Category Archives: News
ONLY FOUR DAYS TO GO: ANNIE’S BOOK STOP, WHICH HOSTED THE NEHW’S WRITERS WORKSHOP FEBRUARY 4, NEEDS YOUR HELP!
Saturday, February 4, New England Horror Writers members TJ May, Trisha J. Wooldridge, and I presented a day-long writing workshop on the craft, critiquing, and business at Annie’s Book Stop in Worcester, MA. The event included breakfast and lunch and all participants received written professional critique of their submissions.
Annie’s Book Stop provides, as you can see from the photos below, a great community service.
But Annie’s has an interesting dilemma: their dedicated staff consists of unpaid volunteers, and with the economy being what it is, this can’t go on much longer.
Annie’s has created a Peerbacker project to secure some funding. Consider pledging a couple of dollars to keep this community resource and quality bookstore (that has the largest collection of Dr. Who memorabilia and it’s available ONLINE) open and thriving!
From their Peerbacker description:
“Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester
Funding for: Creating jobs
“Take one traditional used bookstore with bookcases of gently loved paperbacks and hardcovers in every genre…Add new, exciting, hand-picked books direct from major publishing houses, small presses, and local authors…Throw in the largest assortment of DOCTOR WHO merchandise on the Eastern seaboard of the United States…Top it off with an incredibly knowledgeable and personable staff, and you’ll get a truly unique shopping experience. http://www.anniesbookstopworcester.com
“Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester has passed its critical first year of operations after a turnkey takeover in November 2010 from the prior owners. Despite the challenges created by a horrid economy and the impact of the James Street Bridge closure from July through September of 2011, we have grown our sales by more than 20% and expanded our customer base to include worldwide online sales.
“However, to keep succeeding, we need your help.
“Our loyal staff of knowledgeable booksellers consists of unpaid volunteers. They have stuck with this bookstore through thick and thin and because they believe in the store’s mission. They are instrumental in helping new customers and serving the bibliophiles of central Massachusetts and beyond though the physical store and online. They deserve paychecks for their dedication.
“The city of Worcester deserves to benefit from the jobs created by our employing these volunteers on a permanent basis, the revenue generated, and the lowering of the city’s and state’s unemployment rate.
“Our customers, old and new, deserve the best selection and service available,
“Our local and worldwide community of authors, artists, performers and creators deserve a venue, both physical and virtual, that showcases their works and talents. Many already call this bookstore home and grow our community outreach.
“The publishing industry deserves a success story in one little corner of the country and the Internet, rather than the constant bad news of storefront after storefront closing.
“Help us continue to BE that success story. Thank you.”
You can visit this link to make your pledge: http://peerbackers.com/projects/the-bookstore-thats-bigger-on-the-inside-needs-you-1853035663
In the meantime? Take a virtual look back at the NEHW Writer’s Workshop hosted by Annie’s Book Stop.
Annie's Book Stop in Worcester, MA.
Annie’s Book Stop in Worcester, Mass. welcomes us for the day-long Feb. 4 writing workshop.
“Just throw it in my eyes…” What gets a writer moving better than caffeine and sugar? TJ May knows…
Program participant L’Aura Hladik reaches for a munchkin.
Annie’s rented a space across the street in a re-purposed mill; I don’t know if this space is a church now or if this is just what’s left of a church that used to be there.
Just inside the entrance of the rented space. Initially, this is where we had set up the tables for our workshop.
Standing in the rented space, looking back towards the door.
To give ourselves more room, we moved everything to a larger space in the back. Here are the participants and presenters settling in.
Participant Deborah Sadenwater takes a look at one of the books presenter TJ May brought for everyone to peruse (and add to their library lists).
Lunch was an assortment of sandwiches purchased from the Theatre Café in Worcester. The sandwiches—roast beef, turkey, and vegetarian hummus—came with chips and pickles and cookie.
Presenter Trish Wooldridge focused on running your writing life as a business, as well as marketing, copyright issues, accounting, good writing resource websites—and everything in between.
Presenter TJ May discussed craft: scenes, pacing, plot, and other basics.
