THE MEMORY TREE... available again!

I'm pleased to pass on the good news... John R. Little's phenomenal novel, THE MEMORY TREE, is now available in a handsome paperback edition from Bad Moon Books.

As some of you may know, THE MEMORY TREE is one of my all-time favorite novels by one of my all-time favorite writers. John has a style and imagination unlike few in today's writing world and everything he produces is fresh and totally unlike anything you've read before. It was previously released in a very limited edition by Nocturne Press several years ago and, unfortunately for the reader and collector, is extremely rare and difficult to find. Kudos to Roy Robbins of Bad Moon Book for giving this book a second release in a much more accessible edition.

Incidently, I had the great pleasure and honor of writing the introduction to this new edition of TMT. This introduction was a very heartfelt one for me, dealing with tragic situations of the past and how John's novel helped me get through that tough time and find the courage to deal with one of the hardest things a father could ever face.

You can order your copy of THE MEMORY TREE at:

http://www.horror-mall.com/THE-MEMORY-TREE-by-JOHN-R.-LITTLE-trade-paperback-edition-p-20911.html

I encourage you to sit down and give this amazing book a read. After you finish, I'm sure it will find a place on your list of all-time favorite novels!

The Face of Horror: Then and Now

As most of you folks know, I've had two seperate careers in the horror genre. One spanned from 1986 to 1996... the second from 2006 to present. So I've seen both sides of the horror fiction coin, so to speak.

When I returned to horror writing in July of '06, I found that the face of horror had changed over a stretch of ten years. I reckon I was expecting maybe a nip and tuck job. Instead, the face of horror seemed to had undergone a complete transplant. Where the horror landscape of the 80's and 90's had been like a nostalgic stroll through my hometown, the one I set foot upon in 2006 was like landing on the alien soil of Mars or some distant planet. Everything had changed. The authors, the artists, the publishers.... EVERYTHING. Needless to say, this was a little disturbing to one who hoped to pick up where he left off. Everywhere I turned looking for familiar faces, there lurked a stranger. Friendly strangers (for the most part), but strangers nonetheless. The internet had flourished during my long hiatus and the horror genre was firmly entrenched with its various websites and message boards. In my case, it was as though a team of scientists had unthawed a neanderthal man, gave him a suit of clothes and twenty bucks, and sent him off into the modern world, to seek fortune and fame. Yes, I was that out of touch with what horror as a genre -- books, films, etc.-- had evolved into during that long period when I had basically "shelfed" my horror writing ambitions and lived strictly in the real world.

Has it been difficult for me to adjust? Well, no, not really. First I actually had to go out and buy a computer (yes, I ashamedly admit that I was almost totally cyber ignorant when I decided to return.) But it didn't take long before I got the swing of things. Publishers came knocking on my door, making deals (thank God!), and the ball began to roll. Of course, if you know much about the small press, that ball can roll mighty slow sometimes. It took several years before my first hardcover short story collection, Midnight Grinding & Other Twilight Terrors, was published by Cemetery Dance. Around that time, things began to happened: a slick chapbook of Flesh Welder by Croatoan, followed by a nice little collection called The Sick Stuff from Thunderstorm Books. Then in '09 and the first half of '10 there were stories in various anthologies and magazines, a bunch of interviews, and even a few journeys into unknown territories; several e-books put out by David Niall Wilson's Macabre Ink and even a movie script of my novel Fear making the rounds with various production companies.

As the fourth anniversary of my return to horror looms over the horizon, I've been thinking of what divides the two "eras" of horror that I've experienced; both the differences and the changes. Here's my take on what it looks like... the horror genre of then compared to now.

THEN...

