So…you’re all probably wondering where my novel is at, right? I mean, I finished the first draft almost a year ago and still, bupkis! Well, let me tell you about it.
My troubles began while working on that first draft. I spent so long developing it, that by the time I reached the end, I was no longer satisfied with the earlier portions of the book. I thought I could fix those sections in subsequent drafts…I was wrong.
With a new project beginning at the start of this year, I thought it would be a good time to take a step back and reassess the novel. During that time off, I started to get a creeping feeling in the back of my brain that the story, as it existed, would never see the light of day. Well I guess you can call me Nostradamus because I was right.
Basically, I could spend a year trying to “fix” all the things I didn’t like about the novel, or spend half that time rewriting it. I’m happy to say that the decision was not as hard as it probably sounds. The truth is, I’m just a plumb better writer now than I was when I produced that first draft.
So what’s that all mean? It means that I’m cruising through the book (about 20K words right now) and that it will be finished by the end of the year. I’m excited (and nervous) for everybody to finally read it, but I think it will exceed you expectations (fingers crossed).
Stay tuned for more updates and in the meantime, you can look forward to my crime novella (that new project I mentioned) called Sugar’s Last Dance, which is coming out in October (way, way more on that very soon).
It was a close race, with Trapped pulling ahead in the last couple days to take the win (by one vote). Fan favourite story, Summer’s Friend had the lead since the start, and seemed like a lock. In fact, I was so sure that it was going to win, that I had already started coming up with some ideas for the follow-up (Maybe one day, I’ll explore those ideas). But, a final few votes turned the tide, and Trapped came out on top.
Trapped 2 (definitely not going to be called that) will be available for your reading pleasure right here in the early summer.
I’ve been thinking recently that it would be fun to go back and write a sequel of sorts to one of the stories in The Space Between Houses. I’m not really sure why I think this is a good idea, it will almost certainly end in disaster.
Anywho, if you’ve read the book, and have always wanted to see a sequel to one of the stories contained within, check out the poll below and let me know which one it is. Whatever story gets the most votes will get a sequel which will available right here for free on this very website. No promises exactly when, but most likely in May.
We’ve made it all the way to present day (approximately). I’m happy to report that there are now more horror games than ever. It’s like everybody finally realized that the horror genre is ripe for the picking when it comes to video games. So…fuck yeah!
Alright, before I get super current, I need to go back a few years for this first one. The game came out on the PS3, but I didn’t play it until just recently on the PS4.
The Last of Us (2013)
I’m about to say something that may cause people to roll their eyes, but I don’t give a squirt. The Last of Us is as good a story, both in acting and content, as any movie I have ever seen. Never, in all my years of gaming, have I been so emotionally involved in the characters I was playing as. Joel and Ellie’s (the above mentioned characters) story is touching, chilling, tragic, loving, and everything in-between. Continue reading →
Level 5: Where we start at the depths of the ocean, move on to the farthest stars and end in…Twin Peaks???
Hi there! Welcome back to my stroll down memory lane. Last time I was a major downer, this time, high on life (and drugs!) I’m all smiles. So, like I said, the first half of the 2000’s were fairly light on the scary stuff for me, but I finally got my shit together, picked up a Xbox 360, and got my horror on!
Sometime in 2005/06 I started hearing of this next game. I had made some new friends thank to returning to school. What’s that? Oh, I was in animation. Yeah, yeah, it was pretty awesome. Huh? Did I graduate? Um, well you see…don’t judge me!!
Bioshock (2007)
I hadn’t really played much in the way of first person shooters (FPS) since the Doom days. That game messed me up that badly. So when a pal of mine got all excited about this little game called Bioshock, I was somewhat lukewarm. Sure, the gameplay footage looked seven shades of rad, but still, it was a FPS.Continue reading →
I had a great opportunity come my way this past December. CFTV was putting together a new show called The Write Stuff hosted by Veronique Mandal which would focus on two different writers each episode and they were looking to do a horror themed episode. Guess who got the call? My friend, and fellow horror writer, Mick Ridgewell was also invited to take part.
I was given directions to a small building located in Leamington ON, which, if you’ve been to Leamington, a metropolis it is not. So after cruising down a pitch black Highway 3, in the rain, I was convinced that the whole thing was an evil ploy to get me into the middle of nowhere and kill me. However, since I have no life insurance policy (which eliminates my wife, who, let’s face it, is the only person who probably wants me dead), and not a ton of enemies, I figured I should continue on.
