Showing posts with label short stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label short stories. Show all posts

Friday, October 20, 2023

Being Mangled is Just the Beginning of the Artificial Intelligence, Cybernetic Discourse

Thank you to Joseph Carrabis for publishing my article: Being Mangled is Just the Beginning on his blog for the Midnight Roost horror anthology.

Mangled is a sci-fi, horror short story about life, death, and technology, but more importantly, it is a story about Sarah Mitchell, a Specialist in the armed forces:

The only survivor of a roadside bomb, Specialist Sarah Mitchell lives most people's nightmare. Her entire squad is killed. In the bustle of a busy emergency triage center, she is forgotten.

When she survives until morning, others come to claim her. One by the use of technology and the other by energetic consciousness, but both manipulate the quantum singularity. In an experiment to merge human consciousness with machine, which will consume Sarah, what will she do? 

Will she continue to serve her country in another capacity? Or, will she choose the unknown and walk into eternity with a complete stranger?

No matter what Sarah decides: living forever has its consequences. 

This short story is an important dialogue starter about the potential harnessing of human consciousness into cybernetic technologies. 

If you would like to read the article, visit Joseph Carrabis' site: Being Mangled is Just the Beginning

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From the author of the cutting-edge science fiction classic, The Reality Hackers, DL Mullan has brought readers a new type of horror: eternal slavery through technology. 

Don't miss another heart-stopping moment! 

Join her Creative Tribe of Fearless Philes through Undawnted's Undawntable newsletter

Because What-If... life imitates fiction?

 

 

Monday, March 27, 2023

Adam Gaffen Interviews...DL Mullan! on The Cassidy Chronicles

The last interview with Undawnted's creative spark, DL Mullan, was such a success that we decided to an encore!

Adam Gaffen of The Cassidy Chronicles spent some time with our artist, novelist, and poet. The published article is: Adam Interviews...DL Mullan!

Ms. Mullan discusses her latest creative writes with Adam. From the scifi, fantasy consciousness novelette, The Reality Hackers to the scifi, paranormal horror story, Mangled, DL Mullan relays to readers how genres can be combined for maximum effectiveness. In addition, she speaks about her foray into competitive short story writing and how these external writing prompts have given rise to stories like The Jonah Collector

The takeaway from the interview is how DL Mullan views creative writing, digital art, poetry, and the imagination:

"Writing is the undiscovered country hidden in the recesses of our own minds. Find yours in one of my publications. You will never think of things in the same way again." 

We want to thank Adam Gaffen for the fine interview questions and giving DL Mullan the chance to express her creative consciousness. 

Please head on over and read: Adam Interviews...DL Mullan!

Be sure to Like, Subscribe, and Comment, so Adam knows that you appreciate his time and dedication. 

Thank you so very much, Adam and The Cassidy Chronicles for the interview!

DL Mullan and Team Undawnted


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About Undawnted

A writer at heart, Undawnted’s own creative spark, DL Mullan, began writing short stories and poetry before adolescence. Over the years, Ms. Mullan has showcased her literary talents by self-publishing several collections of her poetry. She also writes novels, designs apparel, and creates digital art. Ms. Mullan‘s creative writing is available in digital and print collections, from academia to commercial anthologies. As an independent publisher, she produces her own book cover designs as well as maintains her own websites. She is an award-winning digital artist and poet.

Currently, she has embarked on writing her multi-book Legacy Universe, Supernatural Superhero Series.

For news and updates, subscribe to the Undawntable Newsletter. Find DL on Amazon, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube

 

Sunday, October 16, 2022

Autumn Cider 2022 New and Upcoming Releases are Magic

Need a new read? Undawnted has something new for you! We have been working hard to bring the creative imagination alive. This season keeps bringing on the enchanting prose and poetry. 

Our Autumn Cider publications have rhythm, rhyme, and Father Time. 

All you have to do is Believe in Magic.

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This season's New Releases:

Long Form Poetry
Baptizing the Dead
Beware... the Devil may come bearing gifts.

Wild West and the Pueblo Diablo 
A lone sheriff tracks the devil to a remote pueblo.

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Upcoming Releases:

Short Stories
The Story of Ophlupin  
How the mythology and origin of werewolves began: anger the gods, pay the price. 


Visions Anthology
The Reality Hackers
Don't let your life get hacked.

 

Follow the links for more information, and ways to purchase these unique creative writes.

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A writer at heart, Undawnted's own creative spark, DL Mullan, began writing short stories and poetry before adolescence. Over the years, Ms. Mullan has showcased her literary talents by self-publishing several collections of her poetry. She also writes novels, designs apparel, and creates digital art. Ms. Mullan‘s creative writing is available in digital and print collections, from academia to commercial anthologies. As an independent publisher, she produces her own book cover designs as well as maintains her own websites. She is an award-winning digital artist and poet. This year, DL Mullan has begun sharing her knowledge via A Novelist Idea Newsletter. If you too want to become a Fearless Phile, then subscribe to her newsletter on Substack

Her innovative style teaches writers how to reach their creative potential, and write more effectively.

