Aug 6 2012

“The Great Gatsby” in 3D Moves to Next Summer

WARNER BROS. PICTURES moving THE GREAT GATSBY to SUMMER 2013

Baz Luhrmann’s 3D Adaptation to Get New Play Date in Sought-After Summer Frame

Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures have moved the release date of The Great Gatsby to Summer 2013. The announcement was made today by Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

In making the announcement, Fellman stated, “Based on what we’ve seen, Baz Luhrmann’s incredible work is all we anticipated and so much more. It truly brings Fitzgerald’s American classic to life in a completely immersive, visually stunning and exciting way. We think moviegoers of all ages are going to embrace it, and it makes sense to ensure this unique film reaches the largest audience possible.”

Kwan Vandenberg confirmed, “Baz is known for being innovative, but with this film he has done something completely unexpected—making it in 3D—while capturing the emotion, the intimacy, the power and the spectacle of the time. The responses we’ve had to some of the early sneak peeks have been phenomenal, and we think ‘The Great Gatsby’ will be the perfect summer movie around the world.”

From the uniquely imaginative mind of writer/producer/director Baz Luhrmann comes the new big screen adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby. The filmmaker has created his own distinctive visual interpretation of the classic story, bringing the period to life in a way that has never been seen before, in a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role.

The Great Gatsby follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz, bootleg kings, and sky-rocketing stocks. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy, and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without of the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.

Academy Award nominee DiCaprio (J. Edgar, Aviator) plays Jay Gatsby, with Tobey Maguire starring as Nick Carraway; Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan (An Education) and Joel Edgerton as Daisy and Tom Buchanan; Isla Fisher and Jason Clarke as Myrtle and George Wilson; and newcomer Elizabeth Debicki as Jordan Baker. Indian film legend Amitabh Bachchan will play the role of Meyer Wolfsheim.

Oscar nominee Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge!) directs the film in 3D from a screenplay co-written with frequent collaborator Craig Pearce, based on Fitzgerald’s book. Luhrmann produces, along with Catherine Martin, Academy Award winner Douglas Wick (Gladiator), Lucy Fisher and Catherine Knapman. The executive producers are Academy Award winner Barrie M. Osborne (Lord of the Rings – Return of the King) and Bruce Berman.

Two-time Academy Award-winning production and costume designer Catherine Martin (Moulin Rouge!) designs as well as produces. The editors are Matt Villa, Jason Ballantine and Jonathan Redmond, and the director of photography is Simon Duggan. The music is by Craig Armstrong.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, in association with A&E Television, a Bazmark/Red Wagon Entertainment Production, a Film by Baz Luhrmann, The Great Gatsby. Opening Summer 2013, the film will be distributed in IMAX.

Aug 4 2012

What to Look Forward to Next Week

Next week will bring reviews of the movies, Ruby Sparks and The Bourne Legacy, which will be on the site Friday and Saturday respectively.

Along with the Ruby Sparks movie review, there will be interview articles with the directors of the movie, Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, along with its stars, Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan. Kazan is also the writer of the movie.

There will also be an article about pens from author and NEHW member Bracken MacLeod.

Aug 2 2012

Heads Up!

Heads Up!

by K. Allen Wood

If you’re an author with access to the Internet, you’ve undoubtedly been bombarded recently by other authors peddling their books or stories. We’ve all been exposed to this before, but until the past year or so most self-promotion from authors was done in a classier, more respectful manner.

Some still operate that way (and we’re grateful), but others have taken it to a whole new level.

I won’t sit here and tell anyone they shouldn’t promote their work or the work of their friends or authors they enjoy, but I will explain what typically happens on my end when authors do it incessantly.

What’s that smell?

If you follow me on Twitter, I will likely follow you. If you do nothing but post links to your book or books, I will block you and vow to never read your work.

If I connect with you on LinkedIn and you immediately send me a message or an e-mail telling me to check out your book on Amazon, I will “disconnect” from you and vow to never read your book—especially when, as happened yesterday and thus prompted this post, I sample it and there is a mistake three words in. No, thank you!

If we’re friends on Facebook and I’ve “liked” your author page—which is the page I expect to see writing updates generate from—and you go and post daily the same goddamn updates on your personal page, your author page, and every writing-related group you and I (sadly) belong to, even those that are not meant for such updates, I will block your updates, vow to never read your work, and find you to be a total wackadouche.

