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Till the Score is Paid by Gemma Amor

Cemetery Dance OnlineMarch 16, 2020March 15, 2020ReviewsGemma Amor, Mother Horror, Reviews, Sadie Hartmann, Till the Score is PaidLeave a comment

Till the Score is Paid by Gemma Amor
Giles Press (December 2019)
254 pages; $12.99 paperback; $3.99 e-book
Reviewed by Sadie “Mother Horror” Hartmann

Some authors have a storytelling voice that feels familiar to the reader. I often say that these authors’ books are like coming home after wearing formal clothes all day, and then putting on your favorite pajamas; the definition of comfort.

Gemma Amor’s writing style “fits me.” We are a perfect reader/author match. The minute I start reading one of her short stories I am immediately drawn in and compelled to finish. It’s difficult for me to put any story of her’s down until I’m done.Continue Reading

Brian Keene’s History of Horror Fiction, Chapter Nine: Grimm and Gritty

Cemetery Dance OnlineMarch 13, 2020March 13, 2020Brian Keene's History of Horror FictionBrian Keene, Columns, History of Horror FictionLeave a comment

Banner Brian Keene's History of Horror Fiction

As the 1700s drew to a close, the public furor over The Castle of Otranto, The Monk, The Mysteries of Udolpho and other gothic horror novels continued. Societal keepers and the media of the time became concerned that commoners, particularly young people, were spending too much time engaged in reading, particularly such gruesome fare as The Monk. In our last chapter, we talked about how cancel culture came for Matthew Gregory Lewis, forcing him to revise further editions of The Monk, and to issue a public apology. Continue Reading

Review: The Boneyard by Keith Minnion

Cemetery Dance OnlineMarch 11, 2020March 13, 2020ReviewsCrossroad Press, Dave Simms, Keith Minnion, Reviews, The Boneyard1 Comment

The Boneyard by Keith Minnion
Crossroad Press (September 2014)
320 pages; $2.99 e-book
Reviewed by Dave Simms

Keith Minnion has long been a force in the horror genre, both as an author and artist. He made his name as an illustrator for several magazines and publishers, most notably and recently for the Stephen King/Richard Chizmar novels Gwendy’s Button Box and Gwendy’s Magic Feather. His short stories have been making the rounds since 1979 and his two collections have garnered high praise.

His first novel The Boneyard, immensely readable and well-written, tears into ground that feels untrodden and fresh. Finding something new these days is tough; finding something that is both new and successful in execution is much tougher. This novel nails it on both counts.Continue Reading

Review: A Wind of Knives by Ed Kurtz

Cemetery Dance OnlineMarch 10, 2020March 9, 2020ReviewsA Wind of Knives, Ed Kurtz, Kevin Lucia, ReviewsLeave a comment

A Wind of Knives by Ed Kurtz
Independently Published (December 2019)
140 pages; $7.99 paperback; $2.99 e-book
Reviewed by Kevin Lucia

A Wind of Knives by Ed Kurtz is a grim beauty to behold. One part realistic western reminiscent of the late Ed Gorman’s work; one part rumination on the nature of love and the desperate ties which bind us together; all parts sad, brutal, and tragic. This isn’t a Saturday afternoon spaghetti western in which the good guys wear white and the bad guys wear black, with blazing six guns and stalwart heroes riding off into the sunset. It’s a melancholic story of a man fueled by revenge and the deep, aching pain that not only comes from loss, but also from the deepest kinds of betrayal.Continue Reading

Revival Deluxe Limited Edition Artwork Portfolio!

Cemetery Dance OnlineMarch 9, 2020Breaking NewsLeave a comment

Just Announced!
Revival Deluxe Limited Edition Artwork Portfolio
From LetterPress Publications
Only Available For a Limited Time Only!

We’re pleased to report that Brian Freeman over at LetterPress Publications has arranged with François Vaillancourt to collect all of his artwork from the LPP special edition of Revival by Stephen King into an oversized Deluxe Artwork Portfolio!

The Revival Deluxe Artwork Portfolio will feature twenty pieces of artwork, including the alternative version of the car accident (which only appeared in the Lettered Edition), the frontispieces for both editions, and a brand new piece of artwork for the signature page. The art will be printed on 11 inch by 14 inch sheets of a fine 100# Linen cover stock, which is archival quality and acid free.

