Wyrd Tales: D. Alexander Ward's Weird Blog

Review: Hypothermia

2012-01-29T05:04:00.001-08:00

Hypothermia by Arnaldur Indriðason

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While I enjoyed this book, I found the pacing inferior to the other novel I have read by Indridason, "Silence of the Grave." I love the character of Erlendur and the joyless, miserable sod he often is and I rather liked some of the supposedly supernatural overtones of this particular novel. However, at times it was a great deal like a tedious police procedural. Interview after interview after interview with no action to spice it up along the way. That is the only - but admittedly important - black mark on this book as far as I am concerned. Erlendur delivers as does Indridason with his portrayal of the characters and of Reykjavik, which itself often seems like a character in the novels. While this is not Indridason at his best, it is certainly a decent and compelling read.

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Review: The Woman in Black

2012-01-29T04:26:00.001-08:00

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you enjoy a good, old-fashioned ghost story, with just the right amount of creepiness, then Susan Hill's "The Woman in Black" is the book for you. It is a relatively short novel but it packs a wallop because it has it all. Set on the English coast in a bygone day when horse and buggy were still a common mode of transportation, the environs of the marsh at the edge of the estuary are wonderfully bleak and fertile ground for the disturbing events that take place at Eel Marsh House, which is where the protagonist, Arthur, must spend his time. The prose is beautifully written and suited to the time period with its long and lyrical cadence. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a gothic, atmospheric tale of a haunting that may call to mind certain works from Emily Bronte and the like. Wonderfully spooky.

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Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

2012-01-05T12:39:00.001-08:00

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There are so many out there who are already singing the praises of this first novel by Ransom Riggs, what could I possibly have to add?
I'm not sure but allow me to join in the chorus.
"Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" is quite simply one the most excellent books I have read recently. I don't think it's too much to say that this book is destined to become a classic in the Young Adult fantasy / science-fiction / adventure genres. Maybe even beyond them and into the realm of other "young adult" books we have come to regard as literary classics like "Wuthering Heights," "The Red Badge of Courage," and "The Lord of the Rings."
The book touches on timeless themes such as being stuck in a world in which one does not seem to fit, rites of passage into adulthood, and how we are often left to deal with the demons passed down to us by our elders. And it does so while avoiding the pitfalls often encountered in stories about young people, never seeming trite or embarrassingly dated.
As well, the book includes a number of odd but very authentic photographs that were discovered by Riggs and then worked into the story as either characters or events. It's a brilliantly executed and (as far as I know) original idea and really adds to the uniqueness of the novel.
I could gush on about "Peculiar Children" but for the sake of brevity, I will not. Nor will I summarize the plot since you can read about it for yourself if you have not already. However, I will tell you that you should read it. It is a wonderful story of peculiarity and adventure, filled with horror, hope and heart, that should be enjoyed far and wide.

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Review: Anna Dressed in Blood

2012-01-05T11:09:00.001-08:00

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed Kendare Blake's first installment in this series, which follows a seventeen-year-old ghost killer to Thunder Bay where he encounters the most dangerous paranormal force he's tangled with to date.
Classified - appropriately, I think - as a Young Adult book, it is light on the high school drama and romance elements that might be considered both a hallmark and a blight of YA horror and it engages the reader well, keeping the pages turning. Later in the book, Blake does a few crafty things with the plot that I certainly did not see coming. (Surprises in fiction are good!)
Most of all, I enjoyed the main character, a young man who has seen more than anyone his age ought to have and is in possession of a sardonic sense of humor and a sharp tongue to go with his coltish and sometimes unrefined demeanor. If you've ever watched the hit television show, "Supernatural," then you'll find this character reminds one very much of Dean Winchester. That's a good thing and as a reference point, I believe that anyone who is fond of that show would find "Anna Dressed in Blood" to be a satisfyingly entertaining read.
It might even prompt you to pick up the next book, "Girl of Nightmares" when it is released in August of this year.

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Another E-reader Story Available

2011-12-01T10:43:00.000-08:00

Although it is not new and I highly recommend patronizing the A Thousand Faces journal in which it appeared because there is good stuff in there, I thought I would make "Pain Upon Their Pain" available as a stand-alone short story downloadable to your preferred e-reader. At the moment, it is available only HERE at Smashwords but after a couple weeks it should be up for direct download to your Nook or Kindle.

