The King in Yellow Poetry Anthology

So crazy awesome day today.  I got a lovely facebook message from an editor inviting me to submit a poem for a new KiY poetry anthology.  I've never heard of him before and he wasn't on my friend's list yet.  My facebook is set to private though my author's page is of course, visible to anyone.  I asked how he heard of me and he said from Mr. Joe Pulver, who is the co-editor of this antho!  I've only spoken to Mr. Pulver once, inquiring about his Cassilda's Song anthology which he told me was full and by invitation only.  That was in the beginning of October!  So I was quite surprised that he suggested me for this anthology.  Yes, it's KiY related but did he remember me from that message?  Has he read my work to think it'd be a good fit for this antho?  I imagine that he would have a lot of more known authors to choose from than me.  I'm quite honored by this.  And excited, of course.

  

Book Review- Hauntings and Horrors: Ten Grisly Tales edited by Alden H. Norton

I was happy to read a Hodgson story for the first time, though I wouldn't have called it horrifying, it was still interesting.  I enjoyed Clark Ashton Smith's charming little story about monsters and Bradbury's story taken by a dead man's point of view.  I liked Chambers's story but I thought it was too long for what the story was about.  I thought it could have been stronger if it was a bit shorter.  The rest were interesting though they did not stand out to me as the others did.

Book Review- These Black Winged Ones by Wilum Pugmire

This little chapbook is 32 pages long with the first 12 being the intro, written by Peter Rawlik.  I greatly enjoyed the main character and her hidden sinister nature.  It completely took me by surprise how clever and calculating she was at the end.

I can't imagine not having dreams.  My dreams give me visions and sometimes blesses me (or curses me) with vivid thought out plots and dialogue that have me quickly writing them down when I wake up so I can fashion them into stories or poetry.  I can understand her turning to the occult to find a way to dream.  I would have done the same though maybe not so dramatically.

 

Tea with S.T. Joshi

So yesterday Kyle and I met up with S.T. and his wife, Mary, at his sister's house in L.A.  It was awesome!  We then treated them to tea and snacks at a nearby Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.  We talked for hours and moved from there to a nearby park and then, when it got colder, back to the house.  He wanted to know both our life stories and how Kyle and I met.  We discussed a majority of the current weird writer's and their work.  He told us that he wanted us to go to conventions and that Kyle's book should come out in time for the next Horror Writer's convention and that S.T. would like to submit his book for an award.  He wanted to know the status of my poetry book and how far along it is and was impressed to know that is nearly finished.  He also loved my title for it and my section ideas.  He told Kyle and I he would like each of us to be in more upcoming Spectral Realms and Weird Fiction Review; speaking of which, he brought the latest edition to show me since I have not received my contributor's copy of WFR yet.  We talked about so many fascinating things that I could just go on about and he happily signed a few books for us.  It was a very exciting meeting and he assured us that it wouldn't be the last time we'd meet.  I greatly look forward to the next possible meeting, whenever that may be.

    

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  

Book Review- Savage Menace and Other Poems of Horror by Richard L. Tierney

I freakin loved this book!  The poetry was amazing both context-wise and the way the poems were executed.  I started and finished last night because I couldn't put the book down.  Themes from Lord of the Rings, the King in Yellow, H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, and others are rich in this collection.  Brutal and fantastical themes are written in beautiful traditional form.  A few favorites of mine include Shelob, The Passing of Cassilda, Tigers of the Sea, and Visions of Golconda.  This book of poetry was amazing and I wouldn't be surprised if I read it over again a few more times.  The only thing that wasn't to my taste was the humorous cycle, but it was short, and didn't take much away from the rest of the gems in there.

  

Book Review- Three Supernatural Classics (The Willows, The Wendigo, The Listener) by Algernon Blackwood

I greatly enjoyed all 3 stories but I'd have to say that my favorite is the Wendigo.  This was a great book to read after M.R. James, for in the intro it was mentioned that James and Blackwood were greats around the same time.  I have a few stories of theirs lying around in a few anthologies I haven't read yet, so I am planning on reading what I have of them soon.  I shall definitely be acquiring more books and stories of theirs.

