Presenting: Piercing the Darkness

Craig Cook · **Joined:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:25 pm **Posts:** 5637

Okay, everything is finally in order for me to announce the project I've been working on.

This past semester at UMKC, I took a class titled, Language, Literacy, & Power. It was a class filled with dreadful reading assignments, more papers to turn in than I could imagine (the class was writing intensive), and a professor who returned my midterm portfolio with feedback two days before my final portfolio was due.

But it also provided one of the most wonderful experiences I've ever had in a college class. The class was service-learning based, and we all signed up for small groups to work with literacy in our community. I joined a group working with elementary-aged, underprivileged children. For an hour to an hour and a half every Friday, we worked with these kids on creating their own short story (one each week), allowing them to create, think, and participate in a fun environment while also helping their literacy skills.

The more I met these kids, the more I realized how little they have. When discussing the wants or desires of a character one week, we asked the kids what they wanted in their own life. "A mom," said one. "A book," said another. It was heartbreaking. But it was also a blessing to see them grow during the semester, going from not even wanting to be in the room with us the first week, to being excited and waiting for us to show up by the end of the semester, showing us work they wrote on their own time and asking us to read it.

During this time, I decided I wanted to do something for these children. But not just them - kids just like them all across the country. But how? And it hit me - a book. An anthology where all the money would go to a children's literacy charity. The seed was planted.

I started talking to a couple authors, trying to determine if this idea was even feasible, what potential hazards were involved, and how would I get it from idea to finished product. I began in earnest, interacting, reading, and forming a plan of attack.

Which leads me to announce Piercing the Darkness, an anthology which will feature 27 authors, and all the money from sales going to the Children's Literacy Initiative. Make no mistake - this is not a kid's book. But I feel the title fits perfectly with both the subject matter and the idea of fighting children's illiteracy in our country. Thanks to Dave Barnett, the anthology will be published through Necro Publications.

So, without further ado, here are the 27 authors (in alphabetical order) who will appear in Piercing the Darkness:

David Bain

Gary Braunbeck

Kealan Patrick Burke

Sandy DeLuca

Robert Dunbar

Greg F. Gifune

Janet Joyce Holden

Gerard Houarner

Jonathan Janz

Brian Keene

Jack Ketchum

Joe R. Lansdale

Edward Lee

Ronald Malfi

Elizabeth Massie

C. Dennis Moore

James A. Moore

Gene O’Neill

Monica O’Rourke

Gord Rollo

Mary SanGiovanni

Lucy Snyder

Jeff Strand

T.T. Zuma

Tim Waggoner

F. Paul Wilson

Simon Wood

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

This is a stunning project in terms of scope and it's charitable gifts. You are to be congratulated on creating this project and for getting all of these author's to contribute Craig. It really is amazing.

SandyDeLuca · **Posted:** Wed Jun 19, 2013 5:21 pm

JJHolden · **Joined:** Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:25 am **Posts:** 1712

This is the coolest of the cool, Craig!

KeithMinnion · **Joined:** Sun Sep 18, 2005 7:58 pm **Posts:** 430

What a wonderful project! Best of luck with it Craig!

BrentJenkins · **Posted:** Fri Jun 21, 2013 1:25 am

Holy crap that's a helluva lineup! Now I know what your mysterious "how do I contact you about a secret something" post in Ed Lee's forum was all about.

Nanci · **Joined:** Sun Oct 31, 2004 11:48 am **Posts:** 4992

Congratulations Craig - sounds like a winner

CDennisMoore2 · **Joined:** Sun Mar 18, 2012 5:34 pm **Posts:** 490

I want to thank Craig for inviting me to be a part of this, I was touched by his story and I'm honored to be featured alongside such amazing talent.

Craig Cook · **Joined:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:25 pm **Posts:** 5637

I appreciate the kind words, everyone. This project means a lot to me.

How about leaking a few titles, shall we?

"King of Shadows" by Joe R. Lansdale
"Exit Strategy" by Tim Waggoner
"Pest Control" by C. Dennis Moore
"Husband of Kellie" by T.T. Zuma
"Cannonball Lycanthrope" by Janet Joyce Holden

As an aside, I think Janet wins for coolest title.

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

Hellolost · **Joined:** Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:58 am **Posts:** 2120

And when do we get to purchase this.... hmmmm

JJHolden · **Joined:** Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:25 am **Posts:** 1712

Craig Cook · **Joined:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:25 pm **Posts:** 5637

Craig Cook · **Joined:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:25 pm **Posts:** 5637

Here's a near-final Table of Contents, listed in alphabetical order....

David Bain – "On (and Off) a Country Road"

Gary Braunbeck – Title Forthcoming

Kealan Patrick Burke – “Haven”

Sandy DeLuca – “Dealing With Mama Lila”

Robert Dunbar – “The Folly”

Greg Gifune – “Obedient Flies”

Janet Joyce Holden – “Cannonball Lycanthrope”

Gerard Houarner – “Spider Goes to Market”

Jonathan Janz – “Throwing Monsters”

Brian Keene – “The Viking Plays Patty Cake”

Jack Ketchum – “Brave Girl”

Joe R. Lansdale – “King of Shadows”

Edward Lee – “The Ushers”

Ronald Malfi – “I’m So Sorry for Your Loss”

Elizabeth Massie – “Fire”

C. Dennis Moore – “Pest Control”

James A. Moore – Title Forthcoming

Gene O’Neill – “Dance of the Blue Lady”

Monica O’Rourke – Title Forthcoming

Gord Rollo – “Timothy Meek”

Mary SanGiovanni – “Letting Go”

Lucy Snyder – “Miz Ruthie Pays Her Respects”

Jeff Strand – “The Fierce Stabbing and Subsequent Post-Death Vengeance of Scooter Brown”

Tony Tremblay – “Husband of Kellie”

Tim Waggoner – “Exit Strategy”

F. Paul Wilson – “Traps”

Simon Wood – “Shadow Chaser”

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

A lot of authors are sharing a title, I wonder if it's a series of themed stories.

