Louise Zedda-Sampson's Blog, page 7
April 17, 2020
New release news - Infected 2: Stories to Read Alone
They say change brings opportunity, and we're certainly facing some pretty radical changes right now.
Steve Dillon from Things in the Well has once again reached out to authors to contribute during these challenging times and created not one, but two anthologies that will certainly leave you feeling that things can indeed be worse.
All proceeds from Infected: Tales to Read at Home and Infected 2: Tales to Read Alone will be donated to Save the Children and once again fund-matched by Microsoft as part of their Giving Campaign.
Both editions now available at Amazon.
From the publisher, Steve Dillon, regarding my contribution in Infected 2:Tales to Read Alone:
"Some stories in 'Infected'1 and 2 are reprints of tales told long ago, when the current situation could only be told of using fiction. In contrast, Louise Zedda-Sampson's 'Confinement' from Infected 2 was written only a few days ago, and in this you really get a sense of claustrophobia. It's a very short flash fiction that succinctly encapsulates life in these current times, this 'new normal' that we're being prepared for. Let's hope it doesn't get as bleak as Louise's imagination!"
Steve Dillon from Things in the Well has once again reached out to authors to contribute during these challenging times and created not one, but two anthologies that will certainly leave you feeling that things can indeed be worse.
All proceeds from Infected: Tales to Read at Home and Infected 2: Tales to Read Alone will be donated to Save the Children and once again fund-matched by Microsoft as part of their Giving Campaign.
Both editions now available at Amazon.From the publisher, Steve Dillon, regarding my contribution in Infected 2:Tales to Read Alone:
"Some stories in 'Infected'1 and 2 are reprints of tales told long ago, when the current situation could only be told of using fiction. In contrast, Louise Zedda-Sampson's 'Confinement' from Infected 2 was written only a few days ago, and in this you really get a sense of claustrophobia. It's a very short flash fiction that succinctly encapsulates life in these current times, this 'new normal' that we're being prepared for. Let's hope it doesn't get as bleak as Louise's imagination!"
March 11, 2020
Book review by Ben Walker at Kendall Reviews
'Most of the pieces run to 5 pages or less, so while there’s plenty to sink your teeth into, these are light bites – some much lighter than others as flash fiction pops up alongside a couple of longer pieces. And there are plenty of stand-out tales to make this worth stumping up your cash for: Miguela Considine gives you a tropical taste of death in Old Stones, a grim fairytale filled with vivid imagery and discomforting darkness. A discarded heart looks for love in Kardia by Donna Laemmlen, a truly bizarre and brilliant piece, rollercoastering between downbeat and hopeful, gruesome and weirdly beautiful. Josh Strnad offers you A Receipt to look over and chuckle at briefly, as does Janis Butler Holm in a pun-filled flash fiction piece called Abduction Again – you can probably guess what that one’s about.'
https://kendallreviews.com/book-review-burning-love-and-bleeding-hearts-edited-by-louise-zedda-sampson-chris-mason/
https://kendallreviews.com/book-review-burning-love-and-bleeding-hearts-edited-by-louise-zedda-sampson-chris-mason/
Book review of Burning Love and Bleeding Hearts by K.B. Elijah
'There are some seriously talented writers in this book, from those who capture fear and suspense perfectly, to those who weave a beautiful verse of poetic symphony. Tales of loss and hope, the scary and the mundane, worthy endeavours and petty failures.
My personal favourites include Smoke Signals (a great twist), Valentine's Volunteer (fantastic writing), Heart of Dust (I loved this one), Hermit 2.0 (you broke my heart) and Seamless (so eerie and chilling!).'
Ceri Hoener writes as K.B. Elijah. Her wonderful story 'To Cherish, Love and Obey' is included in this collection.
https://www.facebook.com/BurningLoveAndBleedingHearts/posts/136714877847226
My personal favourites include Smoke Signals (a great twist), Valentine's Volunteer (fantastic writing), Heart of Dust (I loved this one), Hermit 2.0 (you broke my heart) and Seamless (so eerie and chilling!).'
Ceri Hoener writes as K.B. Elijah. Her wonderful story 'To Cherish, Love and Obey' is included in this collection.
https://www.facebook.com/BurningLoveAndBleedingHearts/posts/136714877847226
February 16, 2020
A post from contributing author Rebecca Fraser
Thanks Rebecca for contributing your excellent story, Hermit 2.0 to Burning Love and Bleeding Hearts, and for this fabulous post.
