Beware the Vampire Bunnies

Kindle Time?

2012-02-15T21:22:00.002Z

Trying to work out whether or not I should attempt a Kindle book. Would be nice to actually receive money for something I've written for a change but I don't know whether it's worth it or not. Hmmm...?

Thoughts ladies and gents?

Would you buy an Emma Kathryn eBook? Maybe a novella to start?

Answers on a postcard...

...Or on twitter. @girlofgotham

I'm Writing Again!

2012-01-29T21:37:00.000Z

The Other Side is back on track. Whoop-de-doo and all that jazz. Got another chapter done and working on more. Hope to have a full read-through next weekend and sort out some niggles.
I've just change the main character's name so that'll need a bit of fixing. On top of that, I've got a character with a southern drawl and I want to get that sounding better so dialogue will need a bit of work.

But hey, good intentions, etc, etc.

Have also sent off two new stories to anthologies. Fingers crossed!

If you haven't read my latest posts, you won't know that I have succumbed to the Twitter tidal wave. Follow me @GirlofGotham. It's mostly nonsensical bullshit but kind of quirky. Check it out if your signed up.

Lotsaluv, Em

Freebies For All

2012-01-28T22:00:00.000Z

Just updated the Free Stories page and the Glitter and Trauma page. Enjoy! In the Free Stories page you will find "Clowns All Around You", one of my favourite stories. And in G+T, you will find a free extract.

In other news, the blog will be getting a revamp very soon. So please keep checking by.

In other awful news...I am about to watch the Wicker Man remake. Holy shite...

Lotsaluv, Em

Tweet-Twoo

2012-01-28T20:37:00.000Z

I have finally given in and joined the social networking crowd. Eugh.

Follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/GirlofGotham

I know, I couldn't get VampireBunny or anything like it. So I had to go for my next favourite obsession: Batman. Hence GirlofGotham. I also caved and got a phone that does more than make calls, so I should be able to update the twitter account more frequently than the blog.

Apologies for the big gaps in posts. I've been crazy busy but I'm trying hard to get stories out again. I'm sending a few away today so fingers crossed.

"The Other Side" is coming along slowing. Hoping to have more news on it soon...

So bunnies, hop along to twitter and add the GirlofGotham.

Can't believe I did this.

Lotsaluv, Em

Whoosh!

2012-01-03T19:28:00.000Z

Wow Glasgow is windy today. I have had absolutely no sleep since it all started at 3.30am. Oh Gods I am so tired. On the up side I am sending Simple Twists of Fate off to another publisher so fingers crossed.

Also going to start tidying up The Other Side. Changing the main character's name is the first step. Don't know if that's a good thing or not.

Anyway, in other news, I am now totally addicted to Monster High. I am a grown woman, what is wrong with me?

Lotsaluv, Em

Happy 2012

2012-01-01T02:18:00.000Z

Way-hay bunnies. Happy 2012. I promise you many great things. The boys have asked me tp rrcommend www.twitter.com/thebloodaxe check it out and you will be onto great things. I promise a book this year bunnies. Peace out bunnies. I love and miss you all

lotsaluv, Em

The Other Side

2011-12-07T21:57:00.000Z

Hoping to have the new novel nearly finished by the New Year. Fingers crossed guys. It's needing a lot of editing but at least I've pretty much got a first draft done.

However, I've just ordered 2 Batman cross stitch patterns :S Uh oh, going to be a bit distracted.

Two weeks tomorrow and I'm finished work for Yuletide. Woop-de-doop.

Lotsaluv, Em

Success! Nanowrimo 2011!

2011-11-30T22:18:00.000Z

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Done with 2 hours to spare! Booyah! Sitting at 50057 words at the end of November for my new novel "The Other Side". I've still got a fair chunk I want to do but I'm so proud that I did all that in November, and with my crazy job, too! That was including not getting home until late on Mondays and a day where I had to pull an 11 hour shift!

Keep your eyes peeled folks and I'll keep updating on my novel's progress. Shouldn't take long to actually finish now.

Woohoo! Can't believe I managed this!

Lotslauv, Em

Oh Dear

2011-11-05T16:48:00.000Z

Nano word count for yesterday: 0. Uh oh. I blame the crap day at work and the new bookcases I had to fill in the flat. But now I've got Saturday to blitz it and my books do look awesome downstairs now.

My personal goal for today: about 3500 words. I've decided that if I hit the 8500 mark in my total count, I can watch X-Men First Class tonight with a big glass of Southern Comfort and some Carte Dor chocolate indulgence ice-cream. Incentives, incentives; that'll get me through.

Wish me luck.

Lotsaluv, Em

Nano Update

2011-11-03T22:09:00.000Z

Alrighty folks, here's the breakdown of my Nanowrimo novel so far:

Day 1: 1717
Day 2: 1219
Day 3: 2464

Total: 5400

Not too shabby. Especially considering the fact that I've been working all week and managed to make cookies last night for my third year pupils and K Bargie. Would have done more on Day 2 but K distracted me by putting on Borat. Damn that Sacha Baron Coen and his zany antics.

Should have the next catch up by the weekend. Have a good Friday lads and ladies.

Oh and good luck to all the nano-ers out there working their wee socks off.

Lotsaluv, Em

NANOWRIMO 2011

2011-11-01T21:16:00.000Z

It's November 1st and Nanowrimo has officially begun. This year I am totally going for it. Day one was a good start on my new novel, "The Other Side". I don't want to reveal too much right now, just give you a little taste of things to come.

Today's word count finished up at 1717. This means, I've not only met my daily target of 1667, but exceeded it. You can track my progress at:

http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/vampirebunny/novels/the-other-side3/stats

My profile is unbelieveably boring at the mo' but at the weekend, I'll have it ship-shape and ready to go. But for now, be sure to check up every now and then and as soon as I can, I'll get a wee word count widget on here for you fine bunnies.

Fare thee well, bunny trackers.

Lotsaluv, Em

At Last...

2011-09-23T15:25:00.000+01:00

I am very pleased to report that Simple Twists of Fate has just been submitted to Wicked East Press for consideration.

Finally!

After 6 crazy weeks of my new job, I finally had a day to sit down and gather my thoughts. Completed my submission package 20 mins ago and I have literally just hit the send button on the email to Jessica Weiss. So excited!!!

I'm pretty pleased with how it's looking so far. While I'm waiting for news back I'm just going to keep reading and rereading my stories in order to edit them to their best possible version. Even the reprints have had a major overhaul. Pretty damn pleased with this. Seriously.

I'm aware that there's been no free story for September. This will be uploaded over the weekend.

In other news, here's the previously promised pics of my new wee minion: Dexter (as in Dexter Morgan!) the Chinese Dwarf Hamster.

Awwwwwww! He's freaking awesome and a little crazy. Suits me just fine then!

Be back soon!

Lotsaluv, Em

At Last...

2011-09-11T03:59:00.002+01:00

I have moved out into my own wee flat and I finally have the internet back. Hazzah! And, even better, K Bargie and I got a cootchie wee chinese dwarf hamster. He is AWESOME!!! Pictures to follow. Good to talk to you again bunnies.

Lotsaluv, Em

My brain hurts.

2011-07-26T16:07:00.000+01:00

Right now K Bargie is reading me part of a report he is writing at the moment. He is doing a PhD in something I don't understand. Of the two sentences he just read out to me, I can repeat none of it as that is how much of it my brain actually processed. Oh hell.

In other news, it's taken me a while to report this, but I finally have the chance to do so. The following books have been released over the past two months by Static Movement and feature some of my stories:

Ruby Red Cravings, edited by the awesome Brianna Stoddard, is now available to purchase and has two stories from my "Flashes Before her Eyes" vampire series. "Northern Winds" (Viking vampires-say what?!) and "Last of the Wilds" which involves my vampire having an erotic encounter with a lesbian tree. Oh yes, you read that right!

Two Naomi Clark anthologies, the first being Serve in Heaven, Reign in Hell, an anthology of angels and demons. Here you can find my flash piece "Strings" about angelic puppets. I really like this wee piece. I wrote it while skulking in one of the galleries at work one Saturday afternoon. Might add it into "Simple Twists of Fate".

Wicked Witchery is a very recent release. It's available on the Pill Hill Shoppe at the moment and should be up for sale on Amazon very soon. It's got a page on Amazon just no purchase info as of yet. This book contains "Second Hand Faith" which is a daft wee prequel to the fantasy novel I've been working on since the day I turned 16 (shit you not). I love these characters and it'll be brilliant to see them in print.

As K Bargie has stopped talking about transnationalism and cultural identity (far too heavy for discussion on such a sunny day) I am going to leave you all now with a final thought. Adam (of Ferocious Bloodaxe fame) who did the awesome posters for The Shadow People has begun work on a cover for Simple Twists of Fate. Can't wait to see it!!!!!

Here comes the sun, do-doop-do-doo.

Lotsaluv, Em

Of Stepford Wives and Strange Devices

2011-07-24T12:09:00.000+01:00

Beautiful day. Sitting in the kitchen typing this as the sun streams in through the French doors. Unfortunately, they are firmly shut and locked as the dog is being a little shit and keeps barking at the kids playing in the lane beside my garden. Shall attempt to ignore him but he's a bloody pest.

Typing up the last story for "Simple Twists of Fate" right now. Then it's on to the final edit. Really excited. Tomorrow is going to be a total work-a-thon and I'm just going to blitz this book. All of the stories need a read-through and tidy up but "Swampblood" needs a lot of work. I suspect that is what'll eat up most of my attention and time. Not long now though. Want to have my sample stories ready to go by the end of the week so fingers crossed.

In other news, K Bargie and I got our wee flat :) Sooooooooo happy! Not sure quite when we move in yet but I'll keep you posted. The down side to this is that I'll be without internet access for a while so blog posts may be few and far between throughout August. However, a couple of my fave pubs do free wifi so I may just drag my laptop into either of those.

While I type this I can hear K upstairs, faffing about with my guitar. He's in the process of teaching himself "Let her Dance", which is the closing track of "Fantastic Mr Fox" - a film he loves to a stupid degree. I'm going to attempt to make a pecan pie for him today. What has become of me? Moving in with a man-creature and baking him pies?! What would the Pankhursts say?

Anyway, I better get back to this story. And apologies to Paul and Andy, whom I left a very daft post about on Thursday night. If you didn't see it guys, it was just very dopey - praising Paul's blog and describing Andy reading a Charlotte Roche book to my dog. Cocktails and the internet DO NOT mix well! Swiftly deleted this. Hope you both don't mind!

Got to go now and enjoy the rest of this bright Sunday. Have a good one, bunnies!

Lotsaluv, Em

Erotic Topic Part 2

2011-07-20T22:39:00.001+01:00

Some exciting news...

First of all, K Bargie and I got another step closer to the dream home.

Second, my story "Salt Skin" (title taken from the Ellie Goulding song) has been accepted by the wonderful Brianna Stoddard to appear in "Satin Beauty". This is an erotica anthology she's editing for Static Movement and I can't wait to get my hands on this book! Oooh-er!

Kinky!

Lotsaluv, Em

Eeeep!

2011-07-18T14:29:00.000+01:00

K Bargie and I may have found our dream home. I am so excited. K keeps reprimanding me for lurking on furniture websites. Apparently I am not allowed a table which pulls out like slices of pizza (from Next.co.uk)

Damn him. Scouting out Batman prints and posters already. Skweeeeee! Fingers crossed. It's even going to have a little office/library to write in. Woohoo!!! More news to come...

