Samantha Sterner

The Books of September (or at least the ones I can remember)

2010-10-01T07:37:00.000-07:00

The Best
Horns by Joe Hill. I can't decide whether I like this story about a young man who wakes up with devil horns sprouting out of his head better than Hill's first novel, Heart-Shaped Box. But trust me. It's good.

The Good
The Passage by Justin Cronin. I had to push myself to get through the first hundred pages or so. It's not that they were boring to me, it's more that the first part lays down the groundwork for the rest of the novel, and while it is interesting groundwork, it's still... groundwork. But as the book progresses and we move into the future, the story begins to move along, and the plot takes off wonderfully.

The Scapegoat by Daphne Du Maurier. It's by Daphne Du Maurier. Enough said.

The Rest
Inferno, edited by Ellen Datlow.
The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris. Man can't stop walking. Very nicely written. Didn't really speak to me though.
Ring by Koji Suzuki. As opposed to pretty much every other book/novel duo out there... I think I liked the movie better. Both Japanese and US versions.

I didn't read quite as many books as I usually do. I blame The Passage.

On the writing front, I am trying to perfect the old standard of writing something everyday. Even/especially on the days when I find myself counting how many times the cursor blinks.

A Month Too Late. For Jamie.

2010-09-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

I just found out that one of my favorite bloggers, and one of the first to welcome me to this strange Internet world, Jamie Eyberg, died about a month ago, as did his wife Ann.

I never met Jamie, but through this web world, I did know him. I know he was a good man, I know he loved his family, and I know that the world is going to be that much more horrible without him in it.

Here is a memorial page about Jamie with information on donating to a fund for his children.

Goodbye Jamie

The Disappearing Blogger

2010-09-15T17:23:00.000-07:00

I think it's been... nine months since I last posted?

Bad Bad Blogger.

Though writing wise I haven't had a whole lot to report. I got wrapped up in the idea of applying to grad school for a mfa, and when I was rejected from grad school, I more or less went on a writing sabbatical (the less was one half finished screenplay). I think it made me question what role I want writing to play in my life.

I have started writing again. I don't think I really missed writing when I wasn't doing it, after all its so much easier to find the time to not write. But I do know that nothing settles me as much as writing, and I have some ideas that need to be made concrete before they vanish.

Life update:

The insanely wonderous Ellen Datlow read one of my stories and didn't hate it. She listed "The Elephant God" on her honorable mentions list for Best Horror of the Year (volume two).

Ellen Datlow is one of my favorite editors and this produced much squealing and dancing on my end.

One of my stories has been accepted into Pill Hill Press' Dark Things III horror anthology. I think that makes it my first acceptance in...

And I decided I wasn't ready to adopt a dog yet, so I took to fostering a beautiful Mini Aussie named Tessa. Who I then. Adopted.

But who could give up such a beauty?

I hope all has been well for my fellow writers!

NaNo Rebel Sadness

2009-11-15T11:36:00.000-08:00

So as my current NaNo friends may have noticed, my word count has stayed at 13k for a while. That's because around five days or so ago I came to a sad conclusion - that I was not going to finish Nano.

I'm currently in the process of applying for graduate school, and I'm trying to get everything done by Dec 1. Since I am applying to join a MFA program, this means I am polishing and repolishing a certain amount of my writing, which is consuming a lot of my time (and mind). I have decided that my application is more important to me than Nano, so I have more or less withdrawn myself from Nano. Honestly, I probably should have figured this out before, and not have even committed myself in the first place to Nano, but I thought I could do both.

But my shortened Nano experience was positive, and so you can expect to see me fighting the good fight (or should I say writing the good write?) next year.

Thanks for the cheerleading! and kick butt danielle, kc, jamie, mercedes, and barry!

NaNo day five - Finding Nemo inspiration

2009-11-05T11:34:00.000-08:00

I've written four stories and have a word count of 8000 something (you know you're getting lazy when its too much work to open a new screen to check on your word count). I have the beginnings written to another three stories (old bad habits die hard). And I keep singing "Just keep writing."

Ah NaNo

Nano has begun! Day 2 - playing catch up

2009-11-02T15:06:00.000-08:00

It's always good when you start out a little behind right? Day 2 is here and I've clocked in at only 1706 words. I had the block yesterday (and my roommate had rented season four of HIMYM and my will is weak), so I didn't actually get anything done on the first day of NaNo. But so far I like the story I'm writing, which will most likely be finished tomorrow, and then I'll start on the second one.

I have a folder of images I want to write stories about and I'll not sure which one I'll do first. But I'm thinking about this one.

Happy NaNo my fellow NaNoWriMoers (er, or something like that)

The Books of October

2009-10-31T10:55:00.000-07:00

The Good, The Best, and all The Rest

The Good
Heartsick by Chelsea Cain
Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain
Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain (sense a pattern?)
Creepers by David Morrell
The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

The Best Book of October:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Recommended by one Carrie Harris, this well read YA book is about a death game occuring in a futuristic setting. I read it and then gave it to my roommate who also devoured it. I don't remember books being this violent when I was a YA, but I like it!

