12 Gauge: Songs from a Street Sweeper by Dustin LaValley Cover Reveal

March 25, 2018 by

12 Gauge: Songs from a Street Sweeper Cover Reveal

We are very excited at Sinister Grin Press to unveil the cover for Dustin LaValley’s next book with us, 12 Gauge: Songs from a Street Sweeper, which is a collection of his novellas. The set includes Spinner, H/armed, and The Deceived. The Deceived, a psychological thriller, has already been optioned for film. The collection will publish in July 2018, but digital pre-order will be available very soon.

We won’t keep you in suspense, but present you with the cover, then be sure to follow after to the rest of the article below to hear thoughts from the author and the artist.

“One of the best things about my experiences working with Sinister Grin so far has been all the creative freedom they give me in executing covers for them,” Davis said. “It says a lot about how they trust my decision-making process, and that allows me to go into every project uninhibited as far as the kinds of ideas I think I want to try.

With the cover for 12 Gauge, I wanted to try something at least thematically similar to the previous cover I’d done for a Dustin LaValley book: A Soundless Dawn. I wanted to do something that evoked the same kind of reaction, so I went with something abstract and minimalist. Both of the pieces play with themes of sound and song, so the imagery reflects that. Texture is important, too. I always try to pile on layers of subtle textures to push the eye around.”

LaValley agreed that the art reflects the content and is very happy with the work. At Sinister Grin Press, our hope is that readers are drawn in as well to the entire package.

“Matt Davis has done a fantastic job with 12 Gauge: Songs from A Street Sweeper, LaValley said. “Displaying the frayed characteristics of those found within while at the same time, keep the cool and calm, stoic simplicity of the work in full view.  I couldn’t be happier with the cover art.”

12 Gauge : Songs from a Street Sweeper, Synopsis –

12 Gauge : Songs from A Street Sweeper includes three white-knuckled novellas.

Spinner

A prison escapee leads law enforcement on a chase through the Adirondack Mountains, where
they encounter a reclusive elderly man with a dark secret.

H/armed

An ultra-violent satirical commentary on societal norms, cliques, and obedience.

The Deceived

A criminal pair invade the home of the wrong man on the wrong day.

Praise

“Spinner is a thriller, a horror story, and an adventure narrative. It’s also a lot of fast, bloody,
violent fun.” - Gabino Iglesias, Horror Talk

“LaValley creates a non-stop, adrenaline ride of violence and mayhem, in a setting Americans
know all so well. H/armed is a bloody, relentless and visceral assault on the senses. Wickedly
entertaining.” - Paul Hough, writer/director of The Human Race

“The Deceived is equal parts thrilling, creepy, and downright brutal. A wonderful tale.”
- Ronald Malfi, author of Bone White

Dustin LaValley, Biography -                              

Dustin LaValley was unable to attend the black-tie gala to receive the SUNY Parnassus Award for Creative Writing, as he had a fight in New Hampshire the same night, where he brought home gold. He’s had several books published, and as a screenwriter several scripts produced. His psychological thriller novella The Deceived, which is included in (12 Gauge) Songs from a Street Sweeper, has been optioned for film. He lives in the Adirondacks of New York, where he’s a practicing Sensei of Seito Shito Ryu karate and Okinawan jujutsu.

Media/Reviewers

Digital ARCS will be available within the next week for those interested in reviewing. Scheduling is also underway for interviews or features with LaValley. Please contact Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi at [email protected] or find her on Twitter at @erinalmehairi, if interested.

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Jason Parent’s They Feed Cover Reveal

March 11, 2018 by

Cover Reveal for THEY FEED by Jason Parent

 

The first book of 2018 to be published at Sinister Grin Press is a horror novel called THEY FEED by Jason Parent. It’s due to be out April 15 in e-book and paperback formats on most major online retail sites.

Today, we want to reveal the fantastic cover for THEY FEED and give you some information about the book! Stay tuned to our blog, Twitter, and Facebook ongoing for news such as pre-order and launch of this book, as well as other upcoming books.

(Pre-order now available for Kindle edition)

 

About the Cover

 

The artist on the project for Sinister Grin Press was Zach McCain. “The idea for this cover was simple,” he said. “A rundown cabin in the woods. I started by doing a pencil drawing but the overall feel was too soft and not edgy enough. I decided to go the digital route and use lots of black. The second attempt achieved the proper tone.”

At Sinister, we feel that the cover truly absorbs the atmosphere of the story and draws the reader into the darkness of the story.

 

“I love the cover for They Feed! It’s dark, it’s beautiful, it’s sinister… Zach perfectly captures that border between two realities, that moment at dusk when the world of day creatures come to an end and the slithering things of the night have their reign,” Parent said, of his new cover.

