The Epitaph, Issue 30 (March 2013)

Issue #30 (March 2013)

The Epitaph

Journal of the New England Horror Writers (NEHW)

The NEHW Board of Directors:

Stacey Longo – Chairperson
Dan Keohane – Treasurer
Jason Harris – Director of Publicity/Webmaster
K. Allen Wood – Director of Publications
Scott Goudsward – Director of Events
David Price – Board Member
Rob Watts – Board Member

NEHW SIGNINGS AND READINGS:

Art in the Garden

The NEHW will be at this craft fair in Hopkinton, MA. on April 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

NECON

The NEHW will have a couple tables at this convention, which runs from July 18 through 21. Contact Scott Goudsward at screaming602@gmail.com if you would like to participate.

NecronomiCon

The NEHW will have a table at this convention, which runs from August 23 through 25. Contact Scott Goudsward at screaming602@gmail.com if you would like to participate.

Middletown Open Air Market and Festival

The NEHW will have a few tables at this event on August 25. Contact Jason Harris at dudley228@gmail.com if you like to be involved.

New Hampshire Comic Con

The NEHW will have a table at this convention, which runs from Sept. 28 through 29.

NEHW WRITING OPPORTUNITIES:

Call for Stories: Noir Carnival

A call for stories from Fox Spirit Books <http://foxspirit.co.uk> , publishers of Weird Noir <http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1909348058/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1909348058&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=magicwombat-20> and many more superb volumes.

Dark’s Carnival has already left town, but it’s left a fetid seed behind. There’s a transgressive magic that spooks the carnies and unsettles the freaks. Beyond the barkers and the punters, behind the lights and tents where the macabre and the lost find refuge, there’s a deformity that has nothing to do with skin and bones. Where tragic players strut on a creaking stage, everybody’s going through changes. Jongleurs and musicians huddle in the back. It seems as if every one’s running, but is it toward something—or away?

Carnival: whether you picture it as a traveling fair in the back roads of America or the hedonistic nights of the pre-Lenten festival where masks hide faces while the skin glories in its revelation, it’s about spectacle, artificiality and the things we hide behind the greasepaint or the tent flap. Lead us on a journey into that heart of blackened darkness and show us what’s behind the glitz.

Touchstones (to give you a sense of the breadth of the net cast):

John Webster’s “skull beneath the skin” • Katherine Dunn’s Geek Love • Angela Carter’s Nights at the Circus • Gargantua & Pantagruel • Pinocchio (the novel! Not the Disney atrocity) • Papa Lazarou • Doctor Lau • Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes • Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal • Leonor Fini

Surprise me, delight me, make me afraid of the shadows of a warm summer night, rip my guts out and stuff them back in again. Just don’t bore me. All editors have their tastes or quirks: if you want a clue to my sensibilities, check out my extensive bibliography <http://www.kalaity.com> and of course, read Weird Noir <http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1909348058/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1909348058&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=magicwombat-20> .

Stories should be:

Previously unpublished anywhere

Not submitted anywhere else

Length 3-8K

Formatted: Times New Roman, regular, 12 point. 1″ margins. 1 space after full stop. Spaced 1.5 lines. Use paragraph formatting to indent first line not tabs. No header/footer.

Identified with a title, your name (and pen name identified as such), working email address on the first page: file name should include your surname & title

Submitted in RTF format via email to katelaity at gmail with at least your name, the story title and total word count included in the body of the email; make sure the Subject line includes “Submission: Noir Carnival” + your name

Due by Walpurgisnacht <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpurgis_Night>

We will ask for world-wide print & ebook rights for a year and pay $10 via Paypal as an advance against the royalties to be split with the publisher. We plan to launch the book at EDGE-Lit in Derby <http://www.derbyquad.co.uk/special-event/edge-lit-day-ticket> in July 2013.

The second NEHW Anthology is now open for submissions!

The anthology will be edited by Stacey Longo and Ken Wood.
We’re looking for high quality dark fiction short stories. A flat fee of $50.00 will be paid per story upon publication.

Submission Guidelines: 12 pt Courier or Times New Roman, double-spaced. .doc, .docx, .rtf, .txt formats acceptable. 5,000 word limit.

Please follow steps on submission site.

Submit here:
http://tinyurl.com/nehwantho

NEW: Deadline to submit is April 15, 2013. Due to overwhelming regular job responsibilities, the editors need a little more time!

From Stacey Longo:

Calling all authors!

