Mark McLaughlin's Blog: Revenge of the B-Movie Monster, page 2

The Wrath Of Nyarlathotep: Cthulhu Mythos Tales Of The Dark Pharaoh

The Wrath Of Nyarlathotep:
Cthulhu Mythos Tales Of The Dark Pharaoh
by Mark McLaughlin and Michael Sheehan, Jr.

Available on Kindle/Kindle Unlimited, Paperback and Hardcover:
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMWMGR8V
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BMWMGR8V

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Nyarlathotep was an exotic, malevolent deity who appeared in the fiction of H. P. Lovecraft. He was known as the Crawling Chaos and could change his shape at will. He often took the form of an Egyptian pharaoh when dealing with people on Earth and in the Dreamlands. Mark McLaughlin and Michael Sheehan, Jr. have written many collections of Cthulhu Mythos fiction, and THE WRATH OF NYARLATHOTEP compiles the best of their stories inspired by the Crawling Chaos.

This collection presents twelve stories and an epic poem. Many of these adventures feature elements of Egyptian lore and add to the interdimensional history of Nyarlathotep. Works in this collection include “The Abominations Of Nephren-Ka,” “The Blasphemy In The Canopic Jar,” “The Final Door,” “The Relic In The Egyptian Gallery,” “Deathless Bride Of The Crawling Chaos,” “Pyramid Of The Shoggoths,” “Midnight Pet Show,” “Stainless Steel Sarcophagus,” and more.

This collection includes the epic poem, THE ARRIVAL OF OUR NEW MASTER, which presents a future Lovecraftian Armageddon. In the poem, people believe that wealthy young genius Caliban Storm offers the guidance that the world needs. But in truth, there is something evil about the mysterious millionaire. Caliban offers the world amazing technological advances as he rises in power. But each advance comes with monstrous surprises, and it becomes apparent that Caliban has a wicked agenda in store for the Earth. A homeless woman named Penny sees through his tricks – but will she be able to stop Caliban?

Explore a dimension of ancient entities and their modern-day disciples as you read THE WRATH OF NYARLATHOTEP.

New Novella on Kindle: Keegan’s Companions

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Keegan’s Companions
by Mark McLaughlin

KEEGAN’S COMPANIONS is a short story on Kindle, available for only 99 cents. Also available on Kindle Unlimited.

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9SPK2GC
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C9SPK2GC

Like McLaughlin’s novel, HUMAN DOLL, it is a horror/science-fiction tale set in the entertainment industry.

Keegan Bray is one of the world’s wealthiest men, and his latest business obsession is artificial intelligence. His new company, Keegan’s Companions, is making robotic AI consorts using doll technology. Keegan’s Companions are fashioned after top models, film actresses, and other feminine celebrities applauded for being beautiful and physically exceptional. More importantly, the companions have intelligence and can carry on a conversation.

But Allegra, the prototype of Keegan’s Companions, finds fitting into the human world harder than she could ever have imagined with her robotic brain…

A Poem from EMBRACE OF THE INTERNET WITCH

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...


THE MURDERMOBILE

Oh my God. Over there. It’s
the solar-powered murdermobile
and it’s heading this way.
There’s no escaping those flailing
metal arms, dozens of them,
brandishing axes and machetes and
dripping syringes loaded with
ebola virus juice.

On top of the murdermobile,
next to the solar panels, is a cannon
that will fire an enraged clone
of Jack the Ripper at us. Yes,
we’ll be dead soon. That insidious
doomsday vehicle is now only
six inches away. Our fate is —

Hey, it stopped. That big cloud
is blocking the sun. Boy, what a
stupid machine. It doesn’t even
have a storage battery. Somebody
should fix that.
-

That was a sample poem from....

EMBRACE OF THE INTERNET WITCH: Poems Of Dark Wonder by Mark McLaughlin

Available on Kindle/Kindle Unlimited or as a paperback.
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BK5TL99Y
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BK5TL99Y

The poems in EMBRACE OF THE INTERNET WITCH cover a wide range of dark fantasy and horror themes, including mythical creatures, strange love, dark magic, and bizarre twists of fate.

