tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19669797601692368992024-03-13T07:48:10.826-07:00The Writer's WashroomThe obscure blog home of relatively unknown fantasy/horror writer Nickolas FurrNickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.comBlogger172125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-28475123575116488262023-12-25T21:38:00.000-08:002023-12-26T14:56:35.264-08:00"And the Bells Were Ringing Out" -- a bit of Christmas fiction
Photo from Amboise Daily PhotoAnd the Bells Were Ringing Out No snow had fallen. There would be
no white Christmas this year. All that had fallen from the sky had been
sporadic showers that left the ground wet and the pavement oily and icy at nights
when the temperature dropped enough. A gray Christmas, held at bay only by street
decorations, Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-42000501373601613162020-01-11T09:00:00.000-08:002020-02-25T21:36:33.814-08:00"Beldame" is a free read at Diabolical Plots
Hey, y'all. If you'd like to read "Beldame" for free, it is up at the Diabolical Plots website. Give it a read and tell me what you think. Or better yet, tell them what you think.
And while you're at it, look through and check out all the fiction. They have eclectic tastes, with all kinds of speculative fiction, some dead serious, some hysterically funny, and all of it very well written. SomeNickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-64960227622632454222019-07-09T21:10:00.000-07:002020-02-25T21:11:27.719-08:00Who Has Two Thumbs and is Now a Member of the SFWA? This Guy!
This is not something I ever actually considered happening. But as of July 8, following publication of my short story, "Beldame," in Diabolical Plots and after my application was approved, I am now officially an associate member of SFWA--the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America. This means I am now a member of both SFWA and HWA--the Horror Writers Association.
No, this doesn't comeNickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-86866395651476265922019-04-10T20:26:00.000-07:002020-02-25T20:38:58.766-08:00"Beldame" is out!
Gaze upon this gorgeousness! Seriously!
I am pleased to say that my story, "Beldame," has gone to press as part of the anthology, Diabolical Plots Year Five.
This is probably my most positive, upbeat story, and it's a modern fantasy tale. It's not quite an urban fantasy; in fact, it would be the opposite: a rural fantasy.
It will appear on the Diabolical Plots website next year, but if you Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-1901252585974103172018-10-12T22:47:00.000-07:002020-02-25T19:58:57.895-08:00Review -- "The Goat Parade" by Peter N. Dudar
The Facts: After a few years of not having enough time to read anything, I've basically insisted on carving out a few minutes a week to try and read anything for fun--basically anything that is not for class. Given my belief that most writers really do try to help out each other, I've decided to write reviews of everything I read in my particular genres: fantasy, dark fantasy, and horror at Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-70097713579974845582018-10-10T12:13:00.001-07:002018-10-10T12:15:28.667-07:00Possibly It's Time to Get Back to Using This ThingThe Writer's Washroom has been around for about a decade, and it saw regular use for about three years, irregular use for the lion's share of the time, and pretty much misuse and neglect for the last couple.
I have not treated it well. With Facebook as much of a player as it is when dealing with expressing one's news, opinions, thoughts, and pictures of cute animals, blogs are pretty much Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-7442570883371136162018-09-24T12:14:00.000-07:002018-10-09T12:17:56.399-07:00"Beldame" Schedule at Diabolical Plots
"The way-ay-ting is the hardest part..." -- philosopher T. Petty
This is the shortest time gap between posts in years... and frankly, the most I've posted in a year in... um... years. I might need to do something about that. But I digress.
Diabolical Plots, the future home of my short story, "Beldame," has released its upcoming fiction schedule, so I know when "Beldame" will be published and Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-37214959157250284672018-08-20T11:58:00.000-07:002018-10-09T12:00:46.413-07:00"Beldame" to be Published at Diabolical Plots
Aaaaaaaaaaaghhhhh!
It has finally happened. One of my short stories, "Beldame," a modern fantasy that is probably my most upbeat (so far) tale will see print in a major market, Diabolical Plots. From what I can tell, it should be published either online or in an e-book anthology sometime next spring.
Besides the fact that I'm over-the-moon excited to see one of my personal favorite stories Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-60842439627977088222018-08-15T14:04:00.000-07:002018-10-08T14:07:18.890-07:00Semi-Colonic Irrigation is No Longer a ThingI'm sorry to say that I've just found out that the planned anthology, Semi-Colonic Irrigation, which would have been the home of my first published poem, "Scenes from a living room at 4 a.m.," will no longer happen.