I am aware that this is supposed to be a blog about my writing and I have descended into some Stepford Wife-type creature but screw you, I'm happy. Writing tonight, I promise...

Lotsaluv, Em

Busy week!

2011-07-13T09:18:00.000+01:00

No time for anything this week. K Bargie and I are flat-hunting at the moment so we've been rushing around the city like mad folk. On top of that we've got a birthday and a wedding this week AND I quit my job on Sunday.

I don't know when my brain will stop spinning.

In good news...Adam has agreed to do the cover for Simple Twists of Fate. Yaaaaaaay!

Lotsaluv, Em

Captain Hook

2011-07-10T00:53:00.000+01:00

Typed up a big chunk of SToF and taught myself to crochet (with Mum's help). Apparently I sound like Herman Munster when I make a mistake. Ah well I do like the Munsters...

2 stories left to type up and then it's on to the editing, rewriting and re-editing stage. Awesomeness.

Remember to check out the free story for July!!!

Night night bunnies. Sweet dreams and dreadful nightmares.

Lotsaluv, Em

Real Work

2011-07-09T19:58:00.000+01:00

Typing tonight. Like a crazed looney tune. Making up for a week's laziness. I've made a deal with myself: if I get 3 stories typed up tonight then I can learn how to crochet. I bought a book on Amigurumi last week and it's sitting in my room winking at me, trying to seduce me into skiving off and just making cootchy little creatures all night instead. So instead, I will type up a handful of stories and then I can crochet to my wee heart's content.

Story that I've got sitting in a Word document under this page right now is a children's story called "Puddles", based on the Jasmine Becket-Griffith painting "Autumn Mermaid":

Image copyright Jasmine Becket-Griffith and taken from Jasmine's own site. Really pleased with this story. It's ridiculously cute. Anyway, I'm a little chunk through it and here's a little taster for you:

As he turned to go back to the house, Jamie heard a splash, coming from one of the puddles. An unchecked puddle, actually. He looked over in the direction of the noise. In his cold grip, the bucket was feeling much heavier now that it was full of water. He really should be heading home now. The puddle splashed again. He had seen it this time, he definitely had. Bucket down, wellies shlooped through the mud towards this uncharted puddle. It wouldn’t hurt to investigate. Would it? He crossed the short distance to the puddle, stationed himself right over it and took a good look down...

Hope you like so far!! This is no where near as dark as I usually go but it's sweet and mermaid-a-licious!

I've also put up July's free story - "A Pirate's Life for Me" - which originally appeared in Ethereal Tales (which is sadly coming to a close) and is part of my Vampire series: "Flashes Before her Eyes". Enjoy!

Better go get typing now! Nearly there!!!!

Lotsaluv, Em

Currently Listening to: Strange Boy by Kerli
Current Simple Twists of Fate word count: 60,262 words

Lazy

2011-07-07T11:59:00.000+01:00

I wrote nothing yesterday. Instead I spent the day in my pyjammies watching nonsense films. What is wrong with me?!

Lotsaluv, Em

Lazy

2011-07-07T11:58:00.001+01:00

Damn right...

2011-07-06T02:28:00.000+01:00

I am going to write all day tomorrow. I swear to the Gods. K Bargie is faffing about with movie soundtracks right now so I don't care. It sounds like Ghostbusters 2. All day I'm going to create wonderland. I'm writing something to "Hurt" by Johnny Cash. Gonnae be awesome, I promise. Sort of twisted Rapunzel. Anywho, Kylie's off the computer so I better scoot...

Farewell my loyal bunnies, thank you for visiting.

Lotsaluv, Em

Raven on My Shoulder...

2011-07-03T21:17:00.000+01:00

Wow, been a while again. I'm terrible at keeping up with this. Apologies. Anyway, this little post is a major update...

Only 20,000 words away from finishing Simple Twists of Fate. Woohoo!!! And to top that off, I've got 3 and a half stories sitting in front of me right now, lurking in notepads, waiting to be typed up. (3 and a half because I didn't get a chance to finish the 4th one in work today.) Pretty pleased with these ones and they fit in with the rest of the collection well.

On the whole, the book is shaping up brilliantly. Really really pleased with it. However, during the week there I removed an erotica piece called "Salt Skin", which just didn't really feel right with the other stories. Anyway, it's a mermaid tail and I've already got 3 mermaid pieces in the book and I don't want it to drown it with siren stories (har har sea humour). Although, Brianna Stoddard is running an erotica book over at Static Movement so I may send it swimming her way and see if she bites (okay, I'm through with the puns now I promise).

Have noticed that quite a few of my newer pieces have been in the same vein as my story "Moth Touch", which was published in Creepy Things: An Anthology of the Creepy-Crawly, Spooky & Silly, published by Static Movement. By that I mean mini character portraits capturing one scene, a la the prologues in The Canterbury Tales (which I was obsessed with when I was about 17). Pretty happy with this as it keeps in tone with my "Simple Twist of Fate" theme.

This collection will also include my brand new novella, "Swampblood", which I originally wrote as a short story for a different collection. However, even when I finished the original short story, I new there was much more to this tale and decided straight away that it would be much better suited as a novella. It tells the tale of the sheriff of the small Louisiana town of Swampblood and his search for his girlfriend, a newcomer to the town. So excited about this piece. It's one of my favourites!

Once I type up these stories tonight, I'm spending the next week doing read-throughs, edits and rewrites. This will ensure that everything is perfect. Hopefully should have the whole book completed within the next few weeks. Fingers crossed.

And now for something completely different... Little plug here for a fellow blogger. I urge you all to go check out A Cinephile's Journey, which is a freaking awesome blog. My most cinematically literate and sharply dressed mate Paul Costello has started an epic project. He is watching every film he owns in alphabetical order and reviewing it. So far, he's 15 films down and not even out of the As. This makes my film collection look pitiful. I think it will even overshadow my film-obsessed partner-in-crime K Bargie's vast DVD horde. Paul has already covered some awesome films, including Ace Ventura and The Adventures of Prescilla, Queen of the Desert, which is one of my faves. Prescilla is sheer Aussie genius and Paul's review of it is spot on. So, fair bunnies, I implore you, join one man on his journey through his DVD shelf ( or shelves more like if his room is anything like K Bargie's).

That seems to be us all caught up now! I better beat it and finish typing up these stories and get closer to that goal of completing Simple Twists of Fate. Not long now...

Farewell, bloody bunnies...

Lotsaluv, Em

VAMPIREBUNNY REVIEW: "Cupid, Playing" by Kenneth C. Goldman

2011-06-17T22:53:00.000+01:00

"Cupid, Playing" by Kenneth C. Goldman, appearing in Flash!, pp 31-32. Edited by Chris Bartholomew, published by Static Movement.

4 Bunnies out of 5.

SYNOPSIS: An unsuspecting couple are being watched by Cupid, who has his bow and arrow at the ready...

This story is taken from SM's salvaged anthology "Flash!" For those of you who don't know the background to this book, it was originally supposed to be published by a publisher who closed up shop before it saw completion. Fortunately for us readers, Chris Bartholomew saved the day and brought this book into the world and gave us the tale "Cupid, Playing." A snappy little piece of flash fiction, Goldman presents us with a portrait of a character we are all familiar with and turns it on its head. Yes, okay, it's a format we've seen before - inverting the norm - but by using the character of Cupid, it's quite fun to imagine a thousand crummy Valentines cards being metaphorically set on fire.

Anyway, onto the actual writing itself, even if the tale was about Cupid simply seeking out a couple to match up, it would still be beautifully begun. The build-up is just so wonderfully cheesy and corny, as the couple proclaim their love for one another. I don't want to reveal the twist but let me just say that it's pretty much what I've often wished would actually happen during almost every romantic comedy I've ever watched. Bam.

Due to the fact that this is a flash piece, I'm struggling not to reveal what the twist is. However, what I will say is that this story gives us exactly what flash is supposed to - a twist in the tale. It's enjoyable and fun and totally worth a read. The great thing about this anthology is that it's a whole collection of pieces like Goldman's and to think that it almost didn't get published is almost as scary as some of the stories in it. Thank the stars for Static Movement and for Kenneth Goldman for submitting his story to this fantastic wee book.

THOUGHTS FROM THE RABBIT HOLE: A snappy little twist in the tale piece which turns the Cupid image on its head.

Well done Ken!!!

Lotsaluv, Em

REVIEW: "Tiny Grave" by Sean Monaghan

2011-06-10T20:40:00.000+01:00

"Tiny Graves" by Sean Monaghan, appearing inThe Shadow People edited by Chris Bartholomew. Published by Static Movement.

4 bunnies out of 5.

SYNOPSIS: A businessman's family are being tormented while he is away on business.

What a great story. Really loved this. Totally gutted that I didn't have the chance to review this sooner. Apologies. Anywho, "Tiny Graves" is a perfect fit in this anthology of shadowy tales. Fantastic build-up and a convincing little family that the reader genuinely worry for as the story progresses. Both kids are likeable while the mother instantly gave me a curious buzz of warning.

A great touch to this tale is the fact that the main bulk of the terror takes place on the other end of the telephone. Louis has to listen to the frightning events on the phone which is without a doubt the scariest element in the whole story. The reader goes through exactly the same as Louis; missing parts of the action and being left out of the loop. Brilliant technique. Applause for Monaghan on this. Loved this.

The only thing that lets this piece down is that I feel that it's over too quick. With such a lengthy build-up and dramatic indirect action, I feel that the come-down could have been a bit more drawn out. Can't say much without spoiling the ending but I would happily have read about another 1000 words of "Tiny Graves".

Thoughts from the rabbit hole: Likeable characters and a fantastically well-constructed tale. Just wish there was more of it!!!

Well done Sean!

Lotsaluv, Em

New Project!

2011-06-10T00:18:00.001+01:00

Noticed post over at Wicked East Press advertising an open call for single author collections and now that I'm finished with uni, this is my new main focus. Eeeeep!

My collection is entitled "Simple Twists of Fate" (a spin on my fave Bob Dylan song) and it's shaping up goooooooood so far. Just finished collating the reprints that will be included and they finish up at 30,000. I'm aiming to hit 90-95,000 in total, so that should give you an idea of how much brand new material will be crammed into this tasty feast of fiction!

Reprints featured are:

Chasing Rabbits (Daily Bites of Flesh)
Death and the Maiden (Pandora's Nightmare)
Another Girl’s Paradise(Daily Flash)
Time (Daily Flash)
Clowns All Around You (Dusted)
Starry Eyed (Moon Washed Kisses)
Dark Wings (Daily Erotica)
Pride and Joy (Flash!)
The Hunt (Howl)
Loss (Cedar Chest)
Glitter and Trauma (The Shadow People)
Moth Touch (Creepy Things)

I'm pretty certain that I won't use any more reprints other than these. Glitter and Trauma takes up the bulk of it but it's mostly flash as you can see. Very excited about the new pieces. Got about 3 or 4 to type up tomorrow and once I get to work on Saturday, I know I've got a notepad in there with a few pieces in it too. Should be awesome!!!

As with my vampire collection that I wrote before, I'm doing this in a NaNoWriMo format, writing as many words as possible every day and then I'll get to the editing process later. Determined to come up with at least 60-65,000 words of brand new fiction. At the end of every post throughout the next month, I'll stick a progress count so that you can keep up to date with the collection.

I'm also aware that I owe about 3 reviews. Will have at least 1 of these up by tomorrow morning, I promise!

Wish me luck, bunnies!!!!

Lotsaluv, Em

Current word count on new stories: 9,641 words :-) Fair start.

