Friday, May 17, 2013

Closing to subs for a short time...

We will be officially closing to subs on June 1st. We've received so many in the last few months that we simply can't keep up. And while that's a happy circumstance, and we feel loved and respected, we like to be able to give each sub the time and review it deserves (nothing worse than trying to hurry through reading something). So we're going to close to submissions for the next two months and work through our back load.


If you have something you've submitted to us, bear with us. We'll get back to you on it as soon as we possibly can. If you have something you've been wanting to submit, you have two weeks to get it in.

We will officially close to submissions June 1st-August 1st. This also gives us a little time to spend with our families this summer. Don't worry though, we'll still be working on our upcoming projects.

Thanks,
Stacey

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Fairly Wicked Tales-- ToC

We have finally chosen our stories for Fairly Wicked Tales. I'd like to congratulate everyone who's name will be appearing in the Table of Contents. We've found 23 re-told tales to satisfy even the hardcore horror fan's among you. Each tale retells the well known story you think you know, but from the innocent villain's point of view. I guarantee these are not your children's fairy tales.

Told from dark and dismal places, our new heroes and heroines tell you how they were wronged by people of despicable evil. Some time's a pretty face hides an ugly heart.

We've gathered established authors and new blood. Their combined efforts will keep you thinking long after you turn out the light. Don't miss this one!

 
 
Table of Contents
 
Sacrificed by Laura Snapp
Sweetheart, the Dream Is Not Yet Ended by Gary W. Olsen
Gingerbread by Hal Bodner
The Wolf Who Cried Boy by Armand Rosamilia
The Glass Coffin by Dawn Cartwright
Little Beauty by Matthew Hughes
A Blue Light Turned Black by Wison Geiger
Red by Katie Young
Rum's Daughter by Eric Bakutis
Crumbs by Adam Millard
Let Down Your Hair by Eugenia Rose
The Song of Bones by Vekah McKeown
Al-Adrian and the Magic Lamp by Tais Teng
Fisherman and his Wife by Bennie Newsome
The Ash Maid's Revenge by Kostos Paradias
A Thrice Spun Tale by Suzi M.
Hare's Tale by Jay Willburn
The Golden Goose by Robert Holtgrewe
His Heart's Desire by Fay Patterson
The Price of the Sea by David Matteri
A Prick of the Quill by Pepper Scoville
Bloodily Ever After by Reece Barnard
It Comes at Night by JP Behrens
 
 
I don't have a sneak peek at artwork yet, as Rebecca Treadway is doing an original painting for this fabulous cover. Look for Fairly Wicked Tales in late August/early September.
 
Stacey



Tuesday, May 14, 2013

GREAT REVIEW FOR - TOOL SHED - BY ARMAND ROSAMILIA!



Read the great review given by Vix Kirkpatrick for Tool Shed by Armand Rosamilia. This a great book published by Angelic Knight Press. Vix knows her way around horror. She is one of my Women In Horror. Listen to what she has to say. Then . . . then buy the book, read it, and enjoy every moment of it.


Blaze



Book Description

November 20, 2012
When Michael Zaun takes possession of his late grandfather’s farm, he finds out he inherited more than he bargained for. Dubbed the “Tool Shed Murders,” the details of the deaths of two girls on the property and his grandfather’s, seemingly by his own hand, are a little murky. Was his grandfather a monster or a hero?

The discovery of his grandfather’s journal awakens within him a new confidence. But what about the demon his grandfather mentioned? Is it real or just the ranting of a diseased mind?

With the help of his friends, old and new, Michael will find not only the answer to that question, but a new strength within himself.





5.0 out of 5 stars Demonically great!, January 12, 2013
This review is from: Tool Shed (Kindle Edition)
This is your usual story of demonic possession!

However, this beautifully written novella leaves you missing the characters, always a great indication for me that the author is amazing! And he certainly is.... So far I have read several short horror stories and collections from Mr Rosamilla, but this is by far the best!
The basic story of an inherited farm, complete with dead cows and the usual serial killing grandfather! What becomes clear thought with such deep and wonderful descriptions, even if they are of exploding cows & chickens, is that something nasty lurks beneath the tool shed.

The background given amongst the current story telling is fantastic; the main core never deviating. The frequent glimpses of the horror beneath allowing you to watch the town unfold, with the characters all showing different facets to them.

An element of mystery as to what, where and how regarding the demon and its link with the Zaun family allows your own imagination to go a little wild, but enough to distract from the story.

Plenty of "oh" and "aaaah" moments, a real thriller, a fantastic read!

Monday, May 13, 2013

SOUTHERN HAUNTINGS SAGA - COMING VERY SOON!



If Scott Nicholson says this book is great, it's great!

Coming soon to a store near you, Southern Hauntings Saga, by Bryan Hall.

Guess who did the cover art? That's right, the one and only Rebecca Treadway!

Soon, soon, soon!


