Category: short story

‘The Devil’s Playground’ is Published!

The Devil’s Playground: A Horror Charity Anthology for Drug Addiction, by Dark Moon Rising Publications, is finally published on Amazon, in paperback and ebook forms! It will be published on Godless on December 8th.

My short story, ‘Serene,’ is one of the stories in the anthology. All proceeds donated will be for To Write Love On Her Arms, an organization to help people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. The theme of all of these stories is drug addiction and its self-destructive effects. 

If one were to read this story as well as my story, ‘NIB,’ in the horror anthology Symptom of the Universe: a Horror Tribute Anthology to Black Sabbath, also from Dark Moon Rising Publications, one might find a number of similarities between the stories. There are crucial differences between them, though. In ‘NIB,’ the female drug dealer is in love with the narrating protagonist, who has a fear of sexual contact due to childhood trauma caused by sexual abuse, and he uses drugs to forget his pain. In ‘Serene,’ however, the female drug dealer is luring men into enjoying her drug, taking advantage of them while stoned, and deliberately killing them if they reject her love. Both stories, ultimately, are allegories on the seductive yet destructive nature of drug abuse.

Many other great authors have stories included in this anthology (check the pic at the top to see all of their names), so please, check it out! I’m sure you’ll love the stories, and you’ll be helping out an important cause! 🙂

My Short Story, ‘Serene,’ in the Horror Anthology, ‘The Devil’s Playground,’ to be Published Soon

I will have a horror story, ‘Serene,’ published in this anthology, The Devil’s Playground, by Dark Moon Rising Publications. The theme of all of these stories is drug addiction and its self-destructive effects.

If one were to read this story as well as my story, ‘NIB,’ in the horror anthology Symptom of the Universe: a Horror Tribute Anthology to Black Sabbath, also from Dark Moon Rising Publications, one might find a number of similarities between the stories. There are crucial differences between them, though. In ‘NIB,’ the female drug dealer is in love with the narrating protagonist, who has a fear of sexual contact due to childhood trauma caused by sexual abuse, and he uses drugs to forget his pain. In ‘Serene,’ however, the female drug dealer is luring men into enjoying her drug, taking advantage of them while stoned, and deliberately killing them if they reject her love.

Many other great authors have stories included in this anthology (check the pic at the top to see all of their names), so please, check it out! It’s a charity anthology, the proceeds being for To Write Love On Her Arms, an organization to help people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. I’m sure you’ll love the stories, and you’ll be helping out an important cause! 🙂

Two Five-Star Reviews for ‘Nature Triumphs’!

Nature Triumphs: a Charity Anthology of Dark Speculative Literature has recently received two five-star reviews. Scroll down the Amazon page to read them yourself, or read them here:

Avid reader called the anthology “Fun, Appealing, Scary, Thought-Provoking Eco-Horror Fiction–And Just in Time for Halloween)“

“I loved this wonderful, big, entertaining, appealing, fun book –scary AND heartfelt eco-horror anthology. Exceptionally well-edited containing many varietal, well-written, vivid, horrifying stories and poems by diverse, established authors. Innovative concept/environmental/ecological/nature theme masterfully executed. I especially like stories “Yard Work” by Michael Errol Swaim, “Blood Rose” by Alison Armstrong, “One Side of a Conservation with Mother Nature” by Kyle Heger, “A Reversal of Fortune” by JG Faherty, and “last Call at the Garden of Eden” by Lamont A. Turner. I like that the money goes to The Nature Conservancy. Great book/gift for Halloween and for lovers/readers of horror, sci fi, dark speculative, ecological/ nature fiction and poetry.”

Jordan Francis called it “A beautiful and haunting Anthology for a great cause“.

“A beautiful and haunting Anthology. This collection of short stories and poems is amazing. It is at turns haunting, funny, and beautiful. This has introduced me to a multitude of great writers that i need to go back and check out their other works. Definitely worth the price of admission.”

