Showcase Presents: Writer, Dale Eldon.
I'd
like to introduce a fellow traveler on the highways and byways of this
horror-soaked journey known by those who walk the dark miles, hobbled, in
the devil's shoes. Dale Eldon has some interesting things to say and
some interesting ways of saying them. Here's a wee treat in the form of
an abridged sampler from a recent post I made on my website, www.williamcookwriter.com, stolen from Mr Eldon's website.
THE ELDON LIBRARY (So Far)
SMELL OF THE DEAD, a novella by Dale Eldon, coming June 1st!
DARK DWELLINGS, a short story by Dale Eldon.
Little Stories for the Smallest Room: Dale Eldon's short story SHATTER
For more Dale Eldon goodness, check out these links:
I recently asked a Facebook pal of mine, Donald White, to contribute to Showcase. I have read two of his stories now and think he is a very good writer and one to watch for. He writes Horror and Fantasy - while I prefer the Horror generally, Vengeance and Valor was one of the few Fantasy stories I really enjoyed. SO without further ado, here he is.
***********************************
My name is Donald White. I have been writing for over two decades now: mainly horror, fantasy and some drama. Writing is the ultimate form of expression. I am able to bring things to life on the page, like a modern day Doctor Frankenstein.
Recently, I have delved into the world of publishing. My tales appear in magazines, online, and will be in two future anthologies. I also have a few ebooks available. Creating a work is only the beginning; publishing and promoting it are beasts of their own. But I thrive on challenge, and my desire is unquenchable.
The future is unknown, but my intentions are clear. I am putting together an anthology of short stories which I hope to have available in the coming year. I have longer works, which I intend to publish. And there are even a few novels that I am preparing to release.
“Lady Killer” is a tale of foul murder frustrated by forces beyond the mortal ken. Rick Smith is a killer, who has chosen his next victim: Lisa Montgomery. But all is not as it seems, and Rick will soon learn the insatiable appetite of a true predator.
“The Face in the Mirror” is a short story of a ghostly seduction which drives a man to madness. David is a struggling writer, struggling to write erotica. But in the darkness of his room one night, a vision of beauty appears behind him in the mirror. Her name is Melanie and with her appearance comes a series of changes in David's life. But who is she? And why can she only be seen in the mirror? Is she a lover, or a dangerous apparition? Stare into the glass, and you will see the truth standing right behind you.
“The Hound”: Linda Greywood feels persecuted by everyone and everything around her. But a real monstrosity is stalking her now, in the form of an infernal beast! Oppressed, her mind begins to unravel and she will take matters into her own hands. Run as fast as you can, but you will never escape The Hound.
“Vengeance and Valor” is a gritty tale of battle between elf and man, in which the bravery is uncommon and the heroes unexpected. Seven men await their fate in the depths of a cave. Slanted green eyes menace them from outer darkness. The stage is set for a final confrontation. Who will stand and who will fall?
Bio: Donald White grew up on the coast of North Carolina with his mother and father, an older and a younger sister. He has a degree in Information Systems, having graduated with honors. Later, he moved to Durham and is now employed at a software company in Raleigh. He is an avid reader of classical and modern literature. But even more, he loves to write and has created over two dozen original works in various genres.
Website: http://theblogofdonaldwhite.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NameDonaldWhite
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Donald-White/e/B00AAVRFX4
***********************************
My name is Donald White. I have been writing for over two decades now: mainly horror, fantasy and some drama. Writing is the ultimate form of expression. I am able to bring things to life on the page, like a modern day Doctor Frankenstein.
Recently, I have delved into the world of publishing. My tales appear in magazines, online, and will be in two future anthologies. I also have a few ebooks available. Creating a work is only the beginning; publishing and promoting it are beasts of their own. But I thrive on challenge, and my desire is unquenchable.
The future is unknown, but my intentions are clear. I am putting together an anthology of short stories which I hope to have available in the coming year. I have longer works, which I intend to publish. And there are even a few novels that I am preparing to release.
“Lady Killer” is a tale of foul murder frustrated by forces beyond the mortal ken. Rick Smith is a killer, who has chosen his next victim: Lisa Montgomery. But all is not as it seems, and Rick will soon learn the insatiable appetite of a true predator.
“The Face in the Mirror” is a short story of a ghostly seduction which drives a man to madness. David is a struggling writer, struggling to write erotica. But in the darkness of his room one night, a vision of beauty appears behind him in the mirror. Her name is Melanie and with her appearance comes a series of changes in David's life. But who is she? And why can she only be seen in the mirror? Is she a lover, or a dangerous apparition? Stare into the glass, and you will see the truth standing right behind you.
