And sometimes you have to tell the truth...

This is a blog post that I’ve put off writing as long as possible. Why, you ask? For many reasons. The first being that it’s one bad spot in a year of otherwise positive happenings and I’d much rather focus on them. The second being I want to keep the blog post professional, but the feelings are very personal. It’s not just about shoddy business practices, it involved a betrayal of trust and the demise of a friendship (or what I thought was a friendship). So I’m not going to mention people by name, most will know who I’m referring too, but that’s to help me separate emotion from fact. So here is the story (bear with me, it's a long one)…

Once upon a time, star date 2014, a publisher realized she could no longer keep her business afloat. There was very little money coming in, she’d spent a shit ton of savings keeping it going, put in long hours, struggled, and things just weren’t getting any better. And if she was honest with herself, she should NEVER have been in the business to begin with. Don’t get me wrong, her heart was in the right place, she was good at certain aspects (but not so good at others), and she’d made some invaluable friendships along the way. But you can’t pay your own bills or anyone else’s with good intentions or friendship. She had good ideas, she was very good at working with people (authors, cover artists, other editors, other publishers), she was a good editor (and hopefully helped a few authors become better), she had a fantastic cover artist, help from her sister, and she actually had great math skills. But she did not have good business sense, unlimited amounts of money, or great marketing skills. Those three things are must haves for publishers, or, if you have the second, you can hire people who have the other two. She sometimes pushed book releases back, was sometimes a few weeks late with contributor’s copies, and was sometimes late with royalty payments, though she always paid them. 

So our publisher realized she would have to close up shop. She felt awful about books she’d recently released and one she was currently working on. So she looked around to try to find another publisher who might take these projects on. And she thought of friend who had just that year opened a new publishing company with a friend of his. Talks commenced and they agreed to buy (a word only, no money changed hands) her little company and make it an imprint. And then they asked her to come along and be the managing editor for the imprint. What a stroke of luck!! They were going to re release her latest projects (two novels and two anthologies), publish the upcoming ones (two anthologies and a YA novel (who's author later pulled her book)), and she had a job. Granted, the job wasn’t going to pay much, but a lot of their other employees were working for free, so yay! And her friend was going to be her boss. Problem solved. *sigh* Enter problems stage left.

Skipping back several months, the same publisher had put on her editor/author hat and come up with the anthology idea for Grimm Mistresses. She had a novella length work that had never been published, a modern take on the tale of the Pied Piper. She had an author friend who’d once subbed a modern Cinderella tale to her that could be lengthened. What if she asked three other female authors she admired to contribute modern retelling of Grimm fairy tales? What an awesome book that might be. HOWEVER, since she had a story she wanted to include, she didn’t want to be the editor, nor the publisher. That screamed “vanity press.” So she approached that same friend and his new publishing company and asked if he would be interested in the project. After all, they’d done several anthology projects together. And he was. He told her to go ahead and invite the other authors, and they had more talks and set up due dates and time lines. She invited CW LaSart (the author of the Cinderella story she already had), Allison M. Dickson, Mercedes M. Murdock, and one other author who later pulled out of the project. She discussed who they should invite to replace her and was told the publisher had someone in mind. The authors turned in their stories and assumed (yes, Dad, I do remember what you told me about assuming) that editing was underway. Meanwhile, our stories converge…

January 2015 the former publisher put on her editor hat and went to work for the company. Right away she was unhappy. She was named as managing editor of the imprint, but books were being published she hadn’t even seen. Now, maybe this is how it’s done in big publishing, and maybe she’s the one in the wrong, but she was upset that her name was on something she had no claim to and hadn't approved. And she wasn’t happy with the editing of said book. She sent the managing editor of the company a copy of errors she’d noticed in the published books. She was told they were subjective (since when is grammar and punctuation subjective?). She still wasn’t happy, but let it go. Then she was shown the publishing schedule and sent books to edit. And as she read through them she had to wonder who’d agreed to them. Because she didn’t believe in them. She asked the managing editor of the company and it turned out he hadn’t read them, nor had the other owner. They relied on slush readers and sometimes went with marketability over substance. If they thought the book would sell because of author's name, author’s friends in high places, etc., they signed it, unread. Now, this didn’t sit well with our girl, but she thought well, maybe this is how it’s done and set to work editing the material and working with the author to try to make it better.

Meanwhile, the book she was an author in was getting close to its publishing date. She finally got to read (because she hounded her friend) the other story from the author they’d chosen. And she was super pleased because while the story wasn’t really horror, it was so beautifully written that it was an asset. It would set off CW’s extreme horror, Mercedes’ gut wrenching emotionality, Allison’s sci-fi vibe, and her own story. But then all of the authors began to wonder where their edits were? Time was drawing near and no one had been sent edits to approve. Turned out that’s because no one really did edits. The pieces saw a copy editor, who everyone agreed actually put in a few errors. The authors pointed this out, cleaned up their stories and sent them back. But they were worried. Then the book was published. And our editor was dismayed to find her name in it as managing editor. Wasn’t that the very thing she’d tried to avoid? Her friend’s name was nowhere on it. But the book sold and started getting good reviews, and they did some interviews and such, and no one pointed it out, so she decided to just be happy about the book.

However, on the publishing front, things were getting worse. Her “friend” was getting tired of her pointing out things she thought weren’t right. The co-owner of the publishing company stopped answering her messages at all (which suited her fine) and she was growing frustrated. So she turned in her project (a little late, she will admit, but she was beginning to wonder if anyone else was going to even go over it anyway), and told her friend she thought she’d better leave the company. They agreed she would still turn in the two anthologies she was working on and they’d still publish those.

Fast forward a few months. Things have not gotten better. The authors of Grimm Mistresses have not received their promised contributor’s copies. The signed hardcovers of GM have not been sent to the people who ordered them. And one of the authors confesses  the publisher is late with her royalties from other books she’s published with them. Grumbling ensues. Now our editor is worried about her upcoming anthologies. Will the authors even get paid? Won’t she be partially responsible should that happen? And she begins to drag her feet on turning in the anthology that’s due. She debates on pulling it and looking for a new publisher. And then the publisher pulls a move so heinous, her decision is made.

