They’re beautiful, they’re deadly… and they’re really busy!
Last year when Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason appeared on Kendall Reviews, Silverwood: The Door, had yet to materialize. Serialize. That’s what they’ve done in conjunction with Brian Keene and Richard Chizmar. (You can check out their previous visit to Kendall Reviews HERE) A short rhyming scheme is as cutesy as it gets with them, you didn’t think it was a neat coincidence that their acronym is SoS, did you? It’s a warning, their stories will mess with your head. I recently read IN THE BLACK ROOM, WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK from the Rejected for Content series, edited by Jim Goforth. Their story is in the third installment, VICIOUS VENGEANCE.
Help!
This is not a book to leave around your workplace, or accidentally misplace with your name written inside. In fact, you might want to sneak this read for your own personal discomfort. This story is a blend of shock, revulsion, and vengeance. As with Jack Ketchum’s Weed Species, you may want to shower after reading, nonetheless, you may find a strange sadness woven underneath. They have that peculiar touch, it stings a little, can I have some more?
They must’ve been listening because as you read this, they are releasing TAPETUM LUCIDUM from Deaths Head Press. This October offering wants you to know that you’re not alone, not in the dark. All those things you can’t see, but they can see you! I’m sure you’ve got questions. I’m here to illuminate.
TAPETUM LUCIDUM
is the layer of tissue that helps an eye see in the dark, many eyes.
Not yours.
Run!
Or stay awhile, take a look inside the master creators minds. The Sisters of Slaughter were gracious in giving me a slice of their valuable time. Here are the questions I posed:
SISTERS OF SLAUGHTER
ME: Have you had a title that has greatly changed when you finalized your book?
So far, only one book title has changed and that would be Those Who Follow, it only changed through adding a specific part to the book and it suits the over-all story better. Other than that, our titles don’t change. Titles come to us very easy, they usually come to us first as we visualize the concept of the book and are inspiration at the top of the manuscript of what we are trying to achieve.
ME: What’s the greatest advice you’ve received?
The greatest advice we have received is simply this, in order to have something published you must finish it first, so make time to finish what you are working on. Also, you will never please everyone so don’t even have that in your mind while you are typing away at your manuscript.
ME: Do you stick to an outline?
If the story is longer than a short story we always stick to an outline. Short stories can be written in one or two sittings, but novels and novellas take time and if we don’t write down where we want to go with the storyline then we find ourselves getting lost along the way. There are people who never use an outline but for us it keeps us on track.
ME: What’s the biggest difference in writing alone or together?
It’s cliché but two heads are better than one, when one of us is stuck on a part of a story the other can offer ways to move it along. Also, we have fun writing together, it’s something we have always done so to us it feels less lonely (which writing often is) when we are sharing the pages.
ME: Do you feel like you’d still be doing the same work if we weren’t writing together?
We would definitely be writing the same dark storylines, but it wouldn’t be as fun. It’s entertaining to jump into our imaginations as a team and see what comes of it.
ME: How do you feel about women-only submission calls?
We feel like it’s stupid that they are even necessary, but they are, unfortunately. The world needs our voices, as well as the voices of people of color, the LGBTQ community, and other marginalized groups, to tell the stories of everyone around the world. People need to read stories they can identify with and move them, things that feel personal to them, and those kinds of stories won’t be available unless everyone has a shot at publication. The past has shown us there wasn’t always a place for women, POC, and LGBTQ writers at the table and that needs to change. There are many great presses right now who strive to be that change in the world and they are making reading better for everyone.
ME: That last question has occurred to me many times over the past year. I’m sure there are differing opinions, my own thoughts coincide with The Sisters. There has been good reason for female authors to stick with initials. Maybe someday that won’t matter. I know what appendage Brent Ray Fraser paints with, but I’ve yet to hear of an author with the same prowess. If you have contrary knowledge, please enlighten me. I’d appreciate some TAPETUM LUCIDUM of my own.
Tapetum Lucidum
A band of friends unknowingly awaken something ancient and hungry, the glowing orbs descending from the trees are more than fireflies.
A ravenous group of hunters is set free and are now moving closer and closer to the small town of Brush Mill.
Halloween night will mark their arrival, and the townsfolk will have to fight to keep from being eaten alive.
Can they survive what lurks in the darkness?
Can you?
You can buy Tapetum Lucidum from Amazon UK & Amazon US
Sisters Of Slaughter
You can follow the Sisters on Twitter @fiendbooks
To find out more about the Sisters please visit their Facebook page here
Michelle Enelen
Raised by Pentecostal preachers, horror was not a readily available commodity. As her love grew, her parents were occasionally summoned to school to talk about book reports and various projects that weren’t quite appropriate for her age. They were lost as to where she’d gotten such “trash”. Luckily for her, there was a librarian that understood her insatiable hunger for darker worlds. Even now, if she could, she’d live among the stacks.
Her penchant grew to include ghastly movies and music, which she’ll happily share with anyone listening. The love of horror continues with her favorite videogame, “House of the Dead, Overkill”. She’s not the best gamer, except when defending herself against the wrong monsters. Headshots are her speciality.
Twitter @falln468
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