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THE YEAR 2001 IN LITERATURE NEWS

MARCH - APRIL - MAY- JUNE 0 JULY 0 AUGUST
SEPTEMBER 0 OCTOBER 0 NOVEMBER

Dark Tales Publishing has awarded feoamante.com their

Beauty In Horror Award.

feoamante.com is rated in the top five of Horror Resource Guides at

Contributors to feoamante.com are going places!
See below!

CLICK TO BUY

feoamante.com contributor David Whitman and Weston Ochse have created a series of new legends in a book that has become one of the best selling small press Horror Collections of the century.

OCTOBER

OCTOBER 31, 2000

Hey, I got interviewed for JOBS IN HELL #54! Jobs In Hell is run by Brian Keene and in only a year's time has made its mark as THE Newsletter for writer's of Horror and Dark Fiction. Its published weekly and has a readership worldwide of over 2,000 professional writers and publishers. In addition to that, its also read by folks like you and me. For more information, write to Brian Keene at JIH.

NOT SUPERIOR, MERELY STUPID

Unemployed Neo-Nazi youths, drunk on beer, illiterate and pursuing all other manner of "supremacist" doings, have taken to terrorizing Count Dracula. Yes, that's right, Count Dracula. A mild mannered antique dealer by day, the 60 year old Berlin native and adopted son of the late Katarina Olympia, the last of Prince Vlad Dracul (Tepes was added to the name after his death. It means The Impaler.) lineage, has been getting death threats from the young Nazi sots. The brave though inebriated youths make a habit of threatening him when they number 35 to his one and striking at night when no one is looking. There have been 10 cases of arson so far, as well as the typical swastika paintings, anonymous death threats and the other standard fare long defined as acts of cowardice.

Perhaps it is an issue of morality since the leaders of this tiny hamlet near Berlin are taking the side of the Neo-Nazi drunkards. Perhaps they find the fact that because Count Dracula (original name Ottomar Berbig) raises money for orphanges, does annual blood drives, and could actually lower some of that whopping 20% unemployment rate in his district by turning the 46 room Castle Dracula into a tourist park, threatening. After all, since these civic leaders have so aptly demonstrated their to their inability to think up anything positive for their community at all, Dracula's obvious mental superiority must be quite hurtful to their soft feelings.

Or perhaps it is the Country-Western concerts he throws there that so peeves the Nouveau-Reich youths and their despot benefactors. So far the city fathers have sent police to write hundreds of parking tickets for folks attending the concerts and other festivities there, as well as fining Dracula for violating noise laws. You gotta keep them youths unemployed if you want them to be fodder for your personal power games. Hey kids, don't worry about a paycheck, future, or family, just have another free beer!

Why is this happening, anyway? Well for one thing, a solitary 60 year old man is a much easier target for a gang of dim witted cowards than a group of sober, healthy men half his age. Maybe the Castle was once owned by Jews. Then again, maybe it wasn't. We're talking Right-Wing extremist Neo-Nazis here, not a group known for their rational clear thinking or reason.

Count Dracula is sick of the local stupidity and just wants to move away, perhaps to England, Ireland or the U.S.

Hey, as far as I'm concerned, he's welcome! Let's bring that Castle over here too! Its too good for the local yokels! For more on this story, go to abcnews.com

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig
GOOD NEWS BAD NEWS

Okay, the good news first: BAD NEWS is out! Even better news is that this collection of horror stories was edited by the master of horror himself, Richard Laymon. But the best news of all is the list of talented authors whose works are included: Simon Clark, Jack Ketchum, Lucy Taylor, Geoff Cooper, Rich Hautala, Gary Brandner, Edo van Belkom, Rain Graves, Bentley Little, Ed Gorman, Tom Piccirilli, Roman A. Ranieri, Bill Pronzini, Edward Lee, John Pelan, Nancy Holder, Richard Chizmar, F. Paul Wilson, and an offering from Laymon himself.

Says Laymon: "Several years ago, I wrote a short story called 'Bad News' for Night Visions 7. It's about a little monster that a guy brings into his house with his morning newspaper. The moment I came up with the idea of doing (this anthology), I knew that I didn't want it to have a 'theme.' I just wanted to get the best stories possible from a special, limited number of writers whose fiction appeals to me. Writers I know. Writers I respect. And in came the stories from my own personally selected list of the best writers around. I know all the people who wrote them. In some cases, I've been reading and enjoying their work for many years. In other cases, I've discovered them more recently: They're newcomers who deserve to be better known. In every case, they write powerful fiction."

BAD NEWS is available from Cemetery Dance Publications.

SEEING GHOSTS MAY BE MORE NATURAL THAN YOU THINK

Though first reported in 1760, Charles Bonnet Syndrome or CBS may be more common than scientists believed. Charles Bonnet, the Swiss Philosopher, reported that his grandfather, largely blinded by cataracts, experienced "amusing" visions. His grandfather realized his halluciniations for what they were, but was entertained by them all the same.

Most people with CBS are in a clear state of mind and realize that what they see are hallucinations and not, in fact, real. People with CBS can also blink their eyes tight to make the images vanish. CBS is not any form of mental illness, their people affected with it are not otherwise delusional, and the visions usually lack any personal meaning.

Until recently, CBS was thought to be a rare curiosity, but recent tests in Holland have shown that as much as 12% of all people may have it. These people usually suffer from some form of macular degeneration (common in old age). For more information, read the following articles:
Seeing is Not Believing
guardianunlimited.co.uk
Ghostly Sightings Linked To Eye Disease
ananova.com
Things That Go Bump In The Night
ezboard.com

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OCTOBER 30, 2000

FAKE SATAN CRIMES CONTINUE

"Never attribute to Devil-worshipping conspiracies what
opportunism, emotional instability, and religious bigotry
are sufficient to explain."
- Shawn Carlson, Ph.D.

The crimes of false accusation, false testimony, brain washing and child abuse as performed by many respected Psychiatrists in the U.S. during the 1980s, crossed the Pacific and into Australia in the late 1980s, the reprecussions of which are still being felt. Given voice, power, and kangaroo court credibility by no less a "news reporter" than Phil Donahue, Sally Jesse Raphael, Oprah Winfrey, and Geraldo Rivera (To date, only Rivera has issued a full retraction and made an apology to the affected families for the damage his complicity had caused), these Psychiatrists destroyed entire families. Some of these accredited doctors later admitted that the whole Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) was a scam to make money. This money was made at the acknowledged expense of mental, sexual, and physical abuse of minors as young as 3.

Therapists like Dr. Bennett Braun of Chicago, IL., Dr. Diane Humenansky of St. Paul, MN (twenty patients sued before the medical board suspended her license!) and Dr. Gloria Keraga were all found guilty in courts of law, had their licenses surrendered, suspended or revoked and made to pay damages to their patients for creating out of whole cloth fabricated stories of False Memory in their patients, or otherwise poor medical practices.

Renee Fredrickson, Ph.D, also of St. Paul MN.,on May of 1999, had her licensed restricted for planting false memories in her patients via use of hypnosis and "guided imagery". She was also ordered to seek therapy for her own state of mind.

The FBI has debunked the phenomenon, but that hasn't stopped profiteers from using false scare tactics as SRA remains big money and / or power for organizations like the New Hope Healing Institute of Indianapolis, IN (Ritualized Abuse), as well as many questionable Christian sites.

Intervention Specialists like Rick Ross in Arizona (See story on his site by Bob and Gretchen Passaintino this story is also posted at Christian sites like answers.org, and mustardseed.net. Also find more info from Bob and Gretchen and John Trott at cornerstone.com.) and credible religious organizations online like religioustolerance.org, gospelcom.net, and altreligion, are trying to spread the truth, or at least a reasonable, as opposed to a sensationalistic, look into SRA. The fallout from that criminal hoax is still echoed in the Child Protective Services of the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand and is even on the lawbooks. For more on this story see the article at ipt-forensics.com.

For more on patient / child abuse abuse and the Psychiatrists who foisted this hoax on their patients, go to stopbadtherapy.com.

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig and E.C.McMullen Jr.
IT'S TIME AGAIN

In 1954 when Colliers magazine published a chilling story about aliens emerging from pods in the guise of humans, critics interpreted the work as a cold-war allegory dramatizing the Red-scare. Only the man who wrote THE BODY SNATCHERS, Jack Finney, held fast that he had done nothing more than write a story.

Right.

Sometimes a story can grow far beyond the author's vision or intention.

Paying homage to the story that gave eventual birth to the movie INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS," editors Suzanne Donahue and Stefano Donati are releasing PODDITIES. According to Donahue, there will be nine short stories from NICHOLAS KAUFMANN, DAN KEOHANE, D.F. LEWIS, HARRISON HOWE, KURT NEWTON, TIM LEBBON, BRIAN KEENE, STEFANO DONATI, and herself.

In addition, There are eleven pieces of non-fiction Body Snatchers commentary from RAMSEY CAMPBELL, MICHAEL MARSHALL SMITH, THOMAS F. MONTELEONE, NICHOLAS ROYLE, CHRISTOPHER FOWLER, DAVID B. SILVA, JACK KETCHUM, CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN, JACK WILLIAMSON, ED GORMAN, and STANLEY WIATER.

Suzanne says, "Layout is being completed, and PODDITIES should go to the printer right around Halloween. The printer has a 3 - 4 week turn-around time, so I anticipate having copies in the mail by the end of November. The initial print run will be 1,000 copies, and I have no problem going to a second print run to accommodate anyone who doesn't get a copy in the first batch."

PODDITIES will be a perfect-bound, digest-sized anthology, with cover art by JEFFREY THOMAS.

Judi Rohrig interviewed contributor Nick Kaufmann,
"I never thought I'd write a story that was in any way sympathetic to the likes of Joseph McCarthy and Elia Kazan," Kaufmann who contributed 'With Its Sleeves Rolled.' said. "But, as is often the case, the finished story surprised me in many ways. I've always viewed the Body Snatchers story as a political allegory, even if that's not what Finney intended. Its genius lies in its versatility: is it an anti-McCarthy story, warning against the homogenization of America, or is it a Red Scare cautionary tale, reminding us to keep vigilant in the face of Communism's desire for an utterly utilitarian world?"

Kaufmann's story title is a reference to Joseph McCarthy's 1952 re-election campaign slogan: "McCarthyism is Americanism with Its Sleeves Rolled." Added Kaufmann: "I shook things up a bit . . . and touched on both those possibilities. I'm really quite proud of how the story turned out. And, to my knowledge, it is also the only horror story to feature a cameo by Alger Hiss."

For more information, contact editor Suzanne Donahue.