She had been messaging her friend about the cover art. He had told her he would let her see it as soon as it’s done. A month before the book is due out, an author emails her and asks why she changed the title. What? She didn’t change the title. He says it’s on the cover advertisement on the publisher’s website. She goes to the publisher’s website and sure enough, not only is the cover art (which she still hadn’t seen) been made public, but so has a new title that was never even mentioned to her. The editor is beside herself. Why wouldn’t they have even mentioned that they considered changing the title to her? The anthology is all her’s: her idea, her editing, and they’d signed it with no discussion of a name change. So the editor thinks maybe she’s overreacting and emails the Editor of all editors, Ellen Datlow. She asks if this is standard practice, without mentioning any names, and Ellen assures her that no, this is not done, and it’s rude in the extreme. So our editor messages her friend, who gets downright snotty with her and tells her he doesn’t have time for her attitude. That he was out of town and didn’t know the other guy was going to release the cover art. But he did know about the name change and when our editor states that it would have been common courtesy to have the name changing conversation with her, he suggests they just drop the anthology and not publish it if it’s such a big deal. She agrees. (I mean, she’s having doubts anyway) and states that she thinks it’s best to pull her other anthology also. Her “friend” says “fine,” and BLOCKS her. Yep, you read that right. He blocked her, because that’s professional behavior. No, let’s reconsider what’s going on here after we both calm down. No, we are adults and should be able to work through things. And then he fires off emails to all of the anthology authors saying the anthologies have been cancelled due to “creative differences.” And our editor emails those authors as well and continues the use of “creative differences.” Because, well, what would have been the use in telling the whole story? It’s he said/she said anyway. And she didn't want to be blacklisted as an editor, or labeled “hard to work with,” because she has high quality standards and expects courteous treatment. And so our editor has no further contact with the company.

Why am I telling this story now? Because the other authors have had enough. Because they want to tell their story and mine coincides with theirs. And because I feel responsible for pulling them into this mess in the first place. And to all the other authors who worked with me and thus thought these might be good guys based on my recommendation.I'm sorry, people. Apparently I am not a good judge of character.You can read Allison M. Dickson's blog post on the subject here. And CW LaSart's here.

To bring our story up to date, none of the authors of GM have received any sort of royalties, even though the book came out in February 2015. And I do know from other authors in the publisher's stables that books released after have had royalty payments made. But, we were the noisemakers from the start. Sometimes, the squeaky wheel gets ignored. I’m told the book was pulled (at least the kindle version) as of a few hours ago.

As an editor, I never received any payment either. It wasn’t much that was owed to me, but that’s not the point, is it?

The thing I find ironic in this whole mess is that my former friend sued a publisher for just such shoddy treatment.

And the thing I find the saddest, that I can still barely believe, is not that a company (though while small, had a reputation for putting out quality work) was engulfed, chewed up, and spit out, and I had a hand in it. A company I’d worked so damn hard to build. No, what I find the saddest, is that someone I genuinely liked, had poured out my heart too, and trusted implicitly, could turn on me and then shut me out completely. That shit sucks.

I'm not posting this for sympathy. I made poor decisions and I own the responsibility for making them. I don't need 15 minutes of internet fame over it. I'm not even posting this as a warning, though I hope others will heed it as such. Or as an apology, or an excuse. I'm posting it in support of my fellow authors who are pissed and decided to go public with their stories. I want you to know that their stories are true and relevant. They aren't just crying wolf. Watch out sheep and shepherds alike, the wolves are out there, and this is just one example. 

♥Spot

Grimm Mistresses Releases Soon!!

So I just realized I haven't blogged anything about the upcoming release of Grimm Mistresses.WTF, me? For those of you who haven't been bombarded with it on my Facebook or Twitter, Grimm Mistresses is a collection of five novellas retelling Grimm Fairy Tales. The novellas are all by female authors, hence the name. I'm super pleased to have my novella, "The Night Air," included. The collection releases on Monday, February 23rd. Here's the synopsis:

Remember the Grimm Brothers?Those dark fairy tales that made you leave the light on long before Disney went and sanitized them? Well, we do! Now the MISTRESSES GRIMM take back the night,five female authors who will leave you shuddering deliciously. Get ready to leave the lights on again with four pieces of short fiction bringing the Grimm Brother’s tales into the present. Be advised: these aren't your children’s fairy tales!

 And here is the amazing cover art:

Honestly, I couldn't be more excited. And the best part? I got to hang out and work with four amazing ladies, each one a super talented author. Our stories are all different: different writing styles, different approaches to the work, different visions for the theme. And yet, they all blend together into a collection that offers something for everyone. 

CW LaSart's story, "Hazing Cinderella," is hardcore horror. Fans of extreme horror will love it. 

SR Cambridge's story, "The Leopard's Pelt, is an enchanting retelling of the Grimm Brother's "Bearskin." Safe for non horror fans. 

Mercedes M. Yardley's "Little Dead Red" explores the lengths a mother will go to in order to avenge her daughter's death. Lyrically written, but still dark and grim.

Allison M. Dickson's story, "Nectar," is a sci-fi/horror blend that brings new life to "Hansel & Gretel." Scary, sexy, and thought provoking all at the same time.

And my story? Well, I hope "The Night Air" hits the mark of subtly creeping dread. Also relatively safe for non horror fans. 

I hope you'll check the book out. May you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it.

It will be available in eBook form at Amazon and other retailers on Monday, March 23rd. But if you have a hankering for a signed, limited edition copy, you can order those here:

www.ragnarokpub.com

♥Stacey

News, news, and more news!

Yeah, it's me. I know it's been awhile and I'd promise to be more forthcoming and prolific in the future, but since we both know that probably won't happen, I'll not bother. That way I won't feel like I'm letting anyone down.

So I moved to Macomb. It's about a 45 minute drive from camp. The house is old (built in the 1920's) and beautiful. Small, but cozy. And I love it. I did not love the moving process (who does?). Packing, cleaning, unpacking. And I've still got to get at least two of the rooms painted before Thanksgiving when I have company. That is Sunday's goal. Other than that, I love being here. Well, okay, I miss Mike. But other than that, I love being here. I will say the house has some strange noises and goings on, but I'll save the story for my next post.

