The digital edition of my debut novel, HOLLOW HOUSE, is now available to pre-order from Amazon for $3.99!
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01I2HIH6Q
The Happening(s)…
No, it’s not the M. Night Shyamalan movie (thank the gods)
But 2016 is shaping up to be a very busy year for me (despite the odd spanner in the works). Here’s a few exciting things in the pipeline.
Torment novella re-release from Lycan Valley Press.
Here’s the new covert art I designed!
The book will be available in digital, paperback and hardback in July. The print versions will also include five (5) internal illustrations by yours truly.
Originally released in 2011, I’m very excited to see my first novella in print again.
Meanwhile, my new colouring book, The Horrible Colouring Book, will be available soon.
Sold exclusively through the CQUniversity Bookshop, which handles book distribution around the world every day, this volume features a brand new cover, and a far superior level of print quality. Links on how to buy, including the cost, will be released soon! Some pics of me with a proof are below:
Also I recently had a short story, published in this killer new anthology, Morbid Metamorphosis, from Lycan Valley Press. I’m very honoured to be one of 5 Aussies in this antho, which is already soaring up the Amazon booklists! You can pick up an ebook copy HERE or a print copy HERE .
and finally, it’s a month out from the release of my debut novel, Hollow House through Omnium Gatherum Media in the US.
In anticipation of the release, I’m inviting anyone who would be interested in reading an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review to check out this Goodreads LINK.
The only downer I’ve had is a T-shirt bootleg company stealing my art, but that’s another story!
Talk soon and keep on screaming on!
Horror – food for thought, or just mindless entertainment?
Controversial opinion:
Horror fiction should make you think rather than purely entertain.
Not to say that horror fiction can’t be action-packed, but to me horror fiction’s strength comes from its exploration of psychology. I love to create flawed characters and take readers inside their heads. I also love taking moral questions and twisting them until they bleed. Isn’t that what horror fiction should be?
But recently I’ve come to realise that the majority of readers don’t necessarily want this kind of fiction. They prefer explosions with titbits of humour rather than quiet horror, or dark mysteries. Or am I wrong? I don’t know.
Another thing I’ve noticed is that people’s personal prejudices, or concerns that others’ sensibilities might be offended, will turn them off stories. One reviewer I’d sent my novella The Eschatologist to turned it down because they perceived a religious bent. If anything the book is anti-religious! Why not judge the story by the story?
As a writer – and a reader – I’m more drawn to tales that leave you asking questions after you’ve reached the final page. Being indoctrinated towards authors like Barker and Poe naturally I’m going to lean that way, but still, I feel I might be in the minority here. Having said all that, I don’t want to come up with a happy blend of entertaining, but still horrific fiction, just to garner a few more readers. I’d be compromising my own integrity, wouldn’t I?
I recently discussed all this with an author friend who said that after reading my work it left them feeling ‘heavy’ and that maybe there was too much darkness in there. I’ll take that as a compliment 🙂 Another author recently posted on Facebook their concern that they’d killed off all their characters in one story, but their concern was more about becoming predictable. Still it’s a horror story – and it’s their story. Should they really be concerned about reader expectations, or just telling the best story they can?
Maybe I’m just thinking out loud, or whinging? Or maybe people just don’t care about reading anymore. Horror tastes are different for everyone, whether it be films, fiction or merchandise, but should creators and writers try and fit a particular mold? Maybe I’m overthinking it?
I think I’ll just stick to writing fiction 🙂 but I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Hollow House cover reveal!
***UPDATE: HOLLOW HOUSE TO BE PUBLISHED 25 JULY, 2016!***
The plans for Hollow House have been unveiled with the release of the cover art for my debut novel!
I put the wraparound art together with feedback from Omnium Gatherum publisher, Kate Jonez. We’re both really happy with how it turned out. It’s creepy and contemporary.
