Here Lies the Review of...

A few reviews of Epitaphs: The Journal of the New England Horror Writers have popped up online. The first was posted over at Hellnotes. Sheila had this to say about my story, "A Deeper Kind of Cold":

Another union is acutely tested in “A Deeper Kind of Cold” by K. Allen Wood. Attachment, resentment, and resignation duke it out in this SF-horror yarn. Logan Ash is severely injured, and things go from bad to worse when a contagion arises. The diseased tissue is destroyed, which basically eradicates Logan as well: “His body from the neck down was then encased in a plasti-cast and put on a low-level freeze. To keep the infection from spreading to his brain, his head had been quarantined from the rest of his body; surgically severed at the jugular by a cryogenic shunt, and kept alive in a sterile, hermetically-sealed Life System.” Stacy, his great love, has suffered for other reasons during the course of their relationship. Now, at the end of her tether with this crisis and its horrific aftermath, she takes action. Quietly poignant, yet containing a sequence riddled with gore, “A Deeper Kind of Cold” is executed with precision.

You can read the full review here.

Christopher L. Irvin also reviewed the anthology. Concerning "A Deeper Kind of Cold," he said:

A Deeper Kind of Cold: Great sci-fi horror story from K. Allen Wood. I love the setting in the space station and it screams Alien to me. Brutal revelations for characters with a lot of pent up emotion and an ending that I’m still tossing around in my head.

The full review can be read here.

If your interest is piqued, please consider buying a copy.


[ click photo to enlarge ]
Coming soon: The Gate 2: 13 Tales of Isolation and Despair.

Another Notch in the Bedpost?

I've been contemplating—and worried about—writing this blog post for a long time now. My worry is a simple one: Will people be offended, take it the wrong way? I can't answer that, but I hope not, because I'm compelled to discuss it.

So here goes...

I started a small-press horror publication in the fall of 2008. I enlisted the help of some online friends, we dubbed it Shock Totem, and in July of 2009 we published our first issue. (Most of you know this.) Ever since we published that debut issue, I've had one question constantly rattling around my head:

Does an author owe his support to the publications that publish his work?

That question pertains not only to me as a publisher but as a writer as well. Through four issues of Shock Totem, we have gotten some amazing support from authors we've published. But not all of them. Some hardly mentioned us at all, even when the issue containing their work came out. On a selfish level, I can't help but find that disappointing. On a rational level, I understand that I have no idea why an author does what he does. There are things at play here that I am simply not privy to. I can dig that.

But back to the selfish side of things... As a publisher, I find myself leaning toward the notion that writers should be supporting those who publish their work. Because if the publisher is doing it right (relative to that particular publisher, of course), and if they're a publication like Shock Totem where every issue is still in print and actively promoted, then the publication is fully and continually supporting the authors.

Back to the rational side of things... As a published author—hell, as a lifelong creative type—I completely understand that the muse commands one to look forward, to move forward, and create, create, create, to not waste time looking back. I also know how little time most artistic people have to actually focus on their art. So maybe some people simply don't have the time. But that leads to the one thing I can't rationalize...

When I finish a new story, I move onto a new one. But when I have a story published, I never move on. (All this can be applied, as well, to my musician days.) I can't move forward and not look back in that regard. Because I want people to read my work! Do I owe it to that particular publication to support them, promote them? That's debatable. But I sure as hell owe it to myself to support and promote my work! So I make the time.

And that is precisely what baffles me. (This does not take into account the fact that some authors publish bad stories best left forgotten from time to time.) Why do certain writers choose to not actively promote their work? Is a publication credit just another notch in the bedpost for these authors? As a publisher, sometimes it feels that way.

I have just three publication credits. The first was in 52 Stitches, Vol. 2. The publisher, Aaron Polson, essentially put Strange Publications to bed—at least for the time being—when this anthology was published. But this book is still available, and I promote the hell out of it...because I want people to read my work! "By the Firelight," my story in this anthology, is a mere 457 words, but I still want people to read it. It doesn't matter that the publication is inactive or perhaps permanently closed, because I like my story and, in my opinion, I owe it to myself to promote it.

