Pela Via flashes the literary world
Posted on January 31, 2011 Leave a Comment
One of my favorite female voices, Pela Via, is somebody who is unafraid of tension, loss, sexuality, love, and the deranged mind of a femme fatale, is writing a bunch of flash stories, 31 before her birthday. She’s on #9 right now, and these are classic Pela, so much fun to read, always surprising, always entertaining, twisted and dark, emotional and thoughtful. Head over now.
“Victimized” spread from Murky Depths #15
Posted on January 29, 2011 Leave a Comment
Art by Brian Typhair. Pretty cool, huh?
AWP 2011 – Washington DC
Posted on January 28, 2011 Leave a Comment
I wrote an article on the panels I would go to, IF I was going this year. Had to cancel at the last minute, so I’m not happy about it. BUT, you can go and have fun for me. Lots to do, tons of great authors, the bookfair, and some great readings too.
“Terrapin Station” is in Pear Noir! #5. Richard does lit. Out now.
Posted on January 27, 2011 Leave a Comment
A story that I wrote for my MFA program with the Pulitzer nominated author Dale Ray Phillips entitled “Terrapin Station” is now out in print in Pear Noir! #5. This is a really cool, eclectic journal. I recognize several other authors in here as well: Kim Chinquee, Kevin Moffett, Gabe Durham and Michael Kimball, so I’m in good company. These do tend to sell out. All past issues (1-4) are sold out, if memory serves me correctly.
“Terrapin Station” is set in Chicago, off of Michigan Avenue, about a man who leaves the corporate world behind to carve turtles while sitting on a park bench, living in a tree in Grant Park. He pines for the woman at the office that he leaves behind each year to head down to New Orleans, and hopes that this is the year that she joins him.
This is not my usual dark fiction, so if you’ve ever wanted to read something more literary or more upbeat, here you go.
In The Mean Time by Paul Tremblay
Posted on January 24, 2011 Leave a Comment
In The Mean Time by Paul Tremblay is a powerful collection of short stories, always interesting, with the usual Tremblay Twists, unique perspectives and layers of emotions. These stories really socked me in the gut, so head over to The Nervous Breakdown to get all of that information, see what my favorites were, and be sure to pick up a copy of this book today.
“Victimized” is now out in Murky Depths #15
Posted on January 22, 2011 2 Comments
I can’t begin to say how excited I am about my 5,000 word short story “Victimized” being in Issue #15 of Murky Depths. They are such a cool publication, I mean, look at that cover? And this is one of my favorite stories. When I get the spread artwork from my story I’ll add those up. Murky Depths is really coming into its own, having won the British Fantasy Award for BEST MAGAZINE. Pick up your copy today, while they last.
In case you wanted to know more, “Victimized” is about a young woman in the near future who has decided to go into the boxing ring that is now used to punish criminals, an option offered up by the government and police as an way to find closure for those that want to have a more “hand on” experience in dealing with somebody that raped or murdered a family member or friend. It’s a wild ride, one I think you’ll enjoy. It’s a mix of horror and neo-noir, mystery and crime, with a bit of SF and fantasy and sex tossed in. My usual.
ENJOY!
Cut Through The Bone by Ethel Rohan
Posted on January 19, 2011 Leave a Comment
This slim volume of dark fiction was a real joy to read. Check out my full review over at TNB. Dark Sky is doing a lot of great things, and this was an ideal place to start.
Excerpts from Transubstantiate in Vain #9
Posted on January 16, 2011 Leave a Comment
NOTE: Issue 9 is NOW OUT!
Vain does such beautiful work. Some excerpts from my novel Transubstantiate are in here (I originally published my short story “Underground Wonderbound” a naughty little tale about a sex club in Issue #5 with Vain in 2009) as well as some beautiful artwork. I’ll also make an announcement when it actually releases, but they don’t make many of these, and do them all by hand, so be sure to get one. #9 has to do with the “fantastical” and my excerpts are the more surreal and fantastic from the book.
The Orange Eats Creeps: A discussion between Richard Thomas and Blake Butler
Posted on January 12, 2011 Leave a Comment
The Orange Eats Creeps (Two Dollar Radio) by Grace Krilanovich is one of the most challenging and simultaneously rewarding books I read in 2010. I knew that I would have difficulty with this unique debut novel, so I decided to have a conversation with fellow dark and surreal author Blake Butler over a couple of weeks to see what we could figure out. Read this lengthy conversation over at The Nervous Breakdown. If you’re looking for a book that doesn’t give it up easily, and are a fan of Burroughs, Evenson, and Erickson, this may be for you.
Richard’s Top 10 Books of the Year: 2010
Posted on December 31, 2010 4 Comments
Well, there are so many books that I didn’t get to, and I know I’ll be reading a ton in January, but here is my list of the top ten books that I read in 2010. They all totally blew my mind. They are in no particular order.
The Physics of Imaginary Objects
by Tina May Hall
A dark, surreal lyrical collection of shorts dripping with emotion and truth. Drue Heinz Prize winner. She was a new voice to me, and one that really resonated, haunting me for weeks.
Daddy’s
by Lindsay Hunter
She never shies away from sex, violence or brutal honesty. I loved this debut collection, so much fun. Be sure to read Lindsay’s work wherever you see it, or come out to Quickies! Chicago.
It Came From Del Rio and The Ones That Got Away
by Stephen Graham Jones
I’m going to cheat a bit here and give Stephen two as one. Del Rio was a wild ride, set in Texas, with a bunny-headed vigilante and chupacabras. His short stories never cease to amaze me, blending the best of genre fiction (horror, fantasy, science fiction) with the elevated prose and honesty of literary fiction.
The Wilding
by Benjamin Percy
This is the story of man vs. nature, and sometimes nature wins. Percy is a master of the authoritative voice, and set in the Oregon woods, this father-son-grandson story is also one about hope and loss and love. Such a great debut novel, I’ve been enjoying his short fiction for years.
In The Mean Time
by Paul Tremblay
How can you create tension and unease at the same time that you create beauty and love? Dysfunctional and surreal, this is a collection that I just couldn’t put down. So good.
Sarah Court
by Craig Davidson
More broken, dysfunctional characters, this time from Craig Davidson. Like many on this list, I’ve been a fan of his work for a long time. Visceral, painful, and extremely rewarding.
Under the Dome
by Stephen King
I know, look a BIG PRESS and a BIG AUTHOR. I’ve been a fan of King since high school, and I think this is his best book in years. It’s expansive, as he’s known to be, but the story, the characters, this small town trapped under a dome – it’s as addictive as his work always is to me, and even at 1000+ pages, I cruised through this.
Stay God
by Nik Korpon
My label mate at OWP and fellow neo-noir author, this was a book that I couldn’t wait for, so happy to see it out. Dark, gritty, set in Baltimore, it’s also funny, touching and full of love. A great debut.
Cienfuegos
by Chris Deal
This started out as a 100 word contest that I created at The Velvet. Chris Deal just exploded with stories and ideas, and won it with authority. I told him he needed to put this into a collection and get it out there. He did that, and I am so proud, and excited that he did this. His work is dark, surreal, visionary and touching. Expect more from him.
Charactered Pieces
by Caleb J Ross
Soon to be published with OWP as well, Caleb is one of the smartest, most connected, giving authors I know. This collection is just the tip of the iceberg. Dysfunctional families, riddled with despair and loss, his stories are also emotional and touching. Keep an eye out for more from Caleb as well.
Support your small, independent presses and pick up one of these titles today. You won’t regret it.
- Richard Thomas - 