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OCTOBER 28, 2000

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.
GEAR UP FOR HALLOWEEN IN HELL

How's this for a greeting?

"Ahhh, Halloween. The most magical time of the year . . . especially in Hell. The gentle murmur of the vultures in the trees, the crispy-cracklin' night air, spirits afoot wherever you turn. It's a time of the year for celebrating the harvest of the land and the advent of the winter months. A time for celebrating the connection between that which can be seen, and that which cannot."

Yup, they want YOU in Hell this Halloween! Hell, Michigan, that is!

All month long, the residents of Hell have been celebrating with very special weekend events. Of course, this weekend will be their busiest.

Saturday, October, 28, events will be taking place all over Hell from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. And from 2-5 p.m., horror writer Steven Lee Climer (SOUL TEMPLE, DEMONESQUE) will be reading from his works and signing his books.

Sunday (October 29) hours will be from noon to 6 p.m.

The Devil's Passage (entrance to which is through the "gaping maw of the world's largest three-dimensional devil's face") will be open every night from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. all the way through Tuesday, October 31. Hey, that's Halloween!

The website, hell2u.com, offers more information and an opportunity to send a message to someone in Hell or even (during select hours) to talk to a "live" person in Hell!

So go . . . get to Hell!

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OCTOBER 26, 2000

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.
THE GAMES PEOPLE PLAY

"So here's the setup: The game begins in Seattle, where a woman is found hanging in her home on Halloween night, her leg severed, her living room awash in blood. Then, in Vancouver, a second corpse is found hanging with both legs missing. The clue that binds these crimes together is a game of hangman scrawled near each body in the victim's blood. South and north, the cops are hunting a cross-border killer. And they had better solve the hangman puzzle before the Hangman's final move!"

He's at it again! Yup, Penguin Canada will be celebrating the release of the newest Michael Slade book, HANGMAN, with an interactive hangman game on its website beginning November 1. In this go-around it's Jay and Rebecca Clarke penning the seventh adventure that began in 1984 with HEADHUNTER.

"HANGMAN features Inspector Zinc Chandler and Alexis Hunt, stalking a cross-border killer in Vancouver and Seattle." And it's being described as the most deceptive since HEADHUNTER. But then Sladists know to prepare themselves for rich and graphic detail as well as historical accuracy. A release for HANGMAN in the US has not been announced yet. More information is available at Dark Worlds, the Michael Slade website.

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OCTOBER 24, 2000

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.
LEAVING NOTHING TO THE IMAGINATION!

Judging by the membership roster for the World Fantasy 2000 Convention, the airport at Corpus Christi, Texas, is about to get very, very busy! Attendees to the October 26-29 gathering are not just traveling from nearly every state in the union, they'll also be arriving from as far away as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, and from the looks of the events scheduled, they won't have any time to get bored.

The celebrity-rich panels will be tackling subjects like vampires and politics and researchas well as kicking around which books shouldbe brought back into print. Then there will be readings by authors sprinkled into the mix, as well as interviews and the popular mass autographing session on Friday evening.

The theme this year is "Day of the Dead" and the guests of honor include K. W. Jeter (DARK SEEKER, NOIR, SOUL EATER) and John Crowley (ENGINE SUMMER, LITTLE, BIG, NOVELTY, and AEGYPT) with Charles Vess serving as Artist guest of Honor. Toastmaster is the Lone Star state's own Joe R. Lansdale (THE BOTTOMS, THE BIG BLOW, BAD CHILI).

Complete information about the convention, including a detailed schedule of events is available at 2000.worldfantasy.org.

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OCTOBER 23, 2000

CAGE OF BONES - AT LAST!
It was supposed to be out in August but got a bit delayed . . . finally, John Everson's hardcover erotic horror collection, CAGE OF BONES & OTHER DEADLY OBSESSIONS, is now available from Delirium Books. This hardcover volume is limited to 300 signed and numbered copies and includes 20 of his erotic short horror stories, including tales from Grue, Dead of Night and Bloodsongs, and eight previously unpublished works. It also features an introduction by P. D. Cacek, and artwork by Andrew Shorrock and Colleen Crary.

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.
COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN: HORROR'S BACK!

The cackle of witches, the smell of burning leaves, the taste of sweet candies, the pfutterings of candles . . . Ah! Halloween beckons on the horizon! Surrounded with so much to do and see, we have to wonder, "Is horror on it's way back?"

Yup. Looks like it.

"You'll find horror in large or small quantities. There is no period in history when you do not find tales of horror. You'll be hard pressed to find any major author in the English language who has not written horror at one time or another," says that "True Master of the Dark" Richard Laymon (COME OUT TONIGHT, STAKE) in an interview in the current issue of webzine BLOODY MUSE.

Weston Ochse's interview with the man who'sbeen elected to take over the reins of the Horror Writers Association next month is just one of the many tasty treats available at this site. Short stories by Mike Oliveri, Joel Arnold, Monica O'Rourke, B. Lynn Tucker, and Adam Niswander may be found there, too. And please don't miss Brian Keene's "Hunting Season," which will knock you on your ass!

There's more on the site, too: poetry by Carol Nomarhas, Sandra Kasturi, Nick T. Plumber and Juniper Confusion, movie reviews, and a bitchin' review of Brian A. Hopkins' LICKING VALLEY COON HUNTERS CLUB (a work already being recommended for a Bram Stoker
Award for First Novel).

Sadly, just as Richard Laymon begins his responsibilities at the HWA (November 1), Bloody Muse will be disappearing from the net. "I knew this would happen someday, I just didn't know when. So, after 10 autopsies the Old Bitch is dead," BM publisher and editor Weston Osche said in a statement he released last week. "I could offer a dozen reasons, but suffice it to say that my energies have been too diverted and need to become more focused."

While the loss of Bloody Muse certainly is a sad note for horror, Osche won't be going anywhere, except maybe up! His SCARY REDNECKS AND OTHER INBRED HORRORS (written with David Whitman) currently holds the top spot in the Fiction Collection category for the HWA's Bram Stoker Award with fourteen recommendations.

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OCTOBER 19, 2000

Hope you read 6th place JOBS IN HELL / FEO AMANTE Fiction Contest Winner Julian French's 6th place story, SONG OF THE GUILD. Now check out David Whitman's 5th place story WHAT LOVE WAS.

The full event of the MoTCON / KEENECON / CABALCON is now up. Check it out!

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OCTOBER 17, 2000

News courtesy of Barry Hoffman
LAUNCH PARTY FOR RELEASE OF JACK KETCHUM'S LADIES NIGHT

Gauntlet Press will host a launch party for the first mass market trade paperback printing of Jack Ketchum's LADIES NIGHT at the CHILLER CON, Saturday October 28 from 5 - 6PM at the Meadowlands Sheraton (3rd floor), host of Chiller. Jack Ketchum will be in attendance to personally sign copies of LADIES NIGHT. There will be food, spirits and door prizes for all who attend.

For questions contact Gauntlet or visit the Gauntlet website. There is NO cost and reservations are not required.

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OCTOBER 14, 2000

John Everson's first Hardcover story, CAGE OF BONES & Other Deadly Obsessions is now available from Delirium Books.

In time for Friday the 13th AND Halloween, Delirium Books has released this limited edition hardcover collection of CAGE OF BONES, which includes 20 short erotic horror tales. Eight of the stories are brand new and some have been previously published over the past few years in magazines like Grue, Bloodsongs, Terminal Fright, Into the Darkness, Xoddity and Dead of Night. You can read all about the book and get order info etc.through deliriumbooks.com/cage.htm.

CAGE features an intro by P. D. Cacek (author of NIGHT PRAYERS), cover illo by Colleen Crary and a beautiful color art frontispiece by Andrew Shorrock.

"This collection launches a blazing new voice into the realm of modern horror." - Edward Lee

This book collects John's most twisted, adult-oriented work. Not for leaving around the house for the kids to pick up!

THE NIGHT CLASS by Tom Piccirilli and published by Shadowlands Press is ready for its November 15, 2000 publication date.

This new novel, by one of horror's most beloved authors, is a stark journey into the realm of dark mystery, a setting Piccirilli knows well. THE NIGHT CLASS deposits the reader in a wintry nightmare of a university and its strange inhabitants.

- The winter break is over, and Caleb Prentiss returns to school only to find that a girl has died in his room. As he explores this mystery, he finds that perhaps he has misunderstood the process of education all along. The doors he opens along the way reveal an ugliness that threatens to destroy everything Caleb loves. Suffering from stigmata, Caleb finds that his hands bleed whenever a new murder has occurred . . . and his hands are bleeding a lot these days. -

Read the first chapter of the novel at Bereshith Publishing.

The German edition of Piccirilli's first novel, DARK FATHER is now available from Metzengerstein under the title SOHNE DES BOSEN or SONS OF EVIL. You can see it at: BLITZ-Verlag.de.

WEREWOLF SPOTTED IN LOS ANGELES!

Blackmailing a werewolf is a dangerous game . . .

SHAPESHIFTER, is the newest e-book release from horror writer J.F. Gonzalez. Published by XC Publishing, SHAPESHIFTER is a tale of blackmail, suspense and lycanthropy that gives a refreshingly different twist on the typical werewolf story. "With the exception of THE WOLFEN by Whitley Streiber, every werewolf novel I've ever read has taken place in a rural community," says author and current Pasadena resident J.F. Gonzalez."I wanted to set SHAPESHIFTER in the world I was most familiar with at the time, which was the upper middle-class suburbs."

"I found the whole story to be fascinating," says XC Publishing editor Cheryl Dyson. "The idea of a werewolf in contemporary Los Angeles is a splendid one."

The setting is indeed familiar turf for Los Angeles-born Gonzalez, who was raised in the Gardenia area, near the now infamous South Central Los Angeles. Gonzalez, the author of previously published novels CLICKERS (with Mark Williams), and CONVERSION, as well as fifty plus short stories and articles, admits that the southern California locales he's familiar with have influenced much of his work. "When you go to a high school where the Bloods and Crips are trying to murder each other on an almost daily basis that does tend to rub off on you, especially if you're a creative type like myself."

Praise for J. F. Gonzalez:
"It won't be long before Gonzalez is taking big bites out of the field of horror fiction."
--EDWARD LEE, author of USHERS, INCUBI, and THE BIGHEAD

View a sample of SHAPESHIFTER at XC Publishing.

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OCTOBER 10, 2000

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.
GAIMAN'S LAST ANGEL TOUR BENEFITS CBLDF

Writer Neil Gaiman has raised over $100,000 in the past for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and though his Guardian Angel Tours are about to come to an end, he hopes to make one last run to fill the coffers for the organization that works to defend the First Amendment rights in the comics' community.

