James Dorr's Blog, page 185

If Not Paranoia, How About Claustrophobia? – A Preview of Tunnels/Until the End, an Almost Lagniappe

The things we run across on the internet!  Today’s find:  a preview from Horrified Press of Editor Gavin Chappell’s anthology UNTIL THE END (see December 20 2013, et al.), “an anthology of love vs. the apocalypse,” or, notably, my story in it “Tunnels.”  This is a story first published in Britain, in LEAFING THROUGH in December 2004, as told through the eyes of a child who has spent her whole life in tunnels carved out beneath a once-city.

The catch is this.  Most of the story is actually given in the preview — to read it for yourself press here — but, once you (hopefully) get hooked on what’s going on, there’s a whole page missing!  Well, about a page’s worth of text judging from the print edition, but enough to, once again hopefully, get you to press the link to the left on the site to order a copy of the anthology.

If you don’t, the sample lets you “jump ahead” to see how it all ends (if you don’t mind being exposed again to the little monster/narrator’s horrid diction, but after all it is a child some generations after a nuclear holocaust, who hence may not have had the best schooling).  So you actually do get most of the story, and I’ll call it here an “almost” lagniappe.  But if you’d still like to see it all, there are something like 26 additional tales and poems of, to quote the blurb, “a new dawn — one filled with violent mutations and terrifying consequences” awaiting those who chance to purchase UNTIL THE END.

Hard Luck Reviewed on Becki’s Book Blog; Stoker® Noted in Telling Tales of Terror Blurb Update

“If you’ve ever gone through a rough patch, ever considered ending it — rather than doing just.  one.  more.  day.  Even if you’ve just had one epically bad day, you’ll be able to relate to something in this collection.

“So, grab your drink and get comfy!”

So begins Becki, a.k.a. Shadow Girl, of BECKI’S BOOK BLOG in a very positive and very informative review of Scott Lefebvre’s noir anthology HARD LUCK (see May 7, 6).   In all there are ten stories, of which my (ahem!) “The Winning” is first in the pack, all of which get a succinct synopsis in Becki’s review.  For example, my story garners the comment, “James Dorr sure knows how to capture paranoia, and as the character is breaking down — you are descending with them.”  And then Editor Lefebvre is given a word as well, which may sum it up:  “Whenever someone asks me for something, and I don’t owe them anything, I make them tell me a story. Even if the story is a lie, it’s usually interesting.  You have to pay the monkey if you want to hear the music.”

As Becki sees it, all are interesting in HARD LUCK, more of which can be found by pressing here.

In other news, during last month’s trip to World Horror Convention I’d chatted a bit with Damnation Books editor Kim Richards and, among other things, suggested she use THE TEARS OF ISIS’s momentary bask in the sun of Stoker® nominationdom in advertising for their “how-to” book, TELLING TALES OF TERROR: ESSAYS ON WRITING HORROR & DARK FICTION (cf. October 11, January 7 2013, et al.).  Of which guess who wrote the introduction?  Thus I was pleased to notice this afternoon, on the title’s Damnation Books site, the augmented blurb “Introduction by Bram Stoker Award nominated, James Dorr.  Essays on writing horror and dark fiction by authors Kim Richards, Paula Johanson, Bob Nailor, Ivy Reisner, Mitchel Whitington, Carol Hightshoe, Cinsearae Santiago, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Kathryn Meyer Griffith, Lisa Morton, Sephera Giron, and Jason Gehlert.  Includes advice from current publishers.”  Isis might quibble it hasn’t migrated to the Amazon page blurbs yet, but, hey, it’s a start.

To check the blurb for TELLING TALES OF TERROR in its home environment (and perhaps to order the book as well – I think it has some good things to say for, not so much the absolute starting out beginner, but someone with a little bit of experience who’s ready to learn more), click here.

