From the pit

Lee Battersby signs two-book deal

2011-12-08T22:20:00.000-08:00

PERTH author Lee Battersby has signed a two-book deal with Angry Robot.

The publisher has picked up his fantasy novel The Corpse-Rat King, as well as its sequel as part of its open door submission month.

The Corpse Rat-King will be published next year, with the sequel to hit shelves in 2013.

It will be Battersby’s first published novel.

An Angry Robot synopsis of the project is as follows:

“In the highly imaginative The Corpse-Rat King, readers are introduced to Marius Helles as he plunders the bodies of the dead after a major battle – a crime punishable by death. The dead tell Marius that they need a King – the King is God’s representative, and they need someone to speak to God and remind him where they are. He doesn’t actually want the job, but when the alternative is to deny a legion of angry corpses, it’s that or find a suitable compromise – and quickly: the dead aren’t known for their patience.”

Jungle novella available for pre-order

2011-12-08T22:19:00.000-08:00

BRETT McBean’s new novella Neighbourhood Jungle is available for pre-order through Tasmaniac Publications.

The novel is the sequel to Concrete Jungle and is available in a 180-print run, signed and numbered soft cover edition for $14.

The novella is set six months after the first and follows the story of a civilisation cast back into primitive living.

It also includes bonus short stories from Kealan Patrick Burke and R. Frederick Hamilton.

Noctuary released

2011-12-01T15:07:00.000-08:00

GREG Chapman’s new horror novella The Noctuary is now available through Damnation Books.

The novella is available in both ebook format for $4.50 and print for $8.26.

Midnight Echo 6 released

2011-12-01T15:05:00.000-08:00

MIDNIGHT Echo 6: The Science Fiction Horror Special is now available.

The official fiction publication of the Australian Horror Writers Association features fiction from nine local authors including Shane Jiraiya Cummings, Andrew J McKiernan, Cat Sparks, Stephen Dedman and David Conyers.

It has been edited by David Kernot, Jason Fischer and David Conyers.

The issue also includes the 2011 Australian Horror Writers Association’s Flash Fiction and Short Story award-winning entries, as well as interviews with Charles Stross and Chris Moore.

It is available to buy in PDF and print formats.

See below for a full table of contents:

Earthworms by Cody Goodfellow

Trawling the Void by Alan Baxter

Out Hunting for Teeth by Joanne Anderton

Graveyard Orbit by Shane Jiraiya Cummings

Surgeon Scalpelfingers by Helen Stubbs

Silver-Clean by Jenny Blackford

The Wanderer in the Darkness by Andrew J McKiernan

Winds of Nzambi by David Conyers & David Kernot

Duncan Checks Out by Nicholas Stella

Dead Low by Cat Sparks

More Matter, Less Art by Stephen Dedman

Seeds by Mark Farrugia

Behind the scenes video launched for Dark Axis comic

2011-11-15T19:34:00.000-08:00

A BEHIND the scenes video for Greg Mclean’s Dark Axis comic series has been released.

The video, which can be viewed on You Tube, includes discussions by Mclean and artist Xavier Irvine on the Dark Axis project, creatures and features a sneak peek at artwork from upcoming issues.

The comic series Dark Axis – Secret Battles of WW2 is a four part comic book series that follows a US military team which stumble across an abandoned Nazi scientific facility full of blood thirsty creatures.

Issue 1 is available now.

Aurealis Awards closing soon

2011-11-15T19:29:00.000-08:00

AUTHORS and publishers have until December 31 to enter the 2011 Aurealis Awards.

The awards are Australia's premier awards for speculative fiction and open to works written by an Australian citizen or permanent resident and published for the first time this calendar year.

Categories include best fantasy, horror, and science fiction novel and short story as well young adult and children’s speculative fiction and illustrated works.

To enter go to the awards' website and fill in the online form.

Copies of entered works must be received by the judges by December 31.

Finalists will be announced in late March, 2012 and winners announced at an awards evening in Sydney in May.

AHWA board announced

2011-11-15T19:27:00.000-08:00

THE Australian Horror Writers Association’s 2011/2012 committee has been voted in at its AGM at the weekend and is as follows:

President: Geoff Brown

Vice President: Daniel I. Russell

Secretary: Mark Smith-Briggs

Treasurer: Carl Schaller

Membership Officer: Amanda Spedding

Ordinary Members: Andrew J. McKiernan, Scott Tyson, James Doig.

