Tuesday, July 29, 2008

The Classics Updated


Children's Classic Updated
by William Shakespeare
for Ye Olde Crappy Tymes Literary Section
Forsooth! Mine good olde chum Dr. Seuss was so much impressed with Ye Spooky Guy's collaborative effort with Ye Cheese Mistress, otherwise beknownst as Lily Strange, that he asked Spooky to help him to update his classic tale of Ham and Eggs of Green for today's more worldly child. Here be the result with which Dr. Seuss was most impressed.
"Spooky is indeed a great ghost writer," he said. "For he tells it like it is!"
I have ne'er in all my time living or dead seen a literary work for children quite so profane. Yet Seuss speaketh truth--the Spook telleth it plain! I myself hope to see more works by this salty-spoken Swede in future time. Perhaps I shall have him help me update mine own works for audiences of this modern day.
Forsooth, the Spook sayeth with me he would be glad to collaborate, and he hath already taken the liberty of translating a well known work of mine for modern audiences. Here be mine version for thee to first read in case thou wert not previously aware of it.

Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer's Day?
by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)


Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date.
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee
.


And now the version created by mine respected ghost writer. With language most salty, this profane Scandinavian swain indeed pulleth no punches. The reading of his version maketh me swoon indeed. And thus, without much further ado about nothing, here be ye translation for thee to read as well.
A Fucking Hot Comparison of Hell and Summer
by William Shakespeare
Shall I compare you to a summer's day
Which is fucking hot and makes the sweat drip in my hair
And in the spring the fucking wind is always blowing
And it blows my hair into my mouth
Some fuckheads say the summer is too short
But I say it's too fucking long and makes me sweat a lot
And also I have to listen to the ungentle and totally fucking untalented strains of Death Cheese at all these fucking outdoor festivals
And that sucks goat ass more than anything
Oh well, you look sweaty and miserable just like me
And so together let us bitch and complain, my beloved fellow Curmudgeon
And I will kindly give you a pair of ear plugs to drown out the awful riffs of Death Cheese
If you will but pass me a towel that I may wipe the god damn sweat off of my brow before it drips into my eyes again
And together we shall be sweltering here in hell for all of eternity
Because hell is like an eternal hot fucking miserable summer day
Forsooth, I cannot wait to see what he hath wrought upon the lines of Romeo and Juliet!
William Shakespeare

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

More Grate Speling and Gramur From the Gerri Atrik Retarmint Comunitee

Today's spelling gaffe baffled The Cheesemeister:

Thou not till Saturday 26
Please put up now on Saturday
I posted only two places

"What could this mean?" pondered The Cheesy One. "Doth it mean, thou shalt not post this until Saturday? And if so, why dost thou givest it to me lo on this a Tuesday?"
But then she realized that what Chip or Dale meant to say was:

Though not till Saturday 26
Please put up now.
On Saturday, I posted only in two places

I guess one really does have to use their brains around this place after all--to figure out what Alvin N. Chipmunkk and his cronies REALLY mean!

Sunday, June 29, 2008

78%




You Are 78% Creative



You are beyond creative. You are a true artist - even if it's not in the conventional sense of the word.

You love creating for its own sake, and you find yourself quite inspired at times.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

When Children Play with Gods


Edwina Nystrom glared at Kalidasa Crewe from her hiding place in the trees. She knew that the dirty little blighter had invoked the terrible ancient goddess Kali, for whom he was always bragging he was named, and smote her poor innocent pony Rothschilde out of spite for Edwina's taking first place in the Ultimate Riding Challenge. Kalidasa was a spoilt rotten brat and a sore loser. But he did know how to invoke the ancient and terrible goddess of his grandmother's people.
"Well, I'm not afraid of him," Edwina said. "And I'm not such a coward as to have the ancient gods of my father's family smite a poor innocent horse. When I invoke Loki, it won't be to have Zebulon fall and break a leg. But the house of Crewe may well encounter Ragnarok this day!"

This story (and the picture) originally appeared here.

Traci's New Lips


Traci was really happy with the new lips she got at Dr. Quincy's Plastic Surgery Emporium in the Netherworld. She was so happy she couldn't stop smiling. Then she realized something awful: she really COULDN'T stop smiling!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

X Zone Radio

This is a letter I wrote to the X-Zone radio. They feature various paranormal topics.

Greetings,
I hope this doesn't appear too arrogant, as I am really not an arrogant individual, but the guest I would like to suggest is myself. My name is Lily Strange and I am a clairsentient medium who wrote a book with the help of a spirit. The book is horror fiction but it also contains elements of truth. My co-author is a very interesting and unique man who committed suicide in 1991 when he could no longer endure his troubled life. We made contact with one another in 2005. I was working on editing a book at the time and he started giving me suggestions. Quite by accident, we became co-authors. If this sounds at all interesting, feel free to visit our website at http://www.lilystrange.com to find out more.
I also do Tarot and other divination readings and would be interested in being a guest reader if you would have the need. While I don't consider myself a professional reader, I've been told by those I've done readings for that I have a good accuracy rate. I go into great detail and treat every client's question as if it had personal meaning for me. To look at some of my readings for an idea of what I do, I have a blog at http://lilyscrystalball.blogspot.com
Unfortunately at this point most of the readings on the blog are those I have done for myself as I do not have a vast client base, but it will give an idea of the style I use. I also have a page at http://www.mysticvision.org
If I sound like someone you would like to interview, I would love to hear from you. You can contact me either at this email address or at (666) 555-4444.
If I don't sound like someone you would like to interview, I would love to hear a quote of your advertising rates so I could potentially advertise with you.
Blessings,
Lily

Monday, June 16, 2008

Gloom and Doom

Yeah, I'm really depressed and unhappy right now. I write because it's the one thing that I still believe is worthwhile. Often it is not pleasurable but can be cathartic I suppose. Some pretty ugly shit dumps into it from the back of my psyche.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Possessed By The Writing Demon

This was actually a reply to a statement made by a friend that once I earned the godforsaken nursing degree that I don't really want I can write for the love of writing rather than to make money. While this would work for someone who is sane, it doesn't work for the certifiably insane. And that would be--my evil twin, of course!
That being said, here is my explanation of what my amazing hack-titude at writing means to me.
I don't write as a means to earn a living. I do it because I'm possessed. Not by him (my spectral co-author)--I've just always had this need to do it. I don't really expect to ever make any money doing it. But like Bierce, Lovecraft and Poe before me, I do it because it has taken hold of my soul.
I've always had a love-hate relationship with writing. It's like one of those pathological romances that is both destructive and as essential as breathing. I sometimes hate that I HAVE to do it or I start becoming insanely depressed. But I love creating the alternative realities.
I can't put off writing while earning this godforsaken nursing degree, which I would jump ship from in a heartbeat if anything else I'm working on starts making money for me! The fact of the matter is that I do NOT have any desire to be a nurse. It doesn't speak to my soul. It's just a damn job. Which means I'll be a half-assed nurse, just like I'm a half-assed medical technician. But I've been stuck in the medical field for so long that I'm too old to do anything else unless one of these online projects takes off.
In the meantime, I will strive to make my place on the list of great weird fiction writers. I can't actually ever hold a candle to those who went before, but I hope that someday someone will read what I've written and say "hell yeah! I want to write like Bierce, Lovecraft, Poe and STRANGE!" Then I'll have succeeded.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Care for a slice of Prome Rib?

