What horror book releases are you looking forward to this month? Here are three I’ve got my eye on:

Dearest by Jacquie Walters coming 17 September

Rachel Harrison, author of Black Sheep, said: “A fast-paced and frightening debut that explores the nightmares of new motherhood, with plenty of twists and scares”.

Evil in Me by Brom coming 17 September

Matthew Lyons, author of A Mask of Flies, said: "Evil in Me is a delightfully wicked tale packed to the brim with mayhem, music, and no small amount of monstrous, malevolent magic”.

Sinophagia: A Celebration of Chinese Horror 2024 edited by Xueting C. Ni - coming 24 September

An anthology of chilling tales from 14 talented voices from contemporary China, translated into English for the very first time. ...

Calling all of my weird and magical followers!

Not long now until the WhimsyGoth Market ‘Spooktember’!

It’s taking place on Saturday 28 September in Camden, with more than 50 amazing artists, a cafe and bar, photo booth and more!

I’ll be there selling and signing books. I can`t wait! Do come along!

#goth #market #camden #london #september #arts #crafts #writers #artists #spooky #magic #tarot #oracle #event #savethedate #meetandgreet #horror #signing ...

“D R MILLER DOESN’T DISAPPOINT. 3 amazing stories that I couldn’t put down. The descriptive writing and exciting plots draws you in and makes you feel that you are there observing the stories as they unfold.”

Thank you so much, Ray, for the kind review!

If you’d like to pick up a copy of my short story collection Victorian Gothic Tales, head over to Amazon where the Kindle edition is currently £3.99!

#weekend #writer #author #horrorauthor #goth #fiction #mystery #writing #books #reading #booklife #bookcommunity #booklove #horrorbooks #horrorcommunity #horrorauthor #horrorwriter #gothic #goth #audiobook #listennow #instabooks #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #horrorbooksofinstagram ...

“Halloween is a celebration of the inversion of reality and a necessary Gothic hat-tip to the darker aspects of life, death, and ourselves.”

I love this quote from Stewart Stafford.

Who else is starting to get excited for Halloween?

#halloween #spooky #spookyseason #september #goth #gothic #stewardstafford #quote #wednesday ...

Happy Monday, everyone and happy September!

Is it just me or is this year going by in a flash?

Now, let’s start the week with some lore.

Ever heard of the Mothman?

This seven-foot cryptid has huge wings and glowing red eyes. Sightings have been reported across West Virginia since the early 1960s.

Some believe the legend has connections to Native American folklore with the Shawnee tribe telling stories of a winged man believed to be a harbinger of doom.

Mothman sightings are said to come with a sense of dread and unease.

Despite being a creature of folklore, cryptozoologists and paranormal enthusiasts alike are rather taken by the idea of the Mothman.

Every year the Mothman Festival is hosted in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Thousands visit to commemorate the legend of the Mothman.

#Mothman #MothmanFestival #CryptidCulture #PointPleasant #MothmanLegend
#MothmanSightings #MothmanMyth #CryptidHunter #Paranormal #MothmanProphecies #MothmanMuseum #WestVirginia #MothmanMystery #Mothman2024 #Lore ...

To my followers old and new, thanks for being here!

I know many of you have already read or are part-way through the Victorian Gothic trilogy. For those that haven’t read it, why not pick up book one today for weekend reading?

The Uncanny Death of Katherine Kramer is set in Victorian England: London in December 1888, to be specific. Jack the Ripper has not killed for over a month and London is beginning to relax as Christmas approaches.

Katherine Kramer cuts herself on a strange book at a dinner party and quickly falls ill with a mysterious ailment. As Katherine dies, she gives birth to something nightmarish and her husband, Richard, embarks on a terrifying journey of discovery…who or WHAT killed his wife?

The book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. It is also available in audiobook form via Audible and Amazon.

Let me know if you grab a copy!

Happy reading and happy weekend!

#weekend #writer #author #horrorauthor #goth #fiction #mystery #writing #books #reading #booklife #bookcommunity #booklove #horrorbooks #horrorcommunity #horrorauthor #horrorwriter #gothic #goth #audiobook #listennow #instabooks #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #horrorbooksofinstagram ...

Still thinking about last weekend in Lincoln.

Myself and Rob Maybin were at Perfectly Imperfect Products’ wonderful shop where I was selling and signing books. Thank you so much for hosting us!

I encourage you to check out the shop. It’s a treasure trove of steampunk and vintage wear and now stocks Victorian Gothic!

It was great to see old friends and forge new connections.

To anyone who has supported me in any capacity - THANK YOU! Every sale, review, follow, like, comment…it all means so much.

#writer #author #horrorauthor #goth #fiction #mystery #writing #books #reading #booklife #bookcommunity #booklove #horrorbooks #horrorcommunity #horrorauthor #horrorwriter #gothic #goth #audiobook #listennow #steampunk #vintage #instabooks #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #horrorbooksofinstagram ...