 

Are you wondering what THEY FEED is about?

 

The night uncovers all we wish not to see.

 

A troubled man enters a dusky park before sunset. A young woman follows, hidden in shadow. Both have returned to the park to take back something the past has stolen from them, to make right six long years of suffering, and to find justice or perhaps redemption—or maybe they’ll settle for some old-fashioned revenge.

 

But something evil is alive and awake in those woods, creatures that care nothing for human motivations. They’re driven by their own insatiable need: a ravenous, bottomless hunger.

 

The campgrounds are full tonight, and the creatures are starving. Before the night is over, they will feed.

 

An unrelenting tale of terror from Jason Parent, acclaimed author of People of the Sun and What Hides Within.

 

Jason Parent, Biography –

Jason is an author of horror, thrillers, mysteries, science fiction, and dark humor, though his many novels, novellas, and short stories tend to blur the boundaries between these genres. From his award-winning first horror/mystery novel, What Hides Within, to his widely applauded police procedural/supernatural thriller, Seeing Evil, Jason’s work has won him praise from both critics and fans of diverse genres alike. His work has been compared to that of some of his personal favorite authors, such as Chuck Palahniuk, Jack Ketchum, Tess Gerritsen, and Joe Hill.

 

Jason grew up near Fall River, Massachusetts, the setting for several of his novels. He has lived in New England most his life, currently residing in Rhode Island.

 

Sinister Grin Press -

 

Sinister Grin Press publishes horror, fantasy, science fiction, urban, and western novels. Most of our books are so horrifying they’re categorized as “books you can sink your teeth into!” Please peruse our back catalog for an array of titles as well as follow us to learn about our new and upcoming books for 2018. We have some superb authors on board to offer you what we hope will be some of your best reads of the year.

 

 

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David Bernstein’s Episodes of Violence Cover Revealed

July 9, 2017 by

At Sinister Grin Press, we are thrilled to welcome back David Bernstein to our publishing catalog again this year. For July, we are releasing his novel, Episodes of Violence, in limited edition hardback. Orders will be taken until July 30. Soon after, it will also be available in print and digital formats too! David feels this is one of his most brutal and emotional manuscripts yet, and we feel it’s one of his most accomplished. If you’re a fan of the books of Jack Ketchum, you’ll want to pick this one up. You’ll definitely want it if you’re already a fan of David himself. Let us entice you further with the outstanding piece of art that is the cover, created by none other than artist Zack McCain. Check out the synopsis below, view the cover, and then continue to read, as Zack explains about the covers creation.

 

 

Episodes of Violence, Synopsis –

Amber had been looking forward to college life. She loved high school and was certain college would be even better, especially since she pledged one of the sororities on campus. At least that was what she thought, until one night her soul was fractured and darkness awoke within her.

Unable to cope, she returns home hoping to heal. Unfortunately, her hometown is wrought with brutal violence. People are being slaughtered in random fashion. The police are clueless. Despite the surrounding chaos, she is still determined to thrive.

However, when the violence shows up at her front door and rips her life apart, she realizes that the darkness within her is the only thing that will keep her sane and alive.

From the storyteller mastermind David Bernstein, author of Witch Island and A Mixed Bag of Blood, comes one of his most gut-wrenching tales yet. You might not sleep after this one.

 

 

PRE-ORDER LIMITED EDITION HERE

 

Creating the Cover
by Zack McCain

 

My direction from Sinister Grin was that there was to be three images stacked on top of each other, but slightly offset.  The top image was to be of someone playing “mailbox baseball.” The middle image should be a close-up of a woman’s eyes with a terrified look.  And the bottom image should be of a woman carrying a knife in one hand and a severed head in the other.

 

I started off by doing a sketch.

 

 

Once the sketch was approved, I began drawing it out on a comic book board.  Once I had it scanned into the computer, I began adding color and texture to the background.

 

 

After laying down some color, I realized it needed more contrast so I began adding highlights and making the darks… darker.

 

 

As soon as the images started to look right, I started trying out different fonts.  League Gothic seemed to fit the best.  But I wasn’t very happy with it being a straight line across the top and the bottom.  And the cover was still lacking something that would make it flow better from top to bottom.

 

 

I decided to offset the text and have it stacked just as the images are stacked and offset from each other.  The cover began to flow much better after that.  The final piece was adding some blood spatter to the background connecting each of the images.

 

 

A very straightforward cover compared to some.  The real challenge was finding a way to give movement to a cover that had the potential to be very static.

 

At Sinister Grin, we feel  that Zack really made this cover pop with his artistic talent to create something unique that you’ll want to own to accentuate the stellar content inside.