The Edge of the World — A Lagniappe

Well, yes, I’ve been away the last few days, though not quite so far as the edge of the world.  In fact right now I’m in Fairfax Virginia in the shadow of STS Discovery, the space shuttle at the Smithsonian annex in nearby Chantilly, which several nieces and I had visited the past two years (cf. May 28 2013, May 8 2012).  And who can forget Arabella the Astronaut Spider?

Astronaut Spider Arabella and Her Web

This time, instead, we went to the movies for GODZILLA 3D but — and I know some critics have bad-mouthed it — my favorite GODZILLA is still the one a few years back with the French commando team, a.k.a. “insurance investigators” following the big lug to New York City.  However I shall be home on Tuesday, and back again, back again to the workaday world, so, as it happens, if not visiting The Edge of The World myself (and being at the edge of Washington DC doesn’t really count) I did write a poem once called “The Edge of the World.”

So for a completely off-the-wall lagniappe/souvenir of my trip, enjoy one-time Balticon Poetry Contest winner “The Edge of the World,” via ABOUT SF, as originally published in the BALTICON 40 PROGRAM BOOK (2006) by pressing here.

 

New Dusty Pages Interview Up from Britain

Another month and, for its opening Monday, another interview of me for those interested.  This one is by British writer Sonnet O’Dell, who we’ve met before (cf. March 14; July 29, 22 2013, et al.), on her blog DUSTY PAGES.  So get the straight tip on: the inspiration for THE TEARS OF ISIS (but of course. . . ); my biggest putdown (that is, a putdown of me as a writer — it goes a way back); the literary perils of having a tooth capped; the ever important “Would you rather be trampled by one elephant sized mouse or one hundred mice sized elephants?”; and a hint about why Poe’s name is on ISIS’s dedication page.

What more could one ask for?  Well, there are about sixteen questions in all, plus a couple of blurbs and a sample passage, all of which can be found by pressing here.

 

May Ends with Lupine Dwarf Stars Poetry Acceptance

DWARF STARS (cf. October 29 2012, et al.) is an edited yearly anthology published by the Science Fiction Poetry Association from which the best short poem — defined as containing ten lines (100 words for a prose poem) or fewer — published in the previous year is selected. “Anyone may submit their own poems or those of others; there is no limit to how many poems you may submit for the anthology, but only SFPA members may vote for the award.  Submission is open to all genres of speculative poetry, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, and ‘unclassifiable, but speculative.’”  So I submitted a brace of short werewolf poems to this year’s editor, Sandra Lindow, and, as is the fate of those who submit work anywhere, waited.

Actually, though, I did have a hint as to what might result, no guarantee, mind you, but Sandra had said in her acknowledgement:  “Thank you for your submission.  I particularly like the first one.  It makes me smile.”  On such slender threads do our hopes so oft cling!  But sure enough this time, lateish last night I received the good news:  “I am pleased to notify you that your poem ‘The Werewolf Explains’ has been accepted for the DWARF STARS 2014 contest anthology.”  “The Werewolf Explains,” originally published in the April 2013 issue of NIGHT TO DAWN, was — need I say it? — the first of the two poems I had submitted.

Thus ends the month of May on a high note, even if technically only three days after a new moon.  But wolves gotta howl (in this case, in just two lines — short poems, remember?).  For more information on DWARF STARS and the SFPA short poem competition press here, or for the Science Fiction Poetry Association in general press here.

Out of the Abyss: It Took Its Time, But True Dark Has Arrived!

It took its time, but this afternoon’s mail brought my author’s copy of TRUE DARK (cf. October 25 2013, February 21 2012) from Red Skies Press.  “Journey into nightmarish landscapes, into the blackest midnight of your fear . . . into the TRUE DARK, 17 tales guaranteed to make you sleep with the light on.”  Technically the book was actually published back in October (and even then perhaps delayed — the colophon page says September 2013).  But you’ve got to admit, it should be worth the wait.

