Advance Reviews

"In a genre that often relies on shock value to create terror, Kane shows that it is possible to draw on the darkness of the reader’s mind to create terror rather than throw gratuitous violence and gore on the page to manufacture terror [...] In the hands of a lesser author, it would be easy for a story like “Shattered” to become unfocused and lose its edge. Kane shows deftness in handling the story as well as a deep understanding of what horror is all about and is able to shape the story into one that is sure to resonate with the reader." - Examiner

"Shattered by C.S. Kane is one of those dark and sinister reads that are perfect to read on a dark and stormy night for those of us who love to occasionally delve into a haunting read that toys with the mind. The author sets a bleak stage, both physically and emotionally and unrolls the action from there, creating just the right amount of frenzy and fear!" - Tome Tender

NEW SITE NEWS!

The brand new website is coming very soon over at CSKane.com so please keep your eyes peeled for it!

TitanCon Recap

Winter is definitely coming and just before it hits I'd like to recap the amazing event that was TitanCon 2013.

TitanCon is a Belfast based event that was brought about by a number of different groups coming together with the purpose of presenting an innovative convention. Brotherhood Without Banners, The Other Ones and Arkham Gaming Centre. For information about the many supporters of TitanCon just click here.

GAME OF THRONES

The main focus of TitanCon is the celebration of the prolific Game of Thrones phenomenon. Both the books by George R.R. Martin and the HBO adaptation are discussed on panels. Guests are also invited to take part in cool GoT inspired craft sessions and photo/signing opportunities are available with the stars of the show.

Being a huge fan of both the books and the show myself I was giddy with excitement going into The Green Room. Everyone was really friendly, warm and welcoming. I was over the moon to sip coffee with Ian McElhinney (Barristan Selmy in the series), Ron Donachie (Rodrick Cassel), Luke Barnes (Rast) and Aimee Richardson (Princess Myrcella Barethon). I will be very interested to see Aimee on screens in the future. She is definitely an engaging and exciting local talent to keep an eye on.

Aside from the whole Game of Thrones aspect there is a whole lot of other interesting things at the event. Crafters selling wares, gaming, artists, musicians, Cosplay and of course the literary panels.

LITERARY PANELS

Being first and foremost an avid horror fan I was really looking forward to meeting Adam Nevill. I was not disappointed. This guy has it in spades without question. Not only a great writing talent but he brought a perspective to the panel that was both informed and thoroughly insightful. I was very excited to pick up a copy of Apartment 16 and The Ritual. I am now eagerly anticipating getting my hands on House of Small Shadows upon publication.




Prolific SF writer Ian McDonald also brought a wealth of intelligent discourse to the proceedings and I am glad to have come into contact with such an enthusiastic and open guy. His private words of encouragement really meant a lot to me and have proven extremely inspirational.


There were three of us present that are just at the very beginning of our writing careers. A varied group of "newbies" as it were. Laurence Donaghy, Kenneth Gregory and myself. Topics discussed included the process of getting published, writing families, conflict and resolution issues and blending genres. I found the blending genres discussion very interesting in relation to the different beliefs on how far that technique can go. Each discussion was moderated brilliantly.

SUMMARY

I can honestly easy it was a pleasure to be invited to a convention with such warm and friendly organisers. The crew that pulled it all together are a phenomenal team. The success can be clearly seen as TitanCon 2014 has already been confirmed as going ahead. All I can say is well done guys. If you keep building upon the success of this professional convention soon all shall hear you roar!

Jim Corr Photography - www.jimcorrphotography.com

Colour me Con-happy!

TitanCon is coming and I am proud and privileged to announce that I will be a part of it.

Photo taken by Jim Corr.

This year the convention will be held in The Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast. It will run from 6th - 8th September with a literature night on the Friday, the main event on Saturday and an exciting coach tour on Sunday. The weekend is going to be nothing short of epic.

Guests include SF author Ian McDonald, supernatural horror writer Adam Nevill and many more. There will also be visitors coming from the Game of Thrones production set! As the shooting schedule is confirmed the full guest line up will be announced. TitanCon has a history of having fantastic panelists and this year the line-up looks set to stun attendees.

More details will follow in upcoming months.

Hope to see you there!

Kane

An Evening with Damian Gorman

On Monday evening I was lucky enough to be invited to do my very first reading at The MAC. This amazing arena for the artistic community in Belfast was opened in 2012 and is a standout venue in terms of both its impressive architecture and the events held within its walls.

