James Dorr's Blog, page 87

Junkie at Writers Guild First Sunday Reading; Itty Kickstarter Continues to February 21

Following sub-zero weather just four days before, Sunday was sunny and in the sixties possibly contributing to a fairly low turnout for February’s “First Sunday Prose Reading and Open Mic,” again at the downtown Soma Coffeehouse (see January 6, et al.).  Featured reader Tom Bitters, with short fiction credits in BERKSHIRE REVIEW and HAMPSHIRE LIFE, among others, lead off with a story as yet untitled about married life and competitive bowling, followed [image error]by novelist Julia Karr with the opening chapter, titled “Homecoming,” of the third book in a young adult dystopic trilogy, and with Rwandan documentary filmmaker and author of RWANDA:  COMING TO THE MEMORY Gilbert Ndahayo batting third with descriptions of his life there and in the US, as illuminated by excerpts from a second book in progress.  This was followed by four “open mic” readers in which I was second with my most recent sale, “The Junkie” (cf. January 31, et al.).

Then, speaking of “The Junkie,” even if the special library option has expired, the Kickstarter for ITTY BITTY WRITING SPACE, including that 750-word saga of life on the mean streets and . . . zombies, continues to seek pledges up until February 21st.  It’s doing well so far, but more may be needed to push it to where the writers (that is, including me) can receive a professional pay rate, for more on which press here.

 

Fair Is Fair: Gehenna & Hinnom Books Kickstarter Starts Today; First 2019 Interview Tentatively Set for Tuesday

For those who’ve enjoyed the four part series on Lovecraftian influence on Films and TV (see January 30, 29, 28, 24), I thought I might mention compiler/publisher C.P. Dunphey also has a Kickstarter started for his publishing company, Gehenna & Hinnom Books.  The goal, to keep up the good work (over and above supplying lists that I can reference on this blog) and, hopefully, begin to pay writers professional rates.  “Gehenna & Hinnom’s 2019 enterprise!  We aim to bring you the greatest releases in Weird Fiction and Cosmic Horror of the year,” or, of their staple publication HINNOM MAGAZINE, even considered “a possible successor to WEIRD TALES” according to THE MISKATONIC REVIEW.  And I am not entirely myself without a finger in this pie, my story “Flesh” having been published a while back in G & H’s YEAR’S BEST BODY HORROR 2017 ANTHOLOGY (cf. October 25, September 25 2017, et al.).

And one might add, for those who pledge nifty treats are offered, for which to see for yourself check here.

Then in other news, earlier this week I completed and sent in my answers, etc., for my part in a series of interviews that writer and blogger Carl Alves is running.  So word has come back, my first interview for 2019 is tentatively set for Tuesday next week, February 5, more on which will appear here as it becomes available.

Itty Bitty Writing Space: Library Benefit Ends Today

***NOTE: The Library Benefit extends until Thursday (Jan 31) at midnight, PST.  If you back at the $25 or $50 level, we will match you and give books to a library of your choice.***[image error]

Thus starred and noted comes the announcement from publisher Jason Brick concerning the “Itty Bitty Kickstarter” (see January 29, et al.) special feature, that certain pledges of $25 or $50 made during the first two days will include a donation of the anthology ITTY BITTY WRITING SPACE to the local library of your choice.  This is an anthology of flash fiction, 100 stories of 1000 words or less, by 100 authors — a style and a writer for every taste! — including even a story by me, “The Junkie,” of zombies (well one anyway) and drugs.  And now one more thing:  We have a specific cut off time for those willing to donate one to their library, midnight (PST) Thursday — today!

For more, press here.

