Horror World, Ron Kelly Goodness, Reviewy

Horror World
Forgive my shameless plug (yet another one), but I'm very excited and honored to be the featured author at Horror World for the month of August. You'll find my story, "Bessie Green's Thumb," available there until the end of the month--FREE! Horror World publisher, Nanci Kalanta said it had a Twilight Zone feel, so if that's your cup of weird tea, please stop by for a read.

Click Here for "Bessie Green's Thumb."

At Horror World you'll also find:

A Simon Wood interview with Steve Wedel

The always fabulous Horror World Book Reviews

The Lastest Pod of Horror - #46 with The Three Steves

Ron Kelly Goodness
It's a great day for horror fans because novelist, Ronald Kelly is back in business in a big way. After a decade away from the industry, he's back in the writing game full-time. I'm new to his work, but after reading Flesh Welder, I can't wait for what he's got in store for us. On his website he's announced a TEN book deal with Full Moon Press. Hop on over to Ron's site for the full line-up--it's a stunning bit of news for Kelly fans around the globe.

Reviewy
Another bit of nice (and shameless) news--over at Goodscares, C. Michael Cook offers a very thoughtful review of Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales. Have a read and let me know what you think. Btw, Michael always has something interesting to read, so be sure to go back for more!

Also, for those of you who have ordered the hard cover limited edition, I have them in my grubby little paws as we speak. They'll be signed, numbered and in the mail to the publisher for shipping to you by Monday afternoon. If you don't have a copy yet, but you'd still like an inscription, 1) buy your hard cover copy from APEX today (SUNDAY) and 2) send me an email with your proof of purchase and 3) inscription info (your name or whoever you want the book inscribed to and if there's anything special you'd like written in the inscription) and I'll be sure to add it to the shipment for tomorrow.

That's the scoop for now, gang. Have a great week!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

Font Conference and Free Braunbeck but Hurry by Fran Friel

FREE Braunbeck
Five-time Bram Stoker Award winner author, Gary Braunbeck, has a treat for you--a FREE three part story posted at Horror World. The only thing is that it will disappear from the website August 1st! So pop on over to HorrorWorld.org and read Gary's story, "In Seeing: a story of Cedar Hill." Like Gary's latest novel, Coffin County, "In Seeing" is from his fabulous Cedar Hill series. Don't miss it!

Font Conference
Yes, let it be known, I'm a total geek, but I loved this vid. I thought you might like it, too...but you don't have to be a geek to enjoy it...I don't think. ;-)

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Have a great week!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

Last Call for Inscriptions on the HCs

Hardcover Scrawls
Hey, gang, at last the shipment of hardcover limited edition copies of Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales are winging their way to me. I should have them sometime next week. If you've ordered a hardcover and would like an inscription, please let me know. You can post here or send me a message. If you have special instructions for your inscription (i.e. it's a gift for someone else), don't hesitate to tell me what you'd like written in your copy.

If you haven't ordered your hardcover copy yet and would still like to do so, you have a few days before I start scrawling my name on the books. There are limited edition numbered hardcover copies available at:

Apex Book Company and the Horror Mall

Of course the trade paperbacks are also available at Apex, Horror Mall, Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com. I'll be happy to sign those too if you ship them to me directly (just ask and I'll be happy to give you my shipping address).

Penmanship is not my forte so I can't promise legibility, but I'll try my best! *wink*

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

Links of a Lazy Woman

Lazy Links
I missed my beloved NECON this weekend because I've been a tad under the weather here, but I'm overdue for a visit with you and since I miss you I thought I'd just drop by with a few fine links for your perusing pleasure. I hope you find them helpful or at least a bit entertaining.

