Dark Fiction To Scare... Blog

TRYING AND NOT QUITE SUCCEEDING...

27/4/2020

Times are hard on a global scale but here at Esskaye Books we thought we were somehow magically immune from the worldwide disruption. This is sadly not the case.

As a young company with a very limited staff it would be all too easy to rinse our hands of the attempt to launch. WE ARE NOT DOING THIS.

The 'Scare Me' writing competition is still alive and well but the closing date has been expanded. Rather than a set closing date, the book is now open until full. No other terms have changed. We'll get through this pandemic together and we will create a great book at the same time.

The weekly short stories have become (fingers crossed) monthly but we are still desperate to read and publish your words on the site. Read HERE for details.

Stay safe, stay positive, and write dark!

Esskaye Books

ANTICIPat...

22/4/2020

Esskaye Books has been busy. Despite being ill (the tablets are starting to kick in) M. Leon Smith (with help) has been able to get this site into shape. The process has been a lot slower than originally planned but has almost got to the stage we wanted it to be at.

One thing though... Where are the writers?

The global situation is awful but, as writers, we can escape into our created worlds.

We have different ways to share your work :)

Firstly we have 'SCARE ME' our first annual short story competition. This is a paying market so give the page a read.

We also have announced our 'FREE READS' section. This is the perfect place to practice your horror writing skills. We are looking for short stories of about 1500 words or under. Check out 'Popping To The Shops' by M. Leon Smith to give you an idea of what we are looking for and how to submit your work!

Happy writing!

ALL IS REVEALED

20/4/2020

The new feature on Esskaye Books is available HERE.

New FREE horror stories will appear here to entertain and scare you! The first story if "Popping to the Shops" by site founder M. Leon Smith.

These quick reads will be written by new and established writers - check to see how your exciting short stab of horror can appear on Esskaye Books.

Don't be shy and share the scares!

April 18th, 2020

18/4/2020

Regulars to this page may well have noticed some changes. The future of Esskaye Books is being created...

More news to come soon.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM BEING IN QUARANTINE

15/4/2020

The whole world is trying to figure out what to do to emerge and recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Each country is responding in its own way and so, on a smaller scale, is each person.

Here is what I have learned.*

keep in touch with those you love

You're going through a hard time. Guess what? So is everybody else.
Whoever you love, check up on them - even if all you can manage is phone call.
Interpersonal connections are vital to us as a species. Keep them alive.

LOOK AFTER YOURSELF

The majority of us are self-isolated but not everyone is.
When this ends (as the saying goes: this too shall pass) we may find the world just that little harder to be part of at first.
Make sure you are at the best you can be. You owe it to yourself AND to those who are working hard so the world doesn't fall apart right now - they will need support when we crawl out of our bolt-holes.

think about what you need...

When hard times like this hit, as they occasionally do, evaluating what you need is suddenly easier. When the shops are closed it is far easier to decide not to buy a thing - so did you ever need it in the first place?

...and how much?

Are you enjoying those 128 toilet rolls? 'Nuff said...

Stay safe. Be careful and caring and keep smiling!

* other experiences are available...

First submission received

14/4/2020

The first submission to what is planned as an ANNUAL EVENT has arrived at Esskaye Books headquarters and it's a good one!

There have been quite a few enquiries so I thought I would clarity these for you all. So, for want of a better phrase, here is the Competition F.A.Q.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ENTER?

Nothing. Zilch. Nada. Free. Esskaye Books is adamant that authors and artists should be paid, not charged, for their work.

YOU MENTIONED MONEY. HOW MUCH?

After much bartering over a calculator Esskaye Books can announce an up-front payment of £25 GBP. This will be paid via PayPal - if you don't have one, you will need one.

is that it?

No. In addition to the payment you will also have a FULL page to promote yourself. Be it an interview, a bio, or an advert to your website/social media.

Images are allowed (think PG-13 rated as a guide) and mentions of other book companies are fine too.

In addition a link to your website can be included on the Esskaye Books website.

how many words?

There is no strict word limit but aim for between 3000 and 5000 words.

SOUNDS GOOD. HOW DO I ENTER?

Send your story in .doc, .rtf, or .docx to esskaye.editor@gmail.com

No HTML or hidden formatting (basically don't copy from an online source) and keep the fonts sane (Arial or Times New Roman)

Have fun!

M. Leon Smith

Scare me

11/4/2020

The world is scary. Right now especially so. So what better time to launch a horror writing competition?

I want your best pieces of prose, sorry no poetry or factual pieces.

The closing date for submissions in 12:00 AM GMT on 11th May 2020.

There is no hard word-length target but try to limit yourself to 5000 words or less. My favourites will feature on this site and here is where it gets interesting...

The winners could end up in an anthology that pays you for your work. The anthology will be released as a paperback and ebook. You will also get an extra page to advertise in the anthology too.

Send your submission as .doc, .docx, or .rtf to esskaye.editor@gmail.com - no HTML or hidden formatting.

Let's have it writers!

M. Leon Smith

Carrying on

10/4/2020

The world is currently reeling. Whether you call the pandemic Coronavirus or Covid-19 you have to admit it has changed daily life significantly. But the important thing to remember is - life has changed, it hasn't ended.

Hard as things may be we will get through this as a species. We will mourn those we lose and hopefully retain this thankful, respectful spirit I have seen from most. Life will AND MUST carry on, albeit in an altered form.

I personally began quarantine before the Prime Minister officially called for the country to stay indoors because I am one of the population with an 'under-lying health condition'.

Being confined, I have had to watch the empty streets on the news along with the outrage of people on social media and have felt as though I am cocooned from reality which may (or may not) be as bad as I imagine.

Be good to each other and stay safe!

M. Leon Smith

Redesign completed!

5/4/2020

The redesign of Esskaye Books is complete!

Thanks to anyone who visited during the work and put up with the disruption. The site has a more streamlined appearance and is ready for future updates.

The 'BOOKS' page has links to the categories of 'HORROR' and 'YOUNG ADULT' or you can explore each title individually.

'THE UNREAD BLURB' has reviews of books that are in the to-be-read pile of author M. Leon Smith.

Look around and leave us a comment! Tell us what you like, what you don't, and anything you would like to see added!

Almost there...

5/4/2020

The changes/additions to Esskaye Books are continuing and a lot are finished. Most pages are readable and make sense with (bizarrely) the exception of the Home page!

Soon all will be done...