I'm always griping about the grammatical errors of the activities department here at the Gerri Atrik retirement community, but as I was about to update the date on this menu, which was typed out and proofread by none other than someone who looks very much like me but couldn't be me because I would never be this stupid, I noticed that the chow du jour was:
Roast Turkey With Gravy
Prome Rib Au Jus
Surely I was possessed by a very stupid demon when I allowed this particular typo to get by! Either that or there really is something called Prome Rib which is reserved for the elite of society and is so uppah-uppah crust that we peons don't even know of its existence!

Lying To Myself

What a horrible feeling, having actually written a book but coming to the distressing realization that so many people write far better than me. I realized after the book was published that what I write is actually pulp trash, and while I enjoy pulp trash, it's kind of a come down to realize that I'm not truly a good writer.
It's too bad I have no other skills or interests. I once wanted to be a psychotherapist but I didn't think that crazy people could do that, and I'm too old now.
It sucks knowing that in truth I have nothing of interest to say and my writing will never make the difference that I wished it would.
It sucks realizing that I am worthless.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

The puzzle that is me




You Are a Crossword Puzzle



You are well read, and you have a good head for remembering facts.

You are a wordsmith. You have a way with words, and you're very literate.

You are a mysterious person who enjoys dropping little clues every now and then.

It's all true!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

My Mind Is Blue




Your Mind is Blue





Of all the mind types, yours is the most mellow.

You tend to be in a meditative state most of the time. You don't try to think away your troubles.

Your thoughts are realistic, fresh, and honest. You truly see things as how they are.

You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about your friends, your surroundings, and your life.

I don't think I'm in a meditative state so much as I'm trying to escape from reality! I've always been a daydreamer. And a nightmarer.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

The RIGHT Kind of writer

This person is a good writer.
They write the sort of stuff that the New Yorker likes to publish. Their English composition teachers would be proud to say "She was MY student."
I am not a good writer. I am a hack who writes pulp trash. I've never been good at writing poignant, meaningful stuff. But I like reading pulp trash. I like writing pulp trash. And dammit, I want to be sure that it's good pulp trash before I thrust it upon the world!
I once read that you shouldn't write for yourself, you should write for your audience.
I say why the fuck bother if you ain't writing for yourself? You'll only start hating it. Yourself is the first person you should write for--always.
Oh yeah--and despite what all the English composition teachers may tell you?
Sometimes pulp trash leaves a great impression.
Hail Lovecraft!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Gerri Arik Retirement Community Staff Butchers English Language

Wanted: Gerri Atrik Retirement Community Activities Department
For: Butchery of English Language Above And Beyond the Call of Duty

This sign was given to the long-suffering Cheesemeister to be posted on the announcement boards. Not wishing to sound like a smart-ass, The Cheesemeister merely sighed, rolled her eyes, and wished that she had brought a fifth of Jungle Juice to work with her.
THE SIGN OF CRIMINALLY BAD ENGLISH USAGE
NOW EXCEPTING
DONATIONS FOR THE
CLOTHES CLOSET
SET OUTSIDE THE DOOR, GARDEN LEVEL
I wonder, the Cheesemeister pondered, if the donations are being excepted, what are they being excepted from?
The Cheesemeister wondered if she could be excepted from having to deal with other departments, administrators or patients while working.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Yanick's Nightmare


The story and picture originally appeared on Indie's blog, here.

"The more things change the more they stay the same," thought Yanick. He had gone to college in Norway in hopes of finally living out his quixotic dreams away from the judgmental scrutiny of his tyrannical parents. But in leaving Kansas, Yanick's life had just become a worse nightmare. Instead of going to college as he thought, his parents had instead given him a one way ticket to live with his fearsome Uncle Ulf and Aunt Ester way out on the Fjords in a terrible hut that the chill winds blew through. One night when the moon was full and so bright that he could see all the way across the frozen land, Yanick decided to make good his escape. Even living in an alley in Oslo would be preferable to spending one more night in that hated shack, he thought.
Then something fearsome had transpired. As Yanick made his way across the barren, frozen land, a horrific thing, half man, half wolf, leapt from behind a rocky outcropping and tackled the slight youth. Yanick managed to escape from the awful thing by jabbing his fingers into one of its eyes, but not before it tore into his left arm. He now wondered if he had simply been delirious with the cold and had stumbled. He had seen a doctor about the wound and the doctor had been kind enough to direct him to a place where he could sleep and get a meal for not too great a price. Now Yanick stood at the bus stop in the rain, hoping that his cousin Walter would be able to put him up. He shivered as he tried to shake the memory of the wolf creature attacking him. What made the whole thing all the worse was the fact that he could recall hearing his Uncle Ulf's voice calling after him as he ran from its slashing claws and gnashing teeth:
"You'll be back, Boy. It can't be helped. You're one of us now."
I don't know what anyone else thinks, but I really don't care. This is actually one of my favorite short-short story creations. --C

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Cover Letter

If sending a copy of your book out for review, here is a basic cover letter you can use.

Bookie Reviewer
666 Hellzapoppin Drive
Gehenna, Netherworld 66666

Re: Eternal Death I: Lost Beneath The Surface
ISBN #978-1-4327-0591-6

Thank you for your recent interest in the press release regarding my book. Enclosed please find the review copy you requested.
Also enclosed is a data sheet containing information about the book and its availability.

I would welcome a book review or author interview. Anything I can do to accommodate your needs in that regard, please do not hesitate to ask.

For your convenience, I may be reached via email at lily@lilystrange.com or telephone at 666-666-6666.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Lily Strange
Netherworld Hotel

666 Nightmare Heights Lane
Pandemonium, Netherworld 66996

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Only 2 Days Left

In my sidebar there is a little banner for the War Child project. This group helps underprivileged children. A group is creating a book made up of submissions from various bloggers. The proceeds from this book will go to help the War Child project.
Here are some communications between Loony Lily and the project coordinators for your intellectual voyeurism.

Greetings from the fifth level of hell, at 5:45 A.M.
I'm almost positive you haven't had anyone make this claim yet.
I'm Lily, and I talk to ghosts.
In fact I co-wrote a whole book with a ghost.
What makes this ghost very special is the fact that he committed suicide and wants to stop other people from making the same mistake. So he told me to find a charity to give his half of the profits to, one that wants to help people with mental illness.
We chose the World Health Organization's Mental Health and Substance Abuse Division.
I feel like I've failed him because he really wanted to get his story out where people could read and understand what was going on inside him. But so far, not much is shaking.
I tend to feel sad a lot too. And very tired. When I was a kid I had a lot of hopes. At this stage of my life I don't have much hope at all. I know that being depressed is something a lot of people can relate to. Being bipolar is something a few can relate to. It makes me angry because I feel like I have to consider myself lucky if I get a crumb of any kind tossed my way. Like I shouldn't expect more because I'm "nuts."
It's 5:45 in the morning and my shift at work is almost over. Perhaps not the best time to write because it doesn't make a hell of a lot of sense. Then again, it reveals what's really going on inside--what I try to hide behind a mask of some semblance of stability.
**************************************************************************************************************************************************************
If you happen to be crazy or desperate enough to want to print what I have regurgitated here (you're probably wondering how I ever authored a book!) I have a few different blogs, but probably the least depressing one (it's actually fun) is http://creativecrabbing.blogspot.com


Hya
Thanks for your mail - pick whatever you'd like to submit from your blog and send it in!
Best
SJP + Team


This came at the right time to cheer me out of the funk I was getting into! :-)
This one describes me and my experiences pretty well, and is short enough that it should fit your guidelines nicely.
Lily

Creating
I'm in the process of creating a chapter and I'm so tired I can't even think. It was dangerous for me to drive to work tonight, that's how exhausted I am. All I know is that I want the chapter to include Thor, Tyr, Hades and Freya. There's an argument about the Conquering Hero being imprisoned for an impulsive decision. Oh yeah...and my IBS is killing me. Being an author is very glamorous, folks. If you are one of the Beautiful People you should probably consider another profession. If, however, like me, you are mentally unstable, have numerous physical problems, have a great face for radio and a head full of ideas that have caused others to tell you that you really should consider checking into Happy Acres for a little stay and maybe a lobotomy, being a writer just might be for you!

