Carole Johnstone

Interzone #238

2012-01-24T12:27:00.000-08:00

Yay, my first every sci-fi sale! Never thought I'd get into Interzone, so very pleased (if a bit late in saying so...!)
Behold (with great artwork, as always; this time by David Gentry):

Buy it here

Black Static #26

2011-11-22T12:52:00.001-08:00

Here's a sneaky peek at the artwork for my latest short, The Monster of Venice, to appear in the next issue of Black Static: #26, out in December.
So pretty, I had to post it!
Buy it here

Bram Stoker Award Recommendation!!

2011-11-10T13:51:00.000-08:00

A very excited me recently received an email from Sarah Langan(!), telling me that my short story, Electric Dreams, had been recommended for a Stoker. Cue much excitement, and "there's no point getting excited yet"s...
Anyway, should anyone be interested in reading Electric Dreams, it's available in its entirety here.
Fingers crossed for the ballot, and then the one after that etc...

Scenes from the Second Storey

2011-11-10T13:36:00.000-08:00

11th of Novemeber sees the release of the electronic version of Scenes from the Second Storey - International Edition.
Morrigan Books has decided to keep the sale price the same until the 12th November, so get in quick as you only have two days left!
Link here
My short, The Blind Man, is one of my favourites, and Morrigan Books always gives good anthology!

Terror Tales of the Lake District

2011-09-22T05:29:00.001-07:00

Just arrived back from a very sunny south of France and was cheered up by news that the horror anthology, Terror Tales of the Lake District is now available for pre-order from Gray Friar Press .

Here, for your interest, is the official back-cover blurb:

The Lake District – land of mountains and megaliths, night-black lakes and fathomless woods filled with spectral mist …

The eerie entity on Striding Edge
The living corpse of Croglin
The demented clown of Muncaster
The winged horror of Langdale
The drowned bride of Windermere
The hairy brute of Beetham
The nightmares on Burnmoor

And many more chilling tales by Ramsey Campbell, Adam Nevill, Simon Clark, Peter Crowther, Reggie Oliver, Gary McMahon and other award-winning masters and mistresses of the macabre.

The book contains ten works of original horror fiction set in the Lake District, and three classic reprints. It also features numerous anecdotal tales concerning supposedly true incidents of Lakeland terror.

For more info., including details of future plans for the series, check out editor Paul Finch's website.

I really enjoyed writing my contribution for this (The Claife Crier), although I enjoyed finishing it more; sometimes anthology themes present you with more of a challenge than others, and this was definitely one of them! But Paul was a dream to work with, and I ended up being very happy with the result, as well as the pretty impressive company. Of course, I generally recommend every antho I appear in (well, duh), but I know this is one I would have loved regardless. Buy it!

Colin Harvey RIP

2011-08-23T14:15:00.000-07:00

I just heard about the sudden death of Colin Harvey last week. Although I only met him a couple of times, he was a really kind and welcoming guy. He was one of the first people to make me feel at ease at my first FCon in 2009, and I never forgot it.
His writing was wonderful, with Winter Song being a particular favourite of mine, and his blog and reviews were always honest and always entertaining. He was hugely accommodating to newbies like me, and always took the time to answer my questions.
My heart goes out to his family and friends. A huge loss to the SF community; but a far greater loss to those who loved him.

Black Static #23

2011-06-23T05:42:00.000-07:00

So, it's out and available to buy here!

I'm absolutely loving Richard Wagner's artwork for my story, Electric Dreams. It's better than anything I could have imagined (although, as a nine month old monkey with no arms could draw a better stickman than me, not sure that's as great a compliment as I meant it to be).

Really looking forward to sitting down and having a good read: Black Static is easily the best horror magazine out there.
Even when I'm not in it. ;-)

A Blog

2011-06-07T15:12:00.000-07:00

It's been a shamefully long time since I posted here (I could blame the writing, but that wouldn't be entirely true...)

There are a few things in the offing: my short, Electric Dreams, is to appear in the next issue of Black Static, and three other stories are appearing in various venues that I'll properly announce as soon as I get the go ahead!

A couple of other very exciting projects coming up, but again, must stay schtum for now (makes me sound almost interesting)

So, not much actual news then - but at least it looks like there will be soon! And at least I've managed a blog, however vague.

Dark Minds Press; Bury The Truth

2011-03-25T16:04:00.000-07:00

So, it's out and available here.

I returned from holiday to find my copy waiting for me on the doormat....I don't often sit down to read anthos that I'm in straight away, but am already more than halfway through.

I know that Ross Warren and Anthony Watson worked really hard on this, and for a first foray into small press publishing, it's impressive. I'm very glad that I was able to be involved, and really chuffed by how it's turned out.

Also the wonderful Des Lewis has just finished a Real-Time Review of the book, which says very nice things (obviously, the quote I'm going to put in here is all about me!):

"...in the last two years or so I have become a fan of Carole Johnstone’s fiction, so I already expected something special with this story...And [Bury The Truth] is your vision of what your own death process is like as a delivery, when the mid-wife is yourself (my words, not Johnstone’s), with insidious things like Their or Them or They – all in upper case like God with His ‘He’ and ‘Him’ — waiting to share your witnessing of your own death in and out of character. A League or Company of those in the Dantean know… The Johnstone is extremely frightening, yet fulfilling, as a separate story. I need say no more, I feel."

To see the full review, go here.

The antho may also be coming out in Kindle format at a later date.

Also Ran...

2011-03-09T14:18:00.000-08:00

So, the Aeon Award...

I make the final 24 and I think: that's pretty good news, but don't go obsessing about it (cue much obsessing)

I make the final 6 and I think that's bloody brilliant news, but don't go obsessively checking Albedo One's website every five minutes for the results (cue much checking and obsessing)

Did I make the top 3? Did I heck. Don't know why I do it to myself...:-)

Guest Blogging at Black Static

2011-02-20T10:14:00.000-08:00

It's Women in Horror Recognition Month, so Pete Tennant (of the Case Notes blog; Black Static), has kindly asked me to guest blog on that very subject, over at TTA Press.

Please have a look here and feel free to comment. I think I may have been a little too honest!

FanGirlTastic Interview

2010-12-17T15:12:00.000-08:00

Really late on this one; I blame Christmas...and the frantic novel writing in a darkened room.

The lovely Alan Kelly has interviewed me and the other female contributors to the Never Again anthology here

His questions really made me think, and it took me a predictably long time to answer them.

Right, back to the writing.

Reviews and Stuff

2010-10-26T13:44:00.000-07:00

There have been a few reviews doing the rounds:

Des Lewis and his fantastic Real Time Reviews featured this time, Machine. A truly personal review!
Read it here

And a pretty good 4 out of 5 stars for Between a Rock and a Hard Place (BS #18) from SF Signal
Excerpt:
"Between a Rock and a Hard Place" perfectly captures what it feels like not only to be freaked out but to know that you are freaking yourself out. Delicious stuff."
©Jonathan McCalmont
Read it here

Lastly, my novella, Frenzy is now available as an e-book from WHSmith, at the exceptionally cheap price of £2.95! Incase you were interested...