I had heard about an opportunity to meet with Damian Gorman, who was completing his Artist-in-Residence term, and I jumped at the opportunity to get as much as much advice as possible from the BAFTA winning writer. After a fantastic one-to-one meeting I felt truly motivated and inspired.

Damian has helped encourage and engage local writers throughout his career and it will be sad to see him leave these shores shortly. However, it will be possible to bid him a fond farewell at his last appearance Saying Things.

With such a great host and wonderful venue I was enthralled to join other local writers to offer up an extract from SHATTERED. I have to admit that my nerves were jangling but after a hasty introduction to the work and a plea for patience (in case my aphasia kicked in) I started into the prologue. It all went well thankfully. With a two-pronged technique of taking my time and remembering to breathe I managed to read the introduction to the upcoming novella and after speaking with audience members after the event I was pleased to find that it was enjoyed. Comments included "very scary", "chilling"and "gruesome" and that was the reaction after hearing only the first few pages. I don't think I'd be able to do it every day but the response really was music to a the ears of this horror writer.

There was some amazing talent in the room and I thoroughly enjoyed sitting back and listening to the readings from the other writers. With a huge variety in content and format the evening was very interesting and intimate. I wish the best for all the participants and of course to Damian who has brought so much to the writing community here in Northern Ireland.

Cover Reveal

Recently my publisher revealed the final cover art for my debut novella SHATTERED. I am so excited about it. I don't want to give too much away but suffice to say it literally gets to the heart of the story. I also feel that given the release date of November the overall colour scheme fits in well the winter read vibe the book has. Zach McCain is an amazing artist and has worked on cover art for great authors such as Greg F. Gifune, Alan Ryker and Michael McBride to name but a few. It is my honour and privilege to share with my blog followers the image he has created. Just click the picture to see it enlarged.

Now we just have to wait for summer to roll on through so I can share the novella with you. I hope you are looking forward to it!

Best,

Kane

A Weekend with Colin Bateman

I have never participated in any kind of creative writing course. Even at university I had always veered towards critical analysis of the classics rather than learning the tools and techniques needed for writing fiction. Strangely the thought of studying the actual procedure involved in both writing and the publishing process was something that made me feel pretty nervous. However, during a snowy weekend in January I set those anxieties aside and headed to a hotel in Bangor to attend Colin Bateman’s Best Seller event.

It was a fantastic and productive weekend. The ambience was warm and inviting. Colin’s relaxed demeanour made me feel at ease and he conducted the class in a personal way. He illustrated the key factors involved in getting into gear with writing through colourful anecdotes and accounts of his own experiences. Colin’s advice was clear, concise and practical and just the jump start that many aspiring authors could do with. The main point I took away was mainly just to get on with getting the words on the page. I also discovered that the process of submitting to publishers doesn’t have to be scary if you are organised. Special speakers including literary agent Paul Feldstein and author Stephen Walker further highlighted that being a professional writer is an achievable aspiration. 

The course really was a very positive experience. I came away feeling extremely motivated to turn more of my ideas into full blown manuscripts. I also feel equipped to break each part of the process down and work confident in the fact that through effort, focus and action I can attain the goals I set for myself. I am also really chuffed I got to talk with the author of Divorcing Jack, The Mystery Man series and Murphy's Law to name but a few. Now, back to work!

The Lecter Legend

Tonight NBC are set to release a brand new series entitled Hannibal. The show will explore the relationship between Hannibal Lecter and FBI forensic psychologist Will Graham. These roles are being played consecutively by Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy. There will also be notable appearances by Laurence Fishburne who will playing Special Agent Jack Crawford and Gillian Anderson as Dr. Du Maurier, Lecter’s psychotherapist. The show was commissioned and confirmed for, an unusual, thirteen episodes. With the glossy promotional trailer it seems that Hannibal is back with a sultry swagger. With the gaining buzz around the series the question arises as to why the legend of Lecter still arouses such interest more than thirty years after the character was first introduced to us by author Thomas Harris?

The answer lies in the blood-stained chronicles of a charming yet extremely dangerous man that we have come to know through both the books and movies. Red Dragon (1981) covers the dramatic relationship between Lecter and Graham. Each opponent manages to inflict deep wounds on each other in both a physical and psychological capacity. The reader is left with the impression that Hannibal Lecter is ruthless in his endeavors and gruesomely exact in his vengeful retributions. It is also evident that he can hold a grudge. The next novel was The Silence of the Lambs (1988) where we see Lecter assume a seemingly helpful, if twisted, demeanor. His appreciation for manners is shown and through his attitude to Clarice Starling we come to understand that he can also truly adore certain women. The novel Hannibal (1999) takes this theme to the extreme and the twisted seduction evolves into a strange story of love, passion and control. The final book to be written and a precursor to everything was Hannibal Rising (2006) which brings the contributing factors of Lecter’s penchant for consuming his prey to the fore. The novel weaves an intricate tapestry of love, loss, lust and longing that leads to a complex depiction of the character that is Lecter.

