Road Trippin' (again)

Just a note to say that the special Road Trip edition of The Monsters Next Door is available for purchase.

The issue features my story, "The Long Drive Home," and a lot of other top-notch stories by top-notch authors, including one by Mr. Aaron Polson (who was also kind enough to let me into not one, but two editions of his 52 Stitches anthology).

Go. Buy. Read. You know you want to.

Horrorology Table of Contents!

Hello gentle readers,

I was perusing the Library of Horror forum today and noticed that the TOC for Horrorology has been released.

By the looks of it, I'm in good company. No release date set, but I understand it's in the editing phase. More info, including ordering information, as I get it.

Tom Hamilton - The Adversary
Mark M. Johnson - Mouser
T. Patrick Rooney - Alister Somerby
Derek Goodman - A Dance by Way of the Razor
Myrrym Davies - A Severe Disadvantage
John McCuaig - Ruby
Joel A. Sutherland - The Man Within the Beast
Jamie Eyberg - Undertow
Eric S. Brown - The Underneath
Doug Murano - Imitation of Life
Carey Burns - The Dark Ride
Patrick Rutigliano - The Grove
David Dunwoody - The New Curse
Brad Zipprich - Tattooed Sweets
Natalie L. Sin - Trouble by the Yard
Barry Napier - Notes on How it all Ended
John Grover - Projecting Evil
Jodi Lee - Thirsty
Dylan J. Morgan - The Passenger
Christopher Fulbright - Encounter on Old Temple Road
Sheri Gambino - Relik the Clown
David Chrisom - The Woods, Dark and Deep
Keith Gouveia - Dealing with Death
P.D. Hansen - Double Lupus

Christmas Comes Early to the Murano Household

My wife recently surprised me with the Billy Corgan signature Stratocaster I've been ogling for over a year. Just thought I'd share.

Not much happening on the fiction front. I'm reluctant to call it a slump. I've just been writing more nonfiction lately--mostly for the day job. It's been fun.

More later...

(Another) Fifty-Two Stitches and a Question

Hello readers,

I received the good news today that my story, "Fire Boomers," has been accepted for inclusion in the 2010 edition of Fifty-Two Stitches.

The 2009 edition (available for purchase now) was a blast to read, and included some great talent from cover to cover. Kudos to Mr. Aaron Polson and the editorial staff at Strange Publications for putting together such a strong anthology.

In other news, why is it that when I tell people I write horror stories, they always look at me like I just kicked their dog? Then, the inevitable question: "Why do you write horror? You seem like such a happy guy." Does anyone else get this? Like there has to be something wrong with a person who writes horror. I feel like I ought to come up with something good to say to this question, because when I say, "Nope, I'm perfectly normal. Just like to write horror stories," they look at me like they think I'm hiding something. Worse, they seem to be disappointed, like they wish there was something more behind my writing. Maybe it's better to say something like: "Yeah, when I was six, I watched my uncle Albert drown a whole litter of dalmatian puppies in an ice cream pail one by one. Then he fed them to his cat while he made me play "Stairway to Heaven" on his banjo. Ever since then, I knew I was going to be a horror writer."

Cripes.

Creature Features is Here!

Hello all,

Just a quick note to let you know that House of Horror's anthology, Creature Features, (featuring my story, "Oscar") is now available for purchase. Visit www.houseofhorror.org.uk for full details!

Editors are People, Too--or--Read the Guidelines!

The other day, an editor unloaded on my ass for not following the posted guidelines.

Strange thing was, the wrath resulted from a mistake on the editor's part (long story)--not mine. Luckily, I had saved the email chain of communication, and had proof of this fact, so I was able to clear things up fairly quickly. Not that I'm into arguing with editors, but I also don't like to be called out on the carpet for something I didn't do. I pride myself on following guidelines and conducting myself with a high degree of professionalism.

Anyway, eventually, we both had a good laugh about the whole thing. The editor was mortified for blowing up at me, and admitted that they had been bottling up a great deal of rage due to the fact that a high percentage of submissions were coming in that completely ignored the guidelines. It just so happened that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

On one hand, it was an upbraiding I didn't deserve. On the other hand, it was an interesting glimpse into the world of editing a publication for a small press and a revealing bit of human interaction.

So if I may take a moment to implore all aspiring authors: read and follow publishers' guidelines. If you're unsure of what they are, query. It was a happy ending for me this time, but it was also a firm reminder of the damage that a careless eye toward guidelines can cause for young writers.

If your story is rejected, you want it to be because your story wasn't a good fit, not because you've shown yourself to be a careless doofus who didn't bother to read the guidelines.

First Snow

Hello, again.

A few weeks ago, I decided to try writing a novel. I don't think I've hit my stride yet with short stories, but working on something longer and more in-depth sounded like fun. I'll still write shorter pieces, but will concentrate most of my efforts on the novel.

I won't give away too many details, but it's kind of about wise management of natural resources. But with monsters.

I committed myself to starting immediately after the first snowflakes fell, with a completion goal set for Valentine's Day. I thought that I'd likely start just after Halloween, which (I thought) would give me plenty of time to think things through.

Well, joke's on me. Snow fell this weekend (is, in fact, falling as I write this), and I realize that it's time to pony up the words. It's an exciting prospect, but also an intimidating one. I don't have much of a plan, but perhaps that's a good thing.

Worst case scenario: I'll have a crummy novel on file. I figure a crummy novel is better than no novel.

And hey, I might actually come up with something good. Who knows? It's new territory.