What’s that rap-tap-tapping on your chamber door? It’s not some mocking raven – it’s the seriously unsettling Midnight Echo 11!
Edited by Kaaron Warren, Issue 11 is dedicated to all things sinister. With more than 100 pages of fiction, art, interviews, book releases, comics, and more, you're in for a disturbing ride.
I wanted to be a writer from a very young age, and wrote my first proper short story at 14. I also wrote a novel that year, called “Skin Deep”‘, which I really need to type up.
I started sending stories out when I was about 23, and sold my first one, “White Bed”", in 1993. Since then I’ve sold about 150 short stories, seven short story collections and six novels.
I’m an avid and broad reader but I also like reality TV so don’t always expect intelligent conversation from me.
Disclaimer 1: I read this as a judge for the 2015 Aurealis Awards. This review is my personal opinion and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team. Disclaimer 2: I'm recreating my review from partial notes, so there may be good stories that aren't mentioned.
I don't remember what it was that I disliked so about this issue, although I have a note that 'the black and white watercolours are delightful', so it wasn't the artwork. Instead, some individual reviews of things potentially worth reading:
Editorial - guest editor Kaaron Warren on her early influences and favourite stories. While I think this was supposed to give a feel for the collection of stories, I'm not familiar with most of the inspirations mentioned, and was just at a bit of a loss. Perfect Little Stitches by Deborah Sheldon - Delightful bit of creepy horror - grave robber mortician meets little girl vampire. The Crying Room by Marija Elektra Rodriguez - nasty. Psych ward or maternity ward or both? Implied rape using sedatives