Shaun Meeks's Blog - Posts Tagged "writer"
Some updates
It's been a while since I posted any sort of work update, so here I am to do one. Right now I have quite a bit in the works and ready to come out. Between now and the end of December I have four releases due out. My story Perfection Through Silence will be in Fresh Fear, which is edited by William Cook. My story Despair will be in Someone Wicked, which is edited by Weldon Burge and JM Reinbold. My story Give Me Convenience will be in Miseria's Chorale, which is edited by David Nell.
I will also be releasing my third collection, Dark Reaches at the end of December-early January. This one will be featuring 16 stories. A fair bit are new ones, while others are collected from anthologies I have appeared in over the last year. There is also a little hidden something in it for those that like to hunt around. This one is currently in the editing process, and should be ready pretty soon.
On top of that, I am still waiting on release dates for three other short stories and the final release date for my new novel, Shutdown.
And with all that going, this month I am taking part in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). I had to start this one from scratch and as it stands I have finished 20,000 words in 7 days. Not too bad. The novel I am working on is The Gate at Lake Drive and is the first novel in the Dillon the Monster Dick series. If I can keep the pace up that I am currently on, the book will be ready for editing by the end of November. And it seems as though that will happen. This is the first novel I have ever written that seems to be writing itself. It is full of monsters, demons, quirky townspeople, shady salesmen and burlesque performers. It's strange, cheesy, scary and funny. A bit of noir and a a whole lot of strange.
And as I do that, I have started to put together my forth collection, Salt on the Wound, and I am writing five new short stories for different anthologies that seem fun. Better yet, they pay well; always a good thing.
There are a few more little bits of exciting news here, but they will have to wait until things are confirmed. Can't wait to share it with all of you.
I will also be releasing my third collection, Dark Reaches at the end of December-early January. This one will be featuring 16 stories. A fair bit are new ones, while others are collected from anthologies I have appeared in over the last year. There is also a little hidden something in it for those that like to hunt around. This one is currently in the editing process, and should be ready pretty soon.
On top of that, I am still waiting on release dates for three other short stories and the final release date for my new novel, Shutdown.
And with all that going, this month I am taking part in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). I had to start this one from scratch and as it stands I have finished 20,000 words in 7 days. Not too bad. The novel I am working on is The Gate at Lake Drive and is the first novel in the Dillon the Monster Dick series. If I can keep the pace up that I am currently on, the book will be ready for editing by the end of November. And it seems as though that will happen. This is the first novel I have ever written that seems to be writing itself. It is full of monsters, demons, quirky townspeople, shady salesmen and burlesque performers. It's strange, cheesy, scary and funny. A bit of noir and a a whole lot of strange.
And as I do that, I have started to put together my forth collection, Salt on the Wound, and I am writing five new short stories for different anthologies that seem fun. Better yet, they pay well; always a good thing.
There are a few more little bits of exciting news here, but they will have to wait until things are confirmed. Can't wait to share it with all of you.
Down on the Farm...a peek
So, there have been a lot of people asking what Down on the Farm is all about. Some want to know if it's a short story, or a novella or a novel. Others -weirdly- wonder if it's a kids story.
Well, let me tell you.
First, the book is a novelette, which is in between a short story and a novella. It's about 11,000 words long, or 74 pages. That's why the print copy is only about $5 and digital is around $1.
Years ago I did some work for the city in the Coroner's Office. When I was there, I was part of the cleaning crew and body removal. Not the best job, but it was interesting to say the least. I'd been thinking about getting into forensics at the time and began to read up on it. One of the things I read about, was a place known as The Body Farm.
If you haven't read Down on the Farm yet, this is the central setting of the book. It's a place where doctors, scientists and anthropologists study death and decay. If that isn't enough to get you interested, here's the opening of the book:
"Her father had been a farmer. She remembered how his coarse hands felt on her cheeks when he would wipe away her tears and would tell her to “buck up, Kiddo” whenever she was hurt. That’s what he’d always called her. Kiddo. Never by her first name, Nadine, or what her friends or mom called her, which had been Naddie. To her dad, it was always Kiddo.
She missed him a lot, especially when she grabbed hold of her tools and went to her own farm. Not that the Farm where she worked actually belonged to her, but she was one of the heads there, so she always referred to it as though it were her own. After she had parked her car and had a quick coffee and muffin to get her through until lunch, she grabbed her tool kit and a camera and then headed over to the fenced off area that lead to the farm. She unlocked the padlocked gate and as soon as she stepped onto the grounds, she was welcomed by that old familiar scent.
