Michael Penkas Web Log

Dead Baby Day

2011-08-15T17:46:00.004-05:00

Issue 4 of Shock Totem is now available and includes one of my stories, "Dead Baby Day". There isn't much I can say about the piece here that I don't mention in the afterward. It was an attempt to write a disturbing story in a thousand words or less without resorting to graphic violence, graphic sex or graphic language. I'm rather proud of it and am glad that it found a home. Let me know what you think.

They got quite a line-up for talent in this issue. Rather than reprint the table of contents, you can find out more about the issue here. You can find out how to order print or digital copies here. As always, thanks to everyone who offered advice, everyone who offered encouragement and everyone who just took the time to listen to me read this piece.

The Afterlife of Ellen Easterling

2011-07-28T21:33:00.006-05:00

Volume Two of One Buck Horror is out this week, an ebook anthology of five short stories, including one of mine: The Afterlife of Ellen Easterling. The best "in a nutshell" description blurb I can give is that it's about a passive-aggressive ghost. But hopefully not in a silly way.

The other four stories (What Swims These Waters by Daniel Ausema, Holes by Sean Logan, Beastie by David Bischoff and 3 Monkeys by Adam Howe) are all excellent with varying degrees of sublety, each of them working on multiple levels. Daniel Ausema does a wonderful job of describing his monsters using senses other than the visual. Sean Logan mixes urban horror with Lovecraftiana better than most who try, while keeping the emotional core of the piece firmly set in love and redemption. David Bischoff manages to piece together a story both mythic and mysterious, suggesting a whole other world without giving the reader the comfort of a full explanation. We are disturbed because even after it's over, we don't know exactly what we've witnessed. Adam Howe's story managed to scare me before even getting to the "scary part" once I figured out the third monkey. Even the cover by Shawn Conn creeped me out. Just look at her eyes!

I'm honored to be included in this collection and hope you'll check it out. The title's a bit misleading in that it's really only ninety-nine cents (Ninety-Nine Cent Nightmares?). You can learn more about the ebook at One Buck Horror or just risk the ninety-nine pennies and buy a copy at Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Let me know what you think.

Stories I've finished since last post: Serial and To Make Her Smile Again.

Scarce Resources by Brendan Detzner

2011-06-26T23:03:00.004-05:00

Chicago author Brendan Detzner has a collection of short stories coming out in August and I managed to get one of the advanced "zero edition" copies two months early. Right place, right time (specifically, Top Shelf Books, June open mic night). The collection is called Scarce Resources and it's one of the few collections I've read where the term Weird Stories is correctly applied.

Too often, writers seem to feel uncomfortable leaving elements of their work unexplained. Their compulsion to explain every event, opening every door and shining a light on all the nightmares, ruin what could otherwise have been some fine stories. Mr. Detzner shows an admirable resistance to this urge, revealing just enough in these strange fantasies to intrigue without ruining the mood with full disclosure.

It's like driving past a traffic accident. You see enough to realize something bad has happened. You can infer some details from glimpsing the wreckage. But soon you've driven past it. You've learned all you're going to learn about that story. You're compelled to go back and find out more; at the same time knowing it's probably for the best you don't have all the gory details.

Not to say that there are no gory details to be found in this collection. But just as often, there are stories that maintain an extremely brutal tone without needing to offer lengthy descriptions of violence. The actions of violent men are not half as horrifying as the reasons they give for committing them.

Like I said, I got hold of an advanced copy; but it was far from being the only one. If you want to own one of the zero-edition copies for yourself, check out the Kickstarter page that's been set up to provide promotional funds for the project. For ten dollars, you can get a signed copy of the book. If you're not sure these are the stories for you, there's a video of the author reading the first story in the collection, "The Black Plague". You can find links to four more of his short stories on his web-site, Brendan Detzner Online.

I've been truly fortunate to meet a number of excellent writers in Chicago (most of whom will probably find it odd that I refer to them by their last names on my blog posts). If you've seen me reading at an open mic event, chances are that you've also already heard some of Brendan Detzner's work as well. If you haven't, this collection is a wonderful introduction and well worth the money. Check it out.

Things I've written since last post: first draft of Footprints and first draft of The Haircut

Concrete: Depths by Paul Chadwick

2011-06-02T23:57:00.008-05:00

The story begins with a man whose brain has been transplanted into a seven-foot tall, half-ton body of stone. The surgery was performed by aliens who subsequently left the planet, their motives unknown. Beyond being MacGuffin-like instigators who set up the premise, the aliens aren't important to the story. What matters is that this man decides to accept his new life, filled with both horrible limitations and wonderful opportunities. He adopts the name Concrete and becomes a celebrity.

