Back in the saddle

Well after an extended stay away from my writing desk - mainly due to finishing an advanced diploma in Screenwriting - I'm happy to say I finally found the time to get back into the saddle and get stuck into some more short stories.

Today I finished the draft of a story about a love struck aussie and a dead starlet and last week finished a tale about the hidden dangers of a strip club.

The later is off in submission world, while the first will have a few day's breathing space before I get stuck into re-writes. Will they do any good? Only time will tell.

This week I'm also going on my first holiday in five years, so hopefully all the new sights and fresh air will inspire some more ghoulish fun.

Breakdown wins Demonminds award

I'm thrilled to report that I've won my first award!
My story Breakdown was awarded the best Classic horror story in the 2006 Demonminds Author and Artist awards.
The award is part of a public voting system on the Demonminds site, in which readers can vote for their favourite stories published on the site in the past year with the results announced each Halloween.
There is also news that they will be publishing some of the stories in a hard cover anthology next year - so fingers crossed Breakdown gets the nod.
The story is still online now and can be viewed by clicking here. It's a good feeling, expecially considering the story is one of my earlier works.

Angler up for Aurealis

I was surfing the Aurealis Awards page today and noticed that one of my short stories the Angler has been nominated in the horror short story category. Sure, there's about sixty other nominations but still it gives you a certain buzz to see your at least in the running.

I don't think the story is quite up to the caliber of some of the other nominated tales so don't harbour any fantasies about actually winning the award, but its nice to know that someone out there recognised it as a suitable peice to enter into the draw.

I've always had a personal rule that I will NEVER nominate any of my own works for awards so for me to be in the running someone else has to recognise my work and like it enough to enter. I know this logic will probably leave me out of the running in a lot of things but writing horror for me is never about the trophies - although I'd never pass one up if it came my way.