For Writers and Other Masochists:

Book Proposals: A Recommended Read - by Douglas Clegg

Promotion, PROmotion, PROMOTION - by John B. Rosenman

More on Getting Your Books into Libraries - by Lucy Snyder

Mr. Manners: 10 Rules of Etiquette for Writers Conferences - by Douglas Clegg

Characters - The Heart of Any Story - by Joe Nassise


For Readers and Other Magnificent Creatures:

Apex Digest (now FREE and Online...and paying pro-rates to writers!) - Issue One

Clarkesworld Magazine - (FREE and Online - pays double pro-rate!) - Issue 22

Chizine - (FREE and Online - pays pro-plus rates to writers!) - Latest Issue


For the wondrous folks who aren't sick of hearing about the MB collection:

Shanna Wynne - On Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales

Kent Allard from Dead in the South - On the MB Collection


That should keep you busy for a couple of minutes. And be sure to go back again later to visit the folks listed above. There's always something funny, fascinating and fabulous within the pages of their blogs and websites.

Happy reading!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

Sharpen the Blade...er, the Pencil - Writing Class

Sharpen the Blade...er, the Pencil
One of the best writing classes I've taken was with Terri Brown-Davidson (with Gotham Writers). She's teaching her own classes now and I just saw this today. I know it's short notice, but she may still be taking students or at least she could put you on the list for the next class. It's very affordable compared to Gotham and many other classes. If you decide to take the plunge, tell her Fran sent ya'!

From Terri:

Introductory and Intermediate Fiction Writing

Regardless of whether you’re new to fiction writing or have already dipped your toe into the narrative waters, this fiction course is guaranteed to make you a better writer. We’ll discuss drafts, revise drafts, engage in craft talk, have daily discussions about writing topics and our writing progress, and offer constructive and meaningful criticism that’s guaranteed to take your work to the next level, no matter where you start. The criticism will be substantial and thoughtful—no “fluff” reviews allowed—but delivered in a way that respects you and your gifts as a writer. Most writers who enter this course see their lives transformed-or at least their work!

COURSE FEATURES:

1. Ten craft lectures on fiction

2. Daily dialogues with the instructor and other students in the course

3. Revision advice from your course colleagues and instructor; marketing advice on where to submit your fiction

COST: $200

I have five online writing courses beginning July 15th; I'll offer descriptions of all of them in this office. To learn more and/or enroll, please see my teaching/coaching Web site, TBD's Online Writing Courses and Coaching, at www.tbrowndavidson.com. Also, please feel free to contact me if you have questions!


Happy sharpening, my friends!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel

From the Tube to the Crypt - Vid and Interview

The Tube
Last week I got to see my Hypericon-tired mug on YouTube reading a story for a wonderful crowd at the con (it's a great audience for sure when the readings starting at 10PM on a Friday night...and they stay!). I was in brilliant reading company with Deborah LeBlanc, Laura Anne Gilman, James Newman, Ronald Kelly and Steven Shrewsbury. The fabulous John Hornor Jacobs video taped all of the reading for us (voluntarily) and did a wonderful job filming and editing. If you dare, you can have a peek at my reading--I read "Gravy Pursuits" from my collection, Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales:





The Crypt
YouTube was a first for me and my next first is a podcast radio interview. Oh, don't you just love technology? I do! So if you have a little free time for some of my yammering, some music and perhaps a little live reading, I'll be chatting with the wicked men of The Metal Crypt on Hard Rock Radio Live on Friday, July 11th at 7PM eastern time. It'll be a mix of music and me yammering away with the guys.

You can access the show at:

www.hardrockradiolive.com
or
www.myspace.com/themetalcrypt











Hopefully the show will be archived for later consumption (so you can FF through the bits where I stammer and stumble). I know they've posted earlier shows on YouTube, as well, so I'm sure I'll have a link available for that eventually.

Hope to "see" you at The Metal Crypt!

Btw, next week lovely and talented Garry Charles with be the guest at TMC, and the following week the legendary Ray Garton will be chatting with the Crypt gang!

That's it for now, gang. I still have pics to upload from Hypericon and a fabulous little pirate I've come to adore. Can't wait to show him to you. Until them, stay scary!

Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel