A Relaxing Saturday Afternoon with Joe Hill

By Timothy P. Flynn

Tim BDay 2013 002Last Saturday, on May 25, my daughter and I made the trip up to the Barnes and Noble in Nashua, New Hampshire for the special event where horror/speculative fiction writer Joe Hill was appearing. He is presently doing appearances in various areas to promote his newest novel, NOS4A2. He was to do a brief reading from his new book, a Q and A session with the audience, and then start the signing of his books.

My nickname should really start to become “Tardy Tim” because I am late for everything recently. We got to the event around 2:30 (half an hour late) and missed the reading part of the event. There was a huge crowd all encompassing the magazine section of the store. My daughter and I snuck in the back, right beside fellow Necon camper Gardner Goldsmith (SHOUTOUT).

Joe has a terrific personality answering the questions before him making the audience cackle with laughs at all the right moments. When the subject of his famous father came up, Joe retorted with the statement, “You all may have heard my Dad writes here and there. He may have a future in this business, but who knows.” Joe made a point to refresh the audience that ALL of his family members are fantastic writers. This included his mom, Tabitha, his brother, Owen with a new novel out at present, and Owen’s wife is also a novelist. The King household at get-togethers and around the dinner table has always been the place for literary conversation.

Gardner’s question was a very good one. He asked Mr. Hill about his productive output, as in a daily word count and also any certain moments in his career that were pivotal in his direction. Joe answered with a daily 1200 words before anything: emails, phone calls, etc. The pivotal moment was his choice to pursue the horror/speculative fiction genre after some literary attempts – simply because he loved the genre was the answer, and the choice of the pseudonym, which was to not rely on name alone for his writing merits. Joe Hill made it as a successful writer on his own terms before it leaked who his identity was. The speed round Q and A was hilarious with short “yes” or “no” answers to multiple questions.

Tim BDay 2013 005The signing line was quite long, but well worth the wait. Joe was great by answering questions, signing multiple books, and even posing for a few pictures. One could easily say it was a successful event and a great time was had by everyone who attended. This was the second time I met Joe Hill, but it was my 10-year-old daughter’s first time. She braved through some of the boring parts for a child with her dad trying to best to keep a smile on her face. Her name is now even personalized in two of Mr. Hill’s books and resides now in our home on my bookcase.

About the author:

Flynn is an author and member of the New England Horror Writers. You can find out more about him on his website by clicking here.

Grinning Skull Press Debuts First Anthology

from-beyond-the-graveGrinnng Skull Press debuted its first anthology, From Beyond the Grave, this month. It contains 19 ghostly tales by authors Michael J. Evans, Carol Weekes, David North-Martino, Jeffrey Kosh, Robert W. Walker, Nelson W. Pyles, Marianne Halbert, Gordon Anthony Bean, Edward J. McFadden III, Jeffrey C. Pettengill, Cynthia Ward,  Michael Thomas-Knight, Tim J. Finn, Rose Blackthorn, Adam Millard, Brent Abell, Scott M. Goriscak,  Jay Wilburn, and Lisamarie Lamb.

From Beyond the Grave is available in print from Amazon and digitally for Kindle, Kobo, and Nook.

Grinning Skull Press isn’t stopping with its freshmen effort. Their second anthology, ATTACK! of the B-Movie Monsters: Night of the Gigantis, will be released this summer.

They are working on even more anthologies. They are currently accepting submissions for a Christmas-themed horror anthology that will benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Submissions can be sent to grinningskullpress@yahoo.com or submissions@grinningskullpress.com.

Evans, the publisher, will soon announce an unthemed horror anthology, Blood on the Moon and another ATTACK! of the B-Movie Monsters except this one will focus on Alien Encounters. The press has other anthologies planned: Gore Whores (ladies only) and Splatter Punks (for the guys), Only the Undead Know Brooklyn (open to NY writers only), and Hockomock: Tales of the Bridgewater Triangle (MA writers only).
For more information on Grinning Skull Press, check out its website here.

Late Horror Writer’s Autobiography Released (updated 6/24/13)

51r1t+gVuXL__BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-74,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_The Horror… The Horror: An Autobiography by Rick Hautala was released on Monday, May 27, by Crossroads Press. At the moment, it is only available as an e-book.

