More Signing

Michael Knost, the sexiest horror editor from Logan, West Virginia, will join me Saturday at Border’s in the Huntington (WV) Mall, from 3-5, to sign Legends of the Mountain State, Appalachian Winter Hauntings and The Writer’s Workshop of Horror. All of them make great Christmas gifts for the reader on your list.

And, hey, got somebody on your list you don’t like very much? Then a photo of Mike and me signing books makes a fine present for that person, too. We’ve got you covered either way.

A Good Mail Day

Accoutrements courtesy of Norma, who is chomping at the bit to decorate for Christmas.

Winter Just Got Scary

Appalachian Winter Hauntings has just been released. Here's the publisher's description of the anthology:

Appalachian Winter Hauntings includes eleven bone-chilling accounts—penned by many of the preeminent storytellers in the business—that are appropriate to the Appalachian region and relative to the heart of the holiday season. This anthology is designed for cozying up close to a blazing fireplace on the coldest of winter nights.

When organizing the theme and the writers for this venture, Woodland Press, along with editors Michael Knost and Mark Justice, wanted to seek stories and tales that did not disrespect or alter the religious aspects of the holiday season. Instead, the stories, although having a distinct ghostly theme, are of a family-friendly nature. Contributors include: Ronald Kelly, Brian J. Hatcher, Patricia Hughes, Steve Vernon, S. Clayton Rhodes, Steve Rasnic Tem, Sara J. Larson, Scott Nicholson, J.G. Faherty. EmmaLee Pallai, and Elizabeth Massie.

The texture is gritty and the stories are moving. Think Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" turned up a notch with a ghostly Appalachian backdrop.

So, pour yourself a mug of hot cocoa, wrap your favorite blanket around you, and brace yourself for ghostly stories and weird encounters that take place in the shadows of snowy hilltops or along icy mountain trails.

You can order the book now at The Horror Mall, Amazon or the publisher, Woodland Press.

I'll be participating in a book signing for AWH on November 14 at Border's in the Huntington (WV) Mall.

Archived Legends

The radio interview Michael Knost and I did on Wednesday is now archived here. Click on "Past Shows" then select 10/28/09.

Warning: Beer drinking and Michael's virginity are both discussed.

Legends Radio

Michael Knost and I will be on the radio for at least an hour Wednesday night talking about Halloween, ghosts and Legends of the Mountain State 3: More Ghostly Tales from the State of West Virginia. I'm sure Appalachian Winter Hauntings will come up too, since it's just days away from being released. The fun starts at 6 PM eastern. It'll be interesting being on the other side of the broadcast console.

You can listen live on your computer at http://wlgcradio.com/ and or watch the webcast (talk about scary) at http://www.drewskaggs.com/. This is also a call-in show, so harass us at 800-551-1057.

Signing Legends: Post-Game

Brian J. Hatcher, Michael Knost, Jason L. Keene, Mark Justice

Thanks to everyone who showed up at the singing for Legends of the Mountain State 3: More Ghostly Tales from the State of West Virginia. It was great to hang out with the guys, especially afterward, when beer and beef came into play (along with a visit to a Halloween store; who knew you could buy a Baby Hulk costume?).

What did I learn? If Brian J. Hatcher starts telling the story about luxuriating in the hotel bathtub in Nashville, cover your ears.

We'll be back at Border's in the Huntington (WV) Mall on November 14 to sign Appalachian Winter Hauntings. It's a great chance to give someone the gift of holiday horror this Christmas.

New Name, Same Scares

The book formerly known as Appalachian Holiday Hauntings has a new name:



The contents remain the same. It'll be out in a couple of weeks, and I'll provide ordering details then.

Signing Legends

I'll be at Borders in the Huntington (WV) Mall Saturday, signing the anthology Legends of the Mountain State 3: More Ghostly Tales from the State of West Virginia, along with armed and dangerous editor Michael Knost and fellow contributor Brian J. Hatcher.

