| Men with their big shoes |
[Nov. 18th, 2009|07:05 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  curious | ] |
http://openlettersmonthly.com/blog/men-with-their-big-shoes/
Hmmmm. Interesting questions posted here.
Just for kicks, I'll answer where I don't have to seek the approval of the original poster.
The questions offered were twofold, I believe. Check the last paragraph of the article for enlightenment.
1) The literary award isn't actually publishing anything. A group of participants decided to have fun killing off a well known and very opinionated literary critic with the purpose first and foremost of having fun. Jack Haringa was not informed of his unexpected demises. That was part of the fun. Later the pieces were collected and the collection (Which was published Gratis, I believe) was offered up for sale in the hopes of generating a little extra cash flow for the award in question.
2) Oh, what the heck, I'll have a little fun with question number two. First, why must an award named for a female author be female exclusive? Surely women are allowed to be nominated for the numerous awards named for men? If not, I believe the Edgars, Stokers, et. al. have been doing it wrong for years.
Just to clarify, and from the website for the Shirley Jackson Awards "In recognition of the legacy of Shirley Jackson’s writing, and with permission of the author’s estate, the Shirley Jackson Awards have been established for outstanding achievement in the literature of psychological suspense, horror, and the dark fantastic."
For that matter, why would only female authors be asked to contribute on what started as a lark? Do men not have a sense of humor or the absurd? While I never met Shirley Jackson, I don't recall ever hearing that she hated the male of the species to the point of wanting them excluded from any and all awards bearing her name.
I believe, and I could be wrong, that the idea behind the Shirley Jackson Awards is to offer recognition to works with a more literary flavor. Rest assured, I am not holding my breath on ever getting nominated for a reward honoring THAT particular concept. I don't beleive there was ever an intention to make it gender (or necessarily genre) specific.
But please, enlighten us as to how, exactly, the award ignores Ms. Shirley Jackson. I'm really rather curious about that one.
James A. Moore (Who gleefully killed Jack Haringa and Brian Keene.) |
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| BRIAN KEENE MUST DIE!!!! |
[Nov. 1st, 2009|11:37 pm] |
Well, folks, not all that long ago we killed Jack Haringa, and this time around, it's Brian Keene's turn to die horribly. But it's for a good cause, really. If you are so inclined and enjoy any of the stories you read on various blogs today, please consider a donation to the Shirley Jackson Awards. You'll find the link at the bottom of the page.
But first, please bid Mister Keene a fond farewell.
Collector’s Market
by James A. Moore
The package arrived at exactly 10:37 AM, and he signed eagerly, grateful for the chance to finish this, his most prized collection.
Alexander opened the package with shaking hands and carefully, if impatiently, removed all of the excelsior that had protected the delivery. Once he’d peeled away the bubble wrap he stared in wonder at his prize, his heart beating at a thunderous pace.
For years he’d collected everything that Brian Keene wrote, from the mass market editions of all of his works to the limited editions that could only be purchased either in the secondary market or by purchasing a dozen books by other, and frankly lesser, writers of the macabre. Everything, even the stuff that the man had done in jest at conventions. There was even a story that the master of the bizarre had written on a dozen sheets of toilet paper while he was knocking back his seventh shot of single malt scotch. He knew it was authentic, too, because the man had been so pissed on drink at that point (He’d started much earlier in the evening with Maker’s Mark and had graduated up to the scotch when he found his bottle disturbingly empty) that he’d agreed to write the seven sheet sequel to The Rising with his own blood and a safety pin for a mere one hundred and seventy dollars. The original charge was supposed to be two hundred dollars, but as Alexander had just purchased the bottle of scotch Brian Keene was forgiving.
Alexander didn’t mind the cost, or the fact that the drunken words were impossible to read: they comprised the only copy of the seventh zombie novel by Brian Keene and therefore were priceless. He wouldn’t have given them away for anything!
