I’m happy to report that my book of mutant character studies-in-verse, FREAKCIDENTS, has just won the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Poetry Collection! This is my third Stoker, and I’m jumping with manic joy. Thanks to all who have sent me kudos, and many thanks to the Horror Writers Association — this is probably the highest honor for horror literature, and I honestly am humbled to receive it. You can read a transcript of my acceptance speech on gorelets.com if you are looking for something to help you go to sleep this evening. I don’t have any photos, but I’ll add links to that speech page as I find them online. A lot of good books won the award this year. I tied in the Poetry category with Charlee Jacob, for her poetry book, Sineater. Jacob also won for Best Novel with Dread in the Beast (which also tied with David Morrell’s great novel, Creepers). Other Stoker winners this year included Gary Braunbeck, Joe Hill, Stephen Jones, Peter Straub, Weston Ochse and more. To learn more about the Bram Stoker Awards, visit the Horror Writers Association. To learn more about Freakcidents, visit publisher Shocklines Press. They’re still running a great discount special with a bonus free poetry chapbook to anyone who buys it…an unbelievable deal!

We have a winner in the “Play Dead Card Contest”! The contest asked subscribers to pose an interesting interview question for my weblog on amazon.com. The winner is Ron Breznay, who asks:

“If you could be a corpse, which corpse would you be?”

Trick question! To read my dodgy answer, visit my amazon blog!

Ron wins a free deck of the rare PLAY DEAD-inspired playing cards. Thanks to everyone who sent in groovy questions; I fully intend to answer some more of them, so keep your eyes on that amazon blog. You can always send me a question for the blog if you like, but note that all contests from Goreletter 4.01 are now officially closed.

Novello Publishers has posted the following news…

Michael A. Arnzen’s LICKER: A sneak peek!
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October, 2006 will see the release of Novello Publisher’s next project: LICKER by Michael A. Arnzen, a novelette of rib-tickling terror quite unlike any you’ve read before. We’re still working on the promo-page on our site, but we’re thrilled over the first 2 advanced reviews that have come in. This should be up for pre-order sometime in July. — Nick Cato, Novello Publishers

Advanced praise for Michael Arnzen’s LICKER:

“Beyond over the top . . . if you’ve ever thought about being locked in a cell with a chuckling madman bent on sexual gratification, this is the book for you. LICKER violates every possible notion of good taste, gleefully, and the result is an optimistic graveyard fandango.” — Peter Straub, author of In The Night Room

“Mike Arnzen’s LICKER is a good old-fashioned, toad-licking, carnival freak-out that reads like an acid-flashback Tilt-a-Whirl. Dramamine and Malox are highly recommended. Cotton candy just ain’t going to taste the same, and those candy buttons have all come undone. Read this book and I guarantee you will never look at a carnie the same way you used to.” — Cemetery Dance magazine

This limited edition novelette features:

• an introduction by Jeff Strand
  
• LICKER by Michael A. Arnzen
  
• an afterword by the publisher
  
• Bonus Short Story by Michael Arnzen
  
• Original cover art by Jennifer Galasso
  

Preorder in July from Shocklines.com and other independent booksellers!

Just a little fridge magnet frivolity. It means nuhthink!

Here’s a sneak peek at the poster for the upcoming film, Exquisite Corpse, a collection of short-short films by a team of international directors, inspired by my weird poetry, assembled by Jim Minton Design Studio. Keep your eyes on the film’s website for screenings and availability.