That's it for now. I should be writing.

Catching Up

2010-10-20T07:16:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a shamefully long time since I updated my blog. And a shameful 5-ish weeks since FantasyCon. At the risk of sounding a bit redundant now...

FCon was fantastic. Although only my 2nd, I can understand why people make the effort to attend the annual BFS bash every year. Was able to meet many more people--especially good to catch up with those I'd met already, and to finally be able to put names to new faces/voices too. Didn't feel at all like an outsider this time. And I think people underestimate the value of actually speaking/meeting/(that horrible word) networking with people in the flesh, rather than via forums and email. Not to mention the insights you can get from panels and watching other (braver) writers read their their own work.

Was lucky enough to take part in two launches/book signings: PS Publishing's Catastrophia and Gray Friar Press' Never Again. These launches meant a very big deal to me, not least because when attending my first FCon last year,I made a wee promise to myself that the next time I'd be on that table with the tablecloth and free vino. Both those anthos made that possible. Many thanks to Lisa Tuttle, Nina Allan, Douglas Thompson and Stuart Young for keeping me excellent company at both! My resolution this year was to be at the very least long-listed for the BFS awards next year - you never know, right?

In other news, the excellent Pete Tennant and his equally excellent Case Notes, focussed on reviewing anthologies in BS #19. Of those, three of my shorts were favourably featured:
Stamping Ground in Gray Friar Press' Where The Heart Is
Machine in Gray Friar Press' Never Again
Dead Loss in Night Shade Books' Best Horror of The Year Vol.2

Review of Black Static #18

2010-08-31T14:25:00.000-07:00

The brilliant D. F. Lewis has reviewed Black Static #18 on his Weirdmonger blog.

"...[Between A Rock and a Hard Place] is a remarkable tightly threaded threnody of staccato surrogate stalking. The prose is pitch perfect. And its ending also strangely relates to the 'aquarium' in the previous story. More dead loss bottom-fishing in the urban storm. It's Ramsey Campbell but with Garrison Church bells on. I loved it!!!!"
© D.F. Lewis

One of the best reviews that I've ever had the pleasure of reading, thanks Des!
You can read the full review here.

Dark Minds Anthology

2010-08-24T14:09:00.000-07:00

The Dark Minds anthology is a collection of short stories contributed by members of the forum horrorwriters.net.

Very happy that my short, Bury The Truth appears in it!

Release date Dec 2010, but pre-order it now here and the postage is absolutely free.

Go on, go on, go on etc...

Black Static #18

2010-08-13T19:05:00.000-07:00

The latest issue of the fantastic Black Static is out now, featuring my short, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, not to mention 4 other great stories and the usual brilliant columns and book and movie reviews.

And huge thanks to Rik Rawling for the brilliant artwork accompanying Between...

I love this magazine!

See here for details.

Never Again TOC

2010-07-20T12:44:00.000-07:00

Pre-orders are up for Never Again here. And the TOC has been announced there too. Looks like a fantastic line-up. Did I mention I'm really pleased about being part of this? Might have done.

Catastrophia News

2010-07-13T15:49:00.000-07:00

Well, PS Publishing's apocalyptic anthology, Catastrophia is now available for pre-order here. It features my story, A Hard Place. Very excited about this as it was my first ever pro-sale (and hardback!), and because I'll be attending its official launch at FantasyCon on Sept. 18th! Can't wait.

Never Again

2010-07-05T13:24:00.000-07:00

I am really, really pleased to say that my short, Machine has been accepted for inclusion in Gray Friar Press' upcoming anthology, Never Again, edited by Allyson Bird and Joel Lane.

I particularly had my fingers crossed for this one, because any profits made from sales will be donated to anti-racist or human rights organizations, e.g. The Sophie Lancaster Foundation.

Although (as far as I'm aware), no official toc has been released yet, it looks like it's going to be a pretty fantastic line-up. Can't wait to see this one in print! (est. publication Sept 2010)

See here for more details

New Release from Gray Friar Press

2010-06-24T14:36:00.000-07:00

I'm a little late in pimping this, but it's the latest release from Gary Fry's Gray Friar Press. An anthology based on each writer's hometown, featuring little old me and Glasgow.

I've already read the entire book, and it's pretty brilliant, which of course I would say, but nonetheless...

WHERE THE HEART IS

A GUIDED TOUR OF BRITISH HORROR

edited by Gary Fry

Take an alternative tour of Great Britain . . .

Writers are often told to write about what they know best . . . and what do they know better than their own homes?

In this anthology, 19 fine authors of dark fiction reveal some of the less palatable elements of their native environments.

There’s blood where the heart is.

Much blood .

Superb new stories by:

Stephen Volk

Rhys Hughes

Gary McMahon

Paul Finch
Joel Lane

Simon Bestwick

Gary Fry

D F Lewis

Andrew Hook

Allen Ashley

Stuart Young

Simon Kurt Unsworth

Carole Johnstone

Michelle James

Stephen Bacon

John Travis

Mark Patrick Lynch

Mark West

Mike O'Driscoll

Paperback: £8.99 / $16 (+p&p)

ORDER NOW

I'm Back...

2010-06-24T14:11:00.000-07:00

And now a respectable Mrs.

Wedding was brilliant (and at that price it bloody well should have been); honeymoon a little too relaxing...

And now it's time to get back to the writing. I've been slacking of late, and it's been down to the efforts of others rather than myself that I've got anything coming out at all. More on those projects later. For now some cheesy photos, and the question of whether to keep the pen name of Johnstone or adopt the more horror-friendly Black. Will have to start a poll on a forum...

Campaign for Real Fear Results

2010-04-30T13:41:00.000-07:00

So the top twenty winning stories for the excellent Campaign for Real Fear have been posted here.

Sadly didn't quite make it, but received an Honourable Mention and really lovely feedback, so it's not all bad. Sob!

Both Christopher Fowler and Maura McHugh have done a fantastic job in gaining much needed exposure for the horror genre. Hopefully it will stick.

You will be able to read the first batch of ten stories in the June issue (#17) of Black Static followed by the second batch of ten stories in the August issue (#18), and they will be podcast by Action Audio.

Good News and Reviews!

2010-04-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

S.P. Miskowski has recently reviewed Ellen Datlow's Best Horror of the Year Vol.2 over at Shock Room, and has kindly allowed me to post the review of Dead Loss:

'"Dead Loss" by Carole Johnstone is an exquisitely detailed account of a commercial fishing expedition. This marvelous, spooky tale has now been added to the long list of reasons why I do not swim in the ocean. Never. Not under any circumstances. Don't even ask. Carole Johnstone knows why.'
© S.P. Miskowski

I also had a nice surprise a few days ago, when I realised that my short, The Blind Man (Dead Souls anthology; Morrigan Books), has been recommended by Ellen in her 2009 Summation in The Best of...

Coincidentally, Mark Deniz, publisher of Morrigan Books, has very kindly created a fan-page for me on Facebook. Feel free to have a look. Feel free to join!

Just before bed...