Creepy Chess

The scenario is two girls playing chess. One has a bit of an evil smirk on her face.
See what you can add to this!
Also, feel free to go through and add to any of the previous entries. I use Comment Moderation, so I'll know if a new entry has been added. But it will help if you write which entry you added to with the older ones because the Moderator doesn't tell me that!
Here's the story. Please add to it. Don't be shy. I'm really getting tired of playing by myself. :-(
This story originally appeared here.

"Just wait till Izzie finds the squashed bug under the rook," smirked Eugenia. "She's going to freak and run away screaming. And then I'll win by forfeit. She's such a wuss!"

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Lez Girls

BTW, thanks for trying to recruit participants in the now-Undead Valentine's story contest, Indie. But Brittney really is much too intimidating. People are scared of her wrathfulness. And maybe I am too, just a little. Or it might be the spookiness of the tall spectral blond dude standing behind me--that's my co-author and he's just a tad bit ghostly, after all.
And now, without further adoo-doo, here is the story in all its glory!

"Ooh La La!" cried Pierre. "Les girls!"
He pulled his car over to the side of the road and beckoned for the two lovely lasses to come ride with him. He slicked back his hair and twirled his mustache, stroked his neat Van Dyke beard, and set his cap at a rakish angle.
"Where are you going, mon cheres a deux?" the randy Frenchman inquired, visions of menage a trois dancing in his head.
"To the Lesbian Power Convention, good sir," said the dark haired girl. "I'm Zoe and this is my wife Felicia. Thanks for offering us a ride. It's nice to meet people who are supportive of gay rights."
"Well, I was more right than I could have imagined," Pierre muttered to himself. "They are indeed Lez Girls."

Olveg and the Jackasses: A Tale of Competitive Ogres














Picture stolen from Indie's blog, where the story originally appeared.

"Oh hell," cried Olveg the Ogre. "Those blasted jackasses are back. They're always asking for hay and going away with such gloomy expressions on their faces when I tell them 'no, I have no hay. Not today, not tomorrow, not next week, never. I am an ogre and do not eat hay!' But oy, they make me feel ever so guilty with those disappointed expressions. I suppose I ought to get me a bale of hay. Just for the jackasses. Maybe they could come in and keep me company for a while. I seem to recall seeing a film about an ogre who has a jackass for a friend. Now if I had three jackasses? Well, who would be the better ogre then, eh?"

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Fun With books

Here is a little game you can play which I got from Jackiesue. You are supposed to grab the closest book and turn to page 123. Well, I wanted to use sentences from my book so I cheated. It kinda freaks me out that I turned right to page 123! At any rate, you go to the fifth sentence and then copy the three sentence that follow. So here's my very own Page 123 thang. I kinda cheated because I wanted to use the whole paragraph, so I'm starting with the fifth sentence and copying the whole paragraph.

"Whose choice was it, Father?" a dark haired woman, the mother of the precocious twins, asked. "For I should like to speak to whoever made this choice, because I am not happy about this. I don't mind it here, it is a good place, and you are a good God. But I am furious that my husband and my parents will have to suffer for losing the children and me this way. Why, Sir? Can you tell me why?"

If you'd like, you can play the game too, and you can think of your own sentences to add to my paragraph!

Sunday, February 03, 2008

Story Contest Declared a Bust

Story Contest Canceled
by Kizz Myass
for The Crappy Times

The Great Valentine's Story Contest (see post below) has been canceled due to fear of the wrath of Brittney and/or lack of interest. You're still welcome to submit a story if you wish but there is no longer any competitive factor. Yam Man would be proud!
Kizz Myass

Saturday, January 19, 2008

The Icky Sticky Valentine's Day Story Contest























Brittney wants your Valentine's stories. Don't disappoint her!

The Great Valentine's Story Contest

by Brittney
All right, you little goobers. The turnout for the Horrors of Fruitcake Story Contest was horrifically pathetic, and that does not make me proud! Our panel of judges declared the tales of Knight and PANSI to be the winners. The Cheesemeister loses because she brought that horrific fruitcake into the Netherworld Hotel.
PANSI doesn't read if she can help it, and both Knight and Mrs. Weirdso already have a copy of The Cheeesemeister/Lily Strange's and The Spooky Guy's book. So we'll have to come up with alternate prize for them.
Now, I need for you rotten little goblins to think up your ickiest, squishiest, most mushy Valentine's story that you can come up with. The one that is the most pukey sweet will win one prize. Conversely, the best anti-Valentine tale of terror will win a prize. The contest will end on February 15th, which just happens to be the unholy date of Cheesemeister/Lily's 43RD BIRTHDAY! Yes, she really is an old bat. First prize is, once again, an autographed copy of Lily's/Spooky's book. Or if you already own one of those gems, we will come up with an alternative prize for you.
Hey, we realize it ain't no 6,666,666,666 Quatloos. But what do you expect from a broke-ass wannabe writer and a dead guy who doesn't have anyone better to haunt than a broke-ass wannabe writer?
Maybe you think you actually have to have talent to participate in these contests. Hah--think again! Lily and Spooky wrote a whole book. What does that tell you? And if PANSI can write a story ANYONE can! So let's see 'em. Don't be a loser and make me open a can of Whoop Ass on you!
Wickedly,
Brittney

Sunday, January 06, 2008

The Three Entries

There were three entrants in the story contest: PANSI, Knight and myself. Pathetic turnout folks, absolutely pathetic! I hope that you won't disappoint me so severely for the Valentine's story contest. Stay tuned!
So here's what happens next: I'll post the three stories right here and you vote on the one you like best. I was going to give an autographed copy of my book to the winner, but Knight already has a copy of the book, PANSI doesn't read, and what the hell do I need with an autographed copy of my own book? So I'll have to think of a different prize instead.
Ready? Read on and exercise your right to vote!
Story #1
by Knight

My Entry.

The night was as a deep purple haze. Drifting, the clouds of gray and stony colors passed over the rampant moon unhinged; white light cooler than a morgue rack poured down, sifting though. On the corner, Brendon looked away as two street whores dressed in yellow and teal 80’s knit belted out a Christmas tune, twitching and rubbing together their dirty shoulders. On the pavement, Brendan’s shoes clicked as he walked wordlessly. He stepped on, empty of anything definite stewing in his chest or mind.

The smell of leather surrounded him, his coat permitted this, but it didn’t remove the bitter taste of asphalt, piss and rank steam from the sewers. In the distance, he saw Christmas lights dangling in the covered window of an old bar. Straight ahead boy, that’s where its at, he thought to himself.

On the way there, he saw a glimmering red stone on the ground, all surrounded in an ethereal mist. It caught his eye and shifted his footing. Stumbling, he bent down to examine it further. The gems were encrusted on a hard, brownish surface. A blackish slime was all around it and it felt spongy and cool in his hand, though its weight did surprise him. Looking at his hand by the shine of the streetlight, he saw that bright crimson drip. Shit!!! He exclaimed as he dropped it back to the ground. Murder? Blood?

Smelling it, he noticed a sweetness beneath that unsurprisingly powerful smell of iron. Was that nutmeg?

End of Entry.