Holly Newstein Hautala, Rick’s wife, said that Crossroads Press will do a print edition since enough people have expressed interest in it for them to go ahead with it.

“I will assume at this point a POD trade paperback,” Holly said about the print version.

Rick passed away in March and Holly found the manuscript two weeks after his death.

“He had a ‘man corner’ in the living room, where all his war games and ‘to be read’ books were piled up,” Holly said. “I was winnowing down the pile and found a Manila envelope. Inside was the manuscript with his handwritten edits. I had no idea he was working on anything like this.”

Rick wrote his autobiography almost four years ago, she said.

“I searched his thumb drives and external hard drive, by title and phrases, and came up blank,” Holly said. “I can only assume that he wrote it, began editing it, and then decided in his Eeyore way that nobody would be interested and deleted it.  It really was the only secret he ever kept from me.”

She read it immediately and knew it was an important story, Holly said. It’s not only important for the people who knew and loved him, but also because it captures a chapter in the publishing industry.

“When Rick’s career began, publishers were still promoting and supporting ‘midlist’ writers, who might or might not have a breakout novel in them, but were modestly profitable.”

The tax codes changed and this doomed the midlist writers, she said. “There were no more tax advantages in promotion and in ‘growing’ authors – it was all about the mega-best sellers. With the advent of digital and on-demand publishing, the small presses came into their own and filled the vacuum left by the demise of the midlist, and Rick’s career got a second wind.  The Horror shows in a very personal way the carnage and redemption that the changes in publishing have wrought.”

“In addition, Rick’s advice on writing is solid and time-tested, [and] worth a close read by aspiring authors,” Holly added.
“David Wilson and Crossroads Press had the rights to e-publish Rick’s backlist,” Holly said. “I approached them first, thinking that The Horror probably had a fairly limited audience (the ghost of Eeyore, I guess).”
Wilson and Crossroads were glad to take it on as an e-book, so she typed the entire manuscript including Rick’s edits and sent it to them, she said.
“When I posted on Facebook about The Horror, the response overwhelmed me.  So I am hoping that maybe Rick’s story will take on a life of its own and be bigger than either of us imagined.  Certainly Rick was bigger and better-loved than he ever dreamed he was.  The world is a little darker without his kind and steady presence in the writing community.”
To purchase the e-book version of The Horror from Amazon, click here.
Editor’s Note: It was announced by Holly Newstein Hautala on June 24, 2013 that Crossroads Press will have a print edition of Rick’s autobiography out by the end of this week.

Publishing Company at Rhode Island Arts and Crafts Festival this Memorial Day Weekend

Jim Dyer and his  independent publishing house, Fenham Publishing, will be at the Gaspee Days Arts and Crafts Festival in Warwick, Rhode Island, this weekend. It’s a three-day event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

Stop by his table to speak with him and to find out about the books he has published.

Dyer, the grandson of author C.M. Eddy, Jr., got the idea about publishing his grandfather’s collections after going through his grandparent’s papers and manuscripts. He wanted to produce a cohesive collection of their works, he said.

According to a 1963 Providence Evening Bulletin article, Eddy knew and worked with Houdini and H.P. Lovecraft. He was one of Houdini’s ghost writers along with Lovecraft. This article also states that Eddy’s wife typed up Lovecraft’s manuscripts.

His grandmother had written quite a few essays and remembrances of H.P. Lovecraft throughout the years for various magazines, newspapers, fanzines and books, he said.

“Many people wanted her to give her personal memories and view of Lovecraft, as she knew him as a friend,” Dyer said.

Dyer’s publishing house is located in Narragansett.

For more information about the Gaspee Days Arts and Crafts Festival, click here or to find out more about Fenham Publishing, click here.

Here is another article about Dyer, click here.

Universal Stays on Track with ‘Fast and Furious 6’

by Stacey Longo

fast-and-furious-6-movie-poster-3Universal Pictures continues to tap into one of its most successful franchises with the release of Fast and Furious 6.