I'm sure there will be plenty of copies of the previous Legends volumes on hand, as well as The Writer's Workshop of Horror.

Still on the fence about coming? Let me sum up the experience in four words:

Fat guys and horror!

What's not to love?

The signing is from 2-4. I hope you can make it.

Pod of Horror #56: F. Paul Wilson/Corbin Bernson/Michael Knost

Just like Halloween, Pod of Horror #56 is a little scary and bad for your teeth. This time around, we discuss Repairman Jack with New York Times bestselling author F. Paul Wilson. Actor-writer-director-producer-carpenter Crobin Bernson gives us the lowdown on his new zombies-disc jockey horror flick DEAD AIR. Editor Michael Knost talks about LEGENDS OF THE MOUNTAIN STATE, WRITER’S WORKSHOP OF HORROR and his plans to rule the world. Nanci has horror’s most comprehensive newscast with The Call of Kalanta and we make somebody a winner in The Tomb of Trivia. Get it at iTunes or download it here. Pod of Horror is hosted and produced by Mark Justice.

Appalachian Holiday Hauntings Table of Contents

Here’s the table of contents for Appalachian Holiday Hauntings, edited by Michael Knost and Mark Justice, published by Woodland Press:

The Peddler’s Journey/Ronald Kelly
A Soul’s Wage/Brian J. Hatcher
Lorelei Wakes at Midnight/Patricia Hughes
A Sky Full of Stars and a Big Green Forever/Steve Vernon
The Christmas Bane/S. Clayton Rhodes
Smoke in a Bottle/Steve Rasnic Tem
The Nativity Tray/Sara J. Larson
Apple Head Dolly/Scott Nicholson
Yule Cat/JG Faherty
The Christmas Letter/EmmaLee Pallai
Beggars at Dawn/Elizabeth Massie

The anthology will make it’s debut at Borders in the Huntington Mall in Ona, WV on October 24th. For more information, check www.woodlandpress.com.

Ho-Ho-Horror Time is Almost Here

The anthology I'm editing with Michael Knost is open for submission for a couple of more weeks. If you were thinking about writing a story for AHH, you can find the guidelines here.

Legends of the Mountain State 3

Here's the cover to Legends of the Mountain State 3, edited by Michael Knost. It includes my story "The Angry Dark", and will be out this fall from Woodland Press.

Appalachian Holiday Hauntings

For the writers out there, Mike Knost and I are editing an anthology of Christmas ghost stories. Details below.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

Title: Appalachian Holiday Hauntings

Editors: Michael Knost and Mark Justice

Publisher: Woodland Press

Publication date: November 1, 2009

Word count: 1000 to 3000 words

Pay: three-cents per word plus contributor copy (one-cent per word on reprints)

Submit to: xmasanthology@yahoo.com

Format: Attached RTF or Word Document file. (do not copy and paste into email body)

No simultaneous or multiple submissions

No explicit language or sexual content (this project will be in regional school systems)

Deadline: September 1, 2009 (do not inquire on status of submission until after this date)

We are looking for traditional Christmas ghost stories set in the Appalachian region. Think Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with an Appalachian backdrop. However, given this example, we want to make sure you understand that stories may be set in any time frame, including the present.

We are not interested in tales that disrespect or alter the religious aspects of the holiday.

Pod of Horror #49

Pod of Ho-Ho-Horror is back. On episode #49 we bring the holiday cheer like a bunch of elves drunk on tainted egg nog. We talk to VAMPIRE ZERO author David Wellington and to Michael Knost, the editor of the LEGENDS OF THE MOUNTAIN STATE anthology series. We also feature several audio excepts from HORROR LIBRARY VOL. 3. Plus Grim Rictus, The Call of Kalanta and The Tomb of Trivia. Find all this yuletide warmth on i-Tunes or download it at Horror World. Pod of Horror #49 is produced and hosted by Mark Justice.