Free- Insanity Tales Giveaway

Hello again- good news! The second Insanity Tales anthology, Insanity Tales II- The Sense of Fear, will soon be out. The advance reviews have been spectacular! And we're getting an Introduction from the talented Joe McKinney.

So we the authors have put up a special event- we're giving away 3 print copies of the first Insanity Tales to pique your interest. It's a Goodreads giveaway, so just follow this link to enter for a chance to win!

To make sure you win something, we'll even offer you a free audiobook (a $14.95 value) of the first Insanity Tales, spoken by noted audio narrator Fred Wolinsky. Just shoot me an email so I can send you instructions on how to download the free audiobook! Check out a sample here.

Here's the cover for the first, and book II is also going to be creepy and unsettling!

Fiction Slam Night Contest

Recently attended the Fiction Slam Night Contest, sponsored by the New Hampshire Writers' Project.
The contest was held in the French Building Auditorium Rotunda at the NH Institute of Art in Manchester, with a lovely reception area to refresh the 80-some-odd people who came to hear the 8 winning entrants from the regional 3-Minute Fiction Slam competitions.

Now I've got rather high expectations, and this was a night of extraordinary talent. The stories were top-notch- quick, concise, and sometimes touching. It was a tough task for the three judges to select winners from the terrific stories read.

Thanks to the Institute for hosting this wonderful event, and to all those in the program who made it all possible. There are a lot of people working hard to create excellent fiction, and all in our backyard.
And shoutout to John Herman for being an entertaining emcee for the event. 

Judges: Tim Horvath, James Patrick Kelly (who also generously supplied cash prizes), and special guest Jacquelyn Benson

The contestants- each one already a regional winner

The appreciative crowd

Nashua regional winner Jennifer Valentine and supportive family

Steven Wong, Nashua group coordinator Ursula Wong (middle- the rose between two thorns)- the author of Purple Trees, and Dave, from the Nashua group

I'd say there were a lot of winners, but you can see the ones holding prize checks!

Kent Devreux and Rob Greene

If you'd like an example of one of the superb stories of the night, try Getaway.

Featured My Mystery- and Upcoming Audio

The Fussy Librarian features A Memory of Grief today-- only $1.99 on all ebook platforms.

And-- we've just picked up a terrific narrator for the audio version of A Memory of Grief-- soon to be out on audio on Audible.com!
This is the first of the Zack Taylor mystery series, and it's going to be BIG!

To commemmorate this auspicious day, we're giving away a free version of the audiobook when it's released (likely a $25 value).

Send me an email (daletphillips@comcast.net) with the phrase "I bought it," (ebook or print, doesn't matter) and we'll enter you into a drawing for the free audiobook version.

NH Three-Minute Fiction Slam Report

Had a great time at the Three-Minute Fiction Slam, hosted by the New Hampshire Writer’s Project (NHWP), in partnership with the New Hampshire Institute of Art (NHIA) in Manchester, NH.

The event was a successful do, preceded by a wine and cheese reception for more than a hundred literary enthusiasts.

Nashua Regional fiction slam winner Ursula Wong and her husband Steven, under the gorgeous auditorium ceiling:

Ursula was cheered on by our Nashua contingent, led by prizewinning author Mary Johnson (front left):

The competition had a keynote speech by author Kyle Minor, and three top literary judges: Tim Horvath, Rebecca Rule, and James Patrick Kelly, a Hugo and Nebula award-winning science fiction author.

The stories read by contestants were short and superb, with real talent shining forth.
In the aftermath, people got to chat about their expeerience.

 More of our intrepid group:

More Free Stuff- and great writer shirt

Last few hours to get Halls of Horror for free on Kindle, so act fast!

If you miss it, you can still get the Kindle version of the first Zack Taylor mystery, A Memory of Grief, for free.

And since my career help book How to Improve Your Interviewing Skills has gone to audio, we're running a contest.
Add a comment to enter to win a free audio copy-- a $6.95 value!
This book will help you interview for the job you want.

Saw this perfect shirt-- Priceless...

Judgment Days

It was a busy few days. First I served as judge for a High School speech competition on Saturday, spending many hours watching about 30 different kids do their talks in 5 different categories.