Don't forget about the other short stories I have available. All for only 99 cents! You can view the full scope of downloadable content at my website purchase page here.

Review: The Dead Path

2011-11-28T04:22:00.001-08:00

The Dead Path by Stephen M. Irwin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stephen M. Irwin's "The Dead Path" was a wonderful debut novel from this author. Irwin has a gift for description that is positively literary and this comes in handy when depicting the foreboding events that unfold for the protagonist early on in the book. Aside from the works of Cormac McCarthy, I can't remember another read that sent me so often to the dictionary to look up a word I was unfamiliar with. This is a good thing, by the way, and does not at all come off like Irwin is lording obscure vocabulary words over the reader.
As well, the author spends only a little time on the story's build-up before launching into the spooky stuff and I can really appreciate that. Though it took me a while to get through the book, it was no fault of the author, but rather a lack of time to devote to reading on my part. I thought the novel moved along at a good clip, never letting the reader rest on their laurels and always keeping us interested in what was happening next with the characters.
I also don't mind sharing that at one point around the middle of the book, Nicholas Close, the protagonist is faced with the prospect of crossing through these enormous drain tunnels that are filled - and I do mean FILLED - with spiders of every description. If you're a bit of an arachnophobe like I am, you will find the passage barely readable. Your skin will crawl. This underscore's Irwin's gift for beautiful, evocative description and prose.
In short, if you're in the mood for a dark, atmospheric horror novel set in landscapes that are lonely and leering, you would do well to check out this novel by Irwin. His upcoming novel, "The Broken Ones" is available for pre-order right not and I intend on picking that up when it comes out, too.

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Review: The Painted Darkness

2011-10-19T06:25:00.005-07:00

The Painted Darkness by Brian James Freeman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brian James Freeman's "The Painted Darkness" is a beautifully written and engaging read that really sinks its claws into you after just a few paragraphs. The narrative of the protagonist, an artist named Henry, alternates between the present and a past childhood experience. It does so at a desperate pace befitting the story. A boy now become a man struggles to confront and conquer the fears of his youth that have suddenly risen once again and now pursue him relentlessly. If only he could remember the advice that got him past those fears at that more tender age. Can he? Does he? Do yourself a favor and read it to find out. I suspect that I'll be seeking out more to read by Freeman sooner rather than later.

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Review: Silence of the Grave

2011-10-19T06:25:00.003-07:00

Silence of the Grave by Arnaldur Indriðason

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I set out to read Arnaldur Indridason's "Silence of the Grave," I went into it hoping for something dark and gritty. It did not disappoint. There's nothing like a strong opening. My eyes scanned over the first paragraph and a wicked smile began to creep over my face.
"He knew at once it was a human bone, when he took it from the baby who was sitting on the floor chewing it."
Mr. Indridason, you had me at baby-chewing-on-a-human-bone. Bravo, sir.
Apart from the opening line, the beginning was a little sluggish but then the pieces started coming together and pretty soon, I was voraciously turning pages. "Silence of the Grave" is a mystery novel, a crime novel, with that distinct "Nordic" (although in this case, technically Icelandic) flavor to it. It alternates between two main plot lines and also contains a compelling sub-plot that personally concerns the protagonist, the detective Erlendur. The main plots alternate between the present day where bones are discovered in a shallow grave outside of Reykjavik and the investigation surrounding it and a past timeline that the reader is led to suspect may have some bearing on the present.
Parts of this book were a little difficult to read, or rather to stomach, such as the spousal abuse that is featured as well as something awful that occurs toward the end.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the Nordic style of crime novel or someone who is looking for a dark, engaging read.

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Review: The World More Full of Weeping

2011-10-19T06:25:00.001-07:00

The World More Full of Weeping by Robert J. Wiersema

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This novella by Robert J. Wiersema is one of the most beautiful and haunting things that I have read in recent memory. The prose is so infused with a sense of place that at times I felt like I was reading a fine bit of southern writing. (Which I have always been in love with, of course.) The end was not what I was expecting but it really did hit home for me. Like others who have reviewed this work, I'm reluctant to go over too much in this review because I feel that it would rob a potential reader of the opportunity to appreciate the subtle, aching beauty of this jewel of a story without the burden of expectations. Therefore, I will say only this: Read it.

