And so we come to the final post in my three-part tribute to women horror writers.
Several of my fellow horror hounds over on the AbsoluteWrite forum have also been honouring Women in Horror Month, so this week I'd like to give them a shout-out. Go check out their blogs, because they are all worth a read.
Rhoda Nightingale: Rhoda's 'Glitter and Gore' blog does what it says on the tin, and she has several posts paying tribute to Women in Horror.
Damien Walters Grintalis: Damien has a lot of guest posts for Women in Horror month on her blog, including one from me. Do read the post about Ripley from the 'Alien' movies, by Molly Tanzer. She makes some jolly good points.
Brittany Maresh: On her blog, Brittany has listed the female horror writers who have inspired her at different stages of her life.
Tracy Pittman: Tracey's 'Flying With Broken Wings' blog pays tribute to more female horror writers, and she also explains why she writes horror.
As we come to the end of Women in Horror month, I'm aware that I've barely scratched the surface in naming women horror writers, even counting all the links that my fellow Horror Hounds have posted. We are to be found everywhere, we women in horror, and we are a much larger force than people might think.
Ladies of horror, remember to say it loud: "I am a woman. I write horror. I am proud."
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Playing Hidden Object Games
One of my favorite pastimes is playing Hidden Object Games (HOG). I also like to play chess, but that's another blog post.
For those of you unfamiliar with HOG, the goal is to solve a mystery, find a treasure, etc. via finding hidden objects and often solving mini logic puzzles. Complexity varies with each game but there are often walk-throughs available.
Most of the HOG I play contain mystery/supernatural themes/elements. My favorites include Phantasmat, Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst, Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove, The Exorcist, and Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Premature Burial. Of course, this is only a partial list and certainly not conclusive.
Why do I like HOG? Part of it's the mental challenge, hence my love of crossword puzzles and chess. (I also like playing video games on occasion. Right now I have my eye on L.A. Noire.) With HOG and video games, it's the game play, character designs, backgrounds, story line, and music that, hopefully, when combined, will create an overall enriching gaming experience. Big Fish Games offers an hour free trial for their HOG. Worth checking out if you're interested.
For those of you unfamiliar with HOG, the goal is to solve a mystery, find a treasure, etc. via finding hidden objects and often solving mini logic puzzles. Complexity varies with each game but there are often walk-throughs available.
Most of the HOG I play contain mystery/supernatural themes/elements. My favorites include Phantasmat, Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst, Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove, The Exorcist, and Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Premature Burial. Of course, this is only a partial list and certainly not conclusive.
Why do I like HOG? Part of it's the mental challenge, hence my love of crossword puzzles and chess. (I also like playing video games on occasion. Right now I have my eye on L.A. Noire.) With HOG and video games, it's the game play, character designs, backgrounds, story line, and music that, hopefully, when combined, will create an overall enriching gaming experience. Big Fish Games offers an hour free trial for their HOG. Worth checking out if you're interested.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Homage to Women of Horror - Part 2
Continuing my tribute to Women in Horror Month, today I am following on by mentioning some of the women of horror I have met, and who have inspired me, over the years:
Sally Spedding: I first met Sally at the Winchester Writers' Conference a few years ago. Part of your delegate ticket when you register is the opportunity for three one-to-ones, two of which can be with agents or editors. I picked Sally for my third non-agent/editor one-to-one because she was another writer who crossed the genres of crime and horror. I sent her the first chapter of DEATH SCENE. When I sat down for my fifteen minutes with her, she told me it was the best thing she'd read all weekend and I'd really made her day by sending it to her. Well, she made my week - nay, my year - by telling me so, and we've stayed in touch ever since.
Sarah Pinborough: Sarah is a versatile writer who writes in many genres, including YA, sf, horror and crime - or combining all of the above. I can particularly recommend her "Dog-Faced Gods" trilogy. Set in a near-future dystopian London, the main character is a paranormal investigator looking into a series of crimes. It becomes clear that there is something supernatural involved. I feel like I've known Sarah for ages, because I run into her at every convention I go to. But I think we first met at the World Horror Con in Brighton, less than two years ago.