“The Hound”: Linda Greywood feels persecuted by everyone and everything around her. But a real monstrosity is stalking her now, in the form of an infernal beast! Oppressed, her mind begins to unravel and she will take matters into her own hands. Run as fast as you can, but you will never escape The Hound.
“Vengeance and Valor” is a gritty tale of battle between elf and man, in which the bravery is uncommon and the heroes unexpected. Seven men await their fate in the depths of a cave. Slanted green eyes menace them from outer darkness. The stage is set for a final confrontation. Who will stand and who will fall?
Bio: Donald White grew up on the coast of North Carolina with his mother and father, an older and a younger sister. He has a degree in Information Systems, having graduated with honors. Later, he moved to Durham and is now employed at a software company in Raleigh. He is an avid reader of classical and modern literature. But even more, he loves to write and has created over two dozen original works in various genres.
Website: http://theblogofdonaldwhite.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NameDonaldWhite
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Donald-White/e/B00AAVRFX4
Serial Killers Iterum - new anthology release
James Ward Kirk Fiction Presents
Serial Killers Iterum
From the introduction by RJ Parker:As an award-winning #1 bestselling author of several true crime serial killer books, I write accounts of these gruesome cases in a similar form to the anthology. People seem to enjoy reading about many different types of serial killer cases, more so than a full-length book on a lone serial killer. In fiction, I am partial to anthologies and short story collections, so when I was asked to write a forward to Serial Killers Iterum, it piqued my interest immediately.
Serial killers have captured the attention of the public for years. Most forms of ‘pop culture’ are filled with such characters, including television, film, books, music, and even art. Each year, hundreds of mystery/thriller novels are written with a serial killer character as the focal point. Most of the plots are formulaic and it seems as though most authors create an idealised and organized, high IQ killer who is highly elusive and leaves behind not a thread of evidence. The only variation in each book is how they stalk victims.
Rarely, does a serial killer get away in a fiction book; but in reality, many evade capture for years, and some historical cases like Jack The Ripper remain unsolved to this day. Fictional serial killers are typically written as being more prolific than your average true serial killer and the more prolific, the more the reader is hostile toward the character. But all real life serial killers are not organized, nor methodical or ingenious. Many have avoided capture while playing cat and mouse games with police, federal agencies and the media.
When we hear on the news how a killer viciously killed, victimized, and dismembered someone, we are riveted to the television. It is like watching a car crash – some hard-wired part of our human nature forces us to look. Place the ominous character of such a serial killer in a book, and it will make for an intense reading. Many fictional authors research people like Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy, who are some of the more well-known and notorious serial killers known to the public. But how many have heard of Luis Garavito, or ‘The Beast’, of Columbia? He preyed on young boys, raping and killing 138 victims before slitting their throats and then dismembering their bodies. That to me isn't a platitude serial killer like in most thriller novels today.
James Patterson wrote a book called "Kiss the Girls" where a serial killer takes young women out to a remote wooded area, then releases them only to hunt them down. That too makes for an intense read, wondering if the victim will outwit and escape, but the fear is injected as the killer closes in on his prey. Serial Killer Robert Hansen did in fact use an Alaskan forest as his hunting grounds, slaying 21 victims. He'd kidnap women, rape them and set them free before tracking and hunting them like animals. Many other thriller and horror movies follow the same typified serial killer plotline.
You, me, the general public, have a fascination for true crime accounts of people like Bundy, and fictional depictions of similar characters in television shows such as Criminal Minds and Dexter. We have a macabre interest in real life serial killers and can't comprehend the pure lack of remorse of these monsters. But yet we can't get enough. So we watch these shows and buy these books and read about these abhorrent yet fascinating criminals. Serial Killers Iterum is one such work that fulfils our insatiable obsession with serial killers in this terrifying, and bloodcurdling short story collection.
