Here it is October and looking back at everything I have been working on lately (with the exception of Blood of Our Fathers rewrites and even that sounds horrific and sanguine)-it all seems to have a horror element about as strong as a fantasy (or western) element. That wasn't intentional or planned, things just worked out in that direction.
A 11K piece I wrote titled "The Hands of Fate" has been put on the shortlist for acceptance at Pill Hill Press's upcoming anthology "Shadows and Light 2" It is a desert fantasy, but hey, Mongolian death worms are scary.
My 16.5K submission to Monsters and Mormons is replete with things that go bump in the night and I don't want to say much more than that because I really do hope to surprise readers with that one. It is a weird western featuring Porter Rockwell.
I am currently working on another short (under 5k) Porter piece for an unusual anthology titled "Wandering Weeds: Tales of Rabid Vegetation".
It must contain malevolent tumble weeds.
I looked at it as a challenge to come up with something good-and I have. Granted I haven't even submitted it yet, but I am getting more confident in my writing and thus I believe "Garden of Legion" will be included.
Even my Assassins submission to Rogue Blades Entertainment "99 Deaths of the Monkey God" will have a bit of a horrific element along with heroic fantasy.
I haven't settled on a title yet, but I am letting ideas simmer for the "Historical Lovecraft" anthology that I really want to be a part of-thus more horror.
And I still have to find a home for my first straight up horror piece,"The Cry of Carrion Birds".
What are all of you working on this month?
Congratulations on all your success! I'm so happy for you!
ReplyDeleteI am also gunning for the "Lovecraft historical". I pulled out a very old idea I had - finally giving it a test drive. I think it will work.
ReplyDeleteFor the 'wheels turning', I want to try a space opera tale to submit to RGR when they come back online. (they are opening submissions Dec 1.) I have character I know I want to use - it's everything else that I need to ponder!
How do you find out about all these anthologies, David? Don't tell me if it's a trade secret.
ReplyDeleteI generally don't write horror; right now I'm continuing to work for my local paper. I do a lot of nonfiction feature writing every month. My book grew out of that.
Thanks Melissa.
ReplyDeletePaul, yeah it has a lot of potential. Keep it up brother.
Dan-check out duotrope.com. For all the genre stuff I generally look at ralan.com, but duotrope has about everything.
Congrats on the upcoming book.
Mwahahah! Malevolent tumbleweeds, love it! Sounds like you're having fun.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I have a disturbing Valentines piece that got rejected from a Valentines Anthology earlier this year (how was I supposed to know a Valentine's story was to be romantic?). I think I'm gonna pull it out and give it a read. Mwahahahahah!
You're a busy guy, David! Way to go!
ReplyDeleteI'm currently slaving away at revisions. =P
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ReplyDeleteReading your M&M sub, mostly.
Might as well Nicki, keep at it.
ReplyDeleteL.T.- it is a process.
Th.- Mostly?
I like the tumbleweeds concept.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with scary for me is that I'm a pansy. I even scare myself when I'm writing freaky ghost scenes!
Lisa-at least you are writing them though.
ReplyDeleteYou give me hope that my undead Texas Ranger, Captain Sam McCord, will ultimately reach publication.
ReplyDeleteRITES OF PASSAGE is a historical fantasy set in 1853 aboard a cursed transatlantic steamer. Sam meets historical figures, both living and undead, the love of his life, and a being claiming to be Lucifer.
FRENCH QUARTER NOCTURE is an urban fantasy with Sam and a vampire priest, facing natural and supernatural dangers in New Orleans right after Katrina.
FRENCH QUARTER ORPHAN is a YA fantasy with Sam's adventures told through the eyes of a 13 year street kid who falls in love with the Victorian ghoul, Alice.
By any chance, do you remember Paladin of HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL? Samuel McCord is a lot like him. Thanks for giving me hope that I am not the only reader/author yearning for a great Western book.
I wish us both luck in achieving publication, Roland
That's quite a varied lot Roland, best of luck with your unique ideas.
ReplyDeleteWe're all gunning for Historical Cthulhu. Let the games begin. I think it's going to be a fun publication.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely it will Stewart. It promises to be a entertaining collection-so many possibilities.
ReplyDelete