I think of the horror genre of the 1980's and 1990's (at least until around 1996) as the "Golden Age" of horror literature. Stephen King was king, followed closely by Dean Koontz, Peter Straub, and Anne Rice. Past masters of horror and dark fantasy -- Ray Bradbury, Charles Beaumont, Robert Bloch, and Richard Matheson -- were respected and held in high regard. There were numerous new horror authors on the scene, all with their own distinctive voice; Robert R. McCammon, Clive Barker, Joe R. Lansdale, Ray Garton, Poppy Z. Brite, to only name a few. Great mass market magazines of dark fiction graced the newstands; The Twilight Zone, Physical Graffiti, Night Cry. Small press horror was flourishing and dozens of limited-run magazines were the discovery zone of hungry readers and the proving ground of equally hungry new writers: The Horror Show, Deathrealm, Grue, Noctulpa, New Blood, After Hours, 2 AM, and, of course, the new kid on the block, Cemetery Dance. There was an almost festive aire about the genre. Readers basically read, rather than collected the work of their favorite horror authors. Publishing houses like Dark Harvest and Ziesing Books put out signed limiteds, but also inexpensive hardcover trade editions. Anthologies were cherished and featured the best of the big name horror writers and was the springboard for many a new author like Elizabeth Massie, Bentley Little, and yours truly. There was a tremendous amount of excitement about what was being written and published at that time. Those who read the splatter-punk of Skipp & Spector also enjoyed the quite, atmospheric horror of Charles Grant. The Horror Writers of America organization was held in high regard. Everyone who was anyone was a member and to finally make the proper sales to be able to join its ranks was a goal that was both earned and enjoyed.

Okay, now here's the...

NOW...

I am a little hazy about what saved the horror genre from the Big Horror Publishing Bust of the mid-90's, but this is my personal opinion. Much of it
had to do with the stubborn persistance of Richard Chizmar's Cemetery Dance Publications by publishing great horror when the mass market paperback publishers jumped ship. Also a single author seems to have had a great deal to do with reviving interest in horror fiction. Brian Keene. His zombie novels -- The Rising, City of the Dead, Dead Sea -- as well as novels like Terminal and The Conqueror Worms, seemed to have injected a fresh vitality into a genre that had been oversaturated with mediocre to just plain bad offerings in the mid-nineties. The genre seems much darker to me now; all business with very little levity to it at all. Extreme horror has become the cornerstone of today's dark fiction. Readers seem to prefer the brutal works of Keene, Bryan Smith, and Ed Lee to more subdued fiction. Maybe it's because they actually like their horror that way... or maybe it's because that's all they've ever known. When I come across a new horror reader, more than often, they began reading horror with Keene and went forward from there. Many seem annoyingly ignorant of great authors like McCammon, Lansdale, and Chet Williamson. I don't think that's actually their fault; a reader's focus seems to be narrower than it was back when I was writing horror for the first time. Everyone seems to gravitate to their favorite type of horror fiction and remains there, like a satellite orbiting a planet. When I suggest they try some novels from the 80's and 90's, many look at me like I just flicked a booger on their shirt or something. They seem oddly resistant to reading anything BK (Before Keene). Many say they don't want to invest alot of time in reading a new author (can you hear my teeth grinding in frustration?) Also there seem to be distinct factions or camps of fans who support certain authors -- mainly on various forums and message boards -- rather than a widespread horror community like it was back in my day. Many small press publishers flourish these days, releasing more horror than the mass market does... the exception being Leisure. These books are mainly high-dollar editions targeted for the collector, rather than the reader. The HWA -- now the Horror Writers Association, encompassing the world rather than simply the USA -- seems to have lost much of its initial respect. Hardly any big name authors pay dues there anymore and its ranks are mostly made up of unknown writers who have made the pro-cent-per-word requirements and campaign for Stokers like baby kissing (and butt-kissing) politicians.

Does my opinion of the horror genre's present state ring as negative compared to my positive memories of those golden days when I evolved from a high school senior with a dream into a full-fledged horror author? Well, maybe. It is vastly different and I'm slowly adapting to it. I find that my fiction is gradually becoming darker and more brutal as this second phase of my horror writing career progresses. Am I trying to imulate authors like Keene, Smith, and Lee? No. Am I trying to compete with them. Probably. The economic state of today's publishing industry is such that customers are having to pick and choose who they can afford to buy and collect. I know my old fans, as well as many new fans, will still buy and enjoy my old-style tales of Southern-fried Horror, but there are some who will become fans because of my more extreme fiction. Stuff like The Sick Stuff and other no-holds-barred books and stories that I have on the horizon.