PRE-ORDER LE LINK HERE

David Bernstein, Biography -

 

David Bernstein is originally from a small town in Upstate New York called Salisbury Mills. He now resides in NYC and misses being surrounded by chainsaw-wielding maniacs and wild backwoods people that like to eat raw human flesh. He’s grown used to the city, though hiding bodies is much harder there.

 

He is the author of Amongst the Dead, Damaged Souls, The Tree Man, Witch Island, Relic of Death, Apartment 7C, the short story collection A Mixed Bag of Blood, and now,  Episodes of Violence. David writes all kinds of horror, from hair-raising ghost stories to gore-filled slashers and apocalyptic tales of terror. He loves hearing from his readers.

 

You can reach him on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/david.bernstein.3. Visit him at his website: davidbernsteinauthor.blogspot.com email [email protected], or on Twitter at @Bernsteinauthor.

 

Sinister Grin Press

While you’re here, check out what else Sinister Grin Press has to offer by looking around our site. We have plenty of books in all sub-genres of horror that are sure to “carve a smile on your face.”

 

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The Journal of Jeremy Todd by John Quick

June 28, 2017 by

Sinister Grin Press is excited to reveal the cover created by artist Matt Davis for The Journal of Jeremy Todd by author John Quick. This composition notebook-style cover was designed with graphics and hand written font by Matt. Unlike most books, this won’t have back cover copy, but instead is a continuation of the art just like a real journal. An introduction to the book will grace the inside front pages.

The Journal of Jeremy Todd is written in first person and is the account of Jeremy Todd. Is he crazy? He says he’s not. Only you can decide based on his found journal, which we’ve published on behalf of the Riverview Mental Health Center (wink wink). When the journal was found, there were many other clues tucked inside as well. These clues were nicely designed for Sinister Grin by graphic artist Kevin Robel of Robel Graphics.

We think readers will have a unique experience with this book and look forward to getting it into your hands on July 15, 2017. Please let us know what you think!

PRE-ORDER NOW

The Journal of Jeremy Todd, Synopsis -

“I am not crazy.

I’ve had some issues. That I won’t deny. But am I crazy? I suppose that’s going to be up to you to figure out.

This is what happened to me around the time of my high school reunion. This is what I did, and why I did it. The story not only of that reunion and the events surrounding it, the ones you’ve probably read about in the papers, but about the things that happened during high school that make it necessary for things to play out the way they did. This is what happened to me, and to all those kids who thought I was simply a target in school. This is the true story of what they did to me, and what I did to them in return.

Once you’ve read my tale, I’m sure you’ll agree that I’m not crazy.

And who cares what that judge thought, anyway?”

From John Quick, the author of the highly regarded debut novel Consequences, and the collection, Three Shots and a Chaser, comes a unique tale of simmering madness and revenge. The Journal of Jeremy Todd, found by Riverview Mental Hospital staff, has now been made public.

John Quick, Biograpy –

John Quick has been reading and writing scary and disturbing stuff for as long as he can remember, and has only recently begun releasing some of his creations upon the world.

His debut novel, Consequences, is available now as a paperback or digital format. At the end of 2016 he published a small short story collection, called Three Shots and a Chaser, with a unique idea of wrapping those stories around a main story. It’s available in digital or print formats as well. He’s excited to have now released his next novel, The Journal of Jeremy Todd, with Sinister Grin Press. He lives in Middle Tennessee with his wife, two kids, and four dogs that think they’re kids.

When he’s not hard at work on his next novel, you can find him online at :http://johnquickauthor.blogspot.com/ or on Facebook and Twitter.

 

PRE-ORDER NOW

Sinister Grin Press

While you’re here, check out what else Sinister Grin Press has to offer by looking around our site. We have plenty of books in all sub-genres of horror that are sure to “carve a smile on your face.”

 

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Pulling Teeth with Jason Parent

April 7, 2017 by

Pulling Teeth with Jason Parent 

 

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

 

I’ve been writing for a long time. I’ve done freelance journalism work for which I was paid,

published articles in law journals and other magazines and journals, and sold creative writing pieces that people will have a hard time finding. And though I don’t argue this is the standard others should hold themselves to, I didn’t feel like I might be a writer until I saw my first novel up for sale on Amazon. I think it was more the feeling of having finished something substantial than the actual sale, since I had started several times before and given up.

 

What inspired you to write your first book?

 

Life. Sometimes, I’d rather be someplace else for a while and resurface when the storm settles. Because no matter how bad things have ever been for me, my characters always have it a thousand times worse. Really helps to put things into perspective. Of course, I could just watch the news…

 

What books have most influenced your life most?

