Tales in the Dark

About the Book

Tales In The Dark provides the reader with a delightful selection of horror, science fiction, murder, and the supernatural. Unlike other short story collections, which serve the reader one flavor, it presents a banquet of sensations. Indulge your guilty pleasures, but leave the light on...

About the Author

Mary started writing short stories in the 4th grade. She read them to classmates, teachers, and family to entertain them.

While in Monroe Jr. High, Mary became involved with the school newspaper. She also had several articles published in the Benson Sun Newspaper. Mary continued to write short stories through her life, always being interested in adventure, murder mysteries, science fiction and the supernatural. It was in Monroe Jr. High that she fully developed the Hard Luck Fred cartoon.

In Benson High, Mary took journalism and creative writing classes. However, with journalism jobs being scarce in Omaha, she decided to major in accounting in college, so as to find employment more quickly.

Once out of college, Mary had to accept all employment available, for there were few choices in the job markets due to a poor economy. Eventually, she had the opportunity to work at Mutual of Omaha and United of Omaha insurance companies in their accounting departments.

However, writing stayed in Mary's veins, so she returned to writing short stories while holding down a full time job. She also added children's stories to her skills. In the 1980s, she self-published The Knight Who Ran.

It was at Mutual of Omaha that she became good friends with Bob Vranes. Through Bob, she met his son, R.J "Bobby" Vranes. When R.J Vranes became interested in directing, editing and producing films, he asked Mary if he could use her short story "The Telephone". He turned it into a winner in a local television channel's contest.

R.J Vranes then asked Mary to help develop the story, "The Budahman", which was based on Rex "Lou" Moulton's idea. Adding some of Mary's ideas to the film script, "The Budahman" became created and filmed in 2003.

Mary has had several short stories printed in the Echoes Magazines, The Mother Ship Chronicles, and The Planet Zine. Currently, Mary has stories on www.firstprint.com. She also has a regular cartoon series, "Gray Folks", which appears in The Mother Ship Chronicles.

As a Doc Savage fan, Mary contributes to The Bronze Gazette. Lester Dent, a.k.a. Kenneth Robeson, was her inspiration for writing.

About the Illustrator

It all began for me D. Lamberson in Colorado the morning of March 14th 1973, but it was closer to noon than in the early morning. That would explain why I like to sleep in. I have long been interested in art from the time I could hold a pencil. I went from stick figures to full-scale drawings almost overnight. Most of my artwork is done late at night, because I feel it is a more relaxing time for me. I can express what I feel in my artwork when I'm more relaxed.

I am more of self-taught artist rather than a trained artist. I believe a true talent comes from within myself instead of a classroom. I did take some classes in High School and college, but never really learned anything I didn't already know. The classes were more assignments than teaching. I just went to draw and create more of my fantasy world. Over the years of creating my own world, I have worked in several mediums like pencil, ink, pastel, oil paints, water colors, chalk, also including clay, digital photography and computer graphics. I also write poetry, short stories and play the bass guitar and sing. I am currently working on a musical project with my family and friends that hopefully will be ready in a year or two.

My artistic influences comes from great artists like Leonardo DaVinci, Frank Frazetta, M.C. Escher, H.R. Geiger, Boris Vallejo and his wife Julie Bell, just to name a few. Through movies and music, books and art magazines, some of these artists made a big impact on my life. They bring the world of fantasy alive in my imagination, which enables me to bring my own fantasies to life in my art. To these artists and many others, I give thanks.

I reside in Colorado with my husband and my two children. Living in Colorado has been a wonderful experience because of all the beautiful sights and interesting places, There are a lot of people of many cultures here that inspire me in my creations.

I want to thank Mary Streblow for giving me this opportunity to share with you a piece of artwork inspired by Mary's story, I hope you enjoy the painting as much as I did creating it.

Can you imagine falling through the ocean and having the waters above you for the horizon? Being trapped in a backwards sort of universe is what happens to Alex the Australian pilot and Nicky, his American passenger when their plane crashes. Encountering a red monster out of the fresh water ocean makes things even more bizarre. But Alex seems to adapt to the place a little better, maybe because after all, he is lso from a land down under? the story is well written and I thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact, I hope there are more tales from these two very interesting charcters in the near future! Until then, I will throw another zozo lizard on the fire and wait!
Carol Elek, Writer, Editor, Publisher,
SmartElek Publications