Author Archive

The beauty of having guest bloggers is you never know what insights await you. For my blog, the rules are simple: write whatever you wish. I feel like a kid before X-mas! I hope you, dear reader, feel the same.

William Couper, who is an amazing writer from, Scotland has some very funny, realistic insights for us.

Enjoy!

Ben

By Jove!  Where’s My Monocle, Dude?

By William Couper

Do excuse the following political rant.  It was originally going to be something terribly clever that equated British politics with a children’s stop-motion animated programme.  But even a little bit of thought revealed that it would make your esteemed author (that’s me being self-aggrandising and not a little bit ironic) seem somewhat crazy in that oh-so-special internet way.

You might come to that conclusion anyway after reading this modest tract.  Blame Ben for giving me free rein.

Let’s be honest though, the British Prime Minister David Cameron (‘Dave’ to no one) does have more than a passing resemblance to some Plasticine moulded character.  Look at those glittery dot eyes, that smile that looks like it’s been cut out of face and filled with teeth.  It’s the skin that really gets everyone though.  It’s so…fucking shiny.  His face has such an incredible sheen that, along with being podgy and pink, it looks like a GM scaremonger’s nightmare of what tomatoes were going to become – right down to walking and talking and wearing a suit.  Although there’s no documented evidence of him absorbing human brains with curling tendrils that he slips in through the nose.

Not yet, at any rate, give the British media some time.  They’ll find a way to crucify him; or just stab him repeatedly in the back as he leaves office.  It’s the British way, you know.

And not only does he look like he’s about to be joined at the podium by Wallace and Gromit, but he says funny things too.  Well, I’m sure they sound hilarious to him as the fairground theme plays on a continuous loop in his head.  Since he’s the ringmaster of Conservativo Circus.  For his aides and the rest of the country what he says are face-palms of thunderous proportions and hungry abysses of public relations, swallowing any goodwill that he might have had.  The UK was a junior partner in 1940?  Ooft!  Way to go there, Davey-boy.  You’re telling the country that we’re in for some of the harshest cuts in public spending for twenty years, why don’t you just call us a bunch of useless wankers while you’re at it?  What next?  We couldn’t have won the Falklands without the penguins’ help?

Doo-doo, doodle-oodle, oot doot, doo-doo…

Such a character, but, then what can you expect from someone who is such a staunch supporter of the ever-popular Margaret Thatcher.  You remember her, right?  The wacky neighbour who climbs in through your window at night to steal your skin?  For those who need reminding, Maggie Thatcher was Prime Minister (or as she probably liked to be referred to: Lord High Emperor Margaret the First of All Britain and the Kingdom of the Toast Fairies) during the eighties.  Not just a few years.  The whole.  Fucking.  Decade.

There are screeds and screeds about the awful things she did and about how she made Sauron look like Paris Hilton’s shivering little Chihuahua.  It was through her groundwork, back in the heady days of Yuppie Utopia that set up the financial meltdown that we’ve seen in the last couple of years.  Built on by successive governments of both Conservative and Labour flavours.  Her and her zany partner in crime Ronald Reagan.

It’s really no wonder that David Cameron’s a bobble-headed loon.  And it’s no shock that banks and big companies have gotten away with crippling the financial system and leaving people all but penniless.  That, and it’s those penniless people who are going to be charged for the massive fuck up.  No surprises there to anyone in the West who hasn’t been living in a cave for the last three years.

You could almost pity him as he vomits inflammatory drivel at the faces of foreign countries.  He’s like a child with Asperger’s Syndrome who’s never been taught not to stick his finger up his arse outside of the house.  David Cameron and his ilk (like Gideon ‘George’ Osborn) are almost inhuman automatons.  They have been steeped in politics from the moment that they stepped into their privileged universities (I make no judgements on someone for the education they received, his family could afford to send him to Eton and Oxford, good for them) and have no real idea what a common working person is, and spout political rhetoric as if it has any tangible meaning.

This is why, I think, they witter on about getting people off benefits (one of the UK tabloids’, and floundering political leaders, favourite bullshit topics to go on about benefit fraudsters and long-term unemployment benefits recipients being a terrible drain on public finances when they make up a tiny percentage of money lost compared to inherent problems with the system and the very rich who evade tax) when there aren’t any jobs and the situation only gets worse as more companies crumble under the financial pressure.

