The Year of Cemetery Dance 2018

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Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
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This reminds me an old Dick Van Dyke show episode when Dick was complaining about Laura always opening his mail before he did. Laura said, "Fine, I won't open your mail anymore." The next day a package came for Dick and she was driving her self crazy wondering what was in it. She kept moving it around and just couldn't leave it alone. It was driving her crazy that she told Dick that she wouldn't open any more of his mail. I won't spoil the ending but it was a hilarious episode.
I've never seen this show and I might "while away" some hours this Christmas on Netflix watching it. I need some wholesomeness in my life, lol.
I've only seen a few episodes of The Andy Griffith show. My grandparents used to watch it a lot and my dad quoted it but I couldn't get interested in it. I don't hate it, though. I know we have some fans here.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
I've never seen this show and I might "while away" some hours this Christmas on Netflix watching it. I need some wholesomeness in my life, lol.
I've only seen a few episodes of The Andy Griffith show. My grandparents used to watch it a lot and my dad quoted it but I couldn't get interested in it. I don't hate it, though. I know we have some fans here.
....you, you, you don’t carry love in your heart for the Mayberry Gang?!?!...you’re dead to me...DEAD you hear?....
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
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Dana Jean

I've got to know. Did your box of books stay unopened until Christmas? ;-D

I'm guessing no.
It made it to the goal: Christmas eve.

Some nice books in there. The grab bag was for 10 books. You could get a possible extra thing. I think my extra thing was a little chapbook-like item of excerpts from Cemetery Dance magazine, which I have a subscription to thanks to a very very lovely and kind lady who gifted a lifetime subscription to me during a time when I needed someone to care about me just a smidgen. That was a big smidgen.

So, of the 10 books I got. I already owned 5. Of those 5, one was a nicer version than the one I purchased and was autographed by numerous authors. The other 4 were about the same as what I had.

Of the 5 I didn't have, I got one traycased signed edition which was a very pretty little book. And the other 4 were definite interest tweakers. I am pleased with my purchase.

What about you? What say you about your haul?
 

fljoe0

Cantre Member
Apr 5, 2008
15,859
71,642
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120 miles S of the Pancake/Waffle line
It made it to the goal: Christmas eve.

Some nice books in there. The grab bag was for 10 books. You could get a possible extra thing. I think my extra thing was a little chapbook-like item of excerpts from Cemetery Dance magazine, which I have a subscription to thanks to a very very lovely and kind lady who gifted a lifetime subscription to me during a time when I needed someone to care about me just a smidgen. That was a big smidgen.

So, of the 10 books I got. I already owned 5. Of those 5, one was a nicer version than the one I purchased and was autographed by numerous authors. The other 4 were about the same as what I had.

Of the 5 I didn't have, I got one traycased signed edition which was a very pretty little book. And the other 4 were definite interest tweakers. I am pleased with my purchase.

What about you? What say you about your haul?

I got a slipcase edition of The Dark Man by some obscure author ;-D
A signed edition of The Consultant by Bentley Little
A signed edition of The Booking by Ramsey Campbell

And more. I will have to update the list when I get home and look at my bookshelf. I'm having a case of CRS.
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
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I got a slipcase edition of The Dark Man by some obscure author ;-D
A signed edition of The Consultant by Bentley Little
A signed edition of The Booking by Ramsey Campbell

And more. I will have to update the list when I get home and look at my bookshelf. I'm having a case of CRS.
CRS? Help me. Constant reader syndrome? :laugh: Sounds like you made out great. Let me know the others when you can. If you care to share.

Ooooooo, those all are nice. I also got the slipped case edition of The Dark Man, but I already owned it, but, I think it has a different cover? For some reason that is in my head, need to track down my other copy and check.

My autographed traycase was a Rambo book, hahaha! And my signed slipped case edition was Smoke and Mirrors, so got some author's autographs I was very happy about (Neil Gaiman for one of many) . I already owned Smoke and Mirrors, but just a basic copy. This was much nicer and the slipcase was a little crunched. All I did was remove the good slipcase from my previous copy and put it on the nicer copy- voila, new fantastic book!

