K.C. Grifant's Blog, page 7

Alien horror story “Odd Colleagues” available in DARK MATTER Magazine

Dark Matter Magazine‘s “symbiosis” themed issue 010 is out, with jaw-dropping standard edition and variant covers by Jeff Aphisit, as well as intriguing story artwork.

My scifi horror story, “Odd Colleagues,” about an insecure scientist and her encounter with an aliens, debuts. The art accompanying my story gives “Invasion of the Body Snatcher” vibes!

A note about the artwork from Editor-in-Chief Rob Carroll:

The stories in this issue of Dark Matter all explore in one way or another the theme of symbiosis. So for the story art, we decided to have some fun and cocreate the images with an AI.* We used a third party AI to generate the base artworks and then fine-tuned the creations with our human hands via Photoshop and other digital art programs…[read more]

*It’s worth noting that this issue’s cover art and every image in this issue’s two art features are the creations of human artists, Jeff Aphisit and Sean Keeton. As far as we know, they are not sentient machines.

Excerpt:ODD COLLEAGUES

By K.C. Grifant

I pressed forward into the small crowd, straining to be among the first to glimpse what rested beyond the closed door. About two dozen of us milled around, the crème de la crème of biologists, including the ever-irritating Gustavo.

Gustavo. I clenched my teeth at the sight of him. He was always publishing similar work to mine a few months after the fact, but in larger, more prestigious journals, and worse yet, he was always trying to cop a feel at conference happy hours.

Don’t let him rattle you. My gaze locked on the door again. You deserve to be here. I went through the mental checklist to rally myself. The youngest tenured professor at my university. Dozens of publications. Countless invitations to committees and talks. But somehow it never felt like enough, especially in a crowd like this.

The green light above flashed and, even though we were some of the most distinguished scientists in the world, we lined up like school children, whispering and fidgeting with our digital pads and styluses. We had all read the dossiers and watched the recordings, but that was nothing compared to a coveted invitation to see the Visitor in person.

While pushing past me, Gustavo brushed his hand against my butt.

“Can you give me some space, please?” I snapped. I tried not to breathe in his cheap, awful-smelling cologne.

Gustavo grinned.

You can read additional excerpts from all of the delightfully creepy stories in issue 10 here: https://darkmattermagazine.com/issues/issue-010/.

Digital copies and related swag are available here: https://darkmattermagazine.shop/collections/issue-010

Happy reading!

New Book Deal Announcement: Weird West Horror Adventure!

I am thrilled to announce my first book deal!

MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER will be coming out in February 2023 from Brigids Gate Press.

The book is an adult “Weird Western” adventure featuring gunslingers, diverse characters and a menagerie of nightmarish monsters, with Bonnie & Clyde + Witcher + Supernatural vibes.

Original pitch: When monsters roam the Old West, there is one gunslinging couple who can tilt the odds in favor of humanity. Stoic sharpshooter Melinda and her easygoing partner Lance are pros at fighting everything from cannibalistic gremlins to psychic bugs. But when they accidentally release a demon that steals souls, they find themselves caught in a supernatural war. Melinda and Lance must battle a menagerie of monsters and hunt a notorious outlaw to save their friends and stop hell on Earth. 

Melinda and Lance are two characters I have featured in several published short stories and I am ecstatic that they will star in their own book soon. Aside from creating a fun, escapist horror adventure, my goal for this speculative world is to reframe some of the typical depictions of the Old West and build a world where women and diverse characters take center stage.

If this sounds like your cup of tea, keep an eye out for updates over the coming months! Pre-orders will start in the fall. And if you’d like a sneak peek at the adventures of Melinda and Lance in the meantime, standalone stories are available at Amazon Vella (The first parts are free).

Mood board for MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER

I am so grateful to my family for providing early feedback and to my HWA colleagues and fellow writing colleagues for their support. The road to publishing can be a lonely one, paved with a billion or so rejections, so their guidance and encouragement is invaluable. 

Thank you for reading, and stay tuned!

Tribute to Anne Rice Anthology Now Available

I’m honored to be a part of DANCING IN THE SHADOWS, a tribute to one of my writing inspirations and favorite authors, Anne Rice. This anthology features dark and gothic stories inspired by her writings.

Edited by Elaine Pasca and Rebecca Rowland, all the proceeds from the anthology go Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO), an organization created and dedicated to the rescue and aid of abandoned and homeless animals in the New Orleans area.

My quiet horror story “Unrest,” is about a violent tragedy at the local cemetery that needs to be avenged.

Description from the publisher:

With her hauntingly beautiful reimagining of archetypal monsters from classic horror, Anne Rice was the undisputed queen of contemporary gothic literature. Her contribution to the movement first established by Shelley, Stoker, and Stevenson revitalized and continues to inspire dark fiction writers and readers. Dancing in the Shadows pays tribute to Rice’s legacy with tales from today’s most innovative authors, drawing from the darkness where vampires and witches, mummies and rougarous, spirits and demons move to the music of nightmares. 