The Sandman creator says: "I've been doing these tours since 1993. I feel now like it's time to turn over the reins. We always planned for the Guardian Angel Tours to come to a conclusion. The audience wants us to keep doing it, but at the end of the day, well, I think there has to be an end of the day."

For his swan song, Gaiman, who has also authored the novels STARDUST and NEVERWHERE, will be giving readings from his collections ANGELS & VISITATIONS and SMOKE & MIRRORS, as well as debuting new, unpublished works and giving fans an early look at his new novel, AMERICAN GODS.

Private cocktail receptions with the author for Premium Ticket holders ($60) and CBLDF Members will precede performances, but audience question-and-answer sessions following are also planned. The readings begin at 8 p.m. Here's where he'll be appearing:Monday, October 16, Chicago's Vic Theater (3145 North Sheffield); Wednesday, October 18, New York City's St. Mark's Church (131 East 10th Street at 2nd Avenue); Tuesday, October 24, Portland's Aladdin Theater (3116 South East Street); and Thursday, October 26, Los Angeles' Pacific Design Center (8687 Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood). Tickets are available from Ticketmaster locations for $20 (or $16 with a valid student ID).

"While this will be The Last Angel Tour, it certainly won't be the end of my work in support of the Legal Defense Fund," said Gaiman. "What they're doing is more important now than ever before, and I think we'll continue to work closely on new ways to raise money and awareness of the Fund's mission."

More information is available at the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Website.

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OCTOBER 9, 2000

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.
IS THAT FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH ON YOUR CALENDAR OR ARE YOU JUST HAPPY TO SEE ME?

Lots of people in the horror community are taking advantage of this week's bounty. Not only are the neighborhoods, merchants, and schools colorfully arrayed in all things dark and scary, now comes this weekend when a big ass full moon will brighten the festivities for Friday the thirteenth!

Like what?

Beginning Monday, October 9, Douglas Clegg will begina writing marathon as he shoots a chapter a day of hise-serial NIGHTMARE HOUSE to his subscribers. TheThe final installment slated to be posted on Friday!

Then all this week, Andrew Vachss continues to hit bookstores, signing his newest Burke book, DEAD AND GONE. On Monday, he'll be in Rick Klaw's Book People in Austin, Texas, at 7:00 p.m. On Tuesday, October 10, he'll be reading at 7:30 p.m. the Unity Temple on the Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, at a free event sponsored by Rainy Day Books before heading over to Iowa City, Iowa, for an 8:00 p.m. signing at Prairie Lights Books on Wednesday, October 11.
Then it's up to -
Chicagoland (be alert Son Seals, Pat Hall & the Fat Guys, and all Blues' clubs!) for two signings: October 12, at 7:30 p.m. at Barbara's Books, and on Friday, the thirteenth at -
Centuries and Sleuths Bookstore in Forest Park, Illinois, at 7:00 p.m. A complete listing of the dates, stores, and times is available at his website: vachss.com.

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OCTOBER 7, 2000

Horrorfind is kicking things into high gear for Halloween.

Horrorfind’s main draw is a user-friendly, Yahoo styled directory and search engine, that with just one click, can connect horror fans with the best that the genre has to offer. From movies and books to paranormal research and Halloween attractions, the directory lists thousands of horror related websites. The “horror-only” search engine has become the top choice for those interested in dark topics, providing a fast and thorough alternative to the more general search directories. Wanting to make the site accessible to all users, the designers have kept it relatively free of graphics, making it quick loading and easy to navigate.

Horrorfind announced this week that it is adding a horror fiction section. Author and Editor Brian Keene has been brought aboard to guide the process and the new feature will appear within the next week. Readers will be able to experience a wide range of horror fiction; everything from quiet supernaturalism to modern splatterpunk. Contributors include award winning authors John Pelan and Barry Hoffman, underground talents like Mark McLaughlin and DF Lewis, and impressive new writers such as Michael Oliveri and Holly Newstein. Plans call for a massive dark fiction archive, rivaling anything currently available on the web.

With the addition of a horror fiction archive and the approach of Halloween, site administrators expect Horrorfind’s traffic to double this month. The holiday plays a big part in the website’s appeal, with entire search categories devoted to Halloween, Haunted Houses, Ghost Tours and more. Visitors are also attracted by the monthly contests and the chance to win great horror related merchandise, such as in the Halloween contest currently underway.

Fans wanting to start their Halloween early can access the new features, along with free web hosting, email, greeting cards, classifieds, reviews and more at horrorfind.com.

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OCTOBER 1, 2000

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.
October brings with it lots of changes at the Masters of Terror website. Joining horror heavyweightswith message boards of their own will be Jack Passarella, Owl Goingback, Barry Hoffman, and Mike Marano. And later in the month Edward Lee opens his own space to interact with readers.

Already enjoying the message board action are Richard Laymon, Ed Gorman, Jack Ketchum, Brian Hodge, Gary Brandner, Tom Piccirilli, John Shirley, Graham Masterson, and Douglas Clegg, as well as Simon Clark, Tim Lebbon, Chaz Brenchley, Yvonne Navarro, Carol Anne Davis, Ray Garton, Mark Chadbourn, T. M. Wright, Christopher Fowler, John Pelan, and Rhys Hughes.

It doesn't stop there though, MOT Master Andy Fairclough also is offering a couple of choice places for horror fans to feed their hunger in three new nonfiction columns. Ed Gorman's new "Past Masters" starts off with a noirish bang with Malcolm Braly's story. Who he? you ask. Try an emotionally brutal ex-con who was a member of the old Gold Medal paperback crew of writers. He led a life definitely worth reading about.

Then Len Maynard and Mick Sims (think the now defunct Enigmatic Tales) offer out their first spin on "Stories and Storytellers," while Paul Finch hits us with the first of his "True Life Horrors."

Of course, never to be missed are the frequently updated news, reviews, and a plethora of places to click. See? It's NOT all happening at the zoo!

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SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER 26, 2000
The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.
HORROR HITS CHICAGO!

Touted as a "warm-up" to Chicago's hosting of the 2002 World Horror Convention, Experiment In Terror will celebrate the world of horror from Thursday, September 28, through Sunday, October 1, at the Ramada Plaza O'Hare in, well, Chicago! All forms of horror--movies, literature, models, toys--will enjoy the spotlight with events happening throughout the weekend long festival. There'll be something to sate everyone from the most intense Goth to the neighbor's kid who already knows how to spell "diorama."

Although the hoped for Guest of Honor, filmmaker Dario Argento, won't be in attendance, there will be a number of horror notables visible as they perform or sign during the scattered workshops, parties, and special events. Horror artist and special guest, Alan M. Clark, along with Jill Bauman, Randy Broecker, and Harry Fassi will offer some of their works on display at the Art Show. Playing along with the overall theme of the event, "Fight Against Censorship,"

Thursday night's opening will offer horror tales that have been banned. Later censored movies will be shown in their original versions, and money raised will be used for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Several authors will be unveiling new books. Steve Lee Climer's SOUL TEMPLE (DarkTales Publishing) will be making its debut, as will Karen Taylor's BLOOD OF MY BLOOD (Pinnacle). Also, launching Bob Weinberg's HORROR IN THE 20TH CENTURY: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY, Nancy Kilpatrick's BLOODLOVER, Kyle Stone's MENAGERIE (both Baskerville Books), Elaine Bergstrom's BLOOD TO BLOOD, and the collection, CTHULHU AND THE COEDS, edited by Tina Jens. There's a Ghoulish Beach Party hosted by Svengoolie (SVENGOOOOOLIEEEE ! -Feo) with "live" music (really?) and a "Scream Queen" contest, and there's the ReznHedz/Twilight Terrors Banquet with awards, as well as the Fetish Masquerade Ball with guest of honor Sephera Giron playing violin with the Harmonia String Quartet. Hell, there's something for just about everybody who has even a mild interest in horror! Plus, Mort Castle (WRITING HORROR, MOON ON THE WATER) will be offering a 2-day Writers' Workshop.

A complete schedule of events including ticket prices is available at twilight-terrors.com/.

The following is courtesy of Simon Wady.
KING SORROW OVER DEATH OF CRASH DRIVER

The writer Stephen King expressed his sorrow yesterday over the death on Friday of the man whose van struck and severely injured him in the United States last year.

Bryan Smith, 43, was found dead at his home in Fryeburg, Maine. A post-mortem examination was scheduled to take place yesterday but it was not known when the results would be announced.

"I was very sorry to hear of the passing of Bryan Smith," Mr. King, 53, said in a statement. "The death of a 43-year- old man can only be termed untimely."

There was no sign of violence or trauma when Mr. Smith's body was found, Capt James Miclon of the Oxford County Sheriff's Office said. "He was on a variety of medications for his health."

Mr. Smith struck and seriously injured Mr. King while driving a van in North Lovell in June 1999. Mr. King, who was walking along the road, suffered broken bones in his right leg and hip, broken ribs, a punctured lung and a head injury. Mr. Smith pleaded guilty in January to a charge of driving to endanger. He said he had been distracted by his dog. Prosecutors dropped a charge of aggravated assault. He received a six-month suspended jail sentence. At the time Mr. King chided prosecutors for making a deal that did not include serving time in jail and did not permanently revoke Mr. Smith's license.

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SEPTEMBER 22, 2000

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.

Gauntlet Announces Two Gotta-Haves! In November, Gauntlet Press will release A LIFE IN THE CINEMA, a new book from Mick Garris who has brought adaptations of Stephen King's THE STAND and THE SHINING to television audiences. Maine's spookiest son, King, has penned the Introduction; an afterword is offered by Director Tobe Hooper ("Texas Chainsaw Massacre"); and cover art is by none other than writer/artist Clive Barker. The book itself offers richly drawn tales: "a success- hungry producer who trawls the underside of the Hollywood dream; a couple crossing paths in an unusual dreamscape; a kid whose late Gramma is definitely not resting in peace; and several others." The final story, "Chocolate," a sensual thriller about a man who experiences flashes of a beautiful woman's dangerous life, is also accompanied by a full-length screenplay adaptation of the tale. Also available from Gauntlet is HUNGER AND THIRST (See Mike Oliveri's Review), horror legend Richard Matheson's first and previously unpublished novel written fifty years ago.

DEAD AND GONE

Gets Moving When Andrew Vachss hits the pavement on the streets of New York City on Sunday, September 24, he'll probably find them less mean and more friendly as participants in the 11th Annual "New York is Book Country" festival bustle from booth to booth checking out thousands of books and hundreds of authors there to sign them. That tough-guy Vachss will be armed is assumed. He'll be toting the latest offering in his Burke series, DEAD AND GONE, which currently sits in 32nd place on the New York Times bestseller list. DEAD AND GONE, like most of the other books in the Burke series, is a raw and violently told tale, exposing the horrors of child abuse, and yet it's Burke's reputation that nearly spells the end of . . . Well, let's just say Vachss's honesty provides the wind to carry Burke and his crew into uncharted waters.

