Anyone who's ever read our personal blogs knows that we both like Marian Allen. She has one of the most inventive minds I know, and a sweet personality to boot. She writes fantasy, science fiction, mysteries, and characters that defy genre. Rather than interview her about one of her previous novels, I interviewed my favorite character, Uncle Phineas. This is a special double interview. We are interviewing both Marian Allen and Mr. Sugar, the hero of "Mr. Sugar vs. the Cake Thief". Mr. Sugar is a white Persian cat. To Mr. Sugar: You repelled an alien invasion? Tell us more about that. Did you do it single-pawed? I must give credit where credit is due. I couldn’t have done it without Mrs. DiMarco and the unwitting help of my ex-beloved Stallone. You can read all about it in “Mr. Sugar v the Martians” in Marian Allen’s short story collection, LONNIE, ME AND THE HOUND OF HELL. It wasn’t an invasion, really; they were taking samples. I didn’t mind their taking people, but they started taking cats, and I couldn’t stand for that. To Marian: Your writing skills appear to be cross-genre and species. Very impressive. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? Plots are very difficult. There are always so many possible stories, given any situation and any collection of characters, it’s always hard to choose the one that works best. To Marian: What is your current project? Tell us about it. I’m currently working on a couple of short stories. One is a Middle Grade story for the Southern Indiana Writers’ 2014 anthology. In my story, a boy buys and hides a graphic novel of the book of Genesis from the Bible (nudity, violence) in some luggage in the attic, only to come home from school to find his maiden aunt visiting so she can borrow some … you guessed it: luggage. The other is for an upcoming anthology from Three Fates Press with the theme of silver screen monsters. I called dibs on The Creature From The Black Lagoon. I haven’t begun it yet, but I’m looking forward to it. To Mr. Sugar: What makes you so sexy? I think it’s my having been neutered. Sex without procreational responsibility is very liberating. To Marian: Castle or Firefly? Firefly, no question. Young Nathan Fillion, Jayne, six-guns on spaceships, the crew, the ever-present possibility that Simon Tan will get spaced or, alternatively, grow a sense of humor.... To Mr. Sugar: Grumpy Cat or Simon's Cat? Oh, Grumpy Cat, dear! Simon’s Cat cuts much too close to the bone! To Marian: Tell us about Three Fates Press. We began when our former press had to cut back. Several people we knew were being “liberated” from good small presses at the same time, and we had been doing various bits of publishing ourselves, so we said, “Hey, gang! Let’s do a press right here in the barn! Sure, we can do it!” So far, we and our authors are pleased. As you know from starting Mystery and Horror LLC, it takes a while to get going, but we’re on track. We’re presenting our first Author’s Fair on March 1: Saturday, March 1, 2014 4:30pm Big Woods Brewery SR135 North, Nashville, IN This is the first annual Author's Fair to be held at Big Woods Village, hosted by Big Woods Brewery, 3 Fates Press, and Line By Lion Publications. Come, drink great microbrews and sample some wares by micropresses! Special message from Mr. Sugar: Stallone, if you’re reading this, I want you to know I don’t blame you for your disappearance. I understand a cat needs to go where his family takes him. I do wish you had taken the time to tell me they were moving, perhaps to say goodbye, but you didn’t, and that’s that. I do miss you, but that will pass. There are plenty of fish in the sea. Mmm, fish! Excuse me, I think I hear the can opener. Thank you both for visiting with us! "Mr. Sugar vs. the Cake Thief" is featured in Mardi Gras Murder, MAHLLC's latest anthology. Thirteen tales of crime inspired by Mardi Gras - its celebration, traditions, and, of course, the food. Now available in print or Kindle format at Amazon.com! If you are a Kindle Prime member, you can also borrow the book. To learn more about Marian and her wonderful writings, check out her page at MarianAllen.com . Her blog entries are a treat all in themselves.
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Our first 2014 anthology, Mardi Gras Murder, is already up at Amazon. Have no fear, authors, we have at least three more planned. The first is Strangely Funny II, this year's collection of humorous paranormal stories. The guidelines are available on our Submissions page, and we hope to have the cover shortly. The other two will be:
In this case, 'historical' means your story should be set in a time at least fifty years ago. You know how they're celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Beatles playing the Ed Sullivan show? Yeah, your story should be set during that time or before. Let us not discuss members of the MAHLLC staff who qualify as historical under these standards... please. Just warm up those keyboards! Rob Lopresti at Little Big Crimes has reviewed three of the stories from All Hallows' Evil. We're very pleased with his feedback!
Thanks for the encouragement, Rob! Only a short time left until the Goodreads Giveaway for All Hallows' Evil ends. Don't miss your chance to get a free copy! Goodreads Book GiveawayAll Hallows' Evilby Sarah E. Glenn Giveaway ends October 15, 2013. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. All Hallows' Evil is now available in print and Kindle format! Read some great crime stories set during The Real Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Norman’s Skeletons by Gloria Alden The Carver by Erin Farwell Dead and Buried Treasure by Barb Goffman The Psychic Temp by Devon Greene The Creepiest House by Marianne Halbert Pact of the Lantern by Daniel Hale The Murderer at the Cabin by Robert Holt A Eye For A Eye by Wenda Morrone Making Contact by Marilyn Pierce Patterson Bill's Chair by Jason Purdy Devil's Night by Harriette Sackler An Echo of Samhain by D.J. Tyrer Death of the Party by Lance Zarimba And don't forget, we're giving away three copies for free at Goodreads! Win a free copy of our Halloween anthology of mystery stories at Goodreads! Goodreads Book GiveawayAll Hallows' Evilby Sarah E. GlennGiveaway ends October 15, 2013. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. An anthology of mystery stories set during Mardi Gras. We expect the majority of the stories to be set in New Orleans, but it is not mandatory. The holiday, its celebration, and its depredations should set the stage. Paranormal elements (e.g. Louisiana Voodoo) are acceptable if they are appropriate to the traditional Mardi Gras locations and events. We're seeking stories that are 2000 - 8000 words in length. Query about reprints. We will accept multiple submissions, but not simultaneous submissions. Open submission period: October 21, 2013 - January 5, 2014. All contributors will receive a free trade paperback copy of the book, plus a $5 advance on royalties. Contributors will also be able to purchase more print copies at a 50% discount on the cover price. Please see our Guidelines and Payment page for further information on the rights we ask for and the compensation we offer. Only about a month left to submit to All Hallows' Evil! All Hallows' Evil is an anthology of mystery stories set during Halloween, OUR "most wonderful time of the year". Paranormal elements are acceptable as long as they are in keeping with the Halloween theme and the central story is a mystery. We're seeking stories that are 4000 - 8000 words in length. Query about reprints. We will accept multiple submissions, but not simultaneous submissions. The submission period ends July 15th, 2013. Please see our Guidelines and Payment page for further information on the rights we ask for and the compensation we offer. An anthology of mystery stories set during Halloween, aka Samhain. Paranormal elements are acceptable as long as they are in keeping with the Halloween theme and the central story is a mystery. We're seeking stories that are 4000 - 8000 words in length (firm). Query about reprints. We will accept multiple submissions, but not simultaneous submissions. Open submission period: April 20 - July 15th, 2013. Please see our Guidelines and Payment page for further information on the rights we ask for and the compensation we offer. Publisher's note: Mystery and Horror is a market that welcomes LBGTQ, multiethnic,multinational, nontraditional, and unusual fiction. We are concerned with well-written stories involving well-developed characters. |
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Mystery and Horror, LLC, is an indie press interested in what the name suggests. Contact us at: mysteryandhorrorllc@gmail.com
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