THE RACK: Stories Inspired by Vintage Horror Paperbacks, edited by Tom Deady

The Rack: Stories Inspired By Vintage Horror Paperbacks by Tom Deady
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this awesome and packed anthology. I have to admit that I took my time with it, savouring a handful of stories a night.

Here's what I thought of each story:

BLACK PAGES by Cynthia Pelayo: Great story and I really liked the ending.

OTHER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED by Ronald Malfi: This little odd and awesome tale delivered in many ways.

FUZZY SLIPPERS by Jeff Strand: As much fun as it was ridiculous. Poor Grandma.

THE RAFT by Stephen King: Always cool to read a King story.

THAT CHEMICAL GLOW by Larry Hinkle: I enjoyed this creepy little tale.

I AM A HOUSE DEMANDING TO BE HAUNTED by Mercedes M. Yardley: Whimsical. Grotesque. Macabre. Beautiful.

URSA DIRUO by Kristin Dearborn: Really intriguing small-time horror tale with an unexpected and cool ending.

A DEVIL WE USED TO KNOW by Johnny Compton: I found this one a little hard to get into.

IRISH EYES by Bridget Nelson: A total fever dream and a hell of a freaky ride.

THEY LOOK BACK by Candace Nola: Yikes! Didn't expect the twist in this one, but when it hits... creepy.

BLOOD OF MY BLOOD by Christa Carmen: A fun wedding story featuring a very different spin on vampires.

THE KEEPER OF TASWOMET by Errick Nunnally: I REALLY enjoyed this one. The main character really carried this creature feature.

THE LAST CALL OF THE CICADA by Gwendolyn Kiste: A whimsical and lovely, horrific tale about a small town. And cicadas. So many cicadas.

MIGHTIER THAN BULLETS by Laurel Hightower: This story takes the awful real-life horror of school shootings and gives it an unbelievable twist. SO freaking GOOD.

LOUD AND CLEAR by Max Booth III: Interesting tale.

BETTER BY YOU, BETTER THAN ME by Rebecca Rowland: What a fever dream this one turned out to be!

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM LANE by Richard Chizmar: Hooked from start to finish!

THE VISITOR by Philip Fracassi: So creepy. Another one I enjoyed immensely.

LIPS LIKE A SCYTHE by Steve Van Samson: Not bad.

WHITE PAGES by Clay McLeod Chapman: Very nostalgic.

As I said above, this book is jam-packed full of nostalgic, fun and super creepy stories that I enjoyed. A lot. And there are quite a few that will stay with me for a long time.

I want to thank Erin Al-Mehairi for sending me a copy.


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SHORT SCARES: Two Sentence Horrors Anthology edited by Lauren Carter

Short Scares: Two Sentence Horrors Anthology by Lauren Carter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Let me start by saying that I actually have a short scare in this very clever anthology, so I was lucky enough to get an ARC copy.

This book contains 69 very cool tales written by some great authors! And I couldn't wait to read every single one.

It didn't take me long. I read the whole thing in one sitting and love the varied selection of horror stories. I had a blast reading every new and creepy story. The use of language and imagery in a two-sentence horror isn't the easiest thing to do, yet every single story captivated my attention from start to finish.

I can't pick a fave because I enjoyed all of them for different reasons. Freaky. Creepy. Scary. Clever. Sharp. And they all linger in your mind after you finish.

Also liked the illustrations by Sophie Ingley. And I want to thank Lauren for putting it all together.

You don't want to miss out on this collection of two sentence horror stories. And royalties will be donated to charity. So that's another awesome reason to grab a copy! ☺️

 

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April Update!

Hey! It's been a while, so I thought I'd pop in and post a little something about what's been going on this month. 😊

But firstly, how are you? Hope this month has treated you well.

I've been very busy during April. 

The month started with a long weekend. It was an excellent, relaxing break with my husband. We don't celebrate religious holidays, but definitely celebrate public holidays! LOL.

After that, I've embarked on not one, but TWO different full edits. Yep. I edited a novella (40k) and a novel (50k). It was a bit of work (especially the novel because it needed extra attention) but I really enjoyed re-reading these stories and doing everything I can to make them even better.

That's the thing about revision/editing. It's always a LOT of work and at the end of each round I feel like my brain has turned to mush, but it's ALWAYS worth it. Always. And to be honest, I enjoy the process.

So, now I'll hopefully take the rest of the week off and catch up on some reading. Oh and by the way, today is also a public holiday.

