Book Spotlight: 24 Frames Per Second

Another book spotlight today for the latest Dark Tide anthology, 24 Frames Per Second (Dark Tide 21) with novellas by Tim Waggoner, Andrew Nadolny, and Gary A. Braunbeck.  Enjoy.

24 Frames Per Second (Dark Tide 21)

Step into the terrifying world of Hollywood horror, where the line between fiction and reality blurs, and the consequences of cinematic creation become all too real. In 24 Frames Per Second, three chilling novellas bring to life the darkest corners of the movie industry—where horror isn’t just confined to the screen.

“The Last Zombie Movie” by Tim Waggoner: A group of student filmmakers embark on a project to create a zombie holocaust script—but soon, their fictional nightmare begins to unfold in real life. As their imagined horrors come to life, they must face the terrifying reality of their own creation.

 “I Am the Rainbringer” by Andrew Nadolny: A woman is transformed into a serial killer by her father’s dying wish, and her husband turns her deadly past into a movie. But the ghosts of his parents—and her brutal history—soon rise to haunt them both, blurring the line between the living and the dead in a nightmare that can’t be escaped.

 “This Is Not My Movie” by Gary A. Braunbeck: After a movie theater is consumed by fire, the charred ruins become a nexus for ghosts and alternate realities. A haunting tale of how a beloved movie theater’s destruction births a dark, sentient force, trapping the souls of those killed in the blaze.

In 24 Frames Per Second, horror reaches beyond the screen and becomes part of the fabric of reality, where the true cost of creation is more horrifying than any fictional tale. Each novella is a unique exploration of terror, art, and the boundaries of reality, set against the backdrop of Hollywood’s darkest secrets.

Book Link: https://getbook.at/DarkTide21

About the Authors

Tim Waggoner

Tim Waggoner's first novel came out in 2001, and since then, he's published over sixty novels and eight collections of short stories. He writes original dark fantasy and horror, as well as media tie-ins. He's written tie-in fiction based on Supernatural, The X-Files, Alien, Doctor Who, Conan the Barbarian, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Grimm, and Transformers, among others, and he's written novelizations for films such as Ti West’s X-Trilogy, Halloween Kills, Terrifier 2 and 3, and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. He’s a four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award, a one-time winner of the Scribe Award, and he’s been a two-time finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award and a one-time finalist for the Splatterpunk Award. He’s also a full-time tenured professor who teaches creative writing and composition at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio.

Website: www.timwaggoner.com

Andrew Nadolny

Andrew is a trans writer living in Ohio with his family and other assorted oddities. He looks forward to one day being devoured by his own mitochondrial DNA.

Bluesky: cyrelia-j.bsky.social

 

Gary A Braunbeck

Gary A. Braunbeck was born in Newark, Ohio (the city that serves as the model for the fictitious Cedar Hill in a majority of his novels and stories) where he graduated from Newark High School in 1978, briefly studied for the priesthood (until he didn’t), worked as a supervisor for developmentally disabled adults, then in the paste-up room at the Newark Advocate, as well as a bartender (numerous times), a janitor (again, numerous times), a dog groomer, a short-order cook, and a salaried actor for one season of summer stock, (he would go on to work as a professional actor for several years –including as an extra in the Robert Redford film Brubaker, and the mini-series Centennial.

He made his first professional fiction sale to Twilight Zone’s NIGHTCRY (selling three additional stories to the magazine after that), and went on to place work in other pro magazines such as Cemetery Dance, The Horror Show, The Blood Review, 2 A.M., and such anthologies as The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror, Borderlands, Masques, and Scare Care. His fiction has been translated into Japanese, French, Italian, Russian, German, Czech, and Polish. Nearly 250 of his short stories have appeared in various publications. His work has won the Bram Stoker Award 7 times, an International Horror Guild Award, and has been nominated for The Pushcart Prize, The World Fantasy Award, and Le Grand Prix de L’Imaginaire.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gary.braunbeck/

Book Spotlight: Path of Totality

Another book spotlight today for the new horror novel Path of Totality by KN Gould, released by Crystal Lake Publishing. Enjoy.

Path of Totality by KN Gould

This world is a cruel and arbitrary place. Hope cannot last when it turns its gaze upon you.


With a simple phrase, Tucker Gibsen is taken back to the day when, as a child, he came face to face with a madman and barely escaped with his life. Now, as an adult, he finds himself embroiled in a decades-old grudge between two modern-day witches, putting his life, and the lives of those he cares for most, in danger. What chance does one ordinary person have when threatened by uncaring supernatural forces set in motion long ago?


