Monday 18 July 2022

'Sixsmith' - THAT asylum novel

You're bored of it by now. 'The asylum novel' started life in 2013 as a crawling mish-mash of character visitations, all of them demanding a voice. Sounds pompous. Sorry about that. Actually, it was bloody scary. Still is.

What's more, these characters are all local to me. As a writer, the dead people you create will nag the damned life out of you, wherever they fictionally hail from. This lot though, are close - very, very close. In allowing them to die so nearby, I seem to have made it easier for them to creep into my head, to linger, to shout - and worse - to whisper. It's my own fault. 

They have expectations.

Even when I originally finished writing the novel to my satisfaction and had handed it over to a (fabulous indie) horror publisher, the characters continued to pester. When said publisher quite rightly suggested a few changes, well... Howard was indignant, Alice accepted her lot with eternal dignity, Alfred blamed everyone else, Rose wept, Jacob howled with his hounds from hell, Elizabeth hid in her tree and old Tom laid down the law. And the surgeon? The surgeon smirked, flabby lips glistening with drool in the candlelight as he sharpened his knives.

With the publisher's generous support, it still took me two long years to make the small changes. The key ones were done relatively early; they made sense but I could no longer work out the continuity. The harder I looked, the more difficult it became. 

As an aside, I blame the day job and Covid for sucking anything creative out of both me and my soul in equal measure. 'Anything' is a lazy term for which I apologise, but I have no other words with which to articulate such a void. For a long time I've been hoping the situation is only an extended, empty hiatus rather than a failure, or lost ability to write. 

Back to the novel. Finally, last month on a Sunday evening when I was super-tired and the brain cells had shut down, I decided to revisit the changes I'd made over the previous couple of years. There! The solution was obvious. Just before midnight, Sixsmith was complete. Turned out I'd been trying too hard. 

So it's done. It's finished. Elizabeth, Jacob, Howard and all are cackling in my ears, soft and loud, hurt and lonely. The wonderful (and I mean that) publisher has released the novel back to me as they have been offered some superb opportunities of their own. I wish them every success.

This all means I'm ready to send Sixsmith, 'that asylum novel' out again.

The characters are excited and terrified, as am I.

Thursday 25 May 2017

Just a quick 'Hello'

I'm perfectly aware I've not been keeping The Feardom up to date lately, nor have I been on Facebook or Twitter much either. For that, I apologise.

It's not to say I'm not writing; I am. But this girl has a day job which - at the moment - is overwhelming to say the least. If my day job was as a novelist, that would be utterly fabulata. Sadly, it's not.

So please don't give up on me. I have a pile of tales almost ready to put out as a collection, or submit separately to publishers. I haven't decided yet. They include:

  • a story that will make you scratch and itch and punch yourself senseless
  • a gin-riddled, ghostly account of debauched possession
  • vicious trailer trash horror
  • plastic bubbles in a plastic world where you must watch where you tread
  • dolls trapped in trees
  • a dystopian tale of golden corsets, time-travel and drugs
  • a new Magenta Shaman episode
I'm also reworking Six Souls, the asylum novel - with passion.

Bear with me. I'm not done yet.

Waiting... just waiting

Thursday 1 December 2016

IN SEARCH OF SILVER BOUGHS - OUT NOW

Twinkling forth after an age, In Search of Silver Boughs is finally spreading its pages wide, published on 1st December 2016 by KnightWatch Press. Huge thanks to editor, Steve Shaw for bringing the chapbook to fruition, and to Theresa Derwin for acquiring Silver Boughs in the first place.

The best place to 
is always via the publisher themselves.


___________________

Follow the ancient, ruthless soul of demi-goddess Emmeline as she struts across Scandinavia and western Europe, clad in magical, skin-stitched boots. When those handmade-boots are ripped from Emmeline's aching feet in 19th century Paris, the trauma triggers dangerous memories of long-term lover, the Bohemian artist Augustus Flinch – and their deviant daughter Ishtabelle.

With rumours that Flinch has taken cruel revenge by freezing their child in the filthy ice of London’s river Thames, Emmeline calls upon her most primal energies to hunt him down.

