New poll up for our next group read. Have a look and join us if you fancy it.

This weeks books to vote on are:

Have a look and vote here.

Some Recommendations To Watch

I was on holiday from work last week so I got a chance to catch up with a few things I've been wanting to watch for a while and I thought I would let you know what I thought.

I only just heard about this one at the start of my week off but it was amazing.

Wolf Creek the season. It seems to have came out of nowhere and it's only six episodes but it is a fantastic watch. The actor John Jarrett that plays Mick Taylor in the two movies also plays him in the box set which was a very nice touch. It's set as a prequel to the movies and gives us some back story on Mick. The six episodes follow a young girl who is on the hunt for Mick after he murdered her family but failed to kill her. It's fast paced, got some great scenes and the acting is great. Fingers crossed for a season two. If you enjoy the Wolf Creek mythos there are also two books that I haven't got round to reading yet but I'm looking forward to.

Bound to be worth a read but check out the mini series first.

The next thing I watched which seems to be getting pretty poor reviews but I really enjoyed was...

I'm not too sure what everyone's problem is with this. Rob Zombie makes Splatterpunk movies and that's what this is. Nothing more, nothing less. Enjoyed the kill scenes and the bad guys, enjoyed watching Sheri Moon Zombie and liked the concept. All and all a fun watch. Go enjoy it and stop kidding on your a movie critic. ;)

Utter pish. Acting was painful and I struggled to keep paying attention. I watched another shark movie a few weeks ago that I enjoyed a lot more. Pictured below.

While this is seems to be much lower budget than the Shallows it is a much better movie. A lot more tense and a more enjoyable story line. 

 I also finaly got round to watching The Ruins.

I had put this one off for a while but I really enjoyed it in the end. Something a little different and worth a watch. 

And last but not least, although it's an old movie, I finally got to see the Labyrinth in the cinema.

An absolute treat and only the second time my wife had seen the movie. 

That's about all I can remember for now but go watch some of this stuff. It's all good. 

Kev

Something to look forward to.

So.......... This is coming your way! The 1st of December, this book will be available to read on your Kindle, with a paperback following shortly after I believe.I doubt I need to bring your attention to the author line up in this one. To say I am out of my depth is an understatement but I feel very proud to be a part of it and it was an absolute pleasure working with Dawn Cano.

I'll post a link when it's up for pre-order.

Kev

Excited about my next two reads. Never tried either author before but heard good things about both.

Both authors come highly recommended and both books sound right up my street. I've never read anything by either but I have high hopes. The last three books I have read have been excellent so lets hope these two keep up the trend. 

Last three reads:

Tar by Iain Rob Wright

Chaos Rising by David Owain Hughes

Awakening: The Prequel to Charlotte by Stuart Keane

All excellent by the way. Charlotte by Keane is fantastic as well, as are the first two books in David Owain Hughes Wind Up Toy series. Needless to say everything that Iain writes is golden. 

Links to the places you will find me.

Facebook - Click here.

Twitter - Click here.

Google+ - Click here.

Goodreads - Click here.

General Ramblings and Updates 3

I've had another few acceptances through so though I would post a few more updates.


Lisa Vasquez from Stitched Smile Publications has accepted my story 'Flesh' for the 'Unleashed' anthology which has a Monsters VS Zombie's theme. I believe this will be a two volume antho with an introduction from none other than David Wellington and containing stories by Jeff Stand and Mary Sangiovanni. How cool is that?


I've also been told my story has been accepted for the 'Monster's Among Us' antho by Bloody Kisses Press. I think I subbed this story around nine or ten months ago though and still haven't received a contract so I'm not holding my breath for this one. I got an email saying I was accepted and when I queried the contract I haven't heard back so needless to say this will be my last outing with these guys.


My story 'The Empty' has just been sent back to me for final edits from Michael Bray for the 'Burger Van and Other Short Stories' charity antho so hopefully that one will appear on Amazon in the not too distant future.


