Yearly Archive: 2024

Articles / Reviews

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Epeolatry Book Review: Asunder by Kerstin Hall

Disclosure:

Our reviews may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through the links in this article we may receive a small commission or referral fee. This happens without any additional cost to you.

Title: Asunder
Author: Kerstin Hall
Genre: fantasy
Publisher: tordotcom
Publication Date: 20th August, 2024

Synopsis: Karys Eska is a deathspeaker, locked into an irrevocable compact with Sabaster, a terrifying eldritch being―three-faced, hundred-winged, unforgiving―who has granted her the ability to communicate with the newly departed. She pays the rent by using her abilities to investigate suspicious deaths around the troubled city she calls home. When a job goes sideways and connects her to a dying stranger with some very dangerous secrets, her entire world is upended.

Ferain is willing to pay a ludicrous sum of money for her help. To save him, Karys inadvertently binds him to her shadow, an act that may doom them both. If they want to survive, they will need to learn to trust one another. Together, they must journey to the heart of a faded empire, all the while haunted by arcane horrors, and the unquiet ghosts of their pasts.

And all too soon, Karys knows her debts will come due.

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Flat Amount / Non-fiction / Ongoing Submissions / Online

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Ongoing Submissions: Write or Die non-fiction articles on writing

Payment: $50 for essays, $25 for interviews
Theme: Essays that focus on the writing life and especially love work where the personal intersects with the critical. Pitches for interviews with authors
Editor’s Note: This isn’t a fiction market but as what they’re looking for so directly pertains to authors, I felt you might all be interested!

Essays:

We are interested in essays that focus on the writing life and especially love work where the personal intersects with the critical. We love essays that examine how publishing, reading, teaching, spirituality, sexuality, identity, obsession, labor, and family shape writing. Unconventional book reviews, insights on niche literary topics, lyric essays on craft, and stories about writing that are also about something seemingly unrelated really excite us. More than anything, we like to be surprised, so if you think you have something that speaks to writing or literature in some way, send it to us!

  • Always open
  • Pays 50 USD
  • Max words: 3000

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Articles

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Writing Prompt Wednesdays: Wretched Recycling

Writing Prompt Wednesdays: Wretched Recycling

Welcome to “Writing Prompt Wednesdays,” a haven where your imagination can roam free in the realms of speculative fiction. As we embark on this weekly journey, it’s thrilling to think about the untold stories waiting to be penned in the domains of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. Whether you’re a seasoned author or a budding wordsmith, these prompts are your gateway to unexplored worlds and untapped potentials.

Every Wednesday, we’ll serve up a fresh, thought-provoking prompt designed to ignite your creative spark and challenge your storytelling prowess. Think of these prompts as a key, unlocking the doors to uncharted territories where your creativity is the only limit. From eerie, shadow-laden corridors of Gothic horror to the farthest reaches of interstellar space, and the mystical depths of high fantasy, our prompts are a kaleidoscope of possibilities.

Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to approach these prompts. They are mere stepping stones, guiding you towards the vast landscapes of your imagination. Use them to break free from writer’s block, to experiment with new ideas, or simply as a fun exercise to keep your writing skills sharp.

This week’s writing prompt:

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Articles / Interviews

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BENEATH: Dare You Dig Deeper to Discover the Monster?

BENEATH: Dare You Dig Deeper to Discover the Monster?

An interview with Steven S. DeKnight and Michael Gaydos

 

Beneath is the debut graphic novel from Hollywood powerhouse Steven S. DeKnight and seasoned artist Michael Gaydos. Let’s go beyond the surface and find out how this awesome collaboration came about and what you can expect when you pick up this multi-layered incredible graphic novel.

 

“I’ve always loved monsters—ghouls and ghosts, vampires and werewolves, zombies and giant radioactive creatures,” says writer Steven S. DeKnight. “The best genre stories ask questions that often elude the easiest of answers. They make you think while presenting the prestidigitation of entertainment artfully forcing the viewer or reader to challenge their own perceptions and world view.”