Runner-ups:

Speak by Laurie Halse Andersen. The second book I've read by this author, I was impressed by how the author handled serious subject matter (rape) in a creative and innovative manner.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. A modern mystery with a deeply scarred heroine and a gothic tint to it, and I loved it.

The Rest
The Rest are not "bad" books. The books I do not like or wish to read, I stop reading. Period (these books are never listed by the way). And while the books below may not have hit me in just the right way, I did take the time to finish each and every one of them.

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry
A Good and Happy Child by Justin Evans

I'm always open to book suggestions for the future (though with Nano starting tomorrow, I don't think November holds many books for me).

In Honor of Halloween, I give you Jack! (The Pumpkin King)

Happy Halloween!

Hey where did I go?

2009-10-23T06:24:00.001-07:00

Not much to report on the writing front. I've been steeling myself up for NaNo. Less than ten days away!

On the movie front, I finally went and saw Paranormal Activity, and while I'm not sure if it is in fact one of the scariest movies ever (as promised in the ad), it certainly is worth catching a viewing of. Most higher budgeted movies have trouble accomplishing what PA accomplished.

Mercedes posted about her favorite music to write with, and I thought I'd add my two cents. I love music that is slow and eerie to write with, for instance:

Bon Iver - "Skinny Love"

or the ever loved Portishead's "Glory Box"

Enjoy

The Books of September

2009-10-05T08:55:00.000-07:00

Never found missing library book. Have also yet to pay library fines...

Here's a list of new books read in September

The Good

The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror by editor Stephen Jones - volumes 7,13, and 19
*worst list keeper ever. Forgot Cabal by Clive Barker*

The Best

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan: this post-apocalyptic YA book made my eyes moist up a bit... must have been my contacts. I honestly didn't know a Young Adult book could be like this, and reading this book helped me open up to the YA market.

Runner-ups:

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Andersen. Another wonderful YA book, this one about anorexia. It takes a look at anorexia in teenage girls without reading like a lifetime movie. It's chilling, surreal, eerily beautiful, and it is neither cheesy or overly sentimental.

Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey: This book kicked ass. End of story.

The Rest
Faithless by Karin Slaughter

Have started outlining and making lists for Nano. Me writing 50,000 words of shorts without prepartion would be the opposite of good. You can buddy me by clicking on my awesome Nano Badge

Good writing peoples!

I like rules. Except for the ones I break.

2009-10-01T09:40:00.000-07:00

I have decided that this year, I want to participate in NaNoWriMo. I think a month focused on stressed productive writing will do me some good. I do better with deadlines than I do without. But after I decided that I was going to write 50,000 words, I realized there was still one little problem.

I don't any novel ideas. (pun!) Not a one. Oh wait maybe, maybe, ah no. Not. A. One.

But then I thought, what the hell, why not just write 50,000 words of stories? Some exploring of forums led me to find out that this would make me a NaNo Rebel.

Sold.

So heres to November and the stories that it will bring.

And heres to deadlines.

Cheers all.

The Monsters Next Door and Other News

2009-09-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

The latest issue of The Monsters Next Door is available for purchase now! This is the first print issue. You can also download the free pdf here. For issue eight, I reviewed C. Bryan Brown's sci-fi/horror novella Men of Five

Library of the Living Dead Press now has an anthology open called "The Moron's Guide to the Inevitable Zombocalypse." It looks crazy good, and submissions info can be found here.

I finally did some writing, and finished my long languishing story "Wolf." Now I have three stories on the editing chopping block. Some writers love it, some writers loathe it, but for me, editing is just something to procrastinate :^)

Inspiration

2009-09-21T08:34:00.000-07:00

I'm going to work some on my story "Wolf" today, so I rewatched a clip of the Wolf Guy (Shaun Ellis) teaching a wolf pup how to howl. "Wolf" (camping misadventure story) was limping along at 1500 or so words, and then I cut all but the 200 word intro. Nice. So here goes.

Worst Blogger Ever/ I think I'm a dog person

2009-09-18T06:20:00.000-07:00

Haven't blogged in a while, am sort of in a writing slump. It's gotten to be where I'm writing just to keep up the practice, and the stuff I'm producing I really have no faith/interest in.

In cheerier news, I am looking forward to the new Necrotic Tissue, as it will have one of my favorite stories that I've written in it.

So I used to think of myself as a cat person. But since I've started working with dogs and living with cats, I've decided that I'm actually a dog person. I just don't get cats (and I do think that mystery is part of their charm, but come on, mystery can only take you so far). We fairly recently added a cat to our one cat household, and the two just keep staring at each other. One will walk by, and the other will meow. This gets repeated, about twenty times a day. I keep waiting for something to happen, for them to play (wait, do cats play?) or fight (I know they fight). But so far, nothing.

Cats.

The Books of August

2009-09-03T07:52:00.000-07:00

The Good, The Best, The Rest, and The Reviewed

I read less in August than I did in months past (due to circumstances partially tied to a certain overdue library book which is being very difficult and hiding somewhere in my house), but here are the books of August.