If you constantly post 5-star reviews on Amazon and then share those overblown, unhelpful reviews loaded with WHIZBANGPOW! adjectives and vague clichés like “it gripped me from the first word and didn’t let go until the last”—which are obviously meant to A) kiss the (undoubtedly more popular) author’s ass, B) hide the fact that you didn’t actually read what you reviewed, and C) use his or her book as a piggyback to your own shitty book or books—I won’t believe a word you’re saying and more than likely will never read that author’s book because your word can’t be trusted.

(That’s right, an absurd run-on sentence in a post where I criticize bad writing. Got a problem with that?)

The fact is, you’re not helping anyone, especially yourself. Most of us promote our work in some regard, but some of you are OUT OF FUCKING CONTROL! I won’t begrudge you your rights to be that way—that pushy, lying kind of self-promoter. You’ll surely fool a lot of dummies out there. But I won’t support you. And worse, I’ll find it very hard to support those other authors that are unlucky enough to be promoted by you. They’re the innocent bystanders in this whole thing. And some are probably damn fine writers, which is a shame.

In the grand scheme of things, the big picture, this post is just one insignificant opinion from a relatively insignificant dude … but rest assured, I’m not the only one with this opinion.

So do as you will, but remember this: You can’t push or lie your way to the top. You can push and lie your way to a top, sure, but it’s most definitely not the top.

Editor’s Note:

This blog entry originally appeared on K. Allen Wood’s website.

Aug 1 2012

The Epitaph, Issue 22 (July 2012)

Issue #22 (July 2012)

The Epitaph

Journal of the New England Horror Writers (NEHW)

The NEHW Committee:

Tracy L. Carbone – Co-Chair
Stacey Longo – Co-Chair
Dan Keohane – Treasurer
Jason Harris – Director of Publicity/Webmaster
K. Allen Wood – Director of Publications
Scott Goudsward – Director of Events
Danny Evarts – Art Director
Tim Deal (alternate)
T.J. May (alternate)

NEHW SIGNINGS AND READINGS:

Open Air Market and Festival

The NEHW will once again have a spot at the Middletown Open Air Market and Festival. It’s happening on Sunday, Aug. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hebron Harvest Fair

The NEHW will once again have a booth at this four day fair. It runs from Sept. 6 through 9.

Rhode Island Comic Con

The NEHW will be at Rhode Island Comic Con on November 3 and 4.

Tantasqua’s Holiday Craft Fair

The NEHW will have tables at the Tantasqua’s Holiday Craft Fair at the Tantasqua Regional Sr. High School in Fiskdale, MA from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 1.

WRITING WORKSHOP

From Trisha Wooldridge:

Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester welcomes Spencer Hill Press as they host “There’s Magic in this Writing Workshop” on Saturday, Aug. 11 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Spencer Hill Press is a small press out of New Hampshire that specializes in paranormal, science fiction, and fantasy Young Adult, Mid-Grade, and New Adult fiction, with a new imprint, Spence City, opening in October, which will feature urban fantasy.  Founded by Kate Kaynak, author of the acclaimed Ganzfield series, in 2010. Spencer Hill Press’s mission is to grow the careers of quality authors and offering books that have that “can’t put down” quality.

At the “There’s Magic in this Writing Workshop,” owner Kate Kaynak, and senior editor Trisha Wooldridge, will discuss the craft of writing, editing, marketing, and a professional critique of pitches and queries.  Since this is Spencer Hill Press’s first time at Annie’s, they are offering a special price of $50 for the full day workshop with a $10 discount for members of Broad Universe, Worcester Writers Collaborative, New England Horror Writers, and students with valid ID. And a bagged lunch is included! Registration is due by Aug. 8. Sign-up at Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester in person, by phone (508-796-5613), or send an email to info@anniesbookstopworcester.com for information on how to sign-up via PayPal.

Join us from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for the full day workshop with Spencer Hill Press.

NEHW WRITING OPPORTUNITIES

From Trisha Wooldridge:

Doorways to Extra Time, a short story anthology, is now accepting submissions.

