Fun times! Things of note!

I hope that everyone is doing great! 2011 is off to a fantastic start. In February I should have 3 books with my work in them (the deluxe hardcover of my novelette AS I EMBRACE MY JAGGED EDGES from Sideshow Press; Apex's The Zombie Feed anthology volume 1; and Delirium Book's Horrorwired anthology.)

I also have two novels (yes two!) under consideration with one of my favorite publishers. It's a bit exciting (okay, REALLY exciting, but also REALLY frightening.) No matter what said publisher decides on either book, I can dance because he enjoys my work, right? His faith and support mean a lot and spur me on to keep improving and telling Lee Thompson tales. (Note: I'm really hoping for a solid "I love them both and want to publish them and you'll be sharing space with some of your heroes at one of the best publishers around..." emails, or phone calls.) Time's agonna tell. Wish me luck!

My novelette AS I EMBRACE MY JAGGED EDGES is getting some great feedback and I'm glad because I'm very proud of that story. Here's a book review (I'll also be guest blogging there early next week! My first time! Yay!):The Bookhound's Den reviews my snazzy little book

Bob Freeman also rated it recently, which was neat: Almost a Neil Gaiman

If you haven't picked it up, you can help me buy more coffee (and books) by doing so here: Well worth three dollars (even if I am biased)

I expect more reviews on it soon and will gladly share them even if it is a bit nerve-wracking.

If you're a reviewer and you'd like a PDF copy to check it out, you can send me an email: perpetual_voodoo (at) yahoo (dot) com.

My Red Piccirilli novella (Within This Garden Weeping) is getting edited by my buddy Kevin Wallis, and will then get shipped to my other buddy Shaun Ryan. It's a powerful little book and much darker than the first book (Before Leonora Wakes.) I don't think I'll have any problem selling it. I like Red, he's really me when I was a kid (don't tell anyone.) The first book is more for teens but I think anyone can enjoy it, plus it's the 'roots' book about Red. Not too long, coming in at 42 K, and it's available for under two bucks on Smashwords. I'd love to hear your thoughts (mostly to see if I was a fucked up kid. It's better than therapy. *Smiley face*) Thanks to those who have already purchased Before Leonora Wakes

The new novel (The Dampness of Mourning) is going great, although slowly because I've been writing some short fiction (We Run Races with Goblin Troopers) for an antho I was invited to. There are some of my favorite writers going to be in this and I can't wait until it's announced! I have so many things that make me want to dance.

Other things of note:

Shock Totem issue 3 is available now! Lots of great writers in this. I'll have a story (Beneath the Weeping Willow) in issue 4, coming in July this year. They're a great group of people and a classy mag. I'm proud to know 'em. Give 'em a read. :D

Tasmaniac has Brett McBean's Concrete Jungle up for preorder (also features bonus fiction by Nate Kenyon and Tim Kroenert. They're a great deal and Tasmaniac doesn't disappoint. Check it out
here.

Recent fun reads: Gary Braunbeck's To Each Their Darkness (Apex); Tim Lebbon's A Whisper of Southern Lights (Necessary Evil Press); Christopher Fulbright's The Bone Tree (Bad Moon); Mark Allan Gunnell's Asylum (Apex's Zombie Feed imprint).

Oh, almost forgot. I'm doing book reviews for The Bag and The Crow with some other talented people! (I'm probably forgetting lots of other stuff too. Damn it.) Anyway, check 'em out if you're curious! The Bag and The Crow is good beans. *Click me, fool*

Take care of yourselves. Work for what you love, defend it, fight for it.

2010 in the Rearview/ 2011 Giving Me a Lap Dance…

***
Wow. This was a landmark year for me and the most enjoyable I've had since found stumbling around this mortal coil.

I met the woman of my dreams. Then we learned that a dream is just a dream and a real loving relationship takes work, which turned out to be kinda fun, and well worth the effort on both our parts. We've taught each other things, we've learned to listen, we share so much and give like you wouldn't believe. I was happy before. She makes me happier. I hope I can always do the same for her.