What’s even more mind-boggling is that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is the aforementioned Gideon (call me George, please, aw, go on, I’ll be your friend) Osborne is a fucking millionaire and has had never and will never have to worry about finances as long as he lives.  This is the guy we’re supposed to trust with the country’s financial well-being?  A man so rich that, while he’s vaguely aware that they exist, if you showed him a one pound coin he’d probably think it was made of chocolate and try to take the foil wrapper off.  Being a politician’s obviously a bit of a lark for him, a wheeze, a jape.  Something to do until he gets bored or someone dangles a shiny thing in front of his face.

It’s no wonder that Wales and Scotland (where your humble guest blogger resides) want to distance themselves from Whitehall.  These are the kind of people that are going to cause a lot of suffering and do a lot of damage to the country.

When a coalition government was announced after the country showed, quite overwhelmingly, how little it trusted politicians it seemed that perhaps the underdog Nick Clegg could do some good by joining his party, the Liberal Democrats, with the Conservatives to run the country.  Some of us thought it might not be so bad, that having another party there could dampen some of the Conservatives’ more odious instincts.  Others muttered the term Con-Dems in ominous tones.

It looks like the gloomy bastards were right.  Dark things are afoot in Mord-er Whitehall (my heavens, two ‘Lord of the Rings’ references?  Why Ambassador you’re spoiling us!) and the ordinary people of the country are going to bear the brunt.  Whether they are working or on benefits the usual folk of Britain are going to be poorer.

So I’m going to ask just one question: got any spare change, guv?

I’ll never forget my first cigarette. I was fifteen years old and was busy doing what most fifteen year old boys do: causing as much trouble as possible. I was hanging out with “the older boys” from my neighborhood in the woods behind our houses when I was offered my first “coffin-nail.”

To be, Frank, (No! let me be, Frank! Said the lesbian), I can’t remember if it was peer pressure or plain old curiosity that brought the cig to my lips. But, man was it good! I inhaled deeply and after the coughing fit ceased, I wanted another. I was hooked. But I could stop any time I wanted to do so. Ha ha!

Fast forward a few months to when I checked out Stephen King’s short story collection, Night Shift from the public library and the parable awaiting me inside. I read the story, Quitter’s Inc. and found it a tough read. At that age, I couldn’t understand the plight of the protagonist: He had to quit smoking and was willing to do whatever it took to do so. The other characters as well. All of which wound up signing a contract with a company, Quitters Inc. which guaranteed you would be smoke free… one way or another.

Not to give too much away but, after the first transgression, (IE: you smoke a cig) there was a price to be paid, and they would know. Oh yes, they would know. They were watching him 24/7. Despite the penalty for having a cig, the protagonist smoked away, racking up more pain and torture.

The problem was I was fifteen. Better put, young dumb and full of you know what as the saying goes. I was immortal! What fifteen year old isn’t? Death never came into my mind. The world was mine and what harm could smoking cig’s really do? Fast forward to now.

I totally understand the story, Quitters Inc. I have for some time now. But yet, I still find myself buying a pack of cigs a day. That changed when I went to get a pack the other day. I walked into the gas station and saw the really nice, cute blonde girl behind the register. She had a cigarette in her mouth. What? You can’t smoke in a gas station! As I approached, I noticed the tip was bright blue, like Obi-Wan-Kenobi’s light saber—when she inhaled, the blue grew in intensity and the output was odor-less. Just what in the hell was this new-fangled-contraption and why does it look like a light-saber?

Come to find out, they are called, E-Cigarettes. Electronic in nature, all the device does is dispense pure nicotine to the user. No smoke, no chemicals, no carcinogens. Only nicotine. I had a ton of questions and she gladly answered them all. The next thing I knew, I was shopping at the mall for one of these E-cigarettes. The cost she assured me was well worth it.

So here I sit, in my house, smoking one as I write this. It does hit the spot, but boy do I miss the real deal. You see, like millions of others, I’m hooked on the most addictive drug in the world that is perfectly legal: cigarettes. I look forward to relying on the E-cig for all my nicotine needs.

It’s either that, or Quitters Inc. for me. I just hope they don’t turn the juice up too much after my first transgression.

