My "That Ain't Right: Historical Accounts of the Miskatonic Valley" Contributor's Copy!

Just got my copy of, That Ain't Right: Historical Accounts of the Miskatonic Valley which includes my story, "So Praise Him." This is my second print publication of the year. I'm really digging this trend!

Sweet, sweet print!

The Writing Process Blog Tour

Michael Wehunt tagged me for the “Writing Process Blog Tour," a vastly talented, literary minded author who's done a lot of good work in the dark fiction world. His stories have appeared in places like Shock Totem, One Buck Horror and Crowded Magazine, and are forthcoming in markets like Cemetery Dance and Unlikely Stories. Check him out; you won't be disappointed.

What are you working on?

I'm currently working on a short story about a man who has lost the excitement of life and the hope of ever being happy. It's inspired by my experience working for the USPS--an organization that, in Dante terms, would probably fit somewhere around the fifth level of Hell--set in the modern world with fantasy elements. It's been a little difficult calling it done because I'm not sure if it wants to be first person or third person, present tense or past tense, finished or unfinished, a blessing or the bane of my existence. Decisions, decisions!

I have a lot of other stories in the works, too, at various levels of completion. From sentence fragments, to entire stories not yet ready to see the light of day.

How is your work different from others’ work in the same genre?

I try to write damn good stories that I love. What makes it different is that it emanates from my gut, my heart, my brain, and not the next guy's or girl's. We all live in the same world, but everyone sees things differently. These are my visions. Like 'em or lump 'em.

Why do you write what you do?

There's no one thing that can sum this question up. Suffice to say, it's an addiction and it doesn't hurt that it's a hellava lot of fun to boot. 

How does your writing process work?

I'm a pantser most of the time, which is to say I don't have a clear idea of what I'm creating until the story's finished. I let the characters, environment and context determine what occurs, but I'm also subconsciously aware of pacing, atmosphere, and the ideas and feelings I'm trying to convey.

Sometimes I use prompts (a picture, a phrase, or a video) to inspire me. Sometimes I outline if I have a basic idea of what I want to accomplish. When I'm stuck, I'll usually try reading a story in the same genre with the same approach. That is to say, if I'm working on a first-person, present-tense horror story, then I'll read a first-person, present-tense horror story. That way I can see how other writers tackle similar problems that come up.

If that doesn't work, I may just sit and think, or work on something else. Anything to put pixels onto Word docs.

"So Praise Him" released in That Ain't Right: Historical Accounts of the Miskatonic Valley

On August 31st, That Ain't Right: Historical Accounts of the Miskatonic Valley was released on Kindle and paperback. This Lovecraft-inspired anthology features 18 tales set in the witch-haunted hills of New England, including my story, "So Praise Him." Here's the full TOC:

• "Come Down, Ma Evening Star" - Sanford Allen
• "Hostel Night" - Brandon Barrows
• "Arkquarium" - Folly Blaine
• "In Defense of Professor Falcrovet" - Darin M. Bush
• "Ride into the Echo of Another Life" - Kelda Crich
• "Goat" - Nathan Crowder
• "Dr. Circe and the Shadow over Swedish Innsmouth" - Erik Scott de Bie
• "The Pull of the Sea" - Sean Frost
• "The Ghost Circus" Phil Gonzales
• "The Reservoir" - Brian Hamilton
• "So Praise Him" - Samuel Marzioli
• "A Dog Named Shallow: The Testimony of Lilya Redmond" - Erick Mertz
• "The Crumbling of Old Walls" - Craig D. B. Patton
• "August and Autumn" - Jenna M. Pitman
• "Passenger" - Evan Purcell
• "The Hill" - Damir Salkovic
• "A Matter of Scale" - Emily C. Skaftun
• "The Laughing Book" - Cliff Winnig

Free fiction from Penumbra eMag!

Musa Publishing has released all Volume 2 issues of Penumbra for FREE! Here's a list of issues that include my stories:

Ray Bradbury issue - "A House in the Woods" (fantasy)

Zombie Apocalypse issue - "Midnight Visitors" (dark fantasy)

H.G. Wells issue - "Burning Men" (science fiction)

"The (Zeroes and) Ones We Love" released by Ares Magazine

After a few months of unexpected delays, Ares Magazine's inaugural issue has finally shipped. Yesterday, I got my copy in the mail and, boy, is it something! Everything about it smacks of quality, from the graphics, to the layout, to the paper stock itself. Consider me a happy contributor.

Ares Magazine features an original playable tabletop game, articles and, most importantly, original fiction in every issue. Here's the TOC for the fiction:

The Zeroes and Ones We Love by Samuel Marzioli
Frojo by Eric Juneau
Man Alone by Drew Arrants
Neanderthal Sunset by A.J. Onia
Darklanders by Matthew Wuertz
The Race by John Buentello and Lawrence Buentello
Disruption of Destiny by Gerri Leen
Salt by Aaron Gallagher
The Fall pt 1 by Kenneth Steven.

Copies of the issue, and subscriptions, can be ordered through their publisher's website: One Small Step Store.

"Splotch of Red" released by Darkfuse

I'm pleased to announce that Darkfuse #2 is now available on Kindle. Here's the TOC, including my story "Splotch of Red":

“Nether Goole” by Richard Farren Barber
“Imago” by F. Charles Murdock
“The Betting Man” by Michael A. Pignatella
“Splotch of Red” by Samuel Marzioli
“Pink Denim” by Brady Golden
“The Eldritch Eye” by Tim Curran

A limited edition HB will be released on August 26th. They are only going to print enough to cover pre-orders so don't wait if you plan to own one! Darkfuse is a class act so the HB is bound to be a thing of beauty! Pre-orders can be made here.

Sale: "The Feast of Father Gorger"

I'm pleased to announce my story, "The Feast of Father Gorger," will appear in Postscripts to Darkness #6. The anthology is due out in the first half of 2015. I'll post more information as it comes.