Tuesday 31 October 2017

A spooky short story recommended for Halloween.

Ideal reading for Halloween...

Northwest Passage by Barbara Roden
An old woman named Peggy lives alone in a remote cabin surrounded by wilderness.  One day she encounters two young men, Jack and Robert, who are living and getting up to who-knows-what in an abandoned prospector's cabin some miles away.  As she begins a friendship with Jack, a sinister force emerges from the wilds.

This is a subtle and chilling story that works through small touches rather than big scares, such as some affecting use of wind-chimes, and by building atmosphere.  After reading it, you'll be wondering quite how Roden managed to terrify you so much whilst appearing to reveal so little.

Find it in Roden's collection North West Passages.


Thursday 26 October 2017

On Fire

The On Fire anthology from Transmundane Press is ready to drop on 1st December.  Included in the lineup is my own 'Combustible', a story about Gene, a man with an unusual gift/curse.  To complicate matters Gene also has a stormy relationship with his rock star brother, an encounter with a groupie, an infant child and a wife who considers him a danger to her life.

"BURN, BABY, BURN

Capable of creation and destruction, fire burns within us.
Behind the thick, black smoke of our lives, we blaze with our own unique flame.
While love compels some, others feed greed and lust into their hearths.
A tool for the deft hand, used with magic or as a weapon, but irresponsibility leaves deep burns and promises dreadful consequences.

ON FIRE brings to light twenty-six tales that explore this unpredictable yet beautiful element.

Handle with care."