Richard Gavin's Blog, page 9

My NecronomiCon Schedule

NecronomiCon Providence 2019 is rapidly approaching and is sure to be another excellent conference focusing on dark literature and culture.

Here is the complete list of my scheduled appearances at this year's conference:

Friday, August 23rd

3:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

EVERY ANGEL IS TERRIFYING: EXPLORING THE MYSTERIUM TREMENDUM IN MAGICAL ART – Washington-Newport Room, Omni 3rd Floor
In his seminal work, “The Idea of the Holy,” German philosopher and theologian Rudolf Otto codified the notion of the mysterium tremendum as an apprehension of the divine that has its “wild and demonic forms and can sink to an almost grisly horror and shuddering,” but may also be “developed into something beautiful and pure and glorious.” In this discussion we will examine how the holy or divine expressed in art and mystical traditions is also often terrifying, and how magic can be mistaken as demonic rather than daemonic.
Panelists: Peter Bebergal, Richard Gavin, Pam Grossman, Dennis Quinn, Janaka Stucky, Anthony Teth (M)

Saturday, August 24th

9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

THROUGH A FOREST, DARKLY: SYLVAN DREAD – Capital Ballroom, Graduate 2ndFloor
Throughout the history of Weird Fiction (and its antecedents in both folklore and the fairy tale) the notion of the Forest has played a key role as setting, subject, and the very darkness at the core of Weird fiction.  This discussion will explore the notion of sylvan dread through some of its best contemporary practitioners and, just maybe, we’ll get to the heart of why we have always feared the dark forests of the world.
Panelists: Richard Gavin, Larissa Glasser, Gwendolyn Kiste, Bracken MacLeod (M), Jordan Smith, Paul Tremblay

6:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.


PLUTO IN FURS Book Release Reading – Narragansett Bayview, Graduate Hotel 17th Floor
Join us for a book release party for the new anthology Pluto in Furs Tales of Diseased Desires and Seductive Horrors. Hosted by editor and publisher Scott Dwyer and featuring readings from Gemma Files, Richard Gavin, Adam Golaski, Orrin Grey, Clint Smith, and Jeffrey Thomas.Beyond these events, you'll likely find me hiding from the summer inside dim, cool rooms, or roaming about, pretending that I'm sociable...

PLUTO IN FURS Now Available

Scott Dwyer's phantastic anthology Pluto in Furs: Tales of Diseased Desires and Seductive Horrors is now available. Scott's previous anthology Phantasm/Chimera was one of my favourites in recent memory, so I'm very pleased to have a brand new story, entitled "Headsman's Trust: A Murder Ballad", published in Pluto in Furs. Also, the cover design for this book perfectly captures my aesthetics; a blend of the ghostly, the erotic, the murky, and the infernal.

Here is the complete Table of Contents:

An Abysmal Masochism ( An Introduction ) - by Scott DwyerThe Tangible Universe - by Jeffrey ThomasThe Wolf at the Door or The Music of Antonio Soler - by Devora GrayOther Yseut and Romance Tristan - by Adam GolaskiDermatology, Eschatology - by Kurt Fawver Headsman’s Trust: A Murder Ballad - by Richard GavinIt’s Hard to be Me - by John Claude SmithThe Gutter at the Bottom of the World - by David PeakTender is the Tether - by Rhys HughesWith Shining Gifts That Took All Eyes - by Mike AllenStygian Chambers - by Orrin GreyBehemoth - by Clint SmithWorm Moon - by Gemma FilesThe Silvering - by Thana Niveau Walking in Ash - by Brendan Vidito
Copies of the book may be ordered here.
And for those of you attending NecronomiCon Providence next month, I will be taking part in an official Pluto in Furs launch. (Details of that and my full NecronomiCon schedule will be posted here in the near future.)

"Crawlspace Oracle" in MANNEQUIN anthology

I'm thrilled to report that my new story "Crawlspace Oracle" appears in the anthology Mannequin: Tales of Wood Made Flesh, edited by Justin Burnett and published by Silent Motorist Media. The lineup is outstanding, and the anthology's theme is a really effective one.

Mannequin is now available in trade paperback and e-book, both of which may be purchased here.

Collection Number Six

The manuscript of my sixth full-length collection of Horror fiction is, at long last, finished. There are no details to share as yet in regards to potential publication, but any news will be unveiled here in due course...

THE MORIBUND PORTAL reviewed at 'Scriptus Recensera'

Scriptus Recensera, a wonderful site that publishes insightful examinations of a wide variety of occult volumes, has published a glowing review of The Moribund Portal: Spectral Resonance and the Numen of the Gallows:

"[Gavin] writes with a considered, grandiloquent and formal delivery, but does so expertly, without falling into the traps that lesser authors do when ambition outstrips ability. Instead, Gavin’s presents a masterclass in how to write 21st century occult style, combining academic phrasing, sophisticated occult terminology...and just the right sprinklings of archaism. Never overdoing any of these elements, and thereby disappearing into black holes of meaningless"
The review entire may be viewed here. 
Copies of The Moribund Portal may be obtained here. 

"Ten of Swords: Ruin"

I'm delighted to announce a very special publication that is forthcoming from France's Sarob Books...

Their Dark & Secret Alchemy is an anthology featuring a triad of occult fiction novellas and novelettes. The Table of Contents is as follows:

RICHARD GAVIN ~ TEN OF SWORDS: RUIN
COLIN INSOLE ~ THE DEAD OF MARIDUNUM
DAMIAN MURPHY  ~ THE AXIS OF THE LODESTONE
"Ten of Swords: Ruin" is a piece with which I'm particularly pleased, so it's an honour to debut it alongside Colin and Damian, two very distinguished authors. 
Their Dark & Secret Alchemy will be published in a hand numbered, Limited Edition clothbound hardcover with dustjacket. 
Further details and pre-order information can be found here.

BEST NEW HORROR #29

The twenty-ninth volume of the landmark Best New Horror anthology series, edited by the lengdary Stephen Jones, is now available for pre-order. This volume features another outstanding Table of Contents, with stories by Allison Littlewood, Ramsey Campbell, Simon Strantzas, and many others. My tale "Banishments" is also included.

Once again, PS Publishing will be releasing the book. Details (and a peek at the sumptuous cover art) can be viewed here.

"Headsman's Trust: A Murder Ballad"

Scott Dwyer, of The Plutonian website, has taken the reins on a new Horror fiction anthology entitled Pluto in Furs. Scott's previous anthology Phantasm/Chimera was one of my favourites in recent years, so I'm very pleased to have a new story included in his latest book.
My story "Headsman's Trust: A Murder Ballad" will be published alongside tales by a number of luminaries. The full Table of Contents can be viewed here.
Pluto in Furs will be published in August 2019.

2019

A new year is upon us. 2018 saw the release of The Moribund Portal and a new story ("Fragile Masks") in The Mammoth Book of Halloween Stories. While these publications were made manifest, there were several projects cooking on the back burner.

I'm very excited by the arrival of 2019. There are many announcements of writing projects to be made in the coming months. New works of esotericism and of supernatural fiction are forthcoming and will be revealed on this website in due course.

In the meantime, I wish all my readers a very Happy New Year.

Announcing THE ELDRITCH FAITH (Italian Edition)

I'm very proud to announce that my novella The Eldritch Faith (originally published in At Fear's Altar ) has been translated into Italian and will be published in Italy next month.

This new translation ( La Strana Fede ) will be released in trade paperback and e-book formats, courtesy of Edizioni Hypnos.

More information can be found here.