I recently spoke to Belinda about her writing and her entry into the darker side of fiction:

Delving Into Horror, by Belinda Dorio:

2011 has been quite a big year for me, moving me from a completely unpublished writer to an emerging writer to someone who is ready to write their debut novel in 2012. I’ve been writing all my life. I’ve kept a journal since I was ten and I wrote a lot of short stories when I was in primary school. In my teen years I mostly wrote poetry, and it wasn’t until I was about eighteen that I began to write stories again. My first ever published story, ‘My Place’, was included in Australian Literature: A Snapshot in 10 Short Stories anthology by The Australian Literature Review (aka AusLit) in April 2011, and I’d have to say – it couldn’t have come at a better time. Facing numerous rejections is an inevitable part of being a writer, but it was starting to wear me down. I say to my friends that before I had ‘My Place’ published, I felt like one of those awful singers on Australian Idol whose friends were too kind to tell them they should reserve their singing to the shower. But my persistence paid off, and I continued to work on my writing skills through the creation and editing of short stories, and had ‘The Girl Who Lived at Number 54’ published by AusLit in the Basics of Life anthology soon after.

Horror isn’t a genre that I write a lot of; I tend to lean towards writing thrillers or stories with dark elements that aren’t necessarily integral to the plot. This can be seen in all my published pieces, but is probably most prevalent in my stories written for The Melbourne Writing Team lead by AusLit editor Steve Rossiter. My work included in the project has a malicious undercurrent which I was able to explore further when I was given the task of writing the stories narrated by our spectral ‘villain’ Faye, which I loved. Writing from a villainous perspective allowed me to expand on the character, to uncover her motives and to show the reader that there is light and dark in all characters and in all people. Being included in the Melbourne writing team has been an invaluable experience for me as I’ve been able to meet and work with other writers, make friends and improve my craft.

When AusLit released the call out for the Ho Ho Horror anthology I began to wonder if I could write a story in this genre, and the prospect of writing a Christmas horror story seemed even more challenging. I enjoyed seeing what I could create within those parameters and thought having a story included in the anthology would be a great way to finish up 2011.

I believe that most writing comes from something the writer has experienced in some way or another, or from an aspect of their personality. If I ever have ‘writers block’ I imagine my personality is like a long line of building blocks, or Lego, and I visualise snapping off segments. I take a segment and I build on it, change it, make it into something completely apart from myself. It may create a character, or a theme – or something else entirely. Writing vignettes is a process I often use to develop these concepts and to explore an individual setting, theme, character, etc. Vine Leaves Literary Journal is a new publication being released in January which features only vignettes; and my piece ‘From One Bleeding Heart to Another’ has been accepted for their first issue.

To create ‘Unwanted Gift’ for the Ho Ho Horror anthology I used the same technique and looked at the concept of self-doubt to build my story upon. With that I coupled the idea of spending Christmas day celebrating with people you love and trust. But what if something had happened to you? Something that swamped you with so much self-doubt and terror that you kept everyone at arm’s length? Christmas is no longer a celebration; it’s something to be endured. I wanted the story to be built upon something plausible and relatable. I thoroughly enjoyed my plunge into the horror genre as I examined the complexity and truth behind it. As I wrote ‘Unwanted Gift’ I found myself glancing behind me nervously every so often. I hope that my unnerved state speaks well for my ability to write horror.

My debut novel Flesh, that I’ll be working on in 2012, is a YA paranormal thriller, and so my work in the Melbourne Writing Team and writing horror has allowed me to explore elements that will be present in my novel.

I hope I will have further opportunity in the future to explore horror, and am very grateful to have had my work included in Ho Ho Horror.