Vin Diesel and Paul Walker are back as Dominic Toretto and Brian O’Conner, hiding out in Mexico (“no extradition,” Toretto points out early on.) O’Conner and Toretto’s sister,  Mia (played by Jordana Brewster) have just welcomed their first child into the world when Agent Lou Hobbs, portrayed by a well-muscled Dwayne Johnson, arrives to ask for help. It seems that Interpol is having difficulty stopping a group of mercenary drivers headed by criminal mastermind Owen Shaw (Luke Evans). The hook to ensure Toretto’s assistance is that Shaw’s crew includes Lettie Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez), the love of Toretto’s life who was assumed to be killed in Fast and Furious, the fourth installment. Lettie’s alive, and Toretto assembles his team, currently spread across the world, enjoying the riches they earned from their last heist. Tyrese Gibson, Ludicris, Gal Gadot, and Sung Kang return to round out a fantastic supporting cast that gets Furious 6 racing into action.

This movie was fun and exciting. Toretto’s team provides comic relief along with several thrilling car chases and fight scenes.  Toretto’s encounters with Lettie are steeped with emotion and trepidation as Toretto tries hard to help Lettie remember who she once was. Rodriguez excels in brooding tough girl roles, and Lettie is no exception. Toretto’s racing scenes are impressive, but it’s his mid-air rescue of Lettie that will leave you cheering.

Brewster’s Mia has little screen time, and Walker also steps to the sidelines in this installment. One sequence, in which O’Conner returns to the states to interview a criminal, was amusing, but felt like it was only written in to give Walker something to do. However, don’t let this one script flaw keep you from seeing the movie.

Furious 6 was entertaining, well paced, exciting, and a great way to spend an evening.  Plus, with this lineup of action stars, how could you possibly go wrong?

Meet Author Rob Watts this Sunday

2012-11-10 02.07.54editAuthor Rob Watts will have a table at the Southcoast Toy and Comic Show this Sunday, May 19. The convention runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Watts will be selling and signing copies of Huldufolk and Crabapples. Each book comes with a CD of music that he personally created for each book. Don’t be afraid to ask him about his books or the craft of writing.

This is his second time at the Southcoast Toy and Comic Show. The last time he was there was back in 2011 with the New England Horror Writers organization.

The convention takes place at the Seaport Inn and Marina, located at 110 Middle Street in Fairhaven, MA. For more information about the convention, click here.

For more information about Watts, visit his website by clicking here.

Check out this article that includes a write-up and pictures from the 2011 Southcoast Toy and Comic Show. You can find the article here.

TOC Announced for NEHW’s Second Anthology (Updated 5/28/13)

The table of content has been announced for the second New England Horror Writers’ anthology, which is being edited by Stacey Longo.

The tentative title for this new collection is Wicked Seasons and will be released at Anthocon 2013 in November.

Introduction: Jeff Strand

“Furious Demon” by Addison Clift
“The Basement Legs” by Robert DuPerre
“Hungry For More” by Michael Evans
“The Secret Backs of Things” by Christopher Golden
“Blood Prophet” by Scott Goudsward
“Three Fat Guys Soap” by Catherine Grant
“Chuffers” by Paul McMahon
“Spirits” by James A. Moore
“Bleedthrough” by Gregory Norris
“Lycanthrobastards” by Errick Nunnally
“To Chance Tomorrow” by Kristi Petersen Schoonover
“A Night at the Show” by Robert Smales
“The Girl Who Wouldn’t Break” by Lucien Spelman
“The Widow Mills” by Trisha Wooldridge

The first anthology, Epitaphs, was published in October of 2011.

The Book Shop is the Place for Readers

The Book Shop in Somerville, MA. welcomes Dennis Lehane and several authors of Pink Narcissus Press next week.

DlehaneOn Wednesday, May 15, author Dennis Lehane, who grew up in Boston, will be talking about his books and giving a Q & A at 7 p.m. A book signing will follow.

Since his first novel, A Drink Before the War, won the Shamus Award, Lehane has published eight more novels with William Morrow & Co. that have been translated into more than 30 languages and become international bestsellers: Darkness, Take My Hand, Sacred, Gone, Baby, Gone, Prayers for Rain, Mystic River, Shutter Island, The Given Day, and Moonlight Mile.

