Archive for the ‘books’ Category
Posted by Gothic.net on
March 30, 2012
The Stokers have announced the nominees. There are a lot of really excellent dark writers nominated. Gothic.net would like to especially wish luck to Brian Hodge, Caitlin R. Kiernan, G. O. Clark, J. G. Faherty, Lisa Morton, Marge Simon, Maria Alexander, and Thomas Roche tomorrow night. No matter who wins, the real winners are all of us who get to read so much quality horror.
This year’s nominees in each category are:
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A NOVEL
A Matrix Of Angels by Christopher Conlon (Creative Guy Publishing)
Cosmic Forces by Greg Lamberson (Medallion Press)
Floating Staircase by Ronald Malfi (Medallion Press / Thunderstorm Books)
Flesh Eaters by Joe McKinney (Pinnacle Books)
Not Fade Away by Gene O’Neill (Bad Moon Books)
The German by Lee Thomas (Lethe Press)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A FIRST NOVEL
Isis Unbound by Allyson Bird (Dark Regions Press)
Southern Gods by John Hornor Jacobs (Night Shade Books)
The Lamplighters by Frazer Lee (Samhain Horror)
The Panama Laugh by Thomas Roche (Night Shade Books)
That Which Should Not Be by Brett J. Talley (JournalStone)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A YOUNG ADULT NOVEL
Ghosts of Coronado Bay, A Maya Blair Mystery by J. G. Faherty (JournalStone)
The Screaming Season by Nancy Holder (Razorbill)
Rotters by Daniel Kraus (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)
Dust and Decay by Jonathan Maberry (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (Candlewick / Walker)
This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel (Simon & Schuster / David Fickling Books)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A GRAPHIC NOVEL
Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol (First Second)
Locke & Key Volume 4 by Joe Hill (IDW Publishing)
Green River Killer by Jeff Jensen (Dark Horse)
Marvel Universe vs. Wolverine by Jonathan Maberry (Marvel)
Baltimore Volume I: The Plague Ships by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden (Dark Horse)
Neonomicon by Alan Moore (Avatar Press)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN LONG FICTION
7 Brains by Michael Louis Calvillo (Burning Effigy Press)
“Roots and All” by Brian Hodge (A Book of Horrors)
“The Colliers’ Venus (1893)” by Caitlin R. Kiernan (Naked City: New Tales of Urban Fantasy)
Ursa Major by John R. Little (Bad Moon Books)
Rusting Chickens by Gene O’Neill (Dark Regions Press)
“The Ballad of Ballard and Sandrine” by Peter Straub (Conjunctions: 56)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SHORT FICTION
“Her Husband’s Hands” by Adam-Troy Castro (Lightspeed Magazine, October 2011)
“Herman Wouk Is Still Alive” by Stephen King (The Atlantic Magazine, May 2011)
“Hypergraphia” by Ken Lillie-Paetz (The Uninvited #1)
“Graffiti Sonata” by Gene O’Neill (Dark Discoveries #18)
“Home” by George Saunders (The New Yorker Magazine, June 13, 2011)
“All You Can Do Is Breathe” by Kaaron Warren (Blood and Other Cravings)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A SCREENPLAY
True Blood, episode #44: “Spellbound” by Alan Ball (HBO)
The Walking Dead, episode #13: “Pretty Much Dead Already” by Scott M. Gimple (AMC)
The Walking Dead, episode #9: “Save the Last One” by Scott M. Gimple (AMC)
Priest by Cory Goodman (Screen Gems)
The Adjustment Bureau by George Nolfi (Universal Pictures)
American Horror Story, episode #12: “Afterbirth” by Jessica Sharzer (20th Century Fox Television)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A FICTION COLLECTION
Voices: Tales of Horror by Lawrence C. Connolly (Fantasist Enterprises)
Red Gloves by Christopher Fowler (PS Publishing)
Two Worlds and In Between: The Best of Caitlin R. Kiernan (Volume One) by Caitlin R. Kiernan (Subterranean)
Monsters of L.A. by Lisa Morton (Bad Moon Books)
The Corn Maiden and Other Nightmares by Joyce Carol Oates (Mysterious Press)
Multiplex Fandango by Weston Ochse (Dark Regions Press)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN AN ANTHOLOGY (EDITING)
NEHW Presents: Epitaphs edited by Tracy L. Carbone (Shroud Publishing)
Ghosts By Gaslight edited by Jack Dann and Nick Gevers (Harper Voyager)
Blood And Other Cravings edited by Ellen Datlow (Tor Books)
Supernatural Noir edited by Ellen Datlow (Dark Horse)
Tattered Souls 2 edited by Frank J. Hutton (Cutting Block Press)