Another thing that happened is that an anthology that I have a story in was released by Cemetery Gates Media:

My story is a Creepypasta shortie called The Hags from Merricktown and features a creepy pair that may or may not have been inspired by real people I've experienced in my own suburb. 😳

You can grab a copy HERE.

Well, asides from the above I've been walking heaps, keeping up with the awesome Yellowjackets, and finally caught up on Saga. The other day I realised that this is pretty much the only comic book series I'm still reading. I used to enjoy The Walking Dead and read into the 100s, but gave up because I didn't like the direction of the story arc. To be honest, I don't even know if it ended yet or not.

I've been so caught up in my own writing that it wasn't until last week that I managed to catch up on some reading. I'm really behind on review books and the many awesome books I've bought myself. I'm hoping to get stuck into some of those this week.🤞

That's it for now. I hope you all have an awesome week!

SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED is now available!

 

Today, I'm very excited to announce that my short story, The Loaded Trunk, is included in this awesome horror anthology alongside a whole bunch of talented authors and artists!

Something Bad Happened: An Anthology of Horror is based on the prompts in Jennifer Bernardini's very inspirting, Something Bad Happened: A Horror Journal.

Writers, illustrators, photographers, and graphic artists have created pieces in this collection that will have you gripping the edge of your seat. From angels to demons, creatures and humans, there's a story inside for everyone.

Featuring new, unreleased work from:

Elford Alley

Wayne Fenlon

Jennifer Bernardini

Angel Krause

Bill Davidson

Cindy O'Quinn

Rayne King

Yolanda Sfetsos

Adam Hulse

Ross Jeffery

Bdyer

Laurel Hightower

Brian Bowyer

J.B. Taylor

Kyle Summerall

Steve Stred

Jaime Hernandez

R. Reyes. 

With Images from:

Wayne Fenlon

J.B. Taylor

Holly Rae Garcia

David Bowman

Edited by Jennifer Bernardini

Now available on:

Kindle | Paperback | Hardcover

ADD TO GOODREADS

ATTACK FROM THE 80s edited by Eugene Johnson

Modern technology has brought some new twists and turns to horror. Found footage, cell phone-based viruses, literal ghosts in the machines but maybe it’s time for a throwback. It’s time for some new tales of slumber party horrors, VCR monsters, and problems that can’t be solved with a smart phone. We want tales of unstoppable monsters, sewer-dwelling creatures, looming threats of cold-war chaos. Give us fear under the neon lights of an arcade, people fighting for their lives against the backdrop of a hot city night and a cheesy sax solo. Take us back to a time when latchkey kids had to fend for themselves and the only thing left to stop an unspeakable horror was a plucky band of high school kids. Make it bloody. Make it gnarly. Make it 80s!   

Firstly, I want to thank Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi and Raw Dog Screaming Press for sending me an eBook copy of this 80s-inspired horror anthology with a very rad cover!

Here are my thoughts about each story: 

TOP GUNS OF THE FRONTIER by Weston Ochse: What a clever little tale about two boys obsessed with Top Gun who find themselves on their very own dark adventure. One that shaped their futures. Creepy concept and great imagery. 

SNAPSHOT by Joe R. Lansdale & Kasey Lansdale: Yikes! Didn't expect this tale of thieves to descend into bloody and sadistic violence so quickly. Liked the twist ending. 

THE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS by Ben Monroe: A very interesting take on the satanic panic that swept through the 80s. Also, this tale definitely felt like it could've been written during that decade because it captured the musical, attitude and vibes of that period perfectly. Not to mention how well the horror aspect fit.

RETURN OF THE REANIMATED NIGHTMARE by Lisa Addison: The first poem was okay.

TAKING THE NIGHT TRAIN by Thomas F. Monteleone: I enjoyed this very peculiar story about the mostly unseen Ralphie and what he discovers during his adventures in the New York subway.

CATASTROPHE QUEENS by Jess Landry: Well, that turned out to be a total riot! Loved this one because it was SO MUCH FUN and made me laugh several times. Of course, it's also creepy and twists a bunch of 80s tropes into awesome twists and turns.

YOUR PICTURE HERE by John Skipp: I found this one quite ridiculous and vulgar, which I suppose was the desired effect. Either way, I was lukewarm about this bizarre tribute to Basket Case.

PERMANENT DAMAGE by Lee Murray: OMG. What a blast of a story! I had my hair permed twice during the late 80s/early 90s so this story of hair mayhem really appealed to me. And the way things turned out was totally cool, too. Plus fiery. Lotsa fun! 

