Dark Minds : Horror & Dark Fantasy Writers

Selina Dragavei wanders the northern wastes in fear of persecution from the Holy Roman Church. In Europe's Dark Age, witchfinders scour the lands and traveller folk such as she are put to flame and suffering. On the ruthless steppes, she evades them but something far sinister will lay claim to her soul.Returning to the world of men, a dark, transformed Selina has a thirst for blood and only the drift down through the centuries will quench it. But she won't make that journey alone, as she determines to bring others to her. As a troupe of entertainers, they attend pageants, festivals, and even royal galas, where a family bound to darkness feed on unsuspecting mortals. Such debauchery, however, does not go unnoticed. Famed witchfinder, Desider von Brandenburg, becomes obsessed with bringing this band of vampire-devils to a righteous cleansing, and so a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bard's Blade is the start of the new Sorcerer's Song fantasy adventure series from Brian D. Anderson, bestselling author of The Godling Chronicles and Dragonvein.Mariyah enjoys a simple life in Vylari, a land magically sealed off from the outside world, where fear and hatred are all but unknown. There she's a renowned wine maker and her betrothed, Lem, is a musician of rare talent. Their destiny has never been in question. Whatever life brings, they will face it together.Then a stranger crosses the wards into Vylari for the first time in centuries, bringing a dark prophecy that forces Lem and Mariyah down separate paths. How far will they have to go to stop a rising darkness and save their home? And how much of themselves will they have to give up along the way?At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She's the only dragonrider in the world of Ellos. The empire wants her dead. But her dragon's snarky sense of humor might kill her first.Carmen is an assassin.She’d love to say she just graduated with honours, but that’s not how it worked out. First, the empire declared war on assassins. Next, there was a horrible betrayal at assassin school.Then a snarky, dangerous dragon came into her life: Brax.He loves books, goats and fighting against mortals and dragons alike. He’s also an outcast prince with his own dark secrets. And there's no way he'll submit to having a rider.A deal is struck that changes their lives forever.An assassin riding a dragon should be safe, but the emperor is hot on their heels. As the free realms fall, Carmen and Brax are on the run, desperately searching for a way to stop this war. And to get revenge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Either let it burn, or drown it in the waves.Taariq has continued his descent into madness, and his supporters are more devoted than ever, at least for a time. As he pursues his ultimate goal of reclaiming his dragon form and tearing Aelon and Michael from their throne, Elior, Nereza, Opal, and Nyx aim to follow Michael's call, but it isn't easy.Building a boat in the peaks of Nanony seems foolish to most, and plagues divide the faithful from the merely present until dragon-fire rains down and flood waters rise. Will Taariq finally be defeated, or will his mad rush for power prove successful against the forces of light?This final installment of The Eternal Chronicles brings together old friends and lovers for one final battle that will decide the fate of Lux and Nox Terra forevermore. This fast-paced tale will keep you hooked from cover to cover with a whiplash race to the end of our heroes' journey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Hello, people of Mercury. This is planet Earth. Are you receiving this? Please respond.”Lieutenant Adelheid Koning was only twenty-three when the Earth’s long fight against its environment ended in collapse and nuclear war. Earth’s sudden silence leaves the colonies of the inner solar system without lifelines, in various stages of self-sufficiency.Or, in Mercury’s case, not.To help her fellow stranded colonists of Mercury survive starvation and a breakdown of order, Adelheid fights some cold equations and makes some hard choices, ending up wearing an iron crown as queen of one of the rail cities of Mercury, constantly moving to stay ahead of the Sun.Fifty years later, Adelheid’s granddaughter, Frieda, is a seventeen-year-old princess who would rather be an engineer. Frieda’s life is shattered when a suspicious accident takes one of her arms—and is then turned upside-down when her mother dies from that accident. Frieda is left a young and vulnerable queen, locking horns with her grandmother, who is now regent and dowager.When the Earth makes contact again, after fifty years of silence, Frieda is eager to end Mercury’s isolation, but Adelheid is suspicious of the Earth’s sudden return, and wary of the other latitude towns’ desires to accept all that the Earth is offering, without question.With thousands of lives on the line, is it wise to hope for healing? Or are we forever defined by what we do in the dark? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On their rainy drive home from a haunted house tour in a small Pennsylvania town, sisters Megan and Dianne Willis come across a drenched, confused old woman walking alone in the middle of the road. Concerned about her well-being, the sisters attempt to take the mysterious lady to the nearest hospital to get checked out. However, their plan is quickly flipped upside down as the woman’s suddenly violent behavior causes Megan to lose control of the car.After surviving the crash and waking up in the middle of the woods with the woman nowhere in sight, Megan and Dianne traverse the dark, hoping to find help. But help won’t come easy as the sisters soon discover they’re isolated on the property of Shaded Grove Mental Hospital, where abandoned spirits roam, and all is not what it seems. It’s up to Megan and Dianne to work with the ghosts of the past and the ever-changing environment before Shaded Grove traps them inside forever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Step into the shadowed streets of 1928 Arkham, where Miskatonic University holds secrets darker than the night.In this supernatural thriller reminiscent of Raymond Chandler and H.P. Lovecraft, Private Detective Travis Daniels is thrust into a harrowing investigation when a young woman disappears without a trace. As Daniels delves deeper into the labyrinthine mysteries of the storied New England city, he uncovers a web of sinister cults, ancient rituals, and eldritch horrors that threaten not only his own sanity but the fabric of reality itself.Set against a city steeped in occult lore and clandestine experiments, Missing in Miskatonic blends elements of hard-boiled detective fiction with chilling supernatural encounters. Daniels navigates treacherous alliances and confronts malevolent entities lurking in the shadows, all while racing against time to unravel the truth behind the girl's disappearance.With a narrative that grips from the first page, this novella combines suspense, mystery, and cosmic terror in a gripping tale where every clue leads deeper into the abyss. From the enigmatic corridors of Miskatonic to the eerie gatherings of the Silver Twilight Lodge, Daniels must confront his own demons as he battles forces beyond human comprehension.Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I have published before, usually on the darker side of town. Seeing as I'm Canadian, I will always wish you well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“One of the hottest horror authors on the planet” (Paste) and writer of the #HorrorBookTok sensation The Troop returns with a heart-pounding novel of terror about a young woman searching for her missing friend and uncovering a shocking truth.On a sunny morning in June, Margaret Carpenter wakes up to find a new iPhone on her doorstep. She switches it on to find a text from her best friend, Charity Atwater. The problem is, Charity’s been missing for over a month. Most people in town—even the police—think she’s dead.Margaret and Charity have been lifelong friends. They share everything, know the most intimate details about one another…except for the destructive secret hidden from them both. A secret that will trigger a chain of events ending in tragedy, bloodshed, and death. And now Charity wants Margaret to know her story—the real story. In a narrative that takes place over one feverish day, Margaret follows a series of increasingly disquieting breadcrumbs as she forges deeper into the mystery of her best friend—a person she never truly knew at all… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris McAuley writes prose novels, magazine short stories, video and tabletop games, and audio dramas. Together with Bram Stoker’s Great-Grand nephew Dacre Stoker, he has created the StokerVerse franchise. He has penned the sequel to Dracula, which will be released by Scar Comics later this year. He also collaborated with Babylon 5 actress Claudia Christian to create a science fiction universe currently being fleshed out and coming along nicely as a series of games, novels, and comic books. In addition to this, Chris has worked on Doctor Who, Star Wars, and, most recently, the Terminator franchise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the "Best Young Adult Dystopian Novels" list on Goodreads!Scona must choose. Protect her father, or embrace the darkness she's been trained to destroy...Despite warnings from family and friends, Scona Tinay enrolls in Silencers Academy.To escape a life of poverty and hardship and ensure a stable future, Scona sets her sights on the Silencers, where the students earn a wage. She soon learns her fellow students are cutthroat and the training regimen brutal.As Scona heads deeper into her training, she begins to question the role of Silencers, as well as the "madness" she is being taught to destroy. But each question she asks brings her under suspicion, and she soon discovers the only person she can trust is herself.Unable to change the culture of her world, where mental ailments are deemed dangerous, she must embrace all manner of skill and courage to protect her own father...Someone she has been training to kill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After centuries of suppression, the magic of England isReawakeningReturn to the world of The Seer of York with this collection of new tales set in the aftermath of The Hiding.Harper, Grace, Saqib, Heresy, and AJ bond as a team and as a family to save innocents, supernatural and human, despite hunters pursuing them.Introducing Zero, a starlight cat with a bleak and painful past.Demonic-possessionFaery circlesPūcas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A group of students encounter a supernatural terror while on a road trip through Appalachia in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the “unforgettable and scary” (Harlan Coben) Chasing the Boogeyman.1983: Three students from a small college embark on a week-long road trip to film a documentary on roadside memorials for their American Studies class. The project starts out as a fun adventure with long stretches of empty road and nightly campfires where they begin to open up with one another.But as they venture deeper into the Appalachian backwoods, the atmosphere begins to darken. They notice more and more of the memorials feature a strange, unsettling symbol hinting at a sinister secret. Paranoia sets in when it appears they are being followed. Their vehicle is tampered with overnight and some of the locals appear to be anything but welcoming. Before long, the students can’t help but wonder if these roadside deaths were really random accidents…or is something terrifying at work here? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For 150 years, the diseased, the deranged, and the dying came to Lychhurst Hospital for comfort and healing. What they found there was something far more sinister.In 1844, Lychhurst was built, stone by cursed stone, deep in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia.Originally intended as an exclusive resort for the wealthy, Lychhurst would suffer through multiple incarnations—military hospital, tuberculosis sanatorium, psychiatric facility, and more—before finally being abandoned to steep in its own sickness, but through all the hospital’s changes, one thing remained the same…Lychhurst holds onto its ghosts.The halls still echo with the footsteps of doctors long dead. The rooms resound with the cries of patients long silenced. The tunnels still thrum with the castoff energy of lives long abandoned.Visiting hours have started. The doors are open, and you are expected.Come tour the most haunted hospital in the world. Come visit our Hospital of Haunts. 23 Wards. 23 Ghosts. 23 Stories.At Lychhurst Hospital, we’ve got the cure for what ails you.Featuring stories from:Christy Aldridge, Simon Bleaken, Bridget D. Brave, Brooklyn Ann Butler, Lexx Christian, Rebecca Cuthbert, Blaine Daigle, Heather Daughrity, Jason Daughrity, Joe DeRouen, John Durgin, Stephanie Ellis, Joshua Loyd Fox, Jennifer Anne Gordon, Gage Greenwood, Caleb Jones, Marie Lanza, Stephen Mark Rainey, Jeani Rector, Susan H. Roddey, Cat Scully, Westley Smith, and Mer WhineryForeword by Clay McLeod ChapmanEdited by Heather Daughrity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For 150 years, the diseased, the deranged, and the dying came to Lychhurst Hospital for comfort and healing. What they found there was something far more sinister.In 1844, Lychhurst was built, stone by cursed stone, deep in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia.Originally intended as an exclusive resort for the wealthy, Lychhurst would suffer through multiple incarnations—military hospital, tuberculosis sanatorium, psychiatric facility, and more—before finally being abandoned to steep in its own sickness, but through all the hospital’s changes, one thing remained the same…Lychhurst holds onto its ghosts.The halls still echo with the footsteps of doctors long dead. The rooms resound with the cries of patients long silenced. The tunnels still thrum with the castoff energy of lives long abandoned.Visiting hours have started. The doors are open, and you are expected.Come tour the most haunted hospital in the world. Come visit our Hospital of Haunts. 