Congratulations, NewCon Press!

While I was at the Frankfurt Book Fair at the weekend, FantasyCon was taking place in Glasgow.

The Annual British Fantasy Awards Banquet took place on Saturday evening, which included the presentation of the British Fantasy Awards (funnily enough).

I am pleased to report that NewCon Press walked away with the award for Best Independent Publisher.

Unfortunately, Ian Whates, the mastermind behind NewCon Press, was unable to attend, due to poor health. However, I suspect receiving the award went some way to making up for him having to miss FantasyCon this year.

I am also pleased to say that I have been published by NewCon Press no fewer than three times*. First, there was Legends: Stories in Honour of David Gemmell, which included my short story Who Walks With Death.

Then there was Steampunk International, an anthology of new steampunk stories from Finland, Portugal and the UK, which featured my Pax Britannia short story Reckless Engineering.

And most recently, my short story The Wolf in Winter appeared in The Iron Code, another anthology inspired by the works of the legendary fantasy author David Gemmell and edited by Ian Whates.

So congratulations to Ian and the team at NewCon Press for their much deserved win.

* I also commissioned Ian Whates to write a short story for SHARKPUNK.

The Iron Code - Stories in Honour of David Gemmell

On this, the 20th anniversary of David Gemmell's passing, NewCon Press have published The Iron Code, a short story anthology inspired by the works of the legendary fantasy author, edited by Ian Whates.

I join the likes of Joanne Harris, Dan Abnett, Anna Smith Spark, Mark Lawrence, Juliet E McKenna, Adrian Tchaikovsky, John Gwynne, R J Barker, and many others, in having a story of my own in the anthology, called The Wolf in Winter.

You can find out more and order the book here, or on Amazon here.

Happy Deathday, Mr Shakespeare!

Today - Saint George's Day - is William Shakespeare's deathday*, so it seemed like the perfect time to remind gamebook fans that Shakespeare Vs. Cthulhu: What Dreams May Come is available to buy now. You can even buy a signed hardback here.

Shakespeare Vs. Cthulhu at Anne Hathaway's Cottage
in Shottery, Warwickshire.

However, before the Shakespeare Vs. Cthulhu: What Dreams May Come gamebook there was the Shakespeare Vs. Cthulhu short story anthology. Check it out here and watch the video below to find out more.

 

* And possibly his birthday as well.

Steampunk Thursday: Scarlet Traces anthology on sale now!

Rebellion are clearly having a massive clearout of their warehouse since loads - and I mean loads - of grpahic novels and other books are heavily discounted over on their webstore.

Among the books that have been knocked down massively in price is the Scarlet Traces short story anthology, which includes a contribution from me: Wonderful Things.

Another book that is currently massively discounted is Judge Fear's Big Day Out and Other Stories, which features four of my Judge Dredd short stories - Psimple Psimon, One-Way Ticket, You'd Better be Good, for Goodness' Sake, and Miracle on 34th and Peltzer.

So head over to the 2000AD webstore now and grab yourself a bargain!

Short Story Saturday: Shakespeare Vs. Cthulhu

Shakespeare Vs. Cthulhu is an anthology of short stories inspired by the works of Stratford's most famous son and the literary endeavours of cosmic horror master H. P. Lovecraft.

Shakespeare Vs. Cthulhu includes stories by the likes of Adrian Tchaikovsky, Graham McNeill, James Lovegrove, Jan Siegel, Andrew Lane, Jonathan Oliver, and John Reppion. So, if you've not already picked up a copy, do so today and treat yourself to what one reviewer called "a fun concept, that delivered on its premise."

And if you have read the book, a review on Amazon is always much appreciated.

Happy Birthday, Mr Shakespeare!

It's that time of year when I like to remind everyone that I edited an anthology of short stories called Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu, back in 2016, featuring tales inspired by the Bard and the literary endeavours of H. P. Lovecraft.

Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu includes stories by the likes of Adrian Tchaikovsky, Graham McNeill, James Lovegrove, Jan Siegel, Andrew Lane, Jonathan Oliver, and John Reppion. So, if you've not already picked up a copy, do so today and treat yourself to what one reviewer called "a fun concept, that delivered on its premise."

