Category Archives: Paul’s thoughts

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

Posted on 02/10/2012 | 13 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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900 Words with Me.

Posted on 11/11/2011 | 15 Comments

What’s news?

I received a great new review at Amazon for The Imaginings from author Hunter Shea.  Don’t worry.  I won’t put up every review here that I get, but seeing as I interviewed Hunter (click here for “Seven Questions with Author Hunter Shea”), I thought it was a nice connection.

“The Imaginings is a fun trip through hell on earth! Author Paul Dail does a great job weaving a horror story that will unsettle you. There’s a demon trying hard to gain purchase in our world, and he may have found the perfect human host to wreak havoc. The madness never lets up as everything hurtles to a confrontation for the ages in the Montana wild. Filled with rich, complex characters that will draw you in from the get-go, The Imaginings is a bitchin’ read.”

Thanks so much, Hunter.  And for the rest of you, if you haven’t already, please check out Hunter’s blog where you can find his recently released, Forest of Shadows (he’s getting some pretty great reviews, as well).

What does the future hold?

Speaking of author interviews, I’m excited to announce (or remind you if you read last week’s post) that next Friday, I will be posting “Seven Questions with Author Jonathan D. Allen.”  Continue reading →

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Five tips to beat The Block (Writer’s Block, that is)

Posted on 10/07/2011 | 20 Comments

What’s news?

- I’m pleased to announce that my Flash Fiction piece, Another Oldie but Goodie, is being featured today (Friday, October 7) at Bibliophilic Blather, hosted by author Karen Wojcik Berner.

- I’m also excited to tell you that a new short piece of mine entitled I Spy, With My Little Eye was read live on The Eclectic Artist’s Cave, a radio show on Shark Radio Network.  Joann Hamann Buchanan (from the EAC) hosts a Writer Wednesday (kind of like Friday Flash).  The theme this week was “What’s in the round box?”  I had a great time writing it.  Took sort of a Pulp Fiction (without all the language) meets Hellraiser (without all the gore) approach.  Hope you get a chance to go by and read it.  In fact, if you’re short on time, maybe go by there first. Click here to read I Spy, With My Little Eye.

What does the future hold?

Next Friday I’ll be posting a review of the very popular YA dystopian novel being picked up by many adults as well.  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  Is it worth the hype?  From a writer’s point of view, she has done some interesting things, but has she done enough to win me over?  Check back and see.

But without further ado…

Let me start by saying that I believe there are two ideas of what “writer’s block” actually is. Continue reading →

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10 movies that scared the bejeezus out of me

Posted on 09/16/2011 | 59 Comments

What’s News?

It has been a pretty exciting week.

Click here to check out eFiction Magazine

- Found out my Flash Fiction piece, Another Oldie but Goodie, was accepted for the October Halloween issue of eFiction Magazine.  eFiction currently ranks #13 in Amazon’s Arts and Entertainment Kindle eZines, in good company with other publications such as The New Yorker, Asimov’s Science Fiction, and Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine.

POST NOTE: Because of a production error, my story didn’t make it into the October issue… at least that’s what I was told :(   Still hoping for the November issue.

- I was featured in an interview at Tracy’s Treasure of Books (click here).  Some fun questions.  And I did my best to keep my answers brief, but hopefully still interesting.

- Only two more weeks on The Imaginings September-only .99 e-book sale!  Click here for more information.

What does the future hold?

I’m pleased to say that next Friday, I will be posting another Friday Flash Fiction piece.  I think these are great exercises on really getting down to the essential details and maintaining tension.

Also, two weeks from today (9/30), I’m excited to announce my first author interview.  I will be featuring “Seven questions with Carole Gill.”

But without further ado…

My plan as I sit down to write this is to keep it short.  Or at least shorter than my post, My own Works Cited list: 10 books that have inspired me.  But as many of you are getting to know about me, I can’t just do a list, and brevity isn’t my strong suit.  But I’m going to give it a try. Continue reading →

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Slowing Down: On the birth of my daughter… or … A softer side of the horror writer

Posted on 09/09/2011 | 23 Comments

What’s News?

The Imaginings e-book is on sale for the month of September for only .99!  Click here for more information.

What does the future hold?

Next Friday, I’m doing another list.  I’ve had great response to “My Own Works Cited List: 10 books that have inspired me” (if you haven’t commented with your own faves, I hope you do that next) so next Friday, I’m going to talk about “10 movies that scared the bejeezus out of me.”

But without further ado…

Click here for the 10/2010 issue

Unfortunately, I am still waiting on publisher permission to use an excerpt from Kyle Bishop’s book, however, inspired by horror writer Mac Campbell’s touchingly heartfelt post, I’ve decided to finally post the short (just over 500 words) nonfiction piece of mine that Continue reading →

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