Segment III of the Blackwood Falls serial:  Click here to head over and read at Choate Road

The latest installment of the Blackwood Falls serial is in and should be up on the Choate Road website soon.  Backwoods WV, smart-assed teens, rednecks with supernatural issues.  I’m enjoying the serial, because its fresh and instant, and I’m able to try to find a little more of that comedic voice that I’ve wanted to harness.  If you’ve missed it up to this point, you can still click on the link on the Choate Road site to get to the archives.  It’s interactive, which means you (the reader) have to tell me where it goes next based on four multiple-choice scenarios given at the end of each segment.  So make sure to head over, read, and vote…otherwise, I’ll have to let Greg Hall pick it.  And you don’t want that.  Also, I’d appreciate any feedback you have.  Feel free to sign up over at the Choate Road forums and leave feedback on the thread there if you’re too lazy to e-mail to me personally.

New POD OF HORROR Reviews Coming:  Click here to head over to the POD OF HORROR page.

The POD OF HORROR crew is back with all the news you can use in the world of horror.  #59 should be out and waiting for your download and listening pleasure in early March.  I’m currently working on recording new movie reviews for my Moonshine Matinee segment. I’m honestly astonished at the great feedback I’ve been getting for the segment, and thank you all for the continued support.  Any comments or suggestions can be directed straight through an e-mail or on the Horror World messageboard (both links can be found on POD OF HORROR’s main page).

West Virginia Anthology Short Story Acceptance

“But weren’t you swearing off short stories until the novel is finished?”  you may or may not bother asking yourself.  True…that I did.  But there’s always an exception, and when a man like Michael Knost lays an offer on your table you stave off that begging nap and get your ass in gear (you may remember Mr. Knost as the editor of the Legends of the Mountain State series and the award-winning Writers Workshop of Horror).  I’m extremely pleased to say that he accepted my short story “Deep River” for the anthology which is due sometime later this spring.  I’ll release more details on the book as they come my way.

Other than that I’m still working on the novella and novel, still tampering with short stories (when I obviously shouldn’t be), and still trying to be the pillar of the extended family to the best of my ability.  I’m gearing up for convention season, although I’m still not sure which I’ll be attending–hope to see some of you all there later in the year.  And I promise to update more often.  No, this time I mean it.  I promise.  Seriously.

These are trying times–(lack of) money, sickness, work, worry, impending World War III, the Winter Olympics–but we shall persevere.  Now, let’s go clock in and get to work at the first job of the day.

I’m both shocked and honored to say that my latest short story “A Picture’s Worth” (found alongside another story of mine in Shroud #7) has been nominated by some brave soul in the Short Story: Horror category.

Preditors & Editors Poll Results

I would be lying if I were to say I didn’t want you to go over there and vote for it.  On the other hand, I’d be lying if I told you to go over there and vote for it if you’ve never even read it.

I’d like to think that the winners of that poll earn the honor with ability instead of celebrity, so don’t crush my (unrealistic) idea of it.  If you didn’t like the story, don’t vote for it just because I’ve bought you a beer, put sunscreen on your shady parts, or held your hair out of your face that night you were driving the porcelain tanker to Pukey Town.  If you’re going to vote for it, vote on the story’s merits and not because the author is a “swell guy.”

With that said, head over and vote for your favorites.  Categories range from novels, ‘zines, and anthos, authors, poets, and artists, to favorite resource, review, and forum sites.  Don’t like any of the current nominations?  That’s fine, nominate somebody you feel deserves it.

Preditors & Editors Voting Categories Page

Head over to the link above and get to voting.

The good folks over at the infamous POD OF HORROR have invited me with open arms to bring you a segment so vile, so bluntly honest, so filled to the brim with harnessed and raw redneckery that it may very well be banned in every state outside of Appalachia (probably has something to do with my accent and nobody being able to understand my ranting).

