I?ve heard people make the claim that Internet friendships cannot compare to those in the real world. There?s a strong case for that. I?ve also heard people say that those you interact with on a though a computer are not, can not, be your real friends. And that is a load of bullshit.
I?ve also heard a lot of complaints about the various message boards in the small horror fiction pool. There is sometimes a bit of animosity between the camps, and I don?t quite understand that. Aren?t we all supposed to be if not friends, than associates for the same cause?
Shocklines is the probably biggest and most populated MB that is devoted to horror writing, and as such it probably takes more heat than most. I?ve heard some intelligently thought out criticisms of Shocklines and I can?t always deny that there is truth to some of the complaints. However, there is no way that Matt Schwartz, or anyone else, can manage a board that size and please everyone. An individual can go nuts trying to do so.
I love the Shocklines the Community and also The Shocklines Bookstore. I?ve went into great detail about the death of my brother, both here and elsewhere. For all the warts and imperfections of the SL community, I would never have been able to get to see him and make peace and say goodbye were it not for them. The love and sympathy and generosity that came forth was staggering. And not only did I get the help I needed to rent a car and get down to Florida, I received dozens of encouraging emails from the community. In my heart, I am equally indebted to all. In one sense, everyone says that they?ll do anything they can and an angry, heartbroken part of me would insist that there is NOTHING anyone on this Earth can do to provide the kind of help that I need. In another sense, all those letters helped me immeasurably.
Which brings me to John Paul Allen. Most of the horror fiction community knows about what happened, but there are some people from other quarters here, so I?ll tell it all. John is a writer. In my opinion, he?s a damned good writer. I first heard about his novel, Gifted Trust, and was interested to learn that the talented Nancy Collins edited the book. Reading a brief description of the plot enticed me to buy a copy. I thought that it was terrific and I have said so publicly many times in the last couple of years.
John was also an enthusiastic and witty member of the community. He would relate side-splitting tales of his unusual family situation, yet he always maintained an absolute love and devotion to his wife. It was touching the way he would say that she was his life. John once sent me a photo of Pam, as he was understandably proud of her.
Pam died a couple of weeks ago. It was sudden and unexpected. When John gave the news at Shocklines, I was stunned. Stunned and shocked and a bit heartbroken. Some might not understand how one could be heartbroken for people he has never met. Those individuals who think that have never known the kind of online community that Shocklines is.
?Pay it Forward? is a corny cliché, there is a universal human decency behind its words. People helped me beyond measure when Rick died. I sent John some money when his wife passed. A lot of the Shocklines people were doing the same thing. If that?s not an example of a great human community, I?m not sure what is.
It?s difficult to ask people to send money and receive nothing in return and I?m not about to ask anyone here to do that. However, the very good folks at Nocturne Press and Biting Dog Press are conspiring to do something else to help. They are collaborating on a short story chapbook from John, called Prader-Willi. ALL proceeds from Prader-Willi will go directly to John. Here?s an opportunity to check out a writer and get a beautifully made chapbook*, as well as help out a decent guy that is in need of a boost. I can?t promise that you?ll like John Paul Allen?s writing, or this story, but I think that you will.
If you?ve ever been at your darkest hour and someone lent a hand, maybe you can spend six lousy bucks and help out with this situation. I?m asking you to do it. Most of us can afford six dollars and if you can?t, I understand that too. God knows that I?ve gone weeks where I am counting my purchases of the cheapest items I can get at Wal-Mart, desperately afraid that the total will be more than the meager amount of cash at my disposal. But if you can swing it, I?d like to see you get this book.
Thanks for listening and I?ll get off my soapbox now.
http://noctpress.com/pm.htm
*I haven?t seen it yet, but judging from the publications I?ve seen so far from these people, it?s a sure bet that Prader-Willi will be gorgeous
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