FOLIE A DEUX BY ROSS E LOCKHART

 

FOLIE A DEUX BY ROSS E LOCKHART - Structured in a series of episodes, the story is told from varied points of view, and different eras. Each episode has a distinctly different tone, depending on the character being portrayed. The title references a ‘madness shared by two’, which I presume to mean the conjoined twin sisters, since it tells what happens to them. The story is heavily influenced by HP Lovecraft, I caught onto many of the references. But certainly, HPL devotees will pick up on many more. A pair of sisters, who are conjoined twins, get mixed up in porn, drugs, and a boyfriend, who claims to be a reincarnated Pharaoh. One sister records her account in a diary. An inscription is found in a grimoire. Graffiti marks the walls of an abandoned hospital. A scroll is found in a copse of trees. The sisters' tale survives ten generations, of nightmare monsters mating with human women, and feeding on human young. 'Folie à Deux' by Ross E. Lockhart was first published in Strange Aeons in 2014. Want to read more? Ross has written a number of short stories and edited several anthologies.

Check out his website here: https://www.haresrocklots.com/biblio/

THE NINTH SKELETON BY CLARK ASHTON SMITH

THE NINTH SKELETON BY CLARK ASHTON SMITH - A young man sets out on a hike, along a treacherous California trail. He has plans to meet up with his fiancé. Reality slips away, as his surroundings transform into something more evil. He inexplicably finds himself in a decaying graveyard, with an indecipherable language written on the stones. A skeleton parade saunters past him in the climax, skeletons with oddly feminine characteristics. The Ninth Skeleton by Clark Ashton Smith was first published in Weird Tales in 1928. Want to read more? Clark Ashton Smith is available widely online in variety of formats, some of which now are available in the public domain.

https://pseudopod.org/2013/04/26/pseudopod-331-the-ninth-skeleton/

http://www.eldritchdark.com/writings/short-stories/156/the-ninth-skeleton

https://www.chadschimke.com/2020/06/the-ninth-skeleton-by-clark-ashton-smith.html

http://www.chadschimke.com/2020/07/the-ninth-skeleton-by-clark-ashton.html

http://www.chadschimke.com/2020/06/the-ninth-skeleton-by-clark-ashton.html

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COOKING WITH RODENTS BY NANCY ETCHEMENDY

COOKING WITH RODENTS BY NANCY ETCHEMENDY - I’ve read lots of short stories, and this isn’t like most of them. The preposterous absurdities deepen and compound, in the best possible way. Written in form of a cookbook, this author whips up a delightful dish. It’s a fresh, one-of-a-kind take on what it takes to kept yourself fed, after the apocalypse. ‘Cooking with Rodents’ by Nancy Etchemendy was originally published in Rat Tales anthology in 1994. Check out Nancy’s website: https://www.etchemendy.com/

Want to read more? Check this and other good horror for a great cause, in Tales for the Campfire by following this link:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q4Z32VP/

ROAD KILL BY JEFF SEEMAN

Road Kill by Jeff Seeman - A startling burst of static on a CB radio. A quiet diner on a dark lonely highway. A walk-in refrigerator, filled with severed body parts on hooks.  A recording of “I Fall to Pieces” by Patsy Cline plays on, in the background. A police radio crackles and the officer speaks: “I found another dead driver, along Dead Man’s Curve. Looks like the ghost took a new one.” ‘Road Kill’, along with many others in Tales for the Camp Fire, is a second time reprint, first appearing in the 2015 anthology 18 Wheels of Horror.

Tales for the Camp Fire, published by Tomes & Coffee Press, has now reached the first anniversary of its e-book launch. On release day, it rose to #3 in Amazon's Best Sellers in Horror Anthologies. The print paperback was unveiled at the Bay Area Book Festival and immediately sold out 100 print books.

Check out Jeff Seeman’s newest anthology, What Monsters do for Love:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083RZ9QT4/

Tales for the Camp Fire 1-year Anniversary

FABLE OF THE BOX BY ERIC ESSER

FABLE OF THE BOX BY ERIC ESSER - A witch’s daughter begs her mother to place the dead family dog in a magic box. But this isn’t any ordinary magic box. Place something dead inside to make it come back to life, but only for one day. The following day was the best one of her life. Her reborn dog showered her, and her little brother, with love and affection. But after a couple more goes, things change. That leads to an argument. The daughter punishes her brother, by daring him to spend the night in the box. ‘Fable of the Box’ was previously published in Awkward Robots Anthology: The Orange Volume in 2015. Part folk horror, part fairytale, part tall tale with a sprinkle of sorcery. There are many surprises, packed into a minimum of lines. 