Literally.

Sunday's appearances both at the Black Orchid booth on Fifth Avenue (between 56th & 57th) at 2:00p.m. and at the $65 a person NY Times Literary Tea at the Waldorf-Astoria on Park Avenue at 4:00p.m. will kick off an 18 state/33 city booksigning tour that doesn't end until October 28, in Eugene, Oregon. A complete listing of the cities he will visit and particular bookstores where he'll be signing has been posted at his website vachss.com. Fans of Vachss might note that pal Joe R. Lansdale will also be at the two events in New York City on Sunday.

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2000

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.

There's a new place to click to and although not everything works yet, what does is well worth the trip! Imaginary Worlds is up, and its sails are catching a breeze! What doesn't hit you here is the usual dark background or images of evil. This is fantasy, so the pale blue wallpaper imbues a calming Maxfield Parrish setting for as visitors delve into the darker boundaries of the mind. After all, Imaginary World's motto is "the only limit is your . . . imagination." And they state right away that their "aim is to provide a community that welcomes folk of all backgrounds to celebrate everything that is good about speculative fiction. As with every online entity our site will be constantly evolving and looking for new ways to bring you what you want."

Maiden voyage fiction is offered by Stoker winner Brian A. Hopkins, Richard Wright, Scott Nicholson, The Edge's Greg F. Gifune, Gene O'Neill, Chiaroscuro's creator Brett Savory, Steve Saville, Paul Lewis, Wordhunger, Derek M. Fox, Steve Lockley, and in separate stories, those Scary Redneck guys, David Whitman and Weston Osche. Though interviews are still a whispered promise, the reviews section is already afloat on the imaginary sea. Carol Nomarhas of Goblin Muse gives the inside story on Design Image Group's WHISPERED FROM THE GRAVE and Phil Richman's THE WINE OF ANGELS (Pan Books), while Christine I. Speakman sets us straight on Terry Brooks' THE SWORD OF SHANNARA (Del Ray). Also scrutinized are Edo Van Belkom's DEATH DRIVES A SEMI (Quarry Press) by reviewer Niall Rough, and Todd Hayes' THE HOLLOW (Gypsy Books) by deb (aka Mrs. Todd) of horrorlit.com. And while the Imaginary World Competition isn't ready to go yet, don't forget to check out the prizes they'll be offering. Yummy!

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2000

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.

The deadline has been extended to September 30, 2000, for purchasing a membership for a mere $75 for the World Horror Convention 2001. Applications may be sent to WHC 2001, PO Box 5171, Bellingham, WA 98227. Remember to make checks payable (in US Funds) to World Horror Convention, and please include your name, address, phone number, and e-mail addy. A flyer is downloadable at whc2001.org/.

Monday, September 18, 2000, is the night Poppy Z. Brite will be chatting at About.com. And she'll be giving away five autographed copies of her newest offering, PLASTIC JESUS (Subterranean Press) during the evening, too. It all begins at 8:00p.m. (EDT).

Joe R. Lansdale hits the road this week with his new book THE BOTTOMS. You'll find him in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday, September 20, at Murder by the Book. Then he'll be in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday and Friday, September 21-22, appearing at Sci-Fi and Mystery Books, Chapter 11 Bookstore, the Southeast Booksellers Association, and at the Westin Peachtree Hotel. Then on Saturday, September 23, Joe's off to Minnesota for signings in St. Paul at River Center, and in Minneapolis at Atlantic Books (Mall of America), the Upper Midwest Booksellers Association, and Once Upon a Crime.

This Is The Week To Be Bad!

That's right, writer Douglas Clegg is encouraging readers to get into a little MISCHIEF. How so? His second book in the Harrow Haunting series, MISCHIEF, has just been released, and he wants readers to make sure it's on the shelves in local bookstores. So what's this MISCHIEF about? Readers coming off their computers from the current e-serial, NIGHTMARE HOUSE, will be catapulted from the 1920s to the year 2000. "MISCHIEF," says Clegg, " is . . . the story of Jim Hook and his encounters with horror at the small school in the Hudson Valley called Harrow Academy." There's really no problem though if you haven't subscribed to NIGHTMARE HOUSE because Clegg assures his readers that all four of the offerings (THE INFINITE and a novella are to follow) under the shadowy umbrella of The Harrow Haunting can stand on their own two feet. (Is that a clue?) Additional information on both the just released MISCHIEF and the e-serial, NIGHTMARE HOUSE, may be found at the Harrow House funsite (really, check out the Forbidden Room!): ehaunting.com.

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2000

The following is from Monica J. O'Rourke.

Sunday Night Horror Chat is back!

Beginning Sunday, October 1, 2000, join us at 10:30 p.m. (EST) in the AOL Writer's Chat Forum, where we will once again be discussing all things horror. Taking over as Horror Writer's Chat moderators are Host WRTR Shadow (aka Gunslngrmjo, Monica) and Host WRTR Zero (aka VisitanteX, William). We will be co-hosting the chat and will feature special guests and scheduled topics. We hope you will join us! Please email: William: VisitanteX@aol.com or Monica: Gunslngrmjo@yahoo.com for further information or questions.

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SEPTEMBER 15, 2000

The following is from Barry Hoffman of GAUNTLET PRESS.

Gauntlet is pleased to announce the long-out-of print first collection by Ray Bradbury. DARK CARNIVAL will see print again as a Gauntlet signed limited "classics-revisited" title in October 2001.

"I have been pestering Ray about this for years," Gauntlet publisher Barry Hoffman said, "as unlike his other books this is almost impossible to find. It's a dream come true to be able to publish this wonderful and historic collection."

While full details remain to be worked out, the cover for the book will be a Bradbury oil painting he painted around the time DARK CARNIVAL was first published. As to the book itself, Hoffman notes, "While a number of stories from DARK CARNIVAL appeared in THE OCTOBER COUNTRY, several were rewritten for that book. For the first time many will be able to see some of these stories as originally published. Many are far darker than those that appeared in THE OCTOBER COUNTRY."

There will be plenty of bells and whistles for this book and starting in November Gauntlet will post monthly updates, for those interested, on the Gauntlet website (gauntletpress.com). There will be the cover art, the Table of Contents as it evolves and other information those craving this book will want to know.

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2000

Late Breaking News! (This news is late and I'm just NOW breaking it!)

The following is from Brett Savory of CHIAROSCURO. PATRICIA LEE MACOMBER has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of ChiZine, as well as Head Webmaster of the entire Chiaroscuro website.

Brett says, "I am relinquishing those duties to (Macomber) and staying on as El Presidente of Chi." "The reason for this change is that I need three things at this point in my life, listed in order of their importance:

1. More time to spend with my fiancee* (*Meow! Whip-Crack! -Feo)
2. More time to write
3. More time to read.

What it boils down to is that I simply need more TIME to myself. I've been doing Chi for just over three years now, and it's been wonderful, but I decided it was time that someone else take over the majority of the Chi-esque workings. Trish, of course, was that person." We at feoamante.com wish Patricia Macomber and the CHIAROSCURO crew all the best. Many of us here at feoamante.com are proud members of the roster.

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SEPTEMBER 11, 2000

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.

NY Literary Festival Later this month - September 20-24 to be exact - the city of New York swings open its doors for the 22nd Annual Literary Festival put together by the nonprofit organization known as "New York is Book Country." And judging by the plethora of events planned, they are *not* blowing smoke!

Horror and mystery writers will be well represented among the events sprinkled in cafes, libraries, bookstores, and meeting halls as a means to "celebrate books and communicate the joy of reading." Like what? Well, on Wednesday, September 20, Christopher Bram (THE NOTORIOUS DR. AUGUST: His Real Life And Crimes) will be appearing from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the Jefferson Market Regional Library, while New Mystery Magazine brings together Thomas Jones (CONFESSIONS OF A RELUCTANT GARBAGE COP), Jill Raab (LUCKY JOE), Lawrence Urban (JERONIMO TAKES SOME HAIR), and Albert Ashforth (A SMART MAN NEVER FOUND A DEAD BODY) at Kettle of Fish from 8-10 p.m. And both events are free!

On Thursday, September 21, from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., at the General Society Library on West 44th, RCA eBook is sponsoring "To e or Not to e? (eBooks: Love 'em or Loathe 'em)." The discussion panel will include Bram Stoker winner Peter Straub (MR. X, GHOST STORY), Laurance J. Kirschbaum (Time Warner Publishing, Lou Lenzi (Thomson Multimedia), Jacob Weisberg, (syndicated columnist), and Sara Nelson (inside.com), who will moderate. Free admission here, too!

Then from 7 - 8:30 p.m., former MTV Real Lifer and comic book smartass Barry Ween creator Judd Winick will be appearing at A Different Light Bookstore. (Free!) Book readings, discussions, panels, and even a cooking demonstration continue on Friday and Saturday with some events requiring registration or admission charges.

One freebie that looks good will be happening at the Caribbean Cultural Center on 58th Street from 3-5 p.m. "DARK MATTER: A Century Of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora" features panelists Kiinii Ya Salaam, Tony, Medina, Linda Addison, and Ama Patterson. David Earl Jackson will be the moderator.

But it's Sunday when more than a quarter of a million book lovers are expected on Fifth Avenue, strolling in search of a book, a reading, or an event. Over 150 are planned, too, but most notable is the Literary Tea in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel's Empire Room at 4:00 p.m. "Thiller with a Capital Tea" is the official title, but it will offer participants (and this one costs $65 a person) a rare chance to see Joe R. Lansdale, who'll be on tour with his new Southern Gothic thriller THE BOTTOMS, and his best friend Andrew Vachss, who just happens to be kicking off his cross-country tour here with his new Burke novel, DEAD AND GONE. Master of Ceremonies is none other than writer Donald Westlake. Any money spent during this event will be a bargain, and a lot will go towards funding the Children's Services Division of the New York Library. Check their website nyisbookcountry.com for exact scheduling and reservation requirements.

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2000

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.

The winners of the 2000 British Fantasy Awards were announced on September 10, at Fantasycon, the Britannia Hotel, Birmingham, England, and are as follows:

The Karl Edward Wagner Award -Anne McCaffrey Best Novel -

August Derleth Award - INDIGO Graham Joyce (Michael Joseph)
Best Short Fiction - WHITE Tim Lebbon (MOT Press)
Best Anthology - THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF BEST NEW HORROR 10 Ed. Stephen Jones (Robinson)
Best Collection - LONESOME ROADS Peter Crowther (Razorblade Press)
Best Artist - Les Edwards
Best Small Press - Razorblade Press

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AUGUST 29, 2000

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.

