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Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003 - 12:13 pm: | 
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I haven't been paying attention to this phenomenon which was discussed on a previous thread I think. I can remember the time I knew all the new black books that were out, had read or looked at them--what a flood of books! Can't possibly read them all.
Scanning them, as I do before committing, I can see that they are mediocre copycat books for the most part so I won't be missing anything. I think the sistagal book is getting ready to burn out the market place--or adapt and become something else. |
ceriz
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2003 - 07:03 pm: |
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Chris you have to find a certain genre and keep up with those. I'm ito mystery and suspense and they even have a ton coming down the pike.
Here's to reading.
Ceriz |
InPrint
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2003 - 08:58 pm: |
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Chris-
I think too that the Sisgal books are over, but that they're warping into other directions. I think my buddy Zane is a good example of that, I think she's reaching the same audience, but bringing them into a different place (I finally got around to reading her- it reminded me of the erotic pulp novels of the sixties, before vcr brought porn into the living room. I admire her imaginative libido, although I was less turned on by the prose itself).
As much as I complain on here about commercial lit, I really wish we had a black Stephen King that I could depend on for my "bathroom reading." I tried T. Due and just couldn't get past the leaden prose no matter how hard I tried. I think that's going to be my pet project, finding the writer who can scratch that itch for me. The negro Clive Barker.
There are so many black author's out there, though. Even with my allergic reaction to the writing style of 95% of them, the remaining five is more than I can handle in a given year. |
Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 02:11 am: |
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InPrint, have you tried Brandon Massey? I was once a huge Stephen King fan back in the day, but as you alluded to there really aren't many African American horror writers. I read Brandon's first book Thunderland and am anxiously awaiting his next release Dark Corner. There is also another horror author I met last year. I can't think of his name, but his book is called The Dare. I think it's Newton Streeter, but I'll confirm later.
-Tee |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 06:24 pm: |
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Hello All,
Chris: It is something else! Although there are a lot of the sistagirl books, there are alot of the other books as well. I know a few years ago, we stood a good chance of reviewing just about every book that was published, but now, it's like that old church song said, "the day is past and gone". The good news is that not only are the books newly published, but a number of the books are older books that didn't find an audience in its initial publication.
InPrint: I have to agree with Tee. There are more horror and science fiction writers hitting the scene now. I strongly recommend the anthology Mojo: Conjure Stories edited by Nalo Hopkinson. I about to finish it. Teh other day I notice that it's October, the leaves are falling, Halloween is coming up and I'm reading stories of ghosts, spirits, and things that goes bump in the night, all written by AA authors. I felt good, and the stories are excellent. Hopkinson did a wonderful job. |
InPrint
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 11:08 am: |
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Thanks for the advice, I haven't read Hopkinson either. I'm going to check out Massey's new book when I get the chance. |
yukio
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 03:54 pm: |
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i've yet to get into mystery or horror....but heard T. Due was good....
InPrint:
What exactly do u mean when you stated: "just couldn't get past the leaden prose"? |
Introducing Jimminy Crickett
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 05:06 pm: |
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Tananarive Due's writing is stale and plodding. The only reason people say she's good is because there aren't any other widely promoted black horror writers.
Once more writers like Brandon Massey get into the marketplace, Due's mediocrity will become all too obvious. She puts the oar in Bore.
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Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 05:10 pm: |
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Jiminey and Yukio:
I thought My Soul to Keep was her best--I did not find her writing stale and plodding, there were plenty of blood curdling moments--I did find The Living Blood not up to My Soul's moments.
Jiminy: aside from Massey, who do you find writes good horror? |
Lurker on the Loose
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 05:36 pm: |
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I agree with your statement about Tanarive Due, Jimminy Cricket. Chirp, Chirp. |
sisgal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 12:00 pm: |
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Inprint,
I agree with you, I look forward to reading an AA author who writes like Stephen King, or Dean Koontz, and you mentioned one of my old favorites, Clive Barker (did you read Weaveworld?) I like Brandon Massey and can't wait to read his new one Dark Corner, scare me why dontcha! I read "My Soul to Keep" and it was good. I just want to see more writers of this genre, don't we have some scary tales to tell? |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 12:59 pm: |
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Sisgal:
I think one of the big draws of Koontz and King is that they appeal to that middle American reader--ie unlike Poe who peopled his stories with psychoes and decadents and HP Lovecraft who had nuerotics and academics for the protagonists King and Koontz put good ole Joe and Jane Sixpack in the middle of the horrors.
