Halloween Hell-o-ween Released

"The Gourd"

So, about a year ago, I wrote and sent off a short story called "The Gourd" about a young man who fulfills his grandmother's final wish and gets to see the other, not-so-human side of Halloween. Whortleberry's Halloween antho at the time was filled, though, so the lovely Jean M. Goldstrom asked to keep it for this year's release. Well, it's finally available, if you'd wish to give it a read.

Sure, Halloween is about a month and a half away, but with so many anthologies to choose from, let's get the reading season started with the new release by Whortleberry Press: Halloween Hell-O-Ween, available at lulu.com.

"A Halloween tour of the Underworld, conducted by authors who know what they're writing about!"

Hmm, maybe I should be worried about how well I know the Underworld...

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In Other News

I have a Kindle. Yes, ok, officially, it's a Christmas present, but I'm already using it--and loving it, by the way. Does this mean I'm an "all e-books" kinda girl now? Nope. I still love the smell of old books. And new ones. But being able to pick up an affordable copy of a new book, and try out new authors and publishers for only a couple bucks...so worth it.

Have an e-book over at Amazon you'd like me to look at? Well, advertise it in the comments. I'm always looking for new reading material.

Also, you might have noticed I haven't been as active with my short story subs as of late. That's because I've been working on a few novella projects.

Yes. I'm still working on those.

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Flash Fiction? Yes, Please

On another note, Patricia Puckett--yes, you know her by now--has a short flash fiction piece up at Columbus Creative Cooperative's Bland to Grand Flash Fiction Writing Contest. Her story is called "Piece Of" and if you enjoy it, you should lend her your vote. And if you don't enjoy it? Well, there are several other shorties awaiting a good read. Go check it out. Or, hey, enter it yourself--I hear you win a nifty Kindle.

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Other Recommended Reading

The Monster's Corner: Stories Through Inhuman Eyes by Christopher Golden

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I won an ARC of this anthology from the Goodreads' Giveaways, and I'm rather glad I did. The Monster's Corner was definitely a book I'd pick up in stores. This is an excellent selection of stories, though not necessarily what I was expecting when I cracked open the spine. There are a few stories I liked less than others, but, for the most part I felt all the contributing writers had something fresh to say. My favorite tales--and I do hate picking favorites because several of the stories featured characters I found entertaining--included "Torn Stitches, Shattered Glass" by Kevin J. Anderson (a must-read for fans of Frankenstein's monster), "Less of a Girl" by Chelsea Cain (short and...well, not so sweet--but that's the point, right?), "Rakshasi" by Kelley Armstrong, and "Breeding the Demons" by Nate Kenyon (how are demons made, anyhow?). Also, Simon R. Green's closing number gave me a laugh and helped round out the bunch.

All in all? Worth the read if you're a fan of the genre.



View all my reviews

The 2009 Pub Challenge

Patricia told me about this interesting challenge. I'll be taking part this year. It sounds like fun:

Thanks to those 2008 Pub challenge participants who made it a great success! I hope you’ll consider joining the 2009 Pub as well. For those who didn’t participate last year but want to read more 2009 releases, join us. New members are always welcome! The challenge lasts for all of 2009.

Here are the 2009 rules:

1) Read a minimum of 9 books first published in 2009. You don’t have to buy these. Library books, unabridged audios, or ARCs are all acceptable. To qualify as being first published in 2009, it must be the first time that the book is published in your own country. For example, if a book was published in Australia, England, or Canada in 2008, and then published in the USA in 2009, it counts (if you live in the USA). Newly published trade paperbacks and mass market paperbacks do not count if there has been a hardcover/trade published before 2009. Any questions on what qualifies? Just leave a comment here, and I’ll respond with the answer.

2) No children’s/YA titles allowed, since we’re at the ‘pub.’

3) At least 5 titles must be fiction.

4) Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.

5) You can add your titles as you go, and they may be changed at any time.

6) Sign up here: http://1morechapter.com/pub/?p=1

Have fun reading your 2009 books!


I'll probably be borrowing Vampire Hunter D Volume 12: Pale Fallen Angels Part II, which is released sometime in March!