 

Stay tuned for another great guest blog from an amazing, envelope- pushing writer.

Even I don’t know what to expect. ; )

-Ben

 

A truly unique and powerful novel. Click the link below to read the review.

 

I do apologize for not posting this earlier, my friends. I received some emails concerning which story I’m giving away and I would like to address that now. The FREE story I am offering to the masses is, Patience. It was published by, The Ashen Eye Magazine in, February 2008. Unfortunately, the press went under shortly after the first publication.

As long as a press is alive, I will support that press by encouraging readers to pick up an issue. The only exception being copies of the magazine/collection/anthology that I myself order, sign, and ship to those that request it.

Since the press no longer exists and the rights are mine again, I felt comfortable giving it away. Besides, I still love the damn thing. LOL.

-Ben

 

That’s right, folks!

It is indeed that easy. All you have to do is follow my blog and shoot me an email saying “I joined!” to ben@beneadsfiction.com and I will send you a FREE story!

This one in particular happens to be a favorite of mine and as time has gone on, readers agree as well. Since the press went down and I have my rights back to it, why not? What better way to get the word out about myself, my fiction, and the other treats my blog offers. We’ll have guest bloggers, critical insight into the horror/dark fiction world and markets, and more goodies to come!

As it stands now, I have 31 followers. Pathetic! Come on, folks. We can do better than this. Don’t make me throw a pitty-party! ; )

-Ben

 

The concept of a “guest blogger” was new to me. I saw my friends doing the same and wondered just what the hell guest-blogging was. My answer came as soon as I read my first guest blog. I found it unique, informative,  and a great way to explore topics out of my scope. If a blog is a stew, this is an ingredient you can’t leave out.

I contacted some writers whom I felt were truly pushing the envelope of fiction today, just to see if they were interested. I didn’t expect those same writers to eagerly sign on. Deadlines, projects, life… who would have the time to do this? I was amazed at the response. We have some truly amazing people lined up, (some of them are perverts) and I’m honored to have, Mr. Gregory L. Hall, author of, At The End Of Church Street popping my blog’s guest blogger cherry. An amazing writer whose benevolence knows no bounds.

So, without further ado, the man, the myth, the legend, Gregory L. Hall.

 

THE LEGEND OF WHEAT WEE

 By Gregory L Hall

 

             When Ben asked me to write up a blog, I struggled. Do I write as the Funky Werepig? As the author of At the End of Church Street? Or do I color outside the horror lines and rap about some upcoming projects I have and where those ideas came from?

            This morning I stood outside on my deck taking in the crisp morning air. My coffee in one hand. A lit cigarette and my penis in the other. And in this tranquility my mind drifted off to another time decades ago when I first started my comedy career. I was such a dreamer back then, nothing but future ahead of me. I was also a wide-eyed idiot who thought I’d be a multi-millionaire with a HBO special and movie deal after two gigs. Of course I wouldn’t reach those financial heights until I signed my contract with blog talk radio to host the Werepig.

            My topic settled on two simple facts. Whether it’s in the entertainment, literary, political or any corporate career, no one gets there easy on the first try. And no one gets anywhere without someone else reaching down to help you.

            I’d like to share a story about my start and the dude who taught me life lessons I’ll never forget.

            It was Detroit and the year was 1900-something probably.  A lot of drinking back then made me miss huge chunks of time. But in a ballpark guess, the 1900’s would cover it. I was a young comic and I tried to form a troupe. Only two guys signed up. One wasn’t funny but he always had gas money. And the other was Marshall Webb. But professionally on stage he was known as Wheat Wee.

He had gotten the name because he used to do the entire Eddie Murphy ‘Buckwheat’ skit from Saturday Night Live word for word in his act. Some would say he stole it. But he insisted it was completely different because he changed the name of the character to Wheat Wee. His proof in that legal claim was that he was never sued by Eddie Murphy or SNL. I always thought it might have more to do with that fact that most of our gigs were canceled because of empty houses.