Having had enough of both authors ( I thought Carrie a work of genius and King's others a reworking of the conventional themes of horror) I would not care to see an AA author follow down that well worn path but blaze his or her own. |
solomonjones
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 01:48 pm: |
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Sisgal -
I'd forgotten how much I used to love Clive Barker's works. I read Weaveworld. What an amazing and imaginative work. To take a carpet and make it into its own fantasy world was pure genius. |
sisgal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 02:16 pm: |
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Hey Chris,
Don't get me wrong, "too follow" meant simply "Do the D#$%@ thing! I want to read some AA authors take on horror, suspense, supernatural, vampires, werewolfs, mystical, cut-them-up and blood curdling scream type of terror. Now there is plenty to go around, plenty to imagine, so they don't have to imitate anybody, they just have to write it. Stephen King told so many tales, and I read everyone of them, although, some were better than others, all in my opinion were at least entertaining. Ditto for Dean Koontz, now Clive Barker, well, whew, he can go someplaces, man I tell you, you wouldn't believe. You are right, Solomon, WEAVEWORLD, was amazing and darn near had me believing in it. There was also DAMNATION GAME, THE GREAT AND SECRET SHOW, and IMAJICA were all wonderful, imaginative works.
The field is wide open, and the sky is the limit.
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Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 02:34 pm: |
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Hi Sisgal,
Maybe black folks still have those stereotypical images in their head of either the "feet don't fail me now," old movie buffoons or the unruly black movie patrons yelling out "fool, don't go down in the basement!" to get serious about the horror genre. LOL! I've tried to write a scary book but I found it difficult to succeed in making the reader's hair stand on end. I eventually just settled into the "paranormal-erotic" mode. But I may give it another shot. |
InPrint
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 03:00 pm: |
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Yukio-
leaden prose: paragraph upon paragraph of sentences with repetitive rhythm (same length same beat), a lack of poetic lines, or lines that say things in a way I've never heard before, slow narrative movement. Clunky plot recapping (I read the second one, maybe, as suggested, I'll give the first one a chance). The unabashed use of cliche.
Clive Barker's Weaveworld was really fun. I gave up hope with him on Imajica (?), with was such a mess I had to skip 100s of pages to make it through.
Weaveworld stands on it's own against The Stand. |
Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 03:12 pm: |
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InPrint, I found the information I was referring to in my earlier post. I'll start a new thread with an appropriate title. :-)
-Tee |
sisgal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 03:41 pm: |
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Yeah, Imajica was wild. It was one of those books, that i had to reread passages just so i wouldn't get lost. I agree, Weaveworld and THe Stand are two great works, but I also loved "The Talisman", another great fantastic journey. And let me tell you, I don't know why King stop writing the Gunslinger series, I loved them! Too short, but he could have just done one of those 600 page books and been done with it.
Cynique,
I also tried to write horror...i guess it takes practice, i can have some of the scariest dreams and an imagination...whew, but it just don't do well on paper. Whenever I'm bored, i might just take that on as a challenge, to write a horror/suspense/supernatural thriller...thanks for the idea. Hey, just for fun fill in the blanks..
" I couldn't breathe. It was, everywhere, dark and suffocating. "Who's there?" I half whispered, half screamed. Afraid, that if someone, anything answered back, I would be in more trouble than I originally thought.
Okay, Cynique, or whomever, join in, lets see if we can write horror.
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Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 04:51 pm: |
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OK, sisgal, I'm game. My paragraph follows yours.
"I couldn't breathe. It was, everywhere, dark and suffocating. "Who's there?" I half whispered, half screamed. Afraid, that if someone, anything answered back, I would be in more trouble than I originally thought.
Then, an answer did come, echoing inside my skull, saying the strange words I had heard before, spoken in a voice that had been haunting me since childhood, drawing me into the dark of cave of my fear...
NEXT! |
sisgal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - 03:34 pm: |
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Cynique, looks like it's only you and me here...
"I couldn't breathe. It was, everywhere, dark and suffocating. "Who's there?" I half whispered, half screamed. Afraid, that if someone, anything answered back, I would be in more trouble than I originally thought.
Then, an answer did come, echoing inside my skull, saying the strange words I had heard before, spoken in a voice that had been haunting me since childhood, drawing me into the dark of cave of my fear...
