Ken Pelham

"A fascinating account into a fascinating subject!" -Steve Berry From BEOWULF to THE TIME MACHINE to HARRY POTTER, an entertaining and provocative look at fiction genres, how they shift and grow, and how they change us and our world, often in profound and unexpected ways. Storytelling has bonded humanity with shared lore and lessons since prehistory. How did our favorite tales of mystery and imagination come to be? Were the authors hatched in airtight vacuums? For the most part, no. All good writers are good borrowers first. Gillian Flynn borrowed from Daphne du Maurier. Albert Camus borrowed from James M. Cain. Stephen King borrowed from Sheridan Le Fanu. Wars, disasters, plagues, and technological breakthroughs have shaped stories, and in turn, many genre stories, both good and bad, have shaped human societies.How did a volcanic blast affect all popular culture to follow? How did a mystery writer invent modern police detection? How did an Edgar Allan Poe story of treasure hunting help win two world wars decades after his death? How did a novel about peace kickstart the atomic bomb? The connections are endless. GUMSHOES, FANGS, ROCKETS, & SPIES digs deep to tease out these connections, and to celebrate the world of writers and writing.

How Literary Genres Evolve and Change Our World

Gumshoes, Fangs, Rockets, & Spies

Jade Kerrion

Elle Andrews Patt

Bria Burton

Charles A. Cornell

John Hope

Veronica H. Hart

Kristin Durfee

Delve into the world of classic art with the Masters Reimagined writers as they twist a bit of otherworldly into these speculative tales involving well-known master works. From the Ferryman himself, learn the truth behind the Winged Athena in "Upon the River Styx". Follow a Norwegian detective as he investigates an antiques dealer with an unusual gift in "The Scream". In "The Medusa Jump" meet a man from the future as he relives his harrowing adventure in the past, then time travel with a young philosophy student to an untimely meet with Socrates in "Oil and Hemlock". Dive into demonic possession alongside young St. Augustine in "Soul For A Soul". In "The Eyes of Mona Lisa", join a twenty-something as she seeks out visions and a connection to her past. Rescue survivors from the Thames as a body-swapping twelve-year old in "Storey's Orphans" and then trip through the light fantastic as Franz Marc goes spirit-walking in "Among The Blue Horses".

A Speculative Fiction Anthology

The Masters Reimagined 2

Daco Auffenorde

Kay Kendall

CIA operative Jordan Jakes meets Prometheus when the Secretary of State becomes the target of a terrorist attack at a head-of-state dinner in Dubai. Visit Daco at www.authordaco.com

The Prometheus Saga

The Pisces Affair

Chris Lynch

Bryan Cassiday

Daniel Russell

Antonio Simon, Jr.

Reed W. Huston

Barnaby King

Steven Samuel Stafford

Justin Cawthorne

Kelson Hargis

Volume of two this award-winning series emerges from the shadows with a fresh crop of extreme horror. This collection of ten stories features authors from all over the globe for an international perspective on fear. Take care as you reach into these dark places, for the things here bite, and you may withdraw a hand short of a few fingers. Toll Road, by Antonio Simon, Jr. —A professional kidnapper gets more than he bargained for when his latest abduction leads to terrifying supernatural encounters on the Florida Turnpike. Boxed, by Bryan Cassiday —A group of strangers trapped in an elevator run short of time and bullets as they attempt to discover who among them is infected with a deadly plague. A Murder of Crows, by Reed W. Huston —Daniel, Rebecca, and their cat Southpaw have just moved into a new home, and the local wildlife is not happy to receive them. It’s more than coincidental that a group of crows is called a murder… We All Ate The White Flesh, by Chris Lynch —In the depths of a harsh winter, a starving family unearths a massive turnip and unexpected horrors. The Lonely Man, by Barnaby King —Thomas’s investigation into an idyllic English village uncovers the tragic story of two young lovers, and the ghastly secret the villagers thought they’d left buried in the past. The Queen Beneath The Earth, by Ken Pelham —Charles Bonham knows better than anyone that grave-robbing is a lucrative business. While in Ireland to ply his trade, he learns that some secrets are better left buried. Dear Sir, by Steven Samuel Stafford —Two field medics on the Western Front race against time to fulfill a soldier’s dying wish and stop an unspeakable horror. Colder Still, by Justin Cawthorne —A relic from John’s past holds a portentous future for his son and the secret to a fatal gypsy curse. Quarry Lake, by Kelson Hargis —Ghosts have beset Whit ever since his kid brother drowned. Whit is determined to plumb the secrets of Quarry Lake, but at what cost? God May Pity All Weak Hearts, by Daniel Russell —Something dreadful lives within the walls of Dr. Crippen’s home. More dreadful still is what it has in common with him.

