Stephanie Ellis's Blog, page 16

12 Dark Days: Author Interview Catch Up

​Sadly the internet in certain parts of this wonderful country leaves a lot to be desired so I have been unable to access my site to post these interviews as they appeared. However, today I make up for lost time and bring you editor Dean Drinkel's interviews with: James Everington, himself, Jason D Brawn and Mark West.

James Everington

Dean M Drinkel James had Day Two for our Christmas themed anthology (Two Turtle Doves) – I asked all contributors a number of Questions, here are James’ answers:

Author Name: James Everington
Story Title: Damage
http://jameseverington.blogspot.co.uk

Q: What inspired you to write this particular story? Did you do any research?
JE: As ever, it was a combination of things coming together rather than any single inspiration: I read up on turtle doves, both their real life decline and the ancient myths associated with them. And I was thinking how Christmas can be a lonely time for many. And wanting to write a story about how we can become numb to ourselves. You know, cheery Christmas-cracker stuff like that.

Q: What is the first book which made you cry?
JE: The first one I can remember was Charlotte’s Web.

Q: Are you friends with other writers and do they help you become a better writer?
JE: Yes, I’m friends with a number of writers now, including some in this very book. And yes, they can definitely help you become a better writer; it can be by specific help they give, or simply by being someone you can talk about writing to over a curry at a convention or whatever. Being around creative people is inspiring, in the literal sense of the word.

Q: If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
JE: Do the things with your stories you are tempted to but are scared to—it will be alright, you soft git.

Q: Do you base your characters on real people and if so, have they noticed?
JE: No, I don’t. I need my characters to be specific for the tale that they’re in, and for their role within that tale. So they’re bespoke, not off-the-shelf. Which isn’t to say elements of re-al-life people won’t be added to the mix if I think it’s appropriate, but that’s all it is: part of the mix.

Q: How did you select the names for your characters?
JE: With great difficulty, actually. They’re often still called ‘Ms X’ or ‘Mr whatnot’ well into the second draft. I don’t know how I pick the names, they just come at some point and I fill them in. They have to sound right, is all I can say.

Q: What do you think is literary success?
JE: People reading and liking my stories.

Q: What is the best way to market your books?
JE: I’m assuming it’s answering ten Christmas-y questions from Dean M. Drinkel…

Q: Favourite Christmas movie you could watch over and over again.
JE: Gremlins.

Q: What was your favourite book / film as a child?
JE: I remember loving The Tripods books, and as for films it was Star Wars, obviously. Still is, in many ways: I loved The Last Jedi.

To read James’ excellent tale please find the UK Link below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/.../B077.../ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0...Manage
James Everington - Scattershot Writing
"The triumph of Everington’s first novel is that, while hinting at lofty literary precedents, it cumulatively takes on an unsettling voice all of its own." The Guardian
JAMESEVERINGTON.BLOGSPOT.PE

Dean M. Drinkel

According to the song, the third day of Christmas is “Three French Hens.” For the anthology “12 Dark Days: One Hell Of A Christmas” (published by Alex Johnson’s Nocturnicorn Books and supported by John Gilbert / FEAR) I wrote a modern day story set in Paris entitled: “To Their Solemn Graves”. As I asked all my fellow contributors to answer some questions, it was only fair I did the same…
Author Name: Dean M. Drinkel
Story Title: “To Their Solemn Graves”
Twitter: @deanmdrinkel

Q: What inspired you to write this particular story? Did you do any research?
A: Of late most of my stories have been set in Paris and this time I concentrated on my beloved 19th Arrondissement (an area I’ve spent a lot of time over the years and hope to live in the near future), with a lot of the action taking place in an apartment close to the Canal St Martin (based upon a friend’s apartment I’ve visited a few times – I wonder if he will sell it to me?). I was also interested in writing something which had some really strong female characters for a change – I think I was (mainly) successful. Finally, I have always liked to play with the reader’s perception of what a ‘Dean M. Drinkel’ story really is about and I believe (without giving any spoilers away) there is a really nice twist at the end which brought a broad grin to my face I can tell you.

