Publications
VSS365 Anthology
23/10/19 09:52
Since the early days of VSS365 I've been involved in writing from these daily word prompts. It has grown immensely over the years and in the last six months in particular it has become a bit of a juggernaut. 'Back in the day' these wee stories were confined to 140 characters–I ask ya! But now we're back in the realms of flash fiction with up to 280 characters–wow!
Back in November 2018 I hosted it whilst travelling around the distant states of Zevonia and Zevonistan - from the foothills of the Mountains of Ruin and the famous Sprout Festival, along with my mate Benzo Diazapan - and it was very much a fun month.
Despite being a keen as mustard VSSer and evangelic about it I wasn't sure when the news of the anthology came out. I wasn't sure about an entire book featuring tweet length stories and wondered whether anyone would be interested in reading them. But I must say having just finished reading the anthology it hangs together very well indeed and looks great. I found it compelling to see how different the stories or poems were from each single prompt. And it is amazing how beautiful some of them were with so few words to play with. The quality of the stories are fantastic. It is sometimes difficult when reading one after the other to remember what the prompt was when they take you in different directions.
The work of Mark and the Ambassadors in producing this book has got to be appreciated. They have done a fab job, as it has paid off in spades. It is a book to pop in and out of–Maybe even one for the small room.
I've only got the Kindle version at the moment. But I think I'll have to get myself the paperback.
Follow Mark King on Twitter @Making_Fiction
Buy the book: VSS365 Anthology
Back in November 2018 I hosted it whilst travelling around the distant states of Zevonia and Zevonistan - from the foothills of the Mountains of Ruin and the famous Sprout Festival, along with my mate Benzo Diazapan - and it was very much a fun month.
Despite being a keen as mustard VSSer and evangelic about it I wasn't sure when the news of the anthology came out. I wasn't sure about an entire book featuring tweet length stories and wondered whether anyone would be interested in reading them. But I must say having just finished reading the anthology it hangs together very well indeed and looks great. I found it compelling to see how different the stories or poems were from each single prompt. And it is amazing how beautiful some of them were with so few words to play with. The quality of the stories are fantastic. It is sometimes difficult when reading one after the other to remember what the prompt was when they take you in different directions.
The work of Mark and the Ambassadors in producing this book has got to be appreciated. They have done a fab job, as it has paid off in spades. It is a book to pop in and out of–Maybe even one for the small room.
I've only got the Kindle version at the moment. But I think I'll have to get myself the paperback.
Follow Mark King on Twitter @Making_Fiction
Buy the book: VSS365 Anthology
Comments
VSS365: The Anthology (Volume 1)
23/09/19 12:03
Today is the publication day for the first ever VSS365 anthology. Huzzah! And I've already bought and downloaded the book on to my Paperwhite as I am sure many VSS365ers have.
Congratulations to Mark and the VSS365 Ambassadors for their work in getting this done. It's been turned around in super quick time, especially considering how many people they had to deal with in proofing the pieces. Great to be featured in it, within the bonus section, and there's a nice shout out for the Seedling Challenge too. Thanks.
It's the sixteenth book that I've featured in which is nice. I know that for many of the contributors in this anthology this will be their first time in print. It will no doubt be a great feeling for them and I am sure it will give some new writers the confidence to write more AND put themselves out there for more opportunities. Go get 'em folks! Onwards and upwards.
If you haven't got it yet, click on the book and follow the link to Amazon for your copy. All proceeds to charity (The Book Bus) to give you a bonus warm fuzzy feeling included in the price.
Congratulations to Mark and the VSS365 Ambassadors for their work in getting this done. It's been turned around in super quick time, especially considering how many people they had to deal with in proofing the pieces. Great to be featured in it, within the bonus section, and there's a nice shout out for the Seedling Challenge too. Thanks.
It's the sixteenth book that I've featured in which is nice. I know that for many of the contributors in this anthology this will be their first time in print. It will no doubt be a great feeling for them and I am sure it will give some new writers the confidence to write more AND put themselves out there for more opportunities. Go get 'em folks! Onwards and upwards.