Onward to news--since I last blogged, my beautiful daughter has had another baby boy. Killian Gilbert Flanagan made his entrance on October 3rd. I was present at the birth and just want to say Molly is a baby-birthing rock star. My first grandson, Dylan (or Boo, as we call him), is in love with his baby brother. I see the beginnings of a super strong sibling bond. So excited for their futures.

My baby, Sean, left for Air Force BASIC training on October 7th and it was more than a month before I got to talk to him for the first time. He's doing well (knew he would) but has to shave twice a day because his beard grows so quickly. Totally his dad's fault. We will be heading down to San Antonio to see him graduate the first week of December. I can't wait! Molly's family will also be there which is just icing on the cake.

CJ is doing better in his group home and I get to see him much more now that I'm living in the same town. I also get to see more of his staff so I can see what's being put in place to support him. You have no idea how much stress that lifted from my life.

And on a professional note, AKP is doing well. We've got an amazing line up for next year and I'm super stoked to work with all the fantastic authors we've signed. We have some awesome books to finish getting out this year as well: Cadaver Dogs (a zombie novella), No Place Like Home: Tales From a Fractured Future (scifi/horror anthology), Death's Kiss (our first YA paranormal), and Conversations with the Demon of Devil’s Tower: The Story of Rose Jenkins (a Gothic tale of horror and romance).

I've also sold two more stories since the last blog. "The Depths" sold to Daverana Enterprises for their Fossil Lake anthology, edited by Christine Morgan. And "Martin" (first published in Rymfire's Erotic Horror anthology) sold to Crowded Quarantine Publications' Of Deviants and Devils anthology. I'm super stoked to be included in both.

I've also received four rejections from places I subbed to that asked me to send something else. The problem is I don't have any "something elses" written. So I'm going to have to carve out some writing time around all of my other business and life shenanigans.

And just so you know what to expect in the future, I'd like to go back to doing author interviews and maybe some publisher interviews on this blog. And blogging more regularly. We'll see how that goes...

Take care, everyone!

♥Stacey

Stressed

So, remember last week's post about how I was going to start writing more, submitting more, and so forth? Why is it that every time I make a plan the Universe decides to throw me a curve ball? Not fair, Universe. Not fair.

I received my share of "whammies" these last two weeks and I feel like everything is all off course. I'm not ready to share some of the bombs that got dropped right now, and might never be, but suffice it to say the last two weeks have been an emotional roller coaster. The last week of last month I was so shell shocked I spent several hours on the couch in my office watching bad reality TV (Teen Mom 3, anyone?), worse movies (Anna Karenina. Why, Kiera Knightley, why?), and eating chips and salsa (we were out of ice cream). I did get the normal shit done: cook supper, feed cats, laundry. But only because I do those things by rote. The brain was on automatic pilot. That is, until I decided wtf, me? You need to figure this stuff out and make some plans. Sitting on the couch watching other people's lives go down the drain is called wallowing. So I got off the couch and started to deal.

I thought I had things under control, but then Sean got sick and ended up in the hospital, further throwing a wrench in my plans. I got calls about CJ from his house. My mom had another neurology appointment. And another small bomb got tossed in. The result? I'm stressed to the breaking point. Seriously. There is not one aspect of my life that isn't at code red stress level right now. It's a good thing I'm one of those "glass half full" people or I'd be huddled in a small pool of my own tears.

So what it comes down to is this: I must ask anyone who is currently doing a project with AKP to be patient right now. They will get finished, they will get published, they will be awesome. It just might not all happen according to schedule. I have less than two weeks before I head to California for the birth of my second grandchild. In those two weeks I have things that, although I LOVE my job, have to come first. Those are time spent with Sean, who leaves for BASIC while I'm in California, and who has been in the hospital. A visit with my oldest son CJ because our last visit got cancelled and I miss him terribly. And also because I will miss his birthday. Another brief visit with my parents, because life is short. Packing and sending all the rest of Molly's baby stuff to her because she will need it. Stocking the house with groceries before I leave. Packing. Paying bills. Preparing to be gone for three weeks. And then flying to California to help my daughter the last week before her due date.

So yes, I am putting my family first. But if I didn't, I wouldn't be who I am. And if I wasn't who I am, you might not want to work with my anyway. But I will finish edits on the No Place Like Home anthology, and the YA novel, and the two fantastic novellas, and Fairly Wicked Tales anthology. You know why? Because next to my family, they are my passion. So a little patience is all I'm asking for. I'd do the same for you if the situation was reversed.

I figure things will get back to normal (or maybe a "new" normal) sometime around October. So stay tuned, friends. Good things are coming.

♥Stacey

I bet you thought I died or something...

Well, I'm still here. And yes, I am the worst blogger in the history of blogging. So without further ado, here's what's going on ...

On the author front, I got a new Facebook fan the other day. How on earth they found me is anybody's guess, but thanks new guy (Jason)! You made my morning. Currently I'm working on some new short stories to add to that "will be published at some point in time" collection of mine. Meanwhile, I've subbed one story lately, with two more waiting to go out. One is waiting for an image to go with it, which Rebecca Treadway is being kind enough to make for me. And the other is in beta reader extraordinaire Caren Widner Hanten's (aka C.W. LaSart) hands.

Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous was released in September, and my story, "Born of Darkness," got a little bit of good attention. Thank you to all who read it and commented. People keep asking me to tell more of the story, or "What happens next?" Originally, I didn't plan on writing anything with those characters. But as the months have gone by, I've found myself contemplating the world they live in, and the lives of the other Lightbringers. It all may just have to be written down. You can click on the cover of the anthology on the right side of the page to bring it up on Amazon. To those of you who already bought it-- "Thank you!"

I'm still plugging away at Olivia's Tale, though rather slowly. Finding time to write, or even submit my own work is difficult. I know, I know, if I was dedicated I would. But, sometimes there's so much life going on that I get distracted. Also, running a publishing company and being a full time editor is kind of time consuming. About that~

Angelic Knight Press has released a slew of new books since the last time I blogged. And we've got something for everyone. We have paranormal romances in the form of the Wysteria Hedge Haven Clan series by Cindy Keen Reynders. If you like your romances a bit on the spicy, humorous, and magical side, you can't go wrong with these books. For those who like creepy southern gothic ghost stories we offer the Southern Hauntings Saga by Bryan Hall. His protagonist, Crate Northgate, a man haunted (literally) by his past, is easy to fall for. Any of you ladies who like bad boys--once you start reading about Crate, you'll be hooked. Not that they're romantic by any means. They are full on scary.

