Recently two friends have had websites put up on the Internet, and they have very graciously provided links to what meagre presence I have on the 'Net'. (I suppose I should really get my own actual website promoting myself as an author, but I don't have the money to pay anyone and don't have the skill or patience to do it myself. Having said that, I have, for some months, been cobbling something together to offer my services as an editor, proofreader and copywriter.)
Anyway, I would like to reciprocate by providing links to their sites.
Mark Samuels is one of the best living writers of macabre on the planet. I recently re-read his novel The Face of Twilight, which I would recommend to anyone who is prepared to immerse themselves in literary nightmare. For those people who are not fans of horror literature (and for many people who are) it might come as a surprise how stylish and sophisticated the writing is. However, as Samuels himself mentions in his latest story 'The Mexican Gentleman', this is largely an Anglo-Saxon attitude. In the literature of cultures other than the British and North American, because the macabre is an accepted part of literature, the literary products of the macabre tend to be more adult and sophisticated. In the same way that Blake tells us that "Brothels are built with bricks of religion", so trashy horror fiction is built with the bricks of denial, 'realism' and literary snobbishness (if I may be allowed to mix metaphors slightly).
Adriana Diaz-Enciso is an acclaimed Mexican author living in London. At this point I suppose I should confess that, because I am shamefully unable to speak or read Spanish, I have not read any of her works. I hope one day that that situation will be remedied. I have confidence that reading them would be sufficient reward for my efforts to learn Spanish when the time comes. Anyway, if you are unable to read Spanish, you might be interested in the website as a possible client, since Adriana is also a translator. Please also take a look at the blog attached to the site, which has some information on human rights abuses taking place in Mexico that are still largely undiscussed in the English-speaking world.
I hope I will be forgiven if I cannot resist quoting what she says about me in her links section:
"Quentin S. Crisp is another extraordinarily talented young British author. His is a deep, painful and beautiful prose. I can’t say but good things about his work; I’d rather summarize by saying he’s one of the most brilliant authors I have ever met in person, and God knows I’m lucky enough to know quite a few excellent writers. I certainly recommend his short stories’ collections."