2010-03-31T14:11:00.000-07:00

Completely fantabulous, wonderful, enlightening, knackering World Horror Con. Oh, and I got a bit drunk too...

In other news, my short, Between a Rock and a Hard Place was picked up by Andy at Black Static. These tend to come out pretty quick, so hoping for maybe #16 or #17. Love that magazine!

Buy Buy Buy

2010-03-12T15:54:00.000-08:00

So, Ellen Datlow's Best Horror of the Year Vol. 2 now available from Night shade Books. Also up at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Special pre-order price for Close Encounters of the Urban Kind over at Apex Book Company, official release date, 4th April.

Go on, go on, go on...

Another day another cover...

2010-02-04T12:32:00.000-08:00

This time the stupendous Best Horror of the Year Vol.2 from Night Shade Books. Coming March 2010.

Close Encounters of the Urban Kind

2010-02-02T13:33:00.001-08:00

Jennifer Brozek has just released the fantastic cover art for her forthcoming anthology from Apex Book Company, Close Encounters of the Urban Kind, featuring my short, The Invitation.

Love it.

Pre-order info coming soon.

The Best Horror of the Year Volume 2

2010-01-26T13:51:00.000-08:00

Just had some fantastic news.

My short, Dead Loss (Black Static #13), has been selected by Ellen Datlow to appear in The Best Horror of the Year 2!

Ah, who says January sucks?

To be released by Night Shade Books March 2010. Full TOC here.

Reviews, reviews...

2010-01-22T17:41:00.000-08:00

Okay, so a longish Christmas break...

A few more reviews of Frenzy have popped up since I last posted:

The first from Spinetinglers:

'...I was absolutely thrilled when I read this book. Frenzy eerily encapsulates all the elements required from a tale such as this. These eight men go through all the emotions that this situation demands--paranoia, treachery, hope, longing, realisation, and most grippingly of all, fear.

In short, Frenzy is an intense thriller with a supernatural twist, and if like me, you were disappointed with the story of the USS Indianapolis, because it was never realised in a book or film, then read Frenzy, because the author, Carole Johnstone, brings to life this situation with her own unique style.

In fact, Frenzy is a transcendent horror tale that will take hold of your imagination and not let you go until the very last page!'
© Spinetinglers.co.uk

See the whole review here or on my News & Reviews page

Another from the lovely Colin Hersh, which can be found on Will Jacques Ghastly Door site (check out Will's amazing artwork while you're there!):

"...[Frenzy] has an ever growing feel of desperation and foreboding that leads to a tension filled climax. The characters and their interactions are top notch, and the scenes are presented to the reader crystal clear so that you can really see it in your mind. It’s fast paced, with no speed bumps slowing down the momentum, and leaves you wanting more. Many writers who put out a lot of books haven’t been able to pull off these things I’ve mentioned nearly so well as Carole has done with this one, and I’d say she has a lot of good books in her future."
© Colin Hersh

See the whole review here or on my News & Reviews page

Review of In Bad Dreams Vol.2

2009-12-01T15:18:00.001-08:00

First review up of Eneit Press's anthology IBD2. My short, Scent, was singled out as one of three favourites!

Read the full review at FanaticSpace

Interview at Bookwenches

2009-11-17T14:52:00.000-08:00

B. D. Whitney recently interviewed me about horror, writing and sookie blankets.

It's up at the Bookwenches site here.

Please visit and feel free to comment --or to ask me some more questions!

Dead Loss Review

2009-11-12T15:23:00.000-08:00

Colin Harvey, whose latest novel, Winter Song has just been released by HarperCollins' imprint Angry Robot, has reviewed Black Static #13.

Dead Loss gets a Highly Recommended. Yay!

See the review here.

Grants Pass Review

2009-10-28T16:10:00.000-07:00

Grants Pass has received a top rating of 4 stars at SFReader.

Read the full review here.

Review of Dead Loss

2009-10-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

A fantastic review of Dead Loss (BS #13), by the renowned writer, and editor/publisher of the Nemonymous anthologies, D.F. Lewis:

'And the story-winners keep coming, no mistake! Hugely impressed by this tale of the North Sea near Scotland and Norway...here Creation's pecking-order takes on a new dimension, and you won't know exactly what I mean till you read this literally reverberating story.
Giantism-in-action. Shock and awe. But I've only skimmed the surface.'
© D.F. Lewis

Read the full review here

Black Static #13

2009-10-22T14:11:00.000-07:00

The 13th issue of the fantabulous Black Static managed to sneak past the posties and their oil drums this morning, to make it to my doormat.

While I look forward to getting any BS issue, this one was a biggie, because not only do I have a story featured (Dead Loss, p20), but the lovely Pete Tennant has reviewed Frenzy as part of a novella item in his Case Notes Blog.

And the review is terrific. It's a fairly long way past terrific...
See excerpt below:

'There are echoes in this story, of an episode of the TV show Outer Limits and also of the old joke about different nationalities stranded together in a life raft, reflected here in the dramatis personae of the novella. Hints too of Jaws, and just about every other Hollywood slice of shark fare, of the sea stories of William Hope Hodgson, and of Lost and reality TV in the resolution that is eventually provided. But Johnstone is her own woman and takes this familiar material in a new and unexpected direction.
'[Frenzy] is a bravura performance, and one that is absolutely gripping, as the layers of Pete's psyche are stripped away…and everything revealed is tainted with the curse of the unreliable narrator, the one who hides not only from the reader but from himself.
'Frenzy is Johnstone's first novella and it is an impressive debut at this length, one that speaks of a bright future.'
© Peter Tennant, Black Static #13, TTA Press

You can read the full review in all of its wonderful glory on pg 30 of the magazine, alongside 12 other novellas, whose authors include Peter Crowther, Joseph D'Lacey, Andrew Hook, Stephen Volk and Peter Finch.

Pete also asked the reviewees what we considered to be our favourite novellas, and you can find the answers on the Case Notes blog on the TTA website. A pretty hard choice as it goes...

In Bad Dreams Vol2; Where Death Stalks

2009-10-21T14:34:00.000-07:00

After a few delays, Eneit Press's anthology, In Bad Dreams Vol2, featuring my short, Scent, is available to buy here.
Though I suppose I would say so, this looks like a great collection, also featuring Ian Whates, Gary McMahon and Martin Livings among others.

Cities, new sights, sounds, and smells. Pack your bags and travel. See how other people live, and die. Travel the world, but travel safely. For you only think you are safer in the cities, surrounded by people, with streets to traverse. Because They are watching. Waiting.

Pack your bags and travel, it might be the last thing you do.

Apex Acceptance!

2009-10-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

My short, The Invitation, has been accepted for publication in Apex Book Company's SF anthology, Close Encounters of the Urban Kind, edited by Jennifer Brozek. Publication Spring 2010.

This sounds like a great anthology, and I'm pretty ecstatic that I'm going to be part of it!

And another...

2009-10-14T14:42:00.000-07:00

This one made me feel considerably less like breaking out the family-sized Galaxy in the fridge, and is up at Mind Fog Reviews here:

"Frenzy by Carole Johnstone kept me on the edge from beginning to end. The constant rush of adrenaline injected into my brain while I read was an unusual experience for me. I found myself side by side with these characters going through the same terror and feeling the same uncertainty for my survival. If you love horror, and suspense then this is an absolute must for your collection."

