Blog Archives
Sinister Settings: Tambora
Mt Tambora’s caldera, taken in 2009. Photo: NASA
We’ve all heard of massive volcanic eruptions in the past killing thousands of people and laying waste to cities and entire landscapes. Before Santa Maria, before Mt Pelee, and even before Krakatoa, there was Tambora.
Tambora is an active volcano on the island of Sumbawa in Indonesia. On April 10, 1815, Read the rest of this entry
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
My story “Crawl” now available in TRICKS AND TREATS, signings slated, check out the trailer!
Sometimes babysitting on Halloween in a centuries-old house isn’t a good idea.
My short story, “Crawl,” is now available in Tricks & Treats: A Collection of Spooky Tales by Connecticut Authors. Published by Books & Boos Press, it’s available at several bookstores in the state, but the easiest place to pick it up is probably on Amazon. You can get it in print or for Kindle here: https://amzn.com/0997932902
With a Foreword by writer Rob Watts, also in the collection are stories by Connecticut writers Stacey Longo (Amston), Melissa Crandall (Hebron), G. Elmer Munson (Vernon), Dan Foley (Manchester), John Valeri (Portland), and Ryanne Strong (Norwich), but what makes this collection really stand out is the appearance of a couple of lesser-heralded creepy stories by Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Twain’s rarely-discussed “The Californian’s Tale” is a ghost story (of sorts) that’s really about the nature of grief, while Stowe’s framed narrative (very typical of the ghost stories of the time) is one with a moral bent.
Gilman’s “The Giant Wistaria” (a personal fave of mine) is only one of three ghost stories she wrote; the other two, I believe, are “The Rocking Chair” and “The Yellow Wall-Paper.” “The Giant Wistaria” pre-dates her infamous “The Yellow Wall-Paper,” for which she’s most known, and it, too, has early feminist themes. It’s atmospheric and disturbing.
A giant wistaria vine.
Finishing out the book is John G.C. Brainard’s poem “Maniac’s Song.” Brainard was a poet and lawyer who was born and lived in Connecticut in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Come and meet the (still living, ha!) writers and hear some samples to whet your appetite for the spooky at a couple of pre-Halloween readings/signings! We’ll be at the Whiton branch of the Manchester library (N. Main Street) in Manchester, CT (http://library.townofmanchester.org/) on Monday, October 24, at 6:30 p.m. We’ll also be at Bank Square Books in Mystic, CT, on Wednesday, October 26, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Here’s hoping I see you there!
Read more about this exciting seasonal collection in the Hartford Courant: http://www.courant.com/community/hebron/hc-ugc-article-new-halloween-anthology-comprised-of-all-conn-2016-09-05-story.html, and watch the official trailer here: https://youtu.be/GkaGyqts8oE
TRICKS AND TREATS cover revealed!
The cover for Books & Boos Press’ Tricks and Treats: A Collection of Spooky Stories by Connecticut Authors has been released!
Creepy tales by famous Connecticutians Mark Twain, John G. C. Brainard, and Harriet Beecher Stowe will be featured. The Table of Contents will also include my story “Crawl” as well as stories by writers Melissa Crandall, G. Elmer Munson, Ryanne Strong, Stacey Longo, John Valeri, and Dan Foley. Rumor has it the volume will also include Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Giant Wisteria,” which is one of my favorites!
Currently, the release date is slated for September.
Short Story Sunday: Aura, Carlos Fuentes
Aura, Carlos Fuentes
If you’re a Poe or a magic realism fan, don’t miss this gripping novella about a man who accepts a mysterious job Read the rest of this entry
THIS POISONED GROUND: Watch Trailer, See Cover, Note Release Date!
They say you hurt the ones you love most.
No one ever talks about when they hurt you back.
Coming January 28, 2014
As though Thanksgiving and NaNo weren’t enough excitement in one week…Dark Alley Press slated “This Poisoned Ground”’s release date (one week before my birthday!) and finalized its cover. Want to keep on top of TPG-related updates? Visit http://bit.ly/TPGInfo — you can also read a sneak peek over there, but if you want something you can print and take with you, you can download a brief PDF here: This Poisoned Ground Sneak Peek PDF
Many have asked if I’m going to do a release party for this…well, it’s January and I can’t count on the weather, so no, not a big hoo-ha this time. Instead, maybe a few of us brave souls will gather together for champagne? Just say the word…
“Under the Kudzu” now available in BEHIND LOCKED DOORS
If you’re a fan of Day of the Triffids, you might like “Under the Kudzu,” a short story of mine that’s available in the anthology Behind Locked Doors from Wicked East Press. The anthology was published back in March, but because of all the running around (particularly during that month) with the wedding, I somehow missed the announcement.
