P.L. McMillan's Blog, page 11

Split Scream Vol 1: Book Review

Hello dear reader!

I have another double feature prepared for you, which is convenient because this book is, itself, a double feature.

It’s almost like I planned this intro.

Anyway, today I’ll be reviewing Split Scream Volume 1, published by Dread Stone Press and featuring tales by Carson Winter and Scott J. Moses. Then this Thursday, I’ll be dropping an panel interview I did with both authors and Dread Stone Press founder, Alex Ebenstein.

Onwards! (and don’t worry, I kept this review completely spoiler-free since the book isn’t out yet!)

The Authors (and Press Founder)

Carson Winter is an author, punker, and raw nerve. His work has been featured in Apex, Vastarien, and The No Sleep Podcast. Recently, he was proud to have his novelette, “I Am Not To Be Replaced,” in Bloodlines: Four Tales of Familial Fear. His novella Reunion Special is available now.

Find him on his website or Twitter.

Scott J. Moses is the author of Non-Practicing Cultist and editor of What One Wouldn’t Do. A member of the Horror Writers Association, his work has appeared in various anthologies and journals. He is Japanese American and lives in Baltimore. His debut novella, Our Own Unique Affliction, is forthcoming from DarkLit Press in early 2023. Find him on his website or Twitter.

Alex Ebenstein is a maker of maps by day, writer of horror fiction by night. He lives with his family in Michigan. He has stories published by The Other Stories Podcast, Cemetery Gates Media, and others. He is also the founder of Dread Stone Press.

Find Dread Stone Press on their website or Twitter.

The Book

Dread Stone Press presents SPLIT SCREAM, a new Horror Novelette Double Feature. This is Volume One. Grab some popcorn, turn the lights low, and don’t be afraid to scream. — Dread Stone Press website

Split Scream Volume 1 contains two chilling novelettes by Carson Winter and Scott J. Moses and is set to drop September 27, 2022. Pre-orders are available now!

“The Guts of Myth” by Carson Winter:

It’s 1973. British-American thug Byron is tasked with finding the occultist Allosaurus D’Ambrosere, given only handwritten instructions and two hateful associates. Where they’re going, they’ll find blood red skies, obsidian towers, and a deep thirst for violence. But will they find the man who calls himself the Golden King? “The Guts of Myth” is Weird horror that snaps like hardboiled noir with vistas lifted straight from Beksinski. — Dread Stone Press website

“The Mourner Across the Flames” by Scott J. Moses:

The world is a salt-ridden dystopia. Bharath, an exile given to hallucinations, is ordered to escort an emaciated mourner across the barren flats. The journey reveals the existence of a monster, evolved to live in the After among the remaining humans. But which is worse—the monster new to Bharath, or the humans who robbed him of his love? “The Mourner Across the Flames” is a grief-stricken tale of spiraling delusion held afloat by enduring love. — Dread Stone Press website

The Review

This duo of weird fiction was amazing! Let’s be real, novelettes are an under-appreciated length for stories and Ebenstein is a genius for thinking of starting this series of double features — he actually discusses the inspiration for this idea in our interview, so make sure to check that out! I won’t give it away here.

Though very different, both stories vibed well together so it didn’t feel jarring to move from the first to the second. Each is accompanied by a stunning illustration (by Marisa Bruno) and custom page break, which I appreciated! Let’s look at each story on its own, shall we? Again, I’ll be keeping this review spoiler-free, so read on without worry.

