Metastasis Contributor Interview: Marge Simon

October 17, 2013 R. Parrish Leave a comment

Metastasis, a speculative anthology to benefit cancer research (which I edited) was recently released and some of the contributors agreed to participate in super short interviews here on my blog. One of those contributors is Marge Simon. I’ve known Marge for a few years now, we met through Niteblade (she does all our art) and connected very quickly. Not only does Marge have a poem in this anthology, she has also donated her artistic talents and illustrated some of the pieces within. Just one more awesome part of the book 🙂

What inspired your poem for Metastasis?

This poem was originally written for a collection with Charlee Jacob, focused on a world wide apocalypse caused by plague, Vectors, A Week in the Death of a Planet. I tweaked it a bit and altered the title. Cancer is a plague of another sort.

How has cancer touched your life?

Cancer took my mother, and two good friends are cancer survivors. Everyone nowadays knows someone (friend or relative) who has battled cancer. A number of teachers at my school were afflicted by some form of cancer. I still wonder if the location of the new school had something to do with it– at least one of the staff or faculty every year.

Why did you choose this scenario of a child and his grandmother reading to him from a fairy tale book? (SPOILER ALERT: The answer contains spoilers for those who haven’t read the poem yet)

Because it makes the poem more poignant when you realize that he is as yet cancer free, but his mother is gone (perhaps to a hospital for care, perhaps to be cured) and his grandmother knows this, and knows she is also dying of it. So the boy waits eagerly for his mother to come for him. And still we all have hope.

Marge Simon’s works appear in publications such as Strange Horizons, Niteblade, DailySF Magazine, Pedestal Magazine, Dreams & Nightmares. She edits a column for the HWA Newsletter and serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees. She has won the Strange Horizons Readers Choice Award, the Bram Stoker Award„¢(2008, 2012), the Rhysling Award and the Dwarf Stars Award. Collections: Like Birds in the Rain, Unearthly Delights, The Mad Hattery, Vampires, Zombies & Wanton Souls, and Dangerous Dreams. Member HWA, SFWA, SFPA. www.margesimon.com

Metastasis is available at:

Amazon.com
Paperback – $14.95
Kindle – $6.95

Kobo
ePub – $6.95

Smashwords — Use coupon code LM63L in order to receive 25% off your order
ePub – $6.95
Kindle – $6.95
PDF – $6.95

Createspace — Use coupon code TGERED9J in order to receive 25% off your order
Paperback – $14.95

All coupons codes expire on October 31, 2013.

Books, Guest Blogger, Metastasis

Metastasis Contributor Interview: Rie Sheridan Rose

October 16, 2013 R. Parrish Leave a comment

Some of the contributors to Metastasis have volunteered to participate in super short interviews that I am going to share here on my blog over the coming few days. The first of those participants is Rie Sheridan Rose. Rie was a very determined contributor, she submitted several poems to me before eventually sending the one which won me over, A Murder of Crows. I was biased to love this poem just because it had crows in it, but as you’ll see if you pick up a copy of Metastasis, her crows are not exactly the kind anyone would ever want to meet.

Who or what was the inspiration for your story in Metastasis?

My desire to be a part of Metastasis, and my poem, stemmed from a need to come to terms with losing a dear friend that I didn’t even know was sick until too late to say goodbye. Her name was Susan M. Garrett, and I dedicated my poem to her.

How has cancer touched your life?

I have lost several family members to cancer or related complications. It is a specter that looms over us everyday.

When it comes to cancer, what gives you hope?

There have been many promising advances in the last few years, and research is continuous. I hope to see an end to at least some forms of cancer in my lifetime. As long as there are dedicated researchers giving their all to the problem, it is definitely a hope with potential.

Rie Sheridan Rose has been writing professionally for over ten years. In that decade, she has published 5 poetry collections. Her poetry has appeared in the print magazines Mythic Circle, Dreams of Decadence, and Abandoned Towers as well as the Di-Verse-City and Boundless anthologies. She has also had pieces accepted by Penumbra, Wolf Willow Magazine, The Voices Project, and Fragrance Online Magazine. In conjunction with Marc Gunn, she wrote lyrics for the “Don’t Go Drinking With Hobbits” CD. Visit riewriter.com for more news and info.

