Magenta's back in the world of the (21st century) living, for the moment.
Meet her for brekkie in Borough Market.
Suck the love in her head.
Who are you, you bastard?
Horror, crime and dark fiction.
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Grub Up by Lily Childs (c)
I sat back and surveyed the remains of my late cousin. Apparently she didn’t know I have certain tastes. And that I’ve been particularly hungry lately.
I was still ravenous, but I knew it was risky to go out hunting because I get careless going in for the kill. Yet thoughts of feeding made saliva drip in my mouth, washing my gums, plumping my tongue.
I hesitated. No. I couldn’t do it; it was too dangerous. I’d have to go without. Dejected I slumped down onto the threadbare sofa, then jumped as the phone rang. Snatching it off its cradle I answered.
‘Who is it?’
‘Is she there?’
‘What?’ I didn’t recognise the voice.
‘It’s Ben, Vanessa’s boyfriend. I’m outside your building. Is she there?’ My heart smiled and I spoke to the pining lover.
‘Yes Ben. She’s here. She’s sitting in the corner. Come on up – we’ll wait for you.’
I replaced the receiver and lingered by the window, watching. The juices were already stirring in my belly.
_________________________________________
First published on Thrillers Killers n Chillers May 2009
Monday, 28 December 2009
Resolutions or achievable plans?
I'm gonna really go for it this year. I've been writing for so long but hadn't realised how much it is a part of my very core since deciding to 'go serious' at the beginning of 2009.
So:
I WILL write and submit lots more work
I WILL earn some money from it
I WILL finish the novel
I WILL do something more with Magenta Shaman, now she's come back to me (the Aeon Award didn't want her). Update - Tuesday 29th December - and we're off. Someone's crept into Magenta's head, and into her bed...
I WILL revisit older novels I've started
I WILL do something with an eerie 17th century tale of cannibalism and debauchery that's been playing in my mind for years - if I can face it
I WILL diversify
I'll add that I want to get fit, healthy and slim, but you've got to draw the line somewhere. Slàinte!
So:
I WILL write and submit lots more work
I WILL earn some money from it
I WILL finish the novel
I WILL do something more with Magenta Shaman, now she's come back to me (the Aeon Award didn't want her). Update - Tuesday 29th December - and we're off. Someone's crept into Magenta's head, and into her bed...
I WILL revisit older novels I've started
I WILL do something with an eerie 17th century tale of cannibalism and debauchery that's been playing in my mind for years - if I can face it
I WILL diversify
I'll add that I want to get fit, healthy and slim, but you've got to draw the line somewhere. Slàinte!
Friday, 18 December 2009
A recommendation
Lee Hughes' latest episode in his diabolical series The Osseus Box 'The Path of Flames' is now up at TKnC (Thrillers Killers n Chillers).
It's a garden of very unearthly delights. Read it...
It's a garden of very unearthly delights. Read it...
Fashion Victim by Lily Childs
Thought I'd 'up' this story. It was the first one I submitted to Thrillers Killers n Chillers, and is close to my heart.
Excerpts
...The built-in contraption which projected stiletto daggers into my waiting hands was rather ingenious, if I didn’t say so myself. Indeed I didn’t say so, but held my hands aloft with the thin blades lying patiently against my palms, breathing in the adoring fans and shaking my head in mock protest at the praise being cast upon me...
...She disgusted me but I took her head in my hands and returned the embrace anyway. The sharp blades flicked easily from their clasps, and I swiftly sliced both sides of her throat without letting go...
Size zero? Have some pie, for God's sake.
Excerpts
...The built-in contraption which projected stiletto daggers into my waiting hands was rather ingenious, if I didn’t say so myself. Indeed I didn’t say so, but held my hands aloft with the thin blades lying patiently against my palms, breathing in the adoring fans and shaking my head in mock protest at the praise being cast upon me...
...She disgusted me but I took her head in my hands and returned the embrace anyway. The sharp blades flicked easily from their clasps, and I swiftly sliced both sides of her throat without letting go...
Size zero? Have some pie, for God's sake.
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Softly by Lily Childs
My latest tale 'Softly' on Thrillers Killers n Chillers is being called 'sick'. I couldn't wish for a better accolade.
Why not take a look? I'd probably recommend not having your dinner while your read it.
Excerpt:
‘He just, sort of crawled off me. I tried to talk to him but the words wouldn’t come. He didn’t even look at me, he just ran down the hall to the bathroom where I could hear him chucking his guts up over and over again.’
That's all you get - any more would give it away.
Why not take a look? I'd probably recommend not having your dinner while your read it.
Excerpt:
‘He just, sort of crawled off me. I tried to talk to him but the words wouldn’t come. He didn’t even look at me, he just ran down the hall to the bathroom where I could hear him chucking his guts up over and over again.’
That's all you get - any more would give it away.
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Magenta Shaman
Magenta Shaman wasn't shortlisted for the Aeon Award.
Oh well, it's been one of those weeks. I believe in her anyway. :(
Oh well, it's been one of those weeks. I believe in her anyway. :(
Thursday, 10 December 2009
New Lily Childs story 'Face Off' and welcome to new horror E-Zine
Thanks to Coly Bury for publishing my latest short story, Face Off, over at Thrillers Killers 'n' Chillers.