23 Wards. 23 Ghosts. 23 Stories.At Lychhurst Hospital, we’ve got the cure for what ails you.Featuring stories from:Christy Aldridge, Simon Bleaken, Bridget D. Brave, Brooklyn Ann Butler, Lexx Christian, Rebecca Cuthbert, Blaine Daigle, Heather Daughrity, Jason Daughrity, Joe DeRouen, John Durgin, Stephanie Ellis, Joshua Loyd Fox, Jennifer Anne Gordon, Gage Greenwood, Caleb Jones, Marie Lanza, Stephen Mark Rainey, Jeani Rector, Susan H. Roddey, Cat Scully, Westley Smith, and Mer WhineryForeword by Clay McLeod ChapmanEdited by Heather Daughrity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For 150 years, the diseased, the deranged, and the dying came to Lychhurst Hospital for comfort and healing. What they found there was something far more sinister.In 1844, Lychhurst was built, stone by cursed stone, deep in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia.Originally intended as an exclusive resort for the wealthy, Lychhurst would suffer through multiple incarnations—military hospital, tuberculosis sanatorium, psychiatric facility, and more—before finally being abandoned to steep in its own sickness, but through all the hospital’s changes, one thing remained the same…Lychhurst holds onto its ghosts.The halls still echo with the footsteps of doctors long dead. The rooms resound with the cries of patients long silenced. The tunnels still thrum with the castoff energy of lives long abandoned.Visiting hours have started. The doors are open, and you are expected.Come tour the most haunted hospital in the world. Come visit our Hospital of Haunts. 23 Wards. 23 Ghosts. 23 Stories.At Lychhurst Hospital, we’ve got the cure for what ails you.Featuring stories from:Christy Aldridge, Simon Bleaken, Bridget D. Brave, Brooklyn Ann Butler, Lexx Christian, Rebecca Cuthbert, Blaine Daigle, Heather Daughrity, Jason Daughrity, Joe DeRouen, John Durgin, Stephanie Ellis, Joshua Loyd Fox, Jennifer Anne Gordon, Gage Greenwood, Caleb Jones, Marie Lanza, Stephen Mark Rainey, Jeani Rector, Susan H. Roddey, Cat Scully, Westley Smith, and Mer WhineryForeword by Clay McLeod ChapmanEdited by Heather Daughrity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For 150 years, the diseased, the deranged, and the dying came to Lychhurst Hospital for comfort and healing. What they found there was something far more sinister.In 1844, Lychhurst was built, stone by cursed stone, deep in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia.Originally intended as an exclusive resort for the wealthy, Lychhurst would suffer through multiple incarnations—military hospital, tuberculosis sanatorium, psychiatric facility, and more—before finally being abandoned to steep in its own sickness, but through all the hospital’s changes, one thing remained the same…Lychhurst holds onto its ghosts.The halls still echo with the footsteps of doctors long dead. The rooms resound with the cries of patients long silenced. The tunnels still thrum with the castoff energy of lives long abandoned.Visiting hours have started. The doors are open, and you are expected.Come tour the most haunted hospital in the world. Come visit our Hospital of Haunts. 23 Wards. 23 Ghosts. 23 Stories.At Lychhurst Hospital, we’ve got the cure for what ails you.Featuring stories from:Christy Aldridge, Simon Bleaken, Bridget D. Brave, Brooklyn Ann Butler, Lexx Christian, Rebecca Cuthbert, Blaine Daigle, Heather Daughrity, Jason Daughrity, Joe DeRouen, John Durgin, Stephanie Ellis, Joshua Loyd Fox, Jennifer Anne Gordon, Gage Greenwood, Caleb Jones, Marie Lanza, Stephen Mark Rainey, Jeani Rector, Susan H. Roddey, Cat Scully, Westley Smith, and Mer WhineryForeword by Clay McLeod ChapmanEdited by Heather Daughrity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Award-winning author Dawn Kurtagich masterfully weaves a captivating tale of suspense and horror, in which Dr. Mina Murray returns to the windswept shores of Wales to help her childhood friend fight the mysterious illness that plagues her. When the lines between reality and delusion begin to blur, Mina must face off against a monstrous legacy—or be consumed herself.Beware what waits in the shadows…With one unexpected email from her estranged best friend, Lucy, Mina Murray’s carefully curated life is turned upside down. Leaving behind her psychiatric practice in London, she returns home to the windswept shores of Wales. Faced with everything she’s left behind, she soon discovers that Lucy’s symptoms mirror those of her mysterious amnesiac patient hundreds of miles away.With nothing but an untreatable sickness connecting the two women, and with Lucy’s life on the line, Mina finds herself asking questions and being drawn ever-deeper into a web of secrets, missing girls, and the powerful, nameless force at its center—one that has been haunting her for years.As terrible, ancient truths begin to reveal themselves, Mina prepares to confront her own darkest secrets, and with them, an evil beyond comprehension. Together with a group of smart, savvy women, Mina seizes one last, desperate chance to stop the cycle that began so long ago. But there are dangers to inviting the attentions of what might not be a man, but a monster… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The year is 1979. A small New York town prepares to welcome the fall season in all the expected ways: young children bicker and boast over Halloween costumes, secret lovers meet in clandestine corners, and a tortured soul plots wicked deeds. All the while, hidden just out of view, patient and hungry… an ancient evil lurks.Welcome to Garrett Grove, an unassuming community nestled within the foothills of the Watchung Mountains. The very definition of “Everytown, USA”, it is a largely self-contained municipality, most of the residents on a first-name basis. An almost postcard-perfect location.For ten-year-old Troy Fischer, eagerly awaiting the thrills of Halloween, autumn is his favorite time of year. This spooky season looks to be the best one yet - he has caught the eye of the new girl at school, and the haunted attraction he built in his garage, called Scream in the Dark, is guaranteed to have all of his classmates talking.But something is happening to the children of Garrett Grove. A mysterious outbreak threatens the community, leaving a handful of doctors and the town’s sheriff desperate to find the source of the contagion before it is too late. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monster slayer Sandra Barlowe ventures to Madrugar, Mexico to investigate the brutal death of a local rancher. While the signs initially point to a vampire, the deeper she dives into her investigation, the more the murder appears to be the handiwork of something else…something much more terrifying.Symbols of a legendary creature start appearing everywhere as graffiti, and as sightings and bodies pile up, Sandra suspects the horrifying cryptid is at the center of it all. In the middle of a labor war and political upheaval, Sandra must hunt the legendary cryptid while navigating a treacherous maze of dangerous creatures and unscrupulous characters.The question looms - is Sandra the hunter, or is the cryptid the predator, stalking its prey? The pulse-pounding hunt is on! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The next high concept horror novel from New York Times bestselling author Christopher Golden.Across Italy there are many half-empty towns, nearly abandoned by those who migrate to the coast or to cities. The beautiful, crumbling hilltop town of Becchina is among them, but its mayor has taken drastic measures to rebuild—selling abandoned homes to anyone in the world for a single Euro, as long as the buyer promises to live there for at least five years.It’s a no-brainer for American couple Tommy and Kate Puglisi. Both work remotely, and Becchina is the home of Tommy’s grandparents, his closest living relatives. It feels like a romantic adventure, an opportunity the young couple would be crazy not to seize. But from the moment they move in, they both feel a shadow has fallen on them. Tommy’s grandmother is furious, even a little frightened, when she realizes which house they’ve bought.There are rooms in an annex at the back of the house that they didn’t know were there. The place makes strange noises at night, locked doors are suddenly open, and when they go to a family gathering, they’re certain people are whispering about them, and about their house, which one neighbor refers to as The House of Last Resort. Soon, they learn that the home was owned for generations by the Church, but the real secret, and the true dread, is unlocked when they finally learn what the priests were doing in this house for all those long years…and how many people died in the strange chapel inside. While down in the catacombs beneath Becchina…something stirs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the sun sets over New Orleans, two brothers, John and Wayne Carter, find themselves standing in a French Quarter alleyway, their clothes stained with blood, and their minds foggy. They have no memory of how they got there or what they have done. All they can recall is a new friend, Jacques St. Germain offered them a deal - work for him, and he will give them a home, purpose, and power.While the brothers sink deeper into compelled crimes, they are plagued by nightmares and memories they can't explain. Through a romantic interest of John, the Carters seek the help of her aunt, a voodoo queen, who recognizes their plight and a danger to her own family. With guidance, they unlock memories of their past and learn about the dark deeds they were forced to participate in.The brothers race against time to break Jacques' hold before they are turned and forced to serve him for eternity. But the old vampire is not so easily defeated, and the brothers find themselves in a final showdown with Jacques.Enter the origin story legend and the hidden world of the Big Easy where paths intertwine with serial killers, witchcraft, and a bloodline of the dead that existed well before Prohibition in the Crescent City.Laissez les bons temps rouler. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No Good Deed Goes UnpunishedIn the scorching summer of 1988, amidst the frenzy of the Satanic Panic gripping the nation, private detective O’Keefe finds himself thrust into a trial like no other. As he strives to establish his fledgling agency, the last thing he anticipates is being drawn into a harrowing legal battle. But when Virginia Montrose, “Miss Ginny” to her students and his daughter Kelly’s most beloved teacher, is accused of heinous crimes against her current and former students, O’Keefe faces a moral quandary unlike any before.Despite the risks and the overwhelming stigma, O’Keefe’s encounter with the shadowy child protection figures driving the prosecution sparks a fierce determination to seek truth and justice.In this gripping tale of courage and conviction, O’Keefe's resolve is put to the ultimate test as he confronts the darkest facets of human nature and dares to challenge the prevailing hysteria. O’Keefe must summon every ounce of his strength to uncover the shocking truth while struggling to reverse the relentless tide of injustice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Sino-Nippon war is over. It is 2113 and Japan is crushed under the might of Chinese-Allied Forces. A former Coalition Corps soldier, US Marine Balaam Hendrix is now a feared bounty hunter known as ‘The Reverend’. In the sprawl of NeuTokyo, on this lawless frontier, he must track down the rogue employee of a notorious crime lord. But, there’s a twist. His target has found protection inside a virtual reality construct and Hendrix must go cyber-side to corner his quarry. The glowing neon signs for SIN:THETICA are everywhere, and promise escape from a dystopian reality. But will it prove the means by which this hunter snares his prey, or will it be the trap he simply can’t survive? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2059 two very different groups have their minds uploaded into a quantum computer in Waterloo, Ontario.One group consists of astronauts preparing for Earth’s first interstellar voyage. The other? Convicted murderers, serving their sentences in a virtual-reality prison.But when disaster strikes, the astronauts and the prisoners must download back into physical reality and find a way to work together to save Earth from destruction.The Downloaded debuted in a six-month exclusive window as an Audible Original narrated by Academy Award-winner Brendan Fraser promoted by national TV and radio ad campaigns. This print edition is coming out immediately after Audible’s exclusivity ends and is being supported by a six-city cross-Canada author book tour. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bram Stoker, his life, his research and writing of Dracula to promote a documentary film called Father of Dracula, being made by an Irish film maker, Jason Figgis, and written by John West.  