Blaze

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Rejection



I've just finished sending out fifty rejection notices for submissions to Fairly Wicked Tales. Yep. Fifty. That may not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of things, especially if you're Ellen Datlow, who's going to have way more to send when subs close for her anthology. But for a small press, it's a lot. And it's not just exhausting for my fingers, it's soul-sucking. Why? Because I'm also an author and I know what getting those rejections is like. I don't enjoy knowing I've made fifty people unhappy today. In fact, I take no pleasure in it at all.

And the team that read these stories put a lot of thought into the Table of Contents for Fairly Wicked Tales. We discussed them, argued over them, and hashed out which ones to go with. Putting an anthology together isn't anything we take lightly. We owe it to ourselves, our readers, and our authors to only choose the best possible stories and put them in a cohesive collection. And that's what I feel we've done.

Unfortunately, rejection is a fact of life for writers and we all have to learn to accept it and move on. So here are a few reasons why you may have received a rejection for your story:

1. The story was good but we received ten of the same theme. Obviously with an anthology, you want a little variety, so I couldn't accept ten "Cinderella" stories. So choosing which one to keep comes down to the most original idea, the most well written, and the one who's tone fits best with the other stories chosen for the anthology.

2. The story had merit and was original, but the tone was off. Maybe the story was too light hearted to fit in amongst the darker stories already accepted. Maybe the story had too much humor, or too much gore, or was aimed at a different age group.

3. Setting. We only accepted stories set in the time period of the original piece. With most fairy tales, that's going to mean the middle ages not today.

4. Maybe it was a good story, but didn't do what the guidelines asked in reversing the characters.

5. And sometimes, well sometimes, its' because the story wasn't as good as it could have been. Perhaps the style wasn't fully developed, or it was too verbose without enough substance, or the writing was not up to the standard of the other stories selected.

There are many reasons for the rejection letters I wrote today, just as there are many reasons other editors write them. So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, go over that story again, and re-submit it elsewhere. Who knows where it's real home is?

Just be happy  someone took the time to read it, discuss it, and write you a letter that wasn't purely form.

Stacey

Friday, May 3, 2013

FADING LIGHT: AN ANTHOLOGY OF THE MONSTROUS




https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/221617



Have you read Fading Light: An Anthology Of The Monstrous yet? Perhaps you should. There are some great tales here written by some of the best authors in horror. Take a peek below and you'll see what I mean. This great tome is available in paperback and ebook. Treat yourself kindly to a great read!


Blaze




Book Description

August 30, 2012
The light has failed: the era of man is at its end.

Born of darkness, the creatures of myth, legend, and nightmare have long called the shadows home. Now, with the cruel touch of the sun fading into memory, they've returned to claim their rightful place amidst humanity: as its masters.

Fading Light collects 25 monstrous stories by authors new and experienced, in the genres of horror, science fiction, and fantasy, each bringing their own interpretation of what lurks in the dark.

Contributors: Mark Lawrence, Gene O'Neill, William Meikle, David Dalglish, Gord Rollo, Nick Cato, Adam Millard, Stephen McQuiggan, Gary W Olson, Tom Olbert, Malon Edwards, Carl Barker, Jake Elliot, Lee Mather, Georgina Kamsika, Dorian Dawes, Timothy Baker, DL Seymour, Wayne Ligon, TSP Sweeney, Stacey Turner, Gef Fox, Edward M Erdelac, Henry P Gravelle, & Ryan Lawler.



Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fading Light is a perfect example of a well constructed anthology. A great unifying theme, talented authors, and more than two dozen short stories to sink your teeth into. Reading this reminded me of boyhood nights spent curled up in front of the television watching The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, or The Outer Limits, which I'm sure was exactly the point. Enjoy it on a stormy night...but be sure to leave the lights on and the doors locked." ~ Michael Sullivan, author of the Riyria Revelations

"Tim Marquitz has collected an extraordinary array of bleak and thrilling stories from some of the best writers in the game and a crop of marvelous newcomers with Fading Light. Read it before the darkness arrives and the world ends!" ~ Ed Kurtz, author of Bleed and Control

"With its Stellar lineup of authors and the great premise that gives them room to weave their magic, Fading Light accomplishes what far too many fail to: it stands out from the pack as something unique, terrifying, and wholly readable from first pages to last." ~ Bryan Hall, author of The Southern Hauntings Saga and Containment Room 7

From the Author

When I first started processing the idea of Fading Light, it was very much a testosterone-laden attempt at following in the footsteps of my friend/mentor/motivational Chihuahua, Lincoln Crisler. He put together the amazing Corrupts Absolutely? and showed me what could be done by an underdog when he puts his mind to it.

As Fading Light came together it evolved, but my vision was firmly rooted in the imagery of Lovecraft and the stark atmosphere of Stephen King's The Mist. I really wanted to dig into the idea that something lurked in the darkness, just waiting for the right moment to reveal itself. I wanted to experience the horrors of the unknown, terror looming.

Thanks to the wonderful authors involved in Fading Light, I believe I did just that. Jessy Lucero set the tone with her amazing cover art, and the cast of Fading Light pounded the feeling home.