Why Adam is Awesome

2011-05-16T21:29:00.000+01:00

Posters for The Shadow People, done by my very talented mate Adam Turner. I really appreciate him doing these and they are absolutely amazing. Hope you all like them. High fives all round for Adam. I'll be plastering these ALL OVER Glasgow as soon as I can. Awesome!!!!

All this done because this book features my first novella "Glitter and Trauma" - check it out bunnies!!!

Lotsaluv, Em

REVIEW: "Crossroad Blues" by Dorothy Davies

2011-05-15T20:33:00.000+01:00

"Crossroad Blues" by Dorothy Davies. Appearing in Oil, edited by Martin Zeigler, published by Static Movement. Pages 54-57.

5 Bunnies out of 5.

Synopsis: A hitchhiker tells their next ride how they came to be out on the road.

Absolutely loved this tiny little tale. While the actual plot is nothing totally out of the ordinary (how very "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"), what won me over with this piece was the narrator. What Davies shines at with stories like this is having such a unique narrative voice weaving the tale. The title of the collection is "Oil" and the narrator's words are as smooth and slick as the substance itself. On first reading I didn't get how the story fit with the anthology's central theme, but this piece is one that lingers with you like the scent of petrol. The oil theme is more in Davies' telling of the tale rather than its ideas. It's a smooth and fluid story which I would happily read again and again, and its flash-fiction length allows for this. Conforming completely to a flash-like structure, the story is a compact and condensed glimpse into a character and their background - well controlled stylish. Overall, I loved this. Magic in 3 pages.

THOUGHTS FROM THE RABBIT HOLE: A glimpse into the world of a smooth talking narrator with a slippery past. Wonderfully told.

Coming soon: Review of "Tiny Grave" by Sean Monaghan in The Shadow People.

Lotsaluv, Em

Revampire Bunny

2011-04-30T20:08:00.000+01:00

Given the old blog a bit of a make-over as you can see. Apologies for the pages at the top, which are all currently under construction, but as soon as I can, I'll fill these up with awesome things. Expect lots more changes soon, as I'm determined to fix that sidebar! Again, I'm really sorry that it's still a bit of a mess, you'll have to bear with me for the time being.

Catch you all soon.

Lotsaluv, Em

VAMPIRE BUNNY REVIEW: "Adaptation" by Chris Allinotte

2011-04-29T09:45:00.001+01:00

"Adaptation" by Chris Allinotte. Appearing in Creepy Things: An Anthology of the Creepy-Crawly, Spooky & Silly. Edited by Chris Bartholomew, published in Static Movement. Pages 217-219.

4 Vampire Bunnies out of 5.

SYNOPSIS: After a successful invasion and colonisation of Mars, two scientiests explore the land, only to make a shocking dicovery.

Taken from a book of insect-themed horror, Allinotte's story fits exactly that theme but does it with style. This is a short but sweet piece, the kind I like. I must admit, I'm a bit of a lazy reader when it comes to anthologies: I read all the flash first then work my way up the the longest stories. So this tale is precisely what I would have gone for first. The build up to Allinotte's story gives the reader all the back story they need - humans obliterated the Martians after destroying their own planet. Not an uncommon plot, but this tale gives the reader a fresher outcome than the movie-equivalents they may have come across.
WARNIING...HERE BE SPOILERS...WARNING...STOP READING NOW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE ENDING...WARNING.
Sorry, that was kind of overkill. I want to talk about the insect aspect the most but it's kind of a spoiler alert. Last chance to look away...Good, those of you who kept reading are in for a treat. Allinotte's bugs are not the black shelled beetles or the winged green-fly but living precious gems. The descriptions of them are wonderful and worth reading the story for in itself. I absolutely loved this part of the tale. I won't reveal what kind of antics they get up to but it's beautifully written and certainly made me glad I'd flicked to those pages where the story was hiding.
With this being such a short story there isn't much more I can say about it except that it is certainly one of the strongest pieces in this beastly collection.

THOUGHTS FROM THE RABBIT HOLE: A perfect example of flash fiction with a beatifully descriptive twist. It'll make you afraid of your jewellery and healing crystals for good!

Visit the writer at: http://chrisallinotte.blogspot.com/.

Lotsaluv, Em

The Shadow People Update

2011-04-23T20:05:00.000+01:00

Say What?!?!?!? Is that Emma's novella in a book and on sale on Amazon now? Indeedy it is! The Shadow People is now available on Amazon. AAAAAAH!!! Excited! Even more exciting is the product description, which reads:

She turns her hands over. Once. Twice. On the third time she still can't see anything wrong with them. What had she done? She'd made the shadow disappear, for one thing. It's rather a relief to know that she can make them go away. But what had she done to make it go? What the hell was that stuff coming out of her hands? This is weird, even for Sarah. -excerpt from Glitter and Trauma by Emma Kathryn

I'm so over the moon with this. This is going to be freakin' awesome. As soon as the book hits Amazon.co.uk I'm throwing a Glasgow launch party for all my chums and co-horts. Complete with Millie's cookie cake and all. By then I'll do a full promotional blog about out, complete with an exclusive extract and soundtrack listing (I always write my stories to a soundtrack which I put together during the writing process). This post will also include the posters that my mate Adam - of Ferocious Bloodaxe fame - is doing for me. The stuff he's done for Bloodaxe has been ubercool so I'm extremely excited to see what he's going to come up with.

Anyway, I'm going to scoot now. I'm far too excited!!!! Eeeep! Hope you're all ordering your copies right now!

Lotsaluv, Em

VAMPIREBUNNY REVIEW: "Agony of Being" by Tommy B. Smith

2011-04-23T19:14:00.000+01:00

"Agony of Being" by Tommy B. Smith. Appearing in Caught by Darkness: An Anthology of Dark Tales. Edited by Chris Bartholomew, published by Static Movement. Pages 99-111.

4 Vampire Bunnies out of 5.

SYNOPSIS: Jack Redmond is shot in the head whilst defending a convenience store clerk. During recovery, Jack begins to experience strange visions, nightmares and thoughts. Meanwhile, a cop is going through his own kind of deja vu. And Jack's wife, Julia, just wants her husband. to get better. It's only a matter of time before the fates of these 3 characters collide.

The theme of Bartholomew's Caught by Darkness anthology is exactly what it says on the tin: dark events and dark characters caught up in them. Smith's tale is precisely that. It depicts a seemingly normal man, who only wanted some aspirin for a headache, being warped from the kind of hero who would take a bullet for a stranger into something dark and unrecognisable. The characterisation is clever, with Julia in particular being a character whom the reader can come to genuinely care about. I found a particular fondness for Julia and I think she shone in the end scene, which I won't spoil (I'll just tell you that it was my favourite bit!). Similarly, the character of Robert Brennan is an interesting parallel to Jack's inner torment. Overall, an intriguing tale which Smith described to me as a mix between psychological horror and cosmic horror and I can't find any better way of describing it myself. The cosmic horror aspect of it does take a bit of thinking about and the philosophical elements aren't what I usually go for in a horror (I'm a trash and pulp gal), but this gives the story a literary angle which is often missing in more scare-hungry horror fiction. What I particularly liked about the story was the structure. It's set out in 3 clear sections, breaking up the longer-piece into 3 distinct chapters. Each section focuses on a different character: Jack; Brennan; Julia. This is what interested me the most. The shift in focus kept the story fresh and meant that it didn't drag at all, which is something it could have done with it being a 12 page story amongst a collection of much shorter fiction (most of the stories in the collection are between about 3 and 7 pages with a few longer ones interspersed).

THOUGHTS FROM THE RABBIT HOLE: A fast paced yet thought-provoking tale with a unique format. A stand out piece in a dark and frightful collection.

Visit the writer online at http://www.tommybsmith.com/

Upcoming reviews: Sean Monaghan in The Shadow People and Dorothy Davies in Oil. As soon as I get hold of those anthos I'll get these reviews up.

If you want your story to go through the above Bunny-critique drop me a line at emma_kathryn@etherealtales.co.uk with VAMPIREBUNNYREVIEW in the subject line.

Thank you to Tommy B. Smith for letting me read and review his fantastic story.

Lotsaluv, Em

Short Story Reviews

2011-04-17T21:55:00.002+01:00

Since I'm blogging to the max tonight, I thought I'd announce my new programme. I'm going to do a short story review a week on here. The first few I'll pick at random from various Static Movement anthologies (mostly the ones I've got a story in myself since those are the most I've got). However, I'm also going to be taking requests. So if you've got a story in a SM book and would like me to give you a solo review, drop me a line at:

emma_kathryn@etherealtales.co.uk

Stick VAMPIREBUNNY REVIEW in the subject line and in the email, be sure to tell me what book your story appeared in, what it's called and your pen name and I'll do my best to get it read and write a review as soon as I can. Feel free to also give me a link to your blog or website too!!!

Looking forward to this. I'll post this on the publisher's forums, too, so you better get in fast!

Remember to put VAMPIREBUNNY REVIEW in the subject line or I WILL delete your email!!! Can't wait folks! Hope to hear from you all soon.

Lotsaluv, Em

Bunnies in your Inbox!

2011-04-17T20:57:00.000+01:00

UPDATE!!!!!

You can now get updates sent straight to your email! Just jam your email in the box to the left and get an email update everytime I blog. This is run by blogger, not me so I promise you will never get nonsensical crap from me. Cross my heart and hope to die.

Have fun with that. Make sure and sign up today!!!!! Especially with my novella coming out soon. You'll get the info first!!!

Lotsaluv, Em

Author Central Sales Figures

2011-04-17T20:46:00.000+01:00

Just been on my authorcentral account on Amazon.com and seems the kindle editions are selling pretty well! Apparantly, Pandora's Nightmare: Horror Unleashed (An Anthology) went up 101,188 ranks today, meaning that it is now #86,835 in the Amazon kindle store, which is actually pretty damn good if you remember that there's like 800,000 kindle books listed on there. I'm really proud of this considering that this was the first anthology that I ever held in my hand which had one of my stories in it. Dark Things also does pretty well these days, with a copy sold last week XD So looks like my stories "Death and the Maiden" and "Watching Shadows" seem to be my most read stories at the moment. The kindle editions seem to be the way to go. It's a shame because I love a real book, but more kindle editions seem to sell than paperbacks.

Ah well, I ain't complainin'!

Just thought I'd share my excitement!

Lotsaluv, Em

StoryFest

2011-04-07T21:52:00.000+01:00

Ello bunnies. Even more updates. Another 2 stories were accepted by Dorothy Davies today. "The Captain and the Hourglass" into Tales of Salt and Sorrow and "Lighting the Way (Between the Shadows)" into Grim Fairy Tales. Awesome still - "Second Hand Faith" has been accepted into Wicked Witchery, a Static Movement anthology edited by Naomi Clark. Really pleased about this lot. "Second Hand Faith" is a Vahro tale, based around the characters in my Heart of the Dragon novel, which I will one day finish. Love the character of Aemaea and this story will see her publishing debut.

Apologies for the lack of covers on this post, but I'm working from K Bargie's PC so can't fill his hard drive with pretty pictures (oh that will change when we move in together!).

When I get home over the weekend, I'll upload to the max and send off my contracts to all these lovely editors.

Still ridiculously excited about the novella acceptance. Will do a post all about it one day next week.

Lotsaluv, Em

Exciting News

2011-04-06T22:46:00.000+01:00

Alright, I know I'm not as frequent a blogger as I used to be but today there's some rather juicy news.

