I don’t believe I’ll ever be professionally published again
I don’t have any real expectation of ever being published again.
I don’t know if it’s because my writing is that bad or if it’s the woeful state of reading, writing and publishing in this country today. I continue to submit my work, but I can’t get a publisher to even email me a rejection.
I do know many of the publications I used to sell to have disappeared. The entire magazine industry appears to be failing. Mass market paperbacks are vanishing. A recent survey showed only 16 percent of Americans read a book for pleasure in 2023.
Saddest of all, I saw a video of a middle school teacher practically crying about the illiteracy of her students. Not only were they illiterate, but they didn’t care that they were illiterate, she said.
The solution, of course, would be to ban smart phones and unplug the internet, but that’s about as likely to happen as me selling my most recent novel.
About the author:
Del Stone Jr. is a professional fiction writer. He is known primarily for his work in the contemporary dark fiction field, but has also published science fiction and contemporary fantasy. Stone's stories, poetry and scripts have appeared in publications such as Amazing Stories, Eldritch Tales, and Bantam-Spectra's Full Spectrum. His short fiction has been published in The Year's Best Horror Stories XXII; Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine; the Pocket Books anthology More Phobias; the Barnes & Noble anthologies 100 Wicked Little Witch Stories, Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, and 100 Astounding Little Alien Stories; the HWA anthology Psychos; and other short fiction venues, like Blood Muse, Live Without a Net, Zombiesque and Sex Macabre. Stone's comic book debut was in the Clive Barker series of books, Hellraiser, published by Marvel/Epic and reprinted in The Best of Hellraiser anthology. He has also published stories in Penthouse Comix, and worked with artist Dave Dorman on many projects, including the illustrated novella “Roadkill,” a short story for the Andrew Vachss anthology Underground from Dark Horse, an ashcan titled "December" for Hero Illustrated, and several of Dorman's Wasted Lands novellas and comics, such as Rail from Image and “The Uninvited.” Stone's novel, Dead Heat, won the 1996 International Horror Guild's award for best first novel and was a runner-up for the Bram Stoker Award. Stone has also been a finalist for the IHG award for short fiction, the British Fantasy Award for best novella, and a semifinalist for the Nebula and Writers of the Future awards. His stories have appeared in anthologies that have won the Bram Stoker Award and the World Fantasy Award. Two of his works were optioned for film, the novella “Black Tide” and short story “Crisis Line.”
Stone recently retired after a 41-year career in journalism. He won numerous awards for his work, and in 1986 was named Florida's best columnist in his circulation division by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors. In 2001 he received an honorable mention from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for his essay “When Freedom of Speech Ends” and in 2003 he was voted Best of the Best in the category of columnists by Emerald Coast Magazine. He participated in book signings and awareness campaigns, and was a guest on local television and radio programs.
As an addendum, Stone is single, kills tomatoes and morning glories with ruthless efficiency, once tied the stem of a cocktail cherry in a knot with his tongue, and carries a permanent scar on his chest after having been shot with a paintball gun. He’s in his 60s as of this writing but doesn't look a day over 94.
I don’t have any real expectation of ever being published again. I don’t know if it’s because my writing is that bad or if it’s the woeful state of reading, writing and publishing in this country today. I continue to… READ MORE
Mladen and Del review ‘The End of Oak Street’
Warner Bros.
“The End of Oak Street” starring Anne Hathaway as disgruntled mom Denise Platt, Ewan McGregor as Pollyanna dad Greg Platt, Maisy Stella as mildly interesting daughter Audrey Platt, and Christian Convery as sissy son Brian Platt, and others. Directed by… READ MORE
‘Nightwalk’ ( a short horror story )
Image courtesy of Pexels user Portrenk.
https://www.pexels.com/@portrenk/
INTRODUCTION According to my-not-very good publication notes, I wrote “Nightwalk” in 1983. I wonder if that’s true. My recordkeeping back then was spotty. I never thought it necessary to keep track of production dates or publication credits. Now, as you… READ MORE
I recently subscribed to NFL Sunday Ticket. Why am I consumed by guilt?
