Kaaron Warren's Blog, page 13
November 6, 2012
Refreshing the Wells
I’m starting a series here today I’m going to call ‘Refreshing the Wells’.
The writer Thornton Wilder coined this phrase to describe the trip to the desert he took, wanting to escape attention and ‘refresh the wells’ of his creativity.
I love the term, and think it perfectly describes something I’ve been seeking words for. We write; outpour; disgorge, on a daily basis, but how do we refill our creativity? How do we refresh the wells?
I try to read something new every day. Or watch, or listen, or observe in some way.
So I’m going to post each day what I’m using to refresh my wells of inspiration.
I’d love to hear from others, too. If you post in the comments, I’ll post your source of refreshment the next day.
Today:
The Smithsonian Magazine, July 09. This carries the article about Thornton Wilder as well as a story about the terracotta soldiers.
October 28, 2012
Through Splintered Walls reading
Here I am reading from my novella Sky at the Melbourne Writer’s Festival. Terry Shepherd did a fantastic job putting this series together. I love Jason Nahrung’s reading from his novella Salvage, accompanied by Talie Helene on the keyboard.
When we launched Slights in Fiji, I read my story “The Gibbet Bell”, accompanied by a very talented friend on the violin. It was wonderful! I know there was a recording of it, but cannot find it or remember who had the footage. I really love readings with music, and think there should be more of it. I’m going to push for this at Conflux 9, so any musicians reading this, please let me know!
October 25, 2012
New Books
I do love these New Book posts. Sometimes the life of a writer can feel isolated. Very solitary and internal. So these messages from the outside, these reminders that my stories are making their way in the world, are revitalising.
Plus, they are wonderful books I’m delighted to own and read.
The Invisible Thread (editor is Irma Gold, publisher is Halstead Press) is subtitled “One hundred years of words”. One hundred years of words written in, or inspired by, Canberra, to celebrate this city’s 100th birthday. An excerpt of my story “The Glass Woman” appears in here, alongside stories by Garth Nix, Roger McDonald, Marian Halligan, Judith Wright and many others.
Najlepsze Horrory A.D. 2012 (editor is Barthomiej Paszyek, publisher is Polonsky) is a Polish publication, gathering the Best Horror of the year. The cover is one of the most disturbing I’ve seen; I have to keep it face down to stop freaking out any innocent visitors. In this book are Polish writers Jaroslaw Mozdzioch and Alexsandra Zielinska amongst others. I wish I could read Polish. Will have to get my dad to translate. My story “All You Can Do is Breathe” appears here.
[image error]
Slices of Flesh (editor is Stan Swanson, publisher is Dark Moon Books) is another book I have to keep facedown. Creepy! Mike Mignola (Hellboy) did the cover. This book is full of tiny nasty tales. I love tiny nasty tales. My story “Blame the Neighbours” appears in this one, which I’m thrilled about, because it’s one of those stories that came to me fully-formed and I like the way it plays out.
October 23, 2012
Sparks: Tales to Terrify
This is a first: Harry Markov talks about what sparked the anthology inspired by the Tales to Terrify podcast. I love the podcast, and most recently I’ve enjoyed listening to Angela Slatter’s The Bones Remember Everything and Laird Barron’s Frontier Death Song
My story “All You Can Do is Breathe” appears here.
Harry says, “The trouble with editing an anthology based on a podcast lies within the fact that the anthology doesn’t seem to have a lot in common with the podcast as a format. I’m speaking from personal experience than an omniscient point of view. My words are never the law on anything, so what I say usually should be taken with a grain of salt, but the podcast has been an exercise in horror exploration. What Larry, Tony and I do with Tales to Terrify is bring forth the best possible horror that we can find.
Pardon me for the TV reference, but Tales to Terrify fits well in the monster-per-week category much like Supernatural’s early seasons. Each week we bring a new story from a new author with a new voice and a new take on horror. Since it’s a week-for-week effort and the accent falls on picking a new scare, new thrill, new chill, the narrative, there’s no overall cohesive substance other than quality. Anthologies tend to need a reason to exist, a cohesive element, which justifies why the stories share the table of contents in the first place.
