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HELL IN HER WAKE AND OTHER TWISTED VISIONS!

I’m excited to reveal that US-based Weird House Press will publish a brand new signed and lettered deluxe hardcover edition with slipcase collection of some of my fiction and art – just in time for Halloween!

HELL IN HER WAKE AND OTHER TWISTED VISIONS will feature the brand new title novella, three new stories and a selection of some previously published stories, including the 2019 Bram Stoker Award-nominated tale, “The Book of Last Words” and “The Yellow House”. The collection will also feature 9 original full colour illustrations based on the novella and some of the stories, by yours truly.

The special edition of HELL IN HER WAKE AND OTHER TWISTED VISIONS is available to preorder now! Get in quick, cause there’s only 26 copies!

Paperback and digital formats will follow soon.

I want to thank publisher Joe Morey and my editor James Chambers for having faith in me and this project. Also a huge thanks to Cesar Puch for his incredible design work on the book, making my cover art shine even brighter.

Here’s a synopsis for the title novella:

For twenty years, Selena Kolbe has lived a double-life as Stephanie.

When she was seventeen she fled her dark and depraved childhood in the woods to save herself from unimaginable horrors. Now, having a new life with her husband Luke and their daughter, Gemma, Selena feels safety and love, sound in the knowledge her satanic past will never catch up with her.

But when blood magic allows Selena’s mother to track her down, her worst fears come to pass. Ravenous hellhounds arrive on her family’s doorstep and take Gemma away, leaving Selena with no choice but to reignite the dark powers she’s hidden for so long and face her vile kin once more.

Selena will sacrifice everything to get Gemma back – even her own soul.

Initially, this was going to be a straight up occult action story but in the writing, it became more of a Faustian tale of fate, family, sacrifice and motherhood.

More to come as we get closer to publication.

Thanks for your support!

BLACK DAYS SCOOPS UP SHADOWS AWARD!

Big news over the past weekend that my 2024 collection Black Days and Bloody Nights was named Best Collected Work in the Australasian Shadows Awards!

The awards were held by the Australasian Horror Writers Association at the Conflux 19 Convention in Canberra. Although I was unable to attend the con, I was able to watch the livestream and was overjoyed when my black little book was awarded. The book’s cover was also a finalist in the Best Art category of the Ditmar Awards.

The win is even sweeter because my 2023 collection Midnight Masquerade won the same category last year, so it is very fitting that both books – written at the same time – (evil twins, one might say) will have matching gravestone statuettes!

I’m most grateful to the AHWA, the Shadows judges, and of course, my publisher, IFWG.

These two collections mean a hell of a lot to me – both written and finessed during a very trying period in my life while recovering from cancer surgery. There’s no denying where the darkness in some of the stories comes from.

To see all the winners of the 2024 Australasian Shadows Awards, head over to the AHWA website.

And don’t forget that both Black Days and Bloody Nights and Midnight Masquerade are available in print and digital formats!

Updates!

Hello! It’s been a few months since my last post (been rather busy) so I thought I’d update you on what’s been happening in my little world of horror fiction and art.

SAMHAIN SCREAMS

Just this month I and my co-editor Cam Trost of Black Beacon Books made our selections for Samhain Screams – an anthology coming this Halloween. We received more than 170 submissions and we’ve settled on 20 of the creepiest. These stories are by authors from the US, AUSTRALIA, and the UNITED KINGDOM – we can’t wait for you to read them! You can find out more about the line up of stories HERE

BRITISH FANTASY AWARDS

So, I found out recently that I’m a finalist in the Best Artist category of the British Fantasy Awards.

It was a surprise to say the least but I’m very honoured and grateful that real artistic creatives like me are recognised in this way, particularly in this age of Generative AI.

These works will now be considered by a jury of peers, with the ultimate winners being announced at an awards ceremony at World Fantasy Convention in Brighton, held from 30 October to 2 November.

You can see the full list of finalists HERE

Whatever the outcome it’s a nice recognition.

