Sam Knight's Blog, page 4

I am so excited to be a part of this!

This is a collection of art and essays about, in case you hadn’t guessed by the title, the second season of the 1966 Batman television show, edited by Jim Beard with Rich Handley. I worked with these guys before, on the Planet of the Apes Tales from the Forbidden Zone anthology, in which I co-wrote a story with the incomparable Kevin J. Anderson.

To say I was excited, when Jim contacted me and asked if I would be interested, is an understatement. And then, on top of that, I was given the opportunity to write about one of my favorite episodes! Who could ask for anything more!

Turns out Jim could… he asked if I wanted to do art for the project, too! I all but swooned.

And then I swooned again when I saw the proof and found out he had used my art, Black Widow staring down Batman, with his introduction page.

I swear, I died and went to Bat-Heaven!

Speaking of Black Widow, her two-part episode (“Black Widow Strikes Again” / “Caught in the Spider’s Den”) is what I wrote my essay on. Titled, Come Closer and Pay Attention, I take a look at the subtext of the story. I hope you will find it amusing, enlightening, thought provoking, and most of all, fun!

With more artists and authors than you could shake a Bat-Stick at, this guide full of insight, opinion, humor, most of all, love. If you loved the Batman TV show, you probably already know this is for you!

BIFF! BAM! EEE-YOW! The Subterranean Blue Grotto Guide to Batman ’66 – Season Two is available now!

David B. Riley rode off into the last, greatest sunset last month. He was a writer and an editor known for his love of Weird Westerns. He published Science Fiction Trails, among other things. From Goodreads, (which I am pretty sure is out of date): “…six novels and over 100 published short stories and has edited nine horror anthologies.” It also lists him with 57 distinct works. I am pretty sure that is out of date as well. You can find his blog here: https://blog.davidbriley.net/

Over the years, David bought a dozen stories or more from me. (He turned down a few as well.) He wasn’t merely an editor I occasionally sold a story to, he was someone I wrote for. I wanted him to like my stories. And, sometimes, he really, really did.

In my early submissions to him, he offered explanations for turning down stories, advice on how to make them better, and links to resources to research the genre (not just links to his own books); a rare thing from editors today.Many writers have MOMENTS in their careers. If you’ve had one, you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, then you at least know the oppressive feeling of thinking you should just up and quit that exists between those MOMENTS. One of my first MOMENTS came in the form of an acceptance email from David, for a story called “Working the Salt Mine”.

Are you kidding me? For years I get an endless stream of time travel stories or stories about the Earp brothers, or stories about the Earp brothers travelling through time. And just about each time I think “Why can’t anyone ever send me a story about lizard people? Why? Why?” Then, low and behold, on the last day of submissions, is a story about lizard people. Wow. A contract will be forthcoming.

That was not my first sale, nor my first sale to David, but it was a turning point for me. A point where I realized it was okay if only one person like my story. Especially if that one person REALLY liked my story. (Turned out my Grandad liked that story, too. It was a pretty good one, if I do say so myself.)

After that, I have to admit, I tended to tailor my Weird Westerns toward what I thought David would like. I also have to admit, I was a horrible predictor of what David liked. He turned down stories I thought he would love.I also did a few covers for David. For purposes of the point I am meandering toward, I want to point out the cover I did for Tales From Dry Gulch. https://amzn.to/3anaSUc

Tales From Dry Gulch was David’s brainchild. He created a town and put characters in it, and then he asked authors to write stories in and around that town, using those characters as well as their own. He enjoyed the project enough, he attempted Tales From Dry Gulch 2. I would like to share that cover with you, now, as that project will never happen.

David was in the middle of that project when he decided to cancel it, at least temporarily, and move on. Not only had I made that cover, but I has also submitted a story for it. A story that he promptly requested to include in his latest, and to the best of my knowledge last, project, Six Guns Straight From Hell 3. https://amzn.to/3rTPWtK

That story of mine was “Leaving Dry Gulch on the Midnight Train”. At the time I wrote it, I had no idea that it would be the last “Dry Gulch” story I would write, nor that it would be the last I sold to David. It is hauntingly fitting that it was. A capstone for both.

His co-editor, J.A. Campbell, once told me that story choked her up every time she read it. Now, I have to admit, it chokes me up every time I think about it.

And here is why I come to that.