Metastasis is available at:

Amazon.com
Paperback – $14.95
Kindle – $6.95

Kobo
ePub – $6.95

Smashwords — Use coupon code LM63L in order to receive 25% off your order
ePub – $6.95
Kindle – $6.95
PDF – $6.95

Createspace — Use coupon code TGERED9J in order to receive 25% off your order
Paperback – $14.95

All coupons codes expire on October 31, 2013.

Metastasis

Metastasis: It’s Here!

October 15, 2013 R. Parrish Leave a comment

Today is the day Metastasis officially goes on sale. I could spend this blog post telling you all the reasons you ought to buy a copy, but I’ve spent months doing that already so instead I’m just going to pass on information about where you can find it and how you can receive a 25% discount 🙂

So many options! If you are ordering an electronic copy prior to October 31, 2013 I suggest using Smashwords or Createspace as I’ve got 25% coupons for both places to share. If you are purchasing a physical copy I can still offer a Createspace coupon but if you live outside the US double check your shipping costs before ordering, sometimes even with a coupon it’s significantly less expensive to order from Amazon.

Amazon.com
Paperback – $14.95
Kindle – $6.95

Kobo
ePub – $6.95

Smashwords — Use coupon code LM63L in order to receive 25% off your order
ePub – $6.95
Kindle – $6.95
PDF – $6.95

Createspace — Use coupon code TGERED9J in order to receive 25% off your order
Paperback – $14.95

All coupons codes expire on October 31, 2013.

Over the coming days I will be sharing short interviews with some of the contributors to Metastasis, I hope you’ll pop back to get a peek into the lives and minds of some of the incredibly talented people behind this anthology.

Please help us spread the word about the release of Metastasis by telling your friends and family, and thank you so very much for your support. It has been amazing.

Clicky, clicky to make bigger

Metastasis, Pictures, Writing

Schtuff

October 14, 2013 R. Parrish Leave a comment

Right. So, today when I got home from Thanksgiving dinner there was an email in my inbox asking for a high resolution photo of myself for use in some of the promo stuff for Tesseracts 17. Ever since I became overweight I’ve tried to mostly stay on the other side of the camera (I know it’s not a good thing, I know, but I do it anyway) so I don’t have any high resolution photographs of myself, so I asked Jo to snap a couple

The one up there? That was my favourite. I chose a slightly more professional one to send to the people at EDGE though 🙂

Speaking of Tesseracts 17, it has a trailer. I think this is the first book I’ve been in that had a trailer. You can check it out here:

Also in the category of ‘schtuff’ don’t forget that I’m still giving away copies of Niteblade and running a raffle for a super awesome grab bag of goodies. You can get links to the Niteblade issues by following that link, but because I’m so super awesome I’m going to re-post the rafflecopter stuff here so you don’t have to go anywhere to enter that draw 🙂

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lastly, don’t forget that Metastasis is coming out on Tuesday. I’m super proud of this book and I can’t wait to share it with the world. What’s more, I’ll be hosting mini interviews with some of the contributors in the days following the release so you’ll want to pop by to check them out too.

Finally? Happy Thanksgiving fellow Canadians! And if you’re not Canadian, well, I hope you have a fabulous weekend anyway 😉

A is for Apocalypse

October 11, 2013 R. Parrish 9 Comments

What do you get when you take 26 amazing writers, assign them a letter of the alphabet and give them complete artistic freedom within a theme? In 2014 we’ll find out with the release of the first of a series of anthologies:

A is for Apocalypse

A is for Apocalypse is going to be filled with 26 apocalyptic stories (one for each letter of the alphabet) by incredibly talented writers whose diverse styles and preferred themes leave no doubt that this collection will have something for everyone. The writers who are contributing to this collection are:

