Mark Leslie is a writer, editor and bookseller who lives in Southern Ontario. In 2005, Mark joined the blogging bandwagon and started posting random thoughts and musings on writing, bookselling and being a father.
It can be extremely challenging when people are quarantined or self-isolating and are looking for something different to do other than sitting on the couch and watching television or binging online streaming services.
I've enjoyed seeing authors and celebrities reading stories, either adult reads, or even children's picture books, in order to provide something unique and entertaining for people to enjoy for free.
To that end, even though most of my writing isn't all that family friendly (a side-effect of writing horror and speculative tales from the darkness of the shadows), I thought I would share a couple of recent readings I did, specifically with the goal of providing some family-friendly content that could be enjoyed by middle-grade aged folks.
Adults, of course, might also enjoy these tales.
The first, That Old Silk Hat They Found is a dark-humor look at what might actually happen if a snowman were to come to life. Would he really be happy and jolly, and be able to dance around and march in a parade? Or would his life be significantly different?
That Old Silk Hat They Found appears in both my mini story collection Snowman Shiverswhich is available in eBook, print, and audiobook. (BTW, you can download the eBook for free on most eBook retail platforms).
The second story, Looking Through Glass was published in an anthology edited by Julie E. Czerneda called Stardust. This was part of the Tales from the Wonderzone series of books that were science fiction tales drawing upon the Ontario curriculum of science for grades 3 through 6.
My story was inspired by a combination of states of matter and properties of light from the Grade four curriculum, and the bit of a science fiction mystery story about a boy and his uncle Zak, an inventor.
Here is hoping that you enjoy these family-friendly and child-safe stories.
Have you ever wondered what might actually happen if a magic hat were able to bring a snowman to life?
Have you ever cast an uncomfortable glance over your shoulder when
passing the silent snowy sentinels that stand so eerily quiet as you
pass by on the icy sidewalk?
Have you ever marveled at the secret life of anthropomorphic snow sculptures?
Since today is March 15th, the Ides of March, I thought it might be fun to share the audio version of this mini story collection. Click the link above to download the audio file.
The eBook is also free on most eBook retail platforms.
The collection includes the tales Ides of March and That Old Silk Hat They Found. It also includes a "behind the stories" section as well as a short history of snowmen in popular culture.
"If I could, maybe I'd give you my world How can I when you won't take it from me?"
These lyrics, near the opening of the Fleetwood Mac song "Go Your Own Way" might be familiar to authors who are trying to share their words, their worlds with an audience.
Sometimes the desire to give and to share is there, but perhaps the audience isn't, or isn't receptive to it.
Scott, like the person being sung to in this classic pop rock song, went his own way.
Specifically, he didn't listen to people who told him that he was crazy or out of his mind with the ideas he had for his own writing plan and the path he was determined to follow.
Starting on Friday April 6th I will be starting a weekly feature that I'm calling FREE FRIDAY FRIGHTS. It'll be hosted on my main website at www.markleslie.ca/freefridayfridays and use the hashtag #freefridayfrights.
Every week I will post, for approximately 24 hours, a free frightening read. I'll alternate between fiction and non-fiction.
Some time during that same 24 hour period, I will host a live video on my Author Facebook Page where I'll either read the short story or I will discuss/share details from the non-fiction / true eerie/ghostly tale that is posted.