We have the gritty historical drama, Amery House, by Samantha J. Moore. Miss Nadine is yet another character unable to escape a less than perfect past. If you like Jazz, New Orleans, or historical dramas, look no further. We've also got a chilling tale about an elemental demon, possession, and gruesome murders in Tool Shed by Armand Rosamilia. Armand is well known for his zombie fiction, but this book proves he can write just as well about non-zombie horrors.

And we've released the third and final installment of the Satan's Toybox series: Terrifying Teddies. Personally, I think we saved the best for last. All of the anthologies are good, but the stories in this one are creepier. Maybe it's because Teddy Bears look so innocent? These stories will make you think twice about your choice of a fuzzy bedtime companion. My story, "Dead Nicky," is included. It's one of my favorites that I've written. So if you read the book, please leave me a comment and let me know what you thought.

Upcoming anthologies include 50 Shades of Decay, a 50 story anthology about zombie erotica. A little weird? Maybe. A little over the top? Nah. It promises to be an eye-opener. Hoping to have it available on February 14th. What's more romantic than zombies? We'll also be releasing the long awaited No Place Like Home anthology this month. You won't want to miss these tales of government gone horrible wrong. It's packed tight with great authors, both established and new. And we've just started taking subs for Fairly Wicked Tales. Think you know your fairy tales? What if they were all wrong, horribly wrong? This anthology's about to bust that world right open.

You can find links to any of these titles on the website www.angelicknightpress.com. Along with submission calls, guidelines and upcoming releases.

And just reading those last few paragraphs should tell you how busy I am as an editor. Plus, I'm still doing a few freelance jobs. But I love it. I wouldn't trade my job for any in the world. And I want to thank everyone out there, especially my team at AKP: Rebecca Treadway, Danielle Day, and Blaze McRob, for every ounce of support, encouragement, friendship, and love you throw my way. Also, my family for everything.

♥Stacey

Coffin Hop Winners!

Sadly, the Coffin Hop has come to an end. Sad, because I probably will not keep up this level of blogging activity. I'll try, but well, you know. But on a happier note it's time to announce the winners of my Coffin Hop prizes. Drum roll please...

For the movie time game, I had three people who accurately guessed all the movies. And because I'm a good sport and slightly crazy, I'm sending them all a signed copy of Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous. So, would wordplaythursday, wwe11, and JeanetteJ please send me your home adresses? I will get those out to you this week.

And the winner of their choice of titles from the AKP library is Anne Michaud. All I need from Anne is an email address and the title of her choice.

This has been fun. Thank you all for playing and I sincerely hope you enjoyed the interviews as much as I did. Be sure to check back occasionally, in case I get ambitious!


♥Stacey

Happy Halloween!

So it's the last post for Coffin Hop and I couldn't think of anything to blog about today. But then I had an idea. Remember those old choose your own adventure books? Well, this is a choose your own blog post. I have another blog that I started several years ago. It's my silly side and where I blog about my family. And one year, I did several fun Halloween posts. So I'm going to post links to those posts and you can read what you want.

Would you like a real life ghost story from my own personal experiences? Then you should read "That story I promised you on Sunday" or maybe "So about that haunted house...."

If you want a spooky video from the web, try "The Pantry Ghost."

Another little bit of real life and two movie reviews? Read "Ghosties Again."

If you'd like a spooky poem, try "Come in for a spell."

Want a funny post? Try "The one where I loose a tooth in a pumpkin carving accident..."

And for completely ridiculous, try "The one with zombie giraffes."

Leave me a comment and let me know which one you chose and what you thought about it. All comments are an entry to win a signed (by several authors) print copy of  Fading Light. Or your choice of an eBook version of any of AKP's titles.

Don't forget to visit the other Coffin Hop blogs here .

Happy Halloween & Happy Hopping,
♥Stacey

Movie Time!

So I'm still doing the Coffin Hop thing and thought I'd take a break from interviews. I played a Horror Movie game on Belinda Frisch's blog yesterday and came close to winning. It was so much fun that I thought I'd try it out here. Obviously, I picked different movies than Belinda did, just to mix things up. So scroll through the movie stills and write down the titles. I've picked movies from the last decade, mostly from the last couple of years. All are ones that I've enjoyed.

Since we're Coffin Hopping, you get a chance to win prizes. For a signed (by Gene O'Neill, Gord Rollo, Tim Marquitz, and little ole me) copy of Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous, leave a comment on every blog post. You can always go back and catch up! To win a free eBook of your choice, from any of the Angelic Knight Press titles, one comment = one entry. Don't forget to hop by the AKP blog and meet some of our authors. Leave a comment for a chance to win some cool prizes. And visit the other Coffin Hoppin' Cool Kids here.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

Up until now you've been getting one point for each correct guess. The next two pictures are from older films that I consider classics in the genre. Two points apiece for them.

#9

#10

And last but not least, this film is not only a classic, but it's the film I credit with my early love of horror. And a life long phobia. Three points for this guy.
 

#11
Alright! And today's winner gets a signed copy of Fading Light. Plus an entry into the hat for a free eBook. Have fun!

Happy Hopping,
♥Stacey

Meet Patrick Greene

The good news is that it's still Coffin Hop time! So there is still time to win prizes and meet great people, all coffin hoppin' their way to Halloween. You should visit their blogs to win prizes and get daily doses of insanity, I mean, uh, wit. You can visit any of those fine folks here. And don't forget to stop by the Angelic Knight Press blog for a chance to win frame quality prints of our book covers.

Today I'm hosting Patrick C. Greene. He's the author of the recently released book, Progeny. You can find the book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other fine retailers. The book was just released this week by my friends over at Hobbes End Publishing. They are another example of a great small press and besides that, they're just nice people. I don't personally know Patrick but he was kind enough to send us an interview conducted by, well, someone who does know him well. So without further ado, I'll turn it over to them. Stay tuned at the end of the interview for ways you can win prizes this blog hop!


Patrick Greene, the dispassionate observer, interviews THE Patrick C. Greene, first-time novelist and renaissance weirdo, on a variety of topics.

Q: You're one day in as a published novelist. What does that feel like?