Ten Terrifying Tales of Horror And Suspense

Shadows And Teeth, Volume 2

Michael Sears

William Burton McCormick

Robert Rotstein

Parker Francis

Melanie Terry Griffey

M.J. Carlson

The twelve stories comprising In Shadows Written: An Anthology of Modern Horror takes us into the hearts and minds of thirteen award-winning authors. Explore the wide reach of horror fiction of the early 21st century. “Familiar” by Ken Pelham. Is it research or witchcraft? Science or magic? A young Bostonian discovers the connection between her disintegrating marriage and a mysterious accident on the dark wet highway to Salem. “The Legend of Johnny Bell” by Elle Andrews Patt. Ah, Johnny Bell. His heart is in the right place, but he’s not the sharpest machete in the zombie apocalypse. Finally, an author has found a good use for Pomeranians. “The Antiquary’s Wife” by William Burton McCormick. Folk legend, prejudice, and suspicion haunt a young American couple traveling the Ukrainian countryside of the 19th century. This novelette was a Finalist for the prestigious Derringer Award. “Kev” by Michael Sears. Two boys out on a late-night lark, looking for thrills, a little breaking and entering. You take into account the things that could go wrong but forget that the world has real-life flesh and blood monsters among its vast web of living things. “Insecurity Complex” by Jade Kerrion. What’s a self-respecting ghost to do when everyone is so over-entertained with their gadgets and personal electronics? Short, sweet, and funny. Winner of the Royal Palm Literary Award. “A Dream Within A Dream” by Bria Burton. Our memories and realities are shaped by that which we need to be true. A young girl struggles through family tragedy in this haunting story inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. “Texting April” by Parker Francis. Consumer electronics puts a horrifying spin on the traditional ghost story. Text messages will never be the same. Winner of the Royal Palm Literary Award. “Gabriel” by Melanie Terry Griffey. We’ve all brought home a stray at one time or another, and loved that poor beast as if it were family. Not all strays are what they seem. Winner of the 2010 Flights of Fantasy award. “The Alexandrite Necklace” by Daco Auffenorde and Robert Rotstein. Vanity, jealousy, and jewelry to die for steer a Hollywood actress on an upward career arc. But every arc must ultimately reach a zenith. A modern retelling of Guy de Maupassant’s “The Necklace.” “Beating Cats” by John Hope. Addiction preys upon innocence in this dark, disturbing tour of the human psyche, the monsters within us, and the slide into depravity. “Three Two One, Wake Up” by M.J. Carlson. Science fiction in the tradition of Philip K. Dick meets horror in the tradition of Jack Finney and H.P. Lovecraft. Are your friends and neighbors really who you think? Are you better off not knowing? “Die Fabrik (The Factory)” by Charles A. Cornell. In a dieselpunk vision of Nazi Germany, weapons research and genocide become one in a nightmarish, secret factory in this novella.

An Anthology of Modern Horror

In Shadows Written

Bard Constantine

MJ Carlson

Doug Dandridge 

We are not alone. The Prometheus Probe is a human by design and sent by an advanced alien civilization. Prometheus's mission is to report on the development of intelligent life on Earth. It looks human. It walks among us, watches us, and learns from us, without exposing its secret. Through the ages, Prometheus's artificial eyes have observed humanity at its best and its worst. It has seen us rise to challenges and fall into hubris, risk all for the sake of others, and commit unspeakable atrocities. The Probe observes the human condition and reports its findings to its creator. And sometimes, it acts. THE PROMETHEUS SAGA is an anthology, thirteen speculative stories that explore what it means to be human. Florida Writers Association's Royal Palm Literary Awards: "Lilith," by Antonio Simon, Jr., won 1st Place for Published Short Story. "The Pisces Affair," by Daco Auffenorde, won 3rd Place for Published Short Story. "Manteo," by Elle Andrews Patt, won 3rd Place for Published Novella. "The Strange Case of Lord Byron's Lover," by Parker Francis, won 1st Place in General Category, and was also 1st Runnerup for Published Book of the Year.

A Science Fiction Anthology

Ken Pelham

Books

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