Demons: Encounters with the Devil and his Minions, Fallen Angels and the Possessed edited by John Skipp (Black Dog and Leventhal)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN NON-FICTION
Halloween Nation: Behind the Scenes of America’s Fright Night by Lesley Pratt Bannatyne (Pelican Publishing)
Reflections in a Glass Darkly: Essays on J. Sheridan Le Fanu edited by Gary William Crawford, Jim Rockhill and Brian J. Showers (Hippocampus Press)
Starve Better by Nick Mamatas (Apex Publications)
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Zombies by Matt Mogk (Gallery Books)
The Gothic Imagination by John C. Tibbetts (Palgrave Macmillan)
Stephen King: A Literary Companion by Rocky Wood (McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A POETRY COLLECTION
How to Recognize a Demon Has Become Your Friend by Linda Addison (Necon Ebooks)
At Louche Ends: Poetry for the Decadent, the Damned & the Absinthe-Minded by Maria Alexander (Burning Effigy Press)
Surrealities by Bruce Boston (Dark Regions Press)
Shroud of Night by G. O. Clark (Dark Regions Press)
The Mad Hattery by Marge Simon (Elektrik Milk Bath Press)
Unearthly Delights by Marge Simon (Sam’s Dot)
Posted by Gothic.net on
March 30, 2012
The Stokers have announced the nominees. There are a lot of really excellent dark writers nominated. Gothic.net would like to especially wish luck to Brian Hodge, Caitlin R. Kiernan, G. O. Clark, J. G. Faherty, Lisa Morton, Marge Simon, Maria Alexander, and Thomas Roche tomorrow night. No matter who wins, the real winners are all of us who get to read so much quality horror.
This year’s nominees in each category are:
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A NOVEL
A Matrix Of Angels by Christopher Conlon (Creative Guy Publishing)
Cosmic Forces by Greg Lamberson (Medallion Press)
Floating Staircase by Ronald Malfi (Medallion Press / Thunderstorm Books)
Flesh Eaters by Joe McKinney (Pinnacle Books)
Not Fade Away by Gene O’Neill (Bad Moon Books)
The German by Lee Thomas (Lethe Press)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A FIRST NOVEL
Isis Unbound by Allyson Bird (Dark Regions Press)
Southern Gods by John Hornor Jacobs (Night Shade Books)
The Lamplighters by Frazer Lee (Samhain Horror)
The Panama Laugh by Thomas Roche (Night Shade Books)
That Which Should Not Be by Brett J. Talley (JournalStone)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A YOUNG ADULT NOVEL
Ghosts of Coronado Bay, A Maya Blair Mystery by J. G. Faherty (JournalStone)
The Screaming Season by Nancy Holder (Razorbill)
Rotters by Daniel Kraus (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)
Dust and Decay by Jonathan Maberry (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (Candlewick / Walker)
This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel (Simon & Schuster / David Fickling Books)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A GRAPHIC NOVEL
Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol (First Second)
Locke & Key Volume 4 by Joe Hill (IDW Publishing)
Green River Killer by Jeff Jensen (Dark Horse)
Marvel Universe vs. Wolverine by Jonathan Maberry (Marvel)
Baltimore Volume I: The Plague Ships by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden (Dark Horse)
Neonomicon by Alan Moore (Avatar Press)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN LONG FICTION
7 Brains by Michael Louis Calvillo (Burning Effigy Press)
“Roots and All” by Brian Hodge (A Book of Horrors)
“The Colliers’ Venus (1893)” by Caitlin R. Kiernan (Naked City: New Tales of Urban Fantasy)
Ursa Major by John R. Little (Bad Moon Books)
Rusting Chickens by Gene O’Neill (Dark Regions Press)
“The Ballad of Ballard and Sandrine” by Peter Straub (Conjunctions: 56)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SHORT FICTION
“Her Husband’s Hands” by Adam-Troy Castro (Lightspeed Magazine, October 2011)
“Herman Wouk Is Still Alive” by Stephen King (The Atlantic Magazine, May 2011)
“Hypergraphia” by Ken Lillie-Paetz (The Uninvited #1)
“Graffiti Sonata” by Gene O’Neill (Dark Discoveries #18)
“Home” by George Saunders (The New Yorker Magazine, June 13, 2011)
“All You Can Do Is Breathe” by Kaaron Warren (Blood and Other Cravings)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A SCREENPLAY
True Blood, episode #44: “Spellbound” by Alan Ball (HBO)
The Walking Dead, episode #13: “Pretty Much Dead Already” by Scott M. Gimple (AMC)
The Walking Dead, episode #9: “Save the Last One” by Scott M. Gimple (AMC)