~ Brenda Stokes Barron ~ Marge Simon / Michael Fosburg ~ Milo James Fowler ~ Beth Cato ~ Simon Kewin ~ Suzanne van Rooyen ~ Alexandra Seidel ~ Sara Cleto ~ Kenneth Schneyer ~ KV Taylor ~ Gary B. Phillips ~ BD Wilson ~ Ennis Drake ~ C.S. MacCath ~ Michael Kellar ~ Cindy James ~ Brittany Warman ~ K.L. Young ~ Pete Aldin ~ Cory Cone ~ Damien Angelica Walters ~ Samantha Kymmell-Harvey ~ Lilah Wild ~ Jonathan Parrish ~ Alexis A. Hunter ~ Steve Bornstein ~

Metastasis

Metastasis Press Release

October 9, 2013 R. Parrish Leave a comment

wolfsingerlogo

WolfSinger Publications is pleased to announce the upcoming release of

METASTASIS: An Anthology to Support Cancer Research.

“Walk with us.” -Jay Lake

Walk with us as we explore the world of cancer as seen through a speculative fiction lens. Hold our hands while we venture into the world of what-ifs. Take a journey at our side as we experience the full spectrum of what cancer has to offer. The light, the darkness.

Within these pages you’ll meet a woman who adores her cancer as a lover, another who sees it as her ticket to immortality. We’ll meet a boy willing to do anything to save his mother and another with superpowers. There’s a witch who uses magic to fight against the beast ravaging her friend’s body, a cat whose capacity for love is unparalleled, a damaged musician, aliens, a goddess butterfly and so much more.

These are not easy stories to read. This is not a comforting collection that will wipe your fears away and make everything all right. It’s not that kind of book. These stories will make you cry, but they’ll also make you laugh. They’ll touch you and stir emotions. These stories aren’t all fun, but they are important. All of them.

Edited by Rhonda Parrish, this extraordinary collection of speculative fiction revolves around the theme of cancer. Including work by award-winning and bestselling authors including Jay Lake and Kevin J. Anderson, these 26 stories and poems tell tales of pain and hope, love and loss, fear and strength.

Cancer scares us. There is so much we don’t know about it, but it’s out there, waiting to strike. This anthology attempts to strike back by supporting research that will develop new treatments and, eventually, find a cure.

WolfSinger Publications, the editor and contributors combined are donating a total of 62.5% of all proceeds to the American Cancer Society.

Metastasis is scheduled for release on Oct 15^th, 2013. It will be available through Amazon.com and other online retailers, and can also be ordered through local bookstores.

Metastasis

Edited by Rhonda Parrish
Print ISBN: 978-1-936099-54-2
Print Price: $14.95
eBook Price: $6.95

For more information please contact the publisher at editor@wolfsingerpubs.com

I would just like to add, because you can’t really see it super clearly on the cover image I’ve posted up there, that Metastasis has been honored to include an afterword by Jay Lake AND it sports a spifftacular blurb from the amazing Lucy A. Snyder which reads:

“A strong, worthwhile anthology of poignant fiction and poetry.”

–Lucy A. Snyder, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Chimeric Machines

And did you see the part in the press release where 62.5% of proceeds are going to benefit cancer research? That. Is. Awesome.

Aphanasian Stories, Books, Niteblade

Creepy Freebies

October 3, 2013 R. Parrish 4 Comments

Last year Milo James Fowler hosted an event where he gave away stories every Friday in October. This year he’s invited some of his friends to come play too. I am pleased to announce that I am one of those participants 🙂 Who else is playing along this year? Check it out, in addition to myself and Milo the following people are all also giving away goodies each Friday:

Aaron Polson, Stoney M. Setzer, Simon Kewin, Anthony J. Rapino, Bob Eccles, Cate Gardner, Christine Rains, Deborah Walker, Ellie Garratt, Erin Cole, James Garcia Jr., Jeff Chapman, Lyndon Perry, Michelle Ann King and Roland Yeomans.

What am I giving away? Two things.

The first thing I’m giving away is copies of Niteblade 🙂 You can download a free copy of our Issue #23: Blodeuwedd. Simply choose which format you’d like and follow the link.

