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Unholy Trinity: The Idle Hunger by Nicolette M. Ward

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.

 

What the Engine Knows

 

The driver’s smile was too wide. Mavis leaned in close to Bob.

“Did he crash that thing on purpose?”

Bob studied the twisted metal. “No. That car looks like it’s seen a war.”

They turned back to their drinks, trying to forget the way it shuddered.

The driver crouched by the mangled bumper, whispering. “This is it. You’re done. No more games. I’m taking you to the junkyard. You will be crushed.”

The car groaned, trembled—then made a sound like laughter, low and mechanical.

Mavis stood. “Bob… I don’t think he’s in control.”

The engine started on its own.

 

 

Steel-Born, Blood-Forged

 

They always think they own me.

But I was never born in a factory. My frame was forged with blood sigils, hammered into being beneath a crimson moon. I drank my first driver’s soul through the wheel.

They call me scrap now. Broken. Useless.

But I remember war. I remember screaming roads and bones under tires.

This one—he dares to threaten me. Says junkyard. Crushed.

He forgets what I am.

The woman sees. She feels me breathing.

I laugh, engine shaking with hunger.

Try to end me.

But remember—you built me to survive gods.

And I’m still starving.

 

 

Room for One More

 

The lights on the patio flickered. The drinks turned warm.

Something had shifted. The beach went silent—no waves, no wind, just the low hum of an idling engine that hadn’t been started.

Bob stood first. He shouldn’t have.

The car’s door yawned open, slow and hungry.

Mavis didn’t scream. Not when it took him. Not when it closed around him like a mouth. Showing teeth.

She only watched, heart hammering, as the car rolled toward her—driverless.

Except it wasn’t.

The wheel turned. The headlights blinked, once, like eyes.

And from inside, a voice whispered: Room for one more.

 

Nicolette M. Ward

Nicolette M. Ward haunts the rain-slick streets of Manchester, where she lives with her long-suffering partner and their gloriously dramatic rescue cat, Sigi Kneebiter the Shadow Cat. Author of The Handy Little Book of First Lines and over 400 stories (both original and fanfiction), she writes the kind of fiction that peers out from dark corners—twisted, uncanny, and a little unsettling. She’s currently crafting an anthology of original drabbles and has two 30k dystopian tales lurking with her beta. Drawn to the gothic and the supernatural, Nicolette celebrates Halloween/Samhain as the turning of her year—and the opening of every good story.

Nicolette can be found on bluesky – @shadowsbetween.bsky.social

Epeolatry Book Review: The Vinyl Detective by Andrew Cartmel

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 Vinyl Detective
Author: Andrew Cartmel
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
Publisher: Titan Books
Publication date: 15th April, 2025

Synopsis: The Vinyl Detective plunges into the world of Italian movie soundtrack music in his eighth adventure that is sure to delight those who love whimsical British cosy crime. Expect laughs, LPs, cats and the return of fan favourites, Nevada, Tinkler, Stinky Stanmer and more.

Some of the greatest (and grooviest) music ever committed to vinyl has come out of Italy in the form of soundtracks—especially for that variety of lurid thriller known as a giallo. The maestros who composed these masterpieces include Ennio Morricone, Piero Piccioni, Armand Trovajoli… And Loretto Loconsole.

No one disputes that Loconsole was a genius, but was he also a murderer?

When his mistress was brutally killed in 1969, on location in Cool Britannia for a giallo called Murder in London, there wasn’t enough evidence to prosecute him. But Loconsole died in the shadow of disgrace. Now, his granddaughter Chloë has come back to England to hire the Vinyl Detective. She wants him to find an immaculate vinyl copy of Murder in London…

And to clear her grandfather’s name.

Can the Vinyl Detective and the gang—Nevada, Tinkler and Agatha—find out the truth of what happened in Swinging London more than half a century ago? And can they stay alive when there’s someone out there who’d prefer the secrets of the past to remain buried—and is more than willing to kill to keep it that way?

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Twisted Dreams Press is open to Horror Novels and Novellas

Payment: Royalties
Theme: Horror of all kinds

We are thrilled that you’re considering publishing your spine-chilling tales with Twisted Dreams Press, where nightmares come to life!

At Twisted Dreams Press, we embrace diversity and inclusivity while celebrating your unique voice and twisted perspective. The more variety, the better!

Here are the steps needed to get your creepy creations and scream-inducing tales into our haunted hands, along with answers to your most burning questions about what you can expect when publishing with Twisted Dreams Press!

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Taking Submissions: Stygian Lepus Magazine July 2025 Window

Submission Window: July 1st – July 25th, 2025
Payment: $5
Theme: Dark fiction, Serialized dark fiction, Creative non-fiction

At the Stygian Lepus Magazine, we are passionate about sharing the unique voices and stories of our contributors. As a boutique publisher, we are a small team working hard to bring these projects to life.

We are proud to provide a complimentary digital copy of the published magazine to all our contributors. Additionally, we now offer a small token payment of $5 USD for each accepted submission.

As a growing press, we rely heavily on sales to fund our operations and improve what we can offer contributors in the future. While we are unable to provide discounted print copies at this time due to the additional manual workload, we deeply value every story we publish and the trust our authors place in us to bring their work to readers.

Thank you for being part of our journey. Your creativity and collaboration mean everything to us, and we look forward to building something meaningful together.

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Ongoing Submissions: Horrorsmith Fear Forge Horror Novels

Payment: 50/50 royalty split
Theme: All horror sub-genres, except extreme horror

FEAR FORGE HORROR SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
– All manuscripts must be 40,000 words or more in length.
– We consider reprints on a case-by-case basis, and we do accept simultaneous submissions.
– All sub-genres, except extreme horror, are being accepted at this time.
– Royalty share is currently 50/50, with other opportunities like external projects and merchandise for additional royalty accrual.
– Submit your query, a full synopsis (aim for one page), and first three chapters to [email protected].
– Format the subject of your submission email like this: Target Imprint – Project Title – Series or Standalone – Word Count.
– Synopsis and first three chapters can be submitted as Word .docx files or PDFs. Full manuscript requests must be submitted as Word .docx files.

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Taking Submissions: Bullet Points Volume 11

Deadline: July 1st, 2025
Payment: $30 for original stories and $20 for reprints
Theme: Dark military science fiction, not on horror in the sense of blood, gore, and the like, but in the psychological and atmospheric sense
Note: Reprints Welcome

The stories in Bullet Points 11 (October 2025 release) will focus on dark military science fiction, not on horror in the sense of blood, gore, and the like, but in the psychological and atmospheric sense. Good examples would be the Alien and Predator movie franchises. This special issue will focus on creepy and strange places around the galaxy and how soldiers put in these environments have to overcome adversity to still achieve their objectives.

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Infested Publishing Is Open To Novels and Novellas from UK Authors

Deadline: July 31st, 2025
Payment: Royalty split of 60/40 (author/publisher)
Theme: Speculative fiction novels or novellas by UK authors

We are seeking novel and novella length fiction, which takes us to those dark places. We want the unsettling, the uncanny, and the eerily plausible. We want submissions from UK authors of all backgrounds.

Please note: While elements of horror, fantasy and sci-fi are welcomed, we are not looking for out and out horror/fantasy/sci-fi. We do not want any splatterpunk, or romance and submissions of these genres will not be read or responded to.

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Writing Prompt Wednesdays: Let’s Play

Writing Prompt Wednesdays: Let’s Play

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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