***** 5 Stars

© Author/Reviewer Marilyn Thompson

Mind Fog Reviews

Another Review of Frenzy

2009-10-13T14:32:00.000-07:00

I decided early doors that I would make reference to any and all Frenzy reviews on this blog--good or bad.
The latest is by Stephen Theaker of Silverage Books/TQF, and also posted on Goodreads. He gave it 3 stars out of 5: not terrible, could of course have been worse (2, or *shudders* 1).

Here's an excerpt:
"This is really a psychological horror story, exploring Pete's nightmares, his feelings about his brother, his relationships with the other men. This is done extremely well, but for me it lessened the drama of the situation...but even if I wish the story had focused elsewhere and taken different turns, it's well written and never less than gripping."

© Stephen Theaker

See the whole review here

Seeing The Wood for the trees

2009-09-30T12:57:00.000-07:00

Guest Blogger: Andrew Richardson

The two questions I get asked most about ‘The Wood’ are; ‘How did I get the idea?’, and ‘How does the story tie in with Celtic myths?’ I’m grateful to Carole for inviting me over here, which gives me a chance to answer both questions at the same time! And thank you, Carole, for the sparkling review. I really think you grasped what I wanted the story to do.

The general idea of having a party of adventurers trying to avoid nasties isn’t new. It’s been done everywhere, from ‘Alien’, to ‘The Descent’ (a personal favourite) to Dungeons and Dragons games that everybody except me seemed to play when I was a teenager. I wanted to write something where the characters were fighting their way along narrow passages, in the same way as in these films and games. But I wanted to come up with an original scenario, too.

I used to be an archaeologist and the Celts have always fascinated me, so it was natural that I’d look here for inspiration. I suppose it’s also why a lot of my characters are archaeologists or historians.

I’ve always throught the Celtic myths and legends provide huge and largely untapped potential for writers. The different stories interpret beasts and places differently, so that the writer has a unique opportunity to choose whichever facts fit the story he wants to tell! In fact, it’s possible to plot a story outline and then find Celtic ‘facts’ to base it around later! The Celtic Otherworld, for example, can be anything from identical to our own world, to a land of evil and dead spirits. Naturally, I used the unpleasant sort in ‘The Wood’!

A lot of writers use the ‘headline’ Celtic myths for their background. King Arthur is probably the perfect example, but there are also less well known stories of fairies, gods, monsters, love and war that can provide the basis of almost any type of story. A lot are set in real locations that can still be visited – my previous novel, ‘Andraste’s Blade’, was for the most part set in places I know well.

I also think the Celtic myths are more gentle and subtle than stories from some other cultures. The Viking and Germanic myths, for example, seem to be based on war and the power of might. Yes, war and power play a part in the Celtic equivalents, but the stories also serve to explain some of the features in the British and Irish Countryside through clever stories with intriguing twists which I’ve found great inspiration.

Anyway, back to ‘The Wood’. The Celts treated the head as almost sacred, believing it housed the soul. Archaeology and myth both seem to confirm that heads were used in ceremonies – warriors used to collect enemy heads as trophies. A line of skulls acting as some sort of fence doesn’t come straight from the history books, but is certainly plausible. And, of course, a line of heads on sticks is a great horror image!

So, what would the line of heads protect my travellers from? Well, evil was the obvious choice! I’ve always been fascinated by pine woods. They are dark and unmoving, and bare and stark where they lack undergrowth. Pine forests have an atmosphere of ancient stillness, as if the trees don’t want visitors trespassing in their domain. It was this feeling of the wood being a single, living evil entity, rather than individual trees and animals, that I particularly wanted to get across in ‘The Wood’.

With the skulls and the malevolent pine trees, my forest seemed to me to have ‘horror’ stamped across it before I even started typing. I just hope my readers agree!

The Wood is available from Amazon.com, and as an e-book from Eternal Press

Find out more about Andrew Richardson at his website

The Wood

2009-09-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

Kath Mahoney has never believed in any truth behind Celtic mythology or legend. So much so that she has co-authored a book on the subject. In order to promote its release, she and a group of friends and colleagues head off to the remote Irish countryside to take part in a live action role-playing game.

This marks the beginning of Andrew Richardson's novel, The Wood. It also marks the beginning of a terrifying journey into what is far from just a game. And into a wood that most definitely isn't just a wood. Instead it is the very Otherworld that Kath had been so certain didn't exist…

The Wood is an enjoyable, fast-paced romp through both fantasy and horror. It reads, quite literally, as a non-stop chase through an alien environment, stalked by all manner of mythological creature and beast. Tense, frightening, at turns gory and even sad, this was a story that held my attention throughout.

Particularly effective is the simple premise that Kath and her friends must make their way through this world along a path lined with skulls: a barrier offering protection from the horrors of the wood. The image itself is a very powerful one. From beginning to end, this sense of claustrophobia predominates. The path and its boundary only serve to render the wood itself more menacing--more Otherworldly. I felt that this was where the novel excelled: in the creation of suspense through the simple act of walking a path alongside horrors known but largely unseen.

Richardson certainly doesn't pull any punches. As the violence escalates it becomes a free for all: different species attack one another in a merciless orgy that reduces the role of humans to little more than that of inconsequential snacks, calling to mind Alien vs Predator and even Crichton's Jurassic Park. And there is a particularly gruesome scene towards the end of The Wood that confirms Kath and her companions' place on the food chain in more ways than one.

If I was to make any criticisms, it would be that the dialogue could occasionally be stilted and the characters a little two-dimensional. And while others may not agree, I felt that some conversations were a little clichéd or flippant where circumstances perhaps dictated otherwise.

That said, I enjoyed The Wood immensely. It was a fast and fun ride. Richardson has managed to create a powerful and convincing world, skilfully imparting what is an obviously extensive knowledge of Celtic mythology. That he managed to do this without detracting from the action in overlong asides or info-dumps is to be commended. As is The Wood itself.

The Wood is available from Amazon.com, and as an e-book from Eternal Press

Find out more about Andrew Richardson at his website

Guest Blogging Again!

2009-09-24T07:40:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I am guestblogging about horror fiction on the lovely BookWenches site. Please feel free to visit me here (permanent link here), and to give me your opinion or ask me anything you like! Otherwise I will be very, very lonely... and you wouldn't like me when I'm lonely.

Thanks again to B D Whitney for the invite!

FantasyCon 2009

2009-09-23T16:37:00.000-07:00

Got back from FantasyCon 3 days ago, and only just recovering my faculties. Had a great time; met some fab people (although the hotel has probably featured in a few horror stories of its own). The cheap booze more than made up for it tho...

Also attended my first book launch/signing, for Morrigan Books' Dead Souls and Grants Pass. Loved it--and could definitely get used to it...