First of all, my story "Syrup" has been accepted into Static Movement's Carnival anthology, which is being edited by Dorothy Davies. Wrote this story kind of on the hop at work over the weekend so it was great to find it a home so quickly! Going to be a very creepy book, methinks.

Cover above *points up*. As I said, going to be very creepy.

However, the BIG news is about my novella, "Glitter and Trauma", which I'm sure you all remember me toiling over last summer/autumn. Well, it will be making its debut in Static Movement's anthology The Shadow People! Eeeeeek!!! So pleased with this. It's one of those projects that I'm really proud of so I'm so chuffed to see it get into a book. Chris Bartholomew is editing this one and she's such a gem to look at the novella in the first place so I'm extremely grateful for this acceptance.

Awesome cover. Love it. The story, in case I haven't told you before, is about a woman who fights shadow creatures and is trying to find a partner to help her, but when she does find one, she isn't what she expected. Will update more on this as the book progresses, but I'm so excited. Eeeek!!!!!

Smiley faces all round for a change!

Lotsaluv, Em

The Many Moods of Ferocious Bloodaxe

2011-03-29T18:06:00.002+01:00

I told you it was only a matter of time...

2011-03-22T19:31:00.001Z

Fact, fear and fiction...Coming soon.

Gosssssssip...

2011-03-18T22:25:00.000Z

Ello bunnies...

Been craaaazy busy lately. Just finished another school placement and have yet to spend the day sleeping. Straight back to l'universita and am soooo tired.

Anyway, the news...

I've got a new project underway. Iain Pattison and Brianna Stoddard and I are working on a novella collection. Mine is untitled at the moment but is a sort of parallel universe tale where a girl seeks a fantasy world to escape from her real life troubles. Have gotten a good start underway and can't wait til the spring break when I can blitz it. This will be great fun to do and I can't wait to see what Brianna and Iain come up with. Going to be awesome. Watch this space bunnies.

In sadder news, the novella collection I did with Jason Barney and David Perlmutter was knocked back. This means my novella "Glitter and Trauma" is without a home. :( Fingers crossed I find somewhere for it eventually.

Have to run now because I'm working tomorrow *emo cry*

Oh yeah, should have a new FEROCIOUS BLOODAXE 2 teaser trailer up soon!!! Eeeek! The boys are back in town!

Farewell dear bunnies.

Lotsaluv, Em

Wendy and her Watcher

2011-02-22T19:14:00.000Z

Review for Dark Things at horrornews.net. One of those fun, full-detail numbers that writes a nice wee paragraph about each story. Thoroughly exciting seeing my name on a horror site review. Made me look something like this XD

Here's my little extract:

“Watching Shadows” by Emma Kathryn is a take off on the character of Wendy from Peter Pan. This story, however, is not the fun trip to Neverland that Wendy experiences in Peter Pan; no this story is about the dark shadow tapping at her window late at night. What does this shadow want? Is the shadow friend or foe? These are questions Wendy wonders as she contemplates letting the shadow into her room. This story was an interesting take off on the Peter Pan story and we realize that not all fairy tales have happy endings.

The full review of the rest of the book can be found at the link above. I better beat it now because I've got a ridiculous amount of work to do. Just thought I'd keep you all posted.

On that note, I've had another story accepted for Static Movement's Ruby Red Cravings. This is another new vampire tale, this one called "Last of the Wilds". So if you're a fan of my vampire stuff, this anthology is a must-read!!!

Bysie bye my fair bloody bunnies.

Lotsaluv, Em

New Vampire Tale

2011-02-20T00:42:00.000Z

I know I posted earlier, nut I might as well post while I can.

Totally forgot to say that my story "Northern Winds" will be appearing in Static Movement's Ruby Red Cravings (cover below). Very excited about this. It's another piece from my "Flashes Before her Eyes" vampire series. Should be a fantastic book. Can't wait to see it!!!

If I get the chance, I'll submit another story to this. Fingers crossed!!!!

Bad news: my novella "Glitter and Trauma" was knocked back. However, I'm not going to give up and am going to adapt this into an actual novel. It's a superhero/dark fantasy number so let's hope some publisher fancies it this time round.

Nighty night bunnies.

Lotsaluv, Em

"The Harvest" Update

2011-02-19T17:56:00.000Z

Ello bunnies,

Very quick update, while I enjoy a well-deserved cup of tea. Mmmmm...

Seasons in the Abyss, published by Blood Bound Books, is now on sale. This features my story "The Harvest", which is featured in the Fall section of the book. It's a story I'm pretty pleased with and am glad to see in print. The book is bargain at $13.99 for 77 (yup, 77!) spooky seasonal stories. I'm going to order my copy now, and so should you! Grab it here!

I'm going to go rest my brain now and finish my tea. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I certainly will as it's my first weekend off in months!!!!

Ooooh, almost forgot, my copies of Creepy Things: An Anthology of the Creepy-Crawly, Spooky & Silly and Dark Romance from the Far Side arrived last week. Freakin' awesome. Two of my favourite stories, for sure.

Anyway, going to watch Moulin Rouge on blu-ray AT LAST! Beauty, freedom, truth and love!

Lotsaluv, Em

Yaaaaay!!!!

2011-02-10T21:21:00.000Z

Behold, excitement and smilies. Great review for Dark Romance from the Far Side on Amazon. Check it here. Or below, where I'm pasting my favourite bit! XD

Blood, Bones, and Bowie by Emma Kathryn is a quirky vampire story that takes you on a musical trip around the world with Ziggy and his Lady. Like Megan's Tattoo, this one ends tragically, but Kathryn's lovely, simple prose makes this a poignant story, definitely one of my favourites.

Eeeep!!! Very please with this. Biscuits and fairy cakes for that lovely reviewer. It's a great book, folks, I recommend getting hold of it as soon as possible.

In other news, I've been managing to get tini tiny bits of writing done lately. I mean tini tiny, but it's a start. I don't have much time these days but I'm doing my best to get stuff sent out. The novella got a knockback, but I'm not going to give up on it. When I get some time off, I might turn it into a novel, or put it with some other novellas. We'll see.

Anywho, my short story collection, "Love Bites and Fatal Wounds" is currently sitting in a publisher's inbox, so fingers crossed on that one. I'll keep you all posted and I'm sorry I've been so out of touch. Won't be long before I'm back to normal, bunnies.

Until the next time...

Lotsaluv, Em

Back at Last

2011-01-28T16:39:00.000Z

Hello again, kindly fellows. Been a while hasn't it? I could piss and moan about how busy I've been, but that's not why I've got this blog so I'm going to get right onto the writing.

In super-amazing-exciting news, Daily Flashes of Erotica Quarterly (January - March 2011), has received a freakin' awesome review on Amazon:

I loved it. It was a wonderful mixture of stories. My favorites were "Dark Things" by Emma Kathryn, "Inspired by the storm" by Perverted Imp, "Goddess Dream" by Jessica Weiss, "The Stripper" by Rebecca Brown, and "Teenage Nymphos do Paris" by Breanna Lewis. I finished the book in two nights it was so good!

How coolio is that?!?!?!?! "Dark Things" is a story I'm really pleased about but this made me even happier about it. I'm going to order my copy this week and I implore you to do the same!!!! Aha!

Also, I've updated all my nice cover links on the left here. Basically, to save me putting it all on blog posts, but it's there anyway. Have fun clicking away. Notice that my "Upcoming" list has dwindled to next to nothing, but once my next placement is over, I'll do my best to get some stuff out. I'm going to try and send some stuff off today, hopefully, so we'll see how it goes.

Still waiting for news on the novella front. Can't wait to hear what the decision is. I'm also planning a collection of my published short stories, but there will be news on that later. And finally, I'm trying to write a young adult novel called "Wolfsbane". Unfortunately, I don't have much time to write these days, so I've been scrawling little bits on tinitiny notepads that I hide in my pockets.

Anyway, that's all folks, I'm going to go see what I can come up with. Miss you all. Totally missing being on the forums, too. Hope you're all doing okay dokay and have smiley faces.

Ta-ra bunnies.

Lotsaluv, Em

I Have Missed You So!!!!

2010-12-23T02:15:00.002Z

Hello my dear bunnies!!!!! I have missed you all so much. My life is so busy and pants that I have nothing exciting to report.

Actually, that's a lie. While my life has been awful and ridiculously busy, the people at Static Movement and Pill Hill have been working their wee socks off to bring you all wonderful anthologies. I don't have time at the moment to leave links and updates (in spite of the Boyfriend's nagging to "KEEP WRITING AND KEEP YOUR ONLINE FOLK UPDATED!"), but I promise I will next week. Pictures, links and permanent links on my blog's front page (for the editors' benefit, too - Chris, Jessy and Alva!) will appear over the next week. I'm celebrating Yuletide over this week (I'm a Pagan chickie) and I'm working Thurs and Fri, so next week, I will leave a FULL update, honest.

Anyways, to tide you over, here's a little poem available online to amuse you lovely people.

I'm so sorry I have been AWOL for so long. I have a new career type thing now and it keep me so busy I have no time to write. Any of you fellow scribes out there will understand the at the worse thing for a writer whom has no time to write is not that they have no ideas - in fact, they have more ideas than normal - but that they cannot put it down on paper. It is honestly like losing part of myself. 'Tis shit, to put it blankly.

But over, the winter holidays, I am doing my best to write a young adult horror novel, so watch this space.

Yuletide Greetings or Merry Christmas...whatever you celebrate, I hope you have a good time.

Lotsaluv, Em

PS...I'm sorry about not taking part, Ellie...you'll know what I mean...I've been working 7 days a week and I regret it so...Sorry again...I'll write you a story gift thingy when I get the chance!!!

No News is Good News

2010-10-08T00:16:00.001+01:00

I would like to tell you I have exciting things to tell, but I don't. University is insane, work is relentless, and my placement was unhealthily busy. I barely even get time with K Bargie (AKA, the boyfriend, to you new readers). I have written NOTHING new and I am thoroughly frustrated with this fact.

In other news, Mommy Dearest (my mum) informs me that 3 books arrived back at home for me this week. Novus Creatura, Dark Things: A Horror Anthology, and Fem-Fangs (A Vampire Anthology). I'm looking forward to seeing them and should hopefully have time to blog about them later. Can't wait to see Fem-Fangs. Really psyched about that. Hope those who have seen it already are enjoying it. If anyone wants to point me towards any particular stories in it, feel free to do so in the comments form below. Once I'm home, I'll update my sidebar with the cover links.

As for now, I'm off for my first night of freedom in 10 days. Yes, that's right, it's been 10 days since I've had a night off. Tomorrow I'm doing absolutely nothing. NOTHING!!!!!!!!

Ta-ra, my fair bunnies.

Lotsaluv, Em

PS...as it's national poetry day, I invited you all to Google my favourite poem, "The Day the Saucers Came" by Neil Gaiman. Enjoy, my dears. Love to you all.

And the Nominee is...

2010-09-18T21:06:00.000+01:00

Behold, fair readers, the Vampire Bunny has been nominated for a Creative Bloggers Award. Yarsh indeed.

Chris Allinotte, aka from this moment on as THE NOMINATOR, threw this my way and I very much appreciate the thought. There are two parts to this award: Part A) I must give 6 funky lies and 1 weird truth, or 6 weird truths and 1 funky lie and it's up to you lot what's what. Part B) is that I must nominate another 5 folk, who I'll list below:

1 - Kelley Nicol...Where the Dark Things Go
2 - Pixie J. King...The Works of Pixie J. King
3 - Ellie Garratt
4 - Matt Nord...My Undead Brain
5 - Alva J. Roberts...The Guy Who Wrote That Thing

Wow, I hope those links work! They are 5 pretty cool people, who I really think need high fives for their blogs and their work.

