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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Film Score Fantasy

If your book sold the film rights and you had any iota of a say in what music - be it song or instrumental - was to be the theme tune/score, what would you choose - and why? May I just point out though, this a is a fantasy question - it ain't never gonna happen! (Don't correct my English.)

For 'Dispirited' - about a rip-off artist, it might be 'What Kind of Fool' by All About Eve - all about leaving your most precious things out in the rain.

For 'Magenta Shaman' - Insomnia by Faithless. All those delirious things that happen to your head when you "can't get no sleep..." yet Magenta goes to those places whenever she wants to.

I'm loving Florence and the Machine's 'Girl with One Eye' below - no book to associate it with so maybe just a Launch Party dream. :) Or write something about a pie. So Grace Slick.



Tell me more...

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Lily's Friday Prediction

Stunning entries last week from Michael Solender, Chris Allinotte, Lee Hughes, Mike Macrum (welcome Mike!), David Barber, Sue H and moi (not saying mine was stunning - it was just there). I'm loving that everyone is commenting on each other's work too. Great stuff.

This week's three are almost too easy. Can't believe these are what my fingers fell upon in an encyclopaedic dictionary that contains millions of words; but there you are. I do, however LOVE each of these particular words so am looking forward to seeing how you tie them together (ahum.)

As it should be so easy, maybe I should challenge you to write something unexpected...? Nah - just go for it; whatever you please. The words are:

• Lunar
• Bootlace (plural is OK)
• Voodoo

See!

Usual rules, 100 words max (excluding title) flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please use the Comments Box to add your entry. Three, two, one...

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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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Grave Echoes by Erin Cole

Been waitin' too long... and finally - it's here!

The Feardom is very excited that Erin Cole's début novel Grave Echoes is now up for grabs - and grab it you should. Her writing is mysterious, dark and exquisite, laden with sensual and poetic treats.

Grave Echoes is on my wish list - don't you dare get it before I do! But if you must, then take a look at Erin's blog 'Listen to the Voices' to find out where you can buy it. If you're in the UK like me you can get it from Amazon.co.uk.

Congratulations Erin, bring on Wicked Tempest.

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Cold Heart - now showing in Michael J. Solender's Dog Days of Summer

Back at the beginning of summer MJS launched a great challenge. Write 101 words exactly to include the words 'Summer' and 'Heat'; the best entries would appear in an e-chap book to be launched today, 1st September.

Well, I heard from Mr S back in August that my little 101-worder Cold Heart had been selected with an honorary mention. Ooh! Had to keep stum until today but now Dog Days of Summer is out there! And there are some great photos too.

The winning entry by Sam Adamson was a cool giggle, well deserved. Great interview at the NOT too.

You can download the e-chap book FREE from here. Cold Heart is on page 34, but you can also read it below. Many thanks Michael. An excellent literary event.

Cold Heart

It glistens in someone else’s hand. No matter. I have to have it. I’ve got to take it off her, assuage the rabid heat that has made me sweat and stink throughout this evil, relentless summer.

Walking, marching, running now I snatch it and abscond, licking at the frozen juice as I sprint away. Sugared orange spills and drips over my grateful breasts.

The mother’s shouts and her daughter’s ugly wailing do nothing to stop me in my tracks. I suck until the bleached popsicle breaks apart in my mouth and I collapse to the ground, sticky with neuralgia... and regret.

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