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Review: The Snowman

2011-10-19T06:24:00.001-07:00

The Snowman by Jo Nesbø

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a great crime thriller novel! Nesbo, who also writes children's books, can certainly weave a tale that can capture and keep your attention. The protagonist is a damaged individual and Nesbo shows us enough of the character to satisfy the needs of the story while also holding back a little. Everyone has secrets. This is a theme that runs through the book and I suspect it is also true of the book's hero, Inspector Harry Hole. The pacing is done well and the noir aesthetic of the prose and dialog fits well with the bleakness of the Norwegian environs, the darkness within and without. At times, I found it wonderfully twisted and brutal.
I've not read any of the other "Nordic noir" books like Stieg Larsson's series that began with "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" but I gather that some of Nesbo's style is appropriated from them. Be that as it may, all artists are borrowers and it is of no issue to me. I look forward to the next book in this series as well as going back to read the three previous books featuring Inspector Harry Hole. "The Snowman" is a fun, engaging read that will have you double-checking the locks on yours doors. And you'll never look at that hallmark of childhood winters - the snowman - in quite the same way. Ever again.

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Review: The Silent Land

2011-10-19T06:23:00.001-07:00

The Silent Land by Graham Joyce

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If I had to do a one-word review of this book, it would be this:
Wow!
Fortunately, I can be a bit more verbose. "The Silent Land" is part mystery, part thriller, part fantasy, part literature, and all heart. The relationship between the two protagonists, Jake and Zoe (husband and wife), is well-rendered and believable. They are two very normal people who find themselves in a rather fantastic situation but the situation itself never becomes so fantastic that it overshadows the dynamic between the characters. In other words, if you are someone who is normally put off by fantasy or sci-fi or the supernatural, I do not you believe that you will be put off by this book. "The Silent Land" crosses and obscures genre lines and does so with pleasing results.
The development of the characters and the predicament they are in often brings to the fore moments of philosophical rumination and Joyce handles these moments well, providing nudges rather than preachy answers or offering up empty and stilted non-answers masquerading as clever plot devices.
On a personal level, I found "The Silent Land" exciting, charming, sweet and very moving. It was touching in a way I was not expecting that it would be and I do enjoy a surprise. Really, whatever else this book is, it is a love letter and should be given and received as such.

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The Haunted E-Zine: When the Sea Comes by D. Alexander Ward

2011-08-01T13:43:00.000-07:00

The Haunted E-Zine: When the Sea Comes by D. Alexander Ward: "WHEN THE SEA COMES By D. Alexander Ward Like my father, I was raised to be a fisherman on the narrow strip of land east of the bay and fa..."

Short Tales Update

2011-07-22T07:58:00.000-07:00

I have been working to make more stories available for download to your Kindles and Nooks and other e-readers. The process takes a while, so if it's not up at BN.com or Amazon.com or iBookstore just yet, it will be soon. To see which ones are available where and how, visit the Purchase link on my website here. Of course, Smashwords has all versions available but my understanding is that you would need to side-load them into your reader.

After the recent closing down of Fantastic Horror e-zine and learning that the Noxious Fragments anthology is no longer available in either print or e-reader format, I decided to re-release the story that was from that collection, "A Terrible Binding" as a Short Tale because you need more Levi in your life. I just know you do.

The other tale, entitled "The Blackest Rite," has never seen publication before. I think it was once short-listed at Spinetingler or something but... anyhow... it never saw the light of day. Until now. I like a good story based in some fact and this one concerns the notorious French nobleman Gilles de Rais, who was a real person and whose evil deeds (sodomy and murder of children among others) are the stuff of legend. The story doesn't dwell on his real-life crimes much, but it's part of who he was, so consider yourself warned. This one's not for the faint of heart.

I have been working on some exciting new stuff and have lots more to do. So keep checking back!