Paul Chadwick has been writing stories about Concrete for over twenty years, publishing them in a number of one-shots, limited series and shorts published in anthologies. Several years ago, Dark Horse Comics began publishing a series of paperbacks that collect all of these stories together into a coherent timeline. Depths is volume one in this series and a fine place to begin.

For those of you who still have pre-conceived notions about what sort of story a comic book can tell, there are no superheroes here. At one point, Concrete appears on the Tonight Show and simply asks the people of the world what they would do if they had his abilities (can hold his breath for an hour, can lift a truck, amazing vision, etc.). Many of the stories that follow begin with Concrete and his companions, writer Larry Munro and Doctor Maureen Vonnegut, reading letters from all over the world. Among his adventures in volume one, Concrete attempts to: rescue a group of miners from a cave-in, entertain at an eight year-old's birthday party, scare some children at a beach, swim across the Atlantic Ocean, wrestle a bear and act as bodyguard to an eccentric pop singer. Some attempts fail and some succeed.

One of the most striking elements to this series is the level of realism in all of the above situations. Once the fantastic elements of Concrete's origin are established, those elements are quickly removed so that we're simply left with a man trying to make the most out of his life. This is a man sometimes motivated by pettiness and greed, but more often by curiosity and a simple desire to be useful. He has adventures which we are reminded time and again do not necessarily require superhuman strength. Anyone can go exploring or volunteer to help those less fortunate; but so few of us do. Concrete is perhaps a man who was so wrapped up in self-pity that, when something truly terrible finally did happen to him, he found there was no pity left to feel.

You can order a copy of this book online, of course; but I'd encourage you to find a local comic shop or independent book store instead. Quirky stories like Concrete survive in part because of the efforts of these retailers. You can find a preview of it online here. The cover image is taken from the Grand Comics Database (GCD), an online index of comic books and a fantastic reference tool.

Stuff I've worked on this past week: second draft of Pink Bruises on Pink Skin, first draft of The Weeping Parrot

Jack O' The Hills by C.S.E. Cooney

2011-05-24T21:28:00.007-05:00

There are certain authors that, after you've heard them read, you'll forever after hear their voices in your head whenever you read their work. It was impossible for me to read C.S.E. Cooney's chapbook, Jack o' the Hills, without adding those sly little inflections and feeling the undercurrent of manic energy that accompany all of her performances. So I can recommend the book to anyone ... but only with the caveat that it still doesn't compare to hearing it read by the author herself.

The book collects two short stories, Stone Shoes and Oubliette's Egg, concerning a trickster named Jack Yap, his giant brother Pudding and the contents of a most unusual egg. It's high dark fantasy in which even the most grotesque and sinister of elements are rendered through words into something beautiful.

You can order the book in print or as an e-publication here. And if you need convincing, check out her story, Pale, and from a Sea-Wave Rising, at Apex Magazine. Or her poem, Dogstar Men, at the same site. And as far as live performances go, try Ride of the Robber Bride in the Spring 2011 issue of Goblin Fruit.

She's currently working on a novel and once it's published, this chapbook is going to be one of those rare collector's items that goes for big money on E-bay. Honestly, if you're looking for fresh voices in dark fantasy, you'll want a copy of this one.

Doom Patrol 22 - Final Issue

2011-05-05T18:30:00.002-05:00

This week saw the end of Keith Giffen's run on Doom Patrol. While the series had its flaws, it was one of the few comics I still bothered to pick up regularly. Since the 1960s, there have been something like seven or eight writers doing his or her version of the Doom Patrol every few years. My favorite run on the series (and, in fact, one of my favorite comic series of all time) was the Grant Morrison version in the early nineties.

I've noticed that the best versions of this team are those that present them as heroes who wish they were dead. Maybe not every minute of every day, but there is a death-wish undercurrent even in the kid-friendly 1960s versions of these characters. These were people whose powers separated them from the rest of the world, left them unable to maintain secret identities (much less normal jobs). They were people with nowhere else to go and nothing else to do. In the best versions (Arnold Drake's, Grant Morrison's and Keith Giffen's), the Doom Patrol comes off more like a support group than a crime-fighting team.

Of course, given the nearly fifty years of history enjoyed by these characters, it's certain that a new book will be launched in a few years. Until then, there's always the back issue bins. Farewell to a fine book done by a fine writer.

Unholy Sacrifices

2011-04-24T22:12:00.003-05:00

Thanks to everyone who showed up for Cult Fiction's Unholy Sacrifices event. These performances get better with every show and it's always fun to see how different writers interpret the same theme.

Brendan Detzner's Figure 8 started off the show, illustrating the terrible power that can come from true faith (whether or not the object of one's faith is actually worthy). A largely psychological horror story that also managed some truly bloody moments.

