Sally may not be the brightest dog in the world, but she knows a good story when she sees it.

She’s totally engrossed in my fiction piece “Language Barrier” from Loving the Undead, An Anthology of Romance…Sort of.

I know what you’re thinking. It must have just been released by those spooky folks over at From the Asylum Books and Press. Perfect for Halloween!

Um, no. (Although of course, it’s perfect for Halloween!) Actually, it was released in February (Nothing says “Happy Valentine’s Day, Poopsie!” like horror).

So now you’re thinking the writing connection must be that I wrote the story last October. What better time for creepy thoughts to snake through your brain and out onto the page?

Not exactly. I wrote “Language Barrier” in the summer of 2006 when birds chirped and butterflies flew round my head. Which just goes to show what birds and butterflies messing with my head can do.

But there is a connection. Remember when I mentioned going down The Road to Publication twice in one night? (Yes, you do. It was my last entry, for Pete’s sake.) “Language Barrier” was the other story accepted at the eleventh hour for inclusion in a book mere minutes from going to press. It’s weird, don’t you think, that two stories written in the same summer would both be accepted on New Year’s Eve night? (Cue The Twilight Zone theme song.)

If that’s not creepy enough for you, then crawl on over to this website: http://www.fromtheasylum.com/. Nothing like a little horror to get one in that Undead mood. And don’t forget to check out the “My Sweetie Wears…” Contest results. I think you’ll be frightfully surprised.

Uh, oh! The thrills and chills must have been too much for the beneficent Mr. Hall. Anyway, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Sally Hall is giving me a look as I sit here typing away. If I’m correct, the look is “Are you gonna eat that?” Or maybe it’s “Somebody needs a bath.” It’s hard to say since I’m not the Dog Whisperer.

Yes, Sally is the dog. And while Sally herself has nothing to do with October, the story of Sally has something to do with writing. It even has something to do with a tad of Fame and a little Fortune. And it began in October. Sorta.

Last October, around this time of the month, I waited anxiously to hear if my Sally story had been accepted. I’d sent it, way back in August, to the Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers. By October 5th (Remember how I said the first of the month is a reckoning time for me?) I reckoned my story was a bust. Especially since another member of my writing group had had her story accepted the month before.

But you never know in the submissions business. Smack dab in the middle of December, I got an e-mail saying my story was being considered. After a quick edit, I sent “The Cost of a Dog” back to Colleen Sell and waited again. On New Year’s Eve night, I opened my inbox to find an e-mail saying Sally would be in the book! It was perfect timing, since I was celebrating anyway.

Funny thing about that night. I ended up going down the Road to Publication twice. But that’s another story…and besides, Sally was right. Somebody definitely needs a bath.