New Demain Paperbacks!

That's right! 

My other two Demain Publishing novellas are now available in paperback and I'm super excited. 😃

Max Patella just wants to do her job...

Murder! Mystery! Mayhem #5:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Australia | Amazon Canada

☠️🏭💀🕵️‍♀️☠️

In a city full of mindless robots, Tolliver longs for adventure...

Weird. Wonderful. Other Worlds. #2:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Australia | Amazon Canada 

🤖🌟🌌🌟🤖

That means all three are now available in print and eBook.

So exciting!!

August's Revision Update!

Well, it's Friday and I thought I'd pop in to post an update.

Things in NSW are going from bad to worse. We've been suffering through this half-arsed mockdown for 8 WEEKS now and instead of getting better, the case number are getting out of control. We've had 600+ cases for three days in a row. Hotspots are no longer reported and the contact tracing is not of the gold standard calibre they always bragged about. 😫

This is alarming, scary stuff made worse by the fact our state government is delusional. They fucked up from the beginning and refuse to accept responsibility or tighten the meaning of essential worker. And now, people are dying and our hospitals are under pressure.

It's awful and so frustrating because we can't do anything about it. But that's what happens when people keep voting for right-wing governments that DGAF about them. 😑

Ugh.

It's best to concentrate on the good parts: hanging out with hubby, going for walks, enjoying nice meals and getting back into yoga.

Oh, and this happened:

• Monday: 40/202 (76,764w)
• Tuesday: 69/202 (76,536w)
• Wednesday: 144/201 (76,355w)
• Thursday: 205pgs / 76,077w

I actually reached The End yesterday, but it always takes me an extra day to tidy up any last-minute changes and checks. Plus I have to rename the files, format to double space and update all my external drives. And clear away the many post-it notes + random pieces of paper I've accumulated. LOL.

I'm super excited about finishing another WIP. Yay. 😁🎉  Especially this one because this is a novel I wrote back in 2017 and I worked really hard to make this story stronger. I fixed all the inconsistencies, cleaned up the writing, trimmed the fat, changed the direction of several subplots, altered the timeline and even wrote a new ending. Yeah, this isn't a linear book. 😁

Really happy and proud with the outcome. I put my poor main character through a LOT, but I love where her dark journey leads. 😁

So, finishing this project also means I can update my 2021 Revision List again:

1. April: Full edit of Wall of Dolls
2. May: Full revision of Destiny
3. June: Full revision of Victoria
4. August: Full revision of Possess

Looking good! I still have a bunch of WIPs to get to, but this is great progress. I set myself a serious goal this year, and so far I'm sticking to my plan. Even with the sad state of the world.

I almost forgot to mention that this week I also proofread The Wired City and The Bone Factory for the upcoming paperback release. So, yeah, it's been a super busy week!

Anyway, I think that's enough chatter for now. I need to take a breath, because I feel like I've been holding it in all week, and give my brain a break.

Have a fantastic weekend!

THE WIRED CITY is now available!

 

My Weird. Wonderful. Other Worlds. novella is now available from Demain Publishing.

Tolliver is caught in a cycle of boredom she desperately wants to escape. She hates her job writing silly slogans, doesn’t have any friends, and lives in a crowded city full of mindless androids.

When she stumbles on a mysterious classifieds message specifically targeted at her, Tolliver decides to leave her claustrophobic unit and finds herself in an unexpected adventure. A seemingly simple task leads her to a conspiracy theory that will put her life in danger, introduce her to a lot of potential friends, and some hard truths that circle back to her.

You can grab a copy from: 

 Amazon US 

Amazon UK 

Amazon Australia 

Amazon Canada 

 You can also: 

 ADD IT TO GOODREADS

I've said this twice before and I'll say it again: I REALLY love the cover Adrian Baldwin made for Tolli's novella. This time, he actually created a poster mentioned in the story! It's so amazing to see such perfect attention to detail.   

THE WIRED CITY is a bit SF, a bit cyberpunk, has a bunch of robots and is definitely dark. 🤖 

Tolliver starts out disillusioned and bored, wishing for adventure. And when she finds it, she never expected to find herself caught in the middle of a dangerous situation. 