If you haven't got it yet, click on the book and follow the link to Amazon for your copy. All proceeds to charity (The Book Bus) to give you a bonus warm fuzzy feeling included in the price.
goodreads
31/07/19 13:41
I haven't got a goodreads author page yet. Well, not exactly. If you click on some of the books there are links from my name to an author page for A.J. Walker, and there are five or six books which I am featured in, but it's not my author page. It appears to be an amalgam of at least three A.J. Walkers–I have not written a book on 'Retirement Strategies' or 'The Timeless Empire Series'.
I have emailed goodreads and hope that they can disentangle my books from the other A.J. Walkers out there.
In the meantime if you want to check out what I've been reading and what I've got lined up you can check out my (non-author) goodreads page at: www.goodreads.com/Zevonesque
Think it may be time I updated my photo on there, or maybe I should just go baby face shave again?
I have emailed goodreads and hope that they can disentangle my books from the other A.J. Walkers out there.
In the meantime if you want to check out what I've been reading and what I've got lined up you can check out my (non-author) goodreads page at: www.goodreads.com/Zevonesque
Think it may be time I updated my photo on there, or maybe I should just go baby face shave again?
I've Opened the Door
31/07/19 10:38
On Friday 'Don't Open the Door' was published on that there Amazon. The horror anthology, edited by Cory Mason, comprises thirteen stories from ten authors (including me, of course), namely;
I've finished the book now, and enjoyed it. Three of the authors had two stories in the book, the remainder one each. I haven't counted the words but they are probably mostly between 3000 and 6000 words, I reckon. There was a mix of styles, some cerebral and some decidedly more gory. My favourite stories were: 'Chalk' (T.H. Willoughby), 'The Locks' (Cory Mason), 'The Dark Room' (L.M. du Preez), and the 'Ten Fingered Man' (Luke Elliot Alphonso Jr). But don't take my word on it, there are some reviews up on Goodreads already, click on the book and take a look.
I enjoyed being involved in the book. The authors have all been active behind the scenes, thanks to Discord. Most of the authors are from the western side of the Atlantic, with six Americans and two Canadians. The Old World was represented byTH Willoughby from south western England and myself from the North West. Goes to show that there's trouble behind doors everywhere. Maybe we should get rid of them. Looking forward to reading some more reviews and seeing the blogs from other authors; as well as hearing a podcast about the book–I'll let you know when it comes out. Particular thanks goes to Cory, who devised and edited the anthology; give him a follow on Twitter @TheBestTomo
If you read the book please remember to give it a rating and/or a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Thanks, in advance.
- Augie Peterson
- Yawatta Hosby
- T.H. Willoughby
- J.A. Sullivan
- Cory Mason
- Kimberly Wolkens
- L.M. du Preez
- A.J. Walker
- Johvan Calvo
- Luke Elliott Alphonso Jr.
I've finished the book now, and enjoyed it. Three of the authors had two stories in the book, the remainder one each. I haven't counted the words but they are probably mostly between 3000 and 6000 words, I reckon. There was a mix of styles, some cerebral and some decidedly more gory. My favourite stories were: 'Chalk' (T.H. Willoughby), 'The Locks' (Cory Mason), 'The Dark Room' (L.M. du Preez), and the 'Ten Fingered Man' (Luke Elliot Alphonso Jr). But don't take my word on it, there are some reviews up on Goodreads already, click on the book and take a look.
I enjoyed being involved in the book. The authors have all been active behind the scenes, thanks to Discord. Most of the authors are from the western side of the Atlantic, with six Americans and two Canadians. The Old World was represented byTH Willoughby from south western England and myself from the North West. Goes to show that there's trouble behind doors everywhere. Maybe we should get rid of them. Looking forward to reading some more reviews and seeing the blogs from other authors; as well as hearing a podcast about the book–I'll let you know when it comes out. Particular thanks goes to Cory, who devised and edited the anthology; give him a follow on Twitter @TheBestTomo
If you read the book please remember to give it a rating and/or a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Thanks, in advance.
Approaching the Door
19/06/19 09:56
This week the cover for the upcoming horror anthology 'Don't Open the Door' was released. I love it.
Looking forward to receiving the book and reading all the stories. The book release is going to be soon; I dare say I may mention bits and pieces about it from time to time.
The anthology is edited by Cory Mason and has stories from:
I'll put some links through to the authors pages and/or twitter accounts - once I've got my shit together.
The cover design is by Christine M. Scott - Nice job!
