Deborah Sheldon's Blog, page 2

Horror Tree reviews my novel BODILY HARM

Horror Tree posts a terrific review of my crime-horror novel Bodily Harm (Undertaker Books, 2024). In part, reviewer Stuart Conover writes, "Deborah Sheldon’s Bodily Harm grabbed me by the throat on page one and never once loosened its grip. Set against the rain‑slick streets and fluorescent glare of present‑day Melbourne, the book fuses the relentless momentum of a police procedural with the raw nerve of psychological horror. The result is a bruising, white‑knuckle thriller that also happens to be one of the most compassionate examinations of trauma I’ve read in years..."

You can read the full review here: https://horrortree.com/epeolatry-book...

For more information about Bodily Harm: https://deborahsheldon.wordpress.com/...

Interview with the Horror Tree about my collection THE BROONIE AND OTHER DARK POEMS

The Horror Tree is a resource for writers, offering submission information on all the latest horror anthologies and publishers. The Horror Tree also posts articles, news and interviews.

The Horror Tree has posted an interview with me about my latest release, the collection The Broonie and Other Dark Poems, which Hiraeth Publishing released earlier this month.

In part, interviewer Robyn O'Sullivan writes:
"For those of us who read her horror stories with relish, the contents of this poetry collection will not disappoint. Intrigued that Sheldon has now turned her hand to verse, I caught up with her recently to talk about her multi-faceted writing journey...."

You can read the full interview here:
https://horrortree.com/an-interview-w...

For more information about The Broonie and Other Dark Poems:
https://deborahsheldon.wordpress.com/...

My novel BODILY HARM is shortlisted for an Aurealis Award!

Some fabulous news to share! My crime-horror novel, Bodily Harm (Undertaker Books, 2024), is shortlisted for the Aurealis Award "Best Horror Novel"!

The full list of nominees:
https://aurealisawards.org/2025/04/15...

The winners will be announced in May.

The back-cover blurb of Bodily Harm:
Survival has a price... Is Cara ready to pay it?
From the moment she feels a gun barrel shoved into her back, Cara Haynes is thrown into the brutal world of vicious criminals and the police officers tough enough to pursue them.
Cara has lived in Melbourne just a few weeks when she survives an armed robbery at her local pizzeria. Traumatised, afraid and alone, Cara’s lifeline is Mick Thompson, a detective from the Armed Offence Squad, whose compulsion to find these violent offenders keeps him awake at night. But soon, Cara doesn’t know the difference between safety and danger…
Written by award-winning author, Deborah Sheldon, Bodily Harm is a fast-paced, savage and disturbing read where one woman’s nightmare becomes a detective’s obsession.
WARNING: MATURE CONTENT

For more information: https://deborahsheldon.wordpress.com/...

SPAWN 2 stories shortlisted for Aurealis Awards!

The anthology I conceived and edited, Spawn 2: More Weird Horror Tales About Pregnancy, Birth and Babies, was released last year by IFWG Publishing. Now three of the wonderful stories are finalists in the 2024 Aurealis Awards!

“Flesh of My Flesh” by Ben Matthews, and “Envelopes” by Matt Tighe are nominated for Best Horror Short Story, while "In War with Time for Love of You" by Carol Ryles is nominated for Best Science Fiction Short Story.

Congratulations to Ben, Matt and Carol!

Here's a link to the full list of Aurealis Award finalists: https://aurealisawards.org/2025/04/15...

For more information about Spawn 2: More Weird Horror Tales About Pregnancy, Birth and Babies: https://deborahsheldon.wordpress.com/...

My drabble published in Trembling With Fear

Trembling With Fear is the weekly fiction section published by the Horror Tree, offering drabbles, flash fiction and dark poetry. This week's selection includes my 100-word drabble "Calling Them Down".

The TWF fiction is free to read here:
https://horrortree.com/trembling-with...

My poetry collection THE BROONIE AND OTHER DARK POEMS is out now!

I'm happy to announce that Hiraeth Publishing has released my poetry collection, The Broonie and Other Dark Poems. Currently, the collection is only available direct from the publisher. It will become available via online booksellers such as Amazon over the next few days.

The back-cover blurb:
Beasts, nightmares, blood, madness...
From award-winning horror author Deborah Sheldon comes The Broonie and
Other Dark Poems, a harrowing collection of verse. Using only traditional forms –
strambotto, villanelle, flamenca, sonnet, englyn penfyr, ballad, triplet, décima
espinela, and more – Sheldon spins lyrical and visceral poetry.
Prepare for disquieting chills.

Formats available from Hiraeth Publishing:
PDF https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-p...
EPUB https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-p...
PAPERBACK https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-p...

Interview with L. Andrew Cooper about my novel BODILY HARM

L. Andrew Cooper is a screenwriter, novelist, poet, film critic, and thinker about things. His site Horrific Scribblings includes his in-depth interviews with authors of dark fiction. Recently, Andrew interviewed me.

In part, Andrew writes, "A highly skilled and versatile writer with an astonishing list of accomplishments, Deborah Sheldon provides eloquent insights into her crime-horror novel Bodily Harm."

You can read the full interview here: https://landrewcooper.com/sheldon/

Undertaker Books released Bodily Harm in 2024. For more information about my novel: https://deborahsheldon.wordpress.com/...

PENUMBRIC MAG publishes my poem "An Unusual Request"

Penumbric Speculative Fiction Magazineis an online magazine dedicated to riding that ever-changing edge of new and original fiction and art and sound, and everything, into tomorrow.

Its February 2025 issue (vol. viii issue 5) includes my poem "An Unusual Request". The poetic form I chose to use is the Welsh englyn penfyr, which is based around the tercet.

Penumbric Speculative Fiction Magazine is free to read: https://www.penumbric.com/currentissu...

Terrific review of my anthology SPAWN 2

Writer, anthology editor and book blogger, Robin Knabel of Inky Bones Press, has posted a terrific review of my anthology Spawn 2: More Weird Horror Tales About Pregnancy, Birth and Babies (IFWG, 2024).

In part, Robin writes, "Spawn 2 is a well-curated collection of short horror. The stories stood out and some just plain wowed me to my core. Many stories are sci-fi or fantastical, some fall into folk horror. One thing that applies to all of them, though, is that you can feel the intense currents of emotions running through them, especially in the expectations of the characters. There is a palpable feeling of fear and dread in all of the tales."

You can read the full review here: https://robinknabel.squarespace.com/r...

For more information about Spawn 2: https://deborahsheldon.wordpress.com/...

Short story published in BITE: A VAMPIRIC ANTHOLOGY

Graveside Press brings you tales of horror that will shatter your sleep. Their latest offering, Bite: A Vampiric Anthology, is out now. It includes my story "Perfect Little Stitches".

From the guilt-ridden mortician to the drunk vampire on the front lawn, from decaying castles to Chernobyl, this collection brings you twenty-three tales that will leave a mark.

Amazon link to Bite: A Vampiric Anthology: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRXPHXKC

Graveside Press website: https://graveside-press.com/