Ah, but this, this was even more impressive. With trembling hands Alexander lifted his prize from the reinforced steel box and held it until his eyes looked directly into the eyes of the master. Brian Keene was dead. He’d died badly, screaming in pain, pinned in his car with the bastard that had stalked him for years, claiming that the writer was stealing ideas directly from his brain and selling them under his own name. Utter nonsense, of course, but he couldn’t convince the deranged would be writer that the ideas were his and in the end that failure had cost him everything.
The facial reconstruction was almost perfect, with the only sign of evident trauma coming from the left ear, which had been partially eaten by his attacker.
Aside from that missing portion of ear lobe, Alexander had everything, every last part of Brian Keene. All of the pieces had been meticulously restored, dried and preserved using the very finest techniques and only a few insignificant pieces showed any substantial decay. The rest of the man was lying in Alexander’s bed, only awaiting the head to be complete.
He’d given up his entire Stephen King collection and over half of his Delirium titles in the acquisition to say nothing of the monies he’d inherited when his parents had their unfortunate “accident,” but finally, oh thank you God, finally, his collection was complete.
Alexander set the head where it belonged and ran his fingers over the preserved cadaver. There was a closet full of clothes that had belonged to Brian Keene just on the other side of the bed, right next to his collection of toe nail clippings and nasal hairs. He would dress the great author soon, but first he had to admire him, all of him.
“Oh, Brian, I have always been your biggest fan.” He spoke very softly and wiped the start of tears from his eyes. After several moments of staring, he leaned down until the preserved lips were only inches from his own. “Please, Brian, tell me a story.”
Alexander closed his eyes and listened with all of his heart and soul and if only in his own mind, the greatest writer in the world spoke to him of dark and wonderful worlds.
http://www.shirleyjacksonawards.org/sja_support.php |
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| BLOODSTAINED WONDERLAND |
[Oct. 29th, 2009|04:51 pm] |
After many sporadic starts and stops, Christopher Golden and I have finally settled in to write BLOODSTAINED WONDERLAND, the direct sequel to BLOODSTAINED OZ. Believe me when I say this: In comparison, Oz will seem positively tame. This will be a blast!
Twenty-one years ago, my beloved said "I Do." I couldn't love her more if I tried.
I'll have a very special short story to post here on Monday. Seriously, don't miss it. Secretly, it's something you've all wanted to read about.
That is all, for now, except to wish everyone a wonderful and happy Halloween!
Jim |
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| CHERRY HILL |
[Oct. 15th, 2009|04:57 pm] |
Wow, you blink and the weeks fly by. What the heck is that all about?
Got off the phone a little while ago with Larry Roberts of Bloodletting Press.
Looks liek CHERRY HILL should be formally announced soon and is likely going to be available as early as January. More news soon.
Jim |
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| Been busy! |
[Aug. 23rd, 2009|07:17 pm] |
Well, I finished the final draft of SUBJECT SEVEN, the first of a YA series for Razorbill Books. I believe it's slated for sometime in early 2010. Soon I'll be starting on the next book in the series. Said second volume does not yet have a name. Time will tell.
Just to keep myself from getting too bored, I'm doing line edits on UNDER THE OVERTREE for the Jonathan Crowley Library from Bloodletting Press, writing a detailed synopsis and the first three chapters of another YA series proposal, and working on the sequel to DEEPER.
What's everyone else up to? |
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| THE NEW DEAD |
[Jul. 22nd, 2009|10:51 am] |
Just got the cover art.
Heh heh heh
And the table of contents says:
Table of Contents
“Lazarus” by John Connolly
“What Maisie Knew” by David Liss
“Copper” by Stephen R. Bissette
“In the Dust” by Tim Lebbon
“Life Sentence” by Kelley Armstrong
“Delice” by Holly Newstein
“Closure, LTD” by Max Brooks
“The Wind Cries Mary” by Brian Keene
“Family Business” by Jonathan Maberry
“The Zombie Who Fell From the Sky” by M.B. Homler
“My Dolly” by Derek Nikitas
“Second Wind” by Mike Carey
“Among Us” by Aimee Bender
“Ghost Trap” by Rick Hautala
“The Storm Door” by Tad Williams
“Kids and Their Toys” by James A. Moore
“Shooting Pool” by Joe R. Landsdale
“Weaponized” by David Wellington
“Twittering from the Circus of the Dead” by Joe Hill
which puts me in some damned fine company! |
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| Slices |
[Jul. 21st, 2009|04:19 pm] |
I got my copies. They're gorgeous.
