Finding Words

Sometimes I struggle to find the words for the ideas in my head. Not in the sense of a lack of vocabulary, hell, I wouldn't try to write if I didn't HAVE the words. More in the sense that sometimes I feel the words aren't doing the story justice. I must type and delete more paragraphs than I actually keep. I wonder if I'm doing right by my characters. Am I giving them the flesh they deserve, the organs to keep their blood pumping or are they only skin with hollow bones.

I write horror, but I never intend to give chills. I honestly believe it's damn near impossible to frighten or disgust anymore, not with computer effects and the heights to which both film and reality have taken our imaginations these days. No, monsters aren't scary anymore cause we've seen them. They're known. I don't find the ghost in the haunted house scary anymore. It's the ghosts in the man's head that lead him to drink obsessively and neglect his loved ones that are really terrifying. That's what I try to capture. Life is horror and when you can grab it and twist it just right, well hell, you can make someone shudder and look at the people around them a little differently and that's true horror. My opinion anyway. Not to take away from those writers that still create those beastly creatures that haunt dreams. More power to them. It's just not my cup of blood.

Vampires are sexy. Werewolves are hip. Mummies, well, mummies are dead. We've split more zombie heads than George Romero and buried more bones than the neighbors dog. Ghosts get hunted on the sci-fi channel by plumbers. What's left? Serial killers? Please, they belong in the movies and on CSI: Miami. It's the little horrors that I like. The kid at school with the pistol in his backpack, the mother who doesn't love her child enough, the man who's so tired of losing he'll go to any length for a victory, even if it means someone gets hurt. And even though we see them everyday, we never truly SEE them until it's too late. And that's scary.

On a more personal note, "Sweet Sherry" was a no go over at 52 Stitches. Oh well, the editor there got a different perspective than I was going for when reading it and that's totally my fault. The story was a bit rushed so I shelved it for now. I'm working on shooting another one at them entitled "One Cup of Safari Punch" which I hope will be more to their liking.

The Northern Haunts anthology over at Shroud is moving along. Mr. Tim Deal says it's coming in at over 300 pages and at least two of them will be mine. (probably even 4 pages) The soft cover will be out soon and the hard cover is looking to hit before Christmas this year.

My story "The Choice" is still slated to appear in Black Ink Horror Magazine early next year. If you haven't checked them out please do, I like what Tim Manning/Tom Moran is doing over there. He's really putting together a quality publication.

Well, I better get back to doing something...constructive. Maybe I'll build a fort.

Night Walk

I walk at night. I enjoy it. It's really the only time I get to think, to be alone with my thoughts. Sometimes I get inspired to write something, sometimes I get inspired to do something, most times I get cold and have to pee. Sometimes I stand on the side of some random house and stare at the upstairs windows for 15 to 20 minutes hoping someone inside, a child awakening from a dream or a mom or dad just having trouble drifting off might glance out the window and spy the dark figure staring back at them. With any luck they'd be ruined for life, never able to sleep with the blinds open, never finding peace knowing that sometimes there are monsters outside.

Tonight I saw something beautiful. The sky was split in half. On one side a solid, white cloud ruled while on the other was nothing but a clear dark blue ocean. And right above me was where the blue met the white and it ran to the horizon. Some of the clouds, like clawed fingers reached into the blue, but alas, the blue was winning, pushing the clouds further away. And as the clouds retreated, stars appeared from beneath. It reminded me of a beautiful women slowly lowering her blouse to expose her breasts.

I wonder how many people were awake and looking at the sky at the same time I was. I wonder out of those that were, how many of them appreciated it and thought it was beautiful.

Crossing My Fingers

I just sent out my story "Pretty Pink Pills" to Arkham Tales e-zine. Keeping my fingers crossed on this one. "Pretty Pink Pills" has a special place in my heart as I really put a lot of effort into this story. I would just love to see it find a home.

Also fired off "Sweet Sherry" to 52 Stitches.

Pre-emptive Paranoia

Have you ever been talking with someone when all of a sudden you think, "Wow, this person would never expect me to just wind back and punch them in the eye socket"? It's a thought that frequently crosses my mind. Not, mind you, for any hidden hatred I may harbor towards the person I am currently conversing with. Nor is it any mental instability I happen to have just the right grip on keeping it quiet but ever-present. No, I'd say it's more because it would be something so unexpected, so against the normal routine of conversation.

