I Love My Humor Dark. No Sugar, No Cream discussion

Introduce yourself to the group!

My name is C.A. Huggins. I currently live in San Diego, CA. I've been a lover of darkly comedic writing, television, and movies since as far as I can remember. I could always find the humor of any situation. Somebody falls down the steps, it's funny...if they get up and are not hurt. Right? Right? Who's with me on that one?

My name is Anthony Schultz, I'm a 24-year-old writer and satirist from Spokane, WA. I am an avid fan of dark humor and wit. My writing partner and I recently wrapped up a television script, which had been described as "a dark humored comedy centering on the everyday craziness of the retail industry." My favorite comedies tend to be dark and just like my coffee-- That's how I like it.

Welcome Anthony!

Well I suppose I'm just me. A lone word on the dusty surface of a torn page. I write of course, Poe is my poetic influence, so dark is something I know well. As for my coffee, you'll only find death wish in my cup and I've got a pair of skull and cross bones thermoses to advertise it. That's about all there is. I'm the girl in black, watching you from the shadows, the one that looks like she came from a funeral.

My name is Jenna and I love to laugh at anything, but often at others who take themselves too seriously and myself, when I forget not to take myself too seriously. I suffer from a very dry wit, which my husband also has. Apparently it's contagious, as our two sons seem to have it too.

I am not always quick on the uptake tho, so I find with satirical novels I sometimes have to read them twice, once to figure out the voice of the author, then once to enjoy the humor I missed the first time. But never with David Sedaris. I usually get him the first time round.

I started out with The Phantom Tollbooth when I was about 10, then found a shabby copy of Bored of the Rings and have preferred the irreverent, subversive, no-sacred-cows, just-because-it-wasn't-meant-to-be-funny-doesn't-mean-it-isn't ever since. I'm a bit stuck because there is only one bookstore (B&N, blech) close enough that would not require air travel, so I'm looking for suggestions and reassurance that there are people left that do not view the trade paperback mystery as the peak of our civilization's achievement, with no apologies to fans of Janet Evanovich.

My name is Strobe Witherspoon.

Born on the mean streets of northern Maine, Strobe Witherspoon's writing is a testament to fortitude, perseverance, and the American dream. Blessed with an IQ that doctors classify as "mediocre" and a vocabulary that is "kind of good", Witherspoon is excited to bring his cleverness to readers of books.

My book is called furtl. Here: http://www.amazon.com/furtl-Strobe-Wi...

or here: furtl

twitter: strwitherspoon

This got awkward.

I'm Dan Florence, a comedy writer, MBA and engineer in Boise, ID. I know we're talking literature, but some of my favorite dark humor is in the Cohen Brothers' films. I think you can find humor in just about anything if you look hard enough.

Dan wrote: "I'm Dan Florence, a comedy writer, MBA and engineer in Boise, ID. I know we're talking literature, but some of my favorite dark humor is in the Cohen Brothers' films. I think you can find humor in ..."

The Cohen Brothers are definitely brilliant.

NITS

Greetings - I'm Michele Harris, author of NITS, a social satire about .... you guessed it, head lice.

Dark humor? I heard of shock humor. Cringe humor. Is this, like sorta about a Vampire whose falsies are stolen by Buffy Summers?

I'm Terry Ravenscroft(I'm told that all my books are dark humor!)

I'm Jasper Grawl, American writer living in Tokyo, and I am a huge fan of fire-breathing satire--but only if it pertains to: money, politics, religion, drugs, or knockin' boots.

Just released (Jan. '14) my debut novel, "The Gates of Valhalla". It is a fictional satire of said fire-breathing nature. Would be happy to furnish anyone who wants one with a free Kindle copy.

I'm Susan Hasler, an ex-CIA analyst and author of two satirical novels, Intelligence: A Tale of Terror and Uncivil Service, and Project HALFSHEEP: Or How the Agency's Alien Got High. An ethnic bureaucrat, I write about my people: the dedicated public servants, the vicious turf warriors, the dead wood, the craven ass coverers, and the after-hours lovers who meet atop the conference table, swiping away coffee rings with their sweaty haunches.

I'm Jackson Radcliffe, author of The Yoga Sutras. I enjoy dark humour, big ideas and unpredictable stories. The Yoga Sutras is a darkly comic philosophical tale - dark on comedy, light on philosophy!

I will gladly send you a free copy in return for a review - please message me if you'd like a free copy. Or even if you are willing to pay :)

"Every child needs a father. Even if he turns out to be Darth Vader." - The Yoga Sutras

Hi I'm Scott Oglesby and love humor. I blog it, think it and write books based on humor. I keep being told that my latest book is written in the style of Hunter S Thompson - which makes me very happy.

