The Horror Tree Recent Markets, Articles, Interviews, and Fiction!

Articles / Interviews

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An Interview With Nick Mamatas

Nick Mamatas Talks About ‘120 Murders’ And More!

The “Nostalgia Pendulum” theory, coined by Patrick Metzger in 2017, asserts that pop culture revolves in a thirty year cycle. This is why the 2010s came to be dominated by numerous imitations of 80s aesthetics. Look no further than Stranger Things, for example.

If this theory is to be believed then our current decade will surely come to be defined by nostalgia for the 90s, otherwise known as the Alternative Era. You don’t have to look very far to see that this phenomenon is already well under way. Next time you’re in a crowded place, just count how many Nirvana t-shirts you see.

Into this zeitgeist comes 120 Murders, a collection of dark fiction developed by Nick Mamatas which serves as a love letter to the alternative music genre of the mid 80s and 90s. 

I spoke to Nick via Zoom in June about the upcoming anthology. 

 

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Articles

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Indie Bookshelf Releases 08/09/2024

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.

 

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Articles / Reviews

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Epeolatry Book Review: The Vermin Sleep by James Watjen

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 Vermin Sleep
Author: James Watjen
Genre: horror
Publisher: Nightmare Press
Publication Date: 23rd July, 2024

Synopsis: Haunted by a traumatic childhood with an abusive father and a mother’s death, Alex Fulmer, struggles to find his footing in life while targeting pedophiles scattered throughout Chicago. Alex eventually lands the job of his dreams as a set builder on a children’s television show. Everything seems to be going great until he discovers a director’s sinister intentions towards a child actor and becomes entangled in a dangerous game of vigilante justice – a game that could lead him into the horrors he knew as a child, and into the pit of the vermin he despises.

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Articles

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Writing Prompt Wednesdays: Internships Gone Sideways

Writing Prompt Wednesdays: Internships Gone Sideways

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

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August 2024 Horrorscopes: Vengeful Nature Deities!

Granted, some of these deities might be a little milder in their approach, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t any less protective of the natural realms and creatures under their guardianship. Summon these deities to take up residence within the pages of your literary works—or even to inspire your real-life environmental or wildlife advocacy initiatives. I mean, after all, the looming climate change apocalypse may be a great source of creative inspiration for our speculative fiction stories, but I, for one, don’t really relish living it out in reality. Read on to find out which powerful deity your zodiac sign would best be befriending—before it’s too late!

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Closed Markets

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Closed: Unorthodox Stories

NOTE: This Market has been reported as closed.

Payment: $15
Theme: 100 words to 2k highly experimental horror stories with an emphasis on well crafted prose and non traditional narrative and form

Update: For clarity, I am seeking highly experimental horror stories with an emphasis on well crafted prose and non traditional narrative and form. Much as I hate comparisons, the literary equivalent of “Possibly In Michigan” is what I’m seeking. I want surreal and weird and well written and risks that may or may not pay off. I want everything non traditional. I am not seeking regular horror stories, which I love, but do not belong in a zine meant for niche experimental fiction. I want a strong voice and creative use of language. I do not want stories that rely exclusively on weird events transpiring. I’m more likely to accept something mundane recontextualized than a textbook feeling description of random “scary” stuff. Give me your weirdly written weird stories.

Additionally, dear editor is fine, but there is only one editor, so please do not start your submission with “dear editors.”
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Articles / Reviews

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Epeolatry Book Review: Wolf Incarnate by Louise Worthington

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: Wolf Incarnate
Author: Louise Worthington
Genre: psychological thriller
Publisher: Madness Heart Press
Publication Date: 15th June, 2024

Synopsis: Healing is no longer a priority. Survival is.
At Wolf Hotel, unsuspecting guests seeking mental health treatment in a facility nestled in the unforgiving Welsh mountains are subjected to extreme and deadly techniques. Scarlet, mourning the loss of her partner, blindly accepts a job at the remote hotel.
Cut off from the outside world, Scarlet is trapped alongside patients who are pawns in a sick game played by the hotel’s sadistic owner and a demented clinical psychologist. As she uncovers the horrifying truth behind the company’s true agenda, Scarlet realizes that one of the patients is not who they seem. Their thirst for revenge could bring down everyone involved in this nightmarish operation.
As tensions rise and secrets unravel, Scarlet must fight for her own survival while trying to protect those around her from the dark forces at play. Will Scarlet escape this hellish asylum disguised as a place of healing?
Best compared to The Final Girl Support Group meets One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

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Trembling With Fear

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Trembling With Fear 8-4-24

Greetings, children of the dark. I’m trying to get a few weeks’ worth of TWF done in the coming days because I’m headed out: off to Worldcon in Glasgow in a few days, and then the following week I’ll be spending some time in nature, right in the heart of Bronte Country and in the shadow of Pendle Hill (also known as the site of one of England’s worst witch trials). Filling the well and all that. If you’re at Worldcon, hit me up on social media and say hi! You’ll find me most lunchtimes at the British Fantasy Society’s table in the fan hall, but other than that I’ll be lurking around and trying not to make too much of a nuisance of myself. 

With that deadline pressure in mind, let’s get swiftly to the good stuff.

This week’s menu of dark speculative fiction kicks off with Harley Carnell’s denial twist. That’s followed by the short, sharp – and, this week, somewhat sci-fi – speculations of:

  • W.H. Vigo’s soul searching,
  • Nicolette Ward’s blood beast, and
  • Ron Capshaw’s small town blues.

Finally, a note: our summer special has now closed as July has passed us by. If you’ve submitted a story to it since 31 July, I’m afraid we’re unable to consider it. I’ll get to the inbox ASAP to let you know, because there’s a few of you. If you want to remind yourself of our various deadlines, you’ll find them always on our submissions guidelines page.

To recap, our open windows are:

Special editions

  • Valentine’s: 1 December and 31 January.
  • Summer: 1 April to 31 July. 
  • Halloween: 1 August to 13 October.
  • Christmas: 1 November to 7 December.

Short stories for the weekly edition

  • Winter: 1-15 January
  • Spring: 1-15 April
  • Summer: 1-15 July
  • Fall: 1-15 October

Remember, we’re open round the clock for drabbles, unholy trinities, and serials.

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!

Not much to add this week. I’ve been still working on our new theme but didn’t have too much free time to make a lot of progress as my wife’s schedule was busier than mine, so I took over most of the getting kids to and from camps this week on top of my normal work and Horror Tree responsibilities. On a positive note, we did set a meeting for our new Trembling With Fear staff for this weekend, so next week, I should have a few more welcome shout-outs to make 🙂 We’ve got some great stories lined up so I won’t add any filler here, let’s get to the reading!

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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