Reviews and News

REVIEWS

The Black Room Manuscripts Vol 2 is already enjoying excellent reviews and I'm humbled to have received the following comments for The Vile Glib of Gideon Wicke:

• From the always inspiring and honest Ginger Nuts of Horror - my thanks to George Ilett Anderson: "Like the previous two entries in this anthology, Lily Childs’ writing is a revelation. Her story, “The Vile Glib of Gideon Wicke” is a haunting and poignant journey through limbo for a lost soul. Beautifully written with very vivid imagery about loss, redemption and finding oneself, this is an excellent story."
  Read the full review on Amazon | More about The Ginger Nuts of Horror
• From David Dubrow: "Not quite a horror story, but a sad, sweet tale of loneliness, death, and what lies beyond, The Vile Glib of Gideon Wicke by Lily Childs is arguably the best story in the collection."
  Read the full review on Amazon
• From Chris Hall at DLS Reviews: "Some tales read more like poetry than they do stories. That’s not to say that there’s not a story in there – but the eloquence and beauty of the writing can sometimes speak louder than what’s being told. Lily Childs’ offering is one such story. From those initial first few stepping stones, from the quiet ambience and respectful graciousness of our tired protagonist, we’re pulled into the mesmerising charm of the story and the gentle flow of its direction. Indeed, reading Childs’ offering feels somewhat akin to drifting down a gently flowing stream; watching as around you things gradually float by and the world plays out its endless tune. But of course it’s not all roses and sunshine. Even though the story maintains a compelling beauty in its prose, the path it follows is clouded with heartache and sorrow. But there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. And to show this Childs executes a near flawless wrapping up of a lost soul’s final journey."
  Read the full review at DLS Reviews

My thanks to Jim McLeod (GNoH), David and Chris for their kind words about my dark, tragic, 'not quite horror' but desperate tale of post-death descent.

THE BLACK ROOM MANUSCRIPTS VOL. 2 ON AMAZON

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NEWS

The Thirteen Signs, edited by Dean M. Drinkel and published by Nocturnicorn Books is out this week for Kindle, and soon in paperback. Contains my Taurean tale of bloodshed in not-so-pleasant England, Come Join the Blood Parade.

Flash Fear, edited by the glorious Theresa Derwin of Quantum Corsets includes re-prints of two of my flash tales. Opening the anthology is baker-boy battering, Pat-A-Cake followed by mythical, mystical The Tale of Restoration. Out now on Amazon.

Fresh Fear: An Anthology of Macabre Horror, edited by William Cook and containing my cannibalistic dish Strange Tastes, has been re-published by King Billy Publications with an exquisite new cover. Available on Amazon now.

Reviews and News

REVIEWS

The Black Room Manuscripts Vol 2 is already enjoying excellent reviews and I'm humbled to have received the following comments for The Vile Glib of Gideon Wicke:

• From the always inspiring and honest Ginger Nuts of Horror - my thanks to George Ilett Anderson: "Like the previous two entries in this anthology, Lily Childs’ writing is a revelation. Her story, “The Vile Glib of Gideon Wicke” is a haunting and poignant journey through limbo for a lost soul. Beautifully written with very vivid imagery about loss, redemption and finding oneself, this is an excellent story."
  Read the full review on Amazon | More about The Ginger Nuts of Horror
• From David Dubrow: "Not quite a horror story, but a sad, sweet tale of loneliness, death, and what lies beyond, The Vile Glib of Gideon Wicke by Lily Childs is arguably the best story in the collection."
  Read the full review on Amazon
• From Chris Hall at DLS Reviews: "Some tales read more like poetry than they do stories. That’s not to say that there’s not a story in there – but the eloquence and beauty of the writing can sometimes speak louder than what’s being told. Lily Childs’ offering is one such story. From those initial first few stepping stones, from the quiet ambience and respectful graciousness of our tired protagonist, we’re pulled into the mesmerising charm of the story and the gentle flow of its direction. Indeed, reading Childs’ offering feels somewhat akin to drifting down a gently flowing stream; watching as around you things gradually float by and the world plays out its endless tune. But of course it’s not all roses and sunshine. Even though the story maintains a compelling beauty in its prose, the path it follows is clouded with heartache and sorrow. But there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. And to show this Childs executes a near flawless wrapping up of a lost soul’s final journey."
  Read the full review at DLS Reviews

My thanks to Jim McLeod (GNoH), David and Chris for their kind words about my dark, tragic, 'not quite horror' but desperate tale of post-death descent.

