3 Picks with Todd Keisling

 

It's time for 3 Picks! This week features Stoker Award Nominee, Todd Keisling. Todd's novel, Devil's Creek, is nominated for Superior Achievement in a Novel for the 2020 Bram Stoker Awards. Ugly Little Things: Collected Horrors and The Smile Factory are also among the notable catalog of work Todd Keisling has written. 

Devil's Creek has consistently been well reviewed since it's release. Being nominated for the Stoker Award is an outstanding achievement that speaks to exemplary work Keisling has written. To win the highest honor for a horror novel would be the icing on the cake. But, being on the final ballot for the Stoker Award is an insane achievement in and of itself. Any piece of horror that makes it the the final list has already won something special. Let's not forget those special works that fell just short of winning an award but succeeding in being recognized as superior work and the cream of the crop.

So it is with that in mind, that Todd Keisling gives his 3 Picks for horror books that made it to the final list but fell short of winning the Stoker. Just because they didn't win doesn't mean they aren't winners.


Pick 1: CROSSROADS by Laurel Hightower – Preliminary Ballot for Long Fiction (2020)

I’m going to cheat with this one. It didn’t make it to the final ballot (and official nominee status), but goddammit, it should have. What Hightower accomplishes in this novella is something most of us struggle to do in a full-length novel. The story of a mother grieving the loss of her son is already emotionally charged, but Hightower ups the ante with every page, telling a tale of how far a parent is willing to go to see their child again. The emotional fallout is devastating. The best stories often are.


Pick 2: KILL CREEK by Scott Thomas – Nominated for First Novel (2017)

One of the better “haunted house” tales I’ve read. It’s a new take on an old trope: a small group of horror writers gather on Halloween at the Finch House, a place with a bloody past, for a publicity stunt. Strange shit ensues, and quickly escalates to violence. I went into the book expecting another rehash of Amityville or Hill House, but this one surprised me, and I had a blast reading it. This would’ve been my pick for Best First Novel that year.


Pick 3: OCCULTATION by Laird Barron – Nominated for Fiction Collection (2010)

One of the de facto collections of modern cosmic horror (although to be fair, all of Laird’s collections deserve that moniker). Nine stories, including the fantastic novella, “Mysterium Tremendum.” I’ve said this for years and will continue to do so: I want to write like Laird Barron when I grow up. If you want an education about the state of cosmic horror, start here. Definitely would’ve been my pick for Best Collection.

There you have it. 3 Picks for horror books that could have, maybe even should have, won the Bram Stoker Award. But, not everyone can win and not winning doesn't make these gems and so many others winners in their own right. If you haven't read any of these titles you, be sure to check them out knowing you will be reading stand out works of horror fiction.

And, whether Devil's Creek wins or doesn't at this year's Bram Stoker Awards ceremonies, know for certain that Todd Keisling has already won. Best of luck to Todd and all the rest of the nominees for this year's Bram Stoker Awards!

You can find out everything you ever wanted to know about Todd Keisling at https://www.toddkeisling.com/

What are your 3 Picks for horror books that fell short of winning the Bram Stoker Award? Let us know in the comments below.

You Could Win A Death!

On November 11, 2016 I released my novella, DEATH GETS A BOOK. I did a book signing at Demented Brewing with fellow author Chuck Buda to celebrate the release. It was a great success and I sold out of all copies of DEATH GETS A BOOK that night!

I demand Chuck buy DEATH GETS A BOOK!

DEATH GETS A BOOK is the story of a couple who've been unceremoniously transformed into agents of the recently deceased. The husband, Vincent, becomes a grim reaper and his wife, Wanda, turns into a banshee. The thing is, in life, Wanda has been a life long verbally abusive and controlling wife. Vincent sees his chance, in death, of starting anew and becoming his own man. Unfortunately, Wanda doesn't really believe in the concept of "until death do we part" and she sees it fit to continue to try to control and torment Vincent even in the afterlife. But Vincent find new friends and even a new love interest along the way. To make matters worse, his former wife has already screwed up his first day on the job. There will be midget reapers, action figure reapers, cowboy reapers, loopy witches, self-centered banshees and a monster truck battle for the ages.

Cover art by Corrine Edler

You can pick up DEATH GETS A BOOK in paperback or on your favorite eBook reading platform. You order the paperback at your favorite book retailer for just $8.99 or eBook for just $2.99. And, be on the lookout for me at area appearances where I always offer special event pricing! 

But if you just can't wait and the purse strings are a bit tight this time of year, I've got a great opportunity for you. Now through January 31, 2017 you can enter to win a FREE copy of DEATH GETS A BOOK on Goodreads.com! Just look up DEATH GETS A BOOK in the Goodreads giveaway section or follow the link below. And if you don't currently have a Goodreads account, you should because it's a great social media outlet to connect with readers and find your next great read!

It's Important To Start 'Em Young!

ENTER TO WIN HERE!

Death Gets A Book on Amazon

Death Gets A Book on Barnes&Noble

Death Gets A Book on all other digital platforms

The Journey of Fifty Thousand Words Starts With One Keystroke

I had an idea. I can't really remember what birthed it. It was small at first and kept growing the more I paid it some mind. Now this idea has expanded into what I believe will become my first novella length story. In order to see this project through to the end, I've taken many early steps. This blog is one of them.

OPINIONS ARE LIKE ASSHOLES AND I HAVE ONE will serve as one of those vehicles to help me keep focus and honest to this writing project. Obviously, it's mostly for me but if you find some sort of interest in following this process then welcome aboard. I used to scoff at writers who put their progress out to the public as if we somehow care about anything other then the final product. I would be remiss to not recognize the efforts of rookie writer, Tony Baker and his tireless dedication to sharing his progression from start to finish of his first book. And with a great deal of success which I hope to use as a model for some aspects of my own writing project.

At this time, to keep it at least somewhat intersting to anyone following along, I won't reveal many details of the project. I'll start out by giving you this much: 

• This is projected to be a 50,000 word project.
• Initial outlining of the story is already taking place
• I have set a firm start date of April 1, 2014
• My goal is 1000 words/day for fifty days to complete the first draft.

Lofty? I'd like to think I'm being reasonable out of the gate. I know the words per day rate I can handle based on my output writing short stories. I have never utilized an outline for a story before but the size of the project coupled with my expected output really necessitated it I felt. I think having a map will help get this done withing my self imposed time frames. I will do everything possible to stick to my own rules but I think I've given myself enough wiggle room to allow for unforeseen circumstances without frustrating myself during the long haul.

That's about all I'm going to talk about in this first installment. Check back as I will reveal more about the plot, the title and the process as I head toward the April 1st start date. Then keep checking back as I write this bad boy out and check in here with how things are going.

FJE