Death.
Most people that visited the building close to the Farm never knew what lay beyond the gate where she worked with a team of doctors and anthropologists. Some had heard rumours of the work, and on hot days, the wind would carry the scent of their crops, which caused so many to wince. Unlike her dad’s farm, the Body Farm didn’t grow life, but housed the dead. At that moment, the Farm housed twelve bodies, all in different states of decay and with numerous variables added to them so the doctors could measure rates of decay better. One man was fully clothed in a track suit, while there was a woman nude, tucked into a plastic garbage can. There was a teenage boy clad in nothing but boxers and a wife beater partially buried under leaves and an elderly man that had been encased in a slab of concrete. Three nights before, one of the doctors had conducted fire tests on different body parts and Naddie could still smell the distinct odor of cooked flesh in the air."
Copyright © 2014 by Shaun Meeks
Down on the Farm is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.Down on the Farm
Well, let me tell you.
First, the book is a novelette, which is in between a short story and a novella. It's about 11,000 words long, or 74 pages. That's why the print copy is only about $5 and digital is around $1.
Years ago I did some work for the city in the Coroner's Office. When I was there, I was part of the cleaning crew and body removal. Not the best job, but it was interesting to say the least. I'd been thinking about getting into forensics at the time and began to read up on it. One of the things I read about, was a place known as The Body Farm.
If you haven't read Down on the Farm yet, this is the central setting of the book. It's a place where doctors, scientists and anthropologists study death and decay. If that isn't enough to get you interested, here's the opening of the book:
"Her father had been a farmer. She remembered how his coarse hands felt on her cheeks when he would wipe away her tears and would tell her to “buck up, Kiddo” whenever she was hurt. That’s what he’d always called her. Kiddo. Never by her first name, Nadine, or what her friends or mom called her, which had been Naddie. To her dad, it was always Kiddo.
She missed him a lot, especially when she grabbed hold of her tools and went to her own farm. Not that the Farm where she worked actually belonged to her, but she was one of the heads there, so she always referred to it as though it were her own. After she had parked her car and had a quick coffee and muffin to get her through until lunch, she grabbed her tool kit and a camera and then headed over to the fenced off area that lead to the farm. She unlocked the padlocked gate and as soon as she stepped onto the grounds, she was welcomed by that old familiar scent.
Death.
Most people that visited the building close to the Farm never knew what lay beyond the gate where she worked with a team of doctors and anthropologists. Some had heard rumours of the work, and on hot days, the wind would carry the scent of their crops, which caused so many to wince. Unlike her dad’s farm, the Body Farm didn’t grow life, but housed the dead. At that moment, the Farm housed twelve bodies, all in different states of decay and with numerous variables added to them so the doctors could measure rates of decay better. One man was fully clothed in a track suit, while there was a woman nude, tucked into a plastic garbage can. There was a teenage boy clad in nothing but boxers and a wife beater partially buried under leaves and an elderly man that had been encased in a slab of concrete. Three nights before, one of the doctors had conducted fire tests on different body parts and Naddie could still smell the distinct odor of cooked flesh in the air."
Copyright © 2014 by Shaun Meeks
Down on the Farm is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.Down on the Farm
Shutdown Is Almost Here!
Final edits were submitted for my debut novel, Shutdown, and I've been told to expect the release in early December 2014. That's right, next month. This book has had a long journey. I wrote the first, very rough draft of this back in the 90's and then set it aside for all this time, until I finally decided it was time to get serious about this writing stuff. I've had a great experience with the staff over at J. Ellington Ashton Press, from the edits to the cover design, the whole thing has been great. I'm really looking forward to the release and seeing what everyone thinks.
So, to get ready, below I've added the back blurb, just to tease and get everyone excited. Hope you enjoy.
"There are ancient secrets buried in the world, under dirt, rock and sand. Sometimes they are buried for a reason. GenCross, a genetics company in Toronto, wants to learn the secrets, good or bad. So do others and they’ll do anything to get them.
Tim “Mouse” Jones is a university drop out who found success as a hacker. When he’s offered a job to make more money than ever, it’s hard to say no. Even if it means breaking into one of the most secure buildings in the city. The security system and the guards will be hard to get past, but the money is just too tempting to say no to. Greed is an ugly monster.
