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Post by williemeikle on Jan 28, 2010 22:32:10 GMT
With the re-release pending of Island Life, here are some reviews to whet your appetite
Paul Di Filippo in Asimov's SF Magazine A lonely island in the Scottish Hebrides, sparsely tenanted, is host to an archaeological expedition intent on opening an old barrow. But the scientists are not prepared for a surviving colony of murderous monsters led by a mad Atlantean priest named Calent. As the released creatures swamp the island, slaughtering livestock and people alike, the humans find themselves first trying to understand the threat, then combat it with few resources save their courage and wits.
A female inkeeper named Anne, her grown daughter Meg, and a researcher named Duncan prove to be pivotal to meeting this threat.
Meikle has an engaging, sturdy prose style. And his familiarity with the terrain and culture of his setting contributes to a lively tale, where the inevitable bloodshed has more of an old-fashioned Richard Matheson feel to it than a Stephen King texture.
Garrett Peck for Cemetery Dance #40 Setting his tale on a sparsely populated island in the Outer Hebrides, Meikle works with a small, intimate group of characters. When archeology students open what appears to be an early Neolithic burial mound, they release an ancient race of creatures that have existed since long before the days of Christ.
These semi-human, semi-bestial creatures are devoted to their ancient god, the Sky Father, as well as the practice of cannibalism. Survivors of the initial onslaughta marine biologist, two lighthouse keepers, a pub owner wife and daughter and an old sheep dog must do battle with these monstrous pre-humans, who are as intelligent as they are deadly
Meikle makes the most of his setting, using its isolation to strong effect.
Many fears come into play; agoraphobia, claustrophobia, acrophobia, as well as fear for ones own life and the lives of loved ones. His solid prose commands attention right from the start and carries the reader straight through to the climax.
The Scottish setting and dialogue add a bit of exotic spice for readers tired of terror tales set in small town America.
Steve & Lesley Mazey for The Eternal Night A group of archaeology students and their professor begin a dig into a mysterious mound on a Hebridean island off Scotland's West Coast. All initially goes well, with unexpectedly friendly relations between the students and the islanders.
But as the mist begins to envelope the island livestock are found mutilated, and one of the students reaches the island lighthouse telling of horrific events in the mound during the excavation. This book starts with gentle chapters introducing the characters and bringing you into the life on the island. You get a good understanding of the people and a feeling for their environment.
The supernatural elements of the story are the introduced in a gradual way as the characters discover what is happening on their island. The gory details are handled in a very minimal fashion, more effective than thorough description could ever be.
And the reactions to the events the people exhibit seem highly appropriate, they are not supermen, these are people like you and I, and react accordingly.
This story reads like Stephen King writing a Lovecraft story, bringing King's level of descriptive prose to the supernatural creature from underground storyline. I am not a frequent reader of horror stories, but Willie Meikle's brand of horror is one I would gladly read in future.
Valarie Thorpe for Really Scary.com Some writers try to take you to a far away place by dropping a boatload of location names and places and then there are writers like William Meikle. "Island Life,", takes you to a Scottish island by dropping you dead center into rock strewn lands, drippy thick fog, crunching noises underfoot and you simply have no choice but to go.
It's trite but it's true...I picked it up and I didn't put it down. Read it cover to cover and enjoyed one helluva monster story.
But that's selling it short. It's not just a monster story. Sure, it covers ancient evils, where they originated and their current day vengeance wreaking but Meikle's characters are fully developed and easy to picture as people you know, you've had a beer with, you would rather not seen crushed into bone meal by diabolical evil.
Probably one of my favorite elements are the actual creatures. We're treated to a true species, not just a pastiche. I'd actually like to see their story fleshed out even further...maybe a prequel?
Paula Heuschkel for The Modoc Record My first immediate impression of Island Life was 'oh great, another monster story' and it was also completely wrong. Dead wrong, in fact.
Island Life is so much more than just another monster story. Meikle’s prose draws the reader in, weaving a tightly spun web of folklore, horror, and suspense from which there is no escape.