I'm so excited about sharing this story, and very happy to have another book released by Demain Publishing. 

Yay!

BITS by RA Busby

 

Bits by R.A. Busby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was in the mood for something short and sharp, and this fit perfectly. 😁

Nadie Denneby is a schoolteacher having a really bad day. It all starts with a car accident, and ends in broken pieces...

I really enjoyed this unsettling story! It was easy to feel bad for Nadie because everything that happened to her was out of her control, and was truly terrifying.

She was so nice and harmless, and all I wanted to do was help her.

I mean, who hasn't had those awful dreams about losing teeth for no apparent reason? *cringe* I know I have. It's a total nightmare, which is actually what reading this story felt like. It was like being caught up in a creepy dream that draws you under in a very unexpected way. And the ending drops a few final surprises before letting the reader go.

This is another great addition to the Short Sharp Shocks! series. 

View all my reviews

THE BONE FACTORY is now available!

That's right! It's the 27th, and that means that my Murder! Mystery! Mayhem! novella is now available from Demain Publishing.

Max Patella just wants to do her job, which includes dealing with cases the corrupt police don't want to dirty their hands with.

When she stumbles on a bunch of skeletons found in different warehouses, all wearing mysterious rings, Max finds herself in a dangerous and deadly situation that leads back to her...

You can grab a copy from:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon Australia

Amazon Canada

You can also:

ADD IT TO GOODREADS


I REALLY love the cover Adrian Baldwin made for Max's novella because it's absolutely perfect for several reasons. You'll understand what I mean after reading it. 😁

THE BONE FACTORY is a thriller noir featuring a dark supernatural crime, a very wicked city, some shady characters and plenty of horror.

Max Patella is a mysterious detective who wants to help the forgotten victims in her corrupt city and ends up in the middle of something very dark. 💀

I'm so excited about this story, and even more excited about being included in another awesome Demain Publishing series alongside some great authors.

Yay!

EVERY MOON ATROCIOUS by Emile-Louis Tomas Jouvet

Every Moon Atrocious by Emile-Louis Tomas Jouvet

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I like sneaking in a quick Short Sharp Shocks! shortie when I'm in-between longer books. And this was my pick for tonight.

In Calais, a young women is kidnapped, held for ransom and killed. As the police investigate the murder of Celestine Theret, some really strange things turn up...

Ooooooh. This was such an interesting story that unravels via messages, recordings, CCTV footage and emails. And not just that, it's also out of order. Which makes everything so much more interesting. It's like a jumbled puzzle that slowly comes together after you've reached the end. That's when the genius really hits you!

I love it when you start reading a story and get so lost that you wonder if you'll enjoy the ride. Only to get totally caught up in what's going on. Until it felt like I was watching a short movie, and I couldn't wait to find out how everything was going to turn out.

This is a very clever story told in an unconventional way. It's twisty and violent and full of horrible people. I really enjoyed it.

View all my reviews

THE STRAITJACKET IN THE WOODS by Kitty R Kane

The Straitjacket In The Woods by Kitty R. Kane

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoy reading stories from the Short Sharp Shocks! series because they're snappy tales I can read in one sitting. I also like how they all tackle a variety of horror subgenres.

After losing a game during Halloween, Abi and Jay end up deep in the forest that is supposed to be terrorised by the legendary Pendulous Sedge. They're there to collect a trophy, but end up finding so much more...

Yikes! This story is one violent and bloody trip down some very dark paths.

I was instantly hooked by what I thought would be a haunted forest story, and instead turned into one hell of a ride with an unexpected ending.

There's so much packed into this story. A scary forest: check. Creepy-crawlies: check. Cannibals: check. A crazed legend: check. Experimentation: check. Abusive asshole doctors: check. All of the above, plus so much more, rolled into one intriguing and macabre tale that goes where you don't expect it to go every step of the way.

If you're squeamish, this will definitely make you uncomfortable because it doesn't hold back. In any way. This story starts pretty calm and familar, and when you realise what's happening around you, it's too late because you're already too deep into all the strange.