Now onto my bit!!! 6 lies and 1 truth or 6 truths and 1 lie???? Who knows?!?!?!?!?

1 - I have seen Repo! The Genetic Opera at least 100 times.
2 - I hand-made a Harley Quinn costume one Halloween and nobody knew who I was.
3 - I once played a crazed fan in a film about a band who had no music.
4 - I have a hamster called Coraline.
5 - I have a scar on my eyeball and sometimes, when I'm really tired, I can see it everywhere I look.
6 - I'm an avid baker and make cupcakes, cookies, biscuits and peppermint cremes all the time.
7 - I'm allergic to lavender.

Hmmmmm...what do you peeps think??? Go check out the above blogs, including that belonging to Chris, THE NOMINATOR!!!!

Lotsaluv, Em

Thank God, Thor, Buddha and Elvis

2010-09-17T23:31:00.000+01:00

I have finished my novella. At last...

Tell you something, the title "Glitter and Trauma" has never seemed more apt.

Lotsaluv, Em

Where oh Where Have I Been?

2010-09-17T15:58:00.001+01:00

...I just do not know.

Well to tell the truth, I've been working my big curvy butt off. I've been really busy at university and next week I go on placement so it may be radio silence on my end for a little while longer. Oh dear Oh dear Oh dear.

But let's get down to the important stuff. At the moment, I'm waiting for 7 anthologies to arrive on my doorstep. Yes, 7. I can see you mouthing it in disbelief!!!! Yarsh, indeed. So let's get cracking, shall we? Were-What is now available on Amazon and Waterstones. My copy is coming from Waterstones so that I could get my points on my card and they were doing 10% student discount, so yeah, Waterstones won. With Madness of the Mind I did the same thing. Also with The Cedar Chest, and Ghosts and DemonsI'm waiting for Waterstones to fire them my way. Wow, 4 down. That's all the Static Movement books sorted. As usual, Chris Bartholomew has done a top-notch job and I'm thoroughly excited about seeing them. Particularly Were-What, which features my story "Riding." I think I've caught you up with what stories are in what books, except for The Cedar Chest, which was a tad last minute. Last second acceptance was my story "Loss", which is a rather creepy one and I'm looking forward to seeing it in print.

The fifth is Novus Creatura, an Aurora Wolf salvage job that was abandoned by Lame Goat Press (yet another one, but that's them all in print now), but picked up by the very hard working Michael C Pennington. My copy is a free contributor's copy, so all you lot will have to buy it yourselves, mwahahaha! Can't wait to see this one because I really like my story "Ruined" which has been waiting quite a while to reach print now, but it's found its way at last.

Numbers 6 and 7 are both Pill Hill books. They haven't hit amazon yet, but I think you can order them through Jessy Marie Roberts at Pill Hill. I've got Fem-Fangs on the way (soon to be the sexiest covered book on my bookcase!!!!) and Dark Things, which has my story "Watching Shadows" in it. That story was my first paid piece with Pill Hill so I'm extremely excited!!! Nearly hit the ceiling when I saw that $3.24 in my paypal account! Alright, you may laugh that my fee was 1/4 cent per word, but I don't care!!! I'm fair chuffed.! That's a good day's work for me!!!!

Hahaha!

Sent off 4 stories today. Yes, 4. First chance I've had in over a week so I'm been sending off a bunch. In other news, my novella is practically done so the troop and I should be sending it off soon. Fingers crossed and lets hope my $3.24 was a sign of good things to come.

Well bunnies, I'm going to trot off and tidy up the last of my novella, which I've called "Glitter and Trauma". Not long now...

Lotsaluv, Em

How Batman is helping youngsters with their schoolwork in Dundee - The Daily Record

2010-09-10T16:04:00.000+01:00

How Batman is helping youngsters with their schoolwork in Dundee - The Daily Record

Click the link above. What a very cool dude. I'd love to be a teacher like that...

Lotsaluv, Em

Some Delayed Details...

2010-08-27T18:36:00.000+01:00

Okay dokay, I know it's been yonks since some of these stories were accepted, but I'm just updating the blog and keeping you peeps in the know!

My story "Presence" was accepted into Static Movement's Ghosts and Demons, which I think should be appearing soon. Fingers crossed.

"When the World Ends" is an extremely short, cootchy little piece which will be appearing in Static Movement's Cosmic Catastrophes.

Another acceptance came in the shape of Pill Hill Press' Dark Things, which will be featuring my story "Watching Shadows", another part of my Flashes Before Her Eyes series. This is my vampire series, for those of you who haven't come across these stories before.

In other news, Lame Goat have gone and done it again. Some published anthologies and a chapbook are going to be discontinued for God knows what reasons. Howl: Tales of the Feral and Infernal - the home of my story "The Hunt" - is one of those to be terminated. Boooooooo! But, hazzah, Mark Crittenden has saved the day and is going to revamp Howl, keeping a select few from the original and opening up to some new stories, too. And..."The Hunt" is going to be reprinted in this sexy, snazzy reincarnation! Yaaaaaaaay! I'm removing all Lame Goat Press book links from my page. It's a disappointment seeing the original Howl go, but I'm honestly not that surprised after all the Lame Goat nonsense. It's a shame really. But I'm sure Mark's new press Red Skies Press will come along as well as Chris Bartholomew's Static Movement anthologies. Chris did a great job salvaging what Lame Goat had abandoned and I'm sure Mark will be equally as successful.

High fives to these great folks who keep the small press alive.

Lotsaluv, Em

GUEST BLOG: Gwen Mayo

2010-08-24T20:46:00.001+01:00

[Greetings Bunnies, this blog is by guest writer Gwen Mayo. Feel free to leave any comments addressed to Gwen on this page. The link on the left will lead you to her new novel, Circle of Dishonor. Enjoy!]

Bio: Gwen Mayo is passionate about blending the colorful history of her native Kentucky with her love for mystery fiction. A graduate in political science from the University of Kentucky, Gwen currently lives and writes in Lexington, but grew up in a large Irish family in Grayson, Kentucky. Her stories have appeared in anthologies, on online short fiction sites, and in micro-fiction collections. Circle of Dishonor, her debut novel, is set during the turbulent political upheaval of post Civil War Kentucky at a time when murder was more common in Kentucky than it was anywhere else in the United States.

Murder and Mayhem in Kentucky


When I started planning CIRCLE OF DISHONOR, I knew I wanted to create a main character that was a cross between the Pinkerton female investigators and the Civil War era women who were pretending to be men. The resourcefulness and creativity of these women always intrigued me, as did the time in which they lived.

Kentucky was a great place to set these stores. The Pinkertons were very active in Kentucky. The history of my home state is filled with enough murder and mayhem to fill a library with stories. All I had to do was settle on the date and city.

The years between 1865 and 1915 are often called the "decades of discord" because it is the time when Kentucky was the most violent place in the United States. Ordinary citizens carried numerous weapons for self defense. Dueling was common, and murder was an acceptable way to end an argument. One wealthy business man from Louisville traveled regularly to New York for suits tailored with nine custom pockets so he could secret away his knives and guns without ruining the line of his outfit.

It didn’t take me long to choose Lexington during the city’s two week centennial celebration as a place to kick off the series. Lexington was not the Wild West in the spring of 1879, but the western frontier would have been safer than Lexington during the centennial. Tent cities covered the fairgrounds and the twelve men of the newly formed police force were ill equipped to keep the peace, let alone solve the murder of one of its leading citizens. CIRCLE OF DISHONOR draws readers into a world where secret societies like the Knights of the Golden Circle, the Ku Klux Klan, and the Regulators wreaked havoc. Brothels, gambling establishments, illegal saloons and distilleries operated openly, and government graft was considered the norm.

Not That I'm Dying or Anything...

2010-08-21T21:12:00.001+01:00

But this is what I want written on my grave!!!!

Hahahahahahaha! Taken from the awesome Dinosaur Comics! My favourite internet fun!

Little bit of news: my next post will not be written by me, but by the lovely Gwen Mayo. Ms Mayo has just had her novel Circle of Dishonor published by Pill Hill Press. She's doing a fabulous blog tour and shall be making a pitstop here, at the home of the Vampire Bunny. There's always room for visitors at this tea party.

Lotsaluv, Em

Apologies Bunnies...

2010-08-17T09:49:00.000+01:00

Wow, I haven't blogged in over 2 weeks. How lazy is that? Well I have been anything but lazy lately, so let me fill you in on a tale of heartache and triumph and we'll all be up to date again...

Have no new acceptances to report - not due to rejections but due to the fact that I haven't had time to send anything new out to any open calls. This is because I've been working my curvy butt off on a novella! It's called "Glitter and Trauma" and is part of a collection of four novellas that Jason Barney is putting together. Four writers, four very different superhero stories. Hoping to find a publisher for it in about September, so I shall keep you all posted on that one. It's all I've been working on lately and right now, it's pretty much all I can think about too. Made up a playlist for it on my iPod (the same way I do when I'm working on a novel, or novel idea) and have been blasting it in my ears when I'm out and about and can't write. I won't go into plot details yet, but maybe I'll reveal more next week.

In other news, I'm going to be a teacher. Got accepted onto a teacher training course last week and I start soon. God help the little children. Can you imagine me as a teacher? If I could put Batman on the curriculum I bloody well would.

I know it came out ages ago, but behold, the Dusted link. I got my copy at the end of July and it's such a fantastic book. I see Static Movement are already planning a sequel for it, so as soon as I've got this novella done, I'll get something sent off for this.

I finished Gerald Costlow's The Weaving ages ago and keep meaning to put a review up here. Again, I will add it to the post-novella list.

Better get back to my superladies...

Lotsaluv, Em

Important News Bulletin

2010-07-31T01:31:00.000+01:00

I cannot sleep and I have a blister on the tip of my tongue.

Shop shop shop, shop shop shop!

2010-07-24T18:04:00.002+01:00

It's shopping time!!! Links galore!

Here be the link and cover for Static Movement's Caught by Darkness. This features my story "Mistakes". This is gonnae be a great wee book. I'm looking forward to seeing it. Ordered mine already by clicking here. It says it's still unavailable through amazon but just do what I did and order through The Book Depository, who have listed the book through the market place. That's probably the best thing to do because I got my email from them yesterday saying it had been ordered from the printers and should be with me in a few days. Far too excited.

Dusted: An Anthology of Short Stories is also now available. That link there is the US amazon one. Again, if you're a Scot (or English, Welsh or Irish) click here. I had to do the same as before with the Book Depository 'cause Amazon still don't have it in stock, but I've been told it's been ordered from the printers, too. Can't wait for this one. This features my story "Clowns All Around You", which is probably one of my fave acceptances so far. It'll look great.

Anyway, not long now 'til they arrive. Will let you know how it goes.

Oh yeah, I've added some exciting new buttons, which I think should be below this post *points down*. So click away bunnies, and let me know what you think!!!

Lotsaluv, Em

Flash! Aaaaah! Savior of the Universe!

2010-07-23T01:24:00.001+01:00

My copy of Flash! arrived yesterday. Looks bloody sexy! Eeeeeep! Thoroughly looking forward to reading through the whole thing. I harassed K Bargie by making him read my story in it before he was even out of bed. Even subjected my old friend Ms Kitty to checking it out. Twas very nice to brag though. Teehee. Dusted and Caught by Darkness should be appearing on amazon soon so I'll put up a proper link once it's working.