Q: Are you friends with other writers and do they help you become a better writer?
A: Yes I have many writer friends and that is how when I’m asked to put these anthologies together it doesn’t take me long at all to compile the ToC. I’m never left wanting. I’m proud to call them my friends and hopefully we all help each other to become the best writers we can be. Sometimes though it’s not just about the writing – for ’12 Dark Days’, one of my contributors has been very helpful pointing me in the direction of ‘marketing’ opportunities etc because at the end of the day I think that is something that we can all improve on in the small / indie press industry. It is such a shame sometimes that you spend a long time putting these books together and then sales aren’t the best – it’s not because of the quality of the writing it’s because there are so many books being pimped that if not careful you can easily become ‘lost’ and it takes a lot of time / effort to stay ahead of the rest (and with many – if not all – of the small presses having no marketing budget per se, it is down to the authors to help market (and again, some have those skills, others don’t). One thing I need to improve on is the dreaded ‘networking’ – being in France means it isn’t always to do this but it’s one of my goals for 2018…network, network, network!

Q: Do you want each story you write to stand on its own, or do you try to build a body of work with connections between each one?
A: All my stories are connected somewhere along the line even if it’s not that obvious to the reader. A couple of years ago I did create a character called “Doctor Papper” who subsequently appeared in several of my stories – if I have time in 2018 I’d really like to write a novel / novella about him again…the world he lives in is very occult / esoteric and I had a lot of fun creating that…yeah, maybe we could do something…just need to find the right publisher…

Q: If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
A: Stick at it – perseverance is the key; YOU WILL get there in the end if you stick at it, keep plugging away, network, expand your knowledge, don’t pigeon-hole yourself, move country, write stories, scripts, plays…believe in yourself…write everyday, watch everything you can, read everything you can…absorb everything…everything is useful…

Q: Do you base your characters on real people and if so, have they noticed?
A: Write what you know, so they say – I say, write who you know! Everyone I know makes it into my stories in some capacity, steal, beg, borrow from that person, add it to a particular character or situation etc etc. People always assume that you’re writing about them anyway – watch the look on their faces when you tell them it’s true…

Q: How did you select the names for your characters?
A: Normally on my friends or actors / actresses I like. Sometimes when I’m reading the newspaper etc a name crops up which is so unusual that I think, yeap, got to use that one. In the first draft I’ve noticed of late that I actually don’t name them it’s just ‘man’ or ‘woman’ or ‘character 1’ etc etc – never done that before…I wonder why now I come to think about it…

Q: What period of your life do you write about most often? 
A: So much has happened the last few years that it has bled into my stories for sure – particularly the influence of being in Cannes / Paris and the people I have come across there. Everyday is usable.

Q: Do you hide secrets in your stories that only those in the know will find?
A: I will admit that I have done this, yes and I won’t say any more.

Q: Do you Google yourself? If so, did you find anything you weren’t expecting?
A: Hasn’t everybody at least once? So sure, I do do it from time to time in case I see any reviews etc that I’ve missed, that sort of thing. In terms of finding things which I wasn’t expecting, not me personally but once I was in Paris with a friend, we were in a VIP area of a bar / club, and whilst there my friend and the guy who owned the club decided to Google me. After a while I noticed they were laughing…at a picture of me – I asked them to show me…it wasn’t me but of another author complete with moustache and a hat, I kept pointing out that it looked nothing like me but for some reason they were convinced…

Q: What was your favourite book / film as a child?
A: Favourite book – THE THREE MUSKETEERS (by Alexandre Dumas) and film…I was going to go for HELLRAISER (Clive Barker) but let’s say: FLASH GORDON (Mike Hodges).
That’s that then.

Enjoy the rest of your festivities!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/…/dp/1981160…/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0…

Jason D Brawn

I was extremely happy to have Jason involved in the “12 Dark Days: One Hell Of A Christmas” anthology (published by Alex Johnson’s Nocturnicorn Press and supported by John Gilbert / FEAR). His ‘day’ was Day Five (five gold rings) and his story was called “The Nameless”. I asked the contributors to answer some questions either about their stories or Christmas in general…here is what Jason had to say:
Author Name: Jason D. Brawn
Story Title: The Nameless
http://jasonbrawn.blogspot.co.uk; https://twitter.com/jasonbrawn

Q: What inspired you to write this particular story? Did you do any research?
JDB: This is a Christmas story that felt close to my heart. It also captures the Christmas tradition of giving and helping others.