Priest by Cory Goodman (Screen Gems)
The Adjustment Bureau by George Nolfi (Universal Pictures)
American Horror Story, episode #12: “Afterbirth” by Jessica Sharzer (20th Century Fox Television)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A FICTION COLLECTION
Voices: Tales of Horror by Lawrence C. Connolly (Fantasist Enterprises)
Red Gloves by Christopher Fowler (PS Publishing)
Two Worlds and In Between: The Best of Caitlin R. Kiernan (Volume One) by Caitlin R. Kiernan (Subterranean)
Monsters of L.A. by Lisa Morton (Bad Moon Books)
The Corn Maiden and Other Nightmares by Joyce Carol Oates (Mysterious Press)
Multiplex Fandango by Weston Ochse (Dark Regions Press)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN AN ANTHOLOGY (EDITING)
NEHW Presents: Epitaphs edited by Tracy L. Carbone (Shroud Publishing)
Ghosts By Gaslight edited by Jack Dann and Nick Gevers (Harper Voyager)
Blood And Other Cravings edited by Ellen Datlow (Tor Books)
Supernatural Noir edited by Ellen Datlow (Dark Horse)
Tattered Souls 2 edited by Frank J. Hutton (Cutting Block Press)
Demons: Encounters with the Devil and his Minions, Fallen Angels and the Possessed edited by John Skipp (Black Dog and Leventhal)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN NON-FICTION
Halloween Nation: Behind the Scenes of America’s Fright Night by Lesley Pratt Bannatyne (Pelican Publishing)
Reflections in a Glass Darkly: Essays on J. Sheridan Le Fanu edited by Gary William Crawford, Jim Rockhill and Brian J. Showers (Hippocampus Press)
Starve Better by Nick Mamatas (Apex Publications)
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Zombies by Matt Mogk (Gallery Books)
The Gothic Imagination by John C. Tibbetts (Palgrave Macmillan)
Stephen King: A Literary Companion by Rocky Wood (McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers)
SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A POETRY COLLECTION
How to Recognize a Demon Has Become Your Friend by Linda Addison (Necon Ebooks)
At Louche Ends: Poetry for the Decadent, the Damned & the Absinthe-Minded by Maria Alexander (Burning Effigy Press)
Surrealities by Bruce Boston (Dark Regions Press)
Shroud of Night by G. O. Clark (Dark Regions Press)
The Mad Hattery by Marge Simon (Elektrik Milk Bath Press)
Unearthly Delights by Marge Simon (Sam’s Dot)
Posted by Amber Keller on
March 21, 2012
Author M. Christian, upon seeking publicity for his newest novel, “Finger’s Breadth”, has threatened to cut off the tip of his little finger. This idea goes in line with the books character that does a similar fashion of chopping in a futuristic noir San Francisco world. Acknowledging how tough it is to spread the word about new books, Christian readily admits that this is a public relations stunt. His theory is that it takes someone to think outside of the box in order to garner the attention it requires for the novel to reach a wider audience. Christian has an impressive list of accomplishments, including six novels, over four hundred short stories, nine author collections, editing twenty-five anthologies, and being a contributor to Gothic.net. “Finger’s Breadth”, published by Zumaya Publications, is a gay erotic science fiction horror thriller. More of an intense psychological ride, the novel serves to dissect human nature rather than to deliver surface scares. So far he still has all of his digits, but who knows what will happen in time.
PRESS RELEASE: In what is clearly an act of pure desperation, author M. Christian has threatened to amputate part of one finger to publicize his new novel, Finger’s Breadth (Zumaya Books).
“The fact is, it’s getting harder and harder to get the word out about anything new, especially novels,” says M. Christian, whose biography includes over 400 short story sales, nine author collections, the editing of 25 anthologies, and six previous novels. “Is it no surprise that writers are having to resort to obvious stunts to try and get their work noticed?”
Though Finger’s Breadth – described as a gay erotic science fiction horror thriller – has garnered respectable reviews, Christian says that it has yet to gain the notoriety he believes it deserves.
“Even with Zee at Firepages saying ‘Finger’s Breadth has a way of getting under your skin and sending chills to your bones in both a terrifying and arousing kind of way. Finger’s Breadth is not a story; it is an experience I highly recommend,’ it’s been too damned hard to get word out about the book.