A: Very good—but odd. Progeny is already kicking ass, sales wise, and the paperback hard copy, a sample of which I just got a few days ago, looks so sharp. It's that classic experience of almost feeling like you exist outside of all this—like it's happening to someone else and you're just hitching a ride.

Q: Someone's going to ask eventually, so it might as well be me—uh, you. Have you ever seen Bigfoot?

A: Just on TV. And in my nightmares. Plenty of nightmares.

Q: Nightmares denote that the beast represents a source of terror, a threat. What of the shy and retiring Bigfoot from “Harry and The Hendersons” and the like?

A: I think the real Bigfoot, if there is or ever was one, would be just as complex and mercurial as any human being. Capable of both great kindness and murderous rage. And like any mammal, each one would have individual motivations and personalities. The novel's introduction by author Micah Hanks of Gralien Radio approaches these concepts from a couple of interesting angles.

Q: Are you afraid of running afoul of SADL?

A: ...SADL..?

Q: The Sasquatch Anti-Defamation League?

A: Funny. Just ask the questions and scribble the answers, Jimmy Olson.

Q: Right. Sorry. Progeny seems to be pretty heavy on testosterone, what with the hunters and the reclusive writer and the two sons playing such a large role. Anything for the ladies in there?

A: As a matter of fact, there is quite a strong heroine in Deanne. She's a very bright and independent half-Native American who serves as a sort of go-between for the town's less assimilated native people and the Caucasian businesses and government. She also helps Owen, the protagonist, and the two strike up quite a romance. She feels very motherly toward Owen's son Chuck, who, as a city boy well out of his element is in need of a little feminine nurturing. She's not the type to be intimidated, not by anyone or anything. There's a second strong female character as well—but it's best not to say too much about her.

Q: Mysterious! So you have a few short stories haunting Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other on-line bookstores. What can you tell us about them?

A: I had a lot of success with getting some short stories published a few years ago, so when I saw my fellow Hobbes End authors flourishing via on-line self-publishing, I saw the writing on the wall. Even with free promotions, it's a great way to get your writing into a reader's hands. I have quite a few short stories I've written over the years for an eventual collection I'd like to compile, so I'm giving them a little solo time in the interim. To synopsize: "Finders Keepers" is about a young bank-robber couple hiding out in a hotel where they find an old suitcase that contains an indescribable horror. "Bill's Becoming" is about a hopelessly unattractive man who suddenly finds within himself a beauty most terrifying indeed. My "Halloween Double Feature Fiction Affliction" is a pair of spooky shorts dealing with the dead coming into the world of the living on that beloved dark night of nights.

Q: In between fiction projects, you've spent some time as an actor, fight choreographer and screenwriter in the film biz. What was that like?

A: The film industry is a strange animal. I enjoy acting because a good role lets me explore certain aspects of my personality that might usually lie dormant. As a martial artist, I've always enjoyed seeing a great fight scene. Getting to actually construct and oversee them is tremendously satisfying. I don't have the resources of Hong Kong filmmakers, but I hope one day I will be able to compose a truly breathtaking fight scene that will stand alongside those Yuen Woo Ping (The Matrix) or Sammo Hung. As for screenwriting, I've been working to establish myself over the years and I'm finally starting to get there. There's a pair of anthology scripts in development and also a sort of dramatic thriller called “A Shotgun Wedding” which will shoot next year. I've been involved with a lot of projects that just sort of died under their own weight. It can be frustrating but now that I'm gaining ground as a prose writer it seems to be positively impacting the screen projects as well.

Q: Progeny'smain set up—a small group trapped in a fragile shelter while under siege from forces outside—is one of the most popular set ups for modern horror stories. Why do you think that is?

A: There's a lot of room to play with that. If you really want to analyze it, you could say the shelter represents the womb, and the outside force is the world at large, which you will eventually have to face. When it's done well—"Night of The Living Dead" for example, or "Assault on Precinct 13", you get this feeling of shrinking safety, of feeling like you're okay for now but that could end very soon. It's a breathless, live-in-the-moment kind of feeling that really makes you feel close to the characters. I've written a screenplay called S.O.L. that deals with a similar situation, though with more of a sci-fi/action bent. It's those moments during the siege when the outside force is not doing anything that makes the imagination come alive; wondering if you're about to get hit, or if the enemy has given up and gone away.

Q: Now that Progeny has been released, can you tell us what to expect? Other than, you know, the unexpected?

A: Damn, bro. You're making me look bad.

Q: Easy, fella. We're almost finished.

A: I've written a story called “Dark Cloud” that is very meaningful to me, appearing in The Endlands: Volume 2 from Hobbes End. I was also handed the opportunity to write the introduction, and considering the level of talent represented in this anthology, that was a very meaningful honor indeed! I'm between drafts on the dramatic thriller screenplay I mentioned called A Shotgun Wedding, and I'm also involved in writing a couple of "Creepshow" style films, one of which will be directed by the great Jack Sholder. Then there's my epic vampire novel, already in progress.

Q: Are these new-style, "sensitive" vampires, or old-school savage vamps?

A: They are generally quite complex—but capable of shocking brutality.

Q: I smell bestseller.

A: Me too!

Patrick's Bio: Some dark serendipity plopped a young Patrick Greene in front of a series of ever stranger films-and experiences-in his formative years, leading to a unique viewpoint. His odd interests have led to pursuits in film acting, paranormal investigation, martial arts, quantum physics, bizarre folklore and eastern philosophy. These elements flavor his screenplays and fiction works, often leading to strange and unexpected detours designed to keep viewers and readers on their toes. Literary influences range from Poe to Clive Barker to John Keel to a certain best selling Bangorian. Suspense, irony, and outrageously surreal circumstances test the characters who populate his work, taking them and the reader on a grandly bizarre journey into the furthest realms of darkness. The uneasy notion that reality itself is not only relative but indeed elastic- is the hallmark of Greene's writing. Living in the rural periphery of Asheville North Carolina with his wife Jennifer, son Gavin and an ever-growing army of cats, Greene still trains in martial arts when he's not giving birth to demons via his pen and keyboard. You can keep up with Patrick at www.patrickcgreene.com or http://www.facebook.com/patrickcgreene

Remember, to win a signed (by several authors) print copy of Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous, you must leave a comment every day. To win a free eBook of your choice, from the AKP titles, one comment = one entry. Be sure to stop by tomorrow when I interview the talented and lovable Fran Friel.

