Review: 'A Head Full of Ghosts' by Paul Tremblay

HeadFullGhostsCoverA Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
William Morrow (June 2015)
304 pages; $14.58 paperback/$12.99 ebook
Reviewed by Michael Wilson

Paul Tremblay’s fiction has been gracing bookstores and bookshelves for well over a decade. No stranger to horror, Paul’s picked up three Stoker Award nominations – including First Novel for The Little Sleep – and has been on the Board of Directors for the Shirley Jackson Award since it was founded in 2007. In spite of all his accolades, A Head Full of Ghosts has put him on the horror map more than anything he’s released or achieved previously. It’s the horror novel of 2015 that everyone’s talking about. Even Stephen King took to Twitter to give his approval, declaring, “A Head Full of Ghosts, by Paul Tremblay: Scared the living hell out of me, and I’m pretty hard to scare.” But is such unadulterated admiration really warranted or are we dealing with over-hyped and under-delivered horror art? Continue Reading

NEW BOOK: Dark Hallows: Ten Halloween Haunts

Dark Hallows: Ten Halloween Haunts
A surprise new Halloween anthology featuring well-known authors and up-and-coming new voices!

Dark HallowsHi Folks!

We’re pleased to be the first to announce DARK HALLOWS, a surprise new value-priced trade paperback Halloween anthology coming next month from Scarlet Galleon Publications!

Edited by Mark Parker, this book is a bargain and features stories by Richard Chizmar, Brian James Freeman, Norman Partridge, Robert Morrish, Al Sarrantonio, Ronald Malfi, Aaron Dries, Adam Cesare, Mark Parker, and Lisa Morton!

About the Book:
Some treats are better than tricks!

As summer turns to autumn, Scarlet Galleon Publications, publisher of the Amazon #1 bestselling horror anthology, DEAD HARVEST: A Collection of Dark Tales, offers readers a collection of Halloween tales to help celebrate the season in a chillingly unforgettable way.
10 authors. 10 haunting tales. 1 incredible anthology.

DARK HALLOWS will have you leaving the lights on, just to make sure you’re really alone.

Featuring NEW fiction from Cemetery Dance founder and publisher, Richard Chizmar. With original artwork by Aaron Dries.

Also included are stories from:

Brian James Freeman, Norman Partridge, Robert Morrish, Al Sarrantonio, Ronald Malfi, Aaron Dries, Adam Cesare, Mark Parker, and Lisa Morton

Read more on our website or place your order while supplies last!

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and enthusiasm!

 

Review: 'The Girl in the Maze' by R.K. Jackson

GirlMazeThe Girl in the Maze by R. K. Jackson
Alilbi: A Division of Random House (September 2015)
292 pages; $2.99 ebook
Reviewed by Frank Michaels Errington

The Girl In the Maze is a genre-crushing story that’s part mystery, part thriller, with elements of horror. The result is a terribly entertaining novel about Martha Covington, a schizophrenic, who with treatment is making her way back into the workplace.Continue Reading

Review: 'Where We Live and Die' by Brian Keene

WhereWhere We Live and Die by Brian Keene
Lazy Fascist Press (August 2015)
162 pages; $12.95 paperback/$5.95 ebook
Reviewed by Blu Gilliand

If you’ve ever read anything by Brian Keene, then you’ve read something
about Brian Keene. I say this because the man doesn’t just pour himself
into his work; he tears pieces of himself away and fuses them into his
fiction. Check out his podcast and look for the “Secret Origins” episodes, and you’ll see what I mean.

Or, read his new collection from Lazy Fascist Press, Where We Live and Die.Continue Reading

Review: 'Mr. Suicide' by Nicole Cushing

MrSMr. Suicide by Nicole Cushing
Word Horde Publishing (July 2015)
228 pages; $14.99 paperback/$4.99 ebook
Reviewed by Frank Michaels Errington

Nicole Cushing is a Shirley Jackson Award finalist who’s written a number of stand-alone novellas and dozens of short stories. Nicole has been referred to as the literary equivalent of the love child between Jack Ketchum and Poppy Z. Bright. Raised in rural Maryland and now living in southern Indiana, Nicole counts master storyteller Edgar Allen Poe as having had a big influence on her as a writer.

In recent weeks, I’d noticed a bit of a buzz about her debut novel and knew I had to check it out. I’m so glad I did. When I opened the book I right away noticed some very positive blurbs from authors I respect a great deal, including Ray Garton and the aforementioned Jack Ketchum.Continue Reading

Turnaround by Craig Spector eBook Edition!