Frank Stascik's Threads was next up. A story of honor among horrors where the reader doesn't quite know who is sacrificing whom until the bitter climax. This one also pulls off the clever trick of horrifying in its description of how the monster does not manifest.

Eric Cherry's Infidel's Revenge began with a tale of rescuing a damsel in distress, only to descend to those horrors that no bullet or knife can stop. Once again, the true horror comes from the depths of human depravity rather than any supernatural entity.

My own story, Just A Little Head, followed. It was read by C.S.E. Cooney, who did a much better job of conveying both the absurd humor and hallucinatory horror than I could have managed had I read it myself. Tina Jens reminded me that humor and horror are often opposite sides of the same storytelling coin and it was nice to see Ms. Cooney balance the sides so well.

Finally, show organizer Jude W. Mire did a performance art piece titled This Melting Flesh. The silent transformations of one face to another to another, the meaning of it all left for each viewer to interpret. A wonderful finish to the fourth Cult Fiction show.

If you want to learn more about Cult Fiction (both the quarterly show and the weekly writing workshop) visit their blog. Or just stop by The Lucky Number Grille (1931 N. Milwaukee) any Tuesday night between 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM to join in with the workshop.

Thanks again to everyone involved with this performance.

Halfway to Shore

2011-01-23T13:58:00.002-06:00

Friday, January 28, Cult Fiction is presenting a live reading event called The Dark Hunt. It's five stories detailing all manner of hunts, both by and of things dark. This will be the group's third show and, in addition to stories, there will be s'mores, burlesque and music. It's at the Lucky Number Grill (1931 N. Milwaukee, corner of Western and Milwaukee, next to the Blue Line Western stop) and starts at 8:00 PM.

One of my stories, Halfway to Shore, will be in the line-up. Our hero pursues a fugitive to South America, only to find that he isn't the only one hunting for him. Some history, some math theory and the question of what truly could be a fate worse than death follow.

Hope to see you there.

-Michael Penkas

Another End of the World

2010-06-08T22:02:00.004-05:00

Just got my contributor's copy of Northern Frights' War of the Worlds: Frontlines. My contribution, "Another End of the World", probably began with memories of playing with toy robots in the backyard. It's a story about alien invasion and the way that wars sometimes get away from anything regarding a rational motive. It's also about the way that we often define our world not as the planet we're standing on or the government that we empower, but rather as our own small social networks of family and friends.

If you like stories about alien invasions, check it out and let me know what you think.

-Mike

Return of the Zombie

2009-05-14T20:35:00.000-05:00

Everyday Weirdness has just posted my story, "Return of the Zombie" today. They post a new one every day, so look for it under May 14. It's another one of my comic book-inspired stories, taking a little from EC Comics and a little from those weird ads that just don't seem to run in comics any longer. Check it out.

New Year, New Story

2009-01-02T23:21:00.002-06:00

Just found out a few days ago that a story of mine, Midnight Cappuccino, won second place in the Twilight Tales' Jingle Hell story contest. I can't really say if it's a sad or hopeful story (supposing the two are mutually exclusive). In some ways, it's about the emotional pain we go through when we decide not to give up.

It's special to me because the setting is inspired by a hospice which I visited over several months, spending time with a woman who didn't deserve the hard life she'd led. On a more pleasant note, it is also the first story that my girlfriend, Julie, ever heard me read at Twilight Tales. If you're curious, you can read it on their web-site through this link:
http://twilighttales.com/2009/01/01/jingle-hell-contest-second-place-winner/

It's a great way for me to start the New Year and, if you were there the night of the contest, you'll know that it is an honor, given the great assortment of stories that were presented. Twilight Tales really is a fantastic group and they've been meeting every Monday night for live readings for over fifteen years. Check it out some time and hopefully I'll see you there.

Shadows on the Sand

2008-10-03T18:18:00.000-05:00

A few months ago, Killer-Works hosted a storytelling contest called, "Beach Blanket Bloodbath". The concept was to write a horror story set on a beach. Some stories nailed the concept dead on (like Martel Sardina or winner Bill Breedlove's stories), while others took it in a completely unexpected direction (such as the impressive story by Becky Heydeman set on a beach in Antarctica). There were lots of great pieces and, somehow, when the dust settled, I'd won second place.

"Shadows in the Sand" was one of the homages I've been doing for the past year regarding those old horror comic books that nobody seems interested in publishing any longer. Eventually, I'd like to gather a half-dozen or so of these supernatural revenge comedies into a chapbook or something. Someday ...

You can read it all this month on the flash fiction page of Killer-Works (and, honestly, what better month than October to be featured on that site). There are also plans to gather a number of the featured flash fiction pieces into a chapbook to be published next year. I'll let you know more when I hear about it.

