Cemetery Moon #8

The Summer Reading Program kicked off today, fun was had by all at the "pajama picnic party". The real busy time starts Monday so while I still had time I wanted to mention that I had a story in the latest issue of Cemetery Moon. My story The Hell Spinner, about a demonic carnival ride graces its pages.

Buy it HERE

Note: I finished my writing goal early tonight. So I decided to work on the blog a little. Changed the look, etc. That light colored writing on black was starting to hurt my eyes.

A Story Published

Hey all,

I may have blogged about this already, I can’t remember and I really am feeling too lazy to scroll through my own blog and find out, my lack of motivation sickens me. Anyway I have a short story in the Horrorzine’s new anthology, A Feast of Frights. The story is called Spicy Thai noodle and it is about a vampire after zombogedon. Those of you curious about the story can head over HERE and buy it from amazon, if you are so inclined. Available in both print and kindle.

For those of you still reading here is the blurb: From the pages of The Horror Zine-the critically acclaimed online horror magazine-comes A FEAST OF FRIGHTS FROM THE HORROR ZINE edited by Jeani Rector. Featuring dark fantasy, mystery, pure suspense and classic horror, this book from The Horror Zine is relentless in its approach to basic fears and has twisted, unexpected endings. Come and find out what terrifying things can creep out of The Horror Zine to make your skin crawl. A FEAST OF FRIGHTS FROM THE HORROR ZINE contains fiction from such renowned masters of the macabre as Simon Clark, Graham Masterton, Joe R. Lansdale, Scott Nicholson, Cheryl Kaye Tardif, Joe McKinney, Susie Moloney, Tom Piccirilli, Ed Gorman, Trevor Denyer, and Jeff Strand. This book has amazing articles from John Gilmore, Deborah LeBlanc, Earl Hamner, Kasey Lansdale and Tim Lebbon, and a Foreword from horror great Ramsey Campbell. Here you will also find other deliciously dark delights from morbidly creative people who have not yet made the big time…but will soon. Each tale and poem, every article and artful rendering is a dark delicacy of its own, making this a true Feast of Frights!

An Interview

Hey everyone, I am going to be in Big Pulp’s new Pirates and Swashbucklers anthology, coming out in September. One of the contributors Kameron M. Frankiln, did some author interview with all the contributors. You can stop by his website Pens & Swords to read my answers to such questions as :

When did you first realize you were a writer?

What authors influence or inspire you?

What book(s) have you read more than once? What drew you back?

In 25 words or less, how would you define “pulp” as a genre?

What made you decide to submit a story for the Pirates & Swashbucklers anthology?

How did you come up with the idea for your story? What is your writing process like?

Do you consider yourself a “pulp” writer? Why? Is there another genre you like to write?

Care to weigh in with your opinion of the e-book?

Where can someone find more of your work?

Shoot-Out Story Published

I’ve been talking about the latest PHP writer’s shoot-out over the past couple of weeks. These are just short story competitions that we have at Pill Hill Press, the rules change with whoever is hosting the event and some are competitions while others are more like writing workshops. No matter what the format they are always fun.

Anyway the time before this one I wrote a story called The Terrifying Legend of Jim, it was a horror story but one written with my own odd sense of humor. The result was what could only be called a horror parody. It got very good reviews during the shoot out. I shopped it around a few places and got some very complimentary rejection letters. Which is kind of a weird thing to say, but when a pro-paying magazine that you really, really want to get in, that usually only sends out form rejections, sends you a personal rejection that says they like your writing but the humor of the story didn’t quite fit the magazine and then they go into a few specifics about what they think would make the story stronger for another market, well that is pretty exciting.

But all I was getting was rejections and then my wife, editor in chief of Pill Hill Press, told me that Shane McKenzie(one of the other participants in the shoot-out) would like the story for an anthology he was editing for Pill Hill Press. When we first started PHP we published a few of our stories to fill in when someone didn’t provide a contract in time, but we try not to publish our stuff.

