Flame Tree Fiction

Today marks the anniversary of the death of American writer H.P Lovecraft. A true pioneer of all things weird and wonderful, Lovecraft has become one of the most significant 20th century authors of supernatural horror fiction. We're taking a look at some of his timeless short stories:

Topics: blogging, gothic and fantasy, Gothic Fantasy, H.P. Lovecraft, Short Stories, sf and fantasy, short fiction, fiction, horror, dark fantasy

This week saw the anniversary of the prolific Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen's death. As well as being a writer of travelogues, novels, poems and plays, he is best remembered for his magical collection of fairy tales. With his work still being adapted centuries later, it's fair to say he left his imprint on the world and in our daydreams. So we're taking a look at some of those stories we used to get read to us before bed.

Topics: blogging, gothic and fantasy, Gothic Fantasy, fiction, fairy tales

Our new release Terrifying Ghosts Short Stories is the latest instalment in our thriving series of Gothic Fantasy anthologies! The collection combines tales by modern authors with classic fiction from the genre, so fresh perspectives and frights accompany work by M.R. James, Edith Nesbit, Lafcadio Hearn, E.F. Benson and other such greats. Here to give a sneak peak of what to expect on the modern side, authors from the book share the inspiration behind their contributions...

Topics: gothic and fantasy, Gothic Fantasy, Short Stories, short fiction, ghost stories, horror, Horror Fiction

Next week we commemorate the anniversary of Charles Dickens’ death and to pay respects we’ve rounded up some of the best on-screen adaptations of his brilliant works (in our opinion!). So if you fancy a period piece to watch over the weekend these will give you some inspiration! 

Topics: blogging, gothic and fantasy, Short Stories, short fiction, fiction, Classic Fiction, Charles Dickens

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

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

Bodies in the Library is available to buy now, and consists of a healthy mix of classic authors and new tales of atmospheric mansions, mysterious deaths and suspicious characters! Among all the intrigue you’ll find amateur detectives, experienced PIs, ghosts, straight-up horror and even a dash of science fiction. The anthology’s modern authors shed light on the inspirations behind their tales in last week’s blog; this week they offer reading recommendations and insight into their own writing processes:

Topics: gothic and fantasy, Gothic Fantasy, Short Stories, gothic horror, short fiction, detective fiction, Detective Mysteries, mystery