“The Guts of Myth” by Carson Winter: this novelette had the most hilariously named cultist I ever had the pleasure of reading about (if you want to know what it is, check out the interview!)! Set in the 70s, we follow bruiser Byron as he sets on a caper unlike any other. From the very first page, Winter grips the reader by the throat and immerses them in the dim, foggy streets of England to beyond — you won’t be expecting the end destination, I can promise you that. “The Guts of Myth” is equal parts weird as it is viscerally horrific. Exploring themes of otherness (Byron is English-American and feels out of place in both countries, as well as being gay in a time where it still wasn’t truly accepted), the tale is told in the melancholic voice of a man struggling to prove himself and can be surprisingly vulnerable at times. I really enjoyed watching this tale unfold. And the ending? Absolutely gut-wrenching. (Bahdumtsh)

“The Mourner Across the Flames” by Scott J. Moses: this novelette is as chilling as it is ominous and Moses makes sure to drown us in decadent despair. Simply put, “The Mourner Across the Flames” is an example of masterful world-building and lore incorporation. Moses explores themes of grief, guilt, and vengeance in a world unlike our own, where the land is brutal and rendered infertile by salt, and those still living are ruled by fear. The main character, Bharath, mourns the loss of his wife as he lives in exile in a tall tower, surrounded by salty wastelands. He is given a task: escort the Mourner or be killed. What follows is a surreal, unsettling journey across the salt, and the ending is brutally delicious.

Overall, this double feature of novelettes is a powerhouse duo of dark tales of masterful prose, delicious world-building, and authentic horror.

10/10

x PLM

p.s. don’t forget, my interview with the Split Scream Volume 1 drops this Thursday! Pre-order Split Scream here!

Interview: Heather Ventura

Hello again, dear reader!

I have an awesome interview here for you! Today I chat with Heather Ventura about the publishing side of the writing industry, her experience as an entrepreneur, and the ups and downs of running a family business! She is one of the co-founders of Brigids Gate Press and gives us a peek behind the press side of the writing industry, as well as her experience running a small business.

Check it out!

Barbarian: Movie Review

Why hello, dear reader!

For the first time in who knows how long, I went to a theatre to watch a movie! The place was practically empty, though maybe that had more to do with it being a matinee? Either way, it was nice. I got my classic theatre nachos and root beer.

And I saw Barbarian! Since this movie just came out, I kept any spoilers after my spoiler line at the end of the post, so don’t cross that line if you haven’t watched the movie yet!

The Movie

2022 horror film, Barbarian, was written and directed by Zach Cregger and stars Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård and Justin Long.

In Barbarian, Tess arrives at her Airbnb late at night and finds it’s been double-booked and is already occupied by Keith. He invites her in and, though a bit wary, she decides to stay the night as all the hotels have been booked due to a medical convention. The next day, Tess gets locked in the basement and, while trying to find a way out, discovers a sinister secret.

The Review

Overall, this was a good popcorn flick. It kept my attention, it definitely made me flinch at some points — though to be honest, I flinched due to grossness rather than fear — but it’s not my favourite. I saw several ads that showed night-vision footage of “real” reactions to the film and it was also called “the scariest” movie of the year — to me, it wasn’t a scary film. It was fun for the most part, well-shot and acted, but not terrifying in the least in my opinion.

While it was well-paced, atmospheric, and had some disturbing elements, ultimately there were many moments that shattered my suspension of disbelief and left me feeling a little dissatisfied. Also once the “reveal” happened, I felt that all the tension seeped out of the film.

I also felt that the message the movie was trying to convey (very much men are bad type deal) was hit or miss. Some aspects were well developed, other times it was heavy-handed. Overall, Barbarian was no Get Out in terms of weaving the theme in well. On the other hand, the satirical elements were done well and it wasn’t a bad movie.

6/10

x PLM

SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT | ABSOLUTELY DO NOT CROSS | WARNING!

I’ll be going into some specifics scenes about Barbarian now, so if you haven’t watched the movie, do not read any further!

 

Still here? Alright, let’s go!

Let’s talk about the moments that broke my suspension of disbelief. First off, when dear old Keith disappears and Tess decides to go in after him, she doesn’t call the cops for back-up, she doesn’t bring a weapon, she just goes down. That was moment number one. Especially since Tess was so careful around Keith — taking a photo of his driver’s license and all that. But when faced with an obviously dangerous situation, she takes no precautions.

When Tess escapes and finds some cops, they refuse to help her because she doesn’t have a driver’s license or ID on her, even though she tells them she was kidnapped and someone is in danger. When they go to the house, they shrug and say it’s locked and not her house so too bad. Tess is visibly hurt and a mess, but they don’t take her seriously. Yes, this is set in a bad part of Detroit, but I still find it hard to believe that the cops wouldn’t do anything. Not knock on the door or call it in.

