Cellar Door 2, published by JWK Fiction

Cellar Door II contains a story written by me called "Dalliance". It is another anthology that I had quite a bit of fun writing for.  I don't know what it is, but the anthologies created by JWK Fiction contain some of my favorite themes to write for. 

"Cellar Door... Linguists call it the most beautiful phrase in the English language based solely on the way it sounds. But as you can imagine, what it represents may be something far more sinister. In a spectacular display of poetry, artwork, fiction, and photography, the talent of fifty contributors is showcased within these pages. Voices from behind cellar doors all over the world come together in unison to whisper in your ear...can you hear them? Are they knocking on your cellar door? Edited by James Ward Kirk, each piece in this anthology has a beautiful title intrinsically connected to the tale that follows, and a door will be the common theme which connects the widely varied styles, genres, and stories told. Will you take your chances and find what's lurking behind your cellar door? This second volume of tales continues the tradition: Words of Beauty, Tales of Terror."

Review

The Editor's Choice Awards for Cellar Door Volume Two go to Matt Cowan for "Numen" and K. K Trap Jones for "A Soul's Lullaby." Everyone wins, though, with this anthology. Congratulations!

From the Back Cover

Contents
 
Poetry  8
Alex S. Johnson  Essence of Ebon, Preserved9
Mathias Jansson Smoky bottles  10
Dona Fox The Door  11
Dona Fox Me and My . . . 11
Dona Fox  Magur  12
Dona Fox The Wonder Cave  13
DJ Tyrer  A Darkness in the Cellar  14
DJ Tyrer  Cellar Door  14
DJ Tyrer  Foundations  15
Robert E. Petras  The Soul Worms  15
Flash Fiction  16
K. Z. Morano  Wooden Lips  17
Essel Pratt  Dalliance  19
Short Stories  22
Dale Hollin  The Last Eulogy  23
Mike Jansen  The Angel's kiss  29
Neil Baker  A Late Summer Afternoon on Cranberry Farm    33
Michael Thomas Knight  The Gates of Lament  40
Dona Fox  Forevermore  56
Greg McWhorter  Sempiternal Denouement  64
David Eccles  The Esoteric Espial 72
Matt Cowan  Numen   76
M. J. Sydney  Ellensburg Blue  84
David Perlmutter  Little Pony Ride  95
Lee Forsythe  Karni Mata  102
Justin Hunter  Geisha White  108
K. Trap Jones   A Soul's Lullaby  117
Lori Safranek Angels Behind Glass  121
Suzy Saylor  A Halcyon Panacea  132
Patrick Lacey  Last Words  142
Kevin Rodgers  The Scent of Jasmine  153
Matthew Wilson  Video Nasty  163
Michael Randolph  Leannan Sídhe  167
Gary Murphy  Horrorwerk  175
Adam Blampied Buried  181
Jason WolfgangGehler  Scarecrow Fields  184
Author Bios  195

Ugly Babies Vol. 2, By JWK Fiction

Writing for Ugly Babies  Vol. 2 was just as fun as writing for the first. I have two pieces included within, "Spontaneous Dysfunction" and Uterine Rapture".  "Uterine Rapture" is a continuation of "Immaculate Deception", which was included in Vol. 1. 

"There’s nothing quite like the birth of a child. Children are born in our likenesses... we treasure their beauty, their innocence, and marvel as they take their first breaths outside of their mother’s womb. In a perfect world, babies are miracles. But as we know, the world is not always perfect. “... then something like a stick insect, enormous bulging eyes among stiff fragilities that were limbs... a small girl all blurred, her flesh guttering and melting... a doll with chalky swollen eyes, its eyes wide and blank, like blue ponds, and its mouth open, showing a swollen little tongue. A lanky boy was skewed, one half of his body sliding from the other. A child seemed at first glance normal, but then Harriet saw there was no back to its head; it was all face, which seemed to scream at her.” -- from Doris Lessing’s Fifth Child What happens when we allow ourselves to conceptualize the horrible possibilities -- the terrifying consequences of childbirth gone wrong -- the unimaginable monstrosity that might be born into this world, or perhaps another -- the worst case scenario of what could but shouldn’t be?"

• Series: Ugly Babies
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: James Ward Kirk Publishing (January 10, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615912087
• ISBN-13: 978-0615912080
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches

Ugly Babies Vol. 1, by JWK Fiction

Ugly Babies Vol. 1 features my short story titled, "Immaculate Deception" which is about a baby that decides to be unborn.  I loved writing this piece, because it was something quite different from what I am used to. Click on the picture to the left to purchase your copy!

