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BOOK REVIEW: We’re Not Ourselves Today : 13 Tales of Pulp Horror by Lydia Prime & Jill Girardi
REVIEW: We’re Not Ourselves Today 13 Tales of Pulp Horror
Lydia Prime & Jill Girardi
Prime and Girardi craft thirteen spine-tingling short stories certain to terrify and disturb. From garbage demons and werewolves to curses and delicious revenge, each tale weaves memorable monsters with high tension and horrific stakes. Some readers may gravitate a tad more toward Girardi’s haunting writing style while others may lean into Prime’s stomach-churning scenes, but overall, Prime and Girardi shine equally, sharing the spotlight with expert prose that invokes nightmares long after the final page.
Each story features a monster – whether human or otherwise. Familiar creatures such as werewolves are featured in multiple stories but with clever and refreshing twists to keep readers salivating. Other times, original monsters are born from the wickedly twisted imaginations of Prime and Girardi. Creativity oozes from the pages as does a decent about of blood and guts; however, inserted into the terror are occasion moments of absurdist levity such as in the opening story “The Letter” by Prime, who takes a gruesome premise of an expectant mother receiving a mysterious letter and pivots in a campy unexpected way. The creature in “The Roiling” by Jill Girardi also has a campy vibe undertone and would make an incredible onscreen villain, if ever adapted for television. In this piece, Frog People have taken over and Sherman Tan, a rather cowardly human protagonist, must figure out how to survive the new landscape.
The overall anthology feels like stepping into a wickedly intense 80s fright night marathon. Some of the content may be shocking for readers (child death, domestic abuse) as neither Prime nor Girardi hold back, but for those open to extreme horror with splashes of gore and tons of uniquely crafted monsters, this is a must read! Perfect for horror fans looking for creature features, women written horror, and nightmare fuel!
BLACK FRIDAY SALE!
SALE SALE SALE!
I’m slashing prices on two of my books!
FOR A LIMITED TIME:
Shiver will be $2.99 on Kindle and $8.99 for paperback!
Open House is FREE on Kindle Direct and will be $3.99 for paperback!
Open House:
Realtor Caleb Birch is on the precipice of earning everything he’s ever dreamed: a partner position at his prestigious realty firm, financial stability that would make his mother proud, and a respectable professional reputation amongst Los Angeles’s wealthy and elite. All he has to do is nail his open house and secure a contract.
Enter a mysterious woman with an air of familiarity claiming to be the perfect buyer. Her ruse dissolves revealing nefarious intentions and a twisted game that Caleb must win to survive the night. But she isn’t the only threat lurking behind closed doors. There are skeletons in the closet, and they’re coming out to play.
SHIVER:
Grab a cozy blanket, pour some bourbon in your hot chocolate, and gather around the fireplace. It’s about to get chilly! This un-brrr-lievable anthology presents 30 spooky stories exploring the depths of madness and terror unique to the cold. Whether it’s a chilling twist on the final girl trope, a mysterious Japanese spirit knocking on a cabin door, or something sinister born out of urine soaked snow, this frigid collection is packed with tales that will send a shiver down your spine. Get ready. A blizzard is coming.
Stoker Eligible Works by Nico Bell
Stoker Eligible Stories
It’s that time of year! Writers nervously get their eligible stories organized and ready to release into the world in hopes someone will like them enough to nominate them for an award.
Like many authors, it’s my dream to win a Bram Stoker Award, which is arguably the most coveted in the horror writing industry. I’ve never been nominated. I’ve never had a book on the recommended reading list, but I’ll never stop hoping!
With that said, here are my eligible stories. Note that my scifi horror novella Static will also be eligible, but it doesn’t come out until October.
If anything looks interesting and you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, email me (nicobellfiction@gmail.com) and I’ll send you a free copy! Also, I will be reading each of the short fiction pieces and excerpts from Open House on my Substack podcast in the coming weeks, so make sure you head over there and sign up for updates!
Realtor Caleb Birch is on the precipice of earning everything he’s ever dreamed: a partner position at his prestigious realty firm, financial stability that would make his mother proud, and a respectable professional reputation amongst Los Angeles’s wealthy and elite. All he has to do is nail his open house and secure a contract. Enter a mysterious woman with an air of familiarity claiming to be the perfect buyer. Her ruse dissolves revealing nefarious intentions and a twisted game that Caleb must win to survive the night. But she isn’t the only threat lurking behind closed doors. There are skeletons in the closet, and they’re coming out to play.
