COURTING DEMONS - a Collection of Dark Verse

For a while now I've been collating my poetry - the darker pieces - into a collection. Finally, the Kindle book of thirty-two poems is available to download from Amazon. It's called COURTING DEMONS - a Collection of Dark Verse by Lily Childs.

COURTING DEMONS - a Collection of Dark Verse

You may recognise some of the poems from The Feardom, others have won competitions and still others were hiding in notebooks and folders. The book includes my notes on each of the poems.

The book is just 99p on Amazon.co.uk:

download Courting Demons here 

I have specified a price of $0.99 on Amazon.com but it is showing at $1.54 - still a bargain, I hope you agree!! Download, get a free sample or 'Look Inside' it on Amazon.com here.

The charming creature on the cover is a zinc etching called 'Venus', by Laurence Ranger. She's lovely.

Lily's Friday Prediction

I'm late, I'm late for a very important... something or other. And that's when Blogger decides to force its new interface on me. Tsk.

So with no more ado, it's over to the winner of last week's Prediction challenge. If it's OK with all the wonderfully talented entrants, I'll change how I do this slightly as it's easier for me to comment over the week then announce a winner at the beginning of the following Friday Prediction. Is that alright, Predictioneers?

Winners of Last Week's Prediction

Because of its lush, bizarro horror my winner is Anthony Cowin's Because You're Worthless. This made me squirm with wicked delight. Congratulations Tony!

Runner-up is Laurita with her classic Poe-like tale The Cask. I can just imagine this on Tales of the Unexpected (me and David Barber were going to campaign for that to be brought back, if I recall - David?) Very well done Laurita.

Words for 07 October 2011

...heaves the fat book onto her lap. Finger at the ready. Pages - flip! Your three words are:

• Map
• Engage
• Taboo

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 the whole week until 9pm UK time on Thursday 13th October to enter.

Winner will be announced next Friday 14th October. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it.

These words seem to be sending us off an adventure. I wonder what we'll come back with, if at all...

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News, and an Exclusive Competition!

FantasyCon 2011

Yesterday, October 1st - I attended FantasyCon 2011 in Brighton. The sun glistened in the sky and I was very nearly distracted from my destination by the quirky shops of the North Lanes and the thriving café culture of this wonderfully cosmopolitan city.

I chose not to to purchase the fat, glass-beaded handbag or the scarf of huge violet velvet roses (sob) and arrived at the seafront hotel just before 12 noon. Signing in was simple; they handed me a Jo Fletcher Books bag packed with freebies and the glossy programme, pointing out further free books and the bar.

I shuffled around, earwigging conversations and working out who was who and finally spoke to some people after about two hours.

The Three Revelations

There were book readings, launches, art expos and LOTS of networking - this, I soon realised is what the entire event is about. Naive and a con-virgin I may be but I had never realised what an opportunity these events truly provide.

My second key realisation was that the fine authors, publishers, artists and agents at such an event are no different than you or me; they are down to earth, approachable and friendly.

Finally, and nowhere was this more apparent than the Dealers' Room and the Book Launches - the printed book is not only alive and well but courted and coveted in all its majesty.

So let's drop some names

And hopefully provide some useful links and tips too...

• I sat behind Ramsay Campbell and Peter Crowther of PS Publishing for quite a while. 
• Author and Con Mistress of Ceremonies Sarah Pinborough (what a great personality!) apologised for butting in as I chatted to Tim Lebbon and a collective of authors.
• I talked to Spectral Press Editor Simon Marshall-Jones at length about moving to Shetland and being a Mission fan - and his limited edition horror publications. 
• I crossed the path of Clive Barker managers Phil and Sarah Stokes
• Spoke briefly to renowned horror film critic and author, the dapper Kim Newman who - unbelievably -  I then saw on TV last night!

Most importantly, after plucking up the courage to approach him (after a couple of glasses of free wine) I had a conversation with horror collector, expert, editor and author - the very charming Stephen Jones.

Based on Stephen's advice, I'll be submitting my best stories for him to consider mentioning in next year's Mammoth Book of Best New Horror (and he does only want your very best, a covering letter and your publishing CV - though preferably he would rather your publisher recommended your work).

I will also do my utmost to attend World Fantasy Conference 2013 - which Stephen is hailing THE horror/fantasy publishing event.

Exclusive Competition!

Regular contributors of dark, dangerous horror to my weekly Prediction challenge will know how important Stephen Jones' annual Mammoth Book of Best New Horror is as a reference bible. This year's - volume 22 - is no exception. The book is being released at the end of October.

BUT!! The book was pre-launched at FantasyCon yesterday and I acquired an extra copy signed by:

• Stephen Jones (Editor)
• The great Ramsay Campbell
• Mark Morris
• Simon Kurt Unsworth
• Thana Niveau
• Robert Shearman
• Joel Lane
• Christopher Fowler
• Kim Newman
• Cover artist Vincent Chong

I am GIVING AWAY THIS PRE-RELEASE, SIGNED COPY OF THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF BEST HORROR VOL. 22 as the prize in the following competition. You've gotta work for it - are you ready?

