James Dorr's Blog, page 194

Until the End Authors, Titles Announced, Release Date Set for Dec. 20

As the holidays approach, another anthology is due to be released, UNTIL THE END (see August 15), only two days from now on December 20.  This is a jolly (well . . . it is almost Christmas) after-the-apocalypse book with a difference, that the emphasis is to be on love and, even in the worst of times, its power to endure.  Or not.  And to help whet appetites, British publisher Horrified Press has announced the lineup of authors and titles, including my own tale, “Tunnels,” of how families will stick together and children, especially, adapt to the new life that they’ve been born into.

A Valentine for Kathy – By Ken L. Jones

No Fear, My Dear – By Mathias Jansson

Till Death Do Us Part – By Mathias Jansson

Fresh Start Fumes – By David S. Pointer

12:12 December 12 – By Changming Yuan

End of the World – By Mark Slade

Three Little Words – By Adam Millard

Lessons to be Learned From the End of the World – By Shaun Avery

The Watchers in the Park – By Matthew Wilson

The Power – By David Perlmutter

A Small Sacrifice – By Todd Nelsen

Ironsky – By Mark F. Bailey

Rollup – By Thomas J. Keller

Cornucopia – By Edward Ahern

One Last Question – By J.J. Steinfeld

Before the End – By Jane Hertenstein

Tunnels – By James S. Dorr

The End of a Thing is Better – By Eric Keys

The Red Queen Makes Her Excuses – By Mercedes Webb-Pullman

In Fables – By Gary Murphy

Time Catcher – By Denny E. Marshall

Via Di Porta Angelica – By Jason Bougger

Zombie Heartbreak – By Lauren Hudgins

After It All – By Stephanie Buosi

Outer Reach – By Hanson Hovell Holladay

Blood Reign Lit Mag Premiers Friday 13; At the Movies: The Grave a Southern Gothic Treasure

“BLOOD REIGN LITERARY MAGAZINE is a new digital magazine that caters to lovers of the horror genre,” was the lead in examiner.com’s November 4th announcement.  “Its premier issue comes out on Friday the 13th. December 13th is the last Friday the 13th for this year. The launch on such a bizarre day is to pay homage to the movie franchise and will set a precursor for the parent company, Thrillerz 13 Entertainment as it releases special items on the 13th. The annual anthology will debut in 2014 will also release on a Friday 13th, this one in June 2014, the only ‘Freaky Friday’ for 2014.

“The debut edition is shaping up to be an amazing smash! Even though its primary focus is to offer a voice to new or relatively unknown authors occasionally better known, active members of the Horror Writers Association have given it notice. James S. Dorr offers us a view of the macabre with a reprint of his short, ‘The First Hundred Years,’ and L. Andrew Cooper’s anthology submission, ‘Silence.’

“Submissions for the December issue closed officially on November 1st allowing writers to have most of October to offer their morbid best. . . .”

And now here it is, available and on time from Editor Kristina Stancil.  For my submission (cf. November 1), “The First Hundred Years” is a zombie story but of the traditional, pre-Romero sort, about Haitian folk-beliefs and magic — and why you don’t want to mess with someone who knows how to use it.  But other types of horror abound as well, including vampires, ghosts, and the paranormal according to the blurb on Smashwords, which adds, however, this word of warning.  “Adult-content rating:  This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.”

If that’s not a deterrent, ordering and other information can be found by pressing here.  Or for more general information, for BLOOD REIGN’S own site, including submission information, press here.

But also, last night (after midnight so it was  the 13th too) I watched a film that only about five minutes in I realized I’d seen on TV before.  Many years before — but that I still remembered enough to be glad I’d now found at a library sale and could watch again.  THE GRAVE is a surprisingly well acted Southern Gothic, scary as needed and peppered with dark humor.  And in that first five minutes, just the music accompanying the credits also reminded me of the Stephen King/John Mellencamp musical GHOST BROTHERS OF DARKLAND COUNTY (see October 11), reinforced in the opening scene in a prison cell, dark, with two people seen in silhouette, one speaking in a hoarse, raspy voice as a narrator-guide, complete with homey aphorisms here and again as the film played out, reminiscent of (and even sounding like) GHOST BROTHERS’ “Zydeco Cowboy.”