Looking forward to receiving the book and reading all the stories. The book release is going to be soon; I dare say I may mention bits and pieces about it from time to time.
The anthology is edited by Cory Mason and has stories from:
- Luke Elliott Alphonso Jr.
- Johvan Calvo
- Yawatta Hosby
- Augie Peterson
- L.M. du Preez
- J.A. Sullivan
- A.J. Walker (that'd be me)
- T.H. Willoughby
- Kimberly Wolkens
I'll put some links through to the authors pages and/or twitter accounts - once I've got my shit together.
The cover design is by Christine M. Scott - Nice job!
Getting Close to the Door
09/06/19 09:57
Got sight of the cover for an upcoming horror anthology that I will be featured in: 'Don't Open the Door'. I can't wait to see the finished book. The cover looks ace and I am looking forward to getting it out in front of you soon.
I haven't read any of the other stories featured in it. But there are some great guys and gals involved and it will be fab. Really enjoyed writing my story, which has a nice setting and a bit of a folksy background. The brains, brawn and editor behind the anthology is Cory 'Tomo' Mason, who you can find on Twitter @TheBestTomo
Watch this space (and follow Cory) for details - and the cover. I'll no doubt be writing a few bits and bobs about the anthology on this blog and in numerous tweets.
In the meantime, if you're really not sure, well… don't open the door.
I haven't read any of the other stories featured in it. But there are some great guys and gals involved and it will be fab. Really enjoyed writing my story, which has a nice setting and a bit of a folksy background. The brains, brawn and editor behind the anthology is Cory 'Tomo' Mason, who you can find on Twitter @TheBestTomo
Watch this space (and follow Cory) for details - and the cover. I'll no doubt be writing a few bits and bobs about the anthology on this blog and in numerous tweets.
In the meantime, if you're really not sure, well… don't open the door.
DeadCades Anthology
03/08/18 12:38
Looking forward to the Deadcades Anthology which is due for release in just a couple of months. Such great authors in there and they've nearly all got website things where you can read about them and their writings.
Yep, I'm the future - that's never been said before! Then again it could be why the future doesn't look good.
There's plenty of class acts and familiar names within the drabblers and dribblers too:
* Christopher Stanley * Michael Carter * Andrea Allison * Sean Fraser * Pattyann McCarthy * Dominic Davis * Ewan Smith * Arthur Unk * Bart Van Goethem * Voima Oy * F.E. Clark * Marc Nash * Stella Turner * C.R. Smith * Catherine Connolly *
Keep an eye on the Infernal Clock website to see how it progresses. Though I dare say I may mention it a few times.
- Deborah Sheldon : 1880s
- Martin Fuller : 1890s
- R.J. Meldrum : 1900s
- Sian Brighal : 1910s
- Alyson Faye : 1920s
- Chris Milam : 1930s
- Sal Page : 1940s
- Christopher Long : 1950s
- Robert Lupton : 1960s
- Stephanie Ellis : 1970s
- Stuart Conover : 1980s
- David Shakes : 1990s
- Rushelle Dillon : 2000s
- Marie McKay : 2010s
- A.J. Walker : 2020s
Yep, I'm the future - that's never been said before! Then again it could be why the future doesn't look good.
There's plenty of class acts and familiar names within the drabblers and dribblers too:
* Christopher Stanley * Michael Carter * Andrea Allison * Sean Fraser * Pattyann McCarthy * Dominic Davis * Ewan Smith * Arthur Unk * Bart Van Goethem * Voima Oy * F.E. Clark * Marc Nash * Stella Turner * C.R. Smith * Catherine Connolly *
Keep an eye on the Infernal Clock website to see how it progresses. Though I dare say I may mention it a few times.
The Dark Calendar
01/12/17 21:08
Yes, the day is here, it's come around very quickly. 'Calendark: The Infernal Almanac' is Out Now!
Get yourself on over to Amazon and get the lovely Paperback or download it on to your clever Kindle device thingy and start reading it now.
I've only read two stories (and one of them was mine) so I'm looking forward to getting stuck into it myself.
There's all these lovely authors in it, including two of us from The Poised Pen writing group:
I'm gonna read the stories in the order they come, it is based around the calendar after all; Tick-tock that Infernal Clock.
