DARK TALES by J.D. Allen

Genre: Horror

Format: eBook

Pages: 367

Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis:

DARK TALES is a collection of J.D. Allen’s most haunting and imaginative stories. From science fiction terrors to body horror frights, from haunted dolls to premature tombstones, these dark tales will haunt you long after you’ve read them. Included in this tomb… er… excuse me, I meant, ‘tome’… are four shocking novellas:

CONJOINED
The job offer? Spend this winter on the remote, private island of the mysterious Dr. Castor Pollux, as a companion to his surgically abused daughter, Gemini. Sounds like the start of some demented horror story? It is! Lured onto the operating table, and into madness, by the hypnotic silver eyes of a sadistically predatory nurse, you’ll donate every organ to terror as you follow young Danielle on a horrific journey into a medical nightmare where no one escapes unaltered.

SILVER SKY
Watching a loved one drift away from illness becomes a literal nightmare for the family and friends of those afflicted with Silver Sky Syndrome, as victims become immune to the laws of gravity, and ascend into the heavens, in this metaphorical horror story.

TOMBSTONES
Out at the old cemetery, in the quiet town of Luna Vista, mysterious tombstones are rising up out of the swampy ground in an unused and cursed field, and gruesome deaths are predicted for the unfortunate townsfolk whose names can be found carved into their rocky surfaces! Who will be next?

CAN SUSAN COME OUT AND PLAY?
Some ghosts won't allow the living time to properly mourn the dead.
Some hauntings begin with the very last heartbeat.
And sometimes the living can haunt us too.
This is a ghost story about the living.

Review:

"It's scary to think just how quickly a person can become all alone in the world."

 Grotesque body horror, love and loss, death and grief, the living, and the dead, all wrapped up in this compilation of four novellas of the dark and macabre. 

All four stories are so descriptive it scintillates the senses of the mind and heart. Taking us to the dark places of the imagination. 

A doctor that only wanted to complete his daughter once again, but nothing happened as he had planned it. But a sadistic nurse tries to fulfill his wishes to complete the family once again. Creepy vibes similar to The Modern Prometheus.

An analogy depicting the loss of family members and dear loved ones as they drift away. 

A witches curse exacting revenge upon the town of Luna Vista. 

When a man loses his greatest loves, his wife and daughter, his grief is impalpable, but a creepy doll takes him on a journey of an even darker discovery. 

Every one of these stories did not disappoint my horror loving heart. I found myself excited with the anticipation of being able to continue reading every chance I could! The stories brought to my mind the Outer Limits, one of my absolute favorite television series!

This is one I am going to be adding to my top reads of 2024!

Goodreads Author Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/

Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.D.-Allen/

About the author

Born after midnight on the evening of Halloween, 1963, Joseph Dean Allen stalked the foggy enclaves of the San Francisco Bay Area, by moonlight, for much of his youth. Currently he haunts the rainy Pacific Northwest with his husband, Kyle, and the two gremlins, disguised as house cats, with whom they live.

Review Links:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/

Glass Wings by Elle Kaelee

Genre: Dark Fantasy

Format: eBook

Pages: 276

Rating: ★★★★

Synopsis:

Meet the original species, Kinnari, and their demon rivals, the Vrae.

This debut novel is quoted as completely original, in its own new category, not following the rules of today's popular booktok books. It's gritty and gothic, with complex emotions and a slew of trigger warnings. This book contains five points of view and two timelines to tell the first chapter of this book series

Pain erupted from Hadley’s shoulders, blood, deep and blue streaked down her back. A metal chain groaned around her ankle, the only sound besides her screams in the dark.

Eighteen and alone in California, Hadley sells the only thing she has left to make ends herself. When strange things start happening, Hadley has nowhere to turn. She will soon learn that there are worse things than humans watching her from the shadows.

Hadley’s existence is an anomaly. She has inherited an ancient feud between immortals both good and evil. With it, powers she can’t yet control. Her path extends back centuries, tying her to five winged immortals: a gentle soul burdened with destructive abilities, twins whose connection to the moon ties them to fate, a woman whose commands shape destinies, and a boy who wanders the realm of unconsciousness.

She will soon learn what they’ve all known for even divine beings aren’t immune to family drama. When the light and the dark prepare for war, only you can decide which side you fall on—and it might not be as clear as you think.

