February 2009

Return of the Iceman, a comic look at fatherhood and growing old, has been accepted for publication by Patchwork Path for use in the upcoming book Patchwork Path: Dad's Bowtie. I'm thrilled to be a part of this book!

2008

Much of the year was spent editing Mirror Man and fine tuning the final chapters. Late in 2008 I received some very encouraging correspondence - more to follow later on that, as I am firm believer that speaking too soon kills most opportunities!

DECEMBER 2007

The pitch for "Mirror Man" was recently critiqued by 'Bookends, LLC' Literary Agency and was not only very complimentary, but also provided some useful tips on how to improve it further, to grab the reader's attention.

The Pitch:

Valentine is a Child of Loki and one of the original Berserker tribesmen of Norse Folklore. With unobstructed access to the minds of his chosen victims and the ability to assume their precise physical characteristics, he takes what he wants, when and from where he pleases. He is the ultimate identity thief, unconstrained by the password-encrypted barriers his human counterparts face. Only a conscience and the inherent loneliness his immortality brings, stand between him and the decadent life of leisure lead by his brothers and sisters.

The Critique:

I love this! I really think this sounds cool. My only suggestion is not to let it dwindle out. Give us the conflict in the last sentence. What is this book about and what does Valentine face? I hope the book isn’t entirely an internal battle for Valentine on whether to use his powers or not. That would be boring. No, I want to know what he’s going to be up against in this book. If you can nail that last line you have an absolute winner here.

AUGUST 2007

"Love an Sacrifice", an anthology from Zen Publishing, which leads with my short story "Stepping Off" is now available from Lulu.com as an ebook download. Click here to read more and buy the book. 

JULY 2007

I've  added a blog to the site. At the moment I'm not sure if i can devote enough time to it and my writing, but until it becomes clear I'm again using it to procrastinate, I'll give it another try.

APRIL 2007

Two reviews have been received on ‘Love and Sacrifice’, both giving favorable feedback on my short story ‘Stepping Off’.

Review by Mario Guslandi

“To the dismay of those who keep sounding the death knell for the genre, the horror story anthology is alive and well, especially in the world of the small press, as Love and Sacrifice clearly shows.”

“… contributors who, although for the time being not exactly famous, exhibit both a solid background and a steady hand at producing perceptive but disquieting tableaux of family life, difficult friendships, love affairs, bizarre sexual encounters.”

“Mike Davis’ Stepping off is a poignant, accomplished story of only two-and-a-half pages about abuse and wasted life, leaving a long lasting feeling of sadness.”

“In short, an interesting showcase for a bunch of talented writers and a good way to spend a few pleasant reading hours.”

Review by Joe Kroeger

“…this book packs an amazing emotional wallop within these well-crafted tales.”

“…an energetic and horror packed reading experience that will leave you wishing that there were more tales to tell.”

“This anthology opens with a story that bristles with such heart-wrenching emotion that you will find yourself pausing to catch your breath before going on to the next entry. Stepping Off by Mike Davis is a simple story that follows the lives of two damaged individuals with horrific pasts and the paths each of them end up on. With a perfect narrative voice and a powerful ending, Stepping Off is the perfect story to gather the momentum to rocket through this exceptional anthology.”

“…a wonderfully solid anthology that is an immense pleasure to read.”

“Be prepared to lose yourself for a short time within an anthology that is well worth the price of admission.”

JANUARY 2007

I'm thrilled to announce that 'Stepping Off' is now available on the Zen Films website as a downloadable .mp3, read by Doug Bradley of "Hellraiser" fame.