In a few weeks, the Australasian Horror Writers Association will release the latest issue of its magazine, Midnight Echo – issue 17.

I’ve had stories and artwork in Midnight Echo before, but this is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to guest-edit an issue.

Being a writer and being an editor are two very different beasts. You have your own ideas of what you want, but ultimately you are driven by the authors. I received dozens of submissions for the issue, but I only ended up choosing 13 stories – by 13 authors who genuinely moved me.

In Midnight Echo 17 you’ll find stories of deception, superstition, self-discovery, torment, grief, addiction, and survival. Most of all you’ll read works that show how horror can unveil the many layers of humanity – both good and bad. Included are two exceptional tales which won last year’s AHWA Robert N Stephenson Short and Flash Fiction Competition.

I want to congratulate and thank all the authors for their stories because, in the end, it’s about you and your tales. I also want to thank the AHWA for allowing me to put the issue together.

Midnight Echo 17, which will be published on August 20, is available to pre-order NOW. I hope you’ll give it a whirl.