The isolated island setting combined with the sub-setting of the dank caves is overpowering in its feeling of claustrophobia, an intensity that builds to the novel’s climax. Island Life leaves the reader gasping for air and seriously reconsidering his next Scottish vacation.
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Post by williemeikle on Feb 11, 2010 18:09:46 GMT
Waiting and hoping. I've written before about the waiting game a writer has to play. I've been at this a while now, and you'd think I'd be over it, but I still find myself checking the inbox and heading for the post office with an air of expectation, only to come away deflated. I wrote so much last year that a period of waiting was inevitable. Forthcoming from GWP and the Penny Dreadful company I have - Island Life - a novel, coming in paperback, audio and Kindle releases
- The Valley - a serialised short novel in chapbook form and with a Kindle release
- Crustaceans - another of the above, and with a paperback and audio book release
- Invasion - Yet another of the above, also with audio book release
- Berserker - a short novel, coming in paperback
- The Chronicles of Seton - 3 linked historical fantasy stories
There's also going to be kindle versions of The Road Hole Bunker On top of that there are a whole pack of one-off chapbooks coming, and there will be a short story collection later this year. (And I have several other projects in the pipeline at GWP that are yet to be written.) That's a -lot- to be waiting for. and there's more. My other main publisher, Black Death Books wil be publishing the 3rd Midnight Eye book, The Skin Game, later in 2010, and there will be Kindle editions of my other Black Death Books novels coming later this year. And I have a story in Cthulhu 2012, a new anthology from Mythos Books that's going to be huge - when it comes. And there's still more on the scriptwriting side. - The 5 is going into production in April in South Africa. Girls, guns and philosophy, from a script by myself and Emile Meyer.
- The Amulet will (hopefully) go into production this year with Dark Window Films, from my script adapted from my novel.
- Halfway to Heaven is looking for UK Screen funding to develop my script co-written with James Sharpe
On top of that, I've got a novel "Hunter's Dock" out on submission, and a dozen or so stories out at anthologies/magazines. And so, I wait. Usually I spend the time writing so I don't dwell on any of the outstanding stuff. But when I'm between stories, like today, I can't help but dream of the shape of things to come.
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Post by williemeikle on Feb 14, 2010 23:15:27 GMT
I'm rapidly coming to the idea that historical dark fantasy is what I most enjoy writing.
After writing the Watchers trilogy in the early 2000's I spent a while writing other things, namely the Midnight Eye books and some forays into other genres. But this last year I've written a lot of historical based works, like Berserker - a Viking meets Yeti S&S novel, The Valley, a Lost World novel set in 1860's Montana, and numerous short stories, including a Sherlock Holmes story in Gaslight Grotesque, the three Carnacki chapbooks, and an ongoing series featuring Augustus Seton, a sword for hire in 16th Century Scotland..
I seem to get lost more quickly in the "worlds" in these works than I do in stories set in the present day, and when I'm scratching for ideas, it is stories set in other times that come most readily.
So, for the near future at least, I'm going to see where this takes me and stay "elsewhen" for a while.
Wish me luck.
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Post by TheWalkinDude on Feb 15, 2010 14:19:01 GMT
Good Luck Willie!!!!!!!
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Post by steppedonwolf on Feb 18, 2010 23:17:01 GMT
I'm unsure about my eye for the market. I write what I want to write, producing books that I would want to read. But I'm a fifty year old man steeped in pulp fiction from an early age. I want the big deal, to see my books on shelves in shops all over the world. That's always been the dream, but my obsessions just don't cut it in the marketplace." And a year on, that's still what I'm doing, still writing pulpy fiction that makes me smile. The -big- dream is still far off, still the golden ring to strive for. I love writing, love the pictures that flow in my mind. But is this all there is? Am I missing out by not pushing harder to write something that would reach a -much- wider audience? Have I allowed myself to get into a rut from which I'll find it hard to escape? I don't think so. The key here is 'writing pulpy fiction that makes me smile'. We'd all love to hit the big time, but the important thing is writing the things you have a passion for. That's what will guarantee you remain chained to the PC. Pulp crosses a lot of genres - horror, sci-fi, fantasy, historical, detective/noir - so as long as you're dipping a toe into all of those fields you'll be building a larger audience anyway.
