What Kind of Hallucinatory, Weird Horror Could Be Inspired By "Dandelions"?

Dandelions.  You know what they are.  White weed puffs you blow on, make a wish, and giggle afterwards at the nonsense of it all.  More so: "a widely distributed weed of the daisy family, with a rosette of leaves and large bright yellow flowers followed by globular heads of seeds with downy tufts."

Or are they?

Not in the hands of a writer of dark fiction.

Let's see, going over my records, this hallucinatory, truly Weird short novelette was written perhaps 4-5 years ago.  Submitted a couple times to good responses, though passed on by the magazines.  Then,  in 2012, it was accepted for publication in a pro magazine that went so far as to say they were going to make it a centerpiece of their first issue.  I was, of course, stoked.  But as it goes in the publishing world, the magazine never got off the ground.  Sadly, "Dandelions" had to hit the submission road again, though in the editorial comments about the story, the editors noted that, "it doesn't really start until page 4."  I took that to heart and edited it down, cleaned up the beginning.  Sent it out a couple more times, got a couple more rejections. 

At some point in August of this year, Dynatox Ministries/Dunhams Manor Press posted on FB they would be accepting submissions.  A few people noted I would be a good fit for them. I thought, what the heck, let's hit them with "Dandelions." 

But.

As I read over the text, I realized I could make it better.  With this mindset, I tore the tale apart and put it back as it initially was, but stronger, faster...the Six-Million-Dollar "Dandelions."  Lost some words but this wiry beast was ready to be unleashed.

How about a blurb?  Let me whip something up.


"Two couples on vaction leave the world behind.
They end up at an old hotel, where the proprietors seem...curious.
Teresa warned Max something was wrong when they got there.
He should have listened to her.
Time is a weight dragging them down...

A vast field of dandelions holds the key to a harrowing, hallucinatory finale."


Sure, roll with that and this from the publisher: "A slow burn into frightening weirdness."

Here's the link for purchase.  Limited to 50 copies.  Buy now, before it's gone, gone, gone...

Dandelions: http://dynatox.storenvy.com/collections/240632-all-products/products/9546949-dandelions-by-john-claude-smith-dunhams-manor-weird-fiction

Buy more from Dynatox Ministries/Dunhams Manor Press (Dandelions is part of Dunhams Manor Weird Fiction), as well. I should have some of their books waiting for me when I get back to the states in the middle of October.  Can't wait to read them!  Use the above link, click to product, check em out and make Jordan Krall, the guy behind this excellent small press, a happy guy.
:-)

Also, since it says, hey, by the author of AUTUMN IN THE ABYSS on the cover, let's link you to that lovely title here.

:-)