Review: "The Ridge" by Michael Koryta

2011-06-29T12:23:00.000-07:00

The Ridge by Michael Koryta

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's true that a key component to writing a successful story or book is to grab the reader in the first paragraph, maybe even the first few pages. Well, in past novels Koryta has proven his ability to do just that and "The Ridge" is no exception.

Just reading the rather ludicrous and creepy description of the book got my juices flowing. A crazy town drunkard. A lighthouse in the Kentucky hills built to keep "something" away. An animal preserve filled with deadly lions and tigers. I was smitten. I hoped that, once in, I would not be let down.

My friends, in "The Ridge," Koryta delivers over and over and over again. Once the intrigue and excitement start on page one, they do not let up throughout the book. Packed with fascinating characters and strange phenomena, this book really is a FUN read! The desperation and loneliness of a few of the principle characters is palpable and the care and tenderness with which Koryta treats the "big cats" and their relationships with their human caretakers is both inspiring and heart-breaking at the appropriate moments in the story. (No kidding, one part in the book choked me up pretty good.) There may be a few leaps necessary in the plot for those of us who are detail-oriented about paranormal phenomena, but trust me, you will be having way too much fun to care. A highly recommended summer read, this one is.

Unlike the characters in the book, I would gladly go to "The Ridge" again and I'd advise that you go, too.

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Website Update & First Installment of "Short Tales"

2011-06-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a while, hasn't it? Though you may have not seen much from me, I assure you that I have been busy behind the curtain (well, as busy as my toddler will let me be) trying to update my online presence as well as getting some new things written. Without further adieu...

Short Tales
I have begun to publish some stories for E-readers like the Kindle, Nook, I-Pad, etc. The first is "The Dying Place" which originally appeared in the now defunct Fantastic Horror online magazine. Of course, these are not full-length books and I have priced them as low as Amazon and Barnes & Noble will allow. Each story will be available for download for 99 cents! At the moment, "The Dying Place" is only available for multiple readers at Smashwords. What can I say? These things take a while and as soon as you can find it by searching on BN and Amazon and the other sites, I will post the update here.

Wyrdtales
As part of releasing the "Short Tales," I have also updated my website to reflect all the new information. Clicking on the Purchase link will list all of my stories that have been published in a format available in paperback, Kindle or Nook format. Sadly, as Fantastic Horror has officially gone down the tubes, no editions are available for Noxious Fragments. If this changes in the future, I will let you all know. For now, peruse the site and, as always, if you have any suggestions for site content, please don't be bashful!

Twitter
When I told my wife that I was now on Twitter, she asked if that made me a "tweeter" or a "twit." I told her I suppose it would have to be the latter. So, yes, I am now on Twitter and you can find me by @DAlexWard. So far my tweeting has been rather sparse and - dare I say a little dry - but as I become accustomed to it, pick up followers, have more news to share, etc. I expect it will pick up.

Also on Facebook
I also made a FB profile that you can check out as well by clicking HERE.

Short-listed for upcoming Relief journal

2011-04-27T13:14:00.000-07:00

Well, I got an encouraging email last night notifying me that my story "Dark Rosaleen" has been short-listed for an upcoming issue of Relief Journal, the same people who publish the Midnight Diner anthologies. If you are not familiar with these books, go check them out. It is an eclectic and often incredible collection of speculative fiction with a Christian slant to it. To those of you rolling your eyes out there, it's much better than what you are thinking and quite appropriate for horror stories, as - to quote Stephen King - "Traditional Horror has a morality that would make a Puritan preacher smile."

"Dark Rosaleen" is a horror tale and another of my nods to Lovecraft, set on an Irish famine ship sailing to North America in the late 1800's.

So here's to keeping my fingers and toes crossed waiting to see if it gets accepted for publication. In the meantime, check out The Midnight Diner. And here's a link to Relief Journal.

A New Year & Some Thoughts

2011-01-09T05:18:00.000-08:00

Well, I managed to go 4 months without writing a single blog post. And the award for lamest blog and worst blogger ever goes to...

Okay, so it's a new year and we shall see what that brings. 2010 was a bit of a lean year in terms of writing for me. Not that I depend on it for income. I'd long ago been dead were that the case - and dead in a hurry! Didn't see much published last year so I'm hoping 2011 will be a fat year. I also didn't get much written. I hope to change that.