Books & Boos (www.booksandboos.com) would like to host a mass author signing event on Saturday, June 22, 2013, with proceeds from the event to be donated to Holly Newstein Hautala. Authors would be asked to donate a portion of their book sales that day to Holly; Books & Boos will not be taking any consignment percentage on author sales that day. This would be an all day event (10 a.m. – 7 p.m.) and will be held under a tent on the lawn of the book store (weather permitting!) We will also hold a book raffle to raise money for Holly. The store is located at 514 Westchester Road, Colchester, CT. Please check your calendars and your GPS and send an email to jason@booksandboos.com if you would like to participate. Thank you! (And many thanks to NEHW member Bill Rockwell for suggesting the event!)

NEHW MEMBER NEWS:

From K.A. Laity:

Her novel, Lush Situation, the second Chastity Flame book, will be out March 28th from Tirgearr Publishing (http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Laity_KA/lush-situation.htm). The sexy (and slightly supernatural) thriller offers another adventure across Europe with terrorism and human trafficking.

From John M. McIlveen:

Mcllveen new story collection, Jerks, is now available.

“All the places you can buy my book so I can get money to buy more books so those authors can get money to buy my book,” Mcllveen said. “We do support each other.”

Amazon PB — http://www.amazon.com/Jerks-Other-Tales-Perfect-Man/dp/1482676605/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362843483&sr=8-1&keywords=jerks+mcilveen

Amazon Kindle — http://www.amazon.com/Jerks-Perfect-Contemporary-Horror-ebook/dp/B00BPTTWKO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1362843483&sr=8-2&keywords=jerks+mcilveen

Necon ebooks — http://www.neconebooks.com/index.htm

B&N PB — http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jerks-john-m-mcilveen/1114765430?ean=9781482676600

B&N Nook — http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jerks-and-other-tales-from-a-perfect-man-john-m-mcilveen/1114772733?ean=2940016380735

Smashwords ebook — http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/292623

To preview — https://www.createspace.com/Preview/1120625

From Christopher Irvin:

My short story, “Bet It All On Black,” was recently published in Thuglit, Issue 4 (http://houseleaguefiction.com/2013/03/03/thuglit-issue-4/).

From L.L. Soares:

Soares’ novel, Life Rage, is a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel.

Rock ‘N’ Roll, his second novel is available now. It was published by Gallows Press.

“Seeds,” a new story, can be found in the anthology, Zippered Flesh 2:More Tales of Body Enhancements Gone Bad, which is also available now.

From John Goodrich:

Interested in spies, terrorists, and Horrors Man Was Not Meant to Know? Previously only available in Australia, The Masked Messenger by David Conyers and NEHW member John Goodrich is available for free at the Lovecraft E-zine website (http://lovecraftzine.com/issues/2013-2/issue-22-february-2013/). For only ninety-nine cents, you can purchase the audio version of The Masked Messenger read by the talented Chaz Engan.

From Erin Thorne:

On Friday, April 12th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thorne will be at the Craft Fair at Treasures and Trash Consignment Shoppe, signing copies of Behind The Wheel, as well as my other works. There will be a drawing held for a Prize Pack, which includes a signed, previously unseen copy of a story from one of her books, in addition to a few surprise items!
Treasures and Trash Consignment Shoppe, 1115 Route 169, Woodstock, CT, United States 06281-1725

On Saturday, April 13th, she will be reading from Behind The Wheel at The Book Shop in Somerville, MA, at 1:00 p.m. A brief Q&A session and signing will follow her reading.
The Book Shop, 694 Broadway, Somerville, MA, United States 02144

Thorne will also be at Art in the Garden with the NEHW on Sunday, April 28th at Weston Nurseries in Hopkinton, MA.

From Erin Underwood:

You are invited to a Reading & Signing for Futuredaze: An Anthology of YA Science Fiction co-edited by Erin Underwood.

Date: Saturday, April 6

Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Location: Spirit of ’76 Bookstore, 107 Pleasant Street, Marblehead, MA 01945

LINK: http://hugobookstores.com/event/special-ya-sci-fi-event-reading-marblehead

Description: Young adults will be reading excerpts from Futuredaze at the Spirit of ’76 Bookstore in Marblehead! A reception and book signing with Marblehead resident Erin Underwood, the anthology’s co-editor and publisher will follow. Students aged 12 to 18 are encouraged to drop off in advance or write a one-paragraph essay at the event on why they like to read science fiction to be entered in a drawing for two signed copies of Futuredaze.

Futuredaze: An Anthology of YA Science Fiction was published on February 12, 2013.

