Monday, December 21, 2020

December, 2020 Dark Fiction Short Story Markets

HWA L.A.: December, 2020
New or Reopening Market Listings/ Notes
At Minimum Pro-Paying Rates (5 cents+ per word)



Departure Mirror Quarterly
http://departuremirror.com/guidelines/
Payment: 10 cents a word (payment capped at 3,000 words)
Story Length: up to 20,000 words (preferred less than 12,000)
Deadline: Open between January 2–January 31, 2021
Reprints?: No
Response Time: 3 months
Description: Original fiction and poetry, all of which must be broadly “speculative fiction” (science fiction, fantasy, alt-history, magical realism, slipstream, or in some other way altered reality).


Midnight from Beyond the Stars (Silver Shamrock Publishing, ed. Kenneth Cain)
https://www.silvershamrockpublishing.com/midnight-from-beyond-the-stars-anthology
Payment: 6 cents a word
Story Length: 2,500–6,000 words
Deadline: April 30, 2021
Reprints?: No
Response Time: unknown
Description: Space Monster horror! original alien horror stories with a The Thing/Alien/The Blob/Critters/Night of the Creeps kind of vibe.


Diabolical Plots ezine
http://www.diabolicalplots.com/guidelines
Payment: 10 cents a word
Story Length: 3,500 or less
Deadline:
Open between January 1–January 31, 2021
Reprints?: No
Response Time: One month
Description: Science fiction, fantasy, and horror (everything must have speculative element, even horror), including mixed-genres. (This is the same founders of the market submission tracker, ‘The Grinder’.)


Daily Science Fiction
http://dailysciencefiction.com/submit
Payment: 8 cents a word
Story Length: to 1,500 words (prefer less than 1,000)
Deadline: Continually open (EXCEPT during December 24, 2020
January 2, 2021)
Reprints?: No
Response Time: 1 month
Description: Speculative fiction, such as science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, etc. Daily publications.


Unfettered Hexes: Queer Tales of Insatiable Darkness (Neon Hemlock Press)
https://www.neonhemlock.com/submissions
Payment: 8 cents a word
Story Length: 1,000–6,000 words (less than 4,000 words preferred)
Deadline: January 15, 2021
Reprints?: No
Response Time: unknown
Description: Speculative stories of witchery with queer narratives; Tales that explores the boundaries between queer witches, the profane, and infinite darkness.


Analog Science Fiction and Fact
https://www.analogsf.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines
Payment: 8–10 cents a word (9 cents a word for non-fiction)
Story Length: up to 20,000 words
Deadline: ongoing
Reprints?: No
Response: 2–3 months
Description: Science fiction stories in which some aspect of future science or technology is so integral to the plot that, if that aspect were removed, the story would collapse.



***Non-PRO-Paying Market, but Eric J. Guignard’s “Pick of the Month”

Three-Lobed Burning Eye
https://www.3lobedmag.com/submissions.html
Payment: $100 flat
Story Length: 1,000–7,500 words
Deadline: Continually open
Reprints?: No
Response Time: within 3 months
Description: Non-themed, original speculative fiction: horror, fantasy, and science fiction.


Extraordinary Visions: Stories Inspired by Jules Verne
http://najvs.org/anthology.shtml
Payment: 2 cents a word ($30 for reprints)
Story Length: 3,000–5,000 words
Deadline: Open between January 1–April 30, 2021 (or until filled)
Reprints?: Yes
Response Time: unknown
Description: Short stories inspired by the writings of Jules Verne. Your story may be set in any time or place. You may use characters from Verne’s novels (they’re all in the public domain) or make up your own. You need not write in Verne’s style. The connection between your story and at least one of Verne’s works must be obvious and significant.


Thursday, December 17, 2020

Submissions Review for Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World

Just got off a Zoom meeting with co-editor CharlatanBardot, beginning the laborious process of reviewing and responding to 350+ open call submissions. What an honor to work with Professor Bardot! Good insights, he knows his paranormal. And the submissions are stellar… heartbreaking to have to send rejection letters for great stories, but there’s only room for a small percentage that align with the flow of the book. This anthology will be THE GREATEST EVER (from me), coming from Dark Moon Books late 2021 or early 2022!

