Happy Birthday Jerry Lee Lewis

THE KILLER is 79. Happy Birthday to the man who shook the world.

Fatman

Why not create an alternate meme to Slenderman called FATMAN. He's a spooky dude in cargo shorts and suspenders who haunts refrigerators and forces people to diet?

We are riffing on twitter...

#josephjpatchen and #josephpatchen

Catch the riffs and a few raffs.

THE HOLE has been published

In tomorrow's SCHLOCK! WEBZINE. It's nice to be on the marquee with Mr. Poe.

THE SOLUTION has been published!!!

On HELLNOTES as part of their 'Horror In A Hundred' series. A tale about suicide in less than 100 words.

The link:

http://hellnotes.com/horror-in-a-hundred-the-solution-by-joseph-j-patchen

We Uncover Hidden, Believed Lost Gems on Lurid-lit Today

Rather than do a standard or even classic book review we take a look at two publishers committed to preserving the forgotten gems of the past.

Stop by as you will be surprised at the sarcophagus of treasures to be uncovered.

Gunntown is a Go

The scripts have been accepted and now costuming and rehearsals follow. We meet the ghosts of the Gunntown Cemetery shortly.

Gunntown Cemetery Scripts Are Done

I hope the committee enjoys them. I know I have been away largely because of my work on these scripts. October is coming and so is our little play of the dead. Details to follow....

From today's DAILY MAIL in London JACK THE RIPPER Identified

This article raises some questions but I don't think necessarily proves anything. Certainly it is interesting reading.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2746321/Jack-Ripper-unmasked-How-amateur-sleuth-used-DNA-breakthrough-identify-Britains-notorious-criminal-126-years-string-terrible-murders.html

THE SOLUTION to be published

In HELLNOTES Horror in a Hundred. I just received word and am honored. It will be second appearance there. The story will appear September 22nd.

THE SOLUTION is about suicide and was born out of the narrator's deepest depression for a a life he feels worthless. Yet, the narrator seems to gain strength and --- yes life, in the very act act of ending his.

A very short, 98 words, and complex piece.

Thank you HELLNOTES.

Coming...yeah that's the word.....

The publisher is closing submissions in less than nine days. THE ETHICS OF CLONING in Sex, Droids and Their Cyborg Toys is my next anthology appearance for science fiction.

Classic Book Review: BANNERS OF VICTORY By Lilith Lorraine

From Banner Press in 1937. This is an interesting poetry collection focusing on man and his place within the stars. This is a rare find and a surprising good read. The thoughts are deep, the flow is easy and if you can find one, even a reprint, its worth the look.

Thank you for the Gargoyle

This lovely gift was given to me by a reader. Thank you Patty I really appreciate it and think this guy is so cool. He will be an indoor gargoyle who will help guard some books on a bookshelf. Thank you.

Editor's Notes: We've Been Away

But I doubt anyone missed me. Personal circumstance have kept us away but hey welcome to life.

In the last couple of days I have been approached by writers whose relationships with their illustrators have gone south. In the process their intellectual property and pride have suffered.

Personal relationships are flawed because people are flawed. Your chances of having a good relationship with another on any level is against the odds.

Working relationships are marriages and we all know the divorce rate.

I hate to this but here are my rules for collaboration:

1. No one is your friend. This involves intellectual property---keep a distance;
2. Your work is your work and make sure the world knows who created the characters; wrote the script and who drew the pictures;
3. No one is your friend. This involves money---keep a distance;
4. Document everything in writing by text or email;
5. Keep copies of this documentation with your work product;
6. People are flawed, most but not are out to hurt you;
7. Protect yourself.

I was burned very early on when I was in my late teens. This is why I do not collaborate.

Now keep in mind there are a number of publishers I respect and love to work with. But I work with them and we work in our roles; them for their book/magazine and I for my story/poem.

This is a different situation. This is not, 'hey let's get together and put together a book'. Together can be combustible and heart breaking. And this week it has been for a couple of friends--yes friends.

Trust your gut.

Anonymous-9's BITE HARDER is out today and we have it on LURID-LIT.COM today!!!

My review of the much awaited, heavily anticipated sequel to 'Hard Bite' hits the shelves today. Come read my column on www.lurid-lit.com for my take.....