Next, the theme. Barbarian explores the theme of misogynic behaviour and toxicity. Keith is a “good guy” but he still displays some troubling behaviour. He persists in trying to get Tess to sit and drink with him, even though she’s obviously uncomfortable, then when she tells him about the creepy room in the basement and says they should leave, he says no and that “he has to see it for himself” — a very subtle nod to how often men can be dismissive of women. That was well done.

Then you get AJ, the owner of the house, who flees L.A. after raping a co-star. He tells a friend that it wasn’t rape, that he was only “persuasive”. There is a moment where he seems to regret it and possibly have a redemption moment…up until he throws Tess off a water tower to save himself.

Then, of course, there’s the original owner of the house, a kidnapper and rapist.

Literally every male character in the movie is a bad person to a degree (except the homeless man) — even the cops who ignore Tess’s obvious distress. At first I didn’t know why the movie was called ‘barbarian’, until a friend let me know it was a call-out to the male characters in the movie all being horrible people.

I don’t know, I liked the subtle misogyny of Keith, but near the end, it started to feel a bit much — if that makes sense? I guess it just felt like it lacked a bit of nuance in the end. Anyway, let me know what you think of Barbarian! I’d love to know!

Interview with Brenda S. Tolian

As promised, here is my interview with Brenda S. Tolian!

In this interview we discussed her collection, Blood Mountain (my review is here) as well as some heavier topics such as the female body in horror. Content warnings include rape, abortion, and sexual assault. Honestly, it was a riveting interview. Brenda is really passionate about exploring the feminine voice through horror writing and I came away feeling like I’d learned a lot!

Also: I totally looked up how to set Zoom so it was in “panel” mode meaning Brenda’s and my videos were next to each other as we talked — however, Zoom still recorded it one person at a time. Ugh! Bear with me, I am still learning.

Blood Mountain: Collection Review

Why howdy, dear reader!

Have you been wondering where I’ve been since I didn’t post last week? I was in Chicago actually and completely forgot to plan ahead and schedule a post.

Oh well. Regardless, I have an awesome week planned for you. Today I am reviewing Blood Mountain by Brenda S. Tolian and then, on Thursday, my interview with her will go live! That’s right, another review/interview power combo!

The Author

Brenda S. Tolian is the author of Blood Mountain published by Raw Dog Screaming Press and her short fiction has appeared in HauntedMtl.com, 101 Proof Horror, Consumed Tales Inspired by The Wendigo, The Jewish Book Of Horror, and Twisted Pulp Magazine issue 3. She is also the co-host of the horror podcast The Burial Plot.

She is a member of the HWA, AWP and the Angela Carter Society. As a graduate of Adams State University, Regis University (MFA) and a Doctoral Student of Literature at Murray State University, Brenda also writes academically on subjects such as postmodernism, Vladimir Nabokov, and the female body within horror. She is a lead instructor of dark fiction with Al•che•my Writers Workshop in Denver and one of a trinity of directors at Ouroboros Screaming. She now calls New Orleans home after a long stint in the southwest.

You can find her on her website or on Twitter.

The Collection

In this mosaic of Southwestern Gothic Horror tales, a primordial goddess awakens deep within the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The mountain hungers for revenge as invaders leave her emaciated with their greed and brutality. She cries out for blood, infusing the minds of those who do not belong—twisting them outwardly into the dark forms of their true intentions.

An Under Sheriff struggles to grasp brittle threads of hope within the valley and mountains, his soul tormented by the unanswered questions of crimes he can’t explain and the dead and missing he could not help. The demented Red Women fracture the meaning of being maiden, mother, and crone within the shadows of twisted belief systems. Men and women devolve into the grotesque, drowning in their greed and violence transmuting into creatures too hideous to name. Others find seduction on her rocky hips and release within the baptism of her blood. The valley steeped in cults and crime hides something dark, where mirage plays with the senses, disappearances go unexplained, UFOs and creatures await watching in hunger.

