WOODLAND PRESS

Feel free to head over and buy some books directly from them if you don’t think you’ll be able to make it to any of the book signings or appearances this summer. They have some great titles rich with Appalachian history, from nonfiction to the Legends of the Mountain State series and the Dark Tales of Terror anthology.

Saturday July 3

I’ll be at EMPIRE BOOKS in Pullman’s Square in the heart of Huntington, WV, from 1 PM – 3 PM, signing copies of Dark Tales of Terror alongside fellow contributor, Ellen Thompson McCloud.  Also slated to appear is fellow author Kyle Lovern, author of Appalachian Case Study:  UFO Sightings, Alien Encounters & Unexplained Phenomena, Vol. 1 & 2.  I love this book store and frequent it every time I head into Huntington to catch a movie (the theater is right overhead).  Stop in, have a yack with us, and if time permits after some food, I may even join up with a bunch of you all for an evening movie.

There are few more that I’ll announce through the rest of the week.  Hope to see you all during at least one of them.

So many people to name, and I know I forget so, so many.  My apologies, but time and page length restraints confine us to only a few.

But today, let us focus on one who I won’t name.  I think she’d prefer it that way; to be kept anonymous.

We could all use lottery winnings.  I’ve never played the lottery much, choosing rather to be content with my meager earnings from the day job.  But times have gotten harder now, there are bills and taxes from two separate estates that we’re trying to keep up.  Hell, we were broke trying to afford one home, but now the childhood home of my mother is in peril.

So I started pulling overtime, taking up another job, and buying those lottery tickets with my lunch money (hell, I figure I can both lose weight and possibly be a millionaire at the same time).

I was waiting on the numbers to come across the screen a few Saturdays ago, conversing with a few friends and fans on Twitter.  “C’mon, big money… daddy needs a new pair of shoes,” was one of the comments.  And, all joking aside, that’s true.  My pair of Converse Chuck Taylors are all but threadbare.  They’re Pope shoes–hol(e)y.

Of course, seeing as I’m sitting here blogging this and not on some Australian beach having trained koalas bring me stout Tom Collins, I didn’t win.  Didn’t get one single number, much less a Powerball number.  And that’s okay, I know the score.

But later on I was sent a message from a great woman with instructions to check my e-mail inbox.  And when I did, I found this note:

“This isn’t as good as winning the lottery, but thought I’d send you an early b-day gift.  You can even buy shoes on Amazon these days lol.”

Attached was an Amazon gift card for $100.

Very kind woman who shall remain nameless, thanks for reminding me that we win the lottery much more often than we think.

It’s been a time of extreme ups and downs.

But this post isn’t for pity.  I’ve never taken well to pity and refuse to wallow in it now.  No, blogs are meant to keep the world updated.  And seeing as how I haven’t been online (or, unfortunately, writing) much recently, I owe an explanation to that handful that follow me.

Well, there it is in a nutshell.  No probing details necessary, no use in going into each any farther than a mention.  Because that’s not why you’re here and I’ll not dwell on those.  Let’s focus rather on the future.

There are alot of things coming up in the future–good things.  So let’s choose to look at those.  I’ve rearranged my work schedule away from the day job to include more blogging and more writing and intend on sticking with it.  So let’s get right to one of those updates…

Cover art for Dark Tales of Terror, available Saturday, April 3rd.

I’ll be joining several other authors for a book release party/signing this Saturday, April 3rd from 4pm to 6pm at the BORDERS store, Huntington Mall in Barboursville, WV.  Make sure to stop by and pick up a copy of DARK TALES OF TERROR.

Hope to see you there.

*Description of the event from the Woodland Press, LLC website*

BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. – A new book launch party and epic booksigning event will take place this weekend at Huntington Mall Borders, on Sat., Apr. 3rd, from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

The new title, Dark Tales of Terror, includes sixteen bone-chilling short stories by West Virginia storytellers with strong appetites for the macabre—and most of the contributing writers will be on hand for the activities.

According to event planners, this book release party—on the day before Easter—will represent the single largest gathering of Appalachian authors since the West Virginia Book Festival, last October in Charleston.

Scheduled to appear at Huntington Mall Borders will be 2010 Bram Stoker Award-winning editor Michael Knost, along with book contributors G. Cameron Fuller, Karen L. Newman, Brian J. Hatcher, Michael Fitzgerald, Lesley Conner, Karin Fuller, Ellen Thompson McCloud, S. Clayton Rhodes, Robert W. Walker, Ellen Bolt, Jessie Grayson, Miranda Phillips Walker and Jason L. Keene.

“The public is cordially invited to this special event,” said Lill Neace, of Borders. “We’re very excited. The authors will be here greeting the public and signing copies of Dark Tales of Terror.”

Just back home from the 2010 World Horror Convention in Brighton, England, after winning the coveted Stoker Award on Mar. 27th, Knost says that within the pages of the new title lie…. “terrifying ghost tales sure to cause more than a few sleepless nights. It is a gripping anthology—full of Southern-fried horror of the first degree.”

If you’ve missed past segments and find yourself more dazed and confused than Tiger at a titty bar, then make sure to backtrack and catch up on all of the past installments on their Archives site.

It’s been a wild ride.  The paranormal group of kids came, saw, and found their story.  The dark entity shadowing the small mining town for a half-century was unearthed.  The secrets of the town were exposed.  And we survived to drink another day.

Good times.  Good times.

After three years of trying to get back to the town, Choate Road gave me the opportunity to revisit it on a much larger scale.  I’d like to take a moment to thank them for allowing me to give Blackwood Falls some redemption.  I’d also like to thank all of the readers and voters who gave the characters’ a path to walk and a reason to strut down it.  And finally, I’d like to thank everyone for allowing me the chance to explore a different side–a more comedic approach–to my writing.

So, it’s been a long road, gross road.  Thanks for walking it with me.

Maybe we’ve seen the end of Blackwood Falls.

Maybe not…

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.