Review: 

"All the love that flows from this world is nothing in comparison to how I feel about you."

Set in Ancient Rome, 47 B.C. This is where we are introduced to the Kinnari. Seven ancient immortals with wings of flight. Magical and mystical, they are protectors of the realm of Earth and the realm of Myrilosis where they preside. 

The Vrae are the enemy of the Kinnari. Known as Vampires/Demons, they feed on the flesh of their enemies. 

 

Set in Sacramento, California, in the early 2000s we are introduced to Hadley. Young, naive, and all alone. Struggling to make ends meet and simply survive in a world filled with so much that is unknown. As she takes on a job to earn the money she needs, she has no idea that she has now put her life at significant risk. 

 

As the plot thickens, a battle of revenge and survival has now begun. For the Kinnari, the Vrae, and for Hadley. She learns where she truly has come from and who she truly is. 

 

"Then, she realized that she wasn't the victim. She was the victor who would rise from the ashes after dragon flame burned down everything. Her glass wings would scorch her path with the sun magnifying heat through them."

 

With totally unique characters and a mythical world, this is a dark fantasy like no other. 

 

Two timelines, two realms. Winged immortals, demons, and humans together as their lives are now out of balance, they will do all they can to protect their own. 

 

With book two being released soon, it will be interesting to learn more about the characters and their mythical world. What will they decide and what will Hadley decide? Will they be strong together or will they meet their demise? Will their world fall apart? Will earth survive its plight? These are questions that need answering!

 

As a debut novel, the author did a fine job at writing. Beautiful prose and a unique world. Love, heartbreak, death, and betrayal. 

 

Try it if you are a fan of dark fantasy. I am looking forward to seeing the journey unfold in book two. 

**A very kind thank you to Nicole Kincaid PA and Elle Kaelee for a complimentary copy, it is very much appreciated!

Goodreads Author Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/

Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/

Author Website Link:

https://www.ellekaelee.com/

About the author

Elle Kaelee is a first-generation American author and mother who lives in the Pacific Northwest. After graduating with her B.F.A in musical theater, she gets inspired by people, relationships, and unique settings. This gives her an excuse to travel frequently.

She also had raised an orange cat who yells like a seagull with her husband.

Review Links:

https://booksirens.com/book-review/

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/

https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/

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The Forgotten (The Corner of Her Eye Book 3) by J.J. Carpenter

Genre: Horror Suspense

Format: eBook/ARC

Pages: 264

Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis:

“One thing I learnt early…don’t meddle with anything that isn’t human…that’s never been human…trust me on that.”

The walls between Charlie White’s real life and purgatory are thinning. The realm beyond is increasingly affecting not only her, but her closest companions. The danger deepens the more her two worlds collide.

Charlie has been warned there is more to the Dream than she can comprehend in this life. She knew she was not alone in limbo, but she never dared to seek out the others. One of them, though, is about to find her. Dragging her further into the world beyond.

As she fights not just for her life, but for the lives of her friends, Charlie is forced to question her deepest fears and desires. How long can she hold onto those she loves? What does it mean to be betrayed? And when does justice become malevolence?

Review: 

"It was dark, again, like it so often was in the dream."

Charlie's journey continues as she is pulled into the spirit world. She is learning more about herself and the various spirits in the realm beyond. There are much darker spirits than her previous encounters. Much more malevolent and harmful, not only to Charlie, but also to her dearest friends. 

The "Blacks". The lost, unrested souls. Forever seeking that which was promised and the only way that will provide peace. "The stormy blasts of hell with restless fury drives them on." The souls are unbalanced, and Charlie must figure out why to be able to lead them to be balanced once again. "Grief flowed in waves, but not just sadness. Loss, anger, betrayal---despair."

 

"The Forgotten"

 

Enter Raff, a guide of spirits that live in purgatory. The "Blacks." Together, Charlie and Raff must work together to stop the vicious attacks upon Charlie's treasured friend, Tess.

 

They must restore balance, they have no choice, but will they be able to?

 

As with the first two books in this series, this one is just as fabulous. Each has its own focus on the distinct characters, spirits, and settings. Settings throughout Australia along with its rich history. 