Learn. Grow. Master… with Undawnted.

 

 

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Undawnted Presents: WordCrafter Lingering Spirit Whispers Paranormal Anthology Set Blog Tour: Undawnted Interviews Kaye Lynne Booth

About the Anthology Set

Lingering Spirit Whispers Paranormal Anthology Set, which is released today, December 1st, 2021 from WordCrafter and is available for purchase.

This anthology set is a bundle including Whispers of the Past, Spirits of the West, and Where Spirits Linger. All three anthologies combined into one convenient paranormal set for lovers of ghost stories.

Amazon Books

 


 

 

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Author Interview: Kaye Lynne Booth
"Woman in the Water" (Whispers of the Past), "Don't Eat the Pickled Eggs" (Spirits of the West), "The People Upstairs" (Where Spirits Linger)


Where does your inspiration for writing stories stem from?

The inspiration for “The Woman in the Water” (Whispers of the Past) came as I was sitting in front of a roaring waterfall one afternoon. The whole story just unfolded in my mind with the real life setting as the background. I went home and typed it out on my keyboard until the whole tale was down.

The inspiration for “Don’t Eat the Pickled Eggs” came from a paranormal experience of a woman that I knew. Her boss had passed on and she believed that he came to her one night. This created the beginning for the tale of Lillie Belle, a saloon bookkeeper who experiences a visit from her saloon keeper and friend before she is aware that he is gone, and it’s up to her to solve his murder.

The idea for “The People Upstairs” rolled around in the back of my brain since I was a young girl, living at my grandmother’s home. Her housekeeper was an old woman who lived alone in a big house, but she only used three rooms, closing off the rest of the house, and she made some very strange claims, including one that there were people living on the second floor of her home. These ideas led to conversations with my mother and grandmother, and folks around town said that she was crazy. But she always had time to talk with me, even when she was working, and I considered her my friend. After she died, I missed her and I always wondered if maybe the things she said were true, if maybe she wasn’t crazy after all. “The People Upstairs” is the resulting story.


Were you always interested in becoming a writer? Or did this craft come to you later than your formative years?

I have been a writer since 1996, the year I sold my first poem. I floundered around trying to figure out what I was doing and the proper way to go about it. That didn’t come until much later, 2012, when I enrolled in Western State Colorado University to earn my M.F.A. in Creative Writing.

Writing is a passion for me. It helps me focus and helps me to keep my sanity. I think all people have a need to express themselves, but they do it in different ways. My self-expression just comes out in the written word.

Writing in the horror genre, specifically the subcategories of the supernatural and paranormal, is specialized. How is this genre different from others you have written in? I think you have to work harder to gain reader buy-in with fantastical genres. When I wrote my western novel, Delilah, I had to work to make readers buy-in to my tough, gritty female protagonist, but I don’t think that is nearly as big a challenge as trying to make readers believe the unbeleiveable.


Are you interested in writing the grotesque or psychological variations of horror?

I wrote a flash fiction piece, “The Haunting of Carol’s Woods” which was featured in Nightmareland, Book 3 of Dan Alatorre’s Box Under the Bed series. That one was inspired by a dream that I had and it was kind of creepy. But I’m not particularly interested in writing like Clive Barker or even Peter Straub.


Do you draw on any experiences you may have had in your life in order to write your stories?

Absolutely. Doesn’t every author? There is good sense in the old adage “Write what you know”. I’m a believer in ghosts and have had several personal experiences, maybe that’s why I like to write ghost stories.

What is the most horrific story you have read in a book/seen on the screen that stayed with you for years? Ever since I was a young girl I’ve been drawn to the horror genre. As a teen, my favorite author was Stephen King and I gobbled up everything I could get my hands on that he wrote, but I also liked John Saul, and Anne Rice. Stories such as those are sure to warp your mind just a little.

When I was fifteen I was babysitting and I found a copy of The Shining. After the kids were in bed, I picked it up and started reading. I found I couldn’t put and kept reading well into the night. At four a.m., when I started to nod off, I was too scared to go to sleep, so I called and woke my mother and made her talk to me until my nerves were calm once more. After I hung up with her I couldn’t resist finishing the rest of the book. I had to know what happened.

Whispers by Dean Koontz gave me a good case of the creeps and stuck in my brain after I learned that the ‘whispers’ were cock roaches. It sends shiver down my spine, even now.

There was a short story in a horror anthology that I read when I was pregnant with my oldest daughter, about a baby that was possessed and killed its mother. Understandably, that one stayed with me for a long time and really creeped me out, but I can’t even remember the name of the book or the title of the story now.


Did that influence your writing in any manner?