Each set of prints will be housed in a deluxe hand-made portfolio that is covered with the same material as the Limited Edition’s slipcase, making this the perfect companion to your book. There will be two colors of hot foil color stamping on the cover. The interior of the portfolio will be lined with an elegant material that combines the luxury of suede and the richness of velvet.

Or, if you’d like to support Brian directly and reserve this Deluxe Artwork Portfolio without prepayment required, you can visit the product page on his company’s website for details.

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

The Red Church by Scott Nicholson: Just Announced and Already 80% Sold Out!

Cemetery Dance OnlineMarch 6, 2020March 6, 2020Breaking NewsLeave a comment

We’re pleased to announce we’ll be publishing The Red Church by Scott Nicholson as a signed Limited Edition hardcover in our acclaimed Graveyard Editions series, and this one is already 80% sold out from early bird reservations! Books in this series usually sell out in 24 hours after the public announcement, so now is the time to place your order!

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

My First Fright featuring Paul Michael Anderson

Cemetery Dance OnlineMarch 6, 2020March 9, 2020My First FrightColumns, Creepshow, John Brhel, My First Fright, Paul Michael AndersonLeave a comment

Author Paul Michael Anderson — Paul Michael Anderson

I love anthology horror movies. You get a variety of stories, often exploring wildly diverse themes and subject matter, presented with the compactness and plot-driven fun of a short story. While anthology horror movies had certainly come before it — including the iconic Trilogy of Terror and Black Sabbath — it was 1982’s Creepshow that really set the standard, paving the way for an explosion of anthology horror shows and movies in the ’80s. Creepshow being one of my favorite horror movies, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the film helped inspire a love for horror in author Paul Michael Anderson.Continue Reading

Review: Blackwood by Michael Farris Smith

Cemetery Dance OnlineMarch 2, 2020March 3, 2020ReviewsBlackwood, Blu Gilliand, Michael Farris Smith, ReviewsLeave a comment

Cover of Blackwood by Michael Farris Smith Blackwood by Michael Farris Smith
Little, Brown and Company (March 2020)
304 pages; $27 hardcover; $13.99 e-book
Reviewed by Blu Gilliand

If you’ve been to the South you’ve seen kudzu, the suffocating green vine that will envelop anything that stands still long enough. It fills gullys and blankets hills. It climbs telephone poles and encircles trees. It’s got a deep foothold in the region, and it’s tough. I once saw a car that had plunged nose-first into a kudzu-filled ravine, its taillights the only thing visible through the green webbing — webbing strong enough to catch the car like a net and keep it from hitting the ground.

Were the kudzu to disappear one day, to turn brown and crumble the way other, lesser plants do, there’s no telling what would be revealed. Abandoned pickup trucks. Forgotten general stores and shotgun houses. Animal bones by the millions. And secrets…so many secrets.Continue Reading

Into the Abyss with Kevin Lucia, CW Briar and Thomas McDonough

Cemetery Dance OnlineMarch 1, 2020March 2, 2020InterviewsCW Briar, Interviews, Into the Abyss, Kevin Lucia, Thomas McDonough, VideoLeave a comment

Into the Abyss creepy logo Kevin Lucia stays plenty busy teaching, editing reviews for Cemetery Dance, writing horror fiction, and raising kids. So, naturally, he decided to develop a new YouTube show devoted to horror to fill his “spare time.”

Welcome to Into the Abyss, coming at you every week from Lucia’s “horror cave” and featuring CW Briar and Thomas McDonough as co-hosts. The guys break down horror movies, talk about books, and generally welcome us all into their horror-centric get-togethers.

We’re big fans of the show here at Cemetery Dance, and we think you’ll all enjoy it, too. In this special episode, Cemetery Dance Managing Editor Blu Gilliand sent the guys a few questions to help them introduce themselves and their show to you! Check out the full video below.Continue Reading

Women in Horror Month Interview: Becky Spratford

Cemetery Dance OnlineFebruary 28, 2020February 24, 2020InterviewsBecky Spratford, Interviews, Mother Horror, Sadie Hartmann, Women in Horror MonthLeave a comment

Becky Spratford is an informed and passionate advocate of fiction (particularly horror fiction). She trains librarians to match readers with books they’ll enjoy — an amazingly important job, if you ask us! Becky maintains a magical presence on Twitter and a blog that gives great insight into the importance of the work she does.

