Phil Slattery

The Farmington Writers Circle Meets Next on September 8, 2016

The Farmington Writers Circle will meet again on September 8, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. Because of the closing of Hasting’s Hardback Cafe, the Writers Circle will now meet at Starbuck’s at 4337 East Main, #101 (near the intersection with 30th Street) until further notice. The evening’s topic has not been determined.

The Farmington Writers Circle is nascent organization of Farmington-area writers who are interested in finding or developing innovative ways of publicizing and marketing their works. Meetings are usually round-table discussions, although occasionally a member will lead the discussion when it deals with an area of the member’s expertise. There are no fees or requirements to attend meetings. Writers of any and all genres, regardless of writing experience, and non-writers with an interest in the art are welcome. Previous topics have included establishing a website to maximize the use of social media in publicizing works, writers’ conferences, and finding an agent among other topics. Meetings generally run for two hours. For more information, contact me via this website.

New Fiction by Alexander Zelenyj: “The Flies Will Be Here Soon”

Robert Hooke, head and eyes of drone-fly, 1665

Something compelled the little brown sparrow to drop from the sky and enter the glade. It swooped down and down and down to light onto the gnarled branch lying in the grass. Another bird, a blue jay, was already resting further along its twisted length and turned its head at the new arrival.

“Oh, good morning,” it said.

“Hello,” said the sparrow. “It’s going to be a beautiful day – The sun is so bright.”

The blue jay sounded solemn as it nodded its blue head and said, “We’re lucky to be here to feel its touch.”

The sparrow watched the blue bird, admiring its brilliant feathers. A moment later it turned and began grooming its own feathered stomach with its little beak in order to make itself more beautiful too.

After a while they turned their attention to watch the sun singing the tops of the apple trees in the east, and then crawl its way slowly into the sky overhead.

The blue jay began to sing a song and the sparrow, listening and admiring its melancholy beauty, joined in.

Their voices filled the glade like the sunlight.

“The flies will be here soon,” observed the blue jay. “Here’s one now.”

The sparrow followed where the jay looked. Indeed, just beside them, a fat bluebell had landed on the human lying crumpled in the grass and flowers, rubbing its legs together earnestly where it perched along the edge of the immense raw crater where the animal’s face had once been. The fly’s buzzing was very excited in the quiet glade as it stayed a moment in the red meat there, feasting its fill before moving with a flash to a place on the opposite side of the gaping hole where the blue skin looked cold even in the warm morning sun.

“Yes,” said the sparrow, feeling a sudden sorrow in its heart. “Yes, I see him.” A subtly rancid smell had entered the glade and diluted the vibrant green smell of the apples and flowers, and seemed to grow more pungent every moment passing.

“Let’s leave this place,” advised the blue jay. “Let’s put ourselves in the sky where nothing can touch us.”

The sparrow had never before been invited to fly with a blue jay, and the invitation filled it with pride. It felt beautiful, and welcomed, and safe.

Together they lifted from the branch, away from the quiet dell, and up and up and up into the clear clean sky.

###

Alexander Zelenyj is the author of the short story collections Songs For The Lost (Eibonvale Press, 2014; digital edition: Independent Legions Publishing, 2016) and Experiments At 3 Billion A.M. (Eibonvale Press, 2009); the poetry and essay collection, Ballads To The Burning Twins: The Complete Song Lyrics Of The Deathray Bradburys (Eibonvale Press, 2014); and the novel, Black Sunshine(Fourth Horseman Press, 2005). His fiction has appeared in a wide variety of magazines and anthologies – for a more comprehensive bibliography please feel free to visit his website at alexanderzelenyj.com.

David’s Haunted Library: A Stitch Of Madness

HorrorAddicts.net

What do you get when you have a man driven to madness by an old urban legend, a girl who owns a rag doll that might contain the spirit of her dead mother and a man who may have just gotten a visit from the devil? You get A Stitch Of Madness by A.J. Brown. This anthology contains three stories that all have to do with someone going insane and having to deal with the consequences.

The first story and my favorite in this book is Catherine’s Well, it deals with a man named Johnny who goes to prison after being accused of killing his best friend Buster. As Johnny tells his story we see that the truth behind the murder is much more complicated. What I liked most about this story is seeing how Johnny reacts to Buster’s decent into madness. At one point Johnny asks himself why he…

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The Farmington Writers Circle Meets Next on September 8, 2016

Announcement: Phil Slattery Teams with Darksomnia Productions to Produce Documentary of a Haunting

Francene Kilgore (l) and I on the set with Alrenzo Black (r) and 2tk (center) of Darksomnia Productions, August 6, 2016

My fiancée (Francene Kilgore) and I are teaming with Darksomnia Productions of Farmington, NM to produce a documentary/dramatization of a haunting that occurred in south Texas from about 2006-2010. Filming is taking place. Parts of the documentary will be dramatized by actors while my fiancee and I appear discussing the events. The video should be completed within 1-2 months. More details to come.