Just like every writer, there are some stories that hold more personal meaning than others. “Under the Kudzu” is a piece very close to my heart because it was inspired by my late friend and writing peer Cynthia Wilson. You can read more about that here.
You can pick up a copy of Behind Locked Doors here: http://amzn.com/1617061891
Listen Carefully: The Jackalope is Here!
The jackalope is here in this special edition of Scary Scribes featuring snippets from Western Legend Press’ new anthology, Unnatural Tales of the Jackalope. Then we’ll get to chat with authors Jeff Strand, David (D.T.) Griffith, Sephera Giron, RachelTowns, Jezzy Wolfe, and Fawn Recording Artist.
Listen to it on the archives here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/paranormaleh/2012/07/29/scary-scribes-ep-7
Or directly on this site by clicking below:
Scary Scribes Ep 7 – Unnatural Tales of the Jackalope, 07-29-2012
…you can get copies of Unnatural Tales of the Jackalope here:
The Jackalope Arrives on Scary Scribes!
Tonight’s special edition of Scary Scribes will feature snippets from Western Legend Press’ new anthology, Unnatural Tales of the Jackalope—and then we’ll get to chat with jackalope expert Casie Smalls as well as authors Jeff Strand, David (D.T.) Griffith, Sephera Giron, Rachel Towns, Jezzy Wolfe, and Fawn Recording Artist. Tune in today, Sunday, July 29, 6 p.m. ET here to listen live…http://www.blogtalkradio.com/paranormaleh/2012/07/29/scary-scribes-ep-7
…and while you’re waiting, check out the Unnatural Tales of the Jackalope Trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_A-HrZvotc&feature=plcp
and the show’s guests below!
Introducing Unnatural Tales of the Jackalope: Eighteen stories, a poem, and a letter all about the fabled Southwestern Jackalope. Read as a lonely jackalope comes into his own, learn how Ronald Reagan used his jackalope to find political success, explore the horrific ramifications as jackalopes terrorize those unlucky enough to cross their paths…and meet other creatures along the way, like the mighty chupacabra and terrifying moths. This collection explores many aspects of the world of the jackalope! Edited by John Palisano, with tales by Jeff Strand, Rick Pickman, Fawn, D.T. Griffith, RachelTowns, Kristi Petersen Schoonover, Sephera Giron, and more! Available in Print and Ebook wherever books are sold!
Jeff Strand
Jeff Strand is the three-time Bram Stoker Award finalist (and zero time winner) of such novels as PRESSURE, DWELLER, BENJAMIN’S PARASITE, WOLF HUNT, A BAD DAY FOR VOODOO, THE SINISTER MR. CORPSE, and a bunch of others. Naturally, his story in UNNATURAL TALES OF THE JACKALOPE remains his greatest achievement, and there’s really no reason for him to publish another word, since he’ll never, ever, ever top that one.
More about Jeff Strand at http://www.jeffstrand.com
David (D.T.) Griffith
David (D.T.) Griffith is currently enrolled in WesternConnecticutStateUniversity’s MFA in Creative and Professional Writing program. Along with pursuing fiction in the darker genres, he’s preparing to write a book in the corporate communication field as part of his graduate thesis. His background is in visual arts, working as a photo retoucher, graphic designer, web designer, and illustrator since the mid-90s. He studied creative writing and made it part of his undergrad degree, BFA in Fine Arts. His undergrad mentor was Dick Allen, currently Connecticut’s Poet Laureate.
Learn more about David and his work at http://dtgriffith.com/.
Sephera Giron
Sephera Giron has always been fascinated with the weird and macabre. As a child, she enjoyed the taxidermy oddities displayed in sideshows at local fairs, wax museums in Niagara Falls back when they showed real mutations of nature including living humans and she even read tarot at Carnival Diablo as an adult. She has had over a dozen mass market horror and erotica books published with more of her visions transforming into e-books almost as fast as a Jackalope chases whiskey. Sephera has two sons and lives by the lake in Toronto.
Visit Sephera at http://www.sepheragiron.com
Rachel Towns
Rachel Towns is a Teacher who lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband Paulo. She currently writes speculative fiction, fantasy and historical fiction stories, whenever she can keep her two cats, Duck and Biggles away from the laptop, which they seem to believe is some kind of high tech cat bed.