"Watermelon, collard greens, delicious red apples," the voice shouted from everywhere. "He was here, the vegetable man! But how could he be? That was a long time ago. My childhood. My home."
"Oh, not that old vegatable man story again," Sweet Charlotte interuppted. "It's not scary, Ruby. No matter how many times you tell it, it's not scary. I mean, who would be afraid of a vegatable man?"
Ruby's hair stood on end, green goo dripped from her mouth and her eyes were flaming, "Who are you to speak, Sweet Charlotte. You weren't there. You didn't know him, hear him, day after day, calling out vegetables. I was just a little child."
Freddie jumped atop his stool, "Oh spare me the melodrama Ruby, wadawada wah, but I'm with SC, your story stinks. Someone around here needs to get an imagination, come up with something better. Yeah, like a killer who kills everyone in their dreams."
NEXT!
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BLM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - 08:25 pm: |
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"I couldn't breathe. It was, everywhere, dark and suffocating. "Who's there?" I half whispered, half screamed. Afraid, that if someone, anything answered back, I would be in more trouble than I originally thought.
Then, an answer did come, echoing inside my skull, saying the strange words I had heard before, spoken in a voice that had been haunting me since childhood, drawing me into the dark of cave of my fear...
"Watermelon, collard greens, delicious red apples," the voice shouted from everywhere. "He was here, the vegetable man! But how could he be? That was a long time ago. My childhood. My home."
"Oh, not that old vegatable man story again," Sweet Charlotte interuppted. "It's not scary, Ruby. No matter how many times you tell it, it's not scary. I mean, who would be afraid of a vegatable man?"
Ruby's hair stood on end, green goo dripped from her mouth and her eyes were flaming, "Who are you to speak, Sweet Charlotte. You weren't there. You didn't know him, hear him, day after day, calling out vegetables. I was just a little child."
Freddie jumped atop his stool, "Oh spare me the melodrama Ruby, wadawada wah, but I'm with SC, your story stinks. Someone around here needs to get an imagination, come up with something better. Yeah, like a killer who kills everyone in their dreams."
Ruby shot Freddie the finger. "Calm down kiddies!" Sweet Charlotte yelled as she stretched across Freddie and snatched up the remote control. "Wouldnt nobody go to see no goddamn movie about a someone who kills you in your dreams." Ruby hissed.
"Would too."
"Would not."
"Stop it the both of you." Sweer Charlotte hissed, "My show is about to come on."
The trio settled themselves comfortably into the couch, the lights flickered and then went off altogether. What happened next would bring national attention to that small Virgina town and have Anna Kapers plotting to kill her twelve year old son.
NEXT! |
a reader
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - 08:58 pm: |
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KEWL...
don't stop. keep it going.. |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 12:13 am: |
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I couldn't breathe. It was, everywhere, dark and suffocating. "Who's there?" I half whispered, half screamed. Afraid, that if someone, anything answered back, I would be in more trouble than I originally thought.
Then, an answer did come, echoing inside my skull, saying the strange words I had heard before, spoken in a voice that had been haunting me since childhood, drawing me into the dark of cave of my fear...
"Watermelon, collard greens, delicious red apples," the voice shouted from everywhere. "He was here, the vegetable man! But how could he be? That was a long time ago. My childhood. My home."
"Oh, not that old vegatable man story again," Sweet Charlotte interuppted. "It's not scary, Ruby. No matter how many times you tell it, it's not scary. I mean, who would be afraid of a vegatable man?"
Ruby's hair stood on end, green goo dripped from her mouth and her eyes were flaming, "Who are you to speak, Sweet Charlotte. You weren't there. You didn't know him, hear him, day after day, calling out vegetables. I was just a little child."
Freddie jumped atop his stool, "Oh spare me the melodrama Ruby, wadawada wah, but I'm with SC, your story stinks. Someone around here needs to get an imagination, come up with something better. Yeah, like a killer who kills everyone in their dreams."
Ruby shot Freddie the finger. "Calm down kiddies!" Sweet Charlotte yelled as she stretched across Freddie and snatched up the remote control. "Wouldnt nobody go to see no goddamn movie about a someone who kills you in your dreams." Ruby hissed.
"Would too."
"Would not."
"Stop it the both of you." Sweer Charlotte hissed, "My show is about to come on."