CDennisMoore2 · **Joined:** Sun Mar 18, 2012 5:34 pm **Posts:** 490

Craig Cook · **Joined:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:25 pm **Posts:** 5637

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

Oh..ahhhh...

Ha!...Too funny...I knew it all the time...ha!...I'm laughing about it...ha! Pulled a fast one on you guys...thinking I didn't know...

Greg F. Gifune · **Posted:** Wed Jul 31, 2013 10:59 am

Proud to be associated with this project.

Good on Craig for putting it together.

G.

Craig Cook · **Joined:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:25 pm **Posts:** 5637

davidbain · **Joined:** Sun May 22, 2011 5:50 pm **Posts:** 26

My story title has been changed to "The House in Syrus Holler."

Craig Cook · **Joined:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:25 pm **Posts:** 5637

26 of the 27 stories are now in my possession. And to ease Tony's mind, nobody is sharing a title anymore.

With one story still to arrive, the current word count is just over 132,000!

David Bain – “The House in Cyrus Holler”

Gary Braunbeck – Title Forthcoming

Kealan Patrick Burke – “Haven”

Sandy DeLuca – “Dealing With Mama Lila”

Robert Dunbar – “The Folly”

Greg Gifune – “Obedient Flies”

Janet Joyce Holden – “Cannonball Lycanthrope”

Gerard Houarner – “Spider Goes to Market”

Jonathan Janz – “Throwing Monsters”

Brian Keene – “The Viking Plays Patty Cake”

Jack Ketchum – “Brave Girl”

Joe R. Lansdale – “King of Shadows”

Edward Lee – “The Ushers”

Ronald Malfi – “I’m So Sorry for Your Loss”

Elizabeth Massie – “Fire”

C. Dennis Moore – “Pest Control”

James A. Moore – “Abattoir Blues”

Gene O’Neill – “Dance of the Blue Lady”

Monica O’Rourke – “This is My Flesh”

Gord Rollo – “Timothy Meek”

Mary SanGiovanni – “Letting Go”

Lucy Snyder – “Miz Ruthie Pays Her Respects”

Jeff Strand – “The Fierce Stabbing and Subsequent Post-Death Vengeance of Scooter Brown”

Tony Tremblay – “Husband of Kellie”

Tim Waggoner – “Exit Strategy”

F. Paul Wilson – “Traps”

Simon Wood – “Shadow Chaser”

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

*Whew* I wasn't sure how I would keep them all straight!

Craig Cook · **Joined:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:25 pm **Posts:** 5637

I am happy to report that I sent the manuscript off to Dave Barnett at Necro Publications last night. Things are getting close now!

Here's a look at the final TOC, as they'll appear in the book. A couple new (and big) names have been added recently.

KING OF SHADOWS by Joe R. Lansdale
QUIET BULLETS by Christopher Golden
HAVEN by Kealan Patrick Burke
BRAVE GIRL by Jack Ketchum
DEALING WITH MAMA LILA by Sandy DeLuca
HUSBAND OF KELLIE by T.T. Zuma
OBEDIENT FLIES by Greg F. Gifune
EXIT STRATEGY by Tim Waggoner
ABATTOIR BLUES by James A. Moore
CANNONBALL LYCANTHROPE by Janet Joyce Holden
THROWING MONSTERS by Jonathan Janz
THE FIERCE STABBING AND SUBSEQUENT POST-DEATH VENGEANCE OF SCOOTER BROWN by Jeff Strand
THE HOUSE IN CYRUS HOLLER by David Bain
COOKED by Jonathan Maberry
MIZ RUTHIE PAYS HER RESPECTS by Lucy Snyder
LETTING GO by Mary SanGiovanni
THE VIKING PLAYS PATTY CAKE by Brian Keene
SHADOW CHASER by Simon Wood
THE FOLLY by Robert Dunbar
SPIDER GOES TO MARKET by Gerard Houarner
PEST CONTROL by C. Dennis Moore
I’M SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS by Ronald Malfi
TIMOTHY MEEK by Gord Rollo
TRAPS by F. Paul Wilson
SEARCHING by Monica O’Rourke
FIRE by Elizabeth Massie
DANCE OF THE BLUE LADY by Gene O’Neill
DINOSAUR DAY by Gary A. Braunbeck

CDennisMoore2 · **Joined:** Sun Mar 18, 2012 5:34 pm **Posts:** 490

Damn, that's a lot of stories, and some excellent names. Very proud to be counted among them, I think this is definitely for a great cause.

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

With one exception, this is a who's who of the horror genre! I am very proud to be associated with this great cause, and Craig is to be congratulated for his hard work in putting this together! I'm really looking forward to reading all of these stories.

Craig Cook · **Joined:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:25 pm **Posts:** 5637

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

Presenting: Piercing the Darkness

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