Horror is difficult for me to write. My brain is not that warped. I guess I am no Stephen King. Lol. But I do enjoy creating tone and setting for my paranormal stories, which are just a milder form of horror.

What haunted location would you like to visit and write in? Would you write about the place and its history? Or would you write a story inspired by the paranormal energy felt there? I have visited many haunted locations. In fact, the submission guidelines for Where Spirits Linger was a paranormal story that revolves around a setting.

I’ve made several visits to a haunted hotel in Cripple Creek over the past year, The Hotel St. Nicholas. There may be a story brewing revolving that setting, but I think it would be set in the past, when it was the only hospital for the then booming mining town. The history will definitely play a vital role in the tale that develops, but I think paranormal vibes could steer the story in a particular direction. So, I guess the answer is both.


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Thank you, Kaye Lynne Booth for your great answers about the writing craft and this anthology set. If you would like to know more about Ms. Booth, please see her biography and links below: 


Author Bio

Kaye Lynne Booth lives, works, and plays in the mountains of Colorado. With a dual emphasis M.F.A. in Creative Writing, writing is more than a passion. It's a way of life. She’s a multi-genre author, who finds inspiration from the nature around her, and her love of the old west, and other odd and quirky things which might surprise you. She has short stories featured in the following anthologies: The Collapsar Directive (“If You’re Happy and You Know It”); Relationship Add Vice (“The Devil Made Her Do It”); Nightmareland (“The Haunting in Carol’s Woods”); Whispers of the Past (“The Woman in the Water”); and Spirits of the West (“Don’t Eat the Pickled Eggs”). Her western, Delilah, her paranormal mystery novella and her short story collection, Last Call, are all available in both digital and print editions. In her spare time, she keeps up her author’s blog, Writing to be Read, where she posts reflections on her own writing, author interviews and book reviews, along with writing tips and inspirational posts from fellow writers. She’s also the founder of WordCrafter. In addition to creating her own imprint in WordCrafter Press, she offers quality author services, such as editing, social media & book promotion, and online writing courses through WordCrafter

Author Links



If you like this interview, then read the others in the Lingering Spirit Whispers series: 


Friday, November 5, 2021

Tour Booked for Nov. 29 - Dec. 3 for the Lingering Spirit Whispers Paranormal Anthology Set

Undawnted's novelist, DL Mullan, has been booked for an anthology tour the last week in November.  

The Lingering Spirit Whispers Paranormal Anthology Set is due out December 1st and we here on Undawnted will receive a sneak peek! Isn't that exciting? 

Ms. Mullan will be reviewing this set, in addition, she will be conducting author interviews. 

If you would like to book a tour with Undawnted, please use our Contact form

For more information, check out our Bookings page

Have a great and wonderful day!



Friday, October 22, 2021

Works in Progress: Short Stories, Novels, Plays, and More!

Undawnted's very own author, DL Mullan, is typing up a storm. 

When the nights are cooler, writing becomes a cozy career. From two short stories and novels to a play plus the movie reviews and workshops for writers, DL Mullan is adding to her list of published and soon-to-be published publications. 

As release dates become closer, updates to this site and its pages will be announced. We don't want you to miss a thing. So be sure to follower her on all her social media sites.

If you like our creative products and services, then please share with your creative writers, artists, and poets.

2022 will be a busy year here on Undawnted. 

We hope you will join us. 


Have a great and wonderful day. 




Saturday, January 20, 2018

Short Fiction Section Update

I have added and removed items from the Short Fiction section to make a more complete listing:

Novellas/Novelettes
Stories under 40,000 words.

Short Stories 
Stories under 7500 words.

Micro/Flash Fiction 
Collections of oddities and creative anthologies.

Plays and scripts were subtracted and will be added on later when projects are completed. 

Have a great and wonderful day!



Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Short Stories Section Update: Season Side Up! Series

I had this idea pop into my head. A brilliant idea, I may add. This idea was to fashion a series of books about the seasons. 

Now that concept is nothing new, so I have to put a twist on the idea to make it mine. I will combine poetry, maybe some original digital art, and of course package the books up for entertainment. 

Kind of like a diary but without the teenage angst! 

When I get more into writing these little gems, I will let you know what direction I am heading in for sure. 

Right now, I am just so excited about these books, especially the book cover art. Isn't this one fabulous? You can view the rest of the book series on the Short Stories section.

Divine inspiration. The muse descended and she brought chocolate! Good, Muse. Keep the creativity flowing! 

Have a great and wonderful day!



Friday, July 11, 2014

The Reading Room

On the left, the menu section has a new item: The Reading Room.

Instead of traipsing all over the blog/website for poetry and writing samples, there is a place where these creations will be listed and linked to. The area is empty but not for long. I try and write something every day. 

Well I better get back to placing more content on Undawnted. While you are perusing, check out my new Facebook and Authorsden pages!

Have a great and wonderful day!

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