I Interview Melanie Browne at PMM Where We Suffer the Leetle Lemmings, See Circus Fish, Sculpt Charles Manson (kinda), Pole dance with Gypsies, and then the Wicked Woman's Booty Sails into Thunderous Thwarts of Thicketing Trunks of Trampled... Trinkets

***

The title? True story. Mostly.

There are a few reasons why Texas shouldn't be thrown to hell in a handmade casket. In no particular order: Carrie Clevenger, geckos, Suzy Bradshaw, wildflowers, Bill Crider, mourning doves, Nicole Hadaway, Mark Crittenden, this thing, the cactus on my roof, and 

Yes, this is her tattoo! I found this
at Billy Idol's site.
Hawt as a Borderland Texas BBQ
grill in the grid of summer
where the wasps the size of f*cking
birds come out to bite then sting you.
Sizzle, sizzle little lady
let that rebel roar.
(I wrote that for you, Mel) 

<------  Melanie Browne, editor of The Literary Burlesque, who I had the distinct pleasure of laughing with,  lemming-tossing with, pole-dancing with, rebel-yelling with, chatting with, ahem, officially interviewing for Pulp Metal Magazine. She is nothing but abstract awesome and everything I had hoped Texas to be. Thank you, Mel, for making the lone star state, well, not so lonesome and for giving the world such lovely visions through your eyes. 

Also.... ARRRR!!!!!  PMM spanks

The Wicked Woman's Booty in Episode #6 Thar Be No Rules 'ere Gentlemen o' Fortune Tread

A big Thank You, as always, to Jason Michel. 


ps. I'm terribly behind on reading stories and responding to emials I'll catch up soon (I hope!)

Tainted Lady is at The Sideshow

*** 

"Tainted Lady" is at Side Show 2: Tales of the Big Top and Bizarre

Edited by Cathy Buburuz, Cover Art by Mark Crittenden (!)

"Even in death, the Man In Black had won.
He turned you into a freak, a monster.
You deserve to burn; all the freaks deserve to burn."

*Tainted Lady was my fav short to write in '09   ;-)

Promises To Keep

Deanna Schrayer and Jim Wisneski donned the "Creative Writer" award on me months ago. I promised in April I'd put up my outrageous lies..uh, truths. Technically, I've got 45 minutes left in April. ;-) Thank you to Deanna and Jim. Here you go.

Six lies and One truth? or Six truths and One lie?

You tell me:

#1 I jumped out of trees for the thrill, off the shed for curiosity,

the cliff for the dare, and off the second story balcony because I was
super woman.

#2 Once, I was almost abducted by a man in a pig mask with a knife.

#3 When browsing a book store, I always read the first and last line.
If I can figure out the story, I put the book away.

#4 I was 14 when I received my first marriage proposal.

#5 I’ve skinned many animals.

#6 I have moles that shape the little dipper on my left arm.

#7 I still have the lips of the first boy who kissed me. In a jar. In
the back of the freezer.

The rules for the award are simple:
1. Thank the person who gave this to you.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you.
4. Tell up to six outrageous lies about yourself, and at least one
outrageous truth – or – switch it around and tell six outrageous
truths and one outrageous lie.
5. Nominate seven “Creative Writers” who might have fun coming up with
outrageous lies.
6. Post links to the seven blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know you nominated them.

I nominate:

Mari Blaser

Sean Monaghan

Margo Gremmler

Mark Crittenden His bungee chord snapped... True Or False?

Karen Schindler She was musked inside a tiger's cage! True or False?

Tim Keeton

Anne Tyler Lord She kissed John Hall (Oats & Hall)! True Or False?



Check out these great writers sites.

Book Reviews! Support Small Press!

Some of these I've read recently, others awhile back. I want to take some time this month and spot light these books and encourage my fellow readers to support small press.

**My apologies to Salvatore Buttaci and William Pauley III, I meant to do this for them ages ago.




Wrong Minds And Other Fictions
by Jason Michel

Jason Michel is a dark horse. This compilation of Wrong Minds And Other Stories prove it: Darkness infused with light, morbidity flayed to show philosophy, his words are poetry lulling you into Grimm like nightmares. These stories are very gruesome in the way of old fables, yet they show the reality of life that so many of us have forgotten. If we forget life’s old truths, we aren’t truly human anymore. And being human is what these shorts are all about. If you are inclined toward the old gothic literature like Mary Shelly, Bram Stoker, Robert Louis Stevenson - you will love Mr. Michel’s work. I highly, highly recommend this book.

Purchase Wrong Minds And Other Fictions or visit Jason's personal website.

Green Water Lullaby
by Lori Titus

Green Water Lullaby opens with French Doors, and invites you into its pages. This short story collection smells like vanilla and flows like honey. The grace of Lori’s smooth writing makes a reader vulnerable to her sweet voice of horror. She baptizes you into a world of suspense. But when you’re ready to come up for air, she holds you under, drowning you in the town’s mysteries. Evil secrets of murder, brotherhood, the occult… who could have guessed so much darkness resides in the sleepy little town of Chrysilis, or Lori Titus’s mind for that matter. This is an e-book you don’t want to miss.The E-book format is very user friendly and easy on the eyes.

Purchase Green Water Lullaby Or Visit Lori's personal website.

A Family of Sicilians:Stories & Poems

by Salvatore Buttaci

This is wonderful collection of stories about Sal’s experiences in Italy. Reading the works, one feels swept away to a beautiful country filled with people involved in life, love, and hard work. This book must be read with a hot cup of coffee and a box of tissues. Sal’s magic will work wonders on your heart, as he always does mine.

Purchase A Family Of Sicilians or visit Sal's personal website.