Amanda McMichaels works in the Cross building and knows something about monsters. She lives with one, and work is her only escape from him. Yet the monster at home is nothing compared to what lives on the 10th floor of the Cross building.
As the building shuts down, and the secret evil awakens, Amanda and Mouse are drawn together and must help each other to survive those that are hunting them.
Some things should stay buried."
So, to get ready, below I've added the back blurb, just to tease and get everyone excited. Hope you enjoy.
"There are ancient secrets buried in the world, under dirt, rock and sand. Sometimes they are buried for a reason. GenCross, a genetics company in Toronto, wants to learn the secrets, good or bad. So do others and they’ll do anything to get them.
Tim “Mouse” Jones is a university drop out who found success as a hacker. When he’s offered a job to make more money than ever, it’s hard to say no. Even if it means breaking into one of the most secure buildings in the city. The security system and the guards will be hard to get past, but the money is just too tempting to say no to. Greed is an ugly monster.
Amanda McMichaels works in the Cross building and knows something about monsters. She lives with one, and work is her only escape from him. Yet the monster at home is nothing compared to what lives on the 10th floor of the Cross building.
As the building shuts down, and the secret evil awakens, Amanda and Mouse are drawn together and must help each other to survive those that are hunting them.
Some things should stay buried."
Shutdown has Touched Down
The time has finally arrived. My debut novel, Shutdown, was released this week from J Ellington Ashton Press. The book is a mix of Sci-fi and horror. One early response to the story was that it reads like Die Hard if it was written by HP Lovecraft. Here's the blurb from the back:
"There are ancient secrets buried in the world, under dirt, rock and sand. Sometimes they are buried for a reason. GenCross, a genetics company in Toronto, wants to learn the secrets, good or bad. So do others and they’ll do anything to get them.
Tim “Mouse” Jones is a university drop out who found success as a hacker. When he’s offered a job to make more money than ever, it’s hard to say no. Even if it means breaking into one of the most secure buildings in the city. The security system and the guards will be hard to get past, but the money is just too tempting to say no to. Greed is an ugly monster.
Amanda McMichaels works in the Cross building and knows something about monsters. She lives with one, and work is her only escape from him. Yet the monster at home is nothing compared to what lives on the 10th floor of the Cross building. As the building shuts down, and the secret evil awakens, Amanda and Mouse are drawn together and must help each other to survive those that are hunting them.
Some things should stay buried."
And now, here are some links to where you can find it.
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_nos...
Amazon.ca: http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss...
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_n...
Amazon.com.au: http://www.amazon.com.au/s/ref=nb_sb_...
The Gate at Lake Drive
The Gate at Lake Drive
Well, it's finally here. The Gate at Lake Drive has been released from IFWG Publishing. If you've read the short story, The Undergarment Eater, you'll be familiar with the main character, Dillon the Monster Dick. If you're not, don't worry, this'll be the first of many novels featuring him. It also includes the short story mentioned above.
So what's it all about? Here's a clip from the back of the book:
"Meet Dillon, the Monster Dick. He’s a detective of sorts, a man hired to hunt down things that have come into our world that have no right to be here. Whether it’s a monster made up of paint cans and rags, spirits hidden in carpets or animals possessed by demons, Dillon will dispatch them as soon as he finds them.
His new job is up in northern Ontario, where the mayor has hired him to deal a swarm of creatures that seem to be coming from a whirlpool in the middle of the lake. When he hears this, he’s more worried than he’s ever been. In all the years Dillon has been a hunter, he’s never once heard of a flock of monsters coming into this realm at the same time.
Dillon heads there with his new friend, burlesque performer Rouge Hills and finds nothing is what it seems. It’s not just one type of monster, but something far worse trying to be born into our world. The odds are stacked against him, but since the money is good, there’s no turning back.
From Shaun Meeks, the author of At the Gates of Madness and Shutdown, comes book one in the Dillon the Monster Dick series."
If you like horror, monsters, demons, monster hunters, zombies, noir and burlesque, this one is for you.
Well, it's finally here. The Gate at Lake Drive has been released from IFWG Publishing. If you've read the short story, The Undergarment Eater, you'll be familiar with the main character, Dillon the Monster Dick. If you're not, don't worry, this'll be the first of many novels featuring him. It also includes the short story mentioned above.