And if you have read the book, a review on Amazon is always much appreciated.

Tie-in Tuesday: Sherlock Holmes and the Beast of Bodmin

Happy Chinese New Year of the Tiger!

In other news, Further Associates of Sherlock Holmes, edited by George Mann, is still available to buy. Why am I telling you this? Because it contains my first published Sherlock Holmes short story, Sherlock Holmes and the Beast of Bodmin.

Here's a little background on the tale.

Further Associates of Sherlock Holmes is available from Titan Books, and via Amazon, now!

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

Having had over 70 books published over the last 28 years, there are a fair few that make particularly suitable Halloween reading. Here are just a few of them...

1897

In the wolf-haunted Carpathian Mountains, a young solicitor, Jonathan Harker, travels to an isolated castle to assist a mysterious Count with purchasing a number of properties in England. But what he witnesses there drives him to the edge of madness…

Meanwhile, in Whitby, Harker’s fiancée, Mina Murray, visits her dear friend Lucy Westenra. But during her stay, Lucy is attacked and becomes seriously ill…

In London, Lucy’s suitor and physician, Dr John Seward, becomes preoccupied with the case of a certain Mr Renfield, an inmate at his lunatic asylum, who seeks to collect lives for his master, having not long returned from a trip to Transylvania…

And so, the pieces for the game are set. For they are all pawns in a plan devised centuries ago by the Voivode of Wallachia, Vlad Tepes, a cruel tyrant whom history remembers as ‘the Son of the Devil’, his bloodthirsty deeds having earned him another name…

Dracula.

*             *             *             *

In Dracula– Curse of the Vampire is an interactive gothic horror novel, in which YOU decide which route to take, which perils to risk, and which of the terrifying creatures you will meet along the way to fight. Play as Jonathan Harker, Mina Murray and Dr John Seward… or even Count Dracula himself. But be warned – whether you succeed in your quest or succumb to the curse of the vampire will be down to the choices YOU make.

But do not tarry, for the dead travel fast.

Dracula– Curse of the Vampire will be the subject of November's Interactive Fiction & Gamebooks Discussion Group (Book Club) . If you would be interesting in finding out more about sixth ACE Gamebook, make sure you join the group now.

An anthologie of fine stories inspir’d by the Bard of Stratford and the Lovecraftian Mythos

Imagine if it had been William Shakespeare, England’s greatest playwright, who had discovered the truth about the Great Old Ones and the cosmic entity we know as Cthulhu, rather than the American horror writer H P Lovecraft.

Imagine if Stratford’s favourite son had been the one to learn of the dangers of seeking after forbidden knowledge and of the war waged between the Elder Gods in the Outer Darkness, and had passed on that message, to those with eyes to see it, through his plays and poetry. Welcome to the world of Shakespearean Cthulhu!

To mark the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, Snowbooks proudly presents fifteen stories of eldritch horror that blend the Bard’s most famous plays with Lovecraft’s most terrifying creations. But before you dip into this curséd tome, be warned – that way madness lies...

“When oblivion comes, it is forever, as endless as the slumber of those beings that lie buried beneath the roots of the world, dreaming in darkness.”

A writer’s research into the legend of the Lambton Worm takes a horrifying twist when he uncovers the true origin of the story: A legend that stirs, knowing the time for its rebirth is near.

A chilling tale of the Cthulhu mythos, written by award-winning author Jonathan Green.

"What horror dwells behind its peeling paint façade and lifeless windows?"

A young mother, struggling after the birth of her second child, starts to question her sanity when the appearance of an unwanted childhood toy rekindles unwelcome nightmares.

A chilling tale written by award-winning author Jonathan Green.

Steampunk Thursday: NewCon Press Sale!

NewCon Press are having a sale, which means you can get hold of a signed hardback copy of the Steampunk International anthology, for less than the price of the paperback!

My own contribtuion to Steampunk International was a new Ulysses Quicksilver short story, entitled Reckless Engineering, which remains the last Pax Britannia story published to date.

Following a break-in at the top secret Whitehall facility known as 'Think Tank', agent of the crown Ulysses Quicksilver and his trusty manservant Nimrod set off in pursuit of the perpetrator. It is a chase that will take them from the railway sheds of London to the dockyards of Bristol, and an encounter with a long-dead engineering genius.