Rules and Conditions:

• Write a fictional horror/dark fiction story of no more than 500 words on the theme of DAMNATION
• Send it in the body of an email (no attachments, however good the story) to lilychildsfeardom@gmail.com with 'Mammoth Competition',  the 'story title' by 'your name/author name' in the subject line. For example: Mammoth Competition, My Story by Lenny Lardons
• Use a simple font Verdana, Arial etc) - 12 pt, single spaced. 
• Include a short bio - max 100 words. Add a link to your blog/Twitter/Facebook accounts if you have them (in addition to the 100 words)
• Competition closes at midnight UK time on Sunday 16th October. Winner will be notified of the decision on 18th October when I will request their postal address. The winning entry will be announced and their story published on The Feardom on 22nd October 2011.
• Copyright of all entries remains with the author but in submitting an entry you agree, should your story win or be one of the three runners-up, for your story to remain published on The Feardom unless you request its removal. Should you win or be a runner-up and wish to submit the story elsewhere I would recommend you tell them it has previously been published online, and as such is a 'reprint'.
• Conditions:
• Only one entry per person
• No suicide, self-harm or teenage grief stories
• No extreme S&M, there are other comps/markets for that
• No child abuse
• Don't use the *C* word - I hate it.

Prizes

• The author of the winning story will receive the signed, pre-release copy of the Mammoth Book of Best New Horror Vol. 22, as detailed above. I will send it by first-class post at my own expense.
• The winning story will be published on The Feardom on 22nd October 2011
• Three runner-up stories will be published on The Feardom on 23rd, 24th and 25th October.

I regret I'm not able to comment on entries or provide reviews but - good luck everyone!

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Aw, little 'ole me - guest writer at TFFO?

God's Gift

Ages ago, the marvellous and witty Two Blokes, I mean Flash Fiction Offensive editor, Friday Prediction regular and crime writer of choice David Barber asked me if I'd care to submit something to TFFO as a Guest Writer. So I ermd and aaahd and of course, within seconds said 'Yes please' like some freckly toff schoolgirl with 'prefect' as a career move.

Then life happened. Shit happened. Loads of cruddy rubbish happened and I found myself stuck in inglorious mud - but I got there in the end.

The subject matter for 'God's Gift' came from a fleeting dream my old man had. I stole it (that's what demons do), elaborated and added the fiction... and the nasty bits... and the back story - oh well, you know how it goes.

Anyway, my apologies to David for committing so long ago - then making him wait and a huge thank you to him for this opportunity.

Read God's Gift at The Flash Fiction Offensive...

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Lily's Friday Prediction

We're having a late heatwave in the south of England, which is why I'll be wearing a long-sleeved heavy winter dress and spending my entire day in a hotel in Brighton tomorrow - they're going to have to change my name badge to Mrs Shiny Pinkface at FantasyCon.

As usual it's been a lunatic week of multi-tasking (for I am woman) but I've got a good deal of writing done. I am also doing the final work on my collection of dark verse, which will be published next week on Amazon. It's called Courting Demons. More on that soon.

Winners of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

Although I didn't get the chance to write a summary of your entries I did comment on all of them, so do hope that will suffice.

The winner is Chris Allinotte with his looking glass slant on Alice, with Eat Me, and that literary line "Piss off, you cranky old twat. You're killing my buzz." Congratulations Chris!

And runner-up is newcomer Dee who (I confess it was personal) whisked me back to the Crete of this and other lives with her dark, untitled revelation. Well done Dee.

Words for 30 September 2011

Will this week's words be any easier? They were tough last week, weren't they. Let's see:

• Suspend
• Vintage
• Split

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 the whole week until 9pm UK time on Thursday 6th October to enter.

Winner will be announced next Thursday 6th or Friday 7th October. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it.

Are the words hanging off your fingers, tickling your synapses? Then you know what to do...

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FantasyCon 2011 - September 30th to October 2nd

Sarah Pinborough
FantasyCon 2011
Mistress of Ceremonies

So, in a fit of excitement several weeks ago I bought a (Satur)day ticket to FantasyCon 2011 in Brighton, just a quick train-trip along the coast.

The programme looks great - readings and master-classes; some inspiring names - Ramsay Campbell, Christopher Paolini, the collector Stephen Jones and so - so many more. The Mistress of Ceremonies is the very gorgeous and talented author Sarah Pinborough.

And suddenly it's here; just a few days away. I haven't received my ticket yet - but I've had confirmation, so that means something - doesn't it?

Anyway, I have no idea what to expect and being so shy and retiring (shut up) am a little nervous about socialising. There's always wine, of course - but then again, there's always wine. Better take some water.

As it happens I'm really looking forward to it. If only I'd had the time to buy something new to wear (I am a girly after all) but looks like it'll be the usual.

Wish me luck!

Lily's Friday Prediction

Up before 6am today and was hammering at the keyboard as the sun rose on a clear, pale blue sky. Fitting for the Autumn Equinox. (Blessed be).

So that's another 700 words on Magenta Shaman Stones the Crow, bringing the first draft up to 10k already. The end is nigh - and I finally know what's going to happen - and to whom.

Time to put shaman mode to one side and open up the big book in search of words that are not my own. But first...

Congratulations to Phil Ambler for tearing our hearts to pieces with the real-life horror of losing a child, and the guilt of passive neglect (It wasn't his fault!!!) Loss was last week's winner.

And well done to runner-up AJ Humpage for throwing the truth in our faces with Just Another Echo; street life is one of desperation and loneliness. How can we bring ourselves to turn the other cheek?

Words for 23 September 2011

I wonder if we'll get bigger, plumper words this time after last week's little pip squeaks. Here goes:

• Understand (all variants allowed)
• Carnelian
• Toadstool

Hmmm - I like these words. Nothing flashes immediately to mind but nothing a little meditation won't cure.

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 the whole week until 9pm UK time on Thursday 29th September to enter.

Winner will be announced next Thursday 29th or Friday 30th September. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it.

The equinox at this time of year is also about putting down roots and preparing for the longer nights - all fuel for writing, I think. Let's see if this festival of Mabon warms your cockles...

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