Once again many thanks go to the Editor-in-Chief - Stephanie Ellis, the Concept Man - David Shakes and the artist - Tim Youster. Well done guys.
Get yourself on over to Amazon and get the lovely Paperback or download it on to your clever Kindle device thingy and start reading it now.
I've only read two stories (and one of them was mine) so I'm looking forward to getting stuck into it myself.
There's all these lovely authors in it, including two of us from The Poised Pen writing group:
- David Shakes
- Stephanie Ellis
- Craig Anderson
- Sian Brighal
- F. E. Clark
- Catherine Connolly
- Christina Dalcher
- Mark A. King
- Marie McKay
- Chris Milam
- Sal Page
- Ewan Smith
- Chris Stanley
- Clive Tern
- AJ Walker
I'm gonna read the stories in the order they come, it is based around the calendar after all; Tick-tock that Infernal Clock.
Once again many thanks go to the Editor-in-Chief - Stephanie Ellis, the Concept Man - David Shakes and the artist - Tim Youster. Well done guys.
Infernal Clock: Calendark
29/11/17 12:14
In readiness for posting the link through to the Amazon page - possibly as early as this weekend! - I've updated the 'Publications' page to include the cover for the upcoming Calendark: The Infernal Almanac. Yee Haa!
Now I'll have to finish the book I'm reading so that I'm all set to get stuck into this after the weekend. Oh the horror of it all!
Check out the Infernal Clock blog site for news for this and other releases.
Now I'll have to finish the book I'm reading so that I'm all set to get stuck into this after the weekend. Oh the horror of it all!
Check out the Infernal Clock blog site for news for this and other releases.
Amazon Author's Page
25/04/17 21:12
I'd asked Amazon to add Twisted Tax Tales to my publications page at the end of March and Infernal Clock a couple of weeks ago. Usually it goes very smoothly and go live within a day or two. I'd had emails from both asking for more information in the first instance (which previously I hadn't needed to provide) then by their second email they confirmed both and that they'd be up within 1-3 days.
Unfortunately by yesterday neither were yet up. Had to chase as something had evidently gone wrong. But they turned it around very quickly from yesterday and in fact today they are now up on my Amazon Author's page. Huzzah!
Great to see! Amazon are pretty damn efficient to be fair. It doesn't bare thinking about how many queries they have to deal with like this.
Now I wonder what will be Publication No. 13...?
Unfortunately by yesterday neither were yet up. Had to chase as something had evidently gone wrong. But they turned it around very quickly from yesterday and in fact today they are now up on my Amazon Author's page. Huzzah!
Great to see! Amazon are pretty damn efficient to be fair. It doesn't bare thinking about how many queries they have to deal with like this.
Now I wonder what will be Publication No. 13...?
The Infernal Clock Interviews
19/04/17 22:03
Infernal Clock Interview
With the release of the fabulous Infernal Clock Shakes asked all the contributors a few choice questions as an 'interview'. My favourite bit was the 666 questions. Some were easier than others however I don't think I've done too bad in terms of picking my bad. Here were my picks:
Who do you think are the 6 most evil humans in history?
Ghengis Khan and Josef Stalin
Adolf Hitler and Pol Pot
Nigel Farage and Kelvin McKenzie
Who do you regard as the 6 most evil villains in literature or film?
Joffrey Baratheon and The Dark Lord, Sauron
The Cylons, Battlestar Galactica and Alex in A Clockwork Orange
Sideshow Bob and Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII)
(if I can’t use a video game then Baron Greenback!)
What do you think are the 6 most disgusting meals or food products ever created?
Andouillette (far and away the worst thing I’ve eaten - French cuisine my arse) and Blancmange
Turkish Delight and US ‘chocolate' products e.g. Hershey Bars and Oreos
Russian cold soups e.g. Okroshka and Liver
Click here for the link to the full interview sans photos and to see all the interviews from the other authors.
Infernal Clock available in Paperback and on Kindle now
With the release of the fabulous Infernal Clock Shakes asked all the contributors a few choice questions as an 'interview'. My favourite bit was the 666 questions. Some were easier than others however I don't think I've done too bad in terms of picking my bad. Here were my picks:
Who do you think are the 6 most evil humans in history?
