Fran Friel's Yada Feast

BlogTalkRadio - Fran Dances with The Funky Werepig

2009-05-17T07:01:00.003-04:00

Werepig Alert!
Hide your children and lock your pantry--the Funky Werepig is on the loose. Or at least he's on the radio. He'll be in his usual spot with his famous Choate Road crew, roasting and toasting his Sunday night interviewee, and tonight I'm the main course.

I'll be reading from my collection, Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales, as well as yammering on about writing, life and whatever Mr. Pig desires.

Please come and join us.

CLICK HERE for the LIVE Show Link or the Archive!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

Times Best Seller Viehl Shares Financial Realities of Publishing

2009-04-22T12:19:00.012-04:00

Truth Be Told
Wow, it certainly is refreshing to hear the truth for once. A long held sacred cow of the publishing industry is the silence of publishers and authors about advances and royalty statements. The marvelous NY Times Best Selling author, Lynn Viehl (also, S. L. Viehl), lays it all on the line, including her royalty statement, to dispel some of the myths and exaggerations about the writing business.

CLICK HERE to read Lynn's excellent article!

What do you think? Is this similar to your experience or that of your colleagues? Any wisdom, hearsay, ranting to add to the subject?

Have a rest of the week!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

PS - Many thanks to Mari Adkins for the link!

Bram Stoker Award Finalists - MB Made the Cut!

2009-03-25T12:47:00.006-04:00

Made the Cut
I'm very pleased and honored to share the news with you--MAMA'S BOY AND OTHER DARK TALES made the final cut is now a nominee for the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Collection. The winners will be announced in June at the Stoker Awards Banquet in Los Angeles, but simply making the list of finalists is a humbling experience, especially with the extraordinary talent in the collection category (and on the entire list!). My sincere congratulations to all the nominees.

You can see the complete list below, as well as an interesting explanation of the Bram Stoker Award.

From the Horror Writer's Association Blog:

Each year, the Horror Writer’s Association presents the Bram Stoker Awards for Superior Achievement, named in honor of Bram Stoker, author of the seminal horror work, Dracula. The Stoker Awards were instituted immediately after the organization’s incorporation in 1987.

To ameliorate the competitive nature of awards, the Stokers are given “for superior achievement,” not for “best of the year,” and the rules are deliberately designed to make ties fairly probable. The first awards were presented in 1988 (for works published in 1987), and they have been presented every year since.
The award itself is an eight-inch replica of a fanciful haunted house, designed specifically for HWA by sculptor Steven Kirk. The door of the house opens to reveal a brass plaque engraved with the name of the winning work and its author.

The Stoker Awards, like the Oscars, are non-juried awards. Any work of Horror first published in the English language may be considered for a Stoker during the year of its publication. The HWA membership at large recommends worthy works for consideration. A preliminary ballot is compiled using a formula based on recommendations. Two rounds of voting by our Active members determine first the finalists, and then the winners. The winners are announced and the awards presented at a gala banquet held in conjunction with HWA’s annual conference, usually in June.

This year’s finalists for the Bram Stoker Awards are:

Superior Achievement in a Novel
COFFIN COUNTY by Gary Braunbeck (Leisure Books)
THE REACH by Nate Kenyon (Leisure Books)
DUMA KEY by Stephen King (Scribner)
JOHNNY GRUESOME by Gregory Lamberson (Bad Moon Books/Medallion Press)

Superior Achievement in a First Novel
MIDNIGHT ON MOURN STREET by Christopher Conlon (Earthling Publications)
THE GENTLING BOX by Lisa Mannetti (Dark Hart Press)
MONSTER BEHIND THE WHEEL by Michael McCarty and Mark McLaughlin (Delirium Books)
THE SUICIDE COLLECTORS by David Oppegaard (St. Martin’s Press)
FROZEN BLOOD by Joel A. Sutherland (Lachesis Publishing)

Superior Achievement in Long Fiction
THE SHALLOW END OF THE POOL by Adam-Troy Castro (Creeping Hemlock Press)
MIRANDA by John R. Little (Bad Moon Books)
REDEMPTION ROADSHOW by Weston Ochse (Burning Effigy Press)
THE CONFESSIONS OF ST. ZACH by Gene O’Neill (Bad Moon Books)

Superior Achievement in Short Fiction
PETRIFIED by Scott Edelman (Desolate Souls)
THE LOST by Sarah Langan (Cemetery Dance Publications)
THE DUDE WHO COLLECTED LOVECRAFT by Nick Mamatas, and Tim Pratt (Chizine)
EVIDENCE OF LOVE IN A CASE OF ABANDONMENT by M. Rickert (Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction)
TURTLE by Lee Thomas (Doorways)

Superior Achievement in an Anthology
LIKE A CHINESE TATTOO edited by Bill Breedlove (Dark Arts Books)
HORROR LIBRARY, VOL. 3 edited by R. J. Cavender (Cutting Block Press)
BENEATH THE SURFACE edited by Tim Deal (Shroud Publishing)
UNSPEAKABLE HORROR edited by Vince A. Liaguno and Chad Helder (Dark Scribe Press)