Today is the birthday of pioneering horror director Wes Craven (1939-2015).

His creation, A Nightmare on Elm Street, was groundbreaking at the time, blurring the lines between dreams and reality.

He also created the cultural phenomenon the Scream series, which revitalised the slasher genre.

More of Craven’s key contributions to the horror genre include The Last House on the Left and The Hills Have Eyes.

His work is a cornerstone of horror cinema and he’s inspired a generation of filmmakers, with directors like Jordan Peele and James Wan citing him as an influence.

Actor David Arquette said: “The first impression is just like, “Wow, that’s Wes Craven?” Because he’s so soft-spoken, and he’s so intelligent, and he just doesn’t seem like this scary figure at all. He really was a guy who just loved movies and loved scaring people. He understood the fun of being scared but being in no danger.”

Happy birthday, Wes Craven!

#HorrorLegend #MasterOfHorror #HorrorMovies #HorrorIcon #Filmmaking #DirectorSpotlight #WesCraven #WesCravenForever #RIPWesCraven #WesCravenFans #WesCravenFilms #ANightmareOnElmStreet #FreddyKrueger #ScreamMovie #Ghostface #TheHillsHaveEyes #HorrorFranchise #HorrorGenius #SlasherFilms #HorrorHistory #ScaryMovies #HorrorCulture ...

On this date in 1973, the Norrmalmstorg robbery in Stockholm, Sweden, began.

It’s one of the most famous bank heists in history and gave rise to the psychological phenomenon, Stockholm Syndrome, whereby hostages develop a bond with their captors.

For six days, four bank employees were held hostage by two convicts inside a cramped bank vault. During this time the captives developed a bizarre bond with their captors.

The perpetrators surrendered when police pumped tear gas into the vault. The captives sought to protect their captors when they were released, begging the police not to hurt them.

In the doorway of the vault the convicts and victims embraced, kissed and shook hands.

One of the captives admitted to having a special affection for one of the captors, later visiting him in prison repeatedly.

The incident was a global media spectacle with reporters covering the standoff in real time.

Psychiatrists named the strange phenomenon Stockholm Syndrome within months of the siege and the media attention was key in spreading awareness about the psychological state.

#TrueCrime #CrimeHistory #HistoricalEvents #CriminalPsychology #CrimeStory #CrimeFacts #NorrmalmstorgRobbery #StockholmSyndrome #PsychologyOfCrime #BankRobbery #CriminalMind #PsychologicalPhenomenon #TrueCrimeCommunity #HistoryOfPsychology #TrueCrimeStories ...

Perfectly Imperfect Products is hosting an exciting event in Lincoln that starts tomorrow at midday.

The excellent Rob Maybin of Steampunk Global will be there from Friday along with an assortment of other traders, raffles and games.

I’ll be heading along this weekend.

Hope to see you there! ...

Hi All!

Have you had the chance to listen to my audiobook yet?

Victorian Gothic Volume 1: The Uncanny Death of Katherine Kramer really comes to life in audio form, narrated by the incredible Jonathan Keeble.

It’s available on Spotify and Audible. Give it a listen and let me know what you think!

#writer #author #horrorauthor #goth #fiction #mystery #writing #books #reading #booklife #bookcommunity #booklove #horrorbooks #horrorcommunity #horrorauthor #horrorwriter #gothic #goth #audiobook #listennow #instabooks #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #horrorbooksofinstagram ...

This is the name for the distinctive smell of old books. The aroma is created by the chemical breakdown of paper, ink and glue.

Part of the appeal of bibliosmia is the link between smell and memory, with the reader having a multisensory experience.

The term was coined in 2014 in a Tweet by scholar Dr Oliver Teale.

He wrote: “I reckon there are more bibliosmiacs out there than many people would realise. It`s time we stood up, book in hand, to be counted.”

Who’s with me?!

#writer #author #horrorauthor #goth #fiction #mystery #writing #books #reading #booklife #bookcommunity #booklove #horrorbooks #horrorcommunity #horrorauthor #horrorwriter #gothic #goth #newbook #quote #instabooks #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #horrorbooksofinstagram #bibliosmia ...

On 16 August 1986, the sequel to the original The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) was released.

Believing audiences missed the subtle dark humour in the first film, director Tobe Hooper went for a satirical and darkly comedic tone for the sequel.

The original cut of the movie was longer and gorier than the version that was released and yet the film was still banned in multiple countries. In Australia it was banned for more than two decades.

Although it was released to mixed reviews due to its departure from the original’s gritty tone, it ultimately became a cult classic.

Do you prefer the original or part two?

#horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #cultclassic #chainsawmassacre #gore #blackcomedy #friday ...

There are some really exciting looking horror film releases this month.