In our busy world of meetings and microwaves, car radios and cell phones, people always wish they could get an extra hour in the day. What if they could? Doorways to Extra Time is an anthology that explores ways to get extra time (be it an hour, a day, or a decade) and the impact it would have (whether upon a single life, a family or an entire world).We’re looking for stories with a touch of the fantastic—whether mystical, magical, mechanical, or just plain mysterious—but they can be set in any time or any genre: contemporary or historical, science fiction or fantasy, horror or magic realism. We could even find a place for a nonfiction essay if it was truly exceptional. In short, show us something show-stopping, and we’ll make time for you.

Suggested Length: full stories (from 3,000 to 7,000 words) and flash fiction (preferred under 1,000 words). We will accept good stories up to 10,000 words but longer lengths are a harder sell.

Due Date: Oct. 15, 2012

Editors: Anthony Francis and Trisha J. Wooldridge

Submission Guidelines: Please email your submissions to anthology@spencerhillpress.com. Put your story in the BODY of the email (no attachments) and put “DOORWAYS TO EXTRA TIME” in the subject line along with the title.

And now the boring bits: We can only accept previously unpublished stories. Please don’t use characters or material to which you do not own the copyright so Disney doesn’t come sue us—this is not a fan-fiction anthology. Contributor payment will be an advance of $10, a contributor copy of the print edition, and an equal share of the contributors’ portion of the royalties. Please make your work appropriate for a PG-13 audience and avoid gratuitous sex, violence, politics and puns.

For accepted submissions, Spencer Hill Press will take first print and electronic publishing rights, which are exclusive publishing rights for as long as the anthology remains in print. This means that authors will not be able sell or publish their stories elsewhere, and when the rights revert to the authors after the anthology is no longer in print, they will only be able to market the story as a reprint, which in nearly all cases is a harder sell and has a lower pay rate than first print. We at Spencer Hill Press hope that the anthology will have strong sales that will result in healthy royalty payments, but we want authors to go into this with eyes open, knowing how acceptance to one anthology limits the marketing of the same story down the road.

NEHW MEMBER NEWS

From Trisha Wooldridge:

Trisha J. Wooldridge, writing as T. J. Wooldridge, has sold her first mid-grade novel, The Kelpie, to Spencer Hill Press.  The novel will be released December 2013.

In the novel, Heather MacArthur is an 11-year-old who has the “pleasure” of living in a centuries-old castle complete with ghosts and faeries. The problem: Heather MacArthur is an 11-year-old who lives in a castle complete with ghosts and faeries … and now children in the nearby village are going missing.

From Deb Eskie:

Eskie is featured in the next edition of Peep Show, by Short Scary Tales Publications. This is the second publication for her short story, “For the Love of Death.”

From Patrick Rahall:

Rahall and Ashleigh Homon (a.k.a. Ashes von Nitemare) have released Monsters in the Closet on Amazon Kindle and on Amazon as a hard copy.

From Robert Heske:

Heske asks people to visit The Night Projectionist Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/thenightprojectionist and help push it to the 12,000 mark.

The book is also available digitally at comiXology. You can also buy the book at Amazon for a steep discount or it can be bought at the publisher’s website, http://www.studio-407.com.

He is also ramping up for his micro-budget movie to be shot in Massachusetts in the Fall. Visit the website at www.blessidthemovie.com or LIKE the film on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BlessidTheMovie.

He is starting an IndieGoGo campaign at http://www.indiegogo.com/blessidthemovie and would appreciate any donations or sharing of the link. Your reward will be immortality (Blessid is about a suicidal pregnant woman who discovers her next-door neighbor is over 2,000 years old) and great perks listed on the IndieGoGo page. Although not a horror film, Blessid has a dark undertone and supernatural elements and is being directed by Mass horror makeup artist and special effects wiz Rob Fitz.

Lastly, Bob writes a web comic called IndieCreator on http://www.investcomics.com. Bob has interviewed NEHW member TJ May for the column in the past. He invites you to read his latest column with amazing Massachusetts writer/illustrator/mask maker Duncan Eagleson, who has worked on a variety of iconic comics (Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, Anne Rice’s The Witching Hour). Read it here: http://investcomics.com/features/indiecreator-interviews-duncan-eagleson.

From K. A. Laity:

New publications include:

“The Claddagh Icon.” Short story. Atlantis eBooks/Lite Editions

http://atlantis.lite-editions.com/ebook.php?c&p=28. July 21, 2012.