Participants Cheryl Cory, Tracy Vartanian, and Deborah Sadenwater share a moment.
A vacant table during a break.
The presenters and participants at the end of the day. Back row, left to right: Cheryl Cory, Tracy Vartanian, Deborah Sadenwater, L’Aura Hladik, Kris Star, Bob Blois, Trisha Woodridge; front row, left to right: TJ May, Kristi Petersen Schoonover, Lisa Jackson, Jennifer Allis Provost.
This phone booth was in a large lobby area behind our space, and I couldn’t resist a photo.
Left to right, Trisha, me, TJ, and the interesting phone booth. We wanted to get in it, but it was welded shut—no surprised, it is across from a lounge, so we figured they did that so drunk people wouldn’t go in and use it for unsavory purposes.
Autographed copies of In Poe’s Shadow, which contains my short story “Vanity,” for sale at Annie’s BookStop, 65 James Street, Worcester, Mass.
Autographed copies of Skeletons in the Swimmin’ Hole—Tales from Haunted Disney World for sale at Annie’s Bookstop, 65 James Street, Worcester, Mass.
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Wake the Witch anthology, for benefit of Red Cross, available
May-December Publications’ Wake the Witch anthology, which contains my long out-of-print short story “Whether Girl” and benefits the Red Cross, is now available in both print (paperback) and Kindle editions.
“Whether Girl” was originally published in the Summer 2005 issue of The Wheel.
From the publisher’s website at http://maydecemberpublications.com/books/wake-the-witch/:
“Prepare to have a spell cast over you by this collection of bewitching tales; each one cast out by well-trained sorcerer or sorceress with a heart of gold. These charms and incantations were offered gratis as a spell of protection and assistance for people around the world suffering from tragedy and heartbreak. By reading this tome, you will be helping a stranger, a neighbor, or perhaps even yourself.
We thank each and every author that donated their stories for this charity anthology: Adam Millard, Bennie Newsome, Chantal Boudreau, CW LaSart, DA Chaney, David Landrum, Elizabeth Butler, Geoffery Crescent, Ken Goldman, Kristi Petersen Schoonover, Marius Dicomites, Mark Jones, Michael Frissore, Todd Brown and Walter Campbell.”
From the book’s Introduction:
“May December Publications is proud to present to you this little anthology of witch-themed stories. It should be noted that everything you are holding was donated by the artists. None of the contributors to this anthology received so much as a contributor’s copy for the work included in these pages. The reason is simple: we want every penny of proceeds to go to the Red Cross. 2011 was a year many would like to forget. From devastating floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes, to a tsunami that caused a nuclear event that will have lingering effects on the people of Japan.
It seems that every year there are terrible events in the news that kill and displace thousands. The sad truth is that the public consciousness only lasts for the few days that the images are on their television screens. Yet, for the victims of disaster, the story continues long after the cameras pack up and head for the next “event”. To that end, May December Publications wants to offer the proceeds from this anthology to the Red Cross in quarterly checks in the name of all who contributed. It may not be much, but as the saying goes, every little bit helps.
I urge you all to remember that the need for your help does not end simply because nobody is talking about the problem. Thank you for purchasing this book. You have unwittingly (or maybe wittingly) helped a person in need.
TW Brown
Editor, May December Publications”
To purchase in Print: http://bit.ly/WakeWitchPrint
To purchase for Kindle: http://bit.ly/WakeWitchKindle
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21st-Century Dickinson, Byron: Vagabondage Press releases Love Notes just in time for Valentine’s Day and Wedding Season
My poem “Today”—which has long been buried—is now available in Vagabondage Press’ Love Notes anthology. What’s really great about this? It’d make a great Valentine’s Day gift, birthday gift for your sweetheart who’s a lover of poetry…or wedding gift for bridesmaids or couples. Check it out:
January 31, 2012—Love in secret, love celebrated. Love so close or not close enough. A shared candied apple, a farewell at Paddington Station. A face that leaves us breathless or wounded, a single word that changes our lives forever.