Superior Achievement in a Collection
THE NUMBER 121 TO PENNSYLVANIA by Kealan Patrick Burke (Cemetery Dance Publications)
MAMA’S BOY and Other Dark Tales by Fran Friel (Apex Publications)
JUST AFTER SUNSET by Stephen King (Scribner)
MR. GAUNT AND OTHER UNEASY ENCOUNTERS by John Langan (Prime Books)
GLEEFULLY MACABRE TALES by Jeff Strand (Delirium Books)

Superior Achievement in Nonfiction
CHEAP SCARES by Gregory Lamberson (McFarland)
ZOMBIE CSU by Jonathan Maberry (Citadel Press)
A HALLOWE’EN ANTHOLOGY by Lisa Morton (McFarland)
THE BOOK OF LISTS: HORROR by Amy Wallace, Del Howison, and Scott Bradley (HarperCollins)

Superior Achievement in a Poetry Collection
THE NIGHTMARE COLLECTION by Bruce Boston (Dark Regions Press)
THE PHANTOM WORLD by Gary William Crawford (Sam’s Dot Publishing)
VIRGIN OF THE APOCALYPSE by Corrine De Winter (Sam’s Dot Publishing)
ATTACK OF THE TWO-HEADED POETRY MONSTER by Mark McLaughlin and Michael McCarty (Skullvines Press)

Many, many thanks to my wonderful publisher, Apex, and to everyone who has offered their encouragement and support for the MB collection over these many long months. I'm more grateful than you can know. Now, please cross your fingers and toes just one more time!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

PS - If you're an Active HWA member and would like a copy of the collection for your voting consideration, please drop me an email at: franfriel@gmail.com. Don't be shy! My publisher is being very generous to offer copies to voting members.

Clive Barker and Ronald Kelly - Icons at the POH!

2009-03-19T13:01:00.009-04:00

A Couple of Marvelous Horrors at the POH
Don't miss the latest POD of HORROR with Mark Justice! Why? Because you'd be missing two magnificent horror icons, Clive Barker and Ronald Kelly. So, stop in to visit with the POD of Horror crew at Horror World for a great show.

From Horror World:
On Pod of Horror #52, we interview legendary author, film maker and artist Clive Barker. Also, 90s horror icon Ronald Kelly has returned in a big way, and we discover where he went and what the future holds for his fans. Nanci is here with the Call of Kalanta, Norm Rubenstein offers a bunch of new reviews and we give away tons of horror in The Tomb of Trivia. Get it at i-Tunes or download it below. Pod of Horror is hosted and produced by Mark Justice.

Click Here to Visit the POD of HOROR!

I hope you enjoy the POD people. They're some of my personal favorites.

In other self-aggrandizement news, MAMA'S BOY AND OTHER DARK TALES is now available for the Amazon Kindle! After much hemming and hawing, I got a Kindle last year, and now they can't pry it loose from my hands. If you have one of those little e-reading beauties, I'd be most grateful if you'd nab a copy of the MB collection. It's only $4.00! Heck, I'm buying one. *wink*

Click Here for a PEEK at MB on Kindle!

Have fun at the POD of Horror! Tell 'em Fran sent ya'!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

Sebastian's Voodoo - Don't Miss this Marvelous Little Vid!

2009-03-14T14:56:00.009-04:00

Aniboom Grand Winner Video - Well Deserved!
My thanks to Cassandra Lee for forwarding this video to me. I loved the poignancy of this vid, the simplicity of the idea and the wonderful animation. Blew me away! I hope you love it, too!

This from aniboom.com (watch the vid first - SPOILER ALERT!) :

This year the Grand Winner was chosen by the combined ranking of both the Community and Jury, meaning Sebastians Voodoo was loved by all. A voodoo doll must find the courage to save his friends from being pinned to death. Created by Joaquin Baldwin http://www.aniboom.com/boomzones/zell777
Follow me:
facebook: http://www.tinyurl.com/aniboomfanpage
MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/aniboom
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/aniboom
If you liked this animation, don't forget to subscribe, you know you want to.

Check out more winners at http://www.aniboom.com/awards2008/

I hope you enjoyed the vid, gang. Got any favorites of your own?

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

Apex Friday the 13th SALE - good thru Sunday!

2009-03-12T19:02:00.006-04:00

Who Said Friday the 13th was Unlucky?
On the contrary, Apex is celebrating the 13th with a juicy little sale. So, if you've been holding out to get a copy of MAMA'S BOY AND OTHER DARK TALES or any of the great Apex titles from authors Michael A. Burstein, Alethea Kontis, Maurice Broaddus, Nate Kenyon, Sara M. Harvey, Thomas R. Riley, Lavie Tidhar, Brady Schwan, Matt Wallace, Steven Savile and Jennifer Pelland, than this is the sale for you!

Direct from the Apex Alien's mouth:

In celebration of the upcoming Friday, the 13th, we are having a
storewide sale! Get 13% off any item* in the Apex store from now until
Sunday night. Just use the checkout coupon code: FRIDAYTHE13TH.