Met many great people who made me feel so welcome: Mark Deniz, Greg Ballam, Allen Ashley, Sharon Kae Reamer, Colin Harvey, Martin Roberts, Joseph D'Lacey, Danielle Serra, Lee Moan, Peter Bell, and Rebecca Lloyd--among many others!

Won't mention all the BFS award winners; the full list is here. My personal favourites were Tim Lebbon for best novella [The Reach of Children]; the lovely Vinnie Chong for best artist, and the even lovelier Joseph D'Lacey for best newcomer [Meat]

From con virgin to addict in one weekend. Will definitely be back next year. Now, WHCon in March...

Horror Net listing

2009-09-15T07:48:00.000-07:00

This is probably of interest to absolutely no-one but me, but my website has now been listed on the horror.net directory. On a good day, it doesn't take much to keep me happy...

Another Frenzy Review!

2009-09-10T14:39:00.000-07:00

Bit of a belated post this...

The BookWenches have written a fantastic review of Frenzy, and have very kindly posted it on Amazon too.

Here's an excerpt:

"Carole Johnstone’s novella Frenzy is a tense, horrifying, and very well-written foray into a world of terror. This is the kind of horror story that makes you hold your breath, turn the pages quicker, hope desperately for a glimmer of light, and fear that there will be none.

One wouldn’t think that a story about eight men floating in the middle of nowhere in a life raft would be all that interesting. One would be dead wrong. This story gripped me soundly by the throat from the very first page, shook me around a little bit just to make sure I was good and rattled, and held me tight until the bitter end. It left me stirred up, shocked, and not just a little saddened. And all I can say is …wow. Excellent job, Ms. Johnstone. I look forward to whatever you have to offer us next. If it is anywhere close to as well-done as Frenzy is, we’ll be in for a treat."

Visit either my News & Reviews link or the BookWenches website for the full review in all of its glory (she says, frantically resisting any mention of 'lovely')

P.S. Search Inside facility now up and running on Amazon for Frenzy. So now you can try before you buy--which you would be doing regardless, naturally.

Kelly A Harmon's Blood Soup

2009-09-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

Kelly's novella, Blood Soup is launched today over at Eternal Press!

A Tale of Murder, Betrayal, Comeuppance…

King Theodicar of Borgund needed an heir. When his wife, Queen Piacenza, became pregnant, he’d hoped for a boy. His wife, along with her nurse, Salvagia, had other plans. With each cast of the runes, Salvagia’s trusted divination tools yielded the same message: “A girl child must rule or the kingdom will fall to ruin.” As such, the women were convinced that the child would be a girl.

When the queen finally gives birth, the nurse and the king are equally surprised. The king is faced with a terrible choice, and his decision will determine the fate of his kingdom. Will he choose wisely, or will he doom Borgund to ruin?

Available in e-book format from Eternal Press
Available in print paperback from Amazon: (TBA)
ISBN: ebook: 978-1-926704-53-1; print: 978-1-926704-61-6
Visit the author's website

Check out my Excerpts and Free Fiction link for a taster of what looks like a fantastic story!
And you can visit the EP Readers' Loop for more excerpts and a live chat with the author at the launch party today on EP. Or visit Kelly's excellent website, for details on how to win yourself a copy.

I'll be buying it! Will post with more info once I've got down to the business of reading it, and hopefully Kelly will be kind enough to guest on my blogs at a later date.

Black Static Acceptance!

2009-09-02T13:47:00.001-07:00

Yay! Andy Cox has accepted Dead Loss for publication in Black Static. This story is one of my favourites, so am very glad it has found a home so quickly! (And yes, I watch far more Deadliest Catch than is good for me...!)

The very lovely (must think of another adjective soon) Peter Tennant - Black Static's resident book reviewer and writer of the regular Case Notes and White Noise, has very kindly mentioned Frenzy as a News item on the TTA website.

Kelly Harmon

2009-09-02T13:36:00.000-07:00

The equally lovely Kelly Harmon has posted on her website:

"I’m reading a fantastic book (a novella) by Carole Johnstone right now and I wanted to share. It’s called, Frenzy, and I can’t put it down. I plan to have a little Q&A with the author when I’m done, so look for that soon!"

Blood Soup: Kelly's novella of 'Murder, betrayal and comeuppance' is to be released very soon. Details of this (and of course, Kelly's Q&A to follow...)

Preditors & Editors

2009-08-28T18:42:00.000-07:00

The very lovely Preditors & Editors have listed Frenzy on their New Books page.

Excerpts & Free Fiction

2009-08-28T06:50:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from Blood Soup by © Kelly A. Harmon:

Theodicar looked down at the mewling infant in his arms, and felt the anger rise up. Even in death his wife defied him, the nurse ensuring her success. Women did not rule. He would not allow it. They had created a male child, and that child would take the throne upon his death. “You can save the boy,” he said to Salvagia.
She slitted her eyes at him, her stare mutinous. Her words were loud and hard in the wake of Pia’s death. “I have the power to save one at the expense of the other, Sire. The girl is stronger. And eldest. She was born to rule.”
Theodicar watched the girl curl up in his arms, her birth fluids staining a brown patch on the dyed-yellow wool of his tunic. She burrowed into the crook of his elbow, trying to achieve the comfort of the womb.
“I will not hear those words again,” he said. “That absurd idea died with my wife. My son will rule.” He reached for the boy, thrusting the girl child back into the nurse’s hands. “There’s no need for a daughter. And no need for anyone to know of her.”
“So be it,” Salvagia said, wrapping the weary girl in a square of wool, covering her face. She reached for her basket.
“Kill her now,” said Theodicar.
Salvagia looked stricken.
“Sire, if we kill her now, she will be of no use to her brother. Once dead, the blood won’t flow, and we need her blood to strengthen his.
“Then drain her now,” he snapped. “I will not have her crying out when we call the witnesses back to cut the boy’s cord.”
She paled, but nodded, and grabbed the necessary implements from her basket. She did the job quickly, tears streaming down her face. To keep it warm, Salvagia set the flask of blood in the ashes at the edge of the hearth. Then she wrapped the tiny body in linen and shoved it deep into her basket.
“Your life is forfeit if you speak a word of this to anyone,” Theodicar said. “Do you understand?” She nodded, pushing the basket out of view.
He sat down in his chair. “Call the witnesses back. We’ll sever the cord in their presence to prove the succession. Wipe those tears,” he said.

Excerpt from Frenzy:

It took too many attempts to grab hold of the sinking pack. And he looked too far down into what was beneath it. There were fish: hundreds of them. Thousands of them. And where the depths grew too dark, there was only the vertiginous threat of the unknown. He couldn’t see the bottom. What might have been worse was that he had expected to.

And then suddenly there was something else: some terrible tremble in his mind. A black plain that moved across it – through it. Beside him. A keening scream that wormed loose of its restraints, opening his throat to the viscous dark even as it propelled him upwards. Back toward the sun-dappled surface.

He broke through with a gargled cry that swiftly became a hacking cough. The safety pack dragging hard at his aching arm, he saw thrashing bodies and the black underbelly of the raft. While some pulled and pushed at it, most flailed in shouted panic. He saw one of them dive down and surface perhaps as much as a dozen times. Only when the raft righted itself with an almighty slap did he recognise the diver as Donnie, his shaven head swallowed by the raft’s belly before he was able to swim backwards out of its reach.