 

I often cite Poe and King in response to this question, both of whom I have fostered my love for all things dark and dreary, but those I never mention, those that have easily influenced my thinking, inspired my passion for reading, and prodded my imagination, are wildly diverse: J.R.R. Tolkien and Michael Sullivan; Alexandre Dumas and Jonathan Swift; Milton, Shakespeare, Frost, Hayden, Bradbury and Vonnegut. William Blake. Joseph Conrad. Robert Louis Stevenson and the infallible Oscar Wilde. My favorite college course was entirely devoted to Chaucer. I can’t tell you how much reading about a cook and his ulcers and learning what a gelding is have shaped the man I am today.

 

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

 

Tons. I love modern horror, and Sinister Grin is home to some of my favorites’ work, like Hunter Shea and Jonathan Janz. Laird Barron writes literary brilliance, the stuff that challenges my brain, and Tim Curran is a master of atmosphere. Mercedes Yardley’s work always comes with beautiful prose and a heaping dose of soul. Adam Howe and Jeff Strand make me laugh, seemingly with ease. Depending how new where talking, I’m still quick to pick up works from Kealan Patrick Burke, Jonathan Maberry, King and McCammon. But the list is endless. Kevin Lucia, Greg Gifune, Michael McBride… There’s a lot of talent out there, many people with whom I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating and many I have not yet but hope to someday, new blood deserving of horror/sci-fi fans’ attention. I’m reading Nick Cutter’s The Troop right now and am thoroughly engrossed (and grossed out).

 

Can you share a little of your current Sinister Grin Press work with us?

 

 People of the Sun is my black mirror. Sure, it’s got a lot of action, horror, and sci-fi elements—even superhero/comic book-like dogma—as it the novel follows four aliens with unique abilities as they face off against the human race. But, I hope, it also has heart and substance, not heavy-handed but latent and sneaking.

 

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in any of your books?

 

Yes. The cover of my first book. I’m working on that.

 

 

Do you have any strange writing habits (like standing on your head or writing in the shower)?

 

I write in the bathtub a lot… or used to. Lately, I’ve been falling asleep in there and ending up with soggy notebooks filled with blue smudges. Better than a soggy computer, I suppose.

 

Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? What is it?

 

Everything is fair game if it furthers the story.

 

What is your biggest fear?

 

Failure… no, sharks. Definitely sharks. Then failure… Or piranha.  

 

What do you want your tombstone to say?

 

Nothing. I want to be cremated. It would be nice to think my work might live on, even if just one copy that gives meaning to someone if only for a little while.

 

Or it could say, “He hated sharks.”

People of the Sun

All life comes from the sun. Sometimes, death comes with it.

Filled with hope and compelled by fear, four would-be heroes are driven from their home planet in a desperate bid to save their civilization from extinction. But survival takes on a whole new meaning when a malfunction sends their ship plummeting toward Earth.

Surviving the crash is only the first obstacle on their path to salvation. The marooned aliens soon discover that Earth’s beautiful exterior masks an ugly foundation, a place inhabited by a warrior race that’s on a path toward self-destruction.

Brimming with action and intrigue, People of the Sun is sure to entice fans of dark fantasy and sci-fi thrillers such as Watchmen and I Am Number Four.

“Jason Parent has penned a thought-provoking, gripping scifi thriller. This isn’t your grandma’s alien invasion. My own world stopped the moment I stepped into People of the Sun. Lovers of science fiction, horror and even super heroes will revel in this roller-coaster of a tale. A true must-read!” Hunter Shea, author of We Are Always Watching and The Jersey Devil

“With his own indelible blend of tension and dark humor, Jason Parent’s latest page-turner reminds me of what you’d get if you crossed Isaac Asimov with Kurt Vonnegut. In addition to being fast-paced and wildly entertaining, Parent’s novel also offers the occasional flash of insight into the human (and not-so-human) condition, and displays Parent’s talent for turning a given genre on its head.” -Michael Meyerhofer, author of The Dragonkin Trilogy

 

 

 

 

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Review : The Hematophages by Stephen Kozeniewski

April 5, 2017 by

The Hematophages

by Stephen Kozeniewski

Review

Stephen Kozeniewski provides the reader a breath of futuristic fresh air with his novel The Hematophages. Given an offer that can’t be refused, the main character becomes part of a funeral shrouded expedition assigned to explore a planet described by scientists as a spinning organism. Salvaging an appointed derelict seed ship on the celestial body turns quickly into a gut wrenching mission which Kozeniewski has described with seemingly flawless Sci-Fi accuracy and believability. Not only has the author successfully created a creepy alternate flesh world but descriptions of terrestrial hematophage creatures bring an all too real horror to the inventive storyline. The Hematophages is an unexpected blindside of literary fantasy horror that will keep the reader on the edge of their spacecraft seat.