Open House is eligible for the LONG FICTION category.
Originally featured in Ooze: Little Bursts of Body Horror
Body horror is best when it comes in little bursts. In this novella-length collection full of gross, grimy, creepy, crawly, bubbling, bursting fun, what you'll be surprised by is how much heart and story can be packed into such small packages. With twenty up-and-coming authors putting forth their best short works of body horror, be prepared to be smacked in the face with a combination of the classic and the new. There's plenty that you hope for when you pick up a book of body horror---transformation, dissolution, decay---but there are also a delightful number of heartfelt and surprising twists on the idea. Every story is under 2,500 words and many are shorter.
Chrysalis is a seeping menopause story about the power of joyful transformation and eligible for the SHORT FICTION category.
Originally published in HorrorScope: A Zodiac Anthology
Aries. Taurus. Gemini. Cancer. Leo. Virgo. Libra. Scorpio. Sagittarius. Capricorn. Aquarius. Pisces.
It is said that destiny is determined by the stars. The signs of the Zodiac can predict who you’ll love, who you’ll hate, and who you’ll become. But the fates written in the stars are not always kind. Sometimes, they’re terrifying.
In Horrorscopes, you will find 36 dark fantasy poems and short stories all inspired by the Zodiac Signs. Within these pages, you’ll face killer goats, twisted twins and deadly fishies. So, open this book, if you dare, and pray that you weren’t born under a bad sign.
The One Who Came to Save Her is a devious folk horror about revenge and eligibly for the SHORT FICTION category.
To recommend a work for the Stoker Award:
Go to HWA website.
Open the Members Only link.
Log In
Click the red “Recommend Work” button on the right panel.
Interview with Horror Author Red Lagoe
Interview with Horror Author Red Lagoe
1. First, a HUGE CONGRATS on your anthology Nightmare Sky making the Stoker Preliminary Ballot! As a fan of yours (I absolutely loved your Lucid Screams short story collection), I was THRILLED to see your name on that list! We’re going to talk more about that, but first, let’s step back in time. When did you first develop a love of writing?
Thank you, Nico! I was thrilled, too!
Even though I wrote a short story when I was eleven years old (and it was a horror story), I didn’t know I wanted to be a writer. I’m not one of those people who can say, “I’ve always wanted to be a writer.” That wasn’t me. I was the outdoorsy kid. The one playing sports and adventuring alone into the woods behind my house. But I have always had an active imagination. I spent a lot of time as a kid playing make-believe alone in my head. However, I’d play the same scenario over and over for days, changing the scenes, and upping the stakes for the hero. I was creating stories in my head and never writing them down. These imagined scenarios and stories matured with me into my teens and into adulthood, and I locked them away as my little secrets. It wasn’t until my 30s—maybe about a decade ago—that I realized I should start sharing those stories through writing. I fell in love with it as soon as I started.
2. What sparked your interest in the horror genre?
I grew up on 80’s slashers and Alfred Hitchcock, Tales from the Crypt, and Twilight Zone. When my mom was out, my brothers and I had full control of the VCR, and it was gore, gore, and more gore all night long. However, when I started writing, I didn’t gravitate straight to horror. I wrote and illustrated a children’s book first, and from there I tried writing in other genres, but everything I wrote ventured a little too far into the darkness. Once I realized I was writing horror stories, there was no turning back. Horror is in engrained in my psyche from those countless unsupervised hours in front of that big wooden box of a TV as blood splattered across the screen. It’s locked inside of me, brought on by life’s traumas that had been packed away and ignored for too many years. Writing horror is a release valve on all those feelings and the creativity that’s been bottled up.
3. Do you have a favorite author and if so, who and why?
The first author that comes to mind is Paul Tremblay. I’ve loved every book of his that I’ve read. The prose, the intensity, the pacing, and all those ambiguous endings make for a storytelling cocktail that I really enjoy reading.
Author Red Lagoe
But there are so many other authors whom I adore, and who inspire me. Sara Tantlinger’s prose is lyrical and dark. V. Castro has a voice that is so real and visceral. Josh Malerman takes creativity to another level. There’s a lot of great authors out there right now and I’m excited that I get to say I know them!