That'll do for now bunnies! I'll put up pictures and things tomorrow. I promise.

Lotsaluv, Em

A Better Blog...

2010-07-19T23:52:00.000+01:00

Aha! Now I have the time to actually write. K Bargie is staying with me right now and I seem to be filled with inspiration and the motivation to write. So today I reworked a very very old story and produced a short, 800 word piece called "Everything Burns". It's a much better version of the daft angsty thing I wrote when I was 16. Generally, I like it. Sent it off to Static Movement's Darkest Secrets anthology and it was accepted. Cover below:

Bloody well lovin' this cover. I worked my ass of just to get a piece good enough for this cover. Freakin' awesome. Can't wait to have it adorning my bookshelf.

On that note, I ordered my copy of Flash! today. It was in stock on amazon.co.uk so it should be here soon. I'll stick up a picture of it once it arrives. Shouldn't take long.

"Starry Eyed" is now up and running and functional on the wonderful Moon Washed Kisses. Very cool site and some great work up there. Check it out and give the other pieces a read, too. I really like this site, going to try writing something new for their next issue.

Anyway, I think that'll do just now. Can't wait till the Daily Flash books from Pill Hill come out. Especially after seeing the covers. Totally love them.

Lotsaluv, Em

Cover Bonanza!!!!

2010-07-17T23:59:00.000+01:00

Phew, lot to reveal tonight! Here's Cover Fest...

Creepy Things from Static Movement - featuring my story "Moth Touch"

Madness of the Mind from Static Movement - featuring "Trinity Raine"

Daily Bites of Flesh from Pill Hill Press - featuring "The First" and "Chasing Rabbits"

Daliy Erotica from Pill Hill Press - featuring "Dark Wings"

Lotsaluv, Em

Bleurgh and All That Jazz

2010-07-15T14:33:00.000+01:00

Greetings bunnies, this shall be a quick post as I am working from K Bargie's computer. I'll post something better this week. But for now...

Moon Washed Kisses goes live today. I've been on the site this morning and the link for my piece is there but not the story itself, so just keep checking throughout today for it. In case you missed the previous post on this, my story "Starry Eyed" has found a home at Moon Washed Kisses in their Romantic Flash Fiction section.

More work coming up with Static Movement. "Trinity Raine" will appear in Madness of the Mind, which I'm happy about and "Moth Touch" will be in Creepy Things, which I'm over the moon about. "Moth Touch" was written in like an hour in a university canteen, last week and it was one of those happy little accidents - when something great comes out of a writing session which was just supposed to be filling time. I'll update when I can on these books. Unfortunately, as I'm on K's PC, I can't put the covers up, but I'll do that over the weekend when I'm free.

That's all folks!

Lotsaluv, Em

Updates Indeed

2010-07-09T00:45:00.000+01:00

At last, amazon have caught up with the cover image and I can put a proper link for Pill Hill's Haunted up. Check the sidebar *points*. I've stuck it in this post, too, just because I can! Mwahahahaha! Ain't it pretty. But a copy, now! Or, if you're in the UK (like me), click here to purchase a very sexy copy (like mine). Some very good stories in this. I haven't made my way through the whole lot yet, but current favourites include "Closing Costs" by Tony Schaab, "Home Schooling" by Gerald Costlow and "Dead-end Diner" by Rob Rosen. When I've been through the whole thing, I'll put up a proper review, but generally I'm impressed. If you haven't read my posts on this book before now, my haunted vampire story "What Keeps me Here" (part of my Flashes Before her Eyes series) can be found in its pages.

In other news, the anthology Flash!, is now available on amazon globally. US readers, click the previous link and UK readers, click here. This was a Lame Goat failure which was salvaged by Static Movement, so I implore you, kind readers, buy a copy so we can all give Static Movement a high five on saving the book. It features my story "Pride and Joy", which is a cute wee daft piece, but should bring a smile anyway.

In spite of my struggling, my super-sexy amazon.co.uk author page is now up and running! It features a daft bio and my Ferocious Bloodaxe mugshot, but it's a good way of listing what anthologies including my work are available. I like it! Also now working is my amazon.com supremely awesome author page. Indeed!

And bloody hell, I've just realised that you can buy all my anthologies from Waterstones!!! Links included below:

Pandora's Nighmare: Horror Unleashed
Haunted: An Anthology of the Supernatural
Flash!

Wow, I'm thoroughly chuffed by that! Happy shopping bunnies!

Lotsaluv, Em

High Fives for my Postie

2010-07-02T19:18:00.000+01:00

Today my postman made me a very happy lass when my copy of Pill Hill Press' Haunted plopped onto my doorstep. I scurried across the room, with the dog barking behind me (he hates it when the door goes), pulling the porch door open, then squealing with joy as I ripped the book free of his cardboard. It's gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. Some really great stories in this one. I'll post a proper review once I've read more, but it's a cracker so far. So, yes, I'm a smiley girl today. If you would like a copy of Haunted: An Anthology of the Supernatural and you're in the states, click away. However, if you're in the UK (like me), just click here instead.

On top of that, my story "Riding" shall be appearing in Static Movement's Were-What? anthology. Here's the cover:

Pretty freaky lookin' but still amazing. Ironically enough, I watched The Wolfman on blu-ray today, as I edited my entry for the anthology. I love Hugo Weaving. He's the coolest guy ever. Love him the most in Prescilla, I just want to hug him.

Anyway, in other news, I ordered a copy of The Weaving by Gerald Costlow and it arrived yesterday. Started reading it at work last night and I'm impressed so far. Will put up a full review when I'm done.

And while I'm linking galore, I better plug my other books. If you haven't read Pandora's Nightmare yet, then why not?!?!?!?!?! This lovely little picture will direct you to purchasing in the US. Or, if you're a UK buyer, click here. It's a great book. Lots of fun and genuinely scary in places. Get it and take it on holiday with you. Then, once you're back leave an honest review on Amazon (or your blog, whatever).

Well, that'll do for today, I think! Ta-ra!

Lotsaluv, Em

The Angel in a Box

2010-07-01T22:46:00.002+01:00

Making my second apperance in Ethereal Tales. My story "The Angel in a Box" will be in issue 8, which I'm quite chuffed about. It's a story I wrote years and years ago but I think there's this nice kind of high school innocence in it somewhere, which is only found in my early work. Anyway, Ethereal Tales is a great wee mag and is totally worth a read. The editor also manged to set me up a funky Ethereal Tales email address, where people who kinda like my stuff can contact me. If you've got anything to say, drop me a line at emma_kathryn@etherealtales.co.uk and shove VAMPIRE BUNNY in the subject line so I know it's not spam or the like. I'd be more than happy to talk about my work. If you'd like to read my previous work published with E.T., just click here.

As promised, here's a couple of my Alton Towers pics:

We all look pretty boggin' cause we'd just come off the log flume, hence L Bargie's looking like a drenched rat. Lol, these are so funny. Thanks to L for sending them to me.

Lotsaluv, Em

Done and Dusted

2010-06-28T23:08:00.000+01:00

Okay, lots of gossip today...

First of all, here's the cover for Static Movement's Dusted:

I love it. Think it's fantastic. "Clowns" finally found a home in this book, so I'm rather excited about seeing the finished product. Should be awesome.

In "Yaaaaay" news...my flash piece "Harvest" was accepted today for Blood Bound Book's Seasons in the Abyss anthology. I am a very happy bunny about this. Been trying to get a story published with BBB for AGES!!!! Really glad to be a part of this. Interesting book too. It's a collection of seasonal stories, like a bunch for Spring, a bunch for Summer, etc, etc. My story is part of the Autumn (Fall, for you American folks) section. Attempting to write one for winter, but we'll see how that goes.

Attempted to make an Amazon author's page today. Failed miserably. Ah well, maybe later.

Mantra for today: Hey, Stephen King started out as a high school English teacher. There's hope for me yet, bunnies.

Lotsaluv, Em

Caught by Freakin-Awesomeness!

2010-06-27T21:47:00.000+01:00

Here's the cover for Static Movement's Caught by Darkness:

I really like it. Very very funky bananas. Glad to have "Mistakes" a part of this project. Think it will look very sexy on my shelf next to my other anthologies!

Lotsaluv, Em

Can You See Me Now???

2010-06-26T23:22:00.000+01:00

Another quick update. My story "Clowns All Around You" has been accepted for Static Movement's Dusted anthology. So happy for this story to find a home. It's one of my personal favourites. Based on the t.A.T.u. song "Clowns (Can You See Me Now?)", I am a very VERY happy chappy.

Right now it looks like the book should appear around September. Static Movement have been very efficient with the turn around of the Lame Goat Press salvage operation so I have all faith in this project.

So...Woohoo!!! And now I shall return to the X-Files.

Lotsaluv, Em

Hard Working Folks

2010-06-26T21:06:00.000+01:00

Chris Bartholomew of Static Movement has been working her butt off lately. She's taken on almost all of Lame Goat's abandoned projects (Aurora Wolf are handling Novus Creatura) and Inner Fears has hit Amazon already. Once it reaches Amazon.co.uk, I'll be purchasing a copy, as it's looking to be a good book. I'm not involved in this one but it's worth a read for sure. Similarly awaiting By Mind or Metal to go online. Beautiful cover on that one.

More Static Movement news, directly concerning me this time. Chris' new anthology Caught by Darkness is to include my story "Mistakes", which is a new version of the Reaper series I used to write way back in the day. Damien/Reaper has had a serious make-over and the series should be a lot better now. This is the first Reaper piece to reach the fresh, crisp pages of the world of print. So I'm rather excited. Any of my Elfwooders should be pleased with this development. Will keep updating here when I know more.

More hardworking peeps at Pill Hill Press as Haunted: An Anthology of the Supernatural is now available on Amazon and can be purchased via that link. Click it, you know you want to. As soon as the cover goes online, I'll put a proper link on the sidebar. Can't wait to get hold of my copy. Ridiculously excited about that one. It's not on amazon.co.uk yet. Well it is, but it's not available for purchase yet. Again, will stick a link up when it is.

Sent my bio off to Paroxysm Press for their 100 Lightnings anthology. Hopefully this might mean there's some kind of movement developing there and the book won't be far off. Again, will do the usual and post here when I know more.

I hate to be a bit of a grumpus, but it would be awesome if readers started leaving comments, reviews and ratings on amazon with regard to small press books they purchase, such as those published by Pill Hill Press. Jessy, Alva and all the contributors do a huge amount of work to ensure those books reach your hungry readery hands, so please let the world know what you think.

Thank you, my legion of vampire bunnies.

Lotsaluv, Em

Fem-Fangs

2010-06-22T12:17:00.000+01:00

Ladies and gentlebunnies, what you are looking at here is the cover for Pill Hill Press' Fem-Fangs. Isn't it freakin' awesome. Oh what a happy bunny am I!!!! My story "Players" is appearing in this one and I cannot wait to get hold of it! This is so cool! My fave Pill Hill cover to date! I often take these anthologies to work to read, and I can't wait to show this one off. I'll keep you all posted on when it's going to print, because I think this is one that loads of folks will want to have a hold of!

In other news, I'm in the process of ordering my copy of Haunted, which I'm looking forward to seeing. I'm also going to order a few Pill Hill novels and leave a couple of reviews here, so if there's anyone who specifically wants me to review their book, just drop me an email or a comment.

Lotsaluv, Em

Busy Busy

2010-06-21T23:28:00.000+01:00

I have had the shittiest day. I won't go into it, but it involves rejection, stomach and chest pains and a virus on my PC. Oh dear oh dear. Fingers crossed that tomorrow will be better.

