Five Things #5

Yet more things horror and book related I've enjoyed recently, and think you might too.

1. A Conversation With S.P. Miskowski, Hellnotes
Rejoice, for S.P. Miskowski has a new novel out! It's called I Wish I Was Like You (the Nirvana reference very much deliberate). Hellnotes caught up with her for this fascinating interview.

2. 'Hands Lying Light In The Interstices, You Rave' by Timothy J. Jarvis
A compelling piece of interactive fiction here; and given its been written by Timothy Jarvis you know it's going to be creepy as hell. The shifting nature of the interactive experience makes it even more disturbing...

3. The Stoakes-Whilby Natural Index Of Supernatural Collective Nouns by David Malki
Every wondered what the collective noun for a group of banshees is? Or gargoyles? Or manticores? Well, wonder no more!

4. Mothers Who Consume by Kristi DeMeester, Apex
"I don’t remember the first time I caught my mother in a lie..." So begins this fascinating, moving piece of non-fiction by one of horror's finest writers, Kristi DeMeester.

5.'Das Steingeschopf' by G.V. Anderson, Strange Horizons
I included this story in my 2016 list, but as it's just been nominated for a World Fantasy Award I thought I'd mention it again. It's beautifully written, an early sign of brilliance from a writer I predict will go on to do great things. G.V. Anderson has started a fundraiser to raise money to attend WFC (where hopefully this story will win) so donate if you can.
 

The Hyde Hotel is OPEN...

The Hyde Hotel officially opens its doors today. Published by Black Shuck Books, it's the first anthology I've ever edited (alongside Dan Howarth). I first had the idea for a book of stories all set in the same hotel a number of years ago, and it's taken awhile to bring to fruition... So big thanks must go to Theresa Derwin, Steve Shaw, and most importantly to all the authors involved who put up with a few delays and all contributed such fine stories. It's genuinely one of the books I'm most proud of being part of.

The Hyde Hotel is available in both ebook and paperback formats - all links at the Black Shuck Books website.


The Hyde Hotel Welcomes You…

The Hyde Hotel looks almost exactly as you’d expect it to: a faceless, budget hotel in a grey city you are just passing through. A hotel aimed at people travelling alone, a hotel where you know so little about your fellow guests that they could be anyone… and where, perhaps, so could you. But sometimes things are hiding in plain sight, and not everyone who stays at The Hyde gets a good night’s sleep…
Enjoy your stay.

Table of Contents

• CHECKING IN  by James Everington
• THE VIEW FROM THE BASEMENT  by Alison Littlewood
• NIGHT PORTERS  by Iain Rowan
• TICK BOX  by Dan Howarth
• THE EDIFICE OF DUST  by Amelia Mangan
• LOST AND FOUND  by S P Miskowski
• HOUSEKEEPING  by Ray Cluley
• SOMETHING LIKE BLOOD  by Alex Davis
• THE COYOTE CORPORATION’S MISPLACED SONG  by Cate Gardner
• WRATH OF THE DEEP  by Simon Bestwick
• THE SEALED WINDOW  by Mark West
• THE BLUE ROOM  by V H Leslie
• CHECKING OUT  by James Everington

The Hyde Hotel Welcomes YOU

So, a bit of an announcement. Really pleased to say that the first anthology I've edited (well, co-edited) will be out next year from Black Shuck Books. THE HYDE HOTEL features horror and weird fiction about guests all staying in the same hotel. As you can see from the contents below there's a fantastic list of contributors. I hope some of you will consider a stay at The Hyde.

Reservations from 07/01/2016.

THE HYDE HOTEL:
James Everington - Checking In
Alison Littlewood​ - The View From The Basement
Iain Rowan​ - Night Porters
Dan​ Howarth - Tick Box
Amelia Mangan​ - The Edifice Of Dust
S.P. Miskowski​ - Lost & Found
Ray Cluley​ - Housekeeping
Alex Davis​ - Something Like Blood
Cate Gardner​ - The Coyote Corporation's Misplaced Song
Simon Bestwick​ - Wrath Of The Deep
Mark West​ - The Sealed Window
V.H. Leslie​ - The Blue Room
James Everington - Checking Out

Little Visible Delight

So, I'm very pleased to say that a story of mine called Calligraphy is out now in a new anthology from Omnium Gatherum Books. The book is called Little Visible Delight, a phrase taken from one of my favourite dark 'classics' Wuthering Heights. It's an anthology based on the theme of the obsessions of writers and Calligraphy itself is an odd story (even by my standards) that I'm very proud of. I hope people like it.

I was also particularly chuffed to be asked by SP Miskowski to contribute - regular readers will know how much I rate her work, especially this year's amazing Astoria, so to have a story of mine feature alongside hers is absolutely fantastic. There's a ton of other great authors in it as well.

Little Visible Delight - ebook (UK | US) and paperback (UK | US).


Often the most powerful and moving stories are generated by writers who return time and again to a particular idea, theme, or image. Obsession in a writer's imagination can lead to accomplishment or to self-destruction. Consider Poe and his pale, dead bride; his fascination with confinement and mortality; his illness and premature death. Or Flannery O'Connor's far less soul-crushing fondness for peacocks. Some writers pay a high price for their obsessions, while others maintain a crucial distance. Whichever the case, obsessions can produce compelling fiction.

Little Visible Delight is an anthology of original stories in which eleven authors of dark fiction explore some their most intimate, writerly obsessions.

The Receiver of Tales by Lynda E. Rucker
Needs Must When the Devil Drives by Cory J. Herndon
A Thousand Stitches by Kate Jonez
The Point by Johnny Worthen
Calligraphy by James Everington
This Many by S.P. Miskowski
JP by Brent Michael Kelley
Kestrel by Mary Borsellino
An Unattributed Lyric, In Blood, On a Bathroom Wall by Ennis Drake
Black Eyes Broken by Mercedes M. Yardley
Bears: A Fairy Tale of 1958 by Steve Duffy