Stories in the Dark

Updates

2008-12-10T12:19:00.001-08:00

Hello all,

I apologize for not updating in a while. Many lifechanges have happened since June. Carter Matthew Shaner was born on August 18th. We've thoroughly enjoyed watching him grow up for the past three months. He's a great baby.
I'll make a point to add more links as I've had some other publications not included in the link area. Eternal Press has just picked up my novella Life After for online publication. Besides that, I'm still plugging away at what I hope will be, my fourth novel, or maybe my third novella, however it turns out.
On the reading front I have, way too late, discovered Neil Gaiman and his masterworks of fiction. Rarely do you find an author with such a massive imagination and the ability to paint such vivid scenes. He is an asset to the world of fiction.
This is it for now but I'll get back into the updates soon.

Matt

Denis Johnson

2008-06-17T11:52:00.000-07:00

Just finished reading Johnson's short story collection, Jesus' Son. I know he has just put out a 600 page opus on Vietnam and, if length is not your style, check out this collection. His writing has a Hemmingway sparseness with matching intensity. He has the ability to put you THERE, as the reader. Poe talked about the Single Effect, where disbelief is suspended, and Johnson hits this perfectly. You start each story able to jump into place with the characters. His world is dark but interesting. I recommend this to anyone wanting a clinic on the short story. Dirty Wedding topped out as my favorite selection.
On the writing front, I've backed off slightly on submissions for the moment to focus on my fourth longer length work. I'm about 200 pages into it and am really excited to see how it will work out. I've taken a different approach to the narrative this time and it has made things easier and freed up a little more creativity.
I wrote a fan letter to Chuck Palahniuk, the author of Fight Club, last year and he replied with a letter of his own and a box of goodies. His letter advised to make sure I keep writing fun. I think it is valuable advice for everyone in the craft. The novel in progress has been the most fun yet and I hope it shows through the text.
On a personal note, we are two months away from the arrival of our son! I am nervous and happy and excited all at once. The gravity of the situation weighs on my soul and I'm sure it will be an amazing day to meet him in person when he arrives.

-Matt

Josh Ferris

2008-04-30T02:51:00.000-07:00

Just finished Then We Came To The End. Excellent novel. Ferris has the rare ability to give everyday actions deep significance. His characters are funny and remind me of so many of my coworkers. He took the story line through similar paces, winding it around random and usual activity. I look forward to reading more of his work. Also it was an inspiration. Working in an office, I can feel the pain of the characters. As they presented in the book, there are ways to survive it and maybe no one ever does. We spend the majority of our time at "work." It's a sad thought.
It served to vocalize the familiar issue of writing. I'm trying to find a niche and do it professionally while supporting my family with this office work. Ferris portrayed this conflict perfectly in his novel. Overall, I recommend it.

2 New Short Story Publications

2008-03-11T13:15:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

I am happy to post that two more of my short stories have been accepted for publication. Spare Parts and Casting are both flash fiction length and very easy to digest and enjoy. Please see the links on the right to check out the stories.
On a side note, I am ready for the summer. This winter just seems to be hanging on.

Have a great one,
Matt

Novella Publication

2008-01-20T18:25:00.000-08:00

Received some exciting news today. It appears that RS Publishing in Australia has accepted my novella The Ancient Ones for publication. They are an e book distributor and will have the text on their site available for purchase and download. The prices are very reasonable and I enjoy the company and its premise to distribute good stories to a wide audience. I'm glad to see this particular text get out there and honestly have an idea for another novella with the main character off of a script I started in my free time. We'll see how it goes!

Matt

Amy Hempel

2008-01-15T04:58:00.001-08:00

Just finished reading her collected short stories. She is highly recommended in the sites I find and I understand why. Not many authors are also artists. She paints stories beyond the words. Her work is beautiful and haunting. Her images stick in your head well after the reading. I found myself reading a story and having multiple "wow" moments. She is deep and multifacited. It was a great learning experience and something I recommend for any casual readers or authors looking to learn something about the craft.

Matt

Short Story Publication

2008-01-10T12:45:00.000-08:00

I'm glad to say that I've just picked up the next short story publication for 2008. Yellow Mama has agreed to publish Where the Gods Play in June in their Issue 8. The story is a slice of life night for an angry kid. I enjoy the imagery and it speaks to me at a certain level. I always appreciate a publication and know that they are building blocks to bigger things.
We also went to our first ultrasound today and met the baby. The baby is only the size of a Lima bean at the moment but it is still an amazing thing. I'm sure a story will come of it!

Matt

A New Short Story Publication

2008-01-06T11:13:00.001-08:00

One of my short stories that I really enjoyed writing, A Pale Horse, has been picked up by Fantastic Horror for publication in their Issue 5. It is slightly long at 35 pages but I think it tells a quality story that I hope scares and entertains at the same time. Its always great to build the credits and I'm eternally thankful for the editors that choose my work.

Matt

Attempts to Get Novels Published

2007-12-29T10:45:00.001-08:00

Something entertaining happened this morning. I have two novels completed and a novella that I am attempting to publish. I contacted a small press about the novella. After jumping through hoops with the submission process (one of my own fault but the others from an obsessive editor), and a significant delay in response time, I received an email this morning. The press has switched format from horror to romance. They'll do horror romance but no longer horror. It was quite nice to receive this information in a timely manor. Why would they wait so long and then switch their format? This was an established horror press. Ah well, the joys of attempting to be published.

Matt

A New Year

2007-12-28T13:54:00.000-08:00

It's amazing to see 2008 bearing down on us. We have big changes coming on the family side and, hopefully the professional side. New children are on the way. I hope to get at least one of my books out on the shelves this year and keep building on the short story publications.
In terms of things, I found myself divided. I think of bring a child into this world and wonder what they will know and experience. I wonder what they will think of what my generation has done so far and what we have given them. I wonder if they'll be proud of me or embarassed. Hopefully I can erase the mistakes of the past generations of my family and start something new. Then again, nothing is ever totally new is it? We're always influenced by the past even if we choose to ignore it. C.S. Lewis thought that time, in Heaven, existed as one gigantic moment with past, present, and future all together. There are points where that description sneaks into my everyday life. It feels like such a great responsibility but I know it will work out somehow.
In terms of purpose, I hope this blog can help people out. I hope, if you are a writer, you can see that I'm right there with you. We can achieve and struggle together. It is a good walk to take with another person. Well, I'm off to more editing and writing work. I'll be back with writing specific updates in the near future.

Matt