Morrow also published Coronado, a collection of five stories and his play of the same name, in 2007. Coronado has received stage productions in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and Genoa, Italy. Three of his novels — Mystic River, Gone, Baby, Gone, and Shutter Island — have been adapted into award-winning films.

His tenth novel, Live By Night, which was published last October, has just won an Edgar Award. The store will have tradesize paperback editions available for purchase as well as some of his other books.

On Saturday, May 18, a number of authors of Pink Narcissus Press will be at the bookstore at 3 p.m.

Pink Narcissus Press is a local publisher of quirky fantasy and other speculative fiction and is located in Auburn, Ma. The press is led by Rose Mambert along with the help of Bill Racicot. It’s novels and story collections boast authors from all over the world.

The May 18 event will feature these authors; Mambert from Auburn, Racicot from Medford, J.P. LaFond from Somerville, David Vernaglia from Providence, and Matt MacKenzie from Cambridge.

The Books Shop is located at 694 Broadway in Somerville.

‘The Proteus Cure’ has been Released

In April, The Proteus Cure by Tracy L. Carbone and F. Paul Wilson was released in paperback and on e-book from Shadowridge Press.proteus cure

“Wilson and Carbone have penned a winner. The suspense is razor sharp and the characters masterfully drawn.”

Book’s description: “In medical ethics, the line between right and wrong is often blurred. Who is to decide what is for the good of humanity? Changing the world. One person at a time … That is the mission statement of Tethys Hospital, run by Dr. Bill Gilchrist and his deformed sister, Abra. VG723, their revolutionary stem-cell-based therapy, appears to be capable of doing just that for the cancer patients who come to Tethys. VG723 is often their last hope. But if they match the protocol, they’re virtually guaranteed a cure. Dr. Sheila Takamura, a young, dedicated oncologist, is proud to be involved in the clinical trials. Once the FDA approves it for widespread use, VG723 will revolutionize cancer therapy. That is why she’s alarmed when former patients return with bizarre syndromes. Yes, they’re cancer free, but they’re experiencing dramatic changes in their hair and skin and general appearance. When she investigates a possible link to the protocol, those patients start dying. As the body count grows, Sheila finds her own life in danger. She comes to suspect there might be a literal meaning behind the Tethys motto – but can she learn the truth in time to save herself and millions of others?”

Carbone, who was a former co-chair of the New England Horror Writers before stepping down at the beginning of this year, has had a number of short stories published in different anthologies. She has also had a few books published including The Soul Collector and Restitution. For more information on the author, check out her website.

Wilson, who is a New York Times bestselling author, has written more than forty books including science fiction, horror thrillers, and contemporary thrillers. Some of his titles are The Tomb, Legacies, The Keep, and An Enemy of the State. For more information on the author, check out his website.

Do You Know about Books & Boos?

2013-05-03 12.44.46Books & Boos is a bookstore that opened last year on Nov. 20. It’s located in Colchester, CT and is owned by Stacey and Jason Harris.

The bookstore offers previously read books, of which they have over 5,000. Not all of them are at the store, so if you don’t see something be sure to ask since they may have it in storage. Along with the previously read books, they have new books. The new books include ones by local authors who live in Connecticut and throughout New England. Some of the titles are Skeletons in the Swimmin’ Hole and Bad Apple by Kristi Petersen Schoonover, The Authority of Outhouse/Backhouse/Privy Building by Georg Papp, Sr., Die, You Bastard! Die! by Jan Kozlowski, Beware the Hawk by A.J. O’Connell, and From Schoolboy to Soldier by Quincy S. Abbot, to name just a few of the books by local authors.

The bookstore also sells unusual novelties like black cats made from reused flatware and zombie gnomes. No one’s garden is complete without a zombie gnome.

2013-05-03 13.55.31

Portrait of Edgar Allan Poe by Amanda Doughty

There are also paintings for sale including a portrait of Edgar Allan Poe created with ink and coffee by Amanda Doughty, an artist living in Norwich, Connecticut. Another Poe design by her has been placed on a gray t-shirt, which is being sold at the bookstore.

You can find Books & Boos at 514 Westchester Road in Colchester, Connecticut or online here. They also have a Facebook page and Twitter page.