♥Stacey

It's time to Coffin Hop!

Yep, it's that time of year again. Time to put on your Coffin Hopping duds and dance your way through some graveyard posts. Or, you know, visit a bunch of blogs and win free prizes, if you want to be normal about it. There are lots of great folks signed up for the Coffin Hop and they are all offering some fabulous prizes. You should visit them here.
 

And what am I offering? Well, free books of course! Leave a comment on every post and you'll be entered to win a free print copy of Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous, signed by Gene O'Neill, Gord Rollo, Tim Marquitz, and me! If you can't stop by every day, you can still win a prize. For every comment you leave, I'll give you one entry in the hat to win a free eBook of your choice from any of the Angelic Knight Press' library of titles. I'll announce the winners on the Friday after Halloween!

Come back tomorrow for an interview with Patrick C. Greene, the author of Progeny, just released by Hobbes End Publishing!

I'll also have other author interviews and some book reviews for your blog reading pleasure all during the Coffin Hop. And don't forget to visit the Angelic Knight Press blog. We're offering some really great one-of-a-kind prizes there too!

♥Stacey

And another anthology is born...

Born as in released. Not birthed. Although, sometimes it feels like I put as much work into these anthologies as I did into birthing my actual children. So either way... The third installment, and probably final book, in the Satan's Toybox series is now available for purchase on Amazon and Smashwords. The print books should be available soon.

I have to say that this might be my favorite of the anthologies in this series. The stories are very good. And there's just something about taking a small stuffed toy, meant for comfort, and turning it into something horrifying instead. Not to mention, there's a few very creepy children involved. And as I commented on a friend's blog yesterday--if you don't think children are creepy, you've never woken in the middle of the night to have one standing over you, silently staring. That's creepy, even when they are your own offspring. Why do they never stand over their father's side??

Also, my contribution to this anthology, "Dead Nicky," is probably my favorite story I've ever written. I know a lot of people really like "Born of Darkness," in the Fading Light anthology, but I love "Dead Nicky." And I'll let you in on a little secret--when I was writing it, even I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out. I hope you're as surprised as I was.

So if you've got a little time to spare and a hankering for some horror fiction, give this anthology a try. Just don't turn your back on those Teddy Bears...


♥Stacey

Story up at Title Goes Here

Wow, it's been a few days weeks since I blogged, huh? The Press is just so busy right now, I meet myself coming and going. The last couple of weeks have been a vicious cycle of not being able to get things done. I had the perfect work day planned a couple of Sundays ago--my daughter and grandson were visiting her in-laws, Mike & Sean were at camp--so the house was empty. Time to edit! But then a storm knocked out our power, leaving me, quite literally, in the dark and unable to work. So I got a little stressed. Sure, I set my own deadlines and I can always move them, but I don't like to. So the day after I was still stressed and ended up getting an ocular migraine. If you've never had one, let me explain--they start with blurry vision that makes me queasy if I try to focus my eyes, then I lose the vision in one eye. Then the pounding headache starts. Obviously, it rendered me unable to work, or read, or even watch TV. So I took some meds and huddled in a dark bedroom, stressing over not working, until it let up.

Funny thing--guess what causes ocular migraines? Stress. Lol. Well, according to WebMD, it's stress, fatigue, and caffeine. But I wouldn't need the caffeine if I wasn't so fatigued. And I wouldn't be so fatigued if I slept better. And I'd be more rested if I didn't have trouble sleeping because I'm stressed. Sounds like one huge circle of non-awesomeness, doesn't it? I need to find more Zen.


Then, of course, there was home improvement hell and 4th of July.


Don't get me wrong--I love, absolutely love my work. Love almost everything about it. But I've set some pretty high standards for us and that adds pressure. And, of course, I'm my own biggest critic. But I also believe that nothing worthwhile comes easy. It takes hard work and perseverance, and perseverance is my middle name. (Sorry, Mom. I know you picked 'Michelle,' but I've never liked that name and "Perseverance" really has a ring to it.)

So we have some really great things coming from Angelic Knight Press this year, possibly including a Gothic novella I authored. Two fantastic Anthologies in the line-up and more of both Bryan Hall's Southern Hauntings Saga and Cindy Keen Reynder's Wysteria Hedge Haven Clan Series. Plus much more. I'll be going to KillerCon in Vegas in September.

And, I've banded together with a few other rogues in a quest to reach "Pro" status with the HWA. We're all writing and submitting to pro markets, sharing our rejections and acceptances. It's nice to have a support group, and one filled with people I'd really like to see succeed. I'll let you know the status of the quest throughout the year.

And, it's not a "pro" market, meaning it didn't pay me 5 cents a word or more, actually they didn't pay me anything, but I had a story accepted earlier this year to Title Goes Here, an online magazine. You can click here to read my story, "The Wind". Warning: it is a tad gruesome. Let me know what you think.

♥Stacey

The Vagrant by Bryan Hall

Hello!! *waving wildly* I'm so excited. First, we are releasing a brand new novelette today by Bryan Hall. It's called The Vagrant and it's the first in a series of novellas/novelettes called the Southern Hauntings Saga. And let me just tell you-- they are GOOD. If you don't love them, there might be something wrong with you. Okay, so I might have become something of a "fan girl." So sue me. Anyway- you can purchase The Vagrant (and see that I'm right) here.

Second, and just as exciting, Bryan set up a website for his main character Crate Northgate. You can access that here. And I have been privy to an awesome, if somewhat awkward, attempt to interview Crate. And you, lucky folks, get to read it here first. Without further ado~

To whom it may concern,

My name's Joshua Roy.  I'm writing in regards to the man known as Creighton Northgate, or "Crate" for short.  I had heard of him months ago through a few local rumors, but finally learned a bit more about him through the http://www.whoiscratenorthgate.weebly.com site (which I'll also send a copy of this letter to).  A few days after visiting that site, I was in the right place at the right time.  It was a seedy little bar just outside town (I live in the middle of nowhere in Arkansas) and I heard a couple of fellas talking about the man that George and Ella Jenkins had hired to root out something going on at their farm.  They pointed him out to me, sitting at the bar.  Said his name was "Crate Something or Other".  I switched on my cell phone's audio record feature and tried to strike up a conversation with him.  I could tell within the first three words he said that he was getting close to being shit-hammer drunk.  It wasn't a long conversation, but I figured it would interest somebody.

