Jason Fischer's Blog, page 14
November 1, 2012
Anywhere But Goodreads
A nice reader review just landed on Goodreads for a collection I’m very proud to be in – Keith Stevenson’s tome-tastic “Anywhere But Earth”. Reader Dave Versace had this to say about my story:
“Of the rest, I am hard pressed to pick a favourite, but I will mention that “Eating Gnashdal”, Jason Fischer’s horrific vision of a post-human culture, is inventively funny and creepy.”
Thanks Dave! We aim to please 
the rest of his review can be read here:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/443682008
The book itself is available from Couer De Lion and is worth every penny. Get onto it!
http://www.coeurdelion.com.au/
Ooh, lookie, it’s now on the Kindle. Considering it’s a HUGE slab of book, this is also a good option for the discerning reader. Value for money either way.
October 28, 2012
New artwork page goes live
Just put the tentative beginnings of a new artwork page on my site. I’ve wanted to do one of these for a while – one of my greatest joys is to see an illustrator interpret my writing, and I’ve been lucky enough to get some great covers and illustration work done. I think these talented folks deserve a shout-out, and have listed all their credits where known.
October 24, 2012
The Echo of Midnight, and a Tusk to the FACE.
Hey folks, just a quick spot of pimpage. Issue #8 of Midnight Echo is now available for pre-order, and it’s got an absolutely STUNNING line-up. Do yourself a favour and grab the hard-copy, it promises to be a ripping read.
http://midnightechomagazine.com/midnight-echo-issue-8/
Also, over at review site Thirteen O’ Clock, Andrew McKiernan discusses the inaugural issue of Terra Magazine. The latest foray from Black House Comics is just plain fun (think early 2000AD), and I’m lucky enough to have the first chapter of my serialised novel “Tusk” therein. Of Tusk, Andrew says:
“Still in keeping with the serialised nature of the magazine, “Tusk” plumbs the Golden Age of genre fiction with something that could have come right out of an early 70s issue of Analog. “Tusk” is straight prose — with a few Rhys James illustrations sprinkled throughout — of the sort that Mr Fischer has become well known for: tight, well written, original and more than a little bit gonzo. “Tusk” is The Planet of the Pachyderms with a healthy dash of Robert E Howard thrown in. A post-apocalyptic world run by a civilisation of war-like elephants. Talking warrior elephants, no less. Who enslave humans. And they wear ‘swords’ on their tusks! Count me in! Not only are the battle scenes tremendous, but there are hints of a much deeper story developing here. I very much look forward to reading more of “Tusk” in future issues.”
Thanks Andrew! You could say that “Tusk” is the ultimate trunk story the rest of his review can be read here: http://www.thirteenoclock.com.au/review-terra-magazine-issue-1/
October 23, 2012
It’s a whole swag of “Viral”, and right now, it’s FREE
A few months ago, I was part of an exciting project - the Viral novellas. Four connected thrillers, told from different viewpoints. Now, the entire series is being released as a single title, available as an e-book on the Kindle and elsewhere. For the next few days, the book is actually free for download.
An American journalist stumbles unto a vast conspiracy, but the story of a lifetime might just kill him…
An aid worker in Kenya learns the deadly secret hidden in the vaccination program, but when he tries to tell the truth, he discovers that Africa can be a lonely, deadly place…
A Pakistani doctor is enlisted in the hunt for Bin Laden, but finds himself swept into gunfights with local thugs, conflicts with corrupt medical authorities, torture at the hands of overzealous law enforcement and, ultimately, the storming of a fortified Abbottabad bunker in order to deliver vital inoculations to the poor of Pakistan…
A CIA Agent is tasked with taking down a Taliban commander, and has to make a series of increasingly ugly choices. The enemy has acquired a horrifying weapon of mass destruction. If he wants to stop the mass killings, the agent must make a tough call…
Here is the relevant link:
Last time I checked, this collection was sitting at #2 in the War category on Amazon, which is simply staggering. Many thanks to those who gave this book a go, and we hope that plenty of folks take advantage of this offer.
Praise for the “Viral” series:
“Powerfully compact contemporary thrillers, well researched trek through a minefield of concussive ideas and edge of your seat action. Viral will leave you breathlessly looking over your shoulder… And ahead for what these talented writers will do next next” — David Sakmyster, author of The Pharos Objective and Crescent Lake
“Masters of plot who handle action with deft hands while drawing out characterization with a craftsman’s skill. This is an excellent book on every level.” — Nathan Meyer, author of Shadow War, Volatile Agent and Aldwyns Academy
“Viral pull the reader into the action from the first page and doesn’t let go until the last.” — Jeffrey S. Stephens, Author of Targets of Opportunity and Targets of Deception
October 16, 2012
Here, have a wee snippet of “Pigroot Flat”
Over at the Midnight Echo website, I’ve answered a few questions about my upcoming short story from issue #8, “Pigroot Flat”. The interview and a short snippet of my story can be found at the following link:
http://midnightechomagazine.com/2012/10/17/midnight-echo-issue-8-preview-jason-fischer/
Words cannot describe how flipping excited I am to have a story in this issue. We live in exciting times
October 15, 2012
A Synopsis Shouldn’t Have to Hurt Your Synapses
Ah, the synopsis. That most painful of things, where an author has to compress a novel’s worth of organic sproutings into one or two concise pages. And oh, how we wail and gnash our teeth when called upon to do so.
“It’s just so HARD,” we say. “I don’t WANT TO.”
But here’s the truth; you have to. This is the way a publisher can a) determine your ability to get to the point b) determine that you actually have written a book with a defined beginning/middle/end c) be sold on the sizzle of your steak.