Added bonus:
SLICES numbered and WORLD OF HURT lettered -- a few additional copies for sale!
SLICES by James A. Moore was recently published. As of 7/20/09, all copies have shipped to individuals and booksellers.
There are a handful of unclaimed copies of the numbered edition of SLICES ($45) and the lettered edition of Brian Hodge's WORLD OF HURT ($250). Email me at earthlingpub@yahoo.com if you'd like either. More information about each book is below:
Link to WORLD OF HURT
Link to SLICES |
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| Sequel to DEEPER? |
[Jul. 6th, 2009|07:16 pm] |
Yep. I'll be starting it soon.
Illustration definitely related and illustrated by the ever talented Alan Clark. |
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| Gaslight Grotesque |
[Jul. 6th, 2009|07:11 pm] |
So, now and then I write a short story and someone is crazy enough to actually buy and print it. Here's the latest.
GASLIGHT GROTESQUE: NIGHTMARE TALES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES cover art by Timothy Lantz.THE MONSTERS ARE DUE ON BAKER STREET!
Between the shadowy realms of fear and the unforgiving glare of science lies a battleground of unspeakable horror. In vile alleyways with blood-slick cobblestones, impenetrable fog, and the wan glow of gaslight, lurk the inhuman denizens of nightmare.
GASLIGHT GROTESQUE: NIGHTMARE TALES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES frontispiece artwork by Neil Vokes.CAN REASON PREVAIL WHEN ELIMINATING THE IMPOSSIBLE IS NO LONGER AN OPTION?
Faced with his worst fears, Sherlock Holmes has his faith in the science of observation and deduction shaken to the core in 13 all-new tales of terror from today’s modern masters of the macabre!
"I'm a big fan of the Holmes pastiche (at least as a concept)--especially when it involves ghost and monsters--and ESPECIALLY when it's done as well as it is in these refreshingly original stories. A great collection."
- Mike Mignola, creator of HELLBOY
At long last I’m pleased to be able to announce our story line-up (pending contracts) and table of contents for GASLIGHT GROTESQUE: NIGHTMARE TALES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. Cover art is once again provided by Timothy Lantz. The frontispiece is by Neil Vokes.
GASLIGHT GRIMOIRE: NIGHTMARE TALES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
Edited by J. R. Campbell and Charles Prepolec
Foreword: Tales of Terror & Mystery by Leslie S. Klinger
Introduction by Charles V. Prepolec
Hounded by Stephen Volk
The Death Lantern by Lawrence C. Connolly
The Quality of Mercy by William Meikle
Emily’s Kiss by James A. Moore
The Tragic Case of the Child Prodigy by William Patrick Maynard
The Last Windigo by Hayden Trenholm
Celeste by Neil Jackson
The Best Laid Plans by Robert Lauderdale
Exalted Are the Forces of Darkness by Leigh Blackmore
The Affair of the Heart by Mark Morris
The Hand Delivered Letter by Simon K. Unsworth
Of the Origin of the Hound of the Baskervilles by Barbara Roden
Mr. Other’s Children by J.R. Campbell
GASLIGHT GROTESQUE: NIGHTMARE TALES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES will be available for purchase in November 2009 from all fine booksellers. Pre-orders are currently available through Amazon.com.
http://astore.amazon.com/bakerstreetdo-20/detail/1894063317
GASLIGHT GROTESQUE: NIGHTMARE TALES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
Publisher: EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing; 1 edition (November 15, 2009)
Format: Trade Paperback
ISBN-10: 1894063317
ISBN-13: 978-1894063319
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| Passing it on. |
[Jun. 29th, 2009|05:25 pm] |
On Friday, we sent you the following message from Dan Choi, a native of California and an Army Lieutenant facing trial on Tuesday for "moral and professional dereliction" under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
With just hours left until Lt. Choi's trial, an amazing 91,147 people -- including you -- have signed the letter of support linked below asking the Army not to fire Lt. Choi.