 

Book Review- Ghost Stories of an Antiquary by M.R. James

M.R. James is one of the many authors I have heard about concerning weird horror literature and I was excited to see a book of his in an Old Town shop in San Diego.  There were, in fact, many of the obscure writers I've heard about but never read, in that store which was hardly even a bookstore.  I also picked up Three Supernatural Classics by Algernon Blackwood, which I will read next.

I enjoyed every story in this book.  There was not a single dull one, and I after I read one, I was excited to quickly read the next.  My two favorites are The Ash-Tree, I have a penchant for witches, and Number 13.  I did not know what to expect concerning this author, though I've heard that he and Blackwood are two of the most famous supernatural writers, and I was quite rewarded for my curiosity.

    

2nd Poem Accepted for Cosmic Veil

I just got my second poem, The Medallion, accepted for Lovecraftian anthology Beyond the Cosmic Veil, Into the Chaos by Horrified Press!

Cosmic Veil Cover Art

The cover art for Beyond the Cosmic Veil, Into the Chaos!

Books I Read in 2014

I've read, so far, 54 books this year.  From the earliest to most recent.

1.  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
2.  Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
3.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
4.  Quantum Psychics by Theresa M.Kelly
5.  The Alchemist's Kitchen by Guy Ogilvy
6.  The New Hermetics by Jason A. Newcomb
7.  Seize the Night by Dean Koontz
8.  Poetic Meter and Poetic Form by Paul Fussell
9.  The Thirst of Satan by George Sterling
10.  The Book of Jade by David Park Barnitz
11.  From the Cauldron by Fred Phillips
12.  The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories by H.P. Lovecraft
13.  Fungi From Yuggoth and Other Poems by H.P. Lovecraft
14.  Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
15.  The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
16.  The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
17.  The Return of the Sorcerer by Clark Ashton Smith
18.  Sanctity and Sin by Donald Wandrei
19.  Sesqua Valley and Other Haunts by Wilum Pugmire
20.  The Stray Branch: Spring/Summer 2014
21.  The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers
22.  Twisted in Dream by Ann K. Schwader
23.  Spores from Sharnoth and Other Madnesses by Leigh Blackmore
24.  Avatars of Wizardry edited by Charles Lovecraft
25.  In Mayan Splendor by Frank Belknap Long
26.  Hop to It by Samantha Hunter
27.  Rabbits by Helga Fritzsche
28.  The Dreams in the Witch House and Other Weird Stories by H.P. Lovecraft
29.  Historical Manual of English Prosody by George Saintsbury
30.  Spirit Animals by Stephanie Iris Weiss
31.  Les Fleurs du Mal by Charles Baudelaire
32.  The Sword of Zagan by Clark Ashton Smith
33.  Ghost and Horror Stories of Ambrose Bierce by Ambrose Bierce
34.  George Gordon Lord Byron Selected Poems by Lord Byron
35.  Horns by Joe Hill
36.  Charles Bukowski Spit in My Face by David Barker
37.  The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories by H.P. Lovecraft
38.  Dark Matters by Bruce Boston
39.  Dreams From a Black Nebula by Wade German
40.  Really, Really, Really, Really Weird Stories by John Shirley
41.  The Outer Gate by Nora May French
42.  Vincent Price, His Movies, His Plays, His Life by Vincent Price
43.  Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
44.  Lightning by Dean Koontz
45.  The Black Czarina by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch
46.  The Widow' Broom by Chris Van Allsburg
47.  Night Shift by Stephen King
48.  The Eldritch Quintuplets by Michael Tice
49.  An Introduction of Scandinavian Literature by Elias Bredsdorff
50.  Ghost Stories of an Antiquary by M.R. James
51.  Three Supernatural Classics (The Willows, The Wendigo, The Listener) by Algernon Blackwood
52.  Savage Menace and Other Poems of Horror by Richard L. Tierney
53.  These Black Winged Ones by Wilum Pugmire
54.  Hauntings and Horrors:  Ten Grisly Tales edited by Alden H. Norton

