Thursday, December 08, 2011
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Another Alt-Dead review
Another review of the Alt-dead anthology.
Anthony Watson describes it as "a strong collection and one that I'd recommend." More importantly he says my story -- which is obviously the only story anyone cares about -- is "an excellent piece of writing that brilliantly captures the frustrations of those having to deal with mental illness. It's a story about loss and grief for sure, but it's also about guilt. The ending is horrifying and heart-breaking."
Anthony Watson describes it as "a strong collection and one that I'd recommend." More importantly he says my story -- which is obviously the only story anyone cares about -- is "an excellent piece of writing that brilliantly captures the frustrations of those having to deal with mental illness. It's a story about loss and grief for sure, but it's also about guilt. The ending is horrifying and heart-breaking."
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Where the Heart Is review
Matthew Fryer has some kind words for my story, A Killing on the Market, from the Where the Heart Is anthology saying that it "delivers plenty of seamlessly real dialogue, but don’t be lured by the reassuring humour and warmth, because you’re in for a real horror finale."
Monday, December 05, 2011
Estronomicon Halloween Special
I'm a bit late with this news but my story, All These Friends and Lovers, appears in the Estronomicon Halloween Special.
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Alt-Dead review
Mike Chinn gives Alt-Dead a nice review, doling out praise to all the stories. "Not a bad one amongst them – though I found Bacon's, McMahon's and Young’s the most affecting."
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Guest Blog
Today I'm rambling on about something or other in a guest blog over at Steve Lockley's website.
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Midnight Street interview and story
I've got an interview and story in the latest issue of Midnight Street
The magazine is free but if you go to the homepage there is an option to make donations if you happen to have some spare money lying around.
The magazine is free but if you go to the homepage there is an option to make donations if you happen to have some spare money lying around.
Friday, May 06, 2011
Lost in Austin
This time last week I was at the World Horror Convention in Austin, Texas. After fifteen hours travelling there and another fifteen hours to get back plus several late night parties the convention is a bit of a blur but I think at least some of the following things did actually happen and weren't just fatigue-induced hallucinations.
* Went sightseeing with Chris Teague. Chris suggested popping into San Antonio to see the Alamo as it was supposed to be nearby. But that turned out to be nearby in American terms; it was actually 15 million light years away. So instead we went to the LBJ Museum. We arrived at this choice as it offered an insight into the social, political and historical development of 20th Century America. Plus, it was free admission.
* Met up with Matt Cardin who I haven't seen for eight years. And who, after putting up with my jokes for the entire convention, is probably hoping that I won't see him again for at least another eight.
* Was struck completely dumb when I met Peter Straub. I think he walked away wondering, "Who is this mute that Simon Strantzas has just introduced me to?" And I don't even remember what I said to Joe Hill when I met him but he ran into the toilets to get away from me.
* Took my life in my hands by ordering a salad in a Texan restaurant. You should have seen the look of contempt the waiter gave me. When he brought our food over he refused to even look at me. He would ask Chris if he wanted a refill or dessert or whatever but blanked me completely. I was tempted to blow Chris's perceived manliness by revealing how he had wussed out of putting gravy on his breakfast that morning. But I decided against it as then the waiter wouldn't have been talking to either of us and we might have wanted to order more drinks later.
* Managed to remain blissfully unaware of the tornadoes raging across Texas until I realised there was a message on the phone in my hotel room from my mum asking if I was still alive. Fortunately the tornadoes were in another part of Texas. This cheered her up but not as much as if I'd checked the time difference before calling her back and avoided getting her out of bed in the middle of the night.
* Enjoyed the panels on Horror in academia, Horror in comics, Commonwealth Horror and How to Kill People. This last panel consisted entirely of martial artists, military personnel and gun aficionados. For some reason there were no hecklers during this panel.
* Cracked up at Matt describing Stephanie Meyers's prose style in hilarious manner. And then telling a joke that nearly reduced Chris to tears.
* Mike and Carolyn Kelly being charming company. The Canadian Nick and Nora Charles. All they needed was a murder to solve.
* Chatted to Mike Casto about Fantasy novels and martial arts. We got so into our discussion of how to generate punching power that he was one step away from giving me a private lesson in the hotel lobby. During this entire conversation Chris looked on in bemusement. The next day I apologised to him, explaining that I'm as big a geek for martial arts as I am for comics. "You're just lucky that I didn't combine the two and start talking about martial arts comics like Iron Fist." At which point Matt and I both cried out, "Like unto a thing of iron!" This made us seem cool and funny and not at all nerdy.
* Complained about having to miss all of the Sunday programming in order to catch my flight home only to bump into a WHC attendee at Houston airport and holding our own mini-convention in the departure lounge. A couple more hours and we would have set up a dealers room and started a book signing.