Turnaround
by Craig Spector

eBook Edition Available For IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD!

Hi Folks!

We realized some of our readers missed the news over the summer about the eBook edition of Turnaround by Craig Spector, so we wanted to send out a reminder about it!

TurnaroundAbout the Book:
Eric Best’s world is changing… not just a piece here or there, really changing.

His monotonous day job working for an Internet search engine company leaves him unfulfilled, so he starts writing an exciting screenplay.

His wife isn’t happy with all of his time being monopolized, and their marriage is already a little rocky, but Eric is determined to finish what he started.

He’s becoming more and more invested in his work. He’s even having lucid dreams of his scripted universe… but more real.

Then he notices the changes.

Changes in his life that are impossible, wonderful, and even horrific…

Download from Amazon (US)Download from Amazon (Canada)Download from Amazon (UK) Download for the Nook Download from the iBookstore Download from Kobo

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and enthusiasm!

Horror Drive-In: Learning to NOT Act My Age

HorrorDrive-In-web

Learning to NOT Act My Age

I’m really not that old. Older than many readers, sure, but, hell, fifty-four is not too old these days. Anyone with at least a few years over me can roar out an accusing, “You’re just a KID!”

Fifty-four isn’t that young either. I’ve been around the block more than a few times, and I’ve been an enthusiastic genre fan for as long as I can remember. I’ve seen the trends: Indian Burial Grounds, Evil Children, Vampires, Serial Killers, Vampires, Transgressive Fiction, Zombies, Gross-out shenanigans. I’ve enjoyed all of these tropes to varying degrees. At least until they became tired cliches. And sooner or later (usually sooner) they all do.Continue Reading

JUST ANNOUNCED! ‘Salem’s Lot Three Volume Special Edition!

JUST ANNOUNCED!
‘Salem’s Lot Three Volume Special Edition!
by Stephen King

PS Publishing UK Slipcased & Illustrated Limited Edition!

Hi Folks!

'Salem's LotWe’re extremely pleased to report we will be receiving copies of the PS Publishing special edition of ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King, which was just announced this week!

This special edition from the UK is being published in a very unique way! Each “part” of King’s classic novel is being bound as a separate hardcover volume with unique cover artwork. The three parts will then be housed in a stunning slipcase. See the mock-up below for a better idea of what we mean!

Publisher: PS Publishing
Format: Slipcased Limited Edition featuring THREE separate volumes: one for each “part” of King’s classic novel!
PRINT RUN: 974 copies signed by the artist plus a facsimile signature from Stephen King

About the Book from Peter Crowther at PS Publishing:
For pretty much most of this year, Chris ‘Fangorn’ Baker and I have been discussing how we thought Stephen King’s ‘SALEM’S LOT should be illustrated, choosing scenes and themes that would best lend themselves to Chris’s kickass style of chilling realism. Let’s face it, the aim is simple, right? If Steve’s words could make you believe—and there’s the key word right there—believe that it’s possible for a solitary vampire (albeit one with good ground support) to wreak havoc on a small New England town then Chris’s images had to do exactly the same. And we all think he’s clinched it big time… and Steve himself has given the thumbs-up seal of Bangor approval. So without further ado… below is the three novella-length standalone volumes and the special illustrated slipcase!

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR COLLECTORS WHO WANT MATCHING NUMBERS FOR THIS PS PUBLISHING SERIES:
If you’ve been ordering the PS Publishing Stephen King special editions from us (not another retailer), we CAN match your number on this title to keep your collection complete! Just reply to your order confirmation email and let Mindy know what number you received on the previous books. Our limited supply of this book is being sold on First Come, First Served basis, so if you don’t order before they are gone, your number will also be gone!

Full Set

Place your order today while our supplies last!

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and enthusiasm!

 

Review: 'The Devil in the Clock' by Harry Shannon

The Devil In the Clock by Harry Shannon
CreateSpace (May 2015)
236 pages, paperback $11.99, ebook $3.29
Reviewed by W.D. Gagliani

DevilClockBack when I reviewed Memorial Day, Harry Shannon’s first Mick Callahan novel, I called it “a completely winning, engaging first mystery.” Further, I wrote: “Mick Callahan is no detective or cop. He’s no private dick. No, he’s a disgraced and defrocked television therapist – not your usual tough guy! Think a slicker, more photogenic Dr. Phil. But Shannon wisely hedges his bets and makes Callahan a washed-out Navy SEAL and one time kid boxer – enough pedigree for him to get into fights most of us would eagerly avoid.”Continue Reading

The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King: Includes Several Previously Unpublished Stories!