Q: What do you not like about Christmas?
JDB: Spending lots of money.

Q: If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
JDB: Do not waste your money on how to write books and writing courses.

Q: Do you base your characters on real people and if so, have they noticed?
JDB: Oh yes. Always. I think it would be a lie if I said I didn’t.

Q: What do you think is literary success?
JDB: Once your book gets glowing reviews in The Guardian or The Times, or if it gets nominated for countless awards.

Q: What is the best way to market your books?
JDB: Word of mouth.

Q: Favourite Christmas movie you could watch over and over again.
JDB: Trading Places (1983)

Q: Do you Google yourself? If so, did you find anything you weren’t expecting?
JDB: I hardly ever Google myself. It’s almost like watching yourself on TV all the time.

Q: What was your favourite book / film as a child?
JDB: Dracula / From Beyond the Grave (1973)

Q: What is your favourite ever thing about Christmas?
JDB: Not being at work!
To read Jason’s and all the other stories, here is the UK Link.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/…/dp/B077WHG…/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0…
Mark West

It is always an honour to work with Mark West, he’s never let me down. His story for the “12 Dark Days: One Hell Of A Christmas” anthology (published by Alex Johnson’s Nocturnicorn Books and supported by John Gilbert’s FEAR) is based upon Day Seven (Swans A Swimming) of the famous Christmas song. I asked all the contributors a series of questions either about their respective story or about Christmas. This is how Mark replied:
Author Name: Mark West 
Story Title: A World Outside Your Window
www.markwest.org.uk
Q: Are you friends with other writers and do they help you become a better writer?
MW: I am lucky enough to be friends with a lot of writers and I think they do help to improve my craft, simply by their producing good work and me wanting to do as well. The lovely thing I’ve found about the British small press is that each person is accepted for who they are and what they write, as we sit chatting in the bar at FantasyCon or Edge-Lit, we’re all just creative people.
Q: Do you want each story you write to stand on its own, or do you try to build a body of work with connections between each one?
MW: Most stand alone, though since the bulk take place in my fictional town of Gaffney there’s a lot of linking if you’re looking for it (the cinema is always on Russell Street, for example). Characters don’t normally cross over though when Magellan tries to summon the devil in ‘In The Rain With The Dead’ he uses the room of the protagonist from ‘Speckles’.
Q: If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
MW: Just keep going, mate, one day it’ll all come together…
Q: Describe your typical Christmas Day.
MW: Up fairly early with Dude, try not to look disappointed that I didn’t get a load of annuals, board games and toys (anyone’d think I was an adult). Christmas songs on the stereo, down to Mum & Dad’s, with the rest of the family for a meal, an afternoon walk, games and laughter, then Christmas tea. Lovely.
Q: As a writer, what would you choose as your emjoi / avatar / tv (or film character) / spirit animal?
MW: Why would I do that?
Q: Do you base your characters on real people and if so, have they noticed?
MW: All the time, though it’s usually only a small part of each person that gets absorbed into a character, so nobody’d be able to see themselves.
Q: What do you think is literary success?
MW: Sales.
Q: What is the best way to market your books?
MW: I don’t know, what do you suggest?
Q: Do you hide secrets in your stories that only those in the know will find?
MW: Sometimes…
Q: Do you Google yourself? If so, did you find anything you weren’t expecting?
MW: I did, when we first got onto the Internet at home. Nowadays, there’s a lot about wine (there’s a brand named after a county in America which shares my name) and a basketball player, back in the day there was an extremely hairy gay pornstar.
To read Mark’s tale and all the stories, here is the UK Link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/…/dp/B077WHG…/ref=tmm_kin_sw

On the First Day of Christmas: Theresa Derwin

Today I'm hosting Dean Drinkel's first author interview for the recently published "12 Dark Days: One Hell Of A Christmas". Look out for the others over the rest of the festive period!

