I Will Continue Making Trailers Until Someone Stops Me

It's Nice That

All this week I'll be guest posting at It's Nice That. Couldn't be more excited; It's Nice That is one of my new favorite websites/magazines. If you're checking it out for the first time, you're in for a real treat.

Frost Mountain Picnic Massacre Print

Earlier this year, the brilliant Brandi Strickland created an interpretation of Frost Mountain Picnic Massacre, a short story of mine that originally appeared in One Story. Brandi generously donated her work to One Story's Literary Debutante Ball, where the original piece was auctioned off to help support One Story.

However, for all of you who were not lucky enough to attend said Debutante Ball, I'm pleased to announce that prints of the piece are now available at Brandi's site. While you're picking one up, make sure to check out all of Brandi's work, which is beyond incredible.

Happy Halloween: A Seth Fried Fan's Guide to a Safe and Successful All Hallows' Eve

Arguably the most costume-oriented holiday of the year is steadily approaching, and everybody here at Seth headquarters is getting into the spirit. As you can see, my book has decided to go as Stieg Larsson's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Adorable.

Also, this year I'll be staying home to hand out sugarless suckers attached to blank applications for library cards, which I'll be doing in the grim hopes of being egged to death. What can I say? Halloween just brings out my love of the macabre.

In any event, here are a few Halloween safety tips:

1.) If you find a razor blade in one of your fun-sized Snickers bars, DON'T EAT IT! But if you want to use the Snickers bar to shave, that should be fine.

2.) Remember to poke air holes in your costume, especially if you're going as dry-cleaning.

3.) Fasten reflective tape to your costume. Ideally, you should also place reflective tape on each piece of candy you receive. If you see anything on October 31st that isn't covered in reflective tape, don't trust it.

4.) Check your candy to make sure it's not poisoned. If you need help spotting poisoned candy, a good trick is to take a normal piece of candy and poison it. When testing a piece of Halloween candy for poison, keep some of this pre-poisoned candy nearby and take small bites of both to see if they taste similar. If they do, the candy in question has been poisoned. Don't eat it.

5.) Make sure to carry a flashlight, even if you are going to an office party.

6.) Remember to have fun exclamation point.

Book Cover!!!! Book Cover!!!! Book Cover!!!!

I am very excited to share this early book cover for my debut short story collection (coming May of 2011). There might be some slight changes in the months to come. I imagine at some point we'll be adding a hologram of me wrestling a minotaur. But as far as I'm concerned it's already pretty great.