Author of Suspense, Ghost stories, Romance, and More . . .
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Six Sentence Sunday 4-29-12
We
were drinking iced tea at our favorite sidewalk café when the plastics plant
exploded.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Six Sentence Sunday April 15, 2012
Wow! Where'd that week go. Hard to believe it's mid-April already. I understand that some folks are just now doing the IRS dance again. Let's take our minds off that and READ: Here are six sentences from my short story CHEMS. It's on Amazon.
CHEMS
a zombiefied short story
by Ann Swann
He was curled up like a comma in a pile of old feed
sacks.
The year was 1974
and I was in the eighth grade. I was in
a hurry, running late as usual, and I had just opened the hen house to let my flock
out for the day when I looked across the packed-earth yard and noticed the
toolshed door wasn’t completely closed. Since I
was the one responsible for shutting things up in the evening, I knew that
door was closed and latched the night before.
I tiptoed up and tried to see inside
through the crack—had my eye pressed to it just like that Tell-Tale Heart guy we’d read about in English—but I couldn’t see
anything except that pile of old sacks.
Then they moved.
That's it for today! See ya next Sunday. If you would like to participate in Six Sentence Sunday, simply go to http://www.sixsunday.com/
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
CHEMS
Howdy Folks,
Just a very quick update-type note. First of all, I just published a stand-alone short story called CHEMS. Here is the link: http://tinyurl.com/cj64sd8 It is a story about a pseudo-zombie and that's all I'm going to say, except it will be FREE this Friday the 13th (and Saturday, too).
I think I will post six sentences from it this Sunday for the Six Sentence Sunday. I have to admit, this is a lot of fun! I didn't know it would be this much fun. I even enjoyed designing the cover from an old photograph. It didn't come out exactly the way I wanted, but it was darn close. I think you'll see what I mean if you read the story. Many thanks to Dude for helping me and for not flinching when I stomped and hollered. :-)
On top of all that, I got my first round of edits from Denise (YoDen) Vitola, editor extraordinaire, for The Phantom Student (slated to be released around Halloween). Believe it or not, I really like this part of the writing process, the editing part, I mean. As long as I'm not having to edit someone else's book...ooh, torture. No offense, Yo, but I don't know how you do it.
Hey, I'm sensing a pattern here; first, my short story goes FREE on Friday the 13th, now my new book will be released around Halloween...oooweeeoooo. I'm liking this. It reminds me of a story (everything reminds me of a story heh heh) by Ray Bradbury. Did you ever read the one about the kids Halloween party in the basement where this dad is passing around peeled grapes (eyeballs, natch) and oh man! What was the name of that story? Now, I have to go find it. I've got a huge book of his short fiction here somewhere...
Okay, even the weather is getting in on this, creating the atmosphere for me: mucho lightning in the west, rumbles of thunder from way off in the distance, and the requisite tree branch tapping at the window like Poe's raven tap tap tapping...hope the electricity doesn't go out. It almost always goes out when it storms around here. (Let me just interject this for those of you who know how bad the West Texas drought has become: YAY FOR RAIN!!! Who cares if we do lose power? IT'S RAINING!)
But back to the topic: I don't know why I like scary stories. Do you? What was the scariest story you ever read? For me, it might be "The Shining." That woman in the tub, even after thirty-odd years, let's not go there. Then again, "The Beach" stayed with me for a long, long time. It was terrifying in a whole different way. How about you? What story scared you the most?
Ann
Afterthought: "The Black Cat," by Poe. That one really got to me, too. C'mon, tell me your scary story.
After-afterthought: Can I whoop and holler about your book yet, Sara? (shh, she's waiting for her contract to come back after she signed it today--the book is going to be published October 10th, but you didn't hear that from me. The name of it is A Heart on Hold, and it is terrific! But remember, you didn't read that here.)
Just a very quick update-type note. First of all, I just published a stand-alone short story called CHEMS. Here is the link: http://tinyurl.com/cj64sd8 It is a story about a pseudo-zombie and that's all I'm going to say, except it will be FREE this Friday the 13th (and Saturday, too).
I think I will post six sentences from it this Sunday for the Six Sentence Sunday. I have to admit, this is a lot of fun! I didn't know it would be this much fun. I even enjoyed designing the cover from an old photograph. It didn't come out exactly the way I wanted, but it was darn close. I think you'll see what I mean if you read the story. Many thanks to Dude for helping me and for not flinching when I stomped and hollered. :-)
On top of all that, I got my first round of edits from Denise (YoDen) Vitola, editor extraordinaire, for The Phantom Student (slated to be released around Halloween). Believe it or not, I really like this part of the writing process, the editing part, I mean. As long as I'm not having to edit someone else's book...ooh, torture. No offense, Yo, but I don't know how you do it.
