Blog Archives

Like creepypastas? Listen to John Wayne Comunale’s “Trenchman”

Trenchman

Enjoy Creepypasta? Check out this intense reading of “Trenchman,” by John Wayne Comunale, in 34 Orchard‘s Spring 2020 issue! The story is scary on its own, but John’s intensity gives it that extra edge. You can watch it on YouTube here:

https://bit.ly/Trenchman

Like what you’ve heard? Get your free copy here: https://34orchard.com/issues/

THIS WRITING LIFE EPISODE 15: THE JOY OF REVISION

 

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In this episode, things get super-hairy just minutes before deadline, and friends are called in. This may be the one time revision is just no fun…unless wine’s involved. You can read the short story “Mujina” in Dark Passages II: Tales from the Black Highway. Get it at http://bit.ly/DP2Mujina.

Fiction on a deadline: THIS WRITING LIFE EPISODE 14: A KICK IN THE PANTS

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Trying to write fiction on a deadline can be a harrowing experience. Check out This Writing Life Episode 14: A Kick in the Pants here to see how it went for me!

In this episode, I’m trying to juggle my life while finishing a short story, “Mujina.”

Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/iMXz39ilG7s

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THIS WRITING LIFE EPISODE 13: HOW TO WRITE ON VACATION

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My sister and I enjoying a beer at Eeyore’s Birthday Party.

Four deadlines, a trip to Austin (and a trip to Disney after that). How did I get any writing done? Watch and find out in This Writing Life Episode 13: How to Write on Vacation.

 

 

 

 

THIS WRITING LIFE EPISODE 10: DAMNATIONLAND is up!

Episode 10 This Writing Life

This episode of This Writing Life road trips to Portland, Maine!

For me, being a writer means always studying other media—film, music, art, whatever. One of my favorite things to do is attend DAMNATIONLAND—a horror film festival which showcases short films by independent Maine filmmakers. I probably did more partying than studying…but come take the ride with me! Watch This Writing Life Episode 10: Damnationland here: https://youtu.be/1ro3aNkm89M

If you wanna do it for real? You can check out the dates for 2017 on the Damnationland FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/Damnationland/?ref=br_rs

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THIS WRITING LIFE EPISODE 9A: SNOWBOUND WITH ZOMBIES is live!

Episode 9A Snowbound with Zombies Blog Art 1

One of many amazing Halloween items at Cracker Barrel. I left with an almost empty wallet.

This Writing Life Episode 9A: Snowbound: with Zombies is live! You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/BE0wZM3cTtk

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Copies of Snowbound on the Dent sisters’ display table.

In this episode, we jam the Snowbound: with Zombies release event into a full weekend! Snowbound: with Zombies is a collection of scary stories by several New England writers, and 100% of the proceeds benefits the Whittier Birthplace Museum in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Available in both print and Kindle. Get it here: http://bit.ly/SnowboundPrint (Kindle link posted on that page too). Oh…and we also find a cool Cracker Barrel.

Snowbound with Zombies - Tales of the Supernatural Cover

Don’t know much about Whittier but want to? I recommend The Poetry of John Greenleaf Whittier: A Reader’s Edition, edited by William Jolliff.

http://bit.ly/WhittierIntro. Or plan your visit to the birthplace! Visit http://www.johngreenleafwhittier.com/

There’s now a second collection for mystery lovers! If you love mysteries, give back to the community and pick up Murder Among Friends (which contains my story “The Cricket in the Wall”) here: http://bit.ly/MAFCricket

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!

THIS WRITING LIFE EPISODE 9: TAPING THE TACO SOCIETY

In the latest episode of This Writing Life, Stacey Longo and I hit the road for New Hampshire, where we will be featured on an episode of the YouTube series The Taco Society. Some things we do as writers are more play than work (fighting with cocktail swords comes to mind) … and damn, green screens are cool!

Episode 9 Art 1 A toast

Toasting to a job well done following the taping of The Taco Society Episode 12!

The Taco Society is a crew of writers (Tony Tremblay, Philip Perron, Sydney Leigh and Gardner Goldsmith) who interview other writers of dark fiction. Some episodes also feature readings of the writers’ work. You can check them out on their channel here.

Episode 9 Art 2 Stacey Longo

Getting gussied up…writer Sydney Leigh brought us the coolest nail art to put on before the interview! Writer Stacey Longo checks it out.

THIS WRITING LIFE EP 6 and 7: There’s always a party…

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It’s often thought that writers love solitude. I can safely say that we do…when it’s appropriate and we need to work. But then there’s this other part of the writing life called socializing–when it’s with other writers especially, it can profoundly inspire.

In Episode 6: Hangin’ with Sasquatch, we surprise writer Andrea Schicke Hirsch with a release party for her YA novel Sasquatch (which you can purchase here!)  In Episode 7: Words at a Wedding, the partying leads to some new projects on the horizon.

Check out Episode 6 here: https://youtu.be/B19dlTm_otg

Check out Episode 7 here: https://youtu.be/zbRuiAHR2X8

Enjoy!

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A screenshot from Episode 7: Words at a Wedding.

 

 

 

 

THIS WRITING LIFE EPISODE 5: UPS AND DOWNS released

Yeah, I know, running behind again…two weeks in Texas, three to catch my breath, then off to Disney just about killed me and I’m still catching up. But at least summer’s here!

This Writing Life Episode 5: Ups and Downs was supposed to be released in May, but it just didn’t happen. That said, here it is now…if you’re not happy with your writing life right now, maybe this’ll give you some hope. Enjoy!

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