If you're ready for a zombie apocalypse, then you're ready for any emergency. emergency.cdc.gov
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Showing posts with label supernatural. Show all posts
Showing posts with label supernatural. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Win an Amazon Gift Card!



I'm looking for someone to create the cover art (preferably digital or photographed) for my upcoming high seas thriller, On Deadly Seas. It's an 18th century pirate ghost story. Summary of the book is as follows:

Strange things happen aboard the 18th century brigantine, The Fiery Wench. Accidents occur quite frequently; crew men are killed off in horrific ways; and visitors have reported seeing the ghosts of those tortured souls warning them of worse things to come. Pirate Captain Aiden McGuire never believed in curses and he would have anyone whipped who even suggested the idea. It’s only when young Jaclyn steals away aboard his ship that one misfortune after another befalls him and his crew. The decks of The Fiery Wench, for the first time since he became captain, start to flow red from the blood of his men. Is his stowaway a Siren who has come aboard to tear apart his vessel, or is she an innocent caught in a game of tragedy? Only time will tell as this ship sets sail ON DEADLY SEAS.

THE PRIZE: $50 AMAZON GIFT CARD

CONTEST RULES:

Winner will be selected on April 2, 2019 and announced via my email list, . The prize will be emailed within 5 business days. Winner must check our blog and contact us within 2 business days to confirm their email address for delivery. Valid only where permitted by law.

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Answer this question in a comment on this blog post: Why should I choose your cover art?
2. Like Screams for Sale on Facebook and share it with a friend.
3. Follow me on Twitter @shelbypatrick
4. Subscribe to my email list at darkfictionmuse-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
5. Email up to three of your best cover artwork to blackwidow@shelbypatrick.com

Winning entry will be used as the cover art for my book. Artist will be credited on the inside of the book. 


Saturday, December 22, 2018

Horror Excerpts

I have three excerpts online from short stories in my anthology The Fear Within. To read the complete stories and more, you can purchase my book HERE

Please send an email to each of the following addresses to read the excerpts:

After Hours -- Working late becomes a night for survival. CLICK HERE

Behind Closed Doors -- What was grandmother hiding behind the locked door in her basement? CLICK HERE

Under a Watchful Eye -- No guards, no fences, and no escape for prisoners once they enter Innsmouth. CLICK HERE 

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Looking for a Fiction Editor

Here's the deal:
I write horror, fantasy, thrillers, science fiction, and erotic horror. 

I have been working with several editors for a few years now; unfortunately, we keep hitting snags and I have to continue finding new editors. What I really need is someone who can work with me for awhile and not fade away or suddenly want more money. 

My past editors work as follows: I pay $25 up front. They will then read over the initial manuscript, perform line edits and check for grammatical errors, passive voice, the overuse of pronouns, etc. They will also check for inconsistencies in my plot, story lines that don't make sense, characters that don't fit, story structure, and areas that I need to work on, etc. In essence, they do it all, then send me back chapter by chapter with their notes and comments. Once I receive this initial draft back in full, I pay $25. 

I usually wait until I have the complete manuscript back before I start on a rewrite. Rewrites can take awhile, but once I'm finished, I'll send the revision back to my editor for his final comments (at no additional cost). 

He also will look over and comment on my query letters and synopsis; although, some of my manuscripts are to be self-published so this won't apply to those. After the second read-through and final notes, I send the rest of the payment ($25). 

If you are interested in this position, please apply at:

Fiction Editor Application

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Disaster at the Dinner Table!

We all have our favorite fictional characters and dream of popping into their world to meet them some day. What if by some miracle all our fave characters could jump out into the real world for one day to attend a special event? Let's see what might happen.