My second published work, "Goddamn Electric," was in The Zombie Feed, Vol. 1. I've sent out copies for review, I've posted about it here on this blog and on the Shock Totem blog. I will continue to do so as long as it's available.

I've done the same thing, and will continue to do so, with Epitaphs: The Journal of New England Horror Writers, which contains my story "A Deep Kind of Cold." In a certain, roundabout way, I'm promoting my work right now.

Which brings me to the revelation of things...

Since that first issue of Shock Totem came out in 2009, I've been asking myself should the author support the publisher? Again, the answer is debatable. But few would argue that an author shouldn't promote his own work, right? And in promoting his own work, is that not, therefore, supporting the publisher? Is there a difference between promoting your own work and supporting the publisher?

I'm no longer sure you can have the former without the latter, but I know what I'm going to do. Always.

A Deeper Kind of Cold

Epitaphs: The Journal of the New England Horror Writers, published by Shroud Publishing, is now available for purchase. This anthology features 26 stories and poems, including my sci-fi horror tale, "A Deeper Kind of Cold."


[ click photo to enlarge ]
The anthology was officially released at the first annual Anthocon, a kick-ass convention put on by Shroud, a few weeks ago. There was a panel and a very unorganized signing afterward. But we got it done. I bought and had signed five copies, one for me, three for friends, and one to give away in an upcoming Shock Totem contest.


[ click photo to enlarge ]
I had filmed the panel, which featured readings from each author at the table, but unfortunately the video somehow got corrupted. Alas...

In the foreword, Peter Crowther had this to say about my story:

L.L. Soares' "Holiday House" and K. Allen Wood's "A Deeper Kind of Cold" are cake mixtures lovingly blended in the literary kitchen... "House" being a mixture of nostalgia, ghosts and monsters (a sure-fire triptych in my view) while Wood's SF-cum-horror yarn is that rarity in that in makes you want to look away while you're actually reading it. This is Guignol at its Grandest.

Very kind words.

Anyway, I hope you'll consider picking up a copy. It's a really good anthology. Not just because I'm in it—which is indeed good for me—but because there is some really solid fiction within. I even liked much of the poetry. Go figure! It's also very reasonably priced at $12.99.

In addition to this story, I have another new story available. It's called "Streamer of Silver, Ribbon of Red," and can be found in Shock Totem: Holiday Tales of the Macabre and Twisted, a special digital-only issue for the holidays. I really like this story. It's dark but fun. It's probably not as good as the worst of what Dean Koontz has ever written, but I think I was channeling some of his kind of humor in this tale. Call it inspiration, me being a fan-boy and all.

Also, if you're a Kindle user, or have the Kindle app on your phone or PC, all other issues of Shock Totem are now available in digital format. They're priced from $0.99 to $1.99. You can basically buy every issue, including the holiday issue, for the cost of a single print issue! Get down!

A Casserole of Updates (aka Titled at 4:30 AM)

So I never blog. I could blog about the million or so random and ridiculous thoughts that run through my head on any given day, but then there's the whole being horrible at time management thing. But hopefully that'll change soon. I have a sexy dry-erase board that's going up two feet away from me, so that should help me streamline what I need to do on any given day.

First—and most difficult—step: remember to use it. We'll see how that turns out!

But for now, while we're here, some updates.

Rock & Shock 2011 has come and gone, and it was great fun. I shared a booth with Tom and Billie Moran of Sideshow Press. Kurt Newton and my girlfriend, Sarah, the luckiest girl in the world, also helped man the table.


[ Rockin' a sweet Bag & the Crow t-shirt ]
 

[ Me, Tom and Billie ]

A great, silly weekend was had by all. I even managed to sell quite a bit. I sold 10 copies of 52 Stitches, Vol. 2, which contains my flash piece "By the Firelight." I brought 10 and sold seven copies of The Zombie Feed, Vol. 1, which features my story "Goddamn Electric." And I sold 34 copies of Shock Totem! Not bad at all.

