Introductions

[Talie Helene]

Hi Darklanders - I thought it'd be a good idea to start a forum thread for introductions.

I'll kick things off!

I'm Talie - a writer from Melbourne, Australia. I have been working as a music journalist for a few years, covering mostly extreme genres, although some that dare to be pretty and more mainstream. I'm on Staff at Zero Tolerance in the UK, and just recently joined the crew at Black: Australian Dark Culture (which at the time of writing has just had Issue 1 released.) I have some poetry published in a few journals and a text book, and have editing experience at both student and pro publications. Publishing some fiction is my next big mountain to climb, and what a mountain it is....

I'm interested in good writing first - regardless of genre - but I'm not afraid to typecast myself as a horror chick, and I do so regularly as News Editor for the Australian Horror Writers Association.

I thought it might be fun to have a forum for dark writing here, that is unaffiliated with any particular association - maybe you can share word on different groups who you find helpful in your own journey in publishing?

So that's me - and now, who pray tell are you?

[Mark Farrugia]

Journalist also.
Been writing for about three years. Started sending some of my fiction around during the last couple of months, got a bite which is encouraging. My writing is mainly horror or abstract fantasy.

[BT]

I'm BT to my friends and Mr Brenton Tomlinson to my daughter's teachers, although that only lasts long enough for me to tell them to call me BT.

I've been writing for about 18 months and have drifted through quite a few of the genres over that time before settling more on the dark side of things.

I'm a columnist for a local (South Australia) publication called SA50s+ and do reviews for HorrorScope. I will also pop up occasionally in Black with a review or two. I've had a few pieces published around the place but nothing yet in my now chosen genre.

I work full time, am happily married with three kids, two cats and a dog and squeeze in study. I'm currently enrolled in the Adelaide Centre for the Arts to studying for the Advanced Diploma for Art in Professional Writing. I have a dream...but then don't all writers have that dream :)

Time to pass the batton - next...

[Sharyn Lilley]

*accepts baton* former muso, made a living playing with local pub bands in the 80s; mother of seven kids (why yes, I am insane); My publishing credits include; an e-published YA science fiction novel, contemporary YA (short story), fantasy (short story), horror (shorts and flash fiction) and several articles and reviews, including one review, for fantastic queensland, where a line from a review I wrote on Russell Kirkpatricks first novel, turned up in the blurbs on the back of his second novel. I was impressed with that. *g*

[Cameron Rogers]

Hi all. My name's Cameron Rogers. I've published a bit here and in the States (kids' fiction, dark urban fantasy). My next novel is almost done and I've got one eye on doing a few short films. My first novel was The Music of Razors. My next one - provided my agent doesn't take one look and ask what else I've got - is Fateless. I named the thing about ten years ago, so I'm a bit peeved that a book (and subsequent film) has been put out there with the same title since then. Very different topics so I'm hoping I can get away with it. After so long I'm sodded if I know what else to call it.

[Lee Battersby]

I remember, many moons ago, having the misfortune to study under Elizabeth Jolley. One anecdote she related, however, springs to mind-- she told us that she'd had a similar situation to the one you describe above, and contacted her publisher when she found out about the similarity of titles, with the intent of getting hers changed. The publisher's attitude was "Hey, if they pick up your book thinking they're picking up the other one, we consider that a win!" and the book went out with the original title intact.

[Robert Stephenson]

I said this to a client of mine a few weeks ago. She sent me her latest and I wasn't all that confident in it, so she pitched a couple of ideas until we got something that looked more hopeful. Nice Canadian author, just hope I can get the break she deserves. So it happens Cameron. The title thing. Well the publisher is the one who will make the final call I think - just go with them

[Robert Stephenson]

Well, many would already know who I am, which can be a good thing or a bad thing, depends on which end of my story you've come in. I am an author, first novel published in Poland, a writer of short stories, over 60 sales, and editor of 3 anthologies, a publisher (published 22 titles) and a tutor of professional writing (over 1000 students taught). My life is fiction and the writing industry, so much so I also double as a literary agent, successfully getting Tony Shillitoe back into the business. I have calmed a little over the years, I used to be quite wild and aggressive in the early days and I made a lot of enemies and even a few nice friends. I am passionate about what I do and passionate about what I believe. Though these days I work hard at being respectful of other opinions and support initiatives where I can. All my life centres around writing I am usually broke because of it, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I started writing when I was 10 years old, so I guess I've been plugging away for over thirty years, but seriously since about 1996 and full time since 2001. Well, that's me. I'm a real flirt and if you see me with a drink in my hand don't give me a hard time.