PROFESSOR CHARLATAN BARDOT’S TRAVEL ANTHOLOGY TO THE MOST (FICTIONAL) HAUNTED BUILDINGS IN THE WEIRD, WILD WORLD

The world carries on!



Friday, November 13, 2020

Friday, October 2, 2020

Cover Reveal for: Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World (2021 edition)

Presenting cover reveal for: PROFESSOR CHARLATAN BARDOT’S TRAVEL ANTHOLOGY TO THE MOST (FICTIONAL) HAUNTED BUILDINGS IN THE WEIRD, WILD WORLD (2021 EDITION) !!!!

Submissions Accepted: November 15–December 15, 2020

http://www.darkmoonbooks.com/Submissions.html



Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Release Day for: EXPLORING DARK SHORT FICTION #5: A PRIMER TO HAN SONG

At long last, release day for the latest primer is here!!  I’ve been waiting so long to showcase this magnificent work!!

EXPLORING DARK SHORT FICTION #5: A PRIMER TO HAN SONG

Considered one of the three most important voices in contemporary Chinese science fiction (along with Liu Cixin and Wang Jinkang), Han Song is a multiple recipient of the Chinese Galaxy Award (China's highest profile sci-fi prize), as well as the Chinese Nebula Award and Asian-Pacific Sci-fi Gravity Award. Song bridges new developments in science and subjects of cultural and social dynamics with stories of dystopia, governmental conspiracy, and subversive horror, earning praise for his work as “absurdly dark,” while also reigniting a science fiction renaissance.

Including original English translations by Nathaniel Isaacson, PhD, Dark Moon Books and editor Eric J. Guignard bring you this introduction to Han Song’s work, the fifth in a series of primers exploring modern masters of literary dark short fiction. Herein is a chance to discover—or learn more of—the enigmatic voice of Han Song, as beautifully illustrated by artist Michelle Prebich.

Included within these pages are:

• Six short stories, three translated exclusively for this book

 Author interview

 Complete bibliography

 Academic commentary by Michael Arnzen, PhD (former humanities chair and professor of the year, Seton Hill University)

  … and more!


Enter this doorway to the vast and fantastic: Get to know Han Song.


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Title: Exploring Dark Short Fiction #5: A Primer to Han Song

By: Edited by Eric J. Guignard (including Short Fiction authored by Han Song), with original English translations by Nathaniel Isaacson, PhD, academic commentary by Michael Arnzen, PhD, and illustrations by Michelle Prebich

Price: $24.95 for hardback; $14.95 for print and $4.99 for electronic

Publisher: Dark Moon Books (Los Angeles, CA)

Format: Available in HARDBACK, TRADE PAPERBACK and ELECTRONIC media

13-digit ISBN: 978-1-949491-37-1 (hardback); 978-1-949491-12-8 (trade paperback) 978-1-949491-17-3 (e-book)

Number of pages: 218

Date of publication: September, 2020 

Praise for the Exploring Dark Short Books series:

A fascinating study for fans seeking new reads and for librarians developing wide-ranging collections.” Library Journal

“Refreshing and much-needed... Addresses significant themes and figures within the horror field.” Locus Magazine

"An insightful look at the working methods and underlying concerns of some of the foremost exponents of the short story form, appealing to both intellect and the emotions.” Black Static Magazine


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Immense thanks and gratitude (as always) to Michael Arnzen for his insightful commentary throughout the book; and Michelle Prebich for her gorgeous interior artwork; and Nathaniel Isaacson, PhD for his mammoth effort in beautifully translating the stories for this volume; and, naturally, thanks especially to Han Song for inspiring and consenting to this project!

Publisher’s Page: http://www.darkmoonbooks.com/Primer_5.html

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1949491374/

Also available on all other online distribution sites, including B&N , IndieBound (and bookshop.org) , Kobo , etc. 




Saturday, September 12, 2020

Accolades and updates for LAST CASE AT A BAGGAGE AUCTION

I’m gonna humble brag a little, this novella has been gaining traction in sales and reviews over the past week! It makes me so happy to know that I’m not just throwing work into the void, as it feels most days. 

LAST CASE AT A BAGGAGE AUCTION is available on my website or Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Case-at-Baggage-Auction/dp/1949491250 


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Here are some of the latest write-ups by book review sites!