I have contributed years of research and do the narration on the film. Dracula is the most famous horror character in literature. Over a hundred years after the publication of Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, (1897) the character still has the power to fascinate and horrify us. The image of the undead vampire as a symbol of evil is now firmly embedded in our collective consciousness, thanks to Stoker. Paradoxically, Dracula has also be-come a symbol of forbidden lust thanks to the later portrayals of the character by Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, Frank Langella and Gary Oldman etc. etc. But what of Bram Stoker, the man behind the creation? Sadly, he left no autobiography and precious little first-hand source material for us to better understand his life and inspirations for his writing of Dracula. For most, he is a shadowy or un-known figure, a man long since eclipsed by the character that he created. However, by examining his private journals, notes, and the memories of those who knew him, we can piece together an account of his life and learn much about the man who became the father of Dracula. With this documentary, we aim to reveal the man and how he came to create the Prince of Darkness, Count Dracula. Written by author and historian John West and directed by Jason Figgis, an award-winning IFTA-nominated film and TV director, this unique documentary, narrated by Dacre Stoker, the great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker, looks at the life of his illustrious ancestor. It will cover his early life, his mysterious childhood illness, his days as a student in Dublin, his successful career as Sir Henry Irving’s manager at the Lyceum Theater and, of course, how he came to write Dracula. We will  look into how Bram Stoker gathered his research in different libraries and archives and how he utilized the vampire myth that already existed across Europe and North America to bring to life literature’s greatest horror icon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No one ever knows what lurks beyond the light until it's too late. And for the unsuspecting victims, their worst nightmares come to life when they venture too far into the darkness. For where light is void, so are all forms of evil and unmentionable horrors. In 'Shadows by Gaslight,' you'll journey through cobblestone streets and opulent parlors to uncover captivating tales that define an era of Victoria lore. From the notorious criminals who haunted the night while authorities rallied at a frenetic pace to unravel mysterious unexplained deaths and missing persons. Here, you'll follow tales of the relentless pursuit of justice by reformers like Dickens and Florence Nightingale. This riveting exploration delves deep into the complexities of Victorian society, where enigmatic figures like Jack the Ripper and other social reformers cast long shadows over an age marked by political turmoil, social unrest, and the paradoxes of progress. While illuminating the legacy of humanity, resilience, and reform, this book invites readers to step into the shadows and discover the enduring mysteries of Victorian true crime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arcane archivist Harper has always been plagued by dreams of grotesque creatures and bloody deaths. When she bumps into a ghostwalker in the Shambles and has a visceral experience of his execution, she knows it’s a foretelling. Yet fear of the Queen’s Guard stops her speaking out. When her vision indeed comes true, the unusual markings on the ghostwalker’s corpse, combined with his neatly excised vocal cords, send a ripple of terror through York.The witch hunt is on. As the body count rises, Harper knows her magic is the only way to find the killer – if she can avoid being hanged as a witch. To protect both human and supernatural, Harper walks the thin line between their worlds. She and her demonhunter foster-sister form a multi-faith team with a forensic scientist, a spirit Harper accidentally summoned, and a techno-witch, to catch the killer before more people die. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tree planters on the run from parasitic insects. A physicist who has become the target of a murderous airline. Teenagers trapped in a museum with an eldritch horror. An escaped pit fighter thrust into a desperate stand at a sagging mountain fortress. And a luckless cowboy sailing across a sea of grass to the bloody resurrection of an elder god. Welcome to Joel McKay's It Came from the Trees and Other Violent Aberrations, a collection of five page-turners as strange, disparate and bloody as their titles suggest.So, grab a stiff drink, turn the lights down low, settle into your favorite reading nook and enjoy this brief but memorable collection of tales from one of the newest voices in Canadian pulp fiction. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brigids Gate Press, an indie press established in 2021 by Heather, Clyde, and S.D. Ventura-Vassallo, believes in the power of STORY. We seek to be a forge where new and established talents are refined and developed, and their stories shaped and tempered into beautiful, dark, mysterious, and thrilling tales that will delight readers. Above all, we seek to do our utmost to help and encourage writers on their journeys.Underrepresented authors are welcome. Unagented and agented authors are welcome. Currently, our focus is on horror, dark fantasy, poetry, and romance. We aren't afraid of mash-ups of more than one genre and will go the extra mile to market those books in a way that gets into the right readers' hands. As of now, we use print on demand services via Amazon and IngramSpark. This allows us to keep upfront print costs low while allotting more of the budget to anthologies, art, and marketing. Using print on demand also allows us to take risks on manuscripts that may be harder to place with other publishers. Our goal is to get your story out into the world. Afterall, someone, somewhere, is eagerly awaiting it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Classic horror monsters never die. Like Count Dracula, the Great Old Ones, Scrooge's Christmas ghosts, and the stories of Edgar Allan Poe they continue to haunt readers. Now these legendary characters are going to meet for the first time. And for some, it will be the last time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Classic horror monsters never die. Like Count Dracula, the Great Old Ones, Scrooge's Christmas ghosts, and the stories of Edgar Allan Poe they continue to haunt readers. Now these legendary characters are going to meet for the first time. And for some, it will be the last time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Somewhere in the back of