Check out Rebecca's website for a list of her other publications.
https://writingandmoonlighting.com/2020/02/17/burning-love-and-bleeding-hearts-charity-anthology-for-australias-bushfire-relief-turning-love-tropes-on-their-heads/?fbclid=IwAR1ShBiJGvB2r1NlejiRUvUP02nGpAvsFI3bFvmGyag2-Nvvq60ZV6bcWYk
Check out Rebecca's website for a list of her other publications.
https://writingandmoonlighting.com/2020/02/17/burning-love-and-bleeding-hearts-charity-anthology-for-australias-bushfire-relief-turning-love-tropes-on-their-heads/?fbclid=IwAR1ShBiJGvB2r1NlejiRUvUP02nGpAvsFI3bFvmGyag2-Nvvq60ZV6bcWYk
February 13, 2020
Creating an anthology
Happy book birthday, Burning Love and Bleeding Hearts Burning Love and Bleeding Hearts is the first anthology I’ve created as an editor – and what a wild ride it was. I co-edited with award-winning author Chris Mason, who I’d not met or talked to prior to this experience. What a way to get to know someone – it was certainly an ordeal by fire! Between mid-December and the end of January, Chris and I read 200 submissions and edited 60 poems and stories – just under 60,000 words. There were days full of email communications, other days with phone calls and Facebook chats. We read each story and poem submitted, most of them several times. We didn’t always agree, often having to revisit stories and reread to find what the other person saw in it that we didn’t. We had long lists, short lists, possibly rejected and definitely rejected lists, and over the six weeks the call was open, things moved with some fluidity between categories. But, we got there, almost all of a sudden. In the week before submissions closed, the theme and categories were clearly established, and the anthology began to really take shape.
When I pitched the idea of a Valentine’s Day anthology to Steve Dillon at Things in the Well – just before Christmas I might add – I had no idea, whatsoever, what would be involved. To be honest, I was hoping he would do it and I would help. But he said, ‘It’s yours! Who do you want to work with?’ and suggested Chris Mason. It happened so fast I was saying ‘Yes’ before really thinking it through. At this time, Chris was under threat of the fires in the Adelaide Hills in SA. Thankfully, the fires caused her no harm and a few days later, Chris agreed to be co-editor. There were fires still burning in many other places when we started, therefore it was easy for us to dedicate receipts from this anthology to the victims of the bushfires.
It’s been one hell of a journey. Sure, there have been some ups and downs: missed emails, incorrect spellings, misunderstandings, even a little tension here and there. But it was a massive job with a tight timeframe, and we chucked everything we all had into it, so this was bound to happen. Now the project is complete, we are all happy with the result and still talking to each other – which is always a bonus, especially for someone with an Italian temperament (me). Would we do things differently another time? Certainly! For a start, I wouldn’t have to ask so many questions about contracts, acceptances, rejections, process, protocol and – all the other stuff you need to do when publishing a book – printing, sales, reviews and marketing. Maybe I’d also look at a longer submission period with more warning for authors – starting in … November!
As we compiled the anthology, Steve would remind me, often, about Hell’s Bells, the 2016 Australasian Horror Writers Association member magazine. Steve was president and I was a general committee member and we’d created Hell’s Bells in two weeks. Two weeks. Could it be harder than that? Could it? Apparently so! For a start, Hell’s Bells was a member magazine and had only forty submissions of 500 words – all of which were accepted. But, knowing it could be done … thanks Steve for the gentle encouragement along the way.
The thing I most loved about the submissions for this anthology was the way in which the authors took to the theme. The submission call was brief:
“The theme is Valentine’s Day, so we’re after dark, suspenseful, menacing, memorable tales of human love gone wrong, or monster love gone right!”
And we certainly received tales that suited. There were some that didn’t match our interpretation of the theme, and others that were looking for a home in a different type of anthology perhaps, but we enjoyed reading every one. As a writer, this made me realise that some submissions can be very well written, but they don’t suit the editors’ vision for their product. This is really worth remembering when you get your next rejection.
The other thing we wished for, was more time to work with authors on their stories. Big take home for authors who are submitting to a call out – Don’t submit last minute! Towards the end of the submission period, we had a clear idea of what we still needed and what we already had. It would be true to say that some stories, had they come in first, may have been accepted in place of others.
We also saw so many diamonds in the rough that we would have loved to help polish, but just didn’t have the time.
