The forthcoming vampire anthology Evolve, which contains my short story “A Murder of Vampires,” has a spiffy new web site and is now accepting pre-orders for the various editions, including a trade paperback (signed by all contributors), a hardcover, and a collector’s edition wrapped in silk and packaged in a sturdy pine coffin. The book launches at the end of March during World Horror 2010 in Brighton, England. Among the contributors who will be present for the launch: editor Nancy Kilpatrick, Kelley Armstrong, Natasha Beaulieu, Gemma Files, Ronald Hore, Sandra Kasturi, Claude Lalumière, Michael Skeet, Jerome Stueart, Sandra Wickham, Rio Youers and cover artist John Kaiine. And moi.
Speaking of World Horror, I will be moderating the following panel discussion: INTO THE GOREZONE: CAN YOU GO TOO FAR IN HORROR? It will be held in the Lounge on Saturday from 5 – 6 p.m. and is described thusly: The late Charles L. Grant preferred “Quiet Horror” but these days it seems that anything goes. Explicit sex and violence in fiction and films has given rise to accusations of “Torture Porn”. Has the genre gone too far, or are there those who think that it has not yet gone far enough…?
I was able to confirm that “Rule Number One” from The Blue Religion is listed at the back of The Best American Mystery Stories 2009 in a section titled Other Distinguished Mystery Stories of 2008. Only 28 stories are listed here, so I consider myself fortunate to have the story singled out for this honor.
The Houston Texans did the unexpected yesterday — they beat the Patriots. They started out well, then it looked like the game was getting away from them. We actually gave up on it during the third quarter and were in the kitchen having lunch when I heard the announcer say that it was tied at 27-27. Color us surprised. Good game, but unfortunately the teams that needed to lose yesterday so Houston could make the playoffs didn’t cooperate. Still, the Texans have their first-ever winning season.
Some very cold weather headed our way later on this week. We’ll might get as low as the high teens at one point, or so they say.
Addendum: Forgot to mention that I posted my review of The Unbearable Lightness of Scones by Alexander McCall Smith yesterday.
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