31 Days of Horror: Day 19-- The Gods of Lovecraft Intro, Review Tease, and GIVEAWAY!

Today I am beginning a smaller series within this 31 day horror fest.  In December, JournalStone is releasing a book that EVERY PUBLIC LIBRARY needs to buy.  


From the publisher: 

JournalStone Publishing (JSP) President, Christopher C. Payne is pleased to announce The Gods of H.P. Lovecraft, a brand new anthology that collects the twelve principal deities of the Lovecraftian Mythos and sets them loose within its pages. Featuring the biggest names in horror and dark fantasy, including many NY Times bestsellers, full of original fiction and artwork, and individual commentary on each of the deities by Donald Tyson, author of Grimoire of the Necronomicon and Alhazred. 

Lovecraft’s bestiary of gods has had a major influence on the horror scene from the time these sacred names were first evoked. Cthulhu, Azathoth, Nyarlathotep, Yog-Sothoth—this pantheon of the horrific calls to mind the very worst of cosmic nightmares and the very darkest signs of human nature. The Gods of H.P. Lovecraft brings together twelve all-new Mythos tales from: 

1. Cthulhu (Adam Nevill) 2. Yog-Sothoth (Martha Wells)3. Azathoth (Laird Barron) 4. Nyarlathotep (Bentley Little) 5. Shub-Niggurath (David Liss) 6. Tsathoggua (Brett Talley)7. The Mi-Go (Christopher Golden & James A. Moore)8. Nightgaunts (Jonathan Maberry) 9. Elder Things (Joe Lansdale)10. Great Race (Rachel Caine)11. Yig (Douglas Wynne)12. The Deep Ones (Seanan McGuire)

This book is not coming out until December but I have seen an ARC and can give you multiple reasons as to why you should pre-order this book now.

First, look at that list of authors. There are many NY Times bestselling authors there, and a few that are the biggest young names in dark fiction right now.

Second, this collection serves as an excellent introduction to the Mythos for novices. Most readers interested in horror have read about Lovecraft, but I have found many of them haven’t found a good entry point to Lovecraft’s world for themselves.  They are overwhelmed by the breadth of the fandom. let alone the original works themselves. Well, here it is.

Third, this collection is also great for Lovecraft fans. Even those who are well versed in the Mythos will enjoy seeing these Gods reinterpreted by many of the best of today’s horror writers.

And fourth, the commentaries by Donald Tyson are enlightening in and of themselves. You can learn about each god and why he or she was important to the Mythos with or without having read the story in which that God was featured.

I will have a full, more official review of the collection in a future edition of Booklist, but for now, I still have a few treats in relation to this book up my sleeve.

Over 9 of the next 10 days I will be featuring 10 of the 12 authors in this collection. Each has answered a series of questions from me about their God, why they picked it, what their favorite scary books are, and more.  It’s very similar to the posts I have been running by authors all month, just with a Lovercraftian spin. Expect each day’s post to bring you a handful of new authors and titles to add to your arsenal of books you can suggest to patrons. 

As if that wasn’t a huge gift, JournalStone is also providing 2 free copies of The Gods of H.P. Lovecraft that I will give away here, on the blog.

So between now and 11:59 pm on 10/29, you can email me, 1 entry per person, at zombiegrl75 [at] gmail [dot] com to be eligible. I will have a reminder each day and draw the winners on 10/30.

I hope this multi-day feature will not only introduce you to the world of Lovecraft, but also, allow you to see why some of today’s best horror writers love horror. And both of those things will make you better at helping your horror readers find their next good read.

#HorrorForLibraries Giveaway: 2 winners of Azathoth: Ordo ab Chao, Edited by Aaron J. French

Today I have two finished copies for two winners of a volume featuring many authors whose work you have on your sleeves, presented by a trusted editor, and part of a series of books which I have reviewed titles from in the past. Details below but first, here are the rules on how to enter:

1. You need to be affiliated with an American 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.

Last week's winner was Jessica from IN. Now on to this week's giveaway.

Today I want to talk about author and editor, Aaron J. French, specially his work taking Lovecraftian Gods and asking a diverse group of today's authors to write new and original to him stories for his anthologies.

I have read and reviewed (for Booklist) The Gods of H.P Lovecraft and The Demons of King Solomon. Click through to read my reviews of each anthology and to see the impressive contributors.

This Fall, French released Azathoth: Ordo ab Chao. From the publisher description:

The first in a series of anthologies devoted to the Lovecraftian gods, Ordo ab Chao follows the highly successful The Gods of HP Lovecraft (published in 2015 by JournalStone Publishing). We begin our series with the primal origins and the god Azathoth, who represents primordial chaos in the Lovecraftian Mythos. H.P. Lovecraft described Azathoth as a demon king ruling from a dark throne in the middle of the fiery cosmic void, out of which all created things emanated. Surrounding this orbiting spiral of infinite chaos and creation sounded the repetitive notes of an incessant flute, a reference to the Greek god Pan and the symbol of chaos behind the orderliness of nature. Taking this as our departure, the stories in this volume approach Azathoth through the concept of "order out of chaos" (or Ordo ab Chao in Latin). Ordo ab Chao includes new work from some of the most talented and respected authors in horror and dark fantasy, featuring stories from T. Kingfisher, Ruthanna Emrys, Adam L. G. Nevill, Kaaron Warren, Brian Evenson, Donald Tyson, Richard Thomas, Richard Gavin, Matthew Cheney, Erica Ruppert, Jamieson Ridenhour, Maxwell I. Gold, Lena Ng, Nathan Carson, Samuel Marzioli, Lauri Taneli Lassila, Akis Linardos, and R. B. Payne.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

• ORDO AB CHAO: TOWARD THAT ENDLESSNESS by Maxwell Ian Gold
• “Agent of Chaos” illustrated by Sofiya Kruglikova
• AGENT OF CHAOS by T. Kingfisher
• “Expatriate” illustrated by Yves Tourigny
• EXPATRIATE by Jamieson Ridenhour 
• “...And Peer Aloft to Glimpse Some Fragment” illustrated by Andrej Kapcar .
• ..AND PEER ALOFT TO GLIMPSE SOME FRAGMENT by Ruthanna Emrys
• “Making a Difference” illustrated by Ayham Jabr
• MAKING A DIFFERENCE by Brian Evenson
• “The Recreationist” illustrated by Ayham Jabr 
• THE RECREATIONIST by Kaaron Warren
• “The Blind God’s Game” illustrated by Andrej Kapcar
• THE BLIND GOD’S GAME by Matthew Cheney
• “In the Grove” illustrated by Sofiya Kruglikova
• IN THE GROVE by Erica Ruppert
• “Church of the Void” illustrated by Andrej Kapcar
• CHURCH OF THE VOID by Donald Tyson
• “Upon an Iron Bed, Under the Eyes of Chaos” illustrated by Sofiya
• UPON AN IRON BED, UNDER THE EYES OF CHAOS by Richard Gavin
• “The Root King” illustrated by Sofiya Kruglikova
• THE ROOT KING by Lauri Taneli Lassila
• “The Infinite Beat” illustrated by Andrej Kapcar
• THE INFINITE BEAT by Nathan Carson
• “The Door at 21 Bis Rue Xavier Privas” illustrated by Andrej Kapcar
• THE DOOR AT 21 BIS RUE XAVIER PRIVAS by R. B. Payne
• “An Unusual Pedigree” illustrated by Andrej Kapcar
• AN UNUSUAL PEDIGREE by Richard Thomas
• “Dust-Clotted Eyes” illustrated by Ayham Jabr
• DUST-CLOTTED EYES by Samuel Marzioli
• “The Revelations of Azathoth” illustrated by Sofiya Kruglikova
• THE REVELATIONS OF AZATHOTH by Lena Ng
• “Primordial Jack” illustrated by Sofiya Kruglikova
• PRIMORDIAL JACK by Akis Linardos
• “Respect Your Elders” illustrated by Yves Tourigny
• RESPECT YOUR ELDERS by Adam L. G. Nevill

Look at the TOC! These are names you know, some of your most popular horror voices, and plenty that will be new to you and your patrons.

While that TOC alone is enough for you to add this book, what I really love about all of the anthologies French has edited is that he introduces today's horror readers to the Lovecraftian Gods, allowing us all to see why they are enduringly terrifying, and making sure their horrible human of a creator is paired with a diverse group of today's voices (which I hope is making Lovecraft roll over in his grave).

It is the responsible way to present this man and his work. We cannot ignore that Lovecraft is responsible for creating some of the best horror of the 20th Century. We cannot also ignore that his work has inspired and continues to inspire many of today's authors-- especially many who come from he marginalized communities who Lovecraft actively and publicly expressed his hate for. Take The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle and House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias for example. These are two works that have been nominated for major awards and both actively grapple with Lovecraft's racism in their works.

Thanks to JournalStone I have 2 finished copies that 2 winners will be able to add to their collections. But everyone should check out all three anthologies mentioned in this post and consider adding them to your horror collections.

Good luck!

The giveaway is off next week for Thanksgiving.

31 Days of Horror: Day 24-- Gods of Lovecraft Brett Talley Interview

Welcome to The Gods of Lovecraft blog-a-thon within a blog-a-thon.  From the first post:

Over 9 of the next 10 days I will be featuring 10 of the 12 authors in this collection. Each has answered a series of questions from me about their God, why they picked it, what their favorite scary books are, and more.  It’s very similar to the posts I have been running by authors all month, just with a Lovercraftian spin. Expect each day’s post to bring you a handful of new authors and titles to add to your arsenal of books you can suggest to patrons. 

Next up, Brett Talley. [Brett has been a guest on the blog before.]

Please remember you can also enter for a chance to win one of two copies of The Gods of H.P. Lovecraft by emailing me at zombiegrl75 [at] gmail [dot] com by 10/29 at 11:59pm.

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Who are you? 

My name is Brett J. Talley, and I’m the author of several horror novels, most of which have Lovecraftian overtones. That’s particularly true of my most successful books, That Which Should Not Be and He Who Walks In Shadow.  

Who is your favorite horror author [besides Lovecraft]? 

Manly Wade Wellman. I often say Wellman is Lovecraft with hope. He takes the same fear of the unknown, of the ancient, of that which was and may be again, but he puts a twist on it where a righteous man or woman just might be able to stand against it. And I love that stuff. It’s the same idea that informs my writing, and I’m so glad to have discovered Wellman in recent years.  

Why do you like to write horror? 

I like the magic that we find in horror.  That probably sounds strange, but we live in a world that has lost much of its mystery, and that mystery has been replaced by the cold, calculated, mathematical precision of science.  But there is still magic in horror.  There is still that sense of the unknown.  Humans are explorers, and horror allows us to explore a world that is often far more interesting than our own.  Plus, there is something comforting about horror.  Terrible things happen in the real world, but the answers are never as simple as they are in the world of fiction.  Things are never as black and white, good and evil is never as clearly defined, and there is no guarantee that the good guys are going to win out in the end.  The monsters that my characters face are truly horrible, but they can be defeated.  That's not always true in the real world.   

Which “God” did you focus on in the Anthology? What features of this god do you find most interesting? 

I wrote my story about Tsathoggua, the sleeping god who most resembles a giant toad. I love this guy for a bunch of reasons. First, he’s not Lovecraft’s invention; he’s Clark Ashton Smith’s. But Lovecraft liked him so much he incorporated him into the mythos. That really speaks to the collaborative nature of Lovecraftian fiction, one that is nearly unique in literature. I also love him because the stories of Tsathoggua are usually a little more lighthearted than Lovecraft’s other gods. I always enjoy injecting some humor into the story, and you can really see it in my contribution to the anthology—The Apotheosis of a Rodeo Clown.  

Please share some of the authors you are reading and enjoying now. 

Two guys, one horror and one not. My favorite living horror writer is Ronald Malfi, and I am currently reading his newest book Little Girls. It will be hard to top the last one I read by him, December Park, but it’s good so far. And I’m reading Haruki Murakami, who is obviously not horror, but his style of writing is both beautiful and captivating in a way that can evoke real emotion. We need more of that in horror.  

What other works do you have out now? 

My big current offering is He Who Walks In Shadow, which is the sequel to the Bram Stoker Nominated That Which Should Not Be. It starts immediately after TWSNB ends, with Henry Armitage and Carter Weston’s daughter, Rachel, seeking to understand his disappearance and find the Incendium Maleficarum. That takes them on an adventure around the world, where they are haunted by demons both spiritual and personal.  

What are you working on currently? 

I’m working on a Lovecraftian book set in modern times that centers around the Sons of Dagon, the biker gang featured in Apotheosis of a Rodeo Clown. Keep your eyes out for it next year, hopefully.  

