Spinetingler Awards - Voting Now Open!!

I am still stunned that my mean little tale Carpaccio has been nominated in the coveted Best Short Story on the Web category for the 2011 Spinetingler Awards. I've read each and every one of the other nine in the nomination list and they are all - without exception - excellent.

I've voted for my favourite (not telling - and no - I didn't vote for myself|). And now you have your chance to vote for your favourite at:

http://www.spinetinglermag.com/2011/04/01/2011-spinetingler-award-voting/

Simply choose one per category (you don't have to vote on all categories). Note: you can only vote once as the site remembers your IP address.

So please do support the writers and the sites that have hosted the stories by voting now! Thank you.

Excerpt from Carpaccio by Lily Childs
Published on Thrillers Killers 'n' Chillers March 2010

I prepared a new entry for tonight. A eulogy.

I didn’t usually record the times and dates of their deaths because that made it kind of final. I liked the idea that the agony would go on forever.

Some of them I held onto for weeks, a couple of months even. Kevin and Peter only lasted half a day each. That was my fault, I couldn’t leave them alone.

***

I liked to hang around the fairground. It visited our seaside town two, three times a year; just about the only thrill we had in our genteel haven of beaches and blue rinse.

I imagined how it would be to work there. The rides, the slot machines. I’d be one of the cocky boys on Waltzers who’d steal your money as soon as screw you in the bushes.

***

My first was Jean-Paul. I was only thirteen, a late starter. Jean-Paul captured my attention and I felt this need, this desire to possess him, care for him. For him to love me back. I relished his sinewy moves, the lazy slant of his lingering eye as he moved past me – one time, two times, three times, more.

"Jean-Paul" I whispered.

Read more... | Vote...

Lily's Friday Prediction

What a strange and complicated month April promises to be already. Busy, busy, busy followed by a whole 11 days off. I'm not going anywhere so will get on with the new novel as the research is mostly complete now. (Frissons in my fingertips - itching to type).

Congratulations to Jenny Dreadful for winning last week's Friday Prediction with Slim(e) wa(i)ste. And to runners-up Aidan Fritz and Pixie J. King with The Time Traveler's Hawker and Glass Slipper - well done.

This week's words are:

• Revolution
• Stitch
• Mistake

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 all week until 9pm UK time on Thursday 7th April to enter.

Winner will be announced next Thursday or Friday. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it.

I look forward to the beauty (or not) of your words...

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Prediction Winner

A short and sweet announcement this week, which is hardly fitting for the stunning entries - and for that I apologise. But I've already explained myself so won't blather on about life's inconveniences; I'll just get on with it.

Honestly, what a shower of fairy-tale delight - ripped apart and studded with sharp and sparkling pins. Poor Cinders didn't stand a chance. I'm so glad.

My winner from last week's Prediction is Jenny Dreadful with Slim(e) wa(i)ste. This got right under my skin with its flashlight descriptions and deviant poses. Congratulations Jenny.

Runners-up are Aidan Fritz with The Time Traveler's Hawker - because I just love this whole bizarre (bazaar) concept of the mother equally spoiling and neglecting her child, and also because I want to see the movie. Also Pixie J. King with Glass Slipper because I had wondered what had happened to her dark world of fairy and here it is - slap, bang in front of us, damned well-written - and Theo is taking prisoners. Well done Aidan, well done Pixie.

Sleep or wake well everyone. A new Prediction challenge tomorrow.

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How to Write Horror article by Lily Childs

Read the full article How to Write Horror...

Background

When I was first approached by Annie Evett, Managing Editor at the excellent online writers' resource 'Write Anything' to write an article on how to write horror, my initial reaction was How? I just do it!

But when I sat and properly contemplated the question I realised that actually, there are of course skills involved in presenting a story that thrills and disturbs in equal measure. But it's a case of balance between method and flow, and ultimately the final edit.

As Write Anything's audience is already made up of aspiring or established writers I decided to present the article as generic advise for writers of all ages and levels of experience who are considering trying their hand at the horror genre.

I peppered it with my own methodology but as someone who dislikes rules would hope readers might consider my advice, but write as themselves - with their own voice.

If you would like to read How to Write Horror by Lily Childs I would welcome your comments.

Thank you, Annie for the invitation to contribute.

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Lily's Friday Prediction

I promise to get mine in early today - Prediction entry, that is. Because it is a gorgeous and inspiring sunny day in old Eastbourne town - and I have the day off.

Congrats to Messrs Fritz and Allinotte. Aidan's terrifying horror-fest Clown Hearse came in first past the post as winner of last week's Prediction challenge with Chris's lost Atlas the runner-up, in One More Time Gentlemen. Great flash - well done both.