Brown replaces Leigh Blackmore who has stepped down from the role of president, while Russell has stepped into the vice president’s position vacated by Brown.

Fantastic Asia Film Festival hits Melbourne

2011-11-06T21:49:00.000-08:00

VIEW the latest horror, science-fiction, thriller and fantasy films from Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong and the Philippines at the inaugural Fantastic Asia Film Festival in Melbourne this week.

Run by Melbourne film distributors Monster Pictures and Cinema Nova the festival features 20 of the most bizarre and extreme offerings from the region’s filmmakers.

It runs from November 10 to 13 at Cinema Nova,

380 Lygon St, Carlton

Opening night includes a screening of Yoshihiro Nishimura’s Helldriver, which will include an introduction of the film and question and answer session by the director.

Nishimura’s previous films include such fare as Tokyo Gore Police, while he worked as a special effects artist on The Machine Girl.

Attendees can also attend the opening night after party with the Nishimura at Luwow Bar in Fitzroy.

Tickets are $27.

Online tour planned for Noctuary release

2011-11-06T21:23:00.000-08:00

QUEENSLAND author Greg Chapman has announced an online book tour to promote the release of his forthcoming novella The Noctuary.

The Noctuary blog tour will run from December 5 to 16 and involves author appearances and chats with fans on selected blogs.

A limited number of ebooks for review are available here for bloggers who want to host Chapman on his tour.

It is sponsored by Pump Up Your Book.

The book is due to be released in December through Damnation Books.

Chapman’s debut novella Torment was released through the publisher in March.

Conyers releases cosmic horror novella

2011-11-02T15:30:00.000-07:00

DAVID Conyers new novella The Eye of Infinity is out now through Perilous Press.

The novella is a cosmic horror which tells the story of an army major who investigates the suicide of an astrophysicist who contracted a hideous mutative plague.

It is available from Perilous Press for $US15.50 plus shipping.

Autopsy trilogy announced

2011-11-02T15:15:00.000-07:00

LEGUMEMAN Books has picked up Melbourne author Steve Gerlach’s new novella Autopsy.

According to Gerlach’s website, the novella is book one of a planned trilogy and will be released by Christmas.

It will be released as both a paperback and ebook.

Details on the plot and price are still under wraps but are expected to be released via Gerlach’s website in the next few weeks.

Also on release is The Tumours Made Me Interesting by fellow Melbourne scribe Matthew Revert.

The book follows his 2009 collection A Million Versions of Right and is available in paperback and ebook formats for $19.95 including postage.

Aurealis #46 released

2011-11-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

AUREALIS #46 has been released through smashwords and features new fiction by Greg Mellor and Andrew J. McKiernan.

The issue is available free as an ebook download and is the publication’s second release since it transformed from a print publication into a monthly online format.

The issue also contains an interview with Felicity Pullman as well as news and reviews.

The magazine is published by Chimaera Publications.

Surviving the End available for pre-order

2011-11-01T20:18:00.000-07:00

DARK Prints Press is taking pre-orders for its debut anthology Surviving the End.

The anthology features stories told by a small band of survivors in a post apocalyptic world.

Authors include Jason Nahrung, Martin Livings, Amanda J. Spedding, Joseph D’Lacey and Michael Bailey.

It has been edited by Craig Bezant.

The anthology is available for $19.95 plus postage and will be released in April, 2012.

Year's Best horror antho out now

2011-10-31T17:20:00.000-07:00

TRADE and hardback editions of the Year’s Best Australian Fantasy and Horror anthology are available through Ticonderoga Publications.

The anthology, edited by Liz Grzyb and Talie Helene, features the best 33 genre stories from Australian authors published in 2010.

The anthology is available in hardcover (RRP AU$50) and trade (RRP AU$35).

It will also be released in an ebook edition.

Land of Bad Dreams launch performances released online

2011-10-31T17:17:00.000-07:00

SEE video from the launch of Kyla Ward’s new poetry collection The Land of Bad Dreams online.

The footage was filmed at The World Bar in Kings Cross in September and includes live and multimedia packages.

The collection is available through P’rea Press.

2011-10-31T17:15:00.000-07:00

READERS can get a sneak peak at Midnight Echo’s science-fiction horror issue due out this month.

The magazine has posted an interview from author Andrew J. McKiernan as well as an extract of his tale The Wanderer in the Darkness which will be appearing in the issue.