We don’t do many storewide sales like these, so take advantage of the
savings while you can!

Remember, the code is FRIDAYTHE13TH on the checkout screen.

Our store url is http://www.apexbookcompany.com/cart.php

Apex is doing it's darnedest to keep good fiction coming your way and saving you money, too. Please help keep small independent presses like Apex alive, and buy a great book today!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

Energy Vampires: Fact Versus Fiction

2009-03-08T14:48:00.005-04:00

Where Are Your Vamps?
As you may know, I'm a bit of a treehugger, so I'm always looking for a little angle to help out on the environmental front (as well, as the wallet!). I've heard a lot about energy wasting devices in the house that should be unplugged, but I haven't been sure about the details. I found the following article this morning and it helped to shed a little light on the situation. Maybe it will be helpful to you, too:

Energy Vampires: Fact Versus Fiction

Or

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/50/energy-vampires-fact-versus-fiction.html

If you have any additional links or info to share on the subject, please post here. Thanks!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

"I love Jesus, but I drink a little."

2009-02-04T20:33:00.003-05:00

Cracked Me Up Real Good
I haven't laughed this hard in quite sometime, so I had to share this with you. Kevin W. Miller posted this vid over at facebook, and I thank him for cracking me up real good.

Enjoy!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

Black Quill Awards--MB Won!

2009-02-03T17:59:00.004-05:00

A Big Fat Thank You!
I just wanted to share some great news with you. Dark Scribe Magazine has announced the Black Quill Awards results and MAMA'S BOY AND OTHER DARK TALES has won the Reader's Choice Award for Best Dark Genre Fiction Collection. I am deeply honored that so many folks sent in their ballots and chose the MB collection. Wow! You all make writing a joy!

To see the list of all the winners, go to Dark Scribe at:

http://www.darkscribemagazine.com/2nd-annual-winners/

My most sincere thanks to all the folks who voted for my collection. You're simply amazing!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

Mind Boggling Free Reading List at SF Reader

2009-01-26T13:14:00.003-05:00

SF Reader RAWKS!
I don't know if I've ever seen such a huge list of FREE fiction links compiled in one place, but SF Reader has done it! Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy readers --You'll never be bored if you visit this link. Wow, what a labor of love.

To see the juicy list: CLICK HERE

Enjoy!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

PS - If your story is on the list, please point it out (don't be shy). Since it's such a humongo list, your story will help us find the best place to start! You'll find one of my oldies but goodies in the horror section.

Black Quill Deadline and Stokermania!

2009-01-24T11:11:00.013-05:00

Cast Your Vote (Pretty Please)
If you haven't had a chance, please stop on over at Dark Scribe Magazine and cast your vote(s) for the Black Quill Awards.

The deadline is tomorrow, January 25th!

I'm honored to have been nominated in the Best Dark Genre Fiction Collection category. If you want to cast your vote, it's easy. It requires a quick registration (if you're not already signed-up as a subscriber - it's FREE) at the Dark Scribe site, which is well worth the effort--it's a fantastic magazine.

For the list of nominees and the voting info (bottom of the page): Click Here

OR

Register Here - Click Here
For the Ballot Page and Login - Click Here

Category: Best Dark Genre Fiction Collection
My Book: Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales

Thank you SO much for your support!

Stokermania!
It's that time of year again when writers of horror loiter around the cauldron and decide the literary fate of their comrades. I'm very pleased that my collection, Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales, has made it to the second level of the voting process to the Preliminary Bram Stoker Award Ballot. Woohoo!

If you're an active HWA member, Apex is providing FREE hard copies of the collection for your consideration. Send me or Apex publisher, Jason Sizemore, an email, including your snail mail address and we'll whisk a copy right off to you! Fran at franfriel@gmail.com or Jason at jason@apexdigest.com. PDFs are also available, if you'd like a cyber-copy, as well.

For those of you who haven't seen the complete list:

2008 Preliminary Bram Stoker Award Ballot

Superior Achievement in a Novel
Coffin County by Gary Braunbeck (Leisure)
The Shadow Year by Jeffrey Ford (William Morrow)
Ghost Walk by Brian Keene (Leisure)
The Reach by Nate Kenyon (Leisure)
Duma Key by Stephen King (Scribner)
Johnny Gruesome by Gregory Lamberson (Bad Moon/Medallion)
Water Witch by Deborah Leblanc (Dorchester/Leisure)
Bad Moon Rising by Jonathan Maberry (Pinnacle)
Dead and Gone by Harry Shannon (Delirium Books)
The Price by Alexandra Sokoloff (St. Martins)
The Man on the Ceiling by Steve Rasnic Tem and Melanie Tem (Wizards of the Coast)