            Wheat Wee was several years older than I was and despite our cultural differences, I always looked to him as a mentor. I was a young European-American from the country and Wheat Wee was an African-American from the city. He hated that term. African-American. He used to say “Since when does an entire continent get assigned a skin color? Like them ‘Asian-Americans’! What’s wrong with Orientals? Isn’t Russia, Turkey and India over there too? Listen, Charlize Theron is from Africa! My people are from Cleveland!” No, Wheat Wee hated the term African-American. He preferred the term Anti-White.

            All he ever wanted was enough money to buy a Snickers bar after a gig. He said that was always Step 1- before you can buy a dinner or a round of drinks or a car or a whore, you got to be able to afford a simple candy bar. And he was right. During our early years, we couldn’t even do that.  He used to say “What kind of world do we live in when a man can’t even get himself money for a Snickers bar!”

            It often made me cry.

            Still, I clung to his teachings and used his lessons as golden rules. ‘It is our job to entertain not educate.’ ‘Always take the high road on stage but bring your dick with you just in case.’ And ‘Always watch everything Chevy Chase has ever done. Then do the opposite.’ Using his wisdom, I began to shape the assclown you see before you today.

            Then came that one special February. The Upstage Theatre in Michigan. We had a full weekend booked. And God bless us everyone, we had people. Over 80 people the first night. 140 the second. And at the end of the weekend, for the first time ever, we got paid. A lot.

            I immediately bolted for the pub down the street. I wanted a mushroom cheeseburger and many, many cold drafts. The rest of our troupe, now a half dozen strong, joined me. But not Wheat Wee. He had something he had to do first.

            “I’ll meet you guys there. I’m going to the corner drug store. Gonna get myself a Snickers,” he smiled brightly.

            It was the last time I ever saw Wheat Wee alive.

            Detroit is a tough city. It’s called the Murder Capital of the World and wears that tag proudly. In my years there I had seen firsthand raids on crack houses, automated weapons fired in the middle of the street, and too many other violent crimes to count. People die there. But you never think it’s gonna be someone you know.

            Wheat Wee choked to death on his Snickers. Shoved the whole thing in his mouth at once and tried to chew. I used to yell at him all the time, ‘Little bites, you dumb fuck! Little bites!’ I ate with him one time at McDonalds and he ruined Big Macs for me forever. And now there in some stupid corner drug store in Detroit, my friend was dead.

            I’m told they found half the wrapper in his throat as well.

            Wheat Wee died in February. Ironically, he was also born in February. So that is why some 20 years later, I drink a toast to him on New Years Eve. I always forget in February that he passed but the end of the year reminds me of dying because of the word ‘end.’ So I celebrate his greatness then.

            Wheat Wee made me humble and made me cocky. He showed me how the world really is and taught me the huge difference between dreams and goals. But the biggest lesson is the one I pass on to my boys even today. Chew your freaking food slowly. Savor it. Because choking to death ain’t a way to celebrate anything. –Gregory L. Hall

 

One of my favorite horror authors, Sheldon Higdon has a brand new short story, A Murder Of Crows over at, The Bag And The Crow. www.thebagandthecrow.com

How can you beat top quality horror fiction for free? Ya’ can’t, my friend… you just can’t.

Click the pic below to have a read! Be sure to leave a comment as well!

-Ben

 

One of my favorite writers, Daniel I. Russell has a story LIVE! @ Pseudopod!

I’m listening to it now as I type, and I truly think he has out-did himself this time. Nice work, Dan!

Click the pic below and have a listen! You’ll thank me later.

-Ben

 

Welcome back to another edition of, Dark Authors Of Yester-Year. This is just a mere part in a series that author, AR Braun and I are bringing to you. Braun’s site, which can be found here, http://arbraunsblog.blogspot.com  has a myriad of useful information on this an many other subjects as well. Stop on by and say hello!

Today, the spotlight is on one of the most influential and unique dark authors to write a story. Without further ado, I give you, Algernon Blackwood. 3/14/1869-12/10/1951

Why?

In his own words, “My fundamental interest, I suppose, is signs and proofs of other powers that lie hidden in us all; the extension, in other words, of human faculty. So many of my stories, therefore, deal with extension of consciousness; speculative and imaginative treatment of possibilities outside our normal range of consciousness. … Also, all that happens in our universe is natural; under Law; but an extension of our so limited normal consciousness can reveal new, extra-ordinary powers etc., and the word “supernatural” seems the best word for treating these in fiction. I believe it possible for our consciousness to change and grow, and that with this change we may become aware of a new universe. A “change” in consciousness, in its type, I mean, is something more than a mere extension of what we already possess and know.”

