Their Dark Masters Cover Artwork Preview

Lookie, lookie! Sneaky peek at Mark Crittenden's superb cover for Their Dark Masters anthology. Isn't it pretty?

The anthology is filling up quickly but there is still time to enter. You can find the details at Red Skies Press, and of my involvement at an earlier post on here Their Dark Masters traps Walls of Flesh.

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The New Flesh - Submission Accepted.

Thanks to Brian Barnett, co-editor of deliciously dark The New Flesh for accepting my submission to TNF's Inaugural TNF Flash Fiction War.

Mine is a demonic little tale called Dressing-Up Box that Brian kindly said is "very Clive Barker of you". Shucks.

It'll run on Saturday 18th September. I'll link to it on the day.

Anyone else entered?

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Two Many Knees

Over here in the UK it's that time of year again. The nights are cooling rapidly and new cobwebs seem to crop up from nowhere, glistening with dew in the morning light, or clouding the corners of your room.

I have big time respect for the eight-legged breed, but with a thing about creatures  with too many or extra high knees I'd rather they didn't come for me.

Who's had a spider encounter, either real or fictional? Let's have a Spider Week 2010! Post something on your blog - no limits - and whack your link in the Comments box below.

Here's a friendly little pome I wrote last year. Bet you can go darker :)

TICKLE

On the loose
In your house
Scampering up walls.
Velvet legs
Thick as twigs
Scuttling down halls.
Dropping down
By your face
Frightening you half mad.
No wonder
Spiders run
If you think them bad.
When you scream
What of him?
Sensitive fine hairs
Tense up tight.
He screams too.
Panic on the stairs.
Wish him well,
Arachnid,
Prowling in the night.
On the hunt
For a mate.
Pity him his plight.
Pointed knees,
Bubbled eyes
Staring from his nest.
Waiting there.
Why not say
'Welcome' to your guest.

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Their Dark Masters traps Walls of Flesh

This morning I had great delight in hearing that Mark Crittenden has accepted Walls of Flesh, recently showcased on The Feardom, into Red Skies Press' forthcoming vampire anthology Their Dark Masters.

I've been invited to submit another, full-length piece of between 4-7000 words, and am working on The Infanta Triptych. The Triptych's three stars hope to introduce themselves very soon.

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Their Dark Masters

Got a vampire tale leeching at your red stuff, desperate to be invited in?

Mark Crittenden over at Red Skies Press is launching a new "highly thematic horror anthology" Their Dark Masters.

You can read full submission details here - and see Mark's description below to get a juicy taste of what it's all about:

"I am asking for stories that concern vampires, the custodians of forbidden knowledge, and the secret force behind the destruction of mankind. It is encouraged that you include something about an elder vampire in your tale, the maker and master pulling the strings in the backdrop of your story. I want only your darkest and most well-constructed tale. Your story may take place in any timeline and any geographic locale. I am looking for your most horrific/haunting tale."

What are you waiting for...?

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Another Day - Another Acceptance

Thanks to Lee Hughes tipping us the wink about Static Movement's new anthology Caught by Darkness, I submitted a rewrite of my gruesome dialogue piece 'Softly'.

Static Movement ed. Chris Bartholomew said she loved it. She's accepted it into the anthology - I'll shout loudly when it's out.

More info at Static Movement

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Thrillers Killers 'n' Chillers is Back!!

I am heartily relieved to report that Matt Hilton and Col Bury's superb site Thrillers Killers 'n' Chillers will be back in business from 1st July.

TKnC has been a huge sounding board for my nasty little pieces and I am so grateful to Matt and Col - not just for publishing my work but for their ongoing support and guidance. I am also thankful to the many visitors who have commented on my fiction.

If you're new to TKnC - it's hard, it's chilling and it's noir. It screams, it terrifies and it bites. So get on over to http://thrillskillsnchills.blogspot.com/ to take a look.

If you want to submit your work (I've got something ready guys - just waiting) then make sure you read their submission guidelines.

Canadian Week @ the NOT

Canadian Week starts Monday 10th May over at Michael J. Solender's 'not from here, are you?' The schedule of writers/dates for the literary fest is already up on the site. Thanks go to Michael for publishing my piece 'Soldier Boy' on the first day - tomorrow.

By virtue of my grandfather being Quebecois I was eligible to enter. I wanted to write something, but had no idea where I would start. To my surprise, what came though was a message to this charming man who abandoned my grandmother during WWII.

It knocked me for six. Had me in tears. I never knew, didn't even suspect that I felt abandoned too by a grandfather who died before I was even born.

Don't expect horror. There's not a mote.

This Charming Man