Merry Christmas! For the anthology “12 Dark Days: One Hell Of A Christmas” which I recently compiled and edited for Alex S. Johnson’s Nocturnicorn Books (which is also supported by John Gilbert’s FEAR Magazine), Theresa Derwin penned a truly brilliant and brutal opening story called ‘Fruit Of The Womb’ which is her take on Day One of the ’12 Days Of Christmas’ song ie ‘A Partridge In A Pear Tree’. I sent the contributors some questions which I asked them to answer in any way they saw fit…here are Theresa’s answers (though she never mentions the karaoke we did together at a Fantasycon a couple of years ago – I wonder why!). We hope you enjoy…
​
Author Name: Theresa Derwin 
Story Title: Fruit of The Womb
Twitter: @BarbarellaFem
Website: www.theresaderwin.co.uk




​Q: What inspired you to write this particular story? Did you do any research?
TD: I wanted to combine the pear and partridge in a story so I thought about pears as perry, which led me to think about farms and harvest. As it’s alcohol I created a pub with ‘partridge’ in the name. I don’t want to give away too much but I did quite a bit of research into old harvest gods and rituals. Really interesting stuff.
Q: What is your ultimate Christmas experience?
TD: I’d love to go to Alaska and meet a gorgeous lumberjack for fun and frolics in the snow; hot chocolate, gingerbread men and husky Sledge rides. And I could pop to see Santa. I know him!
Q: Does a big ego help or hurt writers?
TD: It helps Eleven in the Upside Down – oh, ego not eggo- my bad! Confidence helps but ‘big ego’ can turn into arrogance. You need to believe in yourself to get the courage to submit.
Q: Are you friends with other writers and do they help you become a better writer?
TD: Yes, bloody loads to be honest. Those friendships grew over years at Cons like FantasyCon and Edge-Lit and many have offered great advice, Beta reading or editing. We learn from each other. As writers, we are always learning.
Q: If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
TD: Stick at it
Edit 
Read
You’ll probably never get rich, never mind make a living
Don’t eat the yellow snow
Q: As a writer, what would you choose as your emjoi / avatar / tv (or film character) / spirit animal?
TD: I’m a ferocious rabid bunny rabbit – cute and cuddly on the outside, but with a fierce bite.
Q: Favourite Christmas movie you could watch over and over again?
TD: I’m a fan of the dark Christmas stuff; Krampus, Rare Exports, A Christmas Horror Anthology but truthfully my favourite one is Elf! I love it. It’s so silly, funny and heartwarming.
Q: What period of your life do you write about most often?
TD: Ironically, Christmas. I’m a bit of a Christmas nut and between horror, fantasy and romance I’ve edited two Christmas anthologies, released one short Christmas collection ‘Seasons Creepings’, had two Christmas short stories in 12 Days themed anthologies in the last two years, just submitted two short seasonal flash pieces and written a tonne more. Between the lore, the myths and the magic, there is so much you can write about.
Q: Do you hide secrets in your stories that only those in the know will find?
TD: Hell yes! Apart from putting friends and family in stories I’m always putting in Geeky Easter Eggs – like the story appearing thus Dec on my blog ‘Elf Help’, makes a reference to the Nakatomi building.
Q: What was your favourite book / film as a child?
TD: I was raised on Hammer and Universal Monsters but my absolute favourite films were the Ray Harryhausen and I loved The Valley of Gwangi - cowboys and dinosaurs - what’s not to love?
Q: What is your favourite ever thing about Christmas?
TD: Food! No, seriously, whilst I love food it’s all the twinkling lights, the music and the atmosphere. People just seem to make a little more effort. And I love diving into Christmas Horror, fantasy and romance books at night with the tree lights glimmering in the dark.
To read Theresa’s amazing story please find the link below to ’12 Dark Days: One Hell Of AChristmas”
Have a great Christmas Day!
Dean
PS tomorrow James Everington…

The Christmas Tree

I wrote this little story a few years ago now but I still like it. It was not written for any market, purely for my own entertainment, I hope you enjoy its annual outing. Happy Christmas.

