Deborah Sheldon's Blog, page 6
March 12, 2024
Terrific review of my novella REDHEAD TOWN
Author, YA editor and book reviewer Dawn Wilson has posted a terrific five-star review of my novella Redhead Town (PsychoToxin Press, 2024).
In part, Dawn writes, "I really enjoyed reading this book. It is SUCH a unique story! Accept vampires as productive members of society? Allow them to wander the streets and mingle with the people? Oh, no. God, no. But YES. That’s exactly what happens in this story[...] It’s the kind of story that made me think, made me worry, but ultimately made me ask myself how much of this was fiction…until it became reality?"
Here's a link to the full review:
https://dawnreviewsbooks.blogspot.com...
And here's the Amazon link for Redhead Town:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXS5MC6D/
In part, Dawn writes, "I really enjoyed reading this book. It is SUCH a unique story! Accept vampires as productive members of society? Allow them to wander the streets and mingle with the people? Oh, no. God, no. But YES. That’s exactly what happens in this story[...] It’s the kind of story that made me think, made me worry, but ultimately made me ask myself how much of this was fiction…until it became reality?"
Here's a link to the full review:
https://dawnreviewsbooks.blogspot.com...
And here's the Amazon link for Redhead Town:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXS5MC6D/
March 10, 2024
Cover reveal: NOSFERATU UNBOUND
IFWG Publishing has revealed the cover for Nosferatu Unbound, edited by Steven Paulsen and Christopher Sequeira.
https://ifwgpublishing.com/2024/03/09...
Chantal Handley did the cover art, and Greg Chapman the cover design.
The anthology includes my story "Last of the Sacrificial Women", and will be released in June/July 2024.
https://ifwgpublishing.com/2024/03/09...
Chantal Handley did the cover art, and Greg Chapman the cover design.
The anthology includes my story "Last of the Sacrificial Women", and will be released in June/July 2024.
February 9, 2024
Interview With Authors of Vampire Novels
I take part in a round-table interview hosted by Alison Armstrong, where four authors of vampire fiction chat about all things fanged.
https://horrorvacui.us/interview-with...
The other participants are:
Alison Armstrong - https://horrorvacui.us/
Brooklyn Ann - https://www.brooklynannauthor.com/
and Julie Lomoe - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
My vampire novella Redhead Town will be released 11 March, in both print and ebook formats, by PsychoToxin Press.
https://www.psychotoxin.com/
Here's the back-cover blurb:
“LIFE IS BLOODY GOOD”
In Australia, vampires are a protected class.
Twenty-two towns are picked to siphon vampires, aka ‘redheads’, out of capital and regional cities. When polled, most Australians agree with this strategy. But most Australians don’t live in a ‘designated area’. Don’t have to step over drowsing redheads during the day. Or live in terror of marauding redheads during the night.
Mark Murphy is a nightshift worker in the designated area of Oleg’s Creek. His house is now worth nothing, and he can’t afford to leave. He’s heard rumours of The Resistance. Desperate, will he risk a grab at freedom?
Written by award-winning author Deborah Sheldon, Redhead Town is a dark tale of government overreach, societal breakdown, and one man’s love for his wife and son.
https://horrorvacui.us/interview-with...
The other participants are:
Alison Armstrong - https://horrorvacui.us/
Brooklyn Ann - https://www.brooklynannauthor.com/
and Julie Lomoe - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
My vampire novella Redhead Town will be released 11 March, in both print and ebook formats, by PsychoToxin Press.
https://www.psychotoxin.com/
Here's the back-cover blurb:
“LIFE IS BLOODY GOOD”
In Australia, vampires are a protected class.
Twenty-two towns are picked to siphon vampires, aka ‘redheads’, out of capital and regional cities. When polled, most Australians agree with this strategy. But most Australians don’t live in a ‘designated area’. Don’t have to step over drowsing redheads during the day. Or live in terror of marauding redheads during the night.
Mark Murphy is a nightshift worker in the designated area of Oleg’s Creek. His house is now worth nothing, and he can’t afford to leave. He’s heard rumours of The Resistance. Desperate, will he risk a grab at freedom?
Written by award-winning author Deborah Sheldon, Redhead Town is a dark tale of government overreach, societal breakdown, and one man’s love for his wife and son.
February 3, 2024
Cover reveal for my novella REDHEAD TOWN
PsychoToxin Press has revealed the cover for my latest novella, the dystopian/vampire tale Redhead Town. You can see it here: https://deborahsheldon.wordpress.com/...
Redhead Town will be available, in ebook and print formats, on 11 March 2024.
Here's the back-cover blurb:
“LIFE IS BLOODY GOOD”
In Australia, vampires are a protected class.
Twenty-two towns are picked to siphon vampires, aka ‘redheads’, out of capital and regional cities. When polled, most Australians agree with this strategy. But most Australians don’t live in a ‘designated area’. Don’t have to step over drowsing redheads during the day. Or live in terror of marauding redheads during the night.
Mark Murphy is a nightshift worker in the designated area of Oleg’s Creek. His house is now worth nothing, and he can’t afford to leave. He’s heard rumours of The Resistance. Desperate, will he risk a grab at freedom?
