both flew out to New York a few weeks ago to film me and then put together the video trailer for my novel. Between working with Scott, Hugh, as well as Holly and Eseel, who are also part of the promotions and marketing team, I'm elated for the release of my novel. 

My website is near completion of being completely re-designed, thanks to my good friend John. And the details of the launch party for Legacy are underway. 

In the words one of my most favorite writers, Truman Capote: "Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor." 

Happy Thanksgiving!

May 2014

Here is an update about my novel The Legacy of Lost Things that is slotted for release this July:
I had the honor of being awarded the Tololyan Prize Award and attended the ceremony two weeks ago in Chicago. Here is the press release that was published in the Armenian Weekly.

You can read more about my novel on Bleeding Heart's website.

I am anticipating the date of my book release party to be sometime in the early fall.

Upcoming works being published:

My short story "Saved" will be part of a themed anthology "Mother Knows Best" published by Infinite Acacia. 

My short story "The Art of Trying" will be published in an anthology about first-generation immigrant experiences. The date is still to be determined.

Per Contra literary journal accepted my piece "Afterlife", which will appear in their Fall 2014 issue.

December 2013

I've been sharing the exciting news on Facebook as well as via email: my novel THE LEGACY OF LOST THINGS was accepted for publication by Bleeding Heart Publications. It is slotted to be released in paperback July 2014!

Below is a blurb and excerpt from my novel:

http://www.bleedingheartpublications.com/upcoming

In the next few months I will be updating this blog with more information

about readings and other happenings. And once the artwork is in place for the novel, I'll also be re-creating my website. For now, you can still find all my published work at www.aidazilelian.com and I am still writing posts on my Facebook page. 

Things to come:

Although it is still a few months away, First Tuesdays Reading Series is featuring me on March 4th, where I will be reading an excerpt from my novel. 

Per Contra Literary Journal will be publishing my short story "Afterlife" in their Spring 2014 issue.

And lastly, my story "The Art of Trying" will be published by Two-Countries Anthology, which features writers born in the U.S. and raised by immigrant parents.  

September 14

Happy autumn!

Bleeding Hearts Press will be featuring my story "Wind and Glass Behind Us" in the newest issue. Details to follow....

My Sucker Literary blog post about young adult fiction was posted in late July: http://cellardoorbooks.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/guest-post-with-sucker-literary-anthology-author-aida-zilelian/

There are some wonderful literary events happening in Queens and beyond.

Please see below:

Thursday, September 19th at 7:30pm

Boundless Tales celebrates its 3 year anniversary

Featuring five great writers and two new co-hosts: Audrey Dimola and Devin Doyle.

You can go to our new website: www.Boundlesstales.com for more details.

Sunday, September 22nd at 5pm

REZ Reading Series at Kew Gardens - Odradeck's Cafe

I will be reading from my novel THE LEGACY OF LOST THINGS, and joining me

will be three writers: Tim Fredrick, Risë Shifra Shamansky, Vickie Byron

You can go the REZ Reading Facebook page for more details.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/REZ-Reading-Series/138944729199

Tuesday, October 8th at 7pm

WITH SPECIAL GUEST - A reading series at:

The Delancey - 168 Delancey Street

I will be one of several writers featured for the evening

(More details to come)

Friday, October 18th

Queens Council of the Arts sponsors the Queens Literary Town Hall

curated by Audrey Dimola

Scheduled to appear: Boundless Tales Reading Series, First Tuesdays Reading Series & Open Mic, 

REZ Reading Series, Oh Bernice! Reading Series, Newtown Literary Journal, Astoria Bookshop, Enigma Bookstore, and more.

Go to: http://queenscouncilarts.org/qca-3rd-space-queens-literary-town-hall/

July 11th

Hello all!

Here are my newest updates:

Recently published stories:

"My Girl" in Newtown Literary.

"A Different Street" in Exterminating Angel.

"1998" in Freshly Unhatched. 

Blog Tours:

My reflections about writing on Newtown Literary's Blog.

As part of their blog tour, Sucker Literary will be posting my thoughts about young adult fiction on July 24th. 

Other news:

I recently completed The Legacy of Lost Things, the prequel to my novel The Hollowing Moon.