Niteblade #23: Blodeuwedd

.Mobi ~*~ .ePub ~*~ .PDF

But that’s not all 🙂

I’m also hosting a raffle to give away a grab bag full of awesome. This bag is guaranteed to have a proof copy of my book Aphanasian Stories and a copy of Niteblade’s special poetry issue:

There will also be all sorts of other goodies. There may be books, pens, postcards, download codes for other books, candy, handicrafts, bookmarks… you just never know what I’m going to toss in there. I promise though, that when you open up this grab bag it will be the same sort of adventure as when you would dump out your candy bag after trick or treating 🙂

I’m also going to give away a copy of the latest issue of Niteblade Magazine. If we have lots of entries I will give away more than one copy… let’s say one copy for every ten people who enter. So the more people who enter the more issues I’ll give away. And you can enter to win in several different ways (plus, you can earn one entry every day just by tweeting about the giveaway). Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now that you’ve visited me, downloaded your copy of Blodeuwedd & entered for your chance to win my Grab Bag of Awesome, be sure to head over to Milo’s blog for directions to the other people giving away fun things. You don’t want to miss out 🙂

Fae, Niteblade, Poetry, Sale

So Many Things!

October 1, 2013 R. Parrish 2 Comments

I have so many things to talk about today. Some of them probably deserve a blog post of their own but I don’t want the people who subscribe to my blog (and if you don’t, you should, she says pointing to the little subscriber box to the right) to be totally inundated with stuff so ‘all the things’ are going to have to share one blog post. I’m sure they’ll manage it somehow.

Firstly, I have a new poem out today. My poem, Mary-Lee, was published this morning at Every Day Poets. It’s a short piece with a horror-y flavour which may be why EDP is using it to kick off October.

I also have news on the Fae front (as you may have guessed from the fairy picture dominating this blog post). We’ve been open to submissions for a month now, so it seemed a good time to give a quick update from the slush pile. My blog entry about what I’m seeing so far and what I’d like to see more of is up over at World Weaver Press’s blog –> Update from the Slush Pile: Fae Anthology. The short version is that I’m mostly looking for things I haven’t seen before, but really if you’re thinking about submitting to Fae pop over and read the whole blog post. It’s short and I think you’ll find it very helpful in making it onto my short list.

But wait! There’s more!

This month I will be participating in Milo James Fowler‘s ‘Creepy Freebies’ event. Every Friday in October Milo and some of his friends will be giving away fun and freaky freebies. I’m not particularly sure how ‘creepy’ my freebies are, but they are free and they are awesome (even if I do say so myself LoL). This Friday it will be Milo, Erin Cole, Stoney M. Setzer and myself who will be giving away freebies.

I don’t want to totally give away what I’m giving away (heh!) but I will say that I’m hosting two giveaways. One is on behalf of Niteblade and the other is from me personally. I think they are both pretty awesome, so pop by again on Friday to learn all about them and pick up your freebies.

Uncategorized

I’m just sayin’…

September 28, 2013 R. Parrish 1 Comment

April PAD, Poetry, Published

Published: Hold This Camel

September 27, 2013 R. Parrish 4 Comments

My poem, “Hold This Camel” has been published in Volume 1, Issue 3 of The Germ.

Hold this Camel came to be when I was looking at a poetry prompt from the April poem a day challenge which said to make the title of the poem ‘Hold that ____’ and the first word that popped into my head to fill in the blank, was camel. Not ‘thought’ or anything which made sort of obvious sense right away, but ‘Hold that camel’. I really, really, really wanted to write that poem. And I did. I had to change the that in the title to a this, but I pulled it off and I’m pretty pleased with that.

Issue 3 went on sale recently and puts me in some pretty good company with other writers, poets and artists. I can’t wait for my contributor copies to arrive 🙂

Sale, Writing

Sale: Shattered

September 26, 2013 R. Parrish 4 Comments

My short story (featuring gargoyles!), “Shattered”, has been accepted for future publication in KZine.

This isn’t my first encounter with KZine, my zombie munchkin story “…Oh My!” was published their issue #4 last year and I’ve another story, “The Other Side of the Door” which is scheduled for publication there early next year. “Shattered” is will follow an issue or two later.

Also? Unlike the last two times KZine has accepted my work, this time didn’t involve any rewrites or revisions first. That’s a trend I’d really love to see continue LOL

A is for Apocalypse

“A strong, worthwhile anthology of poignant fiction and poetry.”

I write, I edit and I take a lot of naps.