#HorrorForLibraries Giveaway: A Raw Dog Screaming Press 2-pack

Today I have 2 finished copies of titles from one of my favorite small presses. I have reviewed both books, one in Booklist [STAR] and one in Library Journal. Details below but first, the rules on how to enter:

1. You need to be affiliated with an American public library. My rationale behind that is that I will be encouraging you to read these books and share them with patrons. While many of them are advanced reader copies that you cannot add to your collections, if you get the chance to read them, my hope is that you will consider ordering a copy for your library and give away the ARC away as a prize or pass it on to a fellow staff member.
2. If you are interested in being included in any giveaway at any time, you must email me at zombiegrl75 [at] gmail [dot] com with the subject line "#HorrorForLibraries." In the body of the email all you have to say is that you want to be entered and the name of your library.
3. Each entry will be considered for EVERY giveaway. Meaning you enter once, and you are entered until you win. I will randomly draw a winner on Fridays sometime after 5pm central. But only entries received by 5pm each week will be considered for that week. I use Random.org and have a member of my family witness the "draw"based off your number in the Google Sheet.
4. If you win, you are ineligible to win again for 4 weeks; you will have to re-enter after that time to be considered [I have a list of who has won, when, and what title]. However, if you do not win, you carry over into the next week. There is NO NEED to reenter.

Click here to see the previous giveaway. Our winner was Ashley from Fitchburg [MA] Public Library. Now on to today's giveaway.

Jennifer at Raw Dog Screaming Press sent me FINISHED copies of two of their most recent releases, both of which I reviewed and LOVED. Because they are finished copies, you can put them into your collections immediately. And one of you is going to win BOTH.

First up, Eynhallow by Tim McGregor. From my draft STAR review in Booklist:

Eynhallow, an uninhabited island in the Orkney Islands, long considered haunted by Trolls and Finfolk, was home to a few hardy families until 1851. McGregor (Wasps in the Ice Cream) uses the real place and its eerie history as the atmospheric setting for his compelling and convincing retelling of Frankenstein. 1797, Agnes is one of 20 souls living on Eynhallow. She spends her days caring for her children, avoiding her husband’s wrath, and gossiping with her pregnant neighbor. Life is hard and lonely on the windswept island. Visitors are rare. When a rich foreigner arrives to hide himself away, it upends everyone’s lives, especially Agnes’, whose husband hires her out to help keep house for the mysterious stranger. Told exclusively through Agnes’s strong narrative voice, readers are immersed in the plot and the place, even before Frankenstein arrives, but as Agnes gets to know him better, the tension, unease, and danger build, sightings of a monster lurking in the darkness increase, and Frankenstein’s curse becomes Agnes’ burden. An excellent example of the very best of the popular Historical and Retelling Horror tropes, this unsettling novella will be eagerly devoured by fans of Alma Katsu and Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

I have a lot more to say about this book on my blog here. I cannot stress enough how good this book is on its own as historical horror, and how important it is as a part of the Frankenstein universe. You should all be adding it to your collections today. 

Next, 12 Hours (Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena #2) by L. Marie Wood. From my draft Library Journal review and some bonus notes:

Three Words That Describe This Book: engaging narration, beautiful and brutal, intense unease

Also for those who like Stephen Graham Jones' shorter work.

I need to note somewhere that this book has a perfect ending. Sticking the landing on this one is key to the story.

Draft Review: The last thing a cab driver remembers is pulling over to take a short break during his late night shift in a rough part of town where he regularly offers his services to those at the margins of society. As the story opens, he has been robbed and cannot move. What follows is a thoroughly absorbing, emotionally compelling story told with a conversational, first person narration. As he awaits rescue, readers stay with the unnamed narrator during his worst moments, and once his fate is realized, eagerly follow him as he comes to terms with his life’s choices. Filled to its brim with heart, this intensely unsettling and unflinchingly honest tale, meant to be read in a single sitting, will not only introduce readers to an unforgettable character at his worst moment, but it also demands that they take a long hard look at themselves especially after reaching the book’s perfect ending.

Verdict: Wood masterfully showcases the strengths of the novella as the perfect vehicle for Horror storytelling as she holds readers hostage for the duration of this captivating story that is in equal measures, beautiful and brutal, presenting terror both real and supernatural similar to the work of Gabino Iglesias and V. Castro.

I know not every library buys novellas, but in this case, I would suggest you get this book and the first one in the series. I would then suggest shelving them under the title. There are more to come and novellas do better if they can be shelved together. Trust me, these are worth it. If I were forced to only recommend one independent horror press, RDSP would be the one and these novellas are excellent with appeal to a wide audience. 

Enter now and you are entered going forward. Next week I have an early ARC of Cynthia Pelayo's March release. But that is next week. Get in on the giveaway now.

Good Luck!

#HorrorForLIbraries Giveaway; The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste

Today I have a March 2024 release that I could not put down when I read it back in the Fall. It got a STAR in Booklist. Details below but first, the rules on how to enter:

1. You need to be affiliated with an American public library. My rationale behind that is that I will be encouraging you to read these books and share them with patrons. While many of them are advanced reader copies that you cannot add to your collections, if you get the chance to read them, my hope is that you will consider ordering a copy for your library and give away the ARC away as a prize or pass it on to a fellow staff member.
2. If you are interested in being included in any giveaway at any time, you must email me at zombiegrl75 [at] gmail [dot] com with the subject line "#HorrorForLibraries." In the body of the email all you have to say is that you want to be entered and the name of your library.
3. Each entry will be considered for EVERY giveaway. Meaning you enter once, and you are entered until you win. I will randomly draw a winner on Fridays sometime after 5pm central. But only entries received by 5pm each week will be considered for that week. I use Random.org and have a member of my family witness the "draw"based off your number in the Google Sheet.
4. If you win, you are ineligible to win again for 4 weeks; you will have to re-enter after that time to be considered [I have a list of who has won, when, and what title]. However, if you do not win, you carry over into the next week. There is NO NEED to reenter.

