New Interview

Peter Adam Salomon interviewed me on his blog, but he didn't ask the normal sort of questions about writing. Want to know about Ultraman, dinosaurs, and my favorite word? Read the interview and find out.

New INK Review by Horror Novel Reviews

Matt Molgaard's Horror Novel Reviews reviewed Ink and said, "Grintalis has laid out a book that will unquestionably be enjoyed. It’s an easygoing ride straight into Hell…one that relies, as I’ve mentioned on character development and crucial decisions people make. If you are a lover of ultra-violence and massive loads of carnage, this is not what you might be looking for. This one is horror to the core, and there are a few animalistic scenes to take in, but don’t expect a scene straight from the mind of Herschell Gordon Lewis to hit the paper. Interestingly enough, that’s the precise reason I’d recommend this novel. To be frightened. To be moved by the terror we humans can inflict upon ourselves and others. Look out for this blossoming author, she has a wealth of potential and I’d personally be rather dumbfounded if we fail to hear more from her in the future."

It's a great feeling that the early buzz has been positive, and it does help the crazy pre-release anxiety I'm carrying around like the latest handbag. A little bit, anyway.

Stupefying Stories Now Available

The November 2012 issue of Stupefying Stories is now available in ebook from Amazon and it's only $2.99 for 64,000 words of short fiction! It includes my story, Wednesday's Child, as well as Heartbreath by E. Catherine Tobler, Office Demons by Christie Yant, and many others.

Short Fiction Review

Sandra M. Odell has reviewed the audio version of They Make of You a Monster in Hear That? She said, "The story’s tone is a bit distant, yet it serves to heighten the descriptions and emotional impact. I was very pleased that the story did not have the expected “happily ever after” ending, which is not to say the story is dark and dreary. The characters have lives and motivations of their own, and there is a certain chill as the main character takes the first steps down the dark path she has struggled so hard to avoid. Ms. Grintalis’ work is definitely worth your time."

New INK Review in Trauma Magazine

Trauma Magazine, a Danish zine, has reviewed Ink, giving it four out of five stars. They said (and please forgive the rough translation; I used Google translate), "Jason works as a person and he is rich and three-dimensional. His relationship with the outside world and friends are velforklaret and plausible. The story is well constructed and executed gradually more and more mysterious and hard, and it excels in describing his despair and conceited madness. It does this well and it must Damien Walters Grintalis given credit for. She has a book that is feminine on the surface and gloomy inside. A book that is easy to read, selective in its presentation, but still careful and written calm and controlled."

The Next Big Thing

I was invited by writer Ed Kurtz to participate in THE NEXT BIG THING. A series of posts by authors in which they answer questions about their forthcoming books, then tag other writers they think you should know about. Ed also asked Benjamin Kane Ethridge, Thomas Pluck, Lee Thomas, and Daniel O’Shea to participate, so please visit their sites and read their posts, too.

1)What is the working title of your next book?
Ink

2) Where did the idea come from for the book?
I was leaving a tattoo shop in Fells Point (in Baltimore) and had a flash of inspiration, one of those what-if moments. I thought it was going to be a short story, but the characters decided otherwise.

3) What genre does your book fall under?
Character-driven horror.

4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
Honestly, I don't know. In my head, the characters don't look like actors. They look like people I see every day. No one specific, just ordinary, regular people. I will say that the inspiration for the villain's voice was the actor Michael Wincott.

5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
A tattoo can be a work of art…or a curse.

6) Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Ink will be released on December 4th from Samhain Horror, and my previous agent brokered the deal.

7) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
Forty days.

8)What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Ink is not a slash-all-the-people-and-pull-out-their-guts kind of story, but that's not to say that I'm afraid of gore, nor is it to say that the book doesn't have a few…squishy parts, but the gore is not the focus. The characters are. I don't write plot-driven fiction, so I create havoc and let the characters work their way out (or in deeper) based on who they are, not on what I would do.

9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I'm very much a write from the gut writer, and once I had the initial idea spark, there was no way not to write it. I make silly comments here and there about my muse, but, in truth, it's really the dark little space in my head where all the stories come from--a collective mindpool of people I've known, places I've been, dreams I've had, and a bunch of pretty what-ifs dressed in their Sunday best and waving their hands for attention.

10) What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?
Ink is set in Baltimore and I sprinkled in mentions of real landmarks to give it an authentic flavor: The Inner Harbor, the Chesapeake Bay, the Washington Monument (Yes, we have one, and yes, it's older than the one in DC.), Poe's grave. I even put in a nod to a restaurant where my husband proposed to me, although I suspect only locals will be able to figure that one out.

And lastly, have you heard the joke that begins with, "a Sailor walks into a bar…?" Have you ever heard the punchline? I haven't and perhaps that's because the joke has never been a joke at all, but a warning.

Thank you very much, Ed, for including me in TNBT. Next week's entry will be from the fantastic Mercedes Murdock Yardley.

Samhain is giving away ten copies of Ink on Goodreads, but hurry to enter. The giveaway ends November 23rd.

"They Make of You a Monster" in Audio

My Beneath Ceaseless Skies short story, They Make of You a Monster, is now available in audio. BCS did a fantastic job and if you've ever wondered how to pronounce my last name, they say it perfectly.

Interview

Jill Archer interviewed me as part of her 2012 Fall Into Winter Darkness Book Blast. I talk about Ink, Alien, Electric Velocipede, BooklifeNow, spiders, and more. There's even a snippet from Ink, albeit a small one, that describes the griffin tattoo.

Short Story Sale to Lightspeed Magazine

I've sold my short story, Always, They Whisper, to Lightspeed Magazine. To say I'm thrilled would be an understatement. Lightspeed has published so many amazing stories over the years, and to think that my tale will be sharing space among them is nothing short of amazing. I've had a truly remarkable year.

New Short Fiction Review

Diabolical Plots reviewed the August Daily Science Fiction stories, calling my story, To Be Undone of Such Small Things, a "powerful tale in a small package" and marking it as Recommended.

New INK Review and New Short Story

The Horror Fiction Review posted their November reviews, and Ink was among the books read and reviewed. The review said, among other things, "… even when you might think you know where the story’s going, you’ll be in for some clever and nasty surprises." and "Debut novels should not be this good." I'm thrilled that they enjoyed the book!

And in short story news, A Handful of Glass, a Sky without Stars, sent out to Daily Science Fiction email subscribers last Friday, is now available to read free on their website.

New Short Story in Beneath Ceaseless Skies

My short story, They Make of You a Monster, was published today in Beneath Ceaseless Skies. A bit of background on this piece: One night I was angry at yet another attack in the seemingly endless war on women and channeled that anger into a story. This story.

With that being said, the story is not a feminist rant, just a story born of rage.