 

“My first original graphic novel just happens to be my first foray in the horror genre,” says artist Michael Gaydos. “I love creating sequential art that is full of mood, suspense, and very real character emotion. Steven’s story has all of this and more. I couldn’t be any happier with how the final product came together.”

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Articles

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Hungry Shadow Press Has Shut Down

A Farewell to Hungry Shadow Press: A Sad Day for Indie Horror

At Horror Tree, we’ve always been passionate about supporting and celebrating the vibrant world of independent presses that bring speculative fiction to life. It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of Hungry Shadow Press closing its doors. Under the guidance of Brandon Applegate, Hungry Shadow Press was making a name for itself in indie horror, publishing a few fantastic anthologies and quite a few drabble of both innovative and chilling works by both seasoned and emerging authors.

The decision to shut down, as detailed in the official press release below, is a reflection of life’s unpredictable challenges rather than a lack of passion or creativity. We understand the immense dedication it takes to run an independent press, and while we are saddened to see Hungry Shadow Press conclude its journey, we fully support Brandon’s decision to prioritize his family during this time.

To Brandon, the authors whose voices were amplified by Hungry Shadow Press, and the readers who were captivated by their stories—we extend our deepest gratitude. Your contributions have left an indelible mark on the indie horror community. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and look forward to seeing what comes next from this talented group.

For more details, please read the full press release from Brandon Applegate below:

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Articles / Guest Post

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Vampira: The Original Scream Queen

Vampira: The Original Scream Queen

By Kelly Florence & Meg Hafdahl

 

“Bring on the empty hearses that I may people them with my enemies.

Isn’t that, after all, why people commit autobiography? To aggrandize themselves and to destroy their enemies? 

In any case, of course, the enemy shall be felled quite accidentally as the flailing sword of truth decapitates them. Now, all nonsense aside, you know I have no enemies. Only discarded lovers, and they have their memories.”

-Maila Nurmi

Ever since Kelly was little, her grandparents told her about the legendary Vampira, (pronounced Vamp-eera in the Finnish dialect). She was a Finnish American who had made it onto Broadway, into Hollywood, and had her own hosting gig introducing horror movies on a television station in Los Angeles. Her pet tarantula on the late-night gig was named Rollo and Kelly’s grandparents named their cat the same. While there are numerous stories and rumors surrounding Vampira and her life, we appreciated reading two biographies about her. Her name was Maila Nurmi, and she was a queen.

Growing up as the daughter of Finnish immigrants, Maila understood the importance of work ethic, public speaking, and passion. Her father, a journalist and devout religious man, raised his children to appreciate their legacy and encouraged them to work for the things they cared about. Moving around the country with her family, Maila spent time in Duluth, Minnesota (where Meg spent her junior high and high school years and where Kelly currently lives) as well as many cities across the country. While she didn’t pursue a career her father may have been proud of, she had the drive and tenacity to become a legend, albeit one most aren’t aware of.

We encourage you to read Glamour Ghoul: The Passions and Pain of the Real Vampira, Maila Nurmi (2021) by Sandra Niemi (Maila’s niece!) and Vampira: Dark Goddess of Horror (2014) by W. Scott Poole. Here are our top takeaways about this fascinating woman.

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Articles / Reviews

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Epeolatry Book Review: Crocodile Tears Didn’t Cause the Flood by Bradley Sides

Disclosure:

Our reviews may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through the links in this article we may receive a small commission or referral fee. This happens without any additional cost to you.

Title: Crocodile Tears Didn’t Cause the Flood
Author: Bradley Sides
Genre: Short Story Collection, Weird Fiction/Horror
Publisher: Montag Press
Publication Date: 6th February, 2024

Synopsis:  Bradley Sides merges the South with the weird in his latest collection of magical realism short stories, Crocodile Tears Didn’t Cause the Flood. Here, a boy creates a guide to his beloved pond monster, a parent weighs the consequences of the coming apocalypse, a man protects a jar of delicate moths, a test taker fearlessly faces death, a young woman rejects ownership of her vampire family’s farm, a father leaves a letter for his ghost daughter, and a flood of broken robots sparks pure joy. Full of grief, loss, and, somehow, even hope, Sides’ fantastic stories boldly and tenderly explore the complexities of humanity.