As disturbing as so much of this story is--because trust me, it totally is--there's also a certain moving and uplifting quality about it. The message behind everything that happens, as well as where the characters end up, is quite nice. Do I dare say, charming? Not to mention that all the main characters are very likeable.

I had a great time reading this unpredictable story. 😈

View all my reviews

PATIENT K by Barbie Wilde

Patient K by Barbie Wilde

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoy reading stories from the Short Sharp Shocks! horror series, so I was really excited about reading one written by Barbie Wilde.

Karla lost an eye during a childhood accident and has spent most of her life getting different artificial eyes fitted. But when she meets Dr Markham to have a new ocular prosthesis fitted, he betrays her trust in the worst way possible...

Yikes! What a great little macabre tale of revenge. The kind of revenge that makes you cheer for the victim every violent step of the way.

No one writes a pervert quite like Barbie Wilde, and she didn't disappoint here. In this story she created a horrible perv of the worst kind, one who uses medicine and vulnerability to prey on his victims. But lucky for us, she can also write quite the strong woman who responds to the abuse by taking us down a very twisted path.

Mix in a ghostly entity with their own agenda, and you have a very entertaining and intense story. Plus I liked the writing style and how everything starts out simple enough, before the bizarre takes over.

I read it in one sitting and really liked the way things turned out.

Sometimes, arrogant monsters do meet their match. And it's oh-so satisfying.

View all my reviews

THE UNBELIEVER & THE INTRUDER by Morgan K Tanner

The Unbeliever & The Intruder by Morgan K. Tanner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

By now, I know that getting stuck into a Short Sharp Shocks! book means I'm going to lose myself in a single sitting of awesome, dark storytelling. Add the fact that this author knows how to write gore and torture with an edge of the familiar so well, and I was instantly hooked.

The Unbeliever introduces us to Mike. An average guy who finds himself on a family holiday to the happiest place in the world. Yet, he's not feeling it. He's hot, cranky, would rather be by the pool, and can't help but voice his frustration, which leads to some horrifying results...

This story introduced an average guy into a very familiar place, then totally twisted all the normal and got dark very quickly. Wow. I didn't expect things to go there, but I'm so glad they did because it added the perfect gory imagery to some of the most well-known and beloved characters.

Trust me, you'll never look at a certain theme park the same (ever) again. LMAO. But seriously, I had SO much fun reading it because as violent as it is, I also found it amusing.

The Intruder features Toby, the sleep-deprived father of a newborn. On the night he offers to stay up with the baby so his wife can get some sleep and he can catch up on some work, someone decides to break into the house...

OMFG. This story is insane and I loved it!

Toby starts out acting and sounding like anyone who finds an asshole invading their territory, and slowly tumbles down a very dark path. A horrific path that had me squirming. Not just because of how he decides to deal with the would-be burglar, but because when the truth starts dawning on you... Yikes! Did I say it will make you squirm? 👀

Both of these are seriously awesome, wicked and well-written stories. They're like surreal nightmares that confuse the reader as much as the characters. They're brutal little treats guaranteed to disturb anyone brave enough to reach the end. And they'll stay with you long after you've finished reading.

I have to be honest, neither of these is for the faint of heart, but they're certainly worth it. Morgan has a great writing style and his stories really get into your system.

This SSS! is definitely another fantastic addition to this horror series.

View all my reviews

DIRTY PAWS by Dean M Drinkel

DIRTY PAWS by Dean M. Drinkel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

By now I know that reading a Short Sharp Shocks! story means I'm in for a horror treat. And the same goes here.

Maxime and Léa are a strange couple who are in Paris on business. They're always fighting, but after another argument each went their own way to embark on a night of sex, alcohol, drugs and some really weird shit.

Still, they're bound to get back together. If the monster stalking them doesn't find them first...

Yikes. This story sure gets dark really quickly.

At first, we're thrown into this couple's hotel room as they lie next to each other, totally destroyed after their separate night's activities. Then we're thrown into the reason why they had a fight in the first place. And everything goes downhill from there. 👀

These two aren't nice, well-behaved people, they know why they're there and until it becomes crystal clear what that shocking thing is, I was disoriented and trying to work things out. The writing style is perfect for this kind of tale--surreal and confusing, leaving obvious details out on purpose.

