Shroud Publishing (WWW.SHROUDMAGAZINE.COM)

Anthology 2012 Now Open for Submissions!

2012-02-10T11:37:00.001-08:00

The Four Horsemen are pleased to announce their first print anthology scheduled for release on November 9, 2012 at the second annual Anthology Conference (AnthoCon 2012). The Anthology will represent the combined talents of the authors, poets and artists who helped make the first ever AnthoCon a success in 2011. The Anthology will be a non-genre-specific endeavor, and will be edited by Mark Wholley and Danny Evarts, and copy edited and designed by Danny Evarts.

Submission Guidelines

Submission Period: Now to July 30th, 2012

We are looking for the following:

We are looking for work submitted by those authors, artists and poets that attended AnthoCon 2011
Original fiction from 1500 to 5000 words, any genre; payment $30;
Original Flash fiction from 300 to 1000 words, any genre; payment $15;
Original Poetry from four to 20 lines, any genre; payment $5 per poem;
Artwork and photography, any genre, original or relicensed; payment $30 per piece for one time use;
Rights purchased = 1st North American Serial Rights. Rights revert back to the owner on publication;
Reprints considered on a case by case basis; contact first;
No simultaneous submissions;
Multiple submissions are fine, but please do not inundate us with 10 poems etc. at a time.
Format: stories and poetry should be attached as an .rtf file; artwork can be linked or submitted as a low-resolution .jpeg or .gif attachment;
All submissions should be sent to mark@anthocon.com, and must include a short (no more than 30 word) bio of the contributor;
Response time: 1-3 months;
All contributors will receive one free contributor copy. Maximum two free contributor copies per contributor. Additional copies will be available at the 40% off contributor rate.

Questions? Contact mark@anthocon.com

Spotlight on Joe L. Blevins' THE FAMILIAR

2011-12-12T17:10:00.000-08:00

The folks here at Shroud wanted to steer you in the direction of one of our sponsor's new award winning titles:

The Familiar

by Joe L. Blevins

New to Black Bed Sheet Books December 2nd in a Kindle format!

Joe L. Blevins is a member of the British Fantasy Society.

The Familiar is a winner in Hollywood's 2011 Halloween Book Festival.

Black Bed Sheet Books Synopsis:

A larger coven of witches comes to Salem for the first full lunar eclipse of the winter solstice in over three hundred seventy four years, and choose a vulnerable man as their slave. When he is found drunk and in possession of stolen jewelry from a grave, he is sentenced to hang. The witches give him a strange potion that mimics death. The authorities bury him thinking he is already dead. The rare lunar eclipse during the winter solstice passes. He emerges from the grave a large cat capable of changing into the form of a man during the full moon. His powers allow him to be charming and give him a "second-sight" ability. He can change to many forms of beast when his life is threatened. He can see what scares someone the most to use that against them. He takes the name Winston Rupert Wallace. Winston uses his new powers to build great wealth to become an entrepreneur who controls a big part of New Amsterdam.

Willia and her brother Stephen join Winston to buy some ships to move goods up and down the Eastern Seaboard. They use their powers and influence to build New Amsterdam into a thriving city to live. Willia conjures up a member of the Roanoke expedition named Sir Christopher Warren. He is a warlock who comes to take control of all their lives. He seeks the ancient Book of Spells that Willia has hidden during the Salem witch trials when many innocents were persecuted and where real witches avoided communities and paranoid officials. Follow the adventures of Winston, Willia and Stephen as they use their magical powers to make themselves filthy rich and powerful, and fight the evil influence of Warren to make a decent life in New Amsterdam, the future New York City.

Available now at downwarden.com for $3.95 for the e-Book.

Shroud Magazine Digital Edition V. 1.02 (August 2011) Now Available

2011-08-29T17:04:00.000-07:00

Shroud is thrilled to release the second issue of our monthly digital edition in smartphone and tablet compatible .pdf format. With all exclusive content, Shroud DE provides an excellent way for readers to sample the same quality fiction, nonfiction and art as in our successful quarterly print magazine. V. 1.02 (August 2011) features KRIS ST. JAMES' “Die Wassergeist,” ADAM BLOMQUIST's “Trap,” ALAN MEYROWITZ's “Vampiric Nights,” Richard Wright’s “CRAVEN PLACE” Chapter Two, Robert Davies' "Hiram Grange & The Ghosts of Marrakech" Scott C. Carr's SOMEONE OUGHTA SELL TICKETS...! Beautiful cover Art by Danny Evarts, and DEMENTIS MORTUUS -- Word Games for the Worst of Us.

CLICK BELOW TO READ AND DOWNLOAD!

2011 Collegiate Fiction Award Deadline Extended To October 15

2011-08-16T12:56:00.000-07:00

Please spread the word, Shroud's 2011 Collegiate Fiction Award deadline has been extended to October 15, 2011. The nominees and award will be handed out during the Saturday night celebration at AnthoCon 2011. Read the submission guidelines here. Free to enter!

Shroud Update August 2011 -- Going Strong!