COVER IMAGE URL: http://erinunderwood.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/futuredaze-cover-final.jpg?w=226&h=338

From E.F. Schraeder:

Schraeder’s story, “The Winners,” was contracted for inclusion in Big Pulp’s upcoming Kennedy Curse anthology.

Her short story, “No Witness,” was also published at Flashes in the Dark and her poetry chapbook, The Hunger Tree, is available for pre-sale now from Finishing Line Press and can be ordered online.

From Jason Harris:

Along with the different NEHW members who have signings (which have been mentioned by the respective authors in this newsletter) at Books & Boos, the bookstore welcomes paranormal investigators John Brightman and T. L. Jones on Tuesday, April 16. They will be discussing the Bridgewater Triangle case on which their new book, Dark Gift, is based. The event runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

From Pierre Comtois:

Fungi, the Magazine of Fantasy and Weird Fiction is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a telephone book sized issue 21 packed with fiction, non-fiction, and art contributions from around the world! The magazine closed for submissions at the end of last year and is currently in the layout phase. We are on track for August release, timed for the return of the NecronomiCon to be held in Providence, RI that same month. Fungi will be among the high profile projects at the con and will feature a stellar lineup of talent including such classic authors as William F. Nolan and Earl Hamner Jr! Illustrated with a full color cover by the award winning Murray Tinkelman. Those interested can learn more by visiting the Fungi web page at: http://bypierrecomtois.webs.com/fungi21wierdfiction.htm.

From Dale T. Phillips:

Phillips will be appearing (with Vlad Vaslyn) at NEHW’s favorite bookstore, Books and Boos, on April 27th (at 2 p.m.) for a reading and book signing. The bookstore is located at 514 Westchester Road, Colchester, CT.

He has another signing the following week, Saturday, May 4th (at 11 a.m.), at the Used Book Superstore located at 256 Cambridge Street in Burlington, MA.

He just released his first-ever Kindle Select ebook: Halls of Horror, a collection of 10 scary tales:
http://www.amazon.com/Halls-of-Horror-ebook/dp/B00BWYVVVK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1364249756&sr=1-1&keywords=halls+of+horror

Dale’s third Zack Taylor mystery novel, A Shadow on the Wall, will be released this April by Rosstrum Publishing.

From Roxanne and Karen Dent:

The Dents will be reading on Saturday, April 6th at Books and Boos (http://booksandboos.com), located at 514 Westchester Road, Colchester, CT along with a little talk about ourselves.

Karen will be reading “A Case to Die For, which is in her paranormal, noir anthology, Damnation and Dames and her YA story, “Grave Mistake,” which is in the collection, Halloween Dances With the Dead.

Roxanne will be reading from her anthology, A Fist Full of Horrors, “Zombies at Red Rock,” which is in Tales of Terror from the Old West and “Miss Luella’s Magic Shop” from More Scary Kisses. Hope to see some of you there. www.TheSistersDent.com.

From Trisha Wooldridge:

There are two NEHW-related events happening in April at Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester (http://www.anniesbooksworcester.com/) at 65 James Street, Worcester, MA. There is still room in either, so if any members are interested in joining in, feel free to contact Trish Wooldridge, ABSW Events Coordinator at trish@anovelfriend.com.

Saturday, April 13, 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

A Dark Carnival of Authors & Remembering Rick Hautala

Join Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester for a day-long event of horror and dark fantasy authors sharing from their own work and honoring award-winning horror author Rick Hautala, who passed away this March. Stop in to hear some amazing, chilling writing, chat with authors, and remember the kind and talented Rick. There will be a donation box to help his widow, Holly, during this difficult time.

Confirmed authors include: Eric Dimbleby, Morven Westfield, Frank Raymond Michaels

K.A. Laity, Errick Nunnally, Inanna Arthen, Kristi Petersen Schoonover, TJ May, Rose Mambert, and Jessie Olson.

Keep an eye on our website and blog for more information and author additions!

Friday, April 19, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

An Evening of Horror Poetry

ABSW invites a collection of horror poets to read from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Friday night. Listen to the beautiful and disturbing, the musical and fearsome, and get to meet the authors who explore fear through the art of the poem.

Confirmed poets include: Victor Infante, Kurt Newton, K.A. Laity, Dave Macpherson, and Trisha Wooldridge.