Hide your eyes. Hide your ears as Emmeline storms across the channel toward the heaving capital of England, in this twisted, bloody fairy tale. Protect your heart. It won't just break – it will shatter.

Saturday 6 August 2016

Reviews and News

REVIEWS

The Black Room Manuscripts Vol 2 is already enjoying excellent reviews and I'm humbled to have received the following comments for The Vile Glib of Gideon Wicke:

  • From the always inspiring and honest Ginger Nuts of Horror - my thanks to George Ilett Anderson: "Like the previous two entries in this anthology, Lily Childs’ writing is a revelation. Her story, “The Vile Glib of Gideon Wicke” is a haunting and poignant journey through limbo for a lost soul. Beautifully written with very vivid imagery about loss, redemption and finding oneself, this is an excellent story."
    Read the full review on Amazon | More about The Ginger Nuts of Horror
  • From David Dubrow: "Not quite a horror story, but a sad, sweet tale of loneliness, death, and what lies beyond, The Vile Glib of Gideon Wicke by Lily Childs is arguably the best story in the collection."
    Read the full review on Amazon
  • From Chris Hall at DLS Reviews: "Some tales read more like poetry than they do stories. That’s not to say that there’s not a story in there – but the eloquence and beauty of the writing can sometimes speak louder than what’s being told. Lily Childs’ offering is one such story. From those initial first few stepping stones, from the quiet ambience and respectful graciousness of our tired protagonist, we’re pulled into the mesmerising charm of the story and the gentle flow of its direction. Indeed, reading Childs’ offering feels somewhat akin to drifting down a gently flowing stream; watching as around you things gradually float by and the world plays out its endless tune. But of course it’s not all roses and sunshine. Even though the story maintains a compelling beauty in its prose, the path it follows is clouded with heartache and sorrow. But there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. And to show this Childs executes a near flawless wrapping up of a lost soul’s final journey."
    Read the full review at DLS Reviews
My thanks to Jim McLeod (GNoH), David and Chris for their kind words about my dark, tragic, 'not quite horror' but desperate tale of post-death descent.



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NEWS

The Thirteen Signs, edited by Dean M. Drinkel and published by Nocturnicorn Books is out this week for Kindle, and soon in paperback. Contains my Taurean tale of bloodshed in not-so-pleasant England, Come Join the Blood Parade.



Flash Fear, edited by the glorious Theresa Derwin of Quantum Corsets includes re-prints of two of my flash tales. Opening the anthology is baker-boy battering, Pat-A-Cake followed by mythical, mystical The Tale of Restoration. Out now on Amazon.


Fresh Fear: An Anthology of Macabre Horror, edited by William Cook and containing my cannibalistic dish Strange Tastes, has been re-published by King Billy Publications with an exquisite new cover. Available on Amazon now.




Reviews and News

REVIEWS

The Black Room Manuscripts Vol 2 is already enjoying excellent reviews and I'm humbled to have received the following comments for The Vile Glib of Gideon Wicke:

  • From the always inspiring and honest Ginger Nuts of Horror - my thanks to George Ilett Anderson: "Like the previous two entries in this anthology, Lily Childs’ writing is a revelation. Her story, “The Vile Glib of Gideon Wicke” is a haunting and poignant journey through limbo for a lost soul. Beautifully written with very vivid imagery about loss, redemption and finding oneself, this is an excellent story."
    Read the full review on Amazon | More about The Ginger Nuts of Horror
  • From David Dubrow: "Not quite a horror story, but a sad, sweet tale of loneliness, death, and what lies beyond, The Vile Glib of Gideon Wicke by Lily Childs is arguably the best story in the collection."
    Read the full review on Amazon
  • From Chris Hall at DLS Reviews: "Some tales read more like poetry than they do stories. That’s not to say that there’s not a story in there – but the eloquence and beauty of the writing can sometimes speak louder than what’s being told. Lily Childs’ offering is one such story. From those initial first few stepping stones, from the quiet ambience and respectful graciousness of our tired protagonist, we’re pulled into the mesmerising charm of the story and the gentle flow of its direction. Indeed, reading Childs’ offering feels somewhat akin to drifting down a gently flowing stream; watching as around you things gradually float by and the world plays out its endless tune. But of course it’s not all roses and sunshine. Even though the story maintains a compelling beauty in its prose, the path it follows is clouded with heartache and sorrow. But there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. And to show this Childs executes a near flawless wrapping up of a lost soul’s final journey."
    Read the full review at DLS Reviews
My thanks to Jim McLeod (GNoH), David and Chris for their kind words about my dark, tragic, 'not quite horror' but desperate tale of post-death descent.