This composite of interwoven stories and brief vignettes invites the reader to hear the hypnotic call of the Blood Mountain. Will she ask you into her vortex or swallow you whole? — Blood Mountain landing page on Raw Dog Screaming Press’s website

Published in June 2022 by Raw Dog Screaming Press, Blood Mountain contains twelve brutal and bloody stories, all sharing a central location and many of the same themes, and separated by short second-person POV snapshots of an under sheriff struggling with his own experiences with the same mountain. From cannibals to cults, disappearances to hauntings, not one story is the same in this collection.

The Review

This whole collection is thick with blood, despair, and the overpowering menace of the landscape, the mountain, and nature herself. I was hooked by the first page and yanked in, drowning deliciously in Brenda’s beautiful prose and brutal themes. My top favourites were “Blood Mountain” (what hungers lay beneath the mountain’s stone skin?), “The Stone Mother” (brutal, horrifying, and will live rent-free in my head forever), and “Slaughter Lodge” (a tragic love story, loved the fungus elements). My favourite part of Brenda’s writing is how visceral it is and how she weaves in real-world issues like abortion and rape into her stories without it feeling heavy-handed. The way she ties these themes into the idea of nature, environmental damage, and the human effect on the world is masterful to say the least. It’s like poetry in prose form.

There were a handful of stories that made me flinch, still others that left me with a haunting feeling of being unsettled, all were masterfully written and poignant. Needless to say, this collection, which deals with grief, heartbreak, retribution, and sins, is not for the faint of heart but Blood Mountain is a collection the horror community needs. Brenda doesn’t shy away from writing about the many horrifying and unforgiving truth all women have had to deal with, her stories are a raw song of what it means to be a woman in a world that often wants to hurt them.

This collection will make you uncomfortable. It will unnerve you. And that’s a good thing. You can tell how passionate Brenda is about exploring the theme of the female body/women in horror. It paints every page of Blood Mountain and soaks every word with vivid crimson.

I can’t gush enough about how much I enjoyed this collection. You know an author did a good job when you can’t stop thinking about their stories, days after, and that’s the case with Blood Mountain (looking at you “The Stone Mother”, my god.)

10/10

Don’t forget to come back on Thursday and watch my interview with Brenda S. Tolian herself! We chat about Blood Mountain, about the female body in horror, and more!

x PLM

Sisters of the Crimson Vine Pre-Orders Live!

It’s time! The Sisters of Crimoria Convent would like to welcome you for a very special occasion.

Pre-orders are now available for my debut novella, Sisters of the Crimson Vine. Signed and numbered are available, via bookplate. and are limited to 20 copies.

eBook Paperback Signed Copy

What does it mean to visit the Crimoria Convent? Check it out:

John Ainsworth nearly died in that car crash.

Soon he’ll learn there are worse fates.

After a brutal accident, John awakens in the dilapidated Crimoria Convent under the care of thirteen unconventional nuns. Grievous injuries trap him within the borders of the ruined sanctuary and its strangely successful vineyard. When his body starts healing faster than nature allows, John’s questions quickly pile up.

A pair of Church auditors arrive to look into the convent’s finances. It’s obvious the pair are unwelcome guests, but John has bigger concerns. The order’s annual ritual draws near and John begins to discover things that make him wonder if any of them are truly safe in the hands of the Sisters of the Crimson Vine.