From David North-Martino:

David’s short story, “The Mesomorphic Woman,” appears in the Daughters of Icarus anthology, edited by Josie Brown and published by Pink Narcissus Press. The paperback version of the anthology can be purchased at the publisher’s website, with paperback and e-book releases at other fine retailers, including Amazon & B&N, in the coming weeks. http://pinknarc.com/books.htm

David’s short story, “Phantom Chasers,” is included in the From Beyond the Grave anthology, edited by Michael Evans and published by Grinning Skull Press. The anthology is available in e-book format at many fine retailers. A paperback version is coming soon.

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/cjp57e5

B&N: http://tinyurl.com/copyvga

Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/c973vts

David’s short story, “The Hours of Sleep,” is published in You Can’t Kill Me, I’m Already Dead: A Vampire Anthology, edited by Allan Russo and published by Zombie Works Publications. The anthology is available in both paperback and e-book versions exclusively at Amazon. http://tinyurl.com/cezoa45.

From Craig D.B. Patton:

Patton’s M.R. James influenced ghost story, “Last Testament,” has been published in Supernatural Tales #23.

He is also pleased to announce that The Postcard Press will release his poem, “Secrets,” as a postcard in June. To learn more, visit his blog (flawedcreations.wordpress.com) or follow him on Twitter @craigdbpatton.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS:

S.Z. Slack (RI)
Susan Cunningham (NH)
Patricia Gomes (MA)
Rey Otis (RI)
Stephen Clifton (ME)

– Jason Harris, Editor, the Epitaph: Journal of NEHW
– Stacey Longo, Assistant Editor, the Epitaph: Journal of NEHW

T-Shirt Sales to Help New England Author’s Widow

Every NEHW t-shirt sold through Books & Boos (http://www.booksandboos.com/our-products.html?m) from this moment on, a dollar will be donated to Holly Newstein Hautala. You can read why here, http://christophergolden.blogspot.com/2013/03/if-you-want-to-help-holly-newstein.html?m=1.

20130324-201805.jpg

Horror Community Loses a Friend

2013-03-21 22.02.32

Today was a sad day for the New England Horror Writers. We lost not only a member, but also an outstanding author. Along with being a friend and supporter of the NEHW, Rick Hautala was also a great guy, who was down to earth and easy to talk to about writing, movies, music and more.

Please keep Rick’s wife, fellow author and NEHW member Holly Newstein Hautala and the Hautala family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Authors Signing at Craft Fair

The New England Horror Writers will be at the indoor Heritage Craft Fair in Framingham, MA. this coming Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Authors on hand will be Rob Smales, Rob Watts, Erin Thorne, Rose Mambert, Tracy Carbone, Bracken MacLeod, and Scott Goudsward.

The craft fair will be held at the Keefe Technical School, located at 750 Winter Street in Framingham, MA.

The G&D Show Welcomes The Walking Dead’s ‘Merle’

The G&D Show Welcomes The Walking Dead’s ‘Merle’

by Kristi Petersen Schoonover

Fans of The Walking Dead will get lucky on St. Paddy’s Day when The Ghostman and Demon Hunter Show, co-hosted by NEHW member Nathan Schoonover, will be interviewing Michael Rooker  (Merle Dixon) from the popular series. The show will air at 7 p.m. (ET) Sunday, March 17, and conclude just minutes before The Walking Dead’s Episode 314, “Prey,” premieres on AMC.

Rooker has had a long and extensive career in film and television peppered with credits such as Cliffhanger, The Bone Collector, The Dark Half, Jumper, Mallrats, and The 6th Day. Some may also know him as the title role in the controversial 1986 film Henry: Portrait of the Serial Killer or as “The Repo Man” in 2006’s Repo! The Genetic Opera.

In The Walking Dead, Rooker’s Merle, brother to Norman Reedus’ Daryl Dixon, had been left for dead at the end of Season 1, but made a surprising reappearance at the opening of Season 3. There’s been plenty of talking about it ever since, and fans of the show should find this interview—during which they can ask questions via the chat room—a great lead-in to the newest episode.

The Ghostman and Demon Hunter Show has been around since February 2007, and over the years has featured guests such as Elvira, Doug Jones (The Silver Surfer, Hellboy), Butch Patrick (Eddie Munster), Keith Johnson (Ghost Hunters) and many more. The show was also the subject of a two-night special on A&E, Extreme Paranormal, in 2009. Nathan Schoonover and his co-host, Shaun Burris, have appeared on many television shows including Paranormal Challenge and My Ghost Story.

To hear Rooker on Sunday night and ask questions via The G&D chat room tune in at 7 p.m. (ET) by clicking here.