2011-08-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

Wow, the last several months have been crazy. In that time I have been laid off, reemployed, finished grad school, travelled and trained for the new job, and am in the midst of plans for Anthology 2011 (AnthoCon). However, thanks to the efforts of my dear friend and Co-Shroudite, Danny Evarts, and an exceptional community of writers, editors, and artists, Shroud Magazine and Shroud Publishing continues to forge ahead with new issues, new books and new projects. What hasn't been exceptional is my ability to get Shroud out to subcribers in one mailing, nor my ability to get all of my authors paid quickly. While the afforementioned events may serve to explain, I make no excuses. My writers are what make Shroud a superlative publication, and my readers are our audience. Please, writers, if you have not already done so, send me an email with your preferred payment delivery method. Also send me your current address so I can make sure you get your contributor copy as well (for those few that have not received theirs' yet.) Remember that all Shroud authors are entitled to a 40% discount for additional copies of the issue they appeared in. Simply ask me for the coupon code in your email. I am usually only to fill orders on weekends, but I'll try to come up with a plan to fix that. If you are awaiting an order, trust that I am working on getting everything caught up.

So what can you expect from Shroud in the coming months? A new digital edition is just about to be released, Issue 12 is in production. Our Guest Editor, Jackie Gamber, is wrapping up Issue 13, a new novel from Nate Lambert is in production, as are The Terror In Miskatonic, and Epitaphs, an anthology from the New England Horror Writers.

Thank you for your continued support. I am a writer as well. I struggle with rejection letters, a competitive market, folding publications, and trying to develop my passion into an income. I understand the importance of honesty and dependability in this market. My goal is, and has always been, for Shroud to be an honest and dependable enitity in the dark fiction ecosystem. Subcribership continues to grow, but slowly. As a result, we operate on a tight budget and are required to be flexibile about the publishing schedule. You have all demonstrated understanding and patience in this regard, and I appreciate it. In the end, we intend to sustain Shroud through a dynamically changing market landscape, and continue to maintain quality and relevance in a competitive environment that is filled with alternatives. Shroud will enter its 5th year of existence by the time we all convene in Portsmouth for AnthoCon. I hope many of you will be on hand to celebrate with us.

--Tim

New "Scary Psyches" Issue Edited by Jackie Gamber!

2011-05-13T10:13:00.000-07:00

Shroud is pleased to announce our second themed issue. Issue #13 will be guest edited by a talented writer and editor in the speculative fiction field, Jackie Gamber.

Jackie is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Meadowhawk Press, a speculative fiction publisher based in Memphis. She edited and published David Walton’s Terminal Mind, which garnered the Philip K. Dick Memorial Award in 2009 (more on Jackie below.)

Shroud Magazine, Issue #13, "Scary Psyches."

Scary Psyches – Stories that explore the dark side of our nature; hidden, forbidden facets of the human drama. Maybe we indulge them. Maybe we don’t.

No slasher stories for the sake of gore. No serial killers (unless there’s a fascinating element for his/her “why”). Go for creepy, Hitchcockian thriller, and you’re on the right track.

Submission should follow Shrouds submission requirements as outlined here. Also visit the submissions page to learn about payment terms.

Submission are open June 1st, 2011 and subsequently close July 31st 2011, and must be submitted as .rtf attachments to jackie@shroudmagazine.com. Submissions that are not formatted correctly, are sent to the wrong email address, or do bot comply with the theme of the issue will be unfortunately deleted.

More on Jackie Gamber

Jackie also edited the award-winning benefit anthology Touched by Wonder. She has been a guest lecturer at Memphis Options High Schools, and is a speaker at writers’ conferences from Michigan to Florida. Jackie is also the visionary behind the MidSouthCon Writers’ Conference, now in its third year.

An award-winning author in her own right, Jackie writes stories ranging from ultra-short to novel-length, varieties of which have appeared in anthologies such as Tales of Fantasy and Old School, as well as numerous periodical publications. Jackie is a member of the professional organizations Science Fiction Writers of America and Horror Writers Association. She was named honorable mention in L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Award, received a 2008 Darrell Award for best short story by a Mid-South author, and is winner of the 2009 Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award for Imaginative Fiction.

Future Issues

Shroud is thrilled to be working with a number of writers and editors in the genre for upcoming themed issues.

The Shroud Publishing 2011 Collegiate Fiction Award

2011-03-03T11:27:00.000-08:00

Submission Dates: March 1st, 2011 through July 31st, 2011

Response Time: 1 to 3 months after the end of the submission period

Submission email: cfa@shroudmagazine.com

Format and word count: Electronic submissions only; .rtf or .doc file attachment; no more than 500 words.

Awards:

1st place -- $100, publication in Shroud Magazine, two free contributor copies, and a hand-lettered “Hiram Award” presented at the Anthology 2011 Conference (anthocon.com) at the Wynwood Best Western in Portsmouth NH, November 11-13, 2011.

Honorable Mentions (4) -- Publication in Shroud Magazine, one contributor copy, and a hand-lettered “Hiram Award” presented at the Anthology 2011 Conference at the Wynwood Best Western in Portsmouth NH, November 11-13, 2011.

All awardees will receive a free weekend pass to the Anthology 2011 Conference, where they may participate in workshops and seminars focussed on the craft of genre writing.

Details: Shroud Publishing, a Milton, NH-based publisher of Shroud Magazine, The Journal of Dark Fiction and Art, is accepting submissions of exceptional flash fiction from college students. Shroud endeavors to discover the bold new voices emerging from within the realm of dark speculative fiction. Stories may be on any topic, provided that they are speculative in nature, and would fit the thematic orientation of Shroud Magazine as stated in its submission guidelines at www.shroudmagazine.com. There is no fee to enter.

Stories will be judged by Shroud’s editorial team using the following general criteria:

Originality, uniqueness;
Exceptional use of craft techniques (dialogue, narrative tension, subtext, POV, etc.)
Basic compositional ability;
Adherence to Shroud’s submission guidelines at www.shroudmagazine.com

Shroud will acknowledge receipt of submissions, but will be unable to personally respond to, or critique every submission.