Check out what other visitors of the convent had to say:

“A taut braid of repressed desires, implied deviance, and eldritch horror. McMillan coyly lures us to a finale as repulsive as it is compelling.” -- Stoker award-winning Jamie Flanagan, co-writer of The Haunting of Bly Manor and Midnight Mass

“Sisters of the Crimson Vine by P.L. McMillan is folk horror at its very best. The visuals, tension and mood created then intermixed with undeniable dread and mystery rides the very edges of illumination and darkness. P.L. explores themes of religious hypocrisy and the power of women and sacrifices made to survive. She expertly subverts older tropes into something terrifying and new. This book is as vivid and twisted as any Aster movie.” — Brenda S. Tolian, author of Blood Mountain

“Sisters of the Crimson Vine is a perfectly paced suspenseful story that will make you want to savor every word. Invoking the ominous folk horror atmosphere of the Wicker Man and Midsommer, P.L. serves an unsettling tale of the supernatural bond between women and nature and the power and price of living free from patriarchal dominance. — Joy Yehle, author and host of The Burial Plot horror podcast

So don’t wait, head on over to Crimoria Convent, get your pre-orders in, and share some wine with the lovely Sisters.

x PLM

Interview with Elin Olausson

I have something special for you today, dearesr reader: an interview with Elin Olausson — the author of the collection, Growth, which I reviewed here.

Today, Elin and I will be discussing her collection and writing. She is a fan of the weird and the unsettling. She is the author of the short story collection Growth and has had stories featured in The Ghastling, Luna Station Quarterly, Nightscript, and many other publications. Elin’s rural childhood made her love and fear the woods, and she firmly believes that a cat is your best companion in life. She lives in Sweden.

You can check her out on her website, Twitter, and Instagram.

   PLM Talks | Growth with Elin Olausson

PLM: What is your writing process like? Are you the type to need silence or music while writing? Do you plan everything out or just figure the story out as you go? Do you use mood boards or images?

EO: It depends a lot on the project I'm working on. Sometimes I’ll just sit down and write and see what happens, sometimes I plan for ages before I start. It really depends on the length and complexity of the story. I spend a lot of time searching for images when I’m working on a novel, because it helps me visualize the characters and settings. Usually I write in silence, but when I listen to music it tends to be the instrumental kind, like classical or folk music.  

PLM: What would you say is your signature voice/style when it comes to writing? EO: Poetical, dreamy, lots of metaphors. I like the clash between beauty and brutality. 

PLM: Do you ever experience writer’s block? If so, how do you overcome it?

EO: Yes, all the time! It’s very frustrating when all I want to do is write, but still it just doesn’t work sometimes. I handle it by forcing myself to write, little by little, or just read through some of my old work to get back into it and rediscover my voice. Getting away from the computer and scribbling in a notepad usually works, too. 

PLM: Where do you get your ideas for your stories? Do you keep a journal to write them down, or just remember them all in your head?

EO: Here and there, really—childhood memories, movies, music, art… It’s usually just a detail, a vague image that doesn’t become a story until it’s connected to other images. I have a lot of those, just waiting for the right connection that will turn them into a story. I try to write all my ideas down, but unfortunately I use many different notebooks for this so I never know where my notes are when I need them. I really should try to be more organized.

PLM: What advice would you give to aspiring/current writers that you wish you had received sooner?

EO: To believe in yourself and be aware of the fact that not all editors and publishers are right for you and your story. Some people won’t like anything you write because it’s not for them, and that’s fine. But you shouldn’t change everything about your writing to accommodate someone else, not unless you truly agree with those changes. 

PLM: Who/what are your literary inspirations?

EO: Shirley Jackson—it was such a revelation when I discovered her and the psychological horror genre. Poppy Z. Brite—one of the authors who guided me through my teens. Selma Lagerlöf—classic Swedish author who wrote beautiful books, sometimes with speculative elements.

PLM: Let’s chat about your collection, Growth. Tell us a little about the stories in your collection.

EO: It’s a psychological horror collection, with twenty stories in total. Some stories have a dystopian setting, some are historical, but most of them are set in a contemporary, alternate version of the area of Sweden where I’m from.   

PLM: I noticed that all the stories revolved around the theme of family – what drew you to this theme?

EO: I’m a very family-oriented person who’s always liked to just stay at home. I think that’s why I’m fascinated by dysfunctional families, because it is a very frightening idea to me that a home could be a horrifying, unsafe place, and that your family members could be the ones you need to fear the most. 

PLM: Which story was the hardest to write?

EO: I struggled a lot with the first story in the collection, Roadkill. At first I wasn’t pleased with how it turned out, either, but now I couldn’t be more happy with it. 

