Give the Gift of Horror This Christmas

That's not actually Sauron you're looking at there. It's a mean, mean Christmas ornament, as illustrated by artist Zach McCain for my story, "Red Rage," coming up in Dark Regions soon-to-be-released anthology, Christmas Horror (volume 1). Editor Chris Morey plans to release subsequent volumes annually, each in time for the Yuletide season. The books will be available in ebook, trade paperback, and deluxe hardback editions. In addition to my tale (which you can read more about in my blog entry, "Red Rage for Christmas," Oct. 6, 2015), the debut volume features all new and original stories from authors Joe R. Lansdale, John Skipp, Cody Goodfellow, Jeff Strand, J. F. Gonzalez, Nate Southard, Shane McKenzie and (in deluxe hardcover retail editions only) William Meikle. Each story in this volume features a full-page illustration by Zach McCain.

Table of Contents:

• “Santa Explains” by Joe R. Lansdale
• “The Endless Black of Friday” by Nate Southard
• “Red Rage” by Stephen Mark Rainey
• “Pointy Canes” by Jeff Strand
• “Naughty” by Shane McKenzie
• “Krampusnacht in Cell Block J” by Cody Goodfellow
• “The Shittiest Guy in the World (A Christmas Fable)” by John Skipp
• “Belsnickel” by J. F. Gonzalez
• “The Color That Stole Christmas” by William Meikle (Deluxe Hardcover Retail Editions and Expanding Grab Bag 2 Exclusive Editions Only)

You can pre-order this volume in your format of choice at Dark Regions website: Christmas Horror, Volume 1

Give the gift of horror this Christmas. And keep a little for yourself.

Red Rage for Christmas

It doesn't happen often — I'd wager no more times than I could count on a couple of fingers — but I creeped myself out the other night. I have a happy little Christmas-themed story titled "Red Rage" set to appear in a couple of months in the new Dark Regions' anthology, Christmas Horror, Vol. 1, edited by Chris Morey. I wrote the original draft just over a year ago, as the anthology was initially scheduled for release in 2014, but rather than attempt to rush the book out, Dark Regions pushed its release back a year. An astute editor, Mr. Morey had a suggestion for "Red Rage" that proved crucial, and as a result, I'm far happier with it — mainly because, while reworking a scene to accommodate the suggested alteration, I freaking creeped myself out. While I thought the original draft was pretty good, at least by that Rainey guy's standards, nothing in it creeped me out. If the finished version creeped me out, there's no telling what kind of effect it might have on readers, their pets, sunspot activity, continental drift, or anything else. Something dire, I expect.

Now, you wouldn't want to miss out on that. Delve further into this and other horrific offerings over Dark Regions. Order two copies for Christmas — one for yourself and one someone you loathe.