The Christmas Tree
 
The Christmas tree waited patiently at the bottom of the garden.  It was nearly time.  From behind, the others rustled their bare branches in expectation.  They were old and nobody came for them any more.  It did not matter, Christmas was a time for sharing and they would still enjoy the festivities.
A new family had moved into the house in the summer and three young children had spent those distant hazy days running in and out of the trees, hiding from grown-ups and tormenting the ageing dog that had come with them.  The mother had spotted the tree during one of their games and made a mental note that it would be the perfect tree for Christmas.  The high-ceilinged rooms of their house demanded the presence of such a majestic specimen.
The first day of the holidays had been spent putting the finishing touches to the decorations that now hung around the house until all that was needed was the tree.  She had sent the children on ahead of her whilst she gathered together the angel and the little wooden soldiers that were to adorn its branches, listening with half-an-ear to the sound of their youthful laughter echoing through the cold night air.
Her sons ran wildly in the happy beam of the moon, darting between frost-trimmed branches that glittered as brightly as any tinsel, releasing their pent up energy into the darkness.  The moon loved this time of year, when the children would come to decorate the tree.
As their mother called to them from the house, the boys dived beneath the tree's branches, stifling their giggles, trying to ignore the scratch of needles.  They loved to hide from her and the tree helped them.  It curled its limbs around their waists, gripping them tightly, lifting them up, silencing them before they realised what was happening.  Then the tree stilled itself, waiting as the mother approached her children's hiding place and started to creep quietly into the darkness, ready to make them jump, not expecting the surprise in store for her as a branch dug its needles into clothes and flesh so that she too was held prisoner.  She struggled fiercely but the tree  was obstinate and refused to give her up, piercing her body with its knife-edge leaves so that she too had no choice but to stay.
The mother's protests, sung as loudly as any carol, were ignored as she was lifted higher and higher, past the bodies of her children that now dangled like little wooden soldiers in their crimson coats, up and up until she cleared the topmost boughs to be placed almost reverently at its peak.  The finishing touch, a dusting of frost, made her shimmer as brightly as any angel.
The others let out a gentle sigh of approval, a shared delight in the decorations that now adorned the tree.  Christmas had finally come.

Review: Season's Creepings

Seasons Creepings by Theresa Derwin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A perfect pocket Christmas! Just took this off my TBR pile for a quick look, not intending to read it in full but it drew me in. The stories are great fun, completely subverting some much-loved Christmas trope eg turkey, Dickens, gift-giving and mixing them up with demons, vampyres and zombies with either hilarious, or gruesome - or both - results. I loved them all but Fifty Hades of Grey in particular made me chuckle.

View all my reviews

Flashback: Plot Deviation and a few very short stories

Last week was Microcosms 100th anniversary. Having been part of this right from the start, I made sure I took part in this one. When the competition began, stories were only allowed to be 100 words max and last week you could opt for that word count as a special challenge - which I took, and which managed runner-up position.

Plot Deviation

Elements: werewolf, publishing house, fairy tale
Word count: 100 (challenge)

Unread proofs lurked on old oak desks awaiting the fresh eyes of morning. The moon’s soft beam picked out the one remaining worker. Her golden curls tumbled across the pages as she devoured the story within but it left her hungry. The tale was too short. She picked up another. This was too hard, too improbable, too many long words like lupophobia and lycanthrope. Reject, she scribbled across it. Another book. This was just right, but she never got to the end. The moon rose higher and a howl shattered the silence of the building. Goldilocks padded to the door.

Very Short Stories (#vss365)
These prompts are run by the FlashDogs on Twitter and a new word is given every day.  I'm not as regular in participating as others, managing only a couple a week normally but it is a good writing exercise. Here are some of my most recent:

#Fold
Yoga was not her thing. Susan could not twist herself into the positions demanded. But she could fold up others. You only had to look into her trunk to see how good she was. Trouble was you would soon be packed away too.

#Close
Close. Closer. Closest. A superlative of nearness. Tight. Tighter. Tightest. My hand is a vice. Beat. Beating. Beaten. My soul unskinned.

#Wheel
She had been broken on the wheel, bone by bone, a torture in the round; such was the circle of life. And hers was about to begin again as her spirit fled the burning stake to seek an empty womb, a breeding of revenge.

#Kind
They were two of a kind. He would've given her his heart - if he had one. She in turn found she'd lost her heart to him. A painful experience from which she never recovered, her undead body shuffling after his. Together forever.

And finally ...
Janet Reid, Literary Agent posted one of her occasional competitions recently. The words to be included were: bon, kismet, fate, kismet, luck, chance. They could be used as they were or as part of other words, the only rule is that the order of letters in the word doesn't change. Here is my offering ...  with apologies to Shakespeare.