So what's it all about? Here's a clip from the back of the book:
"Meet Dillon, the Monster Dick. He’s a detective of sorts, a man hired to hunt down things that have come into our world that have no right to be here. Whether it’s a monster made up of paint cans and rags, spirits hidden in carpets or animals possessed by demons, Dillon will dispatch them as soon as he finds them.
His new job is up in northern Ontario, where the mayor has hired him to deal a swarm of creatures that seem to be coming from a whirlpool in the middle of the lake. When he hears this, he’s more worried than he’s ever been. In all the years Dillon has been a hunter, he’s never once heard of a flock of monsters coming into this realm at the same time.
Dillon heads there with his new friend, burlesque performer Rouge Hills and finds nothing is what it seems. It’s not just one type of monster, but something far worse trying to be born into our world. The odds are stacked against him, but since the money is good, there’s no turning back.
From Shaun Meeks, the author of At the Gates of Madness and Shutdown, comes book one in the Dillon the Monster Dick series."
If you like horror, monsters, demons, monster hunters, zombies, noir and burlesque, this one is for you.
News and stuff
Well, I've been busy this year. Unlike the last two years though, I've spent a lot less time writing short fiction and have been working on novels and novellas. That's not to say I'm not writing any. I have three collections in the works, and will release on every year over the next three years. They'll be called Dark Reaches, Autumn's Jar and other stories and Salt on the Wounds.
I did just have two stories published this week, well, re-published. The magazine, Rouge Nation, picked up Dreams of a Dead Man and Treats to be published in their print magazine. If you've never picked up one of their magazines before, no better time than now. Here's a link to get it:
http://rogue-blogue.blogspot.ca/2015/...
In other news, I had an article published in Festivale's online magazine. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a long term love affair with movies, both of the good and bad variety. One thing I'd been noticing though over the last little while, is the hate people have on remakes. I agree there are bad choices made when it comes to remaking movies, but without them, we wouldn't have classics like The Fly or John Carpenter's The Thing. You can read the whole article here:
http://festivale.info/film/reellife.htm
I was also featured on This Is Horror. So, if you want to know a little bit more about me, you can read that here:
http://www.thisishorror.co.uk/meet-th...
I'm still working on the new novel, Gone Crazy...Be Back Soon and hope to have release dates for my next two novels, Maymon and Earthbound and Down (book two in the Dillon the Monster Dick series). Check back soon!
I did just have two stories published this week, well, re-published. The magazine, Rouge Nation, picked up Dreams of a Dead Man and Treats to be published in their print magazine. If you've never picked up one of their magazines before, no better time than now. Here's a link to get it:
http://rogue-blogue.blogspot.ca/2015/...
In other news, I had an article published in Festivale's online magazine. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a long term love affair with movies, both of the good and bad variety. One thing I'd been noticing though over the last little while, is the hate people have on remakes. I agree there are bad choices made when it comes to remaking movies, but without them, we wouldn't have classics like The Fly or John Carpenter's The Thing. You can read the whole article here:
http://festivale.info/film/reellife.htm
I was also featured on This Is Horror. So, if you want to know a little bit more about me, you can read that here:
http://www.thisishorror.co.uk/meet-th...
I'm still working on the new novel, Gone Crazy...Be Back Soon and hope to have release dates for my next two novels, Maymon and Earthbound and Down (book two in the Dillon the Monster Dick series). Check back soon!
Voting Time!
Well, it's that time of year again. Polls are open to vote for novels and short stories I've written. Right now, I'm on the list for a novel and a short story. Last year, the votes helped me hit second place which is amazing because there were so many great writers on the list, so thanks.
Below I have links to the novel and short story category. All you have to do is click each link, click my story and fill out your name, email address (don't worry they don't spam) and the security thingy. Then, respond to the email and it's good to go. Only one vote counts, so you can only vote once in each category.
And don't forget to check out the other categories. So many talented people on the list!
NOVEL: The Gate At Lake Drive
http://critters.org/predpoll/novelh.s...
SHORT STORY: And Midian Whispered Its Name
http://critters.org/predpoll/shortsto...
Below I have links to the novel and short story category. All you have to do is click each link, click my story and fill out your name, email address (don't worry they don't spam) and the security thingy. Then, respond to the email and it's good to go. Only one vote counts, so you can only vote once in each category.
And don't forget to check out the other categories. So many talented people on the list!