As such, the general decision behind Tales to Terrify, Volume 1 was to NOT make a Best of collection, even though we had enough material to produce not one, but two anthologies. What we wanted for the anthology was to become a box of chocolates with each wonderful story a different flavor. Horror much like comedy boils down to personal taste and while evil slasher types makes one person’s heart race, it’s a horde of zombies that chills the blood of others. Same goes for pace, for the amount of flash scares and psychological horror.
The concept of the box of chocolates acts as the bonding agent that holds the stories together and all the internal illustrations, which are a direct throw-back to those vintage horror magazines are intentional, because magazines in those times catered to a variety of tastes. Curiously, because we decided against featuring stories that have only aired on the show, Tales to Terrify, Volume 1 bridges nicely between the shows. It showcases the source material for some of the tales on the show and acts as a teaser for what you can experience in later shows.
The editing process after these cardinal decisions has been very organic and the final incarnation of all our efforts speaks for itself.
GAME: You can be one of the lucky 10 people to win a PDF copy of our anthology. All you have to do is find us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TalesToTerrif...) or Twitter (@TalestoTerrify) and answer the following question: What scares you most? The most creative responses will receive the coveted PDF copy and will be featured in our second November show.
The game will end on October 31st, the book’s official launch date. A like and a follow will be appreciated, but are not a prerequisite to enter the competition.
You can follow the blog tour on the following dates and sites:
October, 22nd: Innsmouth Free Press
October, 23rd: Dark Wolf’s Fantasy Reviews (http://darkwolfsfantasyreviews.blogspot.com/)
October, 24th: Kaaron Warren (http://kaaronwarren.wordpress.com/)
October, 25th: Sci fi & Fantasy Lovin’ News and Reviews (http://sqt-fantasy-sci-fi-girl.blogspot.com/)
October, 26th: Fantasy Book Critic (http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/)
October, 29th: Wag the Fox (http://waggingthefox.blogspot.com/)
October, 30th: Angela Slatter (http://www.angelaslatter.com/)
October, 31st: Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review (http://www.graemesfantasybookreview.com/)
September 24, 2012
Conflux 2012
Conflux, the Canberra Science Fiction Convention, is on this weekend. I will be there with bells on, and, perhaps, my pineapple dress. The weather is gorgeous here at the moment, so if you’re trying to decide whether or not to come, do!
My panels and readings are:
Saturday, 10 am
Evil Overlord panel with Jack Dann as Evil Overlord -
Pat Gallagher, Kaaron Warren, Rob Porteous, Lewis Morley and David Versace.
We’ll be discussing suitable doomsday devices and how to employ them.
Saturday, 5pm
Literary Beer. Join me and Rob Hood for all things horror, and all things alcoholic. Or caffeinated. Your choice of beverage, but there will be horror.
Sunday, 10am
Kimberley Gaal and I will read. Kim is going to read part of her brilliant new novel, and I’ll be reading my bizarre piece, “The Human Moth”, soon to appear in Joe Pulver’s Thomas Ligotti tribute anthology.
Sunday, 11am
Imagery: How do you use the things you see in your horror fiction ? Talie Helene, Kaaron Warren, Shauna O’Meara
Sunday, 4.15
Janeen Webb and I will run a Point of View workshop
I’ll also be on the CSFG table at various times, selling all the good books including my Through Splintered Walls. Everyone who buys a copy will receive one of my new bookmarks. These ones are inspired by an old cookbook, so worth collecting!
The full program is up at the Conflux Blog.
August 19, 2012
Melbourne Writers’ Festival
This time next week, I’ll be at the , along with Narelle Harris, Kirstyn McDermott, Cat Sparks, Lucy Sussex, Deborah Kalin, Rosaleen Love, Jason Nahrung and Deborah Biancotti.
This is a free event, although you will need a ticket, and there will be nibbles, books to buy, and some small giveaways from the authors.
It’ll be great to see lots of you there.
July 25, 2012
New Books
Three new books in the mail yesterday, all with my stories in them. Love days like that!
The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy and Horror 2012, edited by Paula Guran from Prime Books, has my story “All You Can Do is Breathe“. Other Aussies in the book include Margo Lanagan, with “Catastrophic Disruption of the Head” and Angela Slatter with “Sun Falls“.
I also received Exotic Gothic 4, edited by Danel Olson, from PS Publishing. My story here is “The Lighthouse Keeper’s Club”, and was inspired by the helplessness I felt when my delightfully eccentric elderly neighbour was institutionalised. This is a gorgeous series, full of fascinating stories.
