Weekly Artist

Name: Scott Hughey

I’ve been writing for over twenty years, even though I just started. No, that’s not a time paradox. After all that time of writing other things, I’ve finally taken the chance of trying to write what I enjoy the most- fiction.

I’m dedicated to writing every day, and to learn the craft of story-telling quickly. Years of avid reading and my communications degree help me in that endeavor.

I’ve recently learned to make sure I have these elements in place before writing a story (Readers of Plot & Structure by James Bell will recognize the concepts:)

1) A strong lead character
2) A clear objective for the lead
3) Conflicts and/or confrontations the lead has to overcome
4) A strong ending

I also work hard to have a good beginning hook, an inescapable transition to the ending and in longer stories an equally inescapable transition to the meat of the story.

These are techniques I am learning and implementing better in my forthcoming stories.

Currently I am an IT Field Support Engineer. I juggle, play nerf swords with my children and sing. I write speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy and horror) along with other stories that just need to be written.

Links to Current or Upcoming Publications: (Note- each of these URL’s are upcoming and my assumption of what the actual links will be.)

Alienated: http://www.weirdyear.com/2011/01/011011.html
Double Date: http://www.weirdyear.com/2011/01/011511.html
Helen’s Hand: http://flashesinthedark.com/2011/01/03/helens-hand-hughey/
Temptress Tifanny: http://www.dailylove.net/2011/12/011611.html

Scott’s work has appeared in theses publications and the Flashes in the Dark Southern Writers Anthology available in E-Book Format from flashesinthedark.com

Likes: Year-round Christmas music, instant pudding with cool whip, coffee and the indoors.
Dislikes: Lists of people’s dislikes
Status: Married for 12 years, and increasingly optimistic about year 13.
Favorite Writers: Peter David, Neil Gaiman, Terry Goodkind, Douglas Adams, Stephen King, The Apostle Paul
Currently Working on: A speculative fiction novel.
Contact Email: scottdhughey@yahoo.com


- - -

Name: Matthew D. Ryan
Aka: mryan_usa
Website: http://www.matthewdryan.com


Matthew D. Ryan lives in Cliff Haven, a quiet suburb of the small city of Plattsburgh, NY. He lives on the shores of Lake Champlain, one of the largest lakes in the continental United States, famous for the Battle of Plattsburgh and the ever-elusive Lake Champlain Monster, a beastie more commonly referred to as Champy. Matthew has studied philosophy, mathematics, and computer science in the academic world and has earned a black belt in martial arts.

Matthew D. Ryan has written a number of short stories and is still looking to publish his first novel. Most of his work is in the fantasy genre.

Contact Email address: mryan_usa@yahoo.com

mryan.usa on facebook.

Education: B.A. in philosophy and mathematics.

Likes: fantasy, dragons, vampires, sword and sorcery, philosophy, science, capitalism, rpg games

Dislikes: socialism, communism, pre-determinism, trying to fit the human animal in a social scientist’s quantified equation,

Status: hetero, single and looking

Name: Amanda Michaud
Website: http://s830.photobucket.com/albums/zz224/froggerbabe13/


I'm an average teenage girl that surrounds herself with nature. I like to explore new territories and be out of my comfort zone. I'm creative and imaginative and see the world through my own, wide, clear eyes.

I like visual art and working with it. I like to touch and smell. I don't have much of a technique, I just carry around my camera and take pictures as I go. But natural beauty catches my eye the most. There's nothing more sweeter than mother nature.