Something Wicked
The Fates settled around their bonfire of souls, a relaxed gathering arranged for Cousin Kismet’s birthday. He was late.
“You sure you sent the invitation?” asked Clotho.
“Recorded delivery. He signed for it. Look.” Lachesis plucked a card from her pocket.
A twig snapped. “He’s here. Ready, girls?”
“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked …”
“No, dear,” said Clotho to Atropos, now suddenly awake. “It’s Kismet, not Macbeth.”
A tiny creature hopped towards them.
“Sister?”
Lachesis looked at the signature again, Kermit. Oh. Mischance had sent him, but on the upside they were short of toe of frog.

New Stories And A Look Back At 2017

Something I have learned in the past few years is that it is very easy to forget what you have achieved and that the ever-present voice of self-doubt will continually ask - what have you done lately, what have you got to show for all that effort?

So this is my reminder to me of what I've done, what I've achieved and what I hope to do next year. I think all writers should allow themselves such a moment of reflection.

The Infernal Clock
​A fledgling step into the world of publishing with David Shakes. We published our first anthology, The Infernal Clock , back in April 2017. This book contains a story for every hour of the day, including two of my stories, The Graveyard Shift and Whispers. It also saw me taking a large part in the editorial role. 
We then embarked on our second anthology, CalenDark, The Infernal Almanac with 16 stories, each centred on a particular day in the calendar. This book, only published on 2nd December, contains two of my stories, The Blessing of the Throats and The Dance. My editorial role in this project was even larger but I would like to thank all the authors I worked with for making it such a smooth process.
There are plans in the pipeline for a third, and final, anthology based on the concept of time to be produced next year.

Christmas in Spring
An invite from Dean Drinkel to contribute to FEAR Magazine's Christmas anthology, 12 Dark Days: One Hell of a Christmas , appeared at this time. Whilst the magazine subsequently ceased production, Dean still pushed the project ahead and it was released today. I was given the 10th day of Christmas, and had to link it to 10 Lords-a-leaping, this morphed into a story called The House of Lords, where I'm afraid another poor vicar suffers horribly. First Novella Published

This was a major step forward for me. Dark Chapter press had put a submission call out for their Bloody Heathers anthology back at the start of 2016 (might even have been earlier). I wrote a novella for this, Domnuill-Dhu - don't ask me how to pronounce it - and they accepted. It involves bagpipes and general nastiness. Due to a variety of factors, this anthology of just 5 novella-length stories was delayed but finally saw publication at the end of September. Being one of only four other authors made me feel very exposed, a scary but exciting change. My story in this collection also earned me the following review from Nev Murray at Confessions of a Reviewer. A lovely write-up which I treasure:

'John was whisked away from Scotland as a child by his mother, and his aunt, Esther. He never knew why, but he always heeded the warnings from his mother never to return. 
Now he has a wife of his own, and Mair has talked him into returning to his family home for the funeral of his Grandfather. She is sure everything will be OK. John should have listened to his mother.
Never heard of Stephanie Ellis before but by god after reading this, I will be looking for more of her work.
There are so many different feels to this, I don’t know where to start. If feels quite Victorian in many ways even though it is clear that it is set in modern times. In some instances, it feels almost Lovecraftian. In more than one scene it feels very Hammer Horror and I could imagine the blessed trinity of Cushing, Price and Lee playing starring roles in this story.
Absolutely loved this one.
General rating:
☆☆☆☆☆'
It was lovely to meet him at Birmingham HorrorCon and thank him in person. 

The Waiting Game
So, what else did I do?

I wrote another novella which is currently out with a publisher and I'm waiting a decision.

I completed a novel, Live, based on a near-future world which has suffered both a flu pandemic and loss of power from normal sources. The solution to the energy crisis is grim with some humans showing the ability to harness the earth's natural energy and become 'batteries'. I've sent the first few chapters to Gollancz and yes, I'm waiting.

I submitted a 12,000 word story to the The Binge-Watching Cure for their Horror Anthology.

A short story is with Electric Spec.

Another story is with Titan Books for their New Fears 2 anthology.

I've compiled a collection of my previously published (and some unpublished stories) which I will put out hopefully in the spring of next year, if not sooner. The delay is due to the stories I am awaiting decisions on. If they don't get accepted by their respective markets, I intend to include them in the collection​.