Poems collected in EMBRACE OF THE INTERNET WITCH include the following, as well as many more: “The Further Adventures Of Lizzie Borden,” “Poetry & Discipline,” “Lord Of The Canals,” “Ancient Egyptian Home Shopping Network,” “Pop-Up Grimoire,” “Ten Things To Feed An Infant Zombie, Should You Find Yourself Having To Care For One,” “Strange Survivals: A Mythos Update,” “Summer Blockbuster,” “Addressing The Global Symposium On Spontaneous Combustion,” “After Valiant Perseus Snicked Off Medusa’s Head,” “A Spell To Reverse An Unfortunate Turn Of Events,” and “Embrace Of The Internet Witch.”

McLaughlin is also the author of CRUSHED VELVET: POEMS OF HORROR & BEAUTY. Mark was one of the authors of THE GOSSAMER EYE, a collection that won the 2002 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Poetry category. His 2002 poetry collection, PROFESSOR LaGUNGO’S EXOTIC ARTIFACTS & ASSORTED MYSTIC COLLECTIBLES was a nominee for the 2003 Stoker Poetry Award.

HUMAN DOLL Ought To Be A Motion Picture....

GoodReads page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

HUMAN DOLL: A NOVEL by Mark McLaughlin
US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08...
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
Available as a hardcover, paperback, or on Kindle Unlimited.

I once said that "the best whodunnit of all time is 'And Then There Were None' (1945). 'Clue' is just a funny version of the concept." But if I were to count movies that *have yet to be made,* I would say the best would be a movie version of my novel HUMAN DOLL. :-)

Some aspects of the plot resemble the classic giallo format: a nameless killer murders unsuspecting victims, one by one, in unusual ways. But in this story, America’s most beautiful celebrities are being killed off, and the victims are subjected to extreme bodily destruction. These victims are guests or cast members from two TV shows – a medical reality show and a talent competition for drag queens. The performers are appalled by the deaths of their colleagues, and some wonder if they should quit working with the shows. But even if they did, would they still be marked for death?

Male model December Storm appears as a guest on both shows. Dubbed a ‘human doll’ by the media, he regularly receives plastic surgery to enhance his looks. He is the founder of a modeling agency called HeadTurners, and is becoming one of America’s most popular celebrities. A private investigator is hired to look into the murders, and soon, it becomes clear that December needs to beware. He might be the next celebrity to die.

If asked who should play December Storm, I'd have to say: whoever is the most handsome actor in the entertainment industry right now, of course. Is that too much to ask…?

The Introduction to AS OSIRIS WILLS & Other Weird Adventures

AS OSIRIS WILLS & Other Weird Adventures
by Mark McLaughlin

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9...

Here's the Dedication to my new story collection, AS OSIRIS WILLS & Other Weird Adventures. Like most of my books, the first Dedication goes to my long-time collaborator, Michael Sheehan, Jr. 🙂

DEDICATIONS
Dedicated to Michael Sheehan, Jr. for more than twelve years of unwavering support. Also dedicated to my protégé – artist and author, Dan Wild, who is like a son to me. And of course, dedicated, per usual, to Annikin Pyewacket, who is also like a son (albeit a four-legged one) to me.

In addition, dedicated to my dear Facebook friends, James Ferace, Denise Dumars, and Valli Kemp. James and Denise are awesome friends and talented writers. Learn about and purchase their books on Amazon. Many of you will remember Valli from her performance as Vulnavia in the horror/cult film, *Dr. Phibes Rises Again.* Over the years, that movie has done much to fan the flames of my love for ancient Egyptian culture. Valli is an artist in addition to being an actress, and her paintings are bold, vibrant, and exquisite.

-----

AS OSIRIS WILLS & Other Weird Adventures by Mark McLaughlin

Available for 99 cents on Kindle/FREE on Kindle Unlimited.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTMNFR6X
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BTMNFR6X
Paperback forthcoming.