My story here is called “Gas,” a zombiesque tale of college and science and why not to visit the basement of the Chemistry Building after dark.  By an odd sort of coincidence, October 25, cited above for the official publication announcement of TRUE DARK, was also the acceptance date for my zombiesque (sort of) “The Borrowed Man” for the apocalyptic THE GIRL AT THE END OF THE WORLD by British publisher Fox Spirit (see also May 18, below), another anthology hindered by delays, but seemingly back on track.  So good things, apparently, do come to we who wait.

TRUE DARK is billed as an unthemed anthology, “quite simply an anthology of the best of the best horror,” but if Red Skies Press should seem familiar, I’ve had a couple of other stories in themed books there too, “Jessie” in DREAMS OF DUALITY (see February 13 2012, et al.) and “Ghost Ship” in TECHNO-GOTH CTHULHU (May 2, April 28 2013, et al.).  As for TRUE DARK, more information on it can be found by pressing here.

 

A Martian, Etc., Closed, Scheduled to Be Out November 1; Contracts, Contracts. . . .

As a quick update on A ROBOT, A CYBORG, AND A MARTIAN WALK INTO A SPACE BAR. . . (see Monday’s post, two down), with my story “Toast” one of the morsels of humor therein — peanuts as it were in the taproom of mirth, the anthology has now been filled and is closed as of today.  Also a release date of November 1 has been announced.

Then routine, routine. . . .  Two contracts came in today to be signed, the first, to be returned with accompanying blurb and bio, from DAILY SCIENCE FICTION for my bizarro-ish short-short “Rocky Road” (see May 18).  Things are moving fast, at least at the front end.  Then in a somewhat more leisurely manner (the original submission was in last September, though with its acceptance procedures have picked up), the contract for THE PUN BOOK OF HORROR STORIES arrived from the UK for “Olé Bubba and the Forty Steves” (cf. March 8), a tale of zombies and the running of the bulls in Pamplona Spain, originally published in 2005 in Yard Dog Press’s INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF BUBBAS.  This one also is to be returned with an up-to-date bio.

And so the writer’s life continues on a lovely, sun-drenched late May evening.

British Fantasy Society LGBT Issue Takes Flute and Harp; Extinctions to Go to The Darkness Internal

We’ve got a double header for Tuesday, one a fantasy story accepted (albeit maybe a bit on the dark side), the other psychological horror.  The first is from Editor Sarah Newton of the BRITISH FANTASY SOCIETY JOURNAL who had put out a special call for “some of the material in [issue]#12 to reflect the theme ‘LGBT & fantasy.’ This could be fiction or poetry featuring LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) characters, or non-fiction concerning LGBT authors or writing.  Submissions of material not relating to this theme are also welcome.”

So it’s not an entirely LGBT edition, but as it happens I had a story called “Flute and Harp,” originally published in WHISPERS & SHADOWS (Prime Books, 2001) and set in my far-future “Tombs” universe, that seemed like it might fit the bill.  The British fantasists apparently thought so too as Editor Newton replied, in part, “I enjoyed it very much, and would like to publish it in our upcoming LGBT-themed issue 12.”

For more information on the BRITISH FANTASY SOCIETY JOURNAL, including guidelines for publication (including articles, etc., too), press here.

Then the other’s a little more complicated but, in essence, VOLUTED TALES puts out periodic special editions, with one coming up this year from Guest Editor Christopher Nadeau to be called THE DARKNESS INTERNAL.  But let’s let him explain it in his own words:

“THE DARKNESS INTERNALl”– Looking for stories that are outside the norm.  They can be horror, dark fantasy, science fiction or even mainstream lit as long they meet the following criteria: Tales of inner darkness.  Think Kafka or Phillip K Dick or any U.S. Congressional hearing. Stories should focus on an internal struggle or occurrence.  Not looking for genre staples such as vampires, werewolves, and especially not zombies.  More interested in tales of torment and struggle as defined by the classic “Man Versus Himself” approach to writing.  Still, if you can find a fresh and exciting way to tell the story following the criteria and using those fabled beings, knock us out!

