The air has turned cool, the leaves transformed into a tapestry of color, and night's early arrival signals the onset of the season of mischief. We're already at the end of October, and Halloween tromps ever closer.
This is also the favorite time of year for many writers of horror and the supernatural. Segments of mainstream media have tried to paint Halloween as a time of evil. These people really miss the point... Seems they're the ones who grew up too early, and have lost something very precious. It's called imagination. They also need to read the history of All Hallow's Eve, and interpret the facts. I won't get into a lesson here myself, but it's a time of year to enjoy yourself. Be a kid again... People have become too focused on the
drudgery of the daily routine. If some of them would learn to relax a bit, slow down, and remember the simple thrills of childhood, the world would be a much better, happier, and safer place. So have fun, and most importantly, remember the healing elixir of life --
laughter.
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Winner of Dark Krypt's 2003 Halloween Short Story Contest!

That's right, my story "Within These Bindings" took first place and top prize of $125. I'm very excited to announce this, and congrats to all the other writer's who placed. There were some excellent ones who entered, and the competition was tough. Here is the link where you can read my story online for free! Thanks to the people from DK who put on such a great event.

http://www.darkkrypt.com/tdkz/darkkryptwelcome.htm

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"Dark Harvest" Available for sale

Appropriately enough, my chapbook collab of Halloween tales with talented author William P. Simmons is now available for sale at Shocklines. The book is shipping very soon, and preorder sales are being taken. My thanks to everyone who ordered a copy already, and we made the bestseller list for preorders a few days after posting. Hope you enjoy this beautifully crafted chapbook from Undaunted Press, who have continued to show how capable a small press publisher can be, in quality and commitment. Here is the link, and the cover art is excellent by Russell Dickerson. Introduction by Michael Laimo, afterward by Gene O'Neill. 'Nuff said.

http://store.yahoo.net/shocklines/dahabywipsip.html
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Latest Sales

I've had a number of stories accepted for publication in a variety of markets. The biggest sale is to "A Walk on the Dark Side," edited by John Pelan, 2004 from ROC Books. This will be a mass market anthology, available in bookstores everywhere. The first two editions were fantastic collections, "Darker Side" winning the Bram Stoker Award for best collection last year. So needless to say, I'm stoked myself about this one...

Some other sales include to the following publications.

Space & Time Magazine - "A Particular Haunting"

Supernatural Tales - "The Wound"

Dark Krypt - "Orphans"

Dark Animus - "That Magical Day"

Inflated Graveworm - "Hedge of Discontent"

Blackest Death Anthology - "A Prick of Skin"

Whispers From the Shattered Forum - "Grim Man"
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Here are links where more of my work can be found -- and hopefully purchased;>).
Restless Shades" - Double Dragon Publishing
http://store.yahoo.com/shocklines/resshadtalof.html

"Frightful October" - Double Dragon Publishing
http://store.yahoo.com/shocklines/frigocbypaul.html

"A Halloween Harvest" - Flesh & Blood Press
http://store.yahoo.com/shocklines/halharbypaul.html

Darkness Rising #2 - Wildside Press
http://store.yahoo.com/shocklines/darris2hiddr.html

Shadow Writers - Rainfall Books - Paul Kane, editor
http://store.yahoo.com/shocklines/shwrvooneedb.html

Cold Storage - SST Publications
http://store.yahoo.com/shocklines/colstoredbyp.html

Atrocitas Aqua - Double Dragon Publishing
http://store.yahoo.com/shocklines/ataqtpaanbor.html

Vicious Shivers - Undaunted Press, Cullen Bunn, editor
http://www.undauntedpress.com/ *Forthcoming Soon*

The Best of Horrorfind 2 - Brian Keene, editor
http://www.horrorfind.com

Darkness Rising #7 - Wildside Press
http://store.yahoo.com/shocklines/darris7demat.html

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Anthologies Edited

"Holiday Horrors"
The title says it all..tales of terror with a holiday flavor.
http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/index.html

"Dark Lurkers" will be released by Double Dragon Publishing in trade paperback. This one will feature some great material, and the lineup of authors is outstanding. The book is scheduled for an early 2004 release.

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Zek's Recs

Time for the plugs, of course. ;>)

"The Rising" - Brian Keene - (Who needs no introduction)
http://store.yahoo.com/shocklines/risbybrianke1.html

Congrats to Brian for his recent novel deals, several to mass market publishers. Look for a collab between us next year sometime, info TBA.

"The Organ Donor" - Matt Warner - Congrats Matt on his first novel and marriage to Deena! Double Dragon Publishing.
http://store.yahoo.com/shocklines/ordonbymatwa.html

"Night of the Werewolf" - Harry Shannon - He strikes again, sure to be another classic from Medium Rare.
http://store.yahoo.com/shocklines/niofwebyhash.html

"After Shocks" - Paul Finch - Read this writer, you won't be disappointed. Powerful stuff.
http://store.yahoo.com/shocklines/afshocbypaul.html

"Five Days on the Banks of the Acheron" - Jason Brannon
You need to check out Jason's writing, he's all over the genre.
http://store.yahoo.com/shocklines/fivdayonbano.html

"Riverwatch" - Joe Nassise - Outstanding novel from the president of the HWA. Also available in mass market.
http://store.yahoo.com/shocklines/rivbyjosmnas.html

"Divinations of the Deep" - Matt Cardin - An extremely talented writer.
http://store.yahoo.com/shocklines/divofdeepbym.html

Gene O'Neill - here is a link to his work from Shocklines. One of writing's top tier authors, you really need to buy his material.

http://search.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/nsearch?catalog=shocklines&query=gene+o%27neill&.autodone=http%3A%2F%2Fstore.yahoo.com%2Fshocklines%2Findex.html

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There is some more big news in the works, but nothing is signed yet. So look for hopefully some other announcements shortly.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

God Bless.