 

This one is deeper and darker because of the malevolence of the spirits and the dark realm they preside in. The backstory that causes the spirits to be filled with grief and anger is filled with betrayal and sadness. 

 

I very much enjoyed reading the diary entries set into the story,1909, forbidden love, lost love, death, and despair. 

 

I love this series so much! The characters, the friendships, the history, and the darkness of spirit realms. Finding out why the souls are lost and how Charlie, as a keeper, must restore the balance or there will be even more dire consequences. Keeps me on edge and crossing my fingers as the books open up a whole new world!

 

As a debut author, beginning with "The Keeper: The Corner of Her Eye (Book 1)", I highly recommend reading all of these. J.J. is an author to keep an eye on, her writing is exceptional! I look forward to reading the rest of the series!

"Je t'aimerai pour toujours."

**Thank you so much, J.J. for the advanced readers copy, you are so appreciated!

Goodreads Author Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show

Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/JJ-Carpenter/author/

BookBub Author Link:

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/

About the author

JJ Carpenter has been writing books since she was six years old - a collection of kooky tales she would staple together and hide in a shoebox under her bed. Penning her first novel at the age of 12, her love of all things creepy, supernatural and wild has never left her. Join JJ as she journeys through haunted places and chilling mysteries across the beautiful country, and rich history, of Australia.

JJ was born in Canberra, Australia. She spent her childhood in various locations, including the Barossa Valley, South Australia, and Hampshire, England. As an adult, she's spent much of her career living and working in the South Pacific: Solomon Islands (twice), Vanuatu, Fiji and beyond.

Review Links:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show

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Mischief Night Massacre: Ten Tales of Halloween by Jason Parent

Genre: Horror

Format: eBook

Pages: 267

Rating: 🎃🎃🎃🎃

Synopsis:

Halloween. For the costumed child skipping along a safe, well-lit street, pillowcase chock full of candy, it is a night of magic and mischief, delightful frights met with sugar-toothed grins. But for the would-be revelers in these tales, Halloween is a horrifying ordeal the likes of which many will not survive. And those who do make it to November may wish they hadn’t.

In this collection, Jason Parent gathers ten tales that embody the holiday in ways surely to surprise and delight the most avid horror reader. From traditional settings like amusement parks, Halloween parties, and haunted houses to more obscure locales where you might think terror couldn’t possibly find you, each story will have you breathing a little faster, startling at every bump in the night.

Review:

"We all go a little mad sometimes."

Halloween, a night of mischief, shenanigans, and diabolical scares!

What better time to read a Halloween themed book of short stories than in Spooky October!

Step in and visit a house of horrors, take a late-night walk with a war veteran out for a drink on the Dia De Los Muertos, bullies beware, be careful who you choose to pick on, you may run into a blood sucking creature and receive deadly consequences for your deplorable actions, after all it is All Hallows Eve when the spirits and monsters are restless. 

A robbery gone wrong when the owners are so very welcoming. Scary stories shared while out for tricks and treats in Orlando where Halloween just does not feel quite right. 

What could be worse than severe weather on Halloween night? The night children are excited for, all dressed up in their special costumes, ready to go, finding out they cannot... so extremely disappointed. Dad steps in to try to save the night for his two boys, giving them candy and telling them a scary story. Is it real? or just a terrifying story to scare them?

Do you want to punish a cheating husband? Just take him to Frightmare to exact your revenge! Honestly, no one will ever know! A spooky carnival ride, Woo-hoo! Fantastic way to celebrate or not for everyone, join the fun and find out!

Everyone is ready for a great party, music, drinking, and lots of scares. No one expected it to turn into a bloody bash!

Please do not go deep into the woods on Halloween Night! You may not make it out alive!

Monsters galore, haunted houses and carnival rides, bloody nights, spooky tricks, and treats. Settle in and find the delights within Mischief Night Massacre: Ten Tales of Halloween! 

Leave the lights on!!

"Some horrors stay with you forever."

**Thank you so much, Jason Parent, for the complimentary copy, it's truly appreciated!

Goodreads Author Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/

Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/

BookBub Author Link:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jason-parent

Author Website:

https://authorjasonparent.com/

About the author

In his head, Jason Parent lives in many places, but in the real world, he calls New England his home. The region offers an abundance of settings for his writing and many wonderful places in which to write them. He currently resides in Rhode Island.

