Book Spotlight: Dead Letters

Today I have a spotlight on the anthology, Dead Letters: Episodes of Epistolary Horror, edited by Jacob Steven Mohr and published by Crystal Lake Entertainment.

Dead Letters: Episodes of Epistolary Horror

EVIL LURKS BETWEEN THESE PAGES
 
A video game walkthrough harbors a sinister secret. A grieving sister’s letters cross the barrier between alive and dead (and alive again). A chain of frightening emails is the only evidence a young woman ever existed. And a series of journals follow a dwindling wagon train marching straight into Hell—or someplace worse.
 
Haunted podcast transcripts. Blood soaked police reports. Bewildering court findings.
 
Brace yourself for Dead Letters, an anthology that resurrects the chilling power of epistolary fiction—where ordinary documents become hidden records of our darkest fantasies and bleakest nightmares.
 
Across 21 all-original tales from talents like Gemma Files, Ai Jiang, Gordon B. White, J.A.W. McCarthy, and Red Lagoe, and curated with precision by Jacob Steven Mohr, Dead Letters: Episodes of Epistolary Horror serves up a prolonged sojourn into the macabre—and promises to haunt your sleepless nights. 

Check it Out: https://getbook.at/DeadLetters

Book Spotlight: Dark Tide 11: Sherlock Holmes and the Arcana of Madness

 Another book spotlight for you today with the latest release from Crystal Lake Entertainment from their Dark Tide anthology series. Check out Dark Tide 11: Sherlock Holmes and the Arcana of Madness.

Dark Tide 11: Sherlock Holmes and the Arcana of Madness

Discover the untold mysteries of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson in Sherlock Holmes and the Arcana of Madness, a trilogy that unveils three captivating cases intertwined with the mystical allure of tarot cards, designed by the renowned, yet infamous artist, Richard Dadd. 

A collection of manuscripts, meticulously penned by John H. Watson M.D., is unearthed in 2019 amidst the restoration of Broadmoor Hospital, found inexplicably in the grave of Richard Dadd. The manuscripts' concealed journey and their remaining unpublished raise a myriad of questions, enveloping them in a veil of mystery. 

This trilogy, comprising of: “A Promise of Blades” by John Linwood Grant “The Adventure of the Tarot Card Prophecies” by Angela Yuriko Smith and “The Riddle of the Red Tower” by Naching T. Kassa …invites readers into the enigmatic world of prophecy, art, and the supernatural, with each tale bound by the common thread of Dadd’s mystical tarot cards. Join Holmes and Watson as they traverse through the realms of the arcane, encounter enigmatic entities, and battle the forces of darkness, in their quest to unravel the secrets of the Arcana and to shed light on the shadows of madness. 

Whether a seasoned aficionado of detective tales, a seeker of arcane-infused mysteries, or a newcomer to the legendary detective duo’s adventures, Sherlock Holmes and the Arcana of Madness promises a journey through suspense, intrigue, and intellectual exploration.

 

Book Spotlight: String Them Up

Another spotlight today, for the new release from Crystal Lake, String Them Up. (It has murder puppets). Enjoy.

String Them Up by William Sterling

What if the gruesome killings plaguing the quiet town of Hollow Hills were not the handiwork of a human, but something far more sinister and malevolent?

When Barker Davis stumbles into Hollow Hills one fateful day, drenched in blood from head to toe, the tight-knit community hastily points fingers at the reclusive toymaker dwelling deep within the ominous woods nearby. However, the arrest of the toymaker uncovers a tangle of questions rather than any concrete answers.

As the bloodshed continues in this horror mystery, the town teeters on the brink of madness. Their nightmare has only just begun.

Now, it falls upon Sinclair Redman to navigate this tapestry of horror, pulling the strings of truth and deception to unearth the chilling secrets hidden within Hollow Hills. Only by unlocking these grim mysteries can he hope to put an end to the rising body count that threatens to spiral out of control.
In this fast-paced small-town horror novel, fans of iconic horror entities like Annabelle and Chucky will be drawn into a fast-paced, nightmarish world that will keep them on the edge of their seats. A must-read for aficionados of chilling tales by authors such as Grady Hendrix, Josh Malerman, Jonathan Janz, and Todd Keisling's hair-raising Devil's Creek.

