Category Archives: Paul’s thoughts

Potential Perils of the Horror Label… or … The Difficulties of Defining a Genre

Posted on 05/11/2012 | 37 Comments

What’s news for horror writer Paul D. Dail?

I was pleased this last week to find out that my #luckyseven post & review of The Cabin in the Woods was picked up by The Nurture Your BOOKS Daily e-paper.  This is a fun electronic periodical that you can find by clicking here.

What does the future hold?

Next Friday, I’ll be posting a review of Jonathan D. Allen’s Corridors of the Dead.  Speaking of genres that I’m not necessarily sure I understand, Allen’s book is Urban Fantasy.  But perhaps what surprised me most was when I saw he was also working the “Lesbian Fiction” market at Amazon.

Curious?  I was.  Hope you’ll check back next Friday.

But without further ado…

This post will be my contribution to a series of posts started by TESSpecFic group mate Marie Loughin on the nature of “Horror.”

(TESSpecFic: The Emissaries of Strange Speculative Fiction is a collective of writers whose fiction fits under the speculative fiction umbrella. Several of the members have a particular interest in horror, myself obviously included.) Continue reading →

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My So-Called Writing Life: Reconsidering Traditional Publishing

Posted on 04/20/2012 | 27 Comments

What’s news for horror writer Paul D. Dail?

While a tired week on the home front, it’s also been a pretty good creative week.  I’m rethinking what I had believed for years would be my second novel, in favor of swapping it with the third (which I’ve had some good inspiration on recently, but that’s not necessarily the reason for my consideration).

Also, many thanks to writer Axel Howerton for his review of The Imaginings at Amazon.  If you haven’t met Axel, you should check him out.  He’s an interesting character and a talented writer. For Axel’s blog, click here.

What does the future hold?

I debated posting today’s post next week and actually putting up a review of Joss Whedon’s new horror movie, Cabin in the Woods, but by the time I thought of the doing the review (sometime yesterday afternoon), I already had this post written.  So I hope you’ll forgive the fact that next Friday I’ll be putting up a movie review two weeks after said movie’s release.

But without further ado…

One year ago, I was just starting to feel better again. Continue reading →

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“Friends,” Foibles, and Festivities: A World Horror Convention recap

Posted on 04/06/2012 | 28 Comments

WHC 2012

What’s news?

My big news comes from the World Horror Convention (hereafter: WHC), and isn’t necessarily big news yet, but I had three publishers who wanted to see either portions or the full manuscript of The Imaginings.

This was one of my main goals.  I know that writers can no longer live in a vacuum, and that we must promote ourselves, but for me, I was looking for an organization that knows the business better (and has more connections) than I do.  Is that a worthwhile tradeoff for percentages?  Too early to tell, but I’d like the option at least to decide, so keep your fingers crossed for me.

What does the future hold?

I had a few people tell me how much they enjoyed my nonfiction pieces (The Sweat Lodge in Ejido Erendira, Mexico), so next Friday, I may dig back into the archives and pull something else out along those lines.

But without further ado…

I have never been to a “Con.”  I’ve been to a writer’s conference, but it wasn’t genre specific, and it was almost seven years ago.

So I wasn’t sure what to expect.  Continue reading →

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To Spread or Not to Spread (a negative review, that is)

Posted on 03/30/2012 | 29 Comments

Bringing the Shadow to Life

What’s news?

Not too much to report at this point.  Still playing around with some freelance work, and I’ve posted the second part of my piece at Suite101.  Writing a Good Bad Guy, Pt. 2: Bringing the Shadow to Life (click here).  It’s more for people who are just starting out in their writing, but maybe some good advice if you are struggling with your antagonist.

 

And I finally had success with getting Amazon to knock the price for my Free Five Flash Fiction down to actually be free.  Funny thing is that before they did it, I actually had a few sales at the 99 price point.  To see Free Five, click here (also available at B&N and Smashwords). It’s the same stories I have here under “FREE FICTION” but I’ve added afterwords to go with each story explaining where the idea came from (some of them almost as long as the flash itself :) )

What does the future hold?

Next Friday, I’ll be giving a recap of the World Horror Convention.  Should be pretty entertaining.

But without further ado…

[Note: This one deals primarily with blogging and writing issues, but if you’re just an avid reader, I want to know your opinion on this, too.  Also, please forgive the spartan nature of this post.  I have a handful of other things I need to be doing for WHC, and something had to get the ax.  Turns out it was finding images to go along with the post.]

There was a recent mildly volcanic “discussion” thread at a group of which I am a part.

Here’s the story (and if you’re in this group, it isn’t a big secret whom I’m referring to):

Just as I do (as well as most bloggers), a book reviewer posted his recent blog post at this group.  The rub was that he was posting a one-star, very curt review of a book. Continue reading →

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End of the World Stories We Hate to Love, Part II (“Oryx and Crake” through Zombie stories)

Posted on 02/10/2012 | 15 Comments

What’s news?

- I have released an extended version of my two part serial featured here on my blog, The Golden Parachute for .99 on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.  I added about 3000 more words of new material and a short afterward explaining where I got the idea which I believe will enhance the story.

- Also, don’t forget the The Imaginings is on sale for only .99 for the month of February.

What does the future hold?

Next Friday, I’ll be posting a story I think I promised to put up a couple months ago.  Waiting for the Train.  Previous to discovering flash fiction, this was the shortest piece I’d ever written.  It’s also the most literary (as opposed to my normal horror genre).

