Review of Ruthless Anthology ~ Edited by Shane McKenzie Published by Pill Hill Press

When editor of Ruthless, Shane McKenzie first approached me with the idea for this Shock Horror anthology, he was actually working as an editor for House of Horror. I was a little unsure at first, I thought it too way 'out there' for our audience even though we are a magazine of horror. These days a lot of the so called horror that is put out to the public is so diluted that I don't know why it even as the word 'horror' associated with it. And that goes for films as well as books. You have to be very careful and very aware of political correctness when you are addressing the public in such a way that we are. But you know what? Why the hell should we? Its a simple case of if you don't like what we put out then don't read it!

Shane's idea of bringing together the most gruesome, vulgar, horrific pieces of writing, was ingenious and it works. Being one of the most popular anthologies on the web at the moment, sadly I wish I was apart of it. Unfortunately House of Horror was under so much pressure at that time and could not continue with the project. But stories had been chosen and contracts signed. Boy am I glad that Shane decided to take the project and go solo. He did everything so professional – from hiring a model and using special make-up effects and a professional photographer, to hunting down the famous Bentley Little of all people to write an introduction to the book.

Mr McKenzie worked so damn hard on seeing this project to the end and it most certainly paid off. I am holding a print copy now in my hands.

Regarding the stories themselves, well they are some of the sickest stories I have ever had the pleasure to read. The premise behind this book was to seriously make the reader question the sanity of the authors. And they did just that. My favorite stories have to be 'Crankin' by John Arthur Miller and 'To Boil' by Lucas Pederson. They have most certainly made me question whether I want to be associating with gruesomely awesome talented writers.

Ruthless was eventually picked up and published by Pill Hill Press and was brought out just recently. If you haven't gotten a copy already, I highly recommend that you do. Stop reading the boring teen claptrap horror and come read some real deep and terrifying horror for a change. With 19 stories and an introduction by Horror author Bentley Little, this anthology is not for the faint hearted. The morbid and macabre words on these pages will surely cause night terrors. Do not read near children. Do not read aloud. And one final warning; do not read alone after dark . . .

Review of Unbound and Other Tales ~ David Dunwoody

When I found that I would get the privilege of reading a book by David Dunwoody, I felt truly honored. I had heard a lot about this author around the web and in our writing community. His book, Unbound and Other Tales, did not disappoint me.

In this book of one novella and eight short stories, we explore the depths of Dunwoody's psyche and some may be afraid of what they find on the pages of this book. Some of the collection are stories previously published on and off the web in anthologies and magazines, while the others are new stories. Though I haven't completely finished reading the short stories in detail yet, I have a clear idea of the type of writer Dunwoody is and I like what I see. He has no boundaries – or not many, and will let the story speak to him rather than the other way around. You can most definitely see it in this book. The novella Unbound, held my interest right the way through. I was really intrigued by the story of horror writer, Matthew Rudd, whose evil character in his book comes to life to continue writing the series of brutal murder books, Rudd so desperately wants to bring to an end. The character Sharpe is an evil man, who drives up and down the 1-15 highway in his truck, delivering goods and murdering innocent people for kicks. On his travels he comes across victims from all walks of life. No one is too young or old or innocent for their life to end at the hands of him.

The main character 'Josh Talbot' believes along with Agent Logan that Sharpe in the Sharp books is actually the alter ego of Matthew Rudd. But upon find him after being missing for some time, Rudd pleads his innocence claiming that Sharpe has literally stepped out of his books and is on a real life killing spree.

Confused yet? Well you should be! This book will have you believing one thing, then having to second guess yourself. It is filled with numerous plot twists and exciting explanations. I for one, could not put it down.

If you're one for enjoying the psychoanalysis of an author when reading a book, then Unbound is most definitely one for you.

You can purchase a copy of Unbound and Other Tales from the Library of Horror Press. If you would like to learn more about this author, you can catch an interview with him in Issue #12 and also a more indepth interview when Dunwoody sits down with The House Madame in The Lounge, House of Horror's Blog Talk Radio.

House of Horror interviews ~ The Dunwoody!!

