James Dorr's Blog, page 191

Remember: Vampires & Valentine’s Day Don’t Mix

Hans Baldung – 1484-1545

Nightmare Stalkers Picked Up by Ingram

This is just a short note from Horrified Press, but one worth passing on:  The anthology NIGHTMARE STALKERS & DREAM WALKERS has been been picked up for distribution by Ingram, one of the largest book wholesalers in the U.S.  So for readers this means the book may actually visit your town, on a shelf in your local bookstore, for some brief period before it’s returned to make way for the next shipment of titles.  It’s a dog eat dog world out there.  For us, the writers, it could be we’ll get an actual money-type royalty if horror fans are alert and snap it up when it appears.

For the record, my dog in this fight is a tale called “Flesh” (see October 23, et al.; also November 1 for a mini-interview with the editors), a zombie saga with a dream dimension in which a man is warned he must become fat.  If you had a dream like that wouldn’t you believe it?  And for those who may no longer have a local town bookstore, NIGHTMARE STALKERS & DREAM WALKERS can be found on Amazon too by pressing here.

Burroughs Centennial, How Time Passes; We Walk Invisible Received

We’ve been having a William S. Burroughs (b. Feb. 5 1914 – d. 1997) festival here, not considered a horror author but books like JUNKIE and NAKED LUNCH come close.  So I’ve been watching movies as part of it at Indiana University Cinema, BURROUGHS:  THE MOVIE (a new remastered version) Thursday night, then Friday night, braving 6 degree weather, CHAPPAQUA.  The latter, about an addict in rehab reliving/hallucinating experiences on drugs, was especially interesting, non-linear by definition, surrealistic in places — think “bizarro” if one will, though it’s not that exactly — with cameos by Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs, soundtrack largely by Ravi Shankar.  There’s no specific local connection to Burroughs except that despite connections to Tangier, etc, he was really a Midwesterner, born in St. Louis and died in Lawrence Kansas after he’d left New York.  A few nights before I’d also attended the opening at the IU Fine Arts Building of  a small display of paintings he did mostly later in life, a number of these while in Kansas.  I understand there’s also (though I haven’t been to it yet)  a display in the university’s rare book library.

So they’ll be showing the movie of NAKED LUNCH later tonight as I write this, though, in that I happen to have the VHS of that one anyway — and it would also partially overlap tonight’s CBS special on the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in New York (thus the headline above:  How Time Passes) — I’m tentatively planning a “private showing” probably around midnight tonight.

This afternoon, though, I’m just back from a showing of short films Burroughs was in or made or was involved with too, some experimental (THE CUT-UPS, e.g., probably best described as a prolonged example of montage, the more interesting because some scenes that came up had already appeared in BURROUGHS:  THE MOVIE) some less so (e.g. a sentimental cartoon version of his short story, “The Junkie’s Christmas”), also including TOWERS OPEN FIRE, WILLIAM BUYS A PARROT, BILL AND TONY, GHOSTS AT NO. 9, et al.  And then tonight, the weather report is talking about another quick cold snap plus maybe more snow (though probably not much), another excuse for the “private showing,” as well as that I’m looking forward to being able to run scenes back to look at again, etc., with some of the techniques Burroughs used himself both in his writing and his own films still fresh in my mind.

Then for something completely different, Saturday brought a long-anticipated copy of WE WALK INVISIBLE (cf. November 8, September 23), actually published in November by Chupa Cabra House, but due to postal mixups of some sort, only now sent.  So, okay, there is an air of paranoia there that might relate to some of Burrough’s work as well.  And then there’s my story “Invisible People,” a near-future tale of alienation and, yes, paranoia too, originally published in DARK INFINITY in Winter 1992-93 — and chastely described on the back cover as “A man finds that retirement makes him invisible to society.”

Ah, but there’s so much more, not only in that, but in fifteen more stories that make up WE WALK INVISIBLE, for more information on which press here.

Wellmaster’s Daughter, Uncommon Assassins on Sale this Weekend

“‘The Wellmaster’s Daughter,’ from James S. Dorr, engages with its exotic setting, foreboding mood, and rich language.”  So said David Searls in a review of UNCOMMON ASSASSINS last June 24 on HELLNOTES.  And now, if you haven’t read it already, Editor Weldon Burge has just announced that “Smart Rhino Publications has scheduled a Kindle Countdown sale for UNCOMMON ASSASSINS this weekend, Feb. 7-9.  On Friday, you can pick up the Kindle version for 99 cents; on Saturday, $1.99; and then later on Sunday, the price will go to the original price of $3.99.  If you haven’t read this anthology of suspense/thriller stories, here’s your chance to download a copy!”