Mike Rankin

Hudson Booksellers

https://www.hudsonbooksellers.com/mike-r

 

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Pulling Teeth with Phillip Tomasso

March 26, 2017 by

PULLING TEETH – PHILLIP TOMASSO    

 

Where are you from?

I am born and raised in Rochester, NY.

 

Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?

I spent 19 years working for the Eastman Kodak Company. The last ten in the legal department, working as an employment law paralegal. Due to heavy layoffs, I found myself jobless in 2008. Fortunately, I landed a job with the City of Rochester, with the Emergency Communications Department as a Fire / EMS Dispatcher for 911. Divorced for ten years, I have three amazing kids. (I call them kids. They are quite grown up now). I play guitar, and sing (but not very well at all)!

 

Tell us your latest news?

I am always working out new ideas. I have written in nearly every genre. Currently, I am working on a crime series. Gang related. Told from the point of view of Sean Geary, a gang member.

 

What book are you reading now?

At this very moment, I am reading through Ace Atkins’ Quinn Colson series. Looking forward to starting in on Ted Bell’s books, and Steve Berry’s, as well.

 

Who are some of your favourite authors?

There are just so many. I hate to leave any out. Walter Mosley, if I had to pick just one, might be it.

 

What books have most influenced your life most?

For me it all started with S.E. Hinton’s THE OUTSIDERS. I hated reading. Did all I could NOT to read.In seventh grade we were assigned her books, and THE OUTSIDERS was first. I loved it. Learned she was sixteen when she wrote it. Next I read RUMBLE FISH, THAT WAS THEN THIS IS NOW, and TEX. At that point, I knew I wanted to become a writer.

 

What is your least favorite part of the publishing / writing process?

Least? Re-writes, and editing. Suppose I am not alone there. The initial telling of the story is so simple compared to when one has to roll up the sleeves and get down to it. It isn’t that it is the least favorite part of the process, as much as it is perhaps the most challenging.

 

What inspired you to write your first book?

I was always a storyteller. It was S.E. Hinton who convinced me I could do this, sell a book. It was back in 1998 when I finished my first novel. And in February 2000, my dream had come true. MIND PLAY was released by a small California press, Dry Bones.

 

Have you ever hated something you wrote?

All the time!

 

What is the biggest lie you’ve ever told? 

It wasn’t me.  

 

 

 

Can you share a little of your current Sinister Grin Press work?

I have a fantasy series with Sinister Grin. The Severed Empire. The newest book, ASSASSIN’S PROMISE, is something of a prequel to the three already released. It is the story of a young Blodwyn, and how he came to be the man he is the trilogy.

 

How did you come up with the title?  

Blodwyn is kind of my favorite character in the Severed Empire. He is something of a teacher, but still pretty badass with a staff. The title made sense once I had the past sketched out. He was an assassin, and he made a promise. LOL.

 

Do you have any strange writing habits (like standing on your head or writing naked while eating peanut butter)?

I write the most between midnight and eight am. I am most creative during those dark hours. I like to listen to music when I write. A variety of artists. I also keep my guitar close by. When I need a break from writing, I strum a tune or two, and then get back at it.

 

What is your biggest fear?

My biggest fear is spiders. And anything blue. I don’t eat or drink anything blue. Haven’t since I was a kid.

 

What do you want your tombstone to say?

God. I never thought about it. Feel like it should be witty, or smart ass-ish. Right now, I have nothing.

 

If you had a superpower, what would it be?

To fly. Always admired Superman –not for his strength, but for his ability to fly. I dream of it often, flying.

 

What secret talents do you have?                                               

Now, if I told you, they’d no longer be a secret.

 

If you were an animal in a zoo, what would you be?

A sad thought. If I were an animal, the last place I’d want to be is in a zoo. So with captivity hanging in the balance of the question, I don’t suppose the type of animal matters.

 

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I read. A lot. Write reviews for the books I’ve read. I watch movies. A ton of movies. I am a Netflix/Hulu addict. I play guitar. However, nothing is better than days I spend with my kids.

 

What’s your favourite food?

Pizza. Hands down. Pizza. There are many close runner-ups (lobster, shrimp, tacos), but if I had to pick one food it is pizza.

 

Who would be on the soundtrack to your life story?

Jonny Lang.

 

Tell us a dirty little secret?

Not sure how much of a secret it is, but I am an emotional person. Movies make me cry. Pixar/Disney films get me all the time. In Wreck It Ralph, when Ralph busts up Vanellope’s race car … Lost it. My daughter, and her friend were laughing at me in the theater.

 

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Don’t marry the same woman. LOL.