Things are progressing really quickly with not just the cover art, but an advanced reader copy is expected to be ready for reviewers by the end of May. I’d very much like to thank my editor Janet J Holden, who has been working hard to finish off edits on the novel.
I’ve also managed to entice three award-winning authors to read an ARC of the novel with the possibility of providing a testimonial. The very thought of this trio reading my book, let alone providing a blurb for it, makes me very nervous. As this will be my debut novel, I can’t help but worry, but with everything going so smoothly, I feel that a fair bit of good luck is on my side.
Hollow House is expected to be published by Omnium Gatherum in paperback and digital formats in October. For more information, visit OG’s website.
“The Bone Maiden” a finalist in the Australian Shadows Awards
Some pretty cool news today with the my short story, “The Bone Maiden”, named as a finalist in the 2015 Australian Shadows Awards, short fiction category!
I’m sharing nominee space some very cool authors and friends, including Martin Livings, Pandora Hope, Deborah Sheldon and Kaaron Warren.
The Bone Maiden is a dark fairy tale, which was selected by editor Sophie Yorkston for SQ Mag #20 back in May last year.
You can read The Bone Maiden for free in SQ Mag HERE!
The Shadows Awards are hosted annually by the Australian Horror Writers Association. I was also a judge this year for the graphic novel category.
I urge you all to congratulate and check out the full list of finalists in all the categories because they all deserve to be read! Here’s the official press release:
Australian Shadows Awards
The Australian Horror Writers Association is excited to announce the shortlisted finalists for the 2015 Australian Shadows Awards. These works represent the best in Australian and New Zealand horror published in 2015.
The Australian Shadows awards are the only Australian award dedicated solely to the very best in horror fiction, non-fiction and graphic novels and recognise those works that crawl under your skin and linger long after the final pages.
Our volunteer judges have worked tirelessly to work through hundreds of entries and made some tough decisions to narrow it down to the final shortlists. The Association would like to extend our congratulations to those who have made it this far and thank those that who entered works in this year’s awards.
Winners will be announced via a Facebook awards ceremony on Friday, April 22 at 8pm (AEST).
The shortlisted works are
The Paul Haines Award for Long Fiction
In Vaulted Halls Entombed – Alan Baxter
The Haunting of Gillespie House – Darcy Coates
Night Shift – Dirk Flinthart
The Whimper – Robert Hood
Edited Works
Bloodlines – Amanda Pillar
Lighthouses – Cameron Trost
Midnight Echo 11 – Kaaron Warren
Blurring the Line – Marty Young
Collected Works
The Abandonment of Grace and Everything After – Shane Jiraiya Cummings
Peripheral Visions: The Collected Ghost Stories – Rob Hood
Cherry Crow Children – Deborah Kalin
Short Fiction
The Bone Maiden – Greg Chapman
Eight Seconds – Pandora Hope
El Caballo Muerte – Martin Livings
Perfect Little Stitches – Deborah Sheldon
Mine Intercom – Kaaron Warren
Comics/Graphic Novels
The Road to Golgotha – G.N. Braun & Amanda J Spedding
Troll – Michael Michalandos
The Monster – Ben Rosenthal
Undad – Shane W. Smith
The Rocky Wood Award for Non-fiction and Criticism
Winner to be announced
Novels:
The Catacombs – Jeremy Bates
The Haunting of Blackwood House – Darcy Coates
The Transgressions Cycle: The Mothers – Mike Jones
The Transgressions Cycle: The Reparation – Mike Jones
The Big Smoke – Jason Nahrung
Novella “Torment” to be re-released by Lycan Valley Press
Some further good news is that Canadian press, Lycan Valley Press will be re-publishing a new illustrated edition of my first novella, Torment this year!
Originally published in 2011, Torment is a creepy supernatural tale, blending together the exorcism and haunted house sub-genres.