When we were reading the submissions, we did not want to be influenced by publishing credits or experience and often read the introductory letter last. Maybe because of this – or certainly in part, who can really say – we’ve ended up with a collection that showcases emerging, established, literary and genre writers, all from a multitude of backgrounds and ethnicities. The stories selected transcend the standard love tropes. The characters in this collection find love in crisis, experience love that is or creates a crisis, and find love born from crisis. Once again, crisis is the catalyst that helps us find what we seek, and why I love the speculative fiction and horror genre so much. The tales of love, in some instances, extended beyond species, gender and death. Another reason to love this genre – there are limitless boundaries.
Now, as I hold the proof copy in my hand and flick through the pages and read the stories anew, it’s like childbirth: I forget the bumpy road and all the work it’s taken to get here. I look at this new creation and know: It’s a damn fine collection.
Chris and I love Burning Love and Bleeding Hearts. We feel every piece selected adds to the narrative and makes the anthology richer for its inclusion. With this concluding thought, our wish is that you, the reader, enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed reading and compiling it.
Happy book-release day to us, and happy bloody Valentine’s Day, sweethearts!
When I pitched the idea of a Valentine’s Day anthology to Steve Dillon at Things in the Well – just before Christmas I might add – I had no idea, whatsoever, what would be involved. To be honest, I was hoping he would do it and I would help. But he said, ‘It’s yours! Who do you want to work with?’ and suggested Chris Mason. It happened so fast I was saying ‘Yes’ before really thinking it through. At this time, Chris was under threat of the fires in the Adelaide Hills in SA. Thankfully, the fires caused her no harm and a few days later, Chris agreed to be co-editor. There were fires still burning in many other places when we started, therefore it was easy for us to dedicate receipts from this anthology to the victims of the bushfires.
It’s been one hell of a journey. Sure, there have been some ups and downs: missed emails, incorrect spellings, misunderstandings, even a little tension here and there. But it was a massive job with a tight timeframe, and we chucked everything we all had into it, so this was bound to happen. Now the project is complete, we are all happy with the result and still talking to each other – which is always a bonus, especially for someone with an Italian temperament (me). Would we do things differently another time? Certainly! For a start, I wouldn’t have to ask so many questions about contracts, acceptances, rejections, process, protocol and – all the other stuff you need to do when publishing a book – printing, sales, reviews and marketing. Maybe I’d also look at a longer submission period with more warning for authors – starting in … November!
As we compiled the anthology, Steve would remind me, often, about Hell’s Bells, the 2016 Australasian Horror Writers Association member magazine. Steve was president and I was a general committee member and we’d created Hell’s Bells in two weeks. Two weeks. Could it be harder than that? Could it? Apparently so! For a start, Hell’s Bells was a member magazine and had only forty submissions of 500 words – all of which were accepted. But, knowing it could be done … thanks Steve for the gentle encouragement along the way.
The thing I most loved about the submissions for this anthology was the way in which the authors took to the theme. The submission call was brief:
“The theme is Valentine’s Day, so we’re after dark, suspenseful, menacing, memorable tales of human love gone wrong, or monster love gone right!”
And we certainly received tales that suited. There were some that didn’t match our interpretation of the theme, and others that were looking for a home in a different type of anthology perhaps, but we enjoyed reading every one. As a writer, this made me realise that some submissions can be very well written, but they don’t suit the editors’ vision for their product. This is really worth remembering when you get your next rejection.
The other thing we wished for, was more time to work with authors on their stories. Big take home for authors who are submitting to a call out – Don’t submit last minute! Towards the end of the submission period, we had a clear idea of what we still needed and what we already had. It would be true to say that some stories, had they come in first, may have been accepted in place of others.
We also saw so many diamonds in the rough that we would have loved to help polish, but just didn’t have the time.
When we were reading the submissions, we did not want to be influenced by publishing credits or experience and often read the introductory letter last. Maybe because of this – or certainly in part, who can really say – we’ve ended up with a collection that showcases emerging, established, literary and genre writers, all from a multitude of backgrounds and ethnicities. The stories selected transcend the standard love tropes. The characters in this collection find love in crisis, experience love that is or creates a crisis, and find love born from crisis. Once again, crisis is the catalyst that helps us find what we seek, and why I love the speculative fiction and horror genre so much. The tales of love, in some instances, extended beyond species, gender and death. Another reason to love this genre – there are limitless boundaries.
Now, as I hold the proof copy in my hand and flick through the pages and read the stories anew, it’s like childbirth: I forget the bumpy road and all the work it’s taken to get here. I look at this new creation and know: It’s a damn fine collection.