So, if you want to get your hands on some steampunk goodness, you know what to do - simply click this link.

SHARKPUNK - Stories with Bite!

Had he still been alive, today would have been Peter Benchley's 81st birthday. (And just in case you're wondering why this is of significance, check out the quote below.) So it seems like the perfect occasion to remind you that a few years ago I edited an anthology of short stories called Sharkpunk.

Sharks - the ultimate predators, masters of their watery domain, a world that is entirely alien and inhospitable to man. So many aspects of the shark are associated with humankind's most primal fears. The tell-tale dorsal fin slicing through the water, the dead eyed-stare, the gaping jaws full to unforgiving teeth, the remorseless drive to kill and feed...Inspired by such classic pulp movies as Jaws and Deep Blue Sea - as well as such ludicrous delights as Sharknado and Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus - the stories contained within are rip-roaring page-turners and slow-build chillers that celebrate all things savage, pulp and selachian. Covering the whole range of speculative fiction genres, from horror and Steampunk, through to SF and WTF, these are stories with bite! Come on in. The water's fine...

You can pick up your copy of Sharkpunk here, and it's also available as an audiobook from Circle of Spears Productions, that you will find on Audible.

"I read very widely, both non-fiction and fiction, so I don't think there's a single writer who influences me." 
~ Peter Benchley, author of Jaws

Something Wicked This Way Comes... Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu

Today is possibly* William Shakespeare's birthday but it is most definitely his deathday.

As is traditional at this time of year, I like to remind people that you can read an alternative take on Shakespeare's life, work, and even death, in Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu, an anthology of stories inspired by the Bard and the literary endeavours of H. P. Lovecraft.

Featuring stories by the likes of Adrian Tchaikovsky, Graham McNeill, James Lovegrove, Jan Siegel, Andrew Lane, Jonathan Oliver, and John Reppion, if you've not already picked up a copy, do so today and treat yourself to what one reviewer called "a fun concept, that delivered on its premise."

And if you have read the book, a review on Amazon is always much appreciated.

* I say 'possibly' because we know when he was baptised, 26th April 1554, but not actually when he was born.

Review of the Year - 2020

Well, I think we all know what 2020 will be known as in the future. But for me as an author, 2020 will also be remembered as the Year of ACE Gamebooks Roleplay, which gives me a good catch-all term for both my gamebooks and RPG line.

Despite only having one major publication this year - 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas* - new foreign editions of my ACE Gamebooks continued to be released, even though trips to Italy and Germany** were both cancelled.

The ACE Gamebooks website received an upgrade, there were numerous online live playthrough of my books, and I released a 5th anniversary edition of Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland, more in line with the hardbacks of the rest of the series.

I have also continued to work on Dracula - Curse of the Vampire, although the tragically premature death of Martin McKenna inevitably delayed the book and forced a search for a new illustrator. Fortunately Hauke Kock has agreed to take on the task of illustrating my longest gamebook yet. If you've not seen it yet elsewhere, here's one of his finished images for the adventure.

2020 saw the release of a number of audiobooks bearing my name, including The Doll's House, The Serpent's Egg, and Wonderland.

Behind the scenes I have also worked on some other interactive fiction-style projects, which I expect will see the light of day next year. I had hoped to submit various short stories to various anthologies, but unfortunately just didn't have the time.***

Currently I am trying to work out which Kickstarters to run when, in order to fund production of the next ACE Gamebook and ACE Gamebooks Roleplay RPG. And between them they are going to take you to different parts of the globe... Expect to see more news before the end of January.

And on that note I would like to wish you a Happy New Year, and here's hoping for a better 2021!

* Print versions of which are available now!

** Along with their associated book launches.

*** Writing a short story takes far longer than the limited word count might have you believe.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 6: Claws

Last weekend was Krampusnacht.

Now, as anyone who has been reading this blog for some time will know, I am a little bit obsessed with Krampus the Christmas Devil. Not only have a written a gamebook that features him as the Big Bad, I have also published a roleplaying game which features him in the same role.

However, I first wrote about Krampus in 2012 for the Ain't No Sanity Clause anthology of festive horror stories, in a tale called Claws.