Learn more about Shroud at www.shroudmagazine.com; Twitter: Shroudmag

Kevin Lucia, Shroud Review Editor, Passes baton to Tim Remp

2011-01-05T06:29:00.000-08:00

Kevin Lucia has a been a member for the Shroud family for some time (and will continue to be). He has been a prolific and talented reviewer and has done an exceptional job of managing the book review process for Shroud.

As a direct result of his efforts, the Shroud name has made it onto the book-jacket blurbs of some distinguished novels, not to mention in press materials, Websites, and blogs. He is an extremely hard worker and had given 100% to the Shroud team.

Kevin announced recently that he would like to focus more on his own writing. We support him. It is our hope and intention to see more of Kevin's striking prose within the Shroud Publishing fold. Over the past few weeks, Kevin has been working diligently to transition the review process to another talented writer and good friend, Timothy Remp. Tim is also a voracious reader, a published author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, and a New Hampshire native. The latter is important because it will assist in me getting books to Tim as publishers send them to me.

I am thrilled to see Tim come on board and am certain he will offer a comparable level of talent and diligence to the review process.

Here's a copy of the note, Kevin recently sent out to his review staff:

Hello folks -

Hope the New Year has been good to you all so far. Just wanted to thank you for all the work you've done, and also update you on changes in Shroud's Book Review Department. First of all, if you haven't visited the blog recently, we posted a ton of reviews over the break:

http://shroudmagazinebookreviews.blogspot.com/

Second, I'm stepping down as Book Review Editor for Shroud, and handing the reigns over to Tim Remp. Tim posted all the reviews over the break and did a nice job, so after talking with Tim Deal and him, we've decided on Tim as our Review Editor for now.

I saw this coming about a year ago. After 5+ years of reviewing books & interviewing authors, I really felt it was time not only to just read what I felt informed me as a writer, but also to devote all my free time to my own prose. However, I thought we'd started something neat, so I didn't want to abandon Tim and Shroud. So, I recruited all you, and tried to get a system in place, so I wasn't leaving things in complete disarray.

Once that seemed to be working okay, I approached Tim Deal about backing out fully, we discussed possible replacements, tried Tim Remp out, and it worked nicely. His geographical proximity to Tim Deal is also a plus when it comes to managing Shroud operations.

So here's what will happen now:

I'll mail all the books I have left to Tim. Once that's done and I forward all my contacts to Tim, he'll start up the process once more of sending a request list out to all of you, and you'll just continue on as you have. His email is: timothy.p.remp@comcast.net. As always, if you come up with other sources for reviews he'll still accept them, to keep the blog as active as possible.

You'll remember we offered a payment of $7.00 for those reviews that found their way into print. The plan is still to pay that in a stipend, and I'll need to confer with Danny Evarts to see which reviews made it into the print versions.

Once again, thanks for all your hard work and dedication.

Kevin Lucia
Review Editor
Shroud Magazine
The Journal of Dark Fiction and Art
http://www.shroudmagazine.com

Shroud Update!

2010-12-12T08:06:00.000-08:00

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I just wanted to post a brief update. Over the past few weeks I've travelled to and from San Francisco, been swamped with a work project, and working on my Masters degree.

I am in the process of catching up with the following:

1. Author payments and contributor copies;
2. Filling orders;
3. Gathering content for the Shroud Digital Edition;
4. Working on Shroud 11;
5. Working on some big guest announcements for AnthoCon 2011.

Please, if you have any concerns or questions, feel free to shoot me an email.

The holidays are an extremely busy time for us here at Shroud as I am sure they are for you too.

Thank you!

Tim Deal
Owner/Publisher

Free Swag Halloween Weekend!

2010-10-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

All weekend,, beginning now, receive a free fabric book bag with any order from the Shroud site. These make perfect shopping bags as well, and with the distinctive haunted house logo, you'll be sure to attract a few stares as you hand it to the grocery store bagger.

Tailor-made* to fit two six-packs of Schlitz Bull Ice Malt Liquor, a box of frozen White Castle cheeseburgers, and four bags of Doritos. I like Taco Flavor, how about you?

But seriously, buy anything and get a FREE tote-bag. Plus, I'll ship all in-stock items priority mail on Monday Morning. Out-of-stock items will ship as soon as they become in-stock. Am I making myself clear? Just do the math.

Order here today!

*This is an outright lie. This is a standard-sized fabric bag, probably churned out in crappy overseas factory somewhere by eight-year-old kids chained to glue guns or whatever. But it's free.

Anthology 2011 Conference Welcomes Jonathan Maberry, Rick Hautala!

2010-10-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

Though the event is more than a year-away, we've already been fortunate enough to secure a stellar list of special guests and attendees for Shroud's Anthology 2011 Conference. Among them, is New York Times Bestselling author, Jonathan Maberry. Mr. Maberry is a multiple Bram Stoker Award winner, a freelance comic book writer, and recently penned the novelization of THE WOLFMAN film, starring Benicio del Toro.

Maberry's wildly successful novel, Patient Zero: A Joe Ledger Novel, is a bioterrorism thriller that launched a new series for St. Martin's Press, and was followed in 2010 by The Dragon Factory. In 2011 Joe Ledger returns again in the third installment, The King of Plagues. The first three books in the series have been optioned by producer Michael De Luca (Se7en, Magnolia, Blade) on behalf of Sony.

We are thrilled to have Jonathan Maberry in attendance and participating in several panels and workshops.