Pre-orders of the limited print edition are available for $10 plus postage.

The magazine is holding a magazine subscription drive this month.

Anyone who signs up for a one-year print or emagazine subscription before November 20 goes in the running to win $200 in cash, plus books signed by Kylie Chan, Greig Beck, Brett McBean and Tim Curran.

Subscriptions start at $3.75.

Submissions for issue seven are now open.

Aussie horror anthology contents named

2011-10-31T17:09:00.000-07:00

AUTHORS have been named for the Australian Literature Review’s forthcoming anthology Ho Ho Horror.

The all-Australian line up includes Christmas themed fiction from eight authors and will be illustrated by Andrew J McKiernan.

Fiction to appear includes:

Ho Ho Ho by Gordon Reece

Let it Snow by Sam Stephens

Unwanted Gifts by Belinda Dorio

Naughty or Nice by Cameron Trost

Satan Clause by Keith Mushonga

X-mas Secrets by Steven Gepp

Rainmaker by Kathryn Hore

Glittering Were the Leaves by Tony Dews.

The anthology is expected to be released by Christmas.

Daly unleashes army of the undead

2011-10-23T21:08:00.000-07:00

THE Army of the Undead - the second book in Stuart Daly's Witch Hunter Chronicles - will be released on November 1.

The novel, aimed at young adult readers, continues the story of 16-year-old Jakob, a seventeenth century witch hunter who has been charged with stopping Armageddon by fighting off a horde of 2000-year-old zombies set forth to retrieve an ancient tablet.

It is the Sydney high school teacher's second novel and was inspired by his own studies of the English Civil War.

The first, The Scourge of Jericho, has been widely praised by reviewers.

The Witch Hunter Chronicles: The Army of the Undead is available in print and ebook through Random House Australia for $17.95.

Blood Song released

2011-10-23T21:05:00.000-07:00

MELBOURNE author Rhiannon Hart has released her debut book Blood Song through Random House Australia.

The novel tells the story of Zeraphina, a princess with a craving for blood, who when travelling to a foreign land when her older sister is betrothed learns that her own origins may lie not with her own kingdom, but that of the nightmarish people of the neighbouring country Lharmell.

It is aimed at young adult readers and is the first book in a planned Lharmell series.

The novel is available in print and ebook format for $18.95.

Cover work unveiled on Fischer zombie trilogy

2011-10-19T17:09:00.000-07:00

THE cover art for Jason Fischer’s latest instalment in the After the World zombie series has been unveiled by Black House Comics.

Corpus Christi is the sequel to Fischer’s Afterworld story and again follows the story of bow-slinging Tamsyn as she battles to survive in a zombie ravaged world.

The novella is the second part of a planned trilogy.

Issue 3 of the After the World magazine series has also been released and also features work by Clinton Green, Raymond Gates, Jason Franks and Pete Kempshall.

Each edition features at least one work set in the zombie world as well as other tales of horror and science fiction by Australian writers.

Each issue is available for $5.

Macarbe released on ebook

2011-10-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

BRIMSTONE Press’ Australian horror tomb Macabre: A Journey through Australia’s Darkest Fears has been released on ebook.

The award-winning anthology collects 38 stories from

Australia

’s past and present horror authors including Henry Lawson, Barbara Baynton, Terry Dowling, Kaaron Warren, Paul Haines, Richard Harland, David Conyers and Will Elliott.

The anthology won the 2010 Australian Shadows Award and was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award the same year.

Richard Harland’s the Fear won the 2010 Aurealis Award for horror short fiction.

It is available through Smashwords for $US4.99.

Aurealis makes switch to e-mag

2011-10-08T18:11:00.000-07:00

AUREALIS magazine has made the switch from print to a monthly e-publication starting with issue #45.

The edition, which features stories from Lachlan Huddy and Aimee Smith, an interview with Glenda Larke, reviews and news, has been released in a number of e-reading versions through Smashwords.

It can be downloaded free and is available in iPad, iPhone, Kindle, Kobo Reader and PDF formats.

The issue is the first publication since the departure of editor Stuart Mayne last year and replaces the biannual print format which has been in place since 1990.

It is unclear whether payment rates for authors will change under the new format.

Man Who Could Not Climb Stairs released on ebook

2011-10-05T21:42:00.000-07:00

PAUL Mannering’s new short story collection The Man Who Could Not Climb Stairs and Other Strange Stories has been released on ebook.