31 Days of Horror: Day 20-- Gods of Lovecraft Aaron French Interview

Welcome to The Gods of Lovecraft blog-a-thon within a blog-a-thon.  From the first post:

Over 9 of the next 10 days I will be featuring 10 of the 12 authors in this collection. Each has answered a series of questions from me about their God, why they picked it, what their favorite scary books are, and more.  It’s very similar to the posts I have been running by authors all month, just with a Lovercraftian spin. Expect each day’s post to bring you a handful of new authors and titles to add to your arsenal of books you can suggest to patrons. 

We begin today with the editor of this collection, Aaron French.

Please remember you can also enter for a chance to win one of two copies of The Gods of H.P. Lovecraft by emailing me at zombiegrl75 [at] gmail [dot] com by 10/29 at 11:59pm.

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

Who are you?

Aaron J. French, editor-in-chief of Dark Discoveries magazine, editor of various other anthologies too, as well the editor of many novels with JournalStone Publishing. I also write my own dark fiction, a blend of supernaturalism, surrealism, and esoteric spirituality—plus some good old fashion straight-up horror thrown in.

Who is your favorite horror author [besides Lovecraft]?

In terms of weird fiction, it’s Arthur Machen. He’s a master and there are no other authors in that subgenre who match him. But I also like Thomas Ligotti, Philip K. Dick, and Stephen King. Oh and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Tanith Lee, and Storm Constantine.

Why do you love horror?

For me, it’s the presence of the supernatural. Slashers and super gory thrillers don’t represent the horror genre to me. The presence of that unknown, “above-nature” encounter with a world beyond the ordinary, with which the characters of the book must grapple, is what I like about horror. It forces readers to remember that the world around them isn’t as it appears to be, that it’s much more mysterious than we as human beings, in our arrogance, believe the world to be when perceived only with our five senses.

Which “God” did you focus on in the Anthology? What drew you to this character?

Well I picked all the gods for the anthology, actually. But I got a lot of help from Donald Tyson, and also a little help from ST Joshi, in making the final decision about which “gods” were to be included. I feel the book has the best representation of Lovecraft’s bestiary.

Please share some of the authors you are reading and enjoying now.

With all the editing I do, I’m fortunate enough to get to read a lot of contemporary authors in the field. At the moment, I’m really digging Laird Barron, Brian Evenson, Elizabeth Hand, Mark Valentine, Richard Gavin, Nnedi Okorafor, and Graham Hancock (GH is writing fiction now).

What other works do you have out now?

At the moment, I have an Omnibus collection of my first two anthologies, Monk Punk and The Shadow of the Unknown, out with Hazardous Press. JournsalStone released my latest anthology, Songs of the Satyrs, all-new tales about mythical satyrs. My single author collection Aberrations of Reality is out from Crowded Quarantine Productions, and it features many of my best tales in the vein of supernaturalism, dark surrealism, and esoteric horror.

What are you working on?

I’m working on a very super-secret new anthology with a colleague of mine, and my novella The Dream Beings will be out in January of 2016 with Samhain Publishing.

31 Days of Horror: Day 16- #LovecraftFridays with Library Journal Continues

This year on 31 Days of Horror I am working in partnership with @ItsNiaMya from Library Journal as we host #LovecraftFridays on Twitter and here on the blog. This is part of the larger Library Journal #LJReads program. Every Friday in October we will be dissecting LOVECRAFT COUNTRY the novel by Matt Ruff and the hit HBO show. We have come up with 4 larger themes and will be taking a deep dive into them each week.

Each Friday in October around 5pm eastern, Nia will post a thread on Library Journal's Twitter to start the larger discussion on the topic. To supplement the discussion, I have prepared some more reading lists and background information to help you put it into a broader context and help your library patrons.

You can engage with the conversation anytime using the #LJReads and #LovecraftFridays hashtags. Pass it on to your patrons and encourage them to participate too.

We also have a live, free, wrap up program planned for 10/30, the final Friday and you can sign up now. by clicking here or on the graphic.

Now it is time for the discussion and this week's topic-- Shoggoth and Other Lovecraftian Creatures.

Today's discussion is focused on giving you, a non-expert audience, a chance to get a primer on the creatures and their larger symbolism in Lovecraft's Universe. These creatures are complex, and there are also a lot of them! They are not only some of Lovecraft's most influential contributions to the entire horror genre, but also, they are still used today by other authors.

As Mary SanGiovanni explained on my interview with her in this month's Library Journal here: 

"Lovecraft's monsters were often described as connected in some way to the sea, and both the sights and sounds of these creatures, as well as the evidence they left behind, were often described in terms often used in relation to the alien aspects of sea creatures."

This is the beginning of her assessment and explanation in the primer SanGiovanni offers us all on the Lovecraftian world of monsters in that piece. Honestly, that primer is all you really need to understand enough about books and/or shows like LOVECRAFT COUNTRY which use the known universe the author created as their starting point.

In today's #LJReads #LovecraftFridays thread and in this post, Nia is going to provide some more background on the monsters, and their symbolism, that appear in the show. She will include pictures and context for many monsters, but clearly, she cannot give us everything. That is where I come in.

For those of you who want or need more, this post is going to give you more context on where to find more information, but overall, I want to make it clear to you, the library worker, you do not need to be an expert on Lovecraftian monsters in order to help fans of the show, book, or even those who are huge Lovecraftians themselves. Like all reference or readers' advisory questions you just need to know where to go to learn more. That's why I am here.

Let's begin with SanGiovanni. She is the Queen of Cosmic Horror. She not only writes in the genre herself, she is a professor so she understands how to teach thee topic to a general audience. You should consider her primer in this month's Library Journal as THE start here place for you to learn about Lovecraft, his influence, and cosmic horror as it stands today. But if you are looking for more, she also hosts a podcast called Cosmic Shenanigans [click here and then click on the podcast link in the top menu]:

Cosmic Shenanigans is a podcast focusing on cosmic horror in films, television, art, games, music, fashion, pop culture, and just about anywhere else our little tentacles can reach. Host Mary SanGiovanni delves into what makes it timelessly relevant and enjoyable, and examines how it permeates so much of modern culture. Further, as a writer of cosmic horror herself, Mary looks at her and others’ roles in the subgenre and in publishing at large, and explores the female perspective toward and within works of cosmic horror.