Hi, I'm Charles Harris. I'm a writer and director of films, also writing books, fiction and non-fiction. I love books which deal with important subjects through sharply observed satirical humour. I've a book on screenwriting coming out in October Teach Yourself Complete Screenwriting Course and a crime/satirical novel next year.

I look forward greatly to taking part in this group.

Good to see a new member in this group. I joined not long ago, and it has been very quiet. I hope it picks up. I write political satire and I've had a hard time finding my tribe.

Susan wrote: "Good to see a new member in this group. I joined not long ago, and it has been very quiet. I hope it picks up. I write political satire and I've had a hard time finding my tribe."

Great to meet you. I'm not sure the industry understands the term "satire" - I had a hard time finding a publisher!

Yes, the industry doesn't like the term. They called my first novel a thriller, which it wasn't. I've gone indie, because it's easier than learning to color inside the lines.

Greetings. Joel here. I have been a fanatic over bizarre humor for as long as I can remember, especially the stuff where I have to stop and ask myself if I really just read what I just read. I also write strangely humorous stuff (see my profile page if you're curious), and enjoy sharing my weirder discoveries with others of like (i.e., out-of-their) minds.

Great, another new member! This moribund group is suddenly showing some life.

If that keeps up, it'll be a lessibund group. I think.

Hello all. I'm Steve Sanderson. I live in NY and love satire, especially modern satire, and dark satire as well. I know this group is open to everyone, but thanks for letting me join...

Hello everyone. My penname is GHDOS. I'm 29 and currently living in North Carolina, but will be moving to Memphis, TN at the end of September. So far, I've released one book of poetry, but will be releasing my first novel in November. Once that's completed, I'll start work on a scripted web series based in dark humor with a comedy team of mine. I look forward to having discussions with you all and reading your work. Don't be a stranger!

Welcome to The Humour Club. I tried using a pen name once, but apparently Bic was already trademarked. Lawyers can be mean.

Hi all, someone called my book, Pine Valley, a "well written satire about the rich and powerful" on Goodreads. So after I put my dictionary down, I typed "satire" into the search box and it brought me here.

http://www.amazon.com/PINE-VALLEY-Ged...

Hi, I'm John Wood, author of How I Killed Off My Ex-Wife and Other Far-Flung Misadventures. I like to travel and often end up getting talked into doing humiliating things, which some people (not me) seem to find funny. I'm here to find like individuals, and it seems like I've found the right place!

Hi I am Gary Anderson. I have written about the New World Order. It was so dark that I had to write a satire book about the NWO. It was fun to laugh for a change and realize that we can survive the onslaught of financial and political attacks that have brought America down. My satire ebook is recently published and called Beat Down the Globalists: Laugh, Live and Prosper This is a controversial book, just FYI.

Hi, I’m Winifred Morris. I’m the author of several books for kids which are only occasionally funny. In fact, I got so bogged down in teenage angst that I decided to write a humorous adult novel. That’s when I learned from agents and editors that humor is so subjective most of them don’t want to touch it. Humor is very subjective, and I’m not sure the humor in my book, Of Mice and Money, is dark, but I like dark humor as well as gentler stuff. I’m new to Goodreads, exploring. This seems an interesting group. Of Mice and Money

Winifred wrote: "Hi, I’m Winifred Morris. I’m the author of several books for kids which are only occasionally funny. In fact, I got so bogged down in teenage angst that I decided to write a humorous adult novel. T..."

Hi Winifred. Welcome. I think dark humor gets a bum ride for many reasons: Most writers who try their hand at it tend to dehumanize their characters and fail the point of writing in the first place; or like you said, a reader's taste is awfully subjective when it comes to what they will find offensive or just plain flat; or the market for satire/black humor is like 1/1000 the size of what's available for Gothic Parables about Polish Grandmothers. Anyway, I'd love to read an excerpt of your new work if it is available.

John wrote: "Hi, I'm John Wood, author of How I Killed Off My Ex-Wife and Other Far-Flung Misadventures. I like to travel and often end up getting talked into doing humili..."

Hi John. I read the sample chapters of "How I Killed Off My Ex Wife..." and really enjoyed it. I don't own an e-reader or whatever you call it, so I'm not sure if I can get it in PDF for my i-Mac. According to your bio you have books worth of background and have me on the hook. I really enjoyed the jocular tone of your narrative, and how it refrained from cynicism (which I think is especially important in non-fiction). Look forward to reading more.

Jasper wrote: "I'm Jasper Grawl, American writer living in Tokyo, and I am a huge fan of fire-breathing satire--but only if it pertains to: money, politics, religion, drugs, or knockin' boots.