And along with suggestions for improvements, I had to be nice... so it was tough.
Just kidding- it was great-- these kids are well-spoken, polite, and communicate well. Not like teenagers at all!

And then this last Monday, I was in Nashua to judge the Flash Fiction Regional Competition, sponsored by the New Hampshire Writer's Project.

We had a number of contestants read original stories in three minutes or less.
The quality was great, and it was a good time, quite well attended.
I received good feedback on my feedback to the readers. Many said it helped them to clarify what could be improved in their story.

Thanks to everyone who came, including some I conned into attending, who all lied and said they had a good time.

A Shadow on the Wall Coming Soon- and Big Holiday Giveaway

This is the 400th posting on this blog-- and to celebrate, we've got some
great news for you!

First- we're in the editing stages of A Shadow on the Wall, the third Zack
Taylor mystery, out soon from Rosstrum Publishing.

This is the long-awaited followup to A Fall From Grace, and Zack gets into even deeper trouble.

If that's not enough of a Christmastime gift for you, how's this?
To celebrate the holiday season, a bunch of authors and publishers decided to get in the spirit of things-- and we're all giving away free ebooks and stories!

Wow, you say-- how do I get some of that? Look below for authors and links.
Follow directions to email them, or leave a comment on their blog (with your email) and tell them which book of theirs you'd like to win!

Around Christmas, each author will select a lucky winner for each book, and notify each person on how to collect.

Feel free to enter on all author sites-- giving you mutiple chances to win!

Here's the current list, but check back on this page-- we'll add more books as other authors get in the giving mood! Most books are available in multiple ebook formats.

Debbi Mack, NY Times Best-Selling author, is offering her Sam McRae mystery, Riptide:
To enter to win, go to her blog My Life on the Mid-List and leave a comment saying, "I'd like to win Riptide."

Vlad Vaslyn is offering Brachman's Underworld, novel of Stephen King-like horror.
And a copy of Yorick, a creepy novella.
To enter to win, go to his site and give him your info.

Cathy Dougherty is offering In Polyester Pajamas, a fun read of women's fiction:
To enter to win, go to her site and give her your info.

Rich Feitelberg, fantasy author, is offering two stories:
Sans Boat
The Last of Her Kind
Go to his blog and enter a comment stating which item you want, and in what format (PDF, Kindle, ePub). Be sure to include a valid email address.

Katherine Tomlinson has three to give:
Toxic Reality
Poisoned Teat
12 Nights of Christmas
Go to her blog and comment, telling her which book you want (leave your email). She'll pick winners on December 20.

Pete Morin is donating a book and a story:
Diary of a Small Fish
Club Dues
Drop him an email and let him know what you'd like.

Brian Hammar has got a pair of books and a pair of stories for you as well:
Wind Castle
Anastasia's Quest for Wind Castle
Fisherman's Justice
Shoes
Drop him an email and let him know what you'd like: jenchrisonlineventures@gmail.com

Ann Everett is offering her books:
Laid Out and Candle Lit
You're Busting My Nuptuals
Check her website and send her a message via any of her contact points, and say "Ann, I'd like to win... (your choice)"

Rosstrum Publishing is offering a slew of books, both fiction and non-fiction!
Go to the website to check out the books, select Contact Us, and leave them an email with your book desire.

How to Improve Your Interviewing Skills

366 Tips for a Successful Job Search

Lawless in Brazil

Timberline

Pursuit

The Dave Maynard Spin (Coming soon- check the website)

And of course, there's my offerings-- I'm giving you a shot at all of them!
Leave a comment on this blog (with an email), or email me, and tell me what you'd like to win!
You can enter for multiple books, but you can only win one.

A Memory of Grief

A Fall From Grace

A Shadow on the Wall (Coming soon- check the website)

Crooked Paths

Fables and Fantasies

Apocalypse Tango

Strange Tales

Halls of Horror #1

Halls of Horror #2

Jumble Sale

Any of the stories, too:

Froggy Went A Courting

Our New Queen

The Little Guy

Blades and Butchery

Winner!

Cathy Dougherty and I are winners in the contest "50 Great Writers You Should be Reading." 
Announced today at The Authors Show.