\Want to read more? Check out Eric’s website and writing here: http://ericesser.net/

MUKDEN BY SEAN PATRICK HAZLETT

MUKDEN BY SEAN PATRICK HAZLETT –  A captain finds a pile of corpses bearing peculiar incisions, shaped like an inverted starfish, on their slashed bellies. But stranger still, their viscera are missing. The captain’s local guide blames the occurrence on sorcery. Overnight the captain feeds the night hag, but unlike most who encounter her, he survives the interaction. He is later assaulted by bandits and Cossacks but finds himself saved. Who has spared him? None other than the night hag. Perhaps she’s paying back his earlier kindness. The hag releases his bonds and grants him a vision. Once he’s free, he hurries back to share what she revealed, to his general. ‘Mukden’ is a richly described and culturally layered short story which first appeared in Weirdbook in 2017. Find this and other really good horror/ paranormal shorts in Tales for the Campfire. All profits go to the victims of the November 2018 Camp Fire. Want to read more? 

Check out Sean’s upcoming book entitled Weird World War III, currently on pre-order:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982124911/

THE RELIC BY CRYSTAL M ROMERO

THE RELIC BY CRYSTAL M ROMERO - An investigator shows up on scene to find an anthropology professor with his neck ripped open. But strangely, his windows and doors are locked. At that point the investigator notices a mysterious primitive artifact. She marvels, since it’s the most realistic she’s ever seen. Then, she catches her breath, for what seems to be an unknown reason. She leaves, but can’t help but notice a guttural roar in the distance. ‘The Relic’ is an impactful piece of fantastic flash fiction which first appeared in the 2008 anthology entitled Chilling Tales of Terror and the Supernatural. Don’t forget that profits of Tales for the Campfire by go to the victims of California’s greatest disaster, the Camp Fire of 2018. Want to read more? 

Find Crystal M. Romero on Twitter at the following link: https://twitter.com/Crstl_M_Romero

GRAFFITI SONATA BY GENE O’NEIL

GRAFFITI SONATA by gene o’neil - Imagine the loneliness you’d feel, if your classically trained flautist of a spouse moved out, and took your young daughter with her. Flip through the artist’s sketchbook, as his images transform from love, to loss, and give way to grief. The story is organized in a sonata structure, with dream sequences blending ghost-like visions with the natural world. In ‘Graffiti Sonata’, the reader delves into an unfocused mind, sinking into despair as he loses everything he ever loved. This story first appeared in Dark Discoveries Magazine issue #18, Winter/ Spring 2011, and was reprinted in Best of Dark Discoveries, published by Dark Regions Press in 2015.

Want to read more? Check this and other good horror for a great cause, in Tales for the Campfire by following this link:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q4Z32VP/

JOHN WILSON BY CLIFFORD BROOKS

john wilson by clifford brooks - Part abstract poem, part dream world, part monologue: ‘John Wilson’ by Clifford Brooks is a highly unusual short story. It’s hard to define but that’s what makes it so great. An unsatisfied hairdresser mind melds two boyfriends together, and is visited by a conjoined spirit requesting a haircut. Sign said haircuts, he said. This story was originally published in in Cemetery Dance #49 in 2004. Find this and other really good horror/ paranormal shorts in Tales for the Campfire. All profits go to the victims of the November 2018 Camp Fire. 

Want to read more? Check out Clifford’s site: https://www.cliffordbrooks.com/

STILL LIFE WITH SHATTERED GLASS BY LOREN RHOADS

STILL LIFE WITH SHATTERED GLASS BY lOREN rHOADS  - Horror writers are often asked – Why are you so fascinated by the macabre? In ‘Still Life with Shattered Glass’, Loren Rhoads explores motivations of people who share those particular predilections. 

When a college junior finds herself stranded at a party, she hitches a ride and spends the night with a photographer.  It’s a little bit sexy, with a touch of dark humor, and comes together with a scary (of course) twist ending. A different version of this story was originally published in Cemetery Dance #54 in 2006. Don’t forget that profits from this anthology go to victims of California’s greatest disaster, the Camp Fire of 2018. 

Want to read more? Sign up for her mailing list at https://lorenrhoads.com/.

THE QUARRY BY BEN MONROE

The Quarry by Ben Monroe – Imagine a mashup of a 80s horror creature-feature, and a cosmic being hidden within the bowels of the earth. In ‘The Quarry’, a group of neighborhood kids change their plans, from a dip in the public pool, to exploring Founder’s Quarry. They ultimately decide to ignore the ‘KEEP OUT!’ sign and venture in anyway. While some stories in the book are reprints, ‘The Quarry’ by Ben Monroe was written especially for inclusion in the Tales for the Camp Fire anthology. Profits go to the victims of the November 2018 Camp Fire, California’s worst natural disaster. Coming soon: Planet Apocalypse, Ben’s new graphic novel. 

Want to read more? Check out his page at: https://www.benmonroe.com/

Tales for the Campfire available now on Amazon!