The First Sunrise

Once upon a time, there was a big chicken. The chicken lived on a farm. The farm was very very dark. This chicken did not like the dark. Even though he was very very large, he still would cry at night in his chicken bed in the haystack. The chickens mother was very mad at him. She did not understand why he was so scared of the dark. She would smack him hard on the beak when he would come to her at night with tears in his eyes.

“mommy chicken, why is it so dark here where we live?” he would ask his mother during the day.
“It is the way that it is son. Live with it and stop being so stupid.” his mother would say. So the chicken would try his best to stay calm and not cry at night alone in his bed.

One day, a strange light appeared over the barn. All the other chickens began to panic. They began running around in circles. One of them even pecked a hole in the ground and stuck his head in the dirt. The young chickens mother looked at him. Her eyes were ablaze with fire. She was raging mad. He was the one that brought this light to the farm, wasn’t he? Bad! Bad chicken! Why would he change everything for the rest of them? How inconsiderate?!

But it wasn’t the young chicken that brought this light. It was only a huge white-hot ball of light, rising higher and higher above the horizon. The young chicken jumped with joy after breaking away from his mothers hideous stare. Yay! Yaaayyy!!!! He bathed in the warmth and lifted his wings so the light touched every inch of his birdie body. Just while he began to laugh with joy, he was struck on the side of the head by a heavy wing. It was his mother, more angry than ever.

“How dare you mock me!”
“mommy!” he cried out, surprised and scared.
“all the family is dying, out here in your stupid light! Make it gone! Get back in your bed and cry you fool!”

The chicken ran back to his bed, his eyes full of tears, and his beak wet. He cried so hard that he thought his lungs would burst. Outside, he heard his family screaming and hiding and trying everything to get the light to go away. His uncle was pleading to the air to make the light go away. His aunt was beating the ground on her knees, fearful that the world would end. His cousin had gone crazy, saying strange sounds that sounded wild. All of these things, he heard while crying in his bed.

After a few hours had gone by, the family outside finally began to calm down. The chickens mother was also in a better mood when she noticed that the bright white light was going down. Still, nobody trusted him. They locked the door where he slept and watched the ball of light throughout the day.

By the time they were all ready for bed, the large light had gone away. They quickly went back to their quiet ways and back to the way things were before the light came. This night, the young chicken was not so scared. He laughed at how scared the others were, of the light that he loved. He did not mock them. He did not laugh at them when they were scared, the way his mother laughed at him. He pleaded to anyone in his sleep, to bring that light back, everyday. And ,… he got that wish.

The end.

Story #2
by PANSI

Pansi the Peace Maker!!!!
This isent reely a story cuz its like, true? But when I toled it to Brittney she sayed it was horrable enough!!!!
So, like, I use to be a cheerleader in Gondor during the War of the Ring's? And, oh, I forgot to say I am a reel good cook, but usualy I use my brane wave's cuz its easyer than remembering when to tern off the micro wave!!!!
But anyhoo, I was there, and there was a hole Barby army led by a Hermiony doll who was reely meen, and so were the other's I don't think they were true Christinane's!! Like, this one time I was shot in the head with an arrow and no body toled me!!!!! Like, the hole DAY I was going around with this arrow stuck in my head!!!!
But I did the best I coud becuz I'm Christinane and me and my Barby freind's did cheer's like Gimme a N-I-T-E--whats it spell?--NITE!!! GoooooOO NITE'S!!!!!! But they still dint seem to apresheate me much wile they were buzy slautering and whatEVER.
SO THEN I started to wonder were these peeple reely so nice and why were they fiting about Julery anyhoo??? And I met some Orc prisner's becuz some time's Hermyony made me go where they were holding them becuz she sayed I was anoying (as IF!!)!!
So I desided to make the Orc's some FRUIT CAKE!!!!! I am reely good at making FRUIT CAKE!!!! Most peeple tell me right off just looking at my FRUIT CAKE's is so grate they dont even want to EAT them!!!!
It was hard to cook on the battle feild of coarse. I was reel suprised to see Hermiony's Barby cook kept her flower in a bag marked Cement!!!!
And it was reel hard to deliver the FRUIT CAKE's becuz Hermyowny sayed it was fraternitizing with the ennemy or some thing!!!!! So we lobbed them over with the catapult's and then I snuck over becuz I just had to see the affect they had on my Orc freind's.
Woud you beleave me they had all reddy started in on there speshal treat becuz they were laying all over the grass to full to move!!!!! The poor thing's!!! Some of them had big bruzes on there head's from the battle but the FRUIT CAKE soothed them becuz take it from some one who was marryed to Dicky for a long time--they were feeling no pain!!!!! Probly all the Bud Lite I put in!!! And other's were obvuously enjoying thereselves so much they were acshualy RITHING on the ground unable to find word's to express there pleasure!!!!
And it was a truely Christinane gesture becuz beleave it or not even Hermyony was affected by the site and helped me make more and more and MORE fruit cake's and even sayed my fruit cake's were importent in helping win the war!!!
Which was no suprize to me cuz like my Freind JESUS say's (no--NOT THE JANITER!!!!) Blessed are the Peacemaker's!!!! If He woud of thot of it Im sure He woud of sayed: Blessed are the FRUIT CAKE MAKER's!!!!!!
The End!!!!!

Story #3
by Yours Truly

'Twas the night before Xmahannuramakwanzyule and the Netherworld Hotel was at last quiet. The members of Death Cheese had fallen into a drunken stupor after playing till 3:33 AM. The Cheesemeister sneaked down to the pantry for a snack, hoping to find some cheese, fruit, chocolate, and maybe a little leftover wine--the classy kind from the box, not the rancorous rot gut that the members of Death Cheese favored.
The stair creaked, which did not particularly bother the Cheesemeister. Everything in the Netherworld Hotel was on the verge of falling apart. But when the clock suddenly struck the hour, it made her jump. That wouldn't have been so bad, but a chill went up her spine as she realized the clock had struck 6. Worse, when she looked at the clock, a simple old-fashioned grandfather clock with hands rather than digits, she noticed that the hour, minute and second hand were all pointing to the number 6. The clock face suddenly showed a malevolent, sharp-toothed grin, and the Cheesemeister jumped back. All around her were clocks indicating the number 666. Even the clock around Flavor Flav's neck when he sat upright from his drunken resting place on the lobby couch read 666, and the normally funny Flav had an evil grin on his gleaming grill.
"Yo, G, I guess you know what TIME IT IS!" he smirked wickedly.
It was then that The Cheesemeister screamed, for she heard a stomping on the roof. And then lunatic laughter echoed from the fireplace. Someone was up the chimney hole and Satan was his name.
"Ho ho ho, Cheesemeister!" laughed Unsaintly Nick. "You've been bad this year, like always, and you know it. But this year you will receive nothing so pleasant as coal. No, this year the price of being bad is truly unspeakable."
And with that, the wicked old elf tossed some sort of baleful object down the chimney. It steamed with the fires of hell and reeked of brimstone. And then the Cheesemeister's shrill keening filled the lobby of the dilapidated, cursed inn of the damned. For the thing opened its eyes and mouth. It lived! Or perhaps, more likely it lived not, and yet it moved. A malevolent intelligence shone in its glowing red eyes and in the clots of ancient candied fruit that adorned its hardened flesh. For this was the oldest fruitcake in the Universe, and Satan had chosen the Cheesemeister to receive it.
"Take care of your new pet, Cheesy One," Satan called down the chimney. "Or my new latrine cleaner for eternity shall be named. I bet you can guess what her name is too!"
As Flavor Flav took a swig of rancorous rot gut, The Cheesemeister sunk to the floor of the Netherworld Hotel lobby. She was stuck with the Universe's oldest fruitcake. She couldn't destroy it, she couldn't re-gift it and she definitely couldn't return it.
"Oh,woe betide me this Yuletide" she sighed. "Whatever shall I do? What are the chances that I'll get through the year without Soggy trying to eat that thing or Axe Man trying to chop it to bits? I'm doomed, doomed doomed!"
Finis???