Usually it's you talk, I answer, I ask then you answer, good day, take care and we're off about our business. But anywhere during that routine you throw in a knuckle sandwich to the jaw and chin arena and now, well, you got yourselves a unique situation no?

So, when I get that thought, or urge, depending on how boring the convo is, I think of how a seventh grade teacher once told me that any thought I may have has without question previously been thought before by someone else. That what may seem unique to you is something that is simply not spoken about by others. Kind of like masturbation I guess. So, one can conclude that while I am thinking of interrupting my next-door neighbors little tale about his poodle getting off the leash with a well-placed punch to the esophagus, he's simply distracting me with his poodle epic until he can get the drop on me. So now I have no choice right? I must act first. If I don't, I lose the element of surprise and that means the war is lost.

Perhaps I'm reading into this a bit too far. Perhaps not. All I know for sure is that no one is going to get the drop on me anytime soon. And I have plenty of bail money put aside.

Currently Working On...

Well, a few things actually.

Firstly, working on a short story called "When Dark Things Meet". Not sure where this idea came from. Thought of it while driving the other night. I get a lot of ideas when I'm driving around, listening to music. I daydream a lot. I also, ironically, cause quite a few car accidents.

Also nursing a short story that is getting longer and longer as I write it that has no title. It's a fictional tale set in Camp Douglas during the Civil War. I just love mixing horror fiction and historical fact. Really the only thing that separates them is truth.

I also have been fiddling around with this, www.skainworld.blogspot.com, which is a fictional blog telling the story of a few survivors of a global zombie outbreak. I update it daily and all the characters, commenters and all, are fictional and written by myself. Why am I doing this? Well, I have no idea. Stop by and check it out, if it ain't your thing, move along. Hey, what beats a free zombie story? Nothing...well, maybe 4 of a kind.

Another Upcoming Story Coming Out

This time, the esteemed Mr. Tim Manning (wink, wink) has given my story, "The Choice" a nod for Black Ink Horror Magazines upcoming issue #6 due out in the first quarter of 2009. I'm very excited to see my work in Black Ink Horror, alongside a piece of artwork. The thought that an artist will be creating an image off the inspiration he/she receives after reading my story blows my mind. And the talented artists over at BIH are some of the best.

Check it out...wait for it...here!

Upcoming Publicaiton

I've had two stories accepted into the upcoming anthology being put out by Tim Deal over at Shroud Publishing entitled NORTHERN HAUNTS. Really excited to see my work amongst such a talented pool of writers. Plus, the proceeds from the sale of NORTHERN HAUNTS will be donated to the AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY. How cool is that?

Here's the Table O' Contents:

