Fantasy & Gothic Blog

Christmas has long been a time for joy and goodwill to all but it has also become popular within horror fiction. In this week’s blog we look at some of the best examples of Christmas horror and discuss why the Yuletide period makes such an interesting excellent device for fiction.

Featuring new authors alongside classic works by Margery Allingham, Arthur Conan Doyle, Carroll John Daly, Anthony Berkeley and more, our recently released collection Detective Mysteries is a treat for crime fiction lovers. Last week, the modern authors from the book introduced their stories by discussing the inspiration behind their tale. Now, they recommend stories and authors whose influence they’ve felt in their own work, and cast light on how they approach the task of writing:

Out now, Detective Mysteries is the latest book in our series of Gothic Fantasy short story anthologies. Released alongside Epic Fantasy Short Stories, the collection similarly features a mix of tales by modern writers alongside much older works from the genre’s early days. In celebration of the book’s publication, we asked the contemporary authors featured in Detective Mysteries to tell us a bit more about their story in the book…

Our new anthology, Epic Fantasy Short Stories, is due out in this week! Paired with Detective Mysteries, the two collections gather together the work of modern authors with classic fiction from the genres. Epic Fantasy promises to be a bewitching mix of adventure, fearsome beasts, and enchantment, and you can read more about the featured tales in Part 1 of this Author Q&A. Now, the book's contemporary authors tell us a bit more about their favourite fantasy stories, as well as the different ways they bring their own stories to life:

Available to buy soon, Epic Fantasy and Detective Mysteries join our flourishing range of Gothic Fantasy anthologies. Consisting of both new short stories and much older tales that have helped define the genres, the books contain an exciting mix of contemporary authors alongside the classics. Here to say a little more about their stories in the collection, some of the Epic Fantasy authors tell us below what led them to create the stories that feature in this book!

We’re delighted to present the author lists for the next two anthologies in our Gothic Fantasy series: Detective Thrillers, and A Dying Planet. Due for publication in February 2020, these latest books continue to pair contemporary takes on the themes with classic tales that have helped shape the genres as we know them today. Once again, we received a great response to our recent call for submissions, and we’re excited to now share the results of a selection process that has been both tough and rewarding: congratulations to the below and many thanks to all who submitted!

Concluding this month's Q&As with our October authors, we have Hunter Shea. He talks about a few influences of the book, what's to come and what his dream writing project would be!

Next up for October's Q&As we have Frazer Lee! He'll be exploring some of the themes of his latest novel 'Hearthstone Cottage' and what he's working on now! Be sure to check in tomorrow for more writing inspiration!

Next up for October's Q&As we have Ramsey Campbell! He'll be telling you what his latest novel is all about, some advice to new authors and why he chose to start writing horror! Be sure to check in tomorrow for more writing inspiration!

In the first of this month's Q&As with our October authors, we have J.H. Moncrieff! She talks about what the themes of her latest novel are, some influences of the book and her favourite thing about being a writer! Be sure to check in tomorrow for more writing inspiration!