“Won the lottery! Didn’t see bus.” Micro fiction. Stylo Writing Academy Six

Word Story Competition

http://www.stylowritingacademy.co.uk/Stylo_Writing_Academy/Competition.html. July 3, 2012. Runner-up.

Laity is editing the anthology, Weird Noir, for Fox Spirit Books in the UK.

Space is limited, but if you have a pitch that might fit, let her know ASAP,

katelaity@gmail.com. Stories due Sept. 5.

From Christopher Walsh:

Walsh has some submission acceptance news. His short story, “God Save The Queens,” is about a haunted recording studio in Philadelphia and was accepted by Wicked East Press for inclusion in their anthology Fresh Ground, Coffee House Flash Fiction V3, edited by Jessica A. Weiss.  It should be released in early 2013.

From Rob Smales:

Smales’ story, “Photo Finish,” is included in the anthology, The Ghost is the Machine. This collection is filled with steampunk-inspired ghost stories and includes a story by author Joe Hill. The anthology was edited by Patrick Scalisi and will be released on Aug. 14.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS:

Ed Brzychcy (MA)

Duncan Eagleson (RI)

Rob Smales (MA)

David Birtwell (MA)
Vlad Vaslyn (MA)
Kenneth Heard (RI)
David Macpherson (MA)
Robert Chipman (ME)

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

Jul 31 2012

Fund Set up for Fire Victims

A fund has been set up for a local Connecticut family to help them rebuild their home after a fire on July 21.

The friends of Paulette and J.P. Smith have set up a fund to help with the rebuilding of their home on Rabbit Trail in Coventry after it was destroyed by a fire on Saturday night.

According to the Journal Inquirer, “several area fire departments responded to the fire, which caused extensive damage to the home at 102 Rabbit Trail.”

The newspaper also states that homeowner, Paulette Smith and her son, J.P., “were not home at the time of the fire, but the family’s dog died in the blaze. The family also lost all of their belongings in the fire.”

Donations may be sent to: Northeast Family Federal Credit Union, “Smith Fire,” P.O. Box 180, Manchester, CT, 06045-0180.

Jul 29 2012

‘Monsters’ Have Been Released

Author and New England Horror Writer member Patrick Rahall is pleased to announce that Monsters in the Closet is available on Kindle for .99 and in paperback for $5. For Kindle version, click here and for the paperback, click here.

The collection was written by Rahall and Justin Graves. It was edited by Ashes Von Nitemare a.k.a. Ashleigh Homon.

According to Amazon, it’s “a collection of flash and short horror with a variety of subject matter. These stories range from a woman waking up to find her apartment on fire to an artistic serial killer to a cheating wife having to answer to her zombie husband. There is something for every horror fan in this unique collection.”

Jul 29 2012

NEHW Member in New Collection with Author Joe Hill

Author and NEHW member Rob Smales’ story, “Photo Finish,” is included in the anthology, The Ghost is the Machine. This collection is filled with steampunk inspired ghost stories and includes a story by author Joe Hill. The anthology was edited by Patrick Scalisi and will be released on Aug. 14.

Jul 27 2012

NEHW Anthology Free for First Time

The New England Horror Writers’ first anthology will be free on Kindle for three days.

Epitaphs will be free from Sunday through Tuesday, through Amazon’s Kindle platform. It is normally $4.99. This is the first time this Stoker nominated anthology has been free since it was released as an e-book in February. To purchase, click here.

There will be an Epitaphs signing on Saturday, Oct. 6 at the Friendly Neighborhood Comics in Bellingham, Massachusetts, where most of the authors will be on-hand to sign the collection. This date is close to the one-year anniversary of the anthology’s release last October. This signing will be the first of its kind since it made its debut at last year’s Anthocon in New Hampshire where most of the authors in the book were there to sign it.

Jul 27 2012

Three Reasons to Attend Necon

Three Reasons to Attend Necon

by Jason Harris

I have been going to the Northeastern Writers’ Conference (Necon) for over 13 years. I can’t believe it’s been over a decade since my first one. Since I started going in the late 90s, I haven’t missed a year. I have been going to this convention longer than I have known my wife, who I have gotten hooked on Necon as well. It’s funny that it took a friend from Florida to introduced me to Necon since this convention is based in New England; a place I have lived my entire life.