THE BLACK ROOM MANUSCRIPTS VOL. 2 ON AMAZON

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS

The Thirteen Signs, edited by Dean M. Drinkel and published by Nocturnicorn Books is out this week for Kindle, and soon in paperback. Contains my Taurean tale of bloodshed in not-so-pleasant England, Come Join the Blood Parade.

Flash Fear, edited by the glorious Theresa Derwin of Quantum Corsets includes re-prints of two of my flash tales. Opening the anthology is baker-boy battering, Pat-A-Cake followed by mythical, mystical The Tale of Restoration. Out now on Amazon.

Fresh Fear: An Anthology of Macabre Horror, edited by William Cook and containing my cannibalistic dish Strange Tastes, has been re-published by King Billy Publications with an exquisite new cover. Available on Amazon now.

THE THIRTEEN SIGNS

Believe (in) it or not, the planets turn and the stars point their sparkling, razor fingers at you the very moment you're born. What does the sun say, and better still... what does the moon say?

No New Age 'love and light' fluffiness, THE THIRTEEN SIGNS is a horrorscape of zodiacal darkness brought to you by Dean M Drinkel and Nocturnicorn Books.

I'm very proud to be a part of this, alongside such wickedly talented authors.

The Thirteen Signs - Table of Contents

Foreword: Alex S. Johnson
Introduction: Dean M Drinkel
The Order Of Aries: Mark West
Come Join The Blood Parade: Lily Childs
Seven For Eight: Romain Collier
Carapace: Raven Dane
Leo: Tim Dry
Solomon Carson And The Death Of A Virgin: Trevor Kennedy and Robert E. Tate
Leeber: Christine Dougherty
The Scorpion Dance: Amelia Mangan
One in Twelve: Steve Byrne
A Sorrow Of Sweet Pipings: Jan Edwards
Ganymede: Emile-Louis Tomas Jouvet
Hooked: James Everington
Worshipping The Snake: Dean M Drinkel

Cover reveal coming soon, The Thirteen Signs will be available from the end of July 2016.

The Grimorium Verum is Unleashed

T'is Friday the thirteenth and darkness is spreading. Oozing through the cracks in your soul, its febrile fingers are teasing, touching and tearing at your skin, driving you wild.

And all because today's the day.

THE GRIMORIUM VERUM has finally been released.

Packed with terror, these 26 stories are written by some of the best horror writers around, and as the final volume in the TRES LIBRORUM PROHIBITORUM, it was of course, edited by Dean M. Drinkel. You can read the Table of Contents over at the publisher's website: Western Legends Publishing.

JIMSON JANE: SEITHR

The Grimorium Verum, or the Grimoire of Truth, was the 18th century textbook of magic attributed to Alibeck the Egyptian and coveted by ‘The Great Beast’ Aleister Crowley for use in his Magick ceremonies.

My own tale, J is for JIMSON JANE: SEITHR follows a pair of Victorian quacks escaping from the law in England to... not exactly find their fortune in America, rather scam as many people as they can whilst procuring new ingredients for their patented cures, tonics and restorative draughts. In their travels they hear about the mysterious healer Jimson Jane. In an obsessive search for Jane, for her methods and pharmacopeia they are introduced to rites and remedies as old as the land itself. But knowledge does not come without a price. And neither does life.

BUY THE GRIMORIUM VERUM

Amazon US

• Paperback
• Kindle eBook

Amazon UK

• Paperback
• Kindle eBook

CreateSpace eStore

• Paperback

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PHOBOPHOBIAS Out Now! Fear and Terror Unveiled

The long-awaited paperback and ebook of Western Legends Publishing's PHOBOPHOBIAS is out now on Amazon - just in time for Hallowe'en. Perfect for this year's scare fest, and beyond.

You can take a little 'Look Inside' or download a sample here which not only allows you to read the table of contents and the intro. but also the two opening stories!

The sequel to indie success Phobophobia (Dark Continents Publishing 2012) Phobophobias explores twenty-six extraordinary and oft-irrational common or obscure fears, those that cripple us, stop us functioning as human beings. Even though it's all in our head - or is it?

My story, BAD EXPOSURE comes under 'I' for Ipovlopsychophobia - the fear of having your photograph taken. Model Alexis suffers a breakdown after a bizarre encounter in the crowds outside a London tube station. Her partner Joey and mutual friend Mike attempt to support her through recovery but all logic fails as Alexis's fears manifest all around them, even when she isn't there.

The anthology features some true masters of horror from the world of fiction and also the big screen, including the Hellraiser Female Cenobite, Barbie Wilde and Son of Nosferatu, Tim Dry.

