2021 News: Festival of Fear

https://www.blackinkfiction.com/festival-of-fear

FESTIVAL OF FEAR: Under the Big Top: Drabbles 1, (Edited by Brandi Hicks and Shelly Jarvis) features an amazing one hundred and seventy-nine tiny stories by a talented group of writers. The “Foreword” by Jim Nemeth sets the scene, alerting the reader to the darker elements underlying the hilarity of the carnival spirit.

I like to think that my drabbles “The Balloon Seller”, “Spectator”, and “Carnival Alley” deliver sufficient surprise! “Petty Crime” and “No Fakes Allowed” were also carefully constructed. Although these tales are only one hundred words long, they take up to a day to write.  Each story uses a unique plot, requires a beginning, development and conclusion or denouement. On top of that, I try to incorporate some settings, making them extremely tightly packed.

Among the other writer’s offerings, I believe “Funnel Cake” by Rachel C. Pendragon, “Carousel” by Laura Shenton, and “Wheel of Delight” by Andy Clark capture the showground spirit particularly well. “Mirror Image” by Gary McDonough and “Rip” by Ingrid Thornquest are cleverly plotted. “Serpent's Maw” by Nyki Blatchley and “Circle Game” by Beth W. Patterson are both very evocative. “Wrong Festival” by Radar DeBoard, “The Spaceship” by Destiny Eve Pifer and “A Fool’s Fortune” by J.S. Nel are particularly well crafted.

“Fun in a Funfair” by Christopher T. Dabrowski (Tr. Julia Mraczny),  “Surrounded By Freaks” by Andrew Kurtz, and “The Festival” by Kim Plasket deliver satisfying turns. Beware the secret ingredient in “Spun Horror” by Jim Nemeth, and chuckle at the subterfuge in “Dark Fortune” by Maggie D Brace. “Dodgem” by G.J. Dunn and “Everyone’s a Winner” by Michelle Brett incorporate a touch of fantasy.