1. The first reason to become a Necon camper is to meet fellow writers or fellow readers if you are not a writer. Here are a few writers that have attended the convention in the past: Stephen King, F. Paul Wilson, Peter Straub, Rick Hautala, Christopher Golden, Neil Gaiman, Craig Shaw Gardner, Tracy L. Carbone, Stacey Longo, Dan Keohane, Wraith James White, Brian Keene, Simon Clark, James A. Moore, Weston Ochse, and Jack Ketchum.

2. The second reason is to learn about the publishing industry and upcoming trends. Every Necon, there are always panels with varying topics such as e-books, young adult horror, trends in horror, vampires, zombies, and movies to name a few that have been held at this convention. The e-book topic is fitting since Necon E-Books was announced at Necon 30. Check out the selection of e-books here.

3. The third reason is to pick up more books and have the authors sign it. On Friday night during Necon, there is a “Meet the Authors” event. This is the time where you can get books that you brought signed. Or you can buy a book direct from the author. There is no better way to potentially meet the next Stephen King. And when they do become famous, you can tell your friends that you met and talked with the author at Necon. Your friends will be very jealous.

The NEHW table at Necon’s Authors’ Night. Photo by Jason Harris.

There are more reasons to attend Necon, but the main three are found above. Once you attend, you will find out the other reasons why this convention is so great. When you decide to go, just write on the registration form that Jason Harris referred you. You won’t regret it.

Necon happens in Rhode Island every July. For more information, click here.

Jul 26 2012

Hanging Out with Horror Writers

Since there has been a number of entries this week with pictures from Necon, I thought it would be nice to read an author’s blog entry written while they attended Necon 32. Author and Co-Chair of the NEHW Stacey Longo wrote such a blog. Author Jeff Strand (Pressure) even stopped by and commented on her blog.

Please enjoy this author’s current blog entry.

Hanging Out with Horror Writers

by Stacey Longo

I’m writing this in my hotel room at NECON, the Northeastern Writers’ Conference. I have to admit, it can be a little intimidating walking in to a conference center filled with some of the sickest, most twisted minds that horror has to offer, but I like to come prepared. Before I come to one of these events, I write up a list of fun topics and conversation starters in case I find myself face-to-face with F. Paul Wilson and can’t interest him in the pictures of the time I met Duran Duran. Here was my list for this year:
1. Brush up on your serial killers. Many writers base their novels on real-life events, and find this subject fascinating. I found myself on the first day sitting next to Dallas Mayr (Jack Ketchum) and was able to successfully entertain him with tales of a serial cannibal I once knew. These kinds of sure-fire conversation starters are key to any horror convention.
2. Pick a side: Lovecraft or Poe? You just can’t be ambivalent about this topic. If you’re going to go to a convention of writers, you’d better love one and hate the other, and be able to defend your side vehemently. Otherwise, Darryl Schweitzer will peg you as an imposter faster than you can say “Cthulhu.”
3. Watch as many obscure scary movies as possible before attending. The only thing horror writers like more than a creepy story is a scary movie. There also seems to be a tendency among this group to find the most ambiguous film ever made and make you feel like a giant lump of stupid if you haven’t seen it. Heard today over lunch: “You haven’t seen When Hell Comes to Frog Town? It’s only Rowdy Roddy Piper’s best cinematic performance of his career. I’m sorry, I can no longer continue speaking to you, you giant lump of stupid.”
4. Be prepared to have your favorite Stephen King novel completely skewered. Another popular activity for horror writers: espousing on why Stephen King is a hack. You thought The Stand was fabulous? Blind meadow voles could sniff out a better novel. Did you find Bag of Bones entertaining? You are an incompetent boor who should be eaten alive by blind meadow voles. Why on earth would you be so foolish to think that the most popular author on the planet could actually write a good story? (I suspect this is such a favorite activity among horror writers because they might be a tad jealous. However, this has not prevented me from trashing Under the Dome in select circles.) There you have it: a primer on blending in among horror’s literary elite. I would write some more tips, but I am currently being dragged outside and tied to a stake so that I can be eaten alive by blind meadow voles.

Moments after admitting that I kind of liked Stephen King’s Insomnia, I realize I’m a dead woman.