Archive for July, 2012

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THE GHOST IS THE MACHINE now available through pre-sale orders

Posted in News on July 30, 2012 by Christian

Click the book cover, save $2 with discount code AAB8GJJY, and get immediate shipping!

THE GHOST IS THE MACHINE, featuring my short story, “The Talent’s in the Bones,” is now available for pre-order through Post Mortem Press. General sales open August 14th through Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes & Noble, but if you buy an advance copy using discount code AAB8GJJY, you’ll save $2 off the $16 cover price and get immediate shipping, so you can be the first kid on your block to read a copy of this fantastic new anthology–and you’ll save money doing it!

Edited and introduced by Patrick Scalisi, THE GHOST IS THE MACHINE also includes stories from Matthew Alan Hughes, Kenneth W. Cain, Doug MacKenzie, Anton Cancre, Eric J. Guignard, Jay Wilburn, Gloria Weber, Kristopher Triana, Jonathan Templar, J. David Anderson, Alexis A. Hunter, Rose Blackthorn, Rob Smales, and of course, Joe Hill, author of HORNS, HEART-SHAPED BOX, 20th CENTURY GHOSTS, and an ongoing comic book, LOCKE & KEY.

THE GHOST IS THE MACHINE – Steampunk meets Horror … and the machines might just win.

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Bleeding Ink Author Spotlight – Christian Larsen

Posted in News on July 26, 2012 by Christian

Welcome Seekers of Stories Strangely True to the Bleeding Ink Author Spotlight

Christian A. Larsen’s fiction appears in What Fears Become (Imajin Books), Sparks: Exciting New Fantasy from Today’s Brightest Stars (Earthbound Fiction), and A Feast of Frights (The Horror Zine Books). He lives with his wife and two sons in the fictional town of Northport, Illinois.

Bleeding Ink Tale – Club 27

Ink Babes: Welcome to the Author Spotlight, Christian. Would you tell us about yourself?

CL: I’ve been writing, more or less, since I was 10, but didn’t get into writing regularly until about four or five years ago. I started out writing Twilight Zone-style science fiction, and have branched out into straight horror as well. I have also worked as a high school English teacher, a rock radio host, a newspaper reporter, and a printer’s devil.

Ink Babes: My! What an interesting life you’ve led. Printer’s devil? Sounds almost as dangerous as being a teacher! What sparked the idea for your Bleeding Ink tale?

CL: I wrote “Club 27″ shortly after…

Read the rest of the interview here.

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Back cover text for THE GHOST IS THE MACHINE

Posted in News on July 26, 2012 by Christian

The following is the back cover text for THE GHOST IS THE MACHINE, which includes my short story, “The Talent’s in the Bones.”

An Anthology of Steampunk Inspired Ghost Stories

The Ghost IS the Machine – Steampunk meets Horror and the machines might just win.

Machines define human society.

But that doesn’t mean they have to play nice.

A new collection of steampunk inspired ghost stories from some of the best rising talent in speculative fiction. Plus a genre gem by Stoker Award-winning, New York Times-bestselling author Joe Hill.

Take a ride on the treacherous Thunderdrome. Entrust your future to Life-Bright Augmentation Facilities. Go on a journey with the head of the Leon Salvatorium Corporation. And click off a few with your second-hand Polaroid.

Just don’t be surprised if the mantle clock, piano or that classic typewriter is watching you from across the room.

THE GHOST IS THE MACHINE will be available for preorder on July 31st and available for purchase on August 14th from Post Mortem Press in both paperback ($16) and Kindle ebook ($5) formats.

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Table of Contents for THE GHOST IS THE MACHINE

Posted in News on July 25, 2012 by Christian

The page numbers are subject to change, but the table of contents has been released for THE GHOST IS THE MACHINE. My story, “The Talent’s in the Bones,” is slated to appear right after “Scheherazade’s Typewriter” by Joe Hill, creator of the LOCKE & KEY series.

Hill, a Bram Stoker award winner, will also soon be seeing his novel, HORNS, adapted for the silver screen with Daniel Radcliffe (star of the HARRY POTTER film series) signed to star.