SLASHBACKS by Tim Waggoner: A very interesting and well written story about an adult horror fan forever ridiculed for loving the genre and what happens one rainy night when he stumbles on a strange video store. 

MUNCHIES by Lucy A. Snyder: This turned out to be a hilarious and super fun story about a rampaging Republican monster (seriously) that attacks a town. But there's also a sad message behind it too. Really enjoyed this!

TEN MILES OF BAD ROAD by Stephen Graham Jones: Really enjoyed this feverish story about a guy so lost in thoughts of starring in his own metal music video that he actually gets lost in a very creepy junkyard. 

EPOCH, REWOUND by Vince A. Liaguno: Very clever poem that captured the essence of the 80s via some very cool pop culture, movie and music references.

DEMONIC DENIZENS by Cullen Bunn: A short and fast story about D&D kids at camp playing a different, much darker kind of game with real consequences.

THE WHITE ROOM by Rena Mason: I have to admit that I couldn't get into this one. The writing style was too head-hoppy for me and the story wasn't that interesting. The imagery at the end was cool, though. 

GHETTO BLASTER by Jeff Strand: Not a fan of this one.

HADDONFIELD, NEW JERSEY 1980 by Cindy O'Quinn: Interesting and nicely written.

WHEN HE WAS FAB by F. Paul Wilson: Couldn't get into this story.

WELCOME TO HELL by Christina Sng: Such a fantastic poem that turns some very familiar monsters in very cool and unique ways. Loved this!

PERSPECTIVE: JOURNAL OF A 1980s MAD MAN by Mort Castle: Nope. Didn't like this one.

MOTHER KNOWS BEST by Stephanie M. Wytovich: Wow. This is such a fantastic story. It's violent and creepy, full of bloody and nightmarish imagery that sent me on a surreal feverish dream I didn't wake up from until the last word. Memorable story. 

STRANGER DANGER by Grady Hendrix: I was excited to read this because I love all the Grady Hendrix books I've read. But this short story was a bit silly and I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

THE GARDEN OF DR. MOREAU by Lisa Morton: Really liked this clever story set in 1984 featuring a very familiar name and a creepy, totally nightmarish situation. I mean, even when you're trying to help, sometimes you actually make everything worse. 😬

Attack from the 80s is a super fun and nostalgic anthology full of dark tales set during a period when the world was awesome but at the same time was on a constant state of change and upheaval. A time when horror movies were available in your own home at any time of the day or night. Trust me, I lived it. 😁

The writing was great and the stories range from horrific and serious, to freaky and hilarious.

This book contains a lot of talented authors and is guaranteed to satisfy both horror and 80s fans.

Attack from the 80 is now available from Raw Dog Screaming Press.

IN DARKNESS DELIGHT: Fear the Future, edited by Andrew Lennon & Evans Light

Tomorrow is coming whether you're ready or not . . . 

Twenty-two strikingly original tales of terror from Bram Stoker Award®-winners, bestselling authors, genre stalwarts and rising stars.

Be warned: these are not science fiction stories with a dash of dread. These are visions of the horrifying futures that may await us all.

Humankind’s greatest fear is and will always be the unknown, dreading whatever gruesome horrors tomorrow may bring. The pain of the past is nothing when the worst is yet to come. The only thing you know for certain: it’s going to end badly.

In Darkness, Delight is an original anthology series revealing the many facets of modern horror — shocking and quiet, pulp and literary, cold-hearted and heart-felt, weird tales of spiraling madness alongside full-throttle thrillers. Open these pages and unleash all-new terrors that consume from without and within.

 

I received this anthology in the mail and it was a pleasant surprise. I mean, look at that cover! So, firstly, I want to thank Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi & Corpus Press for sending me a copy. 😊

Now, here are my thoughts about each story: 

· AIRBORNE by Lisa Morton: What a great way to get this collection started. This shortie packs quite a punch. There's something affecting people and it might be a virus. Or maybe it's an entity. Either way, I was hooked from beginning to end, and enjoyed the freaky trip.

· ERR by Michael Laimo: A horrifying glimpse at a dystopian society where women can't fall pregnant but couples can find help at Chroma-Key. Yikes. What a disturbing future this very dark story presented. I also like how it combined a bunch of SF and horror subgenres to become quite the creepy tale. 