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS

The Thirteen Signs, edited by Dean M. Drinkel and published by Nocturnicorn Books is out this week for Kindle, and soon in paperback. Contains my Taurean tale of bloodshed in not-so-pleasant England, Come Join the Blood Parade.



Flash Fear, edited by the glorious Theresa Derwin of Quantum Corsets includes re-prints of two of my flash tales. Opening the anthology is baker-boy battering, Pat-A-Cake followed by mythical, mystical The Tale of Restoration. Out now on Amazon.


Fresh Fear: An Anthology of Macabre Horror, edited by William Cook and containing my cannibalistic dish Strange Tastes, has been re-published by King Billy Publications with an exquisite new cover. Available on Amazon now.




Tuesday 5 July 2016

THE BLACK ROOM MANUSCRIPTS Vol 2

Today, Mr Postie almost beat down my door to hand me a very special package. What I found inside made my heart leap:



With much trepidation I carefully unwrapped the parcel and drew out my contributor's copy of...



Launching at Horror Con 2016 this weekend, THE BLACK ROOM MANUSCRIPTS Vol 2 from The Sinister Horror Company is also available on Amazon from 9th July. You can already pre-order it here in the UK and here in the US.

I'm immensely humbled that my bitter tragedy, The Vile Glib of Gideon Wicke is included in this stunning anthology, especially as all profits from sales are going to Alzheimer's Research UK, who work so hard to help defeat dementia.

Speaking as an author, the owners/editors at The Sinister Horror Company truly are a pleasure to work with. Their professionalism has been consistent at every stage of the publishing process, they're supportive and - something I personally find important - they take the time to communicate regularly with the anthology contributors. I hope I have the opportunity to collaborate with them again in the future.

The book features stories from world-renowned authors such as Shaun Hutson, Graham Masterton and William Meikle. It includes tales from Jasper Bark, Laura Mauro, Paul M. Feeney, Sam Stone, Rich Hawkins, Matt Shaw and many more.

Below is the opening page of The Vile Glib of Gideon Wicke. Enjoy the horror.


Believe (in) it or not, the planets turn and the stars point their sparkling, razor fingers at you the very moment you're born. What does the sun say, and better still... what does the moon say?

No New Age 'love and light' fluffiness, THE THIRTEEN SIGNS is a horrorscape of zodiacal darkness brought to you by Dean M Drinkel and Nocturnicorn Books.

I'm very proud to be a part of this, alongside such wickedly talented authors.

The Thirteen Signs - Table of Contents

Foreword: Alex S. Johnson
Introduction: Dean M Drinkel
The Order Of Aries: Mark West
Come Join The Blood Parade: Lily Childs
Seven For Eight: Romain Collier
Carapace: Raven Dane
Leo: Tim Dry
Solomon Carson And The Death Of A Virgin: Trevor Kennedy and Robert E. Tate
Leeber: Christine Dougherty
The Scorpion Dance: Amelia Mangan
One in Twelve: Steve Byrne
A Sorrow Of Sweet Pipings: Jan Edwards
Ganymede: Emile-Louis Tomas Jouvet
Hooked: James Everington
Worshipping The Snake: Dean M Drinkel

Cover reveal coming soon, The Thirteen Signs will be available from the end of July 2016.
Lily Childs is a writer of horror, esoteric, mystery and chilling fiction.

If you see her dancing outside in a thunder storm - don't try to bring her in. She's safe.