Excerpt:
I keep it in a bag, my face. It hides there of a night when I slumber and dream.
I pull my hair back and look at the bare-faced lie reflected back at me in the mirror. A blank canvas. I could do anything with it. I could be anyone.
But I want to be me. I’ve always wanted to be me, not her.
The ritual begins.
Very pleased to hear about T R Shaw's new horror e-zine for women writers 'A Darker Spirit'. It's a brilliant initiative, and I wish her every success with it.
Excerpt:
I keep it in a bag, my face. It hides there of a night when I slumber and dream.
I pull my hair back and look at the bare-faced lie reflected back at me in the mirror. A blank canvas. I could do anything with it. I could be anyone.
But I want to be me. I’ve always wanted to be me, not her.
The ritual begins.
______________________________________________
Very pleased to hear about T R Shaw's new horror e-zine for women writers 'A Darker Spirit'. It's a brilliant initiative, and I wish her every success with it.
Hope to submit some pieces myself!
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Can I Get A Witness?
Somebody, somewhere; tell me this ain’t fair but it seems to me that what you write in a song has a nasty way of turning into a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Take it from me, Kurt Cobain did have a gun – denying it even as he sang Come As You Are. Amy? Well… Rehab was just waiting with open doors.
I sat there, thinking about the late, great Marvin Gaye; his smooth moves, his velvet voice - begging for a witness. When his own father blasted him away, no-one saw a thing, ‘xcept Mama.
The pen twitched in my hand. Sod it. I wrote it down anyway.
“She wouldn’t tell me what they’d said.
‘You lied’ she cried.
She slammed the hilt against my head.
‘I tried’ I lied.
She shot me dead.”
Clare stood at the kitchen door, moist mascara blackening beneath sad eyes. The pistol in her snowy-white hand didn’t surprise me. I knew she hated my lazy, cheating arse.
I stood, and shrugged. What was there to say? The lyrics fell from my lap to the floor. I took a step towards her, not bothering to say sorry.
You know the rest…
This story was the winner of the November 2009 'One Word Challenge' from Writing Magazine's online forum 'Talkback.'
Writers are given a single word and must produce a piece of flash fiction in 200 words or less, or a poem in 40 lines or less. November's word was 'Witness.'
You can see my poetry entry at http://micheleranger.blogspot.com/2009/12/who-sees.html
Take it from me, Kurt Cobain did have a gun – denying it even as he sang Come As You Are. Amy? Well… Rehab was just waiting with open doors.
I sat there, thinking about the late, great Marvin Gaye; his smooth moves, his velvet voice - begging for a witness. When his own father blasted him away, no-one saw a thing, ‘xcept Mama.
The pen twitched in my hand. Sod it. I wrote it down anyway.
“She wouldn’t tell me what they’d said.
‘You lied’ she cried.
She slammed the hilt against my head.
‘I tried’ I lied.
She shot me dead.”
Clare stood at the kitchen door, moist mascara blackening beneath sad eyes. The pistol in her snowy-white hand didn’t surprise me. I knew she hated my lazy, cheating arse.
I stood, and shrugged. What was there to say? The lyrics fell from my lap to the floor. I took a step towards her, not bothering to say sorry.
You know the rest…
(c) Lily Childs November 2009
_______________________________________
This story was the winner of the November 2009 'One Word Challenge' from Writing Magazine's online forum 'Talkback.'
Writers are given a single word and must produce a piece of flash fiction in 200 words or less, or a poem in 40 lines or less. November's word was 'Witness.'
You can see my poetry entry at http://micheleranger.blogspot.com/2009/12/who-sees.html
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
All the best...
If it wasn't for Matt Hilton and Col Bury's TK'n'C I wouldn't be as enthusiastic about writing as I am today.
Far from the tea-sipping, jam sponge-munching grannies worshipping the local vicar I was scared the 'writing community' was, I have found reason, treason, misreason and unbelievable honesty in all the writers I have met since going heavy at the beginning of this year.
They are:
If you want to see any of my own stuff on TK'n'C, click here. Apparently it's, erm... rather shocking. I'm so glad.
Far from the tea-sipping, jam sponge-munching grannies worshipping the local vicar I was scared the 'writing community' was, I have found reason, treason, misreason and unbelievable honesty in all the writers I have met since going heavy at the beginning of this year.
- Mat Hilton, best selling author of Dead Men's Dust and Judgement & Wrath Website/blog
- Col Bury, co-editor of TK'n'C, destined for great things in noir TK'n'C | Website/blog
- Lee Hughes, by the Goddess, you need to read his stuff. It twists with dark excitement. TK'n'C | Website/blog
- David Barber, dark, clever and horridly humerous. TK'n'C | Website/blog
- A.J. Humpage - AJ's writing is terrifyingly piercing. I defy your heart not to scream in terror or emotion. TK'n'C
- Pixie J. King.Watch this girl. She may be young but she never fails to stun with her insights. TK'n'C | Website/blog
If you want to see any of my own stuff on TK'n'C, click here. Apparently it's, erm... rather shocking. I'm so glad.
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