Donald J. Bingle March 2020 Newsletter |
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I've written about ten times as many short stories as I have novels. Lots of these have been for themed anthologies. In fact, for a while I was kind of the back-up writer for DAW's themed genre anthologies. I wasn't nearly famous enough to get invited to be in the anthologies when the invitations went out, but from time to time, some better-known writer would have to drop out for some reason or, perhaps, all of the writers would write to the short end of the assigned range. In order to make the proposed word count, the editor would need a story on a specified topic with a specified word count fast. A few editors I had done work for knew I could write fast and clean, so I'd get a call asking for a story in a few days or a week or "as fast as I could get it to them." Not only did I have to come up with an idea and write it quickly, I knew they already had a dozen or more stories on the topic, so I had to do my very best to write a story which I didn't think would be too similiar to anything they were likely to have. My record is seven hours from call to submission. Near the end of my DAW period, I actually got invited to some of the anthologies, but if you look at my resume' and see a story was published by DAW, especially in the early years, odds are it was one of my last minute fill-in stories. I also, however, wrote stories on spec or for open calls. Makeshift was one of these stories. You can grab it for free if you are a Kindle Unlimited subscriber or pay just 99 cents for it on Amazon. Sure, I know you can buy whole books for 99 cents, but I think it is still worth the cost. MAKESHIFT is a short story (approximately 5,100 words) which mixes fantasy and magic with imagination and the science of noetics in the tale of a very special young man recruited to a world of wonder and weighty responsibility. Get it by clicking on the picture above or here. |
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| | LH2: More Love, More Haight-Ashbury, More Case Files Jean Rabe and I are trying to do more with our co-authored book, The Love-Haight Case Files. Yes, the one that won three ... yes, three ... Silver Falchions at Killer Nashville a few years back. We think it has the mix of mystery, horror, social commentary, comedy, romance, and paranormal fantasy that appeals to contemporary genre readers. As some of you know, the first book combines four different case files with an overarching plot about how Evelyn Love and Thomas Brock represent the legal rights of OTs (other-than-humans) in present day San Francisco, where magic has returned to the world. Accordingly, we've taken the first case from the first book and turned it into a screenplay--more precisely, a teleplay for what could be the pilot episode for a television series and have sent it off to a few agents and contests to see if we can shake anything loose. No Hollywood meetings scheduled yet, but if you know anyone at Netflix or Amazon or Lifetime or Hulu or Hallmark or ... you get the picture ... be sure to let them and us know. Writing up the pilot also got us thinking about new cases beyond the original four. A clean first draft of the first new case is done and we've chatted extensively about the topic (and legal issues that will arise) for another. We envision the second volume of Love-Haight will also include four case files, along with more of the over-arching through-line that was in the first book. If you haven't read (or reviewed) The Love-Haight Case Files, now is the perfect time to do so. Here's some blurbs/reviews: “Love-Haight is a comedy, locked within a mystery, hidden in a horror story… Wonderfully clever, stylish, and ghoulish. Delightfully twisted fun!” —William C. Dietz, New York Times bestselling creator of The Legion of the Damned® “You have to enjoy a book where they kill the lawyer and he still defends his undead clients.” —Jody Lynn Nye, New York Times bestselling author “Making the freakiest burg in the nation ten times freakier is a considerable achievement.” —Glen Cook, bestselling author of The Black Company series “A seamless blend of horror, romance, and legal intrigue that makes for an urban fantasy-laced cocktail of literary delights sure to thrill readers of all stripes. Don’t miss Love-Haight!” —New York Times bestselling author Matt Forbeck “Part fantasy noir, part supernatural legal thriller, Love-Haight sparkles with wit and originality. Fans of urban fantasy are sure to love Thomas Brock and Evelyn Love!” —Troy Denning, New York Times bestselling author Obligatory Coronavirus/Covid 19 Reference Times being what they are, there simply has to be some mention of the current pandemic in every publication, so here you go. Aside from viral pandemics being a staple for explaining zombies in much horror fiction (even Love-Haight, above), there is some fine fiction on the topic, too, including everything from The Andromeda Strain (both book and movie), and, of course, Contagion, starring Matt Damon and Kate Winslet, who does a great job of telling everyone to stop touching their face. Reading is a great substitute for going out. You might want to grab a good book or fourteen in case of quarantine. | | |
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| | Hawaii Has Writers; Writers Write Anthologies (And Eat) Since I've been spending some time on the Big Island of Hawaii, I've joined several local writers' groups, including the Mystery Authors of Hawaii Island, the Hawaii Writers Guild, and the Volcano Writers Group. They are an overwhelmingly friendly coterie of people in each and every case. Lots of socializing, lots of support, and lots of pupus (snacks) are always included. I've done a reading with the HWG in Waimea/Kamuela. And, I will be selling books at a table for the VWG at the Cooper Center Swap Meet in Volcano next Saturday. I submitted a couple pieces to a planned anthology called Latitudes that the HWG has in the works, but haven't yet heard back on whether they made the cut and, if so, what the publishing schedule is. I also submitted three things for the VWG anthology pictured above, including a reprint of my Indonesian Wayang Kulit story, Day of the Shadows, as well as two poems ... yes, poems: Green Flash and Starbright. Out of Our Minds: Voices from the Mist is currently available in ebook form (Kindle format) and print via Amazon here. They also plan to sell it in the Art Pavilion at the Merrie Monarch Festival in April in Hilo. They've got a