Invitation to Coffee from S.T. Joshi

In the summer, S.T. Joshi mentioned to Kyle through email, that he and his wife Mary, might travel down here to visit his sister during the Christmas holiday.  He asked if perhaps he'd like to meet up and perhaps also with me.  This is before he knew that Kyle and I are a couple.  So we just finalized our plan and will meet him at his sister's on the 26th.  Kyle and I are beyond stoked!  Actually meeting S.T. face to face and chatting seems so incredible!  And of course, he inviting us was awesome.  I was quite honored to be asked to join in the meeting as well!  

Anyway, I looked through my bookshelf and discovered that I have 13 books that S.T. either edited and/or compiled!  1 of which is already signed by him.  So I have 12 books of his and must contemplate which to take!  I posted this dilemma on the S.T. Joshi Enthusiast page and got a sweet comment from Mary telling me to feel free to bring them all and that she looked forward to meeting us.  That was very sweet but I won't bring them all.  Signing books is not the point of the meeting, it is simply a bonus.  And I would not want to bombard him with so many to sign on our first and perhaps only meeting.  

That's quite a heavy stack.  Kyle suggested I bring the Lovecraft books as well as books that S.T. oversaw himself such as Spectral Realms and Black Wings of Cthulhu 2.  Which makes sense and that alone would be 7 books.  We'll see.

Now, what to wear??

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Book Review- An Introduction to Scandinavian Literature

I picked up this book at a library sale a good time ago and just got around to reading it.  I thought it fitting to read it now since I've been writing poetry for a couple of barbarian and warrior-esque type anthologies.  It read like an academic, scholarly book but if you know me, my obsession with Scandinavia and Viking history, along with my interest in poetry, made it captivating.  The book only covered Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian literature, purposely leaving out Iceland and Finland.  Hopefully I can find a sister book on their literature one day.  I enjoyed reading the different styles of poetry and prose for each period and was ecstatic to find that Danish poetry was rivaled only by the Scots for the amount of poetry written during the Middle Ages!  Their favorite forms were the sonnet, hexameters, and alexandrines!  Alexandrines has been a form I have grown fond of over the last few years.  I was told it was mainly a French form and was happy to find out differently.  I greatly enjoyed this book and would recommend it for the more scholarly read.

 
  

The Horror Zine: Summer 2014

I finally ordered my copy of The Horror Zine: Summer 2014.  Isn't it gorgeous?  I have 4 poems in this.  They are Paper Doll Displays, Dead Kings Rise, Frozen Tides, and The Porcelain Garden.

Supernatural; A Full Moon Books/Horrified Press Anthology

I just got my poem Morning's Moon, accepted for this anthology.  Whoot, whoot!

Supernatural

Deadline: Jan 10th, 2015 – or until full

Payment: Exposure and Royalties

Flash fiction & Short Stories (200 – 3,000 words)

Poetry and re-prints will also be considered

Anything and everything supernatural. Good ghost stories. Humor, poetry, and horror will be accepted.
Dark fairy tales, bizarre, horror, surrealism, dark science-fiction and steam punk are all cool here.

Submission guidelines:

Word Count: 200 – 3,000 words.

Please submit your manuscript as a *.rtf, *.doc or *.docx file (all other formats will automatically be rejected. Contact me prior to submitting if this presents an issue for you.)

Font and formatting: Loose

No headers, footers or page numbers.

Please check grammar.

Upon acceptance into the anthology, we ask that Horrified Press holds exclusive publishing rights for six months from the date of publication; after that date has passed, all intellectual property rights revert to the author with the proviso that Horrified Press retains distribution rights in the format of the contracted anthology.

This title will be available as an e-book and trade quality paperback.

Brianna Stoddard will be presiding over this anthology.

Email your submission as an attachment to: briannastoddard@yahoo.com
The email subject line must read “SUBMISSION – Supernatural – ‘your story title’” or your submission will not be considered for this anthology.