Final Segment: Lovecraftian Influence in Movies and TV

As the final part of our “Lovecraft in Film” series, we will be exploring 25 films that, while not direct adaptations, are inspired either partially or greatly by Lovecraft’s fiction.  Prepare for madness as we embark into the unknown.  These films are in NO PARTICULAR ORDER.  [image error]This is not a ranked list.  Thus the fourth and last segment of C.P. Dunphey’s “Top 100 Films & Television Series You Didn’t Know Were Lovecraftian” is now available on the GEHENNA & HINNOM site (cf. January 29, 28, 24).  Again with varying degrees of connection with the Lovecraft mythos, some close, some obscure, the final selections include such titles as THE TAKING OF DEBORAH LOGAN, CLOVERFIELD, THE CORRIDOR, THE POSSESSION, THE MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN, KAIRO (PULSE), BIRD BOX. . . .  For more, press here.

Itty Bitty Kickstarter Live and Functioning — Plus 48-Hour Special Library Offer

You want some fiction?  We got your fiction right here!  A hundred tales of derring-do, introspection, love, hate, joy, fear, science fiction, mystery, romance, fantasy, and all manner of other things for your reading pleasure.  That’s 100 stories from 100 authors with 100 voices at under 1000 words apiece.  It’s ITTY BITTY WRITING SPACE (see January 27, et al.) and today the Kickstarter has begun!

And one special feature:  Certain pledges of $25 or $50, provided they’re made within 48 hours, include a donation of the book to your local — or other favorite — library.  Check it out by pressing here, then scroll down the pledge levels to the right for the [image error]ones that have the library option, but, again, pledges for these must be made today or tomorrow — within the Kickstarter’s first 48 hours!  But other options exist as well, and whatever is given will help ITTY BITTY WRITING SPACE get published (if all goes well, to be out around June) as well as helping the authors get paid.  That is to say, me, and 99 others.

My part in the pack, incidentally, is a new tale called “The Junkie,” of mean streets and drug addiction and . . . zombies.  Or at least one zombie, insofar as it’s only about 750 words long.  So reading is addictive too, and to help this book meet the people who need it, for the Kickstarter again press here, check the options out, and do pledge what you can.

Lovecraftian Influence in Movies and TV, Part Three

Wasting no time, C.P. Dunphey has added Part 3 on GEHENNA & HINNOM of the “Top 100 Films & Television Series You Didn’t Know Were Lovecraftian” (cf. January 28, 24).  As in [image error]Parts 1 and 2, we will be exploring 25 films that, while not direct adaptations, are inspired either partially or greatly by Lovecraft’s fiction and, as before, Dunphey stresses that the order in which the films are listed is unimportant.  Examples again include some where the Lovecraft connection is clear, others where it may be more obscure, with highlights including BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW, CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD, WICKED CITY, SUSPIRIA, BANSHEE CHAPTER. . . .  As before, all may be perused by pressing here.

Lovecraftian Influence in Movies and TV, Part Two

This continues our list from C.P. Dunphey on GEHENNA & HINNOM of the “Top 100 Films & Television Series You Didn’t Know Were Lovecraftian” (cf. below, January 24).  Or in his own words, [a]s the second part of our “Lovecraft in Film” series, we will be exploring 25 films that, while not direct adaptations, are [image error]inspired either partially or greatly by Lovecraft’s fiction.  Prepare for madness as we embark into the unknown — and stressing again that the films are not listed in any particular order.  Examples in this batch also include some where the Lovecraft connection is fairly obvious, some where it may be more obscure, with highlights including ANGEL HEART, PONTYPOOL, PROMETHEUS, THE HOST, EVENT HORIZON, THE VOID. . . .

Appetite whetted?  All may be seen by pressing here.

Last Sunday Poetry Series Enjoys 2019 Beginning; Itty Bitty Kickstarter Up in Two Days

Holidays no longer in the way, January’s “Last Sunday Poetry Reading and Open Mic” (cf. September 30, et al.) came off on schedule, although due to other obligations I had to arrive a bit late.  Sponsored by the Bloomongton Writers Guild with the Monroe County Convention Center, the event featured Indiana University alumnus and community action and non-profits advocate C.D. Culper and Writers Guild founding member and past chairperson Patsy Rahn, the latter’s reading including poems from her new book, THE GRAINY WET SOUL.  Then after intermission I was third of seven unscheduled poets with an older poem to celebrate the January 19 birthday of Edgar Allan Poe, “The Resurrection Man,” about grave-robbing and initially published in ONCE UPON A MIDNIGHT (Unnameable Press, 1995, itself published to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Poe’s “The Raven”).