“…The author has a knack for combining real historical events with his own imagination.”

https://www.curiosityboughtthebook.com/2020/09/05/last-case-at-a-baggage-auction-review/

 

“…an outstanding sense of time and place, very engaging narration, and a supernatural hook to savour (also striking illustrations from Steve Lines!)”

https://www.horrordna.com/books/last-case-at-a-baggage-auction-eric-j-guignard-book-review

 

“…definitely recommended reading for lovers of the eerie and those that like a little suspense in their reads. I am struggling to liken this book to any other, as the voice and telling are so original.”

https://bookvagabond.com/2020/09/04/review-last-case-at-a-baggage-auction-by-eric-j-guignard/

 

“…is a killer novella of quiet horror and it's a blast!”

http://charlene.booklikes.com/post/3097186/last-case-at-a-baggage-auction-by-eric-j-guignard

 

“…prose is smooth and uncluttered, in service of a fully rounded, intelligent and consistently surprising narrative that’s packed with the type of thrills you’d expect from a scary book, along with a great deal of sumptuously researched historical detail”

https://thebedlamfiles.com/fiction/last-case-at-a-baggage-auction/


Anyway, THANK YOU to book reviewers everywhere! #reviewers #books #gratitude



Saturday, September 5, 2020

EXPLORING DARK SHORT FICTION #5: A PRIMER TO HAN SONG, is available to reviewers on NetGalley!

Reviewers or NetGalley subscribers:

The latest Primer, EXPLORING DARK SHORT FICTION #5: A PRIMER TO HAN SONG, is available for free this month for ebook reviewers!!

With original Chinese-to-English translations, this Primer includes six short stories by Han Song—considered one of the three most important voices in contemporary Chinese science fiction (incl. horror)—along with an author interview, essay, biography, bibliography, and more!

Synopsis:

Dark Moon Books and editor Eric J. Guignard present the work of Han Song, #5 in a series of scholarly primers exploring modern masters of dark short fiction. With translations by Nathaniel Isaacson, PhD, commentary by Michael Arnzen, PhD, and beautifully illustrated by artist Michelle Prebich, discover the vast and fantastic writing of Han Song.

"Refreshing and much-needed... Addresses significant themes and figures within the horror field." —Locus Magazine

Hardback 13-digit ISBN: 978-1-949491-37-1

Paperback 13-digit ISBN: 978-1-949491-12-8

e-book 13-digit ISBN: 978-1-949491-17-3 

Date of publication: September 28, 2020

Publisher: Dark Moon Books 

https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/202166 



Saturday, August 8, 2020

Wonder and glory! I got books in!! LAST CASE AT A BAGGAGE AUCTION

Wonder and glory! I got books in!!
Prepping to send out for pre-orders and reviewers.

If you're a reviewer and interested in a copy, please let me know! Happy to send out comp. paperback or ebooks of this: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Case-at-Baggage-Auction/dp/1949491250



Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Reviewers or NetGalley subscribers: The new novella, A STICK OF DOUBLEMINT, is available for free this month for reviewers!!

Reviewers or NetGalley subscribers:

The new novella, A STICK OF DOUBLEMINT, is available for free this month for reviewers!!

A Stick of Doublemint (Book 4 in the series, The Crime Files of Katy Green)

By award-winning, best-selling, extraordinary author GENE O’NEILL! 

Synopsis

An innocent young woman is gunned down during a gang-related drive-by shooting. Then those involved start turning up dead, with a stick of Doublemint gum in hand. What does it mean, and who’s responsible? Private investigators Katy Green and Johnny Cato are brought in to help stop the vigilante killings!

Hardback 13-digit ISBN: 978-1-949491-23-4

Paperback 13-digit ISBN: 978-1-949491-18-0

e-book 13-digit ISBN: 978-1-949491-19-7

Published by: DARK MOON BOOKS

https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/199534

Monday, August 3, 2020

Release Day for novella, LAST CASE AT A BAGGAGE AUCTION

It’s live! Publication day today for my novella LAST CASE AT A BAGGAGE AUCTION!

Available in Paperback, e-book, and deluxe hardback with wraparound dust jacket.

Illustrations by Steve Lines!

Featuring Thrills, Mystery, Horror, Love, Friendship, Baggage Auctions, Creepy Hotels, and Rasputin . . . and more!