4. Okay, let’s focus on your anthology Nightmare Sky. For readers who have yet to experience this beautiful collection, can you tell everyone what this anthology is about and what your inspiration was?
Well… (cracks knuckles)… Astronomy was my first love. Long before writing, long before I loved any human, I loved the sky—I was fascinated by it. I won’t write twelve paragraphs about why, but I am the one always looking up the moment I step outside, about why I have a few telescopes for dabbling in amateur astronomy and sharing views of the sky through public outreach, or why it feels like I am tethered to the sky—it’s my constant in the ever-spinning-out-of-control world. People across the planet, since the dawn of humanity, have been looking to the sky for answers. We look to it for peace, for prayer, for science, for inspiration, for navigation and hope…and we look to it with wonder…and sometimes horror. That’s what I wanted Nightmare Sky to be. That connection we all have to the cosmos. What draws our eyes up? What terrible things lurk in the dark spaces between the pinpricks of light? What monsters creep through the shadows here on earth when we’re distracted by those lights? We are many different people with different stories living under one beautifully nightmarish sky, and I wanted the anthology to show that.
In its pages, there are a variety of subgenres of horror—psychological, apocalyptic, sci-fi…There are ghosts and witches and monsters. But all of the stories are deeply rooted in that human connection to the stars.
5. What was your reaction to seeing your name on the Stoker Preliminary Ballot? How did you celebrate this awesome achievement?
I was stunned. I know people say things like “I wasn’t expecting it.” But I mean it! There’ve been years past when I opened that list thinking my book or story probably wouldn’t make it, but secretly I was hoping it would. However, this time, I truly 100% didn’t even feel that twinge of hope. I’d accepted it wouldn’t be on the ballot this year. Not because I don’t think it’s on par with those other anthologies—I believe it is—but rather, because it just released in November. The TOC isn’t packed with a lot of familiar names, so it doesn’t sell that well. And it simply hasn’t had the time to make a splash in the community. So, when I was scrolling through, I was looking for my friends’ names. Then I saw Nightmare Sky, and I froze. I read it a couple times, like maybe I’d read it wrong. I was literally shaking (but it was cold in my office, so it might’ve been that, too.)
I shared the news with a few people, made a couple posts, but I’m not celebrating yet. I’ll reserve celebration for the Final Ballot if it makes it that far. We’ll see what happens. There are some epic titles on that list, and I’m so proud to have mine among them. I will say that I was proud of this anthology before it made the list, and I’ll be proud of it still if this is as far as it goes.
6. Out of the 256 submissions, you selected 28 for this collection. Can you tell us a little bit about the behind the scenes process of being an anthology editor and selecting which pieces got included?
It was a lot of work. I lost so many hours of writing time which were sacrificed to this project, but I’m okay with that because it helped me create something that I think is pretty darn special. Once submissions opened, I tried to keep up with them as they came in, reading several stories a day if I could. I kept three files: Yes, Maybe, Probably Not. After reading each story, I placed it in a file and moved on. But that wasn’t the final decision, because every file in the Maybe and Probably Not section got a second look—maybe not a full read-through, but at least a skim—to be sure I was making the right call. There’s actually one story (I won’t name it) that was originally in the file that would get a rejection, but after giving it a second look, it grew on me, and seeing how it would fit with some of the other stories that made it, it ended up in the acceptance folder. By the time I’d selected all the stories that needed to be in the anthology, I had about 60 stories—120,000 words! Which was far too much, so I had to cut out half of them. That was the hardest part. It was rough. In the end, I chose a variety of stories that touched on different themes, mood and tone. Each story title was written on an index card with the length, the underlying themes, the POV, the tone… and I put them in an order that flowed from one story to another without feeling abrupt. Each selected story had to feel like it stayed true to that central theme of our human connection to the stars. And I did have “Stoker eligible” guidelines in mind when creating this book—the length, the quality, the attention to detail—I wanted to set the bar high, and get as close as I could to that bar with what resources I had.
7. Is this the first anthology you’ve edited and published? What have you learned from the experience that you wish you had known beforehand?
It is the first anthology I’ve ever edited! That’ so wild, and I’m even more humbled to have made the list because of that. I gained a lot of experience from doing this, and I have zero regrets putting in the work. The open call, the reading, the curating, and editing…that all felt like I had it under control. It was a lot of work, but I was expecting that. Most of what I experienced on the editing side, I think I was well prepared for, aside from thinking I’d have more time for my own writing.