I really enjoyed that!

If you're squeamish, you might find some of the content uncomfortable. If not, this is a nice violent, shocking and often gross, but very entertaining story.

Yep. This is another very cool SSS! story. Actually, it's the very first one, because this little tale full of criminals, murder, monsters and mayhem happens to be the one that started everything.

View all my reviews

ENCAMPMENT BY THE GORGE & BLOOD MEMORY by Zachary Ashford

Encampment by the Gorge by Zachary Ashford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, I just read another great addition to the Short Sharp Shocks! series. This time, there were two stories. Although they're different, they both share the same subgenre.

The Encampment By The Gorge is about a group of labourers who have a job to do, but find it impossible when the local weirdos don't want them there and are trying to stop their progress with violence...

This was such an intriguing story. One that on the surface appears so normal--humans destroying the forest with their endless development pissing people off--and soon becomes a gory revenge adventure of cosmic proportions.

The imagery in this story was so vivid in its gore-filled descriptions, I could see all the disgusting stuff playing out very clearly inside my brain. 😳

Normally, I shy away from violence against animals, but strangely wasn't bothered by what happend here. Everything that happens is just so creatively monstrous.

Blood Money features a journalist trying to get a feature about the mysterious Bone Mountain. After a local kid goes missing, he decides to join the search party. Instead, he finds himself caught in the middle of a shocking, mystical situation...

This one was intriguing, interesting and full of ancient wonder. It was also a very clever observation about the many problems Indigenous Australians face in our country because our government doesn't care enough to help or respect them with the funding they deserve.

The mystic angle is also cool, and I liked the crocodile angle too. Not to mention the twist in the story that totally caught me by surprise. Nice!

I really enjoyed both of these stories, but my favourite was the second one. The atmosphere, sense of location and characters were so Australian, and really resonated with me. Like Jones says, we don't see enough Australian folklore and Indigenous mythology in stories, so it was a nice change of scenery to read a story steeped in it.

This is another great addition to this horror series. I really enjoyed these two brutal tales!

View all my reviews

CINDERS OF A BLIND MAN WHO COULD SEE by Kev Harrison

Cinders Of A Blind Man Who Could See by Kev Harrison

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is yet another Short Sharp Shocks! story that hooked me in from the beginning and kept me there until the end.

When Owen's son barges into his house and tells him he's got his eyesight back on the eye he lost to an accident, he's suspicious. Especially when David tells him how it happened.

All of a sudden, Owen's life gets turned upside down, because the more his curiosity bites and the more questions he asks, the deeper he falls into some very strange things going on in his own village...

I really enjoyed this folk horror story. A lot.

Everything starts out so simple: a miracle that causes a character to investigate, several conversations that add to the mystery, and finally taking notice of what's right in front of him. As all of these things are going on, something dark and dreadful is slowly bubbling to the surface. Leading to a shocking ending.

There are several important characters in this tale, but my fave was (obviously) Owen. I liked how he dealt with everything with a nice cup of tea. Was amazed at how he'd become so withdrawn that even though he worked in the council, he didn't see all of this coming. I mean, who would? Most of us just want to get on with our lives without thinking about some shitty, ancient cult.

Also, the environmental aspects were interesting too. With all the clearing being done in forests, jungles and bushland, who the hell knows what ancient things are being disturbed? And that's where horror authors come in. 😁

This is a great story with one of my fave horror tropes: creepy towns. But hey, there's a lot more to like about this spooky tale.

And just like all the others I've read so far--as well as my own--Adrian Baldwin nailed the cover because it totally fits the moral of the story.

View all my reviews

THE TOWN THAT FEARED DUSK by Calvin Demmer

The Town That Feared Dusk by Calvin Demmer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, that was another very cool Short Sharp Shocks! story. Also, I love the cover. I actually love the simplicity of all the SSS! covers, and how much they mean after you finish reading the story.

Sylvia is a journalist who doesn't want to end up where her mentor and colleague did. She wants to find an interesting and more meaningful story. And she finds that in the tabloid's archives. The Suicide Bridge sounds like a great place to start, but when she gets to the town and starts asking questions, she finds no one wants to answer them.