Join me as I take you on a backroads journey through the horrors of filmland.  There will be no beating around the bush, no punches pulled, and no crappy plot holes left unscathed.  It’s a no-shit look at the movies we love and the movies we love to hate.

This time around I take a look at PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.  Sure, everybody else and their moms have reviewed this flick by now…but I’m not everybody else, either.  You’ve all seen it.  You all have your own takes on it.  Now let me tell you how it looks through a hillbilly horror fanatic’s eyes.  I also take on some of November’s lesser-known DVD releases so you’ll be prepared when that NetFlix que looks blank.  Last but not least, I dig into the rumor mill and dish out some of the big news currently worming its way through Horrorwood.

Also on POD OF HORROR #57 is an interview with the master himself, Edward Lee!  The Call of Kalanta is in full swing and bringing you the biggest cornucopia bounty of horror fiction news available to man.  Michael Oliveri stops by to talk about The Pack, prose fiction, and graphic novels.  Michael Vance discusses pulp influences and Weird Horror Tales.  And finally, The Tomb of Trivia continues the long tradition of letting you–the listener–win free books!

This is one for the ages, so don’t forget to tell your grandma to listen in.

Go grab it for free HERE.

Head on over to Horror World’s official POD OF HORROR page and give it a free download. Or if you’re into that whole iTunes thing the kids are hip with these days, you can find it on there under Podcasts as well!

I hope you enjoy POD OF HORROR #57, and the MOONSHINE MATINEE segment.  I look forward to your comments, and I look forward to bringing you more from the world of horror films very soon!

Inside those hallowed pages you’ll find not one…but two offerings of my short fiction.  I’ll admit, having my name on the cover and being singularly segmented in the table of contents makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

The first is called “A Picture’s Worth” and I have to say that I believe this to be my best short fiction yet.  The story revolves around Lorrie Spencer and her young son Cody, a remnant from a satanic artist’s vile work, the trapped souls of children, and the love and protection a mother feels for her offspring.  Writing the story disturbed me several times through the endeavor, and I honestly had to get up and go have a smoke to calm down.  This was probably the first story where what I had intended was completely sidestepped by the characters, and fate took over to rule out the final act.  Because reality rarely has happy endings…

The second offering is called “Collaboration of B. Lyle” and, from the title, you can probably guess at least one of the characters in this one.  This story came to me after seeing first-hand the way a small handful of publishers and editors (not all, mind you) in this genre feed off of new writers.  The main character’s name may even strike a chord to some of those out there–and that was intentional.  Most of the time, said types of people get away with their dirty deeds.  In this story, they do not.

The issue also introduces the first in a line of columns Brian Keene is penning for Shroud entitled “Seminal Screams”, where he introduces readers to books of extreme importance in the genre.  Awesome column.  Michael Knost’s “Prog-Knost-Ications” this time around focuses on the Sinister Minister himself, Maurice Broaddus.  Other pieces of non-fiction included are from Norman L. Rubenstein, Kevin Lucia, Kurt Bachard, and I.E. Lester.  There’s a novel excerpt from John Shirley, an illustrated story from Brothers May, winner and runner-ups of the flash fiction contest, and enough great fiction in this 150+ page monster to keep you occupied for a long, long time.  Highlights include stories by Jackie Gamber, Joel Sutherland, Timothy P. Remp, Richard Alan Scott, Steve Vernon, and D.L. Snell.

Not to mention a beautiful layout and designs by the unbelievably talented Danny Evarts, and some insanely gorgeous art by Mark Pexton and a host of others.

Mr. Deal and the rest of the Shroud team have outdone themselves yet again.  Go find out for yourselves.

Nobody.

Not one entry.

I’m hurt, kids.  Honestly.  Nobody wanted a free signed issue of Necrotic Tissue?  Bah.

You should go read it.