The big surprises came from the publishing side of things, even though I’ve published books before. I made a call to release two months early because I was so ahead of schedule on everything. I figured the authors wouldn’t mind another publishing cred right at the end of 2022. I kicked myself for that because that’s when I ran into roadblocks with printing the paperback which made me fall way behind schedule, I couldn’t even get review copies out before the publication date. However, if I hadn’t pushed it to November, then it wouldn’t have made that preliminary ballot this year! So…I guess it worked out.
8. Any plans to put out another anthology?
Another anthology is in the works now! I’m taking less of an editor role, and more of a publisher role on this one. It is a Virginia-themed charity anthology that’s kind of a collaboration of efforts between several Virginian authors. We’re just now finalizing the TOC, and announcements will come soon, but it will benefit the 501(c)3 organization, Scares That Care. Other than that, it might not be until 2024 that I’ll consider doing another anthology, just so I can fulfill other obligations.
9. What else is in store for you? Do you have any writing projects you’re able to share with us?
I am dying to share!! But there’s a couple things I can’t share quite yet. I will say that I’ve got a novel contract signed and the announcement for that should be coming soon. I’ve also been contracted to write a novella (which I’m working on now) that will be part of a project with a couple other phenomenal writers! That news should also be coming soon. My novella “In Excess of Dark” is currently being pitched. And I have a collection of 4 short stories that will appear in an anthology of collections with authors Sara Tantlinger, Jessica Ann York, and Cory Farrenkopf through Cemetery Gates Media releasing early this year.
10. Where can readers find you to learn more?
My website www.RedLagoe.com is a good place to start and I can be found across social media platforms, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as @RedLagoe.
11. Finally, thank you so much for joining me! Is there anything else you’d like readers to know?
Thank you for inviting me! I’ll be at Authorcon in Williamsburg at the end of March 2023! So, if you’re there, and I look angry or unapproachable, please don’t be scared. That’s just what my face looks like; on the inside, I’m super nice and want people to come say ‘hello’.
The Butcher by Laura Kat Young
The Butcher Book Review
4.5 stars, rounded up for Goodreads and NetGalley
Young presents readers with a world where questioning authority has deadly results. Lady Mae is set to inherit her mother's job as the town Butcher. The Butcher is required to settle atonements. When a citizen breaks the law, they are sentenced to a certain number of atonements. Each atonement equates to a body part being chopped off by the Butcher. As Lady Mae's time to take over grows closer, she is challenged to question the way the government is run. She is faced with a challenge. Should she follow the law of follow her conscious?
This stunning cast of characters reaches out of the page and captures the emotions of the reader. Lady Mae's mother Winona shows a deep devotion to her daughter, and their bond holds fast in a world that hates them. This mother-daughter relationship shows a tenderness in a world of harsh consequences. As the plot unravels, the characters are faced with moral dilemmas that test their bravery. Each y-in the road build tension and sucks the reader deeper into this tense and compelling premise. Some readers may even become teary eyed; the connection Young develops between reader and story is that strong. This dystopian emotional horror is perfect for those looking for a unique premise with heartfelt characters and high tension.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Marionette by Antonia Rachel Ward
Marionette by Antonia Rachel Ward Book Review
3 Stars
Ward crafts a compelling premise complete in this spicy supernatural horror. Cecile Dulac is a French prostitute turned dancer/performer who gets roped into a séance. A vengeful spirit is conjured into her body, forcing Cecile to fight for her autonomy. Meanwhile, the charming George Dashwood swoons over Cecile and is determined to play the role of knight in shining armor, but at what cost? Will Cecile and George survive the spirit's deadly intentions?
Cecile is a sex-positive character who falls prey to the spirit who overtakes the woman's body and uses it for lustful acts while Cecile is unable to stop the events from occurring. Since Cecile can't offer her consent, some readers will find the actions in this book a bit troubling, despite the woman's own love for intimacy. George is equality polarizing as some readers may find his attraction and attention to Cecile romantic, while others will reason that his connection is based largely, if not entirely, on her shapely body. His desire to be with her seems less about love and more about lust, which makes his motivations throughout the plot a little challenging to believe.
In spite of these hiccups, Ward weaves a quick paced tale of revenge and thwarted love. Readers looking for a spicy spooky read will enjoy this one.
Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy!
Beyond the Creek by Nico Bell
When Alex Foster accepted the caregiver position with the eccentric Nox family, she was issued a single rule. Don’t wander past the creek. Alex isn’t interested in exploring the Nox’s vast wooded property. After escaping an abusive past, her sole focus is building a safe future for herself and her unborn baby. Except, a series of chilling events threatens her happily-ever-after. Now, she must fight to survive an ancient evil before all hope is lost.
There’s something beyond the creek, and it’s hungry.
BEYOND THE CREEK is a southern creature horror.
ASIN : B09S8H27NS
Publisher : D&T Publishing LLC (February 9, 2022)
Publication date : February 9, 2022
Language : English
Print length : 127 pages
Authors Whose Books I'll Buy Sight Unseen
Authors I’ll Buy No Matter What
A lot of readers have them. A list of authors they’ll buy books from without reading the back covers, without even glancing at the taglines. I’m no exception. My list is small but mighty. Here are the authors I’ve bought books from without knowing a single thing about the plots:
Chuck Palahniuk
This should come as no surprise as he’s my favorite author, but I buy anything he puts out sight unseen. I just hover my mouse over that “pre-order” button and click! His characters are disturbing, his writing minimalistic but visceral, and he has some of the best quotes in literature.
Nnedi Okorafor
I will never stop recommending the Binti series. They’re some of my absolute favorite books, but readers who stop at those are missing out on Nnedi’s brilliant worldbuilding, memorable characters, and universal themes.
Kealan Patrick Burke
I probably wouldn’t recommend jumping into Kealan’s books the way I did. The first work I read from him was Kin. Yeah, I jumped into the deep end, but when I explored more of his work, I loved his characters, themes, and settings. I’m sold! Anything he puts out, I’m buying.
The Dead Inside: A Horror Anthology Book Review
THE DEAD INSIDE: A HORROR ANTHOLOGY EDITED BY LAUREL HIGHTOWER AND SANDRA RUTTAN
4.5 stars
COVER ART BY GEMMA AMOR
THE DEAD INSIDE is a dramatic thirty piece collection of short stories and poetry delving into the topic of identity horror. The plots explore what happens when identity is denied, forgotten, repressed, or suppressed whether through society, culture, or family. There’s an inclusive range of characters and a wide array of heartbreaking lessons to be learned. Readers will easily find stories that speak to their own internal and external experiences mirrored by these dynamic characters.
Highwater and Ruttan do a fantastic job of compiling a steady mix between stories and poetry. The collection starts off with a bang, immediately capturing reader’s attention with “From Within” by S.H. Cooper. This body horror short story focuses on an overlooked woman trying to rise the corporate ladder. From there, the collection continues in a steady ebb and flow of themes, characters, and premises that will connect with readers from various cultures and backgrounds.
Each story has a stand out moment, and while many selections will stick with readers long after the final word has been read, there are a few that rise above:
Similar in theme to “From Within,” “Evil Inc. (Or How to Succeed in Business without Really Dying)” by Robert Stahl) delves into the horrors of evil corporations that work their employees to the bone, asking readers, “How far would you go to succeed?” Some stories have a more lyrical tone such as “Subsidence” by Sarah Jackson where the protagonist discovers a crack “not a scar, just a pale slit, like a paper cut” along the collarbone. The poem entitled “Black Like That” by R.J. Joseph is an exquisitely crafted raw look at racism:
“we know your blackity black
but don’t be black like that
dark skin and thick, dark lips
bubble butt rounded with hips…”
“Ending is the Only Beginning” by Ali Seay is a chilling look at motherhood, depression, and substance abuse, while “The Daughter She Wanted” by Jaecyn Boné is less a horror story and more a powerful dramatic piece about family, self-love, and acceptance. Finally, the book ends on a fitting note of death as a young man finds himself on an unusual job interview in “An Evaluation” by Scott J. Moses.
While a few of the stories were a bit slow in pacing, the majority sunk their claws deep within, not letting go of the reader until the final moments. Transphobia, homophobia, racism, suicide, and child death are just some of the sensitive topics that are written about. Check out the content warnings at the back of the book for further information. For those who enjoy Carmen Mario Machado, Thomas Ligotti, or Rachel Yoder, this collection is a perfect fit!