The Good
Firestarter - King (now I think the only books I've yet to read of his are The Stand and the four fantasy books)
Julie and Julia - Julie Powell
Hide and Seek - Jack Ketchum. The only reason I decided to place this with the good instead of with the best is because I feel that while the first half or so of the does a good job of setting up characters and relationships, the pace it sets is a bit slow for me.

The Best
The Outlander by Gil Adamson. This book is about a woman who commits a crime and who is then chased through the Canadian wilderness by a set of eerie red haired twins who want her to pay. I am a sucker for women in the wilderness books, as well as for tales about a woman on her own, and I enjoyed this book very much.

The Rest
The following are books I finished, and while they weren't my favorite books, I did take the time to finish each one of them (books I don't like, I don't finish. End of story). These are not bad books, they just weren't for me.

Woman - Richard Matheson
Deep in the Darkness - Michael Laimo
A House Divided - Deborah LeBlanc.

And The Reviewed
I read Men of Five by C. Bryan Brown for TMND, and my review for that should be coming out in the next issue.

Good writing everyone! (no I didn't neglect a WIP Wednesday post on purpose...)

WIP Wednesday: the short story shame edition

2009-08-26T07:55:00.001-07:00

As with Cate Gardner and the others before me, I have decided to do a work in progress Wednesday post.

Mainly I think, because I'm hoping that posting about some of my stories, will shame me into finishing them.

Anyway right now I'm working on two stories, "Wolf" (a camping misadventure) stands at 1555 words (probably will need to be about 3000, 3500) and "Medea" (eh, title is a WIP. and the story is about you know. Medea.) is at about 2000 (and I have no clue how long this one will end up, but it's far from done).

On a related note: God maybe I need to hire someone to do titles for me. Mine tend to be short and easy. They lack the mystery I think.

Maybe by next Wednesday, at least one story will be done. Or maybe I'll ignore these stories and post about two new unfinished tales.

Shame shame shame

I'd like to thank the academy, which is comprised of KC Shaw, for the One Lovely Blog Award.

2009-08-24T18:28:00.000-07:00

Author of Jack of All Trades, the one KC Shaw awarded me The One Lovely Blog Award.

Which is smashing, since KC has been a-blogging and writing much longer than I, and her blog is always much more awesome (example - right now she is having a contest on her blog. do I have a contest? exactly).

In honor of my award, I'd like to share with you the best sweded version of Jurassic Park ever (a hard thing to find).

Now it's time to pass the award on (no! it's mine!!!! all mine!)

okay now it's time to pass the award on :^)

All the blogs I read are wonderous (that's why I read them after all), but after careful deliberation, I award The One Lovely Blog Award to Danielle Ferries. I always like it when I see there's a new blog from Danielle, for she blogs about everything from what's new in the reading/writing world to how reading Harry Potter while exercising somehow cancels out the pain of the exercise (inconceivable). Plus she calls corndogs dagwood dogs, and her winter is my summer. Ah, cultural differences (or um, places on planet differences. oh yeah i think that's called geography.)

The rules for the award:

1. Accept the award, and don't forget to post a link back to the awarding person.

2. Pass the award on.

3. Notify the award winner(s).

Favorite Final Girl

2009-08-23T06:15:00.000-07:00

While typing up a review for the lovely TMND the other day, I popped in a DVD for inspiration, and this caused me to think - I don't think I've ever shared my views on my final girl fav.

(for those who didn't spend their time in college writing one too many term papers on horror - "final girl" is an idea created by the one Carol Clover)

So here she is my favorite final girl -

KIRSTY

The female lead in Clive Barker's Hellraiser, here are my top ten reasons for why Kirsty kicks ass.

Spoilers lurk ahead people.

10. She is quick when it comes to saving her delicate boyfriend.

9. She disobeys doctor's orders.

8. She consults no one. She gets help from no one. (I'm not considering the looming threat of pinhead and his fellows as "help")

7. She enjoys her wine, but not too too much.

6. She's willing to brave hell in order to go back for her father.

5. She acts fast when it comes to throwing evil boxes out windows.

4. She dresses like a person and not like a pin up.

3. She doesn't spend any time complaining how impossible all the supernatural occurrences are around her. ie. she's confident enough in her own mental state to not worry about the surreal quality of her surroundings

2. She not only has a brain, but she uses it.

1. She has. FANTASTIC hair. so curly.

I might have to be her for Halloween. Best Final Girl Ever. Or until the next wonderful movie I rewatch :^)

Any other final girl favs?

The Best Book by the Greatest Living Author

2009-08-13T05:46:00.001-07:00

It was a Sunday morning and I'd been up since 7 am to get ready for a flight. I was tired from Saturday night, and really, I am not, nor will I probably ever be, a morning person. And I had been coming down for a cold for some time, so every now and then a death rattle would throw itself out of my mouth, trying most likely to escape out of me and into one of the other airway patrons.

I say this so you will understand this: I was not in a happy or pleasant mood. And on a normal day, I am never, never, rude. My mother and father taught me better than that.