“The Wellmaster’s Daughter” itself is a reprint that originally appeared in the November 1991 issue of ALFRED HITCHCOCK’S MYSTERY MAGAZINE, and is also available in my first collection STRANGE MISTRESSES:  TALES OF WONDER AND ROMANCE by Dark Regions Press in 2001 (at last notice, Dark Regions may be out of stock, but both new and used copies should be available on Amazon), but at least for this weekend can also be obtained with 22 other stories of crime and killing at a bargain price by pressing here.

Dracula: Between Love and Death, “Where the Dead Fear to Tread”

The Vampire, Philip Burne-Jones, 1897

And here it is, as advertised Monday (cf. February 3), the review of DRACULA:  ENTRE L’AMOUR ET LA MORT.  And in French to boot (the movie, that is, not the review), perfect for upcoming Valentine’s Day romance.  Add some hot chocolate or maybe an ice-cold sherry, a fine amontillado, depending on weather; an intimate room, dimly lit and inviting; a comfortable couch.  The DVD begins. . . .

And there aren’t even subtitles to distract you — well that’s on the down side, actually, but the review itself is on M. R. GOTT’S CUTIS ANSERINA, a.k.a., WHERE THE DEAD FEAR TO TREAD, and it gives enough of a description of what’s going on to allow you to just let the music take over.  Then added to that, your knowledge of DRACULA, the book, will allow you to steer your significant other (or other-to-be) through the various intricacies of plot.

And there’s even more.  While not in the order of presentation, English translations to most of the songs can be found by pressing here.  The link also appears, spelled out, at the bottom of the review, but when I checked it on WHERE THE DEAD SEEMED TO TREAD it didn’t seem to be live.  Or is that simply a limitation on the cave computer here?  Either way it should work by clicking the link just above on this page and, in a few moments, I’ll add a comment at that end directing folks to come here if they need to.

So. for the review itself, go to today’s WHERE THE DEAD FEAR TO TREAD by pressing here.

And if the link to the translations on “allthelyrics” didn’t work there, you can find them at this end by clicking here.

New Five-Star Review of The Tears of Isis Goes Up on Amazon; And Then. . . .

Today the snows returned, starting about 1 p.m., and forcing cancelation of my musical group’s reharsal, normally on Tuesday evening.  However, a new review of THE TEARS OF ISIS by Erin R. Britt has added a large bit of warmth to the day.  We’ve actually met Erin last fall when I was the interviewee for her ERINDIPITY blog’s “Author Corner” (cf. November 12 2013), at which time she had a copy of THE TEARS OF ISIS on the stack for an eventual review.  And now, posted yesterday, here it is:  “I had the pleasure of interviewing James Dorr for Author Corner awhile back, and one of the things we discussed was his short story collection, THE TEARS OF ISIS.  I’ve finally been able to read it (I blame actual employment and graduate school for the delay), and the first thing I want to mention is how beautiful it is.  The language Dorr uses as he tells his stories is wonderful. . . .”

The whole review appears on ERINDIPIY’s “Recommend It Monday” feature and can be read by pressing here, as well as on Amazon, of which more in a moment.

And then. . . .

Just checking that Amazon link again, under the rubric “Isis cried; I almost screamed,” is a second new 5-star review just posted by Christian A. Larsen:  “THE TEARS OF ISIS, a macabre short story collection by James Dorr, is dedicated to the memory of ‘Edgar Allan Poe who led the way,’ and if Poe ever smiled, he’d be smiling now. . . .”  This review also appears on Christian’s EX LIBRIS blog for today, February 4, which can be visited here, or, if one wishes the double header all at once, both can be found on Amazon’s page — with seven other reviews, good and bad — by pressing here.

Pre-Valentine’s Day Film Review Scheduled for Thursday

As we race past Candlemas (a.k.a. Groundhog Day) on our way to Valentine’s Day, what better than to share a movie recommendation.  And so this Thursday, February 6, a week and a day before Valentine’s Day itself, I have a guest film review scheduled to be on M. R. Gott’s WHERE THE DEAD FEAR TO TREAD.  That’s a week and a day for preparation, to obtain the DVD, to choose the lady or gentlemanfriend who most would appreciate seeing it with you, to have the ingredients for hot dark chocolate at the ready, perhaps with a splash of amaretto . . . you get the idea.  And which is the movie?

Hint #1:  Well, it’s not the first time readers here may have seen it reviewed, but it was a long, long time ago — and yet it’s one people still search for here from time to time according to WordPress statistics.  So maybe it’s time to refresh it anyway, in this case through a link to a new host blog and, hence, a new readership to boot.

Hint #2:  It’s French.