The Bazaar of Bad Dreams
by Stephen King

Includes Several Previously Unpublished Stories!!

Hi Folks!

If you missed the news earlier this summer, we’re pleased to report we WILL be receiving copies of The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King, which is due out later this year, and it’s turning into another amazing collection from the King of Horror! There are several BRAND NEW stories in here and also several that have never before appeared in print:

The Bazaar of Bad DreamsTable of Contents:
Author’s note
Introduction
1. Mile 81
2. Premium Harmony
3. Batman and Robin Have an Altercation
4. The Dune
5. Bad Little Kid – New
6. A Death
7. The Bone Church
8. Morality
9. Afterlife
10. Ur – First Time In Print
11. Herman Wouk is Still Alive
12. Under the Weather
13. Blockade Billy
14. Mister Yummy – New
15. Tommy
16. The Little Green God of Agony
17. That Bus is Another World
18. Obits – New
19. Drunken Fireworks – First Time In Print
20. Summer Thunder

Add A Special Exclusive Slipcase To Your Order To Protect Your Book!

Even though The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King is being published by another publisher, we will be producing one of our popular custom-made slipcase for this title like we have for the last few Stephen King books!

The easiest way to add a slipcase to your purchase is by selecting the “Trade Hardcover Edition with Exclusive Slipcase!” option above — you’ll also save on shipping by ordering this way! (You can order just the slipcase by itself on the The Bazaar of Bad Dreams custom slipcase product page.)

Don’t know what a slipcase is? That’s okay! You can see some sample images of other slipcases we’ve made below. We’re using the same high-quality materials we have used for our previous Stephen King cases, with one color hot foil stamping. The company who makes these for us is the best in the business and you won’t find a better way to protect your investment! (If you are new to collecting, you can read more about slipcases on our Book FAQ page.)

We’re selling these special slipcases for just $24.95, making them an extremely affordable way to protect your book.  These cases will be produced after the book is published because we need a real copy of the book to get the sizing just right. Your book and slipcase will ship together to save you on shipping. It takes approximately twelve weeks for the cases to made and we think our collectors will be very pleased with what we have in mind for this production, so don’t wait to place your order!

Sample Slipcase Photo:

Sample Slipcase Photo

Place your order today so you don’t miss out!

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and enthusiasm!

Review: 'Check-Out Time' by Mark Rigney

Check-Out Time by Mark Rigney
Samhain Publishing (October 2014)
229 pages; $12.32 paperback/$4.99 ebook
Reviewed by Damon Smith

check-out-timeCheck-Out Time is actually the fourth book in Mark Rigney’s “Renner & Quist” series, but outside of a few nods in the early part of the novel, knowledge of the prior books in the series are not necessary for you to enjoy this new entry.

While the book has a bit of trouble reaching its stride in its early pages, once it does, it truly becomes something unique, often showing a very refreshing take on what could be a run-of-the-mill ghost story in the hands of another writer. Continue Reading

Review: 'Red Equinox' by Douglas Wynne

Red Equinox by Douglas Wynne
JournalStone (January 2015)
278 pages; $17.95 paperback/$5.39 ebook
Reviewed by Anton Cancre

RedEquinoxRed Equinox places us in the shoes of Becca, an urban explorer whose Gramma was deep into cultish lore and who stumbles onto something far too real and far too sinister for her to believe. Soon, she finds herself caught between a cult that wants to bring the Elder Gods to bear on us all and a secret government agency that is definitely not the B.P.R.D. Dimensional walls are breached, horrific and barely describable monsters are summoned and it looks like the world may end.Continue Reading

Stephen King: News from the Dead Zone #182

Next week will be busy for Stephen King. On September 9, he will be appearing in Cambridge, MA in conversation with Lee Child to promote the new Jack Reacher novel, Make Me. The next day, he will be among the eleven individuals receiving the National Medal of Arts from President Obama in the East Wing of the White House. The citation says, “One of the most popular and prolific writers of our time, Mr. King combines his remarkable storytelling with his sharp analysis of human nature. ” Then, on the following day, September 11, he will be a guest on Stephen Colbert’s Late Show during its inaugural week.Continue Reading