Title: Silk

Written By: Caitlin R. Kiernan

Released: 1998

Caitlin R. Kiernan has been writing short fiction since 1992 being published in several anthologies including Lethal Kisses, Love in Vein 2, Dark Terrors 2 and 3 and Sandman: Book of Dreams. In addition, Kiernan is the scriptwriter for DC/Vertigo's The Dreaming comic series, but it wasn't until 1998 that she released a novel.

Silk is a debut novel that has caused many to sit-up and pay attention, earning a nomination for the Horror Writers Association's Bram Stoker award for Best First Novel. This novel tells the story of a group of goth twenty-somethings living in Birmingham, Alabama, each of whom has there own past and issues they deal with on a daily basis.

Some of them deal with these issues better than others, but each has an escape mechanism whether it be performing music or heroin. But there always comes a time when one's skeletons surface problems erupt among even the best of friends.

Kiernan did an excellent job on this piece, her characterization being one of her finest talents. These characters feel real, as though I could go to Birmingham, drive down Cullom Street and stop by Spyder Baxter's house.

Caitlin Kiernan also has a great sense of what makes descriptive narrative interesting. All of these elements combine to create a debut novel that any publishing veteran would have been proud of.

Silk by Caitlin R. Kiernan is available at Amazon.com.