It's October 2nd. My favorite holiday, Halloween, is right around the corner. The weather is starting to turn chilly and I'm not in the greatest of moods. Today is, after all, my birthday, and as I get older, birthdays take on a new meaning. They aren't filled with happy moments or wishes I want to come true some day. No, it just means one year closer to losing my mind, failing health, and watching dreams go down in a ball of flame.  However, this year, things are going to be different. You see, my niece is throwing me a spectacular birthday dinner and there are two special guests on the invitation list: Dean Winchester (from Supernatural fame) and Eric Northman (the hottest vampire to exist in today's fictional world).

Everyone is settled in and seated around the table. They have already introduced themselves and from the scathing looks Dean keeps giving Eric, I can tell it's going to be a long night.

"Why did you invite him?" asked Dean, leaning over to whisper in my ear.

"Maybe because I'm more fun," said Eric. He pointed to his ears. "Whispers are for children. I can hear whatever you say perfectly."

Dean straightened his back, looking ready to pounce. I placed a restraining hand on his arm.

"Boys, let's just all get along for one night, okay?"

Dean snarled; Eric growled. I knew this dinner was going to be a disaster the moment my niece opened the door to show off her two surprise guests. Pitting a vampire and a monster hunter in the same room would only result in chaos. Could I have them make peace, if just for the one night?

The kitchen door opened and Emily, my niece, pushed a gigantic cake through the door. "It's time to sing Happy Birthday," she said with a huge grin on her face.

On top of the cake was an image of my latest supernatural novel that had just hit the bookshelves. Emily had written BESTSELLER across the top and underneath "birthday wishes do come true." Today was the day my book made the best seller list, so it was really a double celebration. Unfortunately, the two characters seated next to me were about to make it more interesting.

Eric wished me a happy birthday and then gave me a peck on the cheek. Dean whistled and said in a low voice, "Why don't you just bite her and drink her dry, blood sucker? We all know you want to because that's what monsters like you do."

That was all it took. Eric turned, extending his fangs, and lunged at Dean.

"I'd much rather do away with you, hunter," said Eric, toppling them both to the floor.

They wrestled for a few minutes, looking like school boys fighting over a girl, but I knew it was deadly serious. Emily screamed. The rest of the guests moved away from the table. No one intervened. This was a fight to the death.

Dean pushed Eric off him and got to his feet, pulling a wooden stake out of his coat sleeve. Always prepared, wasn't he?

I tried to step in between the two men but Eric gently pushed me out of the way. The two men went at it again, grappling with each other and falling toward the cake. I heard this loud, "Noooooooo!" behind me and turned to see Emily's horrified face. "Not the cake!" she said.

The birthday cake became a casualty of war as it splattered across the room. I got frosting in my hair; Emily received a few pieces of chocolate in her face. Guess we shouldn't have been standing next to the cake when the boys flattened it. I started giggling then; I just couldn't help it. That was the last straw for poor Emily. Her face screwed up in anger, she approached the boys, grabbing each one by the scruff of their collars. They immediately stopped fighting and looked at her.

"You two ruined everything. Do you know how long I spent on that cake? This dinner was supposed to be the most memorable one ever and well, I'd say it will be but not the way I wanted. I should send you both packing, where you can fight each other to the death outside; however, this place is a horrible mess now and you both need to stop acting like two year olds and take some responsibility. I expect everything cleaned up within the hour, do I make myself clear?"

She shook both of them forcefully, leaving no choice but to obey. When neither man answered, she released them and punched them both in the nose before saying, "Do it!"

Dean and Eric looked at each other, shrugged, and then started laughing. They had come here with the intent of killing each other but just seeing the look on Emily's face now and her ordered command had eased the situation and they no longer feared each other. It was Emily's wrath that kept them on their toes. To disobey her would send her over the edge.

Dean bowed his head and mumbled, "Sorry, Emily."

Eric scowled and said, "Yeah, me too."

Dean picked up a broom and started sweeping the pieces of cake up. Eric grabbed the trash can. Just as Emily and I turned to leave, I saw out of the corner of my eye Dean taking a swing at Eric's head with the broom. I smiled. This had been the best birthday ever. I can't wait until next year!