Vagabondage Press releases Love Notes—a collection of poetry as diverse as the experience of falling in love itself—just in time for Valentine’s Day giving and Wedding Season wishes.
Featuring the work of over fifty poets, some nominated for Pushcart Prizes, the collection features work examining all aspects of love—and love lost—in a myriad of forms and styles.
“We wanted a poetry collection that would be more like ‘love letters,’—think twenty-first centuryDickinsonand Byron,” says Fawn Neun, Managing Editor of Vagabondage Press. “A book that would make a wonderful gift for Valentine’s Day, weddings—any tender occasion, really—because of its classic feel.”
Love Notes is available in both print and eBook and is sold at all major online book retailers, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Sony, and AllRomance, as well as on the Vagabondage Press website at www.vagabondagepress.com.
To purchase Love Notes:
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I’LL BE AT QUEEN CITY KAMIKAZE CONVENTION WITH NEW ENGLAND HORROR WRITERS IN MANCHESTER, NH, FEB. 18
I’ll be at the Queen City Kamikaze Convention in Manchester, New Hampshire, Saturday, February 18, with the New England Horror Writers.
Queen City Kamikaze is a one-day mash-up for fans of comics, anime, video games, music, and more; they are expanding each year. The day includes table-top gaming, live music, video games and video game tournaments, and more (including, of course, vendors). Admission is $10 for the day.
The convention will be held at Manchester Memorial High School, 1 Crusader Way, Manchester, New Hampshire from 10 a.m. to 5 pm. A list of guests, events, and other information is at the Queen City Kamikaze website, http://queencitykamikaze.com/
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…AND I’M OFF TO THE NMWC IN PROVINCETOWN, MA!
Approaching Provincetown on Route 6, January 15, 2011, at the start of last year's residency. I can guarantee this year there won't be this much snow...it's going to be beautiful!
I’m officially on my way to the Norman Mailer Writer’s Colony inProvincetown,Mass.(if you’re reading this between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., then yes, I am really in my car). I’ll be there today through February 15.
Provincetownhas something about it that’s conducive to creation, especially (at least for me) in the depths of winter. While up there I plan to spend most of my time producing new short work and revising old short work (I’ve really fallen behind). Normally, I’m there the last two weeks in January; this year, it was moved to February, which means I’ll get to spend my birthday up there as well.
Wish me luck…I’m looking forward to a productive, yet stress-free, couple of weeks! If anyone needs to reach me, I’ll be available on my cell phone and through e-mail (though I’m really going to abstain from that as much as I can).
Talk to you soon!
WINNERS FOR NYC MIDNIGHT’S FOURTH ANNUAL 2011 FLASH FICTION CHALLENGE ANNOUNCED
The winners of New York City Midnight’s Fourth Annual 2011 Flash Fiction Challenge were announced in December, and I thought you all might like to see the list of winners:
#1 “I See You, Santa Claus” by Chelsea Sutton
#2 “The First Strike of Leopold and Loeb” by Helen Rossiter
#3 “An Act of Folly” by Shola Olowu-Asante
#4 “Panic” by Renee Troxler
#5 “An Important Story” by Meagan Noel Hart
#6 “der Wiederkunft or, The Second Coming” by Wilfried Meybohm
#7 “Nuclear Family” by Jennifer Ripley
#8 “You Get Used To It” by Tyler Hayden
#9 “Ellie” by James Mader (JD)
#10 “All Gone Wrong” by R. Warren Daliege III
I’m really happy about “I See You, Santa Claus.” The thing absolutely gave me the chills. To see more details about this contest and get the synopses for each story, visit http://www.nycmidnight.com/Competitions/FFC/Challenge.htm.
The First Round of New York City Midnight’s 6th Annual Short Story Challenge 2012 is already under way and closes April 14. For more information, visit here: http://www.nycmidnight.com/Competitions/SSC/Challenge.htm
NYC Midnight’s contests are organized by NYC Midnight Movie Making Madness, an organization dedicated to discovering and promoting a new wave of talented storytellers. NYC Midnight aims to provide the prizes and exposure necessary for writers to take their next big step towards writing professionally.