I made an exception for this when I heard that my short little story was part of what gave Shane the idea to do the anthology. The fact that I had (partially) inspired someone to…well do anything really, with my writing was a huge ego boost and I sent it off right away. Well the book is out!

If you are interested in fun horror parodies pick up a copy of It Was A Dark and Stormy Night

A Story Published

Hey all. Just wanted to mention that my story “The Last Hero” is now available in Library of Horror Press’ Alienology: Tales from the Void anthology. This story was my first foray into superhero fiction. It tells the story of one of earth’s last superheroes after an alien invasion. I couldn't really tell  you a lot more than that, it was accepted waaaay back in September of 2009 and I haven't read it since then, and to be honest, I don't remember the story  very well. Which is kind of weird. Maybe in a few years I will be able to go back and read my early stuff and not remember it at all...then I could be my own fan or, more likely, my own critic. Hmmm...  Anyway, you can buy the anthology HERE

That leaves five stories that are waiting on publication and six stories that I am still trying to find a home for. I haven’t been writing too many shorts of late so this might be it for awhile. When I have time to write I keep trying to finish up Blood Plague.

Speaking of Blood Plague, I think I figured out that last little piece of the story that is setting up the conclusion. I am hoping to get those two chapters written this weekend and then after that, if I have time to write, progress should fly on Blood Plague. Until about mid July or so I am only going to be able to write on weekends so it’s a little up in the air how long it will take, my wife and I already have plans for this weekend and next, summer gets so busy. I am estimating that I still have around 20,000 words left, which I could easily get done in a month or so in the spring or fall, but it is going to take a little longer than that.

New Fantasy Story

I have a short story available in the May issue of Sorcerous Signals. The story is a prequel to my unpublished novel The Laws of Summer. It started out as just a few notes of back story for one of the characters Xander, and ended up being story in and of itself.

Here is the description Carol Hightshoe gives for the story on the Sorceress Signals website: Humans and Half-Elfs fight the wars the Summer Elves refuse to fight. What happens when the Summer Elves finally take the field against their enemies - the Winter Elves and what will be impact on the world?

You can read it HERE

Unquiet Earth available

Hey all,

Just thought I would mention that Static Movement’s Unquiet Earth anthology is a available for purchase. My short story, The Ugly Little Zombling is in this one. So if you got a hankerin' for some undead flash fiction, you can buy it HERE

Scaretastic

My short story, Scaretastic, was just published online over at The Fringe. Read it HERE This one was first written as a play on the urban legend of the haunted house where you get your money back if you can finish it.

A Story Published & A Glimpse Of My Nerdhood

Hi all, sorry I haven’t posted in awhile. I’ve been super busy doing stuff for my real job, as a children’s librarian, and I haven’t had time to do much writing. I do have a new short story out in the April issue of Bards & Sages Quarterly.

Here is the description from amazon:

Where else will you find angels, aliens, dragons, werewolves, talking crayons, and evil garden gnomes all in the same place? Each issue of the Bards and Sages Quarterly brings readers engaging, original speculative fiction from both new and established authors. Also in this issue: our writers talk about why they write speculative fiction.

The part about werewolves is me. Yep, that’s right I did one of the classics. I tried to put my own spin on it, by setting it in ancient Rome It also has a bit of a twist ending, but I think that is okay sometimes.

This one popped into my head when I was surfing the net and  came across Lupercalia, the ancient Roman holiday also known as the Festival of the Wolf…

I almost deleted that last sentence. I went back and forth. But I decided that I am okay with you knowing that I googled holidays in ancient cultures one day when I was bored. Yes, it is a glimpse of just how nerdy I am but hey, this blog is about sharing. Right?