The collection is available for kindle through Amazon for $2.99 and includes 21 stories from the award-winning New Zealand author.

Tales range in genre across the dark fiction spectrum from gothic horror and suspense to science-fiction and bizzaro.

The book has been published through BrokenSea Productions.

New horror books on release

2011-10-02T19:39:00.000-07:00

A LIMITED run of Kyla Ward’s horror poetry collection the Land of Bad Dreams is available for purchase.

The collection, launched this month, is now available from P’rea Press for $18.

FOR a limited time, you can also pick up a free copy of South Australian horror author Matthew Tait’s debut short story collection Ghosts in a Desert World.

The 13-story collection is now free via smashwords.

Submissions open for horror club anthology

2011-10-02T19:36:00.000-07:00

SUBMISSIONS are open for a new anthology of unspeakable horror entitled Tales From the Bell Club.

Edited by New Zealand author Paul Mannering and published by Knightwatch Press, the anthology calls for stories set in the early 20th century from members of the Bell Club – an exclusive establishment whose members have experienced unspeakable horror.

Successful membership requires the applicant to tell a story - and if the members find it disturbing enough – the applicant is granted access. It's like a nascent support group for the traumatised.

No one judges or questions the stories told - because all the members have seen such things as no man can rationalise - and who are they to judge if a fellow storyteller is lying, mad or hallucinating?

By its nature the stories are set in the early years of the 20th Century, with male or female protagonists.

Payment is $25 plus a free eBook edition of the anthology.

Submissions close on December 20, with an estimated publication date of Spring, 2012.

King donates book to dinner dance auction

2011-09-29T20:41:00.000-07:00

A SIGNED first edition of Just After Sunset personally donated by Stephen King tops the list of items donated to next month’s Halloween Fundraiser Dinner Dance auction in Melbourne.

The rare collector item is among several collectable books and items up for auction including personally signed editions of Stephen King, a literary companion and Horrors: great tales of fear and their creators by Rocky Wood, artwork by Greg Chapman and a sterling silver opal pennant.

The dinner dance is hosted by the AHWA and Australian-American Association.

It will raise money for the purchase of an Eye Gaze Device for Rocky Wood, a Melbourne horror author and past president of the HWA who has been diagnosed with an incurable motor neurone disease.

Tickets for the event at City of Melbourne Bowls, Flagstaff Gardens on Saturday, October 29 are $55 and include a buffet dinner and entertainment.

Donations for the auction can be made here.

Check out the auction items or learn how to make a bid here.

New website launched for Midnight Echo

2011-09-29T20:08:00.000-07:00

A NEW website has been launched for horror magazine Midnight Echo.

The Australian Horror Writers Association’s official publication has been given its own site as part of a relaunch of the magazine.

Former AHWA president Marty Young has been appointed as the magazine’s executive editor.

The new website includes news, reviews, interviews and submission guidelines

A subscription drive has also been launched.

Print subscriptions are $20 a year (two issues) while PDF subscriptions are $3.85 a year.

AHWA members recieve a free PDF copy of each issue.

In good news for authors, the magazine has doubled its payment rates to 2c/word to $75.

Issue 6, a science-fiction horror special edited by David Conyers, David Kernot and Jason Fischer will be released in November.

It includes stories from Shane Jiraiya Cummings, Joanne Anderton and Alan Baxter.

Daniel I. Russell has been appointed guest editor of issue 7 which will cover the theme taboos.

“Be it sexual fetishes, dreams of violence, the sites you delete from your history, drug cravings and that… thing you like to do when you’re all alone,'' Russell said.

``We want the things you can’t discuss in polite conversation, the guilty, twisted needs that eat away at you.”

For more details go to the magazine’s website.

Demons walk among us in Mammon

2011-09-27T01:58:00.000-07:00

PERTH author J.B. Thomas explores a world where humans can degenerate into demons in the young adult novel Mammon.

The first book of the Ferryman Chronicles tells the story of a world where demons walk among humans and of a young man with the ability to open dimensional rifts that lead to other worlds.

It has been published by Random House Australia and is available in print and ebook formats for $18.95.

Mammon is Thomas' first novel.

View a trailer for the release here.

Sara Douglass loses battle with cancer

2011-09-26T16:20:00.000-07:00

AUSTRALIAN fantasy author Sarah Douglass has died after a long battle with cancer.

The popular author of the the Axis Trilogy, Wayfare Redemption series and Troy Game books died this morning about 5am.