Pastor Tuckers unhinged mind, where murderous thoughts swarmed with contempt for every soul around him, a dark nursery rhyme began to whisper its unpleasantries.And as the blood lust began to boil and overtake the God-fearing Pastor; from somewhere deep down within the holy man’s suppressed memories a familiar tune began to unconsciously join the broken symphony forming in his fractured mind.Its melodious melody and suggestive lyrics began to weave their influential suggestions amongst the crazy man’s homicidal thoughts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1823, Josiah Hale built his family a grand home in the sultry heat and blinding glare of the Deep South.It wasn’t long before the shadows crept in. Now, two hundred years later, this grand home stands forlorn, abandoned, blank windows reflecting only darkness.Some houses carry lasting impressions of those who have lived and died there.Some places still bear the scars of past tragedies.Some buildings are heavy with the spirits of the dead.Hale House outweighs them all.But wait.The front gate is creaking slowly open, welcoming, beckoning, luring you in…You have been invited.Come tour the most haunted location in the world.Come visit our House of Haunts.23 rooms. 23 ghosts. 23 stories.Will you survive them all?Featuring Stories FromChristy Aldridge * Brooklyn Ann * Simon Bleaken *Jay BowerClay McLeod Chapman * Heather Daughrity * Joe DeRouenWilliam J. Donahue * J-F. Dubeau * Joshua Loyd Fox * Jennifer Anne GordonGage Greenwood * Justin Holley * Jo Kaplan * Ronald KellyMarie Lanza * Caitlin Marceau * D.E. McCluskey * Jeremy MegargeeJoe Scipione * Samantha Underhill * Mer Whinery * Mercedes M. YardleyForeword by Josh MalermanEdited by Heather Daughrity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The terrifying sequel to the acclaimed New York Times and USA TODAYbestselling novel Chasing the Boogeyman, which was hailed as “genuinely chilling and something brand-new and exciting” (Stephen King) and “unforgettable” (Harlan Coben).A riveting, haunting sequel to the New York Times bestselling thriller Chasing the Boogeyman—a tale of obsession and the adulation of evil, exploring modern society’s true-crime obsession with unflinching honesty, sparing no one from the glare of the spotlight. Will those involved walk away from the story of a lifetime in order to keep their loved ones safe? Or will they once again be drawn into a killer’s web? As the story draws to its shattering conclusion, only one person holds all the answers—and he just may be the most terrifying monster of them all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Something Ancient has awakened on Grove Island.Something has slept for millennia. Patient, wise, and hungry. Something that hunted the forest primeval and howled under black skies. Something that knows the human animal better than any human.Kenny McCord had the American Dream - more than he could have ever imagined growing up in Elton Township. But all of that is over, and he is headed home a broken man. However, Kenny is not the only prodigal son of Elton Township. His childhood best friend has returned as well. A dangerously charismatic man will make Kenny and Elton Township pay for the sins of the past. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bram Stoker: Author of Dracula is an affectionate and revealing biography of the man who created the vampire novel that would define the genre and lead to a new age in Gothic horror literature.Based on decades of painstaking research in libraries, museums, and university archives and privileged access to private collections on both sides of the Atlantic, the private letters of Bram and the reminiscences of those who knew him not only shed new light on Stoker's ancestry, his life, loves and friendships they also reveal more about the places and people who inspired him and how he researched and wrote his books. Bram wrote numerous articles, short stories and poetry for newspapers and magazines, he had a total of eleven novels and two collections of short stories published in his lifetime, but he would only become known for one of them – Dracula. Tragically, he did not live long enough to see it as a huge success.In his heyday as Acting Manager for Sir Henry Irving at the Lyceum Theatre in the West End of London, Bram was a well-known figure in a golden age of British theater. He was a big-framed, ebullient, genial, gentleman, with red hair and beard, who never lost his soft Irish brogue, was blessed with wit, and a host of entertaining stories fit for every occasion. Described as having the paw of Hercules and the smile of Machiavelli, above all he knew what it meant to be a loyal friend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.20 - Oct 2/2023 Alan R Warren & David North Martino Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Japanese Box is a story that blends memoir, creative nonfiction, and the horror of a coming-of-agestory, and a coming of middle-aged story.Imagine growing up with a reflection that is often absent, and a Japanese box that is filled with things thatshould never have been there.Memories.Violence.The Japanese Box is a love letter to anxiety, trauma, grief, and longing. It is a story of a child becomingan adult, and all the ghosts and misfortunes that happen in order to survive.The Lithium Moon: Simone is an artist by day, and an emotionally abused wife at night. She is asuccessful artist with a long history of schizoid effective disorder with bipolar tendencies.When her marriage goes from good to bad, she suffers her first miscarriage. The tragedy coincides with awolf moon—Trauma and magic converge seem to converge in Simone’s head.This story explores sadness, illness, hallucinations, full moons, and the creative process.What Stage of Grief is not a poem, or a song, but a dirge.Fantasy and facts, this poem walks a fine line between nightmares and memories. Grief stories and lovestories. Dogs, and drama. Nightmares, and nevermore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Knot Within A Knot by Jason Parent: A man survives a plane crash only to find himself in darker circumstances, with a winter storm on the horizon and an orphaned child in tow. An elderly woman faces off against a god of night and his steed from the confines of her airplane seat, while another hides from night and storm in the hope of a new dawn. Unbeknownst to them, their fates are linked and dependent upon the next two tales. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The third terrifying volume in the award-winning anthology series of original queer horror.Like the final girl in a slasher film, the LGBTQIA community knows first-hand what it’s like to fight for its survival. Beaten and bloodied after an extended chase scene through modern-day politics and the courts, we think we’ve triumphed and conquered our oppressors. We breathe a little easier knowing our rainbow is ascending in the distance. But—like the indestructible slasher villain—our enemies rise up again and again, as if on a looping third-act jump scare. It’s a seemingly never-ending return to battle as the pendulum of progress swings back.In this third volume of the award-winning anthology series, the darkest minds from both the LGBT+ and horror literary communities join forces to bring readers an all-new collection of terrifying tales from that line on the horizon where the dark rainbow rises.Stories by Chad Helder, Hailey Piper, Mathew L. Reyes, A.P. Thayer, J. Daniel Stone, Yah Yah Scholfield, Oliver Nash, Holly Lyn Walrath, Paul Tremblay, Carmilla Voiez, James Cato, Lucy A. Snyder, Maxwell I. Gold, Zachary Rosenberg, Matthew Blain-Hartung, Maryse Meijer, Vincent Kovar, CG Inglis, Craig Laurance Gidney, Dan Coxon, Kaitlin Tremblay, Michael Thomas Ford, Craig Brownlie, Amanda M. Blake, Sara Tantlinger, and Eric LaRocca. Edited by Vince A. Liaguno.Praise for Unspeakable Horror: From the Shadows of the Closet: “There is much to praise in Unspeakable Horror: From the Shadows of the Closet, a sharp, new gay-themed anthology. The 24 entries comprise a sophisticated collection of topnotch tales of terror, most of which could appear in any fright anthology without qualification and suggest the maturing of ‘gay horror’ into a viable and solid genre indeed.”—Fangoria MagazinePraise for Unspeakable Horror 2: Abominations of Desire: “If Unspeakable Horror: From the Shadowsof the Closet helped to establish speculative fiction as a mature and important genre for queer fiction when it was published about a decade ago, then Unspeakable Horror 2: Abominations of Desire takes it to new heights and creates an expectation of excellence. Tightly written and edited, free of tropes and mundane writing, these stories propel the queer horror genre to scare us while making a statement about our world and accomplish it with the best of writing possible.”—Lambda Literary ReviewProudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three unique voices in today's horror bring you new takes on an old power that threatens to reshape our world. Celtic legends are reborn within these pages, with fresh stories guaranteed to spark nightmares in the vein of Grimm's pre-Disneyfied fairy tales.A Knot Within A Knot by Jason Parent: A man survives a plane crash only to find himself in darker circumstances, with a winter storm on the horizon and an orphaned child in tow. An elderly woman faces off against a god of night and his steed from the confines of her airplane seat, while another hides from night and storm in the hope of a new dawn. Unbeknownst to them, their fates are linked and dependent upon the next two tales.Bound in the Valley of Balor by Curtis M. Lawson: After surviving a plane crash, a corrupt federal agent and a mob informant find themselves stranded in a remote valley. Blood spilled during a conflict between the two awakens an ancient evil bound beneath the valley. Can either of them escape from The Valley of Balor?Summons by William Meikle (part of hisMythos of Sigils & Totems): Would you fall slave to the rhythm?He came to Scotland after the death of his wife in search of peace. But the old house is restless. Something is waking, something noisy, something that will not be denied.His search for meaning in the face of ever increasing activity in the house leads him down strange occult pathways, into deep history and a story that is racing to a finish.The rhythm calls to him. Will he fall slave to it? Or is there a path to be the drum master before it subsumes him utterly?This Celtic horror anthology is perfect for fans of folk horror, myths and legends, supernatural horror fiction, Grimm fairy tales, and Scottish survival horror, or fans of Ritual by Adam Nevill, Bag of Bones by Stephen King, or the legendary Ramsey Cambell.Crystal Lake’s Dark Tide series will continue soon with more tales of Mystery Thrillers and Horror Books, including themes of Weird Western, Sherlock Holmes, Grief Horror, Body Horror, Mystery fiction, Travel Horror, Deadly Duos, and Psychological Thriller books.Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Something is outside; in the fields, by the ditches, on the roads. Something old and cruel and vicious.When Luke Sheridan moves out of Dublin city to rural Kilcross with his wife and baby, he imagines the worst part will be his extended commute to work. They can look forward to enjoying the countryside and being part of a small community. After all, his old friend Declan Maguire lives in the house next door and is a Garda in the nearest town.But Declan’s devilish attitude towards drink, drugs and women means trouble is never far from his door. And worse, gruesome murders and the appearance of sinister figures at night mean the countryside is becoming a very dangerous place to live.Country Roads—don’t go outside alone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"the patient routine is a merciless, anxiety-charged, possible-apocalypse, possible-zombie thriller, long narrative poem about the body in maddening conversation with itself. luna rey hall takes us through the terrifying halls of a hospital in lockdown while deftly exploring an immensely personal journey through the shifting realities of an over-medicalized mind, a body snared in systems that do not understand or serve it. The tension between inner and outer worlds is relentless and the body horror hits all the worst/best buttons while raising philosophical questions of identity and power. What a torturously smart little book."— Joe Koch, author of The Wingspan of Severed Hands and ConvulsiveAshton is convinced they are dying. whether it be from cancer, heart disease, or a fungal infection, they know something bad is always about to happen. after a night of health-related panic attacks, & urged by a voice in their head, Ashton decides to check in to the ER again but when another patient is brought in with an unknown ailment that puts the entire hospital on lockdown, Ashton may be trapped in their worst nightmare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if you had been kidnapped by a serial killer and your only hope of escape was cut off by rising floodwater?“A terrifying descent into a nightmarish scenario, rendered with skill, imagination and a merciless desire to immerse the reader in undiluted horror. This is a terrific work of horror fiction by one of Australia's best genre writers. I couldn't put it down.”