And for the rest . . . check back in three days.

Growing Concerns Received; First Sundays Reading with Ghouls and Demons; Worst Christmas Correction?

A few short notes to start the new month, the first being that the electronic version of Chupa Cabra’s GROWING CONCERNS (cf. January 20, 9, et al.) arrived yesterday.  Actually published in January, it comes in at just under 200 pages with 18 tales of ecological horror plus introduction — plants gone wild! — with my own contribution, “Seeds,” originally published in the February 1997 edition of KEEN SCIENCE FICTION, in the next-to-last spot in the table of contents.

Then in today’s pre-Super Bowl activity, the local Writers Guild’s First Sunday Readings series started off the year, having missed the beginning of January due to excessively inclement weather (see January 5, et al.), with fiction readings by Darja Malcolm-Clarke and Donna Lodge and an essay and poems by Mary Pat Lynch.  Then in the following open mike session, I led off with an as yet unpublished flash tale of an evening in a Transylvanian graveyard called “Demons Are a Ghoul’s Best Friend.”

And finally, a possible correction to the previous post, in that my tale of “The Worst Christmas Ever” may, according to recent Facebook postings, be in Volume 2, not Volume 1, of HEARTCORE:  THE SPECIAL SNOWFLAKES ANTHOLOGY — but they may be being published simultaneously, so from a reader’s point of view it may not make a lot of difference.  In any event, perhaps I’ll find out when the contract arrives.

Worst Christmas Accepted for Special Snowflakes; Bizarre Bizarro Bizarro Review Posted on Amazon

This was a submission last month by invitation, sort of, for a charity anthology to be put out by Alex S. Johnson under the Chupa Cabra House imprint.  “In the spirit of Christmas and doing the right thing, I am now announcing that submissions are open to the first SPECIAL SNOWFLAKES anthology, to benefit writers and artists in need.”  Niot a slam dunk, but today the word came that the story I sent, “The Worst Christmas Ever,” a reprint first published in 2006 in DARK JESTERS (Novello Publishers), has been accepted for, to give its full name, HEARTCORE:  THE SPECIAL SNOWFLAKES ANTHOLOGY, Volume 1.

Details will follow, although it presumably will contain line art as well as writing, and essays and poetry as well as fiction.  As for flavor, a later description offers this promise:  “Featuring horror, fantasy, Bizarro, and heart core erotica.”

As for “The Worst Christmas Ever,” about a bad year in Santa’s workshop due, in part, to one of his elves’s second job at the Ultima Thule Nuclear Power Plant, combined with a monkey escape from the zoo, it probably falls under the bizarro aegis as much as any of the above.  Although one might argue it’s horrible too.

Then speaking of bizarro, perhaps it’s not really bizarre as such (but who can resist?  certainly not I), but it is a good review that appeared on Amazon Wednesday.  That is, it’s a good review not just of the BIZARRO BIZARRO anthology (cf. December 27, October 12, 7), but it singles out my story, “Mr. Happy Head,” specifically for. . . .

Well, let me quote reviewer “denial66″ who gave the Kindle edition 4.5 stars yesterday.  After saying he (she?) really enjoyed stories by Dustin Reade, Michael A. Rose, Gary Arthur Brown, and Andrew Wayne Adams, he adds:  “The winner for best in this anthology, in my opinion goes to Happy Head by James Dorr.”  You can see it for yourself by pressing here!

Guy’s got taste.

Although he did take a half star off, I suspect it’s for what he says at the end:  “While this volume may be a bit more than someone new to bizarro should take on, those familiar will love what it has to offer.”  (And doesn’t that really just make it one level better?)

“Character” Guest Spot on Goodreads Blog

It started just two days after Christmas, an invitation from Australian writer Natasha Ewendt (who also has a nice review of THE TEARS OF ISIS on Amazon, by the way) to be featured on her AUTHOR SHOWCASE blog on Goodreads.  “The series is about all things writing — it can be about yourself, your stories and your career, or offer tips on the industry, or be about an aspect of the industry — absolutely anything really.”  A chance, in other words, to toot my horn — but maybe say something useful as well.  How could I refuse?

Well, the useful part will be up to the reader to say (and should he or she wish, there are sections for comments both on this blog and on Natasha’s, including a good  chance of receiving a reply or at least a “thank you”).  And so, to the point, my guest post just went up this evening — that is, in the US; in the morning, I think, for those in Australia — a coming together of some things I’ve been saying in interviews lately, under the rubric “On Character, Stress, and a Love of Language.”  To see it for yourself, press here.

At least these are things important to me right now in my writing, with applications as well, as I try to explain in the blurb that follows it, to THE TEARS OF ISIS.