Riding The Dark Frontier, a weird west themed antho, containing my story 'Psycho Bill One Shot' will be available from the 28th of September.


Jaded Book Publishing have accepted my story 'The Gatekeeper' for their Halloween themed anthology, due out on Halloween day I believe.


Monster House, a flash fiction piece I wrote will appear in Spooky Halloween Drabble's 2016. Spooky Halloween Drabble's 2015 was the first anthology I had a story appear in so it's nice to be back with them a year down the line. Release date for this one is also Halloween day.


And last but certainly not least my short story 'Master Knows Best' appeared in the author showcase, in Iain Rob Wright's recent apocalyptic tale 'Tar'. To say I am a massive fan of Iain's work would be an understatement so this really was an achievement I can feel proud of.


I've now been writing for just over a year with my first story published just under eleven months ago and the time has just passed by. I have spent that time focused on sending stories to anthologies as you have probably gathered and have done better than I ever expected. I currently have a list of ten anthologies that I would like to submit to or have agreed I would contribute to and it seems a little overwhelming. I have therefor decided to add no more to the list. Once I have worked through them and got the stories sent off I will be focusing more on writing longer works somewhere between novella and novel length. I may release my own short story collection at some point but I just do not have the time to be part of all the anthos I want to be in and write longer works too.


I have been accepted to another few anthos that I don't have release dates for yet and a part of a series that I will post more about closer to the time of release. I'm running at just over an 80% acceptance rate over the last 6 months so if it stays the same and I sub to the anthos on my list I will still have lots more coming your way as I focus on something longer.


Kev

The 'In A Flash' anthology is now available on Amazon. Contains a solo story and one co-written with my wife.

Contained within this latest volume from Sinister Saints Press, are over 100 Young Adult flash fiction stories of the unexpected, guaranteed to send a shiver down the spine and keep you awake at night!

Contains my solo story 'Lonely' and a story I co-wrote with my wife called Malcolm.'

Links:

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

The 'A Door Appeared' anthology is now on Amazon containing my story 'Worzel's Woe's.'

A Door Appeared - 17 strange, horrific and fantastical tales, each beginning with the words "A Door Appeared.


Contains my story Worzel's Woe's.


Links:


Amazon.co.uk


Amazon.com

My Favourite Post-Appocalyptic Horror Novel's.

For years I've always enjoyed when authors posted list's of books that inspired them or the most fun/gross/weird/brutal books they have read. With that in mind I decided that after twenty years of reading horror it was time to start compiling some of my own lists.


I decide for my first list I would post my favourite post apocalyptic novels as it's one of my favourite sub genres. Before you even read the list, this is the books that I have enjoyed the most, not a list of mass market top sellers that everyone loves.

I must have just turned twenty when I first read this book. I hadn't long finished reading Richard Laymon's entire collection and was trying several new author's, that had been recommended to me on the Laymon message board when I came across Blood Crazy, my first read by Simon Clark but not my last. The gist of this book is, everyone in the world over the age of eighteen goes nuts, like 28 Days Later kind of nuts and the youth are left behind to make their way in the new world. It's a bit of a road trip book with some truly great moments. The pacing is fast and the character development was great. I'm not someone who re-reads books so my opinions on this one are based on my twenty year old self's view but it has remained a favourite, even after I've read hundreds more books in the horror genre.

This book, unlike a lot of mass market books really hits the spot. It's massive but the storyline is massive as well. Their is actually three separate storylines running through it if I remember correctly but the imagination of this author is unquestionable. There are so many great ideas in one book. It truly blue me away. If I'm honest it was a tough decision between what to put first and second but I think I slightly preferred Blood Crazy simply down to my own personal taste.

There are many reasons this book is on the list. I know some may argue that it's set in the UK and it doesn't mention if the going's on are happening outside of the UK but I read it going on the assumption that they were. It's up to the reader really as it also doesn't say it's confined to the UK. If you don't like spiders this book will scare the fuck out of you but it's not quite as simple as that, they are no ordinary spiders and they hatch from women's stomachs to make it all the more horrific. There are two books in the series and I loved both.