R. Scott McCoy: Long Ass Post About the HWA

He’s alot more cool, calm, and sensible about these matters than I am.  I especially applaud Mr. McCoy for offering up a list of sensible possible fixes to the current situation of the HWA.

You know what I always say, kids…”adapt or die.”  Now go read up.

For those that don’t listen in to the POD OF HORROR podcast (the #1 resource for all of your horror fiction news) over at Horrorworld.org, you’re definitely missing out. It’s a juggernaut hosted by Mark Justice (Deadneck Hootenanny, Dead Earth: The Green Dawn) alongside Nanci Kalanta (Horror World’s proprietess) and Norman Rubenstein (prolific reviewer and columnist).

But what about horror movies?  It’s an indisputable truth that most fans of horror fiction enjoy the bounty of horror movies out there as well.  Well, friends, Pod of Horror now has your fix.

I’m am extremely proud to announce that, starting with the November edition of Pod of Horror, I’ll be coming on board the team to provide you with your fix of horror movie-related reviews and news.  It’s a segment that I’m really excited about and I’m busting my ass right now to make sure it gives you that fix without being bogged down with the bland yadda-yadda that you can find elsewhere.  I can assure you that this will not be your average horror movie review/news piece, and I think you’re going to enjoy it.

And what’s this segment going to be called?  Well, that’s where I want your participation.  Since this segment is devoted to all of you horror flick maniacs out there, I feel it’s only fitting that you be the ones to help name it.

Hit me with your best shot–name that segment!  All you have to do to enter is leave a reply to this in the box below with your name and your suggestion for title of the segment before Saturday, November 14.  On that day, I’ll go through all of the suggestions and pick the one that strikes my fancy the best.  If I choose your suggestion for the new title of my segment, then you win a signed copy of NECROTIC TISSUE issue 7 featuring my short story, “The Failure.”  It’s that simple.  I’ll post an update on November 14 with the winning suggestion.

So what are you waiting for?  Just enter, already!

We encourage you to call in with questions or comments for us.  The call-in number is: (718) 664-6032.  If you’re too shy for that kind of thing, hop into the chat room and chat us up.  The show is free, live, and unscripted.  Given our reputations, that alone makes it worth attending.

But wait…there’s more!

I also have a couple of announcements, a giveaway, and a contest.  That incentive enough for you?

We’ll be talking about my number of stories in Shroud and Necrotic Tissue, upcoming poetry in the Terror of Miskatonic Falls anthology, Gentlemen of Horror 2009, two projects that will be announced over the course of the show, and anything else you sick and twisted lil’ monsters want to discuss.

Michael Knost, Mark Justice, and Brian J. Hatcher will be on hand to sign copies of Legends of the Mountain State 3.  Rest assured that if you’ve missed the two earlier installments in this wonderful series there will be plenty waiting on the table to help you brush up on your Appalachian-themed horror this Halloween season.  Also, if you haven’t done so already, I advise you to grab a copy of Knost’s Writer’s Workshop of Horror while you’re there (which I can personally vouch for as being excellent).

You’d be hard-pressed to find a greater bunch of guys, or a greater group of authors.  So stop in, say “hello” and make sure to grab some reading material before Halloween sneaks up on us.

Did I mention there will also be punch and pie?  Because there will totally be punch and pie.

Notice how I’m last on the list?  Yeah, that Greg Hall fellow is a prima donna like that.

He also demanded a bowl full of candy corn with the white tips removed, which he had the clout to get.

 As an incentive to join us that night instead of watching yet another rerun of Children of the Corn XI: Cornier Than Ever on the SyFy Channel, there will be a major announcement.  Something so devastatingly large and epic, so life-changing, that it could only involve the Choate Road website and myself.

Between now and then, I may even drop some hints around the world wide web.  And who knows?  If you pick up on all of this, you may very well win something.

So come join us for a night of debauchery on October 30 at 10pm EST.  Don’t forget to bring the kids (because they’re the most fun to corrupt and mentally scar).