The premise, as others have said, may not be new — the somewhat chance joining of disparate people in a treasure hunt, in this case for a fortune left by the region’s richest man, that no one could find a trace of when he died.  So, getting a clue from one of their fellows, two prisoners escape from the state farm with one of the guards’ help and start the search, bringing in an ex-girlfriend, and a parolee now employed as a mortician, and friends of his, one a good ol’ boy as dumb as a post, and. . . .  Well, the common bond between them is greed, to which add no sense of honor among thieves, and you just know it’s not going to end well.  There’s even one small scene that reminded me of the first SAW movie, which, however,  THE GRAVE preceded by some eight years.

And yes, the treasure is found in a grave, or rather beneath one — and not the grave of the rich man himself — in a cemetery out in the swamp, remote and eerie, and excellently suited for double crosses.

THE GRAVE is available on VHS (though not on DVD that I could find) and, apparently sort of a minor cult classic, may cost a few dollars.  It’s worth the price.

Blood Type Paperback Scheduled for January 2014, Kindle Edition on Discount This Week

The paperback version of BLOOD TYPE:  AN ANTHOLOGY OF VAMPIRE SF ON THE CUTTING EDGE (see October 30, et al.) will not, alas, be out in time for Christmas, but has been scheduled by Nightscape Press for an official January 2014 release, according to Editor Robert S. Wilson.  To quote their advrtising blurb, BLOOD TYPE “is predominately a collection of stories that represent the most cutting edge science fiction-based vampire fiction.  Think SF-based vampire fiction like I AM LEGEND and NECROSCOPE and how they affected the vampire genre when they were first released.  Dark Vampire SF that goes where the genre hasn’t before.”  And I might add, I’m proud to be in it myself, albeit with one of the shorter stories, “Eudora,” the tale of a woman who had this thing about worms. . . .

The Kindle edition has been available since the end of October, however, so those who can’t wait can still get it by clicking here.  In fact, for this week, Editor Wilson has announced all Nightscape titles are on a 25-percent-off sale, making this one a special bargain for yourself or as a gift for a special friend (though, for me, I’m going to look forward to getting my paperback copy anyway).

And one more thing, finally, all proceeds from BLOOD TYPE, paper or Kindle, will be donated to The Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Cosmic Vegetable “On the Shelf”

So has said Editor David Nell Thursday evening breaking the routine, on the Weather Channel tonight, of threats of Winter Storm Cleon and snow.  After all, it is December.  So possibly we will need lighter fare and, by happy coincidence, “COSMIC VEGETABLE is officially on the shelf.  Once again, thanks to all the fine writers who contributed to this collection.  I hope you will consider Dreamscape Press for future anthologies.  Attached you may find your contributor copies.”  Well, they had promised it by the end of this week (cf. below, December 1)!

The announcement goes on to say that the paperback version comes in at a bit over 200 pages, with a Kindle edition to be available on Amazon soon.  In the meantime print copies of COSMIC VEGETABLE:  ANTHOLOGY OF HUMOROUS SF/F, to give its full title, can be ordered via Createspace by pressing here, or on Amazon by pressing here.

And here I am, not yet finished with BLEED — and with SPLATTERLANDS now in the queue as well!

Ginger Nuts of Horror Interview Up; Radical Dislocations Received

What does 1960s iconic cartoonist Robert Crumb have to do with success in writing?  Fame, fortune, or respect — which is best?  That’s right, it’s interview time again, this time courtesy of Jim Mcleod and his GINGER NUTS OF HORROR blog.  It’s a pretty short one this time as some go, self-styled as “Five Minutes of Questions,” but it’s the questions themselves (and the answers) that hold the interest, yes?  What book was I reading when I did the interview (hint:  one that I don’t have a story in myself)?  Will the resident cave cat Wednesday find a way to get herself mentioned too?

Answers to these and more can be found here.