This obviously unique premise was new to its time… even now and seldom used. Regardless it provided fiction that was truly an interactive experience. As opposed to reading characters, we find ourselves becoming merged with the people, not characters of Blackwood’s fiction. This provided for a deeply introspective read filled with supernatural metaphors.

What influence?

Blackwood’s work has influenced practically every modern and contemporary suspense, horror and fantastical writer… even still. H.P. Lovecraft included him as a “modern master” in his essay, “Supernatural Horror in Literature.” Back then, everyone considered any genre “literary” unlike today… but I digress… Literary critic, S.T. Joshi said, “”his work is more consistently meritorious than any weird writer’s except Dunsany’s” and that his short story collection Incredible Adventures “may be the premier weird collection of this or any other century”.

Aside from influencing his contemporaries, Blackwood continues to do so by directly influencing acclaimed horror novelist, Robert Bloch-whom attributed much of his inspiration from Blackwood for his novel, Psycho. Stephen King, Ramsey Campbell, Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, just to name a few.

The Word!

A prolific short story writer, play-write and novelist, his work spans fourteen novels, six plays and 32 short fiction collections. Best known for his stories, “The Willows” and, “The Wendigo.” The latter, Stephen King used to great effect in his own novel, “Pet Sematary.”

The Willows-1907 A tale of horror in which a pleasant sojourn down the Danube tumbles terrifyingly awry as the veil between this world and an unfathomably weird dimension is inadvertently pierced by an innocent pair of vacationers, “The Willows”, arguably Algernon Blackwood’s seminal contribution to supernatural literature, has had a lasting influence on the field. No less a personage than H. P. Lovecraft describing it as “…the greatest weird tale ever written.” A reading will reveal a clear influence to one familiar with Lovecraft’s work. The masterful handling of mystery and suspense that build to a quite satisfyingly unnerving crescendo may be particularly noted by the discerning aficionado of the genre.(Summary by Michael T. Robinson)

The Wendigo-1910 Another camper tale, this time set in the Canadian wilderness. A hunting party separates to track moose, and one member is abducted by the Wendigo of legend. Robert Aickman regarded this as “one of the (possibly) six great masterpieces in the field”

Where?

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/algernon-blackwood/

To stream and or download a reading of, “The Willows”, have a browse here: http://librivox.org/the-willows-by-algernon-blackwood/ Trust me, you’ll love it.

 -Ben

 

Horror author, AR Braun and I came up with a nifty idea. What if we picked a lesser known “dark” author of yester-year and preached about them to bring an awareness of their work. Work that is so pivotal, the relevance of said work still influences and pushes the envelope of literature to this day. This will be a daily/weekly blog for myself. So stay tuned for more info on the creators, and movers and shakers that made this world of fantastical darkness we all love possible. There words still speak to us till’ this day.

So, without further ado, today’s author of yester-year is the legendary, Arthur Machen, 3/3/1863-12/15/1947 

Why?

From the beginning of his literary career, Machen was the first to espouse a mystical belief that the ordinary world hid a more mysterious and strange world beyond. His gothic and decadent works of the 1890s concluded that the lifting of this veil could lead to any number of things… madness, sex, or worse… usually worse. All of this during a time when writers wrote about vampires, ghosts, and the like, Machen’s work was a breath of fresh air and stood out like a sore thumb. Machen was a great enthusiast for literature that expressed the “rapture, beauty, adoration, wonder, awe, mystery, sense of the unknown, desire for the unknown” that he summed up in the word ecstasy.

What influence?

His intense, atmospheric stories of horror and the supernatural have been read and enjoyed by many modern horror and fantasy writers, influencing directly H.P. Lovecraft, Peter Straub, Stephen King, Ramsey Campbell, Graham Joyce, Simon Clark, Tim Lebbon, Mark Samuels, and T. E. D. Klein, to name but a few. Klein’s novel The Ceremonies was partly based on Machen’s “The White People”, and Straub’s novel Ghost Story was influenced by “The Great God Pan”.

