DARK DISCUSSIONS gets hooked (or not) on THE LURE
The masthead for DARK DISCUSSIONS episode 287. Photo collage by Philip Perron.
Dark Discussions gets hooked (or not) on The Lure, a strange little 1980s-style rock musical that toys with the original Hans Christian Andersen version of “The Little Mermaid.” On Stitcher, iTunes and here: http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Pages/podcast_287.html
Short Story Sunday: Partial Eclipse
In a future devoid of creativity, a couple is about to become parents for a second time. This comment on expectations and disappointment manages to flesh out an entire world—replete with an alternate history—beautifully in its few short pages, although its real message is cleverly revealed in an ending the reader doesn’t expect.
Personally, I love this story for its corporeal rendering; there are at least two images I never forgot after having read this for the first time over a decade ago.
“Partial Eclipse” is the opening story in Joyce’s collection Partial Eclipse and Other Stories. I did not realize how lucky I was to have a signed, numbered, limited-edition copy of this book (and now I’m sorry I wrote in it, but hell, it’s what I do with every book I cherish!) until I went to find information for this post. Everywhere I looked was sold out. Amazon, it looks like, occasionally gets some second-handers: https://amzn.com/B000MVQWTA If you’re desperate, reach out to me through my Contact Page.
DARK DISCUSSIONS delights in THE DEVIL’S CANDY
The DD masthead for THE DEVIL’S CANDY. Montage by Phillip Perron.
Dark Discussions delights in the much-admired The Devil’s Candy — an interesting little indie horror film with religious undertones set near Austin, Texas, from the director of The Loved Ones. Hear what we have to say about the movie about a passionate painter who must sell out–and gets more than he bargained for. You can listen to our episode here: http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Pages/podcast_285.html
Summer road trip? Get TRICKS AND TREATS on audio!
Nothing makes a road trip go faster than a good audio book…Tricks & Treats: A Collection of Spooky Tales by Connecticut Authors–which contains my short story “Crawl” and was selected as Best Anthology in Preditors and Editors Readers’ Poll 2016 — is now available in audio format; you can pick it up here: http://a.co/hP5G4l5
IF YOU ARE A REVIEWER, WE HAVE CODES AVAILABLE! Please reach out to me through my Contact Page.
With a Foreword by writer Rob Watts, Read the rest of this entry
DARK DISCUSSIONS contemplates LIFE
DARK DISCUSSIONS Masthead for Episode 279, LIFE, by Phillip Perron.
I won’t reveal too much about what we thought about the film (you’ll just have to listen to our episode on Stitcher, iTunes or right here: http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Pages/podcast_279.html), but there are some interesting articles about the movie’s realism floating around, one of which is here in Geekwire: https://www.geekwire.com/2017/alien-horror-movie-life-biology-space/
Life is now available on VOD and on Amazon here http://a.co/b7vDnJE and probably on other platforms.
TOT TERRORS: WHY MOSQUITOES BUZZ IN PEOPLE’S EARS
I often get asked about what influences my work as a writer. Inspired by the amazing website Kindertrauma–which is right up my alley–I’m compiling all of my childhood (and some adult) terrors.
One of the things that lead to my becoming a writer was my extraordinary love of reading, and this was instilled in me by my parents, who read to me every night before bed and sometimes during the day (they also taught me to read before I was in kindergarten, so I could disappear into my room at any time and read on my own—which I’m sure they did for their benefit more than mine, actually).
I have a number of favorite childhood books, among them Rabbit and Skunk and Spooks, The Penguin that Hated the Cold, The Monster at the End of this Book, and The Courage of Sarah Noble (this last one was hugely popular in our area because it was about a real event in my hometown). Each left an indelible impression on me, but one that frightened me—but made me understand a few things about death, moving on, and taking responsibility for your actions—was called Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears.
The book, written by Verna Aardema and illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon, is a retelling of a West Read the rest of this entry
DARK DISCUSSIONS gets into MONKEY SHINES
DARK DISCUSSIONS mast head for MONKEY SHINES, episode 284. Collage by Phillip Perron.
Dark Discussions gets into some Monkey Shines (according to our listeners, this particular episode is hilarious). This Romero film from 1988 really surprised me personally–I actually thought it was going to be good! Silly me.
One thing that’s really interesting is the original poster, which features a well-known cymbal-clapping monkey toy, has absolutely nothing to do with the film. Personally, I wonder if it was because of the success of Stephen King’s Read the rest of this entry
MYSTERIES FOR THE BEACH? Get MURDER AMONG FRIENDS!
I’m excited to announce that the collection Murder Among Friends: Mysteries Inspired by the Life and Works of John Greenleaf Whittier–which will contain my mystery story “A Cricket in the Wall”– is now available! You can pick it up on Amazon here: http://bit.ly/MAFCricket, and don’t forget that ALL PROCEEDS go to benefit the Whittier Birthplace in Haverhill, MA!
I’m honored to appear with some well-known writers, some old friends, and some of Greenleaf’s contemporaries. If you love mysteries, this is perfect for the beach! Here’s the Table of Contents. For bios, visit here.
Edith Maxwell (Murder in the Summer Kitchen)
John Greenleaf Whittier (The Murdered Lady)
Pete Rawlik (On the Black Ice)
Victoria Weisfeld (The Flock)
Ken Faig (The Goodwife and the Bookseller)
William Cullen Bryant (The Murdered Traveller)
David Bernard (The Death Clock)
Susan Oleksiw (Miss Larcom Meets the Neighbors)
Kristi Petersen Schoonover (Cricket in the Wall)
Gregory L. Norris (Antiques)
Lucy Larcom (The Murderer’s Request)
Rock Neelly (Cane Fishing)
Celia Thaxter (A Memorable Murder)
John Greenleaf Whittier (A Mother’s Revenge)
Judi Calhoun (Exposed for Murder)
D.G. Critchley (The Skeleton on the Ski Lift)
In case you missed it, my story “Shreds of Black” appeared in Snowbound with Zombies: Tales of the Supernatural Inspired by the Life and Works of John Greenleaf Whittier, a collection of horror stories which also benefits the birthplace. You can pick that up here: http://a.co/hqRzScZ
Read “Where There’s Smoke” for free now in THE HAUNTED TRAVELER!
I’m pleased to announced that my short story “Where There’s Smoke” — inspired by the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire and the fact that my brother lives just a few doors down from the original building–is now available to read for free in the May 2017 issue of The Haunted Traveler: A Roaming Anthology. You can go ahead and check out the issue here! https://www.weaselpress.com/tht4
If you like what you see, please support The Haunted Traveler by “liking” their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/thehauntedtraveler/
THIS WRITING LIFE EPISODE 8: TOTAL BRAIN ERASURE
So…writers are thinking. All the time. How do we turn that off? Here’s one way to do it on Episode 8: Total Brain Erasure! You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/68NnQlQahm0
Keep in mind that just about any location you love that gets you to relax and focus on other activities besides writing will work. While I’ll say the vacation was incredibly effective in turning off my brain–as most Disney vacations are for me–I will say that cutting down the several hours of video I had while trying to tell an effective story in under five minutes was more than just a little challenging! Have fun!