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Trembling With Fear

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Trembling With Fear 8-25-24

Greetings, children of the dark. Ever been exhausted from just too much creative stimulation? Worldcon was an absolute bloody blast but so overwhelming – I gave up on attending panels by the end of day 3, and spent the final two days wandering the halls, chatting to people, and being present at the British Fantasy Society’s fan table (we signed up so many new members!!) – and I was glad to have a few days in rural Yorkshire to recover. But the creative stimulation just kept coming: our cabin was nestled by a babbling brook and surrounded by trees so was just gorgeously relaxing; I spent my birthday hanging out in the shadow of Pendle Hill, the site of one of England’s most infamous witch trials (and the legal precedent that let Salem use children’s testimony); and then a very gothic and rainy afternoon in Haworth, home to the Brontes. My brain and my heart were full… until I returned to reality with a thud! Why do we need to earn money and stuff like that? It’s so stupid.

Anyways, I hope you’ve enjoyed the darkly speculative offerings over the last few weeks, because we have another edition for you today chock full of the good stuff. This week’s menu kicks off with a tale of family traditions (or is it curses?) and a set of doomed twins from Christopher Pate. That’s followed by the short, sharp speculations of:

  • Hannah Greer’s zombie heartbreak,
  • Andrew Keyworth’s disturbing art, and
  • George Davey’s tree surgery.

Before you jump in, one quick plea to those who’ve been considering subbing to us: we are looking with much effort for MORE DRABBLES, as always, but also our serialised stories need some love. Have you got a longer story (up to 15,000 words) that can be easily broken into chapters for us to publish over a weekly period? We have a new serials editor who awaits your great and magnificent new worlds! Sub in the usual place. 

Over to you, Stuart.

Lauren McMenemy

Editor, Trembling With Fear

Join me in thanking our upcoming newsletter sponsor for the next year! Please check out Charlotte Platt’s ‘One Smile More’!

Ena Sinclair, a Scottish mage and spy, abandons her role in a prominent Edinburgh college and escapes to London to avoid an arranged marriage.

But London is not safe: a mage killer is on the hunt…

Abducted by vampires ‘for her safety’, Ena is terrified the nest owner will drain her to fuel his power but also curious to learn about his magic. Taking this once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn more about what her college had warned were dangerous creatures, Ena finds herself fond of the nest, particularly their bonded leaders, Addison and Tobias.

As survivors of the Immortal War, the pair still navigate a schism in vampire society that they are trying to heal. They now seek a peaceful life and offer Ena protection until she finds her own path.

…and dark things await them all.

Ena’s college seeks to forcibly return her to Edinburgh, and a killer is still on the loose. Hidden resentments surface, and Ena pays the price. Magically unstable and isolated, she must rely on her non-magical training to avoid being turned or used as a weapon to harm the nest she has grown to care for.

 

Be sure to order a copy today!

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Hi all!

Again, I’d like to share a huge warm welcome to Corinne Pollard for taking over as our newsletter editor! Change is in the air, and we’ve got a pile of Trembling With Fear news on the horizon as well as a few other things. We have a lot of changes that we’re juggling and slowly putting into place and I’m so excited for it to all be announced! 

Now, for the standards:

  • Thank you so much to everyone who has become a Patreon for Horror Tree. We honestly couldn’t make it without you all!
  • The paperback is now live! Please be sure to order a copy of Shadowed Realms on Amazon, we’d love for you to check it out!

Offhand, if you’ve ordered Trembling With Fear Volume 6, we’d appreciate a review! 🙂

 
 

Stuart Conover

Editor, Horror Tree

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