Anyway a preview of Bards & Sages can be seen HERE, and a print copy can be purchased off of Amazon HERE

Published Stories

Hey all I have been a little negligent in telling you about my stuff getting published, here are two short stories that have recently been reprinted online:

The Lunatics Bloodletting originally published in The End of Days anthology from Living Dead Press and reprinted in the February Issue of Static Movement. It is the post apocalyptic story of a frozen world and a cult of moon worshipers. READ IT HERE

The Crystal Blight originally published in the October 2010 issue of Outer Reaches magazine and reprinted online in the March 2011 issue of Orion’s Child. It is the story of a flame haired female space pirate and a disease that crystallizes the infected. READ IT HERE

In a side note I had originally planned on writing The Crystal Blight as a series of short stories about the disease traveling through different time periods and worlds. My original idea was to write six fantasy stories, six sci-fi stories, and six horror stories and then try to get them published as a collection. I finished one and then shelved the idea having decided that someone who wants to read fantasy probably won’t want to read sci-fi or horror and vice versa. But I still have the project in my idea file so it might happen someday.

A short story published

My short story, Let Justice Be Done, has just been published in The Scroll of Anubis, a mummy anthology. My story features a group of roman soldiers who were mummified in a bog. But they were Vigiles Urbani, the watchmen of the city who died hunting a criminal and they do not rest easy. The thieves that stole their bodies soon find that the phrase, Fiat justia, ruat caelu, “Let Justice be done, even though the heavens fall” is more than just a motto. Amazon link

My story Mortis Lupus was also accepted for publication in Bards & Sages Quarterly today.

Story Published

My short story, Blood of Warriors, Blood of Kings, has been published in Iron Bound ezine. It is a short story that begins with a knight who is tied down as a sacrifice, and is clearly a sword and sorcery tale. It is just a fun little action story. You ca read the pdf here

Barton's Players Published

My short story Barton's Players is up on Moon Drenched Fables.

Read it Here!

This is an exciting publication for me. This is I think the third or fourth short story that I wrote after deciding to become a writer, and it is the only one that didn't get published right away. But I recently did a major edit and bam-o, it got published by the next place I sent it to.

It is the fantasy story of a troup of "players" who comes up with a complex plan to rob the richest man in the kingdom...the king.

Another Reprint

My story from Pill Hill Press' Fourhorsemen anthology has been reprinted online at Static Movement. It is a story of a family torn apart by civil war in a fantasy world. I know that sounds very dramatic but don't worry the entire thing takes place on a battle field, so there is a lot of action.

Read It Here!

Story Online

Hey all, I just had my story from Pandora's Nightmare reprinted online at Mirror Dance. So if you didn't get a chance to read it, why not check it out?

The story is called,Epimetheus' Palace. This story is about Pandora and a couple of soldiers who must return to Epimetheus' Palace years later to close Pandora's Box.

Read It Here

Seeker of Vengeance

My story, Seeker of Vengeance, was just published by Planet Magazine. As the title suggests, it is a fantasy story of a young man seeking vengeance. Read it Here

A Zombie Story

My zombie, A New Day, was just published in the July Issue of House of Horror. You can read it HERE

Have a great 4th of July!!!

Bards & Sages

I have a story in the July issue of Bards & Sages Quaterly. The Technician is the story of a computer technician. But it turns out that computers are a fantasy land, and to repair them the Technician must enter the land and play the part of a fantasy hero.

Check it out on Amazon

Henry the Hero Published

My short piece of flash fiction, Henry the Hero, is online in the July issue of Golden Visions. This is a pretty old story that I wrote over a year ago. It is humorous fantasy. For my beta readers who might check it out, you will notice some changes. The editor took out a few of the slightly off color humor, instead of a PG-13 rating I think it would be PG now.

The story is a better read now, it just isn't quite as funny. But if you get the chance check out Henry and his "long damn walk for no good reason" or what's that other thing its called... oh yeah, a quest. Read it Here!

Absent Willow Review

Just a quick note before I go to bed. My story, Higher Learning has just been published in the Absent Willow Review. You can check it out here if you are interested.

The story is about a group of humans in the near future who are trying to fight off the aliens that have conquered earth. So as far as genre goes I would have to put this one firmly in the Sci-fi category.