Tag: k.v. taylor

Free Fiction: “Transfigured Night” by K. V. Taylor

1.

Always wondered what Jason was writing in this journal. All musicians are sensitive artistes, I guess, I just never knew he wrote poetry. Anyhow, I’m commandeering the thing since wherever the hell he is, he doesn’t need it any more.

Jesus, I can’t believe he’s gone. I wish I’d told him.

-Vic

2.

This is the kind of shit you see in movies. Guy goes out for a day-trip with his friend, storm picks up, beats the hell out of them, guy gets knocked out by a falling piece of the boat. Guy wakes up in open water, GPS fried, his friend staring blankly–like he’s the one with the head injury.

He kept talking about faces in the water. Jesus.

Goddammit, why did I go to sleep? Why didn’t I stay awake and watch him?

I’m probably going to burn this fucking diary when I get home – well, my parts at least. But I need something to do or I’ll go crazy. I’m washed up on this rock, Jason disappeared overboard (or into thin air, I guess) three days ago, and there’s still no rescue.

Weird, but that’s not a complaint. I don’t want one. Not after I let him down like that.

Ran around the edge of the island today–the thing is small as hell, and nothing in any direction.

Fuck, why can’t I cry?

-Vic

Want to read the rest? Download the free PDF here!

“This Book and I Could Be Friends” reviews Cthulhurotica

The opening piece, Gabrielle Harbowy’s “Descent of the Wayward Sister,” does a great job setting the tone for the rest, turning Lovecraft on his head by centering on a bold female character who greets the monstrous with open arms (literally). An unapologetic thief and prostitute, she’s a rule-breaker on the margins of Victorian society already, as opposed to some stuffy New England aristocrat. Don Pizarro’s “The C-Word,” on the other hand, is a quiet modern tale of two lovers, a young man and a woman seventeen years his senior. Except she lives in Innsmouth, which adds another layer to the issues of aging and physical change that have caused her to push him away.

Plus the reviewer gives “thumbs up” to the idea of Cthulhurotica 2!

Read more at This Book and I Could Be Friends

Interview: K. V. Taylor

Name: KV Taylor. Katey or Kate is better, though.

Author of: “Transfigured Night”

Age: 30

Geographic Location: Arlington, VA

Original Hometown, if different: Wellsburg, WV

Twitter: @taylorkv

Website: http://www.kvtaylor.com

Past publications: Short fiction with Morrigan Books, Graveside Tales, The New Bedlam Project, Reflection’s Edge, and several other fine publishers – full listing is here (http://www.kvtaylor.com/welcome/publications/).

What’s your favorite H.P. Lovecraft story or other Mythos story? The Rats in the Walls, definitely.

What comes to mind when you think “Lovecraft” + “Erotica”?

1. Rats–wait, no, that’s not sexy.

2. Tentacles! Wait, no, everyone will do tentacles. (Are tentacles actually sexy? Hm.)

3. Ah, sex is creepy, Lovecraft is creepy, it’s a match made in R’lyeh.

How did you hear about Cthulhurotica? I saw the link on duotrope initially, but was shy about subbing until I read more and more on twitter and the website.

What inspired your story? I was re-reading some Lovecraft and ran across The Temple. I love the journal-style first person horror Lovecraft did, how he lent a specific feeling to each of his narrators through it. Really drags me into their madness. He went a little overboard with the whole Stoic WWI German thing on that one, but it’s still scary as hell. And he made it such a point to note that the dead guy who dropped the little idol was beautiful…

What music or movies helped you to write this story? It’s named after the piece that helped me– Arnold Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht. It’s disturbing enough to give me goosebumps, but it’s always beautiful. Seemed like a good vibe for Lovecraftian erotica.

How many rewrites did you do before submitting? Surprisingly few, since I obsess over that kind of thing; but it’s a simple story, so it was easier than usual not to step in it too badly. It was the edit from Dagan Books that really made me think it was any good. Ah beautiful editors, you make writers look good in spite of ourselves!

What is your favorite bit?

“I either need to jerk off more, or throw myself into the ocean and get it over with.”