Category: Articles

Articles / For Readers

 by 

Indie Bookshelf Releases 01/17/2025

Got a book to launch, an event to promote, a kickstarter or seeking extra work/support as a result of being hit economically by 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.

 

(more…)

Articles / Guest Post

 by 

Tips for Terror: Find the Beauty in the Horrific

Tips for Terror: Find the Beauty in the Horrific

Author Joel McKay borrows wise words from horror writers to illustrate how exposition and lyric bring another dimension to horror

“Describe horrific things beautifully,” author Hailey Piper told our local Horror Writer’s Association chapter several months ago.

The words lodged in my head like a mantra and have since been tattooed to a pink sticky pasted to my monitor for daily reference.

Piper was one of three guests on a panel discussion about all things horror fiction (joined by Eric LaRocca and Gwendolyn Kiste) when she uttered those words. 

They were pronounced as a passing thought but immediately became something that resonated deeply with me as a writer.

Describe horrific things beautifully.

That sums it up, doesn’t it?

(Thanks Hailey, Eric, and Gwendolyn – P.S. you’re all awesome. For all you readers out there, get their stuff. Same goes if you’re a writer).

(more…)

Articles / For Readers / Reviews

 by 

Epeolatry Book Review: Where the Dead Brides Gather by Nuzo Onoh

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: Where the Brides Gather
Author: Nuzo Onoh
Genre: Horror
Publisher: Titan Books
Publication date: 22nd October, 2024

Synopsis: Bata, an 11-year-old girl tormented by nightmares, wakes up one night to find herself standing sentinel before her cousin’s door. Her cousin is to get married the next morning, but only if she can escape the murderous attack of a ghost-bride, who used to be engaged to her groom.

A supernatural possession helps Bata battle and vanquish the vengeful ghost bride, and following a botched exorcism, she is transported to Ibaja-La, the realm of dead brides. There, she receives secret powers to fight malevolent ghost-brides before being sent back to the human realm, where she must learn to harness her new abilities as she strives to protect those whom she loves.

(more…)

Articles

 by 

Writing Prompt Wednesdays: Beneath The Ice

Writing Prompt Wednesdays: Writing Prompt Wednesdays: Beneath The Ice

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:

(more…)

Articles / Interviews

 by 

An Interview With R. Haven

  Author R. Berry has been writing since the age of 9. He has written several novels and shorts stories. His work explores not only queer themes but also video games, rogues, and even horror recipes! A lot of fun to talk to and read (go check out www.theirritablequeer.com), we discuss writing, life and what makes Berry tick. Berry also discusses his forthcoming book The Other Face of Sympathy coming out September of 2025 with Renaissance Publishing.

      His new novel shows how traumas can turn people into monsters. His trans protagonist, Edward Barrett, discovers various diaries of trauma victims and follows them into darkness. There are trigger warnings listed.

You can watch the interview below:
(more…)

Articles / For Readers / Reviews

 by 

Epeolatry Book Review: You’re Not Alone in the Dark, ed. Eugene Johnson & Eric J. Guignard

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: You’re Not Alone in the Dark
Author: Various, ed. Eugene Johnson & Eric J. Guignard
Genre: Non-fiction, essay and interview collection
Publisher: Cemetery Dance Publications
Publication date: 22nd November, 2024

Synopsis: “The world can be an overwhelming and terrifying place. People often feel as if they are beaten, trapped, hunted-pursued by the very real monsters of mental illness, disabilities, abuse, loss, and countless other fears.

Featuring essays and interviews with some of the best writers in the horror genre, and compiled by the highly acclaimed Stoker Award winning editors Eugene Johnson and Eric Guignard, this non-fiction anthology lets people know that no matter how dark it gets, they are not alone. Contributing authors range from NYT best sellers to indie publishers, each sharing their own personal experiences, their struggles, their coping mechanisms, and what the genre community has meant to them.”

(more…)

Articles / Interviews

 by 

Sam Asher and The Cosmic Background Kickstarter

Sam Asher and The Cosmic Background Kickstarter

By Angelique Fawns

Sam Asher writes strange, beautiful, and slightly disturbing prose. (I bought his collection of short stories Really, Shockingly Bad Things at the mass autograph session at World Fantasy Con 2024.) He also runs an e-zine called The Cosmic Background where he bought a story of mine when the magazine first launched, called “The Sentient Sea of Sargassum.”

You can read it here: https://www.thecosmicbackground.com/stories/angelique-fawns-the-sentient-sea-of-sargassum

This is my second time interviewing Asher, and I thought it would be nice to touch base again as he is running a kickstarter. 

Check it out here!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thecosmicbackground/the-cosmic-background-year-two/rewards

(more…)

Articles / For Readers / Reviews

 by 

Epeolatry Book Review: The Crimson Road by A.G. Slatter

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: The Crimson Road
Author: A.G. Slatter
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Publisher: Titan Books
Publication date: 11th February, 2025

Synopsis:  A captivating dark gothic fantasy set in the same universe as the award-winning author’s All The Murmuring Bones, The Path of Thorns and The Briar Book of the Dead. A tale of vampires, assassins, ancient witches and broken promises. By turns gripping and bewitching, sharp and audacious, this mesmerising story takes you on a journey into the dark heart of Slatter’s sinister and compelling fantasy world.

(more…)