So, it is with humble pride that I unleash Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous upon the world. I can only hope you find the same pleasure in reading these pieces as I did collecting them.


Tim Marquitz
El Paso, Texas
May 1, 2012

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Horror Anthology of 2012, March 4, 2013
It is official: I have found the best horror anthology of 2012. FADING LIGHT: AN ANTHOLOGY OF THE MONSTROUS is the best collection of stories from last year, and I would daresay it has some of the best monster short stories I've ever read. If you knew how much I read, you would understand how monumental that statement truly is. Regardless of how much you read, though, this is one anthology you must own if you are a horror fan.

I tore through this book in about two days; it is simply that good. Every story in here is written well and the authors show uniqueness in both voice and idea. This book is crammed full of talent, both old and new; I would love for Angelic Knight Press to do a follow-up book (ahem).

One of my favorite stories in FADING LIGHT: AN ANTHOLOGY OF THE MONSTROUS is titled "Der Teufel Sie Wissen" (or The Devil You Know) by TSP Sweeney. In this story, a group of kids-turned-soldiers have a run-in with something more than human, and the results are not pleasant. I loved this story for its originality and concept.

"Dark Tide" by Mark Lawrence is another favorite. In this story, a family is caught up in an apocalyptic scenario of unknown origins and proportions. I particularly enjoy Lawrence's style of writing (I have reviewed two of his books already, both of which are extremely enjoyable), so this story is just icing on the cake.

These two tales are just a smidgen of what you can expect from FADING LIGHT: AN ANTHOLOGY OF THE MONSTROUS. Fans of good fiction and horror should snatch this one up immediately. The book is available now, so be sure and track it down...especially while the light is still shining...

Thursday, May 2, 2013

FIFTY SHADES OF DECAY STILL ROLLING ALONG!




Angelic Knight Press' anthology 50 shades of decay is still rolling along nicely. Stacey Turner certainly latched onto a winner with this ribald tome!

I have included a book description and a couple of reviews below. One of the reviews is from one of my women In Horror, Melissa Stevens, so it holds a lot of weight with me. Go to the link above and read more reviews. I believe you will be enticed to buy a copy.

For those of you wanting to purchase this great book on Smashwords, the link ishttps://www.smashwords.com/books/view/286863

50 shades of decay. A wonderful read!


Blaze



Book Description

February 17, 2013
**Mature Audiences Only**

What's sexy about zombies? 51 authors answered that question with wild, weird, and titillating tales. From love during the apocalypse, to love that goes beyond the grave and back again, to love that well, never dies, you'll find these pages filled with desires demanding to be fufilled, hungers to be slaked, and lovers who won't let a little thing like death (or undeath) come between them. Do zombies need sex as much as they need brains? What would you do to bring a lover back from the dead? What if you survived the apocalypse only to find yourself alone and sexually frustrated?

Light some candles, put on some mood music, and cozy up with 50 Shades of Decay. The zombie sexpocalypse has begun...


4.0 out of 5 stars A myriad of stories!, March 15, 2013
By 
This review is from: Fifty Shades of Decay (Kindle Edition)
First, I want to reiterate, this book is rated MA for a reason. This is not a book for the squeamish either! With fifty-one different authors, there is plenty of variety in this collection. And while some were able to gross out the best of 'em, (me), there were others that ... dare I say ... touched me with sincerity and possibly a bit of romanticism. And then there were others that were just plain hot. :)

If you enjoy zombies, and can handle a fair amount of guts, gore and ... other parts ... then I suggest a read. With fifty-one stories, there's bound to be a couple for everyone's taste!

4.0 out of 5 stars Gruesome laughs., April 16, 2013
Where do you start to write a review of 50 erotic zombie short stories? I'm guessing if a reader is considering this title, they are looking for something a bit different - with zombies; or they want something a bit different - with erotica; or they think the idea of zombie sex is so gross they want to be appalled; or they think the idea of zombie sex is so gross they want a good laugh.

Well, there's something for all those readers in this book.

But no horror, really, unless you are a true dyed in the wool/ the mention of zombies makes you cover your eyes/easily scared witless zombiephobe, there is no true horror in this collection. None of the stories build any sense of dread, or concentrate on the fear, relentless pursuit, and desperation of a true zombie horror.

So what do you get? This work collects writers of various styles and to some degree, quality. It is hard to put erotica into a grab bag, too. What one person finds hot and juicy, another finds gross or underwhelming. The same applies to comedy and humour. So, I'll present here what I think are the standout offerings, some for their quality of storytelling, some for the laugh, some for the erotica, and some for the gross-out.

For details of 5 and 4 star rated stories see [...]

In the many stories that remain there are quite a few well worth the purchase price, there are simply too many in this collection to deal with individually. All ratings are subjective, so readers may like some I've left out better than those I've chosen to highlight with four and five star ratings.

All up, I am happy with the selection the publishers have chosen here. My only advice to anyone who would consider reading this book is to spread out the reading over a few sessions. The blood and gore can get a bit mind-numbing taken in too-large doses.