It's important that Lt. Choi walks into the courtroom on Tuesday holding as many letters of support as possible. Can you help us gather more than 100,000 signatures for Lt. Choi by forwarding this email to your friends today?
http://www.couragecampaign.org/SupportDan
Rick Jacobs
Chair, Courage Campaign
Dear John --
On Tuesday at 8 a.m., I will stand trial for speaking three truthful words: "I am gay."
On Tuesday, I will face a panel of colonels who will decide whether or not to fire me -- to discharge me for "moral and professional dereliction" under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
On Tuesday, I will try to prove that it's not immoral to tell the truth.
As an infantry officer, an Iraq combat veteran and a West Point graduate with a degree in Arabic, I refuse to lie to my commanders. I refuse to lie to my peers. I refuse to lie to my subordinates.
My case requires that I provide personal testimony from people who can attest to my character. That's why several members of my military unit have written letters of support and offered to testify on my behalf.
Now I need your help. ANYONE who believes the Army should not fire me can take a stand right now. I am bringing a statement of support to Tuesday's trial and I need you to add your signature to it. Will you support me by signing this statement before Tuesday?
http://www.couragecampaign.org/SupportDan
I want to thank the 141,262 people who have signed the "Don't Fire Dan" letter launched a few weeks ago by the Courage Campaign and CREDO Mobile to President Obama, asking him to take leadership to bring this tragic policy to an end.
The momentum is building. This week, 77 members of Congress signed a letter to the President citing my service as an example of why DADT should be repealed. And a Gallup poll was recently released showing that 69 percent of Americans -- including 58 percent of Republicans - favor allowing openly gay men and lesbian women to serve their country .
As I learned at West Point, deception and lies poison a unit and cripple a fighting force. That's why more than 70 of my fellow West Point graduates have also come out of the closet to join Knights Out, the organization I co-founded to build support for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".
The only way we will eventually overturn "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is by speaking up together. You can help me fight back right now by adding your name to my statement of support. On Tuesday morning, I will bring your signature -- and thousands of others -- to my trial as a demonstration of your collective support:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/SupportDan
National security means many things, but the thing that makes us secure in our nation and homes is love. What makes me a better soldier, leader, Christian and human being is love. And I'm not going to hide my love.
Love is worth it.
Thank you for your support.
Daniel W. Choi
1LT, IN
New York Army National Guard |
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| Now Shipping |
[Jun. 29th, 2009|01:44 pm] |
After lengthy delays, SLICES is finally shipping. I am pleased.
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 14th, 2009|08:43 am] |
It's official, I'll be attending dragon-con this year in ATlanta, labor day weekend.
If you;re going to be there, drop by and say hi. |
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| Vein Specialists of Georgia |
[Jun. 1st, 2009|05:21 pm] |
Seriously, if you live in Georgia and you need to get a venous or arterial procedure/check up, find someone else if you can.
Why? Average wait in the waiting room AFTER scheduled time, is 40 minutes. Today they broke their own record and we waited 50 minutes.
For a ten minute procedure.
Then we waited another 50 minutes (seriously, I clocked it) for the 2 minute discussion with the doctor.
Then we waited 40 minutes to get an appointment for next week for a minor surgery. That last one I can ALMOST forgive. The other two? Assanine and unprofessional. This is the worst of roughly fifteen doctors we see every year and they are actually getting worse.
So if you have a choice, find someone else. |
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| Nice words for first draft of YA novel. |
[May. 27th, 2009|05:15 pm] |
"Let’s agree that you have written an absolutely wild novel that we know deserves a sequel and we hope will become a series. This is great stuff! You have a remarkable talent for graphic action: but the often gruesome quality of your language is not gratuitous; rather, it helps set the perfect tone for a page-turner that’s both frightening and intricate in its design. Kids are going to love this book."
I suspect me and this particular editor are going to work together just fine. :) |
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