I am taking a break out of my X-Files and cross-stitching marathon to bring you a few updates. Been talking to Chris Bartholomew and Flash! is definitely going through. Here's the cover.

I like it. She's done a damn fine job of all this and it's looking like it should be going to the printers in the next few weeks. As for Novus Creatura, Michael C. Pennington of Aurora Wolf is taking over. I have agreed to switch from LGP to Aurora Wolf so will be part of this book for sure. Again, will post an update as soon as I know more.

Can't believe how much I've been doing lately. I'm exhausted and sore. Feels like I've barely been on holiday. Think I'll get back to writing tomorrow. I need a lift and a new story should give me that lift.

Should be posting soon. Oh and I see that I'm up to 6 followers now and would just like to give them all a little wave. *waves frantically* Thank you dearly for stopping by, bunnies.

Lotsaluv, Em

Barcelona...

2010-06-20T17:36:00.001+01:00

Hola bunnies, I have returned from beautiful Barcelona with a smile on my face. Had a fantastic time, pictures to follow...

Now to business...My inbox was heaving when I got back. Just spent the last hour replying to emails and raiding message boards. Bloody Hell, I've been in demand lately.

Looks like Lame Goat Press are up and running again so I'll keep you updated on how that turns out. Awaiting info on Flash and N.C. Hmmm...
*NEWS...UPDATE...NEWS...UPDATE* Since publishing this post, I have just discovered on Static Movement that LGP is no longer in business and that Chris Bartholomew (top bunny) is going to take over Flash. I'm trying to find out more about Novus Creatura. It seems like Aurora Wolf are taking over. Going to email around. Will update ASAP.

My story "Starry Eyed" (based on the Ellie Goulding song of the same name) has been accepted for the first issue of Moon Washed Kisses (freakin' love that title!!!). It's a really short, really cute wee daft piece, which I'm delighted to see find a home. Wrote half of it on the train to K Bargie's and the other half in his room, making him wait for me to finish before he put on whatever film we were going to watch. I love stories like that; the ones that just demand your attention until they're done. Anyway, the first issue is due in July, so I'll link to it when it turns up.

The first issue of Dark Eye Glances is online! Yaaay! My poem Gypsy marks my debut into the world of poetry (not counting my Elfwood pieces, of course - even though I love my Alice poem). I thought I was being all mental and funny by sending a rather demented-looking picture of myself, until I saw that everybody else sent sensible ones. Oh dear. Now I look even crazier. Anyway, it's up there, so just give the link a bash and enjoy.

No other gossip. I'm in the process of tidying the ol' blog up so that my online stuff is accessable on the main page, rather than readers having to trawl old posts to find my stuff on Static Movement or Dark Eye Glances. Let me know if you think it looks stupid.

Reading the new Charlaine Harris book. It's not quite what I was expecting, but there's lots of naked Eric so I'm not really complaining.

Lotsaluv, Em

Daily Flash cover

2010-06-10T23:54:00.000+01:00

Okay, I know I've already posted this morning, but I just saw the cover for Daily Flash and thought I'd post it here.

I think it's freakin' awesome. I'm pretty sure that come this Christmas time I'm going to be pretty skint, so I think everybody will be getting a copy of this. Plenty of stories to amuse yourselves with in here. Plus, my pieces "Time" and "Another Girl's Paradise" will also be lurking in its pages. Not a clue what dates I'll be on but I'm excited now that I've seen the cover.

Don't know if I've mentioned this, but I've started putting together a manuscript of my short stories. It currently contains 19 (!) pieces of my writing, at a humble 20, 000 words. Maybe in a year's time I'll publish it, but for now, it's nice to see all of my "successful" stories in the one place. Gives me a nice wee glowy feeling.

*buzz buzz glow glow*

Lotsaluv, Em

Dark Eye Glances

2010-06-10T14:12:00.000+01:00

My poem "Gypsy" has been accepted for the first issue of Dark Eye Glances, which is available later in June. Twas an exciting little turn of events to find the acceptance email in my inbox this morning, because I've never thought very highly of my poetry. Might have to start dredging up my other poems and see what I can do with them, then. Will let you all know when it's up for reading.

Have just returned from my boys' roadtrip in Alton Towers. Twas a good daft adventure and was thoroughly terrified all day. Great fun, though. Was myself, my boyfriend (K Bargie), his brother and a mate. Absolutely knackered but we all had a ball. Squealed like a girl the whole way round Oblivion, Air, Nemesis and Rita. But 13, the newest ride there, was fantastic. Sheer magic. Nearly pissed my pants on the drop. Totally worth it though.

Lotsaluv, Em

Trials, Tears and Triumphs

2010-06-05T22:56:00.000+01:00

Been having a really tough time lately. I won't go into it too much, seeing as this is the internet, therefore could be read by anyone, but my confidence has taken a hammering. A few people have left my self-esteem a bloody pulp on their shoes after this week. If ever I needed a pick-me-up, it's now. Unfortunately, things keep slipping down hill and I'm beginning to get a bit grumpy and depressed...

In cheerier news, my short story version of Swampblood has been shortlisted for Pill Hill's Back to the Middle of Nowhere, which I'm really pleased about. Swampblood means so much to me so it's great to see it getting acknowledged, even if it is just on the shortlist right now.

Updates and gossip...I've seen the editing proof of Haunted and it's looking fantastic. Pill Hill Press have produced yet another cracking anthology. It shouldn't be too long until it's available. July, I think. Anyway, will keep you posted and will provide a nice, convenient little Amazon link when it's up there.
Now, what's the dealio with Lame Goat Press these days? I just don't know. I've got two anthologies lined up with them ("Pride and Joy" in Flash and "Ruined" in Novus Creatura, edited by the wonderful JAM), and I'm afraid I have no news to give you on either book. As soon as I know what's happening, you will too, my fair bunnies.

Now I'm off to turn my frown upside down...

Lotsaluv, Em

Swampblood

2010-05-28T22:10:00.001+01:00

Finshed my submission for Pill Hill's Back to the Middle of Nowhere and sent it off. Fingers crossed. Good/bad news is that I'm now developing it for a novel. The story was bang on 5000 words but I really felt that the characters had more to say, so now I've started Swampblood, the book. Going to really work my ass off on this one. Really think I could do something good with this.

Oh and almost forgot, I wanted to stick the cover up for Haunted, which my story "What Keeps Me Here" will be featured in.

Pretty funky, I think. Can't wait to see the finished product.

Lotsaluv, Em

Out Damn Spot...

2010-05-27T18:58:00.000+01:00

My story "Players" has been accepted into Pill Hill's Fem-Fangs anthology. This is an awesome book to be part of and I'm very excited. "Players" is another episode from my Flashes Before her Eyes series, and it's one I'm really happy to see accepted. It's my little ode to Shakespeare, who's one of my heroes. Absolutely loved writing it. I'll keep you posted on the developments with this one.

No other big news. The deadline for Haunted is Monday, so hopefully that should be out and about by July maybe. Hopefully.

Currently working on a story for Pill Hill's Back to the Middle of Nowhere. Fingers crossed for me, please!!

Lotsaluv, Em

Birds Singing in the Sycamore Trees...

2010-05-23T21:52:00.000+01:00

My story "Dream a Little Dream" has been accepted for Paroxysm Press' 100 Lightnings. It's one of my favourite flash pieces I've written so I'm looking forward to seeing the finished book. Will keep you updated on any developments regarding this.

In other news...I got an iTouch and am now addicted to Doodlejump. I think I have a problem. Also don't know how to work the wee Nike trainer thingy either, so ended up just listening to music on my run tonight, which was a pain in the bum, because it seemed like a cool wee doohickey and it didn't work. *cry*

Anyway, so long and thinks for all the fish...Farewell bunnies,

Lotsaluv, Em

Wanna Do Bad Things With You

2010-05-20T22:57:00.000+01:00

Exam over, university over, my degree over. Thank the gods. Time for me now. Will start writing tomorrow. Have Saturday off work, too, so I'm planning on hitting the notepads like crazy. Woop-de-doop!

Just watched all the True Blood Minisodes. I hate that series 3 starts in the US on June 13th and we Brits have to wait who knows how long for more vampy-goodness. Was also pretty pissed that I queued outside Waterstones before work on Monday, thinking that Dead in the Family was due to come out, but low and behold it's been put back to June 10th. Waaaaah! Anyway, the webisodes were awesome. Can't wait for the next one. Loved Sam smashing up the bull head. I wanted to hug him.

In other news, my Threadless tees arrived (with a bloody £11.40 customs charge - damn Royal Mail). Pictures shall ensue.

Lotsaluv, Em

Absence Makes the Heart Grow...Bored

2010-05-18T12:03:00.000+01:00

Apologies for my recent disappearance. Things have been a bit mental. Got both my final projects out of the way and my last exam is tomorrow. Absolutely shitting myself. I've been working for the last 5 days (11 hours on Thursday *groan*) and studying on my breaks. It's been murder. Fingers crossed I'll do well. I need to, it's the only class I'm currently sitting on a 1st in. Ah.

After that, I've got to apply for my postgrads, so it could be a while before I'm back to writing again. I hope not, I've spotted about 3 books I want to write for and it's killing me that I can't.

So I'm so sorry that there's been no activity lately. But as soon as all my "real life" shit is out of the way, I'm going to get a load of stories out and about. Most importantly, I'm going to finish off a novel I started years ago and then get cracking on another. I plan to have Branded a Fool finished over the next couple of months. Until then, I shall point you in the direction of my Elfwood, where you can read the first 4 chapters for FREE. That's right, fantasy frolics for not one shiny penny.

Chapter One
Chapter Two - This one was elected as an Elfwood "Mod's Choice", meaning that it was pick of the day on, what I think was, the 9th July 2008. :-S
Chapter Three
Chapter Four

At Last...

2010-05-11T16:43:00.000+01:00

To watch the video, you'll first need to install the flash player.

'

Enjoy bunnies...

Lotsaluv, Em

Sleepwalker

2010-05-02T20:30:00.000+01:00

My story Sleepwalker has been accepted for this month's Static Movement. Click away to read for free!!!

Lotsaluv, Em

What Keeps Me Here

2010-05-02T19:10:00.000+01:00

Hellooooooo! Well, the super speedy submission to Pill Hill's Haunted anthology paid off. Accepted!!! Really chuffed with this one. Am pretty pleased with the story and it should turn out to be a fantastic book. "What Keeps Me Here" is yet another vampire episode but it relies heavily on the other installments in the tale of my crazy vamp. The stories "The First", "Pale", "Cruelty" and a few which are currently shortlisted for other anthologies are all important to this piece. However, I think it works quite well on its own, too. Based on the Evanescence song "Haunted", it was originally named after the song, but when I discovered the antho was to be called "Haunted" too, I changed it to the line "What Keeps Me Here", taken from a later lyric in the song which is "Still Can't Find What Keeps Me Here".

In other exciting news, my copy of Ethereal Tales arrived yesterday.

Eeeeek, how awesome is it?!?!?!? Totally lovin' it. It features my story "A Pirate's Life for Me" and Teresa, the editor, did a great job with it. She's fantastic. Everyone must run along to the website and buy a copy!!! It's only £2.50 - a bargain for a fine selection of fiction. Shall definitely be submitting to this venue again.

Well, I better get back to my final essay for university. Only this and one exam and I can graduate. Thank the gods!!!!

Bye bye bunnies!