I got a Bentley Little -- THe Mailman. Anyone read that? It's calling my name, but I have to stay on task. Focus. I think it was signed. I'll have to check that. A couple other signed ones too.
 

fljoe0

Cantre Member
Apr 5, 2008
15,859
71,642
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120 miles S of the Pancake/Waffle line
CRS? Help me. Constant reader syndrome? :laugh: Sounds like you made out great. Let me know the others when you can. If you care to share.

Ooooooo, those all are nice. I also got the slipped case edition of The Dark Man, but I already owned it, but, I think it has a different cover? For some reason that is in my head, need to track down my other copy and check.

My autographed traycase was a Rambo book, hahaha! And my signed slipped case edition was Smoke and Mirrors, so got some author's autographs I was very happy about (Neil Gaiman for one of many) . I already owned Smoke and Mirrors, but just a basic copy. This was much nicer and the slipcase was a little crunched. All I did was remove the good slipcase from my previous copy and put it on the nicer copy- voila, new fantastic book!

I got a Bentley Little -- THe Mailman. Anyone read that? It's calling my name, but I have to stay on task. Focus. I think it was signed. I'll have to check that. A couple other signed ones too.

CRS - Can't Remember S*

I also got a copy of The Mailman. Bentley Little is good. You will like him.
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
53,634
236,697
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Cemetery Dance Book:

1. Midnight Premiere:

edited by Tom Piccirilli

"About the Book:
Featuring Jack Ketchum, Gary A. Braunbeck, Thomas F. Monteleone, Ray Garton, Brian Hodge, Ed Gorman, Al Sarrantonio, Mick Garris, and many others, these eighteen original tales celebrate Hollywood and the horror movie-going experience with affection, devotion, and fear. In Midnight Premiere you'll discover how many of these authors have worked in film—as screenwriters, actors, and directors—and put their particular experiences to use in showing you the dark underside of the Hollyweird dream and the LaLa Land facade.

The opening credits are about to roll.

Prepare yourself for the shocking and the illuminating, the strange and the fanciful...the real and the lies of celluloid that may well mean more to you than the truth.

And remember—

All the many screaming folks they torment up on the big screen and across these pages...?

The leering mad smiles, yowling creatures, and the brandishing of sharp weapons...?

All the havoc and mayhem and anguish and horrors...?

They do it because they love you
."


41rB2ZpO41L._SL500_SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


My Thoughts:

This was a really nice collection of short stories. I loved that many (if not all?) of the authors have somehow had dealings with the movie industry, and just the real touches and little insights from that world were interesting in and of themselves.

Another thing that struck me as I read it, and I never would have thought about this so much before the #Metoo movement, but many of these stories included #metoo kind of moments -- the failings of Hollywood and the powers-that-be in regards to exploitation in one way or another.

The fact that many of these authors included scenes and characters that really demonstrated how commonplace these practices were so matter-of-factly accepted speaks to how all of us had just become desensitized to what was happening to men and women, in and out of Hollywood. I mean, all this is just a part of the human experience and these authors obviously knew it was happening to write so realistically for the characters.

I want to make it clear, by no means am I placing blame on these authors for a societal norm that was prevalent in the industry -- the world. Really, they were ahead of their time as documentarians and they captured a moment in human history (albeit a fictionalized view) that is at the forefront of today's headlines.

I definitely don't want to overshadow the scares by commenting on this, this book is filled with great scary stories. The above was just my own observation.

Too bad this book isn't still in print so more people could read it. The stories are sufficiently chilling! Nice writing.

Addendum: Alan M. Clark does a super fun cover for this book, perfect.
 
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Sundrop

Sunny the Great & Wonderful
Jun 12, 2008
28,520
156,619
CRS? Help me. Constant reader syndrome? :laugh: Sounds like you made out great. Let me know the others when you can. If you care to share.

Ooooooo, those all are nice. I also got the slipped case edition of The Dark Man, but I already owned it, but, I think it has a different cover? For some reason that is in my head, need to track down my other copy and check.