While I love the Rising and City of the Dead this is my favourite zombie book by Keene. I know it's no the most famous but it's the best in my opinion. There is something about the characters in this book that really sucks you in. I find with most books I need fast paced action as I rarely relate to most of the people in the story but this book is different. Keene is a tremendous story teller in my opinion, at least with his earlier works he was. I still read everything he writes but I haven't enjoyed much of his work since an Occurrence in Crazy Bear Valley so if you haven't read him I'd start with everything he published through Leisure.

Now this one is fucking mental. I am a massive fan of Mellick now and have read around thirty of his books but this was one of the first two I read. Mellick writes Bizarro and in my opinion is the best at it in the game. Below is a synopsis as I don't think I would be able to do this one justice with a description.

Road Warrior Werewolves versus McDonaldland Mutants...post-apocalyptic fiction has never been quite like this. They call themselves the Warriors, their enemies call them the Bitches. They are a gang of man-eating, motorcycle-riding, war-hungry werewolf women, and they are the rulers of the wasteland. A century after the fall of civilization, only one city remains standing. It is a self-contained utopian society protected by a three-hundred-foot-high steel wall. The citizens of this city live safe, peaceful lives, completely ignorant to the savagery that takes place beyond the walls. They are content and happy, blindly following the rules of the fascist fast food corporation that acts as their government. But when Daniel Togg, a four-armed bootlegger from the dark side of town, is cast out of the walled city, he soon learns why the state of the outside world has been kept secret. The wasteland is a chaotic battleground filled with giant wolves, mutant men, and an army of furry biker women who are slowly transforming into animals. Trapped on the wrong side of a war zone, Daniel Togg makes new friends and new enemies, while uncovering the mysteries of the people living in the wasteland and how they came to be there. Including 45 illustrations by the author, Warrior Wolf Women of the Wasteland is an epic bizarro tale of dehumanization, gender separation, consumption, and violent sexual awakenings. A fast-paced post-apocalyptic adventure in the vein of The Road Warrior, featuring a very unique werewolf mythology.

Go pick it up. It will be one of the best things you have ever read.

So I've listed the five that from memory have been my favourites. Below are a few other honorable mentions:

The full Clicker's series is really good.

Now I'm sure if you have made it this far you are having a rant about books that aren't on the list. As I said these are my favourite's. I know most people will rate King's Stand above my top five but I find him long winded and it dragged in lots of parts although the overall story was excellent. It's also probably the case that I haven't read some of the books that others love and have forgotten some that I loved myself through time. If anything I hope you found at least one book on the list to give a try. I would love to see other peoples lists so if you post one, tag me on Twitter or Facebook or send me a link.

Until the next time.

Kev







Available for Pre-Order Now! Madame Movara's Tales of Terror

Madame Movara's Tales of Terror (Charity Anthology) will be available on the 20/10/16 however it's available for pre order now. Why wait? Go get your copy ordered.

Synopsis:

If you love the taste of fear, then this collection of short stories will be sure to chill your blood! An eclectic mix of spooky, horrific and gruesome tales from a motley group of writers, all of them condemned to suffer under the baleful gaze of your host, the devilish Madame Movara.

But wait! Whilst the authors themselves have been collected together in a hellish torment, Madame Movara promises that you WILL take delight from the words inside…
For as much as she is wicked, she is also kind. Every penny from the sale of this horror anthology will be donated to the International Children’s Charity, proving that some good will come from these truly dark tales.
Of course, Movara has also charmed her favourite horror icon into providing an introduction for the book! The legendary Hammer Horror actress Caroline Munro has kindly helped the Madame with her charity work…and Movara promises to spare her for her help, unlike the authors whose work lies within!
So sit back, and relish the scares that await you. Madame Movara assures you that you’ll be safe…your fate depends upon your will to donate!

Links

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

Enjoy!