Featuring stories by  C. W. Blackwell, Anthony S. Buoni, Holley Cornetto, Stephanie Ellis, Douglas Ford, Lee Andrew Forman, Holly Rae Garcia, KC Grifant, Greg Herren, Christine Lajewski, Tim Mendees, Scotty Milder, Kristi Petersen Schoonover, E. F. Schraeder, Angela Yuriko Smith, Morgan Sylvia, Lamont A. Turner, Gordon B. White, and Trish Wilson ; edited by Elaine Pascale and Rebecca Rowland

100% PROCEEDS BENEFIT ANIMAL RESCUE NEW ORLEANS

Read early reviews here!

Purchase from the publisher, your favorite retailer or Amazon.

Story excerpts and more for CHROMOPHOBIA!

As the release date of the horror color-themed CHROMOPHOBIA anthology from Rooster Republic Press nears, art and story excerpts are now available, including a bit from my lake-house themed story, “The Color of Friendship.”

The editors write:

KC Grifant’s “The Color of Friendship” gives us major CREEPSHOW vibes, the kind of story that ought to be introduced by the Cryptkeeper, and we mean that as high praise. There have been a few otherworldly critters to show up in previous entries, but Grifant’s gnarly ode to fractured friendship is the first story to feel as though it could’ve been ripped out of the pages of an old EC horror comic. So, you want a monster? Well, here you go…

You can read an excerpt from “The Color of Friendship” here.

CHROMOPHOBIA is edited by Stoker Award-winning author and poet, Sara Tantlinger. You can pre-order the special hardcover edition of CHROMOPHOBIA HERE.

And if that teaser wasn’t enough, more story excerpts are linked below!

“Hei Xian (The Black Thread)”  by Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito

“Stygian Blue”  by Jo Kaplan

“Eat Your Colors”  by Sonora Taylor

“Nesting”  by Ali Seay

“Toxic Shock”  by Chelsea Pumpkins

“Achromatica”  by Pippa Bailey

“Hollow Bones” by Jess Koch

“The Gray’ by G.G. Silverman

“Red Light/Green Light”  by EV Knight

“Golden Hour”  by Kathryn E. McGee

“The Dyer and the Dressmakers” by Bindia Persaud

“The Copper Lady”  by Jaye Wells

“Gray Rock Method”  by Lauren C. Teffeau

“Double Happiness”  by Geneve Flynn

“Tangerine Sky”  by Red Lagoe

Weird Horror Short Story “Crab Man” in Cosmic Horror Monthly

My short horror story “Crab Man” is now available in the March 2022 issue of the delightful Cosmic Horror Monthly magazine.

“Crab Man” is a tale of a city courier who crosses the wrong cult. A writer instructor likened the first draft to the kind of fever dream you might have after eating expired gas station sushi. If that’s not an endorsement for a weird story, I don’t know what is!

Excerpt of Crab Man

To read more, purchase Cosmic Horror Monthly’s March 2022 issue here!

Free Cosmic Horror Story “The Circus King” in Typehouse Literary Magazine

My quiet cosmic horror story, “The Circus King,” is now available in Typehouse Literary Magazine issue 24, which you can download and read for free here (pdf) or purchase a paper copy here.

After a sentient circus captures Evelyn and turns her into the Circus King, she must find out how to access her memories and escape the psychic hold of the entity that rules the show.

Typehouse Literary Magazine is a writer- and artist-run literary journal based in Portland, Oregon and founded in 2013. Edited by Val Gryphin, they aim to offer a fresh, unique perspective of the human experience, with a focus on underrepresented voices.

Excerpt:

Read more in Typehouse Magazine issue 24!

MUSINGS OF THE MUSES anthology available for preorder

MUSINGS OF THE MUSES, an anthology of Greek myth-inspired stories from Brigids Gate Press, is now available for preorder!

My short story “The Serpent Queen” is a horror tale centered around a girl forced to make an impossible choice in an ancient, snake-centric ritual. This is a character that’s been in my head for a long time, inspired by many childhood summers exploring the ruins of Crete. I’m excited she’ll be out in the world soon! 

Description from the publisher:

Sing O Muse, of the rage of Medusa, cursed by gods and feared by men…

From the mists of time, and ages past,
The muses have gathered; hear now their songs.

A web of revenge spun ‘neath the moon;
A poet’s wife who breaks her bonds;
A warrior woman on a quest of honor;
A painful lesson for a treacherous heart;
A goddess and a mortal, bound together by the travails of motherhood.
And more.

Listen to the muses, as they sing aloud…HER story.

Musings of the Muses is an anthology of 65 stories and poems based on Greek myths. The stories and poems, like the myths themselves, cast long shadows of horror, fantasy, love, betrayal, vengeance, and redemption. This anthology revisits those old tales and presents them anew, from her point of view.