Circle Monday, September 18, 2000, on your calendars in red blood for Poppy Z. Brite! That's the night she'll be the special chat guest at About.com horrorbooks.about.com.

And if you're lucky, you may walk away with more than an evening shared with one of horror's best writers going. During the chat, five autographed copies of Poppy's newest offering, PLASTIC JESUS (Subterranean Press), will be given away. You don't have to be there
to win, but why stay away? It all begins at 8:00 p.m. (EDT).

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AUGUST 27, 2000

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.

Can September be too early to be thinking about May? Well, not if we're talking the World Horror Convention 2001 to be held in Seattle, WA, May 25-28, 2001. In fact, right now's the very best time to make plans since attending memberships are just $75 until September 15, 2000.

So who's coming?

The 11th Annual gathering of horror professionals, collectors, readers, and special guests will be held at the Seattle Marriott - Sea-Tac. Special guests will include Richard Laymon (BITE, ONE RAINY NIGHT, COME OUT TONIGHT) as the Guest of Honor,Honor, and he'll be joined by Simon Clark (NAILED BY THE HEART, BLOOD CRAZY), as the UK Guest of Honor. Jessica Amanda Salmonson, editor of
THE GOLDEN NAGINATA and numerous collections of ghost and fantasy stories, is slated to be the Editor Guest of Honor; Barbara and Christopher Roden (Ash-Tree Press and Calabash Press) are the expected Publisher Guests of Honor; and Charles Vess, magic paintbrush wielder behind SANDMAN, BOOKS OF MAGIC, and STARDUST, as well as the 1995 Eisner Award-winning THE BOOK OF BALLADS AND SAGAS, has been painted into the corner as the Artist Guest of Honor.

Jack Ketchum (COVER, GIRL NEXT DOOR, OFF SEASON) will be handling the reins as Toastmaster.

For more information, contact whc2001@uswest.net or call 1-800-228-9290.

Applications for attending memberships may be sent to
WHC 2001, PO Box 5171,
Bellingham, WA 98227.

Remember to make checks payable (in US Funds) to World Horror Convention.

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AUGUST 24, 2000

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.

Gauntlet Press has decided to add a little spice to a deal that's already pretty sweet.

Buy a copy of Jack Ketchum's signed limited-edition COVER for $50 (plus postage) by December 1, and your name will be entered in a drawing for a one-of-a-kind collectible! Like what? Well, how about an original 17 X 14 brown ink on white paper 1970 self-portrait of this Master of Horror! And Jack will sign and personalize the piece for the winner.

Whoa!

Also, with each purchase of a signed copy of COVER, you'll receive a copy of Ketchum's EPHEMERA chapbook.

The winner will be drawn on December 2, 2000.

Go to Gauntlet Press for the complete details

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AUGUST 22, 2000

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.

Using the time honored method of the "taste test," Lone Wolf Publications will be releasing a sampler CD the size of a credit card called - brace yourself - SAMPLER 2000. The unique credit card sized CD-Rom features excerpts from LWP's first six productions, including: FLESH WOUNDS and WRINKLES AT TWILIGHT, two collections by LWP's publisher and editor Brian A. Hopkins; EXOTIC LOCALS from
Janet Berliner and George Guthridge; EXTREMES: FANTASY & HORROR FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH (twenty authors contributed stories on the original CD); THE RED, RED ROBIN PROJECT (more than sixty writers represented in this effort that raised funds for an Oklahoma women's shelter); and SORTIES, CATHEXES, AND PERSONAL EFFECTS, a brand-spanking new effort from Gary A. Braunbeck).

Though this is just a taste of what Lone Wolf is serving up, all the stories included on Sampler 2000 are complete!

The $5.95 sampler CD is unique in size and shape, but will fit just fine in the inner ring of your computer's CD drive. It's scheduled to ship in October. For more information and to order, set your buds to bahwolf/sampler2000.

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AUGUST 21, 2000

The following is from DARKTALES.

The new novel, TRIBULATIONS by J. Michael Straczynski - creator of Babylon 5, is now available for purchase in trade paperback.

"Susan Randall, a crime reporter with the Los Angeles News-Tribune, encounters Raymond Weil, a man with a questionable past, who believes that the series of murders she is investigating has a supernatural origin which only he truly understands.

And with each new victim, Susan wonders just how Raymond knows so much . . ."

To learn all about the book, to see cover art, and to listen to an exclusive audio-format interview with JMS, visit darktales.com/jms.

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.

Just as Chapter Four of Clegg's NIGHTMARE HOUSE hit e-mailboxes very early this morning, Dorchester Publishing announced that in April 2001, the Bram Stoker winner will donate 100 percent of the royalties from his NAOMI paperback to the National Down Syndrome Society.

Clegg wants to "shine a spotlight on the important work done through the National Down Syndrome Society," the representative from Dorchester said, "and to hopefully encourage a trend among other novelists to start giving something back on a large scale. If each novelist took just one novel and earmarked royalties for a special organization or charity, it would be a great way to raise awareness and allow readers to feel that they too, are part of the giving."

NAOMI was chosen because of its existing reputation as Clegg's first foray into the world of e-serialization. Last summer, subscribers
through Onelist.com (now Egroups.com) received free weekly installments of NAOMI in their e-mailboxes just as the nearly 2,500
subscribers of NIGHTMARE HOUSE are receiving theirs now. Visitors to feoamante.comwere able to read the installments directly offthis site through the summer and right up until Christmas Eve, the agreed upon "end of life"for NAOMI online.

Clegg feels the attention generated through articles in Publishers Weekly, Business Week, Time, and other on- and off line publications, and reviews and interviews that appeared on hundreds of websites encouraging people to sign up for the NAOMI experiment helped
generate greater name recognition just in time for the release of his October 1999 Bram Stoker and International Horror Guild Award-
winning collection, THE NIGHTMARE CHRONICLES (Dorchester).

But in case you didn't get your ticket to NIGHTMARE HOUSE, the first book in the Harrow Haunting series (MISCHIEF, THE INFINITE, anda novella, "The Necromancer" are scheduled to follow), there's still time. Just head over to ehaunting.com and sign up! Back chapters are available for Free, just as subscribing to NIGHTMARE HOUSE is Free, just as taking the tour through the virtual haunted house at the site is also Free!

Though Dorchester sponsored last year's NAOMI, Cemetery Dance Publications is supporting Doug's efforts this summer.

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AUGUST 18, 2000

The Following is from Brett Savory of CHIAROSCURO

Reprecussions are still being felt from Brett Savory's premier issue of CHIAROSCURO: Treatments of Light and Shade in Words. Not only did Brian Hopkins win the 1999 Bram Stoker Award for his story FIVE DAYS IN APRIL, but Mehitobel Wilson's CUT GLASS and Eve Rings' THE CANNIBAL'S DAUGHTER stories in that very same first issue have received honourable mentions in the 13th annual YEAR'S BEST FANTASY & HORROR, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling. Wilson also received honourable mention for her story STRAYS
which was published at Gothic.Net

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.

Lots of Poppy Z. Brite popping out lately! But save the remarks and the saliva, it has nothing to do with photos and ferrets and nipple rings. It does have to do with what Poppy does best: write!

Subterranean Press has just announced it will be releasing GUILTY BUT INSANE in February 2001. A gathering of her "highly personal nonfiction," the collection will include her definitive take on sexuality and gender: "Enough Rope;" plus her entries on writing, cremation, and even her book reviews from her Cemetery Dance magazine column.

The limited edition features a full cloth binding with a full-color dustjacket and autograph page art by J.K. Potter, while the lettered edition will be bound in leather premium cloth and housed in a handcrafted traycase.

Also not to be missed at SubPress is a wild-assed little interview by Zeppo Tripby where Poppy talks about her newly released PLASTIC JESUS, including a genuine remark about Y***, and why Poppy rejected Paul and instead obsessed on John Lennon. Oh, yeah, she comments on "Sapphism," too.

And while you're clicking about at SubPress, don't miss the release of a "Second Edition" of THE SEED OF LOST SOULS, a documentation of Poppy's steps to her first novel. So what do you get for your hard-earned moolah?

A gen-u-ine bargain! THE SEED OF LOST SOULS contains an exclusive introduction, the previously unpublished novella that eventually became Poppy's first novel, an unpublished book review/essay on vampires, and an interview dating from the time of Lost Souls' publication.

Whew! You wanna miss that? (Damn! I'm about to feel like some primped up pitchman on late-night TV. Move over Cher!) But that's not all! Get this:

Right now, if you order both the trade edition of PLASTIC JESUS *and* THE SEED OF LOST SOULS, you'll pay only $28 with FREE shipping in the U.S. and Canada!

AND, AND, AND, Poppy's gonna sign the copies of PLASTIC JESUS!

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AUGUST 16, 2000

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.

Dream.
You dream? Yeah, me too. But apparently I don't get the big dreams like MmMelpomene. If you've just asked what the hell is that, you weren't a bidder at eBay last week when SANDMAN's NEIL GAIMAN's prized leather jacket was auctioned off for a whopping $6,101, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund walked away with the money.

According to an interview at Comicon.com, the happy bidder is a major fan of Gaiman's and a supporter of the CBLDF. Identified only as MmMelpomme, the champion bidder awoke an hour before the gavel whammed the end.

". . . I awoke up from a dream about Neil . . . decided to pass on the jacket, but I called up a friend of mine to tell him about the dream, and he said I should go for it." With a minute and a half to go, MmMelpomme submitted the winning amount. ". . . I am very pleased I did. I will wear it with happiness and pride."

Yeah, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is pretty happy with the money raised. Gaiman had donated the specially redesigned jacket to the group that works to protect free speech in comics. How needed is that?

Just ask Joe R. Lansdale, Timothy Truman and Sam Glanzman. In 1995, the CBLDF came to their aid when Johnny and Edgar Winter filed suit against the trio and DC Comics. A Los Angeles, California, judge finally threw the action out of court after a year and a half, but not before artist and writer Tim Truman was forced to sell off part of his personal guitar collection. All three, in fact, incurred hefty legal fees.

Gaiman, along with Frank Miller, Dave Sim, and Brian Polido regularly lend their celebrity and support to the CBLDF. And thanks to MmMelpomme and Neil Gaiman, that fund is healthier by $6,101!

Now that rocks!

Membership to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is open to any person
interested in free speech rights. Visit BackPorchC for more information.