So I go to a Border's to get a book and I pass the clerk talking to a customer. The clerk referred to a book (and this is a short paraphrase of his wordy overfilled speech) as the greatest book ever by a living author today. And what did I do as I passed?

I snorted. Very audibly. Glares by clerk followed (also a nice conversation when I bought a book where he slowly read my books back cover before sarcastically commenting on it. ah, i make friends), and I felt a little bad because of the parents and the politeness agenda.

But look - it is ridiculous to say anything about a greatest living author of all times. Reading is subjective (and of course the clerk meant "in his opinion" - this issue is bigger than him), and for anyone to advertise such things as a greatest living author is beyond silly (oh and said author the clerk was advertising wrote a book that sounds like "the toad.").

Besides, everyone knows the greatest living author is Joyce Carol Oates. No question about it. :^)

The Sour Aftertaste of Olive Lemon: The Chapbook that swept the internet!

2009-08-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

The always sweet and talented Cate Gardner has a chapbook that has just been released.

"The Sour Aftertaste of Olive Lemon" (by the way, quote marks for chapbooks? or italic/underlines? grammar...) is being released by Bucket O'Guts Press and you can order your copy here for a mere six dollars. Very nice.

Congrats Cate :^) My copy will be ordered as soon as I finish this post.

Road Trip To Hell! The Car That Ate My Parents! An Evil Boat! Okay forget that last one.

2009-08-06T19:23:00.000-07:00

The Wondrous ezine, The Monsters Next Door, is doing a special road trip themed issue! I love road trip themed horror. Think Hitchhikers, Rest Stops, Trips that go Wrong, Back Roads into Nowhere, and last but not least, Hitchhikers! (What? I love hitchhiking stories)

Details can be found here.

For inspiration, I would suggest reading "Children of the Corn" by King or watching such films as Rest Stop, The Hills Have Eyes (original), Penny Dreadful, and all the dozens of other films I'm not remembering.

What's your favorite road trip movie or book? I love the Penny Dreadful (First year of the Afterdark 8 films to die for). Of course it does have a hitchhiker...

The Books of July! And yes. yes I am the worst blogger ever.

2009-07-30T08:37:00.000-07:00

In the last week I have packed, moved, and resettled into my new home. I plead guilty in the case of non posting. I was busy :^)

Anyway, even though there are still two days left in the month, I thought I would talk about the books I read in July. Last month I guessed at how many books I read in June, and the comments got me thinking - why not keep track of what I read? For a month anyway. So here they are:

JULY BOOKS - THE GOOD, THE BETTER, AND THE REST

The Good
These are the books I enjoyed, even if they didn't really completely win my heart.
Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin
The Cave by Anne McLean Matthews
To the Power of Three by Laura Lippman
Nightmare at 20,000 Feet and other stories by Richard Matheson

*update* apparently I'm not so good with lists after all. I forgot to add Angela Carter's The Magic Toyshop to The Good.*

The Better
These books wowed me into silence and awe. Most wonderous and magical, and should be read immediately!

Into the Woods and The Likeness, both by Tana French
These two are mysteries with a touch (but a very light touch) of the supernatural. Very beautiful, very moving, and very readable.

Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
This one has already been hyped up, so I'll keep it short: it won't go down as the best book I've ever read, but I will reread it again. Child Vampires are not happy creatures.

And the Rest
The books I didn't enjoy are not on this list, simply because I don't finish the ones I don't like. If I can't get into a book, I return it to the library. So while the following books did not blow me away - I did finish each and every one. These were not bad books. They just were not my favorites.
Come Closer by Sara Grann
Down River by John Hart
The Sculptress by Minette Walters
Blue Heaven by CJ Box
Bones by Jan Burke

So that is my list! Enjoy and write well

Movie Meme - Because I need a post

2009-07-19T20:09:00.000-07:00

So like the brave ones before me, like K.C. Shaw and Jameson Caine I've decided to do a blog about movie things. Because I can.

1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times.
Beauty and the Beast. What? I mean at least some of those times occured during my childhood.

2. Name a movie that you’ve seen multiple times in the theater.

Eh, when I was in middle school I remember going to see Titanic a bunch of times. I was young, I make no apologies.

3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie.
.... Not really anyone.

4. Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie.
Tom Cruise.

5. Name a movie that you can and do quote from.
Clerks II. Though most of the quotes are not blog friendly.

6. Name a movie musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs.
Not quite all of, but most of Rocky Horror Picture Show I've got down.

7. Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with.
This is the last question over isn't it. Wait! DISNEY MOVIES. I forgot. I can easily sing along to The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and sorta the other ones, but not as much, because they two I said are the best obviously.

8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see.
Eraserhead. Because I did. And everyone should suffer as I have suffered.

9. Name a movie that you own.
What's one I own that not everyone else owns (yeah I jazzed up the question)? The Great Mouse Detective. Do kids watch that one now?

For some reason this movie questionnaire is pulling the kid out of me. Can't answer in non cartoons.

10. Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops.
Paris Hilton. She started out as a model, and by God, one day she'll get that Oscar!

