Richard Wright

A quick update on two projects. Firstly, Shroud Publishing now have a full product page up for the forthcoming anthology Beneath The Surface. Apart from a full list of contents, there are some intriguing story teases up as well. It’s one of the things that always excites me about being in a new anthology – what else does the book have to offer other than me? In most cases, this one included, I only get to find out what those stories are at the same time as you do, when the book is in my hands. The teases then, intrigue me greatly (none seem to relate to my contribution ‘Secrets (Never Told)’), and I can’t wait to tear into the finished book and find out more about them. There are some writers whose work I know and enjoy there (Hawkes and Fox particularly), and some who are going to be new to me, so the book should hopefully be a pleasing voyage of discovery. As mentioned previously (and as I’ll keep mentioning it, because it’s the sort of thing that can really help a new book), Beneath The Surface is due imminently, with the final proof in the hands of the printer, and you can pre-order it today.

Second bit of news is a brand new review of Tattered Souls over at Horrorworld (scroll to the bottom of the page), courtesy of regular reviewer Patricia Snodgrass. It’s a very good one, and concludes with “All of these stories are top quality, guaranteed to give you a shudder or two. Certainly, after reading Other People, you’ll never look at your dishwasher in the same way again. I loved Tattered Souls, and I think you will too. It’s a great winter read.” It’s the sort of review that might very well tempt the discerning reader to purchase a copy to enjoy for their very own. Those curious readers should follow this link. At the far end, they will be able to gratify themselves entirely.

Another well thought out review of Tattered Souls goes up online, generally in favour of the book, although again the repetition in my story ‘Other People’ causes the reviewer pause. Fair enough. Robichaud closes along the following lines.

“All told, these six novellas present unique takes on the macabre, and there is bound to be a story here for just about every sort of horror reader. Cutting Block Press’ offering of novellas is a nice touch, as these give readers a bit more meat than is possible in the typical short story… Cutting Block Press has brought one more fulfilling volume of long stories to readers.”

I can live with that. Pop along and buy the book. Consider it a festive investment in an opinion.

Pleased to see another review of Tattered Souls appear online, in no less venue as TTA Press’s The Fix. It’s an extremely well considered piece, despite being a mixed review on the face of things, and it’s so well written that I refuse to take exception. More than any review I’ve had though, it illustrates to me that a story becomes free of the intentions of the author the moment that it’s published, and becomes the sole property of the reader. For example, Wities (the reviewer) suggests that the story:

seems intended to comment upon society in general

Far from it. As the author, I was more concerned with immersing the reader in the psychology of the individual, and thematic repeptition formed a significant part of that. In an important way though, the statement I’ve just made means nothing in the eyes of the reader, because you filter what you’re reading through their own experiences and perceptions. As such, the points Wities makes, because they’re clearly well considered, are more valid than my own. He owns the story, while he’s reading it, and I find his take on it fascinating and rewarding.

I hope you’ll also filter the story while you read it, taking the words on the page and making them mean something unique to you. Go and buy it, and find out whether you agree with either of us, or have your own take.

Good bits of the review include such things as:

Individually, each suicide is well-written and chilling. Particularly powerful is the portrayal of determination and supreme effort in the characters self-destructiveness; each works hard and suffers greatly for their easy way out.â The characters are interesting, and their outlandish deaths earn our belief and our horror.

The ‘bad’ bits include:

Though each character’s personality, motive, and method are different, the narrative is nearly identical. We get the point halfway into the second suicide, and by the beginning of the third, there’s little need to read any further.

It’s an informative, interesting, and well written review, the type that is worth discussion in its own right. If that’s a discussion you want to have, there’s a forum at the bottom of the review that will let you do so. Failing that, feel free to let me know what you thought yourself, and what effect the story may or may not have had on you.

A short and enthusiastic review of Tattered Souls can be enjoyed over at The Monster Librarian (because of the way the site uses frames, I can’t link to the exact page, so navigate your way through ‘Adult Horror Fiction’, then to ‘Horror Anthologies’ – the review should be second from the top at the time of writing).

I don’t agree with the reviewer’s suggestion that erotic themes unify the anthology, unless the definition of erotic stops exactly at ‘it’s got some sex in it’, and even then I don’t think sex itself is a theme as such. It just happens to appear in most, if not all, of the stories as an act. However, I do agree with the assertion that this is as very good book, and that you should probably own a copy.

“Cutting Block Press has put out a book of high quality horror that is extreme in every sense of the word. Recommended.”

Over at Bookgasm, you can find the first review of Tattered Souls, which contains my novelette ‘Other People’. Not bad, on balance, although I hadn’t noticed the sea of variously shaped penises in the book. To my mind, this is not a bad thing, and a fine illustration of the many and various ways that the size and shape of a penis can be discussed. English students, take note.

And when you’re done reading the review, why not find out whether you agree with it or not by reading the actual book?