Ides, Apostles and M-M-M-Madness

Knowing full well today heralds the Ides of March, I opened my curtains determined to not be superstitious only to see a single magpie sitting on the chimney of the empty house opposite. I have lived here for 11 years and have never seen a magpie in my street. I ignored the flutters in my heart and doffed my imaginary hat to say 'Good Morning' to the bird. As I did - it stepped to one side to reveal another - its partner in crime perhaps - standing directly behind it. I whispered a greeting to the pair of them and they flew away, in opposite directions.

So, dismissing augury and deciding that one bad Ides over a couple of millennia isn't too bad (anyway 'Ides' simply means 'the 15th' in a calendar we no longer use OR the full moon) I am pragmatically forgetting Caesar and concentrating on the positive.

Apostle Rising

As if the title of the book wasn't good enough, it happens to be written by the mighty Richard Godwin - an author so articulate and engaging I feel like the girl at the back of the classroom in the white pointy hat - D - scrawled across its glaring surface.

My copy of Apostle Rising arrived last week. I can't wait to read DCI Frank Castle's investigation into a copycat-killer. Or is it? Castle is convinced he had the right man first-time around - even though he was never caught. With cults, sacrifice and ritual involving high-profile victims this book promises to be the very devil of a read.

• Apostle Rising on Amazon
• Apostle Rising video intro on YouTube

Madness in March

Over at Chris Allinotte's Leaky Pencil he is hosting a week of fiction that examines insanity, Madness In March. Think asylums and psychopaths; fear and hysteria.

Our aforementioned friend Richard Godwin's Blister Pack has already provoked a fascinating debate into the difference between madness and mental illness. Laurita Miller opened the show with a touch of Paranoia, and today sees author, poet and 5x5 Editor Angel Zapata considering a Mad Dash.

Go see - linger a while, but make sure you've got a key to get out.

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New York - can you help?

I've been researching my family history for 14 years and love nothing better than getting my hands filthy in graveyards and rummaging around archive offices in parish records, wills, land records and quarter sessions.

However, a strain of my family is from the good old US of A, and boy - are they giving me gip. Probably once a year I get a tiny new clue, and today I've come across another one. You see, I know my ancestor - Parden Harvey was born (1811ish) and married (1836ish) somewhere in New York and his first two children were born there - but so far Ancestry and Family Search haven't thrown up any BMD records AT ALL! Aaaargh.

Last month I discovered Parden's eldest daughter Jane was born in Essex, NY in 1837. (Essex town, Essex County???).

Today I found a second marriage for his second child John, which gives his birthplace - but the life of me I can't read the handwriting (below). I have had no opportunity to visit New York so this means nothing to me. Can anyone help?

Thank you - anyone who is able to help.

Kisses.

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Repetitive Strain Ramble

Have you noticed that you tend to revisit ideas in your writing? Maybe it's a similar theme or particular words. Is this a good or bad thing? Some and some, methinks

I know, without a doubt that I have an obsession with fabric. It makes sense - I studied fashion design in the 80s but didn't like the bitchy or practical side so ended up making my own ball-gowns, costumes and tutus to wear to the pub. I've been making costumes for decades now. Love a ribboned, bony corset - easy-peasy.

There's a mercer in London's Berwick Street called Borovicks where I bought the taffeta for my four bridesmaids' dresses - I'd roll around in fabric in its thin corridors if only they'd let me.

Demons

Since I started writing in earnest, a sense of the demon has frequently manifested itself. I can observe this from afar, detached - and am enjoying the eruptions. May they continue - although I have felt compelled to dole out some conditions.

I've never forgotten an evil blighter that plagued me in the 1990s. He called himself 'Malcolm' as if that wasn''t earthly and tawdry enough - he/it was a nasty beast that used to descend my staircase and laugh right in my face. I learned to push him back; you can do it with your eyes you know. But - you do have to give as good as you get, 'cos they're feisty buggers.

Lovely Words

So. Words - I've done this before on The Feardom, but I'm asking again, What do you like? For me its fleshy words:

• flesh
• pulpous
• fat
• pale
• gorge
• skin etc

Reality

Today's observation is that people can surprise you. I met the world's most natural father today. Big love to him.

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Lily's Friday Prediction

Can't concentrate on reality today. There's writing to be done and I can't stop thinking about it. Just picked out this week's three words and I'm flying already.

Congratulations to Rebecca Bohn for winning last week's Prediction challenge with the nostalgic Bears in Summer. Becky will have her judge's hat on this week (should that be wig?) to choose the winner from all the stunning entries you'll be throwing her way. :)

Well done too, to runners-up Jenny Dreadful with her untitled Vamp fest, and William Davoll for a haunting tale in After The Plague.