The film versions of the novels mainly stayed close to the narrative. The first film to feature Lecter was called Manhunter (1986) and starred Brian Cox in the lead role. Cox portrayed Hannibal in a physical and powerful way. However, it was the performance of Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) that seemed to cement the character in the consciousness of the viewer. He showed us a sharp tongued seducer with a taste for the bloody and a vicious undertone resided in every sentence he uttered. Hopkins reprised the role for Hannibal (2001) which was directed by Ridley Scott. This adaptation significantly veered away from the narrative of the novel. The film maintains the characterization set up when Lecter and Starling met initially and foregoes the grotesque scenes of the ending chapters of the book. Finally, Hannibal Rising (2006), with Gaspard Ulliel in the lead role, tells the tale as told in the novel of the same name explaining Hannibal’s origin. Taking us right back to the character. 

I remember the first time I came into contact with the macabre material. I was probably too young to be watching The Silence of the Lambs but my eyes were glued to the screen as the thrilling and terrifying story about a young female FBI agent, a weird skin loving creep and the sinister, yet at times, sweet Hannibal unfurled in front of me. By the end of the film I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to be in the FBI just like Clarice Starling. A number of factors stood in my way, I'm really short, I live across the Atlantic and I definitely wasn't a U.S. citizen so that dream was ended as abruptly as the squealing of the lambs. Yet, through writing I found a way to enter that world. Now I create and control men like Lecter day in, day out. The result is a fascination with learning how such a character can come to be. I hope this series sheds some new light on the charismatic killer and oh, by the way NBC - you had me at Hannibal. 

Update

Things have been hotting up here in the depths of Kane HQ. The big news is that SHATTERED is almost ready to be published by DarkFuse and I am excitedly awaiting to see the finished artwork for the cover. I've also been submitting a number of reviews and articles to DarkMedia Online. Please feel free to check out both of these great websites.

I've had my first experience as an interviewee. The topic up for discussion was the upcoming novella and my motivations for writing. I was also queried as to what is like to get to this stage after my brain injury. It was a bit of a roller coaster truth be told but hopefully it will go down well and raise awareness of the great support system that is the Cedar Foundation. I will post links as soon as it is published.

The next stage is completing edits on the first draft of my first full length novel. Getting there slowly. Upcoming blog posts will include A Weekend with Colin Bateman, Writing Room and Interview with an Author, to name but a few.

Please keep dropping by for updates and exclusives.

See you in your nightmares,

Kane.

Poe Revisited

The first time I came into contact with the works of Edgar Allan Poe was the gruesome day of the tacks. My older cousin, Kevin, carefully plotted to play a trick on me. Strategically he arranged an entire box of brass tacks upwards on the floor so that the pointy spikes glinted heavenwards. He yelled for me urgently and my ten year old self ran heavily into the room barefoot. The screams were loud and many tears flowed as Kevin had to shakily remove the embedded spikes. As an apology and in a hopeful bid to buy my silence he told me to pick a book from his shelf to keep. Kevin knew I was already a dedicated, fully fledged bookworm. My eyes scanned the spines of each book excitedly. I remember seeing a lot of Terry Pratchett books and The Hobbit. My eyes finally settled upon Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe. I had never read any Poe and now the book still sits on my shelf. It is well worn, continuously revisited and serves as a reminder never to walk around barefoot.

I was saddened to read recently that the Poe House and Museum in Baltimore was vandalized. Having lost its curator when it was closed last September a number of incidents have raised concern. Since the closure reports that the front steps have been stolen and the exterior has been defaced with graffiti have emerged. However, hope is on the horizon with local groups pulling together to come up with a way to make the building self sufficient. Poe Baltimore, a nonprofit organization, is aiming to take over the operational issues entailed in maintaining the museum. They will also endeavor to raise the annual operating budget. I can't stress how important it is to keep museums like this alive. To be able to see how and where great authors worked can give us an insight into the context of their writings. These places aren't simply shrines they are architectural educational tools. They are present history. They are places that must be visited and revisited time and time again. They must be cherished as artifacts as much as the treasures they house.