We hope you enjoy the terrifying tales. If you feel so inclined, please do review the book. Thank you.

The full line up of authors is:

• Christopher Beck
• Adrian Chamberlin
• Lily Childs
• Mike Chinn
• Raven Dane
• Nerine Dorman
• Christine Dougherty
• Tim Dry
• Jan Edwards
• John Gilbert
• D.T. Griffith
• Lisa Jenkins
• Emile-Louis Tomas Jouvet
• Rakie Keig
• Amelia Mangan
• Peter Mark May
• Christine Morgan
• John Palisano
• Daniel I. Russell
• Phil Sloman
• Sam Stone
• Andrew Taylor
• Mark West
• Barbie Wilde
• D.M. Youngquist 

The beautiful cover art was created by James Powell, and the cover design by D. T. Griffith. The editor is award-winning writer and film-maker Dean M. Drinkel.

The House of Three, Phobophobias and digging up old Bones

And now for the latest news (shuffles papers)...

THE HOUSE OF THREE:
A Short Story by Lily Childs

To be released in late July on Amazon, in both paperback chapbook and ebook  formats. This short ghost story has a rather personal connnection - the 'house' of the title is loosely based on my own little abode, and for that very reason I've never felt able to let it go out to another publisher. I'm finally allowing it to break loose through Ganglion Press.

Here's the back cover blurb:

An ordinary Victorian house in an ordinary English town. A house that smells of roses. A house that stinks of death.

32 Cherry Street is rotten to the core after years of neglect. When its owner dies in a freak accident successful entrepreneur Sarah Bayliss wastes no time in coming up with the cash to buy the small terraced property - her former childhood home.

Reunited with her estranged younger brother Johnny, Sarah summons the courage to unveil the secrets the house has kept hidden for so long, but nothing can prepare the siblings for the horrors they are about to uncover. Or who they're going to meet.

*-*-*-*-*-*

• Keep your eyes peeled for a Facebook competition to win a signed copy of THE HOUSE OF THREE chapbook
• Ganglion Press is now on Twitter! Why not pop by and follow: @GanglionPress

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PHOBOPHOBIAS - Cover Reveal

I'm very excited that my story, BAD EXPOSURE (or 'I' is for Ipovlopsychophobia) is included in Dark Continents Publishing's forthcoming Phobophobias anthology. 

The excellent cover, by uber-talented artist James L. Powell has now been revealed!

Compiled and edited by Dean M. Drinkel, this is the second in the Phobias series and includes stories from Barbie Wilde, Tim Dry, Phil Sloman, Raven Dane, Sam Stone, Mark West, David Youngquist, Jan Edwards, Nerine Dorman, Andy Taylor, Mike Chinn, Christine Morgan, John Prescott, Daniel I Russell, Rakie Benett, Peter Mark May, Amelia Mangan, John Palisano, John Gilbert, David T Griffith, Adrian Chamberlin, Lisa Jenkins, Christopher L. Beck, Christine Dougherty, Emile-Louis Tomas Jouvet and Dean M. Drinkel.

The book is due out in August. For a taste of the horror you'll discover in this new anthology, you can still buy the first in the series, PHOBOPHOBIA in ebook or paperback from Amazon UK and Amazon.com

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OLD BONES

Lastly, in 2013 my story THE OSSILLATRICE SHIFT won the Editor's Choice Award in James Ward Kirk Publishing's anthology, BONES.

James is now compiling his 'Best Of 2013' anthology and has kindly asked if he could include The Ossillatrice Shift. Unsurprisingly - I said yes! More details as soon as I hear news.

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Beastly Offerings - The Bestiarum Vocabulum

The Bestiarum Vocabulum, the long-awaited second book in Western Legends Publishing's TRES LIBORUM PROHIBITORUM series, has finally seen the light (or dark) of day.

Edited once again by Dean M. Drinkel, the new anthology brings together 26 writers to present an A - Z of mythical beasts and creatures of urban legend.

A catalog of mythic beasts and demons that were summoned by esoteric means. Once owned by Count Allesandro Di Cagliostro, it was thought forever lost in a fire at the Chateau de Versailles. Two hundred years later, twenty-six modern day masters of the macabre bring The Bestiarum Vocabulum back from the ashes.

My story, RAPTURE, comes under 'V' for Veltis. Set between wars in the suburbs of a London-like city, Richard Walters has tired of his once-exotic wife, and the tedium of everyday life. Succumbing to a voyeuristic bent, Walters is drawn to a sleazy drinking club, The Rapture, where a sweet cheroot-sucking stranger offers him a dream - at an undisclosed price.