With no more ado, here are this week's three words:

• Lock
• Resemble
• Garland

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 17th 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.

Running off to scribble now. I'm addicted. I can control it... can't I?

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Prediction Winner

It's sublime time. And this week I've got to pick a winner who'll judge the Prediction challenge next week! How hard is that? I'll tell you, it's... hard.

I'm going to run through and summarise, trying not to gush at the loveliness bound within The Feardom:

• Ellie's victim comes with a sting in his tail, biting back at the courageous Tamara in Party of Souls.
• Rebecca's Bears in Summer roar through the mists of moonshine-come-good in this nostalgia trip. Whilst Cake slithers around our hungry mouths, moist and inticing us to eat.
• Asuqi gave another double delight, firstly with the wandering sickly sweetness of A Secret; and in complete contrast the snake man dangles his mistresses in the bizarro world that is Fake.
• AJ's Carpathia rescues more than just a Titanic victim; the grandaughter sheds a malificent burden in Come the Morning.
• My triple-generation death party has mothers and daughters clinging on in spiritual decadence, in Gone Girls.
• Aidan's two shysters are getting screwed when feral revenge blinks its glistening eyes in Party Foul.
• Mimi's Red Riding Hood of a grandmother sloughs her way through the party crowd in Talkin' About My Regeneration.
• Melenka's lost elder searches in spectral heat, nearly in vain until the babe cries with her eyes in Losing Her.
• Antonia's sorrow and loss pleads through Life Party, but comes with a warning.
• Chris's T'kalli winds her wily way through jungle darkness towards a hidden beast in To Avenge The Prey. With Easy Money his thieves take on more than they can chew when Tyler's Grandma lets rip.
• David has us fooled when a sneaky peak at a family party turns life on its head, in The Day I Found Out. In Boys Will Be Boys the classroom culprits bitch and compete, rascals in the making.
• Jenny Dreadful's party doll struts dismissive stuff before discarding her amuse geule; in her second untitled piece Jenny casts tremulous fingers towards loaded friendship.
• William's ghostly wraith weaves between her offspring, and theirs too. A family bereft in After The Plague. 

Oh beJesus - what to do? So much talent. (Takes a quick gulp of buttery Chardonnay).

My winner - and judge of next week's Friday Prediction is... Rebecca Bohn with Bears in Summer. It's a Stephen King of a thing, wistful yet tinged with a potential malice. Wonderful writing. Congratulations Rebecca! I shall be in touch ;)

Runners-up this week are newcomer Jenny Dreadful for her first, vampiric entry because I just LOVE that attitude, and William Davoll. After the Plague has stayed with me all evening; desperate and ethereal. Well done both.

Well, I'm exhausted but excitable now. Can't imagine going to bed for a few hours (but I'm all talk).

Catch you in the morrow for another Prediction challenge. Toodleoo.

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Catching Up

Hello. Long time no ramble on about meself much. So, now February Femmes Fatales has died down for this year (it is SO on for 2012!) I've been trying to get back into a writing schedule.

I've subbed three horror stories, an historical mystical poem and an article this month. From those, so far one story and the article 'How to Write Horror' have been accepted. More news on these later this month.

I have two interviews coming up - very humbled.

I've made a huge decision - novel-wise - to put Dispirited to bed for a while, for a whole load of different reasons. However, I have a much bigger novel idea to focus on. I have the concept, but need to do a fair amount of research. Very excited.

I'm also considering publishing an e-book collection of dark verse, illustrated by Laurence Ranger to sell on Kindle. What do you think...? Would you buy it?

In the meantime, look out for Chris Allinotte's upcoming Madness in March over at The Leaky Pencil - starting on 13th March. Promises to be a "seriously unsettling" week - can't wait.

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Lily's Friday Prediction

An aside: I'm not a huge TV addict but have been glued to the screen for four excellent British dramas series these last six weeks. The spooky Marchlands, noir Mad Dogs, the third series of shape-shifting Being Human and - although some of the 'facts' leave a bit to be desired, the converted-asylum that is Bedlam.

Really pleased to see the dark side coming through again - reminds me of great shows when I was a kid - and that was a long time ago. Hope they reach our US/Canadian friends soon for their own enjoyment.

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Congratulations to Michael Solender, winner of last week's Prediction challenge with the fiery The Perfect Successor. Well done too to runners-up ravensways with Last One Chosen and Chris Allinotte with Waiting on Onuava.

And so to this week's challenge. To add to the pressure - whoever wins this week gets to judge next week's Prediction! Let's see what you can offer up on the The Feardom platter with the following:

• Party
• Grandmother
• Safe

Hmmmn... the old book's being less kind than usual. But it is what it is. Here are the rules:

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 10th 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.

I feel challenged already. How about you?

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