Christian points out other reviewers who, apparently, have also found the book to be superb: “I’ve got Lisabet Sarai, who says ‘If you’re looking for an easy, sunny, sexy book with a happy ending, don’t pick up Finger’s Breadth. If, on the other hand, you want a scary but enlightening ride through the twisted labyrinth of the human psyche, I highly recommend this book,’ and the Circlet Press calling it ‘…one of the most psychologically astute erotic novels since Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s Venus in Furs, and it deserves to be just as widely read,’ and even science fiction author Ernest Hogan, who calls it ‘a world of crime, out-of-control passions, mutilation, and madness. Terms like noir and hardboiled don’t quite fit – this is more like ultraviolet, the invisible light that makes the scorpions glow in the dark.’”
M. Christian, with fingers intact – so far (photo by Shilo McCabe)
As for what the novel is actually about, Christian says that the book’s description as erotic, nightmarish, fascinating, disturbing, intriguing, haunting, you have never read a book like Finger’s Breadth is actually pretty accurate – if a little vague: “There are far too many scary books and movies about serial killers, psychos, nasty supernatural forces … but all of that, to me, is just too removed. It’s far too easy to be able to say it’s a matter of them – or him – and us: but the real horror I’ve always felt, and tried to explore in Finger’s Breadth is that the real horror is human nature itself. That, given the right set of circumstances, otherwise good people can have their minds, and most of all their desires, turned inside out.”
And so to try and get the word out about what he feels to be his best novel yet, the reclusive author says that he is willing to step into the light with his most audacious publicity plan ever: to lop off one of his own fingertips
“Okay, my track record for honesty isn’t the best … I’m the first to admit that,” Christian says about his planned amputation. “The whole ‘stolen identity’ campaign around Me2 [his previous novel] was lost on more than a few people. Never mind that it worked and the book sold like hotcakes. But this time I’m totally, completely, absolutely, honest: I really want people to read Finger’s Breadth … and if it takes lopping off the tip of my little finger then I’m gonna do it,” he says.
When asked if the planned amputation is simply a publicity stunt, Christian responded with faux outrage: “A stunt? A STUNT?! Of course it’s a publicity stunt … these days writers have to be creative and, let’s be honest here, more than a bit outrageous if they are going to get noticed. The book’s about a mysterious figure cutting off the tips of little fingers in a near-future noir San Francisco so a pretend self-amputation is just too damned perfect!”
In answer to his admission that the whole thing is nothing but a publicity-seeking prank, Christian shook his head: “That’s not to say that it still won’t happen; they say that a good writer has at least a few good books in them, so if a finger is all it takes to get the word out about this novel … well, I have 19 more fingers and toes to go. Seems like a small price to pay.”
#
More Finger’s Breadth reviews:
It is not that hard to come up with an idea that can be turned into a horror story and that is why horror has been part of the folklore of America and why these stories are so popular on camp-outs as we sit around a campfire. To successfully do this, we need a combination of characters and plot but more important than all else is a novel way to relate the story. For me that is the definition of M. Christian. This book is unlike anything I have read before and I suspect that it will stay with me for quite a while.
– Amos Lassen, reviewer
Finger’s Breadth creates a vivid portrait of a community torn apart by suspicion, where the thrills of hot, anonymous sex go hand in mutilated hand with the chill of fear, and no one is entirely what they seem. M. Christian skillfully mixes a dark, potent cocktail of lust, longing, paranoia and an overwhelming need for acceptance…
– Liz Coldwell, author of Take Your Slave To Work
To be effective, the act of literary intercourse between horror and erotica should be deeply unsettling. It should leave the reader feeling uncomfortable, overwhelmed by equal parts dread and anticipation. M. Christian understands this better than most, weaving a tale that permits the reader but a finger’s breadth of space between fear and arousal. His deft control of the story makes us feel the blade, but it’s his subtle manipulation of our emotions that makes us want the cut.
– Sally Sapphire, Bellasbookslut
M. Christian has seen the future – and it is hardboiled! If you love crime stories – gay or otherwise – and you love science fiction, you will love Finger’s Breadth. No other storyteller nails it quite like M. Christian does. This is a real page turner.
– Marilyn Jaye Lewis, author of Freak Parade
M. Christian is a force to be reckoned with. Just when you think you understand the path that his narrative and characters are taking, Christian throws a monkey wrench, or a limb, or a head into the works and you have to get your bearings and start all over again. No matter which book of his you pick up, prepare for an intoxicatedly weird ride.