· DADDY'S GIRL by Ben Eads: Is an amazing story. OMFG. It all starts out so apocalyptic until the truth and the reality of the situation hits you upside the head. Wow. Such a powerful story because it's so sad and reminiscent of so much of what's wrong with our world. 😳

· HUSK by Marshall J Moore:  Is a sad and depressing one. It's also highly distressing. OMG. What this character goes through, how this new world is structured, and what is endured is truly captured in that ominous title. This was another highly disturbing and unnerving piece. I'm still squirming after this nightmarish experience. 😫

· WE HAVE NAMES, TOO by Michelle Muenzler: Is an android tale with a difference, and I enjoyed the hell out of it. I always find it sad that if humans did in fact create robots that look like us, the first thing they would do is abuse the poor things. The ethics of such a situation is intriguing and this is a great example of why.

· THE HAUNTING OF ASTEROID H111 by Van Aaron Hughes: Is such a fun and disorienting twist on the ghost story, in outer space. There's a bit of everything packed into this very dark adventure that toes the line between what's really happening and what's not. Great fun and features a terrific narrator!

· SHOULDA READ THE FINE PRINT, BLANCHE by Ben Lawrence: This is both terrifying and hilarious. The execution was brilliant as Blanche's deterioration grows, but the reason why cracked me up. Says a lot about humanity's never-ending quest to live forever. 👀 

· TRANSFERENCE by Jenn Hopkins: Oh! This is such a sad and creepy tale about a future able to offer withering bodies a better, much younger version. But as Leila finds out, nothing is as it seems... Great little paranoid tale.

· GAME OVER by Andrew Lennon: Takes playing video games to a whole new level of messed up. I understood what was really going on pretty early on, but it didn't make the realisation any easier to deal with. Yikes! 👀 

· SCHROEDINGER'S HEAD by Joanna Koch: Wow. This story turned out to be a highly imaginative, mind blowing experience. I've never read anything like this before, but found the weirdness charming and instantly warmed to Mr. Klein's surreal conundrum. The poor guy.

· LOCUSTS by Dominick Cancilla: Is a quick and terrifying tale of biblical proportions that is very well telegraphed by the title. There's also a creepy, tiny mystery that unfortunately gets answered by the end. Poor Arthur and Emma. 😩

· THE PAIN ADDICT by Penn Jillette: Is quite the disturbing little story about a doctor with good intentions turned bad, when his addiction to pain overshadows everything that's important. This was bloody messed up!

· THE SLUGGIE REBELLION by William Meikle: Here we have a creepy little tale about what happens when you try to expand your mind at the expense of another creature. It's a little bit Alien and a lot of fun!

· NOISE by Max Booth III: OMG, what a screwed up story about being plugged into technology permanently and what it does to one particular guy. All he wanted was to shut the noise off, instead he gets a very intense, nightmarish situation. 😳

· SEEKING HARMONY WITH THE INFINITE by Evans Light: This awesome doomsday story features a taste of salvation only to twist everything upside down before you realise what's going on. Wow. Powerful stuff.

· BILLY CAMPBELL'S BONES by Jason Washer: I found this to be a sad and tragic tale about what happens to Billy's bones and how it affects his life. It's morbid and kinda gross, but still one hell of a horrific story. I would laugh if everything about this wasn't SO messed up.

· SURVIVAL IS AN ACT OF SELFISHNESS by Frank Oreto: Such an unexpected and disturbing shortie full of vivid imagery, awful consequences for children, and a terrible future that could end at any minute. Sure, it was totally messed up, but I really enjoyed it.

· BOXED IN by CS Mergo: Is a hilarious look at what can happen when parcel deliveries get totally out of hand. Or don't stop coming and you just can't speak to an actual customer service person to tell them what the problem is. Made me cackle a few times, but it's still a very dark situation. 

· WHAT IT TAKES by Phil Sloman: Just another shocking example of what can happen when you try to take shortcuts in life. You have to put in the work, man. Otherwise, well, you'll have to read the story to know the worst thing that can happen... 

· NEUROWORM by Tim Curran: This turned out to be a gross and clever hacker's nightmare full of body horror and the sense of falling deeper into delirium. I was uncomfortable and grossed out, in the best way possible. And that ending! 😵

· AND THE WINNER IS... by Sheldon Higdon: This is a dark tale about a different kind of lottery full of glitz, glamour, excitement and... death. Yikes! 

· IF I DRIVE BEFORE I WAKE by Eric J Guignard: Is another highly imaginative nightmare of the future. This time, we're dealing with the horror of self-driving cars and it's not a pretty or relaxing sight. Yet, in spite of the horror, I found the writing to be lush and dreamy.