LINKS:

Poe Forevermore

The Poe Society of Baltimore

Mark Redfield

Hi all, the festive season is upon us again. I'd like to wish you all a very merry holiday period!

Urgent News

C.S. Kane is proud to announce that DarkFuse will be publishing SHATTERED. This is a debut novella and will be available in eBook format. Dates and links to download the novella will be posted soon.

An Interview with...

An Interview with an Artist

Belfast based sculptor Patrick Colhoun discusses his work and what drives him to create his dark art. Originally trained as a ceramicist Colhoun now incorporates black clay, hosiery, piercings, latex and metal spikes in his sculptures and installations. Contemporary and provocative Colhoun has a talent that is sure to create conversation... 

Can you pinpoint the motivation to create sculptures?

My motivation to make sculpture came when I was unable to play rugby because of injury. I wanted to find something that gave me the same satisfaction that competitive sport gave me and it turned out surprisingly to be ceramics. I had always loved art as a child and I had done some lathe work with my father when I was a young boy so for some reason I was drawn initially to the potter’s wheel. After that I started hand-building sculptures. I have no formal art education. The wonderful thing is that it can go wherever I want it to, so I want to see how far I can take it.  

Vacant

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

My motivation is many and varied. My first exhibition coincided with redundancy after a twenty year career and I found it very therapeutic to make work around this very negative experience. I liked the reaction that I got to the darker work and started using ever darker subject matter. After that early work was influenced by subjects such as death, decay, containment and sexual deviancy. This became the total antithesis to my previous career and the subject matter gave me the opportunity to develop almost an alter ego. Later on, when my father passed away I tried to use my work in a therapeutic way to help me through this and inspiration came from this in several ways, mainly in the fact that I was determined to succeed but on my own terms, traits that he would relate to and approve of. Also much of my work is in the form of truncated heads and torsos. These started almost as a partial self portrait in terms of a downward looking, brooding, grieving head but developed to a degree to relate to the inability of men to express themselves properly and to find their voice. The introduction of materials such as latex, hosiery and piercings really started to add an edge to my work, to the point where the pierced heads won an award, the Signature Art Awards in London in 2011.

Pigskin

What are the main difficulties you experience while you are working and how do you cope with them?

I juggle constantly with the work in terms of trying to keep a signature to my work but without it getting too boring or repetitive. It is important that people recognize your work but there has to be a constant development to it also. The introduction of other materials such as red hosiery on the Pigskin piece keeps the work fresh and also introduces an element not generally associated with ceramics. 

You work with a variety of materials in a multi-disciplinary fashion how do you manage working on sculptures, installations and commissions simultaneously?

The making process allows different pieces to be worked on simultaneously as the work is built as it goes through a drying process. Also a lot of the work is related in terms of content, so an installation may pull in several pieces of previously made work. 

Other than ceramic what is you favored material?

I worked in wood a lot when I was younger as it was what my father did but nothing for me beats clay. It was my way of standing apart from him to a degree. I love the challenge of doing what I do in what is a very conservative, craft based ceramics market and doing it differently, to the point where it may actually cause slight offense in terms of subject matter and content. For me the edgier the better, but yet at the heart of it all for me there needs to be a level of skill and a quality in what I am doing.

Warning 1

Where can your work be viewed?

My work can be seen in Canvas Galleries in Belfast and I am about to start showing with a gallery in Harrogate. Also on my website www.patrickcolhoun.comWhat advice would give to those with a creative passion who would like to promote their work?In my opinion you cannot beat the satisfaction of making something with your hands and someone then likes that piece. I think if someone is that way inclined, just to keep making and to find their audience. It may take a bit of time, but if the quality is there, it will happen.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

I have reached a point where I am evaluating where my work should go from here. I have had a lot of positives in the last year and I would like to build on those. I am looking to do more international exhibitions in the future and I will continue to strive to make unique work, to keep dividing opinion and to keep loving what I am doing.  

To see more artwork or to contact Patrick Colhoun please visit the website www.patrickcolhoun.com 

Follow on Facecbook or Twitter @patrickcolhoun

                    

                

Twisted

Warning Head

For the Love of Shaun

   

November Update

So, October has been and gone. Halloween was quite sad this year. Normally it is my favourite time to celebrate, yet All Souls' Day was intense with memories of those lost ever too close. I am scared this is a condition of getting older. The nights are drawing in so fast now and I am hoping to press on with multiple projects. With an edgy but keen eye I'm starting to look to 2013 with a sense of hope.