– Ily Goyanes, author and filmmaker
Finger’s Breadth is mesmeric storytelling, riveting in execution and appalling in implication. M. Christian’s tale of erotic terror in a near-future San Francisco is imagined so skillfully that it grabs the reader with its easy familiarity, then refuses to let go as it careens to its shocking yet completely believable conclusion. Evoking such Grand Masters as Armistead Maupin, Thomas Harris and Rod Serling while remaining strikingly original, Finger’s Breadth is Christian at the height of his considerable powers. Like Charon the ferryman, the author takes the reader down the dark rivers of human sexuality and shows us things that would normally never see the light of day. Ultimately the most compelling aspect of this fiction is how fascinatingly and terrifyingly plausible it is. Finger’s Breadth should come with a warning label: Read this before clubbing.
– Christopher Pierce, author of Rogue Slave, Rogue Hunted, and Kidnapped By A Sex Maniac
#
M. Christian is – among many things – an acknowledged master of erotica with more than 400 stories in such anthologies as Best American Erotica, Best Gay Erotica, Best Lesbian Erotica, Best Bisexual Erotica, Best Fetish Erotica, and many, many other anthologies, magazines, and Web sites.
He is the editor of 25 anthologies including the Best S/M Erotica series, Pirate Booty, My Love For All That Is Bizarre: Sherlock Holmes Erotica, The Burning Pen, Guilty Pleasures, The Mammoth Book of Future Cops and The Mammoth Book of Tales of the Road (with Maxim Jakubowksi) and Confessions, Garden of Perverse, and Amazons (with Sage Vivant) as well as many others.
He is the author of the collections Dirty Words, Speaking Parts, The Bachelor Machine, Licks & Promises, Filthy, Love Without Gun Control, Rude Mechanicals, Technorotica, Coming Together Presents M. Christian, Pornotopia, How To Write And Sell Erotica; and the novels Running Dry, The Very Bloody Marys, Me2, Brushes, Fingers Breadth, and Painted Doll. His site is http://www.mchristian.com.
Fingers Breadth
Zumaya Books
Paperback: $15.99
ebook: $6.99
ISBN-10: 1934841463
ISBN-13: 978-1934841464
Posted by Gothic.net on
March 14, 2012
Schaffner Press publishes books with social relevance. Although they are not a genre press, they do publish horror, provided it is really top quality innovative work, such as the writing of Todd Grimson.
Since Schaffner Press is a small independent press with a list of about 4-6 books a year, it is important that, before querying, you peruse the website www.schaffnerpress.com to determine if your project would be suitable. Also, bear in mind that, while the press publishes both fiction and non-fiction, it adheres to a specific theme behind each title: that being books with social relevance.
If you believe that your work is appropriate to the mission of the press, please send an email to the attention of Tim Schaffner at tim@schaffnerpress.com to introduce yourself and tell me a little something about your project. Please do not attach any manuscript files unless specifically requested. However, you may add a pdf of your resume, vita or narrative bio, giving information relevant to your work, and ongoing projects.
I will try to respond to your query in a couple of days of receipt and will let you know if I would like to consider your work. While it is the norm these days to submit e-manuscripts via email, I still prefer a hard copy of the ms. or proposal be sent to my attention at POB 41567, Tucson, Az 85717.
If your work has been requested for consideration, and once you have heard from me of its receipt, please allow four to six weeks for a response.
Thank you for your interest in Schaffner Press.
Tim Schaffner Press
Publisher
Posted by Gothic.net on
March 14, 2012
Schaffner Press publishes books with social relevance. Although they are not a genre press, they do publish horror, provided it is really top quality innovative work, such as the writing of Todd Grimson.
Since Schaffner Press is a small independent press with a list of about 4-6 books a year, it is important that, before querying, you peruse the website www.schaffnerpress.com to determine if your project would be suitable. Also, bear in mind that, while the press publishes both fiction and non-fiction, it adheres to a specific theme behind each title: that being books with social relevance.
If you believe that your work is appropriate to the mission of the press, please send an email to the attention of Tim Schaffner at tim@schaffnerpress.com to introduce yourself and tell me a little something about your project. Please do not attach any manuscript files unless specifically requested. However, you may add a pdf of your resume, vita or narrative bio, giving information relevant to your work, and ongoing projects.
I will try to respond to your query in a couple of days of receipt and will let you know if I would like to consider your work. While it is the norm these days to submit e-manuscripts via email, I still prefer a hard copy of the ms. or proposal be sent to my attention at POB 41567, Tucson, Az 85717.
If your work has been requested for consideration, and once you have heard from me of its receipt, please allow four to six weeks for a response.
Thank you for your interest in Schaffner Press.
Tim Schaffner Press
Publisher
Posted by The Woman In Black on
March 6, 2012
Actress turned author Kathryn Leigh Scott, who played Josette DuPrés in the “Dark Shadows” TV series, has a new book on its way April 3, 2012, from Pomegranate Press entitled Dark Shadows: Return to Collinwood, which she co-wrote with Jim Pierson.
