Laughing at the Abyss

Crikey, it’s already August!

Each year at this time, college campuses brace for the approach of freshman (fresh-person?  first year student?) orientation.  A new cohort of 18-year-olds discover the joys of Philosophy 101 while simultaneously embarking on a lifestyle just this side of  Caligula.

Here on Laughing at the Abyss, it’s time for orientation, too.  Various posts from July attracted quite a bit of traffic to the site.  If you’re new here, consider this post your “Quick Start Guide” to me and my blog.

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A Little About The Title:   Laughing at the Abyss:

I chose the title Laughing at the Abyss because it sums up my approach to life and to fiction.  My view of the world can sometimes be a dark one, bordering on the nihilistic.  A good laugh shared between friends  — especially, it seems to me, a sort of black (or “gallows”) humor — is one of the balms that makes life bearable, even worthwhile.

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A Little About What I’m Writing Now:

I just finished the (110,000 word)  first draft of a near-future science fiction novel tentatively titled The Sober Assassin.  My working “elevator pitch” is:  “Blade Runner meets Dr. Strangelove meets A&E’s Intervention”.  (For the record, I hate movies and television shows– but they seem to be the stuff of elevator pitches).

I’ve let the novel sit undisturbed since mid-July, and I plan to wait until at least mid-August to get back to it (so I can start revisions with fresh eyes).  In the meantime, I’m working on quite a few short stories.  Many of these are quiet-but-grim horror stories, with nary a hint of humor to help the medicine go down.  I’ve also written SF stories and realistic, non-genre fiction this year, too.

I’ve even turned my attention to a nonfiction (independent literary scholarship) project, about which more will be said in the future.  A middle grade fantasy novel is also on the drawing board.

In general, though, the horror short story and the science fiction novel are the two forms I’m most interested in pursuing these days.  That’s where my energy is.

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A Little About What I’ve Written in the Past:

I started out messin’ around in in an underground literary movement called Bizarro fiction, which was a positive experience, all-in-all.  Eraserhead Press published my first book, a collection of linked short stories titled How to Eat Fried Furries.   Publishers Weekly reviewed the book, which led to some national publicity.  A story of mine (“All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Piggy Class”) was published in John Skipp’s Werewolves & Shape Shifters anthology, alongside stories by George R.R. Martin, Neil Gaiman, and H.P. Lovecraft.

Another short story of mine, “Youth to be Proud Of” (published in the Bizarro ‘zine, Bust Down the Door & Eat All The Chickens) is a consistent reader favorite.  My work also appeared in the Cemetery Dance Richard Laymon tribute anthology In Laymon’s Terms.

Bizarro taught me how to be okay with writing stuff that feels scary and raw.   There are some fantastic, brilliant people writing Bizarro fiction.  That said, I sometimes worry that Bizarro tries too hard to be the literary equivalent of a Troma movie (nothing wrong with that, in and of itself, but that’s not the best fit for the sort of work I’m doing now and plan on doing in upcoming projects).  I don’t rule out writing Bizarro in the future, but it’s difficult for me to feel excited about it right now — it’s not where my energy’s at.

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A Little About What You Can Expect From This Blog

I try to keep Laughing at the Abyss  regularly updated (at least once or twice a week).   The pattern seems to be several short pieces punctuated by an occasional essay.  To my surprise, it’s the essays about fiction that seem to reel people in.  I’m interested in the work of Thomas Ligotti, H.P. Lovecraft, Gary Braunbeck and Phillip K. Dick –  so you can expect those names to pop up regularly (don’t say you weren’t warned).  I sometimes blog about the business side of publishing , too.

That said, I’m not above sometimes departing from the literary theme and pulling your heartstrings with muppet-laden nostalgia, too.

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Next Steps:

With all the new folks visiting, I’m hoping to build a community here.  Interaction and commenting on blog posts is always encouraged.  Often, I’ll have enough time to respond.  If you’re a fan of the blog, you can also keep track of me on Facebook and Twitter, or (if you must be old fashioned about it) email me at nicolecushingwriter (at) gmail (dot) com.  If your tweet, Facebook status, or email is sufficiently witty, demented, and/or ego-stroking, I’ll use it for a semi-regular “Reader Mail” update.