In Darkness, Delight: Fear the Future is an exciting and very dark anthology full of awesome stories that deal with a wide variety of SF horror tales, each with its own unique twist of both subgenres. The writing for every single tale was absolutely fantastic. It's also such a lovely physical book packed full of ominous goodies from a talented bunch of authors. 

This is guaranteed to satisfy both horror and SF fans. Seriously, it's awesome. There's something terrifying and awesome about all the stories within these pages.

One last thing I want to add is that if you're looking for light-hearted visions of our future, you won't find them here. This collection is bleak and deals with the harsher paths humanity might take. I mean, it is a horror book, after all. 😈

IN DARKNESS DELIGHT: Fear the Future is now available!

TALES OF THE SUPERNATURAL is now available!

 

Today, I'm very excited to announce that my short story, The Girls Who Walked into the Woods, is included in this YA horror anthology!

TALES OF THE SUPERNATURAL

Otranto House

Demonic forces lurk in the woods. 

The death of a teen leads to an eerie police interview.

A vengeful spirit of an executed prisoner.

Fear and superstition leave young women vulnerable in a provincial village.

Voices from a well that whisper dark secrets. 

A small English town with sinister traditions. 

 

Tales of the Supernatural is a collection of six chilling tales that will haunt every reader and delight fans of horror. 

Featuring chilling tales from:

Yolanda Sfetsos

Sam Pope

Neve York

Martha Watson

Karen Featherstone

Jessica Allen

 Edited by Elizabeth Kennedy

 It's now available:
Otranto House | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon Australia | Amazon Canada

ADD TO GOODREADS

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Women of Horror Volume 3 is now available!

 

Last year, I was lucky enough to be included in the first Women of Horror anthology released by Kandisha Press, as well as the second volume.

Today, I'm super excited to announce that my short story, Lady of the House, appears in Volume 3..

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY: 2020 WOMEN OF HORROR ANTHOLOGY, VOLUME 3

Kandisha Press

What doesn't kill me, might make me kill you!

30 women authors from around the world were challenged to write about The One That Got Away. Here you'll find tales of unrequited love, blind dates gone wrong, stalkers and their prey, cursed guitars, alien symbiotes, sinister letters, and bitter acts of revenge. Dive into these murky depths and discover what hides inside the minds of women scorned.

Featuring chilling tales from:

Carmen Baca
Ushasi Sen Basu
Demi-Louise Blackburn
Ashley Burns
R.A. Busby
Amira Krista Calvo
Dawn DeBraal
Shawnna Deresch
Ellie Douglas
Amy Grech
KC Grifant
Meg Hafdahl
Rowan Hill
Stevie Kopas
Michelle Renee Lane
Catherine McCarthy
Villimey Mist
Mocha Pennington
Faith Pierce
Janine Pipe
Lydia Prime
Paula RC Readman
Marsheila Rockwell
Lucy Rose
Rebecca Rowland
Yolanda Sfetsos
Hadassah Shiradski
Barrington Smith-Seetachitt
J Snow
Sonora Taylor

 Edited by Jill Girardi

With Foreword by Gwendolyn Kiste (Bram Stoker award winning author of The Rust Maidens)

With cover art design by Ilusikanvas.

 It's now available:
Kindle | Paperback | Kobo | NOOK | Apple

ADD TO GOODREADS

CAMPFIRE MACABRE is now available!

I'm super excited to announce that my story, House of Summons, has been published in this awesome anthology packed full of horror flash fiction.

CAMPFIRE MACABRE:

Cemetery Gates Media

50+ original flash horror tales organized by five themes: Spook Houses, Supernatural Slashers, Witchcraft, Within the Woods, and Cemetery Chillers. A book perfect for time spent around the campfire or on a long car trip! Brand new pieces from award-winning storytellers and established authors.

Cover design by Luke Spooner.

My story is part of the Supernatural Slashers section.

HERE'S THE COMPLETE TOC

I still can't believe I'm sharing a TOC with so many awesome authors! ☺

 

  It's now available from Amazon:

Kindle | Paperback

   

ADD TO GOODREADS

😈🔪

TWISTED WINTER edited by Catherine Butler

 

Twisted Winter by Catherine Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The other day, we found a cute (and really nice) Happy Holidays bag from the local library inside one of our favourite Street Libraries, and found a copy of this book inside.

After really enjoying the spooky introduction, I got stuck into the stories...

· DARK by Katherine Langrish:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The story of an unhappy boy, the bully terrorising him, and the unwanted dog that changes his life.

Really enjoyed this well written, spooky story featuring a cemetery and the creepy glow of streetlights.