We’re proud to feature Becky in this special Women in Horror Month interview.Continue Reading

Dreamlike States by Brian James Freeman: Newly Revised and Expanded Paperback In-Stock Now!

Cemetery Dance OnlineFebruary 26, 2020Breaking NewsLeave a comment

The signed Limited Edition of Dreamlike States by Brian James Freeman sold out in a day back in 2014, and has been out of print since, but we’re pleased to report this collection is now available as an affordable trade paperback with creepy new Vincent Chong cover artwork!

Not only is this edition more affordable, but Brian has revised each story and added a few more, along with new story notes. He will also be signing the first batch of copies we sell, so don’t wait to place your order!

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

Review: Shapeshifters: A History by John B. Kachuba

Cemetery Dance OnlineFebruary 26, 2020February 25, 2020ReviewsJohn B. Kachuba, Kevin Lucia, Reviews, Shapeshifters: A HistoryLeave a comment

Shapeshifters: A History by John B. Kachuba
Reaktion Books (June 2019)
208 pages; $15.78 hardcover
Reviewed by Kevin Lucia

As an English teacher and lover of myths and folklore, nonfiction works on the historical and mythical backgrounds of monsters and such is right up my alley. I love reading how strange beliefs, customs, and folktales serve as the roots of some of our more famous monsters and horror fiction beasties. So, as you can imagine, when Shapeshifters: A History by John B. Kachuba showed up on my doorstep, I was pretty excited. Continue Reading

Review: The Deep by Alma Katsu

Cemetery Dance OnlineFebruary 25, 2020February 25, 2020ReviewsAlma Katsu, Dave Simms, Reviews, The DeepLeave a comment

The Deep by Alma Katsu
G.P. Putnam’s Sons (March 10, 2020)
432 pages; $18.39 hardcover; $13.99 e-book
Reviewed by Dave Simms

Those who devoured Alma Katsu’s The Hunger (which should have won awards across the board last year—pun intended) will want to take the plunge into The Deep, a beautifully disturbing cross-genre tale that might even top that previous novel. Whereas The Hunger mined the ill-fated travels of the pioneers who traversed the Donner Pass, this one dives into the mystique of the Titanic, yet with a twist. The ship had a sister—the Britannic. This ship was retrofitted to be a hospital to be used during the war.Continue Reading

He Who Types Between the Rows: A Decade of Horror Drive-In

Cemetery Dance OnlineFebruary 24, 2020Breaking NewsLeave a comment

In January 2006, Mark Sieber created the Horror Drive-In website as a home for his new message board. The site also provided a platform for Sieber to discuss his lifelong passions: books, movies, music, publishing, drive-in theaters, and the horror community. Not merely content to review and comment on the state of the industry, Sieber offered insights and revelations into his own life as a horror devotee.

He Who Types Between the Rows offers a tour of the genre from 2006 to 2017. From King and McCammon to newer writers such as Rio Youers and Caroline Kepnes, from Evil Dead to Nudist Colony of the Dead, Sieber’s essays cover the vast spectrum of horror in all its forms. This book gives readers a view of the field from the trenches, written by a true fan.

So hurry back with your snacks, make one last bathroom stop, and grab that illicit case of beer from the trunk. Showtime is in one minute.

This edition includes a Foreword by Jeff Strand, and an Afterword by Thomas F. Monteleone.

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

Women in Horror Month Interview: Ania Ahlborn

Cemetery Dance OnlineFebruary 21, 2020February 19, 2020InterviewsAnia Ahlborn, Interviews, Mother Horror, Sadie Hartmann, Suntup Editions, Women in Horror MonthLeave a comment

Author and interview subject Ania Ahlborn — Ania Ahlborn

February is Women in Horror Month and I wanted to check in with some of my favorite writers of horror fiction. Ania Ahlborn is the author of several creepy books of which I would recommend, starting with Brother, and then working through her extensive back catalog. Her most recent release, If You See Her, is about buried mysteries, haunted houses, and the ghosts of past sins coming back to haunt you.

Ania and her husband, Will, have a toddler we will refer to as “R” in this interview. I wanted to find out how Ania has been balancing her writing career and motherhood. Continue Reading

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