Just released (J..."

Hey Jasper. Is there any way I can view your work on PDF? Don't have an e-reader.

Mark wrote: "Winifred wrote: "Hi, I’m Winifred Morris. I’m the author of several books for kids which are only occasionally funny. In fact, I got so bogged down in teenage angst that I decided to write a humoro..."

Thanks for your interest in my book Of Mice and Money. I've now uploaded the first 20% of it to goodreads.

My visceral, satiric point of view is honed from those writers who emerged from the energetic decadence of Germany's Weimar Republic; Bertholt Brecht, Joseph Roth and Stefan Zweig.

"Bonjour Amigos!" uses the ticklish feather of a transvestite, Las Vegas poker player who ends up with her own blockbuster reality show to poke fun at that dystopian culture that worships the Kardashians and Duck Dynasty.

My name is David Gustafson and "I approve of this message."

I'm Betsy Robinson. I just reviewed Three By Flannery O'Connor, which I read because I was looking for a female writer who wrote humorous, grotesque stuff. I wrote a new novel that I'm hawking: , The Last Will & Testament of Zelda McFigg. I'd love to know about other female writers writing funny outsider stuff. I can't find them. Blatant Plug: Feel free to read my book!

Hi - I'm Dorian Box and am glad to have found this group. Have long been a fan of dark humor and, related, books emphasizing the absurdity of life (e.g., Catch-22). Recently published my novel, Psycho-Tropics (as in "That crazy %#$@ needs a whole lot more psychotropics"). "Carl Hiassen on steroids," as one reviewer described it. Looking forward to learning about books recommended by group members! Dorian

Hi All, I'm Dick Lannister and currently in the final stages of publishing my first book called 'How To Get To The Top Without Working Too Hard. (pub. June 28th.) I got fed up with those '58 Ways to Be More Successful in 10 minutes' books so created an alternative satirical version...Time will tell who was right in the end.
Anyway I like this tongue in cheek humour (OK I'm a Brit) so look forward to hearing recommendations and suggestions for similar titles. Cheers Dick. PS there's also a blog at dicklannister.com

Hi Dorian and Dick,

In my experience this forum is quite slow moving so we all need to wake it up because it has the potential to be one of the best given the type of material it wants to promote.

G'luck with your books!

Thanks, Rupert. I agree. Any suggestions for how to get it going and growing? Dorian

Start a new thread about your favourite dark comedy books and invite people to join in. Or if it's suited then start a thread about your own book with some background info. I have a few friends on here who are trying to get their stuff read -myself included- so I'll give them a nudge if we can get a new thread going. Just post loads of junk and I promise to engage with it - even if it ends up just being me and you propped up at the bar yapping to each other :-)

I wish this place would liven up. This and the transgressive fiction thread are the most suited to my style.

Is your book dark comedy? I'll happily do a trade with you if it is.

Yes, it's loaded with dark humor, although it has a lot of serious stuff as well. But here's the first sentence:

"It wasn't fair that Albert Thumpet had to die just
because he was the most boring member of the Seminole
High School Class of 1975."

I'd be happy to do a trade. Let me know your book and I will buy a copy.

Also, for you and anyone else in this group, if you'll send me the info listed in the link below, I'll add your book in my "Author's Garage" page on my blog: http://dorianbox.com/authors-garage/

The page is just getting started, but I'm happy to add anyone's credible work to it, no strings attached.

Dorian

Cheers, Dorian.

You can find my book here. Get it added! Spark is what I'd describe as a transgressive black comedy with serious messages about hacktivism/ computer surveillance/ revolution/ philosophy etc. Anyone I can get reading it seems to enjoy it. It's very much an ode to Anonymous and the London Riots we had here in the UK in 2011.

You don't have to buy a copy unless you really want to! If you don't mind reading PDFs then you can always email me through my website for a free copy.

I've just added your book to read. That opening sentence is funny so I'll look forward to it. I'm snowed under with a number of books in the immediate future that I've promised people I'll read but I'll get round to it ASAP. I'm also about supporting authors who take this craft seriously - particularly those who are doing something meaningful and different. So nice one for setting up Author's Garage.

Thanks and take care!

Thanks! Just added it to my "to read" list. Sounds really interesting!

Cheers, Dorian. I'm going to post a thread of my own and see if I can wake this place up a little...

Do it and I will definitely participate.

Done! :-)

Ello. Name is Jason and I live in the UK, reluctantly, My sense of humour is a bit messed up at times.

Currently have this playing at work for when those annoying folk come to ask for my help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1c2K...

Next time I can't get ketamine off my dealer I'll just watch that video instead. It's rocking!