· THE PARTY by Susan Cooper:⭐⭐

A Halloween party for young and old turns into a spooky situation when everyone is wearing masks.

This one was just okay for me. I liked the message behind not disturbing the trees, but the creepy factor lacked intensity.

· THE GATES by Liz Williams:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When Hannah moves to the country with her mum, she doesn't expect to find the mythological gates of the dead.

Loved this one! Not only did Hannah's lovely and honest voice hook me in, but her wondrous experience was a delight to share.

· FLAWLESS by Frances Hardinge:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Chloe spends most of her day cleaning hotel rooms to help her mum and looking after her annoying little brother. Until an encounter in the snow changes everything.

Another great and creepy story because this one actually destroyed a lot more than I was expecting. Pretty dark. Love it!

· LOSERS by Frances Thomas:⭐⭐

Brad is a jerk and a bully with a cruel plan.

Spending time in his head wasn't a nice experience.

· A DOG IS FOR LIFE by Catherine Butler:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nell's brother is a wild troublemaker, she just didn't realise how wild he really is.

Oh. I enjoyed this one because it's so darn twisted. I didn't expect that to happen to her brother. 😳 Bittersweet ending, too.

· HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Rhiannon Lassiter:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The story of Persephone is sad and melancholy. It's also one of my favourites.

And this version is exquisite. Absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking. Wonderful and so very cruel. The writing is lush, full of dark imagery and the confused thoughts of a girl whose life was stolen from her. Absolutely loved this!


This turned out to be such a great collection!

Like all anthologies, some tales were better than others and I had my favourites--The Gates and Home for the Holidays--but it was interesting, spooky and intriguing.

I also loved that all seven stories were written by women. And I love the cover.



View all my reviews

More Exciting News!

I'm SO excited to announce that my short story, Lady of the House, will be included in the third Kandisha Press Women of Horror Anthology alongside such awesome authors: 

My story is a melancholy tale with gothic vibes, about Ophelia and Spencer. Two people with a real connection but so many obstacles between them.

It also strengthens my love for skulls and skeletons. 💀

I can't wait to see the cover for this one.

Have a great day!

 

Exciting News!

I'm super excited to announce that my YA short story, The Girls Who Walked into the Woods, will be published in the first Otranto House anthology.

And here's the awesome cover:

Isn't it cool? I love the colours and each of the featured story clues.

My story is about friendship and grief, plus the woods. 😊🌳

I'm looking forward to finding out more and will share all the details as soon as I find out.

Have a great weekend!

 

About my story...

Last month, GRAVEYARD SMASH: 2020 Women of Horror Anthology Volume 2 was released. Yay. 😁

I'm very excited to have a story included in this awesome publication. BTW, don't you just love that freaky-lovely cover? I sure do.

So, I wanted to talk a bit about my short story. It's called Love You to Death and is a tale about myth, love and Death. It's also set in the underworld and features a bunch of death-defying characters you'll probably recognise.

I got this idea after I stumbled across a lovely piece of artwork featuring a skeleton drinking at a bar. I remember thinking: Looks like Death might be waiting for his girlfriend Santa Muerte to arrive, but she's always late.

After that thought entered my mind, the story bloomed. 💀

The artwork is called Casadores by Carlos Torres:

I found it so inspiring and so sad, I had to write a story about this lonely skeleton I decided was Dea.

Here's the blurb for my story:

A story of myth and horror featuring the love between Death and Santa Muerte as they fight zombies in the underworld. 

I'm very proud to be a part of the second anthology released by Kandisha Press, alongside so many awesome Women of Horror.

The anthology is now available: 

Paperback | Kindle | Kobo | Nook | Apple

ADD TO GOODREADS

GRAVEYARD SMASH: Women of Horror Anthology Volume 2 is now available!

Back in January, I was lucky enough to be included in the first Women of Horror anthology released by Kandisha Press. 

Today, I'm very excited to announce that my short story, Love You to Death, appears in Volume 2...

GRAVEYARD SMASH: 2020 WOMEN OF HORROR ANTHOLOGY, VOLUME 2

Kandisha Press

Step through the prettiest cemetery gates you've ever seen and experience tombstone raves and widow's dances, Japanese snow-spirits, Aztec bruja and temple goddesses, vengeful ghosts, djinn and cannibals, vampire hunters, plague bearers, graverobbers, and terrors beyond reason.

Read through the night as the dead rise from boneyards all around the world! 