And when they do, she discovers silence might have been a better option...

I really enjoyed this! It happens to have some of my favourite things: a curious character, weird small town, and a mystery that begs to be solved. I read it in one sitting, which I think is the best way to read short stories and novelettes.

As soon as I started reading, I was hooked and followed Sylvia down what I suspected would be a very dark path.

The mystery at the core of the story had me intrigued, but even after the narrator sees some strange things, I was suspicious about what was going on beneath the surface. And that's another great thing about this story, the weird and disorienting vibes are so strong that when the ending creeps up on you, it takes you by surprise. Yet, doesn't surprise you.

It's just the right amount of spooky, and trippy.

Yeah, this is another great Demmer story and SSS! book.

View all my reviews

AN INVITATION TO DARKNESS by Hailey Piper

An Invitation to Darkness by Hailey Piper

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A few months ago, I had a novelette published under the very cool Short Sharp Shocks! series by Demain Publishing. Since then, I've been slowly buying some of the other books.

I decided to start with this one because I've been looking forward to reading it since I first heard about it on Twitter.

Captain Jamie Thames has decided to leave the high seas and wants to take her wealth to a quiet place where she can settle down. This leads her to the coastal village of Lucre Shores and Leavenworth Manor. A place that manages to enchant her as much as the lovely Lady Elizabeth Leavenworth.

But Leavenworth Manor has secrets hidden in its depths, and Jamie is determined to discover them all...

I read this excellent gothic tale in one sitting because I couldn't stop. The story dragged me in instantly, and demanded I keep reading until I discovered all the creepy mysteries alongside Jamie.

And I'm glad I did because it's filled with all the elements I love so much about gothic horror.

I also loved Jamie's voice. She's such an independent woman during a time when they weren't supposed to be. But she's strong, stubborn, passionate and such a romantic. When she sets her sights on this freaky manor and envisions what it can become, nothing (or no one) is going to get in her way.

The atmosphere was also great. The sense of location vivid. And the creepy factor was pretty high. Not to mention the pacing, which heightened the suspense.

I loved this dark tale of love, ghosts and curses.

View all my reviews

A Month After Breaking the Habit

That's right. Exactly one month ago, my horror story about a newlywed couple's terrifying honeymoon ordeal was released by Demain Publishing.

Just because I love posting it, here's the eerie cover:

Adrian Baldwin made it, and I seriously love how well this cover fits my story. Everything about it captures the mood without spoiling the twist. Puts the reader in the middle of the location without giving anything away.

There's a little something in this novelette of mine, that's best not to know until you're actually reading it. This makes it hard to reveal too much when I'm answering interview questions, or writing blog posts. But it's also exciting to read about the reader's reaction.

My story is actually part of the very excellent, Short Sharp Shocks! series. It's #27, and was released with these four other stories: 

They all look very cool, right?

So, how do I feel now that Isla's bloody, heartbreaking and violent tale has been out in the wild for a whole month? Well, I'm STILL super excited. How could I not be? It's been several years since my last book was released, and this awesome opportunity was the best way to step back into the publishing arena.

Not to mention that Dean from Demain was so awesome to work with. And that being part of a horror series alongside so many fantastic authors makes me very happy.

Yeah, I'm still very excited about Breaking the Habit, and am really enjoying finding out what readers have to say about it.

If you've read my tale of woe, thank you and don't be shy about letting me know what you think. Feel free to post a review so I can read your thoughts. 

And if you haven't, and you're interested, you can grab a copy from these Amazon stores:

US | UK |Australia | Canada

Another cool thing about this book is that it's 99c!

So, help me wish my creepy little story a Happy One Month Anniversary! 

Also, I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who's read, reviewed, shared the announcements and links to help me get the word out. 😀

Cover Talk

I love cover art. Checking out new covers, and trying to figure out clues about what's hidden inside, is one of the many things I love about books.

I've bought books purely based on their covers. So yeah, I'm a fan.

If it's for a story I've written, I love imagining what the cover might look like. I can't help but wonder what the artist might come up with. But nothing beats actually seeing what a cover artist comes up with for the first time. It's so exciting.

