Hello everyone,

I guess I gave my year end review of my life a couple of weeks ago; but for those not reading let me recap for January.

I’ve done a ton of learning this year about writing. I had so great help from authors and editors. First off was editor/author Douglas E Winter. He gave me a quick lesson in cutting – man do I mean cutting. Next up was editor/author Mort Castle. Here’s a guy who holds nothing back. Good thing I heard from Doug first! Then came along my friend and fellow author, Lee Thompson. He read a short story of mine and gave some suggestions. All taken to heart and keep  in mind when I’m writing new stuff. Writer and editor Kealan Patrick Burke edited (which I’m still working on) a novel (Which just might become a novella) and boy, talk about cutting. I’ve learned a lot from his edits. So, guess where I’m going in 2012? Writing less words but more story. And lastly I had a few classes with Canadian author Robert Wiersema here in Victoria. I learned a fair amount from his class, but also from the rest of the students there. I was the only horror writer and it showed with every assignment.

Now for 2012. I will likely be working with Mort a little more and finishing projects I never completed over the past couple of years. Some are novellas and a couple of novels. Some will be digital while I will send out to print markets too.

As for the print, my story Gristle and Bone should be out in Black Ink Horror by the end of January. I have three other stories sent for consideration to various markets at the moment. I’ll publish the names of the magazines here once they are accepted. Sideshow Press has a story called Halloween Snow, but at the moment there’s no due date for publication. We’ll have to wait and see.

I think the new year will be more completing projects rather than creating new ones. I have several short stories started, yet unfinished, mainly because I came up with other ideas. I just have to stop stopping!

There’s a lot for me to be thankful for over the past year, no matter how pissed I might’ve been with what has gone on around me. One of the best things that happened to me over the past couple of years was Catherine. I have never had anyone back me up with my wants and desires as much as she does. There have been a few people that have been close, but not like her. I just thank my lucky stars that a woman that reads so little fiction and absolutely no horror fiction reads my stories, just because I wrote them. She is truly my #1 fan.

So for now, I hope to keep away from the forums and the news items (especially the comment sections) for most of the year. If I am able to accomplish that much, I will be a lot less upset and hopefully have many more words on the page. As for news of my writing and other things of interest to me, most will go right here on my website and on FB.

Catch you all later!

Doug