Featuring chilling tales from:

Christy Aldridge 

Carmen Baca 

Demi-Louise Blackburn 

R.A. Busby 

V. Castro 

Dawn DeBraal 

Ellie Douglas 

Tracy Fahey 

Dona Fox 

Cassidy Frost 

Michelle Renee Lane 

Beverley Lee 

J.A.W. McCarthy 

Catherine McCarthy 

Susan McCauley 

Ksenia Murray 

Ally Peirse 

Janine Pipe 

Lydia Prime 

Paula R.C. Readman 

Yolanda Sfetsos 

Sonora Taylor 

 Edited by Jill Girardi
With foreword by Doc Holocausto (Evilspeak Magazine, Harvest Ritual, Creepy Crawls)

With cover art by Jep Knulle and cover design by Ellie Douglas

 It's now available:
Kindle | Paperback | Kobo | NOOK | Apple

ADD TO GOODREADS

About my story...

On Monday, I announced that the UNDER HER BLACK WINGS: 2020 Women of Horror Anthology was released.

I'm very excited about this publication and love the shiny-freaky-lovely cover.

So I wanted to talk a bit about my short story. It's called Somewhere to Belong and is a tale I enjoyed writing because it was in my head for a long while before I finally sat down to write it. 

I got the idea on a rainy day. While walking past the playground near the river, I remember thinking: there's nothing sadder than a playground without kids. I was the only person on the path, and couldn't help but wonder if the imprint of children playing might always remain in a place made especially for them.

This is the playground:

The river:

And here's the blurb for my story:

A lonely woman finds a home among a group of lost-and-found souls, all cared for by a tentacled sea-creature called Mother.

I think it captures the essence of the story perfectly. 

When it came to giving the story a title, there was a song that stood out. Linkin Park's Somewhere I Belong fit perfectly. Except, I substituted I with to, because of obvious reasons.

I'm very proud of the story that started with a simple idea during a rainy day and turned into something much darker.

It's also awesome to have a story in an anthology alongside so many awesome Women of Horror.

The anthology is now available: 

Paperback | Kindle | Kobo | Nook | Apple

   

UNDER HER BLACK WINGS: 2020 Women of Horror Anthology is now available!

I'm super excited to announce that my short story, Somewhere to Belong, has been published in an awesome anthology featuring women of horror...

UNDER HER BLACK WINGS:

2020 WOMEN OF HORROR ANTHOLOGY

Kandisha Press

- A glamorous actress whose very flesh is reanimated by a beloved Hollywood icon

- A Boy Scout Troupe encounters a frightening mythological creature in an American forest

- A lonely woman finds a home among a group of lost-and-found souls, all cared for by a tentacled sea-creature called Mother

- A Faceless Woman attacks like a virus and takes on the identities of her victims

- A post-apocalyptic battle for survival rages between human and insect

- A Shadow Woman leads the spirits of the murdered to take revenge in the desert

These are just some of the stories nineteen women came up with when tasked with creating their own Women Monsters. Step inside and experience tales of bloodsucking entities in the jungles of Southeast Asia, Cuban river goddesses, an Aztec bruja, werewolves, mermaids, soul-stealers, obsessive lovers, furious spurned wives, bloody murder in Gothic manors and on Southern plantations... and so much more...

With Foreword by Brandon Scott (Author of Vodou and Sleight, Devil Dog Press)

Featuring:

Christy Aldridge

Carmen Baca

Somer Canon

Andrea Dawn

Dawn DeBraal

Michelle Garza

Sharon Frame Gay

Alys Hobbs

Tina Isaacs

Stevie Kopas

Marie Lanza

Melissa Lason

Malena Salazar Macía

Charlotte Munro

Lydia Prime

Paula R.C. Readman

Copper Rose

Yolanda Sfetsos

With cover art by Corinne Halbert

 

  It's now available from Amazon:

Kindle | Paperback

   

ADD TO GOODREADS

HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SCREAM Edited by Christopher Golden

Hark! The Herald Angels Scream by Christopher Golden

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This anthology continues my dark Christmassy reads binge. 😈🎄

ABSINTHE & ANGELS by Kelley Armstrong: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ava and Michael just want to spend a romantic, snowy Christmas together. Instead, they find themselves being terrorised by mummers.

Wow. What an awesome start to this anthology. I loved everything about this super creepy tale, and the ending was perfect!

Also, now I have to find out more about these freaky mummers. 😬

CHRISTMAS IN BARCELONA by Scott Smith: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What's supposed to be a traditional Christmas trip, this time to Barcelona, soon turns into a very uncomfortable stay. The baby won't stop crying, their luggage gets lost, and then they find themselves in the worst situation possible.