So, with all that said, which era do I prefer? Then or Now? Honestly, both have their positives and negatives. The 80's and 90's were great for a horror author coming into his own, but there were downsides, like snail mail, lower pay, and, of course, the Big Bust. The horror genre of today has its share of advantages and opportunites, too, as well as its disadvantages. I'm currently working toward re-establishing myself as a popular author of horror, which is no easy feat these days, take it from me. To do that, I know I must make an effort to embrace both the past and present of horror, and, hopefully, use the best of both eras to satisfy old fans, while enticing new ones.

Horror has a new face. Ol' Ron's got a new one, too... a little older and grayer in the mustache, but also a bit wiser and hankering to break out the chills and thrills for a whole new generation of horror reader. I'm sharpening my pencils and keeping my fingers crossed. Hopefully, with your help, I can pull it off...

Cemetery Dance #63

Issue #63 of Cemetery Dance Magazine is now out and about, slithering its way into the mailboxes of subscribers and lurking in the racks of Barnes & Noble, Borders, and other fine book stores. Although it's a few months later than the actual holiday, #63 is a special Halloween issue. But, hey, for lovers of Halloween (like yours truly) it's nice to have a creepy slice of October in balmy May.

This issue features fiction by Simon Clark, Rick Hautala, Elizabeth Massie, and other top names in horror, as well as some cool artwork by Steven C. Gilberts, William Renfro, Keith Minnion, Alan M. Clark, and a mixed pallet of other talented folks. And you'll read some of the best horror-related columns in the business by Mark Sieber, Bev Vincent, Ed Gorman, Ellen Datlow, Don D'Auria, and Thomas Monteleone.

Ol' Ron has a few things in #63 as well; a new short story, "Pelingrad's Pit", an interview conducted by Shannon Riley, and a spot in Brian Freeman's The Final Question. I'm right excited about appearing in this issue, since it's the first time I've had work appear between the covers of Cemetery Dance since way back in 1996.

By the way, if you read my story and say "What the heck does this have to do with Halloween?", well, it should have. CD has had "Pelingrad's Pit" for awhile and, when it was slated for the Halloween issue, I agreed to rework it and set it during All Hallows Eve. Then they turn around and use the old one instead of the Halloween upgrade. Go figger! But, heck, I'm just glad to see one of my stories in my favorite horror magazine once again.

You can get your copy at the local bookstore, or buy it direct here:

http://www.cemeterydance.com/sh/_cd063.html

Now that Cemetery Dance Magazine is gravitating toward a steady schedule, we'll be seeing alot more of the best the horror genre has to offer. CD #64 promises to be a good 'un; a special Bentley Little issue with two new stories. Kudos to Richard, Brian, and Mindy at CD Publications for another hit run with issue #63 and, of course, their successful release of the much-heralded Blockade Billy by Stephen King. I'm looking forward to more excellent releases... let's say, maybe, uh... Hell Hollow, by a certain author of Southern-fried horror. Ya know what I mean?

Ron's Six-Pack!

No, I'm not talking about my rock-hard abs (uh, they are rock-hard... somewhere underneath this flab!). I'm referring to the new Ronald Kelly Digital Six-Pack, which is being offered for a limited time through Crossroad Press.

The Six-Pack features all six of my Macabre Ink digital publications in one tidy bundle. It includes Flesh Welder, the MP3 audio version of Flesh Welder, Cumberland Furnace & Other Fear-Forged Fables, The Sick Stuff, Dark Dixie: Tales of Southern Horror, and my newest release, my full-length western novel Timber Gray. A whole library of Southern-fried storytelling for your computer or Amazon Kindle for a low price of $20. That's right only twenty bucks! (Dang, I'm starting to sound like one of those annoying infomerical dudes on late night TV!)

