Weird Fiction, Cosmic Horror, and a Book Award – 'Death of heaven' Takes the Spotlight!

First up, I won a book award for Horror for my book, "Death of heaven"!

There is a press release out on AP (Associated Press) and elsewhere around the world for it.

"Author JZ Murdock receives national recognition through the NYC BIG BOOK AWARD®!"

Cover art by Marvin Hayes

Amazon

What is the New York City Big Book Awards?

The New York City Big Book Award is a prestigious competition that welcomes submissions from a wide range of authors and publishers, both independent and major. The event is held annually and celebrates literary excellence across various genres and formats, including fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and audiobooks. The award’s scope is global, attracting entries from countries like the UK, India, Australia, and Canada. This diversity in participation highlights its significance in the literary world.

The NYC Big Book Award emphasizes quality content and presentation. Books are judged based on their editorial merit and audience appeal, allowing smaller independent presses to compete directly with larger publishing houses. This competition creates a level playing field, promoting the democratization of the publishing industry. Winners and distinguished favorites receive recognition in multiple categories, helping them gain visibility and credibility in the crowded book market. The award is positioned as a celebration of outstanding ideas and content, making it a valuable honor for authors looking to expand their reach and gain recognition.

For 2024, my book's recognition in the horror category places my work among the top in its field, highlighting its impact and quality in a competitive genre. The NYC Big Book Award’s focus on both independent and major publishers underscores the significance of such an accolade, especially for gaining broader visibility and elevating your work in the literary landscape.

So, there it is.

Anyway, "weird fiction"...

Wait! Hey, there's a video book trailer for this book, too.

Anyway, again...friend and fellow director Kelly Hughes sent me a link to:

Weird Fiction Explained | Horror Explored by Daniel J. Blackwood

Kelly shared this video with me about weird fiction thinking of me and my writings. See, as I've described below to Daniel, people always seemed to have trouble working out where to put my writings. Publishers were confused, saying my story (whatever story I had sent them) was too much this, not enough that, or they weren't quite sure if, or...sigh...whatever.

I knew it was good, and they often praised the story. But where to fit it, always seems to confuse them. I've always tried to produce what I found fascinating or to not do what's been tried and true. One learns the rules, then breaks them. Something that got me a medal in the military and various awards in other areas all through my life.

It also led me to leave a note on the video to its creator, Daniel J. Blackwood:

Daniel,
Great video! A fellow director Kelly Hughes just shared it with me. Probably because of my own writings and films. I was a fan of Robert E Howard as a kid in the late 1960s, Poe before him, and HP Lovecraft. I was deep into sciFi before that. I've found myself in a never-ending cycle that goes from SF, to fantasy (weird, horror, or otherwise), then science fact, renewing that cycle throughout my lifetime.
It's been hard for some to categorize my fiction and weird fiction certainly fits. BTW I don't have a problem with your pronunciation, I just assumed it was somewhere near Scotland.
I'd offer two other stories, turned onto my psych class in phenomenology (my concentration) at university (as a psych major) by my advisor Dr. Rees, which has influenced me. Even as a foundation of one of my books (Death of heaven):
Secret Snow, Silent Snow by Conrad Aiken and
Over The River by P. Schuyler Miller.
Perhaps one of my own, Poor Lord Ritchie.
Thanks for the effort and video.
Cheers! Sláinte!

There it is, or was.

Death of heaven is a hybrid narrative that blends various storytelling elements, embracing genres such as horror, science fiction, revisionist history, and cosmic horror. It delves into Lovecraftian themes, emphasizing the terror of the unknowable and incomprehensible, rather than relying solely on shock and gore—though some visceral moments are present. The novel spans the creation of the Earth through to its possible demise, exploring profound existential questions and the interplay of fate and choice in an ever-unfolding cosmic tapestry.

Where to go from here? I thought, perhaps, a history of my evolution as a writer could be useful. To someone. Or not.

Moving on...

ChatGPT:

JZ Murdock is an author, filmmaker, and producer, known for his work in horror, science fiction, and speculative fiction. He has a diverse creative background, producing films, writing books, and working on various screenplays. His storytelling often involves dark, surreal themes, including cosmic horror, virtual reality, supernatural adventures, and psychological terror. He has produced a variety of works across different mediums, including a manuscript that was a finalist for the 2024 American Legacy Book Awards and a short film that won 13 international awards.

Murdock co-founded the Gorst Underground Film Festival and the Slash Night Monthly shorts festival. Though the latter ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Murdock acquired COVID-19 on February 9, 2020, which led him to write the first hand account of his experiences and research on the disease in the book, Suffering "Long Covid". He also contributes to blogs and has been actively selling his books on platforms like Amazon. His projects explore themes ranging from deep personal experiences, like his battle with Long COVID, to more fictional explorations of horror, mystery, and science fiction.

Some of his notable works include a screenplay titled "The Teenage Bodyguard," a project that has nearly been produced multiple times, and "Ahriman," a screenplay involving themes of virtual reality and interplanetary conflict. Additionally, Murdock has been working on adaptations of works by other authors and original stories for film.

Gemini AI:

Death of Heaven is a horror novel by JZ Murdock that delves into themes of trauma, friendship, and the supernatural. The story follows two boys who bond over a shared childhood trauma and later find themselves entangled in a web of horrifying events that lead them to uncover a dark secret about the world they inhabit.   

Key elements of the story include:

• Eldritch Horror: The novel leans heavily into the eldritch horror genre, featuring cosmic entities and otherworldly forces that are difficult to comprehend and terrifying to encounter.   
• Trauma and Healing: The characters' experiences with trauma play a significant role in their development and relationships, exploring the lasting effects of such events.
• Friendship and Loyalty: The bond between the two main characters is central to the story, showcasing the power of friendship in the face of adversity.
• Dark Secrets: The novel unfolds a series of revelations that challenge the characters' understanding of reality and the world around them.

Without revealing too much, here's a brief overview of the plot:

• Childhood Trauma: The story begins with two young boys, James and Jimmy, who share a traumatic experience that bonds them deeply. James and Jimmy are two childhood friends who share a traumatic experience and later find themselves drawn into a terrifying world of cosmic horror. Their bond and their journey to uncover the truth about the supernatural forces that threaten their lives form the heart of the story.
• James: Often described as the more level-headed of the two, James is a character who strives for normalcy. His experiences with trauma have deeply affected him, and he seeks to understand and cope with the extraordinary events that unfold around him.
  Jimmy: More impulsive and often drawn to the mysterious, Jimmy's curiosity leads them into dangerous situations. His connection to James is profound, and he relies on their friendship to navigate the challenges they face.
• Unveiling the Truth: As they delve deeper into their newly uncovered history of the world, they uncover a horrifying secret about the world they inhabit and the nature of reality itself.
• Cosmic Horror: Over the course of the novel, introducing a new twist on Lovecraftian Eldritch entities and otherworldly forces that threaten to consume everything, the two friends experience various stories of others throughout the book who have been "touched" but greater and frightening forces leading them by the end to understanding what the world is truly all about. And more, because the truth lies far beyond the edge of Earth's biosphere.
• The Battle for Survival: James and Jimmy must confront their fears and fight for their lives as they become entangled in a terrifying cosmic struggle.

Death of heaven is a haunting tale that explores themes of trauma, friendship, and the terrifying unknown. If you're a fan of cosmic horror and psychological thrillers, this novel is definitely worth checking out.

There it is...

Cheers! Sláinte!