Talie Helene

The Challenge is a round-robin story, based on an idea originated by Felicity Dowker. The idea was hijacked by Stephen Studach, who has rustled-up a posse of writers to participate.The story will culminate in an open competition put to popular vote, with funds raised being donated to Paul Haines and family.

Participating Writers (in order of appearance)

• Felicity Dowker
• Stephen Studach
• Simon Petrie
• Talie Helene
• Marty Young
• Shane Jiraiya Cummings
• Kirstyn McDermott
• Lyn Battersby
• Lee Battersby
• Nathan Burrage
• Jack Dann
• Stephen Dedman
• Will Elliott
• Robert Hood,
• Rick Kennett
• Margo Lanagan
• Rosaleen Love
• Brett McBean
• Cameron Rogers
• Lucy Sussex
• Kaaron Warren
• Kim Wilkins
• Sean Williams

From the Press Release:

IMAGINATION AS A BULLET
The Paul Haines Posse

Rules Of Engagement

The opening of a story, under the working title Nameless will soon appear on HorrorScope – The Australian Dark Fiction Weblog. The above mentioned writers (for the most part, in that sequential order) are invited to each contribute 50 to 500 words to the story’s progression. Each new piece will be added to the tale on HorrorScope, along with the writer’s name.

At the penultimate point in the story the last, end section will be held open. Those who wish to try their hand at writing the ending, within the word limits quoted above, can submit their version with an entry fee of 10 dollars. Payment details will, of course, also be available at that time. Everyone and anyone from anywhere can enter the competition.

At a designated cut-off date the six best endings will be featured on HorrorScope where the three finalists will be decided by votes. The winner will then be judged by a yet-to-be-announced individual.

The prizes for the writer whose ending is chosen (aside from the rewards of collaborating on a unique work with some local legends of speculative fiction) will be:

• The honour of giving the story a title.
• A manuscript version of the story signed by all of the writers involved.
• A copy of The Australian Writer’s Marketplace 2009/2010.
• A copy of The Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror 19th annual collection (edited by Datlow, Link & Grant.)
• Free 1-year membership, or 12-month renewal, to the Australian Horror Writers Association.
• Books: Signed limited editions of – Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge, Wild Things by Douglas Clegg, and Prodigal Blues by Gary A. Braunbeck.
• As well as – Development Hell by Mick Garris; Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill; Infected by Scott Sigler; The Nature of Balance by Tim Lebbon; The Dark Descent edited by David G. Hartwell; a pre-loved copy of The Books of Blood (vols 1-3) from Marty Young’s own collection.
• A copy of The Last Days of Kali Yuga, the second collection of Paul Haines’ stories. This one is from Brimstone Press, and due to be released in December of this year. Kindly donated by Angela Challis.

Thanks to Marty Young and Shane Jiraiya Cummings for their generosity and for allowing their respective sites to play host to this project. Major thanks also, to Felicity Dowker. Felicity innocently started the story on her blog ‘Here There Be Tygers’ and then kindly allowed me to hijack it for this concept. And last, but far from least, a thank you to Talie (Widow’s Peak) Helene for her cooperation and positive comments.

This is a chance to directly use one’s imagination to add just a little extra to an excellent cause.

All proceeds from this round-robin (or flight of crows) will go to Paul Haines to use in whatever manner that he and his family see fit.

So, get ready, read each shot, and, if you think your calibre is up to it, fire away when the next-to-last part appears and the comp is pronounced open.

Happy conjuring.

S.S.

Further details can be found in the Announcement at HorrorScope.

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