These things happen, so I'm not upset. But what it means is I may have to find another market for this poem. It's not horror; it's really not any genre. It just is what it is.
Let'sNickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-32559946467286652472017-10-31T13:51:00.000-07:002018-10-09T11:36:28.322-07:00"California Screamin'" is Out!
Sweet, sweet anthology goodness.
Happy Halloween! It is with great pleasure that I announce that the California Screamin' anthology from Barking Deer Press is now out and it's available.
Coincidentally, it happens to have one of my short stories in it, a tender little ditty called "O For a Muse of Fire."
This story, which began as a class project at Southwestern College and got the Full Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-68504336089041480192017-06-01T13:40:00.000-07:002018-10-08T13:47:16.897-07:00Short Story, "O For a Muse of Fire" to be Published in California Screamin' AnthologyI am happy to announce that my short story, "O For a Muse of Fire," will be published in an upcoming anthology by Barking Deer Press entitled California Screamin'. For this themed anthology, all the stories are sent in, and about California.
Though many members of the San Diego chapter of Horror Writers Association are involved, this is not an HWA project. It is independent.
I'd also like to Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-91721802811092586862016-07-17T17:11:00.002-07:002016-07-17T17:11:29.472-07:00"Morbid Metamorphosis" Is Out, and it's Awesome!
Okay, to be fair, Lycan Valley Press' anthology, Morbid Metamorphosis, has been out over a month and it was available on the day I originally said it would be -- June 13.
So why am I just getting around to announcing this?
Because I've been stupidly busy and I literally have not had time to compose and write this silly post. Many of you know that Liza and I (and the woofbeasts) are spending Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-10902397902187360022016-05-06T20:48:00.001-07:002016-05-06T21:05:13.771-07:00Morbid Metamorphosis: The Trailer and the TOC
Morbid Metamorphosis is scheduled to be released on June 13th. Before it gets here, feel free to check out the full-length book trailer (by Kevin Hopson) above. And when you're done, get an eyeful of the ridiculously awesome Table of Contents (TOC).
As far as I know, this is not the story order. I'll make corrections when I have them.
Introduction / Robert Nelson
"Become Him" / Greg Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-23259465278178601992016-05-02T23:14:00.001-07:002016-05-02T23:14:21.663-07:00Semi-Colonic Irrigation: The Name May be Funny, But it's Actually Very SeriousThe name of the upcoming book is Semi-Colonic Irrigation. It's funny, yeah? A nice bit of genial rudeness.
It's not that. Well, not just that.
The semi-colon tattoo is a relatively new bit of art you might see on people, but it's not just the next hipster thing in today's trend-o-rama.
It's serious. Very serious. But not dead serious.
This is what it means:
"A semicolon is used when an Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-59390474953119848152016-05-01T22:06:00.000-07:002016-05-10T20:08:41.619-07:00"Twisted Tales Tea Party" Is Apparently No Longer a Thing
R.I.P. "Twisted Tales"
As much as I've been looking forward to seeing my short story, "Bad," appear in the Twisted Tales Tea Party anthology... at the moment, it doesn't look like it will happen.
The publisher and creator behind the project let the authors know today that it appears that the project is dead.
These things happen. Real life intrudes. Health, money, family... these all take Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-44428718034414227092016-04-29T22:03:00.000-07:002016-05-02T22:05:00.870-07:00Another Short Story to See Publication!
This one delights to me no end! Lycan Valley Press will be putting out Morbid Metamorphosis (Terrifying Tales of Transformation) very soon, and one of the stories in the book will be mine -- a genteel little piece called "Hyde and Seek."
First of all, this is the first time I've written a story for a particular prospective anthology. Knowing that the story was good enough makes the sun shine Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-16147018598852696532016-04-27T20:21:00.000-07:002016-05-02T21:31:28.212-07:00I Join the San Diego Chapter of the Horror Writers Association (And Immediately Feel Like an Idiot)
Why this book? You didn't write this book. No, I didn't. Hush up and I'll explain.
So, this happened.