 What follows is a transcript of the conversation:

Joshua - You look like a feller who could use another drink! Name's Joshua! Never seen you before...whereabouts you from ?

 Crate – Around.

Joshua - Never knew anyone from "Around"...that over by Bluff City? Hey next rounds on me! 

Crate - I appreciate it, but I think I've about had enough, friend.  Last thing I need's a hangover in the morning. Just needed a couple to...to help me sleep.

 Joshua - Oh yeah? I have problems too. Odd jobs have me going in every direction and I never know if I'm waking up or going to bed at 6am! What causes your troubles? 

 Crate - Heh.  Nothing you'd understand.  (a long pause)  Hell.  You heard of the Jenkins Farm?  Problems they've been having?

Joshua - They had to call in some sort of voodoo snake handler or something. How'd you hear about it?

Crate - They called me.  I ain't got much use for snakes, though.  Or voodoo.  Had a bad time with that shit a few years back.

 Joshua - Oh wow! So that's you. So this is how you make a living? Strange things happen and people call you to fix it?

 Crate - More or less. They don't always get fixed, though.

 Joshua - So what is it you try to fix? Ghosts? Spirits? Zombies? 

 Crate - Yep. Well...aside from the zombies.  Ain't seen a dead body yet that can stand back up.  Rigormortis is hell on the muscles.  You ought to try and drag a body that's been dead for a little while.  It don't bend and go all limp like in the movies.  Few hours and it's as stiff as a log.  Heavy as one too.  So nah.  No zombies.  (another long pause).  I'll have that beer now, I guess.  One more won't hurt.  Anyways...there's plenty out there you've heard of, friend.  Plenty you probably ain't believed in.  I'm here to tell you....believe it.  Believe it all.

Joshua – How the hell did you end up doing this?

Crate - Some folks are good at football.  So they play football.  Some of 'em are good at numbers.  So they become accountants or something.  I've got...talents that let me do what I do.  Beats being a carpenter all to hell.  Ain't like I've got a lot of competition. 

 (Note - at this point I noticed him eying me oddly and could fill his suspicion growing.  I filled the next few moments with idle chatter about the football game on the television until I was confident I could work in another serious question without drawing suspicion.  That portion of the conversation has been edited from this transcription for the sake of brevity)

 Joshua – You ought to film it.  When you're helping folks, I mean.  Fella could get rich off stuff like that, way all those Bigfoot and ghost hunting shows are all over the TV.

 Crate – I ain't trying to get rich.  And the last thing I need's to get famous.

Joshua – Hell…you are kinda famous.  Everybody's heard a little about you.  Didn't you have a brother or something that went missing?

(A long pause – I could tell I'd stepped over the line)

 Crate – Time for you to get the hell on from here, you lying son of a bitch.  You knew who I was.

Joshua – Hey man!  I'm just –

Crate – I said go to hell.

And that was it.  He finished his beer and left the bar a minute later.  I never saw him again, but I heard that that same night he managed to take care of whatever problem it was that had really been going on out at that farm. 

 I don't know if this helps shed any light on Creighton Northgate…but I can say he's not like anyone else I've ever met.

Thanks for listening,

Joshua Roy 

Go on, you know you want to see what all the fuss is about.

♥Stacey

Meet Bryan Hall

Hey, ladies & gents! Guess what? It's blog hop time again! And blog hops mean contests and contests mean prizes. And who doesn't like prizes? So click on the Bloody Heart's Valentine Blog Hop picture on the sidebar and it will take you to a list of all the participating blogs. And then come back here to read about author Bryan Hall, who I met through-- yep, you guessed it-- Facebook! I reviewed his short story collection, Whispers from the Dark, over at See Spot Read. You should also pop by there and enter to win a free eCopy of his book, which he has been generous enough to donate. Now on with the interview:

1. How long have you been writing?

I still have a little hardcover book I wrote and made when I was in about the fourth grade. It's nothing but blatant ripoffs of eighties horror movies, complete with bloody, gory, illustrations. If a kid wrote that in school today that have him and his parents evaluated. Since then I've dabbled off and on throughout the years, but I've been writing seriously for about four years now.  

2. Do you write full time or do you have a day job? If so, what is it?

I'm a full time writer, and I'm thankful for it every day. Most of the bills get paid through freelance nonfiction stuff that's supplemented by the fiction, but the scales are gradually starting to tip.

 3. Do you have a "writing routine"?

It's the only way I'd ever get anything done! I start writing at around 7 AM and work on the freelance nonfiction until about four or five. After dinner and a little time with my wife and kids I pour a nice tall craft beer or a good whiskey and then work on fiction for a few hours. I try to set a word count quota and stick to it, then celebrate with another drink when I reach it.

4. Is this the first work you've had published?

I also have a novel published through Permuted Press titled "Containment Room 7". It's a sci-fi horror tale with zombies, a crazed cult, and an alien creature that may or may not be a god.

 5. Have you always been a fan of the horror genre?

Since I was old enough to form memories. I remember watching Halloween and Friday the 13^th before I even started school and reading Stephen King and Clive Barker when I was in the fifth or sixth grade. Lucky for me, I had a lenient upbringing…although it may have really warped my mind.

 6. What scares you? Any silly phobias?

I've always been terrified of death. Not so much the manner of dying, just the great black unknown that lies beyond it. I've gradually started to realize that it's actually a kind of silly phobia in and of itself.

 7. What other authors inspire you?

Clive Barker and Stephen King really made me want to write, but as for my writing now I really love Brian Keene, Jack Ketchum, and Bentley Little just for their fearlessness. Honestly my biggest inspirations work in comics. Garth Ennis, Alan Moore, and Neil Gaiman's Sandman really opened up my eyes to what was possible in a story and still amaze me every time I read them.

8. What is the best piece of writing advice you've been given?

That's a tough one, but if I had to narrow it down to just one I'd say that it's to just write. No matter whether or not you think it's crap, no matter what else is going on, no matter what you'd rather be doing, just write. I know that one gets brought up constantly, but there's a reason it does.