Dark Shadows: Return to Collinwood is an in-depth look at five decades of the classic Gothic horror soap opera that made sympathetic vampire Barnabas Collins a pop culture phenomenon and prompted the big-screen revival starring longtime fan Johnny Depp, directed by Tim Burton.
With a foreword by Jonathan Frid, who created the role of Barnabas Collins, this new book includes hundreds of rare photographs and behind-the-scenes anecdotes from Scott, Frid, Lara Parker (Angelique Bouchard), and David Selby (Quentin Collins), all of whom appear in cameo roles with Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Michelle Pfeiffer in the new Gothic epic feature film Dark Shadows to be released this May. With the ongoing fascination for all things vampiric, this book, about the making of the new film and the history of the original series, is an enticing volume for new and old fans alike.
In its heyday the original "Dark Shadows" daytime series (ABC, 1966-1971) attracted 20 million viewers. The spooky, literate, romance and horror-driven show had universal appeal -- and came to be known as the program “kids ran home from school to watch.” Reruns and DVD releases of all 1,225 episodes have spawned new generations of "Dark Shadows" fans, who also attend annual "Dark Shadows" conventions and festivals where cast members reunite to celebrate the show’s unending popularity.
Authors Kathryn Leigh Scott and Jim Pierson have previously collaborated on five top-selling books about "Dark Shadows" and a coffee table book about the career of its creator, the late producer-director Dan Curtis.
To stay up-to-date on what else Ms. Scott has going on, be sure to visit her official site KathrynLeighScott.com.
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Posted by Amber Keller on
February 1, 2012
There were many great dark fiction and horror books in 2011, and compiling this list was a bit tough, to say the least. Being a writer myself, I am always humbled to put books into some semblance of ranking, and after much shuffling of the order; I present to you my top ten of the last year.
1. OUTPOST by Adam Baker. Baker’s debut novel gives us a glimpse into what he is really capable of as an author. We are shown an oilrig crew that is seemingly already isolated from the rest of the world, but is thrown into a deeper, more real isolation while awaiting a terrible plague that is inevitably coming for them. This is a story about survivalist issues, first and foremost, and also a study of the human condition when placed in a dire and bleak position. Adam Baker is able to place us inside each character and to show us their desperation, all the while giving us a reason to turn the page in the face of such hopelessness. Truly an outstanding novel.
2. 11/22/63 by Stephen King. The master of macabre is back with a shiny new toy. This time he takes us back to that fateful day when John F. Kennedy was shot, and everything changed. He brings a new spin when he allows a time traveling portal to take a character back to that time. It’s as if us readers step through that portal ourselves, and are transported to a long gone era, one ripe with rock and roll and muscle cars. Here we have the storyteller that we all know so well back and strong. Stephen King does not disappoint with this one.
3. THE NIGHT ETERNAL by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. In the third installment of The Strain Trilogy, our beloved characters stories are brought to an end. Fans of the series receive a well-constructed conclusion in this book. The writing team of del Toro and Hogan has consistently delivered, and they end with the same, albeit more action packed, passion and eloquence that was visible in the first book.
4. SOUTHERN GODS by John Hornor Jacobs. A stand out in this list, and another debut novel, Jacobs’ tale of grit, darkness, and soul-selling music, combines a Gothic flair with Lovecraftian lore. It is not only aesthetically outstanding, it also conveys a vein of terror and intrigue effortlessly. The delta Blues have never been experienced like this. Join antagonist, Bull Ingram, on a journey to Hell and back via the backwoods of Arkansas, as he journeys to find Ramblin’ John Hastur. It will be a trip you won’t forget.
5. DEAD OF NIGHT: A ZOMBIE NOVEL by Jonathan Maberry. Jonathan Maberry is a NY Times bestseller, and has won the Bram Stoker award multiple times. He brings his talent to us once more with this novel about the end of the world by way of zombies. A serial killer is experimented on while he’s in prison, and such is the beginning of the end. Graphic and not at a loss for details, DEAD OF NIGHT allows us to see the flaws in human communication and their deadly consequences.
6. DOUBLE DEAD by Chuck Wendig. Wendig’s voice and style are unobtainable, and leave an impression that will stay. His ability to spin a yarn that keeps the reader employed and wanting more is only part of the reason this, another spectacular debut novel, made the list. A unique take on the zombie apocalypse leaves a vampire among the midst of the undead hordes. Here we see much more than the usual band of survivors. There are many dynamics at play, which give a thorough and in-depth view of humanity, and not just from the humans.