Pete struggled back to the raft in an ungainly crawl, hauling pack and lifejacket behind, trying to forget what his mind had seen. Trying to forget the sucking black that had tried to split it apart. He managed to clamber back into his pocket at the third attempt. By then, he had already forgotten. The worst of it at least, and that was all that mattered.

Guest Blogging

2009-08-25T15:11:00.000-07:00

Also check out Andrew's blog tomorrow, where he has kindly invited me to guest for the day!

Review of Frenzy!

2009-08-25T14:32:00.000-07:00

So...I know that I promised and everything, but Frenzy has just been given a very excellent review by the lovely Andrew Richardson.

"[Frenzy] is true horror, but anyone looking at the cover and expecting to see the thrust of the story being the characters bloodied and devoured by sharks and other marine nasties is going to be disappointed. Or perhaps pleased, because although big fish add to the effect, this story takes you into the true fears lurking in the recesses of the characters.

Johnstone has put together a mishmash of people, cleverly using characters who play off each other to increase the tension...The story pulls no punches in playing on the character’s relationships. It is very raw and maybe near to the knuckle in places, a feeling helped by the stark writing style and the decent pacing.

All in all, this doesn’t read like a first stand-alone release. Frenzy is a mature-looking work from a writer who clearly enjoys the craft and who hits the keyboard with confidence."

Woo!
For the full review, check out my News & Reviews page.

Dead Souls Launch

2009-08-20T16:25:00.000-07:00

Dead Souls launch; details taken from Morrigan Books [dated Aug 13]:

Ready the Spider: Dead Souls is coming to town!

Published by Mark Deniz at 10:48 am under Dead Souls

It has now been confirmed that Dead Souls will be launched, 19th September 2009, at Fantasy Con at the Britannia Hotel in Nottingham, England.

Those already attending to sign your copies are: Ramsey ‘Trapdoor’ Campbell, Paul ‘Funnel-Web’ Finch, Gary ‘Tarantula’ McMahon, Carole ‘Black Widow’ Johnstone and Rebecca ‘Wolf’ Lloyd. Other varieties may be spotted soon…

So let loose the spider!

Buy Frenzy!

2009-08-20T15:50:00.001-07:00

Okay, so last post about Frenzy for a while, promise.

It's now available as an e-book from Eternal Press .

It is also available in all the other e-book multiformats from: WHSmith, Fictionwise, Mobipocket, Books on Board, and Content Reserve.

If you want to buy it in print format, the paperback is available from Amazon.

Any reviews would be very gratefully received!

And that's it. You won't hear another peep from me on the subject. Well, not for a wee while, anyway...

EP Launch Day Competition for Frenzy

2009-08-07T13:04:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the launch day of my novella, Frenzy, I'm giving away 2 free copies of the e-book!
Simply post your contact details and the answer to my excerpt question posed on Eternal Press' Readers Loop and you're entered. The winners will be selected on August 10th, 9pm GMT. Good luck!

Frenzy release from Eternal Press

2009-07-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

So, my dark fiction novella, Frenzy, is to be published by Eternal Press in August. Got the final proof today, and it looks fantastic (if I do say so myself).

Launch date is August 7th, on the Eternal Press Readers site. Please feel free to come along!

Cover art is by Amanda Kelsey, and she did a brilliant job of translating my jibberish into a much better reality.

Here's the Blurb:

Eight men wake up to find themselves on a life raft in the middle of an ocean. They are stranded and alone, with no memory of how they got there, and no idea if help is coming.

But they are not completely alone. As hours become days, as water rations dwindle and tempers fray, there stirs a threat more deadly than either sharks or each other.

There is a shadow in the abyss beneath their feet. Watching. Waiting. Stalking eight men lost and adrift above the deepest trench in the world…

Frenzy is available in print and PDF formats. Will follow this post with details of where to buy very soon.

Dead Souls Pre-Order!

2009-07-16T14:59:00.000-07:00

Prior to the official launch at FantasyCon, you can get your mitts on Dead Souls before anyone else (well, hopefully not before anyone else, as this would imply that no-one else had tried to pre-order...you get the gst)

Dead Souls published by Morrigan Books is a fantastic horror anthology sporting a whopping 25 stories from the likes of Ramsey Campbell, Gary McMahon, Catherine J Gardner, Michael Stone, Robert Hood, and Ramsey Campbell - did I mention him already? Oh, and little old me.

You know you want to...

Pre-Order @ Morrigan Books

In Bad Dreams Vol2; Where Death Stalks

2009-07-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

Eneit Press is to launch their horror anthology, IBD2, featuring yours truly alongside Gary McMahon, Martin Livings and Ian Whates to name a few, at Conflux 6 in Canberra, Oct 2nd-5th.

Take a walk through a world of dark happenings, but be careful where you tread...

Visit their website for more details and pre-order info.

FantasyCon 2009

2009-07-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

So, ticket finally booked for FantasyCon in Nottingham 18th-20th September. Looks like it's going to be great, although not so sure how you choose what to miss!

Doesn't look so scary for a convention virgin like me after all, and will be fantastic to put faces to names!

Also to attend the book launch of Dead Souls. My first ever signing!

Contact the Author

2009-07-15T14:33:00.000-07:00

You can email me at webmaster@carolejohnstone.com

Also check out my Live Journal blog, GoodReads page, Library Thing page, and Author page on Amazon.

News & Reviews

2009-06-02T14:07:00.000-07:00

August '10: Between a Rock and a Hard Place Review:

"...[Between A Rock and a Hard Place] is a remarkable tightly threaded threnody of staccato surrogate stalking. The prose is pitch perfect. And its ending also strangely relates to the 'aquarium' in the previous story. More dead loss bottom-fishing in the urban storm. It's Ramsey Campbell but with Garrison Church bells on. I loved it!!!!"

© D.F. Lewis

*************************************************************************************

March '10: Dead Loss Review:

'"Dead Loss" by Carole Johnstone is an exquisitely detailed account of a commercial fishing expedition. This marvelous, spooky tale has now been added to the long list of reasons why I do not swim in the ocean. Never. Not under any circumstances. Don't even ask. Carole Johnstone knows why.'

© S.P. Miskowski

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January '10: Frenzy Review:

'Eight men are stranded on a raft in the middle of a vast ocean. These men have no idea how they got there, and no idea where the current will be taking them. They have little food and water, and, haunted by their past experiences, they pray for a miracle. Beneath them, an all-consuming shadow seems to be drifting along with them. The men are frightened and paranoid. These eight men are all alone in a black, terrifying abyss. But, as they soon come to realise, the only thing more terrifying than being alone, are the shadows lurking beneath them, watching, waiting to engulf them. Will these eight men survive, or will they be sucked down into the blackness below...?