You can read more from Belinda Dorio on her blog: http://www.belindadorio.com.au/

“Ho Ho Horror” is currently available at Amazon, for both print and Kindle versions:

:: Ho Ho Horror (printed version)

:: Ho Ho Horror (Kindle version)

The line-up of both Australian and international writers is as follows:

Ho Ho Ho, by Gordon Reece

Let it Snow, by Sam Stephens

Unwanted Gifts, by Belinda Dorio

Naughty or Nice, by Cameron Trost

Satan Clause, by Keith Mushonga

X-mas Secrets, by Steven Gepp

Rainmaker, by Kathryn Hore

Glittering Were the Leaves, by Tony Dews

“Let It Snow”, by Sam Stephens:

Jake Wellman is on an idyllic Christmas holiday: a secluded resort in the middle of a beautiful pine forest. Jake strikes up an unlikely acquaintance with the overly-friendly owner, Duncan Mackay. But after they share a dark secret, Jake realises there is something not quite right.

Suddenly Jake finds himself alone in his cabin, his wife and family are gone. And then he finds the blood.

Let It Snow is a psychological thriller/horror that tells the story of Jake Wellman, a father desperately trying to find his family to save them and uncover the truth. But sometimes the truth is best left hidden.

“Ho Ho Horror” is currently available at Amazon, for both print and Kindle versions:

:: Ho Ho Horror (printed version)

:: Ho Ho Horror (Kindle version)

Merry Christmas!

Kevin Riley “Book Lover”, Osaka Japan:
Reader review from Amazon.com

“I always find it a bit of a gamble when picking up a collection of short stories, but this one paid off. Ho Ho Ho was an interesting take on the old “I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus” situation, but it was Sam Stephens’ twisted tale that really made this collection for me. And, the hallucination fly and his “You’re one messed up motherf…” put the icing on a story that had me just about missing my train stop. Actually, after reading that story, you wonder if it’s just the character, or also the writer, that’s “one messed up motherf…”. - Kevin Riley

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Ho Ho Horror, the Christmas horror anthology by AusLit is out now!

Amongst the line-up that includes Gordon Reece and Belinda Dorio is Let It Snow, by Sam Stephens.

The Australian Literature Review recently discussed Let It Snow, his thoughts on Chrismas horror, and upcoming writing projects with Sam. The interview can be read online, here:

Interview with Sam Stephens on Let It Snow

Read more about Ho Ho Horror here!

Suspense Magazine, March 2011 edition: “Daddy”

“Daddy” is a dark look into the life of a father, his new born son, and an unfortunate gunman.

A father sits in the spare room in the tiny flat he shares with his wife, and cholic cursed newborn son, trying to write. But the crying never stops. His wife sits on the lounge, goon bag in hand, drunk. Always drunk.

One night he takes his baby boy for a walk through the dying neighbourhood to the corner shop, where an unfortunate gunman makes his appearance.

Suspense Magazine, April 2011 edition: “The Surgeon”

Awaking from a coma, Dean finds himself in a living nightmare.

He is weak, disorientated, and he can’t remember anything. But there is something about the doctor; the blood splattered surgeon that seems horribly familiar…

Exploring the madness of a desperate man, “The Surgeon” is a dark, award winning horror by Sam Stephens.

Both “Daddy” and “The Surgeon” won 1st plasce in Australian Literature Review awards, and “The Surgeon” was listed in the Top Ten short stories for 2010 by Suspense Magazine.

He has included his brand new short story, “Dead Of The Night”, a horror/thriller about a washed-up writer who’s muse suddenly returns, but with seemingly devistating consequences.

“Snapshot” includes short stories from the following writers:

Sam Stephens, Dead of the Night
Kerry Brown, Five Degrees From Happiness
JJ Cooper, Vengeance
Belinda Dorio, My Place
Jo Hart, Angel Blood
Rebecca James, The Birthday
Fleur McDonald, Gone
Michael Pryor, Sons of Esau
Sonali Rajanayagam, A Brilliant Man
Michael White, Flora and Jack

“Snapshot” is now available for purchase on Amazon:

:: View Snapshot On Amazon

Greig Beck comments on Sam Stephens’ story:

“Sam writes a crime thriller like the best on the market – good plots, twists, underlying menace.” – Greig Beck

Sam Stephens will be attending the Sydney launch, and would love to meet you. The event includes a copy of the anthology (signed if you wish), plus dinner at the all you can eat Garden Buffet Restaurant at Star City, and three hours of probing the dark corners of Sam’s mind.