11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? If so, what?
No.

12. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven’t yet gotten around to it.
The Midnight Meat Train.

13. Ever walked out of a movie?
No but I've wanted to. What was that one Travolta movie. A Civil Law, Civil Rain, something (too lazy to google). Boring.

14. Name a movie that made you cry in the theater.
Not the answer to 15. Okay maybe the answer to 15.

15. What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?
Up. Another Cartoon.

16. What’s your favorite/preferred genre of movie?
Horror. And cartoons apparently.

17. What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
Look I grew up in what I consider (looking back in my old age of young adult) to be the key era of Disney cartoons okay? So maybe I've seen a lot of the animated films in my time! but they are all glorious!

The Little Mermaid.

18. What movie do you wish you had never seen?
Everyone who is going to go see my movie recommedation skip this part:
Eraserhead. NO. NO NO NO NO NO. Boring, boring, AND THEN NO.

19. What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed?
I'm going to need an operational definition of "weird" here.

I heart Huckabees was a little off I suppose, and I liked that.

20. What is the scariest movie you’ve seen?
Not my favorite question. I don't know, for me scary movies are mostly about the setting. My setting, not the movie's setting. I do have a thing about Japanese Horror. Creepy children.

And I'm not allowed to watch The Changeling alone. (not Changeling, that Angelina Jolie movie. The Changeling, 1980's Horror. Guy from Patton.)

21. What is the funniest movie you’ve seen?
Clerks II. Who were we studying to be, Batman?!

Best Horror Stories Ever. Part 3. The Stephen King Question.

2009-07-13T07:29:00.001-07:00

Where the hell is Stephen King on these lists the reader might ask (or Lovecraft, Blackwood, James, Matheson, etc. the bigwigs. the head guys. the... major cheeses). And the answer is... well okay I don't have an answer. There very well could be a blog and list devoted to some of the writers I mentioned in the future. There very well may not.

Here are a few more of the stories I read over and over again. Only this and nothing more.

Oh and if you haven't guessed already, the writing is still moving... slowly :^)

11.) "The King', in Yellow" by Brian Keene: This story advises that one should not follow the recommendations of homeless men. Though in the twisted way of horror, I bet if I looked hard enough, I could find a story that recommends the oppposite. Hm a challenge.

12.) "A Trick of the Dark" by Tina Rath: One of my favorite vampire stories. Subtle. Short. Like this write up.

13.) "The Candle in the Skull" by Basil Copper: A story for Halloween. And one that recommends you don't trust children

14.) "Dark Wings" by Phyllis Eisenstein: This story has the type of ending that most of us (and by us, I mean me) can only dream about. The type of ending that takes your trust and uses it against you.

15.) "Closing Time" by Neil Gaiman: I know I love this story because how often I try to take elements of Gaiman's ending into my own work. An ending, that by the way, I'm not sure I even understand (please free feel to explain it to me. Where is Neil Gaiman when you need him?). Yet dsspite the confusion, here it is, number 15.

16.)"The Veldt" by Bradbury: Because it was open in front of me. And because you should never trust children. I may have mentioned it before. But it's a lesson worth knowing.

Current watching: True Blood. My fav TV show.
Current reading: Let the Right One In. Have I mentioned that you shouldn't trust children?

Apparently Vamp is the word.

WIP Wednesday/June Wrap up

2009-07-01T07:28:00.000-07:00

It's that time again. June has ended. And what do I have to show for it? Hm... Let's see.

Number of books read: A million. No. Um. Probably about 12.

Best Book Read in June: Deerskin by Robin McKinley.

Number of Stories Sold: 0

Number of Stories Written: See above

Number of Times Opened Word Documents Only to eventually close without changes: Oh. A thousand or so.

Number of Dog Bites: 1. It wasn't the dog's fault. And it wasn't serious.

So that was my productive month.... So far summer has not been kind to me. Or it has been too kind. Either way, there is little to no writing.

And earlier today Jameson Caine was good enough to post a video of what happens in the sewers over which I buy my groceries. What a kind kind man :^)

The Girl Who Lied

2009-06-28T07:50:00.000-07:00

"Sometimes you can learn more about a person by what they don’t tell you. Sometimes you can learn a lot from the things they just make up. If you are tagged with this Meme, lie to me. Then tag 7 other folks (one for each deadly sin) and hope they can lie."

I was tagged by Cate Gardner for this one. I don't know why she would tag me. I never* lie!

*warning: the use of never might in fact be a lie.

Pride: What is your biggest contribution to the world?

Oh I invented post it notes. Yeah I'm pretty much a big deal.

Envy: What do your coworkers wish they had which is yours?
My die hard work ethnic. They threaten to cut me when I go on and on about the newest novel I've finished. "Samantha leave some words for the rest of us!" they cry.

Gluttony: What did you eat last night?
I dug around in the giagantic red dirt pile my landlady has thoughtfully placed in our yard and found myself a feast just waiting inside.

Lust: What really lights your fire?
Men with bad pick up lines. "You're so pretty, I bet you have a boyfriend?" What? Now I do!