Bestselling True Crime author, RJ Parker.
rjparker.net
POETRY
Brian Rosenberger - The Rebel; Texas retirement home coda; The Vulture; Girl Six;
Getting Off; Detour on the Street of Dreams; Drill; Centerfold
Timothy Frasier - Condemned
David S. Pointer - The Age of Discovery; Gacyville, 1986; Local Police Notified; Business Slice on a Slab, 1994
David Frazier - Kill Her; Till screams subside Dead Quiet; UnSub Lust; Kill for Me; Three in Me
A. B. Stephens - Serial Killer’s Ditty; Clyde Gibson
William Andre Sanders - Lunacy; Serial Slayer
Jack Horne - Hell’s Belle
William Cook - Killer; Necro; Ted’s Poem
Getting Off; Detour on the Street of Dreams; Drill; Centerfold
Timothy Frasier - Condemned
David S. Pointer - The Age of Discovery; Gacyville, 1986; Local Police Notified; Business Slice on a Slab, 1994
David Frazier - Kill Her; Till screams subside Dead Quiet; UnSub Lust; Kill for Me; Three in Me
A. B. Stephens - Serial Killer’s Ditty; Clyde Gibson
William Andre Sanders - Lunacy; Serial Slayer
Jack Horne - Hell’s Belle
William Cook - Killer; Necro; Ted’s Poem
FLASH FICTION
Allen Griffin - Total Worship; Pretend Pain;
Mikel K. Poet - Fuck Ted Bundy
Matthew Wilson - The Killer
Randy Rohn - Clean
A. B. Stephens - The Liberator 44
Stephen Alexander - Grey
Marija Elektra Rodriguez - Sit Tibi Terra Levis
Brian Barnett - Business is Murder
Mikel K. Poet - Fuck Ted Bundy
Matthew Wilson - The Killer
Randy Rohn - Clean
A. B. Stephens - The Liberator 44
Stephen Alexander - Grey
Marija Elektra Rodriguez - Sit Tibi Terra Levis
Brian Barnett - Business is Murder
SHORT STORIES
Paula D. Ashe - The Mother of All Monsters
Mark Fewell - AMY'S LAST DANCE
Matthew Wilson - Half Price Coffee
Tony Wilson - The New Kid
Zach Black - His Father before Him
Murphy Edwards - On The Inside
Ken Goldman - A Little Nest Egg
James Ward Kirk - Meeting God
Christopher Nadeau - The Killer Repeats
A. B. Stephens - The Crooked Closet: Birth of a Serial Killer
Paul DeThroe - Graveyard Serial Killer
John L. Campbell - Choking Hazard
Brianna Stoddard - American Ripper
Chantal Noordeloos - The Methodical Man
A. D. Moore - Cute Stutter
Daniel O’Connor - Between Catskill and Cooperstown
John L. Thompson - Night Hunt
James Ward Kirk - The Mirror
Jack Bantry - Twisted Reality
Vada Katherine - Ghosts in the Mirror
Mike Jansen - My New Best Friend
A.B. Stephens - Go, Cat, Go
William Cook - Return of the Creep
Mark Fewell - AMY'S LAST DANCE
Matthew Wilson - Half Price Coffee
Tony Wilson - The New Kid
Zach Black - His Father before Him
Murphy Edwards - On The Inside
Ken Goldman - A Little Nest Egg
James Ward Kirk - Meeting God
Christopher Nadeau - The Killer Repeats
A. B. Stephens - The Crooked Closet: Birth of a Serial Killer
Paul DeThroe - Graveyard Serial Killer
John L. Campbell - Choking Hazard
Brianna Stoddard - American Ripper
Chantal Noordeloos - The Methodical Man
A. D. Moore - Cute Stutter
Daniel O’Connor - Between Catskill and Cooperstown
John L. Thompson - Night Hunt
James Ward Kirk - The Mirror
Jack Bantry - Twisted Reality
Vada Katherine - Ghosts in the Mirror
Mike Jansen - My New Best Friend
A.B. Stephens - Go, Cat, Go
William Cook - Return of the Creep
Vincenzo's Zombie Horror Blog: REVIEW: Blood Related by William Cook
From Vincenzo Bilof: http://vincenzobilof.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/review-blood-related-by-william-cook.html
REVIEW: Blood Related by William Cook
Meet the Cunninghams… A family bound by evil and the blood they have spilled.
Meet Caleb Samael Cunningham, a diabolical serial-killer with an inherited psychopathology, passed down via a blood-soaked genealogy. Caleb is a disturbed young man whose violent father is a suspected serial killer and mother, and insane alcoholic. After his father's suicide, Cunningham's disturbing fantasy-life becomes reality, as he begins his killing spree in earnest. His identical twin brother Charlie is to be released from an asylum and all hell is about to break loose, when the brothers combine their deviant talents.
4.5/5 Amazon Stars
The serial killer genre must be one of the most difficult to write about. Considering that so much research has been devoted to our understanding of these monstrous people who live among us, the killer is not mysterious. We're fascinated by the perpetrators of the most heinous crimes; the killers are granted immortality by the media and our own innate desire to peer into the darkness of the human heart and mind. How can such monsters exist?
