Deadline Picks

Deadlines webzine lists their Top 20 horror novels for 2009 and Best Horror of the Decade. What an awesome collection of books. I have read a number of these titles and have several in my to be read stack. Sarah Langan was already a favorite and T.M. Wright is a new discovery.

HWA Announces Bram Stoker Nominees

HWA 2009 BRAM STOKER AWARD NOMINEES
Superior Achievement in a Novel
  •  AUDREY'S DOOR by Sarah Langan (Harper)
  •  PATIENT ZERO by Jonathan Maberry (St. Martin's Griffin)
  •  QUARANTINED by Joe McKinney (Lachesis Publishing)
  •  CURSED by Jeremy Shipp (Raw Dog Screaming Press)

Superior Achievement in a First Novel
  •  BREATHERS by S. G. Browne (Broadway Books)
  •  SOLOMON'S GRAVE by Daniel G. Keohane (Dragon Moon Press)
  •  DAMNABLE by Hank Schwaeble (Jove)
  •  THE LITTLE SLEEP by Paul Tremblay (Henry Holt)

Superior Achievement in Long Fiction
  •  DREAMING ROBOT MONSTER by Mort Castle (MIGHTY UNCLEAN)
  •  THE HUNGER OF EMPTY VESSELS by Scott Edelman (Bad Moon Books)
  •  THE LUCID DREAMING by Lisa Morton (Bad Moon Books)
  •  DOC GOOD'S TRAVELING SHOW by Gene O'Neill (Bad Moon Books)

Superior Achievement in Short Fiction
  •  KEEPING WATCH by Nate Kenyon (MONSTROUS: 20 TALES OF GIANT CREATURE TERROR)
  •  THE CROSSING OF ALDO RAY by Weston Ochse (THE DEAD THAT WALK)
  •  IN THE PORCHES OF MY EARS by Norman Prentiss (PS Publishing)
  •  THE NIGHT NURSE by Harry Shannon (Horror Drive-in)

Superior Achievement in an Anthology
  •  HE IS LEGEND: AN ANTHOLOGY CELEBRATING RICHARD MATHESON edited by Christopher Conlon (Gauntlet Press)
  •  LOVECRAFT UNBOUND edited by Ellen Datlow (Dark Horse Books)
  •  POE edited by Ellen Datlow (Solaris)
  •  MIDNIGHT WALK edited by Lisa Morton (Dark House)

Superior Achievement in a Collection
  •  MARTYRS AND MONSTERS by Robert Dunbar (DarkHart Press)
  •  GOT TO KILL THEM ALL AND OTHER STORIES by Dennis Etchison (Cemetery Dance)
  •  A TASTE OF TENDERLOIN by Gene O'Neill (Apex Book Company)
  •  IN THE CLOSET, UNDER THE BED by Lee Thomas (Dark Scribe Press)

Superior Achievement in Non-fiction
  •  WRITERS WORKSHOP OF HORROR by Michael Knost (Woodland Press)
  •  CINEMA KNIFE FIGHT by L. L. Soares and Michael Arruda (Fearzone)
  •  THE STEPHEN KING ILLUSTRATED COMPANION by Bev Vincent (Fall River Press)
  •  STEPHEN KING: THE NON-FICTION by Rocky Wood and Justin Brook (Cemetery Dance)

Superior Achievement in Poetry
  •  DOUBLE VISIONS by Bruce Boston (Dark Regions)
  •  NORTH LEFT OF EARTH by Bruce Boston (Sam's Dot)
  •  BARFODDER by Rain Graves (Cemetery Dance)
  •  CHIMERIC MACHINES by Lucy A. Snyder (Creative Guy Publishing) 

New Issue of Shock Totem--

Artwork by Robert Høyem (www.attheends.com)

The debut issue. A hundred pages of dark fiction, featuring T.L. Morganfield, David Niall Wilson, Jennifer Pelland, Kurt Newton, Don D'Ammassa, Mercedes M. Yardley, and more. Conversations with William Ollie, Alan Robert (Life of Agony, Spoiler NYC), and the legendary John Skipp.

Table of Contents:

* Stronger Than Friction: An editorial, by K. Allen Wood
* The Music Box, by T.L. Morganfield
* ‘Til Death Do Us Part, by Jennifer Pelland
* One Foot in Darkness: A conversation with John Skipp, by John Boden
* Murder for Beginners, by Mercedes M. Yardley
* First Light, by Les Berkley
* No Superheroes Here: A conversation with Alan Robert, by K. Allen Wood
* Complexity, by Don D’Ammassa
* Mulligan Stew, by Brian Rosenberger (Poetry)
* Strange Goods and Other Oddities (Reviews)
* Below the Surface, by Pam L. Wallace
* Slider, by David Niall Wilson
* On a Hellish Road: A conversation with William Ollie, by Michell Howarth
* KillerCon: An excerpt, by William Ollie
* The Dead March, by Brian Rappatta
* Thirty-Two Scenes From a Dead Hooker’s Mouth, by Kurt Newton
* Howling Through the Keyhole (Author Notes)

Happy Valentine's Day

The Snowman Hanging

A friend sent me this photo today. Any time a snowman ends up with a noose around his neck, I think we know there has been too much snow!  It has been a hectic week, but I managed to get up some more links and to start work on a short story titled "The Cellar."

Women and Horror: New Writers Emerge

The Horror, The Horror: Women Writers Provide Empowering Portraits



"Now, the Times argues, the tide is turning. Women writers are producing some of the most interesting and provocative horror fiction. Authors Sara Gran (Come Closer), Alexandra Sokoloff (The Price), Sarah Langan (The Missing, and The Keeper) and Elizabeth Hand (Generation Loss, and The Bride of Frankenstein: Pandora’s Bride) have received both critical acclaim and awards for their contributions to the genre. With works featuring female protagonists and narrators, these writers are following in the footsteps of Shelley and Shirley Jackson, creating psychologically rich dramas and returning horror fiction to its subtly-creepy roots." New York Times.

What I am reading...

Writers Workshop of Horrors is one of the most practical writing guides that I have ever read. Nowhere else could you receive such specific  advise from some of the masters of horror writing. This is a must-have book for anyone interested in writing horror. It is very readable and full of useful information about the craft of writing, and about horror writing in particular.

Product Description From Amazon.com:

Writers Workshop of Horror focuses solely on honing the craft of writing. It includes solid advice, from professionals of every publishing level, on how to improve one's writing skills. The volume edited by Michael Knost includes contributions by a dream-team of nationally known authors and storytellers, many Bram Stoker Award winners. Contributors to this work include: Clive Barker, Joe R. Lansdale, F. Paul Wilson, Ramsey Campbell, Thomas F. Monteleone, Deborah LeBlanc, Gary A. Braunbeck, Brian Keene, Elizabeth Massie, Tom Piccirilli, Jonathan Maberry, Tim Waggoner, Mort Castle, G. Cameron Fuller, Rick Hautala, Scott Nicholson, Michael A. Arnzen, J.F. Gonzalez, Michael Laimo, Lucy A. Snyder, Jeff Strand, Lisa Morton, Jack Haringa, Gary Frank, Jason Sizemore, Robert N. Lee, Tim Deal, Brian Yount, Brian J. Hatcher, and others. Here is what certain industry publications have already said about this exceptional project: “A veritable treasure trove of information for aspiring writers—straight from the mouths of today's top horror scribes!” — Rue Morgue Magazine. “Packing more knowledge and sound advice than four years’ worth of college courses . . . It’s focused on the root of your evil, the writing itself.” — Fangoria Magazine.

AUDREY'S DOOR by Sarah Langan