David really liked that story. So much so, he asked J.A. Campbell, to reach out to me and ask me to submit the story for consideration for the Bram Stoker award. Apparently, David became overwhelmed by the submission process but still wanted it submitted. Flattered, I of course put aside my awkward feelings of submitting myself for consideration and did so. Not very well, apparently, as the story did not end up upon the ballot. But the point is, David had just given me another MOMENT. A really, really good one.

And I never got to talk to him about it.

2020, and now 2021, placed a lot of difficulties upon us all. With that in mind, I would like to ask you to do two things.

First, whether you are a writer or not, if there is someone out there who has bestowed a MOMENT upon you (and if they have, you know exactly what I mean), I would ask that you let them know that they inspired you. It may be awkward, but honestly, there is a decent chance you will be bestowing a MOMENT right back upon them. Really. So please, do it.

Right now, I think we could all use that.

Second, if you like Weird Westerns, if anything I’ve said intrigued you at all, I would like to ask that you buy one of David’s books. Although I have provided links to a couple, I don’t care which one.

I really don’t know what will happen with David’s estate. I don’t know how long any of his books will be available. I believe his brother will end up dealing with everything, eventually, but I just don’t know. I do know, like so many of us, the last few years were very difficult on David and his family. I do know that any income that comes in from the sales of those books would be helpful to them.

And I do know that although I cannot tell David he provided me with another MOMENT, I can share my memory of it with you.

Thank you.

I recently migrated the website and, well, to be honest, I hadn’t a clue what I was doing.

So… all of the old post and pages are here, somewhere, but most, if not all of the photos and fun stuff was lost. I will plug away at it for a while, until I see something shiny, and try to replace the images and make it all look pretty again, but don’t be surprised if you go exploring and find a pile of rubble.

Set in Dry Gulch, Colorado, 1882, Leaving Dry Gulch on the Midnight Train is a story from a “shared world” represented in the anthology Tales From Dry Gulch, edited by David B. Riley, published August 2019.

If that sounds familiar to you, that could be because What Happens When You Wet Your Whistle in Dry Gulch, also by Sam Knight, was in Tales From Dry Gulch. If you read the stories in that anthology, there is a good chance you will recognize quite a bit in Leaving Dry Gulch on the Midnight Train. It can be found in Six Guns Straight From Hell 3.

A weird western, Leaving Dry Gulch on the Midnight Train is a horror story that will tug at your heart as Robert Gandy, the local station master, wonders, and worries, at the mournful sound of the train whistle haunting him late a night, when there is no train expected.

You can hear the start of the story here, on YouTube, in the author’s own voice.

Set in Dry Gulch, Colorado, 1882, Leaving Dry Gulch on the Midnight Train is a story from a “shared world” represented in the anthology Tales From Dry Gulch, edited by David B. Riley, published August 2019.

If that sounds familiar to you, that could be because What Happens When You Wet Your Whistle in Dry Gulch, also by Sam Knight, was in Tales From Dry Gulch. If you read the stories in that anthology, there is a good chance you will recognize quite a bit in Leaving Dry Gulch on the Midnight Train. It can be found in Six Guns Straight From Hell 3.

A weird western, Leaving Dry Gulch on the Midnight Train is a horror story that will tug at your heart as Robert Gandy, the local station master, wonders, and worries, at the mournful sound of the train whistle haunting him late a night, when there is no train expected.

You can hear the start of the story here, on YouTube, in the author’s own voice.

I’m excited to be part of this! This is the third Castle of Horror anthology I have had a story in!

Topic: Women Running From Houses: The Gothic Panel from the Castle of Horror
Time: Oct 13, 2020 06:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join us LIVE for a
Gothic Horror Panel
in celebration of
Women Running from Houses
Castle of Horror Anthology Vol. 4

October 13 at 5:30pm Pacific/ 8:30pm Eastern Castle Bridge Media presents a Zoom panel on Gothic Horror on the occasion of the release of Castle of Horror Anthology Vol. 4: Women Running from Houses, a collection of Gothic-themed horror stories, in paperback and Kindle.

The panel features In Churl Yo, Michael Aronovitz, Amanda Dewees, John Ohno, Charles R. Rutledge, Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam, Jim Towns, Jeremiah Dylan Cook, Rob Nisbet, Leanna Renee Hieber, Sam Knight, Henry Herz, Alethea Kontis, Tony Jones and Scott Pearson, hosted by editor Jason Henderson.

You can find more information here: https://www.facebook.com/events/35551...

My story in this anthology is Shattered Piece of Heaven.

When her grandmother passes, Sandy, accompanied by her friend Thomas, heads back to the family orchard she hasn’t seen since she was on a tricycle. Her dreams of what happened there have haunted her for her entire life. The reality is even more nightmarish.

