All Entries in the "Uncategorized" Category
POSTCARDS FROM PURGATORY Deluxe Hardcover
The deluxe hardcover for POSTCARDS FROM PURGATORY by Sam W. Anderson will be available this week. We are actually expecting delivery any day, and figured we’d give people a chance to grab their number early.
The third book in the First Cut series will be bound in black bonded leather with white foil stamping and will include an extra story inside. For those who missed out on the trade paperback (which sold out this week!), this will be your last chance to get this complete collection of stories.
This collection also introduces Sam’s “Money Run” stories, a thematically connected group of tales set on the back roads of America’s seedy underground. For those collecting the chapbooks, Sam’s contribution to the series, THE UNUSUAL EVENTS OF A SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT BIG K’S TRUCK STOP AND FINE DINING EMPORIUM – A MONEY RUN TALE, will be set in this universe.
Speaking of the “Money Run”, read on for an excerpt from POSTCARDS’ story “Tossing Butch, Saving Theodore”…
Tossing Butch, Saving Theodore
“I l-l-love you, Butch.”
“Oh, for Chrissakes! Cease and desist with that crap.” Butch stripped off the cum-slicked latex glove, tossing it into the cornfields rolling past.
“I won’t l-l-lie about my feelings.” Big Guy slowed the van when he located a clearing on the shoulder. He pulled up his jeans. “I love you. I love your tiny hands, I love your little butt, I love your big heart…”
“Enough! I’m not asking you to lie. Just…just keep that stuff to your damn self.”
As usual, the hurt-puppy-dog look clouded Big Guy’s face. “But Sister Dazy says…”
“Screw Dazy – keep away from her. You shouldn’t seek guidance from some whore we liberated from a truck stop.” Butch rolled up the window and opened the glove box for some lotion. “Concentrate on what we’re working toward, okay? Now go get situated for your nap. We need you to throw fire tonight – this is the big time.”
Big Guy, or whichever personality dominated now, nodded and opened the Dodge’s door. The van creaked back into its mostly normal position, the driver’s side still a hint lower because he drove so often. Butch heard the scraping of the back door latch. Moments later, the large man returned with some customized equipment. He rigged in place the elongated pedals and special seat which Butch himself had designed as an undergrad.
“You should listen to Dazy more,” Big Guy said as he removed Butch from the passenger seat, cradling him like a huge infant. “She’s more than a habit and a great rack.”
“I’d rather look at her than endure her nonsense.” Butch squirmed like a four-year-old in church. “Now put me down so I can relieve myself.”
Big Guy’s eyes narrowed. He wagged his immense finger in Butch’s face. “You took some more, didn’t you? You’re going to shit yourself to death…”
“Yes, Mother,” Butch said. “But I’m only making it easier for you. If I get below a hundred, it’ll increase our odds exponentially. You want to go to Australia, don’t you?
The giant sighed. “No. But I’ll go anywhere for you.”
“Thanks.” And Butch wanted to go to Australia to compete in the international championships. It was as close to an athletic achievement as anything he would ever claim. “Now, will you let me go before I mess my pants?”
Big Guy released a “tsk,” but set Butch on the shoulder. “That’s going to be some obituary: ‘Competitor drowns in own f-f-feces.’”
Butch barely heard the comment. Butt cheeks clenched, he ran to the van for toilet paper then into the corn stalks. His diminutive legs churned like childproof scissors hooked to a 457 motor. Conducting his business, he fished in his sweats pocket, removing a blister pack of X-lax. He popped two – chocolate flavored, of course – before weaving his way through the corn back to the van.
“What’s up, Squirt?” Sister Dazy asked. Now awake but still fully nude, she sat on the running board sucking a lollipop between gulps of tequila. Butch stiffened immediately as Big Guy’s assessment of her rack was dead on.
“My spirits.”
“Is that what we’re calling it today?” She attempted no subtlety while eyeing his crotch. “Does that have something to do with its ghost-like appearance?”
Butch flipped her the bird. “It might be little, but I can hurt you with it. Kind of would put a new twist on ‘pushing up daisies.’”