Yikes. This is one freaky story that hooked me from beginning to end. It was addictive, wove a spell on me and is told in such a disturbing style, that it's hard not to love the endless misery.

FRESH AS THE NEW-FALLEN SNOW by Seanan McGuire ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Andy, Chloe and Diane are three kids living in a big, warm house and have parents who are financially successful. They appear to be the perfect privileged family, but there's no love or warmth within these walls. And this Christmas season, their babysitter sees beyond the shiny veneer.

I loved this! Found the Snow Maiden mythology to be fascinating, and felt such sympathy for these kids. It was so refreshing to read a story that doesn't focus on naughty kids and instead confronts that parents can also be quite rotten.

LOVE ME by Thomas E Sniegoski: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

All Flynn wants for Christmas is to see his daughter. To do that, he promises his ex he'll get a job, but it's not that easy for a guy who just got out of prison. And that's how he ends up screwing everything up.

This was another great and super creepy story about a man trying to get his life in order for his child, and instead ends up ruining what be wanted to save in the most shocking way.

That thing was creepy af. 😳

NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS by Sarah Lotz: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

After screwing things up, all Jake wants is to get his family back. He figures that buying a Genpet for the family will do the trick, but of course it backfires.

OMG. This story made me laugh so many times. Jake is such a selfish loser, a liar and a user. So I was really happy with how the story turned out. And that Genpet was hilarious!

The moral of the story: don't buy a pet--real or artificial--as a gift.

TENETS by Josh Malerman: ⭐

I didn't like this one much. The pretentious characters and writing style really threw me off, kept me at a distance from everything and everyone. By the time I reached the ending, I was bored.

GOOD DEEDS by Jeff Strand: ⭐

OMFG. I didn't like anything about this story.

IT'S A WONDERFUL KNIFE: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cassie hates LA, but finds herself at a Christmas party in a big producer's mansion. She loves cinema and this year she's getting a personal tour into the memorabilia room.

This was an excellent story. I loved Cassie. She was clever and kept her secret hidden well until the big reveal. Loved how this turned out. Freaky! Not to mention the play on words title. Very cool.

MISTLETOE AND HOLLY by James A Moore: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Deanna lost her husband two years ago and still misses him. During Christmas it hurts all over again, but she's got her kids... and this year, a miracle might happen too.

I love the way this story revealed a little more with each page. It starts out normal enough, but the cracks in Deanna's life quickly appear. The ending was creeeeepy. On several levels.

SNAKE'S TRAIL by Sarah Langan: ⭐

This is another one I couldn't get into.

THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE CHRISTMAS HOTEL by Joe R Lansdale: ⭐⭐⭐

This turned out to be a freaky and sad story about something that happened long ago during a Christmas party in a hotel, and the weird thing that follows later.

I liked it. Nothing special, but nicely written.

FARROW STREET by Elizabeth Hand: ⭐

That was one boring and long Christmas tale about nothing. 😒

DOCTOR VELOCITY by Jonathan Maberry: ⭐⭐

Another disappointing story about a desperate artist losing his spark and the friend that helps him. And it felt like a very long and tedious conversation I was glad to stop reading.

YANKEE SWAP by John McIlveen: ⭐⭐⭐

This was okay. Nicely written, demented, gory and with a bit of a twist.

HONOR THY MOTHER by Angela Slatter: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Agnes has finally convinced all her sons, their wives and kids to spend Christmas with her in Salem. She used the weapon of age against them, and although it worked, it's also her weakness. Well, until she decides it is time to move out...

This is such an AWESOME story. I loved everything about it, but most of all I adored Agnes. It's also a very clever commentary on just how cruel people--especially family--can be to the elderly.

HOME by Tim Lebbon: ⭐

Couldn't get into this one because it was so dull.

HIKING THROUGH by Michael Koryta: ⭐⭐

Another average story about an unlikeable character. The only thing I liked was the Blair Witch urban legend vibe.

THE HANGMAN'S BRIDE by Sarah Pinborough: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Oh. This was such a great story within a story and featuring a wicked mystery. Not to mention that the combination of chimney sweeps and Japanese ghosts is awesome.

Seriously awesome.

Well, this anthology turned out to be a mixed bag for me. I either absolutely loved the story, or just couldn't get into it. But I read all eighteen stories, so that's cool.

Every story with a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating blew me away and were quite the treats. 🎁

There needs to be more of these Christmas horror anthologies, that's for sure.

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