Summer 24 - England, Anthologies, Chapter One and More

Welcome to my July newsletter. If you’re new here and are wondering why I’ve parachuted into your inbox, you probably downloaded my supernatural horror novelette, Warding. Welcome aboard. If for some reason you don’t have your eBook copy of Warding, reply to this and I’ll send it to you. I’m writing this newsletter from my room in the University of Reading, where I do my summer work pretty much every year. It’s been very full on so far, leaving me little time to read, let alone write, but I’ve still managed to finish a story I started for the Bleakwood podcast, which should be airing in the next couple weeks, once I’ve made some adjustments following beta reader feedback. I’m also part way through a story for the Violent Advents charity Christmas anthology, and you can find out more about that, here.

One thing I’m really excited about this summer, is the Chapter One horror writer convention in Birmingham. Taking place at The Night Owl in Birmingham’s Digbeth area on 24th August, I’ll be table sharing with Stephen Barnard, whose new novel, Griever’s Wood was just released. Stephen also put together this marvellous flyer for the event:

As you can see, it’s free to get in, and there will be readings - I’ll be reading from Shadow of the Hidden at 12:30 on the day - as well as panels, and vendor tables where you can come and chat to authors, buy books, get copies you already own signed or just ask us why we are like this. I’d love to see some of my readers there, so do pop along if you’re free and in the area. All the details are in a facebook event here.

My better half was here visiting me last week and we went to the ancient city of Salisbury and over to see Stonehenge. It was first time there since I was about nine years old, but the place has lost none of its mystique and atmosphere.

My missus will be back in England in a couple weeks’ time for my brother’s wedding. I’m the best man, which only goes to show the standard of company my brother must keep! (I’m kidding). I’m looking forward to the big day and seeing my sister and her husband and kids and a few of my uncles, aunts and cousins who I don’t get to spend as much time with as I’d like, through distance and so forth.

Anyway, next month, I’ll be back with a report on the goings on at Chapter One, plans for a new series of books I’ll be starting in the autumn - which I’m unbleievably excited about - and more. For now, let’s have some recommendations, shall we?

Recommendations

Reading - The Barricade by Stephanie Ellis

I had the chance to read this book as a beta reader a couple years back now. Such is the life in publishing, it’s only now that the general public can get their mitts on it. Well, almost. The Barricade takes a familiar trope - a post apocalyptic world with low tech solutions to our human problems, borne from necessity, of course. But it does something entirely different with it. the titular barricade is a huge barrier between the ruin of the outside world and a bunker within, into which the elites descended before the end came. The deal was that once you go in, you can never come out. Only now things on the surface are stabilising and some of those below are starting to think again. The other great thing is Ellis’ protagonist, a menopausal woman. Reading this book really made me as a middle aged man think about the different experiences that this person was having, the struggles, on top of trying to cultivate food and maintain security in a wasteland. It was eye opening and really added to the tension. Anyway, it arrives on August 6th and you can pre-order your copy now.

Watching - 3 Body Problem - Netflix

All the talk about this show was of how ambitious it was and, of course, that it was being produced by the same team who put together the excellent early series of Game of Thrones. I went in with no small amount of trepidation, and the first episode and some relatively antipathic performances from some members of the cast, left me somewhat cold. However, I stuck with it and, as the story developed, I found myself more and more drawn in. The moral ambiguity of it was refreshing, in a world of such clearly drawn goodies and baddies. It’s obviously part of a hugely expansive series but Netflix have promised to see this through and not drop it, as they have with some other notable TV series. Check out the trailer here.

Listening - Innocence Was Long Forgotten by Swallow the Sun

I recommended the last two Swallow the Sun albums in my newsletter over the last two or three years, so the arrival of this new single was hugely exciting to me. Without any dramatic change of direction, the Finnish doom metallers have refined their sound still further on this track and I’m incredibly excited to check out the album when it drops in a few weeks’ time. Listen to the single, here.

Bargains and Freebies

Nicole Reads 2 Love has set up this brilliant selection of new and often discounted horror books for you to check out. My novel and both of my novellas are in there, alongside stuff by people like Jack Rollins, Dagmar Rokita and others. Check out the full list and grab a bargain here.  

Riveting Reads is a bargain book promotion from Steve Hudgins. Everything here is 99p/c or under, or available free on #KindleUnlimited. Check out the full list and bag some cheap or free eBooks here.

And finally, from my friend and author/editor Robin Knabel, check out the Horror in July promo with free books from myself and over twenty other writers. You’re sure to find something in this amazing list of free horrors.

Well, that’s it for July. Just a quick thank you to the mighty CC Adams, who put together the awesome pizza and horror chat meet up we had today! It was great to see CC and to meet a few people I’ve known online for a good while for the first time, face to face.

And, as ever, if you enjoyed this newsletter, or my recommendations, do share it with a friend - word of mouth is always the best for of marketing. Equally if you have something to say about one of my books or stories, or simply want to reach out and tell me what you’ve been reading, do leave a comment, or message me [email protected] - I do get a huge buzz from hearing from my readers.

So, until August, take care, be kind, and keep reading the dark stuff.

Kev