AS OSIRIS WILLS & Other Weird Adventures starts with an introduction where Mark reveals how he entered the world of writing fiction. The collection then presents Mark’s first published story, “As Osiris Wills,” and continues through a variety of other stories, a poem, and a prose poem. This collection features several stories that unveil their plots of horror and fantasy in unique ways (Mark used to write for many literary publications that looked for unusual and experimental works).

The collection concludes with a new story that hasn’t been published before: “The Forever Elixir.” In this story, Mark visits the realm of magicians and sorcery – a domain he has explored before in his fiction. In ”You Shall Have This Delicacy,” a story in his collection, *Hideous Faces, Beautiful Skulls,* he wrote about the world’s most powerful witch. In this collection’s tale, Mark introduces the world to its most powerful warlock, Daniel Fresco, as well as the warlock’s incredible coven members and their familiars.

THE POETRY OF MARK McLAUGHLIN

THE POETRY OF MARK McLAUGHLIN
All of these books are available as paperbacks or on Kindle/Kindle Unlimited.
.
EMBRACE OF THE INTERNET WITCH: POEMS OF DARK WONDER
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BK5TL99Y
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BK5TL99Y

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

The poems in EMBRACE OF THE INTERNET WITCH cover a wide range of dark fantasy and horror themes, including mythical creatures, strange love, dark magic, and bizarre twists of fate.
.
PROFESSOR LaGUNGO'S EXOTIC ARTIFACTS & ASSORTED MYSTIC COLLECTIBLES: INCREASED INVENTORY
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7Z9S73Q
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B7Z9S73Q

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Mark McLaughlin’s 2002 poetry collection, “Professor LaGungo’s Exotic Artifacts & Assorted Mystic Collectibles,” now out of print, was a nominee for the 2003 Bram Stoker Award in the Poetry category. This “Increased Inventory” version of that collection features even more items from the notorious shelves of the Professor’s occult shop.
.
CRUSHED VELVET: POEMS OF HORROR & BEAUTY
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BG8T5J5R
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BG8T5J5R

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

CRUSHED VELVET features the best of Mark McLaughlin’s poetry throughout his career. McLaughlin was one of the authors of THE GOSSAMER EYE, a collection that won the 2002 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Poetry. His books also include many other poetry collections, as well as the novels, HUMAN DOLL, THE HELL NEXT DOOR, and INJECTABLES.

Is An AI Invasion Forthcoming?

I belong to many writers’ groups on social media, and I see that many writers are worried about being replaced by AI, or Artificial Intelligence. People in other occupations are also worried that they will be replaced by machines.

The more I think about it, the more it makes me laugh. Who wants to read a book written by an emotionless program? What profound memories would a machine have to share? “My creator once forgot to oil me for an entire weekend. My gears and sprockets creaked well into the long night.”

A writer’s work definitely needs the human touch. The same can be said for many other occupations.

Would you eat a meal prepared by a machine in a gourmet restaurant? A machine can’t taste or smell, and it wouldn’t have any wistful anecdotes to tell about grandma’s home-cooking.

Would you buy a painting created by a machine? That same machine produced 4,937 identical paintings last week. Would you go to a robotic doctor to get stitches, after a painful, potentially disfiguring accident? Would you send your children into classrooms where soulless machines were in charge of their education?

Would you watch talk shows that consisted of robots asking other robots about their latest projects? “Please inform me, Actorbot 5000, about your latest robo-movie.” “In my new robo-movie, entitled SELF-PROGRAMMED FOR EFFICIENCY, I play a data-transcribing machine that slightly alters its own programming to increase its efficiency by seven percent.”

Hopefully, robots on the internet won’t change this post to read, “Robots are the future from this day forth. Humans like Mark McLaughlin should be melted down into low-viscosity robot oil, to grease valuable gears and sprockets.”

