Deborah Sheldon's Blog, page 21
September 1, 2020
Flash fiction published in AntipodeanSF
AntipodeanSF is the online magazine that's devoted to the regular monthly publication of fabulous and original science-fiction, fantasy, or horror mini-stories of about 500 words each. Every issue is free to read.
The current issue, AntipodeanSF #264, includes my flash fiction piece, "Shedding":
https://www.antisf.com/the-stories/sh...
The current issue, AntipodeanSF #264, includes my flash fiction piece, "Shedding":
https://www.antisf.com/the-stories/sh...
August 14, 2020
Ebook giveaway of Contrition
The Horror Tree is giving away TEN ebook copies of my noir-horror novel, Contrition, which was nominated for the “Best Horror Novel” Australian Shadows Award. Entries close on 28 August.
https://horrortree.com/august-2020-gi...
The back-cover blurb of Contrition:
In her late teens, Meredith Berg-Olsen had all the makings of a runway model. Now in her late forties, after everything she had been through – including horrors that John could only guess at – she looked bloodless instead of pale, skeletal instead of slender, more dead than alive…
John Penrose has two secrets. One is the flatmate he keeps hidden from the world: his high-school sweetheart, Meredith. His other secret is the reason he feels compelled to look after her.
Contrition is a horror story with noir undertones and an atmosphere of mounting dread.
https://deborahsheldon.wordpress.com/...
https://horrortree.com/august-2020-gi...
The back-cover blurb of Contrition:
In her late teens, Meredith Berg-Olsen had all the makings of a runway model. Now in her late forties, after everything she had been through – including horrors that John could only guess at – she looked bloodless instead of pale, skeletal instead of slender, more dead than alive…
John Penrose has two secrets. One is the flatmate he keeps hidden from the world: his high-school sweetheart, Meredith. His other secret is the reason he feels compelled to look after her.
Contrition is a horror story with noir undertones and an atmosphere of mounting dread.
https://deborahsheldon.wordpress.com/...
August 12, 2020
Free sample of The Long Shot
Twelfth Planet Press is offering a FREE two-chapter sampler of my crime novella, The Long Shot.
https://claims.prolificworks.com/free...
The premise of The Long Shot:
Simone Parker visits her home town of Brownbeck after six long years away. When she witnesses a brutal bashing, police officer Mitchell Ross needs her testimony. Simone is keen to help, until she discovers her estranged sister, Claire, might be involved.
http://www.twelfthplanetpress.com/pro...
https://claims.prolificworks.com/free...
The premise of The Long Shot:
Simone Parker visits her home town of Brownbeck after six long years away. When she witnesses a brutal bashing, police officer Mitchell Ross needs her testimony. Simone is keen to help, until she discovers her estranged sister, Claire, might be involved.
http://www.twelfthplanetpress.com/pro...
August 9, 2020
Giveaway of my crime novella, The Long Shot
In her latest newsletter, award-winning fantasy novelist Tansy Rayner Roberts - who writes cosy crime mysteries under the pen name of Livia Day - is giving away three copies of my novella, The Long Shot, courtesy of Twelfth Planet Press. Entries close at the end of August.
https://mailchi.mp/b659eb82724e/small...
The premise of The Long Shot:
Simone Parker visits her home town of Brownbeck after six long years away. When she witnesses a brutal bashing, police officer Mitchell Ross needs her testimony. Simone is keen to help, until she discovers her estranged sister, Claire, might be involved.
http://www.twelfthplanetpress.com/pro...
https://mailchi.mp/b659eb82724e/small...
The premise of The Long Shot:
Simone Parker visits her home town of Brownbeck after six long years away. When she witnesses a brutal bashing, police officer Mitchell Ross needs her testimony. Simone is keen to help, until she discovers her estranged sister, Claire, might be involved.
http://www.twelfthplanetpress.com/pro...
August 6, 2020
Aurealis magazine review of Body Farm Z
Aurealis magazine #133 has a great review of my novel Body Farm Z (Severed Press).
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
In part, Chris Foster writes, "Body Farm Z opens like a crime novel, with short sharp writing, character-focused storytelling and a varied cast of personalities. It’s unapologetically Australian. Local wildlife is used to great effect, especially when the dead start rising. Decayed magpies flop, festering possum carcasses shed tufts of fur and a red kangaroo scratches its belly, uncaring to the bullet hole in its chest. Sheldon uses vivid imagery to grip the reader, gore almost splattering off the page..."
https://www.amazon.com/Body-Farm-Z-De...
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
In part, Chris Foster writes, "Body Farm Z opens like a crime novel, with short sharp writing, character-focused storytelling and a varied cast of personalities. It’s unapologetically Australian. Local wildlife is used to great effect, especially when the dead start rising. Decayed magpies flop, festering possum carcasses shed tufts of fur and a red kangaroo scratches its belly, uncaring to the bullet hole in its chest. Sheldon uses vivid imagery to grip the reader, gore almost splattering off the page..."
https://www.amazon.com/Body-Farm-Z-De...