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Post 101: Ice Fishing

This is the first story for 2008. My first story contest was a complete bust. I'm still leaving it open until the 5th but tentatively declaring PANSI the winner. Sad days are these when PANSI is declared a literary genius. PANSI thinks that I'm just jellos because her story was better than mine. Maybe she's right!
To any rate here is the newest short-short story. It goes with the picture that you will find here, although you can take it on its own merit if you wish.

Kendra sat in the cafe waiting for Oly to arrive. He always kept her waiting during ice fishing season. She waited and waited and waited, alternating between hoping he hadn't fallen through the ice and wishing that he had.

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

#100







Horror has a name, and that name is Fruitcake!
This is my 100th post, and to celebrate, I am holding my first annual Story Contest. It's very easy. All you have to do is write a story about the horrors of Fruitcake. Behold the horror in its various forms. All the hideous candied fruit, and you may have been the 666th person to receive this very fruitcake. If so, woe betide you.
The contest will run through January 5th, at which point we will vote on the stories. First prize will be an autographed copy of my and the ghost's book. If you already have one, I'll select something of equal value to award you. The alternate prize is most likely in better taste. If my story wins, I'll donate the price of one of my books to the World Health Organization's mental health division. Do not feel like you have to vote for my story. I am a novelist, and I acknowledge that my short stories are generally pretty foolish.
May the most malevolent fruitcake win!
Lily
'Twas the night before Xmahannuramakwanzyule and the Netherworld Hotel was at last quiet. The members of Death Cheese had fallen into a drunken stupor after playing till 3:33 AM. The Cheesemeister sneaked down to the pantry for a snack, hoping to find some cheese, fruit, chocolate, and maybe a little leftover wine--the classy kind from the box, not the rancorous rot gut that the members of Death Cheese favored.
The stair creaked, which did not particularly bother the Cheesemeister. Everything in the Netherworld Hotel was on the verge of falling apart. But when the clock suddenly struck the hour, it made her jump. That wouldn't have been so bad, but a chill went up her spine as she realized the clock had struck 6. Worse, when she looked at the clock, a simple old-fashioned grandfather clock with hands rather than digits, she noticed that the hour, minute and second hand were all pointing to the number 6. The clock face suddenly showed a malevolent, sharp-toothed grin, and the Cheesemeister jumped back. All around her were clocks indicating the number 666. Even the clock around Flavor Flav's neck when he sat upright from his drunken resting place on the lobby couch read 666, and the normally funny Flav had an evil grin on his gleaming grill.
"Yo, G, I guess you know what TIME IT IS!" he smirked wickedly.
It was then that The Cheesemeister screamed, for she heard a stomping on the roof. And then lunatic laughter echoed from the fireplace. Someone was up the chimney hole and Satan was his name.
"Ho ho ho, Cheesemeister!" laughed Unsaintly Nick. "You've been bad this year, like always, and you know it. But this year you will receive nothing so pleasant as coal. No, this year the price of being bad is truly unspeakable."
And with that, the wicked old elf tossed some sort of baleful object down the chimney. It steamed with the fires of hell and reeked of brimstone. And then the Cheesemeister's shrill keening filled the lobby of the dilapidated, cursed inn of the damned. For the thing opened its eyes and mouth. It lived! Or perhaps, more likely it lived not, and yet it moved. A malevolent intelligence shone in its glowing red eyes and in the clots of ancient candied fruit that adorned its hardened flesh. For this was the oldest fruitcake in the Universe, and Satan had chosen the Cheesemeister to receive it.
"Take care of your new pet, Cheesy One," Satan called down the chimney. "Or my new latrine cleaner for eternity shall be named. I bet you can guess what her name is too!"
As Flavor Flav took a swig of rancorous rot gut, The Cheesemeister sunk to the floor of the Netherworld Hotel lobby. She was stuck with the Universe's oldest fruitcake. She couldn't destroy it, she couldn't re-gift it and she definitely couldn't return it.
"Oh,woe betide me this Yuletide" she sighed. "Whatever shall I do? What are the chances that I'll get through the year without Soggy trying to eat that thing or Axe Man trying to chop it to bits? I'm doomed, doomed doomed!"
For extra atmosphere, here is the band that just may be Death Cheese's biggest influence.

Monday, December 03, 2007

My Biggest Nemesis


My score on The 5 Question "Worst Villian For You" Test:


Michael Myers

(You scored 13 Logic, 4 Supernatural, 4 Paranoia, 8 Skills)


http://panther.is1.okcimg.com/users/554/938/5559389992085590136/mt590360846.jpg


A common characterization is that Michael Myers is evil. The character as "almost a supernatural force - a force of nature. An evil force that's loose," a force that is "unkillable." He is more than human; he may be supernatural, and no one knows how he got that way.


Link: The 5 Question "Worst Villian For You" Test
(OkCupid Free Online Dating)


Thankfully Rare

Your Personality is Very Rare (INFP)

Your personality type is dreamy, romantic, elegant, and expressive.

Only about 5% of all people have your personality, including 6% of all women and 4% of all men
You are Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Perceiving.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Mysterious Lily Strange Spotted at Stonehenge

Yahoo! Avatars
The mysterious author Lily Strange was spotted at Stonehenge with her pet penguin Penguino today. It is reported that the peculiar pair were beamed there by a UFO piloted by the Alien Guy. Strange, reportedly, was hoping to "hook up with Mr. Spock," but Spock was advised by a certain mysterious hooded spectre holding a can of Whoop Ass that this would not be logical.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

For the first time ever I am declared a genius!

cash advance

Get a Cash Advance

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

The Fruitcake Club

I've been depressed, but this humorous post about fruitcake cheered me up a bit. Here is the response I gave.

My father is trying to indoctrinate my son into the fruitcake club. No, not THAT fruitcake club, nor even the "nutty as a fruitcake" club, although my personal belief is that if you like fruitcake you are indeed certifiable. My son likes to cook and my father is hoping that my son and my mother will cook up a dandy Xmas fruitcake. I suppose it wouldn't be such an awful thing to humor dear old Dad--he's had a rather miserable three years since the stroke and if it's fruitcake he wants, perhaps it's fruitcake he should have. But my son will probably make faces at the smell of that ghastly candied fruit. That stuff is fit only for ghoulies, ghosties, and things that go bump in the night--and I know several ghosts who wouldn't touch it either!
What are your thoughts on fruitcake? Is it a maligned delicacy or merely malignant? Was it put on Earth by the Devil Himself to torture good Christian souls on their favorite holiday? Or is it some sort of alien creation like the pyramids and Stonehenge are rumored to be by the UFO-philes? Whatever the case, I am frightened of it. It looks like a block of mold. The only good fruitcake I ever had left out the horrific candied fruit and replaced it with maraschino cherries and Brazil nuts. That was not Satan fruitcake, as is the majority of fruitcake. That was angelic fruitcake.
That's your lesson for today, Kiddies. Be good for goodness sake. Or not only will Santa Claus call you out, but if you're run over by a reindeer walking home from someone's house on Christmas Eve, you will be eating fruitcake in hell for all eternity.
If the clergy really wanted to get people into church, they'd forget all this talk about premarital sex and promiscuity. They'd be preaching about eternal damnation complete with daily fruitcake rations. Now that's enough to scare anybody into devotion!
I think it might be fun to come up with some hellish holiday tales. Maybe I'll have a contest of some kind. Since I'm broke I don't know what the prize will be other than the love and admiration of your fellow contestants. But perhaps something will strike me and jar my brain out of its comatose state e'er the holiday season is o'er. After all, there has to be something fun about this stressful pair of months following my and Alice Cooper's favorite holiday!

