Shanty Me a Story
Okay, if you've stopped by my profile over at MySpace, you may have noticed the sea shanty playing as my profile tune. Why a shanty, you might ask...or maybe not, since I'm just goofy enough to post a sea shanty for the halibut (sorry, I couldn't help myself). Well, I'll tell you why. Besides the obvious moment of distraction from my story writing to compose a blog, I just needed a little inspiration. Believe it or not, mateys, I'm writing a pirate story. As a matter of fact, I've been writing it for hours and hours, hence my state of near madness and my need for distraction.

And yes, it's a horror story, but with a pirate ship background, and no there's no sea monsters (that I know of). I suspect this story is not your normal pirate fare, but what do I know? Well, I know I'm writing it, and I'm not normal, so it's just going to be different. It's called "Sea Urchin" and it will be one of my dark little lovelies (well, actually it's pretty long...and ugly) for the short story collection, Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales, due to be released this June from Apex.

Now, if you'll recall, I'm a Gemini, which means there will be a WIDE variety of story subjects in this book, and if you don't like pirates stories (I still think you'll like this one) there will be lots of other madness to indulge in. To name just a few, we've got gravy lovers, Pacific islands and nightmares, and science experiments gone wrong. There's parrots, critters with cleavers, shrubs with an attitude, and of course, there's that nasty little Stoker finalist, Mama's Boy.

Oooo, just this moment, this very minute (serious, just now), I had an inspiration. Let's do a contest! A pirate contest. Yeah!

Okay, here goes...

In the comments section of this blog, post one of the following:

1. Your Favorite Pirate Saying

2. Your Favorite Pirate Book or Movie

I'll do a random drawing from all the comments with a deadline of April 15th (if it's good enough for the IRS, it's good enough for me...tee hee). Watch here the following week and I'll announce the winner. The prize - A copy of Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales (when it's released, of course).

BONUS- for an EXTRA chance to win a copy of the collection AND a signed original copy of the manuscript for the story "Sea Urchin" all you have to do is:

Post a pic of youself looking like a pirate in the comments section of this blog . Even an eyepatch will make it so, but feel free to be creative.


So there you have it, my first contest inspiration for the MB collection. I hope you like it. Just remember you shanty-phobes, this isn't a book about pirates, it's just one story, but the bugger of a story is haunting my every moment right now, so ARGGGGGH, we're doing a pirate contest!

Dang, pirates are cranky, aren't they? *wink*

Have fun, gang, and let me see your pirate within!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel