Author: Stephanie Ellis

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Christmas Special! Indie Bookshelf CHARITY Releases

Christmas is a time for giving. Over the years, authors have often given their work freely to publications in order to raise money for charities dear to their hearts. This Indie Bookshelf highlights the charity publications Horror Tree is aware of from 2020 and 2021. The pandemic triggered a number last year and as we didn’t create this special then, we thought it only fitting to include them this time.

Please consider purchasing one of these publications and supporting those less fortunate. And thank you to those who have given their time so generously to create them – whether writing, editing or publishing. Click the images to go to the purchase site.

 

Silent Scream bSilent Scream by [Alyson Faye]y Alyson Faye. Novella. A lost silent horror film from 1928. An inheritance tainted with madness and death. A long-dead film actress whose diary speaks from the grave of evil, corruption and debauchery. A missing film actor whose stardust life unravelled into grotesquerie. Can a one hundred-year-old film destroy lives today? How far will Ivy have to go to find the truth? And who will she have to lose along the way? Raising money for Centrepoint in the UK, a charity for the homeless.

Diabolica Americana is a charity horror anthology featuring 22 authors with a foreword by Eric LaRocca. Contributing authors are as follows: Richard Chizmar, Jonathan Janz, John F.D. Taff, John Langan, Cynthia Pelayo, Hailey Piper, Laurel Hightower, Chris Sorensen, Hunter Shea, Rhonda J. Joseph, Gabino Iglesias, Sadie Hartmann, Sara Tantlinger, Anne Gresham, Rowan Hill, Rayne King, Patrick Barb, Nicole M. Wolverton, Vivian R. Kasley, Scott J. Moses, Nick Moorefox, and Shane Hawk. It explores the dark states of America, unearthing all that is evil, depraved, and eldritch on the cusp of Halloween.

Raising money for ‘A Place Called Home’, which gives children and teens a chance to have meaningful lives away from the influence of gangland culture in Los Angeles. By purchasing this book, you will be making a real difference to the lives of so many bright, young hopefuls.

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More information coming soon! 

Diabolica Diabolica Britannica: A Dark Isles Horror Compendium by [Keith Anthony Baird]Britannica is a collection of 14 dark tales from the dark isles. It features contributions from the following authors: Adam L G Nevill, Tim Lebbon, Keith Anthony Baird, John F Leonard, Morgan K Tanner, Arthur M Harper, Christopher Henderson, Beverley Lee, Sarah E England, Catherine McCarthy, Stephanie Ellis, Janine Pipe, Sarah J Budd and Alyson Faye. Genre legend Ramsey Campbell contributes with an insightful foreword and puts his stamp on another addition to British horror’s legacy. So explore every corner of this compendium and be pulled into the shadowy depths of the dark isles.

Raising money for the NHS’ efforts in COVID-19 research.

Givng tGiving the Devil His Due: Special Edition by [Lee Murray, Jason Sanford, Peter Tieryas, Kelley Armstrong, Kenesha Williams, Linda D Addison, Christina Henry, Hillary Monahan, Nisi Shawl, LEANNA RENEE HIEBER, Kaaron Warren, Stephen Graham Jones, Errick Nunnally, Angela Yuriko Smith, DANA CAMERON, Nicholas Kaufmann, Rebecca Brewer]he Devil his Due. What if a young girl had the power to stop her tyrannical father from battering her mother ever again? What if a student had a secret weapon to end sexual assault by her predatory professor permanently? What if a housewife had unusual means to get back at her controlling husband and walk away from her marriage alive? In Giving the Devil His Due, the Pixel Project’s first charity anthology, sixteen acclaimed fantasy, science fiction, and horror authors take readers on an unforgettable journey to alternative worlds where men who abuse and murder women and girls meet their comeuppance in uncanny ways. Featuring stories from Stephen Graham Jones, Christina Henry, Peter Tieryas, Kelley Armstrong, Linda D. Addison, Hillary Monahan, and more, Giving the Devil His Due presents sixteen stories that will make you think about the importance of justice for the victims of gender-based violence, how rare this justice is in our own world, and why we need to end violence against women once and for all.

Raising money for the Pixel Project which seeks to end violence against women.

Flashes of Hope by [Anna Taborska, Dave Jeffery, Amy Grech, Matthew Davis, John Cady, Emma Lee, Gwen Weir, Ken Goldman, Alyson Faye, Theresa Derwin]Flashes of Hope, flash horror story anthology, curated by Theresa Derwin, has been compiled to bring hope in this time of darkness and to do something about it by raising funds for food-banks and people adversely affected by Covid and lockdown. This book celebrates the strength of our key-workers by making every hero in the book one of them: from cleaners, to nurses and doctors to shop keepers, these are the heroes at the frontline.And the heroes in these stories.Featuring stories from Alyson Faye, Ruschelle Dillon, Ken Shinn, Dave Jeffery, Eric Ian Steele and Anna Taborska, these protagonists fight all kinds of monsters, supernatural and other. So step inside, face the darkness, and see Hope win.

Raising money for food banks and those disadvantaged by covid.

The Banquet by Villimey Mist. Maria Lopez, a sexual assault survivor, receives an invitation to The Banquet, a secret annual event where women such as herself get the opportunity to exact vengeance on their attackers.

Raising money for Stígamót, an Icelandic charity that offers free counseling for victims of abuse.

 

Cabin Terror by [Sarah Jane Huntington]Cabin Terror by Sarah Jane Huntington. If you go down to the woods today… One cult, one ritual, one forced open dimensional door.
A creature from elsewhere…  One fierce elderly woman. Three girls. One survivor? Secrets, lies, and a found footage movie. Really, what could go wrong? CABIN TERROR. No one lasts the night. A COSMIC SLASHER

 

We are WolvesWe are Wolves: A Horror Anthology by [Gemma Amor, Sarah Read, S.H. Cooper, Hailey Piper, Sara Tantlinger, J Danielle Dorn, Eve Harms , Sonora Taylor, Laurel Hightower, Cina Pelayo]. Once upon a time, there was a woman, and she was tired. Tired of pushing. Tired of being pushed. Tired of feeling alone. Tired of so much. So she gathered together a pack of wolves, a band of mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, partners, friends, lovers, survivors, victors and brilliant, shining things, and she told them to sing. And sing they did.
The result is WE ARE WOLVES, a chorus of of terrifying, moving and heart-breaking stories from some of horror’s finest contemporary writers including Gemma Amor, Laurel Hightower, Cina Pelayo, Sarah Read, Hailey Piper, V Castro, Sara Tantlinger, Sonora Taylor and many more.

Raising money for the survivors of abuse and assault.

Coming Trickster's Treats #4: Coming Buried or Not (Charity Anthology) (Things in the Well - Anthologies) by [Matthew R. Davis, Chris Mason, Herb Kauderer, Kevin David Anderson, Andrew Cull, Jenny Blackford, Edward Ahern, Kurt Newton, Louise Zedda-Sampson, Geneve Flynn]Buried or Not, ed. Louise Zedda-Sampson and Geneve Flynn. A collection of stories raising money for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation

Infected 1 - Tales to Read at Home: A Charity Anthology for the Save the Children Coronavirus Response (Things in the Well - Anthologies) by [Lisa Morton, Lee Murray, Darren Todd, Kevin J. Anderson, Ben Monroe, Tabatha Wood, Stephen Herczeg, Dawn DeBraal, Eugene Johnson, Paul Moore]Infected. A collection of terrifying tales set in the very near future… or perhaps it’s already here? From The Introduction by Steve Dillon: “We live in a time when isolation seems to be the only way to protect ourselves from another infectious plague. Loneliness has become the new norm, it seems, yet we still find ways to pull together in an ever-increasingly world of virtuality.This anthology was born of a desire to face up the beast that is covid-19, aka coronavirus, aka the 2020 plague; to look in its slavering maw and say ‘fuck you because life goes on, and when you’re gone from this place, the world and its people will be stronger.’

Infected authors: Lisa Morton | Kevin J. Anderson | Lee Murray | Tabatha Wood | Ben Monroe | Peter Naughton | Dawn DeBraal | Carolyn Geduld | Steve Carr | Ingrid Taylor | Stephen Herczeg | Mark Cassell | Darren Todd | Kurt Newton | Jenean McBrearty | Steve Dillon | Cory Swanson | Marlin Bressi | Paul Moore and Eugene Johnson

Raising money for Save the Children Coronavirus Response.

Tales Of ThTales Of The Lost Volume Two- A charity anthology for Covid- 19 Relief: Tales To Get Lost In A CHARITY ANTHOLOGY FOR COVID-19 RELIEF by [Gaiman, Neil,, Hill, Joe,, Johnson, Eugene M,]e Lost Volume II: A Covid-19 Charity Anthology. Edited by Bram Stoker Award Winner Eugene Johnson and Steve Dillon. We lose many things during our time in this universe. From the moment we are born we start losing time, and loss becomes a part of our life from the beginning. We lose friends (both imaginary and real), loved ones, pets, and family. We gain stuff and lose stuff, from our socks to our money. We can lose our hope, sanity, passions, our mind, and perhaps even our soul! In the end when death finds us, we end up losing everything… Don’t we? Loss is part of who we are. We can’t escape it. We learn from it, grow from it, and so much more. Some of the greatest stories ever forged come from loss. Within this book is some of those stories.

Featuring stories and poetry by an amazing lineup including: Tim Waggoner * Lisa Morton * Neil Gaiman * Joe Hill * Heather Graham *  Christopher Golden * Tim Lebbon *  Christina Sng * Vince Liaguno * John Palisano * Kaaron Warren * Chris Mason * Greg Chapman * Tracy Cross * Stephanie W. Wytovich * Alexis Kirkpatrick * Ben Monroe * Lucy A. Snyder and Matthew R. Davis.

Stories of Survival is a charity anthology inspired by and dedicated to the memory of Aiki Flinthart, with all proceeds going to the Melanoma Institute of Australia. Cancer has touched the lives of many, and the Australian Speculative Fiction community has banded together to try and make a difference.

This collection contains fifteen stories written by both award-winning and emerging authors in the Australian and New Zealand speculative fiction scene, all based around the theme of survival. Authors include Kylie Fennell, Louise Zedda-Sampson, Pamela Jeffs, Monique McLellan, Nikky Lee, Tim Borella, Leanbh Pearson, Jade Wildy, Claire Fitzpatrick, Lisa Rodrigues, Kaybee Pearson, Brianna Bullen, Tansy Rayner-Roberts, Kirstie Nicholson and Aiki Flinthart.

Raising money for the Melanoma Institute of Australia.

It Came From the Darkness is a unique collection of drabbles (stories of 100 words exactly) and artwork, compiled by Red Cape Publishing and Philip Rogers 101 PR in aid of the Max the Brave Fund. A huge number of horror writers, poets, artists, and film makers have come together to support the cause and offer the reader something special. Each piece of writing begins with the same five words, but the stories themselves are all wonderfully varied. So dig in, take each tale one bloody bite at a time, and beware of what comes from the darkness. Includes stories from David Owain Hughes, Matthew V. Brockmeyer, Tim Lebbon, Lou Yardley, Cortney Palm, Lee Franklin, MJ Dixon, Singh Lall, and many, many more.

Raising money for the Max the Brave Fund.
 

Happy reading.

Steph

 on behalf of Stuart and the Horror Tree Team

Trembling With Fear: Year 4 by [Stuart Conover, Stephanie Ellis] Trembling With Fear: More Tales From The Tree: Volume 3 by [Stuart Conover, Stephanie Ellis, Catherine Kenwell] Trembling With Fear: Serial Killers: Volume 2 by [Stuart Conover, Stephanie Ellis, Catherine Kenwell]

Trembling With Fear

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Trembling With Fear 11/28/21

Please note: We are temporarily closed to short flash stories (unless for one of the Specials) but open to drabbles, unholy trinities and serials. Please also remember to read our guidelines, especially on word counts!

By the end of the year, we will have caught up on all our short story publications for TWF. With that in mind, I feel it safe to reopen at the beginning of December – but please do not send before this!

I feel as though I’ve been talking a lot this week! From the live Youtube panel with Raul Reads about the What One Wouldn’t Do anthology, to a chat with Alyson Faye about our upcoming appearance at Derby’s UK Ghost Story Festival, to The Writing Sparrow podcast chat with Salina Langer, I haven’t shut up! It’s that other side of today’s writing career where you have to be more visible – but I will say that I enjoyed all, and I’m getting used to it.

I hope you all notice the Indie Bookshelf ‘specials’ appearing recently. One is a special promotion of the (2021) work of all patreons/sponsors/staff as a thank you for keeping the site running. If anyone reading this, fits this category and missed out on the call (Stuart alerted patreons and sponsors), let me know and I’ll add your work to the post. The other is a gathering up of the charity anthologies published in the past two years, to give a number of worthy causes a boost.

Our first story in Trembling with Fear is Settlement One by Hayden Waller an enjoyable sci-fi horror and the consequences for humanity when it attempts to settle other worlds. Can we start again or do we take our old problems and fears with us? We don’t get that many sci-fi/horror mashups and it would be nice to see more. And sci-fi doesn’t have to mean space either!

Rose-Coloured Cream by Claire Fitzpatrick is a tale of guilt and loss and with a gut punch of a last line.

Scurry by Natasha Lewington is one of those awful nightmares which you wake up dreading might be real. In this case it just might be!

The Long Walk by DJ Tyrer is a ghostly and very atmospheric drabble, nicely done.

 

Enjoy our stories and send in yours!

Steph

 

Stephanie Ellis

Editor, Trembling With Fear

For all of those who celebrated, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and have been celebrating what has become a time for gluttony and sloth. Now that you’ve recovered, we once again have a great line up of fiction for you to enjoy!

Stuart Conover

Editor, Horror Tree

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Trembling With Fear

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Unholy Trinity: Rot in the Water by Saffron Roberts

Our church worships at the altar of the Unholy Trinity. Its gospels are delivered as a trio of dark drabbles, linked so that Three become One. All hail the power of the Three.

The connective tissue between these stories is a creature born of the author’s thalassophobia, and the plots themselves are inspired by both their current place of living, namely the Zanzibarian coast, and by their eternal love of the zombie genre. 

Penny’s Hum

They followed Penny into the water, warm waves lapping at their thighs.

“What’s wrong?” Lily called. “Say something, Penny.”

“Say you’re a fucking retard!” Jaden yelled. 

Penny hummed franticly. The group cackled. 

“Mummy ain’t here Penny.” Lily beamed, stone in hand. “Nobody is.”

The group fell silent. A noise swelled over the water; a song, gaunt and abhorrent. It rose and fell with Penny’s hum, filling their ears with blood. Lily opened her mouth to scream and found herself drowning.

Penny watched their thrashing bodies being dragged beyond the reef. A little prayer escaped her lips. She walked home, crying.

 

Voices in the Sea

“He’d come home blabbering about voices in the sea. When I saw his ears bleeding, I tried dragging him to the hospital, but–you know these oldies. Won’t be seen for nothing. I stayed in his room that night. Didn’t sleep a wink.

The next day, God I swear, he was fine. Eating, drinking, laughing…” He stared at the IV drip, fingers twitching.

“Woke to this snapping sound and he was hanging over my bed, jaws open so wide I thought they were broken. Got no memory from there Officer, I passed out after he started chewing on my legs.”

 

Swim With Dolphins

Louisa hadn’t woken at four AM to not see any dolphins. The guide took the group further out, apologising, as seawater sprayed Louisa in the face and deepened their frown. 

