Category Archives: On Writing: Short Stories

Bad Women: Flip

Connie Willis_1996_BellwetherThis week Kathleen Jennings nominates her favourite “bad” woman:

My favourite “bad” character is Flip, a sullen, difficult, way fashion-forward… assistant seems the wrong word for her. She appears very early in Connie Willis’ charming novel
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Spectral Book of Horror Stories: Simon Marshall-Jones

simon-marshall-jones1And now, a word from our publisher, the delightful Simon Marshal-Jones, on what inspired the genesis of Spectral Press, why and how the Spectral Book of Horror Stories came about, and the future of horror.

1. What inspired you to start up
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Spectral Book of Horror Stories: Angela Slatter’s The October Widow

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Yes, the tiara helps me write

In which I talk to myself, quite legitimately, so the Men in White Coats cannot take me away – although my Significant Other is giving me some strange sideways looks. My Spectral Book
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Bad Women: Miranda Priestly

meryl_streep_miranda_priestly_devilMy friend and talented newcomer, Linda Brucesmith has nominated Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly (Beastly Priestly) from The Devil Wears Prada as her favourite “bad” woman:

There’s no forgetting the wonderfully surnamed Miranda Priestly as Meryl Streep created her in “The Devil
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Spectral Book of Horror Stories: Brian Hodge’s Cures for a Sickened World

Brian-Hodge-112x150Mr Brian Hodge is so often one of my ToC buddies nowadays that if I don’t see him in said ToC I get a bit nervous and assume he’s met with an unfortunate accident. I am therefore very pleased to find him in The Spectral Book of Horrors
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Bad Women: Goneril

LearsDaughtersThe delightful and talented Thoraiya Dyer has chosen her favourite “bad” woman: Goneril from King Lear.

So, King Lear is supposed to be all about how shit it is to have ungrateful children. He has three daughters and also a massive
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Spectral Book of Horror Stories: Alison Moore’s Eastmouth

alisonmooreThe fact that Alison Moore’s The Lighthouse was shortlisted for the Man Booker should tell you all you need to know about the quality of her work – but I just can’t resist adding a quote from Black Static’s Peter
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Spectral Book of Horror Stories: Conrad Williams’ The Devil’s Interval

conrad-williamsThe thoroughly unsettling Conrad Williams has written seven novels, including London Revenant, The Unblemished, and Decay Inevitable, as well as four novellas and two short story collections, and has recently signed with Titan Books – a sure sign of a
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Over at Alan Baxter’s place …

bbparts… Kathleen Jennings and I talk about illustrating and writing The Bitterwood Bible and Other Recountings. But first, Al has this to say:

By now you all know I’m good friends with Angela Slatter. You should also know that I’m a
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