Cathy was also published by my publisher Briona Glen, and she's the author of In Polyester Pajamas.

And here's our official sticker:

Happy Guy Fawkes Day-Vote tomorrow and today

Remember, remember, the fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason, and plot.

Happy Guy Fawkes Day, everyone.
If you're not sure of what I'm talking about, it's a piece of history-- and made wonderfully relevant in the movie (and graphic novel) V for Vendetta.

Tomorrow we have a chance to pick which plutocrat will be in charge of our emergency services and economy for the next four years.

One guy says we're on our own when disaster hits-- we saw that recently-- and the other guy reaches out a hand to help and make things better.

Or you can vote for someone else if you don't like either of them. I'm independent, belonging to neither party (gang).

People have a decided aversion to voting independently of the two gangs, and I'm really at a loss to explain why. They say it doesn't count. It sure does count when you tell them neither of their choices are your choice. Vote for the Libertarian, Green, Independent, or other alternative candidate and show them their agenda isn't for you. It's not throwing your vote away to tell them NO!

+++++

If you'd like to vote today, I'm asking for your quick help, please-- as a finalist in the contest
"50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading" on The Authors Show,
http://www.wnbnetworkwest.com/WnbAuthorsShow50Writers2012-VotePage.html

I'd appreciate your clicking the link and voting for me:
"Please click here to vote for your favorite author"

One of my recent stories is up on Fiction and Verse: http://www.fictionandverse.com/mistakes/

Thank you--

Busy Time

Hello again. It's been kind of crazy lately, with lots of work to be done. Here's what's happening currently:

Got the word out about my latest story publication, in Fiction and Verse.

Finished one new story (by invitation) for an upcoming anthology, where all the proceeds go to a charity.

Just finished another anthology story for the new Fungi, which should be out this Winter.
Still have to get it critiqued and revised before sending off.

Wrote a review and blurb for another writer's new book.

Wrote a short flash story for the Crime Bake contest and submitted.

Answered interview questions for another blog, to be out soon.

Plans to support another writer at his library signing next week.

Details on supplying books on consignment for area bookstore.

Getting things ready and ordering supplies for the upcoming conference--
and the Author's Expo on Sunday, Nov. 11.

Keep fielding the question "When's Book #3 of the Zack Taylor series coming out?"
(Not soon enough! But I'm working on it!)

Edits on another book that needs to be released soon.

That's all part-time, after my day job. It's a very, very, mad world.
But a good one.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

Odd phrase, you say, and you're correct. But I heard it, and it instantly was mine. So there.

I won a copy of Kari Lee Townsend's latest book, Corpse in the Crytal Ball, in a contest on the blog of NoraAdrienne's Reviews.

Woo-hoo! Kari's a pro, and her books are a lot of fun. Can't wait to read the latest-- out tomorrow, for all you readers.

Also bought a copy of Josh Bazell's Beat the Reaper. Because I won Josh's Wild Thing in another blog contest, and loved it so much, wrote reviews and bought his other work.

Writers, take note. Give it away-- preferably to me.
If it's good, you'll get great reviews, and a lot of free promo. Just sayin'...

Contest Winner, Writing Fast

Congratulations to Michelle Grayce, who won a copy of A Memory of Grief from the contest at Shellyrae's Book'dOut. Hope she enjoys a good mystery novel.

Many sites host contests where you can win free books, so treat yourself for Christmas!
+++++++

I've always been a believer in the slow writing process, with lengthy, painstaking revisions and editing.

Yet Dean Wesley Smith and others have said that we should write fast, to access the creative side of the brain. Dean says that's the best writing stuff, and that we shouldn't bother with a lot of rewriting-- it takes too much of the good stuff out, as it's the other side of the brain at work then.

Other opinions, like Zoe Winters and others are all for word flow.

I'm rethinking my process. How about you? What's your preferred style? I know a few people who try NaNoWriMo and find some value in it. So is faster better?

Giveaway Contest and Guest Post

Giveaway contest starting today at Book'd Out!

Enter for a chance to win an ebook of "A Memory of Grief."

Also with a guest post by me-- just a few thoughts of my take on writing.