Darksomnia Productions

Alrenzo Black (l) and 2tk (r) of CEO's and co-founders of Darksomnia Productions.

Alrenzo Black (l) and 2tk (r) of CEO’s and co-founders of Darksomnia Productions.

The Farmington Writers Circle Meets Tonight

20151027_130831 The Farmington Writers Circle meets tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Hastings Hardback Café in Farmington, NM. The topic for the night will be how to generate reviews for your work.

The July meeting was attended by Gloria, Yvonne, Vicki, myself, and by author Delsheree Gladden (delshereegladden.com), whose website describes her as “USA Today Bestselling Young Adult and Romance Author”. Delsheree provided some valuable insights into the world of publishing.

The Farmington Writers Circle is nascent organization of Farmington-area writers who are interested in finding or developing innovative ways of publicizing and marketing their works. Meetings are usually round-table discussions, although occasionally a member will lead the discussion when it deals with an area of the member’s expertise. The public is invited to attend. There are no fees or requirements to attend meetings, which are usually held on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Hardback Café. Writers of any and all genres or non-writers with an interest in the art are welcome. For more information, contact me via this website.

The Farmington Writers Circle Meets August 11

The Farmington Writers Circle will meet next on Thursday, August 11, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. at Hastings Hardback Café in Farmington, NM. The topic for the night will be how to generate reviews for your work.

The Farmington Writers Circle is nascent organization of Farmington-area writers who are interested in finding or developing innovative ways of publicizing and marketing their works. Meetings are usually round-table discussions, although occasionally a member will lead the discussion when it deals with an area of the member’s expertise. The public is invited to attend. There are no fees or requirements to attend meetings, which are usually held on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Hardback Café. Writers of any and all genres or non-writers with an interest in the art are welcome. For more information, contact me via this website.

Morbid Meals – Tribute to Shaun of the Dead – Strawberry Cornettos

Yum!

HorrorAddicts.net

EXAMINATION

20160718_191914 For ice cream sundae treats in America we have King Cones and Drumsticks, but the rest of the civilized world has the Cornetto. In Shaun of the Dead, a couple of mates share a pair of Strawberry Cornetto cones which were bought while blissfully not noticing the zombies shuffling down the street. Good thing those Cornettos gave them the energy to fight off the zombies and defend the Winchester pub.

A Strawberry Cornetto is described as being “a crispy baked wafer coated from top to bottom with a chocolatey layer, combined with delicious vanilla-flavour ice cream and strawberry fruit ice, topped with strawberry sauce and white chocolate curls.”

That means we could assemble some from a quick trip to the shop to fetch:
Sugar cones, Magic Shell chocolate topping, strawberry ice or sorbet, vanilla ice cream, strawberry syrup, and white chocolate chips. I will describe how to…

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Announcement: “Sorcerer” has been published in Creepy Campfire Quarterly

Creepy Campfire Quarterly #3, July 20, 2016, edited by Jennifer Word — Creepy Campfire Quarterly #3, July 20, 2016

Last week I received my hardcopy of Creepy Campfire Quarterly #3 containing my short story “Sorcerer”. My sincere thanks to Jennifer Word and her staff for publishing this story, which is one of my favorite works, but which has been long in finding a home. “Sorcerer” is the story of a former sorcerer, who has given up his wizard’s life for the love of a woman, but who comes out of retirement to wreak a novel but horrific vengeance on the callous, young womanizer he holds responsible for the death of his daughter and his infant grandson during childbirth. I am currently seeking a publisher for its sequel entitled “Under the Willow”. Run out today and buy a copy wherever you can find Creepy Campfire Quarterly or visit their website at http://www.emppublishing.com/creepy-campfire-quarterly.html. You can also find them at Amazon and Kindle and they have a Facebook page as well.

New Fiction from Alyson Faye: “The Doll Man”

‘Mummy! Look what I’ve found!’

Amy tugs impatiently at her mum’s sleeve, while Janey taps on her iPhone. ‘In a minute. Just let me finish.’