Lisa Tuttle: Many years ago, in my first job as book shop assistant, an anthology of horror stories written by women came into the shop. Published by Women's Press, it was called THE SKIN OF THE SOUL and Lisa Tuttle gave the introduction, making the argument that horror had been erroneously considered a man's domain for far too long and it was high time to acknowledge all the fine women horror writers out there. I've been a fan of Lisa's ever since. I got to tell her how inspiring I found that anthology at World Horror Con in Brighton - and it seems I wasn't the only woman to do so, as she makes reference to it in a blog post on her livejournal blog.
Next, a shout-out to some Women of Horror I've connected with online, but haven't met in person:
Rita Vetere: Rita's WHISPERING BONES is a thrillingly scary horror tale.
Diane Dooley: Diane is also honouring Women of Horror on her blog this month, so go check it out.
Fiona Dodwell: Fiona is another Writer of Damn Scary Books.
Sealey Andrews: Sealey is also honouring Women in Horror Month on her 'Girl in the Soapdish' blog.
Jenna M Pitman: Jenna's horror fiction can be found everywhere, it seems, going by her list of publishing credits.
Last but by no means least, I want to give a shout-out to the lovely ladies who are my co-bloggers here. They are all fabulous writers, and you should go read their books:
Sonya Clark
Nerine Dorman
Pamela Turner
Seeing as how February has an extra day this year, next Wednesday will be the third and final part of my homage to women of horror, so be sure to come back next week.
Sally Spedding: I first met Sally at the Winchester Writers' Conference a few years ago. Part of your delegate ticket when you register is the opportunity for three one-to-ones, two of which can be with agents or editors. I picked Sally for my third non-agent/editor one-to-one because she was another writer who crossed the genres of crime and horror. I sent her the first chapter of DEATH SCENE. When I sat down for my fifteen minutes with her, she told me it was the best thing she'd read all weekend and I'd really made her day by sending it to her. Well, she made my week - nay, my year - by telling me so, and we've stayed in touch ever since.
Sarah Pinborough: Sarah is a versatile writer who writes in many genres, including YA, sf, horror and crime - or combining all of the above. I can particularly recommend her "Dog-Faced Gods" trilogy. Set in a near-future dystopian London, the main character is a paranormal investigator looking into a series of crimes. It becomes clear that there is something supernatural involved. I feel like I've known Sarah for ages, because I run into her at every convention I go to. But I think we first met at the World Horror Con in Brighton, less than two years ago.
Lisa Tuttle: Many years ago, in my first job as book shop assistant, an anthology of horror stories written by women came into the shop. Published by Women's Press, it was called THE SKIN OF THE SOUL and Lisa Tuttle gave the introduction, making the argument that horror had been erroneously considered a man's domain for far too long and it was high time to acknowledge all the fine women horror writers out there. I've been a fan of Lisa's ever since. I got to tell her how inspiring I found that anthology at World Horror Con in Brighton - and it seems I wasn't the only woman to do so, as she makes reference to it in a blog post on her livejournal blog.
Next, a shout-out to some Women of Horror I've connected with online, but haven't met in person:
Rita Vetere: Rita's WHISPERING BONES is a thrillingly scary horror tale.
Diane Dooley: Diane is also honouring Women of Horror on her blog this month, so go check it out.
Fiona Dodwell: Fiona is another Writer of Damn Scary Books.
Sealey Andrews: Sealey is also honouring Women in Horror Month on her 'Girl in the Soapdish' blog.
Jenna M Pitman: Jenna's horror fiction can be found everywhere, it seems, going by her list of publishing credits.
Last but by no means least, I want to give a shout-out to the lovely ladies who are my co-bloggers here. They are all fabulous writers, and you should go read their books:
Sonya Clark
Nerine Dorman
Pamela Turner
Seeing as how February has an extra day this year, next Wednesday will be the third and final part of my homage to women of horror, so be sure to come back next week.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Story Published
I'm excited to announce my short story "It's in Your Blood" is included in the anthology Bites - Ten Tales of Vampires. Originally titled "Initiation," and posted for free on Scribd and my blog, "It's in Your Blood" is a new version of the story. (The original story is removed from the aforementioned sites.)
In other writing news, this afternoon I sent a screenplay to a CP who is a professional screenwriter and juror for the Humanitas prize. He offered to critique my screenplay before he starts reading the Humanitas entries. Since his time is valuable, I appreciate his willingness to look over my work.
If you'd like to learn more about Bites - Ten Tales of Vampires, you can find information on Amazon or Smashwords .