Then an “itty bitty” announcement that Tuesday, in two days, the Kickstarter will begin for ITTY BITTY WRITING SPACE, a 100-writer flash fiction anthology edited by Jason Brick (see January 21, 19), including a new piece by me, “The Junkie.”  To quote from my initial announcement, “check back here for future info and, when the Kickstarter is announced, be aware that generosity will be appreciated by ninety-nine authors as well as me.”  So, reminder posted, tune again here on Tuesday when the news, with link, will appear — and remember as well that my story (to quote myself again) “does have a zombie in it.”

Lovecraft Influence to Be Discussed in Movies, TV

We may remember, on August 29, a thoughtful and interesting review list of “43 Underrated Films from the Darker Side of Cinema You’ve Probably Never Seen — A Gehenna Post Article” by C.P. Dunphey* via GEHENNAANDHINNOM, his blog on WordPress.  Now five months later comes another feature, this one even more ambitious, the opener of a four-part “Top 100 Films & Television Series You Didn’t Know Were Lovecraftian.”  Or to introduce it in his own words, [image error][a]s the first part of our “Lovecraft in Film” series, we will be exploring 25 films that, while not direct adaptations, are inspired either partially or greatly by Lovecraft’s fiction.  Prepare for madness as we embark into the unknown.  These films are in NO PARTICULAR ORDER.  And beyond which there may not be too much to say:  the degree of influence will sometimes be obvious, sometimes more subtle, the films themselves ranging from the Japanese UZUMAKI (SPIRAL) to THE HAUNTED PALACE, with stops in between for CABIN IN THE WOODS, THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS, even UNDER THE SKIN in a negative way . . . but Dunphey himself will explain the connections, which may be seen by pressing here.

.

*Not to mention C.P. Dunphey himself for YEAR’S BEST BODY HORROR 2017 ANTHOLOGY, with my story “Flesh,” as well as much support for my novel-in-stories TOMBS (cf. July 22, et al.).

To Get Into the Mood for Valentine’s Day?; Also Itty Bitty Junkie Contract Received and Returned

Hopefully not to the former!  But the question does come up, what about Valentine’s Day for those people you don’t like so much?  And with less than a month left, here is one answer courtesy of Angel Orona on Facebook’s SHIT JUST GOT WEIRD, [image error]“Delivered in Hate: In the Victorian Era, People Sent These Grotesque ‘Vinegar Valentines’ to Their Enemies” from VINTAGE.ES (a.k.a. VINTAGE EVERYDAY).  Or, possibly better, maybe you shouldn’t be hanging around so much with people like that in the first place.

Nevertheless we are into horror and, who knows, one could be on the receiving end too.  So as the February feast day approaches, if only to be forewarned press here.

Then back to business, it was an odd sort of contract, an interactive one in a way, but contracts are contracts and this was received from ITTY BITTY WRITING SPACE Editor Jason Brick earlier this afternoon (cf. just below, January 19).  I hope you’re still jazzed about this anthology.  The team and I sure are.  Today, though, we’re mostly about business.  More fun stuff comes later, but it’s always best to get the money and contract stuff done early so everybody’s on the same page and nobody’s feelings get hurt.  It was followed by a preview of what would be covered, and then:  If this still sounds like your idea of a good time, click the button below.  It will take you to a Google form where you sign off on this plain-English agreement.  From there, you’re in and we’re all set to move forward.

And there, step by step, one could check the “yes” boxes as each point came up, finally typing one’s name and the date — all easy and neat and uncomplicated, an interesting idea!  Be that as it may, I did as required, and back it went.