The trio settled themselves comfortably into the couch, the lights flickered and then went off altogether. What happened next would bring national attention to that small Virgina town and have Anna Kapers plotting to kill her twelve year old son.
Instead of the progam expected, the TV screen was a blank square that was emitting an eerie green hue that glowed in the darkness. Confusion filled the air, and the only sound in the room was the gasp and whimper of those present who sat there, gazing in wide-eyed disbelief as the green screen was suddenly perforated by a jagged black hole out of which loomed a contorted face, making everyone realize that the VCR was on, and who they were seeing was...
Next! |
BLM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 08:43 am: |
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couldn't breathe. It was, everywhere, dark and suffocating. "Who's there?" I half whispered, half screamed. Afraid, that if someone, anything answered back, I would be in more trouble than I originally thought.
Then, an answer did come, echoing inside my skull, saying the strange words I had heard before, spoken in a voice that had been haunting me since childhood, drawing me into the dark of cave of my fear...
"Watermelon, collard greens, delicious red apples," the voice shouted from everywhere. "He was here, the vegetable man! But how could he be? That was a long time ago. My childhood. My home."
"Oh, not that old vegatable man story again," Sweet Charlotte interuppted. "It's not scary, Ruby. No matter how many times you tell it, it's not scary. I mean, who would be afraid of a vegatable man?"
Ruby's hair stood on end, green goo dripped from her mouth and her eyes were flaming, "Who are you to speak, Sweet Charlotte. You weren't there. You didn't know him, hear him, day after day, calling out vegetables. I was just a little child."
Freddie jumped atop his stool, "Oh spare me the melodrama Ruby, wadawada wah, but I'm with SC, your story stinks. Someone around here needs to get an imagination, come up with something better. Yeah, like a killer who kills everyone in their dreams."
Ruby shot Freddie the finger. "Calm down kiddies!" Sweet Charlotte yelled as she stretched across Freddie and snatched up the remote control. "Wouldnt nobody go to see no goddamn movie about a someone who kills you in your dreams." Ruby hissed.
"Would too."
"Would not."
"Stop it the both of you." Sweer Charlotte hissed, "My show is about to come on."
The trio settled themselves comfortably into the couch, the lights flickered and then went off altogether. What happened next would bring national attention to that small Virgina town and have Anna Kapers plotting to kill her twelve year old son.
Instead of the progam expected, the TV screen was a blank square that was emitting an eerie green hue that glowed in the darkness. Confusion filled the air, and the only sound in the room was the gasp and whimper of those present who sat there, gazing in wide-eyed disbelief as the green screen was suddenly perforated by a jagged black hole out of which loomed a contorted face, making everyone realize that the VCR was on, and who they were seeing was...
Jimmy Kapers from across the street. Astounded, the blinked at the image. What was li'l Jimmy Kapers doing in their television set?
Sweet Charlotte stood up abruptly, "What kind of shit is this?" She said as she stormed towards the televison and began slapping its side. Ruby was stupefied and sat frozen on the couch.
"Is...is...is that who I think it is?" Freddie said, squinting at Jimmy Kapers who now seemed to be morphing into a...
NEXT! |
sisgal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 09:23 am: |
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I couldn't breathe. It was, everywhere, dark and suffocating. "Who's there?" I half whispered, half screamed. Afraid, that if someone, anything answered back, I would be in more trouble than I originally thought.
Then, an answer did come, echoing inside my skull, saying the strange words I had heard before, spoken in a voice that had been haunting me since childhood, drawing me into the dark of cave of my fear...
"Watermelon, collard greens, delicious red apples," the voice shouted from everywhere. "He was here, the vegetable man! But how could he be? That was a long time ago. My childhood. My home."
"Oh, not that old vegatable man story again," Sweet Charlotte interuppted. "It's not scary, Ruby. No matter how many times you tell it, it's not scary. I mean, who would be afraid of a vegatable man?"
Ruby's hair stood on end, green goo dripped from her mouth and her eyes were flaming, "Who are you to speak, Sweet Charlotte. You weren't there. You didn't know him, hear him, day after day, calling out vegetables. I was just a little child."
Freddie jumped atop his stool, "Oh spare me the melodrama Ruby, wadawada wah, but I'm with SC, your story stinks. Someone around here needs to get an imagination, come up with something better. Yeah, like a killer who kills everyone in their dreams."