And speaking of appropriate stories for October, all this month, Twilight Tales will have themed open mic events on every Monday. The themes will be The Dark Arts; Science Fiction; Ghosts, Goblins and Dead Guys; and finally The Monster Mash. I'm going to try writing a special piece for each of these nights; but whether or not I succeed, I will be there and would love to see a big crowd turn out. It's 7:30 every Monday night at The Mystic Celt (a block north of the Brown Line Southport exit).

Until later becomes yesterday ...

Dumplings review on Killer-works.com

2008-05-19T00:45:00.003-05:00

Last week, killer-works.com posted my review of Dumplings. On top of everything else I'm up to these days, I'm also hunting down disturbing films to review for the site. Thanks to Netflix, it's pretty easy for me to actually get these movies once I find out about them; but there's still that initial hunt for the title. Some day, I plan to write an article (or series of articles) on what drives certain people (like myself) to find these films. The standard argument of "dealing with fictional horrors helps us deal with real life horrors" just doesn't ring true. Also, disturbing films fall into a different category than horror films, although there is some crossover. Some of the films on my list of future reviews can fall under the categories of drama, romance and even (sadly) documentary.

It's a strange subject worth further exploration and, like everything else, may well become the starting point for a story of mine someday.

Cannibal Holocaust review on Killer-Works.com

2008-03-11T23:45:00.002-05:00

Killer-Works.com has posted my review of the 1980 cult classic Cannibal Holocaust. It's the first of what I hope are many film reviews that I plan on submitting to them. Jill (the site's founder) required only that the films I reviewed would qualify as disturbing. Horror, science fiction, mystery, documentary, romance ... any genre, as long as it made the viewer uncomfortable. I've got a lifetime's backlog worth of movies that qualify and I look forward to re-visiting them and sharing what I've learned.

Otherwise, it's been a fair last couple of weeks. I'm still reeling a bit from finally getting my copy of Hell in the Heartland. It's great to have a story accepted, but it doesn't quite feel real until you're holding that book in your hands.

I also met Aaron Christenson, editor of Horror 101, a collection of 101 essays about horror movies. If you live in Chicago, you can pick up a copy at the Book Cellar. If not, you can order it through Midnight Marquee Press.

More later.

Wet Dog Perfume

2008-03-04T22:33:00.000-06:00

I just got my copy of Hell in the Heartland today. It's a collection of short horror stories by Illinois authors and set in Illinois. My contribution, "Wet Dog Perfume", is set in that little dog park between the Diversey and Fullerton stops on the Chicago Brown Line. I hope it goes somewhere you weren't expecting to go.

If you want to learn more about the collection, check out the publisher's web site at www.annihilationpress.com. If you want to pick up a copy and meet some of the contributors in person, come down to the book launch party on March 24 at the Mix Lounge (2843 N. Halsted) at 7:30 PM. You can learn more about the launch party at www.twilighttales.com (look under Show Schedule).

I hope to see you there.

A Slight Change in Plans

2008-03-04T21:49:00.000-06:00

I got wrapped up in other things, so the plan to make this blog a weekly review site just kind of fell through. I still plan to use it to highlight my own works as they see publication, as well as reading events I'll be participating in.

Book Launch

2007-06-06T09:32:00.000-05:00

My first two published stories will be appearing in print for the first time on Saturday, June 9 at the Printers Row Book Fair in Chicago. They'll be available for purchase at the Twilight Tales booth. Chances are good that I'll be at the booth as well.

"Parable of the Lazy Rooster" is a story about coping with death and the relative virtues of faith vs. knowledge. While the characters are fiction, the setting of the story is the very real Red Lion Pub, an English-style pub located in Chicago. The story appears in the second edition of Tales from the Red Lion, a collection of stories written about this landmark.

"Cold Comfort" is another story about coping with death and appears in the second edition of Book of Dead Things. I plan to go more in-depth about this story in a separate entry, but it basically originated with an observation that prostitutes are almost always killed in horror stories. In fact, there are a lot of stories in which the entire plot is how a prostitute is hired by someone who turns out to be a vampire/werewolf/serial killer that kills her. I wanted to read a story in which a woman who deals with strange and and dangerous customers on a daily basis would actually be able to survive such an encounter. So I wrote one.

If you want to know more about Twilight Tales, their book line, their weekly reading series (going for over 13 years) or special events tied to Tales from the Red Lion or Book of Dead Things, check out www.twilighttales.com.

Introduction

2007-06-05T20:42:00.000-05:00

This is my first web log. I've set it up primarily to highlight my published work. I also plan to post reviews of books, films and music that interest me.