New Chapbook Collaboration with KnightWatch Press

Two years ago I wrote a new twisted fairy tale, IN SEARCH OF SILVER BOUGHS - a story of boots, of regret, of magic and slaughter. It had no destination, no home but despite that it remains one of the pieces I've most enjoyed writing - ever.

On the back of the recent release of WITHIN WET WALLS, I had a conversation with Theresa Derwin, owner of KnightWatch Press who said she'd like to read it for consideration for KWP's 2015/16 chapbook series. Expecting nothing, I reformatted the story to KWP's specifications and sent it directly to Theresa.

At the end of October 2014 I had the pleasure of meeting Theresa in person, along with a plethora of other horror-writing folk at the Hallowe'en Horror Signing event at Shaftesbury Avenue's incredible Forbidden Planet, then again later at the British Fantasy Society Open Day. It was at this latter event that Theresa told me the secret... she wanted Silver Boughs.

It's an understatement, and not the slightest bit cool, to say "I'm so excited"! But I am.

KnightWatch Press has worked and is working with a whole host of new and established authors I admire, including William Meikle, Jasper Bark, Alison Littlewood, Christine Morgan, Michael R Brush, Sean T. Page, Tim Waggoner, James Everington and Gary McMahon. It's such a pleasure to join everyone, as well to be working with KWP's incredible team of editors, artists and writers.

I look forward to giving you more news soon but in the meantime, KWP's announcement is here (under Now for 2015).

Official Online Launch Party - Within Wet Walls

It's today! The Within Wet Walls online launch party on Facebook:

JOIN THE PARTY HERE

6pm UK | 1pm USA and Canada | 8am (8th Nov)

Here in the UK, Wealdstone will be creaking open its huge oak doors at 6pm.

Do join us - Eliza, the Footman, Julius... we'll all be there, waiting to pour glasses of virtual wine, water, absinthe - whatever's your poison. But just one thing, please bring your own skin... for we get thirsty too.

Château Wealdstone

To our friends in the USA and Canada, take the afternoon off, scoot away from the office and join the The Within Wet Walls official online launch party at around 1pm for lunchtime cocktails!

If you're in Australia or New Zealand, the party starts early on 8th November - come along for breakfast coffee or a cheeky Bucks Fizz...

See you there!

Reviews

The book is already selling well on Amazon UK and Amazon.com, with reviews coming in from England, Canada and the USA...

"I can't recommend this book enough" - Briff

"Deliciously dark" - Helen Baggott

"Mist-soaked horror" - Icy Sedgwick

"Strange, sinister, and beautiful" - Callinout

"A captivating tale of curiosity and lust for the living soul" - Brandon Crouse

"...a Gothic Gem" - Blaze McRob

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WITHIN WET WALLS - out now, for your wicked pleasure

Within Wet Walls is a short, gothic ghost story inspired by M.R. James, Dickens and Sir Walter Scott.

It speaks of a medieval manor built in a Sussex forest where beings as old as the land itself swirl, translucent in the damp mists. Ever hungry.

Travel through time within the wet walls of Wealdstone House. Slip into Eliza Lundy's Victorian sub-existence of servitude and debauchery, laced with opium and absinthe. Taste the terror. Embrace life... while you can.

Eliza's wandering spirit will take you by the hand, by the throat, by the lips. Enter her darkness to discover the beautiful horrors that reside there. She's waiting. She's always waiting. For you.

OUT NOW! From just 99p/$1.59

• PAPERBACK: buy the slim paperback from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com and all other Amazon platforms
  or
• KINDLE: Download the Kindle version from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com and all other Amazon platforms

Excerpt:

WITHIN WET WALLS

The first time I heard Georgia sing, I sucked her soul out through her skin. I took it – but I didn’t really want it, not then. 

* 

Applause rang through Wealdstone’s derelict Great Hall. It drifted into cold Sussex skies to join the final notes of Georgia Holland’s aria. The sounds entwined, dispersed... fell again as a sparkling frost on a raw winter’s night.

The singer’s sculpted face gazed up at the vast ivy-edged hole in the roof, focussing on a slither of moon which glimmered and smiled at its companion star. Georgia raised princess hands towards the celestial display, bringing the audience to its feet in ovation.

Beneath broken beams, the room slowly quietened. People turned to each other in whispers, agreeing that Miss Holland not only sang like an angel, she looked like one; her beatific countenance transcending voice and stature. Her tall body swayed, swathed in white velvet. A stole of ivory feathers hung from the pin of her shoulders making wings at her back.

The hall sighed as one; Georgia’s scarlet mouth grew wide, the grin reaching her cheeks, her eyes.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Roses as red as the singer’s lips flew at the stage to cries of ‘Brava! Brava!’ leaving a carpet of petals at her feet. Georgia stared down – exalted – but humble, always humble. Tears blurred her vision and she watched in fascination as the flowers seemed to lap at her dress, soaking the hem. Silence fell. Georgia frowned, her smile wasting away. Tendrils crept up her skirts in crawling fingers.

“What...?”

She grabbed the moist fabric. It stuck to her bare legs, cloying and dripping with gelatinous greenery. Gasps peppered the makeshift auditorium; cold air scattered across the thousand tea-lights, extinguishing some, flaring others into a frenzied dance.

“Help me!”

Georgia’s voice went unheard amongst the mounting screams as the audience watched a figure wrap itself around the performer’s paralysed body, enveloping her in spirals of translucence. It squeezed, constricting Georgia’s ribs like a snake before rising to shimmer before her face with a face of its own.

A girl.

A girl with row upon row of tiny pointed teeth.

“It won’t hurt,” the mouth sighed. “It will be delicious.”

And it was.