Incidentally my collection Black Days and Bloody Nights is also a finalist in the Best Collected Work category of the 2024 Australasian Shadows Awards. Those awards will be announced in October by the Australasian Horror Writers Association

RECENT ART PUBLICATIONS

One big milestone I had recently was the release of Carrie’s Legacy, a special edition publication commemorating 50 years since Stephen King’s first novel was published. I was lucky enough to be asked to contribute an art piece to the book alongside many other incredible artists.

You can find out more about the book at Lividian Publications but I believe it sold out quickly!

RECENT ARTWORKS

RECENT COVER ART

Some of my recent book cover design work.

Remember I am always available for book cover work. You can also se more of my work at http://www.dark-designs.com

Thanks as always for your support. I hope to be back soon with more publication news. Until then, stay horrible.

New editing gig: SAMHAIN SCREAMS!

Some exciting news!

I’ve joined forces with Black Beacon Books and and co-editor and publisher Cameron Trost to put together an anthology of new original fiction centred around Halloween, called SAMHAIN SCREAMS.

This will be my second venture into editing an anthology-style publication, the first being Midnight Echo 17 a few years ago. I’m really looking forward to working with Cameron and Black Beacon Books on this anthology and bringing readers some truly terrifying Halloween stories.

In addition to co-editing the anthology, I’ve also created cover art (check out the below image!) and some internal illustrations – as well as a brand-new Halloween story.

Details of the anthology are below and you can also learn more at the Black Beacon Books website:

ANTHOLOGY ANNOUNCEMENT

“SAMHAIN SCREAMS”

Edited by Greg Chapman and Cameron Trost for Black Beacon Books

Halloween.

So much more than costumes and candy, it’s the time when the veil between our world and the other side is at its thinnest. The hour when dark forces come into the light in search of innocent souls. A time of blood and evil.

Australian Shadows Award-winning and multiple Bram Stoker Award-nominated author and artist Greg Chapman, and acclaimed author Cameron Trost, are seeking new original Halloween tales for this anthology, planned for release in October 2025.

We want memorable, character-driven stories set on, or near, the last night of October. Give us ghosts, serial killers, rituals and monsters, heroes and villains, but most of all give us the true dark side of Halloween – and make it terrifying.

Payment is $50 for stories up to 5,000 words. Contributors will also receive a complimentary print and digital copy.

The anthology will feature original cover art and internal illustrations by co-editor Greg Chapman.

The submissions window opens March 1^st and closes midnight May 30^th. Send all submissions to samhainscreams@hotmail.com Story submissions should follow the Shunn format.

For more information visit www.blackbeaconbooks.com

News: some not so good, some really great!

It’s been a long time between posts….

I apologise for that but life gets in the way. Like cancer, for one thing. Earlier this year I had surgery to treat prostate cancer. It was a shock to the system, to say the least, and threw my creative side into a dark abyss, but with the support of my family and amazing healthcare providers, I managed to drag myself out of the pit.

As I type this I don’t need any more treatment. According to the doctors, the prostatectomy got all of the cancer. Hopefully, I’ll stay that way. Right now, I feel good and have a positive outlook on life.

Which brings me to the good news…

Even better I managed to go to the US in October for a holiday with my wife and indulged in many iconic Halloween-themed places and events including a trip to Salem, Massachusetts, Sleepy Hollow, New York and New Orleans!

Recently my 2023 short story collection, Midnight Masquerade won the Australasian Shadows Award for Best Collected Work.

I’ve been writing fiction since 2009 and this is the first award I’ve ever won for my writing. The Shadows are presented by the Australasian Horror Writers Association here in Australia so I’m very glad that my first award is from my home country.

The little tombstone statue is taking pride of place on my bookshelf and I hope to add others to it in the future.