An amazing writer of note himself, H.P. Lovecraft would not have written his genre-shaking short stories if not for, Machen. Lovecraft pays tribute to the influence by directly incorporating some of Machen’s creations and references, such as Nodens and Aklo, into his Cthulhu Mythos and using similar plotlines, most notably seen by a comparison of “The Dunwich Horror” to “The Great God Pan” and of “The Whisperer in Darkness” to “The Novel of the Black Seal”. Other Lovecraft tales with a debt or reference to Machen include “The Call of Cthulhu”, “The Festival”, “Cool Air”, “The Descendant”, and “The Colour Out of Space”.

In an interview with, Stephen King concerning his short story, “N”, King said about the influence for his story, “Not Lovecraft; it’s a riff on Arthur Machen’s “The Great God Pan,” which is one of the best horror stories ever written. Maybe the best in the English language. Mine isn’t anywhere near that good, but I loved the chance to put neurotic behavior—obsessive/compulsive disorder—together with the idea of a monster-filled macroverse.”

The word!

Machen’s first novella, “The Great God Pan” (1894) A must read for anyone interested in dark, horror, and fantastical literature. Widely denounced for its sexual and horrific content. Due to this it sold well, going into a second edition.

“The Three Imposters” (1895) Machen’s second novel. This one being more episodic in its approach. Publisher John Lane, wary of the atmosphere following the trial of Oscar Wilde, asked Machen to censor his manuscript. Barring the omission of one word, Machen refused to do this. Again, another must read.

“The Hill Of Dreams” (1907) A somewhat autobiographical account of a young man growing up in Wales. Again, another must read.

Many more! Go check em’ out!

Where?

To learn more about, Arthur Machen and his work, please visit his website, Friends of Arthur Machen here: http://www.machensoc.demon.co.uk/

A huge thanks to, AR Braun for his inspiration and help with this mission of turning readers and writers of dark and or fantastical fiction on to the writers who helped start and shape it… and still hold sway. AR, you da’ man!

An Excerpt? (When possible due to copyright laws)

“I can fancy what you saw. Yes; it is horrible enough; but after all, it is an old story, an old mystery played…. Such forces cannot be named, cannot be spoken, cannot be imagined except under a veil and a symbol, a symbol to the most of us appearing a quaint, poetic fancy, to some a foolish tale. But you and I, at all events, have known something of the terror that may dwell in the secret place of life, manifested under human flesh; that which is without form taking to itself a form. Oh, Austin, how can it be? How is it that the very sunlight does not turn to blackness before this thing, the hard earth melt and boil beneath such a burden?” –Arthur Machen, “The Great God Pan”

-Ben

 

Howdy, friends!

I do apologize for my absence of late. Between studying for a complicated technical exam, (yes a lot are not complicated. This one happens to be), gig-work, looking for full-time work, work-shopping stories, collab projects, house renovations, and last but not least, my own projects, I’ve had little time to do much of anything else.

All work and no play makes Ben homicidal! But on a serious note, the writing is coming along just fine. I’m having a blast with the collab projects as well as my own. What I am at liberty to discuss are my own projects, so here goes!

I’m currently working on a Halloween-themed short story for a certain press. A very tough theme, indeed. I have an original, unique premise which is a good thing. However, one never knows where stories go once they’re started. I have my fingers crossed. It could blow up in my face. One never knows…but the fun is in writing the damn thing, right?

Two other short stories are in the works. One is poking fun at how vicarious life has become for the majority of our population. I have longed to poke fun at this mentally un-healthy facet of the majority’s life for quite some time. Another explores just what is human anymore? The phrase, “More Human Than Human” comes to mind. No worries, unlike the song of the same title, this story will actually explore this philosophically. And no, that will not be the title.

Some of you have heard me speak here and there about my novella in progress. The good news is it’s almost finished. When will it be 100% ship shape is anyone’s guess. This being my first piece of fiction longer than, 4,000 words, I want to make sure it is 100% before it sees the world.

I have two stories out looking for good homes and my fingers are crossed. Sometimes it takes awhile for a story to find that special place. These are going on a year now. But that’s the game we play, ladies and gents. Another story I am holding on to until a certain press opens up for submissions. Wish me luck!

I need to add some authors to my favorite writers page. My apologies to, Lee Thompson and, Jordan Krall for my brain tends to fart.