Recall that my story, “The Bees,” is about a geneticist/beekeeper who, fed up with the world’s indifference to the dying off of the bees, does genetic alterations of the many bees he takes care of. He weaponizes them, making them bigger, stronger, smarter, and more lethal, capable of stinging their victims many times until they die. Can he be stopped, or will his enhanced bees multiply and tyrannize the world?

I really hope you’ll all go out and get yourselves a copy of this collection. It’s all for a good cause, and you’ll love the stories and poetry! 🙂

‘Symptom of the Universe’ is Published!

Symptom of the Universe: A Horror Tribute to Black Sabbath is finally published on Amazon Kindle. The paperback is $19.99. It will also be released on Godless on September 22nd.

Here is a link to the Amazon e-book. Here is a link to the paperback. Here is a link to its wide distribution as an e-book.

Here is a blurb from Dark Moon Rising Publications, the anthology’s publisher:

“From the publisher who brought you Nature Triumphs: A Charity Anthology of Dark Speculative Literature, Dark Moon Rising presents Symptom of the Universe: A Horror Tribute to Black Sabbath A worldwide gathering of award winning horror authors have come together to craft a collection of dark fiction stories covering every album and every era of Black Sabbath. Each story is inspired by one of Black Sabbath’s greatest songs from the biggest hits to the most obscure album tracks. SYMPTOM OF THE UNIVERSE: A HORROR TRIBUTE TO BLACK SABBATH is an immediate classic for rock fans and horror fans alike. Featuring the talents of Stewart Giles, J. Rocky Colavito, Sidney Williams, Tom Lucas, Thomas R. Clark, Ezekiel Kincaid, Neil Kelly, Tony Millington and many more, curated and edited by J.C. Maçek III with a foreword by Martin Popoff, Symptom of the Universe will whet your appetite for horror and rock at the same time.

“All proceeds are being donated to the Dio Cancer Fund.

“Trigger warnings: Themes of addiction, mental health, and self-harm

“Are you ready for a rocking read??”

Recall that my short story, ‘NIB,’ based on the song, of course, is in this collection. It’s about a drug user, Terry, whose drug dealer has given him some powerful dope combined with witchcraft. While he’s tripping, she seduces him, unwittingly triggering childhood trauma in him and putting him through a nightmarish experience that could kill him.

Please check it out. The ebook is only $3.14. You’ll love it!

I’ve already read a number of the stories, and I can tell you that this is a quality collection. One story runs the gamut of the mundane life of a homeless junkie all the way to a nuclear apocalypse. Another story involves wrestlers in an antiwar allegory. Yet another story is an erotic horror story with two femmes fatales. And yet another story turns a suicide into a revengeful homicide.

You won’t regret buying this anthology. Go get it!

‘Nature Triumphs’ is Published!

Nature Triumphs: a Charity Anthology of Dark Speculative Literature, is now published on Amazon, and is available in ebook here. It’s also available on Godless, where it’s now made the Top Ten!

This anthology is a collection of horror short stories and poetry edited by Alison Armstrong and Pixie Bruner, and presented by Dark Moon Rising Publications. The charity is dedicated to helping save the environment.

My short story is called ‘The Bees.’ It’s about a geneticist/beekeeper who, fed up with the world’s indifference to the dying off of the bees, does genetic alterations of the many bees he takes care of. He weaponizes them, making them bigger, stronger, smarter, and more lethal, capable of stinging their victims many times until they die. Can he be stopped, or will his enhanced bees multiply and tyrannize the world?