NOVEL: The Gate At Lake Drive
http://critters.org/predpoll/novelh.s...
SHORT STORY: And Midian Whispered Its Name
http://critters.org/predpoll/shortsto...
Patreon is now up
A few months ago, I set up a Patreon account. I was so reluctant at first, but a few people I knew thought it would be a good way to get in touch with a new audience and offer something more to people who already enjoy what I do. So, I set it up, only telling a handful of people about it as I wanted to make sure there was already some posts up to make it worth while for subscribers. I'm here now, writing this to invite anyone who is interested to head over and join. Tiers start at $2 and go up from there. Aside from the things already up, the coming months will have reviews, new short stories, behind the scenes look at upcoming books, sneak peeks at covers and releases, as well as some informative blogs, and a few more personal ones. For the blogs, I plan on sharing some tips for writers, a look at the writing process, but also things about me, and the journey I'm on. If any of this interests you, and I hope it does, head over to https://www.patreon.com/Shaunmeeks and see what tier fits you. I look forward to hearing what people think about it.
Happy New Year
2020 has been a strange one for me, and I'm sure fpr most of you as well. It has not been the most productive on my end. My latest collection, From Nightmare, Dreams was set to be released in summer of 2020, but when the summer came, it just didn't feel right. This year the world had so many more important voices that needed to be heard than my own, so I decided to wait. And I waited, and waited.
Now, as the year changes, I want to start off 2021 with a bang. By the end of January, the collection of new and old stories will be released. I have wanted this out for so long, and seeing it coming out after a pretty nasty year, I think is a great way to wipe the dust of 2020 off and start fresh. The book has quite a few never before published stories, as well as some fan and critic favorites (And Midian Whispered Its Name, Red Velvet, In the Sun, and Dead Bill to name a few). As always, there will be some hidden surprises as well.
IFWG Publishing is also set to release the next Dillon the Monster Dick book, number 4 in the series called Heads, You Lose. This was also supposed to have come out in 2020, but again, what can you do? Originally I had an idea to do 7 books in this series, but I think now, to keep it fresh, there will be only 6, with A Touch of Death currently in the works, and then Dillon At the Gates of Madness to round out the series. That's the plan at least, but who knows if things might change before then.
I had also started a Patreon in late 2019 and had thought it was a great idea. I had no idea what 2020 would bring, but a little after Covid hit I put the page on hold. During the protests, I didn't think it was a place for a writer to be charging people to read relatively unimportant things. Like I said, there were more important voices that needed to be heard. Not that I had many subscribers anyway, which is why I had a funeral for my Patreon account and buried it. I doubt I will ever revisit it again. It was more work than it was worth.
I have written a few stories this year and plan to start submitting again. If you've read this far, i hope the New Year is good to us all. I hope there will be a sense of normalcy instead of the sense of dread that has been looming. Stay safe. Be well. I hope we can all see each other soon.
Now, as the year changes, I want to start off 2021 with a bang. By the end of January, the collection of new and old stories will be released. I have wanted this out for so long, and seeing it coming out after a pretty nasty year, I think is a great way to wipe the dust of 2020 off and start fresh. The book has quite a few never before published stories, as well as some fan and critic favorites (And Midian Whispered Its Name, Red Velvet, In the Sun, and Dead Bill to name a few). As always, there will be some hidden surprises as well.
IFWG Publishing is also set to release the next Dillon the Monster Dick book, number 4 in the series called Heads, You Lose. This was also supposed to have come out in 2020, but again, what can you do? Originally I had an idea to do 7 books in this series, but I think now, to keep it fresh, there will be only 6, with A Touch of Death currently in the works, and then Dillon At the Gates of Madness to round out the series. That's the plan at least, but who knows if things might change before then.
I had also started a Patreon in late 2019 and had thought it was a great idea. I had no idea what 2020 would bring, but a little after Covid hit I put the page on hold. During the protests, I didn't think it was a place for a writer to be charging people to read relatively unimportant things. Like I said, there were more important voices that needed to be heard. Not that I had many subscribers anyway, which is why I had a funeral for my Patreon account and buried it. I doubt I will ever revisit it again. It was more work than it was worth.
I have written a few stories this year and plan to start submitting again. If you've read this far, i hope the New Year is good to us all. I hope there will be a sense of normalcy instead of the sense of dread that has been looming. Stay safe. Be well. I hope we can all see each other soon.