ANNOUNCING THE SCARY SCRIBES PODCAST; REVIEWS FROM THE SHADOWS IV LOOKS AT MISERY AND 1408
Get Set to Sleep with the Lights On: Announcing Scary Scribes!
Coming January 29 at 6 p.m. to Paranormal, Eh? Radio: the first episode of the Scary Scribes podcast!
What will make Scary Scribes a bit different is it won’t be just an interview; listeners will get to hear some of the writer’s work first—in most cases, a complete short story. Scary Scribes will air the last Sunday of every month.
Our first and future guests will be announced shortly. Our website is up, and if you want to keep up with Scary Scribes news, you can subscribe to our blog: http://www.scaryscribes.com/. You can also find and Like us on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/scaryscribes
Which Scares You More—Misery or 1408?
Winter dreary? Maybe a spook-fest is in order! I compare the films Misery vs. 1408 in an all-Stephen King episode of Reviews from the Shadows, which aired last month—and we ask, “which one’s scarier?” You can listen to the show here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/paranormaleh/2011/12/16/reviews-from-the-shadows-4
Or, you can head on over to my Radio Interviews page, where you can listen to the episode—and many other shows—right on this site. http://kristipetersenschoonover.com/radio-interviews/
HOW COOL IS THIS READER PHOTO? TOYS FOR TOTS HORROR STYLE WINNER HOOKS UP SKELETONS AND THE HITCHHIKING GHOSTS!
Paul Cardullo, of Knightdale, North Carolina, was the winner of Toys for Tots ~ Horror Style 2011! To enter, contestants donated to Toys for Tots and took photos of themselves doing it–the prize, selected by random drawing, was a horror library donated by several authors. Skeletons in the Swimmin’ Hole—Tales from Haunted Disney World was part of that library, and here’s Paul, on his porch, showing us that hey…those hitchhiking ghosts might have something following them home. Thanks for sending this in, Paul!
To see other readers who’ve sent in their pix, visit here: http://haunteddisneytales.com/share/
POEM “TODAY” ACCEPTED; MAILER RESIDENCY ON HORIZON
Vagabondage’s Press’ Love Notes anthology will hit shelves just in time for V-Day gift-giving. Cozy night by the fire, anyone?
Many years ago, I wrote poetry. One of my favorites, “Today,” has just been accepted for Vagabondage Press’ Love Notes, an anthology of “passionate and romantic poetry…suitable for gift giving”[1] for Valentine’s Day 2012.
As of now, Love Notes is due out January 31. I’ll keep you posted. For more information about Vagabondage Press and to explore their current titles, visit http://vagabondagebookscom.ipage.com/bookstore/
A winter afternoon sun watches a flock of birds alight on the bay off the Norman Mailer house’s back porch, January, 2011.
In other news, I’ve been awarded a Winter Residency up at the Norman Mailer Writer’s Colony inProvincetown,Mass., and this time will be staying in the late writer’s home from February 1 – 15, 2012. I’m once again looking forward to a healthy and very productive two weeks in a beautiful environment. Although Ptown is gorgeous in the summer, I prefer it in winter: its atmosphere and light is perfect for writing ghost stories—and wow do I have so many in my head I can’t wait to get down on paper!
Despite last year’s rough winter, the birds were singing outside my Ptown apartment.
[1] Taken from Vagabondage Press’ original call for submissions for the Love Notes anthology.
Will you see something before they do? Hear it when they don’t? Find out! LIVE Ghost Hunt on Paranormal Valley with Nathan Schoonover TONIGHT, Jan. 17!
Want to hunt ghosts in your own living room? Join Nathan Schoonover and the IndyPara and Poughkeepsie Paranormal Investigators on Paranormal Valley for a LIVE ghost hunt at the historic Blue Store Restaurant in Livingston tonight from 9 p.m. – 11 p.m. ET on http://www.yourbgm.tv!
Nathan explains it all in the video below.
You’ll be able to interact with the team through the chatroom—to ask questions or to report something you’ve seen. Don’t miss it! For even more info, visit here: http://www.yourbgm.tv/pv-live
