Mike Thorn's Blog, page 26

Tor Nightfire's List of Anticipated 2021 Horror Releases Includes Shelter for the Damned

"We made it through 2020, folks. We did it! As a reward, we’ve got an absolutely stacked year ahead of us when it comes to 2021’s new horror books. There are already over 100 titles on our radar for this year, with more expected to be announced for publication in the fall and winter. New releases include Grady Hendrix, Rivers Solomon, Stephen Graham Jones, Brian Evenson, Cassandra Khaw, Richard Chizmar, Zoje Stage, Josh Malerman, Cynthia Pelayo, Gemma Files, Ramsey Campbell, Catriona Ward, Chuck Wendig, Jeffrey Ford, V. Castro, and many, many, many more."

Read the full article.

Candace Robinson Interviews Mike Thorn

What inspired Shelter for the Damned?

Like most creative projects, Shelter for the Damned took inspiration from numerous places. I wanted to write something in the suburban horror tradition, and I wanted to write something with adolescent characters. I drew a lot on the novels of Hubert Selby Jr. and Jim Thompson, specifically their pessimism and their unblinking commitment to disturbed protagonists devoured by their own demons ...

Read the full interview.

“To Exist, but Not Be There”: Terence DeToy Reviews Shelter for the Damned

“The novel’s pacing is relentless. You may find yourself breathing only during page turns. Thorn has a real knack for building intensity to a fever pitch and letting the effect carry over into the action. His prose is smooth and his dialogue stretches the anger of juvenile angst without forcing it into unnatural banter. What’s really terrifying about this novel is its fidelity to the suburban experience—that is, what’s scary is how realistic so much of it is.”

Read the full review on Tuerlemot (warning: plot spoilers).

Shelter for the Damned Included on Read by Dusk's 30 Most Anticipated Horror Books of 2021

Check out the full list.

Night Worms Cover Reveal: SHELTER FOR THE DAMNED by Mike Thorn

On February 26, 2021, JournalStone will release Mike Thorn’s debut novel, Shelter for the Damned. This grisly, pessimistic, supernatural tale is Thorn’s contribution to the great tradition of suburban horror.

Visit Night Worms for an exclusive cover reveal (art by Trevor Henderson).

Pre-order directly from JournalStone.

Pre-order through Amazon.

Pre-order through Barnes & Noble.

Mike Thorn’s Story “Deprimer” Included in Vastarien, Volume 3, Issue 2

Mike Thorn’s new short story “Deprimer” is included in Vastarien: A Literary Journal, volume 3, issue 2. Pre-order here.

Steve Stred Reviews Prairie Gothic

“‘Mini McDonagh Manor’ by Mike Thorn was pristine and showed why I love Mike’s writing so much. Following a woman who needs to confront things from the past, Mike does a really great job of encasing an entire ‘haunted house’ book in a dozen or so pages. Well done.”

Read the full review.

Order Prairie Gothic.

Beyond the Book of Eibon: A literary tribute to Lucio Fulci

I'm thrilled to announce that my new story "Offer to the Adversary" will be included in Beyond the Book of Eibon, a literary tribute anthology to the Italian horror master, Lucio Fulci! Secure your copy on Kickstarter.

Edited by Perry Ruhland and Astrid Rose, the book will also include contributions by Adam Cesare, Gemma Files, Orrin Grey, Michael Hoarty, Kai Perrignon, Matt Serafini, William Tea, Christopher Slatsky, and others. Featuring a foreword by Kier-La Janisse.

Dark Updates (For Better and Worse): Darkest Hours & Shelter for the Damned

It seems only yesterday that I unleashed my debut short story collection Darkest Hours on the world. November 10, 2020 will mark its three-year anniversary, and the end of its print run with Unnerving. So far, the book has been thriving thanks to support and enthusiasm from readers, reviewers, and horror enthusiasts from all dark corners. I fully intend to find it an excellent new home, and I will provide updates as they come!

Having said that, if you want to pick up a copy of Darkest Hours, now is absolutely the time. Order from Amazon or Barnes & Noble before it vanishes (for now…).

In other news, my debut novel Shelter for the Damned is scheduled for release with JournalStone on February 26, 2021. I have a lot of exciting news surrounding that project, but I’m going to have to sit on that for the time being.

Here’s the synopsis:

While looking for a secret place to smoke cigarettes with his two best friends, troubled teenager Mark discovers a mysterious shack in a suburban field. Alienated from his parents and peers, Mark finds within the shack an escape greater than anything he has ever experienced.

But it isn’t long before the place begins revealing its strange, powerful sentience. And it wants something in exchange for the shelter it provides.

Stay spooky, my friends! More updates soon…

Today on In Review Online: Mike Thorn on Judas Priest’s Screaming for Vengeance

“Given its distilled concentration of elements, its fierce reworking of pop sensibility, and its placement within the band’s trajectory, Screaming for Vengeance feels something like metal’s answer to Pet Sounds.”

Read the full article.