Rick Hautala has offered a firm commitment to attend as well. Rick Hautala has more than thirty published books to his credit, including the million copy, international best-seller Nightstone, as well as Twilight Time, Little Brothers, Cold Whisper, Impulse, and The Wildman. He has also published four novels—The White Room, Looking Glass, Unbroken, and Follow—using the pseudonym A. J. Matthews. His more than sixty published short stories have appeared in national and international anthologies and magazines. His short story collection Bedbugs was selected as one of the best horror books of the year in 2003.

A novella titled Reunion was published by PS Publications in December, 2009; and Occasional Demons, a short story collection, is due in 2010 from CD Publications. He wrote the screenplays for several short films, including the multiple award-winning The Ugly Film, based on the short story by Ed Gorman, as well as Peekers, based on a short story by Kealan Patrick Burke, and Dead @ 17, based on the graphic novel by Josh Howard.

We are absolutely honored to have Rick join us at Anthology 2011!

The guest list is growing. Stay tuned to the blog for more announcements!

ANTHOLOGY 2011: A Sneak Peek

2010-10-24T08:36:00.000-07:00

By this time, you may have seen a stray Tweet or Facebook post that suggested that Shroud is hosting a con in 2011. The fact is, Mark Wholley, Danny Evarts, and John Morse and I had been discussing the possibility since returning from Context in Ohio earlier this year. We realized that with all of the expense, effort, and stress that went into attending cons, Shroud could quite reasonably host one and achieve many of the same goals.

Mark came up with the name, "Anthology." It is a word that we are all very familiar with. A collection of stories from different authors, and sometimes expanded to include other forms of art as well.

Anthology 2011 (or "AnthoCon") will showcase the creative brilliance of authors and artists within imaginative genres including (but not limited to) Horror, Mystery, Noir, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Historical, Steampunk, Bizzaro, and the convergence of art and literature within these genres in graphic novels, comics, and games.

Here are some of the details:

WHEN IS IT?

November 11-13, 2011 (Veteran's Day weekend)

WHERE IS IT?

Best Western Wynwood Hotel & Suites

580 US Route 1, Portsmouth, New Hampshire 03801
Phone/Fax: 603.436.7600

And,

The Roundabout Diner and Lounge (adjacent to the hotel)

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

In our planning discussion, we quickly agreed on a few key principles:

1. The conference would encompass a variety of genres;
2. It would provide an enriching experience for writers, artists and the fans of both;
3. We would provide a comprehensive schedule of panels, workshops, and activities, but would not overburden or overwhelm our guests and attendees;
4. We would create excellent commercial and networking opportunities for visiting authors, publishers, and vendors by maximizing our substantial contacts within the local community, media, art and literary scene, and universities;
5. Finally, as it is now a Shroud tradition, there would be opportunities for fun, frivolity and friendship.

WHAT WILL THE SCHEDULE LOOK LIKE?

Simple, functional, uncluttered. It is our goal that each workshop, reading and panel be well-designed and well-attended. Fewer workshops translate into greater attendance for each. Furthermore, we want to continually drive traffic to the dealer room. We have found that an overburdened workshop schedule inhibits the ability of attendees to browse at their own relaxed pace. As a result, we have decided on a TWO track workshop/panel discussion format. This means that workshops will occur in two conference rooms, instead of six or eight.

Schedule Outline

Friday, Nov. 11, 2011

2PM: Arrival, check in, registration
5PM: Dealer Room Opens
7PM: Welcome reception (passed appetizers, cash bar)

Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011

9AM: Dealer Room Opens
9AM to 5PM: Workshops, panel discussions
7PM to 1AM: Shroud Party, Awards, Open Mic, Dancing (passed appetizers and cash bar)

Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011
9AM: Dealer Room Opens
9AM to 12PM: Panels, reading, signings
3PM: Dealer room closes
6PM: Dead Dog Party in the Roundabout Lounge

While this is subject to change, we feel that the schedule is loose enough for attendees to network, visit Portsmouth's historical and cultural attractions, and visit the dealer room. We are also working on additional content and activities including:

Gaming
Independent films
A juried art exhibit
Slam poetry
A field trip to downtown Portsmouth

WHO'S GOING TO BE THERE?

The list is growing so quickly I'll need a whole new post to tell you! Coming up soon.

Contact Tim for more information.

Shroud's 2010 Halloween Extravaganza!

2010-10-12T13:43:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure of the exact date that talented author (and friend) Kevin Lucia approached me and suggested a themed Halloween Issue. What I remember is that Kevin offered to "guest edit" it and I was thrilled by the prospect of seeing Kevin's creative vision manifest.

Over the past several weeks, I've been delighted to see the names that have slowly made their way to the Halloween Issue's table of contents. Rio Youers, Lisa Mannetti, Jeremy Shipp, Nicholas Grabowski, Kelli Owen, Norman Partridge, Dan Keohane, Jodi Lee, Brian Hatcher and so many more (see full TOC below).

Not only did Kevin put his absolute best effort into this issue, but he also suffered the rigors related to editorial management with class and aplomb. His efforts also served as proof positive that the guest editor idea--along with the themed issue--was something that we believe could work out well for Shroud's readers.

Better yet, we ran into one of our favorite artists at Context in August, Steven Gilberts. Steve has done a number of covers for Shroud and they are among our most popular. On the night of our fabled Context Shroud Party, Steve showed us a painting he had done onsite that day. We fell in love with it and immediately contracted Steve to do the Halloween issue cover. I asked Steve to take his pumpkin man concept and place them in "literary positions." The masterful work you see above is what he came up with. After Danny Evarts finished several beautiful original wood and linoleum cuts for spot illustrations, then edited and designed the issue, we felt that this is perhaps our best issue yet. Perfect for our favorite holiday.

