Brian G Ross has just had his novella “Replay” released through Australian publisher Dark Prints Press, who also published my book Vaudeville last year.

I managed to track Brian down and quiz him about his latest tale, his favourite authors and what he’s got planned down the track:

Give us a bit of an idea about your background and how you got into writing.
I’ve been writing since I was a child, and (although I didn’t admit this to anyone back then) it is really the only thing I have ever wanted to do with my life. As a lot of writers will tell you, it was originally an escape. Not that life in the real world was particularly bad, just that it was never as interesting or exciting as those environments you could build in your head.

Tell us where the inspiration came from for Replay?
Well, the original incarnation of Replay was written in the early months of 2001, while I was at university. I’ve always wanted to write a school-based horror story, and this is what came out. I think it’s a bit like The Breakfast Club, as seen through a funhouse mirror. The version you can read today has been substantially overhauled.

What was the most satisfying scene to write in Replay?
Replay has four central characters, each with their own dedicated scene. I enjoyed getting to know each of my protagonists, and discovering their strengths and weaknesses. The longer format of the novella allowed me to establish their positions and explore their motivations in a way that a short story does not, and I am thankful for that.

Your favourite author/s?
Over the years I have read (and enjoyed) most of Stephen King’s material, along with Dean Koontz. If I was struggling to find something to read, I would dip into their back catalogues, and they were my two basic food groups for many years. I discovered Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct novels when I was in my twenties, and most of them are very good indeed. In one month I got through fifteen of them! His minimalistic approach to the police procedural genre is something I truly admire.

What’s the last thing you read that really blew you away?
That’s a difficult one. Probably Robinson Crusoe, which I didn’t read until I was in my thirties. I went into it thinking the prose would be dense and that the whole thing would be a struggle, given that it was first published in 1719, but I was wrong. It’s a fantastically engaging story that rarely feels as old as it is. Highly recommended.

What are you working on at the moment?
I have several projects on the go at the moment – I tend to be a bit of a creative platespinner, in that I rarely focus on one thing. The next story that should see completion is called Wyrmhole, and – other than a couple of very short flash pieces – it’s my first foray into sci-fi, so I look forward to seeing how that is received.

Where can people find you on the web?
My website is http://briangrantross.com or Twitter @Slipwater

To celebrate the release of Replay, Dark Prints Press has discounted Vaudeville and Rope to just 99 cents! (Just select your preferred ebook format and it will redirect you to paypal with the discounted price)

At 9pm Eastern Australian time Friday April 12 (in other words, tomorrow!) the winners of the Australian Shadows Awards will be announced and I’m proud to say that I played a big part as a judge this year!

I was very fortunate to be selected as a judge in the Short Story, Collected and Edited categories this year and it was an absolute pleasure just to read works by other authors.

It was quite daunting when I accepted an invitation to be a judge. I thought – what gives me the right to judge other author’s work, especially authors who have been writing for decades and pass judgement on them!? I mean I’m just a newb! What would I know? But then I realised I had to put the writer in me to one side and judge from a reader’s perspective and as an avid reader of speculative fiction, I know what makes a good story.

In the end I devoured six collected works, eight edited works and more than 80 short stories in the space of about 6-8 months. Thousands of words; writers pouring their hearts and souls on to the page. Many of the tales resonated with me, while others lingered with me for days. They were the successful ones.

When it came to finally deciding upon the winners it seemed my fellow judges (Stephen Clark and Steve Gerlach) and I, were all on the same page from the outset. I’d like to thank the “Steves” for the opportunity to collaborate. I’d also like to say thank you to Australian Shadows Awards Director Robert Datson for managing the process with a great deal of professionalism and patience.

I trust that you agree with us when the winners are finally announced.

After seeing the trophies the authors will be receiving I’ll admit that I felt the sting of jealousy, but then I remembered I received an even more precious gift, the chance to read a multitude of talented authors and experience their stories for the first time.

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists – you deserve it.

To follow the announcement of the winners just LIKEAustralian Shadows Facebook page.
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The crazy crew at the Australian Horror Writers Association have released the cover for the upcoming 9th issue of Midnight Echo Magazine!

This artwork, created by Mel Gannon, is deliciously dark and I think captures the theme of the issue – myths and legends.

I’m very excited about this issue as I’m providing not only the next chapter of the Allure of the Ancients: The Key to His Kingdom comic, written by Mark Farrugia, but also the interior “corner” art and a stand alone one page illustration to compliment one of the pieces of fiction.

A story I submitted for the issue made it to the short list, but sadly no further. Still I can’t wait to get my contributor’s copy and behold all my artwork within when it’s released in May!

Until then you’ll just have to settle for the table of contents:



Rick Hautala



 Even though I didn’t know these men (I did have several exchanges with David via email when he was running Hellnotes.com and found him to be very cordial and receptive to the promotion of my own work), I respect them as fellow writers of what is a very unique genre.



James Herbert

 

David B. Silva



A sample of some of my artwork

Originally, this blog was solely supposed to focus on my writing, but given the amount of art-related projects I’m involved in I’ve decided to finally include them on this page, hence the blog’s re-branding.
The art I create, whether it be for book covers, posters, comics or magazines, I’m now going to post on this blog, in conjunction with my writing endeavours.
Creating art is obviously a very different beast to writing and I hope to share the process I use here and hopefully generate a bit more interest in my artwork.

So what am I working on right now?

I just finished five small watercolour paintings which will serve as the “corner art” for the forthcoming issue 9 of Midnight Echo Magazine, which is due out in May from the Australian Horror Writers Association.

Below you’ll find a few enticing “windows” into the corner art.

Also for ME9, I’m currently illustrating chapter 3 of the vampire comic series Allure of the Ancients: The Key to His Kingdom, written by Mark Farrugia.

Below are some in progress photos of the comic and a look at the “Vladslayer”, a weapon which will make it’s first appearance in the issue.

I’ll also be creating a full-page illustration to accompany one of the stories in the issue, so I’m going to be quite busy for the next few weeks! I’d like to thank Midnight Echo 9’s editor Geoff Brown for giving me this great opportunity!

Thanks for continuing to check out my blog and please keep eye out for updates as I share my art with you!

Wow.

Those who have read my second Damnation Books novella The Noctuary, would remember the menacing antagonist Meknok, the Dark Muse who tormented young writer Simon Ryan throughout the book.

As an artist I’ve given in to temptation and captured Meknok’s likeness a few times now, but it seemed fitting that his portrait should adorn the very book from which he originated.

I’ve since learned that in doing so I’ve created a Remarque inside the book, a unique graphical signature. So what to do with such an item?

Well give it away of course!

So I’m going to start a little competition from the date of this post. If you want to have a chance to win this one-of-a-kind copy of The Noctuary, all you have to do is either:

Like my Facebook Author Page

Follow this blog

or join my Goodreads Q&A with Author Greg Chapman page.

or better yet do all three!

The lucky winner will be announced on March 30.

Don’t forget you can buy copies of my novellas (and my graphic novel) from Amazon

Thanks for participating!

My first piece of published short fiction for 2013 has been released over at Literary Mayhem.

You can read it HERE

The site’s publisher Peter Schwotzer contacted me before the end of last year seeking a tale with a winter theme.

The first thought that came to mind was of something lurking beneath a lake and the rest flowed on from there. I really wanted to amp up that feeling of being cold and creeped out at the same time.

I also provided the artwork to go with the tale, an image that will hopefully linger in the reader’s mind long after the final line.

This is my first 4 cents a word paying short story too, so I’m pretty chuffed. Hope you all enjoy it.