7. BLEED by Ed Kurtz. Once more we have a debut novel poking its head through the scores of authors to make it onto the top ten. This story starts with an innocent stain on the ceiling that grows in intensity and complexity. A monster story, to be certain, but also one reminiscent of decades old horror that is not revisited much anymore. Kurtz’ ability to keep the action slowly and successfully building, while allowing readers to have feelings for the monstrosity, showcase just a few of his talents.
8. DEAD BAD THINGS by Gary McMahon. Full of shocks, this story that is part of a series, is written tight, not easing the reader into the madness, but throwing them in the deep end, headfirst. McMahon’s ability to write in an organic fashion is part of the magic. His novel guides itself brilliantly, pulling the reader into his twisted, black world. Set in a bleak, Gothic atmosphere, it will leave you wanting to turn the light on at night.
9. HOUSE OF FEAR: AN ANTHOLOGY OF HAUNTED HOUSE STORIES edited by Jonathan Oliver. I love a good story about a haunted house, and in this anthology, you get that and so much more. The stories, ranging from traditional to terrifying, run the gamut of fear. There are nineteen tales included, more than enough to get your haunted fix.
10. THE WHITE DEVIL by Justin Evans. Another Gothic inspired beauty, THE WHITE DEVIL is a mystery of possession and ghosts. Revolving around the famous poet Lord Byron, Evans delves into dark history and the trepidations that come with growing up in two separate, and very different, periods of time. Each chapter keeps you wanting to know more, as the chills build.
Enjoy some of these wonderful tomes, if you get the chance. There were many others that I wanted to include but there simply wasn’t enough room. Here’s to looking forward to another year of horror in literature.
Posted by Amber Keller on
February 1, 2012
There were many great dark fiction and horror books in 2011, and compiling this list was a bit tough, to say the least. Being a writer myself, I am always humbled to put books into some semblance of ranking, and after much shuffling of the order; I present to you my top ten of the last year.
1. OUTPOST by Adam Baker. Baker’s debut novel gives us a glimpse into what he is really capable of as an author. We are shown an oilrig crew that is seemingly already isolated from the rest of the world, but is thrown into a deeper, more real isolation while awaiting a terrible plague that is inevitably coming for them. This is a story about survivalist issues, first and foremost, and also a study of the human condition when placed in a dire and bleak position. Adam Baker is able to place us inside each character and to show us their desperation, all the while giving us a reason to turn the page in the face of such hopelessness. Truly an outstanding novel.
2. 11/22/63 by Stephen King. The master of macabre is back with a shiny new toy. This time he takes us back to that fateful day when John F. Kennedy was shot, and everything changed. He brings a new spin when he allows a time traveling portal to take a character back to that time. It’s as if us readers step through that portal ourselves, and are transported to a long gone era, one ripe with rock and roll and muscle cars. Here we have the storyteller that we all know so well back and strong. Stephen King does not disappoint with this one.
3. THE NIGHT ETERNAL by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. In the third installment of The Strain Trilogy, our beloved characters stories are brought to an end. Fans of the series receive a well-constructed conclusion in this book. The writing team of del Toro and Hogan has consistently delivered, and they end with the same, albeit more action packed, passion and eloquence that was visible in the first book.
4. SOUTHERN GODS by John Hornor Jacobs. A stand out in this list, and another debut novel, Jacobs’ tale of grit, darkness, and soul-selling music, combines a Gothic flair with Lovecraftian lore. It is not only aesthetically outstanding, it also conveys a vein of terror and intrigue effortlessly. The delta Blues have never been experienced like this. Join antagonist, Bull Ingram, on a journey to Hell and back via the backwoods of Arkansas, as he journeys to find Ramblin’ John Hastur. It will be a trip you won’t forget.
5. DEAD OF NIGHT: A ZOMBIE NOVEL by Jonathan Maberry. Jonathan Maberry is a NY Times bestseller, and has won the Bram Stoker award multiple times. He brings his talent to us once more with this novel about the end of the world by way of zombies. A serial killer is experimented on while he’s in prison, and such is the beginning of the end. Graphic and not at a loss for details, DEAD OF NIGHT allows us to see the flaws in human communication and their deadly consequences.
6. DOUBLE DEAD by Chuck Wendig. Wendig’s voice and style are unobtainable, and leave an impression that will stay. His ability to spin a yarn that keeps the reader employed and wanting more is only part of the reason this, another spectacular debut novel, made the list. A unique take on the zombie apocalypse leaves a vampire among the midst of the undead hordes. Here we see much more than the usual band of survivors. There are many dynamics at play, which give a thorough and in-depth view of humanity, and not just from the humans.