Cue more good news…

Today the follow-up collection, Black Days and Bloody Nights has been released worldwide. It’s even darker fare than Midnight Masquerade, offering up some bleak post-apocalyptic and psychological horror. I hope you’ll give it a whirl…

Some things people are saying about Black Days and Bloody Nights:

“Greg Chapman’s work not only combines vivid description with three-dimensional characters you invest in, his stories make you think. Just the kind of horror I can get behind.” –Paul Kane – #1 bestselling, award-winning author of Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell, Before and The Gemini Effect

“Rife with terror, tension and torment from the first story to the last, this collection shows the gifted Chapman at the top of his game.”  –Kaaron Warren, Shirley Jackson Award-winning author of Sky and The Grief Hole

“Black Days and Bloody Nights is a powerhouse collection of bleak horror stories full of religious zealots, psychological torment, and demonic forces. Read it, then find someone to hold you tight as you cry for all of humanity.”   –Zac Ashford, Aurealis Award-nominated author of The Morass and Polyphemus

“Black Days and Bloody Nights delivers on its title with clear intent and dark creativity. Greg Chapman’s latest collection is bleak, horrific and utterly compulsive, spanning tales of religious fanaticism, possession, psychological torment, and the end of days. Often emotionally anchored in family dynamics, the stories are hellish whirlpools, sucking you into the grim, visceral world of Chapman’s imagination and holding you captive until each devastating maelstrom has played out. Black days and bloody nights, indeed.” —Geneve Flynn, two-time Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson Award winner

“Dark fiction that’ll have you riveted.” –Steve Stred, author of Churn the Soil  

“I read this in one sitting, but when I got to the end I wanted to go back to page one and start all over again. . . If you haven’t read one of Greg Chapman’s books you are missing out on something quite phenomenal.” –Book Review Village

Cover Reveal and Book Trailer: Black Days and Bloody Nights by Greg Chapman

Halloween launch of Midnight Masquerade

Halloween was a great night for me as I launched my latest short story collection, Midnight Masquerade at Avid Reader Bookshop in Brisbane.

Thank you to everyone who came to the launch event of my book Midnight Masquerade. It was fantastic. Special thanks to Avid Reader Bookshop, Gerry Huntman from IFWG Publishing, Linda Brady, Zachary Ashford, Geneve Flynn and Susan Hewitt for coming along and taking pics.

For those who couldn’t make it to my launch last night, the amazing folks Avid Reader Bookshop have copies of Midnight Masquerade. And I may have even secretly signed a couple 😛 So why not support a local bookstore and grab a copy or five!

Alternatively you can always purchase a copy from your favourite ONLINE STORE

I was also recently interviewed about Midnight Masquerade and my book cover work on Unveiling Nightmares

★★★★★ Review of Midnight Masquerade!

Book Review: Midnight Masquerade by Greg Chapman

PRE-ORDER MIDNIGHT MASQUERADE

https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Masquerade-Greg-Chapman/dp/1922856428/

My forthcoming collection is now available to pre-order from all good bookstores!

Midnight Masquerade, a collection of Greg Chapman’ s acclaimed and original fiction:

Clown-for-hire, Harvey has the worst day of his life
A childhood display of malice is resurrected thirty years later
A priest finds true faith means devotion to blood and pain
Revenge shows Emma what lies beneath her mask of fear
A Halloween expert unleashes her own personal hell

In these stories, you’ll discover how the masks we all wear hide our innermost fears, and how our choices can expose true horrors.

Also included are Chapman’s acclaimed novellas, The Last Night of October and Vaudeville, and the short stories, Octoberville and Left on October Lane.

Midnight Echo 17 an Australian Shadows Award nominee!

Big news this week that the issue of Midnight Echo I guest-edited – Midnight Echo Issue 17, is a nominee in the 2022 Australian Shadows Awards, in the Edited Works category!

Given this is my first time editing an anthology or magazine, I’m pretty chuffed the judges felt that ME17 was worthy of a nomination.

Even better one of the stories I selected for the issue, “The Tub”, by J Ashley-Smith, is a nominee in the Short Fiction category and I’m ecstatic for Joseph as well! It goes without saying that I’m also proud of all the other contributors to the issue!

I’ve been nominated in the Shadows three times before with my debut novel Hollow House and my novella The Eschatologist (now known as The Followers) being nominated in 2016, and my short story “The Bone Maiden” in 2015. So this latest makes four in four separate categories!

The winners of the 2022 Australian Shadows Awards will be announced at Asylum Fest in October.

Midnight Echo Issue 17 is a publication of the Australasian Horror Writers Association and is available in digital and print formats.