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Silent Sibling Rivalry

The picture that goes with this latest effort can be found here. If you're not tired or proud, or if you're tired and not proud, or if you're just plain bored, feel free to add to it.
Kimi desperately wished that her sister Nita would tell her wretched little goblin of a son to get his ill-behaved butt off the table before Aunt Kimi went Samurai on his ass. At the same time, Nita was thinking what dreadfully stuffy little prigs Kimi's children were and it was all she could do to keep from smacking them upside the heads with a bo-stick to get some sort of a reaction out of them.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Just happens to be my favorite season

You Are Fall!

Thoughtful
Expressive
Creative
Poetic
Smart


I feel a bit brain dead tonight so I'm doing these things

Thursday, November 01, 2007

The return of Indie

Indie is back. So here is the first short-short story I've been able to write in awhile. Remember, you can add to it if you want!
Missi went to one of THOSE schools where art and writing were sneered at and only science and math were respected. The only place she could find to draw was in the girls' bathroom at lunch. This worked pretty well until the one day when Priscilla the Math Club Queen walked in on her.
"Ooooh, I'm gonna TELLL!!!!" Priscilla cried.
Being caught involved in artistic expression was far worse than being caught smoking in the bathroom. Even being caught smoking crack would have been better than this. Missi was doomed.
When I'm feeling low (which I have been for the past day) I start feeling sorry for myself, wishing that when I put out a piece like this people would actually participate like they do at Doug's or Indie's blogs. I'm not begrudging them their popularity, they fully deserve it. Sometimes I revel in being a big scary freak with red eyes and blood dripping from my fangs and claws. Other times I kind of wish that people would mistake me for cute and cuddly...at least until I was able to get them into my web of deceit and eat their intestines for lunch.

This Shite is Driving Me Crazy!

It's probably really nitpicky and anal of me, but this sign at work is driving me crazy. The name of the program is "Every Time I Feel The Spirit." I think the intent was to write "Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit" to make it seem more folksy, but instead they wrote "Eve'y Time I Feel The Spirit." Well, now ev'ry time I see that sign I cringe!
Would you pronounce that "Evie" or "Evay?"
This drives me slightly less nut's than people who put apostrophe's where apostrophe's don't belong, making word's that shouldn't be possessive possessive.
One of the more glaring examples of this was on a sign in front of a restaurant indicating that the breakfast special was "Ham and Egg's." I kept wondering "Ham and the Egg's what??"
In spite of being perfect in eve'y other way, I do have a bit of trouble knowing when to use its and when to use it's. I usually use the motto "when in doubt leave it out" with apostrophes and let my editor figure it out. I can tolerate a dropped apostrophe. But an added apostrophe where there shouldn't be an apostrophe is just plain aggravating!

Friday, October 05, 2007

Our press release!

Our publicist wrote this press release and is sending it to numerous publications. It's much better than the crap one that I wrote and had no idea to distribute it to!
If you're a writer in need of a publicist you need to write Lee at mrg@usatek.net
His fees are reasonable enough that even my broke ass could afford them!
Here's the press release masterpiece. You'd want to check it out if you read about it, wouldn't you? Genius!

======================================
NEW HORROR NOVEL WRITTEN BY PSYCHIC WITH HELP OF GHOST

(BOULDER, Colorado) – A new horror novel
titled “Lost Beneath The Surface” is a story of demons,
angels, gods, goddesses and a vampire – and it was
co-written with the help of a ghost, according to author,
Lily Strange.

“I never set out to write a book with a ghost, it just
happened,” said Strange, who began writing the book 15
years ago as her marriage began falling apart. “It began
as a 2-dimensional Gothic romance, but it ended very
differently.”

In 2005, Strange says she met a spirit who began working
with her on the manuscript. The story then took on an
entirely different tone.

“In my family, there are a lot of people with psychic
abilities,” said Strange. “One of my maternal
great-grandfathers always knew when people were going to
die and saw ghosts.”

Strange made contact with a dead musician who ended his
life in suicide. The ghost was receptive to Strange, as he
was quite lonely, she said. Soon, Strange began to work
with the ghost.

“He would read over my shoulder while I was working,” said
Strange. “He asked if I might like to hear some ideas he
had and before I knew it he was contributing enough that I
could only see fit to call him my co-author.”

The author, who says she has seen ghosts since the age of
16, said she wrote the book under a pen name, because she
is “sensitive about enduring the criticism that revealing
this supernatural partnership will subject me to.”

The complex horror novel blends true details of the
hard-rock-underground of the late 80s and early 90s with a
fantasy story. The result is an intricate and interwoven
tale of Terry Bruckham, a popular author who can’t catch a
break. Terry falls in love with London blues-rock singer,
Elvin Barris. Soon, in Terry’s dreams a terrifying threat
is revealed – dark forces that put the universe at stake.

An excerpt from the prologue:

“This is a story of love and loss, of triumph and
destruction, and of the knowledge that nothing in this
world will last forever … This is, if you will, a love
story.”

To purchase the e-book for $5.00, visit:
http://www.lilystrange.com. It is also available for
$16.95 at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

Half of the profits from book sales will be donated to the
World Health Organization's mental health division.

CONTACT: Author Lily Strange is available for interviews
with the media by calling (insert telephone#) or via e-mail at lilystears@gmail.com.

Monday, October 01, 2007

Magic

Here is a small paragraph from Lost Beneath the Surface to start this week's story. See what you can do with it!

Sigrun presented the youth with several different backgrounds and he transformed to blend into each one. When he was through he seemed drained but pleased by the praise he received. He went to one of the sleep chambers to rest. Sigrun and Thrud led Greta to Yama’s chambers.

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Rabbit Rabbit for October

MySpace Graphics
MySpace Graphics

The Grim Reaper knows a vorpal rabbit when he sees one.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Geena's Journey

Geena wondered about the wisdom of leaving the light at the end of the tunnel behind. She wondered indeed about the wisdom of venturing through the tunnel. Who knew where it ended, how long it would be before she encountered light again? Yet she had lived so long alone in the light, fearing the darkness. Her loneliness drove her to venture out and seek what was beyond the beautiful but empty world she'd known for as long as she could remember before she died of despair.
This story was originally posted at the Indeterminacy website. We are glad that Indie's wife is recovering from her auto accident and hope she continues to advance back to health.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Deities Locking Horns

Yes! We met the challenge and the aforementioned chapter is complete--in first draft form, at any rate. Here is a short paragraph that you can have fun speculating an outcome for, should you wish.
Don't worry, I'm not using this as a method to steal material. First, I have the whole chapter completed before I ever submit a paragraph for this exercise. Second, usually the things that other people come up with are completely removed from what's actually going on in the chapter, and that's part of the fun. So have a go at this if you like!