ORDER IT NOW (and receive it as it comes available)

Shroud DE Released! September Issue available!

2010-09-28T07:59:00.000-07:00

Shroud is thrilled to release the premiere issue of our monthly digital edition in smartphone and tablet compatible .pdf format. With all exclusive content, Shroud DE provides an excellent way for readers to sample the same quality fiction, nonfiction and art as in our successful quarterly print magazine. V. 1.01 (September 2010) features a brand new novelette from critically-acclaimed Bizarro author, D. Harlan Wilson. Richard Wright takes us to CRAVEN PLACE, in the first installment of his new, never been published novel. Scott Christian Carr revisits one of his titular characters from HIRAM GRANGE AND THE TWELVE LITTLE HITLERS in LITTLE EDSEL EINSTEIN. This and so much more! Download it HERE for free.

Table of Contents:

MICHAEL BALLANTINE REMEMBERS HIS NAME -- Victorya

Scott Christian Carr’s -- SOMEONE OUGHTA SELL TICKETS: DOWN & OUT IN RACHEL, NEVADA Part 1

THE BUREAU OF ME -- D. Harlan Wilson

CLICK-THRU CLASSIFIEDS, Discover New Treasures!

LITTLE EDSEL EINSTEIN -- A Hiram Grange Story by Scott Christian Carr

GRIMOIRES & TOMES, Book Reviews

CRAVEN PLACE -- A new serialized Novel from Richard Wright

DEMENTIS MORTUUS, Word Games for the Worst of Us

***********************
Read the September Issue of Shroud DE in your browser:

Open publication - Free publishing - More shroud de

Kevin Lucia to Attend Reading and Signing at Binghamton Bookstore

2010-09-22T07:26:00.000-07:00

Subject: Binghamton Author, Kevin Lucia, to read from "Hiram Grange and the Chosen One (horror/comedy, adventure novel)

Date of the event: October 8th, 2010, 6PM

Location: River Read Books, 5 Court Street, Downtown Binghamton, NY, 607 217-7292. Web: http://riverreadbooks.com/

Contact: Tim Deal, Publisher, at tim@shroudmagazine.com or 603.652.8136; Kevin Lucia, author, at kevin@shroudmagazine.com

Details:

Kevin Lucia, a Binghamton author and alumnus of Binghamton University and Harpursville Central School will be signing and reading his first novel at River Read Books in downtown Binghamton on October 8th at 6:30 PM.

Lucia's "Hiram Grange and the Chosen One," published by Shroud Publishing, is the fourth book in the multi-author series, "The Scandalous Misadventures of Hiram Grange."

In CHOSEN ONE, Lucia takes his readers on a wild chase through Belfast's darker boroughs as Hiram Grange faces his toughest--and perhaps most unusual--assignment yet.

CHOSEN ONE has garnered widespread International praise as well as several recommendations for a Bram Stoker Award from Lucia's peers.

Reviews:

“H.P. Lovecraft meets Ian Fleming – and H.P. Lovecraft wins. Lucia delivers non-stop action and shocks from the get-go, with tentacle very firmly in cheek…”

- Joseph D’Lacey, critically acclaimed author of MEAT and GARBAGE MAN.

“In the mood for a wild ride of a book? Something smart and scary and exciting? Kevin Lucia’s HIRAM GRANGE & THE CHOSEN ONE fits the bill to perfection. It teems with monsters and demons, with arcane lore, black magic and narrow escapes. Even the hero is edgy and obsessed. What could be more delicious? Long live Hiram Grange!”

- Robert Dunbar, Bram Stoker Nominated author of THE SHORE and MARTYRS & MONSTERS

"Kevin Lucia's writing is both scary and smart--a lethal cocktail that makes for mesmerizing storytelling."

- Tosca Lee, critically acclaimed author of DEMON: A MEMOIR

"Packed with high octane dark adventure and brimming with humor, Kevin Lucia’s HIRAM GRANGE & THE CHOSEN ONE thunders across the pages like a herd of wild horses. This is what cult fiction is all about!"

- J. L. Comeau, Count Gore's Creature Feature

“Fans of Kevin Lucia’s short story work have long awaited his first novella. And his book in the Hiram Grange series is the perfect vehicle for Lucia to not only please his old fans, but to show new ones just how damn good he is.”

- Gregory Hall- author of AT THE END OF CHURCH STREET and host of the Funky Werepig

"Hiram Grange and The Chosen One is one of those stories you simply lose yourself in, and hate to have end. From the opening to the final scenes it never lets up with over-the-top action and plenty of dark laughs. I loved it! And want more Hiram Grange, please!"

- Bram Stoker-Nominated author of SOLOMON'S GRAVE, Dan Keohane

Please contact the publisher or author for additional details.

Hiram Grange Series now sold as a set!

2010-09-17T10:16:00.000-07:00

Shroud Publishing is pleased to announce that the Scandalous Misadventures of Hiram Grange are now available to order as a five book set, at a $10.00 savings! Place orders HERE.

Welcome to the scandalous misadventures of scurrilous boozer and malcontent, Hiram Grange. Though afflicted with a laundry list of dysfunctions, addictions and odd predilections, Hiram Grange stands toe to toe (and sometimes toe to tentacle) with the black-hearted denizens of the Abyss and dispenses justice with the help of his antiquated Webley revolver and Pritchard bayonet. A five-part series. Cover and illustrations by Malcolm McClinton, and original woodcut prints by Danny Evarts.

