'Editor Katherine Tomlinson introduces us to the newest venue in dark fiction-
The premiere issue of Dark Valentine Magazine is here. A quarterly magazine of dark fiction, the project is a collaboration born over a meal of pear cider and Cornish pasties at an Irish pub in Pasadena. Editor Joy Sillesen and Art Director Joanne Renaud and I liked working with each other at Astonishing Adventures Magazine so much that we decided we didn't want the fun to end.
The first issue is stuffed with dark tales and wicked words, all illustrated by artists like Joanne, Pamela Jaworska, Larry Nadolsky, Rena Ez, Jane Burson, Eleni Trigatz, Michael Lauritano, Jennifer Caro and Molly Brewer and more...The cover image, created by Joanne Renaud, was inspired by Stephanie Dray's story, "The Threshing Floor."
The table of contents is stuffed with goodies--flash fiction from Cormac Brown, Sandra Seamans, Carol Kilgore, and Blue Jackson. There's a paranormal noir from Agatha-nominated novelist Elizabeth Zelvin and Paul D. Brazill's innovative twist on an old monster. (Paul:s "Drunk on the Moon" is one of two stories from Poland-based writers in this issue, with Frank Duffy's evocative "The Fog House" being the other.)
There's a definite international feel to the fiction which comes from the UK (Peter Mark May's "Lurkers"), Canada (Julia Madeine's "Smashed")and points west. The artists hail from all over--Poland, Thailand, Greece, the UK.
And last but certainly not least, the premiere issue contains stories by Chad Rohrbacher, C.M. Saunders, Christine Pope, Sidney Harrison, James Hartley, Gerry Johnson and me. There's something for everyone in the first issue. (And if there's not, we'll be back in the fall with issue #2.)'
Here it is!
8 comments:
I've downloaded the issue. Looks really good. I haven't had a chance to read it yet.
Most impressive.
Looks good,eh? Either of you sub,itting something?
Great story Paul, and it does look good.
Downloaded it this morning. It looks great - a good mix of fiction and art.
I read Drunk on the Moon and couldn't leave it alone. It's a brilliant piece of writing, whacking your senses from every direction, satisfying the need for a good old blood bath. Love it Paul.
Thanks Richard and Lily. Hope to see you both their sometime, too.
What I like about Drunk On The Moon is its matter-of-factness. The story is told in a way that makes it feel like it's really happened, like it could happen, like it's nothing out of the ordinary. It's not over the top in it's werewolfness and you can feel your noir/crime roots holding you firmly to the ground. There's nothing obvious about it and it avoids cliche (and given the theme, that's a difficult thing to pull off). It has a sharp style and the similes are superb. Really strong writing.
As for the collection, I'm sold on the writing and the art and am hugely impressed by DV's debut.
If anyone's in doubt about whether to go and download it or not, take it from me that there's something for you to love - you wouldn't be on this site if there weren't.
Thanks Nigel,
I've wanted to write a story called Drunk On The Moon for a long time and Dark Valentine seemed like the logical place to send it. I may have a follow up in the works. Look forward to your story in issue two.
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