Mort Castle
Encyclopedia
Mort Castle is a horror author and writing teacher, with more than 350 short stories and a dozen books to his credit, including Cursed Be the Child (Leisure Books
, 1994) and The Strangers. Castle's first novel was published in 1967. Since then he has had pieces published in all sorts of places ranging from traditional lit mags to more off the wall or risqué markets. He has been nominated four times for the Bram Stoker Award for Short Fiction.
A dedicated and talented writing teacher
, Castle has been a working musician
, a standup comic
, a stage hypnotist, a high school English teacher (for 11 years), a magazine and comic book editor. He is currently a "freelance language arts consultant." In that capacity, Castle is a writer in residence for three high schools, and teaching "Researching and Writing Historical Fiction" and "Story In Graphic Form" at Columbia College Chicago
. Castle takes pride in the fact that more than 2,000 of his students, ranging in age from six to 93, have seen their work in print. He is a frequent keynote speaker at writing conferences and has given over 800 presentations to writers, would-be writers, and teachers of writing. His latest book, Writing Horror, for which he served as editor
, has become the "bible" for aspiring horror authors. It also includes interviews with some of horror's top stars, such as Stephen King
. He is also the Executive Editor of Thorby Comics, and currently fiction editor for Doorways Magazine.
Castle has been nominated for various awards: the Pulitzer Prize
, the Pushcart Prize
, the Bram Stoker Award
, the DeMarco Prize, the Emerson Fiction Award, Leaders in the Arts for Chicago.
http://www.elaleph.com/boletin.cfm?edicion=200311&seccion=3
Leisure Books
Leisure Books is an imprint of Dorchester Publishing specializing in Horror and Thriller mass market paperbacks. As of 2000, Leisure Books was the only U.S. publisher with a line of horror books...
, 1994) and The Strangers. Castle's first novel was published in 1967. Since then he has had pieces published in all sorts of places ranging from traditional lit mags to more off the wall or risqué markets. He has been nominated four times for the Bram Stoker Award for Short Fiction.
A dedicated and talented writing teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, Castle has been a working musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, a standup comic
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, a stage hypnotist, a high school English teacher (for 11 years), a magazine and comic book editor. He is currently a "freelance language arts consultant." In that capacity, Castle is a writer in residence for three high schools, and teaching "Researching and Writing Historical Fiction" and "Story In Graphic Form" at Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago is one of the largest art colleges in the United States with nearly 12,000 students pursuing degrees within 120 undergraduate and graduate programs...
. Castle takes pride in the fact that more than 2,000 of his students, ranging in age from six to 93, have seen their work in print. He is a frequent keynote speaker at writing conferences and has given over 800 presentations to writers, would-be writers, and teachers of writing. His latest book, Writing Horror, for which he served as editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, has become the "bible" for aspiring horror authors. It also includes interviews with some of horror's top stars, such as Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
. He is also the Executive Editor of Thorby Comics, and currently fiction editor for Doorways Magazine.
Castle has been nominated for various awards: the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
, the Pushcart Prize
Pushcart Prize
The Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are invited to nominate up to 6 works they have featured....
, the Bram Stoker Award
Bram Stoker Award
The Bram Stoker Award is a recognition presented by the Horror Writers Association for "superior achievement" in horror writing. The awards have been presented annually since 1987, and the winners are selected by ballot of the Active members of the HWA...
, the DeMarco Prize, the Emerson Fiction Award, Leaders in the Arts for Chicago.
Novels
- In Memoriam: Papa, Blake and HPL
- The Deadly Election (1976)
- The Strangers (1984)
- Cursed Be the Child (1990)
Collections
- So Many Tomorrows: Three Stories About Children
- Moon on the Water (2000)
- Nations of the Living, Nations of the Dead (2002)
- New Moon Over Water (announced by the now defunct Full Moon PressFull Moon PressFull Moon Press was a small press publishing company that specialized in signed limited and lettered edition books in the horror and speculative fiction genres. It was started, owned, and operated by former NFL player, and author of the children's book The Christmas Chips, Paul Little and his wife...
for 2010, currently being shopped for release by another publisher)
Interviews
- One Woman's Writing Retreat: Interview
- A Conversation With Mort Castle
- Glass House Interview
- A Deep Blue Interview with a Writing Guru
External links
http://www.elaleph.com/boletin.cfm?edicion=200311&seccion=3