I read somewhere that when asked to make Jaws 2, Steven Spielberg wanted to recreate the story of the USS Indianapolis, in which 900 men were stranded in the ocean. Starvation, dehydration, and sharks slowly picked these men off, and finally, only 317 of them were rescued. The movie producers quickly quashed Spielberg’s idea, as they deemed it too depressing for the mass audience. I always thought this was a shame, because a story like that promised to be truly terrifying. Can you imagine what those men went through, hoping for rescue and yet secretly knowing that most of them would die? This is an eerie premise and great meat for a horror tale. For years, I have waited for an author to give this concept, real teeth. And, now, Carole Johnstone has delivered.

Let me be clear. Johnstone’s Frenzy is not the story of the USS Indianapolis. But, it is how I imagined a tale about the doomed ship would be, if it were to be written.

I was absolutely thrilled when I read this book. Frenzy eerily encapsulates all the elements required from a tale such as this. These eight men go through all the emotions that this situation demands--paranoia, treachery, hope, longing, realisation, and most grippingly of all, fear.

In short, Frenzy is an intense thriller with a supernatural twist, and if like me, you were disappointed with the story of the USS Indianapolis, because it was never realised in a book or film, then read Frenzy, because the author, Carole Johnstone, brings to life this situation with her own unique style.

In fact, Frenzy is a transcendent horror tale that will take hold of your imagination and not let you go until the very last page!'

© Spinetinglers.co.uk

*************************************************************************************

January '10: Frenzy Review:

'Frenzy was essentially a powerful psychological horror about a random assortment of eight guys who wake up on a life raft together floating over the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean with no memory of how or why they got there. Writing it out like that may not sound like much, but when you get into the story it has an ever growing feel of desperation and foreboding that leads to a tension filled climax.
The characters and their interactions are top notch, and the scenes are presented to the reader crystal clear so that you can really see it in your mind. It’s fast paced, with no speed bumps slowing down the momentum, and leaves you wanting more. Many writers who put out a lot of books haven’t been able to pull off these things I’ve mentioned nearly so well as Carole has done with this one, and I’d say she has a lot of good books in her future.'

© Colin Hersh

*************************************************************************************

October '09: Dead Loss Review (Black Static #13):

'And the story-winners keep coming, no mistake! Hugely impressed by this tale of the North Sea near Scotland and Norway...here Creation's pecking-order takes on a new dimension, and you won't know exactly what I mean till you read this literally reverberating story.
Giantism-in-action. Shock and awe. But I've only skimmed the surface.'

© D.F. Lewis

Read the full review here

*************************************************************************************

October '09: Dead Loss Review (Black Static #13):

'Johnstone's grim portrayal of the men working in a fishing industry that itself is a ghost of its former grandeur is finely detailed rings utterly true. Highly Recommended.'

© Colin Harvey @ Suite 101

See the full review here.

*************************************************************************************

October '09: Frenzy Review:

'There are echoes in this story, of an episode of the TV show Outer Limits and also of the old joke about different nationalities stranded together in a life raft, reflected here in the dramatis personae of the novella. Hints too of Jaws, and just about every other Hollywood slice of shark fare, of the sea stories of William Hope Hodgson, and of Lost and reality TV in the resolution that is eventually provided. But Johnstone is her own woman and takes this familiar material in a new and unexpected direction.
'[Frenzy] is a bravura performance, and one that is absolutely gripping, as the layers of Pete's psyche are stripped away…and everything revealed is tainted with the curse of the unreliable narrator, the one who hides not only from the reader but from himself.
'Frenzy is Johnstone's first novella and it is an impressive debut at this length, one that speaks of a bright future.'

© Peter Tennant, Case Notes column and blog, Black Static

Black Static #13, TTA Press

*************************************************************************************

October '09: Frenzy Review:

'Frenzy by Carole Johnstone kept me on the edge from beginning to end. The constant rush of adrenaline injected into my brain while I read was an unusual experience for me. I found myself side by side with these characters going through the same terror and feeling the same uncertainty for my survival. If you love horror, and suspense then this is an absolute must for your collection.'

***** 5 Stars

© Author/Reviewer Marilyn Thompson

Mind Fog Reviews

*************************************************************************************

August '09: Frenzy Review:

'Carole Johnstone’s novella Frenzy is a tense, horrifying, and very well-written foray into a world of terror. This is the kind of horror story that makes you hold your breath, turn the pages quicker, hope desperately for a glimmer of light, and fear that there will be none.

Frenzy progresses through the experiences of one man, Peter Sherlock. We watch the events unfold before his eyes and delve into his mind during his nightmares and recollections. We experience his horror and his agony as he watches what happens with his fellow castaways, and when answers come to light towards the harrowing conclusion, we share in his disbelief and resignation.

One wouldn’t think that a story about eight men floating in the middle of nowhere in a life raft would be all that interesting. One would be dead wrong. This story gripped me soundly by the throat from the very first page, shook me around a little bit just to make sure I was good and rattled, and held me tight until the bitter end. It left me stirred up, shocked, and not just a little saddened. And all I can say is …wow. Excellent job, Ms. Johnstone. I look forward to whatever you have to offer us next. If it is anywhere close to as well-done as Frenzy is, we’ll be in for a treat.'

Rating 5/5

© BD Whitney {and link to website}

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August '09: Frenzy Review:

'Eight men wake up alone in a life raft, in the middle of the ocean, with no idea how they got there. That’s the premise in Carole Johnstone’s thought-provoking debut novella, Frenzy.

The story is true horror, but anyone looking at the cover and expecting to see the thrust of the story being the characters bloodied and devoured by sharks and other marine nasties is going to be disappointed. Or perhaps pleased, because although big fish add to the effect, this story takes you into the true fears lurking in the recesses of the characters. At one stage I was really inside the mind of the hero, Pete, as he looks down into an almost bottomless depth of water beneath him. I could feel his frustration, surrounded by sea, but unable to drink. In the almost exquisite characterisation, as we see what makes each of the characters tick, and the personal demons driving them.

Johnstone has put together a mishmash of people, cleverly using characters who play off each other to increase the tension. Some get on, some don’t, but all serve their purpose. The story pulls no punches in playing on the character’s relationships. It is very raw and maybe near to the knuckle in places, a feeling helped by the stark writing style and the decent pacing. It had me questioning myself, asking, ‘would I behave like that?’ given the stress of the situation. The author has obviously done her research on the effects of exposure at sea, and the deterioration in mind and spirit comes over excellently.

I have – rightly, I think - enthused over the book; but was there anything that didn’t work for me? Well, I always felt slightly in the dark about the ‘why’ of the men’s captivity – I would have liked to have the hints thrown at me earlier to avoid the nagging feeling of not quite knowing everything I wanted to.

The novel includes a lot of flashbacks. These are notoriously difficult to incorporate into any work, and to a large extent Johnstone skilfully pulls them off. In one or two places, though, I did feel the flashbacks butted in when the now was more important.

My criticisms are only minor nits, though. All in all, this doesn’t read like a first stand-alone release. Frenzy is a mature-looking work from a writer who clearly enjoys the craft and who hits the keyboard with confidence.'

© Andrew Richardson {and link to personal website}

*************************************************************************************

May '09: Another Grants Pass Review:

'I believe this to be a worthwhile gathering of post-apocalyptic tales by some wonderfully talented writers...well worth the read.'