Douglass had previously spoke of her long battle with the illness via several websites.

The sad news of her passing was posted by a friend on Douglass' facebook feed today.

Snowtown released on DVD

2011-09-25T22:25:00.000-07:00

SNOWTOWN, the film which recounts the story of Adelaide serial killer John Bunting, has been released on Blu-Ray and DVD.

Directed by first-timer Justin Kurzel, the film follows the story of 16-year-old Jamie, who is drawn into the world of Blunting when the killer takes on the role of his father figure.

DVD/Blu-Ray special features include audio commentary with Kurzel, deleted scenes, casting footage, a featurette on the real life crimes, the short films Blue Tongue, Bell and Pulse, a stills gallery and trailers.

The film is released through Madman Entertainment.

Conflux 7 event nears

2011-09-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

CONFLUX 7, Canberra's annual speculative fiction convention, will be held at the Quality Hotel Woden this weekend.

The three-day event, from October 1 to 3, includes panels, workshops, author readings, book signings, an art show and banquet ball.

This year's guests of honour are Kim Westwood, Natalie Costa-Bir, Lewis Morley and Marilyn Pride.

Tickets are $80 per day or $250 (at the door) for the whole convention.

Children under 12-years-of-age are free with a paying adult.

A full programme is available online.

Donation page set up for Melbourne writer

2011-09-21T18:09:00.000-07:00

A DONATION page has been set up for Melbourne writer and former Horror Writers Association president Rocky Wood.

The online donation page is designed to help Wood raise up to $20,000 for the purchase of an eye-gaze device following his diagnosis of a motor neurone disease earlier this year.

The machine will allow him to communicate through eye movements recorded on a computer screen during once he loses the ability to speak.

The machine will be donated to the Motor Neurone Disease Association of Victoria after his death.

Wood is the author of five non-fiction books on the works of Stephen King and a contributor to the Glenn Chadbourne illustrated graphic novel Horrors! Great Stories of Fear and their Creators.

The donation page can be accessed at the Australian Horror Writers Association site.

Supernatural themed steampunk anthology released

2011-09-08T18:18:00.000-07:00

WORLD Fantasy award-winning editor Jack Dann’s new supernatural steampunk anthology Ghosts by Gaslight: Stories of Steampunk and Supernatural Suspense is out through Harper Voyager.

Co-edited by Nick Gevers, it features 17 Victorian era veined tales from authors Peter Beagle, James Morrow, Sean Williams, Gene Wolfe, Garth Nix, Marly Youmans, Jeffery Ford, and Robert Silverberg.

Amazon has the paperback listed at less than US $10.

Halloween dinner dance in Melbourne

2011-09-07T22:36:00.000-07:00

THE Australian American Association and Australian Horror Writers Association will host a Halloween Dinner Dance in Melbourne on Saturday, October 29 to raise money for former Horror Writers Association president and local writer Rocky Wood.

The dinner dance will be held at the City of Melbourne Bowls, Flagstaff Gardens and include a BBQ buffet meal, charity auction and local DJ.

Dress is Halloween costume or after five wear.

All proceeds from the night will be donated towards the purchase of an Eye-Gaze Device for Wood, who was diagnosed with a motor neurone disease last year.

Wood is the author of several non-fiction companions to Stephen King’s works, as well as the graphic novel Great Tales of Fear and Their Creators.

Tickets for the event are $55.

Bookings can be made my emailing eventschair@gmail.com

Ward to unleash poetry collection

2011-09-04T16:35:00.000-07:00

KYLA Ward will launch her poetry collection The Land of Bad Dreams in with an evening of film and performance in Sydney on September 27.

The launch at Bordello in King’s Cross will include live interpretations of many of the poems by performing artists.

Video of the performances will appear on the author’s website after the launch.

Ward described the collection as a representation of three decades of work and many of her obsessions.

`` Expect warriors, magicians and torturers, vampiric beauties and indescribable monsters,’’ she said.

Bordello is located on the top floor of the World Bar,

24 Bayswater Rd

, Kings Cross.

Festivities begin at 7pm.

The Land of Bad Dreams is published by P'rea Press.

Places open in 100 Lightnings anthology

2011-08-31T20:17:00.000-07:00

PAROXYSM Press' flash fiction anthology 100 Lightnings is accepting its final round of submissions.

The anthology is now looking for unpublished flash works of no more than one thousand words in Horror, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dark Realism, Experimental and cross genre hybrids.