The anthology is up for pre-order now! https://amzn.to/2DRvExL

I’m excited to be part of this! This is the third Castle of Horror anthology I have had a story in!

Topic: Women Running From Houses: The Gothic Panel from the Castle of Horror
Time: Oct 13, 2020 06:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join us LIVE for a
Gothic Horror Panel
in celebration of
Women Running from Houses
Castle of Horror Anthology Vol. 4

October 13 at 5:30pm Pacific/ 8:30pm Eastern Castle Bridge Media presents a Zoom panel on Gothic Horror on the occasion of the release of Castle of Horror Anthology Vol. 4: Women Running from Houses, a collection of Gothic-themed horror stories, in paperback and Kindle.

The panel features In Churl Yo, Michael Aronovitz, Amanda Dewees, John Ohno, Charles R. Rutledge, Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam, Jim Towns, Jeremiah Dylan Cook, Rob Nisbet, Leanna Renee Hieber, Sam Knight, Henry Herz, Alethea Kontis, Tony Jones and Scott Pearson, hosted by editor Jason Henderson.

You can find more information here: https://www.facebook.com/events/35551...

My story in this anthology is Shattered Piece of Heaven.

When her grandmother passes, Sandy, accompanied by her friend Thomas, heads back to the family orchard she hasn’t seen since she was on a tricycle. Her dreams of what happened there have haunted her for her entire life. The reality is even more nightmarish.

The anthology is up for pre-order now! https://amzn.to/2DRvExL

I have TWO new stories coming out in anthologies that are up for pre-order now!

Whoever Writes Monsters is a short story about a successful “screamplay” writer who has finally run low on inspiration, despite his muse’s prodding.

How far will his muse go to re-instill horror into the writer’s heart? Too far…

This story was mentioned in a Publishers Weekly starred review of Monsters, Movies, and Mayhem. The anthology was the first produced from Kevin J. Anderson’s Masters degree program in Publishing for Western Colorado University.

It is up for pre-order now!

Lounging with the Lizardmen can be found in Castle of Horror Anthology Volume 3, June, 2020. Edited by Jason Henderson, published by Castle Bridge Media.

Ham’s summer vacation has been turned into a summer staycation by his parents’ relocation to South Carolina. If the heat doesn’t kill him, the boredom will. Unless the lizardmen get him first…

It’s up for pre-order now as well!

I have TWO new stories coming out in anthologies that are up for pre-order now!

Whoever Writes Monsters is a short story about a successful “screamplay” writer who has finally run low on inspiration, despite his muse’s prodding.

How far will his muse go to re-instill horror into the writer’s heart? Too far…

This story was mentioned in a Publishers Weekly starred review of Monsters, Movies, and Mayhem. The anthology was the first produced from Kevin J. Anderson’s Masters degree program in Publishing for Western Colorado University.

It is up for pre-order now!

Lounging with the Lizardmen can be found in Castle of Horror Anthology Volume 3, June, 2020. Edited by Jason Henderson, published by Castle Bridge Media.

Ham’s summer vacation has been turned into a summer staycation by his parents’ relocation to South Carolina. If the heat doesn’t kill him, the boredom will. Unless the lizardmen get him first…

It’s up for pre-order now as well!

I am excited to announce:

Blazing Uncanny Trails 2

Aliens, Madmen, Swindlers, Ghosts, Gods, and Monsters live in the Wild West.
May God have mercy on those poor souls unlucky enough to run into them.

10 Weird Western short stories by Sam Knight.

Captain Samjack’s Terror Emporium
A Better Place to Die
Bite the Bullet
Gasper the Ghost Hunting Goldfish
Smote by Red Lightning
Tinker, Tailor, Toy Soldier Maker
The Buffalo Hunters
The Spirit of the Grift
Going to Hell on the Noon Train
Stairway to Hell*

*previously unpublished.

It seems like a long time coming, but then it was! My second collection weird western stories has finally come together. It seems like only yesterday that I didn’t really believe I would ever have a story published!

Ebooks are out now, popping up all over the place randomly. The print versions will appear anytime soon, and, there is even, once again, a hardcover version going to be out there! Soon… very soon… like, I hope tomorrow, type of soon.

I’ve been working on a quick video to go with it, like I did for the first Blazing Uncanny Trails, but I don’t have the same software I once did. Not sure how it will turn out. Head on over to my Facebook page to see, if you are interested!