Anyway, you can head on over and order your RK 6-Pack here:

http://crossroadpress.com/2010/04/ronald-kelly-digital-six-pack-20/

And the six titles Macabre Ink has put out so far are only the tip of the proverbial iceburg. This summer I'll be releasing four more digital story collections and, later in the year, my first full-fledged mystery novel, Dead Old Men, featuring farmer-turned-private eye, Jimmy Jack Dixon. So hopefully this Six-Pack will whet your appetite for what's to come!

My First Western Novel, TIMBER GRAY, Now Available in Digital!

I’m pleased to announce that my first honest-to-goodness western novel, TIMBER GRAY, is now available from Crossroad Press in digital format. This full-length novel is not horror, but a traditional western, although it is gritty and violent with a dark twist to it. Here’s a short preview of what the book is about:

After his family is killed by a pack of rabid wolves, Jefferson Gray survives the horrid disease himself, with the aid of a Cherokee medicine man. But, unfortunately, he can not banish the hatred that dwells within him. An animosity toward dangerous game, particularly timber wolves.

Fifteen years have passed. Timber Gray is known throughout the western territories as a seasoned tracker and hunter: a man who can conquer any threat for the right price, be it grizzly, mountain lion, or, his specialty, wolves. But can Timber tackle his greatest challenge… a pack of fifty wolves led by the legendary Cripplefoot? Such insurmountable odds, combined with an approaching blizzard and a band of renegade bounty hunters, would seem to be certain death to most men. But, to Timber Gray, it is only another reason for staying alive…

You can order your copy of TIMBER GRAY now at:

http://crossroadpress.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=58&osCsid=9p4una2iqps0j805rvp53r5id2

This novel was a labor of love for Ol’ Ron, since I’m a big western fan myself and originally wanted to be a western writer. I put alot of time and research into making this book as gritty and authentic as possible (even looking up old maps from the late 1800’s to find actual locations, as well as trails and little towns that no longer exist on today’s maps). And take a gander at the grisly, blood-splattered cover Zach McCain worked up for the book!

So saddle up, load your ol’ Winchester, and head out to the blizzard-swept territory of Wyoming’s Big Horn Mountains with Timber Gray! Yeee-Hah!

Reading, Writing, & Disrespect: The Decline of Southern Values in Today's Public Schools

A week or so ago, I read the sad story of Phoebe Prince, a teenager who recently moved from Ireland to western Massachusetts and was viciously harrassed by classmates -- both face-to-face and over the internet -- to the point where all of the girl's self-esteem and coping mechanisms were torn asunder. After one particularly brutal attack (in which she was called an "Irish whore" by one of the school's popular prom queen-types) she went home and hung herself from an upstairs banister. Her body was discovered by her younger sister.


Looking at the photo of Phoebe Prince, I saw a beautiful teen-aged girl with everything to live for. I also saw a reflection of my own daughter in her face. And that scares the hell out of me.


My daughter, Reilly, is an amazing young lady. A beautiful twelve-year-old with a genuinely good heart who faithfully loves her family, friends, and her God. She possesses a beautiful singing voice, plays the piano, and loves music. She writes the most amazing stories and is a wonderful artist with much potential. Reilly has won numerous 4-H contests over the last couple of years and won first place in DARE's essay contest last spring. Of all the people on this earth, Reilly is the most like me than anyone else.


But Reilly has problems. She has undergone therapy for abuse (at the hands of a relative, which we had no idea was taking place) and has had her own battle for sustaining her self-esteem. Reilly has a problem with high cholesteral and her vision (both hereditary, from my side of the family unfortunately). And she has a weight problem. In my opinion, she isn't overweight at all; just as we Southerns call it, a bit "big-boned". Let's just say that she isn't the same as 95% of the other girls in her sixth grade class; anorexic scarecrows who have a warped idea of what makes a girl popular and what doesn't.