For more information and to listen to the show’s most recent episodes, visit www.ghostanddemon.com.

‘The Best of Both Worlds’ Warps into Theaters

Star Trek: The Next GenerationThe Best of Both Worlds Event Transports into Cinemas on April 25 

* * * * *

NCM Fathom Events, CBS Home Entertainment and IGN Present a

One-Night Event Featuring the Classic Series’ Third Season Finale and Fourth Season Premiere Remastered into a Feature-Length Presentation 

Special Event Will Precede Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 and

Star Trek: The Next Generation The Best of Both Worlds Blu-ray Releases on April 30

“You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.” Trekkers nationwide will soon heed those commands as NCMFathom Events, CBS Home Entertainment and IGN present Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Best of Both Worlds, which beams into select cinemas on Thursday, April 25 at 7:00 p.m. local time. The fan-favorite two-part episode – The Best of Both Worlds – is comprised of the third season finale and the fourth season premiere, with Part 1 making TV Guide’s list of “TV’s Top 100 Episodes of All Time.” The episodes have been remastered into a feature-length presentation and will be presented on the big screen.

Tickets for Star Trek: The Next GenerationThe Best of Both Worlds are available at presenting theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. The event will be broadcast to more than 550 select movie theaters across the country through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the NCM Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

Fans will enjoy this digitally restored and gloriously remastered presentation in high-definition. The fascinating storyline follows the cybernetic alien race, the Borg, as they abduct and transform Capt. Picard into a half-Borg, half-human called Locutus.  Meanwhile, the Enterprise crew must race against time to intercept the nefarious Borg cube before it reaches Earth to enslave humanity.

“Fans have been discussing these historic episodes since they first aired, and we’re excited to present them like never before, newly improved and on the big screen,” said Ken Ross, executive vice president and general manager of CBS Home Entertainment.  “This special event will ensure that ‘The Best of Both Worlds’ will remain a classic throughout the 21st Century — and beyond.”

Created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered 21 years after the debut of the original “Star Trek” series. Featuring one of the most endearing ensemble casts in television history, with seven seasons and 176 episodes, Star Trek: The Next Generation took fans on the remarkable continuing voyages of the Starship Enterprise, set in the 24th century.

“After the success of the first two Star Trek: The Next Generation events, we couldn’t wait to bring additional seasons back to the big screen for fans to enjoy,” said Shelly Maxwell, executive vice president of NCM Fathom Events. “Fans will be absolutely thrilled with the presentation of these ‘Next Generation’ classics.”

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 and The Best of Both Worlds will be released on Blu-ray on April 30.

Taking a Ride with ‘The Trip’

Taking a Ride with The Trip

by Jason Harris

trip_cover_colorThe Trip by Tim Morgan tells the story of three teenagers who decide to travel by bicycle from their hometown of Billerica, MA. to Seattle, WA. after their graduation. On their trip, the Mumbai virus wreaks havoc on the world and their trip. It causes Dave, Meghan, and Chris to turn around and go home because they wanted to be with their families.

The virus causes people to become sick, die, and then become zombies. The zombies are not the slow moving kind, either. You would think that people on a bike wouldn’t be able to outride even one running zombie, let alone hundreds. It’s easy to overlook this fact because you care for these characters and hope they make it home.

Morgan starts each chapter with a news report about the virus and its spread. The chapters go back and forth between them trying to get home and planning for their trip while finishing their senior year in high school. The book starts with Meghan’s blog entry. She has a laptop and a solar panel to charge it while she’s on the road. Throughout The Trip, she is updating her blog and hoping her family or someone is reading it.

The Trip was interesting and kept me turning the pages. Any book that leaves you wanting more is always a good book.

‘Willard’ Actor Coming to RAW

Actor Crispin Hellion Glover (Back to the Future) will be at Real Art Ways this Friday and Saturday.

Crispin GloverOn Friday at 7 p.m., he will be presenting a film, It is Fine! Everything is Fine, that he co-directed with David Brothers. He will also be performing a one-hour dramatic narration of eight different illustrated books. The images from these books will be projected behind Glover. There will also be a Q&A and booksigning.

On Saturday at 7 p.m., he will be presenting his directorial debut, What Is It? He will also perform another one-hour dramatic narration, but a different one then the one on Friday night. He will also do a Q&A and sign books.

Books will be available on-site for purchasing.

The event costs $18 for RAW members and $20 for everyone else.

For more information, click here.

Real Art Ways is located at 56 Arbor Street in Harford, Connecticut. The phone number is (860) 232 1006.