Superior Achievement in a First Novel
Bestial: Werewolf Apocalypse by William D. Carl (Permuted Press)
Apricot Brandy by Lynn César (Juno Books)
Midnight On Mourn Street by Christopher Conlon (Earthling Publications)
Veins by Lawrence C. Connolly (Fantasist Enterprises)
Eternal Vigilance by Gabrielle S. Faust (Immanion Press)
The Gentling Box by Lisa Mannetti (Dark Hart Press)
Monster Behind the Wheel by Michael McCarty and Mark McLaughlin (Delirium Books)
Frozen Blood by Joel A. Sutherland (Lachesis Publishing)
Crimson Orgy by Austin Williams (Borderlands Press)

Superior Achievement in Long Fiction
“The Lagerstatte” by Laird Barron (The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy)
The Shallow End of the Pool by Adam-Troy Castro (Creeping Hemlock)
Miranda by John R. Little (Bad Moon Books)
Redemption Roadshow by Weston Ochse (Burning Effigy)
The Confessions of St. Zach by Gene O'Neill (Bad Moon Books)
Orpheus and the Pearl by Kim Paffenroth (Magus Press)
"Behold the Child" by Harry Shannon (Brimstone Turnpike)
Just Like Hell by Nate Southard (Thunderstorm Books)
Population Zero by Wrath James White (Cargo Cult Press)
Orgy of Souls by Wrath James White, and Maurice Broaddus (Apex Book Company)

Superior Achievement in Short Fiction
"The Last Word" by Maria Alexander (Sins of the Sirens)
"Mama Strangelove's Remedies for Afterlife Disorders, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Mother Death" by C. Dean Andersson (Brutarian)
"Consumed" by Michael Louis Calvillo (Horror Library Volume 3)
"Petrified" by Scott Edelman (Desolate Souls)
"Mechanix" by Christopher Fulbright (Bound for Evil)
The Lost by Sarah Langan (Cemetery Dance Publications)
"The Dude Who Collected Lovecraft" by Nick Mamatas, and Tim Pratt (Chizine)
"The Haven" by John Palisano (Horror Library Vol. 3)
"Turtle" by Lee Thomas (Doorways)
"The Blog at the End of the World" by Paul Tremblay (Chizine)
"Those Eyes" by Mark W. Worthen (Thinner Than Mist)

Superior Achievement in an Anthology
The Undead: Headshot Quartet edited by Christina Bivins and Lane Adamson (Permuted Press)
Like a Chinese Tattoo edited by Bill Breedlove (Dark Arts Books)
Horror Library, Vol. 3 edited by R. J. Cavender (Cutting Block Press)
Abominations edited by Tim Deal (Shroud Publishing)
Beneath the Surface edited by Tim Deal (Shroud Publishing)
Unspeakable Horrors edited by Vince A. Liaguno and Chad Helder (Dark Scribe Press)

Superior Achievement in a Collection
The Number 121 to Pennsylvania by Kealan Patrick Burke (Cemetery Dance Publications)
Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales by Fran Friel (Apex Publications)
Just After Sunset by Stephen King (Scribner)
Little Creatures by Michael McCarty (Sam's Dot Publishing)
Other Gods by Stephen Mark Rainey (Dark Regions Press)
The Autopsy and Other Tales by Michael Shea (Centipede)
Sheep and Wolves by Jeremy C. Shipp (Raw Dog Screaming Press)
Fourtold by Michael Stone (Baysgarth Publications)
Gleefully Macabre Tales by Jeff Strand (Delirium)
Ennui and Other States of Madness by David Niall Wilson (Dark Regions Press)

Superior Achievement in Nonfiction
Shadows Over New England by David Goudsward, and Scott T. Goudsward (BearManor Media)
Bram Stoker's Notes for Dracula by Robert Eighteen-Bisang and Elizabeth Miller (McFarland)
Spirits and Death in Niagara by Marcy Italiano (Schiffer Publishing)
The New Annotated Dracula by Leslie S. Klinger (W. W. Norton)
Beauty and Dynamite by Alethea Kontis (Apex Publications)
Cheap Scares by Gregory Lamberson (McFarland)
Zombie CSU by Jonathan Maberry (Citadel)
Modern Mythmakers by Michael McCarty (McFarland)
A Hallowe'en Anthology by Lisa Morton (McFarland)
The Book of Lists: Horror by Amy Wallace, Del Howison, and Scott Bradley (Harper)

Superior Achievement in a Poetry Collection
The Nightmare Collection by Bruce Boston (Dark Regions Press)
The Phantom World by Gary William Crawford (Sam's Dot)
Virgin of the Apocalypse by Corrine De Winter (Sam's Dot Publishing)
The Flayed Man and Other Poems by Phillip A. Ellis (Gothic Press)
Attack Of The Two-Headed Poetry Monster by Mark McLaughlin and Michael McCarty (Skullvines Press)
Ghosts of Past and Future by Darrell Schweitzer (Borgo)

Please join with me in congratulating these very hard working writers for this wonderful achievement and wish them all success in moving onto the Final Ballot. So many of my dear friends are on this list, including many in my own category. I wish them all the very best!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

Reprise - Just Because I'm Forever Hopeful

2009-01-20T13:48:00.005-05:00

Happy Inauguration Day!
I watched the ceremony today and I cried happy tears. I am forever hopeful, so one more time - IT'S A NEW DAY!