I had to temper the words thrown up by the old book today, otherwise you'd have been challenged with gastropod, pneumatology and coprolite (which - as if you didn't know is fossilised excrement, so rather interesting actually.) Anyway, with the best will in the world and the talent you all share, I thought these were a bit OTT.

So I did it again. Today's three words are:

• Mongrel
• Cinderella
• Profit

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 all week until 9pm UK time on Thursday 31st March to enter.

Winner will be announced next Thursday or Friday. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it.

Now, where did I leave that glass slipper...?

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Prediction Winner

Ooh la la. How on earth am I going to select a winner from last week? Or have I already chosen? Hmmnn - will you ever know?

My summaries are quick this night, for midnight beckons - and a rare day off to boot. So much to write, so much to read. Oh get on with it, you rambling haridan..

Who's first?

• Jenny's modern magic, perfect murder immediately throws us through her extraordinary sad doorway where the soul of the house is older than the story itself.
• Mimi takes us into the horrors of war with a satisfactory twist in The Other Option.
• Ellie returned to knock us out with her sci-fi killer Gravity (Pt II). Helward is king.
• Little, little words and tiny verses; Susan's poetry ties up Fox, Middle and Surrender in the tightest Tanka.
• I gave the beautiful fox back her grace against the wicked hunt in Her Grace, then Lure left a lover in a spectral no-man's land.
• Sandra despairs of the norm, transfixed - if momentarily by the sheer beauty of Mr Fox in Traditional for May 1st.
• Nightmares - over and over -  with Aidan's Clown Hearse. Intensity and bigotted undercurrent fuel this well-observed piece.
• Rebecca (rightly) exposes the tragic experimentation on one species of a race in Tamability, or: The Wild Dreams of Itself, then Mona Lisa - from the same pen - sucks the soul from this cold fox before she flies away.
• Melenka reveals a cautious yet tender love affair twixt animal and humankind (only just) in Transition. Twist and twist again - Crashing the Party dances out desire, in whatever guise is required.
• Tribal assault overwhelms Ragemore's hero/heroine who shares a unique sense of apartness with wise fox in Cast Out.
• The mythical Atlas is brought down to a salacious earth where he sits, lost, bewildered in Chris Allinotte's One more time, Gentlemen. Then we have the cheeky and acerbic observation of a life baited by technology in the hellish poem Tech Support.
• A rage of emotions, bewildered by fear and toppled by abject horror slips down AJ's foxhole in the intense Sacrifice.
• William Davoll has revenge on his mind, and Darla's out to steal if for him without a care in Darla's Wicked Game.
• Such tragedy of a life self-taken, Antonia's Suicide sees a desperate outlook overwhelmed, cold... sad...gone...
• Asuqi shares death with a harbinger through the birchwood in Winter Hunt followed by a complete contrast - a woman who loves from afar yet give herself without care (or self-respect) in Obtainable.
• Anthony turns our heads with his poetic twists and fleshy colours in the strange and haunting My Wet Infection.
• John tears our souls apart, plunging our sinuous spirits into a well of emotion before splitting them away as disparate twins in Madame Fox.
• Steve's Crossing fights with our childhood dreams; makes us question intent in this dancing prose piece.

I am struck by the reverance everyone has for the beautiful fox. Don't think me pretentious but I can't help the shaman in me - we and fox have always shared an affinity. I'm glad I'm not the only one.

Straight to it. My winner this week is Aidan Fritz with the terrifying Clown Hearse. As if it wasn't even brilliantly written in the first place I urge you to google 'Westboro(ugh) Church' and then decide whether fact is not more horrific than fiction. Brilliant Aidan, congratulations.

My runner-up is Chris Allinotte with his first piece, One More Time Gentlemen because I loved the concept of a mythical hero lost in a world of urban debauchery. Well done Chris.

I must slumber, lest the morning brings light - and only the darkness will do. Sweet dreams - a demain mes amis.

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Nominated for the 2011 Spinetingler Award: Best Short Story on the Web

I just popped on to Twitter on my lunch break only to find my murderous tale Carpaccio, which was published on Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers last year has been nominated for the 2011 Spinetingler Award for Best Short Story on the Web.

This nomination comes from the highly respected Spinetingler Magazine, so to say I'm honoured is an understatement.

There are ten nominees, I know several of the extraordinary authors and look forward to reading their stories as well as those of the authors who are new to me. Best of luck to all, and congratulations on being nominated.

Voting begins next week - I'll post an update when I know more.

• Read the 2011 Spinetingler Award: Best Short Story on the Web Nominees announcement
• Read Carpaccio by Lily Childs

Thank you!

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