Anyway, thanks to everyone I met at the convention and who made my trip to Texas such fun. I would list all your names but I think a list that long might break the Internet. I just hope you all had as much fun as I did.
* Went sightseeing with Chris Teague. Chris suggested popping into San Antonio to see the Alamo as it was supposed to be nearby. But that turned out to be nearby in American terms; it was actually 15 million light years away. So instead we went to the LBJ Museum. We arrived at this choice as it offered an insight into the social, political and historical development of 20th Century America. Plus, it was free admission.
* Met up with Matt Cardin who I haven't seen for eight years. And who, after putting up with my jokes for the entire convention, is probably hoping that I won't see him again for at least another eight.
* Was struck completely dumb when I met Peter Straub. I think he walked away wondering, "Who is this mute that Simon Strantzas has just introduced me to?" And I don't even remember what I said to Joe Hill when I met him but he ran into the toilets to get away from me.
* Took my life in my hands by ordering a salad in a Texan restaurant. You should have seen the look of contempt the waiter gave me. When he brought our food over he refused to even look at me. He would ask Chris if he wanted a refill or dessert or whatever but blanked me completely. I was tempted to blow Chris's perceived manliness by revealing how he had wussed out of putting gravy on his breakfast that morning. But I decided against it as then the waiter wouldn't have been talking to either of us and we might have wanted to order more drinks later.
* Managed to remain blissfully unaware of the tornadoes raging across Texas until I realised there was a message on the phone in my hotel room from my mum asking if I was still alive. Fortunately the tornadoes were in another part of Texas. This cheered her up but not as much as if I'd checked the time difference before calling her back and avoided getting her out of bed in the middle of the night.
* Enjoyed the panels on Horror in academia, Horror in comics, Commonwealth Horror and How to Kill People. This last panel consisted entirely of martial artists, military personnel and gun aficionados. For some reason there were no hecklers during this panel.
* Cracked up at Matt describing Stephanie Meyers's prose style in hilarious manner. And then telling a joke that nearly reduced Chris to tears.
* Mike and Carolyn Kelly being charming company. The Canadian Nick and Nora Charles. All they needed was a murder to solve.
* Chatted to Mike Casto about Fantasy novels and martial arts. We got so into our discussion of how to generate punching power that he was one step away from giving me a private lesson in the hotel lobby. During this entire conversation Chris looked on in bemusement. The next day I apologised to him, explaining that I'm as big a geek for martial arts as I am for comics. "You're just lucky that I didn't combine the two and start talking about martial arts comics like Iron Fist." At which point Matt and I both cried out, "Like unto a thing of iron!" This made us seem cool and funny and not at all nerdy.
* Complained about having to miss all of the Sunday programming in order to catch my flight home only to bump into a WHC attendee at Houston airport and holding our own mini-convention in the departure lounge. A couple more hours and we would have set up a dealers room and started a book signing.
Anyway, thanks to everyone I met at the convention and who made my trip to Texas such fun. I would list all your names but I think a list that long might break the Internet. I just hope you all had as much fun as I did.
Friday, April 15, 2011
British Fantasy Awards
Three of my stories have been longlisted for the British Fantasy Awards in the Best Short Fiction category. Only 20 million other people were longlisted so I think I'm in with a chance.
One of the stories, Silent Night, is available to read here.
Go here to see the voting form.
And for the bribes I'm offering people to vote for me go to www.gulliblefans.com
One of the stories, Silent Night, is available to read here.
Go here to see the voting form.
And for the bribes I'm offering people to vote for me go to www.gulliblefans.com
Monday, March 07, 2011
Kimota Anthology
I'm in an eBook anthology reprinting stories from the '90s magazine Kimota. Tons of other authors in there as well, including top SF, Fantasy and Horror novelists such as Mark Chadbourn, Neal Asher, Mark Morris, Stephen Gallagher and Stephen Laws. So you don't just have to put up with my rubbishy stories.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Alt-Dead
I'm in the Alt-Dead anthology due out this Autumn.
As you can see from the cover illustration the theme is horror stories about feet. So you get a story about a murderer who kills people with the overpowering stench of foot odour emanating from his hosiery in 'Sock It To Me.' Then there's the tale of a lady who accidentally sprinkles her toes with voodoo dust instead of talcum powder, turning her feet into deadly zombies in 'My Feet Are Killing Me.' A powerful mediation on the nature of suicide in 'Toe Be Or Not Toe Be.' And my own tale about a psychotic army of geriatric shoemakers in 'A Load of Old Cobblers.'
There's a slim chance I may be making this all up.
Monday, January 03, 2011
Estronomicon Christmas Special
Only just realised that my story Silent Night appeared in the Estronomicon Christmas special. My stories are so popular that even I don't keep track of when they come out.
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