AUGUST 15, 2000

WyrdSisterS ProductionS recently recorded an audio interview with J.Michael Straczynski on his new novel TRIBULATIONS. The book is being serialized at BookFace.com and will be published in trade paperback by DarkTales Publications on August 21. A six-minute edit of the interview, conducted by Garrett Peck, may be heard at: darktales.com/jms . The complete and uncut fourteen-minute version is available exclusively at WyrdSisterS.net.

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AUGUST 10, 2000

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.

Beginning today, a novel that was once judged "too brutal, too extreme" will offered in installments for free at Amazon.com.

Stupidly, the closet doors slammed on A BOMB BUILT IN HELL a long time ago with the typical yada, yada:
"The publishers professed to love the writing, but felt the events
depicted were considered a 'political horror story' and not
remotely realistic."
This from the man who's very name slashes images of raw realism across the mind.

The man? Andrew Vachss.

"The rejection letters make interesting reading today. Included in the 'lack of realism' category were such things as Chinese youth gangs and the fall of Haiti. And, of course, the very idea of someone entering a high school with the intent of destroying every living person inside was just too . . .ludicrous."

But this is not a long-lost Burke novel. It's about Wesley.

Wesley. Just the mention of his name to the faithful Vachss readers shoots an icy finger down the spine. Though Vachss's series of novels that began with FLOOD and continues this fall with his release of DEAD AND GONE features his hard-edged, ex-con Burke and his motley crew of "family," the savage character of Wesley, offered full force in HARD CANDY, has loomed most over most of the rest of Vachss's Burke books including last year's CHOICE OF EVIL.

Now readers will be able to learn more about the ice-cold killer as A BOMB BUILT IN HELL is offered up in daily installments at Amazon.com . Already posted are an Introduction by Vachss and the first of the three chapter installments. The novel runs approximately 59,000 words.

And it's free. Well, the words are. What you take away from this roller coaster ride through hell - this is a story from Andrew Vachss remember - will no doubt singe the very hairs on your arms!

I'm there.

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AUGUST 9, 2000

Are you a Horror, Thriller, Suspense, or Mystery writer with at least 3 published fiction credits? Then get yourself listed at Feo Amante's: The Writer's Block!

This dynamic links page is continously updated constantly with the latest news on authors in the genre and their latest work, as well as links to their online stories, websites, and message boards. Don't hide in the dark any longer. Get listed in The Writer's Block!
Go HERE for guidelines.

The following is courtesy of Judi Rohrig.

Joe R. Lansdale's prying himself away from his Nacogdoches, Texas, digs for a big tour of the country this fall as Mysterious Press releases THE BOTTOMS. Here's what the pencilled version of his upcoming road trip looks like:

September 20, finds HISOWNSELF in Houston, TX, but the exact location hasn't been announced (Borders Books in Sugarland is the safe money: excellent Horror selection and a fair amount of Lansdale autographed books in stock -Feo); then on September 21, he'll be at Sci-Fi & Mystery Books in Atlanta, GA, where he'll also take in Chapter 11 Bookstore and the Southeast Booksellers Association on September 21 & 22.

September 23, finds Joe at the Upper Midwest Booksellers Association in Minneapolis, MN with a swing over to Once Upon a Crime and Atlantic Books (Mall of America) while in that same city.

Zip! Then it's over to New York, New York, on September 24, to visit New York is Book Country and Black Orchid Books. Not looking to get mugged, Joe stays in the Big Apple for appearances on September 25, at Murder Ink and Mysterious Bookshop.

Then whoa! A big ole bird transfers Joe clear across the nation (wave at the fans in the Midwest!) for a signing on September 26, at Mysterious Bookshop's LA location, followed by a jaunt through the Book Carnival in Orange County on September 27. He'll cover both Borders, Crown, Book 'Em, and Dark Delicacies bookstores in LA on that same day before heading down to San Diego. There, on September 28, he'll visit Mysterious Galaxy and Borders. Then it's home to catch a breath.

Texas gets to enjoy its favorite son on October 5, at Book People in Austin.
Then on November 11, Joe hits the Texas Book Festival. Finally, Austin's Lake Austin Spa gets a visit from the Mojo storyteller on November 29.
Whew!

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AUGUST 6, 2000

The following is from DARKTALES

Mort Castle's Horror collection, MOON ON THE WATER is now out in paperback. Jack Ketchum has called it "Funny, moving, surprising, and dark." Fangoria magazine says of MOON ON THE WATER, "You'll be amazed"

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AUGUST 3, 2000

The following is from REDSINE e-zine

Following several weeks of hard work, Redsine is proud to announce that Redsine e-zine is now fully online and open to submissions. The 'zine can be found at http://www.redsine.com .

Their first issue includes:

Jeff VanderMeer as the featured author. Jeff has contributed 3 short stories (including the award winning Black Duke Blues), plus an EXCLUSIVE excerpt from an Ambergris novella currently being written. We also have an exclusive interview by Jeffrey Thomas (author of Punktown and Terror Incognita).

Short stories by:
Iain Darby
Sandy DeLuca
Edwina Harvey
D.F. Lewis
Simon Logan
Mark McLaughlin
Geoffrey Maloney
D.J. Tyrer
D. Harlan Wilson

Non-fiction:
John B. Ford interviewed.
An article on Satanism by D.S. Davidson.
A look at Lillith & Cain by D.J. Tyrer.

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Feo Amante's Horror Home Page is officially 1 Year Old today! All of us here would like to thank our visitors for making us the fastest growing horror site in the world! 100,000 hits for the month of July!

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JULY 31, 2000

Thanks to CHRIS BIRD for this item.

This is old news, but, as long as this miscarriage of justice continues, as long as the prosecutors of this community may be protecting the identity of the actual murderer(s) by gross negligence, and as long as child butchers are free and innocent young men may be executed, this story bears repeating. Go to The West Memphis Three at The Crime Library.

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JULY 16, 2000

Fiction editor Michael T. Hyuck has announced sad changes for CARPE NOCTEM magazine. It will go from being a quarterly to a semi-annual periodical. Issue 17 is expected to hit the streets this summer. 18 in early 2001.

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JULY 13, 2000

The best of British relaunches!
SQUANE'S JOURNAL is back ! But this time bigger and better and with a new name. SQUANE'S PERVERTED and GHASTERLY QUARTERLY will be available this December from SPG Publishing. SPG QUARTERLY is devoted to the best in dark fiction - be it horror, crime, erotica or fantasy. Featuring the best new and established talent in a blend of fiction, articles, interviews and reviews.

The first issue of this paperback digest will feature, among others, Ramsey Campbell, Dennis Etchison, Tom Piccirilli, Stephen Laws, Ed Lee, Steve Harris, Mark Chadbourn, Chaz Brenchley and Joel Lane. SPG Publishing are also planning a series of chapbooks in 2001, and are already lining up an exciting band of authors. Keep checking out Feo Tales and Brian Keene's Job's In Hell for more news.

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JULY 5, 2000

Friday, July 7, at 9pm EST will be a blowout chat feast for Horror fans. CYBLING.COM will be hosting a chat with Brian A. Hopkins, Steve Beai, Yvonne Navarro, Stephen Mark Rainey, Ken Rand, David Niall Wilson, Patricia Macomber, and Leslie What. If you are not already registered with Cybling, do so now and be in on the chat!
CYBLING.COM

Look for Brian A. Hopkins site EXTREMES For more on what brought these great writers together.

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JUNE

JUNE 28, 2000

Yvonne Navarro (THAT'S NOT MY NAME, DEAD TIMES), will be having a cybling chat this Friday June 30 at 8:00pm U.S. Central time. If you cannot be there you can still post your questions at CYBLING.COM. You can also visit Yvonne at her website DARKE PALACE or write to her on her messageboard at MASTERS OF TERROR.

On Friday, July 7, join Yvonne Navarro and Brian Hopkins at CYBLING.COM for a chat on EXTREMES: Fantasy & Horror from the Ends of the Earth, the CD Anthology.

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JUNE 21, 2000

Brett Savory (CHIAROSCURO) releases his first novelette FILTHY DEATH, THE LEERING CLOWN. Death is an evil clown who enjoys tormenting the dead with lies and false promises. Then Death meets Justin, a young man who does Terrible,HORRIBLE things with his talking hammer - and the balance of power starts to shift.

The book is set for a July 2000 release from Dark Tales Publications with cover by artist Chad Savage.

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JUNE 20, 2000

Mark McLaughlin (The Urbanite) enters the Story Archives with his mind bending tale of insolent Gods. Read ANECDOTE OVERHEARD AT THE LAST COCKTAIL PARTY EVER.

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JUNE 15, 2000

DarkTales enters Mort Castle's Story Collection, MOON ON THE WATER, in Pulitzer Prize Competition

DarkTales Publications will enter Mort Castle's short story collection, MOON ON THE WATER: Selected Stories 1972-1999, into contention for a Pulitzer Prize. The annual Pulitzer award is given to a distinguished work of fiction "by an American author, preferably dealing with American life."

"That's exactly what we have with Mort Castle's collection," states Dave Nordhaus, CFO and publisher of DarkTales Publications. With Butch Miller, editor, and Keith Herber, editor and artistic designer, and Nordhaus at the helm, the small press has quickly established itself in the fields of horror and dark fantasy with such well received books as Sephera Giron's ETERNAL SUNSET, Steve Savile's THE
SECRET LIFE OF COLORS, and the anthology series ASYLUM.

Says Nordhaus, "Author Mort Castle, who's been writing for over 30 years, sees his 'niche audience' as people who can and do choose to read and we agree that's the target group for this book."

The book is thematically united, as noted by critic Thomas Deja: "Each (story) add(s) to . . . a portrait of America as a land ruled by delusions." But while Castle might portray the "American Dream" as "nightmare," MOON ON THE WATER presents a far more positive view of American society.

Castle says, "If I don't believe in myths, I do believe in people, and there you have the subject, theme, and raison d'etre of everything I write."

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JUNE 14, 2000

Barnes and Noble (barnesnnoble.com) have given DarkTales Publications, a small press publisher of Horror and Suspense, an incredible boost with their recent Kudo:
- A revolution is going on in publishing at the moment as print-on-demand publishers begin to flourish -- and horror is one of the big winners. One up-and-coming publisher, DarkTales Publications, has begun bringing out a mix of newcomers as well as more established writers of the horrific word. Yvonne Navarro, Jesus Gonzalez, Weston Ochse, David Whitman, Steven Lee Climer, Sephera Giron -- these are just some of the names coming at you from one of the freshest of the small presses bringing quality horror to you. -

The new revolution in horror may recall, to some, revolutions in Industry that have occurred in other fields. Many are now familiar with the story of how companies like IBM, Texas Instruments, and Tandy dropped the ball in the early heydays of Personal or Home computing. Smaller companies like Compaq and Dell stepped in, aimed for the exact same audience that the experts claimed was "not ready" (or even "did not exist") and revolutionized the PC Industry using the exact same software from the exact same software writers that the larger companies had failed with - Microsoft.