So this one’s not about digestion, or even “the darkness eternal” as I finger-fumbled on the subject line of my submission, but what I sent was another reprint, “Extinctions,” originally published in THE BLUE LADY in Autumn 1996, having to do with a man who thinks he’s seen a comet scheduled to collide with the Earth on New Year’s Eve 1999.  But has he really? Well . . . he does seem to be a little unstable, so maybe it’s psychological horror. But much has to do with actual news headlines in the year the story was published, so maybe it’s alternate history instead.

Be that as it may it’s been accepted too, according to this afternoon’s email, for “our Winter issue.”  And for more information on VOLUTED TALES and THE DARKNESS INTERNAL, press here.

 

A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk Into a Space Bar. . . .

So actually that’s the name of the book.  To let them explain it:  “As you might be able to guess, or at least we hope you can guess, this is an anthology of comedic science fiction.  So, if you think you can tickle our funny bone with your SF story, we want to see it. . .  We will also consider fantasy humor, but we would prefer SF.”

They also are willing to consider reprints, though “preference will be given to non-reprints,” so why not, thought I.  The Saturday before last, I sent them a story titled “Toast,” originally published in ABORIGINAL SCIENCE FICTION in Fall 1996, about a sentient robot toaster that has a crush on his human owner.  Then yesterday evening, just eight days later, an acceptance came.

It doesn’t pay much — $10.00 advance and a possible royalty later for stories of 1500 words or more — but that’s still enough to buy a modest pizza.  Also while there’s no definite deadline (“[w]e’re shooting for a mid-2014 release date, but if the anthology fills up fast enough, we’ll release the book earlier”) apparently, at least as of last night, they were still buying.  But “mid-2014” being something like a month away, it might be wise to send them stuff fast.

For those interested, more information on A ROBOT, A CYBORG, AND A MARTIAN WALK INTO A SPACE BAR. . . can be found here.  Also the publisher, Nomadic Delirium Press, appears to have picked up some of the old Sam’s Dot Publishing titles including THE MARTIAN WAVE and THE FIFTH DI. . . , so anyone who may have been looking for those (also SPACEPORTS & SPIDERSILK for younger readers) can find current guidelines by pressing here.

“Last” Last Sunday Reading; Flattering Words for Me on Facebook

That’s the Bloomington Writers Guild’s Last Sunday Poetry Reading program which, once again, came on the same day as an Art Museum program about Matisse (see April 27; also March 30, et al.).  But this time I went to the poetry offering, in part because the Writers Guild goes on a summer vacation of sorts at the end of May, and this will be the last one until August.  There are two other events to be sure, one in June and one latish July, but it looks right now like I’ll miss them both, so this, in a sense, was my last hurrah.  At least for the moment.

Featured readers this time were local poets Michelle Fay Deschenes and Eric Rensberger and after came the open mike session at which I read two poems from DARKER LOVES: TALES OF MYSTERY AND REGRET (it and STRANGE MISTRESSES, while primarily short fiction, both have poetry sections at the end), “Dig We Must” and “Summer Cancellations,” concerning graves and deaths peculiar to summer, respectively.

Then — sorry, but I can’t help being flattered — I was greeted earlier this afternoon by an email reference to being tagged on Facebook, plus several comments . . . well, for the page they referred to press here.  The praise is really for Lori Michelle’s charity cancer anthology BLEED, but Facebooker Todd Nelson started it off with a reference to my offering in it, “King Rat” (cf. November 24, September 6, August 27 2013, et al.), then Vincenzo Bilof also noted “a very good story in BIZARRO BIZARRO” (in this case, “Mr. Happy Head,” cf. January 30 2014; December 27, October 12 and 7 2013).  And there’s even a mention by Vincenzo of THE TEARS OF ISIS (for which Isis is flattered too :-) )!