S.E. Casey's Blog, page 7

Downward God – Flash Fiction, Week of Horror Winner

S.E. Casey Author

My latest flash fiction story, DOWNWARD GOD, has been published on the Deadman’s Tome Online Magazine.  I wrote this Lovecraftian tale as an entry in the Deadman’s Tome Month of Horror October weekly flash fiction contest, which it won.

The story was inspired by my preferred characters of the obsessed, the addicted, and the hopelessly compulsive, exploring the psychology that can override choice, morality, and even survival instinct. There is a school of thought stating that the horror story is taking ordinary, everyday characters and throwing them into extraordinary, horrific situations.  Perhaps this is a function my weird fiction preference that I have generally rejected that idea preferring instead to create extraordinary, fringe characters that warp the ordinary, their merciless singularity melting reality to expose the madness of dead things underneath the routine of convention.  For Downward God, the fertile ground I chose are those beloved hardcore yoga enthusiasts who gush about pressure points and third eyes and transcendental consciousness…

View original post 140 more words

Black Stained Glass – 2nd place #FlashFear Contest the Molotov Cocktail Lit Zine

My horror short story, BLACK STAINED GLASS, has placed second in the Molotov Cocktail Literary Zine’s Halloween “Flash Fear” contest.  I didn’t originally plan on submitting, but eventually decided that it would be a fun way to push myself as a writer and to focus my work in a structured contest.  Thankfully, I took that chance as my story placed and has now been posted online here.

Writing for a little more than two years, this is probably my biggest success so far.  I tried another flash fiction contest (also from the Molotov Cocktail) last winter and didn’t break into the honorable mention category.  However, I dutifully read the other stories of the Top Ten to see what the judges may have been looking for that my story lacked.  Of course, judging disparate stories is a capricious science, however, needless to say, my expectations were far surpassed with the result this time through.  Although I am far from where I want to be as a writer, I understand it’s a process and feel I have made strides in my prose as well as in choosing and organizing my ideas.  If writing proficiency were a ladder, I have many more rungs to climb, but at least now I can see a few beneath me.

Thanks, to my friend Vicky, who helped me with the setting and specifically the Cape Verdean Creole sprinkled into the story (I often overhear her talking on the phone to her mother and sisters in her native tongue).  Congratulations to the winner Caroline Smith (‘The Taxidermist’s Only Son’) and everyone else in the Top Ten and honorable mention.  Thanks to the Molotov Cocktail for hosting these contests.  As previously mentioned, it’s a good way for writers to push and challenge themselves.  Even for those who didn’t win, hopefully, this can be another step up that writer’s ladder…

[image error]Click for link to ‘Black Stained Glass’

 

Also, for those who enjoyed ‘Black Stained Glass’ I have another flash fiction story that won a contest recently.  See the link for “Downward God“, a cosmic (yoga) horror story which won the weekly Month of Horror Flash Fiction contest at the Deadman’s Tome Zine.

Downward God – Flash Fiction, Week of Horror Winner

My latest flash fiction story, DOWNWARD GOD, has been published on the Deadman’s Tome Online Magazine.  I wrote this Lovecraftian tale as an entry in the Deadman’s Tome Month of Horror October weekly flash fiction contest, which it won.

[image error]

The story was inspired by my preferred characters of the obsessed, the addicted, and the hopelessly compulsive, exploring the psychology that can override choice, morality, and even survival instinct. There is a school of thought stating that the horror story is taking ordinary, everyday characters and throwing them into extraordinary, horrific situations.  Perhaps this is a function my weird fiction preference that I have generally rejected that idea preferring instead to create extraordinary, fringe characters that warp the ordinary, their merciless singularity melting reality to expose the madness of dead things underneath the routine of convention.  For Downward God, the fertile ground I chose are those beloved hardcore yoga enthusiasts who gush about pressure points and third eyes and transcendental consciousness and chakra vortices…

Please feel free to ‘like’ and to comment; as a relatively new writer all feedback is important to me.  Thanks to everyone who has (or will) read—as a writer that is the ultimate compliment.

Namaste.

 

Thanks to the Deadman’s Tome for both publishing my story and sponsoring this flash fiction contest.  For the uninitiated, the Deadman’s Tome is a growing horror and speculative fiction site that publishes a ton of material by many new, aspiring authors.  Recently, I have pledged my monetary support through the site’s Patreon page.  The cost of running a site and paying authors are realities.  Platforms like this one which are free to read and encourages community interaction only can do so with actual support.  Please visit and consider the pledging if you are in a position to do so.  All we indie authors appreciate it.

6 Halloween Short Stories

Reblog from a Halloween short story list by Stick With the Indies.com. List includes my story “Harlequin Midnight” available free at Amazon/Smashwords…

Stick With The Indies

With five days to go until Halloween, there’s still plenty of time to read one or two of these compact tales.

Sweet Tooth

by

R. M. Huffman

A short urban fantasy. Physicians often spend nights awake, up at the hospital caring for patients.

On most occasions this doctor is no different, but on Halloween, his nocturnal activities take on a different hue…blood red.

Available on: Kindle

Death Is Becoming

by

Jamie Leigh Hansen

This Halloween, college girl, Erin Kowalkski, battles cancer once again. But this time, she has questions and she’s dying to know the answers. What will her dreams and aspirations, all she’s learned, felt and experienced, amount to when she’s gone? What will she become?

Guided by a hot new patient and chased by a menacing wraith, Erin learns more about life and death than she’d ever imagined.

Available on: Kindle

Jessica

by

Laura DeLuca

Wilbur was used…

View original post 327 more words

Swan Song -Horror Flash Fiction Contest Entry, Grey Matter Press

My latest flash fiction story, Swan Song (available to view now, click for link), has been posted to the Grey Matter Press’s “I Can Taste the Blood” contest page.  Running through October 22, this contest revolves around the prompt of a piece of graffiti scrawled on a bathroom wall reading: I Can Taste the Blood.  Three winners selected will receive prizes and most importantly, to have their flash fiction stories published in the E-Book version.  The readers of the entries can vote for their favorite (use the Reply button immediately after the story).  These reader votes will factor into the eventual choice of the winners.  So for those who do read and like, please consider casting a vote!

The obvious angles to this prompt are cannibals, vampires, or some soylent green-ism.  My compulsion to always do something different- those are right out…  So this being a blood and guts/visceral horror collection, of course I settled on the motif of… a crossword puzzle.  Pretty smart way to ingratiate myself with the extreme horror crowd, huh?  Well, we’ll see…

[image error]

The anthology itself is comprised of five novellas inspired by the title.  Those featured are rising horror authors Josh Malerman, John F.D. Taft, Eric T Johnson, J. Daniel Stone, and Joe Schwartz.  The printed version has been out for for a while and has some very good reviews.  See Amazon link here.  Grey Matter Press puts out a lot of quality releases and no doubt this is up to their high standard.

[image error]

 

Thanks again to all who have or will vote for my story ( only if you like it of course, and I really appreciate those that take the time).  I can’t guarantee anything more than hopefully in casting this vote you will feel less regret than with the one in early November.

Click for link: I Can Taste the Blood Contest Entry – Swan Song