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1963 Detroit is a hotbed of gambling, and the weekly baggage auctions keep a busy trade. Charlie Stewart and Joey Third are skilled in the art of successful bidding, but when Joey lands a mysterious suitcase, the thrill of winning turns to terror once they realize they’ve opened something sinister.

Inside the suitcase is an antique gramophone, and the music it plays is unlike anything they’ve heard before. A chanting voice speaks to them in strange words, evoking visions of a dark, frozen land. It’s a voice that makes them sick with addiction, and it continues chanting in their heads even when the record stops playing.

Charlie sets out to solve the mystery of the unholy music and how to turn it off forever. But the urge to listen grows stronger, and the more it plays, the more the aural virus spreads, until people begin to vanish . . . feeding an apparition that seeks immortality.

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Title: Last Cast at a Baggage Auction

Author: Eric J. Guignard

Date of publication: August 3, 2020

Format: Available in HARDBACK (with wraparound dust jacket), TRADE PAPERBACK, and ELECTRONIC media (e-book)

Price: $24.95 for hardback; $9.95 for paperback; and $4.99 for e-book

Number of pages: 154 pgs at 5.5" x 8.5" trim (35,500 words)

Hardback 13-digit ISBN: 978-1-949491-25-8

Paperback 13-digit ISBN: 978-1-949491-24-1

e-book 13-digit ISBN: 978-1-949491-26-5

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Direct Book Links: 

Author’s Page: http://ericjguignard.com/last_case.html

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Case-at-Baggage-Auction/dp/1949491250

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54294819-last-cast-at-a-baggage-auction

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-case-at-a-baggage-auction-steve-lines/1137195566?ean=9781949491258

IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781949491111




Saturday, August 1, 2020

Opening subscriptions for the Eric J. Guignard & Dark Moon Books newsletter!


I had a TON of work to do today... instead I created a graphic for the header of my first newsletter! Hoping to have the first issue ready to send tomorrow. It'll have writerly things, brilliant insights, covers of books!

TO GAIN GREAT SATISFACTION, SUBSCRIBE FOR IT HERE: http://www.darkmoonbooks.com/subscribe.html




Friday, July 31, 2020

The artwork of STEVE LINES for my novella, LAST CASE AT A BAGGAGE AUCTION


Can I just take a moment to showcase (er, brag, or scream in delight!) the artwork of STEVE LINES? This is one of the twelve full-page pieces he created for my novella LAST CASE AT A BAGGAGE AUCTION (dropping this Monday, 8/3).

Counting this, plus the anthology I edited, A WORLD OF HORROR, plus an upcoming project, will be three books I’ve worked (am working) on with him, and his illustrations (if possible) just keep getting better and better!

LAST CASE AT A BAGGAGE AUCTION is available for Pre-order now in Paperback, e-book (oddly at a different link), and deluxe hardback with wraparound dust jacket!!

Check out the rest of his artwork (and my story ain’t bad either) here! https://www.amazon.com/Last-Case-at-Baggage-Auction/dp/1949491250



Thursday, July 30, 2020

COMING THIS MONDAY, AUGUST 3: A NOVELLA!


Unbelievably, I’ve lost track of my own release!!!

COMING THIS MONDAY, AUGUST 3: A NOVELLA!

“Last Case at a Baggage Auction”

Available for Pre-order now in Paperback, e-book, and deluxe hardback with wraparound dust jacket!!




Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Third volume of the Haunted Library of Horror Classics is coming out!


I somehow forgot to announce (“brag”) that this third volume I’ve put together with co-editor Leslie S. Klinger is coming out soon!

VATHEK, by William Beckford, volume III of the Haunted Library of Horror Classics, presented by The Horror Writers Association (HWA), Poisoned Pen Press, and SourceBooks!

As it just received a nice mention in Library Journal!


“ …series editors Les Klinger and Eric J. Guignard bring back even older titles from the vast vault of horror’s past. One of their 2020 novels, VATHEK by William Beckford (Aug.), is a gothic tale of greed and damnation, and includes an introduction by multiple Bram Stoker Award–winning author and screenwriter Joe R. Lansdale.”

And more info on the series here: http://ericjguignard.com/haunted_library.html


Professor Charlatan Bardot is in the big time!