With this order, you will receive all five books in Volume 1 of the Hiram Grange Misadventures, including:

Book One: Hiram Grange and the Village of the Damned, by Jake Burrows
Book Two: Hiram Grange and the Twelve Little Hitlers, by Scott Christian Carr
Book Three: Hiram Grange and the Digital Eucharist, by Robert Davies
Book Four: Hiram Grange and the Chosen One, by Kevin Lucia
Book Five: Hiram Grange and the Nymphs of Krakow, by Richard Wright

All five books at an exceptional bargain! Start the dysfunctional adventure today!

Here's what readers and reviewers are saying about the series:

"Stunning and startlingly original...a must read!" -- Nate Kenyon, author of THE BONE FACTORY and SPARROW ROCK

“Somewhere in the Underworld, Lovecraft is grinning with delight and Hunter S. Thompson is raising his bottle high. You won’t find a darker, more twisted character than Hiram Grange.” -- Greg Hall, author of AT THE END OF CHURCH STREET, and creator of the Funky Werepig Radio Show.

An absolute must read for fans of fast-paced, action-packed occult thrillers."-- Gene O'Neill, Stoker-winning author of JADE and DEATHFLASH

“H.P. Lovecraft meets Ian Fleming – and H.P. Lovecraft wins. Lucia delivers non-stop action and shocks from the get-go, with tentacle very firmly in cheek…” -- Joseph D’Lacey, critically acclaimed author of MEAT and GARBAGE MAN.

"Twisted, shocking and full of pitch-black humor and darkly original twists. One of the best books I've read this year." -- Brian Keene, author of DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN and DEAD SEA

Announcing the 1st Annual HIRAM Awards!

2010-07-27T05:47:00.000-07:00

Shroud Publishing is excited to announce the first annual "HIRAM" awards--Shroud's recognition of the superlative, the superb, and the silly!.

Over the past three years, we have had the privilege of working with some of the most talented, hard-working, hard-drinking, and downright funniest writers, artists, and publishers in the genre.

This year, we will recognize them and pass out awards at Context 2010. Don't worry, attendance is not required to receive your award.

The HIRAM Award will include a customized certificate designed by Danny Evarts--Shroud's preeminent book designer and artist. Furthermore, awardees will receive discounts, free swag, and invites to Shroud events (including the yet-to-be-announced Shroud Campfire Retreat!)

More details to come!

Who penned the best short story from 2007 to 2010?
The funniest?
Whose novella challenged the boundaries of the genre?
Who penned the most book reviews?
The best nonfiction?
The best Interview?

Got an idea? Email me. :)

Shroud DE: Get it for Free and a call for submissions

2010-07-26T18:31:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled about the exclusive content coming out for Shroud DE. Brand new terrifying fiction, Hiram Grange flash fiction, exclusive and insightful book reviews, a serialized novel by Richard Wright, and a startling (and EYE-opening) new column by Scott Christian Carr. This stuff is soooo hot that we won't release it anywhere else but the SHROUD DE! The cool thing, is that we'll send you Shroud DE for free if you simply sign up:

Sign up for the Shroud Newsletter.

Hey, I'm curious, do you have a column, art, photography, or poetry idea for Shroud DE? Send me your pitch. If we use your idea, we'll pay cash for it!

Rock on!

News! Coming in August: Shroud Digital Edition ("DE")

2010-06-17T08:31:00.000-07:00

We're excited to announce that we've begun work on the Shroud DE, a digital version of Shroud Magazine that will feature thrilling stories, interviews, columns and more beginning in August.

Shroud DE will be released on a monthly basis and will complement Shroud's quarterly print edition.
Shroud DE will be available online using an easy to read technology that simulates the print experience.
Shroud DE will also be available for download and will be compatible with the iPhone and the iPad for reading on the go.

We are pleased to be able to offer more ways for readers to access thrilling, quality fiction, as well as insightful, useful nonfiction content. Furthermore, we are happy to provide another publishing outlet for authors. Shroud Publishing will continue to pay Shroud DE authors the same rate as in our print edition. Submissions provided during our regular submission periods will be considered for Shroud DE.

In addition, Shroud will be launching special advertising rates to celebrate the launch of Shroud DE. Details will be released soon, but by using digital technology, Shroud DE will be able to link directly to advertisers' Web destinations and thus provide more value for the advertising dollar. Also, Shroud DE will debut its Click-through Classifieds, linked text ads offered to authors, artists, and small press publishers at a very low price.

Best of all, Shroud will offer Shroud DE, initially, at no cost to readers. We hope that readers, writers, and advertisers will enjoy a whole new way to enjoy Shroud's content.

It's Okay to be a Zombie!

2010-05-29T09:40:00.000-07:00

Authored by Nathaniel Lambert
Illustrated by Danny Evarts

Sure, zombies are pretty scary. They stink. They want to eat your brains. They're terrible house guests. Who says zombies can't be fun, too? Don't they look kind of silly falling down and bumping into things? Sometimes they can even be cute. So, before you run away screaming for your lives, stop and appreciate the beauty of the undead. And remember, It's Okay to be a Zombie.

A darkly humorous, tongue-in-cheek, full-color UNchildren's book!

See the Book Trailer HERE.
Order it HERE

What Are People Saying?

"Evarts and Lambert do for zombies what Jesus and Kenny Rogers did for beards."