In a prior life, Jason spent most of his time in front of a judge . . . as a civil litigator. When he wanted a change, he traded in his cheap suits for flip flops and designer stubble. The flops got repossessed the next day, and he's back in the legal field . . . sorta. But that's another story.

When he's not working, Jason likes to kayak, catch a movie, and travel any place that will let him enter. And read and write, of course--he does that too sometimes.

Publisher Link:

https://www.corpuspress.com/

About Corpus Press

 

Corpus Press Corpus Press is a publisher of horror and weird fiction, specializing in modern pulp that emphasizes plot over gore.

 

Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, the press was established in 2013 and has since garnered praise from SCREAM Magazine, Cemetery Dance, Horror Novel Reviews, Hellnotes and more for its Bad Apples: Slice of Halloween Horror series, the anthologies Doorbells at Dusk, Dead Roses: Five Dark Tales of Twisted Love, In Darkness, Delight (series) and for its short story collections and novellas.

 

Review Links:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/

https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/

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Night of the Witch (Crooked Tales Book 2) by Chris Harrison

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Format: eBook/ARC

Pages: 400

Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis:

In the aftermath of their harrowing escape from Crooked House, Kane and JJ return home to a hostile reception: accused of perpetrating a town-wide hoax, their dreams of online stardom are shattered. Now, alongside Zach, Meridia, and Izzy, they endure the ridicule of St Swithun’s school, trying to rebuild shattered lives.

But looming over them is a greater threat—an ancient prophecy portending apocalypse. With paranormal expert Peter Higginsworth now teaching at their school, the group stumbles upon dark secrets in Cold Christmas, awakening an ancient evil within Crooked House.

Meridia, plagued by terrifying visions, grapples with a newfound, chilling power. As nightmares bleed into reality, they're drawn into a deadly game with the malevolent Cold Christmas witch. With an enigmatic priest hunting a missing boy, they confront the sinister forces of Crooked House once more.

In the second book of the Crooked Tales series, the five friends face a supernatural entity hunting them from beyond the grave. As darkness descends, who will survive the night of the witch?

Some spirits never rest...

Review:

"But as the great Sherlock Holmes often says: when you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

The Crooked house is ever daunting. The souls within stirring and haunting. It continues to unleash its wickedness that lies within. This time a malevolent soul, an ancient witch even more sinister of all that came before. Hunting for the soul of the one that is desired. A force so evil it takes the strong might of all to overcome its wrath. The mystery of "The Crooked House" and its haunted rooms continues to reveal its dark and sinister secrets. The Night of the Witch has begun.

"In the shadows of the past a witch's curse is reborn..."

Meridia's visions are becoming stronger and frightening. She sees that which is occurring and what is to come if she and her friends do not stand strong and fight for their very souls. The events that pull them into the darkness of all that has happened in the past and of that which is yet to come is far more frightening than what they have already battled. Peter, Meridia, Izzy, Kane, JJ, and Zach and their new friend, Father Alexander must solve the mystery of why the witch has appeared and who she is. 

Continuing from the first book The Rising, we learn so much more about the characters. each of them has their own strengths and endearing qualities. Even through the most challenging times, they are a strong unit. They must trust each other to make the right decisions to protect each other. To overcome the evil that has entered their world. What they come upon as they search for answers is pure corruption and black as pitch. So much sadness and truly fear inducing.  

The imagery is so descriptive and unsettling as it gives glimpses into futuristic desolation and into the darkest evil places. Night of the Witch is disturbing and chilling as the horrors are much more sinister, and the witch is malefic and hostile.

Leaving us with an open ending, building up the anticipation of what is yet to come in the next installment of this series, I can only imagine what kind of horrors, thrills, and chills there will be. 

Chris Harrison is truly gifted and one to keep an eye on as he continues to give us exciting and horrifying stories!

Truly thankful to Chris and Wicked Ink Publishing for the complimentary e-ARC!

Goodreads Author Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/

Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Chris-Harrison/author

Author Website Link:

https://chris-harrison.com/

About the author

Chris Harrison is a writer, producer, and author of the Crooked Tales series. Born in North London, he studied Film at Middlesex University to satisfy his deep-rooted fascination with the art of storytelling. Whilst there, he discovered analysing films all day gave him the perfect opportunity to delve deeper into decades of literary and cinematic horror, a passion since early childhood.