Also, the mail has just arrived and, with it, my copy of RADICAL DISLOCATIONS (cf. September 1, July 17 and 28), Chupa Cabra House’s limited edition volume of “weird poems by the best underground poets.”  Who can say whether every poet is the best or not, such matters perhaps best left to taste, but three of the offerings anyway are mine:  “Last Rides” (what happens when a coffin is kicked during the graveside service — hint:  it doesn’t involve zombies or anything similar), “Book Fair Buzz Is Not Contained Between 2 Covers” (killer bees at the annual Book Fair), and “Why He Ate His Hat” (the thwarting of an alien invasion).  Edited by Timm Tayshun, the book itself is somewhat rough and ready — my middle initial on the contents page, for instance, has wandered a few spots down in the alphabet from where it is on the poems themselves — but, from a preliminary dipping inside, looks to be a lot of fun.

Unfortunately RADICAL DISLOCATIONS is already out of print, but it does have a page on Amazon, here, where used copies could conceivably come up.

Mars The Next Frontier Poetry Published; Splatterlands Received

The word came today from National Space Society of North Texas Contest Coordinator Patricia Ferguson:  “I am very pleased to announce that MARS:  THE NEXT FRONTIER is available on Amazon.  Finally!  I am very sorry that it took so long, but it is done, and I hope you will be pleased with it.  I am working on putting out a Kindle edition as well.”  It has been a while, going back to July 23 when I announced on these pages the return of the contract for “three haiku-styled poems, ‘Outward Bound’ (also a contest Honorable Mention), ‘Red Sky,’ and ’4th Planet Excursion,’ to be published in a chapbook anthology MARS, THE NEXT FRONTIER (cf. September 26, September 22 2012),” adding that “[w]e have met the National Space Society of North Texas before, incidentally, on February 11 2012 and September 15 2011 with a previous anthology, MOON:  THE EIGHTH CONTINENT, including my poem ‘Landing.’”  I might add now, too, that we’ve met again more recently on October 6 with two entries on the results of their latest contest on “Space Exploration, Development, and Settlement,” this year administered in conjunction with the Fort Worth Haiku Society, along with announcing its Grand Winner — me.

There will be a book of winners, honorable mentions, et al. for this contest too called THE ZEN OF SPACE (I like to think it appropriate, especially, that the poem I won with is a limrick ) which Coordinator/Editor Ferguson adds is in preparation with a hoped for publication date early in 2014.  As for MARS:  THE NEXT FRONTIER, its print edition can be ordered now by pressing here.

Also, speaking of print editions, my paperback copies of SPLATTERLANDS (see November 22, et al.) arrived this week from Grey Matter Press.  Edited by Anthony Rivera and Sharon Lawson, its just over 275 pages include thirteen stories — mine, “The Artist,” is third from the end — complete with interior illustrations by Carrion House and is, in general, a good looking book that’s been well received as both a look back and an extension of the idea of splatterpunk.

Now, if I weren’t still so busy reading BLEED (cf. November 24, et al.) . . .

Cosmic Veggie Takes Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up. . . .; Bits and Pieces: Christmas Zombie at First Sundays Reading, Until the End to be Out Before Christmas, Untreed Reads Half-Priced on Cyber Monday

Technically this arrived last night, so, closing out the month of November, David Nell emailed:  “Thank you for your submission to COSMIC VEGETABLE. We are pleased to confirm that your story has been chosen for the remaining 16 spots and will appear in the anthology’s final lineup.”  To be published by Dreamscale Press, COSMIC VEGETABLE:  ANTHOLOGY OF HUMOROUS SF* will be coming out with my even longer-titled “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Procyon VII Slime Dancers’ Beaux,” a tale of intrigue and interstellar love originally published in March 1996 in the magazine ZONE 9 — and, the acceptance letter goes on, to be out as early as later this week in this new venue.  And, yes, we’ve met David Nell before as editor as well of MISERIA’S CHORALE for Forgotten Tomb Press (see November 26, et al.)

So part of today’s activity included reading over, electro-signing, and sending back the contract for COSMIC VEGETABLE, using a public library computer downtown, then walking about two blocks on a remarkably pleasant first day of December to local bookstore Boxcar Books for December’s Bloomington Writers Guild “First Sundays Reading and Open-Mic” (cf. October 6, et al.) at which, for the “open-mic” part, I offered my short short “The Christmas Zombie” from Kazak Press’s last year’s anthology AT YEAR’S END:  HOLIDAY SFF STORIES (cf. November 19 2012).