1. BARN AND BRIDLE, Michael R. Colangelo
2. OFF THE BEATEN PATH, Nathaniel Lambert
3. ON A LONELY STRETCH OF ROAD, Erik Williams
4. OPEN HOUSE, Phil Kuhlman
5. PREY, John P. Wilson
6. RUSSEL STOVER IS YOUR PAL, April Grey
7.THE PHANTOM HIGHWAY PATROL, Rodney J. Smith
8. THE TREES RAN RED, Joel A Sutherland
9. TOURIST TRAP, Ayne Terceira
10. ASYLUM, Linda L. Donahue
11. BOGG'S ISLAND, Barry Napier
12. INCIDENT ON ROUTE 44, John Grover
13. LET THE COLD COME, Shadow Kain
14. LONESOME PINE, Catherine J. Gardiner
15. MOTHER OCEAN, Blu Gilliand
16. THE NAYJU, Natalie L. Sin
17. PUNKIN CARVING, Will Gorrell
18. THE WELL OF GHOSTS, Kurt Newton
19. THE THING IN THE WOODS, Bill Ward
20. BAD PLACE, Martin Hayes
21. IN OLD WATER, Aaron A. Polson
22.RAVEN'S HOUSE, Jason M. Tucker
23. THE HUMAN DEER, Kurt Newton
24. THE NATICK NASTY, Paul Milliken
25. THE OX-CART MAN, Aaron A. Polson
26. THE SHADOW MEN, Mark Leslie
27. BROKEN CHAIN, Craig D.B. Patton
28. HEART AND SOLE, Allan Leverone
29. MANY COMFORTING WORDS, J.C. Tabler
30. METAPHORICALLY SPEAKING. Morven Westfield
31. SINISTER MIRTH. John Weagly
32. SO FAIR AND FOUL A DAY, David E. Chrisom
33. THE FEAR OF INNOCENCE, Justin Pilon
34. THE PREDATOR, Douglas E. Wright
35. TOM VANE, Sheldon S. Higdon
36. TUNNEL VISION, Derek M. Fox
37. BIG JIM CAN WAIT, J.C. Tabler
38. FISH TALE, Jim Ehmann
39. LURES: A FISH STORY, Jason M. Tucker
40. PLAY TIME, Ginger Nielsen
41. SHOES, Brandon Layng
42. THE CAVES OF GOOSE ROCK BEACH, Alex Moisi
43.THE DECOY, Patrick Rutigliano
44. THE OFFERING, R. Scott McCoy
45. THE PLUMBER, Matt Hults
46. THE TALE OF SIX, Sheldon S. Higdon
47. THE VIGIL ON THE BANKS, Patrick Rutigliano
48. TRUE LOVE. Alex Moisi
49. VERMONT IS FOR LOVERS, John C. Caruso
50. VOGO, Ian Rogers
51. WINTER WONDERLAND, J.C. Tabler
52. THE CREATURE OF MOUNTAIN GATE, Nate
Kenyon
53. DOWN THE CELLAR, Joseph Grant
54. LOOKING BACK, Steve Vernon
55. PUKWUDGIES: LITTLE
MONSTERS OF NEW ENGLAND, Pamela K. Kinney
56. RELIVING THE BATTERY, Shadow Kain
57. SELF EMPLOYED, Sharon M. White
58. TAKE THE EXIT, Nathaniel Lambert
59. THE WRITING ON THE CHALKBOARD, John
Lance
60. ALONG COAL HOLLOW ROAD, John Connors
61. HOW BEST TO SEE AXQA, Gene Stewart
62. BABY GIRL, Jeremy Kelly
63. BAG OF GUTS, Robert Masterson
64. CAT'S CRADLE, Roger Lord Zeck
65. COVENTRY GREENS, Jason M. Tucker
66. CRANBERRY FOG, Stephen D. Rogers
67. THE WHISTLER, Dana Pearson
68. DREAM CATCHER, M.G. Ellington
69. GHOSTLY TREATS, Bobbie Metevier
70. GRAVEYARD SHIFT, Adam J. Whitlatch
71. JUG MEDLEY, Brandon Layng
72. LEFT HAND WAY, Frida Westford
73. NIGHT SCARES, Joel Jacobs
74. CREEPY CRAWLEYS, Mary Rajotte
75. PASSION PLAY, Michael Josef
76. PEMAQUID POINT, Michael J. Hultquist
77. THE PUKWUDGIE, Linda L. Donahue
78. BLACK TOM, Stephen Mark Rainey
79. SIGN OF THE BEAR, BV Lawson
80. SNIP AND RIP, William T. Vandemark
81. THE DARE, Jason A Lavertue
82. THE EXCHANGE, Michael Stone
83. THE HUNT, Lee Anne Carlson
84. THE LOST KING OF ATLANTIS, Dawn Allison
85. THE RESTORATION OF PURPLE CURTAINS &
OTHER THINGS, Catherine J. Gardiner
86. THE STRAND, Gina Ranalli
87. THE T'ANGLE, Rio Youers
88. TOOTH FAIRY, Stephen D. Rogers
89. WHEN THE DEAD CARRY US AWAY, Barry Napier
90. WHERE SPIRITS DWELL, Brendan P. Myers
91. SOME THINGS I'VE LEARNED ABOUT THREE-
FINGERED WILLIE, James S. Dorr
92. A YETI IN GREEN, John Weagly
93. COYOTE DATE, Christa M. Miller
94. The Old Bassler House, Kevin Lucia
95. THE PACK, Patrick Rutigliano

There I am at number 13 and 56. Lucky number 13...and indifferent yet talkative number 56.

Order here!

Ten Quick Facts About Shadow Kain

10. Recently published writer guy.

9. No, Shadow Kain is not my real name, not even close. I use it cause it means something to me. Plus, I figure since I write fiction, I should live fictionally.

8. Mostly write horror, but dabble in dark comedy and stuff that makes people cry. Like lost love, learning tolerance and bad grammar.

7. I've been struck by lightening. It's not something I'd recommend, unless you're a prick.

6. I have a sarcastic sense of humor.

5. I don't have many friends.

4. I'm too egotistical to realize that number 5 is because of number 6 and it's my fault.

3. I write because I love to write but more because I dream of having my voice matter.

2. The only thing I work hard at is being lazy.

1. I can only think of 9 quick facts about myself.