Short Story Saturday: Fear to Tread... Happy Halloween!

Last January, Phobophobia was published, featuring my short story Fear to Tread. The story was inspired, in part, by a house in Bradford-on-Avon that my dad and I used to drive past after swimming club on a Friday.

I was in Bradford-on-Avon again on Tuesday and drove past the same house, but the broomstick and cauldron that used to stand outside the door were gone - and a 'For Sale' sign had gone up outside.

You can see the house here, and if you've got a spare £329,000 you could buy it too!

Happy Halloween!

So it's that time of year again, and if you're looking for a spooky read for All Hallow's Eve, then look no further.

For those over 18 (or just slightly under, if they're feeling daring) there are my short stories Wraith Lights, The Doll's House, Fear to Tread and Incubus.

For those most definitely under the age of 18, why not check out one of my horror-themed adventure gamebooks, such as Spellbreaker (witches), Curse of the Mummy (mummies), Bloodbones, (zombie pirates), Howl of the Werewolf (werewolves), or Night of the Necromancer (ghosts)?

And then there are also my Warhammer novels The Dead and the Damned and Necromancer. And if you're uneasy around arachnids, then my Gamebook Adventures app Temple of the Spider God makes for a creepy read.

Oh, and of course the Pax Britannia series is often filed under 'Horror' in bookshops and has led to me being invited to be a guest at this event.

Short Story Saturday: Phobophobia

Dean M Drinkel's horror anthology Phobophobia - featuring my short story Fear to Tread - has been featured on the German website Zauberspiegel International.

Just can find out more by clicking this link.

Phobophobia Reading at the Big Green Bookshop

Last Thursday I did this.

And now Adrian Chamberlain has posted this video of me reading from my Phobophobia story Fear To Tread.



You can buy your copy of Phobophobia here.

Phobophobia at the Big Green Bookshop

So last night myself, Dean M Drinkel, Adrian Chamberlin, and Birthday Boy G R Yeates* gathered at the Big Green Bookshop** in Wood Green, North London, for the inaugural meeting of the Out Of This World Book Group. We weren't just there to add a bit of glitz and glamour to the proceedings; we were actually there to work, promoting Phobophobia.

Simon Key, the bookshop owner, kicked things off and then Dean gave the Book Group an insight into the nature of the anthology before introducing each of us in turn. We each then read from our stories in the anthology, and under a spotlight no less! There were few questions at the end and we concluded proceedings with a book signing.

The Out Of This World Book Group await THE horror reading/signing event of the week in excited anticipation!

 The Usual Suspects.

 Simon Key - owner of the Big Green Bookshop - kicks things off.

 Dean explains the origins of the anthology.

 Mr G R Yeates delighted the audience with his poetic prose (for which he is renowned).****

 Mr Adrian Chamberlin had everyone on the edge of their seats with his story of a certain Witchfinder General.

Four very proud and very relieved authors.

Thanks to everyone who came, and who hung around to chat afterwards, but thanks especially to Simon for hosting the event and my fellow authors for a very pleasant evening of literary conversation over a couple of beers afterwards.

Here's to the next one!


* 32? 32! He still has his whole life ahead of him.***


** It's a great bookshop - it had copies (plural) of Pax Britannia: Evolution Expects on the shelves!


*** It turned out that I'm the oldest of the bunch. Not that I'm fixating on this fact or anything...


*** Greg recently interviewed me about my experiences of writing Fear To Tread for Phobophobia over on his blog here.

An Evening of Horror

Just a quick heads up to let you know that I shall be part of a posse of six writers signing copies of Dean M Drinkel's horror anthology Phobophobia at the Big Green Bookshop in Wood Lane next Thursday, 3 May 2012.

The signing/reading event will take place from 7.00pm to 9.00pm, and you can find out more details about it by following this link.

Phobophobia - Fear of Reviews

To be honest I couldn't find the technical term for an irrational fear of reviews, but all too often we writers do fear them. If a writer reads ten good reviews and one bad one, of something they've written, you can guess which is the one that will stick in their mind.

But thankfully I haven't read a bad review of Phobophobia yet (Dean M Drinkel's alphabetical anthology of anxieties, which features my story Fear to Tread, all about Wiccaphobia). So here are just a couple of choice phrases in praise of the book:

"This is a very well put together set of 27 stories, one for each letter of the alphabet and a bonus story, and each having to do with a particular phobia. It was great to read an anthology where every story was well thought out, and very good... I am looking forward to anything else that the editor of this collection, Dean M. Drinkel produces. Very highly recommended." (Amazon.com)

"I read most of this over the Festive period and the good thing is that there are no stocking fillers, all the stories are worthy... In short there is plenty here for everybody to enjoy." (Paul Woodward)

And here's what The Ginger Nuts of Horror had to say about my story: "This was another highlight of the candles anthology for me. Imagine the essence of Hammer's House of Horror distilled into a short story. Done that, then what you'll have is this story. Reading this story you won't be able to stop yourself from picturing a young Jenny Agutter being terrified out of her mind in a old English cottage."

Remember, you can buy Phobophobia here.

Phobophobia up for two awards

Dean M Drinkel's Phobophobia (which features my story Fear to Tread) has been nominated for two awards over at the Critters Workshop.

The awards in question are Best Anthology of 2011 and Best Cover Artwork for James Powell's striking image of a self-harming angel.

So why not pop along there and vote now?

You can pick up a copy of Phobophobia from my Amazon Associates store here.

Coming soon...

... from Dark Continents Publishing, a new anthology of alphabetical horror, entitled Phobophobia. Edited by the irrepressible Dean Drinkel, with cover art by James Powell, it also features a story by Yours Truly.

Phobophobia is due for release at the end of this month. If you keep an eye on the Dark Continents website, you will see pre-order facilities go up there soon.