THE GHOST IS THE MACHINE will feature a number of fine authors, of whom many I am professionally acquainted. But several I am not. And that’s what I love about reading and the writing community. There are and will always be new things to discover.

THE GHOST IS THE MACHINE
Table of Contents

The (Fanciful) Past

“The Voice in the Box” by J. David Anderson
“Interchangeable Parts” by Anton Cancre
“Rebirth” by Kenneth W. Cain
“Eternal Service” by Gloria Weber

The Present

“Scheherazade’s Typewriter” by Joe Hill
“The Talent’s in the Bones” by Christian A. Larsen
“Eidiss” by Rose Blackthorn
“Love the Ride” by Jonathan Templar
“The Iron Prophet” by Doug MacKensie
“The Ghost of Ozzie Hobbs” by Eric J. Guignard
“Video Express” by Kristopher Triana
“Bad Toys” by Matthew Alan Hughes
“Photo Finish” by Rob Smales

The Future

“Watch” by Jay Wilburn
“Afterimage” by Alexis A. Hunter

THE GHOST IS THE MACHINE will be available for preorder from Post Mortem Press on July 31st, and available for purchase in paperback and Kindle ebook formats on August 14th from Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes & Noble.

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Cover art and release date for THE GHOST IS THE MACHINE

Posted in News on July 24, 2012 by Christian

Post Mortem Press has unveiled the final cover art and release date for THE GHOST IS THE MACHINE, featuring my story, “The Talent’s in the Bones.” The book will be available for pre-order on July 31st, and the cover art now reflects more of a steampunk feel:

THE GHOST IS THE MACHINE, edited by Patrick Scalisi, will be available in paperback ($16) and Kindle ebook ($5) formats on August 14th, and as the cover ably announces, will include a story by Joe Hill, who collaborated with his father, Stephen King, on THROTTLE, a novella which originally appeared in the Richard Matheson tribute anthology, HE IS LEGEND.

There. I think I’ve dropped enough names for one day. SEO can be such a bitch.

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Dark Discoveries reviews WHAT FEARS BECOME and A FEAST OF FRIGHTS

Posted in Book Reviews, News on July 18, 2012 by Christian

Cyrus Wraith Walker reviews two Horror Zine anthologies featuring my short fiction for Dark Discoveries Magazine. WHAT FEARS BECOME includes “Bast,” and A FEAST OF FRIGHTS offers “Clawed Sod.”

Cyrus Wraith Walker: A Feast of Frights is “an eclectic compilation of dark writings from some of the most talented authors the genre has to offer.”

What Fears Become: An Anthology from The Horror Zine was the first book in editor Jeani Rector’s new series and what Bentley Little called in his blurb, “the future of horror”. I agree. A lot of people I think are familiar with The Horror Zine, the publication that serves dark fiction online. When she released the first physical book anthology as a springboard from the site (loaded with celebrated and newer authors, poetry, and art in 2011), it was obvious THZ had evolved. And now this looks as if it may become a delightfully dark habit for Jeani, because now she is releasing a new anthology. A Feast of Frights from The Horror Zine is just out, officially the first publication under The Horror Zine imprint.

I am taken with these anthologies. The stories do not lack in quality. They have meat to serve, and I am a meat lover. What Fears Become whets our appetite with a forward by Simon Clark (“The Night of the Triffids”) – who reminds us of “the gift” of story. This is followed by Christian A. Larsen’s “Bast,” which will start you waiting for death and then wishing it would happen…

To visit Dark Discoveries Magazine, click here.

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Hellnotes reviews A FEAST OF FRIGHTS

Posted in Book Reviews, News on July 17, 2012 by Christian

Sheila M. Merritt of Hellnotes.com reviews A FEAST OF FRIGHTS FROM THE HORROR ZINE, featuring my short story, “Clawed Sod.”

Hellnotes.com: “A Feast of Frights satiates the hunger for horror.”

Variety is the spice of life. In A Feast of Frights from The Horror Zine, there is an array of distinctive flavors guaranteed to please a discerning palate. The short stories can be savored with gusto; and the interviews, poetry, essays, and art work are indeed tasty. Continuing this culinary theme, editor Jeani Rector’s compilation is to be consumed with relish. This anthology allows for many menu options, and particular favorites depend very much on one’s individual taste. The choices are many on this bill of fare, and the quality of the preparations is overall quite high. So, consider the items discussed in this review as indicative of personal preference; an example of a specific appetite…

Read the rest of the review here.