Anger: What is the last thing that really pissed you off?
Everything. When I'm reading, it's pretty words. "Why you words be so pretty?" I yell, and throw that there book against the floor. "I hate purdy words!"

Greed: Name something you keep from others.
HP Lovecraft. Lives under my bed. He's mine now.

Sloth: What's the laziest thing you've ever done?
Steal Aaron's idea of using this for dealing with the tagging. Anyway who hasn't been tagged or done this already should do so! Unless they don't feel like it. Then don't do it.

Hm I don't see any sin posts by Brendan, LR, Barry, and Jameson. Those Punks. Consider yourself tagged.

The Monsters Next Door Issue 7 is out!

2009-06-23T08:31:00.000-07:00

Latest TMND is out. You must check it out here. Fiction! Stories of horror and of um non-horror (okay so maybe I couldn't do movie trailers).

Issue 7 does include a couple of book reviews by yours truly of Suzi M's The Tower and Shell Walter's Demon Alley.

Also check out a review by one of my fellow Monsters of Tainted, an anthology edited by the fab Aaron Polson.

Good writing peoples!

Zombie Love

2009-06-22T19:06:00.000-07:00

I was talking to a friend who had no idea what Zombie Love was. This concerned me, as the short film came out a year or two ago. I've decided to continue spreading the goodness of this movie around. If you haven't seen it, you must.

Stagger, don't run to get it. Stagger your hearts out!

Anyway below is the trailor.

Oh did I mention it's a moving horror musical with more than a dash of romance?

Contest and Open Witches Anthology and Not Writing (oh my)

2009-06-16T07:38:00.000-07:00

The title says it all don't it? Anyway, the fablous ezine The Monsters Next Door is holding a "Sinister Summer" story contest, where you are given free reign to unleash any summer horror stories you might have in you. Further guidelines and prizes can be found here.

And Library of the Living Dead Press is now open to submissions for a Witches Anthology. I've read a stew (misspelling but I've decided it stays) of wonderous witches stories as of late (many in The now expired Best of Fantasy and Horror collections) and am determined to chalk off some time to write one of my own. Futher information can be found here.

I've been more or less in a story rut as of late, and because I've been working a fair amount with the dogs, I haven't had the chance to put as much time as I need in order to conquer the block war. I need to do so. As of now. Well before I leave for work today.

I'm Boring, Sylvia Plath is not

2009-06-09T18:19:00.000-07:00

I've not been up to a whole lot writing wise. Between home hunting (rent signs are everywhere when you're not looking and no where when you are) and working, I've been letting writing slide. I'm going up to OH for a bit (the North I like to call it. despite people telling me this mid-west myth. it's north of me. it's the north. and it's cold. has to be the north). hopefully the cold will spur me to work...

Now go watch this video of Sylvia Plath reading her poem "Lady Lazarus."

Well the audio is of Plath. The video is not.

You're welcome :^)

Best Horror Stories Ever. Part 2. And by best, I mean my favorites. Just so, you know, we're clear.

2009-06-03T05:48:00.001-07:00

Five more intriguing tales you should read... (could I write book jackets or what? ha!)

These are the stories I reread to death (yup could totally write book jackets)

Anyway

6.)"The Crawl" by Stephen Laws. A couple is pursued by an evil scarecrow looking monster. Much creepier than my description makes it seem. Not that you know, it wouldn't be creepy if a scarecrow monster came to life and attacked me.

7.)"Coppola's Dracula" by Kim Newman. How Coppola should have made Dracula. Basically. With vamps. And twists. And the awesome.

8.)"The Luxury of Harm" by Christopher Fowler. A tale about lovers of horror.

9.) "The Cask of Amontillado" by Poe. My favorite Poe. Hm. Okay, one of my favorite Poes. Never said this would be a modern list.

10.) "Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire" by Neil Gaiman. Because it's why we write what we write.

I have been re-employed as a puppy wrangler and am happy. Now go read and write peoples.

It's Time to Pay the Rent Again

2009-06-01T08:12:00.000-07:00

Acceptances for May came early in the month (The Awesome Dr. Pus, and the surreal Weird Tales, aka WEIRD TALES!) and then ran dry. 5 pieces currently out. I wrote three flashes this month, and started 3 shorts (I'm great at starting stories...). More writing must be done in June.

Currently limping around the house since I stepped on a nail yesterday while helping my fam clean out the garage (i like to say fam. I also say vacay. and vom. this drives my linguistics MA roomie out of her mind.) Was wearing flip-flops (yeah not smart) and stepped on a hidden rotting board. Flip flop got stuck to the board. My RN mother looked over and said I'd be fine ("You're up to date on your shots right?"). Now feeling sorry for my foot.

Slow Week.

2009-05-26T09:43:00.001-07:00

I think I'm going for a most rejections without any acceptences record for Not One of Us. I'm up to 4. Oh it's on.

Now while I go psych myself up to edit and send out my latest zombie, you should go watch Pink's Latest Video and count the Stephen King references.

Good writing everyone

Best Horror Stories Ever. Part 1. Because there are a lot.