-- Andersen Prunty, author of MY FAKE WAR

"A delightful lesson in tolerance and rotting. Right up there with Heather Has Two Mommies and Stellaluna-with cooler illustrations...and more rotting."

--Gina Ranalli, author of SUICIDE GIRLS IN THE AFTERLIFE and CHEMICAL GARDENS

"... a delightfully humorous child's-eye view of the world of the walking dead."

--Myrrym Davies - Editor, Graveside Tales Publishing

About the Creators

Nathaniel is the co-author of Sideshow P.I.: The Devil's Garden and Sideshow P.I.: All Fall Down. He lives in North Dakota with his wife, two kids and a bulldog. The cold weather works wonders on his rigor-mortis. E-mail Nathaniel.

Danny likes to make pretty pictures, and often not-so-pretty ones. His works can be seen in the likes of Shroud Books and Magazine. He makes a home with his partner in the woods of Maine, where it's easier to avoid torch-bearing mobs. Visit him on the web HERE.

Publication Date: May 28 2010

ISBN/EAN13: 0982727526 / 9780982727522

Page Count: 28

Binding Type: US Trade Paper

Trim Size: 8.25" x 8.25"

Color: Full Color with Bleed

Shroud Submission Update: The Importance of Revisions

2010-05-27T08:15:00.000-07:00

We've almost completed a full month of our submission period and I have had the pleasure of reading dozens of exceptionally well-crafted short stories. A big "thank you" to the writers that have chosen Shroud for possible publication.

We have also begun to make notifications, thus making response times currently at LESS than one month. In most cases we will try and offer a personalized response with some constructive feedback, but not always.

Why not always?

Well, here's the thing. If your story has substantial merit, but needs a a few tweaks, then we will humbly make our suggestion(s). However, if it appears that your story has not made it through a revision phase then we will likely send you a polite "pass."

As writers, we cannot expect a first draft to be publishable. It may be good, it may be original and it may be entertaining, but it is not publishable. All writing requires subsequent revisions.

Ursula K. Le Guin said that “forced to weigh your words, you find out which are the styrofoam and which are the heavy gold. Severe cutting intensifies your style.”

I am seeing a large number of Shroud submissions that are at the 5000 word mark but could clearly be cut down substantially. Many contain unnecessary adjectives and adverbs, run-on sentences, excessive exposition and summary, unnecessary scenes, unnecessary dialogue attribution, etc. etc.

This is not to say that longer stories are inherently "bad" or "wrong." However, there are many of these longer submissions that would benefit from the "intense cutting."

A word on adjectives and adverbs from Chekov:

“When you read proof, take out the adjectives and adverbs wherever you can. You use so many of them that the reader finds it hard to concentrate and he gets tired. You can understand what I mean when I say ‘The man sat on the grass.’ You understand because the sentence is clear and there is nothing to distract your attention. Conversely, the brain has trouble understanding me if I say ‘A tall, narrow-chested man of medium height with a red beard sat on green grass trampled by passers-by, sat mutely, looking about timidly and fearfully.’ This doesn’t get its meaning through to the brain immediately, which is what good writing must do, and fast.”

We must learn to chip away at our sentences so that they support the timing and tone of the scene and/or the nature, disposition and emotional state of the character. Every sentence does not require rich and dense descriptors and flowery prose--some will, some won't.

So please. if you are rushing to meet the deadline for this submission period and skip any meaningful revisions, please understand that you will likely (and unfortunately) receive an unspecific "pass."

Best of luck and keep writing!

READ SHROUD MAGAZINE'S SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Sample a Shroud Publishing Anthology!

2010-05-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Tom Piccirilli's ALL YOU DESPISE (2nd printing) open for pre-order!

2010-05-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

When Shroud Publishing released Tom Piccirilli's rare limited edition novella, ALL YOU DESPISE, over a year ago, we quickly sold out of our original, small print run. We had originally planned the initial print run at 500 copies, but in the end, we capped it at 100. The popularity of the novella was proof-positive of our reader's interest in short-tun limited editions, and, quite simply, the demand far outweighed our supply. At the time, we promised to do another small print run as soon as our schedule and resources allowed for it.

That time is now.

We are going to open ALL YOU DESPISE up for pre-orders while we set up another very small print run. It is our intent to keep quantities very limited in order to maintain the collectable quality of the book. As a result, we will only have 50 signed, hardcover copies available from the printer with an estimated arrival date of June 1st, 2010.

Pre-orders are available now, and we have to limit orders to two per person.

ALL YOU DESPISE

In All You Despise, a signed, illustrated, limited edition hardcover, Piccirilli’s characteristically lean prose grimly illustrates the high price of redemption and the violent limits of brotherly love.

When a nameless man awakens to find his blood-spattered brother passed out in his trailer it sets off a chain of painful, hard-hitting events that tests family loyalty and shows the savage impact of a father’s dark legacy.

Fast-paced and packing a visceral punch, All You Despise will keep the reader anxiously turning pages all the way to its unexpected conclusion.

This exclusive offering from Shroud Publishing features a special introduction penned by Bram Stoker-winning author Brian Keene and stunning illustrations by veteran illustrator Alex McVey. Both contributors will also sign this special limited edition alongside the author.

Limited to only 50 copies and available only from Shroud Publishing, ALL YOU DESPISE will be a unique addition to your quality book collection.

All You Despise will be priced to move at only $34.99 (78 pp, jacketed hardcover, signed)

At this price, supplies will definitely not last.