Chris and I love Burning Love and Bleeding Hearts. We feel every piece selected adds to the narrative and makes the anthology richer for its inclusion. With this concluding thought, our wish is that you, the reader, enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed reading and compiling it.
Happy book-release day to us, and happy bloody Valentine’s Day, sweethearts!
February 10, 2020
February 11th, 2020
Burning Love and Bleeding Hearts is now available from Amazon and major online retailers. As Steve Dillon, the publisher, says: "Scream, shout, jump about and share the news! It's alive!"
It's a fabulous collection of poetry and short fiction.
"Burning Love and Bleeding Hearts. The title says it all. Who would think love could be so… dangerous? This anthology is a mix of poetry and short fiction that brings you 60 tales of love found, love lost, or love experienced in ways you may never have imagined. Weird and macabre, sometimes humorous, often terrifying, these tales – presented by an international line up of authors – will make your heart skip a beat."
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1650175345?fbclid=IwAR1vtjkyKiHlxEGftitEy-5fsUNTFCmYOVOw5bz_ffh8t_blh-AVzjnHseE
It's a fabulous collection of poetry and short fiction.
"Burning Love and Bleeding Hearts. The title says it all. Who would think love could be so… dangerous? This anthology is a mix of poetry and short fiction that brings you 60 tales of love found, love lost, or love experienced in ways you may never have imagined. Weird and macabre, sometimes humorous, often terrifying, these tales – presented by an international line up of authors – will make your heart skip a beat."
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1650175345?fbclid=IwAR1vtjkyKiHlxEGftitEy-5fsUNTFCmYOVOw5bz_ffh8t_blh-AVzjnHseE
February 1, 2020
ToC announced for Burning Love and Bleeding Hearts
We're pleased to announce the final ToC for Burning Love and Bleeding Hearts, edited by Louise Zedda-Sampson and Chris Mason and published by Steve Dillon at Things In The Well. We received just under 200 submissions and have selected 60 of these to be included. We thank every single person who submitted. All funds will go to charity to assist those affected by the Australian bushfires.
The ToC will read as follows:
_______________________
Tender Whisper on a Crimson Tongue by Erik Hofstatter
Orchid, Squirrel, White-Hot Star by Russell Hemmell
A Saint Valentine’s Day Tale by James Dorr
To Cherish, Love, and Obey by K. B. Elijah - author
Waxing Her by Michael Arnzen
Oldstones by Miguela Considine
Melody in the Dark by Sarah Doebereiner
The Rose Room by Kurt Newton
Tetratophile by Blake Jessop
Kardia by Donna Laemmlen
Smoke Signals by Lynne Lumsden Green
Abduction Again by Janis Butler Holm
Invisible Boy by Bruce Meyer
Valentine’s Volunteer by AJ Collins
King Cupie by Josh Dygert
Geometric Dilemma or Made for Each Other? by Nadja Maril
Fallen Angel by Alyson Faye
Dark Wings by Gerri Leen
Jarred by N. M. Brown
When He Comes by Susan Snyder
Seamless by Geneve Flynn
Screaming for Love by Diane Arrelle
Edible Panties by Kevin J. Kennedy
Flowering Night by Mere Rain
Love Ya to Death by Steve Carr
Honeymoon Lodge by Kurt Newton
Cleaning up the Act by Steve Dillon - Writer
A Receipt by Joshua Strnad
Pit of Love by Claire Fitzpatrick
Lover Song, Mantis Instinct by Russell Hemmell
Dance of the Forever Wolf by S. M. Fedor
Broken Crows by William Falo
Bloom by Kurt Newton
Wrong Number by Noel Osualdini
Vegan Vamp by Donna J. W. Munro
One from the Heart by Anthony Paul Ferguson
Polluted by Sara Tantlinger
Lovers’ Quarrel by Michael A. Clark
Threeplay by Suzanne Lafetra
DNA by E. E. King
Encore by Nic Brady
Whiter Shade of Pale by C L Raven
Incisions by Sara Tantlinger
The Music of the Heart by John Grant
The Catch by Eugene Johnson
Vampires and Perfume by Michael Arnzen
Doris by Ronnie Smart
Out of Sight, Out of Mind by Alan Meyrowitz
The Lucky Palace by syney khoo
A Ballet of Blood and Flames by Liam Hogan
Still Broken-Hearted by Lynn White
The Lonesome Defeat of Bridge Repair by Gabriel Hart
Heart of Dust by Ric Connely
Or Something by Sara Tantlinger
Damaged by Kevin David Anderson
Stonecold by Leslie Wibberley
Lovers by Laura Wilde
Fermented Fatalities by Sara Tantlinger
Hermit 2.0 by Rebecca Fraser
The Ballad of Elvis O’Malley by Matthew R. Davis
Pre-orders now available at Amazon. Release date 14 February for Valentine's Day...
