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

Trembling With Fear

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Trembling With Fear 5-28-23

Hello, children of the dark. This week we’re scrambling a bit, because – as you’ll see below – Stuart got some big news and had some big headaches when it comes to this here site. So we’re keeping it short and sweet so we can make sure you get an issue this weekend and not… not get one? 

So here we go. An update from the boss man is below, but let’s dig into this week’s tremblingly good menu.

In our short story, Matias F Travieso-Diaz takes us deep into the Amazon. This is followed by three delicious quick bites:

  • Victoria Huntley waits in silence and grief,
  • Fiona M. Jones hasn’t yet built resistance, and 
  • Kellee Kranendonk deals with my worst nightmare (spiders! argh!).

And a few reminders before I let you go: 

  • We love a drabble. Please send them to us! 
  • We also love three drabbles, connected by some form of thread. We call these Unholy Trinities, and our specials editor Shalini Bethala would love to see some more in the inbox.
  • Ditto serials. Have you got a longer story that could logically be serialised into four parts? Check out our submissions page for details, then send ‘em in to Shalini.
  • Finally, we still have submissions open for Shadowed Realms, the new Horror Tree anthology covering the non-pro markets. Details over here.

Oh – and as a final word, my current broken-bone-ness means I’ve personally been running behind on TWF emails and submissions. Shalini has been helping out, but I’ll get onto these things this week. Thank you for your patience. 

Over to you, Stuart.

Lauren McMenemy

Editor, Trembling With Fear

We’ve had a TON of site problems this last week. It seems to have been ironed out for not but it hopefully has moved up our timetable to moving to the new host. We almost made an emergency move over the week that we weren’t prepared for and would have lost us email for a week. 

I had more to say this week, but, the site problems are pretty much eating up all of my attention, so hopefully it is all temporarily straightened out and this means that the move will happen sooner than later.

If you’d like to extend your support to the site, we’d be thrilled to welcome your contributions through Ko-Fi or Patreon. Your generosity keeps us fueled and fired up to bring you the very best.

Stuart Conover

Editor, Horror Tree

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Articles / Reviews

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Epeolatry Book Review: Estate Sale by Mia Dalia

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: Estate Sale
Author: Mia Dalia
Genre: Occult Horror
Publisher: Black Ink Fiction
Release Date: 27th April, 2023

Synopsis: It has been said that every small town has a house on a hill, the one the witch lives in.
But what if there is more to the story? The devil, after all, is in the details.
The old lady of the Koshmaroff estate is finally gone. In life, she was a mystery; in death, she leaves behind a house full of strange, yet seemingly ordinary objects. Objects, which the curiosity-driven locals rush in to buy, only to see their lives take nightmarish turns as a result.
No one knew the old lady’s husband dabbled in dark magic. No one knew the two of them traversed decades and continents, hobnobbing with the most famous occultists of the 20th century and building their collection. They have acquired such terrible treasures along the way.
Come, see for yourself.
Step inside for a bargain of a lifetime.

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Trembling With Fear

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Unholy Trinity: Cave Painting, The Cooper Party & Trapped by Cassandra Vaillancourt

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.

 

Cave Paintings

 

     When we entered the lower chamber that’s when we saw the paintings. We were awestruck by the almost realistic depictions of animals and humans. There was hunting scenes followed by battle scenes.

     The more we studied, the battle scenes looked more like raiding parties. As we probed deeper, we saw the capturing of prisoners. We all gasped in horror at the imagery depicting the killing and eating of captives followed by celebrations.

     “This cave must’ve been home to a cannibal tribe.” I Mused.

     A harsh voice from behind barked, “YEAH, AND IT STILL IS!”

     We all turn around and scream.

 

The Cooper Party

 

     A group of friends went exploring in Cooper’s Cave which was named after a group led by Professor Cooper that mysteriously vanished.

     After entering the cave, they discovered a subterranean world of wonders of stalactites, stalagmites and columns.

     After going into an almost endless tunnel, they stumbled upon a huge cavernous room. They heard the screeching of bats and looked up.

     Suspended from the ceiling along with the bats was the lost Cooper Party.

     “Professor Cooper?!” asked the leader. He was answered by the ravenous look of the professor and his group as they lunged down on the hapless explorers.

 

Trapped

 

     “Damn!” Greg hopelessly searched in the cave trying to locate the opening where he entered to no avail. Just when he was about to give up hope, a light fell on him. It was a fellow caver who was beckoning him. Relieved, Greg followed his rescuer.

     Greg had a difficult time keeping up through the endless passageways and sudden turns until he was back in the cave alone except for a figure huddled against a wall.

     Greg cast his Carbide lamp on the figure only to discover that it was the frozen, encrusted remains of himself.

     His light goes out.

 

Cassandra Vaillancourt

Hello. My name is Cassandra Vaillancourt. I am a Trans Woman who is making a transition from artist to writer. I work as a humble retail worker. I’m new to The Horror Tree with my first short story “The War Wreck” and the drabble, “Black Gold“. This is my first unholy trinity. My goal is to become more accomplished in the horror genre with hopefully a couple of books published in the future. I am on Facebook and Twitter.

Articles

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Paying Markets For Speculative Fiction Authors | Top Open Calls May 22-26th, 2023

Hello, celestial story-smiths! 🎉 Buckle up as we engage hyperdrive for another exciting week of star-hopping through the limitless frontiers of speculative fiction. We’re your trusty navigators, dedicated to unveiling the most alluring nebulae— or, dare we say, markets— for you, the fearless wordsmiths of our era. Each passing week, we beam down fantastic opportunities to set your imaginations aflame and transform your storytelling prowess into solid gold! 📚✨

This week’s quantum upload pulses with priceless data as we reveal 🚀 New, top-tier markets peppered across the boundless panorama of speculative fiction!

Our interstellar star map is your key to these glittering prospects. You’ll discover the specific intel for these mesmerizing solicitations conveniently located via the links below:

Here’s a fun nugget about May to stir your thoughts: did you know that May is the only month in the English language that can be read both forward and backward and still make sense? Just like this intriguing twist, your narratives this month have the potential to surprise and captivate your readers in unexpected ways.

Your tales are the gleaming galaxies in our universe. They chart your journey through the creative cosmos. So, let’s input our trajectories and bravely sail onward through the literary cosmos, one story at a time! 🚀

Lastly, remember this inspiring sentiment from acclaimed author Octavia Butler, “You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually, you get better at it.” So, let the power of your unique creativity guide you, and keep crafting. The multiverse awaits your tales!

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Flat Amount / Novel / Ongoing Submissions / Royalties

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Cemetery Gates Media Is Open For Debut Horror Novel Series

Payment: Paying $500 signing bonus + $500 advance upon publication, and a 60% (author) royalty share on physical and electronic editions of the book.
Theme: Horror

We’re looking for submissions for 40k+ word manuscripts from authors who’ve never published a novel. Paying $500 signing bonus + $500 advance upon publication, and a 60% (author) royalty share on physical and electronic editions of the book.

You’re welcome to submit (1) complete, original, and unpublished 40k+ word manuscript to [email protected] if you have at least (2) paid horror writing credits and have never published a novel. If you have novellas and short story collections in print, you’re still eligible.

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Articles

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Indie Bookshelf Releases 05/26/2023

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.

 

Before you scroll down through the books however, please could you consider checking out this fundraiser for one of our community members, Cassie Lola Daley who has recently been made homeless due to rent rises beyond her control. Working, but still looking, she and her family need just a little bit more to see them settled. Click on the image to go to her fundraising page. Whilst she’s hit her target, I am leaving this up to help out. I know they haven’t found a place yet and they still need support. Thank you!

 

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Articles

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How to Write a Myth

How to Write a Myth:

 

World-building is one of the most important and complex aspects of writing fiction. It’s the home for your story, the place where your characters live, die, lose, and win. One way to enrich the world of your story is to create mythology. Even if you aren’t writing fantasy, mythology can benefit your story. Consider creating urban myths for your fictional town or a dark past for your haunted house. Myths permeate every culture and without them, your fictional ones risk feeling hollow. This article will help you get started constructing your own mythology for your story’s world.

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Articles / Reviews

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Epeolatry Book Review: Pinata by Leopoldo Gout

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: Pinata
Author: Leopoldo Gout
Genre: Supernatural/Possession/Vengeance Horror
Publisher: Tor Nightfire
Release Date: 14th March, 2023

Synopsis: A Head Full of Ghosts meets Mexican Gothic in Piñata, a terrifying possession tale by author and artist Leopoldo Gout.

It was supposed to be the perfect summer.

Carmen Sanchez is back in Mexico, supervising the renovation of an ancient abbey. Her daughters Izel and Luna, too young to be left alone in New York, join her in what Carmen hopes is a chance for them to connect with their roots.

Then, an accident at the worksite unearths a stash of rare, centuries-old artefacts. The disaster costs Carmen her job, cutting the family trip short.

But something malevolent and unexplainable follows them home to New York, stalking the Sanchez family and heralding a coming catastrophe. And it may already be too late to escape what’s been awakened…

They were worshipped by our ancestors.

Now they are forgotten.

Soon, they’ll make us remember.

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