Here's what one reviewer had to say on Amazon about my story:

"This anthology is a cut above the norm with every story being well written and some approaching perfection. 'Claws' by Jonathan Green, with its shades of the Brothers Grimm, introduces us to a very early traditional Santa and his less welcome counterpart... So evocative is the writing, I was almost shivering along with Gretel in her snowy woodland home despite it being a balmy day in mid May!"

You can download a pdf of Claws here.

Necromunda: Uprising

This is released today...

At the poison heart of Necromunda, a sickness festers: where the word of Helmawr is law, the many go hungry… but murder is cheap, and meat is everywhere, for those willing to take it. While the nobles of the spire sit and watch, bloody-handed gangers war in an endless battle for survival.

The venator Yar Umbra cuts a swathe through Hive Primus, chasing the promise of escape from Necromunda. A cawdor juve, desperate to prove himself, finds a statue of the Emperor that will change his life forever. A corpse guild drudge learns what his superiors are desperate to keep forbidden. And Caleb Cursebound, ninth most dangerous man in the underhive, thief of the Hand of Harrow, flees to the remote mining settlement of Hope’s End, pursued by those who would see his reputation forever tarnished…

Uprising: A Necromunda Anthology features my first Necromunda fiction in seventeen years, a short story called Paradise. It is available to buy now.

Tie-in Tuesday: Forever Autumn

Today, Tuesday 22nd September, is the autumn equinox.

There are a couple of short story anthologies coming out this autumn, featuring tales by Yours Truly.

Uprising: A Necromunda Anthology is released on 1st October.

My story, Paradise, sees a gang of Orlocks looking for a lost dome, rumoured to be an oasis of fresh water and clean air; a veritable... paradise. But the Dust Dogs aren't the only ones searching for it...

Paradise is the first piece of Necromundan fiction I have had published since 2003.

Judge Fear's Big Day Out and Other Stories is a collection of prose tales that first appeared in the monthly Judge Dredd Megazine and the anthology comic 2000AD.

The 'Other Stories' include four of mine, that first saw print a few years ago. If you missed them at the time, look out for Judge Fear's Big Day Out and Other Stories when it is published on 12th November.

Warhammer Wednesday: Uprising - A Necromunda Anthology

I love New Book Day. And the latest New Book Day was yesterday, when these arrived.

It is seventeen years since Necromunda Underhive appeared in 2003, which featured the last pieces of Necromunda fiction I have had published to date. And now Uprising: A Necromunda Anthology features my latest short story for the Black Library.

Paradise, sees a gang of Orlocks looking for a lost dome. It is rumoured to be an oasis of fresh water and clean air, a veritable... paradise. But the Dust Dogs aren't the only ones searching for it...

Uprising: A Necromunda Anthology is released on 1st October.

Short Story Saturday: World War Cthulhu

World War Cthulhu: The Fiction Anthology is now available through DriveThruRPG. Now only that but it's been marked down by 20% for the duration of this weekend!

As the shadows of war gather over Europe something is stirring within the darkness; something far older than humankind. Those with evil intent will seek to harness these terrible powers, while those fighting to turn the tide of war will find themselves up against far more than bullets and bombs. In forgotten R’lyeh, Cthulhu stirs as the mighty armies of the Third Reich march.

Critically-lauded editor Jonathan Oliver (The End of The Line, House of Fear, Magic) has collected together fourteen original tales of the Mythos including work by James Lovegrove, Weston Ochse, Rebecca Levene, Robin D. Laws, Simon Bestwick, Gaie Sebold, T.P. Pike, Sarah Newton, Greg Stolze, Paul Finch, John Llewellyn Probert, Jonathan Green, Archie Black and World Fantasy Award winner Lavie Tidhar.

The World War: The Cthulhu Fiction Anthology is an ebook download, featuring ePub, mobi and prc formats.

Short Story Saturday: Have you listened to a good short story lately?

Thanks to some recent releases, and some older titles, you can now listen to three of my short stories as audiobooks, and a whole anthology of shark stories edited by Yours Truly.

Features my short story The Hunting of the Jabberwock.

Features my short story Who Walks With Death.