“In your dreams, Butch.”
“Every night.” He cackled when Dazy responded with her own obscene gesture. “Enough pleasantries. You going to ride like that? I’d appreciate it – make up for some of the headaches you cause me.”
As she rose, reaching inside for her habit, the large man lumbered around the front of the van. A cigarette now hung from his mouth and he’d rolled his tee-shirt sleeves, exposing upper arms that belonged on a Greek sculpture. Ponytail undone, his hair blew in the scalding wind like that of a hero on a romance-novel cover.
Butch leaned to Dazy, whispering: “Big Guy’s vacated the premises. I think he’s slid into Theodore again.”
Dazy slipped into her modified habit. She’d hemmed the bottom so it ended just below her backside, and the neckline plunged deep enough it risked exposing her navel.
“You sure look pretty this evening, Sister Dazy,” the giant said as he bent for the bottle on the running board.
“Thank you…Theodore.” She said the name with trepidation, unsure if Butch had pinned the right personality.
“Welcome, ma’am.” Theodore slugged back a large draw and winked. “You’re looking mighty pretty there, too, Butchy. Pretty enough to kiss.”
“Stop it,” Butch said. “Everybody ready?”
“Don’t you want to kiss Theodore?” Dazy asked through a smug smile.
“Just one, Butchy?”
“Both of you knock it off. Let’s get going.”
Dazy erupted in laughter. Butch loathed her laugh, especially when it mocked him. The red head placed her hands over her bosom to limit the jiggling. “Maybe just a quick hand job then? You know, just to tide him over till the contest. You want one for the road, Theodore?”
“Does Butch shit in the cornfields?” The giant eyed Butch with an expectant look. Snorts escaped from Dazy.
Glaring at the sister, Butch stepped from the large man. He felt the familiar sting – ridicule from a normal-sized person who felt their height proved superiority to Butch in every way. “What? Again? My arm’s hamburger here.”
“What do you mean again?” Theodore kneaded his readily-apparent erection. “I could really use one here, buddy.”
Butch clapped a hand over his mouth, quickly removing it. He hoped the giant would ignore the gesture, as the Theodore personality displayed extreme jealousy toward Big Guy. With the competition but a few hours away, Butch couldn’t risk upsetting any of the former football center’s personalities. If the giant started moping, he’d be as useless as a punctured condom.
“Tell you what. You lobby Sister Dazy into pleasuring me I’ll in turn assist you.”
Theodore turned to the nun, his expectant expression still evident.
“Sorry, Sweetie. Looks like you’re going without today,” she said between snorts. “But I’ll give you one if you want.”
Butch and Theodore moaned a chorus of disappointment.
“That’s okay,” Theodore said. “It’s awfully nice of you, ma’am, but it’s just not the same.” Dazy’s laugh trailed off. Though the large man consistently denied the nun’s advances, Butch saw how the rejection always stung. Guilt ate at him, seeing the disappointment they both displayed.
“Fine,” Butch said. “Now can we get moving?” His two companions sulked away like kids denied dessert.
Bill Me & Layaway Options Return
On Monday morning my inbox and support ticket system began to swell with customer complaints that Horror Mall removed the bill me and layaway payment options. After many meetings and listening to both store owners and customers, these have been reinstated. There may be a better solution coming down the road (which will work better for both shops and customers), but for now we’ve opened it back up the way it was.
Horror Mall has to make business changes that aren’t always going to be popular. There’s many reasons behind them and, contrary to a few disgruntled people around the genre, they’re NEVER made because we don’t appreciate our customers.
This is a tough gig, running a business of this nature in a niche market during the worst economic times we’ll likely ever see. But we have fought the good fight and have actually seen growth as of late. And it’s because we have a bunch of great shop owners here who are truly passionate about not only customers, but this genre.
These dark times really perpetuate negativity. Horror Mall is a leader in this market, and it’s going to take its share of criticism just for being in this position.