7. BLEED by Ed Kurtz. Once more we have a debut novel poking its head through the scores of authors to make it onto the top ten. This story starts with an innocent stain on the ceiling that grows in intensity and complexity. A monster story, to be certain, but also one reminiscent of decades old horror that is not revisited much anymore. Kurtz’ ability to keep the action slowly and successfully building, while allowing readers to have feelings for the monstrosity, showcase just a few of his talents.
8. DEAD BAD THINGS by Gary McMahon. Full of shocks, this story that is part of a series, is written tight, not easing the reader into the madness, but throwing them in the deep end, headfirst. McMahon’s ability to write in an organic fashion is part of the magic. His novel guides itself brilliantly, pulling the reader into his twisted, black world. Set in a bleak, Gothic atmosphere, it will leave you wanting to turn the light on at night.
9. HOUSE OF FEAR: AN ANTHOLOGY OF HAUNTED HOUSE STORIES edited by Jonathan Oliver. I love a good story about a haunted house, and in this anthology, you get that and so much more. The stories, ranging from traditional to terrifying, run the gamut of fear. There are nineteen tales included, more than enough to get your haunted fix.
10. THE WHITE DEVIL by Justin Evans. Another Gothic inspired beauty, THE WHITE DEVIL is a mystery of possession and ghosts. Revolving around the famous poet Lord Byron, Evans delves into dark history and the trepidations that come with growing up in two separate, and very different, periods of time. Each chapter keeps you wanting to know more, as the chills build.
Enjoy some of these wonderful tomes, if you get the chance. There were many others that I wanted to include but there simply wasn’t enough room. Here’s to looking forward to another year of horror in literature.
Posted by The Woman In Black on
January 11, 2012
Now that holidays are over, it's time to start thinking about what we might get for some of our Dread Central staffers for Christmas 2012, and thanks to the McFarland publishing company, we have already crossed Foy off our list. Ladies and gentlemen, feast your eyes on David Coleman's The Bigfoot Filmography: Fictional and Documentary Appearances in Film and Television.
Synopsis:
The "Sasquatch" film genre, devoted to the legendary and notoriously elusive creature also known as Bigfoot and its Himalayan counterpart, the Yeti, is the focus of this illustrated reference guide. Here is a fascinatingly detailed look at the cinematic history of Sasquatch from the earliest trick films of Georges Melies to the most up-to-date CGI efforts. Critical insights regarding the genre's development are offered, along with an exhaustively researched filmography that includes every known film or television appearance of Sasquatch, Bigfoot, and Yeti in both fictitious and documentary formats.
Included are in-depth interviews with such filmmakers as Kevin Tenney, Adam Muto, Ryan Schifrin, Tim Skousen, and Michael Worten as well as reproductions of rare movie stills, posters, lobby cards, and behind-the-scenes production photos. Renowned cryptozoologist Loren Coleman provides an insightful foreword to the text.
Sounds pretty cool, right? We say it's about damn time the Yeti got his due!
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Posted by Gothic.net on
January 5, 2012
In keeping with our current coverage of The Devil Inside, this seemed like a good time to let all your writers know that Apex Books is reading for the sequel to their Dark Faith book. Maurice Broaddus and Jerry Gordon edited this horror anthology which explored the dark side of faith and religion and now they are back for more.
Apex Books Guidelines
We are not accepting submissions or queries for any book length projects at this time.
Dark Faith 2 – Open Call For Submissions
Apex will be publishing a follow-up to the Nebula, Bram Stoker, and Black Quill-nominated anthology Dark Faith. The book will be 80,000 words and pay five cents a word (up to four thousand words). It will debut late-summer 2012. We buy First World anthology print rights and digital rights (for three years).
We’re looking for the story only you could write, something deeply personal and at the same time universal. Everyone believes in something and we want you to put those beliefs to the test. We’re looking for smart, literate stories that don’t proselytize or stereotype. Stories that make you think, that comment on the human condition and the social order. Stories that are rich in their use of language.
However, as much as we love social commentary, don’t forget to entertain us. The best way to get a feel for what we’re looking for is to read Dark Faith.
Submissions will be accepted from 1/1/2012 until 1/31/2012. Unsolicited stories received outside this timeframe will be deleted, unread.
Please include a cover letter with your submission–even if we know you. Please send no more than one submission at a time. No reprints. Simultaneous submissions will be accepted as long as you tell us up front (and immediately withdraw the story if you sell it).
All submissions must be emailed as an RTF file to Maurice Broaddus and Jerry Gordon at darkfaithantho@gmail.com.