The Terrible Old Mr. Roogs- Part One of a two-part Christmas ghost story

Posted on 12/16/2011 | 25 Comments

What’s news?

- My first blog review for The Imaginings appeared last Saturday at the site of blogger/“the happy horror writer” Aniko Carmean.  Hope you’ll check it out.  She had some great comments and an interesting bit of food for thought for me about the ending (don’t worry, she gives a spoiler alert).  To read the review, click here.

- On the same day, I was also interviewed at Jonathan D. Allen’s Shaggin the Muse.  Jonathan had some great questions for me, and as always, he has provided some great visuals to accompany my responses.  To read the interview, click here.

What does the future hold?

If you think you know how this one is going to end up, you might be surprised.  Next Friday, I’ll be posting Part Two of The Terrible Old Mr. Roogs, A Two-Part Christmas Ghost Story.

But without further ado…

For any of you who don’t know, in addition to writing, I’m also a part-time Language Arts teacher.  I’m not Mr. Roogs (in fact, I’m pretty popular with the kids if I do say so myself :) , but there are definitely some days… Continue reading →

→ 25 Comments

Posted in Story excerpts & Friday Flash

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

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 →

→ 17 Comments

Posted in Paul's thoughts, Reviews

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

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 →

→ 21 Comments

Posted in Paul's thoughts, Story excerpts & Friday Flash

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

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 →

→ 29 Comments

Posted in Paul's thoughts

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Author Interview- Seven Questions with Jonathan D. Allen

Posted on 11/18/2011 | 25 Comments

What’s news?

- I’ve been given The Versatile Blogger Award from fellow horror writer, Blaze McRob at Blaze McRob’s Tales of Horror.  As part of his own receiving of the award, he has listed seven interesting things about himself at his blog. And he is definitely an interesting guy.  I plan on putting him a little further under the microscope soon with my Seven Questions.  Until then, to learn more about Blaze and see his other nominations for the Versatile Blogger Award, click here.

- Had these nice comments from Aniko Carmean on The Imaginings.  Okay, I know I said I wouldn’t publish every review, but this also counts as promoting Aniko who has some pretty great things to say at her blog, as well.  Her byline is “the happy horror writer.”  Continue reading →

→ 25 Comments

Posted in Guest posts & Author Interviews

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

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 →

→ 15 Comments

Posted in Guest posts & Author Interviews, Paul's thoughts

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

The Golden Parachute: A Serial Short in Two Flashes. Part Two

Posted on 11/03/2011 | 16 Comments

What’s news?

Ever notice how many of Stephen King's characters are writers?

- I had a guest appearance and giveaway at the blog Books, Biscuits and Tea last Saturday.  It was a short excerpt from my very first blog post  “Why do I like to write horror stories?” (which was admittedly probably too long).  The excerpt only addresses the horror aspect of my writing.  The giveaway for my book is still in progress until 11/05.  To view the post and enter the giveaway, click here.

- Speaking of giveaways, I’m pleased to announce the three winners of The Imaginings from the Coffin Hop.  They are:

Penelope Crowe

David Ewald

Nora B. Peevy

(*Note: you didn’t need your own blog to enter, but it just so happens that all three of my winners do.  Clicking on their names will take you their sites) Continue reading →

→ 16 Comments

Posted in Story excerpts & Friday Flash

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

The Golden Parachute: A Serial Short in Two Flashes. Part One

Posted on 10/28/2011 | 45 Comments

What’s news?

- I did a guest posting at Stormi Johnson’s blog for her Frightfest 2011.  It’s a short (and hopefully entertaining) anecdote about how it’s scary sometimes just being me.  Hope you get a chance to check it out (click here).

Click here for Coffin Hop participants

- Also, I’ve been having a great time with the Coffin Hop Horror Web Tour this past week.  Not only tons of contests, but tons of just plain FREE STUFF as well.   And let me tell ya, there are some interesting people out there.

For more information and other bloggers participating in the Coffin Hop Horror Web Tour (October 24-31), click here.

- Don’t forget my giveaway!  Three winners will be chosen to receive a free e-copy of my book The Imaginings.  In order to be eligible, the requirements are simple. Continue reading →

→ 45 Comments

Posted in Story excerpts & Friday Flash

Tagged , , , , , , ,

My first Coffin Hop giveaway! And “Seven Questions with Author Hunter Shea”

Posted on 10/21/2011 | 30 Comments

What’s news?

For the final week of October, I will be participating in two blog hops.  If you’ve never heard of this before, essentially it’s a way to find out about new bloggers with similar interests.  To see all the bloggers participating in these two hops, click on the links below:

- Halloween Hop (October 28-31)

- Coffin Hop Horror Web Tour (October 24-31)

All participating blogs in the Coffin Hop are supposed to be hosting some sort of contest.

Which means I’m hosting my first giveaway!  Three winners will be chosen to receive a free e-copy of my book The Imaginings.  In order to be eligible, the requirements are simple. Continue reading →

→ 30 Comments

Posted in Guest posts & Author Interviews

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Is it worth the hype? A discussion/review of “The Hunger Games”

Posted on 10/13/2011 | 30 Comments

Click here for "I Spy, with My Little Eye"

What’s news?

- If you didn’t get a chance to visit The Eclectic Artist’s Cave last week, I’ve posted my Writer Wednesday piece (less than 1000 words), I Spy, with My Little Eye, here on my website under “Free Fiction by Paul.”  Love to hear your thoughts.

What does the future hold?

After rave reviews of my first author interview with Carole Gill, I’m pleased to announce that next Friday I will be posting my interview with Hunter Shea, author of the recently released novel Forest of Shadows.  He has some great answers to my first six questions, and I switched up the seventh this time for Halloween with nice results.

But without further ado…

I heard about The Hunger Games from my stepdaughter.  Which is a good thing on many levels.  For as long as I’ve known her (just over seven years), she has always been a 4.0 student.  But one thing I was saddened to see in the early years was that she wasn’t a big reader.  Her mother and I had recommended a few books, but she never really picked anything up. Continue reading →

→ 30 Comments

Posted in Reviews

Tagged , , , , , , , ,