THIS JUST HAPPENED! Professor Charlatan Bardot is in the big time! More here:

darkmoonbooks.com/charlatan_bard 

And follow here: https://twitter.com/CharlatanBardot

Coming in Summer, 2021 from Dark Moon Books: Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World (2021 edition)


Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Connect on Twitter with Professor Charlatan Bardot!

I have not made the official announcement yet of a future project begun with this lauded individual, but in the meantime, I’ve convinced him to setup some online presence, beginning with a Twitter account.

Please follow/ join him on Twitter today for updates involving the upcoming: PROFESSOR CHARLATAN BARDOT’S TRAVEL ANTHOLOGY TO THE MOST (FICTIONAL) HAUNTED BUILDINGS IN THE WEIRD, WILD WORLD!

Professor Charlatan Bardot, PhD, EdD, EJG: excursionist célèbre of the paranormal and internationally beloved author of the phenomenal.






Thursday, June 18, 2020

Release Day for A STICK OF DOUBLEMINT!


Release day from Dark Moon Books! A STICK OF DOUBLEMINT (Book 4 in the series, THE CRIME FILES OF KATY GREEN) by Gene O'Neill (June, 2020)

Synopsis: An innocent young woman is gunned down during a gang-related drive-by shooting. Then those involved start turning up dead, with a stick of Doublemint gum in hand. What does it mean, and who’s responsible? Private investigators Katy Green and Johnny Cato are brought in to help stop the vigilante killings!

With Series Afterword by Gord Rollo

and Exclusive Interview by B.E. Scully

and panel illustrations by: Greg Chapman

Get your copy today!!


Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Announcing the release of hardback editions of the first three books in The Crime Files of Katy Green series!


Announcing the release of hardback editions of the first three books in The Crime Files of Katy Green series by renowned and multiple-award winning author Gene O’Neill!!

These are gorgeous cloth-hardback editions with wraparound dust jackets, each a flattering companion to the already-released paperback and ebook versions.

ADDITIONALLY, this is a precursor for what is to come… a FOURTH volume in the series by O’Neill, A STICK OF DOUBLEMINT (coming, June, 2020 from Dark Moon Books)!!

Buy them here:

DOUBLE JACK (book 1)
ISBN-13: 978-1-949491-20-3


SHADOW OF THE DARK ANGEL (book 2)
ISBN-13: 978-1-949491-21-0


DEATHFLASH (book 3)
ISBN-13: 978-1-949491-22-7


Monday, March 30, 2020

Excellent audio review of my short story collection THAT WHICH GROWS WILD


Sharing an excellent (20 minute!) audio review of my short story collection THAT WHICH GROWS WILD. I don’t think I’ve ever had a live review of one of my books where the reviewer spent so much time analyzing the stories. Very appreciative of the time and work he put into discussing this!!

“… the book dripped originality and style… stories that are real and freshly frightening.”

Thanks so much to @WellReadBeard!




Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Offering review Desk Copies for Writing Instuctors

ATTN: CREATIVE WRITING INSTRUCTORS

If you are involved in a creative writing program, I’m offering complimentary desk copies of books that might be of interest.

I’m involved in two series of books that are being published and made for students in mind (along with libraries) that discuss horror or dark fantasy in broad, low-level terms, as accompaniment to fiction works, i.e. adding value to classrooms/ students of creative writing (high school or college).


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PRIMERS: EXPLORING DARK SHORT FICTION

The first is my PRIMER series, EXPLORING DARK SHORT FICTION. Each volume explores modern masters of literary dark short fiction through a selection of short stories, each with commentary by Michael Arnzen, PhD, and beautifully illustrated by artist Michelle Prebich, along with author essay, author interview, and more.

The scholarly portion is nothing too in-depth or ivory tower, but meant for the average reader to develop a deeper understanding of writing, both in terms of creativity and in meaning.

The volumes so far include:

#1: Steve Rasnic Tem (July, 2017)
#2: Kaaron Warren (May, 2018)
#3: Nisi Shawl (December, 2018)
#4: Jeffrey Ford (September, 2019)
#5: Han Song (Scheduled later for: 2020), which will be original translations of his Chinese work
#6: Ramsey Campbell (
Scheduled later for: 2020), England’s most prestigious horror author

These books are (or will be) available in Hardback, Paperback, and E-book.