William Cook's presentation of a family of murderers, most notably the twin brothers Caleb and Charlie, is a chronicle that charts the evolution (or de-evolution) of a killer's psyche. There is a plot in this novel, or rather, a series of events that result in the book's conclusion (no spoilers here). A revolutionary plot on the manic scale of Charles Manson, a damaged family unit that has been depicted in classic horror films like Texas Chainsaw Massacre and House of 1000 Corpses, and the downward spiral of the novel's "good guy" all illustrate the environmental conditions which create such monstrosities. Cook did very thorough research; no stone was left unturned, no cause unexplored.
There are several scenes that may have been more effective if the reader was given a chance to "see" rather than be "told," however, within the greater framework of the novel, which is rather extensive, one can argue that Cook's method only underscore the madness within: there are buckets of gore amid several grotesque mutilations, but all of them are very casually described. Whether from the perspective of a killer who wallows in bloodlust or from files and reports that summarize the grisly murder scenes, the detachment of the prose from the massacre mirrors the mental state of the characters. Descriptions are hardly tense, but rather matter-of-fact.
Grievances with this novel are based on personal preference. As with many serial killer stories, there is a severe lack of an endearing female character. From the perspective of Caleb and Charlie, this is acceptable because it appropriately conveys their worldview; however, I would have liked to see a character contrast with their dark, grimy world. One might argue that a doctor that appears within the pages is this contrast, and the argument is acceptable. In addition, I found some of the information near the end of the novel to be a bit anti-climactic.
Cook knows his material. The contemporary standard for a serial killer novel is, in my opinion, American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis. The fact that I can measure Blood Related against this standard suggests that Cook has accomplished what few writers can with the serial killer story. I've seen Blood Related appear on a few "Best of" lists; I expect Cook to receive accolades for this novel, and future endeavors.
A 'must read' from Vincenzo Bilof
"Necropolis Now" Book one of the Zombie Ascension
series
Synopsis:
Detroit has become a war zone. Slow, shambling corpses feast
upon the living while fire consumes the city. Amparo Vega, a haunted mercenary,
fights through streets that are choked with the dead. Her mission: extract the
legendary soldier, Jim Traverse, who holds the terrifying secret behind the
zombie epidemic.
While the bullets fly, Traverse befriends a group of survivors whose fates are forever linked to his: an infamous arms dealer, a young lawyer, and a former detective struggle against the zombies together.
Can Vega's elite cadre of mercenaries find Traverse before the epidemic becomes global?
While the bullets fly, Traverse befriends a group of survivors whose fates are forever linked to his: an infamous arms dealer, a young lawyer, and a former detective struggle against the zombies together.
Can Vega's elite cadre of mercenaries find Traverse before the epidemic becomes global?
***Includes
an introduction by Mark Tufo, author of the Zombie Fallout series
BLURBS:
“The moral high ground is shattered in this teeth gritting
apocalyptic thrill ride. Necropolis is a drop to the bottom with just enough
time to surface for air. Highly recommended.” – P. A. Douglas, author of
Epidemic of the Undead
"A violent femme fatale mercenary, a burning city and a war hero - when Bilof does zombies, he does 'em good. Another slick, fast-moving zombie thriller, with an edge which might just cut you if you don't turn the pages ever so carefully…" Sean T. Page, author of Meta-Horde.
"A violent femme fatale mercenary, a burning city and a war hero - when Bilof does zombies, he does 'em good. Another slick, fast-moving zombie thriller, with an edge which might just cut you if you don't turn the pages ever so carefully…" Sean T. Page, author of Meta-Horde.
BIO:
From Detroit, Michigan, Vincenzo Bilof is the recipient of
SNM Horror Magazine's Literary Achievement award in 2011. Vincenzo is the
author of the zombie novels "Nightmare of the Dead" and
"Necropolis Now," the first book in the Zombie Ascension series. Both
are available from Severed Press. Vincenzo's new serial, "Japanese
Werewolf Apocalypse" will be available in February 2013.
Vincenzo has published more than twenty short stories,
including appearances in SNM Publishing's "Bonded by Blood IV" and
"Bonded by Blood V", and "Frightmares" by Dark Moon Books.
Forthcoming anthology appearances include "Psycho Cinema" from Pill
Hill Press and "I'll Never Go Away Vol. 2" from Rainstorm Press.