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Post by williemeikle on Feb 19, 2010 17:07:40 GMT
I'm unsure about my eye for the market. I write what I want to write, producing books that I would want to read. But I'm a fifty year old man steeped in pulp fiction from an early age. I want the big deal, to see my books on shelves in shops all over the world. That's always been the dream, but my obsessions just don't cut it in the marketplace." And a year on, that's still what I'm doing, still writing pulpy fiction that makes me smile. The -big- dream is still far off, still the golden ring to strive for. I love writing, love the pictures that flow in my mind. But is this all there is? Am I missing out by not pushing harder to write something that would reach a -much- wider audience? Have I allowed myself to get into a rut from which I'll find it hard to escape? I don't think so. The key here is 'writing pulpy fiction that makes me smile'. We'd all love to hit the big time, but the important thing is writing the things you have a passion for. That's what will guarantee you remain chained to the PC. Pulp crosses a lot of genres - horror, sci-fi, fantasy, historical, detective/noir - so as long as you're dipping a toe into all of those fields you'll be building a larger audience anyway. I know... I know. And I'm usually upbeat. Just about once, maybe twice a year I hit a low where I wonder why I do it. But a recent pro sale has me on the upward path again... until the next crash :-)
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Post by williemeikle on Feb 23, 2010 1:15:17 GMT
The Penny Dreadful Company has a special offer this week -- 8 William Meikle chapbooks for 10 UKP (even less for Book Club Members) These works cover a variety of writing by me. Island Life - A digest sampler of my novel Truth Decay - A noir ghost story Brotherhood of The Thorns - A crusader hunt for a holy relic Unstrung - A demonic puppet wreaks havoc The Chamber of Tiamat - Archaeologists uncover an ancient evil Creature - Two Creature Features Samurai - A Far Eastern Ghost Story Cold as Death - Sword and Sorcery in 16th C Scotland This is a limited time offer until 28th February, so don't delay, order yours now and help me on the way to a much needed new laptop :-) www.thepennydreadfulcompany.com/page11.html
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Post by williemeikle on Feb 26, 2010 0:58:40 GMT
Only 3 days left to take advantage of this offer. And thanks to Neil at GWP for doing this, (and waiving his share of the profits). I'm well on the way to being able to afford the new Netbook I need. :-)
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Post by williemeikle on Apr 4, 2010 17:13:14 GMT
I've been looking around for anthologies to submit to in recent weeks. I've got subs out to some of the usual suspects -- anthos dedicated to Sherlock Holmes and Lovecraft's Mythos.
But it got me thinking about what other anthos I'd like to write for -- and read, in other writers' universes. So, with tongue only slightly in cheek, this is a call for editors/publishers to get their fingers out and announce submission calls for the following:-
Black Mass - A Dennis Wheatley tribute. Wheatley wasn't the world's greatest writer, but his books filled store shelves before Stephen King came along, and did a lot to mould my liking for supernatural fiction. I'd love to have a go at an old school Satanic romp with his characters.
She Who Must be Obeyed - an H Rider Haggard tribute. I've always wanted to do an Allan Quatermain/Lost civilisation story.
Tarzan Returns - How cool would it be to do a Tarzan story? Well for a lad who grew up on the ERB books, it would be geek heaven.
Challenger - Why not a Professor Challenger antho as opposed to a Holmes one? And Challenger was an Ayrshire man, like me. I've got many ideas just waiting for the right antho :-)
Quatermass - And thinking of Challenger brings me straight to Quatermass, one of my earliest heroes. It's surely time for an antho of British science gone wrong?
Fu-Manchu - I -so- want to write an old school criminal mastermind story
And those are just off the top of my head. I'd also love to write in Moorcock's Eternal Champion Universe, or using Gemmell's Jerusalem Man. There are also many TV show characters I'd love to write stories for, from the X-Files to Dr. Who, from Adam Adamant to Supernatural.
Not a single one of these is likely to happen any time soon and I'm not holding my breath waiting for invitations to submit.
But a boy can dream can't he?
