I get the Slaughterhouse treatment from Mr. Glamour himself

Richard Godwin, author of the crime/horror novels 'Apostle Rising' and 'Mr. Glamour' is well respected for his incredible writing, but also for the regular interviews he conducts - Chin Wag at the Slaughterhouse.

Last year, he invited me to be interviewed and I finally finished answering his questions back in May. 

Today, Richard - who has the patience of a saint - has posted our interview up at http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-lily-childs where we touch on myth, horror and the skill of the femme fatale.

If you have the time, please nip on over to Richard's place. He makes great coffee - and even better martinis.

All comments would be welcome. Thank you.

News and Updates

"It's been a while, it's been a while, it's been a while and OH!" As sang Rev Hammer and the Levellers of Freeborn John, one of England's most controversial freedom fighters.

I've been away from The Feardom for a few weeks, getting myself together and tying up loose ends - all with the aim of getting stuck into the novels once I'm finished.

What Has Lily Been Up To?

Thank you for asking. Succinctly:

• I've recorded a podcast as guest of Feardom friends Phil Ambler and Dion Winton-Polak for The Geek Syndicate on the subject of flash fiction. Two versions will be released - the first will be interspersed within the next Geek2Geek issue during late July/early August, and a longer one with readings of microflash fiction from The Prediction will be published soon at Scrolls
• Another Feardom friend John Xero is celebrating the second Xeroversary which starts today 1st July and runs for 8 days. He invited me to contribute and I'm proud that he accepted my debauch myth, A Song of Restoration which will be published on 7th July 2012.
• After working on a lengthy short story for a Spectral Press competition I finally completed, edited and submitted the 5,560 word tale with 1 hour and 5 minutes to go before the deadline. I have enormous respect for Spectral Press which publishes beautiful, limited edition chap books, as well as a great admiration for its owner - the inimitable Simon Marshall-Jones.
• I have been interviewed by Mr. Glamour author Richard Godwin for his Chin Wag at The Slaughterhouse. His patience has been unbelievable and I'm really looking forward to reading his interpretation of my gabble during July.
• My husband and I have been outlining plans for an exhibition of artwork and dark fiction. Lots more to come on that - in the meantime, here's his latest painting - a black and white watercolour interpretation of the Charles Bargue drawing of a horse-head from the Parthenon:

So, as you see - I've not been slacking!

Other Feardom Friend News

There's been lots going on with other Feardom friends and Thrillers Killers 'n' Chillers contributors too. Good luck to everyone with your self-publishing endeavours! Please share your support.

The links below go to Amazon.co.uk - just swap the the co.uk in the link for .com to access them in Canada/USA.

• Edited by Joe Hunter best-selling thriller author Matt Hilton, Action: Pulse-Pounding Tales Vol. 1 is packed with old-style, non-stop crime/action stories by some of the best in the business at the moment, and includes some of our friends - Matt Hilton himself, Col Bury, Absolutely*Kate, David Barber, Keith Gingell, Paul D. Brazill, Graham Smith, Richard Godwin and many more. Suspend belief - and step into the extreme - you won't regret it.
• David Barber's new eBook From a Crowded Mind includes a fine contradiction of gritty and emotional short crime stories
• Chris Allinotte's Gathering Darkness eBook promises 230 pages of short horror madness
• Shaun Adams's eBook Jack Is Writing includes eight short stories and six 100-word flashes of gruesome horror and twisted evil. As is only right.

I'm also hearing lots of exciting rumours about forthcoming novels, agents and contracts from a few of you. A huge - yet tentative - congratulations. The bubbles, or perhaps in most of our cases - the Merlot - is awaiting. Onwards and upwards my dear friends - how times are changing. And that comes with a smile.

Up the Downs

Magenta Shaman and latest on Episode 2

Very pleased to find sales of Magenta Shaman have recently increased in the US after a slump. Thank you to those who downloaded Magenta to your Kindle or app, she'll be your friend for a long time.

Some great 5*/4* new reviews too - from Veronica Marie Lewis-Shaw at Goodreads, the very exquisite authors Jodi MacArthur and Chris Allinotte at Amazon.com and Jenny Francis at Amazon.co.uk. Much appreciated.

Episode 2 is on a major re-write. I'm halfway through so shouldn't be long now (apologies for the wait but I want it to be right).

I can, however reveal the title "Magenta Shaman Stones the Crow".

Download a free sample of  the first Magenta Shaman or buy the full novella at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com (where you can also 'Look inside').

Mr Col Bury of old Manchester City

Fellow Thrillers Killers 'n' Chillers editor Col Bury (Jeez, is he inundated with class crime subs at the moment!) has posted his top 20 Best of Brit blogs list at Ashedit in the perfectly entitled Best of the Blogs by Col Bury—Brit Grit Part 5.

Check it out - if you're not there, find out where you should be.

Watch out too, for Col's upcoming chin wag with exquisitely articulate and poetic hard task-master Richard Godwin in the ultimate black seat at The Slaughterhouse. 

Erin Cole

Feardom Interviews

I am also pleased to announce a new short series of interviews at The Feardom. My first guest will be inspirational and beguiling wordsmith Erin Cole. Erin will visit The Feardom in the early weeks of September.

Lily Childs - Guest Writer at...

It may be that I have a Guest Write appearance in mid-September at... now that would be telling! The tale will be a little less horror - but no less nasty; details coming soon. 

What's more the story was inspired by a dream, and then after I'd finished writing it - I saw the exact location of the main 'event' on headline news. Did I make it happen? Nothing to do with me, Sarg.

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Ides, Apostles and M-M-M-Madness

Knowing full well today heralds the Ides of March, I opened my curtains determined to not be superstitious only to see a single magpie sitting on the chimney of the empty house opposite. I have lived here for 11 years and have never seen a magpie in my street. I ignored the flutters in my heart and doffed my imaginary hat to say 'Good Morning' to the bird. As I did - it stepped to one side to reveal another - its partner in crime perhaps - standing directly behind it. I whispered a greeting to the pair of them and they flew away, in opposite directions.

So, dismissing augury and deciding that one bad Ides over a couple of millennia isn't too bad (anyway 'Ides' simply means 'the 15th' in a calendar we no longer use OR the full moon) I am pragmatically forgetting Caesar and concentrating on the positive.

Apostle Rising

As if the title of the book wasn't good enough, it happens to be written by the mighty Richard Godwin - an author so articulate and engaging I feel like the girl at the back of the classroom in the white pointy hat - D - scrawled across its glaring surface.

My copy of Apostle Rising arrived last week. I can't wait to read DCI Frank Castle's investigation into a copycat-killer. Or is it? Castle is convinced he had the right man first-time around - even though he was never caught. With cults, sacrifice and ritual involving high-profile victims this book promises to be the very devil of a read.

• Apostle Rising on Amazon
• Apostle Rising video intro on YouTube

Madness in March

Over at Chris Allinotte's Leaky Pencil he is hosting a week of fiction that examines insanity, Madness In March. Think asylums and psychopaths; fear and hysteria.

Our aforementioned friend Richard Godwin's Blister Pack has already provoked a fascinating debate into the difference between madness and mental illness. Laurita Miller opened the show with a touch of Paranoia, and today sees author, poet and 5x5 Editor Angel Zapata considering a Mad Dash.

Go see - linger a while, but make sure you've got a key to get out.

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