Six Sentence Sunday: Chickens

My latest publication is another crime story: yes, that seems to be my groove now. I’m even going to the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in July the better to network and immerse myself in the crime writing world. Should be fun, eh? My story “Chickens” takes place in 1968, when a couple of…

Six Sentence Sunday: It’s a Curse, Round 2

Six Sentence Sunday has rolled around again. Drop by and see all the offerings at the Six Sunday blog. Today I offer another taste of “It’s a Curse” because the eBook of Drunk on the Moon is already out and the print version arrives this week. And because I had such a hard time choosing…

Six Sentence Sunday: Bill is Dead

Yes, it’s that time again, Six Sentence Sunday. For this week I share another work you can read in full for nothing over at Pulp Metal Magazine, where you will find lots more for your noirish pleasures, including the omnipresent Mr B. PMM loves stories inspired by songs; oddly enough, I tend to write a…

Six Sentence Sunday: It’s a Curse

Howling out of Dark Valentine Press later this month, “It’s a Curse” is one of the Roman Dalton stories in Drunk on the Moon, tales of the werewolf detective created by Paul D. Brazill. Mr B has lured me into the crime world much like a stranger with candy. I may be some time. This…

Six Sentence Sunday: Revelation

Today’s six come from a pivotal story in my life: not for its quality (though I find some things to enjoy even now) or because it was my first “official” publication (though it was) but because it brought me kind words from Clive Barker. His Lord of Illusions short story contest inspired me to write…

Six Sentence Sunday: Horse Clock

This story was inspired by — wait for it — the clock on my mantelpiece and the Sekhmet postcard my friend Joey gave me. It started as a caption for the picture on my Facebook page. I liked the blue tone which resulted from the wrong setting on the phone (“fluorescent”? maybe). My friend Richard…

Six Sentence Sunday: Mandrake Anthrax

I’ve been getting all noir lately. I blame Mr B. Ireland’s so lovely, but I’ve been setting stories here that are undeniably grim. So I blame Ken Bruen, too. While I’m spreading the blame around, might as well point a finger (or two!) at Mark E. Smith, too. If he hadn’t written a lyric like,…

Six Sentence Sunday: The Big Splash

I had the best time writing this story. After reading too much P. G. Wodehouse (too much? is that possible?) and some Winifred Watson, I was full of madcap story ideas and thought it would be fun to try to set a story in Jazz Age London. I wrote The Big Splash in a kind…

Six Sentence Sunday: High Plains Lazarus

I began writing this story about a day before I went off to Trinoc*coN one year, because I knew I had to read something and I suddenly decided I hated everything I’d ever written (yes, I have those kind of days). It came from the voice: as soon as I heard Finn’s voice in my…

Six Sentence Sunday: The Mangrove Legacy

I nearly forgot about the Six Sentence Sunday meme: perish the thought. I have since discovered that there is also a Tuesday Serial meme, so  I have to also remember to add Airships & Alchemy  to that. As usual, be sure to drop by and see all the other six sentences — it’s a great…