The secrets Richard uncovers and the place he encounters the mysterious Veltis are far from a dream, and yet so much more. Love, lust or horror - you be the judge.

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Please enjoy The Bestiarum Vocabulum. The authors are true masters and mistresses of darkness. Their words will chill, thrill and excite you; sadden, worry and terrify you. Such is the deal. Your reviews and opinions are, as always, welcome.

Buy The Bestiarum Vocabulum on:

Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

Thank you.

Authors:

Emile-Louis Tomas Jouvet, Jan Edwards, Martin Roberts, Lisa Jenkins, Peter Mark May, Raven Dane, Joe Mynhardt, Rakie Keig, D.T. Griffith, Mark West, John Palisano, Amelia Mangan, Robert Walker, Christine Dougherty, Tim Dry, Nerine Dorman, Dean M. Drinkel, Christine Morgan, Tej Turner, D.M. Youngquist, Jason D. Brawn, Lily Childs, Andy Taylor, Sandra Norval, Adrian Chamberlin, and Barbie Wilde.

More:

• Western Legends Publishing
• Dean M. Drinkel
• The Demonologia Biblica: the first book in the Tres Liborum Prohibitorum

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Make No Bones About It... An Award!

Where have I been? I've asked myself the same question. Great swathes of time seem to have been torn away from me this summer as the day-job overshadowed real life with a massive quilt of commitment.

But... I didn't stop writing. I am almost 50,000 words into the 'Asylum' novel - and frankly - it's a race between me and good writing friend and fellow ex-Prediction host Phil Ambler to see who gets there first. Keep running boy!

BONES cover, artwork by Tais Teng

Short Stories and An Editor's Choice Award

I'd vowed to keep away from short stories as I hit novel madness - but sometimes - you just can't help it.

And this week, I'm honoured to announce that one of my latest stories, THE OSSILLATRICE SHIFT has received the Editor's Choice Award from James Ward Kirk Fiction, who have published the story in brand new anthology, BONES.

Buy Bones

Bones is out in paperback and ebook:

• Bones on Amazon.co.uk: Paperback | Kindle
• Bones on Amazon.com: Paperback | Kindle

Other Writing News

• My cannibal crime thriller STRANGE TASTES will be out in the FRESH FEAR anthology any day now. Edited by William Cook and published by James Ward Kirk Fiction again, you can read the amazing list of contributors and I'm just thrilled my name is listed beneath the great Ramsey Campbell.
• RAPTURE will appear in the second of Western Legends Publishing's 'Tres Librorum Prohibitorum' series, edited by Dean M. Drinkel, THE BESTIARUM VOCABULUM. Out October 2013.
• Plus three further short stories - two horror, one crime - will be published in anthos before the end of 2013!
• And... Something VERY exciting is happening with the February Femmes Fatales, ain't it, ladies? A secret? Surely not. More soon.

Keep writing. Keep reading. Have fun. x

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Demonologia Biblica - K is for Kilcrops

2013 has only just begun and I have news!

Back in August 2012 I was approached by Dean M Drinkel, editor and author (and award-winning screenwriter and director, blimey!) to ask if I'd be interested in contributing to an exciting anthology "about demons" for new publisher, Western Legends.

I um'd and ahh'd then bit his hand off and said "yes please", all very polite-like.

The remit was to write a story of around 5000 words to a given letter of the alphabet relating to demons, which would form The Demonologia Biblica. The cover would come from extraordinary artist James Powell. How could I possibly resist?

K is for Kilcrops

I was allocated the letter K, and despite a thorough trawl through the Malleus Maleficarum, Crowley tomes and a whole library of dark material I've accumulated over the years only one name really caught my attention. A Kilcrops, put simply - the offspring of an incubus and a mortal woman that roams, ravenous - ever suckling, ever hungry.

My tale, The Twistweaver's Son is the story of two Victorian sisters separated by the sea, by lust and by obsession.

In the depths of a French forest roams Le Chênard – Oak Man, or Twistweaver – an entity  that seeks out human souls, ever creeping, ever entwining itself into the fronds of mortal minds. And in the village of Noirchapel waits the Twistweaver's English lover Carolyn, nurturing a son like no other, Jacques - and Jacques is desperate to feed.

Contributors

I am so proud to be amongst the contributors to this exceptional anthology, which includes authors I greatly admire such as Mark West, Simon Kurt Unsworth, Barbie Wilde, Dave Jeffery, Jan Edwards, Adrian Chamberlin, Raven Dane, William Meikle, John Palisano... I cannot wait to read all the stories from these hugely talented writers.

Coming soon to Amazon...