Category Archives: On Writing: Short Stories
Bad Women: Flip
This 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 of chaos
Read more…
Spectral Book of Horror Stories: Simon Marshall-Jones
And 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 the
Read more…
Spectral Book of Horror Stories: Angela Slatter’s The October Widow
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 of Horror tale is
Read more…
Spectral Book of Horror Stories: Stephen Laws’ The Slista
Mr Stephen Laws is the author of eleven (count ’em! Eleven!) novels, myriad short stories, and the recently re-released collection The Midnight Man. He’s also a columnist, reviewer and film festival interviewer; his Spectral Book of Horror story is the intriguingly
Read more…
Bad Women: Miranda Priestly
My 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 Wears Prada.”
Read more…
Spectral Book of Horror Stories: Brian Hodge’s Cures for a Sickened World
Mr 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 and my
Read more…
Bad Women: Goneril
The 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 head, apparently;
Read more…
Spectral Book of Horror Stories: Alison Moore’s Eastmouth
The 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 Tennant about
Read more…
Spectral Book of Horror Stories: Conrad Williams’ The Devil’s Interval
The 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
Read more…
Over at Alan Baxter’s place …
… 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 huge fan
Read more…