No matter what your politics may be, say a little prayer for the world today. It's a new day, and may we use it well.

Still Snoopy dancin'!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

Wingsuits Flyers--Not for the Faint of Heart!

2009-01-09T17:37:00.006-05:00

Wingsuits--WTF??
I think I'm a little late to the party, because I've honestly never seen anything quite this mad. Have you seen this before? I'm vertigo challenged so alas no wingsuit for me, but just watching this vid is exhilarating. I'm wow-ed and envious...and here I thought writing was a harrowing profession.

Seriously, watch this!

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1778399&server=vimeo.com&show_tit%3Ele=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&amp

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

Climbing into the New Year and Readable Treats

2009-01-04T12:52:00.007-05:00

Blue Moods and Warm Sun
I woke up this morning feeling pretty darn good--motivated, cheery and rested. While my husband slept (and the poor over-worked guy is still sleeping as I write this), I got up and walked the dog. The sun was shining and the water on Long Island Sound sparkled as we strolled along beach. Although it was cold out there, the sun was warm on my face (Ahhh...). The dog, perpetually chipper Sandy the yellow Lab, was happy as a peach and trotted along doing her doggie thing with abandon (I still say dogs are Bodhisattvas, here on earth to teach us how to be happy and forgiving).

After our walk, we clamored back into the house and I decided to bake banana walnut muffins. Mind you, I'm not an avid baker, so wanting to make muffins was another indication of being in a darn good mood (btw, the muffins turned out extra-great--wish you were here, I'd share with you). Then to my surprise, I had the urge to blog. I've been wanting to talk with you and wish you happy holidays and see how life is for you, but I've been a little blue. When I'm blue, writing is very hard for me.

I've been slowly climbing out of this malaise for a couple of months now (clawing inch by inch, to be dramatic about it), hence my less than stellar blogging schedule. There have been a few stresses, (my dad's health, looming layoffs, college tuition for my daughter and worrying about her VERY stressful senior year in architecture, etc), but mostly I suppose the mood thing is seasonal or whatever, but it always perplexes me when it happens. I actually feel kind of guilty when I'm feeling down, since I have SO much to be thankful for and happy about. The world isn't a kind place to a lot of people, but I'm one of the lucky ones on the planet. All my basics are covered--I live in a safe and peaceful place, I have plenty of food and clothing, I have people who love me, and my family and I are healthy. Like most folks in the western world, I have aspirations beyond the basics, but when you really get down to it, I'm one lucky woman.

So as I said, I'm feeling pretty darn good and as I embark on a new year with you, I'm also feeling deeply grateful for all I have. And though it may sound a bit pollyanna, one of the things I'm thankful for is you. As my friends and readers, you truly make my life a richer place. You give me a place to share my thoughts and feelings, my fiction and my madness. Who else would put up with all my yammering? So please accept my thanks and my wishes to you for a new year filled with love, peace, excellent health and abundance. You deserve it!

Now, if you're still reading after all the whining and schmaltz, here's some great reading to look forward to in the New Year.

Apex Magazine
Here's the latest from Apex Magazine - CLICK HERE. It's online and it's FREE! Apex continues to bring us some of the best fiction in the business. Be sure to check out their up coming book releases, as well. They've got some doozies on the way. I got an early copy of Sara Harvey's, CONVENT OF THE PURE, and it's wonderful. If you like fast paced dark fantasy, you'll likely love this novella.

Dark Discoveries
Dark Discoveries is shipping it's latest offering--DD#12. Always an excellent read, buy a copy or, better yet, a very affordable subscription and help do your part to keep small press magazines alive. These folks have been dropping like flies lately, and DD is one of few still producing a fantastic print magazine. CLICK HERE for a look at DD#12.

Clarkesworld Magazine
Another fantastic online magazine that maintains a standard of excellence hard to come by online or in print. For excellent fiction online, both print and audio, be sure to visit the acclaimed Clarkesworld Magazine online FREE! And if you enjoy the visual delight as much as I do, you'll love Clarkesworld--they have some of the best cover art in the business. CLICK HERE for Clarkesworld Magazine.

So there you have it, gang. A few literary delights from some hardworking folks, plus lots of gratitude and new year's wishes from moi'. Onward into 2009!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

Note: Saint Bernard photo by corey and laura at flickr. Thank you!

And the Winners are...

2008-12-18T11:58:00.001-05:00

Announcing the Winners
The HL V3 and DRP 10 Holiday Debut Contest was a big hit. We had tons of folks signing up to the last minute on four blogs for their chance at the latest goodies from Cutting Block Press and Dark Recesses Press. In our hope to get the prizes to the winners before the holidays ended, it was a quick contest, but a hefty one.