These are quick episodes that give context to the larger points made in the primer. I enjoy listening to understand how authors apply the subgenre to their work. SanGiovanni is well prepared with detailed notes for each podcast, and she understands that her audience is not as much of an expert as her, and yet she never talks down to us. Worth a subscription and listen when you can or when the topic is something you are interested in.

In terms of books that you can use to learn more about Lovecraft's monsters, I have two very useful resources that put the universe into context and provide modern interpretations. And both have bibliographies that will lead you to more trusted titles if you are so inclined. 

First, is a general overview of the essentials, The New Annotated H.P. Lovecraft edited and annotated by Leslie Klinger with an introduction by Victor LaValle. This book is the perfect introduction to Lovecraft and his work all in one volume. It has everything: key stories, reproductions of original illustrations, and most importantly, a running commentary on everything. Klinger's annotations are insightful and easy to understand. 

Second is a title that I gave a STAR review in the December 15 issue of Booklist, The Gods of H.P. Lovecraft edited by Aaron French. Click here or see below for my review which explains why this book is an essential guide to the monsters of the Lovecraft Universe:

H.P. Lovecraft and his Mythos have seen a resurgences in popularity in the last ten years both in popular media and scholarship, but this collection stands out among the crowd. Editor French selected twelve of the key deities from Lovecraft’s universe and handed them to some of today’s best and most popular dark fiction writers, including New York Time’s Bestselling authors, Jonathan Maberry, Bentley Little, David Liss, Joe Lansdale, Christopher Golden, and Seanan McGuire, with the direction that they should craft a story from their own imagination, in their unique voice, it just needed to feature their assigned god and pay homage to that character’s origin. The result is a book that serves as an excellent introduction to the Mythos for novices who have heard of Lovecraft but may be overwhelmed looking for an entry point, while also being a must read for Lovecraft enthusiasts who will love seeing their beloved cosmic horror deities of the past being reinterpreted by some of their favorite writers of today. Even taken out of the Lovecraftian frame, all twelve stories are solid, scary, and well crafted with plenty to offer readers looking for a post-Halloween fix. Take horror up and comer Douglas Wynne’s story, “Rattled” featuring Yig as an example. At its heart, this is a terrifying story featuring the Father of Serpents, but it is also a moving coming of age tale. This volume also contains original artwork and a commentary on each deity by Lovecraft scholar, Donald Tyson. After each story, Tyson interjects important information about the featured God and its place within Lovecraft’s oeuvre. These essays are particularly compelling as readers encounter each immediately after being immersed in that God’s terrifying world. This is must add for all horror collections. 

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE THIS BOOK: Lovecraft Reimagined, Enlightening, Compelling

The key to this book is that it pairs essays about each creature with a story by a current practitioner of horror, a story that places the creature in a new context, but one that also honors its origins. The essays alone are worth a read. I learned so much from those essays, and I know you will too.

That's it from me this week. Please visit the #LJReads #LovecraftFridays threads and add your voice to our discussion. And before you leave this post, get yourself signed up for our live discussion on 10/30.

31 Days of Horror: Day 29-- God of Lovecraft Jonathan Maberry Interview

Welcome to The Gods of Lovecraft blog-a-thon within a blog-a-thon.  From the first post:

Over 9 of the next 10 days I will be featuring 10 of the 12 authors in this collection. Each has answered a series of questions from me about their God, why they picked it, what their favorite scary books are, and more.  It’s very similar to the posts I have been running by authors all month, just with a Lovercraftian spin. Expect each day’s post to bring you a handful of new authors and titles to add to your arsenal of books you can suggest to patrons. 

Our final author is Jonathan Maberry. Readers of this blog know that I proclaimed Maberry [along with Joe Hill] as the King of 21st Century horror back in 2012 in my book. I went out on a limb by writing that; in fact, I had to defend it to my editors. Thankfully, I was not the only one to see his potential as all he has done every single day since is prove me right. From winning awards, to becoming a full fledged NYT bestselling author, to landing on the cover of Publisher’s Weekly earlier this year, if you do not know Maberry, you do not know horror. Click here to see the many, many times I have written about Maberry and/or reviewed his work.

Please remember you can also enter for a chance to win one of two copies of The Gods of H.P. Lovecraft by emailing me at zombiegrl75 [at] gmail [dot] com by today at 11:59pm.

Tomorrow I will be back to begin the final 2 day wrap up of this year’s 31 Days of Horror.

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Who are you?

I’m Jonathan Maberry, a New York Times bestselling author, comic book writer and anthology editor. I write for a living, having tried other less charming professions like actor in musical theater (as it turns out, you need ‘talent’), bodyguard (got stabbed, chopped with a meat cleaver and run over), bouncer in a strip club (it’s not at all like they show in the movies), and college teacher (grading papers sucks!). I’ve written a couple of dozen novels, a slew of nonfiction books on subjects ranging from women’s self-defense to the folklore of supernatural predators. I’ve also sold poetry, greeting cards, and a couple of experimental plays.

Who is your favorite horror author [besides Lovecraft]?

I’ve been a fan of horror, in all of its many variations, since I was a kid. I started out reading the old EC comics my brother left when he went off to Viet Nam, and then moved into the Warren books, EERIE, CREEPY and VAMPIRELLA. Around the same time I began devouring everything by Richard Matheson, Robert Bloch, and Shirley Jackson. A bit later I got hooked on Stephen King, Graham Masterton, James Herbert, and William Peter Blatty.

I actually got to know a bunch of the top horror writers of the late sixties/early seventies thanks to my middle school librarian, who was secretary for a couple of clubs of pro writers. I met Ray Bradbury and Richard Matheson –and they mentored me for three years. I also met Harlan Ellison, James Blish, L. Sprague De Camp, and a bunch of others. Most of those guys, knowing that I wanted to be a writer, made a point of bringing me shopping bags filled with books –science fiction, fantasy and horror. And it was through L. Sprague De Camp that I first learned of H.P. Lovecraft.

Why do you like to write horror?

Horror allows us to explore the complexities of our minds. We are fearful creatures by nature. We come into the world totally helpless, and much of out life is spent trying to understand life’s mysteries, protect against its threats, and build walls of personal security. Even a guy like me –six-four, built like Bigfoot, and an 8^th degree black belt—feels fear of one kind or another every day. Anyone who says they are totally fearless is either lying or delusional.

So in fiction we get to take our fears and examine them, deconstruct them, play with them, understand them, and even have some fun with them. We get to pose ‘what if’ questions about threats large and small. And we can write that story all the way to a point of closure –and the real world doesn’t always allow that.