I got to catch up with a lot of folks from around New England, including all the great writers in the New England Horror Writers group, though I probably could have spent more time over at their booth. Time seemed to fly by, though, which I think is the universal rule of thumb when determining if fun was had. And I'd say it was quite fun.

I finally got to meet Lee Thompson, which was great. As expected, a very cool dude. I also met Jassen Bailey and his Bag and the Crow crew. Great people. And they make bad-ass t-shirts in my size! Hell yeah!

Can't wait for next year.

On a more personal front, as part of a promotion for the Zombie Feed anthology, Maggie Slater conducted a bunch of short interviews with some of the contributing authors. You can read the interview I did here. And if you're strange and find yourself interested in additional interviews with me, check out the main link at the top of this site.

Writing is going well. I've been very busy these last few months, so I haven't been able to really buckle down and put a shine on things, but I have a lot of rough drafts that just need a little spit and elbow grease. Soon.

I have a couple publications coming up, though.

The first is Epitaphs, the anthology featuring members of the New England Horror Writers group, of which I am one. In it, you will find "A Deeper Kind of Cold," my (light) sci-fi horror/tragic love story. The anthology is being published by Shroud Publishing, on 11-11-11, at Shroud's first annual Anthocon, to be held in Portsmouth, NH. It's shaping up to be a fantastic convention. And Epitaphs looks brilliant!


[ click photo to enlarge ]

The artwork is a woodcut done by Danny Evarts, with some digital coloring. You may recognize his work from the interior illustrations found within Shroud Magazine. A wonderfully unique style within the small press.

So that'll be out in November. If you're attending Anthocon, you'll be able to pick up a copy there, likely autographed by the many attending authors.

Sometime in the coming months, Necon E-books will be releasing Necon E-Books Flash Fiction Anthology: Best of 2011, an e-book featuring the winning stories and honorable mention picks from their monthly flash fiction contests held throughout 2011. My very short story "Skipping Shingles" got an honorable mention nod back in June or July. I really dig this little story. Hopefully the cheap price tag will entice you to check it out.

In February, The Gate 2: Tales of Isolation and Despair should be out, though that is subject to change. This is the anthology Robert J. Duperre began putting out last year. It features some of his short fiction alongside a handful of other authors he enjoys reading, and I am grateful to be included among them. My story "The Candle Eaters," which I love, will be in this anthology.

If this interests you (not so subliminal message: it does!), consider checking out the first volume, The Gate: 13 Dark and Odd Tales.

And there you have it. All caught up with the serious stuff. Be good, folks!

Rockin' And A-Shockin'

This weekend is the yearly Rock and Shock event out in Worcester, MA. For the past two years I've helped out at the New England Horror Writers booth, but this year I thought it was time to push Shock Totem a bit more, so I'll be sharing a booth with Tom and Billie from Sideshow Press. (Look for our swank new banners.) I'll still be helping out at the NEHW booth, but most of my time will be spent at the Shock Totem/Sideshow booth.

So stop by and say hello. Tom and Billie will be selling their fantastic wares, including the new Kurt Newton release, The Brainpan Concerto. And Kurt will be there as well. I'll be selling all four issues of Shock Totem, as well as copies of The Zombie Feed, Vol. 1 and 52 Stitches, Vol. 2, both of which feature one of my stories.

It should be a great time. Aside from the many movie celebs that will in attendance, Lee Thompson and those cool cats over at The Bag & the Crow will be there. Looking forward to meeting them. Plenty more authors will be appearing at the NEHW booth during the weekend, too.

I may even be on a panel—my first ever (I'd better wash my foot in preparation for my mouth)—so that should be fun.

And the Devin Townsend Project will be playing Friday night! Devin is brilliant.



Horns up!