On April 23, I went to the first, organizational meeting of the San Diego chapter of the Horror Writers Association (HWA). As an affiliate member of the HWA and a basically-San Diego-based writer...
Imperial Beach!
... I felt that this was a good idea. The first meeting was at the awesome Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-62960473819080202582016-03-20T00:38:00.000-07:002016-05-01T00:39:48.771-07:00My First Real Author Interview!
So... this happened. Roma Gray, one of my fellow writers in the upcoming (and still possibly tentatively-titled) Twisted Tales Tea Party anthology has a horror website, Trick or Treat Thrillers.
On her site, she is interviewing the writers from the anthology and mine was one of the first to go up.
(At this point, I must admit that the aforementioned anthology has been pushed back a few times,Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-34294176168711255022015-12-04T00:24:00.000-08:002016-05-01T00:25:59.910-07:00My Amazon Author Page
Though it's pretty sparse at the moment, it will hopefully fill up before too long. It is my Amazon Author Page, a pretty nifty bit of real estate with links to the books and publications in which my work appears.
I've actually had it up and running for a year and a half or so, but I never quite felt the need to let anyone know it existed. It does, and now you know.
If you're still trying to Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-24092538674101338932015-09-21T00:06:00.000-07:002016-05-01T00:07:46.056-07:00"In the Wardrobe" makes "Best Horror of the Year" reading list
This is a first for me, though it's probably no big deal to a lot of other writers...
Ellen Datlow is one of the biggest, most-respected editors in any of the genre fiction fields. She published the Year's Best Fantasy and Horror anthology from 1988 to 2008, and then immediately started up the next version, entitled The Best Horror of the Year.
"In the Wardrobe," my short story in the A DarkeNickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-54706657339748829782015-08-30T00:58:00.000-07:002016-04-30T00:59:27.404-07:00"Bad" to See Publication
Yup. That's twisted.
I am happy to announce that another one of my short stories, "Bad," is to see publication in the upcoming (and possibly tentatively-titled) anthology, Twisted Tales Tea Party.
I won't say much about the story except that it is my twisted version of a fairly well-known story, and that I'm looking forward to seeing it be part of a collection of stories that the publisher Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-31792654815473773432015-03-12T00:33:00.000-07:002016-04-30T00:43:25.701-07:00An Author Profile... of Me!
I have just experienced my first authorial... profile? interview? Some of each?
And it feels great!
As one of the writers in the anthology, A Darke Phantastique, I've been profiled by Cycatrix Press, and appear on their Nameless Digest website. I'm just going to link to it and let you check out the interview/profile thing over there, and check out everything else good they've got to see.Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-39640563221468097492015-02-24T00:16:00.000-08:002016-04-30T00:31:02.558-07:00"A Darke Phantastique" Nominated for Bram Stoker AwardI just learned that the anthology which my short story, "In the Wardrobe" appears in, A Darke Phantastique, is a finalist for a Bram Stoker Award, which is given out by the Horror Writers' Association (HWA).
The category of Superior Achievement in an Anthology...
Qualia Nous (Written Backwards) - edited by Michael Bailey
A Darke Phantastique (Cycatrix Press) - edited by Jason V Brock
Fearful Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-3695753417984249272014-11-26T11:06:00.000-08:002016-05-07T12:18:36.054-07:00Dinner With All-Stars (In Which I Confess the Reason I Wanted to Write)
Last Sunday, I was extremely fortunate to be part of a large author signing in Seattle for the anthology A Darke Phantastique, which includes my lengthy short story, "In the Wardrobe."
It was awesome! I signed books for the other authors and for customers, and in return I got my copy signed by everyone else. Awesome!
Did I mention it was awesome?
Afterwards, as hard as it may seem to Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-22046797142212832242014-10-31T15:22:00.000-07:002016-04-30T00:12:13.019-07:00"A Darke Phantastique" is in Print! (And Along with It, My Short Story, "In the Wardrobe.")
I am delighted! My short story, "In the Wardrobe," is part of this Cycatrix Press anthology, "A Darke Phantastique: Encounters With the Uncanny and Other Magical Things" (forever to be known here just by the first three words).
This is one of the best-looking books I've ever seen, with gilt page edges, tremendous interior artwork, and amazing design. I'm actually a little gobsmacked to be in Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0