 9. What is your favorite part of the Indie movement? Your least favorite?

Favorite part? That it's possible for people who would never have gotten noticed before to get a book out there to the masses. Even if they don't make a million, just having the chance to get your work read is tremendous. 

Least favorite? The flipside of that. Now the market is so flooded with books by people who don't know the difference between 'they're' and 'there' that it's hard for readers to sort the wheat from the chaff, which in turn makes the indie movement harder to respect. There's a lot of good stuff out there, but it's getting buried beneath a lot of really bad stuff, too.

 10. What advice would you give to newbie writers?

Grow thick skin, listen to criticism, and learn from it. Just because someone points out flaws with a story doesn't mean that they're calling you an idiot - they're trying to point out areas that you very well may need to work on. It's not personal, and people seem to forget that. If you can't listen to honest criticism without feeling your blood boil, it's going to be a long, hard road to walk. 


Bio:

Bryan Hall is a horror and dark fiction writer living in the mountains of North Carolina with his wife and children in a one hundred year old farmhouse which he truly wishes was haunted. His short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines as well as in his own collection "Whispers from the Dark". Bryan's debut sci-fi horror novel "Containment Room Seven", is available from Permuted Press. To visit him online, take a look at www.bryanhallfiction.com

Social Media:

Google + : https://plus.google.com/u/0/100321691796574035876/posts

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000574210300

To enter today's contest, kindly follow this blog. I will give you an extra contest entry if you follow my book review blog, See Spot Read. And if you are already a follower of one or both, simply leave me a comment saying so. Extra contest entries will also be awarded for "liking" my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Stacey-Turner/143875372350931

The prize I'm offering is an eBook copy of any of Angelic Knight Press' current titles. Or you can choose the Rymfire publication that I have a story in. Your choice. Be sure to let me know what your preference is in your comment. Thanks for playing!

♥Stacey

Show me some love...grab your free copy!

Well, I convinced the other owner's at Angelic Knight Press to jump on the KDP Select bandwagon. It will take probably a month to really see if this is helping sales or not. I'm excited that it will. The authors involved may stone me if it's not. Well, okay, not stone me, but you know what I mean...

We jumped in with Satan's Toybox: Toy Soldiers, our second anthology in the Satan's Toybox series. You can grab it for FREE at Amazon.com for the rest of the weekend, until Monday at midnight. If you like horror stories and variety in your tales, it's a great bargain.

I love anthologies, it gives you a chance to sample the work of many new authors, authors that you can then seek out and see what else they have available. So, in theory, offering the book for free should promote individual sales for all of authors and the press. Fingers crossed.

Meanwhile, when I'm not obsessively checking the stats at Amazon (at the time of this writing we have gone from #267,003 in Kindle books last night to #3461 this morning and are now #15 on the fiction/genre fiction/anthologies bestseller list), I'm busy going through submissions for our third anthology, Satan's Toybox: Terrifying Teddies.

I'll let you all know how it goes. And if you do grab your free copy, don't forget we would love a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Library Thing or your blog. Or a shout-out via social media of your choice.

♥Stacey

Apparently, I can't do it all...

That's right. As much as it pains me to have to admit it- I can't do it all. Something has to give. And I don't want to place any blame here but this is the conversation I had with my husband last night~

Me: I'm sorry I snapped on you earlier, but I just don't see why dinner is always my responsibility. With the exception of the baby, everyone else in this house is an adult and perfectly capable of cooking dinner. Except Molly, who burns soup.

Mike: I don't make the rules, baby. That's just how it is.

Me: Well, Luke works full time, I get that. Molly busts her butt around the house, doing dishes, laundry and keeping it straight. Sean does whatever I ask him too, although he could pitch in more. I work full time, even though it's from home. And you work full time, but I'm not really sure what you do around the house? You used to clean the cat boxes but Molly took that over and you used to do garbage, but Luke does that most of the time. What is your chore again?

Mike: I don't know, but if you think of one, let me know so I can pawn that off on someone else too!

We really did have this conversation. And he really was joking (I think). And the level of household chores/responsibility is seriously skewed in our household. I will take responsibility, they were all babied far too long and its hard to wean them. But family matters aside, business is booming.

Angelic Knight Press has hit the ground running and we have a full release schedule. That means that I'm so busy editing, I can hardly see straight. Then there are other business related tasks to take care of at the press and trying to squeeze out some of my own writing. Its enough to make my head spin. Don't get me wrong- I love it. Absolutely love it! But as I mentioned before, something has to give. So I'm taking down the freelance proofreader/editor shingle. I will no longer be accepting side jobs (with the exception of former customers). I really still feel strongly about everyone needing good editing, I just no longer have the time to do it myself.

I would like to thank all of those who have sought my services. I've met some great people through freelancing and read some amazing books. I've been fortunate enough to have my editing credentials on some fabulous stories. Should things lighten up, I'll hang out my shingle again, but I've got my fingers crossed that they don't and the press stays busy for a long time to come!

♥Stacey

Exciting News!

You are looking at the cover for the upcoming release from Angelic Knight Press. It represents my first anthology as an Editor. See those little words under the title?  "Edited by Stacey Turner". That's me! It was a lot of hard work, but I got to work with some very talented authors. All of them were very professional and I think we established some very good author/editor relationships. I would work with, and hope to, all of them again in the future. I will also have a story, "Soul Collector", included in the anthology.

I also have a story, "Martin", that will be in the upcoming Rymfire Publishing ebook Rymfire Erotica. I know what those of you who aren't a part of the book world are thinking. This is the conversation Mike & I had about this news:

Mike: You wrote Porn?? I've been trying to get you to do that for years...

Me: I did not write porn. There's a fine line between porn and erotica. This is a horror story with a little erotica. Not an erotic story with a little horror. Geez.

But it may not be for everyone, so I understand if you skip that one. And yes, someone has already asked and I readily admit, the erotic parts make me blush while I'm writing. Its not a genre or sub genre I'll probably write a lot of for that reason.

I'm also editing a novel for a private client. And a novel that Angelic Knight will be publishing in November.

We're about to open submissions for our 2nd anthology as well.

And I continue to try to find time to write and submit my own work.

See what I mean? Crazy Busy. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

♥Stacey