I finished up some reading toward the end of the year and some of it bears mentioning.

The Alienist by Caleb Carr was a great, dark detective story set in New York City at the end of the 19th century.

So Cold the River by Michael Koryta was very enjoyable and atmospheric. That is to say, it left me wanting to travel to the places in the book and to see them for myself. It was Koryta's fist stab (no pun) at supernatural thriller and I think he did quite well. His next one will be in a similar vein and I will be looking for that to come out.

City of Thieves by David Benioff. I couldn't say enough about this book. I can't wait to read / see more stuff by this writer. A wonderful story set during the siege of Leningrad where two "criminals" are offered their freedom if they can find a dozen eggs in the war and starvation-ravaged city. It is, at once, charming, horrific, endearing, and funny. I understand there is to be a movie made of it. Consider my ticket already bought.

Stephen King. I haven't read any King in so long, it's not funny. I'm a big fan of his son, Joe Hill's work but I think the last King books I read was Four Past Midnight. So I heard that Under the Dome is quite good but it's also 1,500 pages and I just don't have the time or the attention span of late, so I picked up Full Dark, No Stars when it came out.

It contains four novellas. I started with the first one in the book (I don't always, you know) titled "1922." Good. So goddamn good, I haven't read any of the others yet. You know, it's like I put it down and said to myself "That is as good or better than anything I have ever read by him." Also, I think it is one of the best tales I have ever read... period. And so he ruined me with the first novella. I may be wrong but I will wager none of the others in that book will stand up to "1922." It falls under the category of supernatural thriller, which I love. It is also incredibly dark and twisted. I won't give too much of it away but it concerns a man who talks his son into helping him to kill his wife, the boy's mother and how their world unravels afterward. It is haunting and impossibly dark and masterfully, masterfully written. Reading this King novella, I felt something I have felt only a time or two before and usually while reading Cormac McCarthy; the sense that you are in the presence of a master of their art. I highly recommend this book if only for the first novella alone.

Well, that's all for now. See y'all in... probably 3 to 6 months. Hahaha!

Looking forward to Fall

2010-08-17T08:19:00.000-07:00

August is by far the worst month to live anywhere in the south or mid-atlantic. It is hotter than the brass hinges of hell on most days. I am looking forward to getting some cooler, crisp fall air, the turning of the leaves and all that goes with it. While I like a long, sultry southern summer as much as anyone, I think Autumn is my favorite season.

I came across a nifty little trade paperback graphic novel called "The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft" in which the renowned writer of cosmic horror is made a character and an unwitting prophet of sorts. The art is amazing and the writing, so far, seems to be well done also. For any of you who are whores for all things HPL like I am, it is well worth picking up. Speaking of Lovecraft, I am currently working on a story to submit to Innsmouth Free Press, for a history-themed anthology. For my story, I have chosen the dark time of the Irish potato famine, where so many Irish fled the famine and the punitive treatment by the British and came to America. My little yarn is set on board a famine ship on its way to British North America (that's Canada these days.) We'll see how it turns out.

I'm embarrassed to say I am still reading "Mr. Shivers." Hey, look I have a 4-month-old so cut me a break, will you? Time for reading these days seems in short supply and so my To-Read list on Goodreads continues to grow and grow and grow.

Well, that's all for now. Here at the tail end of a very long, hot summer, I wish you all well.

Hello? Is this thing on?

2010-07-16T20:45:00.000-07:00

I hate that I neglect this blog, I really do. But for me it is a little like spinning wheels since no one seems to follow it. Oh well... no matter.

Recently finished "City of Thieves" by David Benioff. What a great book! War-time, buddy story set in Leningrad during WWII. Also reading "Mr. Shivers" by Robert Jackson Bennett. Having a hard time getting into this one, much as I want to like it. Could be that I only read 4 pages of it during bedtime before I drop the damned thing on my face. You know what I mean, right? Oh, maybe it's just me.

Recently got my royalty payment from Comet Press on "Deadlines." I think it came to about six bucks. If y'all just keep buying this book up, you're gonna make me filthy rich at this rate! No, but if you like the horror, please check it out.