 

What was the last great book you read, and what was the last book that disappointed you?

METALTOWN by Kristen Simmons blew me away. On my book review page, I called it the best book of 2016. John Grisham’s THE BROKER was a big, big letdown. Unfortunately, he is very hot and cold, hit and miss. I still read his books, I just always try to remain optimistically hopeful is all.

 

What is your all-time favourite horror novel, and film?

Favorite horror novel would be a tossup between Pet Sematary, and ‘Salem’s Lot.

Horror movie? I love the Alien series. I am going to stick with that. The Alien series.

 

If you could erase one horror cliché what would it be?

Sprained ankle?

 

If you could kill off any character from any other book who would you chose and how would they die?

Bella Swan? I am not sure if it is Bella, because I enjoyed the Twilight books, or Kristen Stewart. One or the other. Take your pick.

 

What do you think is the biggest problem facing horror fiction right now?

Gore and shock, just for the gore and shock of it. Horror, to me, should frighten, and be chilling, and give you nightmares. A solid ghost story, a wonderful twist, or something unthinkable. I find a lot of horror novels today just lack that –and for that reason, I have shied away from reading much in the genre. Haven’t found anyone truly worthy of reading.

 

What piece of your own work are you most proud of?

My young adult novel, SOUNDS OF SILENCE, is by far my favorite work. It is the story of a 12 year old who contracts Meningitis and becomes deaf. He fears he will never become a professional baseball player. Enrolling in a school for the deaf, he learns about –not giving up on his dreams, but about reshaping them.

 

What’s the one question you wish you would get asked but never do?  And what would be the answer?

Phil, how is it that a modestly successful, and mildly good looking guy like yourself is still single?

I haven’t a clue. But thanks for asking!

Website http://www.philliptomasso.com/

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/authorphilliptomasso

Twitter http://www.twitter.com/P_Tomasso

Amazon Author Page http://author.to/philliptomasso

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/165989.Phillip_Tomasso_III

Begin your journey into Severed Empire

    

 

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Cover Reveal for We Came Back by Patrick Lacey

March 13, 2017 by

If you Dare, Knock on the Front Door of Lynnwood High School:

Cover Reveal for We Came Back by Patrick Lacey

Now six months later since the release of the popular novel Dream Woods, with Sinister Grin Press, Patrick Lacey returns with another novel to entertain adults who grew up reading the adventures of R.L. Stine, and those who like the fantastical of H.P. Lovecraft, but with the more important layers of adulthood themes blended in. We Came Back features a good number of teenage characters, but the parents also richly shine through with their well-rounded personalities and struggles.

All of Patrick’s personal proceeds will go to a cancer-related charity in his late father’s name to help those with the disease. We Came Back is now available for pre-order and will be out in e-book and print on April 15, 2017.

 

Pre-order Link

 

And now, Sinister Grin Press presents the cover for We Came Back, graphically created by Scott Carpenter! Keep reading after the cover for the synopsis and a short interview with Patrick about his  cover and the book.

 

 

We Came Back, Synopsis -

Growing up dead.

Melvin Brown sees things that aren’t there. Monsters with tentacles and razor-sharp teeth. Ever the social outcast, he is bullied to the point of suicide. And his hatred of those who did him wrong does not die with him.

One decade after Melvin’s death, something strange is happening to Lynnwood High School’s smartest and most popular students. They begin to act out and spend time at the former high school, now abandoned and said to be haunted. And their numbers grow at an alarming rate.

Is this just a passing fad or are the rumors true? Does Lynnwood really have a teenage cult on their hands?

 

How important a role does your cover play in the plot of your novel?

A *very* important role. I like it to hint at some major part of the book without actually giving it away. What does the title mean and why is it written on the doors of what appears to be an abandoned school? And is that blood? All this and more will be revealed just by reading through a measly 360 pages!

Your book has many layers. Do you feel the cover serves as a portal to one or encompasses the whole general aura of the book?

I’d like to think it covers the general aura. I’d also like to think there are layers aplenty in We Came Back, though they all seem to point back to this apparently abandoned school, don’t they? Which means the cover does a perfect job of inviting the reader through its blood-splattered door. Literally.

Not quoting the synopsis, how do you describe your book to readers?

Great question. A revenge tale from beyond the grave? A teenage coming-of-age novel with (possibly) monsters and cults? Some combination of the two?

What were some of your main inspirations for the book?