My autographed traycase was a Rambo book, hahaha! And my signed slipped case edition was Smoke and Mirrors, so got some author's autographs I was very happy about (Neil Gaiman for one of many) . I already owned Smoke and Mirrors, but just a basic copy. This was much nicer and the slipcase was a little crunched. All I did was remove the good slipcase from my previous copy and put it on the nicer copy- voila, new fantastic book!

I got a Bentley Little -- THe Mailman. Anyone read that? It's calling my name, but I have to stay on task. Focus. I think it was signed. I'll have to check that. A couple other signed ones too.
I have The Mailman. Haven't read it yet. Mine was signed.
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
53,634
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Next Cemetery Dance book will be:

51W2RQP4ZML._SX314_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg



I have owned this book for YEARS. I have had this on my bookcase for probably 15 years???? Not sure when it was first published, but I think I've had it from the very beginning, and I have never read it!
I've started this one and boy do I have a lot to say about it. I am just busting to comment on this collection but I will hold off till I finish the book.
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
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2. Knuckles and Tales
by Nancy A. Collins

Artwork by J.K. Potter

About the Book:

"Knuckles and Tales: Southern Neo-Gothic is a collection of atmospheric, disturbing, spooky, and downright weird stories by award-winning author Nancy A. Collins. Best known for her edgy novels featuring the hip punk vampire/vampire slayer, Sonja Blue, Nancy has also written numerous short stories over the past ten years. This is her second short story collection, and the first to focus exclusively on her widely-acclaimed Southern Gothic stories. The stories on display in Knuckles and Tales range from suspense and psychological horror to dark fantasy and black comedy, with the occasional weird love story thrown in for good measure. Along with original J.K. Potter cover artwork, Knuckles and Tales features two never-before-published novelettes in the Seven Devils Cycle: "Junior Teeter and the Bad Shine" and "The Pumpkin Child
."

collins02large.jpg



My Thoughts:

So, have you guys heard of Nancy A. Collins or read her work?

I hadn't either. Maybe I've read a short story by her in an anthology somewhere along the way, I couldn't honestly say. But this book, Knuckles and Tales, I have had since 2002. I have picked it up numerous times over the last 15 years, and I've put it down again. You know why? This horrible cover.

I'm sorry J.K. Potter, I have no doubt you do amazing beautiful art, but this wasn't it. I would look at this title (which I hate) and I looked at the cover and believed it reflected the fourth string, b-flick writing I just knew was inside.

I couldn't have been more wrong and this is definitely a case of don't judge a book by a cover.

This is the best group of short stories I have read in years. That includes Stephen King, Joe Hill and Karen Russell -- my three favorite of all time short story writers. The language was authentic for the characters and the locations -- I was there with these people. I felt the heat, I smelled the smells, I heard what they heard, I felt their feelings. The writing was beautiful. It's been a long time since I have read a book this quickly and hated putting it down.

Usually in a short story compilation, there are good and so-so stories probably evenly represented. I found one story that didn't hit a note for me. One. The rest carried me along. There were stories in this book that I could easily see being published in The New Yorker.

The Southern Gothic is definitely her forte and I would love to know there were more short stories in this genre coming. Or maybe there is one out there already? I have to find it if so.

I also think it was a bit serendipitous that I chose this work at this particular time, given that I'm really big into ancestry.com DNA stuff right now. Her people were my ancestors. The area of the country throughout the tales are my roots in America. Maybe I wouldn't have connected with this work had I read it 15 years ago, but it sure speaks to me now.

Loved it loved it loved it. Some people take great glee in being naysayers, so naysayer away. I will not take one clap away from Nancy A. Collins in my enthusiastic applause.

I don't know anything about publishing. But, this needs to be reissued. New cover, maybe change the name (hahahaha!) and get it back out there. Small publishers don't have a marketing machine with cash to spare, but this needs to go out mainstream and there needs to be a real push by the publishers to promote it. This was a HWA Bram Stoker and International Horror Guild Award nominee book -- I'd like to know what won each of these awards up against her.