This is not to say that horror should always have a tidy ending or a happy resolution. Not at all, but in the process of writing the story we take ownership of it. We control the fearful elements and direct those forces elsewhere.

And, also, let’s face it, we all like to stretch out hand out to the fire or lean a little too close to the tiger’s cage. Fear is also a great stimulant. I didn’t start skydiving because I liked the geographical perspective. I was in it for the adrenaline rush. The thrill. The fear.

Which “God” did you focus on in the Anthology? What features of this god do you find most interesting?

I wrote about the Night Gaunts. They’re sly and creepy, and Lovecraft never really let us climb inside their heads. They are guardian spirits, but they’re also monsters and like most Lovecraftian cosmic beings, not at all to be trusted. Also, one of the first Lovecraft drawings I ever did was of a Night Gaunt. Wish I still had it, but I gave it to a girl a long time ago. I’m sure the fact that she broke up with me a few weeks later had nothing at all to do with it.

Please share some of the authors you are reading and enjoying now.

These days most of my friends are horror or suspense writers, so it’s hard to pick favorites. At the top of my must-have lists are Christopher Golden, Tim Lebbon, Joe McKinney, Weston Ochse, Joe Lansdale, and a slew of others. Horror makes up a huge chunk of my reading list, and any slate of favorites I name will be woefully incomplete.

What other works do you have out now?

Prior to 2006 I was a nonfiction writer, doing a ton of magazine features, columns, reviews, how-to manuals, college textbooks, and mass market nonfic books. My first novel, GHOST ROAD BLUES, debuted in 2006 and was followed by two sequels, DEAD MAN’S SONG and BAD MOON RISING. They were straight horror set in a small Pennsylvania town. Since then I’ve jumped around through different genres. I like the fast-lane and I have a very energetic agent. I write the Joe Ledger thrillers, of which PATIENT ZERO was the first and the recent PREDATOR ONE is the 7^th. I just finished the 8^th and am doing research on the 9^th; and we’re in development for a feature film. I wrote five books of the ROT & RUIN post-apocalyptic zombie series for teens (also slated to be a feature film); two adult zombie novels –DEAD OF NIGHT and FALL OF NIGHT; the novelization of the remake of THE WOLFMAN; and a standalone Steampunk alt-history supernatural western, GHOSTWALKERS, based on the Deadlands role-playing game. I created the V-Wars shared world vampire series, which is in prose and comic book form and is in development for TV. My most recent anthology was THE X-FILES: TRUST NO ONE.

What are you working on currently?

I’m in the busiest phase of my career right now. I’m writing a space travel novel for older teens, and stacked up behind that are several projects including DOGS OF WAR (Joe Ledger #9); a teen bodyguard thriller, WATCH OVER ME; and GLIMPSE, a standalone horror-suspense novel for the mainstream audience. I’m editing several anthologies, including OUT OF TUNE Vol II (stories inspired by classic folk ballads), SCARY OUT THERE (teen horror), V-WARS volumes 4 and 5; and two more volumes of THE X-FILES short stories. I also have several comic book projects in early development. And a board game version of V-WARS debuts this Christmas.

31 Days of Horror: Day 23-- Gods of Lovecraft Christopher Golden and James A. Moore Interview

Welcome to The Gods of Lovecraft blog-a-thon within a blog-a-thon.  From the first post:

Over 9 of the next 10 days I will be featuring 10 of the 12 authors in this collection. Each has answered a series of questions from me about their God, why they picked it, what their favorite scary books are, and more.  It’s very similar to the posts I have been running by authors all month, just with a Lovercraftian spin. Expect each day’s post to bring you a handful of new authors and titles to add to your arsenal of books you can suggest to patrons. 

Next up, the dynamic duo of Christopher Golden and James A. Moore.

Please remember you can also enter for a chance to win one of two copies of The Gods of H.P. Lovecraft by emailing me at zombiegrl75 [at] gmail [dot] com by 10/29 at 11:59pm.

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Who are you?

CG:  New York Times bestselling author Christopher Golden. Novelist, comic book writer, editor, and screenwriter.  Among other things.

JM:  James A. Moore (But call me Jim). I write novels, short stories, novellas and occasionally comic scripts. I've done some editing with more on the way. 

Who is your favorite horror author [besides Lovecraft]?

CG: I’m a King loyalist. I always say his was the narrative voice of my youth, but he’s still my favorite. The list below him is long, of course, and it includes many writers who cross genres on a regular basis, the late Graham Joyce and my friend Tim Lebbon come immediately to mind.

JM: Robert E. Howard, Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe, Joe R. Lansdale, F.Paul Wilson. Oh, wait, you said choose one?

Why do you like to write horror?

CG: Many years ago in an interview in Fangoria, Robert R. McCammon talked about the fact that horror is the most versatile of genres. Within its parameters, you can write about love, hate, sex, vengeance, heartbreak, cowboys, demons, time travel… McCammon didn’t say that bit about cowboys and time travel. I’m elaborating. But you get the point. When I was young, my mother asked me why I didn’t write something “nice.” I said I’d written science fiction stories, western stories, fantasy stories, but somebody always died. Horror fiction gets in the blood. It’s how we face the shadows. Not that we’re less afraid than other people, but we know them more intimately because we’ve spent time exploring there. It eases the mind. 

JM: Why do people like roller coasters? I have an undying love of Halloween and things that go bump in the night. 

Which “God” did you focus on in the Anthology? What features of this god do

you find most interesting?

CG:  I collaborated with James A. Moore on a story about the Mi-Go.  My favorite Lovecraft stories always have people poking around where they don’t belong, often getting the attention of things whose attention they really do not want.  There’ s a certain desperation inherent in the mythos about the Mi-Go, an element of obsession in the humans who seek them or run across them.  Lovecraft was always great with that sort of thing.

JM: I also love them because, they're more driven than most of Lovecraft's critters. They have an actual agenda aside from sleeping for a few Aeons. But, as Chris said, they're a creature a person has a chance against, however slim.

Please share some of the authors you are reading and enjoying now.

CG:  I’m currently reading the brand new, yet to be published novel by Rio Youers, who I think is absolutely one of the most talented writers that most people have never read. Similarly, I recently read Bracken MacLeod’s upcoming horror thriller STRANDED, which is his first full-length novel and is terrific. And Paul Tremblay’s A HEAD FULL OF GHOSTS is brilliant.