I've come to love limited edition books. They make my blood sing, my fingers tingle, and my hair stand on end. It's amazing the talent and skill that goes into making them, an outer beauty to match the inner glory of the stories. Perfect. I'll do everything I can to support authors and publishers I believe in. Like Steve Clark’s Tasmaniac Publications, Tom and Billie Moran’s Sideshow Press, Shane Ryan Staley’s Delirium Books, Brett Alexander Savory’s Chizine Publications, RJ and Julia Sevin’s Creeping Hemlock Press, as well as Centipede Press, Bloodletting, and Bad Moon Books, as well as magazines like Shock Totem, Dark Discoveries, and a dozen others. And authors they publish: Greg Gifune, Brian Hodge, Tom Piccirilli, Douglas Clegg, Peter Straub, Shaun Jeffrey, Clive Barker, Sam W. Anderson, Erik Williams, John Mantooth, Tim Lebbon, Cate Gardner, Gary Braunbeck, Mark Allan Gunnells, Sheldon Higdon, Ronald Malfi, Brian Knight, and a host more.

I learned that sometimes I need to step away from the Internet, to strip my life down to what matters most—the barest essentials: my relationship, my family, my closest friends, and my work. Energy ebbs and flows. I have to stay in step with it to keep dancing so smoothly. Pretty fly for a white guy, eh?

I learned a lot from writing this year from those who have critted my stories (Shaun Ryan, Kevin Wallis, Kara, Ken Wood, Ben Eads, Wanda Clevenger, Shaun Jeffrey, and Mark Allan Gunnells) and I give them all a big butt smack filled with appreciation to carry them into 2011. Not only are they great critters, they're great people with great butts.

I've met amazing editors who have helped me develop faith in myself that goes beyond the normal, and sometimes tiresome, back-patting you see among writers. So a big thanks to Steve Clark, Tom Moran, Shane Ryan Staley, Ken Wood, Claire Nixon, Michael Louis Dixon, Jassen Bailey, James Beach, and Jason Sizemore. Not to mention their great teams with people like Maggie Jamison, Mercedes Yardley, Nick Contor, John Boden, Jason V. Brock, etc., etc.

I had a blast while helping select stories for Horror Library Volume 4. It's such an excellent collection.

I found some great shows that made me laugh. Spaced; Spartacus: Blood and Sand; Peep Show; and some others that elude me because I'm a dork.

I've read a hundred great books (my top five would be: Greg Gifune’s The Bleeding Season; Tom Piccirilli’s Shadow Season; Sam W. Anderson’s collection Postcards from Purgatory; Douglas Clegg’s Neverland; and Jack Cady’s Street (which I copied the entire novel by hand to learn more. LOl. I am insane.)

I got to see some of my friends sell stories, collections and novels. Outstanding! I expect they'll all sell much more in 2011. I’m excited for them!

I gave my first blurb! (Kevin Wallis’s fantastic collection Beneath the Surface of Things)

I had my first interview! (AJ Brown interviewed me. What fun! And an equally fun second interview performed by Mark Allan Gunnells!)

I had my first professional sale! (Shock Totem issue 4, baby! Where my story “Beneath the Weeping Willow” sits in wait to get its hands on your throat, and maybe your heart.)

Hosted our first Scary Sad Stories Talent Show (We will repeat every Halloween!)

I found a career after a lifetime of living as a hooker and part-time vagabond!

I had my first limited-edition hard cover release! (As I Embrace My Jagged Edges—which was released in digital, is also being released in a limited hardcover run for collector's and features a bonus story! Drop kickin’ a pregnant watermelon.)

I’ve learned that there is more pleasure in having work through publishers I love and having my work among my heroes than the measly satisfaction given by money. A whole lot. But the money is nice because then I can buy people stuff (like breath mints.) :D

I wrote several long pieces (45-90,000 words). Four of them to be exact. Everyone of them was fun—we danced, we laughed, we cried, we collapsed, exhausted! And I am proud of them all. And you'll see some of them released in 2011!

I hope others have had such a wonderful year. It’s overwhelming at times. Surreal. But I'm grateful and looking forward to hitting my stride this next year! Dig it! And the great thing is 2010 is not even over yet and more wonderful news might arrive!