KN Gould’s Path of Totality, an atmospheric novel of horror, despair, revenge, and fate, will leave the reader questioning how much control they really have over their own lives. Perfect for fans of psychological thriller books.

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

About the Author

KN Gould lives in Oregon with his wife, children, and dog. He is a lifelong fan of the Chicago Bears and Van Halen (with Sammy Hagar).

His work has been included in more than a dozen anthologies, including Stories of the Dead: A Tribute to George Romero, Weirdbook #36, Krampus Tales, Grey Matter Monsters, and Cosmic Horror Monthly #41. His debut novella, Out of Whack, was published in 2024. 

Path of Totality is his first full-length novel.

Instagram: @k_n_gould

Book Spotlight: Dark Tide 20: Urban Legends

Another book spotlight today with the new Dark Tide anthology from Crystal Lake Publishing. Releasing today is Urban Legends (Dark Tide 20) with novellas by Nick Roberts, Leigh Kenny and Dan Franklin.

Urban Legends (Dark Tide 20)

Enter the world of terrifying urban legends where the lines between myth and reality blur into a nightmare of unexplainable horrors. In this spine-chilling volume, the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and familiar fears are taken to unimaginable heights.

Features a foreword by Adam Cesare, the author of Clown in a Cornfield (now a feature film).

“Nesting” by Dan Franklin: 

Amanda can’t shake the idea that her newborn baby isn’t hers…and maybe isn’t a baby at all. 

Not even one full day postpartum, and Amanda can’t shake the certainty that the baby isn’t hers. The charts say he is, the nurses and doctor all agree, but in her heart she can’t help but know better. His hair is wrong. He doesn’t quite smell right…and he has a tooth.

“Knock on Wood” by Leigh Kenny:

 

If he knocks, it’s too late. He’s already inside.

The house on Hawthorne Avenue has an unfortunate past. The adults think it’s just bad luck. The kids believe it’s something worse. Sometimes truth is scarier than legend.

“Poltergeist Password” by Nick Roberts: 

“Have you heard of Poltergeist Password?”

A reporter presents the unedited transcript of the final episode of the Broadcasts from the Grave podcast in which three hosts test an urban legend known as “Poltergeist Password.” Whether it’s real or an elaborate hoax, three people remain missing. You be the judge.

Dark Tide 20 takes you on a terrifying journey through some of the most unsettling myths and folklore, where terror lurks in the shadows and urban legends come alive in the most horrific ways. Prepare for twists, fear, and truths you may not want to know.

Book Link: http://getbook.at/DarkTide20

About the Authors

Nick Roberts is a native West Virginian and a doctoral graduate of Marshall University. He is an active member of the Horror Writers Association and the Horror Authors Guild. His works include Anathema, The Exorcist's House, It Haunts the Mind & Other Stories, Mean Spirited, and others. He currently resides in South Carolina with his family and is an advocate for people in recovery from substance use disorder. Website: www.nickrobertsauthor.com.

Leigh Kenny was born and raised in the garden county of Wicklow, Ireland. She lives by the Irish Sea with the love of her life, two wonderful boys, a black Labrador, and a three-legged cat that hates people. She describes herself as being both feral and aggressively friendly and apologises in advance for swearing in front of your children. You can find out more about Leigh’s work and any upcoming releases at www.leighkennywrites.com.

Dan Franklin wrote his first attempt at a horror novel when he was seven. It was terrible. He has, since, improved. The Amazon best selling author of These Things Linger, Down Into the Sea, and The Eater of Gods, Dan Franklin lives in Maryland with his extremely understanding wife, his cosmically radiant children, and a socially crippling obsession with things that creep. Website: Danfranklinauthor.com.

Book Spotlight: Enough Time

Another book spotlight today with the new release from Crystal Lake Publishing, Enough Time by J. Edwin Buja. Enjoy.

Enough Time by J. Edwin Buja

What if every forty years you are murdered?

Every January, Emma Ranahan has horrible nightmares about torture and murder. At the Wycliff Point Library, Emma laments the arrival of January, when storms beat against the cliffs and horrible nightmares invade her dreams. By mid-month, terrible scars reappear on her body. The keloid along her neck will last the longest. She’ll wear a turtleneck so no one will see. By February Emma’s scars fade, and all she remembers are four words—Savior, Victim, Beast, and Friend.