2009-05-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

Am I applying for new jobs? Am I writing something beautiful and magnificent? Nah. Though I have three stories in progress (i.e. I have three stories with beginnings and nothing else). And I have four large ceiling to floor windows (old house = wonderfulness) with much to watch. And I have a book (The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror - Eighth Collection, 1994 I think). And I've run across a few horror stories in here that I've read before, and this got me thinking. There are some stories that I reread every time I come across them, some stories that I'll pull a collection off of my bookshelf, and ignore the other stories just to reread the one. This of course doesn't mean that I don't enjoy the other stories, just that I don't feel the drive to reread them over and over again. So I've decided to start listing some of my all time favorite horror stories (and only horror stories. To do more would take a while).

In no order whatsoever:

1.) "The Box" By Jack Ketchum: Little boy sees the inside of a man's box on a subway and things began to happen. I'm partial to Ketchum, and this story is horrific without any source of actual horror. It's puzzling and bizarre, and I love it.

2.) "Snow, Glass, Apples" by Neil Gaiman: A retelling of Snow White. I adore fairy retellings, and this is one of the darkest and most elegantly written ones.

3.) "Mr. Sly Stops for a Cup of Joe" by Scott Emerson Bull: I love stories where the distinction between the good and bad guys gets thin or reverses completely (see Joyce Carol Oates). And this story manages to be both fun and disturbing at the same time.

4.) "The Chill Clutch of the Unseen" by Kim Newman: This story addresses what happens to those old-school monsters, as well as the good guys, as they age. And the ending makes me smile.

5.) "They" by David Morrell: I love this story so much I had to stop to read it while listing it. It's about wolves. And one little girl who encounters them.

Listing these stories just makes me think of all the ones I've yet to list. Consider this a sampling, and nothing more.

Zombie Anthologies Open for Submissions

2009-05-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

Smell that? Yeah you probably don't want to. It's the smell of zombie.

Over at Living Dead Press, Anthony Giangregorio is putting together a zombie antho called (maybe) The Book of the Dead. He's only taking Romero style zombies (slow and steady), which I think is great. I love traditional zombies.

And at Library of the Living Dead Press, Dr. Pus is putting together a charity zombie antho called Night of the Giving Dead. All proceeds go towards First Book, a charity that tries to promote literacy by giving books to children with limited access to them.

And that's the zombie news of the day.

I am working on a story for Dr. Pus' antho. But I think it will be my last zombie one for a while. Of course I originally said I didn't have any zombie stories in me. And then I wrote "Sins of the Living..." Then I said I had maybe one more. Now I'm four zombie stories in. But I think after this one I'll be done for a while...

unless the zombie inspiration strikes again

Absence of Puppies = Sad Writing

2009-05-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

My day job is going away due to the economy (ie the place I work at has to close), and this means I will no longer get to play with dogs daily. I feel my mental health will suffer for this. It is common knowledge that 80% of all happiness is caused by puppies. Simple scientific fact really.

And it has happened. Though I pledged to write a 8000 words or so story, I have warped it, and it looks like it will be around 3000. It might actually be impossible for me to write longer stories. My version of Gone with the Wind would have gone a lot differently.

Also on the writing front, it appears I will start reviewing some books for The Monsters Next Door. This means free books for me! Yes.

Weird Tales!!!! WEIRD TALES. Weird Tales? WEIRD TALES!

2009-05-10T12:48:00.000-07:00

I just got home from a full day of work, and am covered in large pretty colored bruises from a (very lovable) bulldog that thinks he's the size of a chi and acts like it, but it doesn't matter!!! My story is going to be in Weird Tales!!!! All 149 words of it!

Weird Tales is my publication. The one magazine/whatever that if I had my choice (say a magical genie came about) and was offered the chance to be in whatever publication I wanted, I would chose Weird Tales. For some writers its F & SF or Cemetery Dance, or some literary market I am unfamilar with, but mine's Weird Tales. And now I'm happy.

Will write longer work or else. May Resolution.

2009-05-06T10:25:00.001-07:00

It seems like quite a few writers I've known like to complain of how hard it is for them to write shorter works. "It was going to be around 3000 words," they'll say. "But I just couldn't stop."

This is not me.

I have a problem writing longer works. I love writing beginnings, and I love writing endings (particularly endings, they're my favorite part. I usually can't wait to get to them). I have some trouble with the in-between.

I am determined to get over this, and so I will write something longer in the lovely month of May (longer here being defined as 8 to 10 k). I have the idea for the story (it has been inspired by the lovely doggies I work with), and have been plotting about it, and I think it will work best as a longer story, and not one I've smushed into under 3000 words. So I shall write it. I will. Starting sometime shortly...

Stolen - What won't I write?

2009-05-03T08:15:00.000-07:00

I've copied this idea from Jameson T. Caine, who cleverly posted about what he won't write. There is nothing that I will say that I will "never" write, since I used to say I would never write about zombies, and oh look, I've written about zombies not just once, but three times. Apparently I lie.

Things I probably won't write about.