Lotsaluv, Em

Haunted

2010-05-01T00:14:00.000+01:00

This has got to be my saddest display of geekiness ever. Within two andd a half hours of Pill Hill Press announcing their Haunted anthology, I had sent them a story.

I am a pitiful individual. Go ahead, pity me, I don't mind.

And, yes, it's a new episode of Flashes Before her Eyes. One I'm very proud of. So cross your fingers, cross your toes...

Lotsaluv, Em

Ethereal Tales Issue 7

2010-04-30T17:21:00.000+01:00

Greetings creatures...

Ethereal Tales issue 7 is released TODAY! Yay! My copy hasn't arrived yet, but I am waiting with anticipation practically bubbling out my nose. It can be purchased right here. So click away and order to your heart's content. This issue features my story "A Pirate's Life for Me", which, I'm pretty sure I've already mentioned, is part of my Flashes Before her Eyes collection (vampire stuff). If you can't possibly wait as long as it takes for Ethereal Tales to plop onto your doorstep, here's a delightful little romp to tide you over:

Flashes Before her Eyes: Pale

This is one of my favourite Flashes episodes and it's completely free for you to read. This should put you in the mood and make you rush off to read the next installment!!!

Enjoy, my pretties...

Lotsaluv, Em

Sexy, Exciting Things

2010-04-27T16:47:00.000+01:00

I spent too much money on Threadless last night. Oh dear. I don't care though, I got excited as they started accepting paypal. But I bought this awesome Spoilt tshirt, which has been sitting in my basket since I saw a girl in Lush wearing it once. Also bought Good Guys Don't Glow at Midnight which I am ridiculously excited about. A bit addicted to submitting slogans now, too. If you click that link you can go vote for my sad attempt at tshirt slogans.

In REAL news, looks like Novus Creatura is moving along nicely now, as JAM sent me an edited version of my story "Ruined" to see if it was okay. It was, of course. So fingers crossed and that should be popping up soon. Started working on a new story for Pill Hill's Silver Moon Bloody Bullets antho, but I think it may be too kinky. Will try and have it sent off by the end of the week and we'll see what they say.

Damn my filthy mind.

Happy tshirt hunting.

Lotsaluv, Em

Everybody Go Watch This...

2010-04-26T16:16:00.000+01:00

Greetings, vampire bunnies, I have returned from my week long "business meeting" with director, K Bargie. I bring back an awesome trailer for his latest masterpiece "The Dating World". Behold:

Isn't it marvy. I am also going to harass K into letting me put the Ferocious Bloodaxe trailer up, because it's hysterical. I have never laughed more than when we were all making that film. Sheer magic.

No news. Flash! from Lame Goat should be appearing sometime soon, and the newest issue of Ethereal Tales is out on Friday, but I'll have a better post about that nearer the time. So for now, I leave you with the cinematic stylings of K Bargie.

Enjoy, my bunnies...

Lotsaluv, Em

Get in Touch!

2010-04-14T09:14:00.002+01:00

I forgot to say, Ethereal Tales have got me on their contacts page now, with an nice shiny new email address, so if you ever want to contact me about anything - questions, comments, etc, etc - you can contact me here. And the next issue, featuring my story "A Pirate's Life for Me" is out on the 30th April and can be purchased through the website (just click the previous link I've given). A small extract from my story can also be found on the website. Just enough to tantalise you and make you want to read more! Mwahaha, see after all that erotica success, I've become a big tease! Mwahahahaha!

I'm going to be at the computer pretty much all day, so be prepared for lots of annoying posts like this.

Lotsaluv, Em

Best Horror of the Year Vol. 3

2010-04-14T08:46:00.002+01:00

The editor of Howl, Mark Crittenden , is sending a copy of Howl to Ellen Datlow, so that all the stories might be considered for the Best Horror of the Year Vol. 3 antho. Really appreciate Mark doing that and I have all my fingers crossed and even some toes. Eeeep!!!

Lotsaluv, Em

Erotic Topic

2010-04-13T09:10:00.003+01:00

Ooh la la, my story "Dark Wings" has been accepted for Pill Hill's Daily Flashes of Erotica anthology. Better not share this success with ma wee mammy. She'd hit the roof. I'll have to hide this one on the "my books" shelf of my bookcase. Not that the parents ever come near my domain. I think Dad's afraid of my room.

I was reading Neil Gaiman's blog last night and it always makes me miserable when I do. It's like looking through a crystal ball and seeing "Ooooh, this is what you want your life to be like" and then turning off the computer and remembering I'm still a bloody student juggling a part time job and only getting enough inspiration to write when there's an essay due. Damn you Neil Gaiman with your awesome whimsicalness and stories about Dr Who and conventions and the like!

I heart him, I really do.

In other news, Dinosaur Comics are awesome. But whenever I read them, I hear my friend Rob's voice.

I need to behave now. I'm just putting off this Celine essay. Must close the internet before I end up buying geeky yet amazing tshirts. Oh dear...

Lotsaluv, Em

Diamonds review

2010-04-12T20:57:00.003+01:00

Good review boogie time. For Diamonds in the Rough, this time. Boogie boogie woogie woogie. Read this and grin from ear to ear:

"Emma Kathryn: "Belle of the Bayou." I occasionally thought of Christopher Moore's novels as I read this. Can't end a collection without a vampyre/zombie story, right kiddies? That said, this piece is unencumbered, lithely, and clever, with great use of setting. The milieu is so detailed that I thought it would leap off the page at times. "

Woop-de-doop!!! Lots of smiley thank yous for the kind reviewer.

^_^

Lotsaluv, Em

Gotta Catch 'em all

2010-04-12T00:28:00.002+01:00

Oh dear gods, I'm addicted to Pokemon again.

Lotsaluv, Em

Daily Bites of Flesh Mark 2

2010-04-12T00:04:00.002+01:00

Got my second story accepted for Pill Hill's Daily Bites of Flesh anthology. Yaaaas!!!! It's the opening to my vampire collection ("Flashes Before her Eyes"), which has already been on Elfwood for like forever. Seriously, I'm pretty sure it was amongst the first stories I ever uploaded. Granted, that was over five years ago, so this version is the nice, sexy revival which I wrote last summer during my "I'm-going-to-write-a-book-in-30-days-even-though-it's-not-NaNoWriMo!" kick. So it's much better now, thanks to a total rewrite and a quote from Mary Shelley. YOINK!

I'm pretty pleased to get this one in print, because it means I can start getting some of the later stuff out. AND, fingers crossed, but if "Blood, Bones and Bowie" makes the final cut of Pill Hill's Fire and Ice antho (it's currently short-listed) then I can really start to get some of the good stuff out there.

For anyone who's confused, I write a vampire series called "Flashes Before her Eyes" and various episodes are scattered all over the place. Such as:

8 episodes can be found on my Elfwood.
"Belle of the Bayou" in Lame Goat's Diamonds in the Rough.
"A Pirate's Life for Me" is to be in the next issue of Ethereal Tales.
"The Cross" will be published in Wicked East Press' upcoming anthology Cup of Joe.
"The First" will be published in Daily Bites of Flesh (Woohoo).

Now that you're acquainted with my vampire mistress, shall we continue? Yes? Then continue we shall...

Anyway, I think DBoF is going to be stupendously magical and I await its publication with my heart all a-flutter.

I keep meaning to get some fresh stories done, but I've got one of my final university essays due and it's doing my head in. DAMN LOUIS-FERDINAND CELINE AND HIS BLOODY "JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE NIGHT"!!!!! I have been staring at it for so long that now I just want to stamp on it and set it on fire, then maybe stamp on it some more.

Ta-ra chucks. Be seeing you soon...when I reclaim my sanity from whatever pages of that damn book I left it between.

Lotsaluv, Em

Far too Funny from xkcd

2010-04-10T23:23:00.002+01:00

This is nothing to do with my writing. It's just too funny and I thought I'd share. I love xkcd.

http://xkcd.com/461/

Daily Bites of Flesh anthology

2010-04-08T11:55:00.002+01:00

My story, "Chasing Rabbits" has just been accepted by Pill Hill Press for their Daily Bites of Flesh antho. This means that the vampire bunnies will be imortalised in print! Mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!

Awesome.

Lotsaluv, Em

Awesomeness

2010-04-06T12:01:00.004+01:00

My copy of Pandora arrived today. Look at how sexy it is. Oh yeah. It's also now available on amazon.co.uk. Awesome. I must say, tis a v pretty book and I hail on page 131. It's a story I'm quite chuffed with and it's 8 pages of gothy goodness. The rest of the stories are fantastic. Particularly enjoyed "And so it begins" by D. Nathan Hillard and "Hope in a Box" by A. Lee Manton. Def. worth a read. Haven't been through it all yet, but I'll do that when I'm on the bus and the train today.

In other news, Weight of the Wardkeeper can now be found lurking around my Elfwood page. The loyal troop have already pounced upon it with their pearls of wisdom, but feel free to stop by and tell me what you think of it.

Lotsaluv, Em

New Anthology images

2010-04-05T19:47:00.005+01:00

Oo-er, cover art now available for Novus Creatura and Cup of Joe. Behold!!!

How very sexy. I know I'm excited. Oh and Pandora should be on amazon.co.uk any day now. I hope anyway.

Lotsaluv, Em

Lotsaluv, Em

Howl Review and New Anthologies

2010-04-02T16:28:00.004+01:00

Review of Howl on amazon. My story is singled out amongst the book's "particular gems":

"Particular gems are "Introducing Gemma Nye", which is smart, sexy, and gross all at once; "Legend of La Chusa" in which a monstrous owl becomes the spirit of vengeance. There is also a fantastic riff on the Brothers Grimm, and the haunting tale, "The Hunt" which begins simply, with a little black fox. "

Three new acceptances. "The Cross" will be featured in Wicked East Press' Cup of Joe: Coffee House Flash Fiction anthology. This is another vampire episode. One I'm quite fond of. Should be appreciated by those who've been following my vamp on Elfwood.

"A Pirate's Life for Me" is also a vampire short (same vamp!) and will be appearing in the magazine Ethereal Tales. Next issue is out April 30th, so I'll post the details around about then.

Short story "Ruined" will be appearing in Lame Goat's Novus Creatura, which is edited by John "JAM" Arthur Miller and should be a v funky read.

Will keep you updated on these as I learn more.

Lotsaluv, Em

There She Goes Again...

2010-04-02T15:49:00.001+01:00

Wow, I swore I was done with blogging and here I am. Again. Crap.

So let's summarise...

This blog is for TWO things. ONE: to promote my writing and let you lovely peeps know where I've been published, when new anthologies are being release, where you can by them and little links to reviews, etc. TWO: I'm a bit of a baking fanatic, so will occasionally post awesome pics of my awesome baking. Aha!

Boring bit done, let's get down to the good stuff...

Lame Goat Press' book Diamonds in the Rough is a selection of author's favourite stories and has my story "Belle of the Bayou" which is a brands new episode from my vampire collection. It's available on amazon.com (linked above) and I've already got my copy. 'Tis a v pretty book indeed.

Another Lame Goat anthology Howl:Tales of the Feral and Infernal features my story "The Hunt". Also available by clicking on the link.

Moving to Pill Hill Press, my story "Death and the Maiden" can be found in their Pandora's Nightmare: Horror Unleashed anthology. Really looking forward to my copy of this arriving. Pretty pleased with this story and it was nice to get it picked up by the lovely Jessica A. Weiss, who edited the book.

Anyway, that's everything for the moment. To tide you over, feel free to have a gander at my Elfwood page, which is always full of charming/horrifying/quirky/disgusting/scary things.

Lotsaluv, Em