Even Emma thinks she’s crazy. But when the Beast arrives at the Wycliff Point Inn, her nightmares come to life in crashing waves of memory—Emma’s dreams were real, and she is the Victim. But who is the Friend and how will she discover the Savior?

Imagine Somewhere in Time with lots of blood.

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

About the Author

J. Edwin Buja has spent his life surrounded by books. He discovered early on that researching and writing hold the key to happiness. Who else would think scanning through decades of microfilm to index an old newspaper would be a dream job? 

For more than forty years, he has been married to the most wonderful woman on the planet. Although he lives in a small village somewhere in Canada, his heart and second home reside with his horror family in New England. 

His novels include The King of the Wood (2019) and The Consort (2022). He has also had more than twenty short stories published. He is currently working on the final novel of The Wood series, and another novel based on concerts he attended in Detroit in the 1970s.

He also writes Young Adult novels under the name John Buja. His latest release is Coverdale (2024). In 2000-2001, he published two middle-grade time travel/history books.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.buja/

Book Spotlight: Demon Drink

Another book spotlight today with the new release from Crystal Lake Publishing, Demon Drink by Kris Ashton. Enjoy.

Demon Drink by Kris Ashton

A night out becomes a nightmare in this dark supernatural novel that blends demonic possession, occult rituals, and the chilling consequences of temptation. 

Times are tough in Black Wattle. Drought and forest fires have ravaged the town and its lifeblood, tourism, is on the wane. Nobody is feeling the pinch more than divorcee Shirley Goodsall, who is trying to keep the historic Ironstone Hotel afloat while quelling animosity between her ex-husband and their teenage daughter. So when the business manager for a microbrewery, Damon Prince, offers her a promotional deal that includes free kegs of beer, it’s a deal that seems too good to be true. 

And it is. Shirley’s elation soon turns to horror as she discovers she has unwittingly helped Prince unleash dark forces in her town. Black Wattle’s residents are plunged into a nightmare of infection and blood-curdling transformations. Shirley and a handful of survivors band together to try to foil Prince’s fiendish plot, but Prince is no ordinary man. He will stare into their souls and turn their most shameful personal demons against them…

Fans of King’s earlier novels such as ’Salem’s Lot and Needful Things will revel in every ghastly, page-turning detail of Demon Drink, a master class in small-town horror from Australian Shadows Award Winner, Kris Ashton.

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

About the Author

Award-winning writer and editor Kris Ashton has published several novels and nearly fifty short stories. He is best known for his tales of horror and dark speculative fiction and is also a noted essayist, taking out the Australian Shadows Award for non-fiction in 2023.

Kris graduated from Western Sydney University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in creative writing and literature. He has had a 25-year career as a journalist and is currently editor of Open Road, one of the most widely-read magazines in Australia.

He lives in the wilds of south-western Sydney with his wife, two children and a crippling mortgage.

Website: krisashtonwrite.com

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/kris.ashton.5

TikTok: @ashtontheauthor 

Instagram: @ashtontheauthor 

Book Spotlight: What Swallows The Light

Another book spotlight today, for the latest Dark Tide anthology, What Swallows The Light (Dark Tide 19) by John Durgin, Gage Greenwood, and Andrew Van Wey. Enjoy.

What Swallows The Light (Dark Tide 19)

Three stories. One terrifying truth: we are not alone!

Suffocating Skies by John Durgin:

Working Thanksgiving was supposed to be an escape for Carrie Richardson—a shift at Sinclair Pharmaceuticals meant avoiding her abusive boyfriend. But when the sky darkens and the office goes silent, escape becomes a trap. Whispers slither through the air, colleagues freeze in eerie trances, and something hungry moves unseen in the halls. As reality unravels and terror closes in, Carrie must uncover the truth hidden within Sinclair’s walls—before it suffocates her.

We Were Who We Were by Gage Greenwood:

Sometimes it looks like an accident, until you discover who is really pulling the strings.

When Tess visits the man who killed her brother in a drunk driving accident, she discovers the facts were not as they appeared to be, and someone else may have been involved. Her investigation brings her down a path of horror, lies, secrets, and a mysterious figure who haunted her brother for years.

Dark Matter Dreams by Andrew Van Wey:

An alien vessel powered by dreams. A human nightmare on board.

For millennia, the Grays have visited earth, seeing humans as simple and safe. They were wrong.