Click here to see the previous giveaway. Our winner was Rachel from Reddick [IL] Public Library. Now on to today's giveaway.

My review of the next novel by Gwendolyn Kiste went live in the December 1, 2023 issue of Booklist, but I wanted to wait until 2024 to give it away to you. Click here for that post or see below for details on this EXCELLENT book with WIDE appeal.

STAR

The Haunting of Velkwood

By Gwendolyn Kiste

Mar. 2024. 320p. Saga, $26 (9781982172374).

First published December 1, 2023 (Booklist).

Kiste (Reluctant Immortals) presents what is sure to be one of the most original and riveting Horror novels of 2024. 20 years ago a single block, deep in the suburbs, slipped into its own dimension, locked behind an inaccessible veil. Everyone was lost, save for three girls who returned to college the night before. Talitha, now 40, has never recovered from the trauma of that day, but when a researcher entices her back to try to make contact with her little sister, Talitha stops running from Brett, Grace, and their shared past in order to finally move forward and allow the ghosts to rest. Both an atmospheric, character centered story that lays bare the horror of suburban malaise, exposing its dark underbelly encrusted with monsters both real and supernatural, and an ode to the forgotten women, who are powerful enough to save themselves and even the world, especially if they band together and let love pull them through. Reminiscent of Kiste’s award-winning, heartbreakingly beautiful, debut, Rust Maidens, fans of titles as wide ranging as Good Neighbors by Langan, The Ghost That Ate Us by Kraus, and Sister, Maiden, Monster by Snyder, will love getting trapped in the Velkwood Vicinity.

Further Appeal: This novel should easily get Kiste another LAMBDA literary award nomination. She won last year for Reluctant Immortals in Bisexual Fiction and this is a better novel. This entire novel is a metaphor for the horror of coming of age and the suburbs. The tone is atmospheric building to terror and it features complex and nuanced characters.

Here are some more of my appeal notes:

• So much more thought provoking than it seems on the surface.
• Her overall theme of forgotten women who have the power to save themselves and the world.
• Riveting, utterly original.
• "Their love will pull them through." I am leaving that one here. It refers to multiple character and situations.
• Real monsters as well as the suburban malaise.
• The strength of women when they work together-- a theme in all her books.
• Words in the running for 3 words: Compelling, riveting, great characters, suburban ennui, very original supernatural situation/monster, thought provoking, heartbreakingly beautiful.
• I started this book and when I paused for the first time, 75 pages had blown by.
• This is a book from an author who has aged in years and only gotten better in her craft. This is like The Rust Maidens all grown up. I realize there is a "grown-up" dual story line in Rust Maidens, but this is like Rusty Maidens older sister.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Suburban Malaise, Riveting, Thought Provoking

Readalikes: Besides the three above, I also think Queen of Teeth by Piper and Reprieve by by Mattson both have connections here. Clearly there is an X Files vibe to this story, especially the researcher character and his workers. And Blake Crouch fans might also like this one, although it is less SF. It is a novel that will have wide appeal and its SF-Cosmic Horror frame is just a smidge over reality that the anxiety it induces feels real. But it is the characters that tipped this one to a star.

Enter now and you are entered going forward.

Good luck!

#HorrorForLibraries Giveaway: Signed ARC of The Angel of Indian Lake

Today I have one of the most anticipated books of 2024 to giveaway to one of you, a title I not only gave a STAR to in the January 2024 issue of LJ, but one I called "a gift." Oh, and it is signed by the author. Details below but first, the rules on how to enter:

1. You need to be affiliated with an American public library. My rationale behind that is that I will be encouraging you to read these books and share them with patrons. While many of them are advanced reader copies that you cannot add to your collections, if you get the chance to read them, my hope is that you will consider ordering a copy for your library and give away the ARC away as a prize or pass it on to a fellow staff member.
2. If you are interested in being included in any giveaway at any time, you must email me at zombiegrl75 [at] gmail [dot] com with the subject line "#HorrorForLibraries." In the body of the email all you have to say is that you want to be entered and the name of your library.
3. Each entry will be considered for EVERY giveaway. Meaning you enter once, and you are entered until you win. I will randomly draw a winner on Fridays sometime after 5pm central. But only entries received by 5pm each week will be considered for that week. I use Random.org and have a member of my family witness the "draw"based off your number in the Google Sheet.
4. If you win, you are ineligible to win again for 4 weeks; you will have to re-enter after that time to be considered [I have a list of who has won, when, and what title]. However, if you do not win, you carry over into the next week. There is NO NEED to reenter.

Click here to see the previous giveaway. Our winner was Jeffie from Williamson County (TN) Public Library. Now on to today's giveaway.

I am giving away, to one of you, my super early, bound manuscript copy of The Angel of Indian Lake, which Stephen Graham Jones signed for me knowing that it would go to one of you.

Please note, this is not a formatted ARC. It is a bound manuscript. It is great for you to read for yourself and then use as a prize for a library patron. Or keep for yourself. 

Click here to read my draft STAR review of this perfect ending to one of the best trilogies ever written. Personally, I cannot wait until there is a box set to buy so I can keep it forever. 

Enter once and you are entered going forward. I have ARCs of the upcoming Cynthia Pelayo and Gwendolyn Kiste books. (I gave both stars as well.) 

Please note, in 2024, I may not run this giveaway every week as part of my resolutions for 2024, so the best way to be included is to enter NOW.