I have two short stories that will be featured in the upcoming months. "The Art of Trying" will be published in an anthology about first-generation immigrants and their experiences in America. "Wind and Glass Behind Us" will be published in Bleeding Heart Publications.

Looking beyond 2013, I will be the featured writer in March at the First Tuesdays reading in Jackson Heights.

My reading series, Boundless Tales, is participating for the second time in the NYC Poetry Festival! 

February 7th, 2013

Upcoming readings:

Hamazkayin American-Armenian Writers
Friday, February 22nd
8pm
Waltz Astoria
23-14 Ditmars Blvd
Astoria, NY 11105

Fireside Reading at LIC Bar
Thursday, April 4th
(details to follow)

Oh, Bernice!
Saturday, June 15th
(details to follow)

December 4th

Niche Magazine published my piece "A Passing Season" several months ago.
http://www.nichelitmag.com/

Theurgy Lit will be publishing my piece "For the Good of the Whole" by the end of the month.
http://www.theurgymagazine.co.uk/

My reading series Boundless Tales will be hosting writers from the inaugural issue of Newtown Literary (http://newtownliterary.org/) on Friday, December 14th. Go to Boundlesstales.blogspot.com for more details. 

July 2012

Wonderful and chaotic. Let me organize this cohesively....

Boundless Tales news:
We are part of the NYC Poetry Festival this year! Our featured readers are: Gabriel Cabrera,        Michael Alpiner and Jill Parshley.
      Sunday, July 22nd
      12pm
      Governor's Island at Chumley's stage
      http://poetrysocietyny.org/new-york-city-poetry-festival/info-for-this-year/

Boundless Tales is also celebrating its one year anniversary in September. If Boundless Tales was your first public forum for reading your work please submit to be featured in September. Go to Boundlesstales.blogspot.com for more details.
We were also given a write up in the Greenpoint Star: http://www.greenpointstar.com/view/full_story/19569798/article-Writers-reunite-for-Queens’-reading-series-?instance=lead_story_left_column


My novel (untitled):
     I am half-way through with my novel! I am hoping to have it done by the early winter, revise and edit before the spring and start querying agents and small presses shortly after.

The reading at the Armenian Center was given a lovely write up in the Armenian Mirror-Spectator
(pg. 10-11) http://www.mirrorspectator.com/pdf/063012.pdf


New story published
      Niche Magazine accepted my piece "A Passing Season" for their fall issue to be released in September 2012.


Newtown Literary
      My fellow writer Tim Fredrick founded a Queens-based literary journal, Newtown Literary. As a new member of the editorial board I encouraged writers to submit their work! Go to www.newtownliterary.org for submission details.

April 2012

I will be reading this Thursday evening April 12, 2012, 8:00 p.m.

at The Armenian Center, 69-23 47th Avenue, Woodside, NY

LITERARY GEMS AND WINE with Nora Armani, Lucine Kasbarian,

Lola Koundakjian, Aida Zilelian-Silak

February 2012

I am probably one-third deep into my new novel. It doesn't have a title yet.

My story "In My Innocence" that was published in the anthology paniK: Candid Stories of Life Altering Experiences Surrounding Pregnancy is now available as an ebook, on iPad, iPhone, and

iPod touch:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/panik/id501140851?mt=11

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/panik-melissa-ferina/1108259087?ean=9781105513206&itm=1&usri=panik

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/HelpInspireOthers

The anthology is also available at the Huntington Book Revue.

December 10th

The results are in - my novel THE HOLLOWING MOON is one of five finalists for the 2011 Mercer Street Books Fiction Prize. Selected from more than 500 entries, the winner is Dorette Snover for THE CITY OF LADIES. Find the excerpt from the winning novel, along with the list of five finalists at:

http://www.anderbo.com/anderbo1/andernovelcontest-02.html

My story "The Festering" will be featured in the inaugural issue of Sucker Lit in the upcoming months.

"The Weight of Emptiness" was recently accepted by Halfway Down the Stairs for the winter issue. This journal published my piece "Almost There" two years ago, and both pieces tell the same plot through the eyes of two different characters.