Aboard their living, star-spanning vessel, a forgotten horror awakens. Born of primal fear, stalking humanity since the dawn of time. Watching and waiting. Hungry to twist our desires against us.

As reality warps and crew members succumb, researcher Jin’qua-33 must forge an unlikely alliance with those he once abducted. Because there is something worse in the darkness than the aliens looking down. There is an unrelenting nightmare that will fill the cosmos with screams.

Book Link: https://geni.us/DarkTide19

About the Authors

Andrew Van Wey was born in the San Francisco Bay Area, spent his high school years in New England, and lived as an expatriate abroad for nearly a decade.

His debut novel, Forsaken, has been downloaded 95,000 times (and counting), and undergone film development at multiple production companies. His travel narrative of esports in Korea, Keyboard Dreams, won a Lowell Thomas award, the highest honor in the field. His short fiction has been featured in eFiction Magazine and Lamp Light.

Andrew is passionate about literacy, education, and cutting-edge pedagogies. He holds a B.A. in Screenwriting and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. Prior to writing full time, he taught for over a decade.

Currently, he lives in Northern California with his wife and their Old English Sheepdog, Arthas.

Website: andrewvanwey.com

 

Gage Greenwood is the best-selling author of the Winter's Myths Saga, and Bunker Dogs. He's a proud member of the Horror Writers Association and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers association.

He's been an actor, comedian, podcaster, and even the Vice President of an escape room company. Since childhood, he's been a big fan of comic books, horror movies, and depressing music that fills him with existential dread.

He lives in New England with his girlfriend and son, and he spends his time writing, hiking, and decorating for various holidays.

Website: www.gagegreenwood.com

 

John Durgin is a proud active HWA member and lifelong horror fan. Growing up in New Hampshire, he discovered Stephen King much younger than most probably should have, reading IT before he reached high school—and knew from that moment on he wanted to write horror. 

He had his first story accepted in the summer of 2021. His debut novel, The Cursed Among Us was released June 3, 2022, and went on to become an Amazon bestseller. Next up, his sophomore novel titled Inside The Devil’s Nest, released in January of 2023, followed by his debut collection, Sleeping In The Fire in June of 2023. In 2024 he released two more novels, starting with Kosa which released to stellar reviews, and Consumed by Evil through Crystal Lake Publishing in November 2024.

Website: johndurginauthor.com

Book Spotlight: What Fresh Hell Is This?

Another book spotlight today, for the horror collection, What Fresh Hell Is This? by Del Howison. Enjoy.

What Fresh Hell Is This? by Del Howison

Step into the twisted mind of Del Howison with this unflinching collection of dark tales. What Fresh Hell Is This? brings together stories from across Howison’s prolific career, each one exploring the eerie and the macabre, examining humanity’s deepest fears and desires. 

Drawing on his rich life experiences—from being baptized in a river and attending a private Christian college to his ownership of the famed Horror bookstore Dark Delicacies—Howison crafts tales that delve into the darkest corners of the human soul.

These tales push boundaries, blending the supernatural with psychological terror, and invite readers into worlds where the unimaginable becomes real. From paranormal happenings to supernatural horrors, Howison’s storytelling prowess ensures that these stories will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

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

About the Author

Del Howison is an author, journalist, SAG actor including the upcoming horror film Big Baby directed by Spider One and produced by Krsy Fox, and the Bram Stoker Award-winning editor of the anthology Dark Delicacies: Original Tales of Terror and the Macabre by the World’s Greatest Horror Writers. 

He has written articles for Fear.net, Gauntlet Magazine, and Writers Digest among others. Del’s short story Cul-de-Sac appeared in Weird Tales Magazine #369. His western short story The Lost Herd was turned into the premiere (and highest rated) episode, The Sacrifice, for the series Fear Itself. His dark western novel The Survival of Margaret Thomas was shortlisted for the Peacemaker Award given out by the Western Fictioneers. 

He has been shortlisted for over half a dozen awards including the Shirley Jackson Award and the Black Quill. He was the cofounder and owner (with his wife, Sue) of Dark Delicacies, a book and gift store known as “The Home of Horror,” located in Burbank, California. The store won the “Il Posto Nero” award from Italy and has been inducted into the Rondo Hatton Hall of Fame.

Book Spotlight: The Night Crew

 Another book spotlight today, for the horror book, The Night Crew by Brad Ricks. Enjoy.