Freya looked away for a moment and sighed. She was weary of this conversation and it had only begun. Thor and Tyr both seemed to be taking accusing postures and she wasn’t sure what Hades wanted. That one played both sides, just like Hel. His demeanor was serene but she was sure he had ulterior motives. Still, at the moment she would much rather deal with Hades than Thor and Tyr.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Creating

I'm in the process of creating a chapter and I'm so tired I can't even think. It was dangerous for me to drive to work tonight, that's how exhausted I am. All I know is that I want the chapter to include Thor, Tyr, Hades and Freya. There's an argument about the Conquering Hero being imprisoned for an impulsive decision. Oh yeah...and my IBS is killing me. Being an author is very glamorous, folks. If you are one of the Beautiful People you should probably consider another profession. If, however, like me, you are mentally unstable, have numerous physical problems, have a great face for radio and a head full of ideas that have caused others to tell you that you really should consider checking into Happy Acres for a little stay and maybe a lobotomy, being a writer just might be for you!

Monday, August 20, 2007

Little Goals = Big Accomplishments?

I've been doing a program called Tools to Life and this is what I posted on my blog there. Check it out and if you decide you might like to do it, tell 'em Cheesemeister referred you.

I think Day 9 has been the most relevant to what I needed to hear. There are no big accomplishments, only big results of multiple small accomplishments. It makes all the little "bullcrap" I have to do every day seem not quite as unimportant.

Promoting this book is an unimaginable horror. The book itself is a horror novel--the plot pales by comparison to promoting the sucker! I think a goal I could realistically achieve would be contacting one radio station or reviewer a day to attempt to promote it. I avoided papering my walls with rejection slips by publishing on demand because major publishers these days won't touch an unknown. Guess I get to have rejection slips anyway. Ah well, joke 'em if they can't take a f**k.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Screaming In The Night

Here is a short paragraph from my book to play with.

A cloud passed over the moon. Behind them a woman screamed.
"Oh Jesus! Oh Lordy Jesus!"

Go ahead and decide what she's screaming about. Be creative! And being humorous is acceptable.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Getting Busy

I'm working on the new manuscript. I'm more comfortable with it this time. The new book should be ready in 2009 rather than taking another 15 years to come to life!

Friday, August 03, 2007

Fiona the Plant Hater

Kimora the tree-hugger had warned Fiona against her aggressive attitude towards plants. Fiona had enjoyed kicking the buds of black-eyed Susans, lopping the leaves off lilacs, stomping on lamb's feet, and ripping roses out by the roots. Kimora had said that one day the garden gnomes would get revenge on feisty Fiona. Fiona had just laughed. The flora-phile had obviously snorted too much pollen.
But now Fiona wished she'd listened. When she came into the garden this morning to mutilate some maples, she got the surprise of her life when she was met by Rolf the head garden gnome, who informed her that it was time to pay the phyto-piper. Then the garden gnomes began to chant.
The next thing she knew, Fiona was imprisoned inside a blade of grass. And now she saw the lawn mower coming.

Feel free to add your own ideas to the story.
Original appearance here.

Sweet Tooth

Belinda and Irene wanted to maintain their girlish figures. But the cheesecake was so tempting. They thought that if they rubbed it on their mouths they could taste it without absorbing the calories. They wanted it more than sex, more than fame. They were torn. It was terrible. Were they not above gorging on cake?
They went to Yam Man's Self Actualization Workshop, where they discovered their Inner Fatty, and decided to heed the words of Marie Antoinette, who said it was perfectly all right for them to eat cake.

The story originally appeared here.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Literary intelligence

Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence

You are excellent with words and language. You explain yourself well.
An elegant speaker, you can converse well with anyone on the fly.
You are also good at remembering information and convicing someone of your point of view.
A master of creative phrasing and unique words, you enjoy expanding your vocabulary.

You would make a fantastic poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, or translator.
Yeah...I'm feeling a little discouraged about my book's potential right now, but ok.

Friday, July 27, 2007

Contemporary Authors Bio

This is my bio for the contemporary authors database:

I used to write simply as an outlet for the overwhelming emotions I always experienced, which I now know are due to bipolar disorder. I was always fascinated by the horror genre, perhaps because horrific creatures and scenarios could be used as metaphors for powerful emotions and sometimes uncontrollable situations. It also served as a catharsis for the terrifying nightmares that I have experienced all of my life.
Now I write for these reasons and additionally to allow my co-author, a discarnate spirit who lost his life to suicide, to have a creative outlet for his emotions and to impart his very important messages to the world as well. He is a great partner, incredibly intelligent, creative and supportive, and I can't imagine working without him ever again. We refine and balance each other's ideas.
I once wanted the glory of being published under my own name, but due to the controversy of my belief that I am creating my works with a somewhat notorious spirit, this is not possible. At first I grieved the loss of my dream of possibly having my own name recognized alongside the likes of Stephen King.
My personal renown no longer matters. What matters is the message my co-author and I can impart through our stories. We literally hope to save lives through our works. 50% of the profits from our books will be donated to the World Health Organization's mental health division.
In the long run, it really doesn't matter whether or not the reader believes that I'm actually working with a ghost. What matters is that he or she is intrigued enough by the book to buy a copy and hopefully tell their friends to do the same. Then we can help the World Health Organization prevent suicides and end the stigma that those with mental illness endure.

Promotion Crap

Trying to promote the book--the horror! Writing the thing was the easy part by compare. I've never been any good at self promotion and really getting noticed seems to be for established wealthy authors that actually have two pennies to rub together. Shit on a shingle! And I was dumb enough to think all I had to do was write stuff!

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Book Description

This is the description of my book that I submitted to Amazon. What do ya think?

Description:
Horror fiction meets metaphysical truth in this tale penned by one incarnate and one discarnate author. The story, which began, in author Lily Strange's words, as a standard "lonely lady meets sexy male vampire" Gothic romance, made a drastic metamorphosis to include mythological creatures from various pantheons and allusions to real events which occurred in the extreme Metal underground in the 1990's. This metamorphosis was due to the incarnate author's accidental contact with a spirit who had inside information regarding certain incidents. This spirit is highly imaginative, and in Lily he found the perfect medium to not only help him exercise his frustrated creativity but to impart an important message to those who are still living--especially those struggling with severe depression or other mental illness that might prompt them to harm themselves. Fifty percent of profits generated from this book will be donated to the World Health Organization's Mental Health Division.

Author bio(s):
Lily Strange has had precognitive dreams ever since she can remember. She is able to sense the emotions of both the living and the discarnate. She does not hear the voices of spirits with her physical ears, she discerns their thoughts and emotions. She is also adept at reading Tarot cards. Lily copes with Type II Bipolar Disorder. This disease is characterized by severe depression alternating with periods of heightened self-esteem and optimism. Type II Bipolar is not characterized by extreme mania and is therefore difficult to detect. One of Lily's missions is to end the stigma that the mentally ill endure. Lily's co-author wishes to identify himself simply as "the ghost" at this time. He does not wish for any Earthly notoriety, much of which he considers to be "false advertising" to be a selling point for the book. He has two very important missions that he wishes to accomplish. His first mission is to prevent more souls from enduring the trauma caused by suicide, the reason for his own death. He hopes in some way to improve the current treatment available to those who are suicidal, which is why he wishes for his portion of the profits to be donated to the World Health Organization's efforts to assist the mentally ill and lower the suicide rate worldwide. "Those in so much pain that they consider ending their own lives should be treated with sympathy, not disdainfulness," he says. His second mission is to warn people not to mess with forces they don't understand. He says that while these forces may seem very attractive to a person whose life is going wrong, they have no allegiance to nor affection for those who call on them and will be perfectly happy to "bring even greater unhappiness to those foolish enough to mess with them." His third mission, he says, is to "prevent people from reading crappy writing." Therefore his recommendation is for everyone to "throw out all your other books and read this one. In fact, drop everything else you are doing and read it now."