The stink, like rotten shellfish, hit before they saw it; a grey mass of human corpses, with skin so puckered and swollen it might have slipped from their bones, being tossed in the waves like salad.

They heaved. The guide yanked the vessel around and sped away as his passengers screamed. Louisa stared with wild eyes, watching a hundred rotten arms and legs convulse as the bodies tried to follow.

 

Saffron Roberts

Saffron Roberts watched Ridley Scott’s Alien at eight years old, much to the fury of their mother, and the horror never left their soul. As a queer, autistic writer, they have since stived to inflict the same fear onto others in as a colourful and neurodiverse way as possible. 
 
They can be found on Instagram @saffron_roberts reviewing and promoting books and other works of dark fiction.

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Indie Bookshelf Releases 11/26/21

Got a book to launch, an event to promote, a kickstarter or seeking extra work/support as a result of being hit economically by Covid or life in general?

Get in touch and we’ll promote you here. The post is prepared each Thursday for publication on Friday. Contact us via Horror Tree’s contact address or connect via Twitter or Facebook.

Click on the book covers for more information. Remember to scroll down to the bottom of the page – there’s all sorts lurking in the deep.

 

Charity Publications

Silent Scream by [Alyson Faye] Giving the Devil His Due: Special Edition by [Lee Murray, Jason Sanford, Peter Tieryas, Kelley Armstrong, Kenesha Williams, Linda D Addison, Christina Henry, Hillary Monahan, Nisi Shawl, LEANNA RENEE HIEBER, Kaaron Warren, Stephen Graham Jones, Errick Nunnally, Angela Yuriko Smith, DANA CAMERON, Nicholas Kaufmann, Rebecca Brewer]   Flashes of Hope by [Anna Taborska, Dave Jeffery, Amy Grech, Matthew Davis, John Cady, Emma Lee, Gwen Weir, Ken Goldman, Alyson Faye, Theresa Derwin]  

Cabin Terror by [Sarah Jane Huntington]

 

Latest Book Launches

Horror Tree Sponsor* and Patreon Releases!

*All Horror Tree sponsors are able to claim a spot at the top of our listing during the donation of their sponsorship. Please use our contact form for more advertising pricing.
 
 
Were Tales: A Shapeshifter Anthology by [Jonathan Maberry, Eric J. Guignard, Stephanie Ellis, Catherine McCarthy, Gabino Iglesias, Cindy O'Quinn, Cynthia Pelayo, Christina Sng, Laurel Hightower, H.R. Boldwood, Ben Monroe, Elle Turpitt, Michelle Garza, Melissa Lason, Beverley Lee, S.H. Cooper, Villimey Mist, Kev Harrison, Theresa Derwin, Ruschelle Dillon, Linda Addison, Stephanie Wytovich, Tabatha Wood, Shane Douglas Keene, Sara Tantlinger, Alyson Faye, Baba Jide Low, S.D. Vassallo, Steven M. Long]

Werewolves. Berserkers. Kitsune. From the most ancient times, tales have been told of people who transform into beasts. Sometimes they’re friendly and helpful. Sometimes they’re tricksters, playing jokes on their hapless victims. And sometimes, they’re terrifying.

Were Tales is a collection of scary, thrilling, dark, mysterious, and even humorous short stories and poems of shapeshifters, from the talented minds of Jonathan Maberry, Stephanie Ellis, Gabino Iglesias, Laurel Hightower, Eric J. Guignard, Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason, Shane Douglas Keene, Clara Madrigano, Kev Harrison, Beverley Lee, S.H. Cooper, Elle Turpitt, Catherine McCarthy, Alyson Faye, Theresa Derwin, Ruschelle Dillon, Baba Jide Low, H.R. Boldwood, Ben Monroe, Cynthia Pelayo, Cindy O’Quinn, Sara Tantlinger, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Linda Addison, Villimey Mist, Tabatha Wood, and Christina Sng.

 

They (Might Have!) Slipped Through the Net (Or Not)

Slow Burn on Riverside by [Chad Lutzke] Bloodletter: (A Vigilante Vampire Series) (The Hemato Pages Book 1) by [C. E. Lutzke] The Hobgoblin of Little Minds by [Mark Matthews, Vincent Sammy]

 

It may be that from time to time, books appear here that I actually included when they first came out. This will be because I don’t always remember whether I included them or not and I prefer to err on the side of caution.

October

Image Postcards from the Body Farm: Horror Unlimited Book 2 by [Charlotte O'Farrell] Soaking In Strange Hours: A Tristan Grieves Fragment by [Erik Hofstatter] We Will Find A Place For You: A Collection of Horror by [Elford Alley, T.L. Bodine]

The Sound of Breaking Glass: (and other weird tales) by [Christine Makepeace, Gabino Iglesias] The Cursed Caves (The Tales of Tupuqa Book 1) by [Adam Hulse] Sweet Little Chittering: A Horror Anthology by [P.J. Blakey-Novis, Tony Sands, MJ Dixon, Richard Rowntree, Freddy Beans, Rae Dixon, Teige Reid, Tristan Sargent, Annie Knox, Bob Pipe] 

Tha Happening Last Stop: Horror on Route 13 by [Eerie River Publishing, David Green, Holley Cornetto, L. T. Emery, Patrick J. Foote, J.W. Garnett, Stephen Herczeg, Abigail Linhardt, Beth W. Patterson, Lynne Phillips, Austin Shirey, Joshua D Taylor, V. A. Vazquez, Patrick Winters]

DeadSteam II by [Bryce Raffle] Soaking In Strange Hours: A Tristan Grieves Fragment by [Erik Hofstatter]

Joss Paper: And Other Horror Stories by [Yin Leong]

November

1 Death Cuisine (Mortem Cycle Book 4) by [Tim Mendees, Rebecca Rowland, Callum Pearce, Chisto Healy, Neen Cohen, Drew Starling, Rhiannon Lotze, Jasmine Jarvis, S.O. Green, Lyndsey Ellis-Holloway]2 Chocolateman by [Jonathan Butcher, K. Trap Jones] 5 Tenta Girl by [Stephen Barnard]  150 Exquisite Horror Books: Essential Guide to the Best 150 Books of Contemporary Horror Fiction by [Alessandro Manzetti, Crystal Lake Publishing]

9 10 Origin of Evil: Beginnings by [Caroline Angel]12 With Benefits: What's a bit of fun between friends? 

Under Ground15 The Best of Indie Horror: Christmas Edition by [RJ Roles , Eric Butler, Kevin J. Kennedy, Matthew A Clarke, Steve Stred, Patrick Rueman, Matthew V. Brockmeyer, Lex H. Jones, Veronica Smith, Zoltan Komor, David Owain Hughes, Natasha Sinclair]16 Field Notes from a Nightmare: An Anthology of Ecological Horror by [Alex Ebenstein] Boiling Shadow (The Hollowhills Cycle) by [Tim Mendees]

Tethered to Darkness by [Justin Holley] 17 Image Blood Wisp by [Sarina Langer]

23 Those We Left Behind: And Other Sacrifices by [Brandon Applegate, Elford Alley] A Splintered Soul (Children of the Crescent Moon Book 1) by [Adrian Meredith]26 The Boy with the Spider Face by [AJ Franks, Crystal Lake Publishing] 30 Nocturnal Pursuits by [Glenn Rolfe]

No photo description available.

December

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2022 – Happy New Year!

January

11 PictureTBA Image

February

15 Picture

Services

Editing Offer! Erin Al-Mehairi. Through the end of the year, women can still grab 10% off Erin Al-Mehairi’s Hook of a Book editing services on developmental and copy edits. My lowered overall pandemic price is still available for all as well. Over twenty-five years as an editor in various forms, and nine in fiction, to find out more go to https://hookofabook.wordpress.com/editing/.

Editing: Michael David Wilson, This Is Horror Founder and Editor In Chief, podcaster, and writer (The Girl in the Video) is currently offering his freelance editing services. “Michael David Wilson invented the fine-toothed comb. His attention to detail is second to none, and he has a wonderful understanding of structure. This is a guy who knows how good writing works.”—Ray Cluley, author of WATER FOR DROWNING Michael has over ten years of editing experience and has edited books by Josh Malerman, Pat Cadigan, Stephen Graham Jones, David Moody, and many others. He’s worked with various publishing houses and small presses including Rebellion Publishing and Broken River Books. Prices start from £0.01/word. For further information go here: michaeldavidwilson.co.uk/editing/. Contact Michael: [email protected]

Editing, critiquing, artwork – Eugene Johnson is a man of many talents, an award-winning editor, filmmaker and artist. He will be will be selling his art, book covers, book art, logo designs, making prints, offering short story critiques/edits, special book projects like a coloring book he’s creating with another author and more for a small fee. Initially to fund desperately needed repairs on his car, once that is complete he hopes to turn his focus towards helping others that need support. Join him in his endeavours in getting this help to those who need it. Contact him via https://plaiddragonpublishing.com/ and he can also be found on https://www.facebook.com/eugene.johnson.14855. If you’d like to help him get his car fixed that bit quicker, please drop in on his Fundraiser set up by friends. (I think another link will be set up in the near future regarding his services and I’ll update it here when that happens.)

Editing – Elle Turpitt, elleturpittediting.com, is available for all editing work – short story, novella, novel, or chapter extracts. She also has a Ko-Fi (ko-fi.com/elleturpitt), or if you’d rather send a little gift to help her smile at a stressful time, she has a wishlist set up for this month (amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls). All support is appreciated. 

 

Writing and Editing Services from Ben Long. Go to Ben for ‘Killer Copy, Creative Content, and Eye-opening Edits’! Ben is ‘a passionate and engaging freelancer with 2+ years of experience in a variety of writing and editing endeavors. He is also a regular contributor to several online brands in the horror niche.’ You can find out more about him here https://readingvicariously.net/services/.

 

Kickstarters and Gofundme!

All the funds raised will help pay the writers, artist and the creation of Hybrids: Misfits, Monsters, and other Phenomena. Artwork from Luke Spooner.

Hybrid Sequence Media is proud to present new stories and poetry from: Jonathan Maberry, Lee Murray, Angela Yuriko Smith, Lucy Snyder, Michael Bailey, Dacre Stoker, Michael Knost, Marge Simon, Bruce Boston, Gene Flynn, Alicia Hilton, Alessandro Manzetti, Romie Stott,  Tim Waggoner, D. Harlan Wilson, Cindy O’Quinn, Jamal Hodge, John Palisano, Gabino Iglesias, Philip Fracassi, SL Edwards, John Claude Smith, Jeffrey Thomas, Nicole Givens Kurtz, and Linda D. Addison. With an Introduction by Doug Murano.

Happy reading.

Steph

 on behalf of Stuart and the Horror Tree Team

Trembling With Fear: Year 4 by [Stuart Conover, Stephanie Ellis] Trembling With Fear: More Tales From The Tree: Volume 3 by [Stuart Conover, Stephanie Ellis, Catherine Kenwell] Trembling With Fear: Serial Killers: Volume 2 by [Stuart Conover, Stephanie Ellis, Catherine Kenwell]

Articles

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Indie Bookshelf Releases – Horror Tree Christmas Special!

This Indie Bookshelf Releases post is a special one. It’s a thankyou to all those who work so hard behind the scenes to keep Horror Tree running – from the boss, Stuart Conover, to those who do the tech stuff, write the articles, search out submissions, review, edit, or support via patreon or sponsorship,. Without the fantastic folk who volunteer their free(!) time and support, Horror Tree wouldn’t be what it is. Thank you all.

Check out the work of all these wonderful people and perhaps buy a book or two or three from them! There’s certain to be something on the shelf which grabs your fancy and would make a great gift either for someone – or yourself!

 

Patreons and Sponsors

 

Brigids Gate Press

and coming in Jan 2022:

Clint Collins

Lustcraftian Horrors: Erotic Stories Inspired by H. P. Lovecraft by [Rick Powell, Robert J. Leuthold, Janine Ashbless, Essemoh Teepee, Clint Collins, Jaap Boekestein, Jay Aury, Ronald J. Murray, Rajeev Singh, Hydra M. Star]

Elana Gomel

Little Sister: A Novella about Friendship and Monsters set in Soviet-era Russia (A Series of Russian Historical Fantasy Book 1) by [Elana Gomel, Crystal Lake Publishing] The Best Horror of the Year Volume Thirteen The Jewish Book of Horror by [Daniel Braum, Elana Gomel, Josh Schlossberg] Summer of Speculation: Catastrophe 2021 by [Lindsay Pugh, Sandy Stuckless, David Castlewitz, Katie Kent, Nickolas Urpi, Alex Minns, Daragh Kennedy, Max Turner, Barend Nieuwstraten III, Kara Race-Moore]

If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of Nightmare Creatures (The Better Off Dead Series Book 4) by [Sinister Smile Press, R.E. Sargent, Steven Pajak, Scotty Milder, Elana Gomel, Hannah O'Doom, Scott Harper, Bridgett Nelson, Brian Asman, Sandra Stephens, Henry Herz, Red Lagoe, Frank Beghin, Kevin M. Folliard, Matthew R. Davis, Jeff Strand] Due out 2022!

Connect with her on Twitter @ElanaGomel and her website https://www.citiesoflightanddarkness.com/

Paul O’Neill

The Nightmare Tree by [Paul O'Neill] It Calls From the Doors by [Eerie River Publishing, Aisling Campbell, Ally Wilkes, Benjamin Allocco, Chris Hewitt, Damien Allmark, David Green, Matthew R. Davis, Adam Douglas, Georgia Cook, Jennifer Quail, Michael Gore, Mason Gallaway, Paul O'Neill, Richard Clive, R. L. Meza, Steven Streeter, Steve Neal, Rachel Unger]

David Perlmutter

David Perlmutter’s fiction is now available via Godless.com. Click the image above to find out more. He also has a patreon, if you would like to support him further.

Rebecca Rowland

Find out more about her, here https://rowlandbooks.com/

Deborah Sheldon

Man-Beast by [Deborah Sheldon]

Discover more about Deborah Sheldon here https://deborahsheldon.wordpress.com/.

 

 

Staff/Contributors

 

J.D. Blackwell

Cut & Dyed (Zombie Cosmetologist Novellas Book 3) by [J.D. Blackrose] The Jewish Book of Horror by [Daniel Braum, Elana Gomel, Josh Schlossberg] Demon Kissed (The Summoner’s Mark Book 1) by [J. D. Blackrose]

Rob E. Boley

Midnight From Beyond the Stars by [Gabino Iglesias, James Newman, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Tim Curran, Lee Murray, Ronald Kelly, Samantha Kolesnik, Kenneth W. Cain] Violent Vixens: An Homage to Grindhouse Horror by [Aric Sundquist, Gwendolyn Kiste, Sarah Read, Scotty Milder, Rob E. Boley, Sophie Leah, Adrian Ludens, Mark Wheaton, S.R. Miller, Paul Magnan, S.K. Campbell, Buck Weiss, Nik Patrick, Shannon Brady, Jaap Boekestein, Matt Neil Hill] Dark Waters by [Rhonda Parrish , Rose Chisnall, Rob E. Boley, Derek Newman-Stille, Megan M. Davies-Ostrom, Lex Vranick, Thomas Vaughn, Sharmon Gazaway, Rowena McGowan, Chris Black]

Upcoming: watch out for his story in Diabolical Plots!

Stuart Conover

Holly Cornetto

It Calls From the Sea: An Anthology of Terror on the Deep Blue Sea by [Eerie River Publishing, Chris Bannor, Chris Hewitt, Christopher Bond, Dan Le Fever, David Green, Georgia Cook, Holley Cornetto, Julie Sevens, Lin Darrow, M.B.Vujacic, Mason Gallaway, McKenzie Richardson, R. L. Meza, S.O. Green, Steve Neal, T. M. Brown, Tim Mendees, Trey Dowell, Watt Morgan, Alanna Robertson-Webb] Night Terrors Vol. 9: Short Horror Stories Anthology by [Scare Street, Angelique Fawns, Warren Benedetto, J. Z. Pitts, K. D. Bowers, Sean Goulding, D. M. Woolston, Sinéad McCabe, Bryson Tuckerman, Carl Hughes, Stuart Hardy, Dominick Cancilla, Holley Cornetto, Thomas C. Mavroudis, Ron Ripley] The Half That You See by [Rebecca Rowland] 13 Victims by [D KERSHAW, Tim Mendees, C. Marry Hultman, Thomas K.S. Wake, Jasmine Jarvis, Stephen Herczeg, Drew Starling, Joshua D. Taylor, Jonathan Inbody, Trisha Ridinger McKee, V.A. Vasquez, Holley Cornetto, J.W. Garrett, David Green, D. Kershaw]

H is for Hell (A to Z of Horror Book 8) by [Holley Cornetto, Bob Johnston, Simon J. Plant, Gemma Paul, Monster Smith, Mo Donovan, John Clewarth, Sarah Jane Huntington, Daniel R. Robichaud, P.J. Blakey-Novis] Last Stop: Horror on Route 13 by [Eerie River Publishing, David Green, Holley Cornetto, L. T. Emery, Patrick J. Foote, J.W. Garnett, Stephen Herczeg, Abigail Linhardt, Beth W. Patterson, Lynne Phillips, Austin Shirey, Joshua D Taylor, V. A. Vazquez, Patrick Winters] Carry On (AFTER: A POST-APOCALYPTIC SURVIVOR SERIES) Don't Break The Oath : Women of Horror Anthology Volume 4 by [Jill Girardi, Janine Pipe, Meghan Arcuri, Angela Yuriko Smith, Anna Taborska, K.P. Kulski, Sonora Taylor, Jennifer Soucy, Alyson Faye, Lydia Prime]

 

Joe Donley

Image of Dim Shores Presents Volume 2 (Anthology) Cats of the Pacific Northwest by [J.W. Donley, Leo Corbett]

Services: formatting and cover design. For more information, please see his website here.

Stephanie Ellis

What One Wouldn't Do: An Anthology on the Lengths One Might Go To by [Scott J. Moses, J.A.W. McCarthy, Joanna Koch, Eric LaRocca, Hailey Piper, Christi Nogle, Cheri Kamei, Daniel Barnett, Eric Raglin, Laurel Hightower] As the Wheel Turns: More Tales from the Weald by [Stephanie Ellis]   Daughters of Darkness by [Stephanie Ellis, Alyson Faye, Theresa Derwin, Ruschelle Dillon]

Daughters of Darkness II by [Beverley Lee, Lynn Love, Catherine McCarthy, T.C. Parker, Stephanie Ellis, Alyson Faye]  One, Two, I See You: Nursery Rhymes for Darker Minds by [Stephanie Ellis] Infectious Hope 

A Silent Dystopia: Stories from A Quiet Apocalypse edited by D.T. Griffith

Find out more at stephanieellis.org and amazon.

She is part of the HWA’s mentor program and you can also find her as part of the Dark Fusion podcast team with Beverley Lee and Shane Douglas Keene here.

Alyson Faye

Silent Scream by [Alyson Faye] Flashes of Hope by [Anna Taborska, Dave Jeffery, Amy Grech, Matthew Davis, John Cady, Emma Lee, Gwen Weir, Ken Goldman, Alyson Faye, Theresa Derwin] Daughters of Darkness by [Stephanie Ellis, Alyson Faye, Theresa Derwin, Ruschelle Dillon] Daughters of Darkness II by [Beverley Lee, Lynn Love, Catherine McCarthy, T.C. Parker, Stephanie Ellis, Alyson Faye]

Online: Sylvia Magazine, The Casket of Fictional Delights, Page and Spine, The Sirens Call zine.

Upcoming: Space and Time Magazine

Services:

Alyson Faye works as a fiction editor and proofreader for Bridge House Publishing. Recent projects have included :- Days Pass Like a Shadow by Paula R.C.Readman; and award winning writer, Steve Wade’s collection. She also writes under the name Alyson Faye

For more information about her editing services, you can find her here @AlysonFaye2 and [email protected]

Angelique Fawns

The Guide of all Guides: Where to submit your speculative short stories (Selling Stories Book 1) by [Angelique Fawns]

Podcast: Read Me a Nightmare.

Upcoming publications: Dark Dispatch December edition. Last Girls Club Roaring 90s issue.

Find out more about Angelique Fawns here.

Horror Tree!

Trembling With Fear: Year 4 by [Stuart Conover, Stephanie Ellis] Trembling With Fear: More Tales From The Tree: Volume 3 by [Stuart Conover, Stephanie Ellis, Catherine Kenwell] Trembling With Fear: Serial Killers: Volume 2 by [Stuart Conover, Stephanie Ellis, Catherine Kenwell]

Catherine Thole Jordan

Catherine Thole Jordan also mentors and facilitates creative writing.

Amazon author page here.

Ken MacGregor

Ken MacGregor amazon author page here.

Melody E. McIntyre

Festival of Fear: Under the Big Top Drabbles 1 by [Black Ink Fiction, Alison Kaiser, Alma Sinan, Andrew Kurtz, Andy Clark, Ashleigh Cattermole-Crump, B.A. Nielsen, B.R. Turnage, Bernardo Villela, Beth W. Patterson, BF Vega, Birgit K Gaiser, Brieanne OReilly, Cecelia Hopkins-Drewer, Chisto Healy, Christopher T. Dabrowski, Connie Millard, Daniel Ausema, David Green, David Owain Hughes, David Staiger, Dawn DeBraal, Destiny Eve Pifer, Dorian J. Sinnott, Doug Hawley, E.N. Dawson, Emma K. Leadley, Emma Kathryn, G. J. Dunn, Gabriella Balcom, Gary Kruse, Gary McDonough, Hari Navarro, Hastings Kidd, Ingrid Thornquest, J.S. Nel, Jacek Wilkos, Jameson Grey, Jim Nemeth, Jodie Francis, Kevin J Kennedy, Kevin McCarty, Kim Plasket, Laura Shenton, M. B. Pedersen, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Maggie D. Brace, Marie Sterling, Matt Krizan, Matthew Pedersen, Meera Dandekar, Melody E. McIntyre, Michelle Brett, Morgan Bennett, N.M. Brown, Nat Whiston, Natasha Sinclair, Nicole Henning, Nyki Blatchley, Olivia Arieti, Patrick Winters, Philip Rogers, Rachel C. Pendragon, Radar DeBoard, Reyna Young, Scarlett Lake, Stephen Johnson, Tiffany Christie, Tom Trussel, Tyson Miller, Zachary Hennis, Brandi Hicks, Shelly Jarvis] Halloween Frights (Holiday Horrors) by [Black Ink Fiction, A.S. Charly, Alexandra Harper, Andrew Kurtz, Bernardo Villela, Birgit Gaiser, Brian J. Smith, Brooke Percy, Bry White, Christopher T. Dabrowski, Dani West, Darlene Holt, Dawn DeBraal, Den Ghostliven, Destiny Eve Pifer, DJ Tyrer, Dorian J. Sinnott, Gabriella Balcom, Gary McDonough, Gay D. Alson, Guy Risessen, Jacek Wilkos, Jade Wildy, James S. Austin, Jameson Grey, Jeff Fields McCormack, Brandi Hicks, Shelly Jarvis] Reaperman: Drabbles 3 (Legends of Night) by [Black Ink Fiction, Brandi Hicks, Shelly Jarvis, A.S. Charly, Alex Minns, Amanda Arab, Andrew Kurtz, Ashleigh Cattermole-Crump, B. Frederick Foley, B.A. Nielson, Belinda Brady, Bill Bibo, Birgit Gaiser, Brieanne O'Reilly, C. Dan Castro, C.E. Stokes, Chisto Healy, Christopher T. Dabrowski, Collin Yeoh, Connie Millard, Connor Sassmannshausen, Dan Allen, David Green, David Owain Hughes, Davion Moore, Dawn DeBraal, Deborah Dubas Groom, Destiny Eve Pifer, Dorian J. Sinnott, Emma K. Leadley, Fariel Shafee, Gabriella Balcom, Gary McDonough, Gary Rubidge, Hari Navarro, Hillary Lyon, Isaac Menuza, J.S Nel, Jacek Wilkos, Jamie Blyth, Jennifer Kirwan, Jodi Jensen, Jodie Angell, Jodie Francis, Keith Burdon, Kevin EC Curdgel, Kevin Kennedy, Lana Trick, Laura Shenton, Leanbh Pearson, M.B. Pedersen, Maggie D. Brace, Mark N. Drake, Mark Rankin, Matthew Spence, McKenzie Richardson, Meera Dandekar, Melody E. McIntyre, N.M. Brown, Natasha Sinclair, Nick Watts, Nicole Henning, Olivia Arieti, Patrick Winters, Philip Rogers, R. A. Goli, Rachel C. Pendragon, Radar DeBoard, Renata Pavrey, Reyna Young, Rich Rurshell, Robert Allen Lupton, Sam Lesek, Scott McGregor, Shania Hayhoe, Soren Ringh, Stephen Herczeg, Stephen Johnson, Steven Holding, Thomas Sturgeon Jr., Tiffany Christie, Tony Logan, Zachary Hennis] Rock Band: An Anthology of Music-Inspired Dark Microfiction (Hundred Word Horror) by [A.R. Ward, Scarlett Lake, Jacqueline Mitchell, Emma Kathryn, Alexis DuBon, Andrew McDonald, Anna Orridge, Tonia Markou, Marc Sorondo, Birgit K. Gaiser, Caitlin Marceau, Cara Mast, Charles E.P. Murphy, Vivian Kasley, Connie Millard, Colin Leonard, Carys Crossen, James Dick, Janine Pipe, Gus Wood, Gary Kruse, R.J. Joseph, Isaac Menuza, Jen Frankel, Justin Terry, J.R. Handfield, Katie Young, K.J. Watson, Laura Shenton, Bill Hughes, Eleanor Luke, Kim Mannix, Marie McWilliams, Mario Aliberto III, Mary Rajotte, Jameson Grey, Meera Dandekar, Patrick Barb, Petina Strohmer, Renata Pavrey, M.M. MacLeod, Ryan Fay, Stephen Daultrey, Sheri White, Gillian Duff, Guy Riessen, David Fey, Vashelle Nino, Patrick Whitehurst, Warren Benedetto, Dale Parnell, Clarabelle Miray Fields, Nikki R. Leigh, Alice J. Black, April Yates, Cameron Phillips, Christopher Wood, Collin Yeoh, Dorian J. Sinnott, D.K. Lawhorn, Maxwell Marais, Greggore Shepherd, Holden Zuras, Leon Lavender, Iliana Coleman, Jessica Wilcox, J.C. Robinson, Joe Haward, Julian Stuart, K.M. Bennett, K.A. Schultz, Kristin Cleaveland, Laura Keating, Waverly X. Night, Melody E. McIntyre, Monique Asher, Patrick Winters, Richard Martin, Benjamin Langley, S.J. Townend, Steve Neal, T.L. Beeding, Micah Castle, Toshiya Kamei, Sean Reardon, Hazel Ragaire]

Summer Terrors (Holiday Horrors) by [Black Ink Fiction, A.S. Charly, Alex Avery, Alexandra Harper, Andrew Kurtz, Bernardo Villela, Brieanne O'Reilly, Bry White, Catherine Calvin, Chisto Healy, Cory Rubidge, Dale Parnell, David Green, Dawn DeBraal, Destiny Eve Pifer, DJ Elton, Dorian J. Sinnott, Evan Baughfman, Gabriella Balcom, Gary Rubidge, Helen Picariello, J.S. Nel, Jade Wildy, Jennifer Kirwan, Jodie Francis, K.B. Elijah, Kevin Hopson, Lamont A. Turner, Laura Shenton, Leanbh Pearson, Lynne Phillips, M. Lynn Grier, Maggie D. Brace, Meera Dandekar, Melody E McIntyre, Michelle Brett, Monster Smith, Nat Whiston, Natasha Sinclair, Nerisha Kemraj, Nicholas Wilkinson, Olivia Arieti, Patrick Winters, Peter J. Foote, Rachel C. Pendragon, Radar Deboard, Renata Pavrey, Reyna Young, Scott McGregor, Stephen Herczeg, Stephen Johnson, Wondra Vanian, Brandi Hicks , Shelly Jarvis] Bloodlust: Dark Criminal Romance (Underground Affliction Book 1) by [Alex Denver] Beneath: An Anthology of Dark Microfiction (Hundred Word Horror) by [A.R. Ward, A. Whittenberg, Aaron E. Lee, Alexis DuBon, Andrew McDonald, Anna Sanderson, Annabel Record, Antonia Rachel Ward, April Yates, Austrian Spencer, Brianna Malotke, Caitlin Marceau, Cara Mast, Carys Crossen, Caytlyn Brooke, Claire Hunter, Claire Loader, Clay F. Johnson, Colin Leonard, Dale Parnell, David Fey, Dee Grimes, doungjai gam, .M. Alores, Edward Brock, Eilidh Spence, Elford Alley, Emma K, Emma Kathryn, Emma Murray, Eric Raglin, Erin M. Brady, Evelyn Freeling, Ezekiel Kincaid, Fusako Ohki, Gabbie Frulla,, Georgia Cook, Gus Wood, Hazel Ragaire, Helen M. Merrick, Isaac Menuza, J.C. Robinson, J.J. Kīmmorist,, J.R. Handfield, Jameson Grey, Jeremiah Dylan Cook, Jessica Wilcox, Joe Scipione, Josh Sippie, Julia Ross, Julie Sevens, Kati Lokadottir, Katie Young, Keely O'Shaughnessy, Kevin Skirrow, Kirin Sasa, Kristin Cleaveland, Laura Keating, Laura Nettles, Laura Shenton, Laurence Sullivan, Lily Tupa, Lyndsey Croal, M.M. MacLeod, Matthew Barron, Meera Dandekar, Melody E. McIntyre, Micah Castle,, Michelle Mellon, Mike Murphy, Nerisha Kemraj, Nicola Kapron, Nicole M. Wolverton, Paige Johnson, Patrick Whitehurst, Patrick Winters, Petina Strohmer, R.J. Joseph, Robyn Pritzker, Ryan B. Green, Sean Reardon, Sheri White, Skye Pagon, Sophie Sadler, Stephen Howard, Tiffany Michelle Brown, Toshiya Kamei, Umiyuri Kasuyama, Vivian Kasley, Yukari Kousaka] Lost Lore and Legends by [David Green, C. Marry Hultman, Derek Power, Tim Mendees, Nick Gerrard, Chris Hewitt, Adam Carpenter]

Supernatural Drabbles of Dread: A Horror Anthology by [Macabre Ladies, Eleanor Merry, Cassandra Angler]

Melody E. McIntyre amazon author page here.

Silvia Canton Rodoni

Stark Naked  Infectious Hope

Find out more about Sylvia Canton Rodoni here and here.

Angeline Trevena

How to Create History: An Author’s Guide to Creating Histories, Myths, and Monsters (Author Guides Book 4) by [Angeline Trevena] Silkwash (Cloudspans Book 1) by [Angeline Trevena] Steadyard (Cloudspans Book 2) by [Angeline Trevena]

Visit Angeline Trevena’s website here.

Happy reading.

Steph

 on behalf of Stuart and the Horror Tree Team

Trembling With Fear

 by 

Trembling With Fear 11/21/21

Please note: We are temporarily closed to short flash stories (unless for one of the Specials) but open to drabbles, unholy trinities and serials. Please also remember to read our guidelines, especially on word counts!

By the end of the year, we will have caught up on all our short story publications for TWF. With that in mind, I feel it safe to reopen at the beginning of December – but please do not send before this!

This week I’ve been getting things ready for the UK Ghost Festival in Derby next weekend. I’ll be around for a panel and event but most of the time I’ll be at a table in the Quad (with wonderful husband, Geraint, manning it during any absence) selling books. If you’re around come over, say hello, perhaps pick up a book or two. Alyson Faye will be with me and we’re selling copies of Black Angel Press’ Daughters of Darkness I and II in addition to our own books which we’ll be more than happy to sign.

Reading has been Morning Star by Karl Ove Knausgaard (almost finished!) and The Fiends in the Furrows II. The latter is an excellent collection of new folk horror stories which I really enjoyed. I’ve also been reading editions of Hellebore Magazine which deals with folk horror and the occult. It’s a lovely little mag, informative and interesting and I’d recommend.

I’m also looking at some special Indie Bookshelf Release Posts leading up to Christmas and I’m going to try and create a charity one. If you know of, or have been part of, any charity anthologies released this year – and I’ll say last year as well, due to covid – please let me know and I’ll add them to post.

Our first story in Trembling with Fear is The Rat Goes Underground by Rodolfo Boskovic is a grim tale recounting the consequences of selling people out. What was particularly enjoyable about this one was the ‘voice’ of the narrator, its fluid tone, the sense of being ‘in confidence’, which draws the reader in naturally.

Grandpa’s Girl by S.C. Fisher is a slightly ambiguous ghost story but one which reinforces a family bond from beyond the grave.

Reversion by Alyson Faye is a lovely gothic poem with some gorgeous imagery illustrating decay across the passage. Evocative.

Short Order Supervillain by Brian Maycock has an ending which equates human life in a shocking manner to an everyday product. This sort of blunt statement is a good trick to add in an extra level of horror.

Enjoy our stories and send in yours!

Steph

Stephanie Ellis

Editor, Trembling With Fear

We’ve been having some huge issues with our mailing list the past two weeks. I believe it may be resolved this week. If not, I’ll likely be juggling around room in the budget to go back to our old newsletter provider. So, that’s been fun. Thankfully, there are some great stories to cheer us all up below!

Stuart Conover

Editor, Horror Tree

(more…)

Trembling With Fear

 by 

Unholy Trinity: Timmy by James Rumpel

Our church worships at the altar of the Unholy Trinity. Its gospels are delivered as a trio of dark drabbles, linked so that Three become One. All hail the power of the Three.

I

I remember a day nearly fifteen years ago. When I got home from work and pulled in the driveway, I noticed the neighbor boy, Timmy, sitting on his stoop throwing pebbles at a toad. He was probably about seven years old at the time.

“Hi, Timmy,” I called. “How are you doing?”

“Okay, I guess,” he replied, not looking up from his target. “I had to bury my cat today.”

“Oh, that’s too bad,” I said. “How did it die?”

Timmy finally looked up at me, a sheepish grin on his face. “I never said anything about it being dead.”

 

II

When Timmy was in his late teens, I was talking to him in the yard one Saturday evening. I noticed he was carrying a long, skinny duffel bag. Curious, I asked him what kind of plans he had for that night.

“I’m going to take out a girl at the mall,” was his reply.

“Don’t you mean you’re going to take out a girl to the mall.”

The same sly grin that had seen many times over the previous dozen years, once again, appeared on his face.

He chuckled, “I think I said it exactly the way I meant it.”

 

III

After the officer finished questioning me, I turned to watch the crime scene investigators carry shovels and a jack-hammer into the basement of Timmy’s family home.

Soon after, I was confronted by a reporter from the local television station.

“Tell us about the neighbor boy,” she demanded. “Did you have any clue that he was capable of such heinous crimes?”

I shrugged. “Timmy seemed like a nice kid. He had a keen sense of humor. I got along well with him. Heck, we even have the same hobby.”

I smiled to myself, hoping the reporter wouldn’t decipher my cryptic comment.

James Rumpel

James Rumpel is a retired high school math teacher who has enjoyed spending some of his additional free time trying to put some of the weird ideas circling his brain into words.

Articles

 by 

Indie Bookshelf Releases 11/19/21

Got a book to launch, an event to promote, a kickstarter or seeking extra work/support as a result of being hit economically by Covid or life in general?

Get in touch and we’ll promote you here. The post is prepared each Thursday for publication on Friday. Contact us via Horror Tree’s contact address or connect via Twitter or Facebook.

Click on the book covers for more information. Remember to scroll down to the bottom of the page – there’s all sorts lurking in the deep.

 

Charity Publications

Silent Scream by [Alyson Faye] Giving the Devil His Due: Special Edition by [Lee Murray, Jason Sanford, Peter Tieryas, Kelley Armstrong, Kenesha Williams, Linda D Addison, Christina Henry, Hillary Monahan, Nisi Shawl, LEANNA RENEE HIEBER, Kaaron Warren, Stephen Graham Jones, Errick Nunnally, Angela Yuriko Smith, DANA CAMERON, Nicholas Kaufmann, Rebecca Brewer]   Flashes of Hope by [Anna Taborska, Dave Jeffery, Amy Grech, Matthew Davis, John Cady, Emma Lee, Gwen Weir, Ken Goldman, Alyson Faye, Theresa Derwin]  

Cabin Terror by [Sarah Jane Huntington]

 

Latest Book Launches

Horror Tree Sponsor* and Patreon Releases!

*All Horror Tree sponsors are able to claim a spot at the top of our listing during the donation of their sponsorship. Please use our contact form for more advertising pricing.
 
 
Were Tales: A Shapeshifter Anthology by [Jonathan Maberry, Eric J. Guignard, Stephanie Ellis, Catherine McCarthy, Gabino Iglesias, Cindy O'Quinn, Cynthia Pelayo, Christina Sng, Laurel Hightower, H.R. Boldwood, Ben Monroe, Elle Turpitt, Michelle Garza, Melissa Lason, Beverley Lee, S.H. Cooper, Villimey Mist, Kev Harrison, Theresa Derwin, Ruschelle Dillon, Linda Addison, Stephanie Wytovich, Tabatha Wood, Shane Douglas Keene, Sara Tantlinger, Alyson Faye, Baba Jide Low, S.D. Vassallo, Steven M. Long]

Werewolves. Berserkers. Kitsune. From the most ancient times, tales have been told of people who transform into beasts. Sometimes they’re friendly and helpful. Sometimes they’re tricksters, playing jokes on their hapless victims. And sometimes, they’re terrifying.

Were Tales is a collection of scary, thrilling, dark, mysterious, and even humorous short stories and poems of shapeshifters, from the talented minds of Jonathan Maberry, Stephanie Ellis, Gabino Iglesias, Laurel Hightower, Eric J. Guignard, Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason, Shane Douglas Keene, Clara Madrigano, Kev Harrison, Beverley Lee, S.H. Cooper, Elle Turpitt, Catherine McCarthy, Alyson Faye, Theresa Derwin, Ruschelle Dillon, Baba Jide Low, H.R. Boldwood, Ben Monroe, Cynthia Pelayo, Cindy O’Quinn, Sara Tantlinger, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Linda Addison, Villimey Mist, Tabatha Wood, and Christina Sng.

 

They (Might Have!) Slipped Through the Net (Or Not)

Slow Burn on Riverside by [Chad Lutzke] Bloodletter: (A Vigilante Vampire Series) (The Hemato Pages Book 1) by [C. E. Lutzke] The Hobgoblin of Little Minds by [Mark Matthews, Vincent Sammy]

 

It may be that from time to time, books appear here that I actually included when they first came out. This will be because I don’t always remember whether I included them or not and I prefer to err on the side of caution.

October

Wall of Dolls by [Yolanda Sfetsos] Appletown by [Antoinette Corvo] Dead in the Water by [Jennifer Soucy]

Image of The Voice of the Burning House: Poems - PREORDER Image of The Ettinfell of Beacon Hill: Gothic Tales of Boston - PREORDER Seeds by [Tabatha Wood]

Image Postcards from the Body Farm: Horror Unlimited Book 2 by [Charlotte O'Farrell] Soaking In Strange Hours: A Tristan Grieves Fragment by [Erik Hofstatter] We Will Find A Place For You: A Collection of Horror by [Elford Alley, T.L. Bodine]

The Sound of Breaking Glass: (and other weird tales) by [Christine Makepeace, Gabino Iglesias] The Cursed Caves (The Tales of Tupuqa Book 1) by [Adam Hulse] Sweet Little Chittering: A Horror Anthology by [P.J. Blakey-Novis, Tony Sands, MJ Dixon, Richard Rowntree, Freddy Beans, Rae Dixon, Teige Reid, Tristan Sargent, Annie Knox, Bob Pipe] 

Tha Happening Last Stop: Horror on Route 13 by [Eerie River Publishing, David Green, Holley Cornetto, L. T. Emery, Patrick J. Foote, J.W. Garnett, Stephen Herczeg, Abigail Linhardt, Beth W. Patterson, Lynne Phillips, Austin Shirey, Joshua D Taylor, V. A. Vazquez, Patrick Winters]

DeadSteam II by [Bryce Raffle] Soaking In Strange Hours: A Tristan Grieves Fragment by [Erik Hofstatter]

Joss Paper: And Other Horror Stories by [Yin Leong]

November

1 Death Cuisine (Mortem Cycle Book 4) by [Tim Mendees, Rebecca Rowland, Callum Pearce, Chisto Healy, Neen Cohen, Drew Starling, Rhiannon Lotze, Jasmine Jarvis, S.O. Green, Lyndsey Ellis-Holloway]2 Chocolateman by [Jonathan Butcher, K. Trap Jones] 5 Tenta Girl by [Stephen Barnard]  150 Exquisite Horror Books: Essential Guide to the Best 150 Books of Contemporary Horror Fiction by [Alessandro Manzetti, Crystal Lake Publishing]

9 10 Origin of Evil: Beginnings by [Caroline Angel]12 With Benefits: What's a bit of fun between friends? 

Under Ground15 The Best of Indie Horror: Christmas Edition by [RJ Roles , Eric Butler, Kevin J. Kennedy, Matthew A Clarke, Steve Stred, Patrick Rueman, Matthew V. Brockmeyer, Lex H. Jones, Veronica Smith, Zoltan Komor, David Owain Hughes, Natasha Sinclair]16 Field Notes from a Nightmare: An Anthology of Ecological Horror by [Alex Ebenstein] Boiling Shadow (The Hollowhills Cycle) by [Tim Mendees]

Tethered to Darkness by [Justin Holley] 17 Image 23 Those We Left Behind: And Other Sacrifices by [Brandon Applegate, Elford Alley] 

26 The Boy with the Spider Face by [AJ Franks, Crystal Lake Publishing] 30 Nocturnal Pursuits by [Glenn Rolfe]

December

TBA

 

2022 – Happy New Year!

January

11 PictureTBA

February

15 Picture

Services

Editing Offer! Erin Al-Mehairi. Through the end of the year, women can still grab 10% off Erin Al-Mehairi’s Hook of a Book editing services on developmental and copy edits. My lowered overall pandemic price is still available for all as well. Over twenty-five years as an editor in various forms, and nine in fiction, to find out more go to https://hookofabook.wordpress.com/editing/.

Editing: Michael David Wilson, This Is Horror Founder and Editor In Chief, podcaster, and writer (The Girl in the Video) is currently offering his freelance editing services. “Michael David Wilson invented the fine-toothed comb. His attention to detail is second to none, and he has a wonderful understanding of structure. This is a guy who knows how good writing works.”—Ray Cluley, author of WATER FOR DROWNING Michael has over ten years of editing experience and has edited books by Josh Malerman, Pat Cadigan, Stephen Graham Jones, David Moody, and many others. He’s worked with various publishing houses and small presses including Rebellion Publishing and Broken River Books. Prices start from £0.01/word. For further information go here: michaeldavidwilson.co.uk/editing/. Contact Michael: [email protected]

Editing, critiquing, artwork – Eugene Johnson is a man of many talents, an award-winning editor, filmmaker and artist. He will be will be selling his art, book covers, book art, logo designs, making prints, offering short story critiques/edits, special book projects like a coloring book he’s creating with another author and more for a small fee. Initially to fund desperately needed repairs on his car, once that is complete he hopes to turn his focus towards helping others that need support. Join him in his endeavours in getting this help to those who need it. Contact him via https://plaiddragonpublishing.com/ and he can also be found on https://www.facebook.com/eugene.johnson.14855. If you’d like to help him get his car fixed that bit quicker, please drop in on his Fundraiser set up by friends. (I think another link will be set up in the near future regarding his services and I’ll update it here when that happens.)

Editing – Elle Turpitt, elleturpittediting.com, is available for all editing work – short story, novella, novel, or chapter extracts. She also has a Ko-Fi (ko-fi.com/elleturpitt), or if you’d rather send a little gift to help her smile at a stressful time, she has a wishlist set up for this month (amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls). All support is appreciated. 

 

Writing and Editing Services from Ben Long. Go to Ben for ‘Killer Copy, Creative Content, and Eye-opening Edits’! Ben is ‘a passionate and engaging freelancer with 2+ years of experience in a variety of writing and editing endeavors. He is also a regular contributor to several online brands in the horror niche.’ You can find out more about him here https://readingvicariously.net/services/.

 

Kickstarters and Gofundme!

All the funds raised will help pay the writers, artist and the creation of Hybrids: Misfits, Monsters, and other Phenomena. Artwork from Luke Spooner.

Hybrid Sequence Media is proud to present new stories and poetry from: Jonathan Maberry, Lee Murray, Angela Yuriko Smith, Lucy Snyder, Michael Bailey, Dacre Stoker, Michael Knost, Marge Simon, Bruce Boston, Gene Flynn, Alicia Hilton, Alessandro Manzetti, Romie Stott,  Tim Waggoner, D. Harlan Wilson, Cindy O’Quinn, Jamal Hodge, John Palisano, Gabino Iglesias, Philip Fracassi, SL Edwards, John Claude Smith, Jeffrey Thomas, Nicole Givens Kurtz, and Linda D. Addison. With an Introduction by Doug Murano.

Happy reading.

Steph

 on behalf of Stuart and the Horror Tree Team

Trembling With Fear: Year 4 by [Stuart Conover, Stephanie Ellis] Trembling With Fear: More Tales From The Tree: Volume 3 by [Stuart Conover, Stephanie Ellis, Catherine Kenwell] Trembling With Fear: Serial Killers: Volume 2 by [Stuart Conover, Stephanie Ellis, Catherine Kenwell]