Ghengis Khan and Josef Stalin
Adolf Hitler and Pol Pot
Nigel Farage and Kelvin McKenzie
Who do you regard as the 6 most evil villains in literature or film?
Joffrey Baratheon and The Dark Lord, Sauron
The Cylons, Battlestar Galactica and Alex in A Clockwork Orange
Sideshow Bob and Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII)
(if I can’t use a video game then Baron Greenback!)
What do you think are the 6 most disgusting meals or food products ever created?
Andouillette (far and away the worst thing I’ve eaten - French cuisine my arse) and Blancmange
Turkish Delight and US ‘chocolate' products e.g. Hershey Bars and Oreos
Russian cold soups e.g. Okroshka and Liver
Click here for the link to the full interview sans photos and to see all the interviews from the other authors.
Infernal Clock available in Paperback and on Kindle now
Infernal Clock Review
15/04/17 21:08
Infernal Clock Reviews
There's been lots of love shown to The Infernal Clock online and on Amazon and they're multiple Five Star reviews. Woo!
Nice to get a thumbs up for my story in a new review in the Dream Cage. I didn't pay for the review in fact I don't even know the reviewer; honest! Made me happy this afternoon - I'm easily pleased. But good to know my story isn't out of its depth with all the other great stories in the anthology... and relax...
The Dream Cage review
In all seriousness though the book is cracking so if you haven't got it yet then what's keeping ya! Click on the cover and get on down to that there Amazon behemoth.
There's been lots of love shown to The Infernal Clock online and on Amazon and they're multiple Five Star reviews. Woo!
Nice to get a thumbs up for my story in a new review in the Dream Cage. I didn't pay for the review in fact I don't even know the reviewer; honest! Made me happy this afternoon - I'm easily pleased. But good to know my story isn't out of its depth with all the other great stories in the anthology... and relax...
The Dream Cage review
In all seriousness though the book is cracking so if you haven't got it yet then what's keeping ya! Click on the cover and get on down to that there Amazon behemoth.
The Infernal Clock has Ticked!
02/04/17 11:35
It's That Time, It's Here!
You can get your hands on The Infernal Clock on Amazon - Right Now! Tick-Tock. What are you waiting for?
Each story is set during an hour of the day; so that would be 24 stories then (yes it would). And that would be 24 authors too (yes, indeed). Quite a few Flash Dogs on the contributors list and writers who like scaring the bejesus out of us in the horror genre.
Like the Flash Dogs covers there has been more beautiful work from Tamara Rogers.
I've just got mine on my Paperwhite and looking forward to reading all of them. Apart from the last one; I've read that one before.
While you're on there buying it (I'm sure you are) you should also take advantage of the FREE (yep, gratis) Kindle copy of the last Flash Dogs anthology 'TIME'. FREE. That's good that. It's definitely time to get your Kindle going this April. Time - it's like the two are kind of linked, isn't it? Anyway, time for me to round this off and pick up me Kindle!
Flash Dogs Anthology 3 'TIME'
You can get your hands on The Infernal Clock on Amazon - Right Now! Tick-Tock. What are you waiting for?
Each story is set during an hour of the day; so that would be 24 stories then (yes it would). And that would be 24 authors too (yes, indeed). Quite a few Flash Dogs on the contributors list and writers who like scaring the bejesus out of us in the horror genre.
Like the Flash Dogs covers there has been more beautiful work from Tamara Rogers.
I've just got mine on my Paperwhite and looking forward to reading all of them. Apart from the last one; I've read that one before.
While you're on there buying it (I'm sure you are) you should also take advantage of the FREE (yep, gratis) Kindle copy of the last Flash Dogs anthology 'TIME'. FREE. That's good that. It's definitely time to get your Kindle going this April. Time - it's like the two are kind of linked, isn't it? Anyway, time for me to round this off and pick up me Kindle!
Flash Dogs Anthology 3 'TIME'
Clock Watching
30/03/17 22:34
That Infernal Clock
1, 2, 3 .... Shakes is getting us all excited about the upcoming publication of The Infernal Clock - it's looking great. And I for one can't wait to get me mitts on it (or on the Kindle with it on). Been hard work for Shakes and Steph ably helped out by Emily and with the art from Tamara; basically it's been a full on positive for the Flash Dogs community and I'm sure their work will have paid off in spades.