So without further yammerage, here are our winners:

First Prize - JAN
One Copy of Horror Library Vol. 3
One Copy of Dark Recesses Press #10
$10 Gift Certificate to the Horror Mall

Second Prize - Bret Jordan
One Copy of Horror Library Vol. 3
One Copy Dark Recesses Press #10

Third Prize - Horror.101
One Copy of Horror Library Vol. 2

Fourth Prize - GrimGnome
One Copy of Horror Library Vol. 1

Congratulations to the winners! And thank you, everyone, for your enthusiastic participation. For more info on the Horror Library Vol. 1 - 3 and Dark Recesses Press 10: CLICK HERE!

Happy Holidays, my friends!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

PS - Winners will be contacted by email.

Black Quill Awards Nomination--Woohoo!

2008-12-11T16:53:00.007-05:00

Grateful for Your Vote!
The talented and dedicated folks at Dark Scribe Magazine have recently announced their nominees for the highly sought after Black Quill Awards. I'm very proud to tell you that my collection, Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales, has been nominated for the BQ award in the Best Dark Genre Fiction category.

If you've recovered from the recent voting spree in the US elections and around the planet, I'd be grateful if you'd consider voting for my collection. It's a popular vote, so no electoral stuff to muddle the mind. It requires a quick registration (if you're not already signed-up as a subscriber - FREE) for the Dark Scribe site, which is well worth the effort because it's a fantastic magazine.

For the list of nominees and the voting info (bottom of the page): Click Here

OR

Register Here - Click
Ballot Page and Login - Click

Category: Best Dark Genre Fiction Collection
My Book: Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales

If you have any trouble voting, let me know and I'll try to help.

I can't thank you enough for your support! *fingers crossed*

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

CONTEST - Horror Library Vol 3 and DRP 10 Holiday Debut

2008-12-11T16:50:00.002-05:00

Note I'm running this contest for my friends at CBP and DRP. Enjoy!

HL V3 and DRP #10 Debut Contest

The dark geniuses at Cutting Block Press and Dark Recesses Press have been busy gathering some fine reading for their fans. Just a few of the names you'll find in these two volumes of dark goodness: Bentley Little, Clive Barker, Gary Braunbeck, Jack Ketchum, Jeff Strand, Michael Arnzen, Kealan Patrick Burke, Cody Goodfellow and many more. Whether you are a new fan or an old one, you're going to love this contest!

How to Play: All you have to do is post a comment here on this blog and you'll automatically be entered into the contest.

For an extra entry: Just post a link to this contest on your blog and leave a comment here with the link to your blog. Here's the main contest link: http://horrorlibrary.blogspot.com/2008/12/horror-library-vol-3-and-drp-10-holiday.html

Yup, it's that easy. But what do you win?

First Prize
One Copy of Horror Library Vol. 3
One Copy of Dark Recesses Press #10
$10 Gift Certificate to the Horror Mall

Second Prize
One Copy of Horror Library Vol. 3
One Copy Dark Recesses Press #10

Third Prize
One Copy of Horror Library Vol. 2

Fourth Prize
One Copy of Horror Library Vol. 1

Deadline for the contest: December 14th at Midnight, Eastern US Time

Winners will be announced the following weekend.

So there you have it, a great way to win some holiday gifts for your friends or for yourself. Good luck!

Wickedly Yours,
Cutting Block Press & Dark Recesses Press

Mama's Boy collection on Ebay - Cheap!

2008-11-25T23:42:00.003-05:00

Ebay!
Hey, gang, just in case anyone is looking for an excellent bargain on a signed, limited edition hardcover of Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales, here's one for you. Right now, it's listed a $5.00 with only 10 hours to go in the sale (ends around 9:30am, Wednesday, EST). The hardcover is normally $35.

It's not my listing, but it's a great deal so I thought I'd share it with you. Here's the ebay auction link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230308795638&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:1123

In case I don't "see" you before Thursday, to you Yanks, have a marvelous Thanksgiving. To everyone else, have a great week!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

His, Theirs and Mine - News!

2008-11-16T16:59:00.006-05:00

HIS
I'm always thrilled when my friends do great things, so I thought I'd share a little greatness with you today. My dear friend, Edmund Schubert, has written something wonderful for us--his novel, Dreaming Creek from LBF books. I just ordered it today and I can't wait to have a great read by one of my favorite writers. Ed not only writes up a storm, he's also a very busy editor for a number of publications, including the fabulous Intergalactic Medicine Show. It's always a fantastic read if you haven't yet had the pleasure.

So support a fine writer and an excellent editor and stop by for a copy of Ed's latest at LBF Books or Amazon.com.

THEIRS
Oh yes, there's more goodness. The masters of madness and the publishers of Horror Library Volume 1 and Volume 2 are at it again. Horror Library Volume 3 has just been unleashed...er, released! This book just gets better with each generation. The latest has stories by Bentley Little, Gary Braunbeck, Michael Arnzen, Jeff Strand to name a few of the biggies, as well as some great up-and-comers such as Kurt Dinan, Sunil Sadanand and C. Michael Cook. For a look at the complete Table of Contents that will wow you--Click Here.

The Horror Library anthologies are truly events not to be missed. Get a copy of your own at Cutting Block Press!

MINE
A couple of new folks have gotten their hands on Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales and have a few very nice things to say about it.