Sydney Australian Literature Book Launch

Time:   6:00-9:00pm
Date:   Mon May 2nd
Place:  Garden Buffet Restaurant – Star City
Cost:   $50
Each guest will receive a copy of Australian Literature, a quality all-you-can-eat buffet dinner and have 3 hours to chat with contributing authors Sam Stephens and Sonali Rajanayagam, and editor/publisher Steve Rossiter.

TO BOOK: Click here and scroll down to the “To Book” section on the AusLit website.

For more information about Dead Of The Night, and the author line-up for “Snapshot”, click here.

I won’t lie to you – I’m REALLY curious about the all-you-can-eat buffet. They’re one of the finer inventions of today’s society, and I have a feeling I’ll need the waiters to carry me out on a stretcher once I’m done.

Food aside, this the event itself will also be a lot of fun. I’ll be there to sign your included copy of the anthology, napkins, body parts (preferably your own, and preferably still attached), other peoples’ books, CDs, whatever.

There will also be plenty of time to chat – just a warning, I can talk about books and writing for hours on end.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me beforehand!

If not, I’ll see you at the buffet!

– Sam Stephens

It’s available from Amazon.com for only $5.00. You can download your copy here.

All sales go to charity, split equally between WorldReader and Australian Literature Review. The funds will be used to help literacy in Africa, as well as writer development in Australia.

As an added bonus to everyone who purchases a copy of “Humanity”, you can then download a new, revised version of “Bobby West”. More twists, more blood, more murder.

Click here to download the all new BOBBY WEST, by Sam Stephens!

I’m really excited about this new edition of BOBBY WEST. It contains a number of changes during the text, but the biggest change is the completely new ending. More blood, more psychotic twists, more murder.

I hope you enjoy it!

– Sam Stephens

A successful internet businessman, he has now turned his hands to his passion for fiction.

Sam has won multiple awards for his short fiction, including:

- James Patterson’s Airborne: Best Chapter
- Best Realistic Horror: “The Surgeon”, from the Australian Literature Review
- Best Short Fiction: “Daddy”, from the Australian Literature Review

Sam’s work has appeared in James Patterson’s “Airborne” project,  ”Humanity“, a short story collection for charity designed to raise money for world literacy, “Snapshot In 10 Short Stories“ anthology, and Suspense Magazine’s March 2011 and April 2011 editions.

As well as these projects, Sam Stephens is also currently working on his novel, the first in what will become the Jimmy Cain Thriller series.

Currently unrepresented, Sam will be seeking an agent and publisher once his manuscript is complete.

Sam Stephens has been invited by The Australian Literature Review to write a regular column on their website.

The first column, on literary censorship entitled “Give Me Two Shots Of Realism, Straight Up”, was well received.

You can read this column, and all upcoming columns on the AusLit website here:
Sam Stephens: On Reading and Writing Fiction

“Really nice piece, Sam.”

– Mark Billingham,
Author of the bestselling Tom Thorne thrillers.

Early 2011, The Australian Literature Review will be releasing an charity anthology that will raise money for world literacy. Sam Stephens has been invited to take part in this, along with a number of other popular writers:

• Sam Stephens
• Tony Park
• Sally Henderson
• Kim Stanley Robinson
• Michael White
• Deborah Abela
• Shaun Micallef
• Kerry Brown
• Colleen Bashford

New writers are also invited to take part, by submitting their work, from 1500-4000 words to The Australian Literature Review.

This is an unpaid collection, as the proceeds will be split between WorldReader.org and AutLit.net, with the money going towards literacy in Africa, and developing Australian writers, respectively.

Any new writer is familiar with the concept of writing without being paid for it. It’s just part of the trial-by-fire (or trial-by-poverty?) that every budding author has to battle through. This anthology is different, though. While we’re not getting paid for our work, the results of our writing will go towards helping world literacy. Our writing has the potential to really make a difference – and that’s a great feeling.

If you’ve ever considered writing a short story, this is a great project to be part of – submissions are open until 31st Dec. 2010. Get writing!

– Sam Stephens