Watched "Thew New Daughter" starring Kevin Costner. For a straight-to-video release, I didn't think it was half bad. Kept me more entertained than "The Grudge" (yawn.) If you like a spooky tale and don't mind some flat acting, I recommend it.

Okay, that's all I got for now. See y'all soon!

Blog limbo, Oscars, Words and words

2010-03-08T13:36:00.000-08:00

Yes, I have been neglecting this blog forever. It's true. You know, I just need to find a way to make it easier, so that it's staring me in the face every day and maybe then I will be able to plug in an entry a week or so. I may be switching to LiveJournal, I don't know. Not sure if it matters, though, as I'm not sure anyone reads this!!

Stayed up and watched the entire Oscars event last night. The whole thing. First time. *yawn* Boy the writing for the interludes and set-ups was just crap, wasn't it? I did realize, though, that I had not seen many of the movies nominated so I got to punching up the old Netflix account and slapping those babies into my queue for a later date.

Watched a pretty decent horror flick this morning, though. The Burrowers from 2008. I enjoy it when there is some original component to horror and I especially like the Western / Horror combination. The end was lackluster but it was a decent ride.

I am currently more than halfway through Joe Hill's new novel Horns which I really like so far. It definitely has a literary vibe to it in that there is more emphasis on character development than action but it's a good mix so far. Not sure what I'm going to pounce on next when this one is done.

"The Red Tree" review and mixed emotions

2009-09-11T09:04:00.001-07:00

The Red Tree by Caitlin R. Kiernan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Where to begin? I am a big fan of Kiernan's work. No, I have not read all of her books... yet. What I do hold in high regard, nearly on a pedestal if truth be told, are her works "Threshold," "Low Red Moon" and "Alabaster" as well as "Tales of Pain and Wonder." I love those books and the way she handled horror with class, understanding that it is much more powerful when implied than shown. Fantastic characters in the setting of the urban South. Amazing stuff. No one does it better!

Which brings me to "The Red Tree." Stylistically, I love it. There's something great about the way Kiernan writes, something undefinable that goes beyond the sometimes lyrical nature of her sentences. She did a great job of laying down the foundations of dread, at which she excels, and she did a wonderful job of making the reader feel just how sinister and malignant this tree might be.

A great deal has been made about the "unreliable narrator" in this book and in this regard Kiernan blurs the lines between the protagonist writer of the story and Kiernan herself. There's a lot of that going on in here, actually. Was it a paranoid fantasy? Hallucinations of an ailing mind? It's hard to say. There are no answers here. Even in the fictional Editor's Postscript of the book, Kiernan alludes to this via a fictional excerpt from the protagonist's novel:

" 'It really doesn't make a great deal of sense, this story. It's filled with loose ends and has no shortage of contradictions. It shows no regard for anyone's need of resolution.' "

"The Red Tree" is good but unsatisfying if you're looking for certainty. In short, some of what I love about Kiernan's past work is not present here (the urban and rural south settings, the action), but what is present is her skill for crafting a haunting and dread-filled story, intensely detailed background and flawed, miserable characters who appeal to the reader even in their wretchedness.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars where her other work I am familiar with easily rates a 5.

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2009-09-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

A Thousand Faces #9 Now Available

A Thousand Faces is a quarterly journal of superhuman fiction. Always with something new and exciting in its pages, this issue includes my own contribution, a little story called "Pain Upon Their Pain."

Dixon Kane, a protagonist who I hope y'all will see more of... part human, part something else... roams the back alleys of the New Orleans French Quarter, turning a buck and hoping to make amends for his dark past. But this private dick is not prepared for what happens when one of his jilted lover cases goes wrong and someone is murdered. Soon, the only thing Dixon holds dear is in peril and he wonders if he can save her in time without revealing the inhuman nature of his other self.

It is available on the A Thousand Faces website for free, but for those like me who prefer the feel of good old-fashioned paper, it is available for order from Lulu.com. I will post the links below.

A Thousand Faces - Online Journal

Order A Thousand Faces #9 from Lulu today!

"Noxious Fragments" anthology now available!

