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.

Lily's Friday Prediction - end of one era - birth of a new

And so we come to a close, dear friends. This is the final Friday Prediction fiction and poetry challenge here at The Feardom.

I want to thank you all for your continuing support of each other's work and for dallying in and out of my corridors over the last two years.

I'll have more to say next Friday 18th May when I announce my final winner(s) before handing over to Phil Ambler. As you know, Phil has generously committed the time and effort to take on The Prediction Challenge - and as he is an immensely talented writer with an astute eye, not to mention a lovely, considerate man - I am in no doubt Phil will welcome us all in with open arms. I, for one, am looking forward to the first three words he'll be giving us next Friday. THANK YOU PHIL.

Winners of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

The piece of work indelibly engraved on my brain, snapping at my synapses is the bizarro-erotic horror that spilled from somewhere deep and dirty within Shaun Adams' mind. The winning story is his incredible tale Red Wigglers. Congratulations Shaun!

Two runners-up this week: AJ Humpage dragged us screaming into Hackett's world again, a dreadful, dreadful place that radiates with horrific beauty. Supinus. Gorgeous writing.

Helen Howell left us asking questions with a similar scenario but no-less chilling Taken. The subtleties in this gritty vignette touched me, unnerved me - and I like that.

Well done AJ and Helen!

Words for 11 May 2012

Here. The last words from my old tome before I wrap it up to send to Mr Ambler...

• Impersonate
• Elegant (all forms acceptable, including elegance, elegantly etc)
• Shovel

Let's make it a good one.

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have until 9pm UK time on Thursday 17th May 2012 to enter.

The winner will be announced on Friday 18th May. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it. Do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - we all appreciate it.

I can't wait to read what you dig up for our delight...

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Lily's Friday Prediction

Britain is lying beneath a squally sky this week, but despite my getting soaked to the skin, nay - to the cold, cold bones on several occasions the Lords of Thunder have withheld their purple storms. I am bereft - I need a crashing and a flashing - 'tis my drug of choice. Please? Just a little one...?

Prediction Plugs

Before I start on winners and words, a quick plug or two for a couple of Predictioneers.

Col Bury's brilliant ebook MANCHESTER 6 - six gritty crime stories from the streets of Manchester - is half-price for a limited time. It's a study of harsh realities blended with rash humour. Do read this book - it will remind you what a skilled writer the UK has in Col Bury. The novels are coming - we need to be ready.

You can download it, 'Like' and 'Agree with these tags' at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com.

John Xero, if you didn't see his post in last week's Prediction comments is starting a new fiction challenge of his own at 101 Fiction. It will open soon for submissions, so please pay our friend a visit and send him your best!

Your support is most welcome.

Winners of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

His language in last week's entry broke my bleeding heart; the winner is Shaun Adams with the haunting, terrible The Morning After. So much atmosphere in so few words - I feel am being rained upon by desperation in this hopeless situation. Brilliant. Congratulations Shaun.

Runner-up is Anthonia Woodville with the breath-stopping Suspense. I almost had a panic attack envisioning the narrator's trapped scenario and was then hit by that incredible last line! Well done Antonia.

Words for 20 April 2012

My fingers fumble, treading the pages. I stab - and open my eyes... This week's words are:

• Fathom
• Forget (all forms acceptable)
• Gallant

I think my pages must have gotten stuck! Good luck everyone.

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have until 9pm UK time on Thursday 26th April 2012 to enter.

The winner will be announced on Friday 27th April. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it. Do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - we all appreciate it.

May your words tremble upon the paper, may they evanesce from your minds to the screen...

___________________________________

Sharing with Shaun at The Greasy Spoon

It was my pleasure to be invited to over to horror writer and Prediction regular S.K. Adams' place, The Greasy Spoon Rendezvous as his featured writer for April.

We had a good natter over the best cooked breakfast in Virtual Vale and he convinced me to answer a few questions. Why don't you pop on over for a cuppa char and a read - there's plenty for everyone.

Thank you for having me, Shaun.