More about RachelTowns at her website, http://thestraggletag.wordpress.com/
Fawn
Fawn is an award winning ASCAP singer, songwriter, composer and recording artist, who shared the top of the Billboard Dance Charts with LadyGa Ga, Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson in 2010 with her song ‘Wish U Love’ on Hades/Stonedef Records.
Produced by Chad Jack and Tim Letteer, the song made it to #6 on the Billboard charts and was #2 only to Madonna, on the dance/house Masterbeat charts the first 2 months of its release. Her music video of the same song, produced by Fawn and directed by Stephan Wozniak, debuted in the top 10 music video charts on MTV’s LOGO Channel alongside Taylor Swift, Beyonce’, LadyGa Ga, Mariah Carey, Timbaland and Jennifer Lopez. It remained in the top 10 for 5 months and charted at #142 for the Top 200 Hit Dance Songs of 2009. ‘Wish U Love’ was nominated for ‘Best Dance Single’ at the Hollywood Music In Media Awards in 2010 and Fawn was personally nominated for a 2010 Wake Up Award for recognition in inspiring humanity to it’s full potential. In 2009, Fawn won the JPF Music Award for ‘Best Dance Single’ for ‘Wish U Love’ and the JPF Music Award for ‘Best Dance Album’ for “Body Soul and Mind,’ both available on itunes. In 2009 she also won the VH-1 Songwriting award for her soulful song about racism, “Into The Light” and in 2011 won ‘Cover Model Of The Year’ for LIC Magazine.
Her voice and songs have been heard on numerous TV shows, CD Compilations, commercials and films such as The Little Red Wagon, Spike Lee’s The Girl Is In Trouble,The Nathalee Holloway Story, CSI Miami, Charlie’s Angels 2011, Ugly Betty, Nip/Tuck, Ford, Mazda, Pontiac, Barbie, Ponds, Target, Guiding Light, Lavazza Coffee, The Young and The Restless, Missing, Dead End Falls, and Witchblade, among others. Fawn is currently in the studio finishing up her next electronica album and a piano based compositions album. After that, her goal is to start recording her Traditional Christmas Album made up of original songs and some oldies but goodies.
At present, she has become a published author, making it into the anthology “Unnatural Tales Of The Jackalope” with her short story “The Jackalope and The Jellybean,” currently available on Amazon by Western Legends. She is also part of a photographic exhibit and two separate coffee Table books, alongside Diane Warren and other notables in ‘A Day In My Shoes: Pumps and Pups’ by photographer Amy Martin-Friedman, with proceeds benefitting Animal Alliance, an animal welfare charity. She has future plans to be photographed for the project ‘Vgirls’ with Schwartz Studios before the end of 2012.
Fawn began her entertainment industry career at the ripe age of 6 months old, starring in several National TV Commercials. By the time she was 10 years old, she was doing voice-overs and singing commercials. Her first song released when she was a teenager and produced by BT, Brian Transeau (Film Composer for Monster/Fast and Furious), ‘Oneday,’ raised a substantial amount of money and awareness for people with HIV/AIDS. All proceeds from the song were donated to the cause.
More about Fawn at www.fawnmusic.com.
Jezzy Wolfe
Jezzy Wolfe was the web-designer/mistress and contributor for Choate Road, the ‘Chuck E Cheese’ of horror, and co-hosted the blogtalk radio shows The Funky Werepig, and Pairanormal. Currently, she’s a reviewer for LIQUID IMAGINATION.
Her stories have appeared in various publications such as The World of Myth, Twisted Tongue magazine, The Odd Mind magazine, and the soon coming anthologies HARVEST HILL, Morpheus Tales special flash issue, The 2009 LADIES and GENTLEMAN of HORROR, and the Choate Road sampler fun book, KNOCK KNOCK… WHO’S THERE? DEATH!
More about Jezzy on her website at http://jezzywolfe.wordpress.com/
GhoStory Guru: “The Highboy” by Alison Lurie
Ever had an inanimate object give you the creeps? If you have, then you’ll identify strongly with Alison Lurie’s disturbing “The Highboy.” If you haven’t? Then this story is the best way to connect with that feeling without having to go through it (yes, I know, cheap thrill).
What gives this story its creep-factor—well, other than the very subject itself—is Lurie’s diction: this modern tale is peppered with antiquated words and phrases to invoke the feel of many of the classics.
Read “The Highboy” and the next time you go into your dining room, you might just give that really ugly inherited antique a second glance.
“The Highboy” is found in Lurie’s 1994 collection, Women & Ghosts. You can purchase it here: http://amzn.com/0385518315