2009-08-17T09:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it took a little longer than the original release date of June but I know that the editors were working very hard on it. At long last, it is now available. You can purchase it at Amazon.com or... as I would prefer... from Createspace.com. I will post both links here. The main difference being that out of the $15 for the book, we authors will see more of that money if it comes from Createspace than from Amazon. Everyone demands their pound of flesh.

Inside you will find 11 tales of the macabre culled from the first 6 issues of Fantastic Horror magazine. My contribution "A Terrible Binding" features everyone's favorite hemaphrodite messenger and monster slayer Levi who attempts to alleviate the suffering of a young boy plagued by insomnia and unease that seem to emanate from the dark forest surrounding his home.

This book, for now, is print on demand so the sooner you order, the sooner you will be holding a copy in your hot little hands (or cold, lifeless hands as the case may be.)

Click to order:

Noxious Fragments at Createspace

OR

Noxious Fragments from Amazon.com

I recommend the following...

2009-08-17T08:13:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I have posted anything to this blog. I will endeavor to be diligent in the future but on the up side, I have been reading and seeing some amazing stuff lately.

There are three novels that I have read recently which I just adore and recommend to anyone.

Bad Things by Michael Marshall

Bad Things hooked me with the way it opened and it kept me on the line the rest of the time. Although the plotting is sometimes confusing in places, this is a great book that blurs the genre lines; not quite horror, not quite mystery, both maybe? Marshall does a great job of building atmosphere and a sense of place and those are two things very important to me. You can almost feel the palpable sense of a dark undercurrent in the sleepy little Pacific Northwestern town and the protagonist is a likable fella who is fun to watch (or read.)

Sharp Objects and Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Both of Flynn's books are incredible. I wish she had written more because I would just keep reading them one after another. These books are dark and their subject matter is dark. I am in love with the way she writes as well, her style is great and her heroines (if they could be called that) are strong but damaged women and it makes for a hell of a yarn in both cases. Highly, highly recommended!

Choke and Watchmen

2009-03-13T12:01:00.000-07:00

I have to get me some more of Chuck Palahniuk (I can never remember how to spell that so I'm calling him Chuck P. from here on out.) I have read only a little of his work and never anything complete, but I am a big fan of at least 2 of his films and I love the plot ideas for every book he's written. I watched Choke yesterday and my God what a weird, wonderful ride! I shall have to read the novel some day.

It's going to rain all weekend, so probably not a bad one for reading and such. I plan to go see Watchmen tomorrow morning. I am excited to do so as I have been anticipating this movie for a long time now and I hope I'm not disappointed.

Recover from your St. Patricks Day hangover with Irish films

2009-03-04T07:31:00.001-08:00

No doubt you will go out and imbibe several plastic cups of dyed green Budweiser that someone at a far-too-crowded establishment is passing off as being Irish... you could do that, but you shouldn't. Even the halfway-decent pubs and the really good ones will be inundated by patrons and you'll be straining to hear the Emerald Pipe and Drum Corps. over the din of a hundred shouting revelers, all Paddys if only for a day. Sure, it is good fun, but here's a good way to nurse the hangover the next day; with great Irish films. After all, ye could use a bit o'culture, ye wee twit.

Great Irish Films

Action / Historical Action:
Michael Collins - Starring Liam Neesen, Adain Quinn and Julia Roberts... about a man who played an important role in the Declaration of the Irish Republic, and the resulting War of Independence and Irish Civil War.

Some Mother's Son - Helen Mirren and Fionnula Flanagan star in this moving film... refusing to be labeled as criminals rather than enemy combatants, 10 IRA prisoners died on hunger strike in a British prison. This film looks at how the families were impacted.

The Wind that Shakes the Barley - A great film starring Cilian Murphy about two brothers who fought for independence from the British and then find themselves fighting former comrades in the Irish Civil War.

Comedy:
The Commitments - Roddy Doyle's a genius and this adaptation of his novel is a hilarious look at a bunch of young men and women in Dublin who have designs on making it big in the music business.

Waking Ned Devine - Great comedy about a dead man who wins the lottery and a whole town that tries to reap the rewards.