Hey, I'm sensing a pattern here; first, my short story goes FREE on Friday the 13th, now my new book will be released around Halloween...oooweeeoooo. I'm liking this. It reminds me of a story (everything reminds me of a story heh heh) by Ray Bradbury. Did you ever read the one about the kids Halloween party in the basement where this dad is passing around peeled grapes (eyeballs, natch) and oh man! What was the name of that story? Now, I have to go find it. I've got a huge book of his short fiction here somewhere...
Okay, even the weather is getting in on this, creating the atmosphere for me: mucho lightning in the west, rumbles of thunder from way off in the distance, and the requisite tree branch tapping at the window like Poe's raven tap tap tapping...hope the electricity doesn't go out. It almost always goes out when it storms around here. (Let me just interject this for those of you who know how bad the West Texas drought has become: YAY FOR RAIN!!! Who cares if we do lose power? IT'S RAINING!)
But back to the topic: I don't know why I like scary stories. Do you? What was the scariest story you ever read? For me, it might be "The Shining." That woman in the tub, even after thirty-odd years, let's not go there. Then again, "The Beach" stayed with me for a long, long time. It was terrifying in a whole different way. How about you? What story scared you the most?
Ann
Afterthought: "The Black Cat," by Poe. That one really got to me, too. C'mon, tell me your scary story.
After-afterthought: Can I whoop and holler about your book yet, Sara? (shh, she's waiting for her contract to come back after she signed it today--the book is going to be published October 10th, but you didn't hear that from me. The name of it is A Heart on Hold, and it is terrific! But remember, you didn't read that here.)
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Six Sentence Sunday
Easter Sunday -- April 8, 2012
This is actually the very first paragraph of The Phantom Pilot. This scene shows Stevie standing on the porch of the old Taylor mansion:
I was twelve years old, standing knock-kneed
in pigtails and ripped denim in front of a haunted house, trying to dig up
enough courage to go inside. But I was
terrified. I’d read the books; I’d seen
the movies on Shock Theater. No matter
what, you don’t go inside the spooky old house.
No matter who dares you, no matter what lures you. You do not go in.
To learn more about Six Sentence Sunday, click here:
http://www.sixsunday.com/
This YA novella is book one of The Phantom Series, available at Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Book two will be out in October.
To learn more about Six Sentence Sunday, click here:
http://www.sixsunday.com/
Saturday, April 7, 2012
The Versatile Blogger Award!
The Versatile Blogger Award!!
Yay! I got an Award! I got an Award! [Am jumping up and down doing the James Brown shuffle! My version of it at least) Can't help but feel excited. It’s not every day that I get an award - though would love to!
So, it was the very lively and cute Debdatta Dasgupta Sahay at *** http://b00kr3vi3ws.blogspot.com *** who gave me this award. THANK YOU DEBDATTA!
Rules:
Thank and link the blogger who awarded you
Share 7 random facts about yourself
Spread the love by passing the award to five other bloggers, and be sure to let them know that they have won (send them an email).
7 Random Facts about ME:
1. I am very nosy. That's why I love to post interviews on my blog. (maybe everyone already knew that...)
2. I love all kinds of animals ... especially those in need.
3. I believe children need hugs and kisses everyday.
4. Reading is my addiction + chocolate + Diet Coke w/vanilla
5. My husband spoils me
6. Writing needs to go with #4
7. If I don't get outside for my evening walk everyday, I feel cheated!
And here are the five bloggers that I've decided to tag for this award
Sara Barnard http://sarathreesuns.blogspot.com
Carolyn Arnold http://celebratingauthors.blogspot.com
Elyse Salpeter http://www.elysesalpeter.com/
Gwen Choate http://gwenpetersonchoate.com/blog/
Katy Huth Jones http://www.katyhuthjones.com
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Six Sentence Sunday Excerpt from The Phantom Pilot
Six Sentence Sunday Excerpt: The Phantom Pilot
This excerpt is taken from the story Jase wrote about what happened that night:
4/1/12 The Shepherd
The West Texas night-wind whispered
and whistled around the window frames. I
was in my mom’s favorite chair reading The
Tell-Tale Heart when I heard the stuttering drone of a small plane. In our rural setting, it sounded very low and
very loud.
Then
the noise stopped.
Lady,
the German shepherd I’d found lying mangled and near death beside the road, was
standing in front of the picture-window, head cocked to one side.
The
silence was thick and cold.
This YA novella is book one of The Phantom Series, available at Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Book two will be out in October.
To learn more about Six Sentence Sunday, click here:
http://www.sixsunday.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)