"There’s nothing quite like the birth of a child. Children are born in our likenesses. We treasure their beauty...their innocence...we marvel as they take their first breath outside a mother’s womb. In a perfect world, babies are miracles. But as we know, the world is not always perfect. What happens when we allow ourselves to conceptualize the horrible possibilities...the terrifying consequences of childbirth gone wrong...the unimaginable monstrosity that might be born into this world, but from another...the worst case scenario of what could--but should not be? UGLY BABIES: The Anthology. Featuring poetry, artwork, and prose from the dark minds of fifty contributors who want to show YOU their ugly babies."

• Series: Ugly Babies
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: James Ward Kirk Publishing (October 22, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615898300
• ISBN-13: 978-0615898308
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches

Dark moon Digest Issue 13, by Dark Moon Books

My story within Dark Moon Digest issue 13, titled "Infested", was quite fun to write.  It was originally intended for a charity anthology, bit I feared my submission was just too far off the mark of the call.  I was right.  Luckily, it was a fit for Dark Moon Digest and quickly found a home. 

"Time flies when you spend most of your time in the dark like the staff of Dark Moon Digest. We just realized that not only is this our LUCKY issue number 13, but it is also our 3rd anniversary issue. We have some great fiction for you this quarter including "All Safe in Here" by D. W. Gillespie, "Aftertaste" by E. J. LaRocca, "Flash!" by Chantal Boudreau, "Fluers Du Mal" by Ed Ahern, "Death's Apprentice" by Gerry Griffiths, "Rest Home" by Jon Maas, "Infested" by Essel Pratt, "Special Delivery" by David Greske, "Peeping Tara" by Z. S. Roe, "Never Turn Your Back on a Dead Body" by Rick McQuiston, "Angler Troll" by Nicholas Paschall and "Mr. Herwig's Secret" by Tim Jeffreys. We also have a special excerpt from an excellent charity anthology edited by our own Lori Michelle: "With Paper Armour and Wooden Sword" by Tracie McBride"

• Paperback: 102 pages
• Publisher: Dark Moon Books (October 1, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0989409082
• ISBN-13: 978-0989409087
• Product Dimensions: 0.2 x 5.9 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces

Blood Type: An Anthology of Vampire SF On The Cutting Edge, by Nightscape Press

This is one of my favorite Anthologies that I have been published in.  Not only do the proceeds benefit a great cause, but it has also provided me inspiration and ideas for a new novel, which I hope to work on yet this year.

All proceeds from this anthology will go to The Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
You can learn more about The CFT and the wonderful things they do at: https://www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk/

Blood Type: An Anthology of Vampire SF on the Cutting Edge is predominately a collection of stories that represent the most cutting edge science fiction-based vampire fiction. Think SF-based vampire fiction like I Am Legend and Necroscope and how they affected the vampire genre when they were first released. Dark Vampire SF that goes where the genre hasn't before.

It is not just an anthology of hard science fiction, however. This book also contains examples of science fantasy as well as some classic vampire stories including an updated reprint from William F. Nolan. Also includes brand new stories from Peter Watts (from the Blindsight/Echopraxia universe), Laird Barron, Tim Waggoner, Bram Stoker Award-winning author Benjamin Kane Ethridge, John Palisano, Jason V Brock, Peter Giglio, Jonathan Templar, Taylor Grant, and many more!

• Print Length: 434 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Nightscape Press; First edition (December 8, 2013)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00GB30DKW

Horror-TIca, Published by Cruentus Libri Press

Horror-Tica, published by Cruentus Libri Press, was a little out of my comfort zone, and might be the less sexualized story within the entire book.  However, my story "Blood Lust" seems to provide a decent balance between sex and horror as the protagonist's demented mind becomes the guide toward dominance.

"The point of a tongue licks its way across full, red lips. They part, showing perfect white teeth. The mouth opens wider, the better for kissing...or biting?

Cruentus Libri Press is pleased to bring you sixteen tales of erotic horror fiction, intended to quicken your pulse and stop your heart at the same time. These stories of sex and death will either chill you to the bone, are get your blood boiling...perhaps both.

Horror-tica features stories from some of the world's finest horror writers, including Aaron Runyon, Jennifer Loring, Kimber Vale, Chris Roberston, Essel Pratt, Joseph A. Pinto, Naching T. Kassa, Jody Neil Ruth, Kevin G. Bufton, Matt Moody, Brandon Cracraft and Anah Rose, Jay Wilburn, Deb Eskie, Ken Goldman, Allen Dusk and Sheri White."

• Print Length: 179 pages
• Publisher: Cruentus Libri Press (July 14, 2013)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00DYAURF6