Links:
Book:
Website: http://vincenzobilof.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VincenzoAuthor
Amazon author
page:
William Cook - Writer: A busy year ahead
A busy year ahead
Well, the mandatory salutation - 'Happy New Year', from me to you, is now presented literally. Hope you are kicking into this new year with gusto? Rather than make too many resolutions this year, I have just decided to sacrifice certain aspects of my laziness instead. There is only one way to really attain a peak-production of sorts when it comes to writing (personally speaking) and health must balance with writing/artistic pursuits.
2012:
was a good year for me with the re-release of 'Blood Related' by Black Bed Sheet Books and Nicholas Grabowsky. I received my copy in the mail and I'm very pleased with what Nicholas has done with the book. The editing is tight and the formatting and font-choice are perfect. Nick has been in the business for years and knows what's what and I'm proud to be party of the BBSB team, alongside the likes of the following great authors, most of who scare the hell out of me in a good way:
|_ Alan Draven (11)
|_ Amity Green
|_ Adam Aresty (5)
|_ Alexander Beresford (12)
|_ B.L. Morgan (8)
|_ Bart Brevik (14)
|_ Brandon Ford (19)
|_ Cinsearae Santiago (7)
|_ Dustin LaValley (5)
|_ Franchisca Weatherman (9)
|_ Fred Wiehe (8)
|_ Gene Tipton
|_ Joel Eisner
|_ Horns (9)
|_ Jake Istre (8)
|_ Jason Gehlert (26)
|_ Jason M. Tucker (10)
|_ Jennifer Caress (10)
|_ Jessica Lynne Gardner (14)
|_ Joe L. Blevins (6)
|_ K.K. (3)
|_ Lane Morris (9)
|_ Lincoln Crisler (7)
|_ Matthew Ewald (19)
|_ Nicholas Grabowsky (28)
|_ Nick Kisella (19)
|_ Nicole Vlachos (15)
|_ Rey Otis (10)
|_ Robert Milby (8)
|_ Roger Sills (1)
|_ Ruschelle Dillon (5)
|_ Shannon Lee (7)
|_ S.C. Hayden (9)
|_ Sean Davis
|_ Sharon Day & Julie Ferguson (4)
|_ Shawnalee McCutcheon-Bell (8)
|_ Sue Dent (2
|_ Tom Sawyer
|_ Vin Doctor
|_ Wade Garret
|_ William Cook
Anyway, Blood Related is looking good and ready to enter phase two with the imminent completion and (hopefully) publication of the sequel - 'Blood Trail.' I am a quarter of the way there but can give you a small sample of what's to come as Ray Truman fights his way back from the brink of death and resumes his bloodhunt for Caleb Cunningham. You can read it here. And if you haven't read Blood Related you can get it here on Amazon or (preferably), you can get it at a good price in any format, here direct from the publisher.
Current available titles from William Cook:
2013 - map of endeavour
I have many things on the boil this year, obviously the biggest of which is 'Blood Trail,' the sequel to Blood Related. I am also trying to hone my non-fiction skills to work on a true-crime collection with best-selling True Crime author, RJ Parker.
The intended completion date was extended into the New Year with a flurry of unforeseen life events and crazy-busy times pushing the project into 2013. In a way I think it is a good thing as we can put something out worthwhile without rushing our first project together, in saying that time is of the essence and I write best to a deadline normally. SO, as I implied at the beginning of this post, it's holiday time first for the mental rebuild and then straight back to the gym for the physical energy to kickstart 2013 with some improved writing and motivation.
There are a couple of Anthologies I will be part of in early 2013, one (?) of which is edited by James Ward Kirk. Who, not only being a bloody nice chap as well as being a Horror stalwart at the helm of some cool anthologies coming out soon, he has chosen a story of mine for inclusion in 'Serial Killers 2,' published by Static Movement Press. Another story has been accepted for publication in a Rainstorm Press anthology due out soon, "I'll Never Go Away II.' I'm also pleased to be part of a covert anthology with another story included (to be announced). I'm sure there's more I haven't mentioned but I'll let you know in another post if anything interesting eventuates in 2013 (that is one of my New Year's resolutions - to be more communicative) :)
Peace, Love, and Horror - 2013, bring it on.
Will
P.s. If you need a book cover I have now done a few other genre-types than Horror, including True Crime, Fantasy, and Poetry. Click on the banner below for more deets.
Well, the mandatory salutation - 'Happy New Year', from me to you, is now presented literally. Hope you are kicking into this new year with gusto? Rather than make too many resolutions this year, I have just decided to sacrifice certain aspects of my laziness instead. There is only one way to really attain a peak-production of sorts when it comes to writing (personally speaking) and health must balance with writing/artistic pursuits.