JM: I'm also a big fan of Tremblay's A HEAD FULL OF GHOSTS, and I'm currently reading THE BIG BOOK OF GHOST STORIES edited by Otto Penzler, which has a wide array of chilling tales. Lately I'm on a ghost kick. 

What other works do you have out now?

CG:  My new horror novel, DEAD RINGERS, will be out in November.  Right before that, in October, my new anthology SEIZE THE NIGHT will be out. It’s the best anthology I’ve edited.  The list of contributors alone should convince horror readers to pick it up.

JM: My novel CITY OF WONDERS (book three in the SEVEN FORGES series) is out in November. I've got novellas coming out in the latest SNAFU anthology and BLURRING THE LINES another anthology that should be fun.

What are you working on currently?

CG:  A screenplay for an existing film franchise that I can’t mention, and a new horror thriller for St. Martin’s Press called ARARAT.

JM: The fourth and final novel in the SEVEN FORGES series, THE SILENT ARMY, and a mosaic novel called INDIGO. 

31 Days of Horror: Day 28-- Gods of Lovecraft Rachel Caine Interview

Welcome to The Gods of Lovecraft blog-a-thon within a blog-a-thon.  From the first post:

Over 9 of the next 10 days I will be featuring 10 of the 12 authors in this collection. Each has answered a series of questions from me about their God, why they picked it, what their favorite scary books are, and more.  It’s very similar to the posts I have been running by authors all month, just with a Lovercraftian spin. Expect each day’s post to bring you a handful of new authors and titles to add to your arsenal of books you can suggest to patrons. 

Next up, Rachel Caine. I particularly like who answer to the question “Why do you like to write horror?” 

Please remember you can also enter for a chance to win one of two copies of The Gods of H.P. Lovecraft by emailing me at zombiegrl75 [at] gmail [dot] com by 10/29 at 11:59pm.

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Who are you?

Rachel Caine, author of about 45 novels and many short stories. My principal series include #1 internationally bestselling Morganville Vampires series in young adult and the Weather Warden series in urban fantasy. I'm a longtime lover of horror fiction who grew up reading the classics of the genre, and got a lot of worried looks for reading Stephen King when I was ... uh, 12. If you need the boring details, you can find me at the following places:

www.rachelcaine.com

www.enterthelibrary.com

@rachelcaine on Twitter

rachelcainefanpage on Facebook

Who is your favorite horror writer (besides Lovecraft)?

I have a lot of favorites, but I'd probably point to Shirley Jackson for her unsettling, beautiful style and quiet, creeping darkness. On the flip side, Robert McCammon is also one of my favorites, as is Joe Lansdale. Both seriously underappreciated in this country, I think.

Why do you like to write horror?

It's an uniquely intense experience. Horror is a claustrophobic literary experience--one where as a writer I feel just as trapped as the characters, just as unable to escape. Horror stays with me long after I finish a story. There's also an element of control that appeals to me; we have no control over the horrible things that happen in the world, for the most part. We can control every detail of our fiction, and make the incomprehensible into something approachable.

Which "God" did you focus on in the Anthology? What features of this god do you find most interesting?

I wrote about The Great Race, which is a story that always haunted me since I first read it. The revulsion and horror Lovecraft's character Peaslee experiences on being transported into the body of one of the Great Race, while the alien roams the earth in his own form, is very real ... and yet, as observers in the story we can also see that it's amazing. The aliens aren't cruel ... just alien. The real terror is something that even The Great Race fears. Aliens who can run anywhere in the universe in space and time, and hide in many lifeforms, are scared of something worse. That, in itself, is a huge story.

Please share some of the authors you are reading and enjoying now.

So much! It's a great time for books, whatever flavor you prefer. I think horror is making a strong comeback, and you can find it in young adult aisles as well ... check out HIT by Delilah Dawson, SLICE OF CHERRY by Dia Reeves, I HUNT KILLERS by Barry Lyga, THE NATURALS by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I recently really loved SWERVE by Vicki Pettersson, which nicely walks the line between thriller and horror. And, always, Joe Hill.

What other works do you have out now?

My most recently book, INK AND BONE, launched in July. It's a world in which the Great Library of Alexandria never burned, and now it's illegal to own personal books. My main character, Jess, is the son of a book smuggler. Lots of elements of SF and horror in it, as well as fantasy. I'm also honored to be included in several anthologies coming out this year and next.

What are you working on currently?

I'm at work on the second book of my Great Library series, PAPER AND FIRE. I also just turned in stories for 3 anthologies this month, including Jonathan Maberry's second volume of X-FILES: THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE.

31 Days of Horror: Day 26-- Gods of Lovecraft Douglas Wynne Interview

Welcome to The Gods of Lovecraft blog-a-thon within a blog-a-thon.  From the first post:

Over 9 of the next 10 days I will be featuring 10 of the 12 authors in this collection. Each has answered a series of questions from me about their God, why they picked it, what their favorite scary books are, and more.  It’s very similar to the posts I have been running by authors all month, just with a Lovercraftian spin. Expect each day’s post to bring you a handful of new authors and titles to add to your arsenal of books you can suggest to patrons. 

Next up, Douglas Wynne. [Click here for reviews of other books by Wynne and his previous guest post on the blog.]

Please remember you can also enter for a chance to win one of two copies of The Gods of H.P. Lovecraft by emailing me at zombiegrl75 [at] gmail [dot] com by 10/29 at 11:59pm.

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Who are you?

I’ve been trying to figure that one out for a while now. According to Buddha I'm a continuity of consciousness arising from an endless chain of causes and conditions. I’m also Douglas Wynne: writer, musician, husband and father, and a guy who likes loud guitars, cake, and microbrew beer. 

Who is your favorite horror author [besides Lovecraft]? 
It's hard to pick only one, but if I must: Clive Barker.

Why do you like to write horror?
Horror is more of an emotional tone than a genre, so it feels more wide open to me than the other labels you can put on a book. Under the banner of horror I can dabble in fantasy, SF, crime and suspense with as much or as little supernatural and sexual content as is fitting for the story at hand. It can also be a very literary genre. Horror is generally gritty and realistic and preoccupied with questions of the nature of reality and an urgent sense of mortality. Where else can you get all that? 