© BT. Full review @ Horrorscope

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May '09: Grants Pass Review:

'It's rare that I get to read an anthology in which virtually every story is a standout piece, but Morrigan Books have delivered exactly that with Grants Pass...a remarkable, disturbing, and worthwhile read that is likely to stay with the reader for some time to come. I'm predicting that this anthology will be up for a swag of awards come the next round of Aurealis, Ditmar, and Australian Shadows nominations.'

*************************************************************************************

Feb '09: Voices Review @ DarkWolfs Fantasy Review

*************************************************************************************

April '08: The Morning After Review (Black Statis #3):

'Carole Johnstone’s ‘The Morning After’ is a debut story that reeks of location, and has a nice twist that’s so subtle it has to be read carefully. It’s a first sale that bodes well for Johnstone.'

Black Static Issue 3 by TTA Press

GRANTS PASS PRE-ORDER!

2009-06-02T13:38:00.000-07:00

Grants Pass: the post-apocalyptic anthology featuring the likes of Ed Greenwood, Jay Lake, Cherie Priest (and yours truly) will be launched in August ‘09 at GenCon.

The GRANTS PASS anthology is available for pre-order from Morrigan Books here

And check out the trailer for the book on YouTube!

NOVELLA ACCEPTANCE!

2009-05-22T06:06:00.000-07:00

My novella, Frenzy, has been accepted for publication by Eternal Press!
Editing is already underway, and it has a tentative publication date of September 2009.

More to come soon...

MY FIRST PRO SALE!!

2009-04-28T12:53:00.000-07:00

Got confirmation last week from Allen Ashley, that my story, A Hard Place, was accepted for his brilliant Catastrophia anthology! My name appeared in the same sentence as Simon Clark! Am very chuffed. Am a fair bit beyond very chuffed...
Catastrophia is already to feature the likes of Brian W. Aldiss and Adam Roberts. It is to be published Winter 2010 by PS Publishing, and submissions will remain open until May 31st.

J.G. Ballard

2009-04-24T08:09:00.000-07:00

Re-reading High Rise at the moment. One of those books that I used to love but had forgotten I did - one of the very first novels I read in fact (by choice anyway!) .
I was saddened to hear of J.G. Ballard's death on the 19th. While I was not a die hard fan, I loved The Drowned World and Kingdom Come, and in particular, the slow decay of Vermillion Sands. I'm a sucker for dystopian settings, and the kind of character development that rarely restores anyone's faith in humankind! Ballard's voice was unique; he got there before any of us.

From The Asylum

2009-04-23T16:22:00.000-07:00

So the brilliant From The Asylum is closing its doors in July. Another great small press gone, although Kate Sanger has said that she hopes to one day bring it back online.
Apparently Things Aren't What They Seem and the final yearly anthology will both still be coming out in July.
Catch my short, The Watcher in the March ed.!

Biography

2009-04-22T14:03:00.000-07:00

Carole's first published story appeared in Black Static #3 in early 2008. Since then she has sold numerous short stories to magazines and anthologies in both the US and the UK, including PS Publishing, Black Static, Apex and Morrigan Books. She is to be published in Ellen Datlow's forthcoming Best Horror of the Year, Vol. 2.

Her first novella, Frenzy, was published by Eternal Press/ Damnation Books in August 2009.

Originally from Lanarkshire, Scotland, Carole now lives in north Essex with her fiancé, Iain.

Publications

2009-04-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

Scenes from the Second Storey (International ed.) - Morrigan Books

The Blind Man

(release date Nov 2011)

Terror Tales of the Lake District - Gray Friar Press

The Claife Crier

(release date Sept 2011)

Black Static #23

Electric Dreams

(release date June 2011)

Dark Minds Anthology

Bury The Truth

(release date March 2011)

Catastrophia - PS Publishing

A Hard Place

(release date Sept 2010)

Never Agai n - Gray Friar Press

Machine

(release date September 2010)

Black Static #18 - TTA Press

Between A Rock and A Hard Place

(release date August 2010)

Best New Horror, Vol. 2 - Night Shade Books

Dead Loss

(release date March 2010)

Where The Heart Is - Gray Friar Press

Stamping Ground

(release date June 2010)

Close Encounters of the Urban Kind - Apex Book Company

The Invitation

(release date february 2010)

Black Static #13 - TTA Press

Dead Loss

(release date August 2009)

Frenzy - Eternal Press

(release date August 2009)

Also Available from Amazon

In Bad Dreams Vol2 - Eneit Press

Scent

(release date October 2009)

Dead Souls - Morrigan Books

The Blind Man

(release date Sept 2009)

Also Availa ble from Amazon

Grants Pass - Morrigan Books

The Discomfort of Words

(release date August 2009)

From the Asylum March 2009 Ed.

The Watcher

Voices - Morrigan Books

Sanctuary

(release date: Sept 2008)

Also Available from Amazon

Black Static #3 - TTA Press

The Morning After

(Feb 2008)

Procrastination

2009-04-21T13:44:00.000-07:00

Had great writing plans this weekend (timetable and everything, just like SG study leave). Instead, ended up doing everything but. Stayed up far too late Friday: downloading terrible tunes, being a menace on Facebook, catching up with the wonderful Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre on Youtube...the list goes on, but you get the gist. A glass or two of wine might have featured too.
Saturday night, rounded off productive weekend by watching a couple of horrors while munching the last of my mini eggs. One: The Tattooist [Eyeworks Touchdown], was a New Zealand film that I've been looking out for for a while. Enjoyable enough, but no great shakes.
Splinter [Indion Entertainment Group] on the other hand, was one of the best low-budget, shaky-cam horrors I've seen in a long time (Five Across the Eyes, anyone? Never again, not even if you could miraculously delete those 3am Facebook msgs for me).
Very briefly, Splinter is about a couple and an escaped convict who find themselves trapped inside a gas station, while a parasitic creature with a propensity for transforming the still living into skewered hosts (cue much gore and dislocation of limbs, yum), besieges the forecourt.
The acting was brilliant, thanks to a script that was blessedly free from the usual cliches and 'yo dude' dialogue. And there wasn't even a sex scene. That aside, it was great - boom boom!
Well back to work, I guess. Now that I've wasted most of this night watching Easties, catching up on emails, and writing this post.

Hello!

2009-04-17T14:12:00.000-07:00

So, my first blog.
I am a thirty-something writer of SF. Horror/Dark Fiction mostly, although I might have created a few fantasy worlds along the way: places that are okay to visit once in a while, but I wouldn't live there if you paid me (and the chances of that are pretty slim...)
I have worked for the NHS for over a decade, reserving my dirty habit for evenings and weekends, when the lure of the pub is not too great.
I sold my first story to the fantastic Black Static in Feb 2008, and since then have actively tried to pull my finger out: setting up a website (please have a look-see), and subbing to within an inch of my life. So far nearly a dozen acceptances vs a shed-load of rejections. Social life - what social life?

Home Page

2009-04-10T19:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.carolejohnstone.com