Almost forgot! Artist phenom, Justin Abraham is doing a graphite piece just for yours truly based on a short story of mine. I’m honored to have such a talented artist influenced by my work. So much so that he felt compelled to translate it into a different medium. I’m as giddy as, Natalie Sin at a Korean boy band show. That’s pretty F’n giddy.

As soon as Justin puts the finishing polishes on it, I intend to use it as the basis for my website’s new design. When I have time. Sigh…

As the old saying goes: That’s all folks! For now…

-Ben

 

Hello, friends!

You know when you read a novel or a short fiction collection that just blows your socks off? The kind you find yourself reading over and over again?

These are my favorites of the year…so far. I highly recommend each and everyone! Enjoy!

Listed and pictured in no particular order: “Horns” By, Joe Hill, “Old Man Scratch” By, Rio Youers, “Mama Fish” By, Rio Youers, “SkullFull Of Kisses” By, Michael West, “Fistful Of Feet” By, Jordan Krall, “The Resurrectionist” By, Wrath James White, “Mama’s Boy And Other Dark Tales” By, Fran Friel, “After Dark” By, Haruki Murakami, “Peckinpah” By, D. Harlan Wilson, “Mister B. Gone” By, Clive Barker, “Beneath The Surface” Edited By, Tim Deal, “Hey Rube! Blood-Sport, The Bush-Doctrine & The Downward Spiral Of Dumbness” By, Hunter S. Thompson.

Shroud Magazine reviews, Shadows Over Florida By, David & Scott Goudsward.

Click the pic to check it out!

 

My short horror story, “Stray” will appear in, Shroud Magazine issue #11.  

“Stray” happens to be one of my personal favorites. My imagination went into over-drive with this one, folks.

Horror, suspense, and entrancing imagery awaits!

It was a blast to pen this one, indeed.

 

Horror author, Lee Thompson’s story, Crawl is awaiting you!

Head on over to Pseudopod, which is, The sound of horror and give it a listen!

I have a good feeling you’ll love it. ; ) Click the pic below.

 

Shroud Magazine Reviews, Skull Full Of Kisses By, Michael West.

Check it out!

 

Lee Thompson is not only a friend, but an AMAZING writer as well. If you’re looking for horror fiction that is unique, pushes the envelope and tickles your imagination, you’re in good hands.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of, Daddy Screamed With Us @ Horror Mall. The price is only $1.50. You can swing that…can’t you? Trust me, you won’t regret it.

 

This is the signed, numbered, limited edition of, Horns by, Joe Hill. This edition is printed by the AMAZING press, PS Publishing.

I’m a HUGE fan of, Joe’s work and, Horns is one of the best novels I have read in many years. I have been greatly influenced by his work.

I’m so happy I have a copy with a doodle by the author on the signed page. Thanks, Joe!

Multiple award-winning artist, Vincent Chong did a fantastic job with the art inside this edition. The pictures from my camera do not do this edition justice.

 

Friends,

Bad news concerning the short-film adaptation of one of my short stories…it won’t happen. We were getting our ducks in a row-tidying up all loose ends before shooting was slated to start this weekend. We finally got a “mock-up” for a prop from a friend of mine who specializes in special effects. The professor took one look at it and said: “No.”

Long story short, I was under the impression that since the professor had read my story, and screenplay, she knew what our intentions were. I was wrong. She felt that particular scene was “just way over the top and was not needed.”

I’m all for changes when it comes to transferring a tale from one medium to another. However, this particular scene that “must be cut” is integral to the story. Without this, the whole damn thing falls apart.

For days we sat and brainstormed a way around this. Nope. It would literally require an entire re-write of the story and not only would it not be the same story, it would really suck. It got to the point where, Trey and I were making up jokes concerning what we would have if we did in fact go down that road.

Yes, I’m a little sad over it. I was really looking forward to seeing a short film based on one of my stories come to fruition. If this were Hollywood, I would be devastated. If this were an indie-film affair, I would be utterly devastated. But, it is just a class-room project for a grade. Nothing more, nothing less. Just for grins and giggles.

I still can’t help but wonder what it would have been like if the professor hadn’t pulled the plug on the project. Sigh…

Ben