Written by award-winning author Deborah Sheldon, Redhead Town is a dark tale of government overreach, societal breakdown, and one man’s love for his wife and son.
Redhead Town will be available, in ebook and print formats, on 11 March 2024.
Here's the back-cover blurb:
“LIFE IS BLOODY GOOD”
In Australia, vampires are a protected class.
Twenty-two towns are picked to siphon vampires, aka ‘redheads’, out of capital and regional cities. When polled, most Australians agree with this strategy. But most Australians don’t live in a ‘designated area’. Don’t have to step over drowsing redheads during the day. Or live in terror of marauding redheads during the night.
Mark Murphy is a nightshift worker in the designated area of Oleg’s Creek. His house is now worth nothing, and he can’t afford to leave. He’s heard rumours of The Resistance. Desperate, will he risk a grab at freedom?
Written by award-winning author Deborah Sheldon, Redhead Town is a dark tale of government overreach, societal breakdown, and one man’s love for his wife and son.
November 23, 2023
My poem: "The Midwife"
Nightmare Fuel is an online magazine that publishes dark fiction and poetry from Australian writers.
They recently published my poem "The Midwife" as part of their themed collection "Campfyre".
Here's a link to my poem, free to read: https://nightmarefuelmagazine.com/202...
They recently published my poem "The Midwife" as part of their themed collection "Campfyre".
Here's a link to my poem, free to read: https://nightmarefuelmagazine.com/202...
November 17, 2023
Contributors to SPAWN 2 anthology
IFWG Publishing is very pleased to announce the contributors to Spawn 2: More Weird Horror Tales About Pregnancy, Birth and Babies following a long and complex submissions period. Editor Deborah Sheldon has come up with an amazing list of contributors with their stories, and we would like to add that many great stories had to be rejected for various reasons, including how the final slate hangs together.
The Australasian-only contributors (and their story titles) are as follows (in alphabetical order):
Dmitri Akers—’Punch in Hell’
Emma Darcy—’Mother of Horrors’
Matthew R. Davis—’Water is the Womb of the World’
Rachel Denham-White—’The Green Woman’
Jason Franks—’Grizzle’
Rowan Hill—’Leach/Leech’
Samuel M. Johnston—’Chop_Shop’
Carole Kelly—’Respect’
Ben Matthews—’Flesh of My Flesh’
Lily Mulholland—’Body of Work’
Anthony O’Connor—’We Have Children Now’
Robyn O’Sullivan—’Two Sides of a Coin’
Leanbh Pearson—’These Bloody Lanes’
Kat Pekin—’The Stranger in My Yard’
Deryn Pittar—’Too Full’
Danielle Ringrose—’Bitten: A Love Story’
Carol Ryles—’In War with Time for Love of You’
Deborah Sheldon—’The Tea and Sugar Train’ (reprint)
Em Starr —’Stale’
H.K. Stubbs—’Latch’
Matt Tighe—’Envelopes’
Pauline Yates—’The Tenth Life’
Spawn 2: More Weird Horror Tales About Pregnancy, Birth and Babies will be globally released, in print and ebook formats, on 25 November 2024.
https://ifwgpublishing.com/2023/11/15...
The Australasian-only contributors (and their story titles) are as follows (in alphabetical order):
Dmitri Akers—’Punch in Hell’
Emma Darcy—’Mother of Horrors’
Matthew R. Davis—’Water is the Womb of the World’
Rachel Denham-White—’The Green Woman’
Jason Franks—’Grizzle’
Rowan Hill—’Leach/Leech’
Samuel M. Johnston—’Chop_Shop’
Carole Kelly—’Respect’
Ben Matthews—’Flesh of My Flesh’
Lily Mulholland—’Body of Work’
Anthony O’Connor—’We Have Children Now’
Robyn O’Sullivan—’Two Sides of a Coin’
Leanbh Pearson—’These Bloody Lanes’
Kat Pekin—’The Stranger in My Yard’
Deryn Pittar—’Too Full’
Danielle Ringrose—’Bitten: A Love Story’
Carol Ryles—’In War with Time for Love of You’
Deborah Sheldon—’The Tea and Sugar Train’ (reprint)
Em Starr —’Stale’
H.K. Stubbs—’Latch’
Matt Tighe—’Envelopes’
Pauline Yates—’The Tenth Life’
Spawn 2: More Weird Horror Tales About Pregnancy, Birth and Babies will be globally released, in print and ebook formats, on 25 November 2024.
https://ifwgpublishing.com/2023/11/15...
October 18, 2023
Terrific review of my novella THYLACINES
Robin Knabel, of Inky Bones Press and Unsettling Reads, has posted a terrific review of my sci-fi/horror novella Thylacines. Published in 2018 by Severed Press, Thylacines was shortlisted for the "Paul Haines Award for Long Fiction" in the Australian Shadows Awards.