Here’s an interesting (I hope) tale. I’m from a small town in northeastern Massachusetts by the name of Gloucester. When I was a young lad of about eleven or twelve, there were rumors running rampant about a little club (cult) calling themselves The Gloucester Vampires. I became obsessed with them. There were all sorts of tall tales that, to this day, I’m still not sure are true. One of them became a large plot point in my novel, involving railroad spikes, but I won’t get into that for fear of spoilers. Another involved a depraved/perverted initiation activity that nearly made it into the book but I figured I’d save it for a future project. Never a bad idea to spread out the depravity.

Patrick Lacey, Biography

Patrick Lacey was born and raised in a haunted house. He spends his nights and weekends writing about things that make the general public uncomfortable. He lives in Massachusetts with his Pomeranian, his mustached cat, and his muse, who is likely trying to kill him. Find him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter (@patlacey), or visit his website at https://patrickclacey.wordpress.com.

Pre-order We Came Back Here.

Follow all the great titles and news about Sinister Grin Press on our site. We publish “horror that’ll carve a smile on your face” as well as sci-fi and fantasy.

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Pulling Teeth with Dustin LaValley

March 5, 2017 by

Pulling Teeth with Dustin LaValley   

Where are you from?
Glens Falls, NY. The Adirondacks.

Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?
Sure… Grew up in a foster home, attended alternative high school, which took place about three to eight at night if I remember correctly. (We had to work volunteer jobs part-time, I worked at the soup kitchen and also the ASPCA.) Oh, I was placed in AHS for fighting. An easy target being small, when I hit middle school boxing became more than a hobby I partook with my older brothers in the garage, and more a passion in the form of martial arts. When I wasn’t riding BMX I was training. I had to remove myself from much of life when I was diagnosed with IBD and had my colon removed after a “code blue” incident… spent a few years in hospitals and still fighting it. But, anyway, when I was healthy I rode BMX, trained and fought. Ended up a Shihan-dai and Sensei of Seito Shito Ryu karate and Okinawan jujutsu respectfully. Won some of what they call “knock down” championships, full-contact but no ground fighting. And somewhere in there I began writing, I believe when I was first hospitalized. Oh! And once I saw a blimp.

Tell us your latest news?
The film adaptation of the short story included in A Soundless Dawn, “Picture-in-Picture” is in post-production, shot in and around Dallas, TX., directed by Tom Young, who is also handling my latest script, a collaboration with Karina Sims entitled A Dark Alley. SST Publications is releasing my comic book, BEETLES! An homage to the classic “big-bug” horror and sci-fi movies of the 1950s, illustrated and lettered by Daniele Serra. I believe pre-orders for the signed hardcover are available at their site. With Mercedes Yardley, I have a limited edition micro-fiction collection out in 2017 with all new material and guest authors Grant Wamack and Matt Betts. Other than that, a few I can’t speak of at the moment… oh! And I re-tiled my floor.

What book are you reading now?
I’m switching throughout the day between Love Without by Jerry Stahl, 101 Proof by Rex Brown (Pantera, Down) and rereading a favorite from my anthro 101 college days some many, too many, years back already… Cow, Pigs, Wars, and Witches by Marvin Harris.

Who are some of your favourite authors?
Gilad Elbom, Eric Miles Williamson, Steve Erickson, Jerry Stahl, Palahniuk, Edward Lee, Don Winslow, Thomas Ligotti, Ketchum, Joe Clifford… some Gabino guy.

What books have influenced your life most?
Red by Ketchum, City Infernal by Lee, Permanent Midnight by Stahl, Slam by Lewis Shiner, Books of Blood by Barker, Snuff by Palahniuk, Zeroville by Erickson.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Gabino Iglesias, Joe Clifford, Rob Hart, Grant Wamack… they may not be new, but to me… maybe a year or so ago.

What is your least favorite part of the publishing / writing process?
Waiting. From the finished manuscript to hearing back from an agent or editor or producer or director… the wait is the worst, every day that goes by I’m thinking, “They’re working on a polite way to say ‘no’ or ‘rewrite’.”

What inspired you to write your first book?
Drugs and boredom. I was very sick, intestinal diseases, and after enjoying challenges in English in college, decided to give it a try, sometime in the hospital.

Have you ever hated something you wrote?
The first stories I wrote. At the time they were genius, but that was due to the Dilaudid and Fentanyl in my IV drip and plunges.

What is the biggest lie you’ve ever told?
I took the fall for a friend when I was eighteen, took an arrest so he didn’t go back to prison. So, I guess the lie I told the cops.

