Book Spotlight: Consumed by Evil

Today I have a spotlight for the new Crystal Lake Publishing horror novel Consumed by Evil by John Durgin. Enjoy.

Consumed by Evil by John Durgin

“Small towns hold the biggest secrets…”

In the chilling aftermath of the Halloween homecoming massacre, the town of Newport struggles to recover from the terror unleashed by Jessica Black. But as the survivors come to terms with their losses, a new breed of horror lurks just beneath the surface, threatening to plunge them back into chaos.

Fifteen-year-old Howie grapples with the grief of losing his friends, haunted by memories of that fateful night. Cory is tormented by disturbing visions and violent urges that threaten to consume him. Meanwhile, Bethany finds herself ensnared in a fatal web of deceit as dark forces conspire against her.

Determined to uncover Newport’s buried secrets and dismantle the coven's sinister influence, Howie, Cory, and Bethany must confront their pasts and the malevolent entities that refuse to let go. As they delve deeper into the town’s dark history, they realize that the true horror lies not just in the shadows of Newport, but within themselves.

In Consumed by Evil, John Durgin weaves a gripping tale of survival, friendship, and the relentless fight against darkness. Perfect for fans of psychological horror and supernatural thrillers, this sequel expands on the chilling narrative of The Cursed Among Us, promising even more heart-pounding suspense and unexpected twists.

Are you ready to uncover the secrets that lurk in the shadows?

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

About the Author

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 is set to release two more novels, starting with Kosa which released to stellar reviews, and Consumed by Evil through Crystal Lake Publishing in November 2024.

Book Spotlight: Blood and Bullets (Dark Tide 18)

 Today I have a spotlight on the horror western anthology, Blood and Bullets (Dark Tide 18). Enjoy.

Blood and Bullets (Dark Tide 18)

Prepare yourself for a chilling journey through the American frontier with Blood and Bullets, an anthology featuring three gripping novellas that blend horror, paranormal elements, and the harsh realities of the Old West.

 

“American Devil” by James Aquilone: In a suspenseful twist on historical horror, Randall Bond, a determined psychic bounty hunter, faces his most daunting challenge yet: capturing H.H. Holmes, America’s first serial killer, who has escaped from prison. With dark forces at play and the line between predator and prey blurring, Bond must navigate a treacherous landscape where the hunt turns into a battle for survival.

 

“The Deadwood Deal” by Michael Knost: Dive into the shadows of Wild Bill Hickok’s final moments in The Deadwood Deal. Michael Knost unravels the hidden truths behind Jack McCall’s infamous act of betrayal, revealing the dark and supernatural forces that orchestrated the tragic fate of one of the most legendary gunfighters of the Old West. This tale of vengeance and dark partnership will leave you questioning the true nature of evil.

 

“Elijah’s Elixir” by Keith Lansdale: Elijah’s quest for easy money takes a sinister turn in Elijah’s Elixir. Joined by Rose, a tarot reader with a troubled past, and Luther, an enigmatic companion, Elijah finds himself entangled in a web of supernatural mystery and personal demons. As they unravel the secrets of a strange town and confront their own haunted pasts, they discover that nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

 

Book Link: https://getbook.at/DarkTide18

 About the Authors

Keith Lansdale:

Author of short stories, comics, novels, screenplays, articles, and even napkin doodles.

Movie credits include writing credits for Christmas With The Dead, Pale Door, a Creepshow adaptation, and in production, The Projectionist. Comics are Red Range, X-Files, Vamprilla, Crawling Sky, Mud… and plenty others.

  

Michael Knost:

Michael Knost is a two-time Bram Stoker Award®-winning editor and author of science fiction, fantasy, horror, western, and supernatural thrillers. He has written in various genres and helmed dozens of anthologies. His Writers Workshop of Horror won the 2009 Bram Stoker Award® in England for superior achievement in non-fiction. His Writers Workshop of Horror 2 recently won the 2021 Bram Stoker Award® in Denver for the same category. His critically acclaimed Writers Workshop of Science Fiction & Fantasy is an Amazon #1 bestseller. Return of the Mothman, Barbers and Beauties, and Author’s Guide to Marketing with Teeth were all finalists for the Bram Stoker Award®. Michael received the Horror Writers Association’s Silver Hammer Award in 2015 for his work as the organization’s mentorship chair and was recently recognized as the 2021 Mentor of the Year from the organization. He also received the prestigious J.U.G. (Just Uncommonly Good) Award from West Virginia Writer’s Inc. His Return of the Mothman novel has recently been filmed as a movie adaption. He has taught writing classes and workshops at several colleges, conventions, online, and currently resides in Chapmanville, West Virginia with his wife, daughter, and a zombie goldfish.

 

James Aquilone:

James Aquilone is the owner of Monstrous Books, writer of the Dead Jack: Zombie Detective series, and editor of the anthologies Classic Monsters Unleashed, Shakespeare Unleashed, and the 50th anniversary Kolchak: The Night Stalker graphic novel. He’s won the Bram Stoker Award for Best Graphic Novel, two Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards, and a Scribe Award from the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers. He’s also been nominated for a Shirley Jackson Award.

