The Sinkhole

Put up one of my favorite stories on the Kindle today.  Inspired by a novel I read years ago called The Creepers, I wrote The Sinkhole as I delved into childhood memories.

We've all been afraid at one time or another of the 'boogeyman' in his many shapes and forms.  For me, growing up was a large enclosed sinkhole dotted with small caves around its perimeter.  Although all the kids in the neighborhood loved to play there - I was always leery of the place.  Although it had snakes, that wasn't what disturbed me - it was what lived in those caves.  (Overactive imaginations will always get you in trouble, for sure)

So the story The Sinkhole was born.  Allowing my imagination to wander, the creatures that lived in those caves came to life in the story.  Unlike the young hero of the tale, I've never been back.  But I did the place up on Google maps and it is still a desolate, barren place.  The houses that my friends lived in are all gone and the fence around the perimeter remains.

Oh and my old house now sports a swimming pool in the backyard.  Wish that had been there when I was a kid.

Now Holding in My Grubby Little Paws

The paperback edition of Vengeance Is Mine.  Sweet.  As anyone who knows me will say, I poured a lot of tears into this story.  Poor Kevin had to put up with an emotional roller coaster as I wrote Macie's story of oppression to freedom.  Of all the things I written over the years (more than 30 of them), this story hounded me until I had it on paper.

Even through all the edits, critiques by others and writing the story in screenplay format, I never tired of any of the characters.  I hated a few of them, but they never bored me or let me down.  Vengeance Is Mine touched my heart from the very first paragraph.

So to finally hold the finished book in my grubby little paws is sweeter than molasses on honey wheat bread.

If you're interested, check out Vengeance Is Mine.  Currently available on Amazon.

Paranoia

One of my first, and still one of my favorite, short stories went live for the Amazon Kindle last night.  Paranoia was inspired by two vastly different things.  One a neighbor who was so terrified of life, she simply existed.  The second, an segment on an old television movie called Trilogy of Terror, starring Karen Black in all three parts.

I simply took the stand that if thoughts become things - then your greatest fear will become your reality.  While the main character of the story feared dogs, myself I fear snakes.  Both are reflected in Paranoia.  But, as you read this story, whatever your fear may be, will also be reflected and give you something to ponder.

I did notice I've picked up a follower or two since I started this blog all over again.  To those followers, I thank you.

The Changelings

Today, my short story The Changelings went live in the Amazon Kindle store.  For less than a buck, you can get some insight of what I felt like I was dealing with when my children were teenagers.  They so inspired this story.  This is one of my personal favorites since the subject matter hit so very close to home.

My other books are showing sales, slow but sure, and I'm really happy about that.  With any luck, the more I add, the better it will get.  At least, that's what I keep telling myself.  :)

One thing about self-publishing and connecting with groups of people that are doing the same thing, you gain a lot of knowledge about how to go about promoting and pimping your words.  I've also gained a number of Facebook friends doing the same thing I am.  Which for a loner like me, is a good thing.

I've also been discussing copyright issues on The Passive Voice blog.  Seems some feel that the minute an author publishes a work, it should automatically be put into the public domain for all to use as they see fit.  At the very least, they are trying to shorten the copyright period (70 years).  I could go on and on about why I feel that is so very wrong.

You can follow the conversation at: The Passive Voice blog.

Actually, if you are a writer - I do recommend that you follow this blog and read every post.

Bed Rocks is Free Today

Because it is snowing and nasty here in Arkansas today, I thought I'd offer up my short story Bed Rocks for free today.  It is only available for the Kindle - which means you must own one OR you must have the 'app for that' also free from Amazon.  They have Kindle apps for almost every platform imaginable so I'm sure you can find one for your device (phone or computer).

Once you have downloaded the story, enjoy!  And if you enjoy it, please leave a review on the Amazon page.  I'd really appreciate it.

Bed Rocks

Released the ebook version of my short story, Bed Rocks, yesterday as a Kindle Select title.  Priced at only 99 cents, we'll see how that goes.

The story is one of my favorites and when first published in Thirteen Stories, it received a lot of comments - mostly about the 'ick' factor.  So I feel like I did my job on that one.  Like my other titles, Bed Rocks will be free for a day or two during the Kindle Select period and then be available for other platforms, such as the Nook, Kobo and Sony eReaders.

I am finding as I go through these old stories that much of my writing confidence is coming back to me.  After years of creative soul-sucking writing web content, my muse is returning with a vengeance.  With luck, I hope to publish a new story every two weeks until my hard drive is empty.  All the while, working on new stories and new horrors as the year progresses.

Will I be successful...who knows.  What I do know is that it is going to be a fun ride - no matter what.

I messed up...

So today was supposed to be a free promotion day for Vengeance is Mine - or at least I thought I set it up that way.  After re-looking at the Amazon calendar - I figured out that I set the free day for tomorrow; Sunday.  Oh well, that's what I get for not reading the calendar correctly.

I'm already at work on my next book, The Thirteen.  Doing edits and proof-reading before I print it out and hand it over to my editor.  With any luck, it will be ready for a late March Kindle exclusive.  This one is not horror, but it is a thriller that is bound to cause some controversy.  It's one of those stories I may lose a few friends over - heck I may lose a few friends over Vengeance is Mine also.

I learned from my short stories that some people take what a fiction writer writes as part of the writer's real personality.  Scary thought, but just the way it is.

Bottom line:  I write what I write.  And that is never going to change.