And more about the series is listed on my website here: http://www.darkmoonbooks.com/primers.html


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HAUNTED LIBRARY OF HORROR CLASSICS

The second series is the Haunted Library of Horror Classics through SourceBooks. Leslie S. Klinger and myself co-edit this series, rereleasing classic horror literature books from over the past 250 years.

Each volume includes the original text, as well as classroom discussion questions, light text annotations, a suggested further reading list, and more.

This series has just started, but here are the first 12 volumes planned for 2020-2022:
  1. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux (January, 2020) with introduction by Nancy Holder
  2. The Beetle by Richard Marsh (April, 2020) with introduction by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
  3. Vathek by William Beckford (July, 2020) with introduction by Joe R. Lansdale
  4. The House on the Borderland by William Hope Hodgson (October, 2020) with introduction by Ramsey Campbell
  5. The Parasite and Other Tales of Terror by Arthur Conan Doyle (2021) with introduction by Daniel Stashower
  6. The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers (2021) with introduction by Nic Pizzolatto
  7. Of One Blood: or, The Hidden Self by Pauline Hopkins (2021) with introduction by Nisi Shawl
  8. Ghost Stories of an Antiquary by M.R. James (2021) with introduction by <TBA>
  9. The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole (2022) with introduction by <TBA>
  10. The Mummy! by Jane Webb (2022) with introduction by <TBA>
  11. Fantasmagoriana (2022) with introduction by <TBA>
  12. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (2022) with introduction by <TBA>

These books are (or will be) available in Paperback and E-book.

And more about the series is listed on my website here: http://ericjguignard.com/haunted_library.html


###

Additionally, I’ve published two other anthologies that are meant to broaden horror fiction in different ways. Both of these following books are available in Hardback, Paperback, and E-book.


The first is A WORLD OF HORROR, which promotes diversity in reading horror fiction from authors in different nations.

A WORLD OF HORROR
Released: September, 2018

A World of Horror is an anthology of all new dark and speculative fiction stories written by authors from around the world.

“This breath of fresh air for horror readers shows the limitless possibilities of the genre.”
Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A fresh collection of horror authors exploring monsters and myths from their homelands.”
Library Journal

Publisher’s Link: http://www.darkmoonbooks.com/world_of_horror.html




The second anthology book is THE FIVE SENSES OF HORROR, which is an interaction of horror fiction with the five human senses, along with psychological analysis of what this means, as well as how it ties into creative writing, and more!

THE FIVE SENSES OF HORROR
Released: July, 2018

The Five Senses of Horror is an anthology of horror and dark fantasy stories, along with psychological and literary commentary, that explores the relationship and inspiration between fiction and the five senses. (The fiction stories are reprints, but the non-fiction is all original to this anthology).

Publisher’s Page: http://www.darkmoonbooks.com/five_senses.html


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If you’d be interested in receiving desk copies of any of these books that have come out, or if you’d like to be slated to receive a copy of future releases, please email me at: eric.guignard@gmail.com




Monday, March 23, 2020

Book Reviews (March, 2020)

I haven’t posted Book Reviews in awhile, so here’s a bunch I wrote up for ones I’ve read within the past few months!

Each of the following books may be purchased through any large book store or online through www.amazon.com.


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REVIEWED: The Shining Girls
WRITTEN BY: Lauren Beukes
PUBLISHED: June, 2013

A clever and gritty, complex novel of a time-travelling serial killer. Well written all around by author Lauren Beukes. By its very nature, this is the type of book where one must suspend their disbelief, even if some of the more “mundane” happenings still made me wonder “what?” The book is also built around horrific violence against women, although often, the killer, Harper, is also brutalized. Amazing twists and turns throughout, and best to know in advance that this book is non-linear, jumping back and forth between time eras and character viewpoints. I oddly felt a little bored at times, mostly in the relationship building scenes of Kirby and Dan Velasquez, but then it would be nested between badass other scenes, in which I wanted to know more about the tragic evil growing inside Harper. More than that, WHAT WAS THE DEAL WITH THE HOUSE?? More back story or description on that, as the portal that draws in wayward men with sin in their heart and gives them their desires, wrapped in riddles.