Through developing and reaching out in terms of my online base I have connected with so many great people. From publishers to bloggers to other horror fans - like myself. I would welcome anyone to drop me a line through the blog or on Twitter or Facebook. It is fantastic to have a common passion with great people and this is something I am set to build on. Also, thank-you for taking the time to catch up here.

So, with stories seeping from my mind, through the tips of my fingers and onto the pure white pages I hope to continue to share my corruptions with you.

Later Fiends,

Kane

October Update

The most inspirational time of year is here! The notice board in the office is now bulging with ideas and during the incoming winter months I hope to develop the scrawled snippets into fleshed out novel and novella concepts.

Recently, I have been writing reviews for Dark Media. This is thoroughly enjoyable considering my love for all things dark and horror related. I also hope to have some exciting news regarding my debut novella so please keep following to find out all about it in the near future.

October Links:

Dark Media

Dark Fuse

Thanks for the continued support and interest. Please stay tuned for brand new video posts and more images that will be up soon.

A Room with a View

October is upon us at last! There is a tangible nip in the air and a bite to the night. With multiple projects happening and a beautiful view from my writing room things are fairly rattling on here in Briar House. This is the best time of year. Amber and russet leaves falling to create a veritable rustling carpet underfoot. The winds are howling like ghastly ghouls screeching through the rooms. Time to enjoy the autumn and revel in the most wonderful time of year.

Inspiration

"I was the shyest human ever invented, but I had a lion inside me that wouldn't shut up!"

Ingrid Bergman

Inspiration

Paris in January. Such a lovely city and the perfect time of year to visit. The throngs of tourists aren't bustling around and you are free to enjoy the eerie beauty of the capital in peace. From the well known sights to the secrets buried under the winding streets this place bursts with amazing, sometimes frightening features. Here are some of the places that have enchanted and inspired me during previous visits:

Eiffel Tower.
Seen sometimes as a simple symbol of the city that is found on keychains, mugs, caps and tee-shirts this structure is a place I visit every time I go to Paris. I don't necessarily climb every time but I go to gaze at the amazing feat of engineering. Constructed to commemorate the centenerary of one of the bloodiest periods in European history, the French Revolution. A mountaineer scaled it, two men have parachuted from it and many scientific experiments were conducted at it. It is a marvel.

The Gargoyles of Notre-Dame.
Another favourite place to visit is the rooftop of Notre-Dame Cathedral. Inspiration for the fantastic novel by Victor Hugo and residence of some particularly gruesome yet harmless gargoyles. This one is my particular favourite:

Underground Paris.

Paris has many amazing features hidden below the old streets. From the interesting Metro tunnels and stops to the chilling catacombs. Descend to discover the darkest parts of Paris.

Other places of Interest.

There are so many amazing places to see in this city. If you go please visit Shakespeare & Co. to pick up a book. The Sacré Coeur and The Madeleine Church are epic and evocative of the past. The Montmatre area is a must for those selling to channel the artistic side and the museums particularly Musée D'Orsay are well worth visiting.

Childhood Memories

It seems to me that there is a resurgence happening in dark and twisted tales for children. This really is a good thing. Having grown up with chilling tales and scary songs for lullabies I quickly established that, in this cruel world, there are things one should be afraid of. Initially I loved to be told old stories, of various origins, from the twisted cautionary celtic legends to the horrific evocation of Baba Yaga. My mother and grandfather delighted in "putting the frighteners" on all the children in the family. I devoured the dark imagery in the offerings of the Grimm brothers. Poe became a fascination as a young teen.
These are the narratives that warn us, form us and educate us on the passions and emotions that fear can bring. Indulge children with them so that they learn there is darkness in the world and to be aware.

I am always alert to the horrors of this world thanks to the songs my mother sang:

Weile, Weile, Waila

Remember the Heroes

Dark and dastardly deeds,
The demon planted his seeds,
Hapless innocents caught in the carnage,
Hopeless witnesses viewed the damage.

To see such bloody horror,
Leads to fits of terror,
To hear the screams of fear,
Results in echoes that do sear.

What kind of madness causes such actions?
I would argue none.
It is simply the behaviour of selfish factions,
That leads to the lifting of a gun.

Repugnant dishonour will taint their names,
Disgust will be aimed at their games,
Their minds are feeble, weak and cowardly,
Vengeance shall come for them unreserverdaly.

To those that fell we should mark respect,
To the silent heroes who tried to protect,
To the children that were sacrificed,
To every innocent that has lost life:

We will mourn you,
We will remember you,
We will clamber for your justice.