Which “God” did you focus on in the Anthology? What features of this god do you find most interesting?
Yig, the Father of Serpents. I like the folkloric aspect of the curse of Yig, but there are a lot of stories you could tell from that jumping off point. A reader at a signing event  recently told me that she thought theme anthologies were the work of the devil because  writing is art and you should be able to write whatever you want. I fully agree with the  importance of striving for originality and trying to make genre elements our own. But  thinking about it after the fact, I wished I had told her that the execution is far more  important than the premise, and you can always make a story uniquely your own in the  execution. I tried to do that with "Rattled". Sure, it's a horror story about a snake god,  but it's really about the distance a boy feels when his best friend is growing up faster  than he is. It's about coming of age and finding your tribe.

Please share some of the authors you are reading and enjoying now.
I loved Paul Tremblay's A Head Full of Ghosts. I'm also currently reading Charles  Stross's Laundry Files books and revisiting Ray Bradbury and Shirley Jackson.

What other works do you have out now?
My latest book is Red Equinox, a Lovecraftian urban thriller. My other novels are The  Devil of Echo Lake and Steel Breeze. 
 
What are you working on currently? 
I've finally cleared my calendar of all other deadlines and am starting work on the next book in the SPECTRA series, the sequel to Red Equinox. I'm going for a quieter, creepier tone with this one. Should be fun.  

31 Days of Horror: Day 25-- Gods of Lovecraft David Liss Interview

Welcome to The Gods of Lovecraft blog-a-thon within a blog-a-thon.  From the first post:

Over 9 of the next 10 days I will be featuring 10 of the 12 authors in this collection. Each has answered a series of questions from me about their God, why they picked it, what their favorite scary books are, and more.  It’s very similar to the posts I have been running by authors all month, just with a Lovercraftian spin. Expect each day’s post to bring you a handful of new authors and titles to add to your arsenal of books you can suggest to patrons. 

Next up, David Liss [Yes that David Liss. The one who you librarians know as a historical thriller writer; well he also writes horror.]

Please remember you can also enter for a chance to win one of two copies of The Gods of H.P. Lovecraft by emailing me at zombiegrl75 [at] gmail [dot] com by 10/29 at 11:59pm.

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Who are you?
David Liss, writer of historical fiction by day, writer of horror, comics, dark fantasy, and  science fiction by night.
 
Who is your favorite horror author [besides Lovecraft]?
Joe McKinney

Why do you like to write horror?
I grew up reading a lot of horror.  It was probably 50% of what I tore through in middle  and high school.  As an adult, and as a professional writer, I think a lot about what I liked about it at the time and what I liked about it now.  For me, all good fiction is character  driven fiction, and horror is a great vehicle for putting characters to the test and \ exposing them to the most extreme and unsolvable of situations. Horror is like  mainstream fiction on steroids.  
 
Which “God” did you focus on in the Anthology? What features of this god do  you find most interesting?
I opted for Shub-Niggorath, the black goat of the woods with a thousand young, for two

reasons.  First, because how can you say no to a sobriquet like that?  Secondly,  because she is referenced in several Lovecraft stories, but only obliquely.  We actually  know virtually nothing about Shub-Niggorath, so I thought that writing about her would  give me a lot of wiggle room.  I could make her just about anything I wanted.
 
Please share some of the authors you are reading and enjoying now.
I'm a huge fan of style and character driven writers who have a strong command of craft but who also don't shy away from genre conventions.  Some of my favorites are David Mitchell, Haruki Murakami, and Michel Faber.
 
What other works do you have out now?
I currently have nine novels out, most recently Randoms, a self-referential science fiction novel for middle grade readers.  I also have multiple comic book trade paperback  collections out.
 
What are you working on currently?
I'm currently working on the sequel to Randoms as well as my next book for adults, a  work of historical fantasy.

New Book Bonus Annotations: Chapter 12: Lovecraftian and Cosmic Horror

When I was writing the Third Edition of the Readers' Advisory Guide to Horror, I originally had over 20 annotated choices per subgenre appearing in chapter 4-13. However, for word count sake, I had to reduce each lists to a well packaged dozen. Obviously making the cuts was hard, but I was able to include the tittles of those deleted annotations in an appendix at the end of the book with a promise that the annotations would run here on the blog.

And that promise begins today. Each list will be posted on the blog over a series of 10 weeks, every Tuesday, beginning June 1, 2021 and running through August 3, 2021. This weekly series will serve to promote the book's upcoming release in August of 2021, but I have also created an archive of all of the lists that will live here. That page is the official index of this bonus content.

In the book, my top three choices in each list are marked to denote Becky's Picks. I will also do that in these lists to give you a place to begin as you suggest. Just like the titles in the print book, every title appearing here is a great options for all public libraries. You can use these lists for collection development, displays, lists, and suggestions. Each subgenre has an essay discussing its history and appeal in the book which you can order here. 

Bonus Annotations

Chapter 12: Lovecraftian and Cosmic Horror*

[+] Denotes Becky’s Picks

Baker, Jacqueline. Broken Hours: A Novel of H.P. Lovecraft. 2016.

 

It’s 1836 and Arthor Crandle is offered a job to be an assistant to a reclusive author in Providence, RI. Crandle has no idea what he is getting himself into, but readers will know right away due to the setting and novel’s subtitle. What follows is a story of Crandle’s odd experiences including nightmares, strange happenings, and even tentacles all of which are now a part of his everyday experience. This is a story that is more focused on recreating the atmosphere and tone of a Lovecraft novel and less interested in crafting terror. There are also basic Lovecraft biographical details sprinkled in amidst the weirdness. A great choice for Lovecraft novices who want to understand both the man and this subgenre.

Campbell, Ramsey. Thirteen Days by Sunset Beach. 2015.

Most of Campbell’s work tends to fall within this subgenre and this is a recent example of how Lovecraftian horror manifests itself in our modern world. Three generations of a family head to a Greek Island for a vacation. The grandparents are hiding a dark secret, but the island itself is holding onto an even darker one. A secret that is slowly infiltrating itself into the family, and it might not ever let go. A terrifying story that is all about the oppressive atmosphere, the details piling up on top of one and other, pressing down on the characters and the reader. Another recent option is The Searching Dead, the first book in a new autobiographical, Lovecraftian trilogy. 

Cantero, Edgar. Meddling Kids. 2017.

Scooby Doo meets H.P. Lovecraft as four kids and their dog spent the summer of 1977 solving a series of mysteries. But 13 years later, one of those mysteries, involving a lake monster, draws these now troubled and aimless adults back, and the truth is way more sinister and dangerous than they ever realized. Mixing fast paced horror action with a witty tone, this is a quirky and nostalgic tale, filled with monsters, ghosts, and extremely likable protagonists. 

