Thursday, 6 November 2014

The Bureau Of Lost Children

Yesterday, I discovered that my story "The Bureau Of Lost Children" had received an honorable mention from Ellen Datlow, a list she includes in her annual "Best Of Horror" anthology to point readers towards stories they might enjoy.  Honorable mentions might not have the cachet of an award - some knock them - but it had long been an ambition of mine to achieve one, which I finally did last year with "Fog On The Old Coast Road" and I'm equally chuffed to get my second.

"The Bureau Of Lost Children" is my story in the "ill at ease 2" collection (expect volume three late next year) and was inspired by an incident where we briefly lost sight of Dude but takes that level of parental fear to whole new levels.  I knew I was onto something when Alison read it, said she liked it but also told me she never wanted to read it again.

Thanks Ellen, my co-editors on "ill at ease 2" (my fellow contributor Robert Mammone picked up a mention for his tale in the collection and Steve Bacon got two, the jammy git) and the NSFWG, who critiqued the story for me.

For those interested, here are details of the anthology, which is really rather good...

Following on from the critical success of “ill at ease” comes volume 2, featuring seven original horror short stories, all of them guaranteed to give you the chills.

Joining the original trio of Stephen Bacon, Mark West and Neil Williams this time are Shaun Hamilton, Robert Mammone, Val Walmsley and Sheri White.

You will descend into an underground train station to uncover a dreadful secret and watch in horror as a paradise holiday turns sour.  You will see a bullied boy who’s helped by local history and share the anguish of a father, losing his child in a shopping centre.  You will take a trip with a cancer sufferer and share the pain of a couple, desperate for a child.  You will discover that history needs to be kept somewhere.

Seven stories, seven writers and you.

Prepare to feel “ill at ease” all over again.



cover designed and produced by Neil Williams
ebook built by Tim C. Taylor at Greyhart Press

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