The Cult of Me - Interviews, Guest Posts, Short Fiction Contest and so much more!

[Michael]

Good news!

[Michael]

In this week's blog shout out we pay a visit to the 'Missy Writes' blog run by author Melissa Fry. Discover more about here blog in her own words here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

As part of her blog tour supporting the release of her novel 'Second on the Right' Elizabeth Los has provided a guest post about Pirate Restaurants. Read more here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

Charlotte Aninion-De Guzman provides this week's Friday Poem and it is entitled 'In the Kitchen of the Absurd'. She also describes why she wrote the poem at the end of the post. Read more here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.com/2014/...

If you've written a poem that you want to see featured then drop me a line and I'll take a look!

[Michael]

For this week's Sunday Story we return to October of last year and Kath Middleton's second place winning story 'The Tree'. Enjoy the story here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Kath]

Whoopie-doo! :)

[Michael]

August's short fiction contest has started. This month's image is provided by the talented Tom Long. I'm sure you'll agree it's a deliciously dark image and a fine inspiration for this month's contest.

Remember that the prizes have now changed, if you win the prizes are available as an Amazon gift card or PayPal payment.

First prize is a £50 Amazon gift card or PayPal payment
Second prize is a £20 Amazon gift card or PayPal payment
Thirds prize is a £10 Amazon gift card or PayPal payment

Entry to the contest remains free.

As always a big thanks to everyone who has entered or supported the contest. Please continue to share the link to the contest wherever you can - your help is much appreciated.

July's contest was the busiest one so far and I have over 80 stories to read! I will announce the winners next week.

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

As part of his blog tour supporting the release of the latest book in his 'Cybersp@ce' series Jeff W Horton has provided a guest post highlighting some of the key plot points and related facts they're derived from. I have to say I like the idea of the series and have just bought the first book. Read more about the latest book here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Kath]

I think I've submitted my entry for August, Michael. if I haven't, let me know and I'll have another go!

[Michael]

Got it - thanks!

[Michael]

We have a treat for science fiction fans in this week's guest author interview! One of my favourite reads of the year has been Andy Weir's 'The Martian' and he joins me for today's interview. Not only that we have a double bill as 'The Martian' will feature in tomorrow's Tuesday Tease - although you don't need to wait for that. Take my word and buy it right now :-) Feel free to read the interview first though:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

'The Martian' is one of my favourite reads of the year so far and yesterday the author Andy Weir joined us for a guest author interview. In an ideal world it would be enough for me to say that this is a superb read and that you should rush out and buy this book right now, but I understand you may need more convincing :-) With that in mind in this week's Tuesday Tease we have the opening of this book, read more below:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

In a change from my usual programming (don't worry the ABC Drabbles of Death will be back!) we have a guest post about the limitless boundaries of creation by Simon Andrew Stubbs. He is also the author of the horror novel 'Jackson Hope' details of which you can find at the end of the post:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

This week's Friday Poem is 'The Meaning' provided by Casey Chaplin, author of 'Lizzy' which is currently in my TBR list and I'm looking forward to it! Enjoy the poem and discover what it meant to him in his own words below:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

If you'd like to submit a poem for consideration then drop me a line and I'll take a look.

[Michael]

This week's Tuesday Tease is provided by Elizabeth Watasin from her her novel 'The Dark Victorian: Risen'. I read this a while back and enjoyed it, and it's something fans of Victorian era horror/dark fantasy with a dash of steampunk will enjoy:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

In this week's Friday Poem we travel back to Jim Vuksic's youth with his his poem 'Hope to Make it Through Today':

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

If you'd like a poem featured then get in touch with me and I'll take a look.

[Michael]

This week's Sunday Story is one of the many excellent entries for July's short fiction contest Garage Days by Scott Christian Carr:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

In this week's guest author interview I am joined by Gretgory Napier who's debut novel is 'Afflicted Dawn'. Discover more about him and his writing here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

M. R. Forbes provides an excerpt from his novel 'Balance' for this week's Tuesday Tease. I read this book a while back and enjoyed it, maybe you will too:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

This week's Friday Poem is a moving poem called 'In the Jewel Box' by Kimolisa Mings:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

If you have a poem which you would like featured then drop me a line and I'll take a look!

[Michael]

It's time to get those creative juices flowing because there's only two weeks left to enter August's short fiction contest! This month's image is a rather sinister fellow and it's already inspired 20 gruesome entries - but I need more. The rules are simple. You write a story of no more than 500 words based on this month's image and submit it through the competition page here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

There's no entry fee and you could win a £50 Amazon gift card or PayPal prize.

The contest isn't just for writers. Each month I am pleased by the quality of the entries, you can see for yourself by reading last month's winners:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

As part of his blog tour promoting the release of 'The Betelgeuse Oracle' Joseph Macchiusi has provided a guest post about the end of the world. Discover more here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

Science fiction author K. S. Daniels joins us for this week's guest author interview. Discover more about her and her writing here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.com/2014/...