I started another novel, based on a short story, Transcending Nature, which I wrote a couple of years ago. This story is due to be published some time next year - I hope. It's one of those instances of the ups and downs in publishing. It is an industrial horror but one which was put on hold due to The Infernal Clock and other commitments. I intend to restart it soon.

NaNoWriMo 2017
Having written a couple of folk horror short stories in the past, I really wanted to develop a novel in this field. This year, bar the final 2 chapters I have yet to write, I did it as part of NaNo and used the discipline of the month to get me to the 50000 mark.  I intend to get The Five Turns of the Wheel,  edited and sent somewhere next year.

Horror Tree
The Horror Tree is a brilliant resource for authors and every week publishes the latest calls for flash, short stories, novels and novellas. It's where I found many of my own publishing opportunities. Following a post from Stuart Conover, I volunteered to help as co-editor for the site's online magazine, Trembling With Fear, my way of giving back. Since July, this has seen me reading and editing flash submissions from writers across the globe. It does take a lot of work - perhaps I should be careful what I volunteer for - but has proved strangely enjoyable. If you write drabbles or flash (max 1500 words) in the speculative fiction genre, send them in. We'd love to read them. Book Reviews and Beta Reading
I've done a number of reviews for Crystal Lake Publishing this year, receiving free ARCs in return for an honest review and I've also joined the review team at HorrorAddicts.com. Another 'giving back'. I don't regard myself as a professional reviewer by any means, I mean the writer won't necessarily get those 'sound bites' from me that some reviewers give. I just want to show that I have read the book and enjoyed it. That is the most important thing for a writer to know.
I post my reviews here, on goodreads and on Amazon; I'm happy to read people's work - but please nothing too extreme.
As well as reviews, I've become involved with a small beta-reading group run by Emerian Rich of HorrorAddicts. Each month I get a few short stories, a chapter in progress etc for me to comment on, these may be from a typo/grammar point of view or assessing the story line and whether it works or not. Reading other people's work either in beta stage or at review is a real learning process -  and I get free stories.

And Finally - Flash
I am still writing this, not as much as I used to but have managed to be a fairly regular contributor to: Microcosms weekly competition; FlashFeed, the latest FlashDogs platform where you will find some of the best flash writers in the field; Visual Verse - 50-500 words in 1hr; Verstype - cut-up poetry and Janet Reid's occasional competitions. 

So, all in all, quite a lot achieved this year and already things in the pipeline. I wonder what I'll be writing about this time next year. Why don't you take a few minutes and reflect on your own achievements?

​Steph

Review: Where Nightmares Come From

Where Nightmares Come From by Joe R. Lansdale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Where Nightmares Come From, The Art of Storytelling in the Horror Genre, was received free from Crystal Lake Publishing via HorrorAddicts.com in return for an honest review.

As a writer gradually developing her craft I am always open to hearing and reading the views of those at the top of their game, those who have ‘made it’. Like most, I think we approach such articles in the hope that we’ll discover the magic ingredient, the key that turns a novel in the drawer into a published piece of work. I didn’t get that from this book, nor is it something I discovered from my go-to motivational source, On Writing by Stephen King, who also appears in this particular publication. What I found however, which was equally valuable, was the same story from all contributors—whether they be film maker, author, poet, director, publisher or editor—the rule of three: read, write and finish what you start. No exceptions. I learned from Ramsay Campbell that you don’t need different notebooks for different projects, he—like me—makes notes on one thing, goes on to another, then returns to that first project … in the same notebook! I learned that daily word counts don’t always matter—unless you’re trying out for that annual marathon, NaNoWriMo. I learned that you should write for yourself. I mean, if you don’t enjoy it, why bother? In truth, and in my heart-of-hearts, these horror giants were merely stating what most of us already know, the only rule is that rule of three. Whilst the book was geared towards those who write in the horror genre, much of what was said can be applied to writers across the whole range of fiction, and even non-fiction. And when it comes to nightmares—everybody is different but the contributors reinforce the idea of developing horror from the everyday and mundane, from the what ifs? There doesn’t have to be blood and gore, it can be subtle, more dark and slow-building—again, another reassurance as that is the style of horror I prefer. So what did I take away from all this? A lot of reassurance and a reading list … oh, and the determination to keep on writing. And now I’m off to read Patricia Highsmith’s The Snail-Watcher.