All the talented writers in this anthology include Angela Acosta, M.G. Allen, Alison Armstrong, Lilse Asalt, Andrew Bell, Katie Brunecz, Pixie Bruner, Ramsey Campbell, J. Rocky Colavito, Rebecca Cuthbert, Julie Dron, Stephanie Ellis, Timons Esaias, J.G. Faherty, Thomas Folske, Brian U. Garrison, Elana Gomel, Alejandro Gonzales, Norbert Góra, [myself], Sebastian Gray, Megan Guilliams, Linda Kay Hardie, Kyle Heger, Kristi Hendricks, Kasey Hill, Larry Hodges, Akua Lezli Hope, Sandra Lindow, Gordon Linzner, J.C. Maçek III, Victor Malone, John C. Mannone, David C. Kopaska-Merkel, Makena Metz, Edward Morris, Irena Barbara Nagler, Kris Nelson, Kevin Sandefur, Em Starr, Michael Errol Swaim, Rob Tannahill, Lamont A. Turner, and Mary A. Turzillo.

Please come check our book out, and help us to help the environment in a fun, scary way. I’m sure you’ll love the stories and poems in this collection! They totally rock!

My Short Story, ‘Sing, Sing, Sing,’ in the Anthology, ‘Psalms of the Alien Buddha #3, The Final Track

Psalms of the Alien Buddha #3, the Final Track is a new anthology of poetry and prose published by Alien Buddha Press. I have a horror short story in it, called “Sing, Sing, Sing.”

The story is about two eighteen-year-old girls in a high school jazz band who love a jazz clarinetist, Woody, who is almost ten years older than them, and who is creepy enough to want to fool around with them. The first of these two girls, Claire, is jealous of Hedda, the second girl, for stealing Woody, and Claire wants to get revenge on Hedda. Claire also knows how to use magic, so that will be how she achieves her revenge. Now, when she achieves her revenge, will all be well with her, or will she have to deal with some bad karma because of it?

Of course, there are many other talented writers of prose and poetry in this anthology. I’m hoping you can read all their names on the back cover presented above. The paperback is now available on Amazon for $14.99. Go check it out: I’m sure you’ll love it!

‘Nature Triumphs,’ an Upcoming Horror Anthology, Includes a Short Story by Me…’The Bees’

Nature Triumphs: a Charity Anthology of Dark Speculative Literature, is an upcoming collection of horror short stories and poetry edited by Alison Armstrong and Pixie Bruner, and presented by Dark Moon Rising Publications. The charity is dedicated to helping save the environment.

My short story is called ‘The Bees.’ It’s about a geneticist/beekeeper who, fed up with the world’s indifference to the dying off of the bees, does genetic alterations of the many bees he takes care of. He weaponizes them, making them bigger, stronger, smarter, and more lethal, capable of stinging their victims many times until they die. Can he be stopped, or will his enhanced bees multiply and tyrannize the world?

All the talented writers in this anthology include Angela Acosta, M.G. Allen, Alison Armstrong, Lilse Asalt, Andrew Bell, Katie Brunecz, Pixie Bruner, Ramsey Campbell, J. Rocky Colavito, Rebecca Cuthbert, Julie Dron, Stephanie Ellis, Timons Esaias, J.G. Faherty, Thomas Folske, Brian U. Garrison, Elana Gomel, Alejandro Gonzales, Norbert Góra, [myself], Sebastian Gray, Megan Guilliams, Linda Kay Hardie, Kyle Heger, Kristi Hendricks, Kasey Hill, Larry Hodges, Akua Lezli Hope, Sandra Lindow, Gordon Linzner, J.C. Maçek III, Victor Malone, John C. Mannone, David C. Kopaska-Merkel, Makena Metz, Edward Morris, Irena Barbara Nagler, Kris Nelson, Kevin Sandefur, Em Starr, Michael Errol Swaim, Rob Tannahill, Lamont A. Turner, and Mary A. Turzillo.

The anthology drops on September 3rd, and they’re doing preorders now on Amazon and everywhere. Please come check it out, and help us to help the environment in a fun, scary way. I’m sure you’ll love the stories and poems in this collection!

‘Symptom of the Universe: A Horror Tribute to Black Sabbath,’ an Upcoming Anthology I Have a Short Story to be Published In

Symptom of the Universe: A Horror Tribute to Black Sabbath is the name of a new anthology of horror short stories, presented by Dark Moon Rising Publications, edited by J.C. Macek III, and with a foreword by Martin Popoff, the Canadian music journalist and critic. As the title implies, the stories are all inspired by Black Sabbath songs.