Drama:
Angela's Ashes - Film about Frank McCourt's memoir of the same name. Details the struggles of a young man whose deadbeat alcoholic father forces them to move back to Ireland, his trials and tribulations there and his efforts to return to America.

The Boxer - Stirring drama about an ex-IRA man just out of prison who struggles to find a new life in the community and the taboo of courting soldiers' wives. Daniel Day-Lewis is amazing.

The General - Excellent film by John Boorman about Dublin crime lord Martin Cahill, stars Brendan Gleeson at his best.

The Field - An early Jim Sheridan gem, this film stars the great Richard Harris as well as Sean Bean and Tom Berenger. It is the story of a farmer who holds on to the land and the old ways even as he is prompted to leave by the smarmy Irish-American who shows up to purchase it.

Feel-Good Movies:
Run of the Country - One of my favorite movies of all time, it's a coming-of-age story that examines love and intolerance... about a young man and his love affair with a Protestant girl just across the border as well as his estrangement from his father and the hijinks of his youth before he goes off to university.

The Last of the High Kings - Another one about the trials of youth, this film is about young Frankie Griffin who spends the summer organizing a beach party and trying to get laid in the waning days of his youth all while dealing with his fastastically eccentric family.

Special note: No crown-kissing Tom Clancy shite books or movies were harmed in the making of this list.

Thoughts on Ian McEwan... cinema and book

2009-03-04T07:06:00.000-08:00

I utilized some of the time-off given by this blessed snowstorm to watch for the third time the film Atonement, which was adapted from English writer Ian McEwan's novel of the same name. It really is a fantastic movie once you come to appreciate it. The first time I watched it, I had to force myself through it a little. Its tone... particularly in the romance aspect... is so stodgily and typically British. But then that speaks to one of the underlying themes, I think. Now each time I watch it, I notice something else brilliant about it. Of particular note this time was that they did a magnificent job on the score and the sound editing for that film. I have never heard a typewriter used as an instrument and in concert with other instruments the way it is used in Atonement. It's a fantastic tension builder!! For anyone reluctant to check out the movie for fear it might be too boring or too British, take it from one who shared your fears at first but now thinks it is a great film based on a great novel and well worth all the hype. The ending is great and I will just leave it at that.

I have never read Atonement, but I am flipping through a book of McEwan's short stories entitled First Love, Last Rites. It is quite something. So far I have found myself in awe of McEwan's ability to freak me out with his ability to casually explore disturbing subject matter. So much of this book has to do with rites of passage, sexual attitudes and experiences... it's great. Besides, how can you go wrong with a story that features a penis floating in a jar of formaldahyde and dimensional travel all in the same tale? ("Solid Geometry", McEwan)

Dog - a story by Pinckney Benedict

2009-02-23T09:55:00.000-08:00

I have a bad habit of reserving reading time during the weekdays for right as I lay down to sleep. This generally means that I am good for a half hour of reading - oftentimes less. Good for getting through a short story or sometimes only halfway through the story. It makes finishing one a real bitch sometimes as I don't even retain the bookmark if I doze and the book goes crashing out of my hand onto the night table.
Past couple weeks, I have been thumbing through a great book called Town Smokes which is a short story collection by West Virginia-born author Pinckney Benedict.

The man has a real talent for grit. These stories make you feel like you want be reading them in a dingy backroad bar and eyeballing the fella sitting across from you who looks like he might want to pick a fight after he gets a little more in his cups.
"Dog" is one from Town Smokes and I stumbled across it online where you can read it for free. The simplicity and understated violence of it is really what Benedict is all about. Read for free here: Barcelona Review.

Welcome

2009-02-23T09:19:00.000-08:00

I have long resisted this whole blogging phenomenon as I just can't imagine who out there is bored enough to be interested in whatever random thoughts and observations enter my head. However, after reading through the blog on the website of one of my favorite modern authors (Joe Hill, visit Joe Hill Fiction . com), I was inspired and relented that perhaps some good could come of it after all.

Since I am a writer, the primary subject matter of this blog is likely to be about writing, authors, books, fiction in general, movies, etc. I'll try not to let it get tooooo boring.

So consider this the verbal christening of this here blog and may weirdness abound!