Jack Skillingstead

Novels

In my experience writing novels is a little Zen-ish, more a "way" than an activity with a goal. At least that's how I justify devoting so many years of my life to these (so far) unpublished books. I used to say the same thing regarding short stories, by the way. So I'm including this list as a reinforcing example of my personal dictum that writing equals obsession.

My Harbinger
SF novel Based on my story "Transplant" in the August 2004 Asimov's. The manuscript is complete, and Christine Cohen at the Virginia Kidd Agency liked it enough to represent me, at least on a probational basis. UPDATE: As of January 2008 this book is still making the rounds.

The World Between
(Psychotic City) Post-life psychological mindintercourse fantasy. Completed ms currently languishing in Tor's slush pile. UPDATE: TOR lost the manuscript. I learned this from a TOR editor I met at a convention in Boston. He actually laughed about it. I guess this sort of thing is funnier if you're on the other side of the transom. The same editor asked me to send him my new book. I did. He never responded. A few months later I learned he had left the publisher. No comment, other than to say if I can behave professionally while deriving most of my income from work unrelated to writing, it does not strike me as an unreasonable expectation that those employed by major New York publishers should be able to do the same.

The Falling Game
This detective novel was a finalist in the PNW Writer's Conference genre novel contest.

Dreaming Monsters
SF / Horror novel set mostly on an island in south Puget Sound. This is a half-out-of-the-trunk novel, which means I like it quite a bit but know my judgement is probably flawed. Unseen by all but a "lucky" few. My best friend loved it!

Blood Brothers
A serial killer novel that compelled one New York agent to call me on the phone and request the complete ms. She later declined to take it on.

Colt .44
A hitman with a jones for priests. Definitely a trunk novel

The Cave
Horror in the trunk.

Castle Green
Trunk juvenilia

Runaways
Mainstream. My first attempt at novel writing collapsed dead after two hundred pages, before it could even reach the trunk.

© Copyright 2004-2008, Jack Skillingstead.