PLM: Which story in the collection is your favourite?

EO: The final story, Lineage, which is also the longest one. This one has been around for many years, since I first had the idea in 2008 and wrote the Swedish version ten years ago. It has all those elements I like—an old house in the middle of nowhere, beauty, violence, madness, and a highly dysfunctional family you would not want to be a part of.  

PLM: What are you working on right now?

EO: I’m working on a romance story right now, but after that I’ll go back to a horror novella I started writing six months ago. There are several other projects lined up, so I definitely have no time for writer’s block. 

PLM: Do you have any publications coming out in the near future?

EO: I have stories that will be featured in Nocturne Magazine, Tales From Between, Dread Imaginings, and Chiral Mad 5, all of these hopefully this autumn. 

PLM: And the last —arguably the most important — question of this interview. What is your favourite food, and why is it macaroni and cheese? 

EO: Haha, I’ve never had macaroni and cheese so I have no idea what it tastes like. My favourite food would be tacos, probably, or anything with feta cheese. 

Thank you Elin for taking the time to answer my questions! If you’re interested in picking up a copy of Growth, you can get it here.

x PLM

Interview with Philip Fracassi

Today I interview Philip Fracassi about his upcoming book, Gothic, about writing, and about the horror industry in general.

I also didn’t have a chance to figure out the perfect Zoom configuration so it does a bit of head-hopping. Ah well, growing pains.

Anyway, check it out! Here’s PLM Talks with Philip Fracassi:

Gothic: Novel Review

Why hello dear reader!

Welcome to Fracassi week! That’s right — today I am reviewing Philip Fracassi’s novel, Gothic, which is set to release in February 2023. I managed to snag an ARC and, not only that, but I also interviewed Fracassi himself about Gothic, writing, and the industry. That interview will be live Thursday, so make sure to check back here!

Now, as this book won’t be released until next year, there will be no spoilers in this review. Onwards!

The Author

Philip Fracassi is a horror writer and screenwriter, whose work includes the collections Behold the Void (which won“Best Collection of the Year” from both This Is Horror and Strange Aeons Magazine), Beneath a Pale Sky, as well as short fiction that has appeared in various anthologies, such as Best Horror of the Year, Nightmare Magazine, Black Static, Dark Discoveries, and Cemetery Dance.

Fracassi’s debut novel, Boys in the Valley, was released in 2021, and his next novel, A Child Alone With Strangers, is set to release on October 18th of this year.

As a screenwriter, Fracassi’s work has been distributed by Disney Entertainment and Lifetime Television, with several projects in various stages of development.

You can follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter — or visit his website at https://pfracassi.com/.

The Book

Set to release on February 3rd, 2023, Gothic explores themes of greed, desperation, and the hungry need a person can have to make something of themselves — no matter the cost.

On his 59th birthday, Tyson Parks—a famous, but struggling, horror writer—receives an antique desk from his partner, Sarah, in the hopes it will rekindle his creative juices. Perhaps inspire him to write another best-selling novel and prove his best years aren’t behind him.

A continent away, a mysterious woman makes inquiries with her sources around the world, seeking the whereabouts of a certain artifact her family has been hunting for centuries. With the help of a New York City private detective, she finally finds what she’s been looking for.

It’s in the home of Tyson Parks.

Meanwhile, as Tyson begins to use his new desk, he begins acting... strange. Violent. His writing more disturbing than anything he’s done before. But publishers are paying top dollar, convinced his new work will be a hit, and Tyson will do whatever it takes to protect his newfound success. Even if it means the destruction of the ones he loves. — Gothic landing page on the Cemetery Dance website

The Review

Where to start? This novel was a whirlwind.

First off, dear reader, you know I love a good haunted object tale (see my obsession with Oculus) and Gothic has that in the form of a creepy desk. It has its own insidious influence throughout the novel and a deep, bloody history, that is slowly revealed as Tyson falls under its spell.

Gothic has a gut-twisting recipe of tension, hauntings, human greed and hubris, plus a female character I absolutely love (Diana is bae!)