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Flashback: The Butterfly Collector

Microcosms was slightly different last week, offering writers selected lines from previous competitions to incorporate into their flash. My story was Runner-Up and included the following line:
#85 She grieved for the girl for whom the song was written

The Butterfly Collector
​
The key turned and slowly the dancer pirouetted, boxed in she was a prisoner of time and place.

“She’s beautiful,” said the watcher, gazing at the figurine as it spun to the haunting melody. She knew the song, the words had haunted her since childhood and now she mouthed them in time to the gentle melody.

“I’m glad you like her,” said her companion. “You remind me of her.”

​“You talk as if she was real,” said the girl, smiling at the rather grand gentleman who had taken such an interest in her. He was famous for his songs which were sung in music hall and opera alike. He held the key to her future, she was sure of it.
***
Only when the clockwork finally wound down could the dancer see her audience. This girl was young, an angel; just like she had been once, like she still was even though more than a century had passed. The Devil liked angels. He liked to trap them, hear their wings beating against the prisons he built them—his butterfly collection. He had bated her, promised her a stage that would be hers forever if she would dance for him, sing for him, and so she had. Too late had she realised her danger as invisible chains formed from his words as they wove their spell. Too late did she try to resist their iron. Too late did she understand her flesh and blood had turned to ivory, made her the figurine which now entranced her audience. She grieved for the girl for whom the song was written—such a long time ago now—and for the girl who watched, another butterfly about to be caught.

Flashback: Mercury Rising

This story was the Judge's Pick for Microcosms 90 and incorporated the elements: hunter, lake, horror. I also linked it to the site's reference to Native American Day. Enjoy.

Mercury Rising

“Tear Drop Lake,” said the guide. “Formed from the tears of my people.”

The hunter stared at the mirrored expanse, ignored the myth behind its origin. Still and silent, nothing rippled on its surface, it showed no sign of sustaining any sort of life in its depths. Yet appearances could be deceptive. Tom prepared his line.

“You won’t catch anything that way,” said the guide, handing over a small spear. This is how it’s done. Try it.”

“It’s too deep,” said Tom.

“No, look again. Can you see how the incline makes it shallow along this shore? My people ate well here.”

My people. The man certainly had his faux Native American Indian act down to a tee. He even claimed they were following the Trail of Tears, the forced march where over four thousand had died.

Tom walked towards the water’s edge. The spear felt light and flimsy. “You sure this is up to the job?” he called. But he was speaking to thin air. He shrugged. The lake was beautiful, peaceful; just him and Nature. He waded in, splintering the glassy surface. The water lapped at the intruder, turning its attention from the shore. Soft slivers crawled over his trousers, mercury rising. Tom did not notice, too busy trying to see the fish he had been promised. A shadow moved. He readied himself.

Somewhere, someone was sobbing but that too he dismissed, a bird perhaps. He refused to break concentration. The mercury climbed higher until—too late—he noticed the cold creeping over him, the wavelets becoming tendrils as they pulled him down, his screams muffled by unbodied lamentations.

​His guide watched from the shore. Others had joined him. They cast their lines to reel Tom in. After all, he had said his people ate well here.

Review: Brisk Worlds

Brisk Worlds by Brian S. Creek
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For the past few years, I have been a member of an online Flash Fiction community the FlashDogs. Week in, week out we would compete against each other in competitions like Flash Friday, The Angry Hourglass and MicroBookends. These competitions have since ended but the community has remained, albeit in a slightly looser form, and it has been wonderful to see its members bringing their work to a wider audience. One of these long-time writers is Brian Creek, author of Brisk Worlds. I remember always enjoying his stories so as soon as I heard he’d released a collection of this work I purchased it immediately.

Reading those flashes was a walk down memory lane, wonderful snippets of Sci-Fi, little nuggets of emotion, the crazy adventures of Chris and Mike as they try to save the world, all were there. Flash as a writing form requires real skill and Brian Creek has shown how it can be done, how so much can be said or conveyed with so little and I would urge anyone who is a fan of this art form to dip in and take a look. Personal favourites for me include Tanks For The Help, Meeting Of New Killers and Only Way Out.

Time is precious these days and it can be hard to fit in the time to read. Brisk Worlds solves this problem. Dip in.

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