Tales for the Campfire available now on Amazon!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q4Z32VP

#horrorfiction #paranormal #darkfantasy #sciencefiction#postapocalypticfiction

WILDFIRES SPARK CREATIVITY IN HORROR WRITERS - SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

California wildfires spark creativity in horror writers

Francis Scott Key wrote his poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry," the eventual lyrics of "The Star-Spangled Banner," while witnessing the shelling of Fort McHenry, and resulting fires, in 1814. As his words display, there is something about flames, impending doom and our resilience to both that makes people put pen to paper even as they hide from devastation.

Paranormal Underground Magazine features Tales for the Campfire

Paranormal Underground Magazine features Tales for the Campfire 

https://paranormalmagazine.wixsite.com/underground

THE PATRON BY ANTHONY DEROUEN

THE PATRON BY ANTHONY DEROUEN - Tall pines, drifting snowbanks, blue water and tourists, of either the summer or winter variety.  Those things come to mind when picturing South Lake Tahoe. And sometimes, supernatural entities from beyond the paranormal veil as well. In ‘The Patron’, a bartender serves a traveling visitor on a final visit to his favorite tavern. Many stories in the book are reprints, however Anthony DeRouen’s addition to Tales for the Camp Fire was written especially for the anthology. Good horror for a good cause, since profits go to victims of California’s greatest disaster. And here’s another good cause: DeRouen is busy organizing Death’s Parade Film Festival, taking place on October 5th, 2019 at Towne 3 Cinemas in San Jose. Featuring paranormal, killers, horror, monsters, gore and dark comedy. That sounds awesome! 

How do I know when to watch, you might ask? Easy, check out Anthony’s site. 

http://anthonyderouen.blogspot.com/2019/04/first-wave-announced-for-deaths-parade.html

RIVER TWICE BY KEN HUELER

RIVER TWICE BY KEN HUELER - In the short story entitled ‘River Twice’ Ken Hueler goes cryptid hunting, writing about an animal that may or may not exist. A Japanese student snoops in her father’s attic, leading her to a supernatural encounter, in which she uncovers the limitations of her father’s love. ‘River Twice’ first appeared in From the Corner of Your Eye, released by Great Old Ones Publishing in 2015. Ken has a new story out now, ‘The Calm’, in the June 2019 issue of Mystery Weekly Magazine. Besides this tale, there are a lot of really good stories in the anthology. All profits from Tales for the Camp Fire go to the victims of the November 2018 Camp Fire. Want to read more? 

Check out Ken’s site. https://kenhueler.wordpress.com/2019/04/30/new-charity-anthology/

LEAVING THE #9 BY E.M. MARKOFF

LEAVING THE #9 BY E.M. MARKOFF - Today’s post features another writer from Tales for the Camp Fire. While some stories in the anthology are reprints, ‘Leaving the #9’ by E.M. Markoff was written especially for Tales. After witnessing an incident involving her brother, a sister takes the #9 bus to the end of the line, to seek guidance from a curandera. Markoff provides a fresh take on the ghost story, imbued with Mexican folklore, and portrays instantly relatable characters. In particular, Miss Cire is unforgettable. Please remember that profits benefit victims of California’s greatest disaster, the Camp Fire of 2018. Want to read more? 

Sign up for her mailing list here: http://www.ellderet.com/campfire

ADA, AWAKE BY L.S. JOHNSON

ADA, AWAKE BY L.S. JOHNSON - In the short story entitled ‘Ada, Awake’ L.S. Johnson blends Regency romance and Gothic fiction, with a touch of HPL cosmic horror. A fetching peasant awakens to her true gifts, after a carriage ride to a French chateau, with a mysterious artifact for sale. ‘Ada, Awake’ first appeared via Strangelet Press in 2016. Find this story, along with others by 24 horror authors from Northern California, included within Tales for the Camp Fire. Profits go to the victims of the November 2018 Camp Fire, California’s worst natural disaster. Want to read more? 

Sign up for L.S. Johnson’s newsletter here: https://traversingz.com/tag/tales-for-the-camp-fire/

TALES FOR THE CAMP FIRE

From the editor of Morbid Curiosity magazine, Loren Rhoads, comes Tales for the Camp Fire, a new charity anthology of short stories. Through these pages roam werewolves, serial killers, a handful of ghosts, plenty of zombies, Cthulhu cultists, mad scientists, and a pair of conjoined twins. Find inside this book 24 amazing horror stories (including a new one by Chad Schimke, ‘Vivified’) written by northern California authors. Profits will be donated to the North Valley Community Foundation's wildfire relief fund. Good horror and a great cause… Read Tales for the Camp Fire today!

Available for pre-order now, with a release date set for May 2^nd.

#talesforthecampfire

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q4Z32VP