Four-and-a-half out of Five stars

https://www.amazon.com/Shining-Girls-Novel-Lauren-Beukes/dp/0316216860

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-shining-girls-lauren-beukes/1113600114?ean=9780316216869#

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16131077-the-shining-girls


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REVIEWED: The Troop
WRITTEN BY: Nick Cutter
PUBLISHED: February, 2014

I had a tough time with this book… technically, it was well written. There are no complaints about the plot or flow; setting, character arc, etc. Loved the premise, but I just disliked the execution. The writing involved scenes of animal cruelty and torture, and also teen torture (self-mutilation) and death… It may be I’m getting more sensitive in my older years, especially have young children *and* being involved in Boy Scouts, but this book made me cringe too often (not in a good way). THE TROOP is like LORD OF THE FLIES, but much, much gorier and traumatic. Talented author though, to be sure!

Three out of Five stars

https://www.amazon.com/Troop-Novel-Nick-Cutter/dp/1501144820

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-troop-nick-cutter/1114818664

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17571466-the-troop


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REVIEWED: Sixteen Ways To Defend a Walled City
WRITTEN BY: K. J. Parker (AKA: Tom Holt)
PUBLISHED: April, 2019

Love, love, loved this book! Funny, inventive, unique; VERY smart, quirky, fun tale of intrigue and ingenuity during castle siege, written in a snarky and unreliable narrator’s voice. Like a literary GROO.

Added bonus: My 11-year-old son is a tireless reader, burning through multiple books at a time, although unless they are youth books, his higher-level reading titles are recommendations or from prodding by me or his teacher, etc. For the very first time, he saw an “adult” book I was reading, and said, “Dad, I want to read that when you’re done.”

That was this book, so additionally, family bonding over: SIXTEEN WAYS TO DEFEND A WALLED CITY by K. J. Parker (AKA: Tom Holt)

Five (plus more!) out of Five stars

https://www.amazon.com/Sixteen-Ways-Defend-Walled-City/dp/0316270792

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sixteen-ways-to-defend-a-walled-city-k-j-parker/1129617617?ean=9780316270793

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37946419-sixteen-ways-to-defend-a-walled-city


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REVIEWED: Best Ghost Stories of J. S. LeFanu
WRITTEN BY: J. S. LeFanu
PUBLISHED: 1964

Love these stories, to revisit Sheridan LeFanu. Beautifully written, ornate, imaginative, and horrific, all penned over a century ago, and still engrossing today.

Five out of Five stars

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Ghost-Stories-J-LeFanu/dp/0486204154

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/best-ghost-stories-of-j-s-lefanu-j-sheridan-lefanu/1018194078

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17211228-best-ghost-stories-of-j-s-lefanu


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REVIEWED: Ormeshadow
WRITTEN BY: Priya Sharma
PUBLISHED: October, 2019

Elegantly-written novella of a young boy’s coming-of-age in the farmland of Ormeshadow, in which a boy deals with cruel family issues while dreaming in the shadow of a folk legend of a dragon sleeping underground. The book is a ”slow burn,” cautiously exploring the introspections and experiences of Gideon Belman. It’s also rather despairing, as he undergoes morose tragedy after morose tragedy… but it’s also very thoughtful, Gothic in its lonely village-like atmosphere. It’s a very literary tale, with no speculative elements aside from the recalling of myth and the dreams, until the ending of the story—and the ending is magnificent. Wraps up nicely, the long, circuitous journey to get there.

Four out of Five stars

https://www.amazon.com/Ormeshadow-Priya-Sharma/dp/1250241448/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ormeshadow-priya-sharma/1131003017?ean=9781250241443

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44581536-ormeshadow


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REVIEWED: Burning Sky
WRITTEN BY: Weston Ochse
PUBLISHED: September, 2018

A reality-bending novel of military horror from a contemporary master of such genre. BURNING SKY is a mix of action, PTSD, and philosophy, as a group of soldiers try to understand and defeat the mystical god-like daeva (or their human priest counterparts!) while self-containing in an underground cavern. It’s a bizarre roller coaster, to be sure, but well worth the dizzying loops and dives it takes you through, from gun fights to astral projection!