But without further ado…

Does everybody remember last year when the world was supposed to end on May 22nd?  I do, even though I can’t remember the reason.  I think just some fanatic’s mathematical interpretation of the Bible.  Whatever it was, it was all over the place… or at least Facebook. Continue reading →

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End of the World Stories We Hate to Love, Part 1 (The Bible through Y2K)

Posted on 02/03/2012 | 37 Comments

What’s news?

Some pretty big news, actually.  The picture I’ve included here is a shot of the newest addition to soon join the Dail family (trust me, there’s a baby there somewhere :) ).  Having gone through IVF for our daughter, we are referring to this new one as our little Festivus miracle (Seinfeld anyone?)

On top of that good news, my daughter’s second birthday is this month.  While some days it seems like much longer than that, mostly I can’t believe she’s almost two.

So in honor of my children (and in hopes of a bright future provided to them by their writer father), I am putting The Imaginings on sale for 99 cents for the month of February.  Help me spread the word.

And if you feel so inclined, you might enjoy my post, Slowing Down: On the birth of my daughter.

What does the future hold?

Next Friday, I will finish what I start this week (wow, that sounds so final).  “End of the World Stories We Hate to Love, Part II (Oryx and Crake through Zombie stories)

But without further ado…

If you haven’t read my first ever blog post (Why do I like to write horror stories?)… well, I can’t blame you.  Coming in at about 1800 words, it was posted before I heard bloggers were supposed to be a little more brief. Continue reading →

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The God and the Devil in the Details- My life shortlist

Posted on 01/27/2012 | 33 Comments

What’s news?

Not too much news on the writing/blogging front (besides the normal writing and blogging), but I thought in these recent days of so many free-books (fre-e-books?), I think it’s important that readers remember the wise words in this post by Glen Krisch.    “Amazon Select: My own reader’s guidelines.”  Check it out, then spread the word.

What does the future hold?

If you follow my blog, you’ll note that this isn’t the post I had originally planned for this week, but circumstance didn’t allow me the time I wanted to work on my intended piece.  But rest assured, next Friday, I’ll be posting “End of the World Stories We Hate to Love, Part I (The Bible through Y2K).”

But without further ado…

A few years ago, a friend informed me that she had started a running list of things that she liked and didn’t like.  And she wasn’t kidding.  She pulled out a small notebook that she carried with her, and already several pages were filled with short details of things that struck her on a daily basis as being either “good” or “bad.”

* not the actual notebook, but you get the idea

Continue reading →

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Review/Discussion of “Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.” And 7 facts about me.

Posted on 12/09/2011 | 17 Comments

What’s news?

Kate Evangelista from Kate’s Blog put The Imaginings out to her readers for review, and I wanted to take this moment to thank her.  If anyone else would be interested in reviewing The Imaginings for their blog, I would gladly provide you a coupon to pick it up at Smashwords for free.  Just let me know.

What does the future hold?

Next Friday, I’ll be posting part one of another two part serial entitled The Terrible Old Mr. Roogs.  I think you’ll enjoy it.  As the holidays are upon us, I’ll be giving you my take on a traditional ghost story.

But without further ado…

As I mentioned last week, as a part of being awarded the Versatile Blogger Award (thanks again to Blaze McRob), I am supposed to list 7 facts about myself as well as nominate someone else.  I’ll get to the former shortly, but for the latter, I’m passing this award to Jonathan D. Allen at Shaggin’ the Muse.  His blog is worth checking out, and if you haven’t read the interview I did with him, click here. Continue reading →

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The Death of Two Pigs: For Ray Avery (1950-2011)

Posted on 12/02/2011 | 21 Comments

What’s news?

I submitted a story this week for consideration into Horror For Good: A Charitable Anthology.  The proceeds from this anthology will be going to amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research.  They’ve already gathered stories from some pretty well-known authors in the field, and I’m hoping to number among them.  So think good thoughts for me.

(It was The Interview by the way, so I’ll be holding off on publishing that one until I’ve heard one way or another.)

What does the future hold?

One of the requirements of receiving my Versatile Blogger Award from Blaze McRob was to list seven facts about myself.  So that’s what I’ll be doing next Friday.  And don’t worry, I’ll keep them brief because I recently finished Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke, and I want to post a review while it’s still fresh in my head.

But without further ado…

I spent six amazing years in Missoula, Montana.  I will always hold a place in my heart for that town and the surrounding area, including Rock Creek, a small community about 25 miles outside of town.  It was in Rock Creek that I met Ray Avery.  Continue reading →

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One Night after Going to a Horror Movie… or … Why It’s Scary Being Me

Posted on 11/25/2011 | 29 Comments

What’s news?

After considerable debate, I’ve decided to put out some short stories in electronic form (with plans to eventually put out a collection, as well).  I won’t go into all the details of this decision (however, I’d love any feedback from writers who have experimented with this idea), but I did want to show you a working copy of a potential image in the hopes that you might offer your two cents.  If it helps form your opinion, here is the basic description of the story:

The Interview.  A short story by Paul D. Dail. 

Reporter Jay Kipp gets more than he expected from his interview with an old, blind homeless man calling himself simply “Phineus.”

What does the future hold?

I have a couple ideas that I’m batting around for next Friday, so for the first time since the beginning of this blog, I’ll just say that you’ll need to check back then.

But without further ado…

As some of you have seen from my post “10 movies that scared the bejeezus out of me” (and which has caused considerable debate), one movie that got me pretty spooked when it came out in theatres was The Blair Witch Project. Continue reading →

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