Carol Reid reviews the MB collection at The Short Review. This site is absolutely a must for the short story lover in you. Short story collections are their passion, so be sure to browse the list while you're there checking out Carol's thoughts on "Mama's Boy".

A few words from The Short Review:
Fran Friel is a generous, spellbinding storyteller. Her love of a well-told tale is clear, from the first words of the opening story, Beach of Dreams: "With dawn still hours away, the storm howled in the cavernous spaces between the carcasses on the beach."

Michele Lee reviews the MB collection at The Fix. I had the pleasure of meeting Michele at Context 21 in Columbus, Ohio this past September. It was a delight to meet her in person, and of course, I'm thrilled that she enjoyed the collection.

Here's an excerpt from Michele's review:
Don’t let the first story in Fran Friel’s collection, Mama’s Boy and Other Dark Tales, deceive you into thinking this is some sort of “Horror Lite” book. The first story, “Beach of Dreams,” is a surreal, exotic tale of a man visiting a native tribe who is one day privy to examining strange things that wash up on their shores...Full of visceral imagery and summed up with a sad-sweet ending, this tale might make readers think Friel doesn’t have the balls to do more than flirt with horror.Perhaps purposefully deceptive, or perhaps just showing her versatility, Friel shatters that perception with her next offering, “Gravy Pursuits.”

Now, if I haven't snoozed you too much just yet, The Short Review also requested a short interview. If you have a few more moments to indulge in my yammerage, you can find the The Short Review Interview Here.

Thanks so much for reading the news, gang. I hope you found it helpful. Oh, and by the way, DO NOT MISS the annual Apex Raffle going on right now. You can win some incredible goodies over there, plus there's a signed and personally doodled copy of Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales up for grabs, as well. The tickets start at just $1.00 or $25 for a chance to win EVERYTHING!

See you soon, my friends.

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

Realistically Hopeful and Fabulous Tunage

2008-11-10T14:52:00.007-05:00

Hopefully Hopeful With You
I try hard to keep my working life and my political views separate, but dang, I just love this tune and wanted to share it with you. I'm a realist and I don't expect miracles, but I sure am ready for a new day. No matter what your politics may be, let's rock the hope together, baby!

Have a magnificent week!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

A Halloween Treat - Gaiman Style- FREE!

2008-10-31T16:11:00.006-04:00

The Wonderful Mister Gaiman
Happy Halloween, my friends! Have I got an absolutely delicious treat for you, especially if you're a Gaiman fan.

As many of you know, I adore Neil Gaiman. He was "the straw that broke the camel's back inspiration" for me to start writing after many years of pining about it. Hence, I'll always be grateful to him. In addition to the writing, he's inspired me by the kind of person he is. By all accounts, he's a sweetheart of a guy and extraordinarily kind to his fans. His latest project proves that he posses a generosity of spirit--the kind that I love and aspire to.

On tour with his latest release, The Graveyard Book, he read a full chapter at each stop of his book tour. BUT if you missed it like I did (dang!), not only did he read a chapter at each stop, his readings were video taped. You'll find his video tour, in its entirety, at Mr. Bobo's Remarkable Mouse Circus website!

If you want a little background on the project, in his remarkable way, Neil talks about how The Graveyard Book came about:

The Treat
No tricks here, kids. Just a great Halloween feast, so go visit Neil (one of my favorite storytellers) at the Mouse Circus for a delicious treat of storytelling and wonder:

Click HERE for The Graveyard Book at Mr. Bobo's Remarkable Mouse Circus

Have a marvelous night full of sweets and shadows, my friends. Happy Halloween!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

A Little Halloween Warm-Up Treat

2008-10-24T12:46:00.004-04:00

I Want One
Talk about drawing a crowd for Halloween and scaring the dickens out of the youngins. Wouldn't this be fabulous? My thanks to the gorgeous and marvelously talented (and scary) author, AJ Brown, for this little goody.

Enjoy!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

A Controlling Idea? Huh?

2008-10-12T09:48:00.006-04:00

So What's It Really About?
At first blush, this blog appears to be for writers, but to the dedicated readers and movie viewers out there, this blog is for you, too. It will enrich your experience of books and films and help you see at the most fundamental level why some stories work and some don't.

Most of us have heard the terms theme and premise, and some will argue their meaning, but for today let's just say they're interchangeable and we'll go with premise as our focus. For our purposes, when we say premise, we're talking about the "controlling idea" (per Robert McKee in Story) or what a story is really about when you strip away all the window dressing. I'm eternally grateful to my mentor, Douglas Clegg, for reintroducing me to this concept because it makes the process of writing so much cleaner and the process of reading and movie viewing a ton 'o fun.

Egri Calls It Premise
Doug suggested the book, The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lajos Egri, to help me deepen my understanding of the subject of premise/theme. Egri refers to the subject as premise and he begins the book this way:

A man sits in his workshop, busy with an invention of wheels and springs. You ask him what the gadget is, what it is meant to do. He looks at you confidingly and whispers: "I really don't know."