Then, once I returned home, it was time to check over proof sheets and send back corrections (only one small one!) to Nathan J. D. L. Rowark of Horrified Press for my story “Tunnels” (cf. August 15, also September 6 2011, et al.), to be in their rather less jolly, post-apocalypse anthology  UNTIL THE END.  Mine is a horror tale of familial love and childhood wonder under not-the-best-of-circumstances, with UNTIL THE END tentatively scheduled for release December 20th.

Then, finally, Untreed Reads Publishing has announced a fifty percent off sale for all titles all day Cyber Monday, tomorrow as I post this, including my PEDS, VANITAS, and Christmas short “I’M DREAMING OF A. . . .,” all reachable by clicking their pictures in the center column, as well as last year’s New Year’s anthology YEAR’S END:  14 TALES OF HOLIDAY HORROR with my lead story “Appointment in Time.”  Other partial-day specials will be available too, starting at 11 a.m. PST (2 p.m. EST if I’m counting the hours right).  For more information check out the Untreed Reads store by pressing here.

 

*Not to be confused with the “Eco-Horror Veggie Anthology” GROWING CONCERNS (of November 18 et al.), with my story “Seeds.”

Strange Mistresses, Darker Loves Included in Dark Regions Press “Dark Friday” Weekend Specials; Premiere Issue of Bloodbond Received

Today, “Black Friday,” Dark Regions Press has announced its own post-Thanksgiving sale, this one lasting through Sunday, December 1.  Two offers may be of interest  for those who don’t yet have my first two mostly-prose collections, STRANGE MISTRESSES:  TALES OF WONDER AND ROMANCE and DARKER LOVES:  TALES OF MYSTERY AND REGRET, but might be tempted to get one or both at a bargain price.  Any one paperback is being offered for only $9.00, the buyer’s choice, which amounts to a savings for DARKER LOVES, although the older and lower-priced STRANGE MISTRESSES might cost less at what seems to be a continuing offer (that is, regardless of this special sale) of 50 percent off of all backstock titles.  Then, for the second, Dark Regions is also offering one limited edition, hardcover, deluxe copy of ten pictured titles for just $25, which includes the deluxe edition of DARKER LOVES, although this appears to be more like a grab bag rather than letting you choose your title.  There are other offers in this sale too, though, some involving multiple titles, with information on all of these available by pressing here.

In other dark news, the premiere issue of BLOODBOND (see May 16) arrived today and the opening item in this first issue is a poem by me!  Published by Alban Lake Publishing, BLOODBOND is a semi-annual print “digest of Vampires, Werewolves, and Shapeshifters” with the current November issue edited by Terrie Leigh Relf.  And so, along those lines, my poem is “In the Company of Wolves” about what happens in present-day America when werewolves grow up.  Other authors and poets in this issue include Sandy DeLuca, John Grey, Tyree Campbell, and Marge Simon.

For more information, guidelines, and ordering information on BLOODBOND and its sister publications, including DISTURBED (see June 20, et al.), check out the Alban Lake website by clicking here.  Also, just following “In the Company of Wolves” is a two-page spread on my poetry book VAMPS (A RETROSPECTIVE), for more information on which click its picture in the center column.

The Tears of Isis, Bleed, Other Titles Part of Perpetual Motion Machine Black Friday Deal

I don’t know if it’s for just one day only, but this just came in from Max Booth III for Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing and, if in doubt, one should probably act fast.  Titles include THE TEARS OF ISIS as well as some others mentioned on these pages, along with yet others that have not.  To quote the announcement:

“Our Black Friday sale begins… NOW!

“Buy any PAPERBACK on our library page, and receive a free 1 year subscription to our One-Night Stands stories!  That’s a short story every month for one year (value: $10).

“Spread the word and buy some books!”

For more, go to Perpetual Publishing’s site by pressing here.

Miseria’s Chorale Is Published

And that was quick.  Word came this afternoon that MISERIA’S CHORALE is in fact out today, both in electronic and print editions, with illustrations and weighing in at more than 400 pages!  To see for yourself, on Createspace press here; on Amazon here for the print edition and here for Kindle.