Mary Rajotte over at Bloody Bookish has posted a review of “Black-Eyed Kids” as part of my month-long feature in The Bloodlight. Here’s an excerpt:
Rogers continues to engage and intrigue with his trademark cross-over of the supernatural mystery…. [his] writing has a cinematic quality that is fully immersive.
I was also very pleased and honoured to see that the Felix Renn chapbooks made Jim Mcleod’s Top Ten Discoveries of 2011 over at Ginger Nuts of Horror. Thanks, Jim!
Woke up today to two new reviews of “Black-Eyed Kids.” The first comes from Nicholas Kaufmann, author of the excellent novellas General Slocum’s Gold and Chasing the Dragon:
“The Black-Eyed Kids… are relatable in form but utterly terrifying in action and motivation, not to mention extremely violent, all of which, I think, makes them really frightening. We also get to meet another weird and original creature from the Black Lands, the blackwood, a carnivorous, spider-like tree, which shows up in one of the novella’s best set pieces.”
The other review comes from Colum McKnight at DreadfulTales.com. Here’s an excerpt:
“Having read a lot, if not all, of Rogers’ work, I’d come to assume that I was going to mainly get style and content from this author. This novella proves that he’s not only capable of the above mentioned two things, but he’s also capable of setting you up for some truly intense scares. And good faith in the author, coupled with a vague sense of knowledge as to where the character is going, tells me that this is a trend that Rogers is going to set for the Black Lands novels. I’m stoked.”
It’s week two of The Bloodlight over at BloodyBookish.com, and the website is holding a contest. Answer five questions about Felix Renn and the Black Lands (the answers can be found on this website) and you’ll be included in a draw to win a set of the three Felix Renn chapbooks.
I’m very excited to announce that I am the feature author of this month’s edition of The Bloodlight over at BloodyBookish.com. Over the next few weeks, BB will be posting a series of articles about me and my work. I’m very honoured to have been asked to take part in this. BloodyBookish.com is a really great website for readers and writers. I strongly recommend you check it out.
Speaking of reviews, the fine folks over at Innsmouth Free Press have reviewed the Canadian horror anthology Chilling Tales. Here’s what they had to say about my Felix Renn story:
Ian Rogers brings us My Body. This is a well-thought-out tale with some great twists. A private detective meets a little girl who takes him into a haunted house. It is now his job to try to figure out who is doing the haunting.
The Ginger Nuts of Horror reviewed my Weird Western novella Deadstock. Here’s a short excerpt:
“…it’s fast paced gripping tale, that will hook you on page one and keep it’s claws in you until you turn over the final page. Seriously folks Ian Rogers has a great talent for writing highly entertaining stories.”
I’m really glad that people seem to be digging this story as it’s my first foray into a new genre. It certainly makes me want to write more tales about Sam and Raisy. If only there were more hours in the day!
The Burning Effigy event, “An Evening with the Authors,” went very well, despite the rainy weather and the Grey Cup game. Thanks to Monica for setting it up, and thanks to fellow performers Jeff Cottrill and Tobin Elliott for helping to make it such a great night.
Colum McKnight of DreadfulTales.com videotaped the readings and I’ve included links to mine below. In the first one, I read a short excerpt from “Black-Eyed Kids,” while in the second one I read from a new, unpublished Felix Renn story, “Out of the Blue.”
“…The writing is mature and as professional as anything being stacked on the “Bestsellers!” table at Chapters.
With The Ash Angels Ian Rogers did me a solid. He affirmed my observations from his first chapbook, that a new talent had entered the literary world. The story is told with the same confidence and maturity, assuring the reader that they are in competent hands.”
Proper setting and placement are absolutely essential to the well being of a well crafted Weird West novel. If these things aren’t handled properly, the author stands on the precipice of another genre altogether, namely Steampunk. Rogers handles this task brilliantly and expertly, keeping the realism directly steeped in a properly historical context, and limits himself to that time periods alone. Add the weight of a supernatural element and BAM! what you have in your grubby little hands is one of the best Weird West pieces you’ll ever read.
That’s right, folks: one of the best Weird West pieces you’ll ever read. I’d say straight from the horse’s mouth, but according to the review, Colum is actually afraid of horses. So instead I’ll say straight from the mouth of a damn fine reviewer. Big thanks to Colum and Dreadful Tales!
The Black Lands is a dimension filled with supernatural creatures that lies next to our own world. This alternate reality is the setting for a series of stories by Ian Rogers.
To find out more about the Black Lands, read the history.