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Cover art for NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO REAP

Posted in News on July 14, 2012 by Christian

My story, “Fugue State,” will be a part of the upcoming anthology, NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO REAP from Sirens Call Publications. As one might well imagine from the story title, the main character awakens with no idea who or where he is. But not knowing is only half of his problem.

I’ve just gotten a look at the cover art, and it feels like the the design was selected specifically for my story, but I’m sure that the other stories, which I haven’t had an opportunity to read yet, are just as perfect a fit–and that gives me something to look forward to … the finding out.

Each story in NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO REAP, edited by Gloria Bobrowicz, is about a reaping. Someone, in some way, will have made off with something that did not belong to them. The real question in “Fugue State” is whether our John Doe is the victim or the perpetrator of the reaping.

The eighth commandment; thou shalt not steal. But everyone covets something that isn’t theirs…

Now I Lay Me Down To Reap…

In this anthology, there will be no happy endings…

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Fangoria Magazine reviews A FEAST OF FRIGHTS

Posted in Book Reviews, News on July 10, 2012 by Christian

John Porter reviews A FEAST OF FRIGHTS FROM THE HORROR ZINE (featuring my short story, “Clawed Sod”) for Fangoria Magazine:

“A Feast of Frights is a very satisfying anthology.”

First things first: if you’re reading this, you may well already be a fan of The Horror Zine–and if you’re not, buy A Feast of Frights, and you will become one very quickly. It’s staff has an impeccable reputation for selecting the best short fiction, poetry, and artwork from established writers as well as relative newcomers. Their only criterion is excellence, and it shows in this compilation.

Crammed into 473 pages are 34 stories, eight interviews, a slew of poems and some very cool illustrations. Add an additional three tales by the editors, and you’ve got enough reading material to last for weeks. Or only days, if you get hooked the way you likely will.

Collections like this tend to contain a few good stories, some that are not so bad, and one or two dogs–but there isn’t a canine in this bunch. It’s like a greatest-hits album by your favorite band: Each story is amazing in its own right, and once you get started, you don’t want to put the book down. Some of the established authors include Graham Masterton, Joe R. Lansdale, Tom Piccirilli, Ed Gorman, Jeff Strand and Joe McKinney, yet as good as these masters are, what’s most exciting are the offerings by…

Find Fangoria Magazine here…

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Probably pointless rant

Posted in News, Observations & Musings on July 8, 2012 by Christian

I used to use this font when I was in high school.

I have a science fiction story that I like that has almost made it into a couple of decently high-profile magazines, but has missed the cut for one reason or another (shortlisted but rejected, the market folded, etc.). So I sent out a couple of weeks ago to a fledgling market, thinking, “why not give this place a chance?” especially since submitting to new markets is a great way to meet writers, editors, and publishers that I wouldn’t otherwise know.

They had some pretty specific format guidelines, but I long ago decided against custom-tailoring every submission to every market, because it just got to be too much to keep track of. Besides, I’ve been accepted by a couple of pretty nice markets who actually requested I reformat my work after my initial submission (owing to saving a .doc as an .rtf and getting garbled nonsense–which would be reason enough for me to just flat out reject it–which they never did). So I didn’t bother putting my submission for this fledgling market into Courier. I haven’t used Courier since I graduated from high school in 1993, and I’m not sure anyone else does anymore, either. It’s the kind of requirement a new editor establishes because it makes them look like an old-school editor. Or a complete newb.

Anyway, I got a fairly long form rejection letter today that took forever to get to the point. And the point was this: they didn’t even read it because it was in Lucinda Console.

Oh. My. Goodness.

And so I will never submit to these Courier Nazis ever again. These are people I don’t want to know.

ADDENDUM: I realize this probably makes me seem like a self-important crank. I suppose on some level that I am. I’ve received rejections from all kinds of publishers, big and small–but this one just absolutely rubbed me the wrong way.

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