The main character, Tyson, is a struggling writer whose career is plummeting. Plagued by money issues, he is desperate to write just one more bestseller. This desire is answered in the form of an old desk gifted to him by his partner. Its effects on the author are as immediate as they are sinister.

As a writer myself, it was easy to see why Tyson might be tempted by a cure for writer’s block. I was actually going through a bit of a writer’s block when I read Gothic and it hit hard, reading how Tyson struggled.

His evolution through the novel is masterfully done — it’s truly a shame I can’t get into details but, at one point an event occurs and that’s when, as a reader, I knew the line had been crossed. Intrigued? You should be.

Not only Tyson, but his partner and daughter are affected by the desk and go through their own transformations because of it.

The pacing and suspense kept me turning the pages, Gothic does not let go, and it left me absolutely shaken. It’s been a week and I am still thinking about it, about that last chapter, and how it all ended.

Not to be forgotten is the teasing tongue-in-cheek moments Fracassi laces throughout the book as well. There were moments when I couldn’t help but smile, I know fellow horror fans will feel the same.

Cutthroat, brutal, and a heckuva ton of fun — Gothic is a 2023 must-read for horror fans.

9/10

x PLM

p.s. don’t forget — my interview with Philip Fracassi goes live this Thursday!

A PLM Flavoured Update

Hello, dearest reader!

It’s been a while since I’ve updated you on my life so I thought I’d take the time now!

Don’t worry, your regularly scheduled reviews will be back next week (and boy, do I have a fun one, and an interview to boot.)

Until then, let’s talk PLM news!

My horror-western is coming out at the end of this month! “Suffer No Harm” will be among some other talented tales in Brigids Gate’s: Blood in the Soil, Terror on the Wind. If you haven’t already, you should definitely get your pre-orders in! Click here.

My debut novella is coming out in December of this year, through Timber Ghost Press. Sisters of the Crimson Vine is a folk horror that will leave you thirsty for more!

John Ainsworth nearly died in that car crash.

Soon he’ll learn there are worse fates.

After a brutal accident, John awakens in the dilapidated Crimoria Convent under the care of thirteen unconventional nuns. Grievous injuries trap him within the borders of the ruined sanctuary and its strangely successful vineyard. When his body starts healing faster than nature allows, John’s questions quickly pile up.

A pair of Church auditors arrive to look into the convent’s finances. It’s obvious the pair are unwelcome guests, but John has bigger concerns. The order’s annual ritual draws near and John begins to discover things that make him wonder if any of them are truly safe in the hands of the Sisters of the Crimson Vine. — Sisters of the Crimson Vine back cover blurb

No pre-orders available yet, but I will let you know as soon as they are up!

Besides those projects, I have also been working on a few others but I can’t disclose those yet (but it includes a novella and more short stories)! But definitely keep an eye on my blog for updates as they come!

And of course, if you haven’t yet — grab a copy of my debut collection What Remains When The Stars Burn Out!

"A gift of cosmic horror by someone who truly gets it. The imagination here runs the gauntlet across a galaxy of weird dread. Stuffed with delicious WTF energy and malevolent fates, McMillan's stories go the extra mile to mess you up."

— Hailey Piper, Queen of Teeth

"In WHAT REMAINS WHEN THE STARS BURN OUT, McMillan imagines the horrors lying in the cracks of the world, between stars, and those clutching at the human heart. And she does not spare the rod when it comes to creepiness, growing dread, and absolute terror. An exciting new voice sounding from the shadows."

- John Hornor Jacobs, author of A Lush and Seething Hell, The Incorruptibles, and Murder Ballads and Other Horrific Tales

Besides writing, I’ve also been doing a lot of digital art. Thirteen new PLM illustrations will be appearing in If Only a Heart and Other Tales of Terror, a horror collection by Caleb Stephens. Pre-orders are available now. And guess what? I wrote the foreword too. Heck ya.

So yeah, you could say I’ve been pretty busy!

Thanks for stopping by, reader. See you next Monday!

x PLM