Amazing talent, Nancy A. Collins.
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
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3. Cold Comforts: Tales of Murder Mystery and Mayhem
by Peter Crowther

About the Book:

"You know, you think you know someone and then . . . kablooey! Something comes walking along, right up to you, and then punches you in the nose. It’s like that with Peter Crowther.

After reading Peter’s previous collection for Cemetery Dance, the poignantly dark The Longest Single Note back in 1999, you’d think you have his measure — after all, it echoes the nostalgia and gore served up in Escardy Gap, his epic collaboration with James Lovegrove. But then he sideswipes you with the science fictional tales of Songs of Leaving and you think, ah, okay . . . got him now (particularly as you’ve read the Forever Twilight novellas)! But then comes The Spaces Between the Lines, as bleak a gathering of horror yarns as you’re ever likely to find (and if you don’t believe us, read ‘Bedfordshire’) . . . which neatly ties into his take on witches, By Wizard Oak.

So, at that point, you’re certain you have it. How could you not. It’s easy, right? He’s a soft-centered, spookmeister with an eye for wonder and the far reaches of space. Fine. But whooahhh hold on there! Along comes this baby . . . a bona fide set of crime and mystery stories, no less. And so, dear reader, it kind of looks like you know Jack. Cats figure strongly in this book (though Peter Crowther has never owned one) and private eyes (well, one anyways) . . . and there are no mean streets in England, though one or two of them can get a little grumpy. Unnatural death also figures strongly here, though Peter hasn’t killed anybody (not as far as we know). He hasn’t smuggled drugs either (as in ‘Boxing Day’), hasn’t shot craps with dice that can foretell the future (the Runyonesque ‘Tomorrow Eyes’), doesn’t play trumpet (though, like Cal Williston in ‘The Musician of Bremen, GA,’ he does love the Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan version of ‘Moonlight in Vermont’), hasn’t tried to poison anyone (‘The Allotment’), and as far as he knows Sherlock Holmes and the good Doctor Watson never did make it to the genteel Yorkshire town of Harrogate (‘The Adventure of the Touch of God’).

Eighteen stories from the fertile and frisky mind of one of England’s most accomplished genre wordsmiths. And now we all know exactly what makes Peter tick. At least until next time."

412IZbRY1JL.SX316.SY316.jpg



My thoughts:

This was a collection of smart, efficient stories. As I read these crime/mystery/supernatural entries, the projector in my head played them in a smoky, black and white reminiscent of Sunset Boulevard, Dial M For Murder, Laura, Double Indemnity -- I could keep that list going on and on.

I had a hard time with this collection and it took me much longer to read it than it should have. Now you may think, uh oh, it was bad. Nope. Just the opposite. When I get anxious while reading a book, I have to put it down and walk away. That surge of anxiety is not enjoyable. Yet, for a story to elicit that intense response from me means the author is doing his job. He fulfilled his objective of ratcheting up the tension and suspense to the point I had to distance myself from them, while skillfully manipulating me to maintain that equilibrium between anxiety and curiosity so I would keep coming back.

Some of you may think starting and stopping and starting again ruins the story -- interrupts the flow and tension. For some, that could be the kiss of death for the book. For me? No.

Maybe if I put it to you in these terms, you will understand me. I guess it could weirdly be compared to sex. Getting right there and then backing off before the payoff. Yeah, that's right. I went there. So, reading a book where I do this little dance makes the payoff -- sweeter.

:lol:

Yes Pete Crowther, you can thank me for that comparison. At least I hope if you happen to see this someday, you will take that as a compliment.

A story in the collection, Tomorrow Eyes, reminded me very much of one of my favorite books: Bradbury's, The Illustrated Man. This is a very different story, but similar. And I bonded immediately with the author when he mentioned in his short, Keepsakes -- Vivaldi, Alan Alda and The Four Seasons -- one of my most beloved, unsung ensemble movies.

So, good collection. Sharp writing. Interesting concepts. I would recommend it. And nice cover by David Gentry.
 
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