Fantasy & Gothic Blog

In this month's January author Q&A we have Catherine Cavendish, author of In Darkness, Shadows Breathe. Hear all about the novel, who she based her characters on and a few ideas she has for upcoming books!

Topics: Flame Tree Press, Flame Tree Press Authors, Flame Tree Press Titles, Horror Fiction, Horror Fiction History, historical fiction

We’re delighted to present the final line-up of authors in our Terrifying Ghosts Short Stories anthology, due for release in April 2021 (UK) and June 2021 (US). As one of the latest titles in our Gothic Fantasy series, this new collection similarly pairs stories from modern authors with older, classic fiction from the genre. We received nearly a thousand stories in our call for submissions on this theme, so after several months narrowing down the selection we are excited to share the results! Our thanks go once again to everyone who submitted, with congratulations to the below:

Topics: Gothic Fantasy, Short Stories, submissions

We’re pleased to announce the authors included in our upcoming anthology: Black Sci-Fi Short Stories! Earlier this year, we opened for submissions on this theme in order to focus on an area of science fiction that has not received the full attention it deserves. The book, due to be published in April 2021 (UK) and June 2021 (US), combines new stories with early speculative and proto-science fiction by Black writers of an older tradition. Alex Award-winning novelist Temi Oh provides the foreword, alongside an introduction by Sandra M. Grayson, author of Visions of the Third Millennium: Black Science Fiction Novelists Write the Future (2003). With invaluable promotion and editorial support from Tia Ross and the Black Writers Collective, we’re delighted to have chosen the stories below for inclusion:

Topics: gothic and fantasy, Gothic Fantasy, Short Stories, dark fantasy, Science Fiction, anthologies, scifi, black sci-fi

Escape into fantastic worlds: from tales of space to mythical islands, underwater realms and alternate realities, our latest anthology Strange Lands is packed with imaginative storytelling. Sitting alongside the likes of Jules Verne, Edith Nesbit, H.G. Wells, George MacDonald and more, a selection of modern authors offer up works dealing with exploration and survival in fascinatingly alien settings. In last week’s Q&A, authors from the book spoke a little about their stories. Get your gift ideas and reading lists ready, as they return here with story recommendations in the genre, plus tips on getting writing ideas down!

Topics: gothic and fantasy, Short Stories, short fiction, Science Fiction, scifi

Strange Lands is one of our latest anthologies to combine new stories and modern authors with classic fiction on the theme. Ranging from tales about space, fantasy lands and lost worlds to underground and underwater homes, this collection brings together all manner of imaginative settings and fantastic voyages. Here to give us a little flavour of what’s in store in the book are the authors themselves, revealing the various inspirations behind their story!

Topics: gothic and fantasy, Short Stories, short fiction, Science Fiction

Lovecraft Mythos is our latest anthology to collate classic fiction with new stories from modern authors. Out now, the book includes key tales by Lovecraft alongside a selection of gripping work from his contemporaries through to writers of the present day! As well as a host of talented modern authors, the collection features Frank Belknap Long, Fritz Leiber, Robert Bloch, Henry Kuttner, Clark Ashton Smith, August Derleth, and more, in a fascinating demonstration of the Mythos’s enduring legacy. In the first part of this Q&A, authors spoke about the inspiration behind their stories in the book; now, they recommend favourites from the genre, as well as revealing the processes behind their own fiction…

Topics: gothic and fantasy, Gothic Fantasy, H.P. Lovecraft, Short Stories, gothic horror, horror, Horror Fiction

In the next of this month's Q&As with our November authors, we have Andrew Post, author of Mondo Crimson. He discusses some of the themes in the novel, who he based his characters on and what he's working on now!

Topics: Flame Tree Press, Flame Tree Press Authors, Flame Tree Press Titles, Horror Fiction, Horror Fiction History, historical fiction

In the next of this month's Q&As with our November authors, we have Robin Triggs, author of Human Resources, sequel to Night Shift. He discusses how writing a sequel differs to writing a standalone novel and what his literary influences were! Be sure to check in tomorrow for more writing inspiration!

Topics: Flame Tree Press, Flame Tree Press Authors, Flame Tree Press Titles, Horror Fiction, Horror Fiction History, historical fiction

In the next of this month's Q&As with our November authors, we have P.D. Cacek, author of Second Chances, the sequel to Second Lives. She discusses which writers influence her, what kind of novel openings she prefers and gives some amazing advice for aspiring writers! Be sure to check in tomorrow for more writing inspiration!

Topics: Flame Tree Press, Flame Tree Press Authors, Flame Tree Press Titles, Horror Fiction, Horror Fiction History, historical fiction

Today is publication day in the US for our much-anticipated anthology Lovecraft Mythos! As a companion volume to our earlier book on Lovecraft’s works, this collection looks at the broader fictional universe invited by the Mythos, collating stories from Lovecraft’s contemporaries as well as modern authors. The Mythos has a rich legacy of talented horror writers, and we’re excited to include entirely new stories alongside tales by Lovecraft himself, as well as the likes of Robert Bloch, Fritz Leiber, August Derleth, Ramsey Campbell and Victor LaValle. For a taste of what’s included, see below, where authors from the book share with us the various inspirations behind their Lovecraft Mythos contribution!

Topics: gothic and fantasy, H.P. Lovecraft, Short Stories, gothic horror, short fiction, Horror Fiction