[Stephanie Gunn]

Hi all :)

My formal background is in science (mostly in genetics, immunology and microbiology), so clearly it makes sense that I write contemporary fantasy and horror instead. I write full time and also review for HorrorScope.

I've had a handful of short stories published and am working on several novels at the moment, all contemporary fantasy.

[Felicity Dowker]

My turn, I guess. I'm Felicity, a writer living in Melbourne, Australia, with my partner and our two young children. My day job is in Insurance Broking (and has been since 1998), and I've also trained and worked as a certified Doula (non-medical childbirth attendant). I've always been obsessed with writing, and it's been the dark heart of my life for as many years as I've drawn breath. I've only begun to submit my work over the last few months, though, and I've had four bites so far, which is immensely gratifying. My first published piece is up on Antipodean SF #122 right now, actually - feel free to check it out if you get a chance. I've also got pieces appearing in Robert Stephenson's "Leaves of Blood" anthology, Midnight Echo #1 (the magazine of the Australian Horror Writers Association), and "The Black Garden" anthology. Oh, and I'm about to begin reviewing for Specusphere. I maintain a blog that is almost entirely writing/spec fic related, at Here There Be Tygers - drop by and stay a while, why dontcha?

Nice to "meet" you all - and thanks, Talie, for creating this super cool space.

[Morgen K.S. Greyland]

hmm.. I suppose I should step up hmm? My name's Morgen Greyland.. Away from writing, I work with Special needs adults and children in residential settings.. I'm going back to school to study for nursing soon.. I live in the Southeastern USA,.... otherwise known as the 15th century when it comes to most ideas.. so I'm moving to the Northwest soon.. (probably around bellingham, WA if everything works out). With my Partners and their children.. and the mass of furbabies (5 cats, 1 large breed dog).
I've always written, just usually never let anyone see any of it til recently.. been told I can write fairly well.. so we'll see how this goes.. I guess most of what I write could be considered dark historical fiction..

[M. E. Cooper]

I pretty much despise introduction posts and will do almost anything to avoid writing them, but I'll do my best.

My name is Megan and I'm from Ottawa, Canada where I work full time and write when I can. I have a whole host of bad habits when it comes to writing that I need to work on (not making the time to write and gerunds are only the tip of the iceberg) and I'm starting to joing a couple of writing groups in order to find a social network of people to learn from as well as to offer whatever they may need.

I prefer speculative fiction and most of what I write falls into that category. I started off writing erotica (with a spec fic flavour) and I'm hoping to move into more mainstream (which means less or no smut) speculative fiction. I've had two stories published and have a number of WIP.

[Troy Barnes]

Hi everyone. My name is Troy and I live in Tasmania. Tassie isn't really known for anything horror, so I am happy to be part of the slow change in this area. I am a self-published author, a member of the AHWA, and released my debut novel, DEADLIGHT, in march 2007.
Since then I have had 4 short stories published in the USA in various anthologies. All of which I am stoked to be a part of.
I will be launching my second novel, MONOCHROMACY, in late September 2008 and I can't wait to get this book out into the hands of the fan base that I have slowly built up.
Writing is something which I can not live without, but it took a life changing moment over ten years ago to realise this. That story it too long for here...maybe another time!!
I manage a retail hardware store 50+ hours a week so all of my writing is done of a night, which actually works well as thats when my mind seems to kick into action.
Feel free to check out my website www.troy-barnes.com or add me to your myspace www.myspace.com/troybarneswriter

Nice meeting you all :)