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Post by williemeikle on Apr 9, 2010 20:57:03 GMT
Not horror -- but it's free :-) FREE EBOOK in all formats during The Masters in Augusta ( until Sunday 11pm EST) I'm offering the eBook - THE ROAD HOLE BUNKER MYSTERY - Free of charge. A murder mystery in St Andrews centering on the Old Course. It is a routine case for John Royle--until a body turns up in the Road Hole Bunker at the 17th on the Old Course at St Andrews. Soon he's up to his ears in bodies and red herrings as the trail takes him through the social strata of town and gown, and the case grows to encompass the history, and the very future, of the old course itself. Dozens have already taken advantage of this offer, so get yours now. www.smashwords.com/books/view/11164
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Post by williemeikle on Apr 12, 2010 14:43:26 GMT
I was pleased to see that I got an honourable mention in Ellen Datlow's Best Horror of the Year 2009 anthology for "The Tenants of Ladywell Manor," in Cthulhu Unbound 2
This antho picked up a few HMs, and is well worth checking out. It's available in all the usual online sites, as well as being on the shelves of many Barnes and Noble stores in the States.
Willie
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Post by williemeikle on Apr 12, 2010 19:05:40 GMT
It's that time of the year again, and I'm in full waiting mode. First there's the submissions. I've got stories out at seven anthologies, four magazines, two podcasts and a newspaper, and a novel at Dorchester/Leisure (eleven months and counting!) Then there's the already placed work - the 3rd Midnight Eye Book is due this summer
- various chapbooks and box sets are coming from the Penny Dreadful Company
- several novels and ebooks are coming from Ghostwriter Publications
- there are three film scripts in various stages of production
- and a much anticipated appearance in Cthulhu 2012, a hardcover anthology
I've also been looking for a home for several other scripts with no success so far. Some days it feels like I'm running in treacle... Then comes news of an honorable mention in Ellen Datlow's Best Horror of the Year 2009 for "The Tenants of Ladywell Manor" and suddenly things seem shinier.
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Post by ian on Apr 12, 2010 19:19:47 GMT
Just keep running Willie! I'd hate to think what would happen if you did stop.
Sink probably. Drowned in treacle would make an unusual epitaph.
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Post by williemeikle on Apr 18, 2010 17:07:08 GMT
My short novel The Valley is now available on the Kindle Get it here: www.amazon.com/The-Valley-ebook/dp/B003HS4UHQThe origins of the novella "The Valley" are pretty simple to trace. In Fortean circles there have been attempts to find a picture that many claim to have seen, yet no-one has been able to find. This fabled photograph is said to show a group of Civil-War era men standing in a row wearing big grins. Spreadeagled on the ground in front of them is the body of a huge bird, a being that could only come from pre-history. In some accounts this bird is a giant eagle, in others it is even stranger, a leathery, paper thin Pterosaur. Whatever the case, that image was the thing in my mind, and I had a "What if..." moment, wondering what would happen if cowboys came across a Lost World. From that single thought, the initial concept of The Valley was born. There's a long tradition of Lost World tales, both in movies and fiction. Over the years I've devoured as many as I can find, from Conan Doyle through Haggard, from Tarzan in Pellucidar to Doug McLure in the Land that Time Forgot. Many of these tales involve dinosaurs, but I wanted something different. For a while I didn't know exactly what "creatures" I needed, but that all changed as soon as the setting clicked. Back in 2005 I had the good fortune to holiday in the Rockies. It was while scanning through photographs of that trip that the thought of the high mountain valley came to me, and when Neil Jackson told me about Montana and the Big Hole Valley, I knew I'd found my spot. And the pictures of the ice and snow from my trip also gave me the era from which I would draw my creatures -- the last Ice Age. I now knew that my protagonists would be heading into a Lost Valley where relic animals lived, and that these creatures would be hairy and large. I had an image of a herd of mammoths by a partially-frozen lake, and that was the image that drove me on in the early concepts. Now I needed some protagonists. I knew in advance I wanted to write a "western" and some research led me to set the story in the 1860s, when something of a mini-goldrush was happening in Montana. The characters grew on me quickly. I wasn't too surprised at that -- my early childhood was steeped in Westerns. I have my Granddad to thank for days watching Wagon Train, Rawhide, Bonanza and Gunsmoke, then