It’s a marketing document, and I don’t think they’re actually that difficult to do. Some folks I know and respect spend inordinate amounts of time on these - with all due respect, I think they’re all crazy. We’re talking weeks, even months of time. On a 1-2 page marketing document.
Here’s what I believe: if you can’t get a synopsis right in an afternoon, you need to hand in your writer card. Here’s the Fisch One-Page/One-Afternoon Synopsis Method.
1) Present tense throughout. Limited or no adjectives.
2) Three or four biggish paragraphs. The first one briefly introduces your protagonist, one or two tag-line style descriptors of your setting, and brushes over the opening act of your novel.
3) Second paragraph introduces the antagonist/conflict, and brushes over the second act of your book. Again, broad strokes, and don’t worry too much about your subplots and the nitty gritty. We’re talking how you would convince someone at a bar to sleep with your book (if that makes sense). If you bore the poor person with a detailed description of your stamp collection, you’re going home alone.
4) Third paragraph goes over your final act, and resolves everything. Don’t do rhetorical questions here: “does she survive the assassination attempt? BUY MY BOOK AND FIND OUT.” the point of the thing is, you have to tell the reader, in present tense, exactly how the conflict is addressed, and how the story resolves.
5) Connect these three biggish paragraphs with one sentence movie-style taglines, just to keep it interesting. This also proves your ability to write succinctly, and provides a bit of life to what might otherwise be a boring marketting document.
6) Close off with a pitching paragraph, something along the lines of this: ‘”Papa Lucy and the Boneman” is a complex fantasy, designed to appeal to readers of Jack Vance and Gene Wolfe. If Gilgamesh found himself on the set of Mad Max, this is the story that might result.’
And that’s IT. That’s all you have to do. Go back over it of course, tighten everything up, take out every unnecessary word, and make it as interesting as you can. If an adjective pops up, kill it dead. I maintain that you can knock one of these out in an afternoon, anything else is just an exercise in masochism.
September 20, 2012
Mentor: The Fisch-Maker!
I just can’t help myself
It’s all official like, I am a mentor in the Australian Horror Writers Association 2012 mentor program. And I have two mentees that I’d like to introduce to y’all.
Given into my tender care are the following writers: Stacey Larner and David McDonald. From what I’ve seen of their writing, these folks both have a lot of promise. They’re hard-working, keen as beans, and hopefully some big things await my writer-kids. Now it’s up to me to pass on what knowledge I’ve gleaned over the years, help them get some work polished to within an inch of its life, and generally hang around, dropping wisdom like Obi-Wan Kinobi (I think).
Say hi folks, and make my Padawans feel welcome
September 17, 2012
Midnight Echo Issue #8: Table of Contents
The table of contents has just gone live for issue #8 of Midnight Echo, which includes my postapocalyptic offering “Pigroot Flat”. Just…just look at that list of authors! MY GOD. I’m so excited. Joe R Lansdale! Jack Ketchum! Various Aussies! Plus of swag of non-fiction goodies and interviews. Nicely done Midnight Echo.
The Table of Contents:
Literature
A Visit With Friends by Joe R Lansdale
The Girl from the Borderlands by Felicity Dowker
Blissful Ignorance by Matthew Wedge
Hello Kitty by Jason Nahrung
Jar Baby by Michelle Jager (with artwork by Glenn Chadbourne)
The Boy With the Hole in his Heart by Caysey Sloan
They Don’t Know That We Know What They Know by Andrew J McKeirnan
Squirrely Shirley by Jack Ketchum and Lucky McKee (with artwork by David Schembri)
Always A Price by Joanne Anderton (AHWA Short Story winner 2012)
Blood Lillies by Shauna O’Meara (AHWA Flash Fiction winner 2012)
Tooth by Kathryn Hore
Pigroot Flat by Jason Fischer
Poetry
Gallows & Blooms by Andrew Alford
Insatiable by Stuart Olver
Coming Home by Marge Simon and Sandy DeLuca
Comic
Allure of the Ancients; The Key to His Kingdom - story by Mark Farrugia, illustrations by Greg Chapman
Special Features
In the Art, The Dark: Glen Chadbourne
Facts, fiction and fevers by Gary Kemble (non-fiction)
An Interview with Jack Ketchum
An Interview with Lee Battersby
Regular Features
A Word from the AHWA President - Geoff Brown
Tartarus - Danny Lovecraft (poetry column)
Pix and Panels – Mark Farrugia (comic column)
Black Roads, Dark Highways #3 – Andrew McKiernan (column)*
Sinister Reads (all the latest releases from AHWA members)
More info here, including pre-orders: http://midnightechomagazine.com/
September 2, 2012
Pimpy McPimperson presents: The Years Best Fantasy and Horror 2011
Shipments of the Year’s Best Australian Fantasy and Horror 2011 have just gone out to pre-order customers, and soon another gorgeous tome shall grace my bragshelf. My killer kangaroo story “Hunting Rufus” can be found therein, but why stop there? If it’s anything like last year’s volume, you will get:
more stories than you can poke a stick at. This year, it’s 32 stories from the brains of top-notch Aussie genre writers.
a great introductory essay giving an overview of Australian writing for the year – in my opinion this was worth the price of entry for the last volume.
A wider recommended reading list than just the stories in the book…this will help the completists amongst you to track down new quality reading material.
And a gorgeous cover apparently haunted by the still alive and kicking Kirstyn McDermott. Yeah, it’s just a passing resemblance. Still, the poor lady is going to hear about this for aaaages
So, what are you waiting for? Go and order you some delightful fiction via the links below. And as the title suggest, it’s only the best stuff, so there’s no filler here.
http://www.indiebooksonline.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=133
(both volumes of the YB and a 10% discount)
http://www.indiebooksonline.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=114
Year’s Best in paperback
http://www.indiebooksonline.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=115
Hardcover
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