[Michael]

In this week's Tuesday Tease we feature an excerpt from Kath Middleton's second novel 'Message in a Bottle'. Coincidentally this also the next book in my TBR list:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

In this week's blog shot out we pay a visit to Amanda M Lyons' book blog. Discover more about her blog in her own words here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

J S Watts provides this week's Friday Poem entitled 'Musing on Mushrooms'. You can discover the poem and why she wrote it below. If you have a poem that would like featured then get in touch with me and I'll take a look!

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

Not only is Alex Roddie a talented editor (he recently edited the second edition of The Cult of Me for me), he also writes mountaineering fiction. Now I'll admit that as a genre it's not one that interested me, however I took the plunge with one of Alex's earlier books The Only Genuine Jones and discovered a fascinating adventure with some excellent characters. This later release is on my TBR list and I'm looking forward to reading it - take a look and see if it tickles your fancy:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

For this week's blog shout out we visit Paula Cappa's Tales of Terror blog. Discover more about her blog in her own words here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

September's short fiction contest has now started. This month I've moved away from scary faces and decided to use a scary book instead! Your story doesn't have to be scary though - it just needs to be 500 words or less and inspired by this month's picture.

Entry to the contest remains free and you could win one of three Amazon gift card or PayPal prizes. So get writing and enter your story via the form on the contest page here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

Feel free to share the link with anyone you think would be interested!

[Michael]

For this week's Tuesday Tease Guy Portman provides an excerpt from his novel 'Necropolis'. I read this recently and rated this story about a happy sociopath working at the council as 5 stars. It's an excellent read with a fun blend of dark and humour. Check out the excerpt and see if you agree:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

In this week's blog shout out we visit Carmen Amato's author blog. Discover more about her blog in her own words here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

This week's Friday Poem is 'Dusty Grins' by Adriano Bulla who has a poetry collection called 'Queer Poems' due for release soon. Enjoy his poem and discover why he wrote it here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

If you've written a poem you'd like to show off to the world then drop me a line and I'll take a look.

[Michael]

This week's chilling Sunday Story is 'The Thrift Store Tome' by Randy D. Rubin:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

The winners for August's short fiction contest have been announced:

First prize of a £50 Amazon or PayPal prize goes to John Boden for 'The Going Rate'
Second prize of a £20 Amazon or PayPal prize goes to Kath Middleton for 'Dead End'
Third Prize of a £10 Amazon pr PayPal prize goes to Matt Porter for 'Friend or Foe'

Congratulations to the winners and you can read the winning stories here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

Please help showcase these deserving winners by sharing the link wherever you can!

[Kath]

Oh, thank you! Makes a change from my 'null points' in the contest here!

[Michael]

Roderick Vincent has provided a guest post called 'Where is the President?' to tease his upcoming release 'The Cause':

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[R.M.F.]

Kath wrote: "Oh, thank you! Makes a change from my 'null points' in the contest here!"

You should have got the wooden spoon! :)

[Michael]

Mother and daughter writing team HL Carpenter join me for today's guest author interview to tell us about their latest book project 'In Between'. Discover more here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

Edward Parker provides this week's Tuesday Tease with the prologue of his novel 'Clown Friday'. I read it recently and it's a fantatstic horror read. I rated it five stars and it's definitely one to read if you're afraid of clowns!

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

In this week's blog shout out we visit Nikki Broadwell's author blog. Discover more about her blog in her own words here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

Joan C Curtis provides a guest post introducing her blog and soon to be released novel 'The Clock Strikes Midnight' Discover more here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

Monday means that it's Guest Author Interview day! This week I am joined by David Paul to talk about himself and his latest release 'Snippy the Square Backed Snail: The playground hero'. Discover more below:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

We have something a little different for this week's Tuesday Tease and that is an excerpt from Jonathan Hill's debut novel 'FAG'. I read this recently and it provided one of my reading highlights for the year. It's a fantastic read and a very emotional story - well worth checking out!

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Kath]

It's truly great - and I'm waiting for his second novel!

[Michael]

Agreed :-)

[Jonathan]

Thanks, Michael (and Kath) - your blog is so wonderfully active it puts mine to shame!

[Michael]

In this week's blog shout out we visit the 8 Great Storytellers blog. Discover more here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

This week's Friday Poem is provided by Anahit Arustamyan and is called 'Give Your Cancer to Me'. Discover more here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

If you have a poem you'd like featured then drop me a line and I'll take a look!

[Michael]

This week is your last chance to enter September's short fiction contest, so if you haven't entered yet then you had best get writing! This month's inspiration comes in the form of an ancient looking tome. What secrets does it contain? Well that's up to your story.

It's easy to enter the contest. You first need to write a story of no more than 500 words based on this month's image. You can then submit the story through the form provided on the contest page here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

Before the end of the month I will pick three winning stories. The winning story will win a £50 Amazon or Paypal prize. There are prizes for second and third place as well.

If you haven't read August's winning stories then you can read them here. There are three great stories for you to enjoy.

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Michael]

In this week's guest author interview I am joined by Jack Rollins. I read The Cabinet of Dr Blessing recently and enjoyed it so much I gave it 5 stars - a fine collection of three Victorian themed horror stories. You can discover more about him and his writing below:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...