No, I'm not talking about... forget it.
Thanks to my great family, I finished not only EYE OF THE BEHOLDER for RR's zombie anthology but also sent in a contest entry for the ghost stories site. It's a bit exhilarating to get so much done in a weekend, let's hope something comes of it. Like cash.
True Ghost Story contest from Rense.com
Y'all know I'm a sucker for contests but when it's for a ghost story - I get all giggly.
Jeff Rense and Brad Steiger are having a little to-do over at their site to celebrate my favorite holiday. I'm in, who's with me?
Jeff Rense and Brad Steiger are having a little to-do over at their site to celebrate my favorite holiday. I'm in, who's with me?
Details:
We're looking for genuine real-life encounters with the SUPERNATURAL. Could be something from your past, or a recent event that sent shivers down your spine or left you spellbound before the awesome and mysterious world of the unseen and metaphysical. Only TRUE stories, please! No fiction. Submissions must be 1000 words or less and sent "in" the body of an email. No attached docs, please. You may present your story anonymously or with a pseudonym, but for those who want attention we'll gladly credit your name, website, email, whatever you like -- just tell us specifically how you wish to be credited. PLEASE PROOF YOUR SUBMISSIONS AND SPELL CHECK IT! You may enter up to 2 stories. If you want to collect prize money you MUST have a paypal account. Paypal is free and ez. Book winners must supply an address to receive their book prize. Please, no ghost photos or photos essays.
SEND YOUR SUBMISSIONS HERE WITH SUBJECT LINE, ALL CAPS: GHOST STORY CONTEST
(Due to time constraints, incorrect subject lines will be regarded as spam and dumped!)
DEADLINE: Entries must be received by October 21st, 2009... after that the coffin lid is sealed!
First Place Winner - $50 cash, Brad Steiger's book Real Vampires, Night Stalkers & Creatures From The Darkside
Second Place Winner - $25 cash, Brad Steiger's book Real Vampires, Night Stalkers & Creatures From The Darkside
Third Place Winner - $10 cash, Brad Steiger's book Real Vampires, Night Stalkers & Creatures From The Darkside
EDIT: I'm up!
Speaking of zombies
Ravenous Romance has a call out for a zombie lovin' anthology and while I most likely won't make the deadline of August 31st, it's opened up another avenue of weird and freakish things to explore fiction-wise. Update: this is rapidly getting out of hand now. :) I've started plotting a little sumthin' sumthin' hookup for NaNo and my new best friend. Now, for a name. Who is vacuous, vapid and boring? No. Paris is taken. Besides I want a zombie with a little more life in her than Ms Hilton.
Flash Fiction Challenge
I'm a sucker for any kind of danceoff. You throw down a glove and I'm all over it with delusions of grandeur.
"You did NOT just challenge me to a cupcake eating contest - mantis catching tournament - extreme dodgeball match to the death!"
"Er, no. I was taking off my mittens. It's freakin' cold outside, genius."
"Oh."
So when I saw the Flash Fiction weekly challenge at AW, my little competitive heart jumped with glee. The prompt for this week was Haunted. I was all over that. I have ghosties to spare, just waiting for an opportunity to trot them out of my head and wave hello. There were ten other challenge participants and I gotta say, they all rocked outloud. The prompts post Sunday nights at 9p EST. You have 90 minutes to write, edit and post to the board. Then you get lots of lovely compliments. WIN WIN!
So who's with me for next week? ;)
My entry for Haunted, inspired by the zombie novel (yeah, I know. I just can't let it go):
The wind howled against the windows while jagged nails on Lisabeth’s small hands gripped the arms of the black chair. Focusing her eyes on the fire, she waited and gently held her breath as the shadows began their nightly creep from behind the walls. Horrified and fascinated, Lisabeth couldn't remember which came first - the darkness or the screaming.
This is all in my mind. He would never lie to me; he said it's all just the work of light from the fire. Lisabeth began to rock, her body leaning forward then recoiling from the black shadows that took form on the flecked wallpaper. Dripping into each other, there was no defined edge as the intruders reached and pulled across the wall, dragging their bloated dark shapes to the window. Lisabeth thought once that they were grasping to catch the last of the sunlight, their only true enemy and their most fervent desire.