Today, I want to talk about this beauty:

This eerie cover was made by Adrian Baldwin and I love it.

One of the coolest things about the Short Sharp Shocks! series is that as soon as you see one, you know that it's part of the series.

Sure, they all have the cool and eye-catching crimson Demain Publishing border, but it's more than that. Every cover is pitch black, and features one element that fits perfectly with the story: a single image lost in all that darkness. Something that's somehow highly appropriate to each book.

I love the seemingly simplicity of these covers. At first glance, they appear so simple, but there are many unexpected layers. Whatever is featured on the cover is directly related to the story that follows, but the reader won't know exactly how it fits until they read the book.

Take my one. On the surface, BREAKING THE HABIT is a story about newlyweds eager to get their honeymoon started. It's also a tense and bloody, heartbreaking story about a woman with a dark secret and a past she's desperately trying to outrun. When I tried to picture the cover, I couldn't wait to see what the artist would come up with.

Then I saw the cabin/cottage and fell in love with it instantly. It's genius! The perfect image to provide a hint of the story without any spoilers. The place where BREAKING THE HABIT is actually set is the only possible image that could convey so much in such a spooky way.

The darkness surrounding the cabin/cottage is also perfect, because it reflects so much about the turmoil inside Isla's mind. As well as what's going on at this precise moment in her life.

See, so many clues are hidden in this awesome cover. Of course, I wrote the story so I see a lot more than the casual observer, but if you read the book you'll definitely understand what I'm talking about. 

Hope you enjoyed my thoughts on Adrian's great cover. 😁

My Short Sharp Shocks! story is now available from:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon Australia

Amazon Canada

You can also add it on Goodreads

BREAKING THE HABIT is now available!

That's right!

The 26th is here, which means that my Short Sharp Shocks! story is now available from Demain Publishing.

All Isla wanted to do was enjoy her honeymoon. She was looking forward to relaxing on the beach and enjoying cocktails with the love of her life. Instead, she ends up in the middle of the woods in a cozy cabin, where the past she's worked so hard to bury can find her. Turning what should be the best night of her life, into a bloody fight to stay alive.

You can grab a copy from:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon Australia

Amazon Canada

And it'll only cost you 99c! 😁


ADD TO GOODREADS


I really love the cover Adrian Baldwin made for my story about a newlywed couple who gets more than they bargained for on their honeymoon.

There's plenty of blood, some heartbreak and secrets that refuse to stay in the past.

Also, my story isn't the only one that was released. There are a handful of other Short Sharp Shocks! available today, and you can check them out HERE.

I'm very excited about this story, and even more excited about being included in an awesome series featuring so many great authors.

Yay!

An interview!

I've got another cool update!

Today, Demain Publishing posted an interview about my upcoming Short Sharp Shocks! story, BREAKING THE HABIT. 

You can read it HERE.

If you want to find out a bit about the story, my writing process and a bunch of other stuff, go and check it out. 

You can also read interviews for all the other releases.

It's SO exciting! 😃

I have some news!

Hey!

If you follow me on Twitter, you probably saw my Saturday tweet featuring a very cool announcement and a new cover.

That's right, I've signed a contract with Demain Publishing for my novelette, BREAKING THE HABIT. I'm SO excited about this upcoming release for several reasons.

This is my first new release in quite a while. Several years, actually. So it's awesome to get the opportunity to have a new story out in the wild for a new audience. So I want to thank Dean M. Drinkel for giving me the chance to share my horror story with the world.

What makes this even more exciting is that this story is going to be a part of the very cool series of stories called Short Sharp Shocks! A series that includes stories written by Barbie Wilde and Calvin Demmer, to name a few.

My story is #27. And it's SO EXCITING!

These are the books that are already available:

You can check them out here.

The other day, I received the awesome cover, made by Adrian Baldwin. Not only does it match the others in the series, but it also features something that is central to the story.

Here it is:

Isn't this creepy and cool? I love it!

As soon as I have more information--blurb, pre-order link, etc--I'll be sure to post about it here. But for now, I'm super excited and had to write a little something to share this awesome news.

Thanks for checking in.

Have a great week! 🌞