We’ve now selected the stories for The Alchemy Press Book of Horrors 3.
We have contacted everybody who sent us a submission, as far as we know. If you haven’t heard from us we grovel apologies; please drop us an email.
I’ll post the table of contents shortly.
The submissions’ window for The Alchemy Press Book of Horrors 3 is now closed. We extended it long enough to capture all those living on Pacific islands who might wish to submit something. Actually, no one from such an island sent us a story but we did receive manuscripts from the USA before noon on 1st February, so they made it okay. Everyone who submitted a story should have received an acknowledgment – let us know if you’ve not heard from us.
We have received over 350 submissions! That’s many more than we anticipated. The proposed anthology will have around a dozen stories, maybe a few more. That means there will be a lot of disappointed writers. Judging by the submissions, the quality of stories in Horrors 3 will be high. Which is of course a good thing.
We have already started reading submissions and are shortlisting those for a further re-read. We aim to start letting people know of our decisions in four-six weeks. Please be patient.
There are twenty more days before the submission window for The Alchemy Press Book of Horrors 3: A Miscellany of Monsters closes. See here for more details.
Although humans can do monstrous things, they are not the type of monsters we are looking for.
The year 2020 has been a bad time for all of us. Now Christmas is approaching fast. A number of vaccines are promised — perhaps the best Christmas gift. So, wishes for all and let’s hope things return to some kind of normal in 2021.
The Alchemy Press’ Jan Edwards — co-editor of The Alchemy Press Book of Horrors volumes 1 and 2 — has a new novel out: Listed Dead.
Claude Naysmith’s fatal car crash occurs on the borders of the Perringham Estate and Bunch Courtney can hardly avoid being drawn into events. When the body of Penelope James is found just a few miles away, clutching a list of names that includes both herself and Naysmith, Bunch and Wright are left wondering. Could this be a hit list? Is it sheer coincidence? Since neither Bunch nor DCI Wright believe in coincidences they must throw their combined efforts into the investigation before any more of those names wind up on the mortuary slab.
For further information pop over to the Listed Dead page at The Penkhull Press.
THE ALCHEMY PRESS BOOK OF HORRORS 3: A MISCELLANY OF MONSTERS
Monsters are many things. They come in all forms, shapes and sizes: from to the tiny to the titanic; from amorphous blobs to many limbed (or tentacled) monstrosities; from supernatural demons to man-made terrors. They come from any place and time: from under the bed to the woodshed; from the icy wastes to the darkest jungles; from the depths of the ocean to outer space; from the past, the future, the now!
Many things. Any things.
We are looking for stories featuring monsters for The Alchemy Press Book of Horrors 3: A Miscellany of Monsters to be edited by Peter Coleborn and Jan Edwards. To get a flavour of the type of writing we prefer, we suggest you check out volumes 1 and 2 of the series, available in print and eBook formats from Amazon and other sellers.
Check the above link for further details.
The thirty-nine steps books
Two novellas are now available from The Alchemy Press:
A Small Thing for Yolanda by Jan Edwards
The Métro Murder is one of the most famous unsolved crimes of the 1930s. Who was Laetitia Toureaux? What were her links within the murky world of spies and secret political movements? All of those things remain shrouded in mystery, despite the fact that her movements on her final day are well documented. How was she stabbed to death in an apparently empty Métro carriage? And by whom? A Small Thing for Yolanda offers one potential solution.
Les Vacances by Phil Sloman
Monasteries rising and falling. Heretics and stakes and fire. There were rebellions and revolution and tales of abundance and happiness and new beginnings. Within the book there were also lies and omissions and fallacies all designed to gloss over a dark past many had long forgotten. Many but not all. The vacation of a lifetime.
Both novellas are available in print and eBook formats (Kindle, Kobo, Apple).
Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus pandemic there appears to be issues with the books appearing as in-stock on sites such as Amazon. Also, the prices may be incorrect. Both should be £5.99 each (print) and 99p as an eBook.
Tonight at 7.00 p.m. (UK time) we launch two new books, Talking to Strangers and Other Warnings by Tina Rath and The Alchemy Press Book of Horrors 2 edited by Peter Coleborn and Jan Edwards. Because of the covid-19 lock-down it is an online launch on Facebook.
Tina Rath’s twenty-plus tales exhibit an innate sense of structure that allows for a satisfying conclusion – and often a sting in the tail. These are unashamedly entertaining stories, dark fantasy with a touch of humour, that display a deftness of touch inviting us to enjoy the words on the page. They don’t outstay their welcome or labour their points because they don’t need to – Tina Rath knows how a story works. And they work well. Very well indeed. With an introduction by Gail-Nina Anderson.
Strange stories and weird tales and all of the creeping horrors in between. Horrors 2 features seventeen fabulous writers, including Sarah Ash, Paul Finch, John Grant, Nancy Kilpatrick, Garry Kilworth, Samantha Lee … to lead you on a spine-tingling tour from seaside towns to grimy cities, to the lonely and secret places, from the fourteenth precinct to Namibia … and so many places in between.
We’ll also be showcasing two novellas due at the end of April: Les Vacances by Phil Sloman and A Small Thing for Yolanda by Jan Edwards.
Join us on Facebook here for the event and quiz — there will be prizes!