This is a more dramatic example of course, and while the choice of literature and / or entertainment in a specific genre is not as earth shaking for humanity as the evolution of social and technological advancement, the following should be noted:
In 1996 the publishing industry claimed that the horror genre was dying. As early as 1997 and on through 1999, the publishing industry claimed that the Horror Genre was dead, eliciting Douglas E. Winters' now famous column about how Horror was not a genre, but an emotion.

Companies like Waldenbooks and even some Barnes and Noble stores, erased the Horror Section from their stores altogether, forcing the reader to muddle through the generic Fiction Section now stocked with best sellers from King, Rice, and Straub.

Despite this action of closing down the Horror sections, Barnes and Noble did their part to keep the Horror genre alive in a curious way. They printed several anthology titles a year, in hardcover, and sold them at ridiculously cheap prices. The most curious thing about this was, these anthologies were not the same repetition of hoary old ghost stories from the 19th century, but fresh and new stories from today's writers like Adam Troy Castro, David Niall Wilson, Lois Gresh, Steve Rasnic Tem, and Thomas Ligotti (to name a few).

Where the large presses dropped the ball, small presses sprouted up and ran with them. These small publisher's soaked their savings into author's who were painted as nothing more than "mid-list" writers, worth neither time or consideration by the major publishers. But presentation is everything, and small presses like DarkTales and others put in the extra money and effort to make sure that their books
looked bright and glossy slick as befits an author of the highest selling caliber.

Now with writers like Weston Ochse, Yvonne Navarro, David Whitman, Simon Clark, and Sephira Giron, the small presses of today are poised to become the major players of tomorrow.

Already established but largely ignored (by the industry) writers like Douglas Clegg, Tom Piccirilli, and Richard Laymon are finding new audiences and seeing their books on best seller lists through small publishers like Leisure Books. Its clear that horror was never dead. Those who publically made that claim will soon find their names as a source of ridicule alongside those who dismissed Heavier-Than-Air-Machines, Federal Express, Post-It Notes, and Mrs. Fields Cookies.

Horror has indeed returned from the dead.

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JUNE 13, 2000

The following is from JOBS IN HELL

Ever wonder what it would be like to grow up with a father who was a famous horror writer? Kelly Laymon (daughter of Richard Laymon) has lived that very life, and will be sharing it with the world when she makes her non-fiction debut in the pages of JOBS IN HELL.

JIH Editor Brian Keene comments that Ms. Laymon's article, "A Quiet, Normal Life", is an outstanding essay. "I was a bit nervous about it when I approached her with the idea," Keene said. "But the finished article was WONDERFUL! This isn't just 'A Writers Tale: Part Two'," Keene stated. "Kelly has a totally unique perspective on the genre, and on the people who create it. I think that both the authors and their fans will be very pleased with it."

JOBS IN HELL is a weekly electronic newsletter for those making a living in the horror genre. Keene acknowledged that Laymon fans interested in the article may not want to subscribe to a business publication for horror professionals. To make the article available to the fans, JIHad Publishing will be giving away free copies. "Richard Laymon's readers are some of the most loyal genre fans in the world. This is our way of rewarding that dedication." Keene said.

Interested parties can email jobsinhell@hotmail.com to request their copy. "A Quiet, Normal Life" will appear July 12th, in Jobs In Hell #38.

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JUNE 11, 2000

Brian A. Hopkins supplied the following

THE RED, RED ROBIN PROJECT started one day atlunch time when I wrote an opening for a story that I didn't feel would be very original if I wrote it myself. So I sent it to someone else. Write a couple hundred words, I told whoever it was, then pass it on to someone else. When the story was finished, several people told me that it had been fun writing together. I decided to orchestrate a whole slew of round robin horror stories. I started a few others and got them going and I encouraged other writers to start stories of their own. The end results is THE RED, RED ROBIN PROJECT, which consists of short stories written by 69 different authors in the horror genre (for a complete list of contributors, reference the website). The anthology is available on a limited edition CD-ROM from Lone Wolf Publications. Only 200 numbered copies will be produced. All profit from the anthology goes to charity. It features cover art by Damion Tidd and interior illustrations by Sandy DeLuca.

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JUNE 9, 2000

Day 1 of the World Horror Convention 2000 is now up. Click on the links above or this one right Here.

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JUNE 7, 2000

Yvonne Navarro's THAT'S NOT MY NAME will be released this month from Bantam Books.

A woman is kidnapped by a man who believes that she is his missing wife.

Chat with Yvonne on June 15, 3:00pm Central at Vzones. Yvonne says "Don't wait for the last minute as you'll need to do a quick (but extremely easy) download to participate."

Visit Yvonne at Darke Palace.

Rejoice all you Sufferers! Steve Savile releases the 5th chapter of THE SUFFERER'S SONG.

Annie stumbled forward a step, her legs dragging her towards the hanging shape even as she recognised it for what it was. Read from the beginning or go straight to Chapter 5.

The Following is from Brett Savory of CHIAROSCURO

The winner of the 6th Chiaroscuro Short Story Contest is David L. Felts for his story FROM THE MOUTHS OF BIRDS. His story will be published in Gothic.Net

The other 4 contest prize winners are:

2. Richard Rowand and David Niall Wilson: MOON LIKE A GAMBLER'S FACE will be published in CHIzine.

3. Tom Bentley: PRESENCE will be published in Twilight Showcase.

4. Shikhar Dixit: HOME

5. Geoff Cooper: TURNING LEAVES

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MAY

MAY 24, 2000

The Following is from John Platt

Horror novelist Patricia (Pat) Graversen passed away on May 17, 2000, after a long illness. She was author of 15 novels, and the founder of the Garden State Horror Writers. Graversen's novels included THE FAGIN, STONES, DOLLIES, PRECIOUS BLOOD, SWEET BLOOD, graythings, and GHOST TRAIN, the latter co-written with her son, Paul Erik Graversen.

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MAY 23, 2000

Masters Of Terror (U.K.) has a report on the World Horror Convention 2000, courtesy of their co-editor, our freelance contributor, and
creator of Jobs In Hell Newsletter, Brian Keene. Read the report Here.

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MAY 22, 2000

- Johnny Lisker was developing into a new breed of monster. One that became more lethal with each new mutation.Chapter 4 of Steve Savile's THE SUFFERER'S SONG is released today.

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MAY 19, 2000

DarkTales Publications is the first one out of the gate with their photo gallery on the WHC 2000. Check it out here. WARNING! Lots of photos = Slow Loading Page (SLP)

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MAY 16, 2000

The Feo Amante Crew was in Denver, Colorado at the Adams Mark Hotel, May 11-14 for the WORLD HORROR CONVENTION, and we LOVED it!

A big thanks to Ed Bryant and all the rest who participated in giving us fans and writers another great convention. Additional thanks goes to the knife wielding amazon in the Hospitality Suite who served up food, drinks, and hot bagels while warning everyone to "Stay Out Of My Face!" That was excellent!

To all the folks at the convention who came up and told me "Your site rocks!" Mucho Gracias! Go here to find out why we rock.

Mark McLaughlin won this year's World Horror Convention 2000 Midnight Gross Out Contest. The judging took a long time with last year's winner Ryan Harding coming in a close second. For more information on what happened there, watch for the upcoming article on the WHC 2000. There will be lots of photos so now is the best time to get that DSL service you have been thinking about.

Who were the winners and who were the losers in the International Horror Guild (IHG) and Bram Stoker (Stokers) awards? The last part is easy. The ones who didn't submit all year long were the losers - Big Time!

Douglas Clegg swept through both the IHG and Stokers with his excellent book THE NIGHTMARE CHRONICLES.

Paula Guran won an IHG and Stoker for her website / publication Dark Echo.

Comic Book company DC won twice for their Vertigo imprint with an IHG going to FLINCH issues #1-7 (Axel Alonso and Joan Hilty) and a Stoker to SANDMAN: The Dream Hunters (Neil Gaiman).

Don D'Auria's Leisure Books scored a whopping 3 times thanks to Douglas Clegg's THE NIGHTMARE CHRONICLES and a special award for Don himself. Don is King Of The World!

Below is a list of those who won for 1999

International Horror Guild Awards
Novel - A PRAYER FOR THE DYING by Stewart O'Nan (Henry Holt)
First Novel - THE DIVINITY STUDENT by Michael Cisco (Buzzcity)
Long Fiction - CROCODILE ROCK by Lucius Shepard (Fantasy & Science Fiction Oct/Nov/ 1999)
Short Fiction - THE EMPEROR'S OLD BONES Gemma Files (Northern Frights 5)
Collection - THE NIGHTMARE CHRONICLES Douglas Clegg (Leisure)
Anthology - SUBTERRANEAN GALLERY Richard Chizmar & William Schafer (Subterranean)
Nonfiction - FANTASY AND HORROR: A Critical And Historical Guide To Literature, Illustration, Film, TV, Radio and the Internet edited by Neil Barron (Scarecrow Press)
Graphic Story - FLINCH #1 - 7 by Axel Alonso and Joan Hilty (Vertigo / DC)
Artist - Charles Burns
Film - STIR OF ECHOES Directed and Written by David Koepp, based on a novel by Richard Matheson (Artisan Entertainment)
Publication - DARK ECHO Paula Guran publisher / editor
TV Show - THE STORM OF THE CENTURY Directed by Craig E. Baxley, written by Stephen King)
Living Legend was won by Richard Matheson.
Special Award went to Don D'Auria who has been rightfully credited for "Saving Horror" in literature thanks to Leisure Books mass market horror series.

Bram Stoker Awards
Novel - MR. X by Peter Straub (Random House)
First Novel - WITHER by J.G. Pasarella (Pocket Books)
Long Fiction (tie) - FIVE DAYS IN APRIL by Brian Hopkins (Chiaroscuro - July 1999) and
MAD DOG SUMMER by Joe R. Lansdale (999: New Stories of Horror and Suspense - Avon)
Short Fiction - AFTER SHOCK by F. Paul Wilson (Realms of Fantasy, December)
Collection - THE NIGHTMARE CHRONICLES Douglas Clegg (Leisure)
Anthology - 999: New Stories of Horror and Suspense edited by Al Sarrontino (Avon)
Comic - SANDMAN: The Dream Hunters by Neil Gaiman (DC/Vertigo)
Nonfiction - DARK ECHO Paula Guran publisher / editor (Website)
Screenplay - THE SIXTH SENSE Directed and Written by M. Night Shyamalan (Hollywood Pictures)
Young Adult - HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONERS OF AZKABAN by J.K. Rowling (Bloomsbury/ Scholastic Levine Books)
Other - I HAVE NO MOUTH AND I MUST SCREAM (Audio) by Harlan Ellison (Dove)

A Big Feo thanks to WHC event/staff member
ROSE BEETEM for compiling the list of winners for me.