Can you share a little of your current Sinister Grin Press work?
A Soundless Dawn is a collection of short stories, each buffered by micro-short stories. One in particular was called a “Gem… gritty, feral.” by Kirkus and is in post-production as a film in Dallas. Those who have read the work (Lee, Ligotti, Stahl, etc.) have told me I have a dark transgressive tone in there. Oh, yeah… the story/film mentioned is based on a brother’s suicide attempt I witnessed. He used a belt.
How did you come up with the title?
The band Red Sparowes have beautiful titles, no vocals or lyrics, but their titles make a vignette. An album of theirs is titled At the Soundless Dawn. It’s a nod to their work, or I stole it. Either one. I often write to their work and other “post-metal” bands (sludge metal, doom metal, stoner metal, etc.) along with others such as Pelican, True Widow, and Russian Circles.

Do you have any strange writing habits (like standing on your head or writing naked while eating peanut butter)?
I keep a bass and a guitar next to the desk and those come in handy when stumped on a curve. Life of Agony’s “Let’s Pretend” and Soundgarden’s “4th of July” have been my go-to lately.

Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? What is it?
Politics.

What is your biggest fear?
Whole Brain Emulation, mind-uploading. Although theoretically it’s pretty neato, and likely I’d be game if at the end of natural life, it’s too close to an episode of The X-Files. And glitter. I fucking hate glitter.   

What do you want your tombstone to say?
Simply my last name, as I’d like it to be a mailbox, so anyone can place outgoing mail for shits and giggles.

If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Regenerate organs.

What secret talents do you have?
I can quote several seasons of Married… with Children and The Simpsons. That’s about it, sorry.

If you were an animal in a zoo, what would you be?
A Rhesus monkey. Those little fuckers they got in Montreal, they run amok all over the bio-sphere, screwing with   people and other animals. (I was also nicknamed Spider Monkey by my fellow Sensei and Shihan, so perhaps it’s a fit.)

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
If health allows, I love fighting. I’ve taught everyone from kids to elderly and won contracts with the state police, and the US Marshal Service. I also like to ride the trails to the lake, swim from island to island and ride home when. But, mostly it’s just MST3K and playing with Bronson, my Rottweiler.

What’s your favourite food?
Steak.

Who would be on the soundtrack to your life story?
Pantera, Mr. Bungle, Drug Church, John Lee Hooker, Godflesh, Unsane, Nirvana, High on Fire, The Pharcyde, Clutch, Gravediggaz, and some Prince.

Tell us a dirty little secret?
I once caught ringworm from wearing a dirty jockstrap.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t date Jody.

What was the last great book you read, and what was the last book that disappointed you?
Zero Saints. Wow! Loved it and want more from Gabino. What let me down was a nonfiction book on the mafia. Really just a copy and paste job of what’s already been out there for many years.

What is your all-time favourite horror novel, and film?
Funland by Richard Laymon, and for film… The Return of the Living Dead, or, Spider by Cronenberg.

If you could erase one horror cliché what would it be?
That all killers in slashers are tall. It’s the little jittery ones you gotta be watching for.

If you could kill off any character from any other book who would you chose and how would they die?
Esaw Goings, from the comic book series Southern Bastards. Aaron and Latour created a racist hillbilly that seems too real at times. He’d be bludgeoned to death by Earl Tubb’s daughter.

What do you think is the biggest problem facing horror fiction right now?
The general view that horror isn’t or can’t be, intelligent and/or original.

What aspects of writing do you find the most difficult?
Staying true to voice over pay and not self-editing from thought to page.

What do you think makes a good story?
Originality in voice, story, and style.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?
“It’s shit, you’re better than that. Rewrite it.” -Edward Lee

What piece of your own work are you most proud of?
A biography in the works on my brother, Tim, and his time working for the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne).

For those who haven’t read any of your books, what book of yours do you think best represents your work and why?
H/armed, which is forthcoming from SGP. I think it shows a good sense of social commentary, providing a view of cultural violence within cliques and mankind’s innate bloodlust.

What are you working on right now?
A crime/thriller manuscript, and the biography on my brother.

What’s the one question you wish you would get asked but never do? And what would be the answer?
Would you like to write for Ray Donovan? The answer: yes, oh, hell yes!

Website - none
Facebook - Facebook.com/dustinlavalleyauthor
Twitter @dustinlavalley
Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/Dustin-LaValley/e/B00A85RALO

Gathered within A Soundless Dawn are short stories that haunt, thrill, and grasp for the soul of humanity and challenge not only societal norms, but those that are to be expected of literature. Included are micro-short stories that further prove customs are meant to be tested to discover our own eccentricities. Whether neo-noir or transgressive, these stories are sure to enthrall.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever read a collection as wholly its own as this, nor a collection so absolutely unconnected to what’s been done before; in fact, it’s been a long, long time since I’ve had the privilege to immerse myself into a book more full of the human soul than this.” –Edward Lee, from the Introduction

“Extraordinary! Hauntingly poignant.” –Thomas Ligotti, author of My Work is Not Yet Done

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