Amy shrugs, skips back to her ‘discovery’, pokes it then pulls at the filthy trousered leg. It jerks. The

white plastic bag, wrapped around the bony fingers, floats upwards. Tugging to escape, in the skin

slicing January winds. Amy, pink cheeked, rearranges the man’s fingers, so he can better hold the cup of tea she pretends to present to her ‘guest.’

‘Nice cup of tea Mister, that’ll warm you up.’

She’s noticed how cold the man’s hand feels. ‘Proper chilled.’ As her Nan would say.

‘Nippy at this time of year Mister.’ Amy parrots the words Janey had tossed at the neighbour earlier. ‘Here’s my scarf.’

She unwraps her fleecy scarf, carefully wrapping it around the man’s neck, like her mum does for

her. Amy pats his shoulder. ‘That’ll warm you up.’

She wonders what else she might do to help. Regretfully she peels off her furry red mittens, a gift

from her Nan. Nan’s always saying it’s good to help others.

Amy gently pulls the man’s dirty fingers into her mittens. Her eye falls on the undone laces of his

solo trainer.

‘I’m not very good at laces, but Mummy says I need to practise more.’

Amy pokes out her tongue, concentrating. ‘…over and under..one loop….oops, nearly..’ she mutters.

Her guest wears a cap which covers the top half of his face. Amy can only see his lips. They look

blue. It seems rude to lift his cap when he’s having a sleep, but she really wants to see his eyes. He

hasn’t moved at all. Trying to be bold, Amy reaches out towards the cap’s brim.

‘Come on Amy it’s time to go.’ Janey shouts.

Amy hovers, uncertain, then pats his shoulder instead.

‘Bye Mister. See you tomorrow.’

She crawls out from under the slide, turning her face towards her Mummy, she waves happily.

Mitten less.

Only the plastic bag bobs a goodbye.

###

“The Doll Man” was previously published by The Casket of Fictional Delights.

As noted by The Casket of Fictional Delights: “Alyson is an ex teacher, from Norwich via Birmingham now living in West Yorkshire, with a son and 3 cats. She writes in her spare time when she’s not singing or swimming.”

Alyson has appeared a couple times previously on this website, when I have re-blogged works of hers from The Drabble.

The Next Meeting of the Farmington Writers Circle is on August 11

Portrait of Nikolai Gogol circa 1840 from Wikipedia

The Farmington Writers Circle will meet next on August 11, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. at Hastings Hardback Café in Farmington, NM. The topic for the night will be how to generate reviews for your work.

The Farmington Writers Circle is nascent organization of Farmington-area writers who are interested in finding or developing innovative ways of publicizing and marketing their works. Meetings are usually round-table discussions, although occasionally a member will lead the discussion when it deals with an area of the member’s expertise. The public is invited to attend. There are no fees or requirements to attend meetings, which are usually held on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Hardback Café. Writers of any and all genres or non-writers with an interest in the art are welcome. For more information, contact me via this website.

Tools to Writing Great Dialogue, Robert McKee’s “Dialogue” Book Review

Paula Cappa

Dialogue, The Art of Verbal Action for the Page, Stage, and Screen

by Robert McKee

Book Review and Commentary July 26, 2017

The art of dialogue. How does a writer get it just right to be effective, yet original, dramatic but not too dramatic, captivating and satisfying, and most important of all convincing? Nothing marks a writer faster as a rank amateur than a story full of bad dialogue. Robert McKee is probably the No. 1 expert on the craft of storytelling (Story, Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting, 1997, and even though Story is written for screenwriters, those of us who are novelists will benefit greatly from this comprehensive manual of wisdom. No one has a better understanding of story process and design than McKee.)

In Dialogue, yes, there’s plenty of instruction and guidance about how to write great dialogue (also examples of bad…

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Reminder: Submissions of Works of Horror Being Considered for Publication

If you would like to submit a short horror story (flash fiction of less than 1,000 words preferred), an article or book/movie review on the art of writing horror fiction, or just on the art of writing, please send it to horror@philslattery.com. Everything must be submitted by e-mail either in the body of the e-mail or a Word document (.doc or .docx). There is no pay for any submission at this time (maybe after I win the Pulitzer or Nobel, but probably not before then).