The small table gleamed in the firelight, the cook having polished the mahogany with mixture of beeswax, turpentine and linseed oil earlier in the week. Her fingers lightly running across the waxy top to the clear flat bottle, the red label torn from nervous hands, leaving shreds of the title Pure Medicinal Laudanum clinging to the whorled glass. Lisabeth shook as she poured a small amount of the amber liquid into a glass and brought it to her lips.
They may not get me for years; death will find me quicker this way. Lisabeth felt the clove-scented opiate numb her tongue and work down her throat. Her eyes closed against the burn of alcohol, their tears mocking her weakness to face the night.
"You did NOT just challenge me to a cupcake eating contest - mantis catching tournament - extreme dodgeball match to the death!"
"Er, no. I was taking off my mittens. It's freakin' cold outside, genius."
"Oh."
So when I saw the Flash Fiction weekly challenge at AW, my little competitive heart jumped with glee. The prompt for this week was Haunted. I was all over that. I have ghosties to spare, just waiting for an opportunity to trot them out of my head and wave hello. There were ten other challenge participants and I gotta say, they all rocked outloud. The prompts post Sunday nights at 9p EST. You have 90 minutes to write, edit and post to the board. Then you get lots of lovely compliments. WIN WIN!
So who's with me for next week? ;)
My entry for Haunted, inspired by the zombie novel (yeah, I know. I just can't let it go):
The wind howled against the windows while jagged nails on Lisabeth’s small hands gripped the arms of the black chair. Focusing her eyes on the fire, she waited and gently held her breath as the shadows began their nightly creep from behind the walls. Horrified and fascinated, Lisabeth couldn't remember which came first - the darkness or the screaming.
This is all in my mind. He would never lie to me; he said it's all just the work of light from the fire. Lisabeth began to rock, her body leaning forward then recoiling from the black shadows that took form on the flecked wallpaper. Dripping into each other, there was no defined edge as the intruders reached and pulled across the wall, dragging their bloated dark shapes to the window. Lisabeth thought once that they were grasping to catch the last of the sunlight, their only true enemy and their most fervent desire.
The small table gleamed in the firelight, the cook having polished the mahogany with mixture of beeswax, turpentine and linseed oil earlier in the week. Her fingers lightly running across the waxy top to the clear flat bottle, the red label torn from nervous hands, leaving shreds of the title Pure Medicinal Laudanum clinging to the whorled glass. Lisabeth shook as she poured a small amount of the amber liquid into a glass and brought it to her lips.
They may not get me for years; death will find me quicker this way. Lisabeth felt the clove-scented opiate numb her tongue and work down her throat. Her eyes closed against the burn of alcohol, their tears mocking her weakness to face the night.
Promises promises--
Talking about writing is fun. Meeting other writers at Starbucks and going over plotlines is great fun but sitting down to do it with Mary Poppins blaring in the background and five kids to raise? Er, not so much. However, being the crazy pie-eyed optimist I am, I'm going to pull a true Gemini and reinvent myself: Stacey the actual-not-just-sometimes writer. What's more, I'm going to shelve the zombie novella and move on. DIE ZOMBIE!
Along with this new zombie-free writing mode comes a gig as a regular contributor for Future-Tarot.com as my alter ego: Wynter Moon and an editorial position at Berryville Main Street helping small business to thrive is this crazy economy. Sounds like fun, eh? :)
Never fear, I'm still working on plotting out the shorts for NaNo! I believe I now have a haunted lighthouse, haunted hotel (kidlit), plane crash/forest haunting, and a lovely little ditty about my favorite Colonial rapscallion - Mad Anthony Wayne. Never heard of him? You will. ;)
Along with this new zombie-free writing mode comes a gig as a regular contributor for Future-Tarot.com as my alter ego: Wynter Moon and an editorial position at Berryville Main Street helping small business to thrive is this crazy economy. Sounds like fun, eh? :)
Never fear, I'm still working on plotting out the shorts for NaNo! I believe I now have a haunted lighthouse, haunted hotel (kidlit), plane crash/forest haunting, and a lovely little ditty about my favorite Colonial rapscallion - Mad Anthony Wayne. Never heard of him? You will. ;)
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