The Greatest Fear

Lies before me every day. The greatest fear is this blank page. I can't write everyday; and this is not the 'day job excuse'. I don't have the talent or intelligence. My mind isn't a cornucopia of ideas. It is exactly what I write and that is mostly about things dead.

I don't believe I ever really understood the idea of a muse until now; and just how fleeting that feeling is.  

Let's Dance The Last Dance....or Class That Is....

We wrapped up nine weeks of our creative writing class. It was a pleasure to teach and I believe we are going to see some special works of fiction and nonfiction coming out this triumvirate. As for another class, I am not sure we will be picked up in the Fall. This will depend on class size. Milford is a strange town in that memoir writing is the thing and creative writing has been waning for at least a decade.  

My review of EDWARD LEE'S HEADER ON LURID-LIT Now!!!!

My column today is a review of Edward Lee's novella "Header" from Deadite Press, a story that is also on DVD. Check it out on Lurid-lit.com.

BAD LUCK in Tortured Souls Volume 2 Anthology

I just signed my contract for this anthology from Scarlett River Press. 'Tortured Souls Volume 2' is scheduled to be on Kindle and on shelves in September. More to follow.

A HINT OF CINNAMON has been tagged in Podcast

That is 'The Surreal Grotesque' number 13 on April 14th. The story was mentioned with a few others as being those accepted for the June 2013 issue centering around phobias. More to come.

New Book Review on LURID-LIT.COM "Rusty Nails, Broken Glass"

My review of S C Hayden's anthology is reviewed now on Lurid-lit. Give a glance and a read and make sure you have had all shots if you know what I mean.

Meet The Greeting

Despite the demise of the ezine set to publish it. the ill fated tale did have its debut in public as it became a piece read during my writing class. My students who are not horror aficionados, and I believe deep down despise the genre from things we have discussed, were polite. Thanks guys.

160 up and 275 down

The latest Duotrope survey figures are in for open versus closed markets. By the way I attempted to access some of those 'open' markets only to find them closed. I don't think it was because of my lack of hygiene. Yes, it is getting tougher out there. In a way I am happy I don't have much out there because of personal obligations right now; but we trudge on.

Will No One EVER Greet THE GREETING?

Or meet THE MEETING as it is also titled. Well, it appears INSOMNIA PRESS' Issue 3 will never be. It is more than a month late and their are no responses to emails. It is a shame that an ezine folds. It is a shame that a story of mine accepted for publication back on August 5th sits in limbo as the publication date gets pushed back further and further and further only to slip away. As I tell my class such is the chance we all take and while disappointing, frustrating, even aggravating; it comes with the territory. Have faith in your ability and know that if the piece was good enough to be accepted one place, another is just as good. Another place another time.....

We Are Tagged In the Surreal Grotesque Podcast #12

We are from the standpoint of my writing style. I am on record saying that I work in a trance. This is not a contrivance but a truth. I have always maintained my difficulty in in working with prompts. My style lies in nightmares I have that recur. Every story I have ever had published works this way. Every story that has to date remained unpublished has been forced without a visit from my nighttime muse. It is also not a mystery that when I write I report what I see in that dream. I let my mind project and my fingers do the walking over the keys. I don't think about what I write I just do it. Sure there may be a revision or two but the integrity of what kept me up at night is on the page. Ask my wife. She can predict when a story is coming: mood swings are the precursors. Hell, it isn't pretty and it isn't romantic but that is exactly the process. And when I am done, quite frankly I forget about it. I can't tell you what I've written. True.

We have joined THE BLACK RIBBON SOCIETY

At the invitation of Daniel Gonzales and the great SURREAL GROTESQUE we have joined the BLACK RIBBON SOCIETY webring. This ring is an association, so to speak, of writers, artists and publishers aligned to take horror back to its roots; to move away from the candy store sugary sweet junk food style of horror that has proliferated the scene; no sparkling vampires, no cuddly werewolves, no friendly ghosts. For those who want happy endings, I can suggest a number of establishments open, and periodically shut down by local authorities, that may fit your needs. But THE BLACK RIBBON SOCIETY is like minded horror aficionados who share a common philosophy against censorship and revisionism. Stop by josephjpatchen.weebly.com to click on the society to find more horror around the clock. I thank Mr. Gonzales for this opportunity to team up with and be associated with the talented writers and artists that make up this ring.

Daniel Clowes' THE DEATH RAY on Lurid-lit Now!!!

My review of Daniel Clowes' THE DEATH RAY is on Lurid-lit right now. Stop by and take a peek.

YARD WORK is on THE CARNAGE CONSERVATORY

My flash fiction tale YARD WORK is the on THE CARNAGE CONSERVATORY published today. We push some envelopes here but it is all in the name of 'reclaiming horror' as our good friend Jeremy Maddux of Surreal Grotesque says. Please give it a read; its stripped down straight out uneasiness.

Aliens, Sex & Sociopaths: The Best of Surreal Grotesque OUT NOW!!

The Kindle version of this exciting new anthology from the pages of this ground breaking magazine/e-zine is on Amazon.com for the amazing low price of 99 cents!!! I have two stories in it: A NIGHT IN THE COUNTRY and DIMINISHING SIGHT. Plus there are a ton of great stories from a lot of talented writers. On Amazon.com now.

"A HINT OF CINNAMON" to be published in June

In the June issue of Surreal Grotesque, "A Hint of Cinnamon" will appear. Hear the story of a man, the tiny coffin he has found, and the tiny corpse he make acquaintance with. Coming out in June. More to follow.