Another man rushes down the street, panting for breath. You intercept him and ask where he is going. He gasps "How should I know where I'm going? I am on my way."

...Every sensible invention must have a purpose, every planned sprint a destination.

...Reams of paper of paper bear miles of writing--all of it without any point at all. There is much feverish activity, a great deal of get-up-and-go, but not one seems to know where he is going.

So again, what is the story really about? On the deepest level of your feeling self, what is the story saying to you? Premise is not to be confused with plot. It's not what happens to whom, it is what underlies all the action and interactions of a story--a statement of the human condition that everyone can feel or identify with, even if we don't agree with it. Egri offers the following examples:

Romeo and Juliet - Premise: "Great love defies even death."

King Lear - Premise: "Blind trust leads to destruction."

Macbeth - Premise: "Ruthless ambition leads to its own destruction."

Othello - Premise: "Jealousy destroys itself and the object of its love."

Driving Satisfaction
In exploring this subject, I have learned that in standard story telling you will find that every paragraph and every sentence drives toward the premise in a great story. Without this clear path, a story feels less satisfying even if you're not aware of why that's so. There's a sense of ungroundedness or something out of place, even if it's an interesting or entertaining story. The premise is the unifying force, the thing that holds all the elements together, and without it, a story doesn't feel solid.

Writers don't usually start out knowing what the premise of a story is, rather it emerges as they write, but the important thing is for them to notice it, and to then refine it to its simplest form. Ultimately, the story should be edited to clear away anything that doesn't support the premise and fill in the gaps to clarify and strengthen it where needed.

The Tease
As readers and movie watchers, if you're a geek like me, you can tease out this idea for yourself to see if a film or a book holds together. You'll start to notice that really powerful stories have very strong and clear premises. Sometimes they're hard to nail down at first, but if you keep paring down the themes within the story, you'll find one shiny idea that unifies the whole echilada. For a poorly written story, you may be entertained, but the theme, if you can pin it down at all, won't hold together from start to finish.

Teasing out the theme is harder than it sounds, but it's a very statisfying and instructive exercise, especially for writers and lovers of story. It really demonstrates how important this concept of a unifying idea is to every single aspect of a well wrought tale.

Reoccuring themes for writers will arise from this exercise, as well, since themes/premises ultimately come from their conscious and unconscous beliefs and passions. I suspect readers and movie viewers, if you look more closely, you'll find that you're drawn to the work of specific writers because your beliefs and passions are in alignment with the writer's (via the themes of their stories). Nothing like a little psycho-babble blogging, but I think you'll find this "premise" true.

I don't have the magic to fully convey what premise or theme is in one blog, in fact, I'm still learning myself, but I hope I sparked your curiosity on the subject AND its importance in the composition of a truly great story. Don't take my word for it, read Egri, McKee, Gotham Writers' and anyone who will enlighten you on the subject. Now, get out there and go hog freakin' wild with this idea (yeah, baby, I'm a party animal, eh?). I guarantee it will change your writing and your appreciation for a well told tale.

See you next weekend!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

Radiohead and Nelson Santos Animation--Yumm!

2008-10-11T20:05:00.005-04:00

Ooooo...Ahhh...
Many of you know my fascination with animation. I'm like a magpie with shiny things when it comes to beautiful or clever animation, but add to that great music and I'm nearly gah-gah. Hence, my joy in the discovery at Nelson Santos's profile of his lovely bit of animation for the Radiohead song, "All I Need."

I hope you enjoy it, too.

watch more at aniBoom

It's been a bit of a tough week, so it's nice to share something lovely with you. I might just come back tomorrow for another quick hello, since my "no internet work week" has left me missing you.

Just in case I don't see you tomorrow, have a brilliant weekend and a fabulous week ahead!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

Shocklines Film Series in New York!

2008-10-05T10:35:00.001-04:00

Hurray for New York
Some very lucky New Yorkers are going to be treated to a new and wondrous series at the movies--The Shocklines Film Series! I might even take the train down to enjoy a few of these jewels. Here's the scoop from Matt Schwartz, the founder of the series:

For those in the NYC area, I'm organizing a monthly film series devoted to horror films that have never gotten real theatrical distribution (so people can see the films on the big screen), and with horror shorts preceding the films. Nothing major -- just a little side project. One of my friends who does event programming professionally was looking for someone to handle a horror film series, and I volunteered.

You can get info at: www.shocklinesfilms.com

The first one will be October 29th at 8PM, featuring Dog Soldiers (from Neil Marshall, the creator of The Descent) with the short film Peekers directed by Mark Steensland, written by Rick Hautala based on a Kealan Patrick Burke short story. Additionally, anyone who comes will get a little promotional chapbook of the short story PEEKERS only available at this screening.

Hope you can make it! Feel free to spread the word. I'll be announcing the other films for upcoming months shortly.

So there you have it, gang. What a treat for you New York film goers. All the details are at the website where you can even purchase your tickets. In case you're wondering about the location, it's at: 92Y Tribeca 200 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10013.

For you non-New Yorkers, anyone up for a road trip??

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel