Poem TIRED completed

Now we look for a publisher.

Free e-book available Now through the 28th

from HORRIFIED PRESS.

Wow!! Two on the 'SURREAL GROTESQUE' Podcast today

We were fortunate to be allowed to read two pieces on the podcast today. "A Hint of Cinnamon" and "Diminishing Sight"; we also discussed my writing process, the background to these stories and my first story in 'Surreal Grotesque' "A Night In the Country". We had a blast! Thanks guys!!

Appearance on Surreal Grotesque Confirmed

I will be appearing on the Surreal Grotesque Podcast this Sunday at 5:30 pm. It will be taped and online shortly thereafter, either later that night or within 24 hours. I will discuss my writing process and will read "A Hint of Cinnamon". A link will follow when ready.

IT'S ALIVE!!!! IT'S ALIVE!!! ALIVE!!!! ALIVE!!!

SCARLETT RIVER PRESS has just published the horror anthology RIGOROUS MORTIS: A MORTICIAN'S TALES. At last!!! My story "Mr. Friedenhandler" is Chapter 18. A longtime coming and I thank Jo-Anne Russell and Allen Jacoby so very much for including me in this marvelous collection of horror and terror. It is available on Amazon.com, Smashworlds and Create Space in both paperback and e-formats.

SNOW BABIES to be in SURREAL GROTESQUE DECEMBER 2012

We are happy to announce that my take on the apocalypse in a short story titled SNOW BABY will be published in the December issue of SURREAL GROTESQUE. I do have to warn readers in advance: this is horror, pure and simple not the PG rated "scary story" kind or the romanticized kind that is sweeping the nation. It is also not bloody or gory--it also does not involve zombies--this is an original take an old school horror story and will have disturbing images; hey that is what makes it so effective. SNOW BABY will be out in December and we will have more information here, the December issue of SURREAL GROTESQUE and at josephjpatchen.weebly.com.

SCARY

When did the term 'horror' become dirty? I am finding more and more that publishers, especially new and young publishers, steer away from the word 'horror' in favor of 'scary'. I don't know 'scary' seems to me to be a bit of a childish word. If the aim of these publishers is to water down content I wouldn't be surprised. It is the nature and has been the nature of all entertainment in this country to be watered down. In sports we talk about parity, which is a synonym for mediocrity; in music we talk about 'pop' which really equates to homogenized and modulated crap. I know many adults have complained to me that they cannot read some of my stuff because it scares them....Well isn't that the idea? And while I do write satire/comedy -- stick with that; if your senses are too fragile don't read the horror. I am just afraid we are going down the road to 'babyness'. Look Chris Christie cried when he met Bruce Springsteen. Really? I met and spent time with Jerry Lee Lewis. The Killer is certainly more influential and important to the fabric of Rock and Roll. I didn't cry. Heck, Jerry Lee would have kicked my ass. SO where are we headed? Will "The Tell Tale Heart" become "The Tell Tale Tennis Elbow" with a guy getting a twitch every time someone mentions the trophy he won? Will "Incident At Owl Creek Bridge" become "It Happened At The Mall". This also comes on the heels of so many prohibitions issued by these publishers--no graphic violence; no vampires; no this; no that...Come on can we just get back to good old kick butt horro and fear. And if you are too sensitive to read it---then don't; sit down with the Governor of New Jersey and watch the Hallmark Channel.

FLIGHT 377 has landed today in paperback.

"FLIGHT 377" has landed today in paperback. The anthology, by Crowded Quarantine Press, from the UK, has a great title, TALES FOR THE TOILET is in paperback. I just received mine and again I am honored to be here with great writers and stories. Page 91 has the ill fated flight.

Longer Works.....

Work and life have intervened and we are not writing as much as we would like or should be. The commitment here going forward is longer works and in fact looking into book proposals. So if we slow down, we haven't stopped; we are just looking to create more.

josephjpatchen.weebly.com

If you have been there and it appears nothing is happening, well we just haven't update it. We will soon...

josephjpatchen.weebly.com

Yeah, that is right --- josephjpatchen.weebly.com

I am now a reviewer for BLASTED HEATH

Thanks guys. I have just been appointed a reviewer for Blasted Heath, crime publisher from Scotland. We will be giving reviews to advance copies of their thrillers via Luridlit. Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The 1965 Christmas Rebellion

Only at josephjpatchen.weebly.com. What a brat!

'Hesitation Places Second in Summer Campfire Ghost Story Contest

'Hesitation' Places Second in Summer Campfire Ghost Story Contest on The Carnage Conservatory. Congratulations to Cheryl Anne Gardner for her win.