Having previously written for film and education, Chris is now focused on fulfilling a lifelong dream and is busy creating immersive worlds full of spine-tingling terror for a young adult audience. Fusing together classic themes of the supernatural and macabre with more contemporary urban mythology, he is on a mission to re-imagine our deepest and darkest fears for a new generation of horror fans.

Now based on the south coast of England, when he’s not writing Chris can often be found on the basketball court coaching young people or posting spooky artwork on Instagram.

Publisher Link:

https://www.wickedinkpublishing.com

Pages That Whisper, Stories That Roar

Review Links:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/

The Aggregate by G. Owen Wears

Genre: Horror

Format: eBook

Pages: 362

Rating: ★★★★

Synopsis:

Criminal noir and cosmic horror by the author of “The Place of Stars & Bones”.

There is dust on the horizon and dust in the fields. The sky is a burned-out shade of white and cicadas haunt the trees and rooftops. It is late September, and Lucy Ashwood has just finished the last unremarkable day of her life.
By morning, Lucy finds herself lying in a puddle of gore. The dead number three: two men from the MontVida Corporation and one sheriff’s deputy. They came to serve notice of genetic patent violations, and to evict the Ashwoods. When the Ashwoods push back, the end result is an accidental bloodbath. Lucy’s contribution involves feeding the dead to her pig, Wilbur. The contribution of her cousin, Arthur, involves his connection to a criminal collective known as the Aggregate. They say they will help the Ashwoods...for a price.

Subject to waking nightmares and crippling guilt, Lucy goes on the run. As her visions grow ever more vivid, Lucy begins to suspect there is more to what happened at her home than simply murder. Meanwhile, the Aggregate has decided to call in its favor for assisting the Ashwoods, thrusting Arthur into a world of violent revolution. Neither Lucy, nor Arthur, nor the Aggregate realize there is something else at work, something malevolent that has sprung from the very soil beneath their feet. It speaks through Wilbur, through the drone of the cicadas, through the hot dry wind. When it finally gains a foothold it will force its way through the veil between worlds, Lucy and the rest of humanity be damned.

Review:

"You assume that the building blocks of life have a sense of morality, that your genes share your ideas of right and wrong. All life is selfish, Lucy Ashwood. There is no virtue in the face of extinction."

MontVida is a vast corporation that controls the majority of land. They have implemented their genetic hybrids to produce super crops, but in the process, they have banned farmers from using their patents. It has caused farmers to do everything in their power to protect their farms from having any crossovers. Filtering, green housing, and fencing. The work is hard, the earth is dry, and the food is sparse. 

MontVida have come to the farm of the Ashwoods, blaming them for violations of their genetic patents. The Ashwoods fight back, and the result ends in blood and death. It also ends life for the Ashwoods as events only continue to get worse and it becomes the downfall of their existence. 

The Ashwoods reach out for help from the Aggregate, notorious for their crimes against MontVida, they have no respect for life and once called upon, you owe them your life. They will stop at nothing to earn their comeuppance. Their goal is to destroy!

Amongst the chaos and death, there is something sinister occurring. There are whispers, voices on the wind, and in the trees the cicadas drone their music upon the ears that hear. It speaks though Wilbur, Lucy Ashwoods Eurasian Boar. She must listen and heed the warnings.  All of life is hanging in the balance of this malevolent being. 

There is a lot that occurs throughout this story. World building and character development, deceit of characters that stay a bit obscured behind the scenes, the cosmic anomaly that causes a mass destruction, their goal to preserve their own existence, and many horrific deaths.

A mix of crime noir, cosmic horror, fantasy, dystopian, and speculative fiction. This takes us on a journey of disturbing imagery and grotesque monstrosities.   

All in all, I enjoyed reading this book as it kept me quite intrigued!

**A very kind thank you goes out to Mar at TBM Horror for sending me complimentary copy, much appreciated!

Goodreads Author Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/

Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/G.-Owen-Wears/author/

About the author

G. Owen Wears was borne in Pasadena, California in January of 1982. Despite his West Coast origin he has spent the last thirty odd years living along the Colorado Front Range. After high school he attended a local art college where he discovered that he prefers writing far more than painting. Currently he is the editor of “Exterus”, a fantasy and horror anthology that began publication in 2015. He makes his home in Loveland, Colorado where he spends his time reading, writing, and walking the many paths that line the Big Thompson River.