It also seeks the talents of a B&W fine detail artist to do some interior illustrations.

100 Lightnings has already gathered blasts of plasma from Rick Kennett, Stephanie Campisi, Martin Livings, Paul Haines, David Witteveen, Matthew Chrulew, Aaron Polson, Eugene Gramelis, Chuck McKenzie, Mark McAuliffe, Michelle Jager, C.S. Fuqua and M.K. Hobson.

Send all submissions in word document to paroxysm@paroxysmpress.com

Payment is in contributors copies.

Submissions close on September 30, 2011.

The One That Got Away contributors announced

2011-08-25T18:04:00.000-07:00

DARK Print Press has released its contributors list to its debut crime anthology The One That Got Away.

The line up includes a mix of crime masters and new voices in the genre, including a strong Australian contingency.

The 12 authors to appear are:

Lawrence Block – ‘Catch and Release’

Chris Simms – ‘Gaffed’

Will Elliot – ‘Hungry Man’

Deborah Sheldon – ‘Garland Cove’

Zane Lovitt – ‘Kahraman’

Cameron Ashley – ‘Whole Lotta Julio’

Vanessa Skye – ‘The Piece’

Brooke Maggs – ‘My Wife and I’

Alan Baxter – ‘In the Name of the Father’

Brian G Ross – ‘A Rhyme for the Crime’

Kathryn Hore – ‘Late Night Train’

Andrew Nette – ‘Two Blind Cats’

The anthology will be available for pre-order from September 1.

It will be published early next year.

2011 Australian Shadows awards now open

2011-08-25T17:49:00.000-07:00

JUDGES for the Australian Horror Writers Association’s annual award – Australian Shadows - have been announced.

Steve Gerlach, Jeff Richie and James A. Moore will judge the short story/collection/edited works category, while Marty Young, Kirstyn McDermott and Greig Beck will oversee the novel/novella category.

The awards recognise the finest horror short stories, collections, novellas and novels written or published by an Australian each year.

Past winners include Lee Battersby, Will Elliott, Terry Dowling, Kaaron Warren, Deborah Biancotti, Kirstyn McDermott and Bob Franklin.

The awards are now open for works published in 2011. Entries close on February 29.

House of the Dead: Overkill game banned in Australia

2011-08-23T17:22:00.000-07:00

UPCOMING horror game title The House of the Dead: Overkill – Extended Cut has been refused classification in Australia.

The game was due to be released exclusively through Playstation Move on Playstation 3 on October 27.

Game distributors Sega Australia has appealed the decision with the hope of having the classification ruling overturned without the need to edit the final game.

"There are far worse titles currently available in the marketplace which involve more than shooting down mutants in humorous circumstances,” managing director Darren Macbeth said.

“We will do everything we can to prove that House of the Dead: Overkill is worthy of an MA15+ rating in Australia."

Eclecticism 4th anniversary edition released

2011-08-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

THE fourth anniversary edition of Eclecticism e-zine has been released online.

The `Pile of Rubbish' themed issue features stories from Simon James, Lynley Stace, Cameron Trost, Erol Engin, Rebecca Fung, Ian Harrison, Wilda Morris, Harold Mally, Karen Zelas, Guy Salvidge, and artwork from Courtney Bernard.

It is available as a free PDF download.

The magazine is now accepting submissions for its Tales O Halloween issue to be released in October.

Death Works conclusion draws near

2011-08-19T16:54:00.000-07:00

TRENT Jamieson will launch two books at Avid Reader Bookshop in Brisbane on Thursday, September 15.

The books include the conclusion to his Death Works trilogy - The Business of Death - as well as the first book in his Nightbound Land steampunk fantasy series - Roil.

The launch runs from 6pm.

Roil will be released through Angry Robot, while The Business of Death is out through Orbit.

Find out more details about the launch event here.

Trailer released for Mclean's Dark Axis series

2011-08-19T16:17:00.000-07:00

FANGORIA has released a teaser trailer for Greg Mclean's new four-part comic series Dark Axis - Secret Battles of WWII.

The trailer, tells part of the origin story for McLean's new series in which the Nazi's attempt to create a super soldier.

It was filmed in Melbourne and directed by Cameron Oliver.

The comic is the first project through Mclean's new comic and graphic novel publishing line Diezel Punk.

It is penned by Mclean, Chris Wheeler and Jason M. Burns with artwork by Xavier Irvine and Luis Guerrer.

