End of the year announcement (squee in 3…2…1…)

This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant

I’m afraid I will not be posting my annual holiday story Twas The Night this year.  I know I usually post it here because people need their yearly dose of creepy, but I’m afraid I’ll have to pass.

y 4, u ax?

I was going to announce this anyway because I like promoting independent presses that  consistently churn out good work (really, I would if I remembered), but I wanted to get clarification first and the holidays make it difficult to get a hold of people who haven’t been drinking more rum than nog.

As not to totally jump the gun (and therefore drag out the tension a little longer) Black Ink Horror XXX is expected to ship on the December 18th.  No, I’m not in XXX, but that’s not the point.

The cover is skewed because, as the title implies, it’s a naughty little minx with filthy things within its pages.  I say that with all possible love.  This is a limited edition run and when they are gone, you will cry if you are without.

XXX being released is a big deal for a number of reasons.  I was originally going to be in XXX way back in the day when it was being called RED, and then dates and subs were shifted, there was much cajoling, and I appeared in #4.  I am not sad about this at all, because I appeared with fellow Michiganian, Peggy Christie, of Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers (of which I am now a proud member). It’s nice to appear with such lovely company.  If you will recall, #4 sold out in amazing time and there aren’t words enough to express how proud that made me.

Secondly, XXX makes a nice center on your bookcase between Black Ink Horror #4 and #5 – and I’m in #5.

With “Twas the Night.” I can’t wait to see the art that goes along with it.

And that’s why it’s not posted here for your holiday viewing pleasure. I want to say I’m sorry, but I’m not.

I wrote it after RJ wrote his holiday story back in 2006, and in the middle of a long-winded, nevr posted comment about why I liked it and what I would have done differently, I just wrote the damn thing.  They aren’t companion pieces, because that would be creepy even for us, but they read well together. A lot of how we’ve written Isle is based off of that synergy – feeding off the other’s writing and skill.  Chances are, as we get Isle wrapped and off to an editor, we’ll do more of that.  I miss the shorter stories.

I’m fairly sure I’ve removed (or at least locked down instances here on the duck and the Diner) out of courtesy to my editor.   If you see any out there floating in the ether, could you let me know?