The Writers of Wales Database

O'SKENNICK, FRITZ

Email: fritzoskennick@hotmail.com 
Websites: http://stores.lulu.com/fritzoskennick / http://allpoetry.com/Fritz%20O%20skennick / http://www.myspace.com/fracturedpersona / http://www.myspace.com/fritzo39skennick

Fritz O’Skennick is a prolific and versatile writer and performer. He was born in Penarth in 1971, where he still resides. Amidst a varying occupational career, including selling ladders and polystyrene, constructing games machines and 14 years at Royal Mail, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1992.

Following redundancy in 2003, he decided to embark several creative projects including recording a music album in 2005 which raised awareness and money for mental illness charities. Three of his poems were published in various anthologies by publishing company United Press.

In 2006, Fritz became involved with former theatre company Progress Cymru, who went on to produce three of his plays ‘The Rise & Fall of Frankie Goldberg’ (co-written with Simon Winkler) ’Who is John Doe?’ (supernatural drama) and ‘It Could Happen to You’ (audio drama). They also produced his popular audio poetry CD ‘Gothic Tales’ and pushed him to perform his music and poetry across Wales & parts of England.

In 2009, his book Touching the Darkness was published (an anthology of his dark poetry) by Lulu books. 2010 has seen the publication of his novel Fear the Reaper; a book of poetry, prose & short stories; The Darkness Verses The Light; a novella of his stage play ‘Who is John Doe?’; a book of poetry & collaborative works Of Darkness and Light and his serial killer novella Dark Confessions. He has also written the lyrics for Jayde Antonin’s forth coming concept album ‘Subconscious Descent’.

Fritz is presently working on his new sci-fi book series Temporal Medium, a second volume of Dark Confessions, another book of poetry (title to be decided), a second album and a number of humorous film projects including ‘Jayded & on the Fritz’ (with Jayde) and ‘Orange Malarky’ (Dojo Productions).

Selected Publications:
Touching the Darkness (Lulu Books, 2009)
Fear the Reaper (Lulu Books, 2010) / Fear the Reaper: Special Edition (Lulu Books, 2010)
The Darkness Verses The Light (Lulu Books, 2010)
Who is John Doe? (Lulu Books, 2010)
Of Darkness and Light (Lulu Books, 2010)
Dark Confessions (Lulu Books, 2010)
Gothic Tales (Lulu Books, 2011)
Schizophrenic Lullabies (Lulu, 2011)
Embracing the Darkness and the Light (Lulu, 2011)


Contributed to:
Songs in the Silence (contributor) (United Press, 1999)
The Thought that Counts (contributor) (United Press, 2006)
Poetic Fantasy (contributor) (United Press, 2007) 



Touching the Darkness (Lulu Books, 2009)

Touching the Darkness is an anthology of dark poetry. Featuring gothic tales (Vampyres, Werewolves, Ghosts, etc), murder, dark mind states and sensual dark passions in various poetic forms with the intensity, skill, depth and passion that readers have become accustomed to in his work. Contains adult content.

To purchase this title from lulu.com, please click on its front cover



Of Darkness and Light (Lulu Books, 2010)

Of Darkness and Light is a collection of poetry and prose by Fritz O’Skennick. 'On the Fritz (Rhyme)' features new work, written in the unique style & flawless rhyme schemes that many have come to expect from his work and features many themes & genres. 'On the Fritz (Freeverse)' features new work that is both powerful and thought provoking in its profound depth and unique stylings. 'Fritz & Friends' is a chapter of outstanding collaborative works with fellow poets from all over the world, including a collaboration that features no less than 40 poets in one poem as orchestrated and edited by Fritz via the group 'Speak to me' on the poetry site Allpoetry.com.

To purchase this title from lulu.com, please click on its front cover



Dark Confessions (Lulu Books, 2010)

Dark Confessions is an intense new novella told in the unique style of dark writer Fritz O'Skennick. It concentrates on the darker nature of man, exploring the facets and mind states of murder, revenge and the lengths we'd go to in the name of love, honour and redemption.

It follows the story of Reggie, a scrap yard owner with a dark secret… Following the continual harassment of a gang that loiter on the abandoned industrial estate where Reggie lives and trades scrap, a break in results in the accidental murder of a gang member. Horrified by the potential consequences that could follow, he is forced to creatively and efficiently dispose of the body.
This is quickly followed by a night of carnage and revenge that forces him to evaluate his nature and the dark impulses that grow within him, justified only in that his victims are those that have wronged him.

He then meets and falls in love with Tess, quickly realizing that she is more like him than either would like to admit.

And so in the betrayal of friends, the death of a mobster, a case containing a million in cash with the mob hot on their trail to retrieve it, they are forced to embrace their natures in a fight for their lives with devastating consequences in an explosive finale of love, vengeance and death…

To purchase this title from lulu.com, please click on its front cover