The Night Crew by Brad Ricks

Vampires, vengeance, and a quest for survival—The Night Crew is a heart-pounding supernatural thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

After the brutal murder of his wife, Michael White is thrust into a world of unimaginable horrors. With no help from the local authorities, he embarks on a personal investigation that uncovers a chilling truth—vampires are real.

When he confronts his wife’s killer, he discovers the true nature of the monster who tore apart his life—a bloodthirsty vampire who has already claimed countless victims. On the brink of becoming the undead himself, Michael is saved by a team of vampire hunters known as The Night Crew. They offer him a chance at revenge and a shot at redemption.

Teaming up with these skilled hunters, Michael must navigate a dark, dangerous world filled with vampires and other supernatural creatures. But the road to vengeance is fraught with peril, and Michael’s humanity is at risk as he battles to destroy the creature that killed his wife.

Will Michael be able to seek vengeance against the vampire that shattered his life while retaining his own humanity, or will he succumb to the darkness that threatens to consume him? 

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

About the Author:

Brad is the author of “Fear Not The Dead” (Unveiling Nightmares, 2024) and the Christmas Horror “To Hell With Hallmark” (Unveiling Nightmares, 2024).

A lifelong Texan, Brad lives in Central Texas with his wife and their kids. He pulls inspiration from horror masters like Poe and King, but also enjoys reading classical literature from authors like Dickens, Hugo, and Wells. 

Website: https://www.bradricks.com 

Book Spotlight: Midnight Vintage

Another book spotlight today, for the story collection Midnight Vintage by Sean Eads and Josh Viola. Enjoy.

Midnight Vintage by Sean Eads and Josh Viola

A collection of haunting short stories that delve into the darker sides of the human soul, this horror book explores raw emotions of desire, despair, and obsession. Each tale is set in an atmospheric world where shadows loom large, and the pursuit of unattainable goals leads characters to face terrifying consequences. Whether it’s the unsettling grip of supernatural forces, the harrowing effects of self-destruction, or the chilling embrace of violence, these stories invite readers to explore the depths of horror, grief, and madness. With unique and frightening twists, these tales will keep you on edge long after the last page is turned. 

Step into the unknown, if you dare!

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

About the Authors:

Sean Eads is a writer and librarian living in Denver, Colorado. He is originally from Kentucky and has a Masters degree in literature from the University of Kentucky and a Masters degree in library science from the University of Illinois. His first novel, The Survivors, was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award. His third novel, Lord Byron’s Prophecy was a finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award and the Colorado Book Award. His fifth novel, Confessions, was also a finalist for the Colorado Book Award. His favorite writers are Ray Bradbury, Herman Melville, Cormac McCarthy and Ernest Hemingway.

Website: www.seaneadswriter.com

Joshua Viola is a Colorado Book Award winner and Splatterpunk Award nominee. He co-authored Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver - The Dead Shall Rise, an official prequel to the beloved video game series, which became the 4th most funded graphic novel of all time on Kickstarter, raising over $1.4 million. He edited the Denver Post #1 bestselling horror anthology Nightmares Unhinged and co-edited Cyber World, named one of the best science fiction anthologies of 2016 by Barnes & Noble. He co-authored the comic book slasher series True Believers with Stephen Graham Jones, featuring official cameos from icons like Jamie Lee Curtis, R.L. Stine, Jeffrey Combs, and Barbara Crampton. As a producer, he has contributed to films such as Aliens Expanded, The Thing Expanded, TerrorBytes, Shelby Oaks, Shrine of Abominations, Deathgasm II: Goremageddon, and the recent Deathstalker reboot directed by Steven Kostanski (The Void, Psycho Goreman), starring Daniel Bernhardt (The Matrix, John Wick) and produced with Slash from Guns N’ Roses. In 2024, he founded Bit Bot Media with musician Klayton (Celldweller), a multimedia company focused on original and licensed IP, including The Terminator, Legacy of Kain, Evil Dead 2, and more. Bit Bot also collaborates with Canadian film studio Raven Banner Entertainment on film productions, merchandise, and distribution, including titles like The Autopsy of Jane Doe and the documentary Hate to Love: Nickelback. Joshua’s video game development includes work on titles such as The Rocky Horror Show, Pirates of the Caribbean: Call of the Kraken, Unioverse, The Smurfs, TARGET: Terror, and others. He is the owner and chief editor of Hex Publishers and resides in Denver, CO, with his husband and son.

Website: www.joshuaviola.com