Check it out here: https://getbook.at/StringThemUp

About the Author

William Sterling is a horror author, podcaster, and aspiring screenwriter who hails from the fringes of Atlanta, Georgia. He hosts the Killer Mediums podcast and has a soft spot for popcorn horror with explosive third acts.

Twitter: @spooky_sterling

Instagram: @spooky_sterling 

Bluesky:  @spookysterling.bsky.social

Website: https://thewilliamsterling.wixsite.com/main 

Book Spotlight: Never Wake

 Another spotlight on a new release, the horror anthology, Never Wake. Enjoy

Never Wake: An Anthology of Dream Horror 

Where do we go when we dream?

Since the beginning of time, people have argued the meaning of dreams. Are they symbolic visions that hold great meaning and personal significance? Are they portals into other worlds? Or are they just a series of random events our mind shows us when we fall asleep? Whatever the case, this much is true—the mind can be a scary place to venture, even for a few hours.

Never Wake is an anthology of dream horror, bringing you several mind-bending tales of nightmares, hallucinations, and phantasmagoria from some of the hottest talent in horror fiction. But don’t worry—when you (wake up screaming) flip the last page, just remember to tell yourself, “It was only just a story…”

Unless it wasn’t.

Featuring an introduction from Sadie “Mother Horror” Hartmann and stories from: Cynthia Pelayo, Philip Fracassi, Gwendolyn Kiste, Eric LaRocca, Lee Murray, Todd Keisling, Laurel Hightower, and many more!

Book Link: https://getbook.at/NeverWake

 

Editor Bios:

Kenneth W. Cain is an author of horror and dark fiction, and a Splatterpunk Award nominated freelance editor. To date, he has had over one hundred short stories and thirteen novels/novellas, as well as a handful each of nonfiction pieces, books for children, and poems released by many great publishers such as Crystal Lake Publishing, JournalStone, and Cemetery Gates Media. He has also edited eight anthologies, with two more coming in 2023. He lives in Chester County PA with his family and two furbabies, Butterbean and Bodhi. His full publishing history is available on his website at kennethwcain.com

Tim Meyer dwells in a dark cave near the Jersey Shore. He’s the author of more than fifteen novels, including Malignant Summer, The Switch House, Dead Daughters, Limbs, and many other titles. When he's not working on the next book, he's usually hanging out with his wife and son, shooting around on the basketball court, playing video games, or messing with a new screenplay. He bleeds coffee and IPAs. You can learn more about his books at timmeyerwrites.com.

Book Spotlight: Dark Tide 10: The Dead Shall Rise

 Another book spotlight for the Dark Tide anthology series, this time for Dark Tide 10: The Dead Shall Rise. Enjoy.

Dark Tide 10: The Dead Shall Rise

Prepare Because Death is Coming by Jay Wilburn: "Take this and bear the warning." When a messenger arrives at Dry Stretch, warning that a horde of zombies is heading their way forty years after the fall, Bay scoffs at the news. But a 'full body' meeting is called. Ethic is sent north to scout, but in Dry Stretch, no one is preparing. No one is repairing the walls. A William Faulkneresque story of the dead set in a dystopic dust-bowl town.

Zombie Diner by Armand Rosamilia: A family finds themselves on the wrong side of the zombie apocalypse while on vacation in Florida…

Dance with the Dead by Erin Louis: Tiffney is expecting just another night at the strip club. But when a customer goes berserk in the VIP room, things take an unexpectedly bloody turn. Stuck with a cocaine raddled manager and a shady club owner. Tiffney faces the unimaginable and is forced to turn her coworkers into allies to fight the evil that has taken over the club. Together they have to fight to stay alive.

Book Link: getbook.at/DarkTide10

Author Bios:

Jay Wilburn was an author of horror and speculative fiction that lived in coastal South Carolina near Myrtle Beach. He taught public school for sixteen years before becoming a full-time writer. His signature series is the Dead Song Legend Dodecology and for younger readers, The Lake Scatter Wood Tales.