There are more than 8,000 of you registered for our store, who have purchased product and in doing so continue to support an independent company. In a time where everyone mindlessly rushes to Amazon and other corporations without thinking about where their dollar goes, you guys don’t.
And I’d be a fool if I didn’t truly appreciate each and everyone of you. And I know this is true of everyone here at Horror Mall. But when you work 18-20 hours a day some weeks, get little sleep, and are dealing with genre negativity many consecutive days, you’re not always going to get the best side of me nor a real shiny happy person. We’re human, we make mistakes, we’re in the same boat as many of you out there.
We’re fighting the good fight.
All I ask of anyone out there is for patience (it’s a great time of change, and even we hate change). Even through these bleak times, hold on to your foresight and realize that changes that aren’t popular could very well lead to many benefits down the road.
It may look simple from where you’re at, but succeeding in a business in this market is extremely tough. You have to be willing to work your ass off, take criticism and the blows that come with it, and wake up the next day eager to do it all over again.
This website took more than 2 years to develop. It was something done to give the genre and small press a professional place to represent their product; the genre needed a specialty indie shop of this nature.
It would have been simple for me to walk away from this business years ago and go back to publishing. It would have been a much easier thing for me to do, a more self-focused approach and I was and still am doing quite well just publishing. But I’ve always felt like this genre is my home and if I don’t do something to repair my home from time to time, eventually it will crash down on all of its inhabitants, including myself. Horror Mall was and remains my contribution to helping this market and genre. Most of the money we make here gets invested directly back into the pockets of independent authors and artists. New publishing contracts have been going out weekly from my office or from other publishers associated with Horror Mall. We’re making great progress in tough times. Think of what we’ll be able to accomplish once this storm passes…
I believe in this company and what it has to offer. And I realize it’s hard for a lot of people to comprehend, especially those of you that have been with me since I first started Delirium Books in the late ’90s, because I’ve become less personal and more business-oriented. But this is essential to running a good business which then benefits everyone because it solidifies Horror Mall which, judging by our growth over the years, many people love as well.
There have been hundreds if not thousands of publishers rise and fold since I began publishing. There have been a rash of bookstores both physical and online who have squandered their businesses. And each time this happens people get hurt (whether it be authors or customers).
This is why it’s all business with me as of late. The lack of professionalism that has plagued this market for decades isn’t tolerated here and I’m striving to change how business is done.
And change is a rocky road sometimes, but nothing good ever comes without sacrifice and hardship.
I don’t expect faith; I just would appreciate a little foresight and some positivity from time to time.
And those who lack vision and care not to share this independent success story are ultimately going to miss out on some really GREAT things happening in the near future. Hell, you’re going to miss out on the FUTURE of this genre.
To me, Horror Mall is not just a business, a company or an organization of entrepreneurs…it’s an independent movement.
And I thank everyone for being a part of it. Enjoy your bill-me and layaway options, but please USE IT WISELY and RESPONSIBLY. Canceled and failed orders do hurt the shops here. And they will also lead to the removal of the abuser.
Now, back to fighting the good fight…
ROY AND LIZ GETTING KILLED THIS WEEK! YOU WIN! PLEASE READ!
Liz and I will be attending KILLERCON in Las Vegas, and will be gone from the office 8-26 through 8-30. So, any orders placed before NOON ON WEDNESDAY 8-25 will be shipped out. Any orders placed after that will be shipped on Tuesday 8-31.
Now for the GOOD NEWS. Liz talked me into having a sale on IN STOCK ITEMS! Save 20% on any IN STOCK item if ordered between now Wednesday. (NOTE- I will have the coupon end on Wed. 8-25, so orders placed after NOON on that day will get the discount, but not ship until Tuesday). COUPON CODE is KILLER
So, get to buyin’!!!!
NEW JEFF STRAND WEREWOLF NOVEL ANNOUNCED!
Meet George and Lou, thugs for hire. The kind of intimidating-yet-friendly guys who will break your thumbs, but be nice about it. Their latest assignment is to drive across Florida to deliver some precious cargo to a crime lord. The cargo: a man in a cage. Though Ivan seems perfectly human, they’re warned that he is, in fact, a bloodthirsty werewolf.
