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INTRODUCTION I say this story was written in 1988 but don’t quote me on that. It was written in the 1980s, of that I’m sure. It has the tone of my ’80s fiction – bleak sketches set in a rural… READ MORE
Introduction to “Lighting the Corpses” I don’t remember what went into the creation of this story. I was in the throes of love withdrawal. I was angry and wanted to hit back at the world. I was beginning to find… READ MORE
ChatGPT
INTRODUCTION Have you ever been creeped out by a mannequin? I have. I don’t care what anybody says – they’re creepy. Every time I find myself in the presence of a mannequin I can feel the thing watching me. Sometimes,… READ MORE
ChatGPT
INTRODUCTION I’ve made no secret of the fact Stephen King greatly influenced my work, but there was another writer who played an equally important role in my evolution as a writer: Dennis Etchison. In the mid-’80s my friend and coworker… READ MORE
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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
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
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
Image courtesy of Phillip Pessar by way of a Creative Commons license. https://www.flickr.com/people/25955895@N03
INTRODUCTION I hate writing. I really do. I think my attitude toward writing is similar to that of my friend, Ray Aldridge, who once said (and I think he was quoting yet another writer), “I enjoy having written.” That suits… READ MORE
Photo courtesy of Nels Olsen by way of a Creative Commons license. https://www.flickr.com/people/7776581@N04
INTRODUCTION The Rocket Slide exists! It’s a real thing and I stole it directly from a creepy, hidden-away playground in my old neighborhood. Whether it can be used by a vengeful ex-husband to kidnap his children … that’s another matter…. READ MORE
Image courtesy of PickPic by way of a Creative Commons license.
INTRODUCTION Does comedic horror exist? The producers of the “Scream” movies would say so, I think. But in fact, is “Scream” funny? Well, it is my studied opinion that within the context of horror, yes, it is funny. I would… READ MORE