Here’s the blurb:
Jessica Newman’s tragic childhood has come back to haunt her. Her father, a Catholic deacon she hasn’t seen since he was found not guilty of her mother’s death during an exorcism ritual, has turned up dead in Scotland, with a wound to the head. Forced to take her family to Scotland and deal with her father’s estate a derelict mansion in the Grampian Ranges, Jessica begins to question her mother’s death and what role her father played in it. The house and its dark basement could provide more answers than she bargained for.
I’m really excited to see this story more widely read, and LVP seem really dedicated to make the paperback edition something special. Here’s LVP’s announcement
LVP also recently accepted my short story, “Become Him”, to appear in their debut anthology, Morbid Metamorphosis.
More details on Torment and the anthology as they come to hand.
Debut novel, “Hollow House” to be published by Omnium Gatherum!
Some huge news this week as I officially singed on with Omnium Gatherum Media to publish what will be my debut novel, Hollow House.
Putting this novel together was a mammoth task, but I’m very excited that it’s found a home with Omnium Gatherum, a well-respected and growing small press based in California, USA.
I don’t want to give too much away about the novel just yet, but as the title implies, it’s a haunted house story, but I’ve aimed to turn the sub-genre on its head by telling the house’s story from the outside looking in, rather than the other way around.
It’s a dark, dread-filled story that will centre on the characters living in the same street as the house and how they will slowly be corrupted by its evil presence.
Hollow House is expected to be released in paperback and digital formats later this year.
Further details on the announcement can be found on the Omnium Gatherum website HERE
The Eschatologist now in paperback!
The print edition of my post-apocalyptic horror novella, The Eschatologist is now available.
The paperback includes four black and white illustrations I created especially for this edition.
Released in January from Voodoo Press, The Eschatologist tells the story of David Brewer who is trying to keep his family alive in a world torn apart by a Biblical apocalypse. But there is hope is the guise of a mysterious saviour named Amos, who promises them sanctuary – in return for their devotion to God’s final and bloody plan.
Since being released in January, The Eschatologist has received several favourable reviews:
Greg Chapman opens the story with a gripping opening line, “The after-world was a canvas of ashen ruin painted by death.”
What follows is a story of family, sacrifice, and the scary idea that even in a world that has completely fallen apart there will always be a lunatic fringe.
You can read more of this review here – http://frankmichaelserrington.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/the-eschatologist-by-greg-chapman.html
Greg Chapman introduces us to the enigmatic figure of Amos in a post-apocalyptic landscape every bit as evocative as King’s Midworld. Here, the domestic aspect is strong … as a small family of memorable characters battles the blasted landscape and a prophet. A great premise all rendered in Chapman’s signature prose. – Matthew Tait, author of Davey Ribbon.
“Madness and murder and miracles all abound in The Eschatologist. Reminiscent of Barker’s early work, the end of the world has never been so bleak.” –Tim Marquitz, author of The Demon Squad
Available now in paperback from Amazon
Guest post: Greg Chapman on “The Eschatologist: Post-Apocalyptic”
TEOTWAWKI!
I’ve hijacked Tracie McBride’s blog!
I’m pleased to welcome Australian author Greg Chapman to my blog today to talk about his novella “The Eschatologist: Post-Apocalyptic”, scheduled for release on January 15.
After joining the Australian Horror Writers Association in 2009, Greg Chapman was selected for its mentor program under the tutelage of author Brett McBean. Since then he has had short stories published in The Absent Willow Review, Trembles, Eclecticism, Bete Noire and Morpheus Tales, comic artwork in Midnight Echo Magazine, and several novellas published by various small press. His debut collection “Vaudeville and Other Nightmares” was published in 2014.
He is also a horror artist and his first graphic novel “Witch Hunts: A Graphic History of the Burning Times”, written by Bram Stoker Award winning authors Rocky Wood and Lisa Morton was published in 2012. It received the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel.
Find out more about Greg at
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The Eschatologist trailer
The Eschatologist is available to pre-order from Amazon.