I'm stoked about writing opportunities this year. Can't say how it'll turn out, but so far things are looking good.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Homage to Women of Horror - Part 1
This month is Women In Horror month. As a woman of horror I want to support this worthy cause. I'm going to start by pointing you towards this website, dedicated to Women In Horror Month.
"Women don't write horror". This is a battle I feel I've been fighting my whole life. It's as frustrating and erroneous an assumption as the notion that all SF fans are 16-year-old boys who like pictures of women in chain mail bikinis, with unfeasibly large breasts, because they can't get anywhere near a real-life woman.
The media does nothing to disabuse the general public of this notion. Cult SF and horror magazines sport covers featuring pictures of mostly-naked women with the aforementioned unfeasibly large breasts. Books aimed at women sport pink covers with curly lettering and pictures of lipstick, shoes and shopping bags. Gifts aimed at women (and we are bombarded by such ads at Christmas) suggest that your mum or aunty or sister or girlfriend wants a make-up kit or bottle of perfume. Never have I seen an advert that says she wants the new Resident Evil game on the PS3 (which is what I want next birthday).
I would like to point out that women horror writers are hardly a modern phenomenon. One of the first horror novels to be published was not only written by a woman, it was written by a teenager. Mary Shelley was 17 when she penned FRANKENSTEIN.
In support of Women In Horror month, next week I will be paying homage to some contemporary women of horror. If you are one such woman and you want a mention and a link to your blog this month, please let me know.
Let's hear it for Horror Women!
"Women don't write horror". This is a battle I feel I've been fighting my whole life. It's as frustrating and erroneous an assumption as the notion that all SF fans are 16-year-old boys who like pictures of women in chain mail bikinis, with unfeasibly large breasts, because they can't get anywhere near a real-life woman.
The media does nothing to disabuse the general public of this notion. Cult SF and horror magazines sport covers featuring pictures of mostly-naked women with the aforementioned unfeasibly large breasts. Books aimed at women sport pink covers with curly lettering and pictures of lipstick, shoes and shopping bags. Gifts aimed at women (and we are bombarded by such ads at Christmas) suggest that your mum or aunty or sister or girlfriend wants a make-up kit or bottle of perfume. Never have I seen an advert that says she wants the new Resident Evil game on the PS3 (which is what I want next birthday).
I would like to point out that women horror writers are hardly a modern phenomenon. One of the first horror novels to be published was not only written by a woman, it was written by a teenager. Mary Shelley was 17 when she penned FRANKENSTEIN.
In support of Women In Horror month, next week I will be paying homage to some contemporary women of horror. If you are one such woman and you want a mention and a link to your blog this month, please let me know.
Let's hear it for Horror Women!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
2012: The Year of the Critiques
Happy Valentine's Day!
After about a year of indecision, I finally joined Sisters in Crime last month. I also joined their critique group, the Guppies, and my local chapter this past Saturday. In my short time with them, I've learned information that will help my writing.
Part of my concern was how did SinC react to e-books? Did they embrace or eschew them? So far, all indications seem to be acceptance. Traditional publishing avenues aren't ignored, either, so there's a nice balance of information and opinions.
I'm currently on the third (fourth?) draft of my vampire Victorian paranormal m/m mystery, The Ripper's Daughter. Once I have a solid draft ready, I hope to send it to my Guppies group for critique. 2012 is going to be the year of critiquing, I see. I really want to submit work this year so I'm making a conscious effort to finish revising these stories and getting them out. (Fingers crossed...)
Other than that, I have some news I'm waiting to tell. Should be very soon so hopefully I can post it next week. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce.
After about a year of indecision, I finally joined Sisters in Crime last month. I also joined their critique group, the Guppies, and my local chapter this past Saturday. In my short time with them, I've learned information that will help my writing.
Part of my concern was how did SinC react to e-books? Did they embrace or eschew them? So far, all indications seem to be acceptance. Traditional publishing avenues aren't ignored, either, so there's a nice balance of information and opinions.
I'm currently on the third (fourth?) draft of my vampire Victorian paranormal m/m mystery, The Ripper's Daughter. Once I have a solid draft ready, I hope to send it to my Guppies group for critique. 2012 is going to be the year of critiquing, I see. I really want to submit work this year so I'm making a conscious effort to finish revising these stories and getting them out. (Fingers crossed...)
Other than that, I have some news I'm waiting to tell. Should be very soon so hopefully I can post it next week. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce.
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