Toe Tags
edited by William Pauley III & Brian Barnett

Toe Tags is a collection of debauchery sewn together by William Pauley III and Brian Barnett. Horror has delivered its grimmest, its grittiest - the ungodly

morbid truth through the minds of Angel Zapata, Lori Titus, Graeme Reynolds, Robert C. Eccles, Nathan Rosen, Joshua Day, Chad Chase, William Pauley III, Brian Barnett and more.

If those names aren’t enough to catch your curiosity, the carnivals, talking tattoos, devils, zombies, magicians, the rage will snatch your eyes and force you to keep reading on. You know you are getting good quality horror, when the stories still pop up in your mind and scare you long after you’ve read them.

Purchase Toe Tags or visit William Pauley III's personal website.

Howl: Tales Of The Feral And Infernal
edited by Mark Anthony Crittenden

This savage collection of morphing creatures and nightmares has already achieved status by hosting three authors of honorable mention merit by Ellen Datlow. Between these pages, stories of werewolves, ravens, demons, owls, lizardmen, The Lady Red, fanged puppies (and more) explore awakenings of the animal within. Give in to the fierce extremes of lust and love. Mark Crittenden leaves a torch on the dark path of horror. Hurry. Read it. Or something will eat you.

Purchase Howl or visit Mark's personal website.

Rotten Little Animals
by Kevin Shamel

I've already plugged this, but I'll do it again. Zombie cats, Stinkin' Rats, Dirty Birds and other filthy scoundrels kidnap a child and create the same evil humanity does. Doesn't get more bizarre than Kevin Shamel's mind. Note: While inclusive of talking animals, this has adult material and is by no means a story for children. Read at your own risk.

Purchase Rotten Little Animals or visit Kevin's personal website







Something’s Not Right
by Trevor McPherson

This ebook collection features a handful of stories by a clever sci fi cook. His unique twilight zone writes are entertaining and intelligent. For under a buck, you are getting one heck of a deal.

Purchase Something's Not Right or Visit Trevor's personal website.

Howl: Dark Tales Of The Feral And Infernal

Gypsies, Ribbons, Lizardmen, Passion

The Blind Will See

Attraction has never been so delicious

Or fatal


Lacerta

Howl: Dark Tales Of The Feral and Infernal

An anthology of the hottest, darkest horror in today's market including authors: Jason Michel, Carrie Clevenger, Barry Northern, Erin cole, Mark Anthony Crittenden, Angel Zapata, Paul D Brazil, Paula Ray, Lee Hughes, myself, and so many more.

*Lacerta is partially inspired by Rasputina's 'Hunter's Kiss.'

Just in!
Barry Northern reads my Howl story, Lacerta, as a sneak preview for Lame Goat Press Podcast! His vocal interpretation is AMAZING. Listen to it on his site here.

In other news, my essay, Flying Porkchops Saved My life, placed in the Editor Unleashed essay contest. It will be included in the smashwords anthology along with other wonderful essays.

Christmas Is On The Horizon And So Is Many Good Publications

1. Shout out to Maria Schneider, creator of Editor Unleashed! Maria, previously editor of Writer's Digest, brings her skills and experience to her wonderful Writer's community. The discussions are friendly and helpful, the writers a great bunch, and I've always especially appreciated the critique forum. Earlier this year, Maria held a flash fiction contest and invited writers to explore how a judge picks and chooses winning entries. We posted our flash in a separate forum, read the entries, and then voted by giving the entries 1-5 stars. It was a phenomenal experience. Well, Maria's at it again with a "Why I Write" essay contest ($500 to the winner!). Come join her site and see what I'm talking about. Thank You, Maria!


2. Push Cart Nominee and novelist, Jason Michel's Pulp Metal Magazine is up for it's first issue! This new ezine is fast, racy, and sexy as they come. Wicked Noir from the awesome Dan Krokos, Steve Jenson, Melanie Brown, (one of my favs--->)Paul Brazil, and David Labounty. You'll also find bad arse photography (along with one of my own - 'You Made Me Do It') and fantastic art. All sorts of goodies here. Check it out!



3. The multi talented Mark Crittenden has announced he's guest editor (and illustrator) for Lame Goat Press! He's asking for submissions for his horror anthology Howl: Stories of the feral and Infernal. Mark has a fantastic eye and good ear, I expect nothing less than perfection from this antho. Read submission guidelines at his site or email him editormc@yahoo.com .


4. Good writer buddy, Sean Ferrell’s book cover is out! It's gorgeous.This guy's short stories blow me away, and I just can’t wait for August when his book, Numb, comes out. Check out Numb in the Harper Collins Catalog here, and then you’ll want to preorder on Amazon. (I did it, so should you!) Congrats, Sean!




5. While I’m at it I’m going to give a plug to one of my favorite Horror flash ezines, Flashes In the Dark. The zine is holding a Worst In Love contest (deadline Dec.31st). There have been some great entries, including Sean Monaghan's Fiancees Among Us (it's one of my favorite ghost stories EVER). He’ll probably win (or maybe Angel Zapata will- AGAIN. Or maybe the beautiful Ms. Eno?) but I say we give them a good run for their money. Check out contest rules here. Thanks to editor Lori Titus for running an awesome site.


6. Reminder that John Wiswell's surgery donation drive is still going! His hospital bills reached over $17,000 bucks! I know budgets are tight, but this guy is a hellava writer. He has no health insurance due to pre existing neuromuscular syndrome. Please donate to his cause and support a good person.





7. Tune in for Jim Wisneski's 12 Days Of Christmas starting December 14th! Christmas stories of cheer, horror, and about every kind of genre you can think of will be placed in your stockings early (my masterpiece, Peace On Earth Is At War will be on the 15th)! So be sure to read from the 14th through the 25th to satisfy that reader's sweet tooth.