—Jamie Blanks, director of Urban Legend and ValentineThe Australian Outback is a place mired in myth, folklore, and rumour that’s inspired some of the best horror fiction and creature horror books. Some say it’s full of deadly creatures. Others claim it’s rife with serial killers hunting for backpackers and stranded tourists. Whatever the cause, young people in central Queensland are disappearing and the locals are frightened.Katy is fresh from college and ready to research and write her magnum opus, a book investigating the many disappearances of outback youths in Australia. When she meets Kip, a guitarist on his way to the city, she knows she’s onto something good and that she can prove her hypothesis: there’s nothing there for the youth of today and they’re running away, searching for employment and prospects in the city.Unfortunately, she’s wrong. In this terrifying cosmic horror book, there is a killer in the outback. One that thinks God is the ancient creature that lurks in the swamps near his property. With floodwaters rising, he’s certain Katy and Kip are the sacrifices that will allow the entity to emerge from the morass and cleanse the world of sinners. One terrifying abduction later, he has them both imprisoned.As they struggle to escape the terror and the torture, their desperate fight for survival will lead only to more horror. Because their kidnapper is not crazy. His god is real. His god is hungry, and it is screaming to be reborn.Aurealis-nominated Australian author Zachary Ashford turns his attention to the isolation of the outback with this fast-paced horror. The tension thrums. The brutality screams. The desperation of his protagonists’ plight bleeds from the page. For fans of extreme horror, splatterpunk, gore, violent films like Wolf Creek, or international movies like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and the grotesque creatures of movies like Aliens, The Thing, or The Fly, The Morass: Servant of the Fly God is not to be missed.Will Katy and Kip survive? Will their killer succeed? Will the God in the swamp take over the world. Buy this supernatural thriller book now, and discover their fate.Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

According to Dante, a sin is the misdirection of love - the human will, or essentially, the direction of our beings. Love the Sinner is an examination of just how those sins can kaleidoscope into horrific consequences creating a distorted and deadly landscape. These stories stand stark before you in full glaring misstep and macabre to show the human psyche in all its twisted reality.From grief and its rage to medical meddling to ensure a new world order to bloody revenge within a quantum leap, these stories seek to solidify one absolute truth: man is the scariest monster. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Scott Nelson first meets Natalie, all he can think about is slitting her throat. Until he realizes they share alarmingly similar homelives. Scott is an outcast with an abusive father, while Natalie is a punk with colorful hair and dreams of being an artist to avoid ever speaking to her family again.Believing that distance from his father’s violent tendencies will relieve Scott of his own rage, he and Natalie do the only thing they can to break free of their abusive families: run away.As soon as they pack up Natalie’s rusty Volkswagen in the middle of the night and begin their new lives, Scott’s gruesome cravings become harder to ignore. Blending in for the sake of a future with Natalie, Scott does his best to block out the violent thoughts fighting to take hold.But he can only contain his murderous cravings for so long. After watching a stranger overdose at a party, Scott can’t deny his urges. From that night on, Scott’s hands are caked with the blood of young girls. Young girls who resemble Natalie … Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Nick Roberts, the best-selling author of The Exorcist's House and Anathema, comes fifteen dark tales that are as horrific as they are moving.“Come for the horror, stay for the heartbreaking emotion that bleeds into every page. Roberts really shows his range here, and it’s obvious early on in these stories that they will stick with you long after reading them. It Haunts The Mind is that damn good.”—John Durgin, author of The Cursed Among Us and Inside The Devil’s Nest.Witness absolute evil in “Sally Under the Bed” and “It Haunts the Mind.” Endure vengeance and violence in “The Noose” and “The Bitter End.” Face the realities of addiction and grief in “Thanks for Sharing” and “The Weeping Wind.” Survive otherworldly monsters in “The Paperboy” and “Voodoo Bay.”In balancing the terrors of the supernatural with the horrors of real life, this collection drags you down the dark alleys of a haunted mind, forcing you to confront your demons, both real and imaginary.“Nick Roberts has an uncanny ability to scare the bejesus out of readers. With It Haunts the Mind & Other Stories, he does it time and time again. Highly recommended if you don’t want to sleep in the dark again.”—James Aquilone, Bram Stoker Award nominated editor and writer of Classic Monsters Unleashed, Shakespeare Unleashed, and Kolchak: The Night Stalker - 50th AnniversaryThis horror fiction book is perfect for fans of horror short stories, short story anthologies, horror collections, U.S. Horror fiction, ghost fiction, suspense horror, stories about substance abuse, possession, and coming of age horror.Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Septic by Mark Allan Gunnells: The year is 1988. When Carl finds himself trapped in a school bathroom with a faulty lock over Christmas break, things seem bad. When the pain in his abdomen increases and he realizes his appendix has burst, things get worse. Can he manage to free himself in time? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes the deepest wounds are from those we hold the closest.In her debut collection, Bram Stoker Award-winner Jess Landry blurs the line between genres, magnifying the darkness in the spaces in between, and confronting those relationships that are nearest and dearest to us in the most horrific ways.A mother and her daughter escape Nazi Germany, boarding the Hindenburg under the promise of a new life. An abused musical protégé discovers that her rage fuels much more than her cello-playing abilities. A hardened police officer finds something unexpected in the rising flood waters of her evacuated hometown. A woman ventures out onto the sea, in hopes of finding a mysterious mist where the dead roam freely. A strange tar infests the home of a young girl, swallowing everything in its wake, including her mother. Two broken women form a tragic bond while searching for a missing person in the dead of winter.Mothers. Daughters. Sisters. Friends. No one is safe.This collection of scary short stories is perfect for fans of Gwendolyn Kiste, SP Miskowski, Gemma Files, and Nadia Bulkin, as well as mystery and suspense short stories.Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.