My Bizarro, Surreal Book Reading Events In 2017

Hello! I’ve got book writer author type events happening this year and, if possible, it would be wonderful to see you there. If you’re American I’ll be in Portland, Oregon, this November for an event that all weirdo writers should take part in. Have a look below at the fantastical things.

May 14th, Brighton, Made Cafe

As part of the Brighton Fringe I’ll be reading from my new novella (OUT NOW!) 4 Rooms In A Semi-Detached House (Strange House Books). Meet me downstairs in Made Cafe.

Readings And Revelry, July 4th, The Big Green Book Shop

American author Laura Lee Bahr is hosting an evening of interviews and readings at The Big Green Book Shop in London. It’s been on the BBC, don’t you know? We may be joined by writer Adam Lowe but, as yet, we’re not sure.

Bizarrocon, November 

And, finally, I shall be attending Bizarrocon mid November in Portland, Oregon, for a week of workshops and readings. If anyone is able to attend I shall see you there, but if not I’ll regale you with tales of the Lovecraft bar and other wondrous things. To find out more nearer the time follow blog bizarrocentral, or the specially dedicated site Bizarrocon.

Bizarre Book Club 10: Surrealist Games, Gross Sex and Fried Furries

Today’s book picture is brought to you by my book The Filing Cabinet of Doom (I’m so sorry, I couldn’t help it. They made me).

That’s right…look into my eyes

1. The Book of Surrealist Games by Various. These activities thought up by the surrealist artists and writers of the 20th century were surprisingly fun. There’s quite a few to choose from and some of them were a bit complicated for our tiny, moss covered brains. One we did settle on had me checking the internet for the meaning of ‘verbs, nouns, adjectives’ etc, sorry English teacher. I shall return my GCSE. However much joy was had and we plan on spending another evening playing again soon.

2. Strange Sex by Various. This is honestly one of the grossest books I’ve ever read, except perhaps the Marquis De Sade or The Encyclopedia of Everything Nasty (which I haven’t read, it just sounds gross).

There seemed to me three levels of grim: gross grossness (definitely not my cup of tea), imaginative grossness (sometimes my cup of tea) and less gross more weird (definitely my cup of tea, especially one involving a furries, erm, party). However this is obviously the desired effect and if this appeals to you, by all means purchase it and be prepared!

One of the funnier outcomes of the surrealist games

3. How to Eat Fried Furries by Nicole Cushing. I liked this joyously silly and occasionally wrong ‘Flying Circus,’ which apparently is a “loosely connected series of bizarro skits.” It’s a collection of short stories all linking together in the vein of Monty Python, perhaps if they were allowed to go as dark as they really wanted to. How can you not love that?

If the idea of Holiday icons as Mafia Dons, pseudo Amish or deformed super ferrets tickles your chin, put your face in her pages.

That’s it! No really, I have to go make tea now and do some real work. Bye!

New Flash Fiction Published – Inconvenience At The Dentist’s

Good day! I hope you enjoy my new brain splurge, I was writing a long and complicated story and needed a bit of a release. Byeee!

A List of Small Press Publishers

Hello! Here’s a few small press publishers for you to explore. Some horror, some bizarro, some literary, stick your face in their sites and see which you prefer. I also advise searching websites Duotrope, Dark Markets, The Horror Tree and The Erotica Readers and Writers Association, if you like that sort of thing. Some of those below do poetry too. The list isn’t exhaustive, there are plenty more out there.

Raw Dog Screaming (RDSPress) – “fiction that foams at the mouth.”

Burning Bulb Publishing – all kinds of oddities.

The Strange Edge – absurdist, bizarro, weird horror and other oddities. Currently a website but branching out as a magazine

Kraken Press – horror and general darkness

Forbidden Fiction – paying erotica website

Shock Totem Magazine – horror

Eraserhead Press – strictly Bizarro

Starcherone Books – “independent innovative fiction”

Belladonna Publishing – “preferred genres are dark fantasy, urban fantasy, gothic, steampunk and fairytales.” They also do comics/graphic novels.

Weird Year – erm…weird stuff

Strange House Books  – horror, horror porn and everything gross in between

LegumeMan Books – absurdist and strange

Coffee House Press – “non-profit literary publisher”

The Dalkey Archive – literary

Dzanc Books – literary

Jaded Ibis Productions – literary and ‘narrative arts’

Les Figues – literary and ‘narrative arts’

Spuyten Dyvil – literary