Review Links:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/

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Backwaters (12 Murky Tales) by Lee Rozelle

Genre: Horror Short Stories

Format: Paperback

Pages: 322

Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis:

Dare swim these waters?

Welcome to Tallapoochee, a Southern backwater plagued by an experimental toxin that’s turning townsfolk into genetically modified freaks. Follow a puzzling trail of atrocities committed by an enigmatic river cult. Delve into thrilling tales of body horror, bizarro, and the weird. Read the unthinkable testimonies of the living and the dead.

This “water-breaking” collection of twelve intertwined stories combines body horror and Southern Gothic humor in a clash between a cabal of dark scientists and gospel-preaching wrestlers with a secret past. In turns terrifying and bizarre, Lee Rozelle’s new fiction is a shocking journey into murky medicine, conspiracy, and the horrors of watershed destruction.

Review:

"This whole world is catfishing."

Tallapoochee, where the backwaters run murky and sludgy. Filled with toxins that turns anyone who encounters the waters into monstrous atrocities. Abhorrent anomalies and deformities occur, producing bodies with things that dingle and dangle, putrescent, putrid, and pungent. 

The river cult are the worshipers of the murky waters, recruiting others to their cause. 

Scientists creating uncanny, humanoid creatures.

Many minds falling into madness. 

And bugs, lots of bugs! Interesting bugs, but bugs! 

These quirky tales take us into the deep south of Alabama. The characters are telling stories of their bizarre transformations and encounters with the strange and unusual. Each of the stories are interconnected which makes it cohesive but each of the scenes give us different viewpoints for each setting and character. 

Backwaters is unlike any book I have ever read. I have read many other bizarre books, but this one takes the cake. Truly creative and imaginative! I had to give it all the stars because of the originality. Creatures galore, body horror, disturbing descriptions of unnatural occurrences, offbeat twists, and even a little kink. 

If you are a fan of bizarro, sci-fi, horror, and uncanny tales, then you will most likely enjoy this one!

Goodreads Author Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/

Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lee-Rozelle/author/

BookBub Author Link:

ttps://www.bookbub.com/

Author Website:

https://leerozelle.com/

ABOUT LEE

From an early age, reading and writing were the only things I could do with any aptitude. People laughed at things I said when I was a child, so I became a show-off. And I think I might have become a perfectly normal human being, too, were it not for Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, that dog detective cartoon from the 1970s featuring creatures like “The Ghost of Captain Cutler,” “The Creeper” and “Space Kook.” I was captivated by the show’s combination of monsters, mysterious settings and goofiness. Then I got my hands on MAD magazine, Creepy and Eerie, Stephen King and Poppy Z Brite, Twisted Sister tapes, David Lynch movies, and everything I could find by William S. Burroughs. I was for all intents and purposes useless at that point, so I became a college professor.

As a fiction writer, I’m the author of the horror story collection Backwaters: 12 Murky Tales and Ballad of Jasmine Wills, a novel that takes on reality TV, body shaming and hicksploitation. I’ve published short stories in Cosmic Horror Monthly,  Southern Humanities Review, If I Die Before I wake vol 3, Shadowy Natures from Dark Ink Books, HellBound’s Anthology of Bizarro, Dark Dossier Magazine, Steel Toe Review, and the Scare You to Sleep Podcast.

On the scholarly side, I’m the author of nonfiction books Zombiescapes & Phantom Zones and Ecosublime. I’ve published articles in Twentieth-Century Literature, Mississippi Quarterly, ISLE, Canadian Literature, Studies in the Novel, and South Central Review. I’ve presented academic papers in such places as the Sorbonne, Tsinghua University in Beijing, Dogus University in Istanbul, and the Warsaw School of Social Psychology. I’m a professor of English at the University of Montevallo, and my areas of expertise are ecocriticism and critical theory.

Publisher Link:

https://www.montagpress.com/about

MONTAG PRESS presents the very best in experimental, weird, subversive, speculative, science, historical, and horror fiction, in either a narrative or dramatic structure, with a strong plot, well-developed characters, and engaging voices.

​

Review Links:

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