David Dunwoody is the author of the zombie novel Empire, as well as the collections Dark Entities and Unbound & Other Tales. An ardent fan of Lovecraft, Matheson and Barker, he writes horror with a bent toward the weird and the subversive. Dave currently resides in Utah.

Published works include the zombie novel EMPIRE (Permuted Press) and the collections DARK ENTITIES (Dark Regions Press) and UNBOUND & OTHER TALES (Library of Horror Press).

1. Please welcome David Dunwoody to The Lounge. Woah, wait!! David, you of all people should know not to get too close to my zombie girls. That one in particular will have your arm off quicker than you can say "Eat Shit Zombie." Now back away slowly and sit, please. How are you this evening?

I'm well! And right at home, even if the zombie girls aren't crazy about me. I just hope you don't have a clown lurking around here somewhere. Though I suspect you do. Story of my life.

2. Now you are quite a prolific writer, how many projects do you have in the works at the minute?

I have a few things in various stages of development - I'm learning as I go how to set my hours, and not to load my plate with too much at once. Right now I'm writing a novella for Library of Science Fiction and Fantasy, while outlining a few stories and a novel that I will start on in the coming months.

3. You wrote and published the zombie novel Empire, put out by permuted press. Can you tell the zombie fans what this book is about?

EMPIRE is set 105 years after a global zombie outbreak. Death himself leaves his post to restore order by slaying the zombies wandering the American badlands. He ends up crossing paths with a lot off oddball characters and some very unusual zombies.

4. You have been in more than ten horror anthologies, have you not? If you had to choose, which of them is your favorite and why?

I'd say THE UNDEAD: HEADSHOT QUARTET, which is actually a collection of zombie novellas by four authors. The other tales are great and my contribution, "Lost Souls," is one of my favorite works, and is actually an update of one of the first stories I wrote as a little kid.

5. Where will David Dunwoody be regarding success in ten years time? What are your goals as a writer?

I can't say I have a ten-year plan. I'd love to be making a living just off of my writing, but to be where I'm at now - writing and selling at a fairly steady clip, and having a blast doing it - is pretty cool in itself.

6. Who are your influences when writing, dead or alive?

H.P. Lovecraft, for the way he tapped into our most primal terrors, and built a mythos around them. The filmmaker David Cronenberg's exploration of what threatens from within continues to have a growing influence on my stories. Clive Barker creates beautiful and original monsters that make for fascinating characters.

7. Tell the fans something about David Dunwoody, they don't know.

In 2005, I co-wrote a short film with my buddy Gene Mazza II that appears on a DVD called DETOUR INTO MADNESS VOL. 1. The short is a fun little bit of T&A (torture and abuse) called "Snuff," of which a full-length version was written just this past winter. I love the lead characters and hope it'll be produced.

8. If you had to choose one greatest moment in your writing career so far, what would it be and why?

The easy answer is the acquisition of EMPIRE by Simon and Schuster last year, which has been an incredible and unexpected blessing. But I have to say that seeing the first edition in print for the first time was just as awesome. Having the two editions side-by-side now...that's just surreal.

9. Do you have any words of wisdom to any young aspiring horror writers who may be reading this?

Read. Read often, and mix in different genres. I think that's the best advice I can give. There's no surefire key to breaking out, but always exploring what's out there - including the works of other aspiring newcomers - is essential to one's own growth.

10. Finally, before I open the trap door and send you straight into the Dungeon, do you have any last words?

Trap door?? I sense a dungeon clown in my future. Dungeons and clowns - story of my life. Well, thanks for having me, and supporting small-press horror!

Inside the Perimeter by Alan Spencer Book Review

When the world of horror seems to have been dumbed down somewhat to make way for the young adult versions they still like to call horror, out crawls a relatively unknown horror writer to make those films and books look like a walk in the land of fairies. Alan Spencer has once again brought the word ‘Horror’ to its knees. He has stripped away all the overdone and over used tiresome plotlines and themes and given life to something new and never before seen.

Inside the Perimeter on first look would seem like your average run of the mill zombie novel, where the dead come to life and attack the living blah blah blah. Oh no my friends! THIS book puts other zombie books to shame.