 

Book Spotlight: In Those Fading Stars

I forgot to post this last Friday on its launch, so here it is today, a spotlight on the sci-fi horror collection, In Those Fading Stars by Andrew Najberg. Enjoy.

In Those Fading Stars

A father whose son fades away every day unless he passes the boy a bit of his own life.

Three robots holding a séance.

A man who suffers the effects of an intergalactic portal opening in his stomach.

These stories exist at the intersection of science fiction, horror, and magic and explore both our humanity in the face of the weird as well as our most ordinary and fundamental relationships.

Whether attempting to voyage to a distant star on a generational craft whose destination is so far no living passengers will reach it or whether a daughter’s new friend is teaching her to break the trendiest of dimensional boundaries, the stories press humanity against the macro and the micro scales of the universe—but every one of them shines a light on a little piece of our souls at the core.

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

About the Author

Andrew Najberg is the author of the best-selling (#1 US Horror Amazon) novels The Mobius Door (Wicked House Publishing, 2023) and Gollitok (Wicked House Publishing, 2023), as well as The Neverborn Thief (Olive-Ridley Press, 2024) and the collection of short fiction In Those Fading Stars (Crystal Lake Entertainment, 2024).  He is also the author of the forthcoming novels Extinction Dream (Wicked House Publishing, 2025), Try Not To Die in the Shadowlands (Vincere Press, 2025), and Eat the Light (Wicked House Publishing, 2026). His short fiction has appeared in Fusion Fragment, Khoreo, Translunar Travelers Lounge, Utopia Science Fiction, Prose Online, Psychopomp Review, Solar Press Horror Anthology, and is forthcoming in Make Your Presence Known Anthology, and the Gods and Globes III Anthology. Currently, he teaches for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Book Spotlight: Dastardly Damsels

Today, I have a spotlight for the cool new anthology, Dastardly Damsels.

A transcendental anthology of women in horror, altering all you know by revamping traditional lore while exploring the unfathomable and the obscure.

 

Prepare yourself for a harrowing journey through Dastardly Damsels, an anthology that redefines horror with a powerful lineup of female authors. This collection dares to explore the darkest corners of the human psyche and the supernatural, presenting a diverse range of chilling narratives that will captivate and unsettle you.

 

From the Victorian Era’s haunted secrets to futuristic global disasters, Dastardly Damsels serves up an array of stories that blend psychological fear with mythological intrigue. Dive into tales of revenge with a twist, where women wield dark powers and confront terrifying entities, from cannibalistic horrors to vengeful ghosts. Experience the suspense of a secretive stripper turned avenger, a gladiatrix with a taste for brutality, and a peculiar elevator with a sinister personality.

 

If you’re ready for a blend of suspense and horror narratives that push the boundaries of traditional lore, Dastardly Damsels is your ticket to an unforgettable reading experience.

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

About the Editor

Over a decade ago, Suzie Lockhart finally gave in to the gnawing urge to write. Her first story was published in 2011, and she’s never looked back. Since then, she's had numerous short stories published in a variety of genres.

Suzie has also edited over a half dozen anthologies, including the award-winning Killing It Softly Vols. 1 & 2. 

Book Spotlight: Bestiary of Blood

 I have a spotlight today for the epic new anthology, Bestiary of Blood. Enjoy.

Bestiary of Blood: Modern Fables & Dark Tales

We are all prey to this anthology of modern fables and dark tales.

Bestiary of Blood was conceived in a moment of revelation, born from the visceral experience of watching nature’s savage ballet—lions tearing into flesh, hyenas gnawing bones, sharks thrashing in crimson waters. These raw spectacles gave rise to a chilling epiphany: life and death are entwined in a grotesque dance, each feeding the other in a ceaseless cycle of transformation, creating…beauty.

This paradox is captured in its full glory in Bestiary of Blood, a modern anthology of predation’s horrors inspired by the timeless tales of Aesop’s Fables, modernized for a more complex, unforgiving world. Exploring the joy in our hurts, the wrongs in our rights, and the suffering in the shadows of our light, Bestiary of Blood invites you to the intersection of human and animal experience, crafting dark tales that resonate with life’s endless cycles of transformation.
Written by 37 of Horror’s greatest writers, including 18 Bram Stoker Award Winners, this anthology features diverse voices from every walk of life as they usher you through the darkest and most profound questions of the modern age.

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

About the Editor

JAMAL HODGE is a multi-award-winning filmmaker, a native New Yorker, who grew up surrounded by the perils of poverty, the diversity of convergent cultures, and the harmonious circus of six siblings. His writing has been nominated for 2021 & 2022 Rhysling Awards and his poem “Colony” won 2nd place at the 2022 Dwarf Stars. He work appears in anthologies with such notable writers as Stephen King, Chuck Palahniuk, and Josh Malerman. His first collection The Dark Between the Twilight was released in 2024.