Ruby shot Freddie the finger. "Calm down kiddies!" Sweet Charlotte yelled as she stretched across Freddie and snatched up the remote control. "Wouldnt nobody go to see no goddamn movie about a someone who kills you in your dreams." Ruby hissed.
"Would too."
"Would not."
"Stop it the both of you." Sweer Charlotte hissed, "My show is about to come on."
The trio settled themselves comfortably into the couch, the lights flickered and then went off altogether. What happened next would bring national attention to that small Virgina town and have Anna Kapers plotting to kill her twelve year old son.
Instead of the progam expected, the TV screen was a blank square that was emitting an eerie green hue that glowed in the darkness. Confusion filled the air, and the only sound in the room was the gasp and whimper of those present who sat there, gazing in wide-eyed disbelief as the green screen was suddenly perforated by a jagged black hole out of which loomed a contorted face, making everyone realize that the VCR was on, and who they were seeing was...
Jimmy Kapers from across the street. Astounded, the blinked at the image. What was li'l Jimmy Kapers doing in their television set?
Sweet Charlotte stood up abruptly, "What kind of shit is this?" She said as she stormed towards the televison and began slapping its side. Ruby was stupefied and sat frozen on the couch.
"Is...is...is that who I think it is?" Freddie said, squinting at Jimmy Kapers who now seemed to be morphing into air.
"What happened?" Freddie screamed and joined Sweet Charlotte at the television. "Where did he go?"
The three of them crowded around the small television, confused. Ruby reached behind and unplugged it from the wall, no one spoke another word.
"Hey!"
The three of them jumped at the sound of his voice and stared in disbelief at Jimmy Kapers. The same Jimmy Kapers who only moments ago resided in their television and then disappeared.
Jimmy stood in the doorway wearing a striped green shirt and a Cubs baseball jacket with a matching hat. At 12 years old he was much smaller than most of his friends but that didn't stop him from competing in every sport. "
So, what y'all doing?" He asked.
"Nothing," the three answered in unison.
Then Jimmy did something crazy...he
NEXT! |
A NA NA MUS
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 07:37 pm: |
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Hey Y'all
Why not write just the last two or so lines. No need to keep repeating the whole thing (saves space). What ya think? Keep writing though. |
Jingle
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 08:20 pm: |
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...Then Jimmy did something crazy...he pulled down his pants and mooned the whole crowd. "What is this, some kind of joke, why do I have to be the green oozing thing", Jimmy asked. "you told me I was going to be in a scary movie but I didn't expect to be the damn monster". Jimmy pulled up his pants and started towards the door but before he could make his exit Charlotte pulled out her razor and cut his ear off and threw it in the pot of greens. " That's what those greens needed, Charlotte said, as she licked her fingers making a smacking sound with her lips. Now boy if you don't get your dumb ass back in that TV and start ozzing, am gonna cut off something else . That's right, Charlotte said in a commanding way. I know you ain't used that thing since that blind white girl down the street found out you wasn't Hootie from that band Hootie and the Blow Fish, but it's gonna hurt. Come to think of it those greens could use a little more seasoning, Charlotte mumbled to herself. You didn't think we knew about that did you, your little freaky deaky. So take your ol'musty butt on out of here and get scary". Jimmy was totally defeated, with his head hung down he slowly walked toward the door but before he left he ............
NEXT ..... |
Rod
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 08:44 pm: |
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Jimmy was totally defeated, with his head hung down he slowly walked toward the door but before he left he .....yelled "HEY YOU BUNCH OF MORONS, I AM ONLY 12YRS OLD". Total silence fell upon the room. Apologetically Ruby said they were so sorry and that they had made a mistake. They had forgotten that Jimmy was named after his father and it was he who had bedded the Hootie groupie. While Charlotte departed to get a bandage for Jimmie's ear, Ruby leaned over close to Jimmy and said .....
NEXT.... |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 11:48 pm: |
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Hey participants! This post is too long, so start adding your contributions to the new one. See:"new thread for do-it-yourself-horror story" that is listed below this one. (I have made the adjustments for Jingle and Rod)
And keep in mind that this is supposed to be a SCARY story! |
Cocowriter
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 19, 2003 - 01:51 am: |
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You are off base Jiminy Crickett with your assessment of Tananarive Due's writing. She has more than proven herself. Of course, you are entitled to your opinion but it smacks of haterade. |
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