Tom Piccirilli is the author of twenty novels including THE COLD SPOT, THE MIDNIGHT ROAD, A CHOIR OF ILL CHILDREN, and THE DEAD LETTERS. He's a four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award and has been a finalist for the World Fantasy Award, the International Thriller Writers Award, and Le Grand Prix de L'Imagination. Learn more at www.tompiccirilli.com

Brian Keene is a two-time Bram Stoker Award winning horror author. His novels include Dead Sea, Ghoul, City of the Dead, Terminal, The Conqueror Worms, Fear Of Gravity, and many more. Several of his books and stories have been optioned for film, video game and comic book adaptations. The New York Times, Fangoria, the History Channel, and others have credited Keene with ushering in the new era of zombie popularity in pop culture.

Alex McVey is an award-winning illustrator whose work has been published internationally, ranging from album art to graphic design to book illustration. He has illustrated the works of Stephen King, Joe R. Lansdale, Gahan Wilson, Brian Keene, Ramsey Cambpell, and Richard Matheson, among others. His clients include ad firms, gaming companies, film studios, bands, and book and magazine publishers.

"Very few authors working today put pain on the page with the skill that Piccirilli does. From the narrator to Danny to the innocent people that become embroiled in their bitter lives, Piccirilli packs DESPISE with a living, breathing cast that comes alive and embeds itself in your brain in a scant 78 pages."

-- Blu Gilland, Bookgasm Review

Hiram Grange and the Chosen One Coming soon!

2010-05-03T07:18:00.000-07:00

Hiram Grange doesn’t believe in fate. He makes his own destiny. That’s a good thing, because Queen Mab of Faerie has foreseen the destruction of the world, and as usual… it’s all Hiram’s fault. He must choose: kill an innocent girl and save the universe… or rescue her and watch all else burn. Just another day on the job for Hiram Grange.

In Book Four of the Scandalous Misadventures of Hiram Grange, author Kevin Lucia, takes his readers on a wild chase through Belfast's darker boroughs as Hiram Grange faces his toughest--and perhaps most unusual--assignment yet.

AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER. Should be available in 1 week.

About Kevin Lucia

Kevin Lucia is a Contributing Editor for Shroud Magazine. His short fiction has appeared in several anthologies. He teaches high school English, and is working on a Creative Writing Masters Degree at Binghamton University. He lives in Castle Creek, New York with his wife and children. He is also currently writing his first full-length novel. Visit Kevin online at www.kevinlucia.net.

What are People Saying?

“H.P. Lovecraft meets Ian Fleming – and H.P. Lovecraft wins. Lucia delivers non-stop action and shocks from the get-go, with tentacle very firmly in cheek…”

- Joseph D’Lacey, critically acclaimed author of MEAT and GARBAGE MAN.

“In the mood for a wild ride of a book? Something smart and scary and exciting? Kevin Lucia’s HIRAM GRANGE & THE CHOSEN ONE fits the bill to perfection. It teems with monsters and demons, with arcane lore, black magic and narrow escapes. Even the hero is edgy and obsessed. What could be more delicious? Long live Hiram Grange!”

- Robert Dunbar, Bram Stoker Nominated author of THE SHORE and MARTYRS & MONSTERS

"Kevin Lucia's writing is both scary and smart--a lethal cocktail that makes for mesmerizing storytelling."

- Tosca Lee, critically acclaimed author of DEMON: A MEMOIR

"Packed with high octane dark adventure and brimming with humor, Kevin Lucia’s HIRAM GRANGE & THE CHOSEN ONE thunders across the pages like a herd of wild horses. This is what cult fiction is all about!"

- J. L. Comeau, Count Gore's Creature Feature

“Fans of Kevin Lucia’s short story work have long awaited his first novella. And his book in the Hiram Grange series is the perfect vehicle for Lucia to not only please his old fans, but to show new ones just how damn good he is.”

- Gregory Hall- author of AT THE END OF CHURCH STREET and host of the Funky Werepig

"Hiram Grange and The Chosen One is one of those stories you simply lose yourself in, and hate to have end. From the opening to the final scenes it never lets up with over-the-top action and plenty of dark laughs. I loved it! And want more Hiram Grange, please!"

- Bram Stoker-Nominated author of SOLOMON'S GRAVE, Dan Keohane

Submission Period Begins on May 1st. New Halloween Issue!

2010-04-30T06:45:00.000-07:00

We are opening to submissions on May 1st through the end of July and it is my sincere hope to offer you fast response times. Please take a moment to reacquaint yourself with our Submission Guidelines.

I also hope that we will have the privilege of publishing your story, but please follow the guidelines. If we receive a submission that does not meet the guidelines then we will be forced to delete it unread.

Why do we do this? Because each submission period brings approximately 400-500 submissions, and in an effort to offer good response times we must focus on those submissions that meet the guidelines over those that do not.

Everyone on our small part-time staff are writers and we feel your pain and appreciate your creative effort.

SPECIAL SUBMISSION OPPORTUNITY

Kevin Lucia, one of Shroud's talented authors and editors, will be guest editing Shroud's Autumn Issue in 2010. He has selected, appropriately, a Halloween Theme.

Kevin is looking for new, exciting and unique stories that cleverly integrate or honor this holiday. The same Shroud submission guidelines apply, and we will be selecting stories from this submission period. HOWEVER, the Halloween Issue submissions should be noted as a "Halloween Submission" and sent as an .rtf attachment to Kevin Lucia directly.

During this period, we will allow you to send a regular submission to Tim, as well as one Halloween submission to Kevin, if you so desire.

We look forward to your words. Thank you, as always, for supporting Shroud!