Five out of Five stars

https://www.amazon.com/Burning-Sky-Weston-Ochse/dp/1781085293

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/burning-sky-weston-ochse/1127951404?ean=9781781085929

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38643809-burning-sky


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REVIEWED: To Be Devoured
WRITTEN BY: Sara Tantlinger
PUBLISHED: July, 2019

Dark, dark, so very dark is this novella, TO BE DEVOURED! Anything involving ingestion of terrible things always gives me the willies, which this tale does quite a bit. Poet-author Sara Tantlinger takes risks in pushing boundaries, and it pays off in emotional and frightful plot twists.

Four out of Five stars

https://www.amazon.com/Be-Devoured-Sara-Tantlinger/dp/1989206255/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-be-devoured-sara-tantlinger/1132670487?ean=9781989206256

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45463236-to-be-devoured


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REVIEWED: The Passage
WRITTEN BY: Justin Cronin
PUBLISHED: June, 2010

Epic Vampires vs. Humanity novel I have such mixed feelings on this book… On one hand, it is incredibly well-written, very complex and layered… on the other hand, it’s heavily weighed down by chapters-long descriptions and back story that gets tedious. Additionally, the author spends an immense amount of time building up these elements, only to close them out immediately and move along to something else, which I found frustrating. I’d give this book five stars alone for the author’s technical knowledge and strength in writing prose (which is magnificent)… but the decisions he made in the Arc are subjectively questionable. I also read this without knowing it was Book 1 in a trilogy… I must have gotten a first edition as there was no mention of this story to be continued, so by the ending (OVER 750 PAGES!!!), there was such a throw-up-the-arms cliff hanger, that I nearly threw the book across the room. Overall, just too weighty of a tome to invest my time further into reading Volumes II and III, although I would love for someone to tell me what happens!

Four out of Five stars

https://www.amazon.com/Passage-TV-Tie-Novel-Trilogy/dp/0525618740

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/passage-justin-cronin/1015070765?ean=9780345504975

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6690798-the-passage


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REVIEWED: The Forever War
WRITTEN BY: Joe Haldeman
PUBLISHED: 1974

Classic Military-Science Fiction novel—one of the genre definers. The novel spans galaxies and centuries as soldiers deal with the unprecedented relationship challenges of waking from hyper-sleep a generation in the future, just to fight a battle, and then returning to hyper-sleep to travel the cosmos in order to fight the next battle (also deals heavily with identity of gender and sexuality).

**Spoiler alert: Touching-sweet ending!

Five out of Five stars

https://www.amazon.com/Forever-War-Joe-Haldeman/dp/0312536631

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forever-war-joe-haldeman/1100649605?ean=9780312536633

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21611.The_Forever_War


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REVIEWED: Strange Weather
WRITTEN BY: Joe Hill
PUBLISHED: October, 2017

I didn’t quite like this collection of four novellas as much as I expected to… meaning, there’s nothing wrong with it, but just a sense of personal deflatement from anticipation. The stories were all fine, although none of them overly “thrilled” me.

"Snapshot" = Good premise, just seemed to go on way too long.
"Rain” = Good apocalyptic tale, that served more as a backdrop for a mystery. Hated the decisions the main character did throughout, as well as her dialogue/ inner voice.
"Aloft" = My favorite of the book, mostly because it was the most imaginative.
"Loaded” = non-speculative story about gun violence. A lot of back-and-forth twists, and had the best (most unexpected) ending in the collection.

Four out of Five stars

https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Weather-Four-Short-Novels/dp/0062663127

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/strange-weather-joe-hill/1125531430?ean=9780062663122

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34066621-strange-weather


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REVIEWED: Where Carrion Gods Dance
WRITTEN BY: Brad C. Hodson
PUBLISHED: October, 2019

I’ve enjoyed author Brad C. Hodson’s short fiction for years now, so reading this collection was a pleasant mix of revisiting favorite tales from the past, as well as discovering new gems. Some of my favorites were “Il Donnaiolo”, “Breathe”, “Thousandth Hell”, and “The Other Patrick” (which was very sweet, dark yet satisfying). Great collection overall.

Five out of Five stars

https://www.amazon.com/Where-Carrion-Gods-Dance-Hodson/dp/0578585006

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/where-carrion-gods-dance-brad-c-hodson/1134214133?ean=9780578585000

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48421735-where-carrion-gods-dance?