Dave Higgins's Blog, page 56

Our Glass

Unshockingly for an author of creepy tales who is Gothic in heart if not fashion, I make more than occasional visits to cemeteries. Over the last couple of months, one of the houses between my most frequent ossuarial destination and the river path into the centre of town has received a sprucing up, including a … Continue reading Our Glass

How Not to Summon Demons by Matthew S. Cox

Relying on strong characterisation rather than flashy effects, Cox skilfully extends his exploration of neophyte vampirism beyond the immediate challenges of metaphysical limitations while retaining the immediately accessible echoes of becoming an adult. This novel is the sixth in the Vampire Innocent series. Possible spoilers ahead. While being a vampire makes going to college a … Continue reading How Not to Summon Demons by Matthew S. Cox

Light from the Campfire

After crossing the border into the world of book trailers for Fears of a Clown, I’ve carved out another parcel of video for Wild Frontiers. So, grab a mug of coffee off the fire and settle yourself down. Advertisements

Smells Like Weeia Spirit by Elle Boca

Boca continues to meld her bespoke variation on urban fantasy with accessible detective action, creating a thriller that showcases the metaphysical without hand-waving away the more routine aspects of investigation. This novel is the third in the Weeia Marshals series. Possible spoilers ahead. When a healer calls Marshal Danni Metreaux in following an inexplicable death, … Continue reading Smells Like Weeia Spirit by Elle Boca

The Sound of One Man Clowning

While miming and other physical theatre are a large part of clowning, not all clowns are silent. And certainly not all authors who write about clowns are silent. In addition to writing stories, Robert Morgan Fisher—whose story, “I, Clown” features in Bloody Red Nose: Fifteen Fears of a Clown—is a vocal artist. So, laddies and … Continue reading The Sound of One Man Clowning

All the Darkness is Alive by Robert Scott-Norton

Scott-Norton blends the inexplicable otherness of the occult with the grimy deceits of modern urban life to create a paranormal horror thriller that evokes the dread of a classic ghost story without the archness that can allow the modern mind a comforting distance. This novel is the second in Scott-Norton’s Dark Corners series. Reading this … Continue reading All the Darkness is Alive by Robert Scott-Norton

The King in Grey

It appears I am not alone in casting clowns as positive rather than negative social forces. I have just discovered that “a New Zealand man facing the ax (sic) at work brought a support clown to his recent redundancy meeting…”.(New York Post). Which of course raises a rather important question. Which other figures that conjure … Continue reading The King in Grey

The Phantom Oracle by Matthew S. Cox

Cox displays the issues of starting college through the dark lens of vampirism, creating a teenage vampire tale that has much to interest both horror readers of all ages and members of non-existent Hermetic orders. This novel is the fifth in the Vampire Innocent series. So, there are probably spoilers ahead. With vampirism having ruined … Continue reading The Phantom Oracle by Matthew S. Cox

Horror Fiction Double Feature

Both volumes of the Fears of a Clown duology now have video trailers. Available now for your viewing pleasure in DaVision™! Deadman Humour Find your favourite retailer here. Bloody Red Nose Find your favourite retailer here. Advertisements

Fears of a Clown Anthologies Released

Happy Friday the 13th. Both volumes of my Fears of a Clown anthology project are now available from major retailers in paperback and eBook. While actual coulrophobia is rare, many people find clowns scary rather than amusing; and modern media fans that fear. But, what if—instead of being serial killers and Scooby-Doo villains—they were victims … Continue reading Fears of a Clown Anthologies Released