In part, Robin writes, "Once the action starts, it never lets up. I even jotted in my notes that I had to force myself go to bed when I was 86% through the book. It’s that exciting! The characters in this story are given varied personalities and abilities. I love that it has female characters who are powerful in their own rights, both mentally and physically. I also love that Sheldon didn’t allow ageism to play a role in this action-packed thriller. What she does allow is a lot of intense action, palpable character fear, and deliciously gory violence that will grip readers and have them on the edges of their seats until the last page."
Here's a link to the full review:
https://robinknabel.squarespace.com/r...
And here's the Amazon link for Thylacines:
https://www.amazon.com/Thylacines-Deb...
In part, Robin writes, "Once the action starts, it never lets up. I even jotted in my notes that I had to force myself go to bed when I was 86% through the book. It’s that exciting! The characters in this story are given varied personalities and abilities. I love that it has female characters who are powerful in their own rights, both mentally and physically. I also love that Sheldon didn’t allow ageism to play a role in this action-packed thriller. What she does allow is a lot of intense action, palpable character fear, and deliciously gory violence that will grip readers and have them on the edges of their seats until the last page."
Here's a link to the full review:
https://robinknabel.squarespace.com/r...
And here's the Amazon link for Thylacines:
https://www.amazon.com/Thylacines-Deb...
October 16, 2023
THE BLACK BEACON BOOK OF HORROR is out now
Black Beacon Books is an independent publisher founded by author and anthologist, Cameron Trost. It began in Australia in 2013 and is now based in Brittany. They publish gripping and intriguing fiction that falls into the genres of mystery, suspense, post-apocalyptic, psychological horror, and folk horror.
Their latest anthology, The Black Beacon Book of Horror, is out now and includes my story "Cameo".
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C8J3DP9K/
Back-cover blurb:
The Black Beacon Book of Horrorfeatures dark and disturbing tales from some of the most original and imaginative authors writing in the genre today. These tales of psychological, supernatural, folk, gothic, and cosmic horror will usher you into the darkest of realms and leave you there to fend for yourself. You'll lose your way in abandoned houses and hospitals, and be trapped on stormy beaches and along foggy country roads. There are haunted dolls, creepy-crawlies, malevolent spirits, creatures of legend, Lovecraftian terrors, and the demons within our own minds. But as varied as the settings and themes are, each tale has that one essential trait; the power to make you glance over your shoulder just to be sure the terror hasn't found a way to leave the page.
Their latest anthology, The Black Beacon Book of Horror, is out now and includes my story "Cameo".
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C8J3DP9K/
Back-cover blurb:
The Black Beacon Book of Horrorfeatures dark and disturbing tales from some of the most original and imaginative authors writing in the genre today. These tales of psychological, supernatural, folk, gothic, and cosmic horror will usher you into the darkest of realms and leave you there to fend for yourself. You'll lose your way in abandoned houses and hospitals, and be trapped on stormy beaches and along foggy country roads. There are haunted dolls, creepy-crawlies, malevolent spirits, creatures of legend, Lovecraftian terrors, and the demons within our own minds. But as varied as the settings and themes are, each tale has that one essential trait; the power to make you glance over your shoulder just to be sure the terror hasn't found a way to leave the page.
October 10, 2023
ILLUMEN MAGAZINE publishes my poem "Amazon Warrior"
Edited by Tyree Campbell, Illumen Magazine publishes original poems in the genres of sci-fi, fantasy and horror. Each issue also features artwork, articles, reviews, and interviews.
Illumen Magazine Autumn 2023 includes my poem, "Amazon Warrior". To write this epic-style piece, I played with the Spanish decima poetic form and opted for the espinela rhyming scheme.
https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-p...
Illumen Magazine Autumn 2023 includes my poem, "Amazon Warrior". To write this epic-style piece, I played with the Spanish decima poetic form and opted for the espinela rhyming scheme.
https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-p...
October 6, 2023
My novel CRETACEOUS CANYON is available as an audiobook
Severed Press has released my action-packed novel Cretaceous Canyon in audiobook format. The narrator is Khai Lannor.
https://www.amazon.com/Cretaceous-Can...
The back-cover blurb:
Australia’s outback holds a mysterious canyon. Hidden deep within is a forest of pine tree that dates from the Cretaceous Period. A megacorporation sends in a team of experts to research this canyon for botanical riches.
The expedition enters a no-man’s land formed 100 million years ago when Australia was still attached to Antarctica, and dinosaurs ruled the super-continent. But the canyon has more prehistoric and dangerous species than anyone could have possibly imagined.
Trapped and terrified, unarmed and unable to communicate topside, the team’s extraction deadline is six long hours away.
The frantic race for survival is on.
https://www.amazon.com/Cretaceous-Can...
The back-cover blurb:
Australia’s outback holds a mysterious canyon. Hidden deep within is a forest of pine tree that dates from the Cretaceous Period. A megacorporation sends in a team of experts to research this canyon for botanical riches.
The expedition enters a no-man’s land formed 100 million years ago when Australia was still attached to Antarctica, and dinosaurs ruled the super-continent. But the canyon has more prehistoric and dangerous species than anyone could have possibly imagined.
Trapped and terrified, unarmed and unable to communicate topside, the team’s extraction deadline is six long hours away.
The frantic race for survival is on.