Armand Rosamilia is a New Jersey boy currently living in sunny Florida, where he writes when he's not sleeping. He's happily married to a woman who helps his career and is supportive, which is all he ever wanted in life...
He's written over 200 stories that are currently available, including crime thrillers, supernatural thrillers, horror, zombies, contemporary fiction, nonfiction and more. His goal is to write a good story and not worry about genre labels.
He also loves to talk in third person... because he's really that cool. Maybe.
You can find him at https://armandrosamilia.com for all of his information as well as random things he enjoys.

Erin Louis is a former adult entertainer, with a love of books, writing and humor. Her job gave her a unique perspective on life. She spent twenty years as an exotic dancer on and off and started writing nonfiction as a way to shed light on a misunderstood industry and profession.
Her passion for writing began with nonfiction, but she has always loved horror fiction. Stephen King, Lois Duncan, and Clive Barker got her through some tough years growing up. She found an escape through those books along with countless others. Her own fiction reflects those influences as well as her love for all things dark and maybe just a bit scary.

Book Spotlight: Dark Tide 9: An Unholy Triquetra

Today I have a spotlight on a new release from Crystal Lake Publishing, Dark Tide 9: An Unholy Triquetra. Enjoy.

Dark Tide 9: An Unholy Triquetra

 

Three unique voices in today's horror bring you new takes on an old power that threatens to reshape our world. Celtic legends are reborn within these pages, with fresh stories guaranteed to spark nightmares in the vein of Grimm's pre-Disneyfied fairy tales.

A Knot Within A Knot by Jason Parent: A man survives a plane crash only to find himself in darker circumstances, with a winter storm on the horizon and an orphaned child in tow. An elderly woman faces off against a god of night and his steed from the confines of her airplane seat, while another hides from night and storm in the hope of a new dawn. Unbeknownst to them, their fates are linked and dependent upon the next two tales.

Bound in the Valley of Balor by Curtis M. Lawson: After surviving a plane crash, a corrupt federal agent and a mob informant find themselves stranded in a remote valley. Blood spilled during a conflict between the two awakens an ancient evil bound beneath the valley. Can either of them escape from The Valley of Balor?

Summons by William Meikle: Would you fall slave to the rhythm?
He came to Scotland after the death of his wife in search of peace. But the old house is restless. Something is waking, something noisy, something that will not be denied.
His search for meaning in the face of ever increasing activity in the house leads him down strange occult pathways, into deep history and a story that is racing to a finish.
The rhythm calls to him. Will he fall slave to it? Or is there a path to be the drum master before it subsumes him utterly?

Link: https://getbook.at/DarkTide9

Author Bios:

 

Jason Parent is an author of horror, thrillers, mysteries, science fiction and dark humor, though his many novels, novellas, and short stories tend to blur the boundaries between genres. From his EPIC and eFestival Independent Book Award finalist first novel, What Hides Within, to his widely applauded police procedural/supernatural thriller, Seeing Evil, to his fast and furious sci-fi horror, The Apocalypse Strain, Jason’s work has won him praise from both critics and fans of diverse genres alike. He currently lives in Massachusetts, surrounded by chewed furniture thanks to his corgi and mini Aussie pups.

Curtis M. Lawson is a weird fiction author, editor, comic creator, poet, podcaster, and table top game developer. His work ranges from technicolor pulp adventures to bleak cosmic horror.
Curtis resides on the outskirts of Providence Rhode Island. He is the host of the Wyrd Transmissions podcast and runs Gallows Whisper, an imprint of Weird House Press.

William Meikle is a Scottish writer, now living in Canada, with over thirty novels published in the genre press and more than 300 short story credits in thirteen countries. He has books available from a variety of publishers including Dark Regions Press and Severed Press and his work has appeared in a large number of professional anthologies and magazines. He lives in Newfoundland with whales, bald eagles and icebergs for company. When he's not writing he drinks beer, plays guitar, and dreams of fortune and glory.

An Interview with the Authors