2012:
was a good year for me with the re-release of 'Blood Related' by Black Bed Sheet Books and Nicholas Grabowsky. I received my copy in the mail and I'm very pleased with what Nicholas has done with the book. The editing is tight and the formatting and font-choice are perfect. Nick has been in the business for years and knows what's what and I'm proud to be party of the BBSB team, alongside the likes of the following great authors, most of who scare the hell out of me in a good way:
|_ Alan Draven (11)
|_ Amity Green
|_ Adam Aresty (5)
|_ Alexander Beresford (12)
|_ B.L. Morgan (8)
|_ Bart Brevik (14)
|_ Brandon Ford (19)
|_ Cinsearae Santiago (7)
|_ Dustin LaValley (5)
|_ Franchisca Weatherman (9)
|_ Fred Wiehe (8)
|_ Gene Tipton
|_ Joel Eisner
|_ Horns (9)
|_ Jake Istre (8)
|_ Jason Gehlert (26)
|_ Jason M. Tucker (10)
|_ Jennifer Caress (10)
|_ Jessica Lynne Gardner (14)
|_ Joe L. Blevins (6)
|_ K.K. (3)
|_ Lane Morris (9)
|_ Lincoln Crisler (7)
|_ Matthew Ewald (19)
|_ Nicholas Grabowsky (28)
|_ Nick Kisella (19)
|_ Nicole Vlachos (15)
|_ Rey Otis (10)
|_ Robert Milby (8)
|_ Roger Sills (1)
|_ Ruschelle Dillon (5)
|_ Shannon Lee (7)
|_ S.C. Hayden (9)
|_ Sean Davis
|_ Sharon Day & Julie Ferguson (4)
|_ Shawnalee McCutcheon-Bell (8)
|_ Sue Dent (2
|_ Tom Sawyer
|_ Vin Doctor
|_ Wade Garret
|_ William Cook
Anyway, Blood Related is looking good and ready to enter phase two with the imminent completion and (hopefully) publication of the sequel - 'Blood Trail.' I am a quarter of the way there but can give you a small sample of what's to come as Ray Truman fights his way back from the brink of death and resumes his bloodhunt for Caleb Cunningham. You can read it here. And if you haven't read Blood Related you can get it here on Amazon or (preferably), you can get it at a good price in any format, here direct from the publisher.
Current available titles from William Cook:
2013 - map of endeavour
I have many things on the boil this year, obviously the biggest of which is 'Blood Trail,' the sequel to Blood Related. I am also trying to hone my non-fiction skills to work on a true-crime collection with best-selling True Crime author, RJ Parker.
The intended completion date was extended into the New Year with a flurry of unforeseen life events and crazy-busy times pushing the project into 2013. In a way I think it is a good thing as we can put something out worthwhile without rushing our first project together, in saying that time is of the essence and I write best to a deadline normally. SO, as I implied at the beginning of this post, it's holiday time first for the mental rebuild and then straight back to the gym for the physical energy to kickstart 2013 with some improved writing and motivation.
There are a couple of Anthologies I will be part of in early 2013, one (?) of which is edited by James Ward Kirk. Who, not only being a bloody nice chap as well as being a Horror stalwart at the helm of some cool anthologies coming out soon, he has chosen a story of mine for inclusion in 'Serial Killers 2,' published by Static Movement Press. Another story has been accepted for publication in a Rainstorm Press anthology due out soon, "I'll Never Go Away II.' I'm also pleased to be part of a covert anthology with another story included (to be announced). I'm sure there's more I haven't mentioned but I'll let you know in another post if anything interesting eventuates in 2013 (that is one of my New Year's resolutions - to be more communicative) :)
Peace, Love, and Horror - 2013, bring it on.
Will
P.s. If you need a book cover I have now done a few other genre-types than Horror, including True Crime, Fantasy, and Poetry. Click on the banner below for more deets.
Dick Ayers - eyeball poppin' treat.
Additional Chilling
Picto-Fiction available from The Empire:
"House Of Monsters"
by Dick Ayers
"Witches Revenge"
By Dick Ayers
"Swamp Monsters"
by Dick Ayers
"Voodoo Terror"
by Chic Stone
"House Of Monsters"
by Dick Ayers
"Witches Revenge"
By Dick Ayers
"Swamp Monsters"
by Dick Ayers
"Voodoo Terror"
by Chic Stone
Visit Dick Ayers' homes on the
web:
Dick Ayers - Comic Book Illustrator
Dick Ayers - Comic Book Illustrator
Dick
Ayers page at Catskill Comics -
Prints, Commission prices, and (Non-Eerie Pubs) Ayers art gallery.