later on, The Virginian and The High Chapparal. He also introduced me to Louis L'Amour and others as I devoured his collection of Western paperbacks. As I started the Valley I already knew that I was going to have six men thrown into peril, and that they'd be almost evenly split between white and black hats. Several of them surprised me as the story went on, but from the start they had a "depth" that reassured me that the story would go to all the right places. I got them to the mining camp, and the start of the aforesaid perils. Then my muse threw a spanner in the works. I've been a Ray Harryhausen fan most of my life, and the creature that now came to mind was a Harryhausen special, one that I could "see" in my mind's eye, scuttling and "snipping". Unfortunately it didn't exist in the Ice Age, but at a time much longer ago. But I wanted it, so in it went. I won't give the plot away here, but suffice to say I managed to fit it in -- I managed to fit a lot of them in. And as a result the rest of the story immediately fell into place, almost as if I was channeling a new Harryhausen movie. I wrote the while thing in less than ten days, my brain thinking about little else the whole time. It's one of the most fun experiences I've ever had writing, and I hope it shows in the final product. Even now, more than a year after finishing it, I still find myself thinking about the Valley, and the creatures that inhabit it. Somewhere, the story continues, and one day I might go back to find out what happened next.
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Post by williemeikle on Apr 18, 2010 17:09:07 GMT
The Invasion is my second Kindle release of the weekend Get it here: www.amazon.com/The-Invasion-ebook/dp/B003HS4V8OThe first science fiction I ever encountered was Fireball XL5, one of the early Gerry Anderson productions. I was only about four years old, but I was hooked immediately on spaceships and adventure in the stars. I grew up during the exciting part of the space race, staying up nights to watch space-walks then moon missions, eyes wide in wonder as Armstrong made his small step. At the same time Gerry Anderson had continued to thrill me, with Stingray, Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet. The Americans joined in, with Lost in Space then, as color TV reached Scotland, Star Trek hit me full between the eyes. Also at the same time, my reading was gathering pace. I'd started on comics early with Batman and Superman. As the '60s drew to a close, Marvel started to take over my reading habits more, and I made forays into reading novels; Clarke and Asimov at first, and most of the Golden-Age works. By the early Seventies I had graduated to the so-called New Wave, Moorcock, Ellison, Delaney and Zelazny dominating my reading, and they led me on to reading, then writing horror. I more or less stopped reading Science Fiction round about then, but I never stopped watching, especially after Star Wars gave the visual genre a huge push forward. I re-discovered the '50s classics after the advent of the VCR and quickly built a huge collection of movies, many of which I still watch avidly. Which brings me, in a long winded manner, to the novella, The Invasion. Invasions, and the resulting carnage, have always loomed big in my favorites of the genre, through War of the Worlds, Earth vs Flying Saucers, the original V series and even the spectacular failure of Independence Day. Neil Jackson asked me if I was interested in writing a four-part serial, and laid out a basic timeline. I ran with it, and soon discovered that I had a story to tell. To regresss slightly, another part of my early reading, and the one that united my Science Fiction reading with my horror reading, was the works of H P Lovecraft. I realised that the Invasion in my story would have Lovecraftian antecedents, in that it would come from space, and be completely uncaring of the doings of the human race. My training as a biologist also made me realise that aliens should be -really- alien, not just simulcra of pre-existing terrestrial forms. Once I had that in my mind, it didn't take much to come up with a "color out of space" that would engulf the planet. Most Invasion movies concentrate on the doings in big cities, and with the involvement of the full force of the military. I wanted to focus more on what it would mean for the people. Living as I am in Canada, in a remote Eastern corner, I was able to draw on local knowledge and home in on people already used to surviving in extreme conditions. I just upped the ante. An interest in conspiracy theories and post-apocalypse survivalists also gave me one of the main characters, and the early parts of the story are a news report from the bunker where he has retreated to ride out whatever is coming. So come with me, to a winter storm in the Maritimes, where a strange green snow is starting to fall.
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