Sure enough the directions turned out to be accurate and I found myself at the CFTV station. A brief introduction to the man in charge and the television crew followed and then I was in the green room (although it wasn’t actually green) and talking to show host Veronique Mandal.
Soon after Mick arrived (fashionably late), and we got down to business.
I’ve done interviews before, but they were always short things on the radio or for newspapers. This was something altogether different. I was going to be talking one-on-one with the host for nearly half of the show’s runtime.
After several mic checks, which was awkward because I was required to talk continuously about random things until they could figure it out, we began. Veronique dove into the questions (which centered on my first book, The Space Between Houses) and away we went.
I felt like I handled myself well, but was not trusting in my own gut (sizeable though it may be) and decided that I would wait until I actually saw the episode before I told anybody about it.
After my segment, I got to sit off to the side as Mick entered the hot seat. It was interesting seeing the show from that angle. The room was completely backed out except for the set and it produced a voyeuristic sensation within me (nothing sexual here, although Mick is a fine looking fellow).
Once the tapping was finished, we took a couple photos, chatted for a bit and were on our way.
Me and mick ended up at a nearby McDonalds for a late night snack, and then returned to our regularly scheduled lives.
Flash forward to last week when the episode finally aired. The Write Stuff was broadcast across Canada…for Bell ExpressVu customers only. Since I don’t have Bell ExpressVu, I missed it. Thankfully, I was sent an email from CFTV and some handy Youtube links to boot.
I was very hesitant to actually watch it. This is because I’ve decided that not only do I sound ridiculous, I also look stupid as well (I believe I described my physical appearance in such things to my wife as, it looks like my fat face is trying to eat my features). And even though I feel this is still true, I don’t appear as awful as I feared so I chalk it up as a win.
Anyway, at the end of the day it was a great experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Thanks to CFTV for giving me the opportunity and hopefully I didn’t cause too big a ratings drop-off…
(The episode has been broken in two. Mine is up first)
This Sunday (Nov. 29th) I’ll be signing copies of The Space Between Houses at the 4th annual Christmas Comic Con.
I won’t be alone either. I’m sharing a table with upcoming horror standout Christine Hayton, and will be right next door to both Mick Ridgewell and Michael Drakich (accomplished authors both).
“What did she give us? I can’t see.” Dave pulled his Spider-man mask to adjust the eye holes.
“Take your stupid mask off, we’re not even at the door anymore.” Twin lines of spit dribbled down Rob’s chin from where his plastic fangs poked out past his lips.
Dave shook his head emphatically. “Sorry dude, with great power comes great responsibility.”
Rob raised his arms and looked around with exaggerated movements. “There aren’t even anymore houses on this street.”
Behind them, two Batmans, a Transformer and Princess Bubblegum ran up to the steps.
“So…seriously, what did she give us?”
Rob rummaged around in his pillowcase. “Oh man, weak!”
“What?”
“She gave us a toothbrush!”
Dave stopped walking and dug through his own haul. “Who does that? Why would somebody want to ruin Halloween?” With a groan, he pulled the offending treat from his bag and flicked it into a nearby bush.
Rob followed suit.
Dave turned back towards the house. “I kinda want to use these on her now.” He let his hand rest on the small, nylon bag tucked into the waist of his spider-pants.
“Yeah right, and miss the look on old lady Talbot’s face? Never.” Continue reading →
I’ll be doing a book signing at the Chapters in Devonshire Mall this Saturday, Aug. 1st from 1 – 4pm. Come by and get a signed copy of The Space Between Houses!
A couple months ago (May 12th to be exact) I was privileged enough to have one of my stories, Relict (found here: http://adventureworldsblog.com/2014/08/25/relict/ ), preformed by the theatre group Sho Art, Spirit and Performance. Although people are always reading my stories, it is quite rare to hear one read back to me, especially in a theatrical sort of way, so as you can imagine, it was a real thrill for me.
I guess my twisted tale left an impression on the group as they have decided to tackle another one of my stories. This time, they are doing one of my favorites, Summer’s Friend, which can be found in the Space Between Houses collection.
So if you are free on Tuesday, July 14th at 8pm, then head over to 1078 Drouillard Ave and be entertained. (Also, just an fyi, they serve wine and beer!)
C.M. Forest 