My story is named “NIB,” so you shouldn’t have a problem figuring out which song my story is inspired by (though it makes references to a whole lot of other Sabbath songs, albums, covers, etc). It begins with this line: “My drug dealer’s in love with me.” I hope that will pique your curiosity about where the story will be heading…a wild, surreal, and disturbing ride through the mind of a traumatized drug addict whose latest trip is more than just that–a paranoid nightmare that might involve witchcraft, and just might kill him.

The book will be published on September 18th. It’s available for preorder on Amazon.

Here, apart from me, are the names of all the talented authors to be included in the anthology: Rob Tannahill, David L. Tamarin, J. Rocky Colavito, Neil Sanzari, Sidney Williams, Don Webb, John Claude Smith, Rhys Hughes, Edward Morris, Tom Folske, Duane Pesice, Tom Lucas, J.C. Macek III, Gail Ice, Rhys Hughes again, J.C. Macek III again, Daniel E. Lambert, Bert Edens, Shayne Keen, Scott Couturier, Thom Erb, Stewart Giles, Jayaprakash Satyamurthy, J.C. Macek III yet again, Emmy Viane, Tom Folske again, Jason R. Frei, Thomas R. Clark, Keith Keesler and J.C. Macek III, Melissa Howard Corrigan, John Reti, J.C. Macek III, Ezekiel Kincaid, Kasey Hill, J.C. Macek III again, John Sowder, Tony Millington, and Neil Kelly. Note that several authors contributed more than one story, and a few stories are collaborations.

I really hope you’ll go out and buy yourself a copy of this new anthology. It’s a charity anthology, with all the proceeds going to the Dio Cancer Fund. It’s also going to be a really great set of stories. I’m sure it’ll knock your socks off!

My Short Story, ‘The Portal,’ to be Published in ‘Confessions from the Think Tank: A MUFON Charity Anthology’

I have a short story called ‘The Portal’ that will be published in this charity anthology by Dark Moon Rising Publications. Like my short story, ‘The Harvest,’ published in this anthology by Alien Buddha Press, this collection is also focused on conspiracy-oriented stories.

A woman high on LSD stumbles into a portal that takes her to an alien world with human collaborators who are helping the aliens colonize the Earth and steal its resources. She’s come back through the portal to Earth to warn her friends about what she’s seen. But is it real? Has she really seen these sights, or is it just part of her drug trip? Is there really something out there to worry about, or is she just going insane, as her friends think she is? Read and find out, when it’s out!

Other talented authors in this anthology will include David L. Tamarin, Megan Guillams, J.C. Macek III, Walter Wiseman, Dawn Colclasure, and John Bruni.

All you believers in dark plots against us by the elite, check out this anthology when it’s published. I’m sure you’ll love it!

My Short Story, ‘The Harvest,’ Is Now Published in This Alien Buddha Press Anthology

They’re Conspiring Against the Alien Buddha Too! is now published on Amazon, and here’s a link to it. My short story, ‘The Harvest,’ is on page 52 in the anthology. The paperback is $16.99.

Other writers who have written great stories and poetry for the anthology are Aishwariya Laxmi, E.W. Farnsworth, Lynn White, L.B. Sedlacek, James Schwartz, Zachary Kocanda, Mark Heathcote, Tulpa Fedrodianna-McAngophora, Robert J.W., (my story comes next in this order), Joan McNerney, Andrew K. Arnett, Brian Simmons, Cliff McNish, D. Rudd-Mitchell, Robert Walton, J. Rocky Colavito, Joseph Farley, Bryan Franco, Nick Romeo, Buck Weiss, James Dorr, Mark Lipman, Brendan Jesus, Roberta Beach Jacobson, Shannon O’Connor, and Collin J. Rae.

Please go check out this great anthology, now that it’s out!