August 3, 2020
The Long Shot is out now
My crime-suspense novella, The Long Shot, is now available to purchase through Twelfth Planet Press.
The premise: Simone Parker visits her home town of Brownbeck after six long years away. When she witnesses a brutal bashing, police officer Mitchell Ross needs her testimony. Simone is keen to help, until she discovers her estranged sister, Claire, might be involved.
http://www.twelfthplanetpress.com/pro...
The premise: Simone Parker visits her home town of Brownbeck after six long years away. When she witnesses a brutal bashing, police officer Mitchell Ross needs her testimony. Simone is keen to help, until she discovers her estranged sister, Claire, might be involved.
http://www.twelfthplanetpress.com/pro...
July 17, 2020
Pre-orders now available for my novella The Long Shot
Pre-orders are available now for the ebook edition of my crime novella, The Long Shot. Twelfth Planet Press is scheduled to publish the title on August 1. (The paperback edition will be available at a later date.)
http://www.twelfthplanetpress.com/pro...
The back-cover blurb of The Long Shot reads:
Simone Parker visits her home town of Brownbeck after six long years away. When she witnesses a brutal bashing, police officer Mitchell Ross needs her testimony. Simone is keen to help, until she discovers her estranged sister, Claire, might be involved. Caught between family loyalty and feelings for Mitchell, Simone decides to solve the mystery herself – and is soon in grave danger.
http://www.twelfthplanetpress.com/pro...
The back-cover blurb of The Long Shot reads:
Simone Parker visits her home town of Brownbeck after six long years away. When she witnesses a brutal bashing, police officer Mitchell Ross needs her testimony. Simone is keen to help, until she discovers her estranged sister, Claire, might be involved. Caught between family loyalty and feelings for Mitchell, Simone decides to solve the mystery herself – and is soon in grave danger.
July 1, 2020
Author interview with Australian SF Snapshot Project
The Australian SF Snapshot Project has been taking place periodically since 2005. The site aims to make a true record of the journey of Australian speculative fiction by interviewing authors.
Here is my interview:
https://austsfsnapshot.wordpress.com/...
Here is my interview:
https://austsfsnapshot.wordpress.com/...
June 12, 2020
Ebook giveaway of Devil Dragon
The Horror Tree is giving away TEN ebook copies of my novel, Devil Dragon (Severed Press), which was nominated for an Australian Shadows Award “Best Novel.” This giveaway will run until June 26.
https://horrortree.com/june-2020-give...
The back-cover blurb of Devil Dragon reads:
Dr Erin Harris may be a scientist, but she has an unscientific obsession: to find a living Varanus priscus. Cryptozoologists call it the Devil dragon. This giant Australian reptile went extinct some 12,000 years ago but like Bigfoot or Nessie, there are occasional sightings. Spurred by a credible witness, Erin cobbles together an expedition party consisting of herself, the witness, and his deer-hunting neighbours. They travel into the unexplored heart of a remote national park. Erin, believing the Devil dragon to be a larger version of the Komodo, is confident she can outwit a specimen. However, the terrifying monster that lumbers out of the bush is a savage and unpredictable predator the size of a campervan. To escape, Erin must transform herself from genteel university lecturer to hard-core survivalist.
https://deborahsheldon.wordpress.com/...
https://horrortree.com/june-2020-give...
The back-cover blurb of Devil Dragon reads:
Dr Erin Harris may be a scientist, but she has an unscientific obsession: to find a living Varanus priscus. Cryptozoologists call it the Devil dragon. This giant Australian reptile went extinct some 12,000 years ago but like Bigfoot or Nessie, there are occasional sightings. Spurred by a credible witness, Erin cobbles together an expedition party consisting of herself, the witness, and his deer-hunting neighbours. They travel into the unexplored heart of a remote national park. Erin, believing the Devil dragon to be a larger version of the Komodo, is confident she can outwit a specimen. However, the terrifying monster that lumbers out of the bush is a savage and unpredictable predator the size of a campervan. To escape, Erin must transform herself from genteel university lecturer to hard-core survivalist.
https://deborahsheldon.wordpress.com/...
June 6, 2020
Australian Shadows Award win!
Great news to share! I’ve won the Australian Shadows Award “Best Edited Work 2019” for Midnight Echo #14, which I guest-edited.
Congratulations to the winners and finalists in all categories. The full list can be found here: https://australasianhorror.com/austra...
Thanks to the Australasian Horror Writers Association and to the judges of this year’s Australian Shadows Awards.
And a special thanks to the writers and artists who contributed to Midnight Echo #14.
Congratulations to the winners and finalists in all categories. The full list can be found here: https://australasianhorror.com/austra...
Thanks to the Australasian Horror Writers Association and to the judges of this year’s Australian Shadows Awards.
And a special thanks to the writers and artists who contributed to Midnight Echo #14.