First up, Cuckoo is a horror thriller written and directed by Tilman Singer that was released on 9 August. It’s about a teenager who moves to the German Alps where she begins to feel very trapped. A review in the LA Times said: “One may not entirely understand exactly what is going on in “Cuckoo,” but there’s no denying how it makes you feel: rattled, unsettled, psychically imprinted with unforgettable images and sensations…”

The Deliverance, co-written and directed by Lee Daniels, is based on the true story of a family possession that occurred in Indiana in 2011. It releases on the 16th…

Stream, coming on the 21st, is directed, co-written and co-produced by Michael Leavy. He said in a statement: “‘Stream’ is a modernized slasher made by horror fans for horror fans…”

Strange Darling is a horror thriller written and directed by JT Mollner that will be released on August 23. According to its brief synopsis, it’s "one day in the twisted love life of a serial killer"...

Last but not least, Afraid is a sci-fi horror releasing on the 30th August. It’s about an evil AI that becomes self aware and starts interfering with a family`s lives…

Are any of these on your radar?

#horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #newrelease #augusthorror #author #horrorauthor #AI #spooky #thriller #scifi #sciencefiction ...

Who else loves getting lost in a long book? What’s the longest book you’ve read?

Marcel Proust’s ‘In Search of Lost Time’ has an estimated word count of around 1.2 million words….there’s probably such a thing as too long!

As for the cup of tea, never too big!

#writer #author #horrorauthor #goth #fiction #mystery #writing #books #reading #booklife #bookcommunity #booklove #horrorbooks #horrorcommunity #horrorauthor #horrorwriter #gothic #goth #newbook #quote #instabooks #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #horrorbooksofinstagram ...

❓What about the Victorian Gothic trilogy are you most proud of?❓

Some of the things I’m most proud of:

▪The contrast between the calmness and level-headedness of Lily against the insanity of Constance.
▪The ‘love never dies’ bond between Charlie and Constance. True soulmates.
▪The almost paternal bond that alters Westcott’s outlook on his life’s work.
▪The question of fate versus free will which looms ever louder as the trilogy continues.

#writer #author #horrorauthor #goth #fiction #mystery #writing #books #reading #booklife #bookcommunity #booklove #horrorbooks #horrorcommunity #horrorauthor #horrorwriter #gothic #goth #instabooks #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #horrorbooksofinstagram ...

I recently watched Other Side of the Box, a horror short directed by Caleb J. Phillips.

A couple receives a mysterious package from an old friend. It’s not too much of a spoiler to say that the film’s ‘entity’ is revealed early on in the film and the premise of the film is knowingly being watched and being unable to look away as a measure of self preservation.

Phillips said: “I was so taken with this idea of terror coming from something as simple as being stared at, and the imagery of the head in the box deeply unsettled me. I’m a huge fan of cosmic horror and I wanted to make a film that felt more like an investigation instead of running from a monster”.

Have you seen this one? If you have any horror short recommendations please leave them below!

#film #movie #horror #horrorshort #filmrecommendation #horrorcommunity #goth #gothic #othersideofthebox #CalebPhillips ...

“The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color. Often at night there is lightning, but it quivers all alone. There is no thunder, no relieving rain. These are strange and breathless days, the dog days, when people are led to do things they are sure to be sorry for after.”

I love this magical passage by Natalie Babbitt from her children’s novel, Tuck Everlasting. A book about immortality published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 1975.

#books #literature #August #summer #NatalieBabbitt #TuckEverlasting #quote #magic #autumn #reading #writing #author ...

Excited to announce that I will have a stall at this year’s WhimsyGoth Market in September.

It’s an alternative market in Camden for the weird and magical!

It’s going to be a fantastic event with tons of talented small businesses showcasing their handmade curios.

I hope to see you there!

#90switchaesthetic #90switch #thewhimsygothmarket #camdenmarket #alternativemarket #gothmarket #camdentown #smallbusinesssupport #wednesdayaddams #horror #gothic #goth #horrorwriter #author #horrorauthor ...

I can’t believe it’s the end of July already!

Lammas, also known as Lughnasadh (after the Celtic god Lugh), is an ancient festival with roots in Celtic and Pagan traditions that is celebrated on 1 August.

Historically, it was a harvest festival to celebrate the first harvest of the year that held a deeper spiritual significance as a time of transition.

Rituals and ceremonies were held to honour the gods and goddesses associated with the harvest.

It was sometimes believed to be a time when the veil between the physical world and the spirit world was thin, making it a time for divination, contacting ancestors, and performing protective rituals.

Corn dollies made from the harvest were kept in homes to ensure fertility and protection over the winter months.

In some traditions, Lammas was considered a time when witches gathered to celebrate the harvest.

There were also stories of ‘harvest ghosts’ appearing in the fields during Lammas and protecting the land. Seeing one was considered a good omen.

Here’s to a plentiful August!

#july #august #folklore #harvest #Lammas #Lughnasadh #Lugh #tradition #witches #ghosts #omen #author #writer #horrorauthor #horrorwriter #books #reading #goth #gothic ...