Issue 1 of the series will be released in October.

Dark Axis comic preview

2011-08-15T23:05:00.000-07:00

GET a sneak peak at Greg McLean’s new WWII horror comic series Dark Axis in this month’s in Previews.

Issue 1 Dark Axis: Rise of the Overmen will be $2.99 and is scheduled for release in October.

A detailed blurb from the issue has been released and reads as follows:

A battle-hardened veteran, Sgt. Bryce, is given a cushy mission to scout a mountain valley. Only problem is, he’s given a squad of useless recruits for the job. After finding a treasure map on a dead SS deserter, Bryce leads his squad to a hidden German facility, full of incredible machines and advanced technology. It appears completely deserted, but when one of his squad vanishes, ripped apart by ‘something’ lurking in the shadows, Bryce realizes too late…they’re not alone.

Check out a few pages at Ape Comics.

SUFF program released online

2011-08-14T22:49:00.000-07:00

THE Sydney Underground Film Festival has launched its 2011 program online.

Dedicated to “screening unique, independent, experimental, provocative and uncompromising films”, the festival opens with James Gunn’s (Slither) superhero film Super.

Also on the program is Japanese zombie apocalypse Helldriver, fellow Japanese ghost story Tomie: Unlimited, independent rape revenge movie Run! Bitch Run!, black comedy Chop, and psychosexual thriller Guilty of Romance.

The festival runs from September 8 to 11 at The Factory Theatre, Sydney College of the Arts and the MuMeson Archives.

Festival passes are $85.View the full program and timetable here.

Greg McLean Dark Axis comic book announced

2011-08-09T22:32:00.000-07:00

WOLF Creek director Greg McLean has turned to comics for the release of his next project Dark Axis.

Described by Mclean as ``Saving Private Ryan mashed with Evil Dead 2’’ the comic series presents an alternate World War II history in which a battle-hardened veteran stumbles across a deserted German facility occupied by something lurking in the dark.

A release date is expected to be announced soon.

Meanwhile, production for Wolf Creek 2 appears in full swing after reports that the sequel to the international hit has been funded.

The sequel was one of more than a dozen projects announced by Screen

Australia

's Ruth Harley at the Melbourne International Film Festival last month, shock till you drop reports.

The original 2005 film was made for about $1.1 million but earned $27.8 million at the worldwide box office.

The sequel will include the return of John Jarratt as the psychotic outback killer Mick Taylor.

According to IMDB the film is scheduled for release in 2013.

Source: shocktillyoudrop.com

Tickets on sale for Conflux banquet

2011-08-06T18:13:00.000-07:00

TICKETS are available for this year's Conflux banquet.

Hosted by Dr Gillian Polack and put on as part of the Canberra convention which runs from October 1 to 3, the banquet will be a recreation of the LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin's first round the world trip in August, 1929.

It will include a historically accurate menu and entertainment by Talie Helene.

The dinner will be held in the Hellenic Club in Woden (about 400m from the Convention Hotel).

Tickets are $50 and available to non-convention guests.

Rocky Wood's Stephen King books go digital

2011-08-03T17:18:00.000-07:00

A REVISED kindle ebook edition of Rocky Wood’s Stephen King companion Uncollected, Unpublished is available from Cemetery Dance.

The book is a comprehensive review of almost 100 unpublished and uncollected works of fiction including novels, short stories, screenplays and poems.

It also features the first publication of two lost works, including an entire chapter from King’s unpublished 1970 novel Sword in the Darkness.

It is listed for download through Amazon and Nook for US$9.99.

Also available in ebook format is Rocky Wood and Justin Brooks’ Stephen King: The Non-Fiction.

This book reviews more than 650 of King’s non-fiction articles, essays and works.

It can be downloaded from Amazon, Nook and ibookstore for US$9.99.

Slatter story to feature among horror royalty

2011-08-01T23:12:00.000-07:00

ANGELA Slatter will join an illustrious line up in the forthcoming A Book of Horrors edited by Stephen Jones.

Her story The Coffin-Maker's Daughter is one of 15 stories selected for the anthology to be published by the UK’s PS Publishing.

The book will also feature new original stories by Stephen King, Ramsey Campbell, John Ajvide Lindqvist, Richard Christian Matheson and Michael Marshall Smith.

It is available for pre-order and scheduled for release later this year.

A limited hardcover bookshop edition of the book is available for $60.