[image error]
Visions Fading Fast is an anthology of five novellas from some of my favourite writers working today. Nathan Ballingrud, Joel Lane, Reggie Oliver and Paul Meloy join me in the table of contents. My story, “The History Thief” started with the title and the image of a man watching his own body rot. And went from there.
The book is edited by Gary McMahon, another of my favourite writers. His Concrete Grove series of novels show human nature, and the natural world, in a cold, harsh light.
The Publisher is Pendragon Press. Christopher Teague published my first international sale: a short piece called “My Smile”, which appeared in the excellent anthology Nasty Snips.
June 25, 2012
Writerly Update
Through Splintered Walls is out! It’s beautiful. Try your luck at the Goodreads giveaway! I’ll send one of my almost-antique bookplates to the winners.
Ishtar is also out. Ishtar past present and future, novellas from me, Deborah Biancotti and Cat Sparks. This sold out at Contiuum within about 24 hours, but can be ordered.
Nicole Murphy interviewed me as part of her “Writing Processes” series.
Donna Hanson also interviewed me, as part of her “Beta Readers” series.
My story “All You Can Do is Breathe” is coming out in a Polish anthology, called Najlepze Horrory, Best Horror 2012. Here, the translator Roman Ociepa talks about the process. Fascinating!
PS. If you have one of the ‘special’ copies of Through Splintered Walls, ie those sold at Contiuum, missing the first line from every single page (printer error, very quickly replaced) please let me or Alisa Krasonstein know. Copies replaced, free postage.
June 1, 2012
Continuum
Very much looking forward to the Australian National Convention next weekend. Lots of brilliant books to buy, panels to attend, bars to prop up and jokes to laugh hysterically at.
Here’s my formal timetable:
Friday, 7pm, Argyle and Lincoln Rooms
Launch of my new short story collection, Through Splintered Walls, and others!
Ever wondered how your favorite Twelve Planet collection would taste like in cupcake form? Then come along to the Twelfth Planet Cocktail hour, to celebrate the launch of the newest Twelve Planets, ‘Through Splintered Walls’, by Kaaron Warren, and ‘Cracklescape’ by Margo Lanagan, plus the new TPP novella ‘Salvage’ by Jason Nahrung and a surprise announcement! Each book will be lovingly interpreted as a cupcake by master baker, Terri Sellen. Your cocktail choice is entirely your own…
Saturday, 9am, Pelham Room
Panel: Take the Pebble from my Hand, Grasshopper.
with: Louise Cusack, Kimberley Gaal, Jane Routley, Angela Slatter,
When starting out on any path it’s always good to have someone you can ask for advice. Writing is no different and there are many people willing to help. Our panellists discuss how to find a mentor, the benefits of having one and the rewards of being a mentor.
Saturday, 2pm, Drummond Room
Book Launch: Ishtar, edited by Amanda Pillar and K.V. Taylor.
with: Deborah Biancotti, Amanda Pillar, Cat Sparks
The Goddess Ishtar, Past, Present and Future.
This award nominated series of novellas for sale for the first time in paperback.
Sunday, 10am, Argyle Room
Panel: Everyone Loves a Good Murder
with: Lindy Cameron, Stephen Dedman, Tor Roxburgh, Laura Wilkinson
Murder mysteries – and just plain murder – are a staple of science-fiction and fantasy almost as much as crime. Why are we so fascinated with murder and those who commit it?
Sunday, 3pm, Faraday Room
Readings with Stephen Dedman, Chris McMahon and Lucy Sussex.
Full program is here.
May 14, 2012
Mistification Footnotes
“This is Disulfiram, which blocks the metabolism of acetaldehyde, the main metabolite of ethanol. Alcohol builds up acetaldehyde and makes the drinker sick.”
You know as writers we gather snippets of information and imagery that stay with us? This is one of those. Probably 20 years ago, as part of a casual conversation, a friend of a friend (and I still remember who it was) said that his mother used Antabuse secretly on her husband, stirring it into his breakfast. Everybody knew but him, and as he’d take a drink in the early afternoon, then be sick, they’d all know why.
People thought this was funny. I thought it was horrible at two levels. The fact that everyone except the man knew what was going on, so the life he lived was not the life he thought he lived. And the fact that this was her only defence against an alcoholic husband. She was pushed to this because he didn’t act himself.
