A Repeat, a List, and an Echo

It's Monday, which means I'm tired and sunburned from watching the Kansas City Chiefs put a whooping on Jacksonville, 42-20. I'll admit there was a little nail-biting in the third quarter, but after a pick six by Derrick Johnson, the hammer was most effectively brought down.

Okay, enough sports blah-blah-blah.

1. A Repeat

Friday night (I had the day off after a marathon twelve-hour parent/teacher conference day on Thursday), we held our second trying-to-be annual "drive-in" movie night in our backyard. It was load of fun as you can obviously tell in this out-of-focus and rather dark picture:

Last time around, we watched Scooby-Doo. This year, it was Shaun the Sheep, Little Sheep of Horrors. Claymation fun for everyone! (Yes, we projected the movie on a sheet attached to our roof.)

2. A List

The table of contents for Day Terrors (from The Harrow Press) is official, and it includes:

Ataraxia — Scott Brendel

Sea of Green, Sea of Gold — Aaron Polson

The Wish Man and the Worm — J.M. Heluk

The Woman in the Ditch — Scott Lininger

And the Crowd Goes Wild — John Jasper Owens

No Sin Remains A Secret — Jack Bowdren

The Heat Has Fangs — Trent Roman

In Lieu of Flowers — Chad McKee

Down Where the Blue Bonnets Grow — Daniel R. Robichaud

The Infatuate — Adam Walter

Fiddleback — Lorna D. Keach

Daddy Long Legs — Harper Hull

Miss Riley’s Lot — Gregory Miller

Closing the Deal — Lee Clark Zumpe

Customs — Mark Rigney

A Day at the Beach — Lawrence Conquest

Uncle Alec’s Gargoyle — Rebecca Fraser

Carrington Cove — Davin Ireland

Lollipop — Jason Sizemore

Companion — Rob E. Boley

Sands of Time — E. C. Seaman

The TOC with story blurbs can be found at The Harrow. I had fun with my story because it let me make up more crazy sh*t about Kansas. I sure like to make up crazy sh*t about Kansas...

3. And finally, an Echo...as in Leigh Blackmore has informed me that "In the Cave of Stories" will find a home in Midnight Echo #5 (Midnight Echo being a publication of the Australian Horror Writers Association). I love this piece and it was well worth the wait to hear the "yes".

WIP Wednesday: The OUCH! Edition

Why I don't submit to many "literary" markets anymore:

This story requires a suspension of disbelief of epic proportions. The title is not great. The story is not original. Again, thanks so much for your submission.

No, thank you for reminding me.

So I am knocking out the first draft of a piece for The Harrow's forthcoming Day Terrors Anthology. I haven't written anything for a specific anthology in a while...quite a while. Yeah, it only pays $10, but I see it as a challenge--plus, I had this dream that fit perfectly. (put that in your pipe and smoke it, 'cause some folks think that's all 10 bucks is worth)

From "In the Grass":

Barry’s face was ashen, drawn. He lifted his right arm, blood oozing from fresh wounds, and pointed toward in the direction of the road, only there wasn’t a road. “We’re lost.”

Nick coughed and spat a dark mix of blood and mucus on the ground. “You aren’t lost…you’re trapped.”

I owe part of the story to the Flint Hills, a unique geological feature to east-central Kansas, and "What Was It?" by Fitz-James O'Brien (as reprinted in American Fantastic Tales Volume 1, edited by Peter Straub).

When I finish the story, I plan on a final editing pass of Loathsome, Dark, and Deep in preparation for submissions early next year. Oh, and Daniel LeMoal, the author of one of my favorite stories from Best Horror of the Year Volume 1 ("Beach Head"), will have a piece in 2010's 52 Stitches line up. (hence the fan-boy squee yesterday)

Wednesday is good. Enjoy yours.

"Snow"ing at The Harrow

Just a note to add my short, ghostly piece, "Snow" is available to read at The Harrow.

Follow the link here or at the side of the page.

I have to admit, this one was inspired by a rather popular legend.