October 23rd

Some updates and news:

My novel THE HOLLOWING MOON is one of the four top finalists (out of 500 entries) of the Anderbo Novel Contest. The winner will be announced in December.

My story "In My Innocence" has been published in an anthology by Help Inspire Others.

Copies are being sold at www.lulu.com

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/panik/18186827?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1

"Toni with an 'i'" was recently published in Red Fez.

http://www.redfez.net/nonfiction/327/0

"The Festering" has been accepted by Sucker Literary Magazine,

and will be featured in either the upcoming or February issue.

"The Weight of Emptiness" has been accepted by Halfway Down the Stairs,

and will be featured in their December issue.

Readings - I will be reading at the following venues next Sunday:

Phoenix Reading Series

Sunday, October 30th

4pm - 6pm

Caffe Scali

235 Bleeker Street

New York, NY

Art & Slush: Soho

Sunday, October 30th

7:30pm - 9:30pm

J.J. Holdings

94 Prince Street

New York, NY

September 16th

The first evening of the Boundless Tales Reading Series was a great success!

We are now looking for submissions for Thursday, October 27th.

Please note: although flyers have been distributed throughout Astoria and the date was originally October 20th, it is now October 27th.

Readings will usually run the third Thursday of each month, but this is subject to change based on holidays schedules.

August 29th

Boundless Tales Reading Series will launch on September 15th!

There are six great readers for the evening.

A separate website for the series is in progress.

Next reading: Thursday, October 20st

The theme is open.

In the spirit of Halloween your most terrifying stories are welcome!

June 29th

* Newsflash!! - I may be starting a reading series in Astoria that will (hopefully) begin in September. I will be inviting writers to submit their work for the series. Ten minutes per author, 6 - 8 authors will read for the evening.

Questions I want answers to (in order of importance from least to most):

What are my plans for tonight?

Is it bad to want to hire a person to clean the house even though I have off for the summer?

Why are some of my plants dying?

Am I mildly allergic to goat cheese or clam strips? (I had both last night and felt a tightness in my chest.)

Should I treat mean people fairly?

June 1st

Things I detest:

The feeling of dread

A recipe that requires more work than necessary, and tastes terrible

People who aren't straight-forward

People who constantly ask me if I'm mad at them

Right before the end of something great

Things I will always look forward to:

A new good book

My husband coming home (even if he went around the corner to buy bananas)

Making apple butter

Starting a new story

Getting rejection letters (that one is too long to explain)

May 27, 2011

My list of things I'm happy about:

I'm going to make coconut lime semifreddo this weekend.

I'm writing a story about a girl whose brother drowns.

I finished writing a story from the perspective of the character David in my published piece "Almost There."

My next next-door neighbor's house is being attacked by bees. (I'm not happy about this. I feel bad for him, but wanted to include it in the list as something interesting.) I have never seen a swarm so intense and unrelenting.

One of my favorite former students graduated from Five Towns last weekend. And although he invited me, I wasn't able to make it. But I'm so proud of him.

I went to buy iced coffee from Bakeway - one of my favorite places in Astoria - with my friend Karen who I think is awesome.

The theme of tomorrow's list.... TBA.

April 25th

Finally revised the entire manuscript again. Small, necessary changes.

Two days ago: three rejections.

Three days ago: my new story "The Darkness of North" was featured in Waccamaw Journal.

Today: going shoe shopping.

April 14th, 2011

New story released - "To Be Home Again" featured by Assisi Journal

Yesterday: two rejections

Tomorrow: "A matter that becomes clear ceases to concern us." - Nietzsche

I'm trying to figure out what to do about that.

Also - if you had to pick one person to follow for an entire day and they were oblivious to your existence, who would it be?

Who would it NOT be? Probably myself.

April 11th, 2011

Today: two rejections for two different stories, and one acceptance of a story that has already found a home with Assisi Journal. I had sent a withdrawal notice, but I guess they never received it.

Last week: an acceptance from Waccamaw Journal. The story should be featured by the end of the month!

Last month: a small press in Sacramento asked to see my entire manuscript "The Hollowing Moon". They said it will take them 4-6 weeks to get back to me. So hopefully by the end of this month I'll hear back from them.