Prints, Commission prices, and (Non-Eerie Pubs) Ayers art gallery.
The 'Layer-Cake' that is the artistic vision of Joseph Donald Myers.
Joseph Donald
Myers was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois during an especially wintry January
day in the year of our Lord, 1976. From an absurdly young age he has been
fascinated and terrified by the things that only exist in the dark corners of
his subconscious.
Until recently, most of these things have been safely locked away. However,
following the passing of his beloved mother in July 2008, the demons emerged,
as if on cue.
I started following the artistic career of Joseph Donald Myers a few years back and, suffice to say, his work just keeps getting better with each new piece produced. JDM is a prolific artist with an extraordinary talent for turning the banal into the beautifully sublime. His work is both disturbing and yet somehow poetic as each piece tells its own story on many different levels. JDM digitally manipulates old photographs and creates vector designs and renditions which he adds to the work - building layer upon layer until a surreality is produced that combines all of the aspects to form a cohesive and illuminating whole.
Motifs proliferate; such as: death, childhood, family, horror, pain, beauty and spirituality. There is a real sense of the Gothic in JDM's work, as the eclectic selection and transformation of old sepia-toned photos from a forgotten age shows, the images are not merely chosen for their availability but rather for the dark scope they afford his wonderful imagination.
On the surface JDM, as a person, appears the 'all-American, golden boy' type. This, of course, is an obvious generalization as his incredibly complex work reflects a much deeper vein that is as much about the artist as his perception of the world around him. One can't help but recognize that his work is saturated with a profound darkness, with the horror of the mundane, the terror of urbanity, and the sheer pain of life ever-present as it rushes headfirst to its ultimate and inevitable destination: death!
Outside of his imagination, Joseph is married to an amazing woman and has three wonderful boys. Previously, he was employed as a graphic designer for a major manufacturing company but has since 'seen the light' and recently started up his own freelance Graphic Design business, JDM Creative Services, LLC. He and his family currently live in the small Wisconsin village known as Grafton.
Joseph hopes to someday die and see what all the fuss is about.
[The following images are a selection of work that he has produced over the last few years. For more links and information about Joseph please check the links at the bottom of this article. All images copyright (c) Joseph Donald Myers 2012]
A Fan Letter to Hollywood actor Campbell Scott
by Joe
Myers on Friday, March 2, 2012 at 4:40pm ·
Dear Mr. Scott,
Where do I
begin? First and foremost my name is Joseph Myers. I am, amongst other things,
a professional graphic designer, a fine artist, a father of 3 wonderful boys, a
doting husband, a could-have-been actor, and, perhaps most importantly, a
non-stalker. I woke up this morning with an urge to write you a letter because,
as of late, I am in the habit of satisfying any non-harmful gut urge that may
pass through my mind.
Just to start
the kiss-ass ball rolling, I think that your performance in "Singles"
was one of the most underrated parts of that fine film, and it made an
indelible impression on my 16-year old brain. You were the epitome of cool, and
Steve Dunne (warts and all) was someone I could identify with and look up to.
Many fond memories surround that part of my adolescence, and the autumn
afternoon that I went to the local theatre to see "Singles" with a
group of friends (one of whom was a German exchange student, Kati, who I
happened to have a huge crush on at the time) can be recalled in all of its
minutiae. The smell of Lucky Strike cigarettes. The crisp Wisconsin air. Kati's
perfume ("Joop", I believe it was called). And Steve, in all of his
fallible cool glory, trying his damnedest to capture the heart of one Miss
Linda Powell. Everything about that movie fit perfectly into my life at the
time. I'm so glad Mr. Crowe committed his creativity to film in such a beautiful
way, and you were perfectly cast.
At the same
time, I was waist-deep in a Stephen King obsession. A student of all things
wonderfully morbid, I read all of his books multiple times, memorizing the flow
of text on the pages of the paperback versions, knowing intimately the scent of
the relatively cheap ink used to print those bad boys. I was never without a
dogeared copy of one of Mr. King's novels, it seemed. He could do no wrong in
my mind. He was able to tap into the exact vein of horror that was firmly
routed through my subconscious, and his powerful imagery worked hand in hand
with my blooming artistic sensibilities. But the one novel that stands out to
this day as his most important work is "The Shining". Both this
novel, and to a slightly lesser extent Kubrick's vision, were a consistent part
of the fabric of my life. I read it for the first time at the age of 11,
probably a bit too young to understand the finer points, but I certainly
"got it". By the time I was 14, I had read the book at least half a
dozen times. And, more importantly(?), it was around that time that I snuck my
first beer from the basement fridge.