I am seeking:

Articles under 1,000 words on the art of writing horror (fiction of any length, poetry, screenplays, etc.) or on writing in general, but material along the lines of horror is preferred. Articles on foreign horror are encouraged.
Book and movie reviews, the more recently published or distributed the better, but I will consider reviews of classics works such as those of Poe, Lovecraft, Blackwood, etc. all the way back to Walpole (and before if sufficiently interesting). These must be under 1,000 words also.
Articles on horror in other countries are encouraged. These must also be under 1,000 words.
Translations of articles, stories, or poems from French, German, or Spanish are considered, but the original article/story/poem and its translation must not exceed 2,000 words.
Horror poetry (under 32 lines) or articles on horror in poetry.
Flash horror fiction (i.e. under 1,000 words) preferred, although longer stories may be accepted if really good.
Horror screenplays (under 1,000 words), horror haiku, horror sonnets, basically anything innovative that can be considered horror will have a shot here. I will even consider short videos, but I have not even experimented with them yet and do not know how to write the guidelines for them. The first consideration, however, will have to be that they conform to WordPress’s guidelines for videos, so I’ll start with that. If you want to submit a video, please do, but be aware that I may have to decline it, if it turns out that I do not have the technical expertise to post it and do it justice. Drop me a note first about other formats however, so that I can determine if they are feasible within the limits of my blog and skill set.

Guidelines

Be professional.
Use standard manuscript format. The easier it is for me to simply copy and paste into the website, the more likely you are to be published.
With submissions include your website, twitter handle, or any other social media identification you like. A short bio of 100 words or less (including a list of previous publications) is nice, but not required. Knowing your publication history won’t influence whether or not you are accepted, but it might be nice for the readership to know. If you don’t want to include any social media contact info, don’t include it. Pseudonyms are fine, but please state them as the byline and include your actual name and contact info in the top left of the first page of the submission per standard manuscript format.
In the subject line of your e-mail state whether this is an article or review or poetry of fiction submission, your name, and the work’s title. For example: Article by Phil Slattery “Poe’s Raven: an Analysis”
No hardcopy submissions. Everything must be submitted by e-mail either in the body of the e-mail or attached as a Word document (.doc or .docx).
I would like to reach as large an audience as possible, so please keep profanity to an absolute minimum.
I will try to respond to submissions as quickly as possible, but please allow at least a couple of weeks before querying about your article/story.
There is no pay other than the honor of being published on this website.
I am not taking multiple submissions or simultaneous submissions. Once you have submitted one article/story, please wait about a week before submitting another.
You may submit on piece of artwork or a photo to accompany your article/story. I will edit it (mainly re-sizing) as needed to fit the space available. I will not publish any form of what I deem pornography or in bad taste. If you do not submit artwork or a photo, I may select something appropriate. JPEGs, TIFs and other formats accepted by WordPress are okay, but keep the number of bytes to a minimum. I have only a limited amount of space available.
Artwork and photos may be submitted on their own and you must own the copyright to them. There is no pay for these either. If I do not use these right away, I may keep them until a use arises, but please let me know if this is okay. If you no longer wish me to use them, please let me know as soon as possible.
Do not send advertising (no matter how cleverly veiled it is). It won’t be published.
Gratuitous sex, extreme violence, violence to children, rape and anything else that offends my personal sensibilities will not be published. Anything that seems to reflect an actual crime (past, present, or future) will be immediately turned over to the proper authorities.
If I like your submission, I will publish it as soon as possible, probably within a week. This will depend on the backlog of submissions and other factors. Don’t ask for a timeframe.
Reprints are okay, but you must tell me when and where the article/story/poem was first published.
I do not want fan fiction.
Always re-check the guidelines before submitting. I may change them at any moment without prior notice.

I will update these guidelines as time allows and events warrant. This page was last updated on July 23, 2016.

Please contact me via horror@philslattery.com with any questions.

Thoughts? Comments?

The Farmington Writers Circle Meets Again on August 11

Writing at Starbuck's in Farmington, circa October 12, 2015.

The Farmington Writers Circle will meet next on August 11, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. at Hastings Hardback Café in Farmington, NM. The topic for the night will be how to generate reviews for your work.

The Farmington Writers Circle is nascent organization of Farmington-area writers who are interested in finding or developing innovative ways of publicizing and marketing their works. Meetings are usually round-table discussions, although occasionally a member will lead the discussion when it deals with an area of the member’s expertise. The public is invited to attend. There are no fees or requirements to attend meetings, which are usually held on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Hardback Café. Writers of any and all genres or non-writers with an interest in the art are welcome. For more information, contact me via this website.

Update

I haven’t been updating this blog much lately. There have been some conflicts in my life recently and some things have had to take precedence. I apologize to all those who look forward to its daily rise from the tormented halls of obscurity. I will try to keep it more up to date in the future.

I have little to say in this post, except, “GO SEE CONJURING 2”. This one was even better than the first and keeps the viewer right on the edge of his sight. The action is terrific and continually builds until the final climax in the last few minutes in the sun.