During this school year, Reilly has had a bad problem with bullying; some dealing with her unique personality (she is NOT a carbon copy of the other girls in her class), but most having to do with her weight. Surprisingly enough, most of the verbal abuse she recieves is not from the girls, but from the boys in her class. These insults are made openingly in front of both classmates and teachers. And it is not just one or two boys, but quite a few. Despite the concerns of me and my wife, the school faculty -- both teachers and principal -- seem to think it is really nothing to worry about. "Boys will be boys," they tell us.


Well, sorry, but I'm not buying that. When I grew up in middle Tennessee in the mid-sixties, yes, boys were boys, but there was one line they did not cross (unless they were the typical school-yard bully) and that was disrespecting someone of the opposite sex. In that day, folks taught their young men that a woman (or a young girl their own age) was someone to be respected and cherished. I, too, was taught that lasting lesson and I carry it on to this day.
If I had insulted or bullied a girl when I was in the sixth or seventh grade, I would have been dealt with severely, first in the school system, then later on at home. And that lesson of respect would have finally been set firmly in place, never to be forgotten again.


But apparently such lessons of restraint and respect are no longer being taught here in the South, if my daughter's male classmates are any indication. They constantly comment on her weight or question her intelligence. Recently, one particular boy called her "Fat Albert". Reilly reacted rather strongly to this insult (after silently enduring similar jibs) and took the matter to her gym teacher. This teacher made the offender write a letter of apology to my daughter, which he begrudingly did. Did it cure him of his disrepectful behavior? On the contrary. The very next day he called her a "fat-ass" and a "bitch". Several of the teachers have told Reilly that she should "toughen up" and not let such silly talk bother her so much.


Have we enforced equality between sexes to such a point where young men believe it socially acceptable to belittle and bully young women to the point of totally tearing down their sense of self-worth? After all, the age of twelve is a very impressionable age for a girl. If every boy in her class treats her like crap, then why would she think of herself as otherwise? If you call a young lady "whore" and "idiot" enough times, is there any wonder that they may follow that path later in life?


It's very apparent that the old ways of Southern respect and hospitality are sadly fading with the passage of time. When I was a child, I was taught to say "Yes, ma'am" and "No, ma'am", to always see a fellow classmate as an equal, despite their race, religion, or the type clothing they wore, and to say grace at each meal. I see very little of those time-worn traditions going on with today's youth. Teachers believe that respect and restraint should be taught in the home, while parents believe the teachers should maintain order and instill structure to their children's lives. In the thick of it all, neither is being done effectively and who suffers from the failure of the adults? The children, of course.


Take it from me, this is not a big urban school that I speak of, but a small country school with little more than two hundred students. It is now the end of the school year. If this bullying should continue next year with nothing done to put an end to it, I will have no course to pursue other than taking it to the school board. I could have very well mentioned the name of the school in this blog, as well as the principal and teachers involved, but everyone knows that I'm not that sort of person. But a Southern gentleman can only be pushed so far when the physical and mental welfare of his children are concerned. And I will protect my children... even if it means taking the matter to the state school board... or beyond.

To you parents and teachers out there, we must look at the terrible case of Phoebe Prince very closely and take it to heart. Because, unless respect and restraint is instilled in our own children, it will happen again. And again.

FLESH WELDER Audio... Ready for your MP3!

The full-length audiobook of my tale of post-apocalyptic horror, FLESH WELDER, is now available for download to your MP3 through Spring Brook Audio.

This rarely-heard audio version of FLESH WELDER is the original 42 minute recording that was commissioned by Croatoan Publishing around the time of the FW chapbook's publication in 2007. Due to Croatoan's unfortunate demise, this excellent audio was never released to the public... until now. This audio -- using the original wav high-definition files -- is being released by Macabre Ink through Spring Brook Audio's online audiobook site. Later, we're hoping for a wider range of distribution points and there is even talk of its release on CD. This audio recording of FLESH WELDER is narrated by master voice talent Wayne June and includes some incredible sound effects.

You can hop on over and order your download of FLESH WELDER now at:

http://springbrookaudio.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=36

Hopefully, in the near future, other Ron Kelly stories and collections will be offered in similar audio versions through Spring Brook Audio. Stay tuned for more details!