I am guest author for the Writer's Craft column at the Clarion Blog today on the topic of "What makes a poem SF/Fantasy?" My charge from editor Lynda Williams was to write a short, 200-word introduction to the topic with a concluding question to stimulate discussion. I'm delighted for the invitation to address this theme outside of the usual ( Read more... )

September 13--TODAY--official publication date of Jack-o'-Spec: Tales of Halloween and Fantasy! Edited by yours truly, Jack-o'-Spec is an anthology of science fiction, fantasy, and horror short stories and poems with Halloween themes, from 26 authors. (My very short "Death in a Harlequin Suit" is included.) Available at Amazon, BN.com, and other ( Read more... )

Although the official publication date is September 13, Jack-o'-Spec: Tales of Halloween and Fantasy is now available for purchase at Amazon.com and BN.com! Here's what Lisa Morton, author of The Halloween Encyclopedia, has said about Jack-o'-Spec: "Reading Jack-o'-Spec is like stepping into a Halloween party that's been going on for 2,000 years. ( Read more... )

Review copies of Jack-o'-Spec: Tales of Halloween and Fantasy are in the house! And they are gorgeous! (IMHO) Let the mailing begin!


( Read more... )

Save the date: The launch party for Jack-o'-Spec: Tales of Halloween and Fantasy will be held on Saturday, October 15 at 5 PM. The Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse in La Canada-Flintridge, CA will again host us, this time in their new location, two doors down from the original. As of this writing, contributors planning to be on hand include ( Read more... )

Here's the full, wraparound cover (back, spine, and front) for Jack-o'-Spec: Tales of Halloween and Fantasy. The official publication date is September 13!


( Read more... )

I've finished the copyediting and interior layout for Jack-o'-Spec: Tales of Halloween and Fantasy. Yay! Proofs have gone to the contributors and blurbers. We are on schedule for September publication. :-D

75% of the manuscript is now copyedited and laid out. I've lined up a couple of great folks to write blurbs, so everything is on track! :-)

http://ravenelectrick.com/Jackospec.html

I've now laid out the first 41 pages of my next anthology, Jack-o'-Spec: Tales of Halloween and Fantasy, and I've made some progress on the back cover. Looking forward to Halloween already! :-)

I am working on the introduction for Jack-o'-Spec: Tales of Halloween and Fantasy. My favorite Halloween history tidbit of the moment is "soul cakes." I just love the sound of that. Soul cakes! On All Souls' Day, the medieval poor used to go door to door collecting soul cakes, little pastries, in return for their promise to pray for the dear ( Read more... )