George and Lou don’t believe in the supernatural, but even if they did, it’s daytime and tonight isn’t the full moon. It’s just a simple transport job, albeit one that carries severe consequences if they screw it up. Their instructions are straightforward: Do not open the cage. Do not reach into the cage. Do not throw anything into the cage.And they don’t. Unfortunately, Ivan doesn’t play by the usual werewolf rules, and the thugs find themselves suddenly responsible for a vicious escaped beast. One who can transform at will. One who enjoys killing in human form as much as he enjoys killing as a monster. If George and Lou want to save their careers, dozens of people, and their own lives, they need to recapture him.
Because Ivan the werewolf is in the mood for a murder spree…
Deluxe A-Z Lettered: 6”x9”, bound in leather, front cover stamped and spine stamped with the title and the author’s name, includes artsy end papers, signature page which is signed by both author and artist, colored book ribbon with nice full colored header, 60lb. natural vellum stock, a beautiful slipcase and dust jacket. BONUS: every order of the Deluxe edition of Wolfhunt comes with a FREE hand painted signed and numbered Wolfhunt sculpture by Frank Walls! View pictures of the sculpture above.
100 Signed and Limited Hardcovers: 6”x9”, bound in leatherette, stamped on the spine with the title and author’s name, includes 80lb. natural vellum end papers, signed by the author, colored book ribbon, multi-colored header, 60lb. natural vellum stock, and has a beautiful dust jacket.
ED LEE “THE CHOSEN” COVER POSTED. GRAB YOUR COPY NOW. SHIPPING SOON!
THE CHOSEN by Edward Lee (Collector hardcover edition)
This will be the World First Hardback Edition and First British Edition of this title, originally published in the USA as a paperback original by Pinnacle books.
For the first time Edward Lee‘s classic novel of erotic horror will be available to collector’s and fans in a quality, signed hardback edition.
Printed on matte coated Vancouver 90gsm paper. Sewn block, bound in red Colorado cloth with headbands, colored endpapers and bound in ribbon bookmark with DJ.
“Edward Lee …. blends nail-biting terror, suspense and eroticism like a dark magician and the results are always staggering!” – Cemetery Dance Magazine
Synopsis: Restaurant manager Vera Abott seems to have been given the job of her dreams. With a huge salary, company car and accommodation thrown in she moves to The Inn – a new restaurant / hotel being developed at the secluded Wroxton Hall by the mysterious Mr. Feldspar. But from the day she arrives she realises something is seriously wrong. She hears strange noises and sees shadowy figures prowling the corridors late at night and in her dreams is seduced by a hideous stranger who uses her body to satisfy his depraved lusts. The Inn hides a terrible secret and Vera is about to be initiated into a secret world of diabolical sex and horror.
WARNING – the content and illustrations mean this one is Strictly Adults Only!!
We’re About To Get Depraved
Altar 13′s second production has arrived and we’ll be shipping Depraved by Bryan Smith out in the next few weeks. This title will officially go on sale to the public on 9/7/10. As of this evening, notices were sent out to the first rights of refusal lifetime members (limited edition only) to purchase their copies. If you are a limited rights holder (not deluxe, as these will be sent at a later date) and didn’t receive a notice, please submit a support ticket to the Delirium Books department (this is the shop where Altar 13 titles are sold) and request a link.
Only 87 copies of the limited will be produced along with the 13 deluxe copies which will be shipping in the next few weeks.
Once it is offered at Horror Mall, this title will be sold out within hours. If you are NOT a lifetime first rights of refusal owner and you want a copy of this book, please fill out your name and e-mail address at the following link: http://www.horror-mall.com/stock_notify.php?productid=21098. Once stock gets added into inventory there will be an immediate mailing to all those who have signed up. First come, first serve. And don’t let your spam filter ruin your chances. To avoid this, make sure you white-list e-mail from horror-mall.com, primarily the e-mail address donotreply@horror-mall.com which is the default outgoing address for notices.