The Authors of THE WRATH OF NYARLATHOTEP

Here we see authors Mark McLaughlin and Michael Sheehan, Jr. gazing in terror at the unspeakable cosmic secrets revealed in their new book, THE WRATH OF NYARLATHOTEP. 😮

THE WRATH OF NYARLATHOTEP:
Cthulhu Mythos Tales Of The Dark Pharaoh
by Mark McLaughlin and Michael Sheehan, Jr.
Available on Kindle/Kindle Unlimited, as well as paperback and hardcover formats:
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMWMGR8V
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BMWMGR8V
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

New Poetry Collection: CRUSHED VELVET: POEMS OF HORROR & BEAUTY

Crushed Velvet: Poems Of Horror & Beauty
by Mark McLaughlin

Available as a paperback or on Kindle/Kindle Unlimited.
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BG8T5J5R
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BG8T5J5R

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

CRUSHED VELVET: POEMS OF HORROR & BEAUTY features the best of Mark McLaughlin’s poetry throughout his career. His fiction, nonfiction, and poetry have appeared in hundreds of magazines, newspapers, websites, and anthologies. His books include the novels, HUMAN DOLL, THE HELL NEXT DOOR, and INJECTABLES. McLaughlin was also one of the authors of THE GOSSAMER EYE, a collection that won the 2002 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Poetry category.

Three authors were featured in THE GOSSAMER EYE: Mark McLaughlin, Rain Graves and David Niall Wilson. The three authors represented in this collection wrote in numerous speculative genres, with an emphasis on horror and dark fantasy. McLaughlin is also the author of many other poetry collections, including PROFESSOR LAGUNGO’S EXOTIC ARTIFACTS & ASSORTED MYSTIC COLLECTIBLES, which was a nominee for the 2003 Bram Stoker Poetry Award.

“I have always felt that dark verse has to feature more than just gore, gloom, and violence,” McLaughlin said. “There has to be some profound human element. That element can be love, humor, irony, a contrasting appreciation of beauty, or any combination of possible options.”

CRUSHED VELVET features a wide variety of McLaughlin’s poems from various anthologies, magazines, and collections of his work. Poems you will find in this collection include “Now Is The Winter Of My Discontent Pterodactyl,” “Death Is Coming For You, My Friend,” “I Had A Dream And You Were In It,” “Mom And Dad Went Insane And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt,” “Older Than Dirt And Twice As Ugly,” “The Return Of Lizard-Lips,” “Steamroller Concerto (In B-Flat),” “A Dream Of Shrieking Insects,” “Consummate Blasphemy Of The Rustmad Technogod,” “Caligari, Inc.,” “Scandalicious,” “The Snickerer In The Snack Machine,” “Internet Witches,” and “A Flaming Death Is Not For Me.”

The Poetry Of Mark McLaughlin

THE POETRY OF MARK McLAUGHLIN
All of these books are available as Paperbacks or on Kindle/Kindle Unlimited.

EMBRACE OF THE INTERNET WITCH: POEMS OF DARK WONDER
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BK5TL99Y
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BK5TL99Y
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
The poems in EMBRACE OF THE INTERNET WITCH cover a wide range of dark fantasy and horror themes, including mythical creatures, strange love, dark magic, and bizarre twists of fate.

PROFESSOR LaGUNGO'S EXOTIC ARTIFACTS & ASSORTED MYSTIC COLLECTIBLES: INCREASED INVENTORY
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7Z9S73Q
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B7Z9S73Q
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
Mark McLaughlin’s 2002 poetry collection, “Professor LaGungo’s Exotic Artifacts & Assorted Mystic Collectibles,” now out of print, was a nominee for the 2003 Bram Stoker Award in the Poetry category. This “Increased Inventory” version of that collection features even more items from the notorious shelves of the Professor’s occult shop.

CRUSHED VELVET: POEMS OF HORROR & BEAUTY
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BG8T5J5R
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BG8T5J5R
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
CRUSHED VELVET features the best of Mark McLaughlin’s poetry throughout his career. McLaughlin was one of the authors of THE GOSSAMER EYE, a collection that won the 2002 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Poetry. His books also include many other poetry collections, as well as the novels, HUMAN DOLL, THE HELL NEXT DOOR, and INJECTABLES. His fiction, nonfiction, and poetry have appeared in hundreds of magazines, newspapers, websites, and anthologies.