1.) Guns. I don't know a lot about guns, and so don't expect me to write on them. I can throw out a few general terms, but since I really have no idea what I'm talking about, it would just make me feel foolish. This probably means there are no epic zombie novels in my future.

2.) Babies. See above. I'm rarely around babies, and despite my powerful Bachelor's in Psychology, I've already forgotten all the stages of development and the like. Plus babies don't actually do a whole lot. Maybe if I had an idea of an evil baby story (Bradbury is the author of my fav evil baby story), than I would write of the wee ones. Bc they are a little creepy.

3.)Bodily fluids other than blood. This one seems pretty self-explantory. Look I'm not particulary prissy, but c'mon now.

Things I'm on the fence about:

Vamps and Werewolves. If I have an idea I feel is somewhat creativish/newish, than I might write it. But there's a lot of lit on them already, and I won't contribute to it, unless I am really hit by something.

Awesome new anthology!!!

2009-05-01T07:13:00.000-07:00

I sent out another story to Dr. Pus for his flash fiction zombie collection Zombology IV, and he has decided to start another collection because of it! it will be a collection of fairy tale zombie stories (my story was of Hansel and Gretel) and I couldn't be more excited!!! I feel creative and wonderful today. And everyone should submit to Dr. Pus' Feary Tale Collection.

http://libraryofthelivingdead.lefora.com

Dr. Pus is awesome. Wait can I say awesome twice in one post? Actually three times now? I'm going with yes.

Redbox Rentals

2009-04-27T12:14:00.000-07:00

I have a love/hate relationship with redbox. I feel it's partially responsible for driving into the ground my favorite independent movie store. Yet it's cheap. So I use it.

I rented two horror flicks recently, Forest of Death and 36 Pasos. Forest of Death is not good. Laughable ghosts/monster things, and the plot is just slow and utterly non-frightening. I rented it under the misguided idea that it was a Japanese horror movie, and it wasn't until the end that I realized that no one was speaking Japanese at all (I'm not so good with the Asian languages). It was a Chinese horror movie! I've yet to watch a Chinese horror movie that I found to be any good. (Of course with my horribleness with languages who knows, maybe I have seen a great Chinese horror film). Japanese horror, even when its bad, still has a certain creepy edge to it. Though the best Asian language horror film I've watched so far was actually Korean. A movie called A Tale of Two Sisters.

36 Pasos is watchable, but not terrific. I like the plot, and several of the themes, but at times it tries a little too hard. There are scenes that would be great, if only they were edited and cut down. There was several times when my roomie and I were yelling at the TV that we got it already, the movie could move on now. I would recommend it. But my recommedation is half-hearted.

Where did the good horror movies go?

Productiveness!

2009-04-21T08:03:00.001-07:00

Was excited this morning to find an acceptance from Zombology IV waiting for me. I've been on a zombie writing kick lately, which is weird because I never thought that I would write anything zombie. Not because I don't love zombies (which I do with an undying passion), but because I think its hard to add anything new to the zombie genre. But luckily I had a couple of ideas, and though the zombie well is dry now, maybe I will be able to write something new in the future.

In unrelated news: Cockatiels are not intelligent creatures. I feel that if they were the only bird species, then I would never have to be afraid of a bird uprising (circa Hitchcock). But they're not. So be prepared...

Creatures

2009-04-17T07:25:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a new creature story and I was trying to think of my favorite creature stories and films for inspiration.

My favorite creature story is Lovecraft's "The Rats in the Wall." Of all Lovecraft stories, this one has the best ending (at least for me).

Favorite creature movies gets a little trickier. Of recent years, it would have to be The Descent. If anyone hasn't checked out this movie, I would seriously recommend it. I mean just look.

Chills right? I don't know if I want to see the sequel because I'm afraid it might ruin my love from the first one.

And who doesn't love Carpenter's The Thing? And of course you have vamps, werewolves, and zombies, oh my. Or Feast? A horror/comedy filled with drooling, moaning, reproducing, creatures.

But there are some famous creature movies that I just don't buy as scary. Like Jaws. Don't go into the water. Problem solved. Or Stephen King's It. It's Tim Curry with a wig. I love Tim Curry. But he's not scary. Looks good in thigh highs, yes. Scary, no.

Starting Blog

2009-04-16T14:45:00.000-07:00

While I'm starting this blog of my love of horror (and my attempts at writing it), I'm watching the wonderful channel called Chiller. I love this channel, despite its frequent and long commercials. One of my favorite shows is "Night Visions." I'm not sure if its Henry Rollins' awkward hosting, or the surprise actresses and actors (Bridget Fonda! That guy from The Princess Bride!), but its entertaining, and sometimes even unpredictable, which means a lot to any horror fan.

My favorite show so far was the one with Jerry O'Connell called "Rest Stop." Wholesome fun that one. And I was halfway through the episode "Darkness" when I started thinking that I had read it before (and I had, its a short by Dennis L. McKiernan). How did I miss this show when it first came out?

Setting up this blog is showing me that I am not quite as computer literate as I thought I was. But I suppose I'll eventually get the hang of it.