This edition not only contains an original afterword by the author, but also an original novelette written specifically for this Altar 13 first edition hardcover (“Depraved II: The In-Between-Quel”).
RICHARD GAVIN’S CHARNEL WINE: MEMENTO MORI IN TRADE PAPERBACK
CHARNEL WINE: MEMENTO MORI by Richard Gavin (trade softcover)
Richard Gavin’s debut collection was one of Horror’s sleeper hits of 2004. The rapid sell-out of its entire print run resulted in Charnel Wine becoming a highly sought-after title among connoisseurs of weird fiction.
Charnel Wine: Memento Mori Edition, which contains the original collection in its entirety as well as four previously unpublished tales, a new Introduction by the author, and cover art by renowned illustrator J.K. Potter.
OUROBOROS NOW OUT IN TRADE PAPERBACK!
OUROBOROS by Michael Kelly & Carol Weekes (trade softcover)
OUROBOROS – life out of death.
Tom Christiansen’s wife of 35-years, Dolly, is dead. His world suddenly shattered, Tom takes refuge in his house to grieve and reflect. Tom’s thin veil of reality and fantasy begins to crack and slip. He hears things: the rusty creak of the backyard swing; the tap to tiny feet from an upstairs room. And he sees things, as well: a small rubber ball bouncing slowly down the stairs; birds like silent sentinels on electrical wires; a strange little pigtailed girl suddenly appearing in his yard, and what is that mysterious figure lying in the upstairs bed that he used to share with his beloved wife?
OUROBOROS – a new cycle has begun.
Tom’s long-time neighbors, and dearest friends, Mick and Robbi Hamlin begin to notice strange behavior from grief-stricken Tom. The witness dinner place-settings for two. They hear hushed conversations from the old house, as if Tom is speaking to himself, as if he is not alone. There is a pale little girl in the backyard, swinging ceaselessly. And something is rustling in the bushes, peering out from the undergrowth with inquisitive eyes.
OUROBOROS – the end is just the beginning.
PORK PIE HAT BY PETER STRAUB ONLY 4 LIMITEDS UP FOR PRE-ORDER!
PORK PIE HAT by Peter Straub (signed limited hardcover)
SOLD OUT IN ONE DAY FROM CD!
“Sometimes people just disappeared. They’d be gone. All kinds of stuff used to happen, stuff you wouldn’t even believe in now.”
The jazz legend known as Pork Pie Hat has never told anyone about the horrible event he witnessed as a child in the forbidden woods known as The Backs, even though the events of that Halloween night have haunted him ever since. But Hat is sick now, nearing the end of a long slide through the depths of alcoholism and depression, and the time has come for the truth to be known about what he saw… and what he did.
JEFFREY THOMAS NOCTURNAL EMISSIONS READY TO SHIP!
NOCTURNAL EMISSIONS by Jeffrey Thomas (limited edition hardcover)
Supernatural “Black Dogs,” UFOs, a vampire shark, parasite-infested children, and a foul-mouthed marionette from another dimension.
These are just some of the dark delights to be found in the forthcoming collection set for release by Dark Regions Press in September, 2010, NOCTURNAL EMISSIONS, from Jeffrey Thomas – the fertile imagination behind the Punktown and Letters From Hades series, and finalist for the Bram Stoker and John W. Campbell awards.
Thomas demonstrates the wide range of his ability in these short stories, novellas and poems, which include:
Godhead Dying Downwards, Thomas’ acclaimed novella, in which a 19th Century priest seeks to solve ghostly mysteries in the British countryside.
The Night Swimmers, in which two brothers investigate UFO sightings in a New England forest.
The Possessed, a “New Weird” style science fiction/horror novella in which three explorers utilize a strange method of traveling to a far world.
Nocturnal Emissions, a novella (or collection of mini stories, if you’d rather) about imbalance, love, TV, a giant floating eye, and other enigmas – one chapter of which features pop star Walter Egan (Magnet and Steel) as its protagonist.