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MAY 9, 2000

Less than two weeks later and already Chapter 3 of Steve Savile's THE SUFFERER'S SONG is up here at Feo Tales. Come explore the mystery. For those who have been reading, go directly to Chapter 3.

Richard Laymon calls CLICKERS "Creepy, Grisly fun!" Now the Internet hit by J. F. Gonzalez and the late Mark Williams is available in print. Go to darktales.com

The following is from Brett Savory and CHIAROSCURO

Less than two weeks left to get your submissions into the 6th Chiaroscuro Short Story Contest - The Piggies (in association with Gothic.Net and Twilight Showcase).

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APRIL

APRIL 28, 2000

Suffer no more! Steve Savile's second chapter of THE SUFFERER'S SONG is now up. Go here for Chapter 2.

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APRIL 22, 2000

Regina Mitchell has come to Story Time's Short Story Archives with REUNION. Family is where you find it.

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The final nominations for the STOKERS are in:

NOVEL:
DARKER THAN NIGHT by Owl Goingback (Signet)
HANNIBAL by Thomas Harris (Delacorte)
LOW MEN IN YELLOW COATS by Stephen King (Hearts in Atlantis, Scribner)
HEXES by Tom Piccirilli (Leisure Books)
MR. X by Peter Straub (Random House)

FIRST NOVEL:
WIDOW'S WALK by Steve Beai (Indigo Publishing)
EVERY DEAD THING by John Connolly (Simon & Schuster)
KING RAT by China Miéville (Macmillan UK/Tor)
WITHER by J.G. Passarella (Pocket Books)

LONG FICTION:
FIVE DAYS IN APRIL by Brian A. Hopkins (Chiaroscuro - July 1999)
DREAD IN THE BEAST by Charlee Jacob
RIGHT TO LIFE by Jack Ketchum (published by Cemetery Dance Publications)
MAD DOG SUMMER by Joe R. Lansdale (999: New Stories of Horror and Suspense)

SHORT FICTION:
THE GRAVE by P.D. Cacek (999: New Stories of Horror and Suspense)
THE ENTERTAINMENT by Ramsey Campbell (999: New Stories of Horror and Suspense)
HALLOWEEN STREET by Steve Rasnic Tem (F&SF, July)
AFTER SHOCK by F. Paul Wilson (Realms of Fantasy, December)

FICTION COLLECTION:
DEATH DRIVES A SEMI by Edo van Belkom (Quarry Press)
THE NIGHTMARE CHRONICLES by Douglas Clegg (Leisure Books)
HEARTS IN ATLANTIS by Stephen King (Scribner)
DEEP INTO THAT DARKNESS PEERING by Tom Piccirilli (Terminal Fright)

ANTHOLOGY:
THE YEAR'S BEST FANTASY & HORROR, Twelfth Annual Collection edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling (St. Martin's)
THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF BEST NEW HORROR 10 edited by Stephen Jones (Carroll and Graf)
THE LAST CONTINENT: New Tales of Zothique edited by John Pelan (Shadowlands Press)
999: New Stories of Horror and Suspense edited by Al Sarrantonio (Avon)

NONFICTION:
DARKECHO (all 1999 issues) edited by Paula Guran
THE ESSENTIAL MONSTER MOVIE GUIDE by Stephen Jones (Titan)
VINCENT PRICE: A Daughter's Biography by Victoria Price (St. Martin's)
HELLNOTES (all 1999 issues) edited by David B. Silva & Paul F. Olson

ILLUSTRATED NARRATIVE:
SANDMAN: The Dream Hunters by Neil Gaiman (DC/Vertigo)
JONAH HEX: Shadows West #1 by
Joe R. Lansdale (DC/Vertigo, February)
HELLBOY: Box Full of Evil by Mike Mignola (Dark Horse Comics, Sept.)
FAUST: Book of M by David Quinn (Avatar Press)

WORK FOR YOUNG READERS:
SOMETHING LUMBER THIS WAY COMES by Joe R. Lansdale (Subterranean Press)
CREEPY SUSIE AND OTHER TRAGIC TALES FOR CHILDREN by Angus Oblong (Ballantine Books)*
*Actually, this is an adult book and is not intended, by either the author or the publisher, to be sold or presented to young readers.
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONERS OF AZKABAN by J.K. Rowling (Bloomsbury/ Scholastic Levine Books)

OTHER MEDIA:
I HAVE NO MOUTH AND I MUST SCREAM (Audio) by Harlan Ellison (Dove)
MASTERS OF TERROR (Website) by Andy Fairclough (Andy Fairclough)
GOTHIC NET (Website) by Seth Lindberg (Darren McKeeman)
CONSPIRACIES (Audio CD of F. Paul Wilson story) by WyrdSisterS ProductionS (WyrdSisterS ProductionS/Gauntlet Press)

Information culled from the HORROR WRITER'S ASSOCIATION.

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APRIL 12, 2000

Steve Savile will be posting his second chapter to THE SUFFERER'S SONG here at Story Time on April 25.

Yvonne Navarro's new novel DEADTIMES is out: In the final years of her life, Mae Johnson cuts a deal with the Powers Infernal to cheat death - but no bargain is ever what it seems with the devil.

Available at DARKTALES

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APRIL 6, 2000

The following is from Brett Savory at CHIAROSCURO
May 15 is the deadline for the Chi Short Story contest aka THE PIGGIES. Any aspiring writers who could use the money or established writers who have too much shelf space on their trophy mantle, should submit to this excellent contest.

Savvy investors / collectors of limited editions should be aware of John Shirley (co-screenwriter of THE CROW screenplay), will have his new novel DEMONS coming out this Spring by Cemetery Dance Publications.


Caitlin Kiernan, a giant among Horror Writers (who tend to be short and pudgy), releases - uh - her new novel TALES OF PAIN AND WONDER (Gauntlet Press). A limited edition book with a forward by Douglas E. Winter and Art by Richard Kirk. All have signed the book.

Also by Gauntlet Press is a re-issue of Jack Ketchum's 1987 novel COVER. Art by Neal McPheeters. Signed by all.

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MARCH

MARCH 31, 2000

Dave at Darktales Publishing tells me that Steve Saville's new novel SECRET LIFE OF COLORS is now released. Go to darktales.com.

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MARCH 26, 2000

Look for our new addition to Short Story Archives with Ryan Harding's new story BOTTOM FEEDER.

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MARCH 17, 2000

The wait is over, Philip Nutman's final chapter to his e-series, A DEMON NAMED BOB is up at Brett Savory's CHIzine.

MARCH 15, 2000

Steve Savile's new e-series THE SUFFERER'S SONG is launched. Go to the link to read the first chapter. At the Chiaroscuro CHIzine, Brett Savory promises (hopes!) to have Philip Nutman's (EVIL ERNIE) 3rd and final chapter of his e-serial up by tomorrow, March 16. Check out parts 1 & 2 of Nutman's A DEMON NAMED BOB.

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MARCH 14, 2000

Stephen King's RIDING THE BULLET is kicking butt and taking names. The story has overloaded every server it is on due to overwhelming reader interest.

So far the year 2000 seems to be the year of e-serials from horror writers named Steve.
Steven Lee Climer (SOUL TEMPLE)
Stephen King (RIDING THE BULLET) and
Steve Savile (THE SUFFERER'S SONG).

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MARCH 12, 2000

March 15 is the official launch date of Steve Savile's new e-series, THE SUFFERER'S SONG right here at Feo Amante's STORY TIME. Click on the link to the left to get a sneak peek at the first two pages.

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MARCH 9, 2000

Stephen King is following in the newly popular footsteps of Douglas Clegg by releasing his own e-book, RIDING THE BULLET. Unlike Clegg's NAOMI (featured on this site in "e-serial" form from August to December 1999), King is releasing his story all at once and charging $2.50 for it (a mere pittance!). The story is about 16,000 words long and can be found March 14 at ridingthebullet.com.

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MARCH 1, 2000

The NEBULA AWARD honors the best writing in Science Fiction and Fantasy. The nominees for 1999 include writers who have contributed to the fields of Horror, Thriller, and Mystery as well. They are:

George R. R. Martin - A CLASH OF KINGS
Adam-Troy Castro & Jerry Oltion - THE ASTRONAUT FROM WYOMING
Brian A. Hopkins - FIVE DAYS IN APRIL
Larry & Andy Warchowski - THE MATRIX
M. Night Shyalaman - THE SIXTH SENSE

Today is also the day that Steven Lee Climer's new e-serial SOUL TEMPLE is offered exclusively by Dark Tales.

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FEBRUARY 000000000000000000000

FEB. 29, 2000

CNN will host a chat with horror writer Yvonne Navarro today at 1:00pm U.S. Eastern, 12:00pm U.S. Western time. Click on CNN Chat to go there or click on Darke Palace to go to her site.

Douglas Clegg and Steven Lee Climer are among the authors interviewed for an article on Serial E-Novels at Wired News. Article by M. J. Rose

Horror's highest honor, the 1999 Bram Stoker Awards will be presented May 13th, 2000. Authors on the preliminary ballot include:
Douglas Clegg for NAOMI and THE NIGHTMARE CHRONICLES.
Geoff Cooper for JOLERAYMI'S ROSE
Brian Keene for THE BURN BARREL and JOBS IN HELL.
Tom Piccirilli for HEXES, MOUNT OF THE OATH, DEEP INTO THAT DARKNESS PEERING, and OF DARKNESS I ACKNOWLEDGE MINE.
Weston Ochse for FAMILY MAN.
David Whitman's STANDING BETWIXT WORLDS IN DELIGHTFUL AGONY.
David Niall Wilson for THIS IS MY BLOOD and sharing a nomination with Brett Savory for THATS SOME PIG.

For the complete list, go to sfwa.org.

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FEB. 1, 2000

Bereshith Publishing presents Tom Piccirilli's tale of Horror, THE NIGHT CLASS. A college student suffers from stigmata whenever a murder occurs on campus.

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Feo Amante's Horror Home Page and feoamante.com are owned and copyright 1997 - 2002 by E.C.McMullen Jr.
All images and text belong to E.C.McMullen Jr. unless otherwise noted.
All fiction stories belong to their individual authors. All artwork in The Gallery belongs to the individual artists.