What I love most about this book is the way that Spencer gives us both good guy and bad guy perspectives by having each alternate chapter in the other’s point of view. He is able to give us what is going on in each of the character’s heads giving you reasons to pity or hate them and identifying with their plight.

Inside the Perimeter begins with Detective Boyd Broman being taken out of prison where he is being held for accidental murder. Boyd is taken to a facility that is surrounded by high walls and barbed wire and literally thrown inside. On first look, the facility looks like an abandoned town, with a post office, a school, hospital and houses, but something eerie floats about the place and something doesn’t sit right with Boyd. On answering a strange phone call, Boyd is given his orders; to capture cannibal serial killer, Hayden Grubaugh and bring him to the Perimeter walls to be taken into custody. Then Boyd would be free. Or so he assumes. Easy right? Not so much.

It soon becomes apparent to Boyd that the abandoned town isn’t so ‘abandoned.’ Creatures that appear to be some sort of zombies begin attacking him and when he gets away and hides he watches exactly what they are and what they do. But even blown apart by his gun, the severed pieces keep moving, pulling themselves back together or go in search of new parts. And the new parts come in the form of other prisoners that have been thrown into the facility.

But Boyd is not alone. Through the many of the dead humans feeding the crazed undead, he comes across a young woman, Cindy who attaches herself to him as they move through the facility in search of Hayden.
But Hayden is also looking for them also. He is sick of feasting on the dead and wants fresh meat again. But for now he will make do with feasting off the undead until he can clasp his hands around Cindy who becomes overly desirable to him.

In a frantic mad mess of cat and mouse, Inside the Perimeter is certainly not one for the squeamish. Spencer’s ability to make words on a page become real, it so great that you can almost smell the rotting corpses as he is describing in great detail everything that the characters come across whilst in the facility.
And this definitely shakes all the cobwebs off any other zombie novel out there. It’s very different, gruesome and gory and has the ability to put you right there next to the characters.

Another great read for hardcore horror fan’s, a book you just won’t want to put down with almost every chapter leaving you on a cliff-hanger.

Just be warned, those with weak stomachs shouldn’t eat before reading this book. You may never want to eat anything again!

Free Books From House of Horror!!

To celebrate House of Horror's One Year Anniversary, we have a special offer on at House of Horror. Buy any one of our Anthologies and get one free! Yes that is right free books! Just simply order a book from the House of Horror Book Shop, then on your paypal order form let me know your chosn free book! It's that simple!

So go head on over to House of Horror now because this offer ends June 30th 2010. Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery upon ordering.

Blog Talk Radio - The Lounge is back!!

Yes! It is back! If you would like to be a part of this particular episode then please let me know.

Call-in Number: (917) 889-7295

Upcoming Show: 21/06/2010 11:00

Host Name: House of Horror

Show Name: House of Horror's One Year Anniversary Show

Date / Length: 21/06/2010 11:00 - 1 hr

Length: 1 hr

Description:

We are celebrating one whole year of House of Horror, talking to past guests and discussing favorite stories and artwork. Whats your favorite issue? Join us and call in. We would love to hear from our fans!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/house-of-horrorthelounge/2010/06/21/house-of-horrors-one-year-anniversary-show

House of Horror in need of...

Ok Issue 13 is approaching and we still have some space.

What we are looking for:

~Stories

~Poems

~Poetry on artwork (like what Jack and Jazz do)

~Artwork

~Photography

~Drawings

~Books for Review (Not poetry books at this time)

~Interview requests (If you have something to promote)

~Extra Long Ficton 12-25000 words (For the Attic - pays $10)

~Short stories under 1000 words (For the Audio room)

~ Submissions for our newest anthology - Stiched Up!

For all details on how to submit, please refer to the submission guidelines over at House of Horror

House of Horror gets near on 4000 hits a week on a good week. Because we have great traffic, I am now offering advertising for a very small cost to fund the upkeep of the zine and to go towards paying our contributors. If you would like to take advantage of this, then please check the homepage of House of Horror for the link to more details.