Emrys, Ruthanna. Winter Tide. 2017.

This, the first book in the Innsmouth Legacy alternative history series mixes details from the Cthulhu Mythos with the Cold War paranoia through a Jewish lens. It’s 1948 and Aphra and Caleb are the only two survivors from the massacre and internment of the “Deep Ones,” a species of humans who lived in the sea and worshipped the Cthulhu elders. The FBI recruits them to reconnect with their spiritual culture to help fight the Russians who have harnessed some of their people’s supernatural powers. While this series is in direct conversation and debate with Lovecraft’s “The Shadow Over Innsmouth,” Emrys has created her own world that will appeal to fans of dark fantasy, cosmic horror, and even spy thrillers. Deep Roots is the sequel

Johnson, Kij.  The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe. 2016.

Dramatic and lyrical, this novella is set at a prestigious women’s college where the eponymous professor must go on a quest through the Dreamlands to rescue a star pupil. Inhabited by elder gods, the land is beguilingly beautiful and terrifyingly dangerous. Boe’s adventure is two-fold: to save her student and come to terms with her own life choices as she traverses a landscape that will enthrall readers, captivating those new to the subgenre with wonder and roping in experts with places straight out of  the Lovecraft cannon.

Keene, Brian. Darkness on the Edge of Town. 2008.

The residents of a small Virginia town wake up to find that they are cut off from the outside world. It is just gone. There is nothing but impenetrable darkness surrounding them with no way for others to get in, or they to get out. The story follows the citizens as it explores their isolation and varying reactions as darkness permeates their lives and the entire tone of the book. Action and character development work hand in hand to create an unsettling, richly detailed story of survival in the face of unknown supernatural forces that easily eclipse human civilization. 

Kenemore, Scott. Lake of Darkness. 2020.

Click here for my review in ALA Booklist. I added this one to the book's appendix at the last minute.

Kepnes, Caroline. Providence. 2018.

John, an odd kid, disappears. His best friend Chloe holds onto the hope that he will be found, and four years later, he is, but he may not be the same boy she knew. He wakes up with no memory of what happened after his teacher kidnapped him. He also has new powers, powers he doesn’t quite understand, powers that cause others harm just by being near him, powers that might be explained by a Lovecraft book. A move to Providence, RI, a series of strange murders, lead John, Chloe, and the detective on the case on a journey to find answers. A compelling, haunting, and suspenseful cosmic horror-thriller hybrid that is a great option for introducing the trendy subgenre and its themes to a wider audience.

+Klinger, Leslie, ed. The New Annotated HP Lovecraft. 2014.

Renewed interest in Lovecraft has drawn readers to his stories, but given the problematic nature of his beliefs it is important to provide the right edition. Award winning editor has multiple volumes collecting the cosmic horror master’s stories which he extensively annotates providing insight, context, and details to enhance the experience of reading Lovecraft in the 21st Century. This particular volume includes both an introduction by Victor LaValle and an annotated version of “The Horror at Red Hook,” the story that LaValle used to frame The Ballad of Black Tom.

Liu, Marjorie M. Monstress series. 2016.

Set in a lavishly rendered, art deco inspired, steampunk world, of an alternate early 1900s, matriarchal Asia, readers follow the strong but flawed teenager, Maika Halfwolf, as she struggles to discover her personal history in the aftermath of war, how she is connected to a monster, and what this discovery means for the world, both human and supernatural. Over multiple compiled volumes of this popular and critically acclaimed  graphic novel series, Maika goes through dramatic, emotionally resonant, and violent adventures framed by well-trod cosmic horror themes and tropes.

+Miller, Sam J. The Blade Between. 2020.

Ronan had to leave small, blue collar hometown of Hudson, NY in order to safely live as a gay man and pursue his career as a photographer, but now returns to care for his dying father. However, to his surprise,  the town has been completely transformed into a hip retreat for wealthy city dwellers. Reconnecting with his first love, Dom, a police office and his community organizer wife, Attalah, Ronan begins to realize that their fight against gentrification is complicated by a supernatural power buried in the land itself, a menace that doesn’t see humanity as a significant obstacle, a terror that might be on their side this time, but is not under their control. Intense dread and unsettling unease permeates this Lovecraftian tale from the very first lines while the issue oriented small town horror tropes keep the cosmic plot grounded enough for subgenre novices to easily follow along.

+Piper, Hailey. The Worm and His Kings. 2020.

It’s 1990 in New York City and Monique’s girlfriend, Donna, has simply vanished. After hearing of the disappearances of other women who, like themselves, live on the fringes of mainstream society, Piper learns that Donna might not be the victim of a human monster. Rather a crack underground has opened a wormhole, a portal to a cult world where strange, dangerous creatures rule, creatures that may have Donna in their talons. Piper must take the plunge to save Donna, but is her mind ready for what she will find hidden just below the surface? Both an exploration of the holes in our modern social services that force many into poverty and a fun, cosmic adventure through multiple, mind-bending, dimensions set in an original and wholly new mythos with obvious Lovecraftian roots, this novel announces Piper as an emerging voice in the horror community that cannot be overlooked.

Snyder, Lucy. Garden of Eldritch Delights. 2018.

One of Snyder's numerous story collections, this one contains 12 tales that are unapologetically Lovecraftian and feminist; fact, many of the stories make obvious nods to Lovecraft and his peers, ones that you don’t need to “get” in order enjoy this volume. A woman wakes up realizing that her girlfriend has ripped her heart out of her chest, a fresh take on the vampire trope, and revenge against a rapist are example plots of these tales featuring inclusive characters in original and shocking cosmic horror situations. In general Snyder’s story collections are reliable, sure bets in this subgenre.

Wong, David. What the Hell Did I Just Read?: A Novel of Cosmic Horror. 2017.

Combining his trademark comic horror tone with Lovecraftian elements, Wong bring in the characters from his previous novels to send them on another gruesome, intricately plotted, dangerous adventure that uses all of the tropes of cosmic horror to create the satisfying emotions of fear that horror fans crave while at the same time actively satirizing both the subgenre and the absurdity of modern life. Readers need not be familiar with Wong’s previous novels to enjoy this one in all of its weird and psychologically terrifying glory. 

*This chapter also relies on a longer essay that Mary SanGiovanni wrote for me in the October 2020 issue of Library Journal which you can find here.