Bring it on.
...10, 11, 12.
Get your Kindle ready for it and watch this space!
1, 2, 3 .... Shakes is getting us all excited about the upcoming publication of The Infernal Clock - it's looking great. And I for one can't wait to get me mitts on it (or on the Kindle with it on). Been hard work for Shakes and Steph ably helped out by Emily and with the art from Tamara; basically it's been a full on positive for the Flash Dogs community and I'm sure their work will have paid off in spades.
Bring it on.
...10, 11, 12.
Get your Kindle ready for it and watch this space!
Twisted!
17/03/17 10:28
Twisted Tax Tales
Once upon a time... a tax and accountant company* in Australia ran a writing competition. And one A.J. Walker had an off the counter story which fitted with the theme (basically story needed to include 'an accountant' as a character). I actually had a story I wrote back in my days doing an OU creative writing course called... The Accountant.
So a tiny bit of editing... Attach and... press Send.
Then wait...
Wait..
Wait.
Yep, Short Listed. Whoop!
I had posted the fact that I'd entered on Facebook and one Mark Davoren spotted it. So he entered too. And yep, another writerer from Liverpool got in there too. Nearly all the rest of the authors were from Australia and New Zealand unsurprisingly. Was cool to see two Liverpool writers getting in there.
And yesterday the book arrived. Lovely it is too, don't you think?
Just a teeny wee shame about the typo on my blurb about one of my favourite books; Perdido Street Station by China Mieville has been autocorrected to Period Street Station. Doh!
The book with a whopping 35 stories in it is available in Paperback and on Kindle. It's a mahoosive £16.55 in Paperback and I blame the Australians (and perhaps their tax rates) for that. At least the Kindle version is available too.
#KeepWriting
*Success Tax Professionals
Once upon a time... a tax and accountant company* in Australia ran a writing competition. And one A.J. Walker had an off the counter story which fitted with the theme (basically story needed to include 'an accountant' as a character). I actually had a story I wrote back in my days doing an OU creative writing course called... The Accountant.
So a tiny bit of editing... Attach and... press Send.
Then wait...
Wait..
Wait.
Yep, Short Listed. Whoop!
I had posted the fact that I'd entered on Facebook and one Mark Davoren spotted it. So he entered too. And yep, another writerer from Liverpool got in there too. Nearly all the rest of the authors were from Australia and New Zealand unsurprisingly. Was cool to see two Liverpool writers getting in there.
And yesterday the book arrived. Lovely it is too, don't you think?
Just a teeny wee shame about the typo on my blurb about one of my favourite books; Perdido Street Station by China Mieville has been autocorrected to Period Street Station. Doh!
The book with a whopping 35 stories in it is available in Paperback and on Kindle. It's a mahoosive £16.55 in Paperback and I blame the Australians (and perhaps their tax rates) for that. At least the Kindle version is available too.
#KeepWriting
*Success Tax Professionals
Twisted Tax Tales
29/01/17 14:16
Twisted Tax Tales
Nice email this morning from Down Under informing me the 'Twisted Tax Tales' book will be out shortly. It said it had taken longer than anticipated to format the book and anyone who's done any formatting of books understands this feeling. It's a book of the shortlisted stories from a competition run last year by the Australian tax and accountancy firm 'Success Tax Professionals'.
Looking forward to receiving my copy when the boat from Australia comes in.
This afternoon I managed to type up an Angry Hourglass entry I wrote yesterday; yes, wrote it with a pen on paper and then typed up. Makes a change from typing straight into my laptop. Looks like there will be more entries than last week when I was judging. Good luck to this week's judge, A.V. Laidlaw.
Nice email this morning from Down Under informing me the 'Twisted Tax Tales' book will be out shortly. It said it had taken longer than anticipated to format the book and anyone who's done any formatting of books understands this feeling. It's a book of the shortlisted stories from a competition run last year by the Australian tax and accountancy firm 'Success Tax Professionals'.
Looking forward to receiving my copy when the boat from Australia comes in.
This afternoon I managed to type up an Angry Hourglass entry I wrote yesterday; yes, wrote it with a pen on paper and then typed up. Makes a change from typing straight into my laptop. Looks like there will be more entries than last week when I was judging. Good luck to this week's judge, A.V. Laidlaw.