Jason Howl's Blog
May 24, 2020
The Realm Beyond's final issue
The Realm Beyond's final issue is on its way!
My horror short, The Renaissance Man, will help see it off.
I will post a link to the final issue when it is available.
In the meantime, check The Realm Beyond's past issues:
http://www.fortresspublishinginc.com/...
My horror short, The Renaissance Man, will help see it off.
I will post a link to the final issue when it is available.
In the meantime, check The Realm Beyond's past issues:
http://www.fortresspublishinginc.com/...
Published on May 24, 2020 13:14
May 15, 2020
Free Stuff for 100th Follower
I can't believe it. 99 people (intelligent and attractive people, all of them) are following me on Goodreads!
I will be keeping an eye out today because my 100th follower will get a free Arachnophilia bookmark.
Now, if you are follower number 99 or 101 (or any other number for that matter) and you want a bookmark too, just message me and ask for one.
Keep reading.
Thanks,
Jason Howl
I will be keeping an eye out today because my 100th follower will get a free Arachnophilia bookmark.
Now, if you are follower number 99 or 101 (or any other number for that matter) and you want a bookmark too, just message me and ask for one.
Keep reading.
Thanks,
Jason Howl
Published on May 15, 2020 18:46
May 2, 2020
Someone to Check out
Victoria Zigler is a fun new author you should check out. Talking to her, you learn she loves writing as much as she loves her many dogs :)
Here is a link to her blog:
https://ziglernews.blogspot.co.uk
And here is a link to her: GR page
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Here is a link to her blog:
https://ziglernews.blogspot.co.uk
And here is a link to her: GR page
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Published on May 02, 2020 15:56
April 29, 2020
Chaos Tales Vol 1
I really enjoyed Chaos Tales. These stories made for a frightening rollercoaster of a horror collection.
Shelter is about James who is caring for Patti who is dead.
Pizza Face is in no way subtle but it is a cautionary tale full of gory fun. Full to bursting.
The Equation makes math even scarier than it already is, for me anyway. The writing style is cool and calm. Law let's the disturbing images shock his readers without beating us over the head with them.
Teen Attack was the only less-than-juicy apple of the bunch. It details a school shooting. But that is all it does. Like anything, the subject is fair game and, while I can't think of anywhere better it could have gone, the subject could in fact make for great horror. But this story ends end with no explanation or insight. Well, that's entirely true. The last sentence sticks with you and perhaps that's enough. It's telling that even in the worst story in this collection doesn't fail to cling to your mind. At least that one sentence does.
Surgery is a good example of a story that works on the reader by abandoning explanation. You're so drawn into the words though that you don't notice or mind. The sights before your mind's eye will keep you busy while Law pulls the rug it from under you.
But my favorite chaos tale is My Familiar & I, in which a rat promises revenge for the downtrodden main character. I say main character because in this story (just like the other stories in this collection) there is a refreshing lack of heroes.
Shelter is about James who is caring for Patti who is dead.
Pizza Face is in no way subtle but it is a cautionary tale full of gory fun. Full to bursting.
The Equation makes math even scarier than it already is, for me anyway. The writing style is cool and calm. Law let's the disturbing images shock his readers without beating us over the head with them.
Teen Attack was the only less-than-juicy apple of the bunch. It details a school shooting. But that is all it does. Like anything, the subject is fair game and, while I can't think of anywhere better it could have gone, the subject could in fact make for great horror. But this story ends end with no explanation or insight. Well, that's entirely true. The last sentence sticks with you and perhaps that's enough. It's telling that even in the worst story in this collection doesn't fail to cling to your mind. At least that one sentence does.
Surgery is a good example of a story that works on the reader by abandoning explanation. You're so drawn into the words though that you don't notice or mind. The sights before your mind's eye will keep you busy while Law pulls the rug it from under you.
But my favorite chaos tale is My Familiar & I, in which a rat promises revenge for the downtrodden main character. I say main character because in this story (just like the other stories in this collection) there is a refreshing lack of heroes.
Published on April 29, 2020 19:41
March 28, 2020
Hoarding Breeds Hoarding: A Thorough Examination of a Tragic Cycle
How's quarantine treating you? I've hoarded so much toliet paper that I've been able to fashion the excess into a mummy-like hazmat suit. Not really, the shelves are bare here. Bastards hoarded it first. That's ok, my loaf bread suit is in development and the beta versions look promising.
Published on March 28, 2020 07:01
February 29, 2020
Arachnophilia, the little story that wouldn't die
Arachnophilia started its life as a short story, appearing in the magazine HelloHorror.
This was a story I'd worked on for most of a year. I was a little worried that the subject matter, not to mention the length (a hefty 9.5K words,) would cause most folks to pass. When editor Brent Amour accepted it I was floored, particularly as HelloHorror was only the second place I'd sent this story.
http://www.hellohorror.com/JasonHowel...
The cover for the August issue was another pleasant surprise. Brent swore it was a coincidence. Jenny Smith, an artist and a secretary in a Vancouver law office, sent in the painting as an unrequested submission and I'm glad she did. Apparently so was the editorial team at HelloHorror--her work has appeared on the cover many times since then.
http://www.hellohorror.com/JennySmith...
That image of a woman stepping out of her own skin, the outer woman looking guarded and the inner woman looking shy but pleased (in my interpretation--follow the link and make your own) still comes to mind when I think of poor, beleaguered Joy and poor, stupid-in-love Peter.
A few years later, I came back to my weird little story, expanded it and added illustrations. In that way, Arachnophilia molted and grew into the Deluxe version found here:
Arachnophilia
Joy, by the way, makes a brief appearance early another novel:
ANNEE: A Girl and her Monster
I've considered writing another story about Joy, to catch up with her in her 40s or even later on when she is a little old lady. Maybe she and Annee will share an adventure. It may depend on reader feedback whether Joy gets to feed (and love) again.
This was a story I'd worked on for most of a year. I was a little worried that the subject matter, not to mention the length (a hefty 9.5K words,) would cause most folks to pass. When editor Brent Amour accepted it I was floored, particularly as HelloHorror was only the second place I'd sent this story.
http://www.hellohorror.com/JasonHowel...
The cover for the August issue was another pleasant surprise. Brent swore it was a coincidence. Jenny Smith, an artist and a secretary in a Vancouver law office, sent in the painting as an unrequested submission and I'm glad she did. Apparently so was the editorial team at HelloHorror--her work has appeared on the cover many times since then.
http://www.hellohorror.com/JennySmith...
That image of a woman stepping out of her own skin, the outer woman looking guarded and the inner woman looking shy but pleased (in my interpretation--follow the link and make your own) still comes to mind when I think of poor, beleaguered Joy and poor, stupid-in-love Peter.
A few years later, I came back to my weird little story, expanded it and added illustrations. In that way, Arachnophilia molted and grew into the Deluxe version found here:
Arachnophilia
Joy, by the way, makes a brief appearance early another novel:
ANNEE: A Girl and her Monster
I've considered writing another story about Joy, to catch up with her in her 40s or even later on when she is a little old lady. Maybe she and Annee will share an adventure. It may depend on reader feedback whether Joy gets to feed (and love) again.
Published on February 29, 2020 11:22
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