Ebook pre-order:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Burning-Love-Bleedin…/…/B083D8K4X1
The ToC will read as follows:
_______________________
Tender Whisper on a Crimson Tongue by Erik Hofstatter
Orchid, Squirrel, White-Hot Star by Russell Hemmell
A Saint Valentine’s Day Tale by James Dorr
To Cherish, Love, and Obey by K. B. Elijah - author
Waxing Her by Michael Arnzen
Oldstones by Miguela Considine
Melody in the Dark by Sarah Doebereiner
The Rose Room by Kurt Newton
Tetratophile by Blake Jessop
Kardia by Donna Laemmlen
Smoke Signals by Lynne Lumsden Green
Abduction Again by Janis Butler Holm
Invisible Boy by Bruce Meyer
Valentine’s Volunteer by AJ Collins
King Cupie by Josh Dygert
Geometric Dilemma or Made for Each Other? by Nadja Maril
Fallen Angel by Alyson Faye
Dark Wings by Gerri Leen
Jarred by N. M. Brown
When He Comes by Susan Snyder
Seamless by Geneve Flynn
Screaming for Love by Diane Arrelle
Edible Panties by Kevin J. Kennedy
Flowering Night by Mere Rain
Love Ya to Death by Steve Carr
Honeymoon Lodge by Kurt Newton
Cleaning up the Act by Steve Dillon - Writer
A Receipt by Joshua Strnad
Pit of Love by Claire Fitzpatrick
Lover Song, Mantis Instinct by Russell Hemmell
Dance of the Forever Wolf by S. M. Fedor
Broken Crows by William Falo
Bloom by Kurt Newton
Wrong Number by Noel Osualdini
Vegan Vamp by Donna J. W. Munro
One from the Heart by Anthony Paul Ferguson
Polluted by Sara Tantlinger
Lovers’ Quarrel by Michael A. Clark
Threeplay by Suzanne Lafetra
DNA by E. E. King
Encore by Nic Brady
Whiter Shade of Pale by C L Raven
Incisions by Sara Tantlinger
The Music of the Heart by John Grant
The Catch by Eugene Johnson
Vampires and Perfume by Michael Arnzen
Doris by Ronnie Smart
Out of Sight, Out of Mind by Alan Meyrowitz
The Lucky Palace by syney khoo
A Ballet of Blood and Flames by Liam Hogan
Still Broken-Hearted by Lynn White
The Lonesome Defeat of Bridge Repair by Gabriel Hart
Heart of Dust by Ric Connely
Or Something by Sara Tantlinger
Damaged by Kevin David Anderson
Stonecold by Leslie Wibberley
Lovers by Laura Wilde
Fermented Fatalities by Sara Tantlinger
Hermit 2.0 by Rebecca Fraser
The Ballad of Elvis O’Malley by Matthew R. Davis
Pre-orders now available at Amazon. Release date 14 February for Valentine's Day...
Ebook pre-order:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Burning-Love-Bleedin…/…/B083D8K4X1
January 19, 2020
Burning Love and Bleeding Hearts update
The submissions have been rolling in and we thank all authors for their generous contributions. Submissions are still open until 31 January.
In the meantime, here's a sneak peak of the ToC.
https://thingsinthewell.wordpress.com/2020/01/20/burning-love-first-lineup-announced/?fbclid=IwAR1IZNjWqdko2ogMIOig71C-R89m7fl54yUXAJ7hvfX6ODvOFKIKbj8kLFE
In the meantime, here's a sneak peak of the ToC.
https://thingsinthewell.wordpress.com/2020/01/20/burning-love-first-lineup-announced/?fbclid=IwAR1IZNjWqdko2ogMIOig71C-R89m7fl54yUXAJ7hvfX6ODvOFKIKbj8kLFE
January 5, 2020
January 06th, 2020
I'm supporting the cause and offering a spot at the next writers retreat.
For #AuthorsForFireys I'm offering a spot at the next writers retreat. Package includes all food and single-room accommodation. Does not include transport to and from retreat. https://t.co/QKXvrJt49m
— Louise Zedda-Sampson (@I_say_meow) January 5, 2020
The highest bidder @ 11pm AEDT on Jan 11 wins!