Successful applicants will be notified before the deadline has expired.

Beyond the Cosmic Veil, Into the Chaos; A Barbwire Butterfly Books/Horrified Press Anthology

Juan Julio Gutiérrez just accepted my poem Celestial Mysteries, for this upcoming Lovecraftian anthology!  I'm going to try to get one more in there.

"Beyond the Cosmic Veil, Into the Chaos

Deadline: Jan 29th, 2015 – or until full

Payment: Exposure and Royalties

Poetry only.

Re-prints will also be considered.

Beyond the Cosmic Veil, Into the Chaos – A Lovecraftian poetry anthology. The entire gamut of Lovecraftian themes may be used as inspiration: Cosmic Horror, Cthulhu Mythos, Dream Cycle, or ideas of your own that are in tribute H. P. Lovecraft’s genius.

All poetry forms are welcome.

Submission guidelines:

Please submit your manuscript as a *.rtf, *.doc or *.docx file (all other formats will automatically be rejected. Contact me prior to submitting if this presents an issue for you.)

Font and formatting: Please submit in Times New Roman, 12 point font; single line spacing. Please format the document to 1st line indentation of 1″. The page margin should be set to .1″ on all sides.

No headers, footers or page numbers.

Please check grammar.

Upon acceptance into the anthology, we ask that Horrified Press holds exclusive publishing rights for six months from the date of publication; after that date has passed, all intellectual property rights revert to the author with the proviso that Horrified Press retains distribution rights in the format of the contracted anthology.

This title will be available as an e-book and trade quality paperback.

Brian Barnett will be presiding over this anthology.

Email your submission as an attachment to: BB.Editors@yahoo.com

The email subject line must read “SUBMISSION – Beyond – ‘your story title’” or your submission will not be considered for this anthology.

Successful applicants will be notified before the deadline has expired."

Until the Day Breaks; Hymn by Hans Adolf Brorson

A dialogue between the bridegroom (first stanza) and the bride (second stanza).

Now no murmur, bide but firmer,

bide but firmer, O faint of soul!

Slowly our summer we shall outrun her,

we shall outrun her and reach our goal.

Now no murmur, bide but firmer,

bide but firmer, O faint of soul.

Times that chasten seldom hasten,

seldom hasten, 'tis not their way.

As the days lengthen, winter will strengthen,

winter will strengthen and bring dismay.

Times that chasten seldom hasten,

seldom hasten, 'tis not their way.

More Barbarian Crowns Art

"More promotional art by the talented Aleksander Karcz for Justyna Plichta-Jendzio's story"Gods' Will."


"Courtesy of poet/artist Joas Dale Miller. Enjoy."


"THIS is Thorn, Howie Bentley's band mascot for Cauldron Born. He is a prominent character in his story, "The Mask of the God Hunter."






"A map of Nordlonda, a minor land in the Soul Forge Saga, in which, Joas Dale Miller's and Kevin Henry's poetry/stories take place."


"A map of the World of Altiva, drawn by Teel James Glenn himself. His stories, "An Oath of an Umbrian," and "The Treasure of Trakos," take place within this setting."


"A map of The Ancient World drawn by Byron Roberts himself. His story "Chronicles of the Obsidian Crown," takes place within this setting."


And last but not least, the official cover art!

Chapbook Review- The Eldritch Quintuplets by Michael Tice & R.A. Strong

I met Michael Tice at the HPLFF in San Pedro this year.  He read some of his humorous limericks at the reading and I was interested in reading more.  By the time I found it though, I already spent my budget on many things already.  I persuaded Kyle to get it for me (it was only $6) and he did.  Michael signed it for me and I was quite pleased to add another signed book to my collection.

I just finished reading it and I found it very charming.  Each limerick goes over a brief summary of the corresponding HPL's story.  So if you can't remember exactly what a specific story was about, these limericks should help you out.  I quite enjoyed this chapbook and I recommend it for a light and amusing read.