After the hell I’ve been through the past month, I decided to reward myself with a treat: a subscription to NFL Sunday Ticket. But I’m consumed with guilt. Why? I’ve earned it, I tell myself. I drove 700 miles to… READ MORE
Object d’Art ( a flash fiction horror story )
Nano Banana
INTRODUCTION “Object d’Art” breaks all the rules. It’s the story of a man who takes his press releases too seriously. And it’s the story of a woman who is just as serious about her revenge. Finally, it’s a story about… READ MORE
A maniac tried to kill me on the interstate
ChatGPT
A maniac tried to kill me on the interstate. I admit, that’s a slight exaggeration. A maniac tried to scare the hell out of me on the interstate – and succeeded. That’s a more accurate reflection of events. I woke… READ MORE
BIO
About the author:
Del Stone Jr. is a professional fiction writer. He is known primarily for his work in the contemporary dark fiction field, but has also published science fiction and contemporary fantasy. Stone's stories, poetry and scripts have appeared in publications such as Amazing Stories, Eldritch Tales, and Bantam-Spectra's Full Spectrum. His short fiction has been published in The Year's Best Horror Stories XXII; Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine; the Pocket Books anthology More Phobias; the Barnes & Noble anthologies 100 Wicked Little Witch Stories, Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, and 100 Astounding Little Alien Stories; the HWA anthology Psychos; and other short fiction venues, like Blood Muse, Live Without a Net, Zombiesque and Sex Macabre. Stone's comic book debut was in the Clive Barker series of books, Hellraiser, published by Marvel/Epic and reprinted in The Best of Hellraiser anthology. He has also published stories in Penthouse Comix, and worked with artist Dave Dorman on many projects, including the illustrated novella “Roadkill,” a short story for the Andrew Vachss anthology Underground from Dark Horse, an ashcan titled "December" for Hero Illustrated, and several of Dorman's Wasted Lands novellas and comics, such as Rail from Image and “The Uninvited.” Stone's novel, Dead Heat, won the 1996 International Horror Guild's award for best first novel and was a runner-up for the Bram Stoker Award. Stone has also been a finalist for the IHG award for short fiction, the British Fantasy Award for best novella, and a semifinalist for the Nebula and Writers of the Future awards. His stories have appeared in anthologies that have won the Bram Stoker Award and the World Fantasy Award. Two of his works were optioned for film, the novella “Black Tide” and short story “Crisis Line.”
Stone recently retired after a 41-year career in journalism. He won numerous awards for his work, and in 1986 was named Florida's best columnist in his circulation division by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors. In 2001 he received an honorable mention from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for his essay “When Freedom of Speech Ends” and in 2003 he was voted Best of the Best in the category of columnists by Emerald Coast Magazine. He participated in book signings and awareness campaigns, and was a guest on local television and radio programs.
As an addendum, Stone is single, kills tomatoes and morning glories with ruthless efficiency, once tied the stem of a cocktail cherry in a knot with his tongue, and carries a permanent scar on his chest after having been shot with a paintball gun. He’s in his 60s as of this writing but doesn't look a day over 94.
About the author: Del Stone Jr. is a professional fiction writer. He is known primarily for his work in the contemporary dark fiction field, but has also published science fiction and contemporary fantasy. Stone’s stories, poetry and scripts have appeared… READ MORE
Did I detect a whiff of fall in the air this morning?
The air carried the faintest whiff of fall this morning, and that gives me hope. I love this time of year. Yes, it’s hotter than the devil’s left nut. You could literally fry an egg on an asphalt road, and… READ MORE
Paradise Cafe (a short horror story)
INTRODUCTION Obviously I wrote this story a looong time ago. I mean, c’mon. A Falcon? The last Falcon rolled off the Ford assembly line in 1970, according to Dr. Google. But that’s OK because the central conceit of “Paradise Café”… READ MORE
Mladen and Del review ‘Evil Dead Burn’
Warner Bros.
“Evil Dead Burn” starring Souheila Yacoub as I’ve‑Had‑Enough Alice; Hunter Doohan as weakling and coward Joseph; Luciane Buchanan as Up‑Yours Thya; Erroll Shand as bitter, mean, angry, and resentful Edgar; Tandi Wright as Gotta‑Keep‑Everything‑Together Susan; Maude Davey as funny, Alzheimer’s-addled… READ MORE