So, yada yada
yada I'm now a recovering alcoholic. A good chunk of my life (1993-2010)
revolved around, to a rather large extent, how to catch a buzz. Especially from
booze. Things began to get out of control shortly after I was married in 2004,
and came to a head (or "rock bottom") in September 2010. I have been
sober for almost 15 months now and, as a result, all aspects of my life – professional,
creative and family – are profoundly good in more ways than I can describe. Two
very important things fell by the wayside during my Hiatus From The Real Me:
the devotion to my artwork and my love for reading.
The artwork
thing is back in full effect, the prolonged mental incubation coupled with much
life experience having resulted in a creative rebirth that has become a driving
force. The reading thing… not so much, regrettably.
That brings me
to last week when I was perusing iTunes and saw the audiobook of "The
Shining" (performed by you!) available for purchase. I thought it was
about time to revisit the Torrance family, considering the eerie similarities
that had formed between me and Jack; namely the alcoholism, an anger problem,
marital issues, a creative blockage, and the struggles and joys of raising a
5-year old son who is precocious (to say the least). While no "Shine"
seems to be present at the moment, there are other aspects of his personality
that are uncannily similar to Danny's, too vague to put a point on at the
moment, but definitely there. Bottom line, I have just crossed the halfway
point of your performance, and to say that I am blown away is an
understatement. Your rich tones and excellent diction (cold and objective and
chilling) are a perfect match for my own "mental reading voice". And
the timing couldn't be better, as many things have been falling into place
since I stopped drinking (go figure!!!). Your amazing performance is the
perfect soundtrack for my life at this moment in time.
So why am I
pouring my heart out to you, Mr. Scott? Maybe it's because you seem like a
pretty cool guy. Or perhaps I'm thinking you may be a bit more receptive to a
fan letter than the Almighty Mr. King would be. Either way, I needed to write
these words, and I'm hoping you will eventually read them. I have no idea what
will become of my fine art "career", or if I'll even live to see
tomorrow, but I do know that your voice, Mr. King's writing and my life,
creative and otherwise, are woven together; a layer in the composite fabric of
time space. And I couldn't be happier.
Sincerely,
Joseph D. Myers
Joseph Donald Myers - Full Biography:
"Born to unsuspecting parents on a snowy night in late 1970s Chicago Heights.
My current body of work, which I began in early 2009, is an almost direct response to the death of my mother. Although the Number One Champion of my artwork, Mrs. Linda Myers did not, however, enjoy my more sinister sensibilities. “Why don’t you do something nice?” she’d ask on a regular basis. “Because I don’t really know how”, I’d reply. As I struggled with the idea that she was no longer physically present, I also realized that I could explore death and dying (and the beauty that surrounds it) to my heart’s content without the worry of disappointing her. Sounds strange, especially since my mom was/is The Most Amazing Mother a son could have asked for and her loss is a void that will never truly be filled. All the same, she taught me how to find silver linings in the strangest of places. The result has been close to 200 unique pieces since April of 2009.
My creative process is relatively complex, albeit one that has become deeply intuitive over the past few years. My essential goal to tap into the deep fears of my childhood as well as the fears I have developed as an adult. It all starts with a scavenger hunt of sorts. I scour the internet for images that involve, but are not limited to: death, dying, old portraits, wars, mouths and teeth, insanity, deformity, landscapes, insects that scare me (especially wasps), aggressive animals, humanity in general… the list could go on and on. I will also photograph parts of my own body or use original nature photography if there’s a certain “something” I’m attempting to capture. Then, like an improvisational chef or musician (or Dr. Frankenstein), I start assembling bits and pieces of the images that have spoken to me using Photoshop. Many times I will create separate illustrations that will fill in certain gaps or add to the overall effect. If there is any need for text in the piece I will hand draw and scan that as well. Sometimes I attempt to incorporate a theme, other times the themes emerge like long-silenced screams from the past. I want to present to the world unique images that are at once familiar and terribly alien; comforting and disturbing; beautiful and terrifying. I want to welcome you into my brightly-lit home on a pleasant Spring morning, then slam the door, turn out the lights and strap you to a chair with eyelids held open forcing you to see what lurks in the dark, mad corners of the universe.
Or something like that."
Find Joseph and his amazing work at the following links:
SURREAL GROTESQUE (online magazine)
Buy JDM prints here.
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