Backcover copy:
With her long-awaited second marriage finally about to become a reality, acclaimed novelist Terry Bruckham is besieged with painful and terrifying memories. Those most closely associated with her are also assailed by disturbing dreams and obsessive thoughts. A sinister plan is being enacted in the Earth's Dreamlands, home to the sleeping and the Earthbound dead, as a troubled spirit wrestles with the warring pieces of his own psyche for the well-being or destruction of everything that exists. Discover the world beyond the wall of sleep and its marvelous residents, both good and evil. Lily Strange is the pen name of a creative soul who describes herself as "a reluctant medium." In real life, she is an emergency medical technician by profession. She is currently employed in a retirement community. Due to her innate abilities and personal challenges, Lily is also a lifelong student of both psychology and parapsychology, inspired by psychic and empathic experiences from her earliest memories, and challenged by emotional difficulties due to type II Bipolar Disorder, which onset at puberty. While editing a story which she had created 14 years previously, Lily had an experience which radically transformed not only the story but her own perspective on the living world and the world that lies beyond the veil of material existence. Inspired by the works of classic horror writers such as Ambrose Bierce, H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King and aided by the skillful contributions of a literal "ghost writer," Lost Beneath The Surface is the first in a unique series of esoteric horror novels. Lily reluctantly decided to publish her creative work under a pseudonym due to the desire to protect the privacy of her family and to preserve her professional life from the potential ramifications of her controversial beliefs.

Inside-flap copy:
A group of psychically and emotionally bonded friends battle deities and demons to prevent the germination of the Dark Mind.

Author comments:
This is a much more unusual book than I had ever intended to write. The original story was simply a literary expression of the pain I was feeling about my decaying marriage. I picked it up again after it had collected dust for some thirteen years. Not long after, I accidentally contacted the spirit who would become my co-author. Neither of us had any intent for this to happen. It just worked out that way. I now consider my co-author to be as real a friend as any of my incarnate cohorts. He is very present in my life. The truth about him may surprise people. He is brilliant, imaginative, and, in spite of rumors to the contrary, has a great sense of humor. While I often consider my mediumistic abilities to be a mixed blessing, in this case I feel very blessed to have made such a treasured friend. Both authors hope that their their literary efforts will entertain, inform, and lead to a greater understanding and better treatment of the mentally ill.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

My Three Offspring















This is one of those cases where the picture was necessary for the story to make any sense. The story and picture originally appeared here. What can you add?

"Bleeding hell, I do hope that Father doesn't expect us to stuff our arses into this thing to go to the North Plodqiddle Social," Master Jerry, the middle brother of the Wallingford clan muttered through his teeth.
"I think it might be right good fun, rather," said Master Garry, the youngest of the trio.
"Shut the bleeding hell up so they can take the picture," Master Nicholas, the eldest brother snarled menacingly through his perfect smile. "And then I'll have a chat with Father and see if he has truly lost his marbles. I simply can't see having the three of us stuffed into the back seat and Father riding up front with Xerxes when we've a perfectly good limo that will hold all of us comfortably."
"All in, Lads," said their father Sir Barry cheerfully. "'T'will be a bonny drive in the countryside this fine summer afternoon. Chop chop now!"
"Bleeding hell, he has lost his marbles," Jerry moaned.
"Nah, I think he's just been nipping at the rum Cook was using to flavor his birthday cake." Garry remarked. "Oh, come, lads, it will be fun, you'll see!"
"Bally chip off the old block," Nicholas groaned, thinking that in another month he could return to Oxford and concentrate on his forthcoming career as a dedicated purveyor of fashion.

More writing, but less silliness. Purchase my novel, Lost Beneath The Surface. 50% of proceeds donated to the World Health Organization's mental health division.

The Heat of a Dying Sun

This story originally appeared here. Can you continue it?
"Remember what it was like when the sun still shone yellow on the Earth?" Lisa asked Quint.
"I remember what it was like when the air was sometimes moist and the seas weren't all evaporating," he said.
"Do you ever wonder if eternal life may not have been such a wise plan after all?" she asked.
"It will be a moot point soon," he said.
They held hands and watched the gigantic red sun set over the drying sea, glad of the night and dreading another scorching day when it rose again.
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Ziggie's Folly

This story originally appeared here. Feel free to add to it.

"Snot!" said Ziggie. His favorite thong had gotten caught between the dryer drawer and the rotating drum. It was messing up everything. Now he would have to call the repairman, and he wouldn't have his lucky thong to wear on his date with Charles.
"I hope that wearing a not so lucky thong doesn't mean I won't get lucky," Ziggie mused.
Ziggie and his friends get lucky with videos from Adam Male.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Chef, Cook and Bottle Washer

I guess I'm doing pretty well considering that I'm everything but my own editor and publisher. I'm the author, the agent, the advertiser, the webmistress. And I'm damn tired!
The website has a new improved look. Please check it out. Consider becoming a sponsor. Currently the price is a link or banner exchange. If I ever get to be a big deal? Well as much as I've struggled I figure I'll charge big companies a lot and sincere small business people will still get to be a sponsor for the price of a link or banner exchange!
You can come advertise on my plugboard. I don't get a lot of traffic yet, but it's free! You will need an 88x31 banner. If you don't know how to make one, I can do it for you. Email cheesemeister@q.com to find out more.

Thinking about publishing your own book? Check out my publisher.


On To The Next One

I'm working on what actually is the prequel to my current book. The chapter we're dealing with now is going on 8 hours worth of work. Of course when finished, it won't take 8 hours to read!
Here's a preview sentence that you can play with. What do you think will happen next?

Jarius smiled tiredly.
“I am ready, Elan. Ready for this cursed fatigue to end. Ready to be undefeatable. I am ready to learn the ways of thy gods and goddesses and to receive their blessing. But I have one question. If my body is to be in the process of dying before reawakening to eternal life, how can it be explained to my family when I rise from the grave?”

That's all I can give ya--especially since the chapter's in first draft form! In the meantime, buy my current book and other cool stuff at my newest web store!


Paint This!

Who Should Paint You: M.C. Escher

Open and raw, you would let your true self show for your portrait.
And even if your painting turned out a bit dark, it would be honest.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Forever With Head In The Clouds

You Are a Dreaming Soul

Your vivid emotions and imagination takes you away from this world
So much so that you tend to live in your head most of the time
You have great dreams and ambitions that could be the envy of all...
But for you, following through with your dreams is a bit difficult

You are charming, endearing, and people tend to love you.
Forgiving and tolerant, you see the world through rose colored glasses.
Underneath it all, you have a ton of passion that you hide from others.
Always hopeful, you tend to expect positive outcomes in your life.

Souls you are most compatible with: Newborn Soul, Prophet Soul, and Traveler Soul

Thursday, July 05, 2007

War Games

The original story appears here.

"Sorry, gentlemen," the Lieutenant said. "The transport bringing the ammunition has a flat and ran off the road into a ditch. So we won't be having war games today. We'd best start walking back to camp. I know it's hot now but the weather report says we'll have a deluge later."
"That drunk sonofabitch Sanderson!" Victor muttered aside to Eldon. "The only reason he gets away with this crap is because he's the damn general's grandson!"
"Something you want to say, Corporal?" the Lieutenant asked.
"Merely that it's a fine day for a walk, Sir," Victor said, looking at the cloudless sky and wondering if the weather reporter might be a relative of the general's too.

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Samara's Lament

This short story originally appears here.
"Oh dearie my," sighed Samara. "If only my hands weren't so cold. I'll never find a man that can bear my icy touch. Maybe if I send up this balloon with my wish, the deities of death will bring someone who is undead like myself for me to make love to."

Feel free to add to Samara's story.

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