The edition is limited to 1000 copies and is signed by Stephen Jones and cover artist Les Edwards.

An extremely limited edition signed by all of the authors had been offered by Cemetery Dance, but all 83 copies appear to have already sold out.

Brett McBean's The Last Motel novel tie-in re-released

2011-08-01T17:23:00.000-07:00

BRETT McBean’s debut novel The Last Motel has been re-released through Legumeman Books in a limited lettered and standard edition.

As recently revealed by McBean, the book – originally released in 2002 - is a novelisation of Bruce ‘Butch’ Callaghan out of print 1981 Australian film the Last Motel.

It was written in honour of the film, but was not promoted as such because of Callaghan’s bitterness towards the original movie.

McBean explains more here.

Following Callaghan’s death, the book has been revised to more closely resemble the film.

BLURB:
The Lodgepole Pine Motel, is the setting for nerve-wracking terror when a group of unsuspecting travellers find themselves trapped in a nightmare of violence and mayhem. Madge Fraiser is the kindly old owner of the rustic mountain hideaway, which, during one long night, will become awash with blood, as the guests are stalked one by one by a sadistic killer. Who will live to see the dawn, and who will learn that this is one motel where checking in can be murder? They only wanted to stay one night. But one night can last a lifetime at…The Last Motel.

The revised edition is available from Legumeman Books in an extremely limited lettered edition (26 copies only) for $50 or $20 for the standard edition.

Source: Sinister Reads.

Brisbane indie film Loyalty releases trailer

2011-07-30T21:26:00.000-07:00

Brisbane writer/director Jake Reedy has posted a trailer for his up and coming action thriller Loyalty.

The indie film focuses on the lives of four low-level criminals who, after crossing the local mob, are asked to babysit a rival crime boss being held prisoner for 24 hours as payment.

However, it soon becomes clear that their captive is not what he seems and knows more about the four of them than he should. All of them have skeletons in the closet, but their main concern is to make it until the morning without killing their hostage or each other.

View the trailer here.

Reedy will host a free public screening of the film on its release later this year.

He previously wrote and directed the dramatic thriller Tin God, released earlier this year.

2011 Aurealis Awards open for entries

2011-07-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

Entries are now open in the 2011 Aurealis Awards.

All speculative works published for the first time between January 1 and December 31 and written by an Australian or permanent resident are eligible.

Categories include horror novel, short story, science fiction (novel and short story), fantasy (novel and short story), young fiction (novel and short story) and children's picture book.

Entries close on December 31 with winners to be announced in March at an awards presentation in Sydney.

To enter, or nominate a work for entry, go to the Aurealis Awards' website.

You can also email convenors Chris Barnes and Susan Wardle with any queries at convenors@aurealisawards.com.

The 2011 awards are presented by SpecFaction NSW.

Discount offer on Cameron Trost's debut novel

2011-07-29T03:45:00.000-07:00

Australian author Cameron Trost has released two ebooks for download through Smashwords.

His novella Let Darkness Take Hold is available for US$1.20, while his debut novel, thriller Letterbox is US$2.99.

Get 50% off the Letterbox this weekend as part of a Smashwords promotional offer until July 31.

Matthew Tait - Ghosts in a Desert World released

2011-07-29T03:35:00.000-07:00

Matthew Tait's debut short story collection Ghosts in a Dessert World is available as an ebook through Smashwords.

The book features 13 stories of the macabre and was released this month.

It is available for download for US$1.99.

From the blurb:

Our world is not the only one... From apartments haunted by ghosts both internal and external, and horror museums masquerading as doorways, to towns where vehicular manslaughter is a way of life, and highways are a preying ground for monsters, GHOSTS IN A DESERT WORLD is a collection of 13 macabre tales designed to chill you the core.

Creeping in Reptile Flesh collection released as ebook

2011-07-29T02:09:00.001-07:00

A re-released ebook of Robert Hood's short story collection Creeping in Reptile Flesh is available for download from Smashwords.

The collection features all 14 stories from the 2008 Altair Australia Books print release as well as a bonus short story.

It is priced at US$3.95.

Download your copy here.

From the blurb:

This collection by Robert Hood, Australia’s master of the macabre, offers 15 short stories to tantalyze your mind and tempt your appetite. From rotting food to rotting corpses, this collection is vividly thought out madness, with Hood’s mastermind at its core. Leave your lights on for this one — all of them.