reading coming up for it at Ono's Volcano Art Center Saturday, March 21, from 5-7 p.m. Wine and pupus/refreshments will be served, of course. I can't make it, but if you are on-island, you should check it out. Classic Book Reviews Moby Dick: 2 out of 5 stars Not Really a Good Piece of Fiction (from February 14, 2009) Having recently read Moby Dick for the first time, I am completely convinced that Hermann Melville really wanted to write a non-fiction book about great whales, but stuck in the fictional bits in order to attract a broader audience. I also do not believe that this is an American classic because it is such a well-written piece of fiction, but because it gives teachers so many things to talk about in class: changes in style, emerging attitudes about religion, narrative flashbacks, thematic consistency, and so on and on and on. Although the book starts out well, with amusing and complex characters and odd situations that expose much commentary on social norms, it unfortunately goes to sea. Once there, the lengthy and boring sections on whale anatomy, whale species, whale art, the history of whaling, whale butchering, and the inaccuracies of others who have chronicled tales of whaling completely overwhelm the fairly sketchy plot, the amusing characters, and anything resembling a reasonable story pace. Tangents on Great Lakes sailing and pretty much anything else that crossed the author's mind lead to lengthy, rambling asides that sap the reader's will to go on. Even the overarching theme of obsession (which is ably demonstrated more by the author's whale fetish than by Captain Ahab's pursuit of the white whale) is lost in the tedious bulk of non-fiction material. The author moves from narrative style to dialogue to museum cataloging to play scene style at whim and without regard for consitency or what works for the storyline. Worst of all, the ending of the book--the thin plot that most people know and use to indicate the importance of the book as the great American novel--winds up as poorly described, anticlimactic, and unsatisfying mess. While some may regard this review as harsh, I was in fact kind by giving this book two stars instead of one. Interesting perhaps to talk about, promising in parts, but an uninteresting chore to read in full. Disappointing and far from a great book. | | |
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Keep scrolling. Lots more content below. Check out these StoryOriginApp promotions. |
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| | It Came From The Sea is the first tale in Troy Young's collection: The Other: Encounters With The Cthulhu Mythos Book One. You can look at some reviews of all four tales, then get the first for free by clicking on the picture above. On It Came From The Sea: A Modern Cthuhlu-style tale that fits within the mythos. Great short story that feels completely plausible. Good characterization and pacing. Not the typical ending one would expect from such tales, but satisfying, nonetheless. I definitely recommend this read for anyone who likes the macabre. -ciofki, May 12, 2019
On It Slumbers Beneath The Ice: An out of this world read. This work captivated me. It was horror in your stereotypical sense but a science fiction horror that left me wanting to know more about "the Other". I have to say that Dr. Adele was a well-written character that I think accurately displayed what someone in her situation might do. -Ashley, December 27, 2019
On It Lives In The Woods: Mythos Building. I am finding that Troy Young is building his mythos and his characters by carefully building upon the stories that came before. These stories are definitely meant to be read in order. I have long been a fan of the weird tale and have read, along with Lovecraft, some of the authors who have promulgated the mythos of HPL. Each addition brings its own perspective and insight. Troy Young is bringing a thoroughly modern feel to the age-old telling of the otherworldly story. - Madelon Wilson, December 1, 2019
On It Lurks In The Basement: Atmospheric Horror. One of the truly terrifying aspects of Lovecraft's work, at least as I remember it, is derived from not actually knowing the monster in question. He terrified me with innuendo and descriptions of feelings. Troy Young is continuing this tradition of not throwing splatter and gore all over atmospheric horror. I'm sure we can all relate to that sudden noise in the middle of the night that begs investigation on the one hand and fear of that investigation on the other. - Madelon Wilson, December 5, 2019 | | |
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| | I Know What You Did is a suspense mystery by Tim Kizer. Only 99 cents (free for KU subscribers). Click on the picture above to take a look. Today she discovered that her husband is a serial killer.
"I saw my husband kidnap a woman forty minutes ago."
Shortly after Emma says these words to a 911 operator, her husband, Paul, is arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and murder. His victim, Alison Bowles, is found raped and strangled hours later. The evidence against Paul is irrefutable: there are traces of his DNA on Alison's body, and her hair was discovered in his trunk. The police believe he may be a serial killer.
Paul insists he's innocent and claims he was with his lover, Julie, at the time of the murder.
A few days after talking to Paul's lawyer, Julie disappears without a trace. Emma is surprised to find out that all fingerprints in Julie's house have been wiped off.
Where is Julie? Why were the fingerprints wiped off?
In her search for answers Emma uncovers a diabolical conspiracy masterminded by a serial murderer. He has a long target list, and he knows who he'll kill next.
MANIA, a suspense thriller
Richard Brower has killed a dozen people. Now someone is trying to frame him for the murders committed by another serial killer.
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This collection contains novels I SAW WHAT YOU DID and MANIA.
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I'm also participating in a few promotions in connection with Ratfish, a Schlock Zone Drive-In Novella by Buck Hanno. What can I say? I think Buck is a funny guy. He thinks so, too. |
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Full disclosure: Various links in my newsletter or on my website may include Amazon Affiliate coding, which gets me a small referral fee (at no cost to you) if you purchase after clicking through. |
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