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Articles / Reviews

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Epeolatry Book Review: Iron Star by Loren D. Estleman

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: Iron Star
Author: Loren D. Estleman
Genre: Western; Historical Thriller
Publisher: Tor Publishing Group
Publication Date: 18th June, 2024

Synopsis: Set against the sprawling landscape of the Wild West, this riveting adventure by Spur Award-winning author Loren D. Estleman follows a man on a journey to set his legacy, and the men dedicated to bringing his story to life.

From his youth as a revolutionist to his time as a Deputy U.S. Marshal, aging lawman Iron St. John has become a larger-than-life figure―and in the process, the man has disappeared behind the myth. During his brief, unsuccessful political career, St. John published his memoirs―a sanitized version of his adventures to appeal to the masses. A generation later, the clouded truth of this giant of the Old West has been all but lost.

Now, Buck Jones, a pioneering film star, is vying for a cinematic story that will launch his career to incredible heights. He approaches Emmet Rawlings, a retired Pinkerton detective, to set the record of St. John’s life straight once and for all. Twenty years ago, Rawlings accompanied St. John on his final manhunt, and in desperate need for the funding a successful book promises, he dives deep into St. John’s past―and his own buried memories―to tell the truth about this part-time hero.

As the story of St. John unfolds, the romance of the period is stripped away to reveal a reality long-forgotten in this unvarnished, heart-racing depiction of the American West by acclaimed author Loren D. Estleman.

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Articles / Interviews

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Jonathan Maberry: Jonesing for more Joe Ledger

Jonathan Maberry: Jonesing for more Joe Ledger

By Angelique Fawns

 

Jonathan Maberry has created a character so iconic, he may exist in an alternate universe. Joe Ledger is an asskicking phenom who has starred in 14 of his own novels: starting with Patient Zero in 2009. A character who never tires, Joe has also been the lead in three full short story collections, multiple comic books, and has guest starred  in The Rot & Ruin Series, and V-WARS. Maberry has just completed Joe Ledger’s next upcoming novel, “Burn to Shine” which will debut on March 4, 2025. I thought it might be fun to chat with Jonathan about his leading man. 

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Articles

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Writing Prompt Wednesdays: The Lost Realm’s Secret Endings

Writing Prompt Wednesdays: The Lost Realm’s Secret Endings

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 / Guest Post

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Kickstarter: My Experience and Thoughts on a Failed Campaign

Kickstarter: My Experience and Thoughts on a Failed Campaign

By: Keith Anthony Baird

Everyone starts off as a crowdfunding virgin. I had a vision for it, high hopes in fact, but also a very pragmatic approach (for me, that’s come with age).

I didn’t think for one minute it was going to shake the world but I did believe it had a chance of success. Boy, was I wrong!  To go into all the specifics in this short article would be difficult, so I’m going to narrow it down to a certain set of fundamentals I believe were at the heart of its failure.

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Articles / Reviews

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Epeolatry Book Review: Undead Folk by Katherine Silva

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: Undead Folk
Author: Katherine Silva
Genre:Occult Horror, LGBTQ+ Horror
Publisher: Strange Wilds Press
Publication Date: 1st May, 2024

Synopsis: Beyond the smoke-choked skies of an apocalyptic United States, a woman travels the desolate railroad tracks of a small town in search of revenge and a quiet place to settle. Her only companion is an undead fox: animated with backwoods herbal magic and the soul of a middle-aged father who died before the world fell into darkness.

Undead Folk is a short, harrowing tale of sacrifice, loss, and damnation.

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Trembling With Fear

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Trembling With Fear 7-21-24

Greetings, children of the dark. The summer has returned here in London town, and I’m really trying not going to take it for granted. And yet, even though I was born and bred in one of Australia’s hottest and driest cities, I struggle in the heat. Especially over here, in a city and a country that is built to keep the heat in. It’s so clammy and sweaty and gross out there. Maybe I’ll just ignore it and curl up with a book in front of the fan (yep, no air con here!) instead…

Before I do, though, it’s my twisted pleasure to bring you this week’s edition of TWF. And it’s a good ‘un, if I do say so myself. Once this is off my desk and into the hands of the boss man, I’ll start going through all the submissions that came in for our latest short story submission window. If you haven’t yet heard from us, hold tight! It’s a manual process, but I’ll get back to everyone who submitted with an acknowledgement over the next few days before the TWF team settles down to review your work. As always, we’re oversubscribed: we can only accept around 12 stories each window, as we only publish one per week, and we’re now getting almost 100 submissions each time we open. On the one hand, if you get that golden acceptance, well done you! What a prize! But on the other, if you miss out then it’s not personal; it’s always a tough call. We always try to give a bit of feedback as to why you didn’t make the cut for us. These things are somewhat subjective, and just because you didn’t find a home with TWF doesn’t mean the right home isn’t out there waiting for you. Don’t give up, and keep at it. Like writing, submitting is a muscle you need to keep working at.

Want some low-risk submission practice? We’re always looking for drabbles! Send ‘em in!

Now onto the good stuff.

This week’s menu of dark speculative fiction has as its centrepiece an uncanny memory from Sammi Leigh Melville. That’s followed by the short, sharp speculations of:

  • Andrew Keyworth’s hungry beast,
  • DJ Tyrer’s jungle adventures, and
  • Weird Wilkins’ stand-off.

Over to you, Stuart.

Lauren McMenemy

Editor, Trembling With Fear

Hi all!

First off, I’d like to thank 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!

Hi all!

I mentioned last week that I would have news in this one, and I do! Our interview coordinator for the last few years, Selene, has had to step back for personal reasons (though, hopefully, she will return down the line!). With this change, we’re bringing our very own Sarah Elliott in as our new interview coordinator!
Sarah can be found on:

Please follow on your social media of choice, send her a warm welcome, and know that we’re looking for a few more who are interested in interviewing authors, publishers, and others in the field! More announcements to come! 

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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Articles

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Finding Inspiration and Developing Your Ideas

Finding Inspiration and Developing Your Ideas


Writing can be very fun. Developing your own worlds, ideas, and stories, sculpting them from something formless into a cohesive narrative – it’s as immersive as any piece of fiction you might engage with could be.

Unfortunately, that dreaded writer’s block can strike at any stage of the process. It’s not just when you’re mid-flow and unsure of how to get characters from one point to another, it can also happen when you’re just not quite sure how to develop the base idea from something generic to a firm direction. Different people work differently, but understanding some different options can reassure you that there’s help at hand.

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Articles

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Unlocking the Power of Inner Voice: How to Make Readers Relate to Your Characters

Unlocking the Power of Inner Voice: How to Make Readers Relate to Your Characters

In the realm of speculative fiction, creating characters that resonate deeply with readers is essential. One of the most effective ways to achieve this connection is by delving into your characters’ inner voices and thoughts. Today, I’d like to try and explore the importance of a character’s inner dialogue and provide actionable tips to enhance your narrative, making your characters more relatable and engaging.

“The most important things are the hardest to say. They are the things you get ashamed of because words diminish them — words shrink things that seemed limitless when they were in your head to no more than living size when they’re brought out.” – Stephen King, Different Seasons

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