Sing O Muse, of the rage of Medusa, cursed by gods and feared by men…
From the mists of time, and ages past,
The muses have gathered; hear now their songs.

Hot SF/F/Horror Open Calls, Books & Memes of the Week 2/2/22

Welcome to my weekly roundup, where I scour the Twitterverse for trending SF/F/Horror writerly highlights of the week. For the Twitter version of this newsletter, please visit here.

Special Callout for Women in Horror (WiH) Month!

Happy #WomeninHorrorMonth — celebrating women in the genre, be they writers, reviewers, editors, publishers, movie makers, etc.

I'll add to this each day, but there are many more than 28. Follow, bookmark, either way, come on in… the women are dark and lovely. #WiHM pic.twitter.com/dTCzbBQrVR

— Kelli Owen (@kelliowen_) February 1, 2022

Hot Markets

Want to do a book of cemetery stories called Picnic in the Graveyard. 2000-4000 word stories, no reprints unless your first name is Clive. Never see $0.07/word, so we'll do that. Cemeterygatesmedia@gmail.com attach doc file. Deadline May 1 or until the graveyard is full.

— Cemetery Gates Media (@CemeteryGatesM) January 28, 2022

Hot Reads2021 Locus Recommended Reading List

Holy wow! It was so nice to wake up to this lovely list, which features work from lots of friends, 4 pieces from Nightmare, and mind-bogglingly enough, a novella by me.https://t.co/AjbincqBjm

— Wendy N. Wagner (@wnwagner) February 1, 2022

Happy people are enjoying the ARC’s of Slice of Paradise/Beach Bodies from @DarklitPress.
My story ‘The Scorching’ is included in the Beach Bodies volume, inspired by slasher and Italian giallo flicks. It’s a touch bonkers, like myself. Excited for people to read these books! pic.twitter.com/8fGiCBfJcP

— Leeroy Cross James (@ZombiLeeroy) February 1, 2022

@ericjguignard ANNOUNCING: I’m posting contributors, 1-a-day, to reveal the Table of Contents for +HORROR LIBRARY+ VOLUME 7 (coming 3/1/2022 from @DarkMoonBooks)! #HorrorLibrary

DAY 2 OF 30: @JoannaPary Jo Kaplan presents “Her. House.”

More here: https://t.co/CcbwQbXUfm https://t.co/QXbDrqgIiY5:07 AM – 26 Jan 2022

Issue 7 of Cossmass Infinities is available to pre-order.

Featuring stories by JL George, Kit Harding, Juliet Kemp, Jessica Lévai, Julio Angel Ortiz, Izzy Wasserstein, Katherine Westermann and Xauri'EL Zwaan.https://t.co/17Z8lv5uxg pic.twitter.com/JDM4WJljGL

— Cossmass Infinities SFF Magazine (@CossmassInfinit) December 2, 2021

Buzzworthy

This looks really cool https://t.co/uT32rMnzPd

— KC Grifant, Author (@KCGrifant) January 28, 2022

@TimeOutLondonSalt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, Colombia

This fully-functioning Roman Catholic church has been carved beneath 200 metres of salt, rock and minerals. The light filters through it magnificently, filling the chambers and tunnels with an almost neon-like haze of blues and purples https://t.co/2ReUdzfWsN

Author note: The postings in this list are not necessarily an endorsement, especially for books or submission calls. These are items that catch my eye and are added to my TBR list. If you have an item you’d like included, feel free to ping my on Twitter!

Read the full “Weekly Horror & SF/F Roundup” newsletter here or subscribe for weekly updates.

Hot SF/F/Horror Open Calls, Books & Memes of the Week 1/27/22

Welcome to my weekly roundup, where I scour the Twitterverse for trending SF/F/Horror writerly highlights of the week. For the Twitter version of this newsletter, please visit here.

Hot Markets@audreygidmancurrently open for subs

@3pennyreview 
@avelvetgiant 
@AliceandAtlas
@FlypaperLit 
@BearReview 
@Knights_Mag 
@OBR_LitJournal
@SmallOrangePoem
@HyacinthReview 
@_voidspace_zine 
@ScrawlPlaceSubmission Guidelines — Mythaxis Magazine Issue 28Pyre Magazine Submissions are officially open! #WritingCommunity#CallForSubmissions https://t.co/mw3EQdOuE2@HellBoundBooks Horror anthology submissions are open. 
#horror #horrorbooks #HorrorCommunity #amwriting #shortstories
https://t.co/4SkBy86GVB https://t.co/HPV1HktErZHot Reads Book Review: Family Solstice by Kate Maruyama
Kate Maruyama’s recently released horror novella, Family Solstice, is a fantastically terrifying read for anyone not only interested in reading more horror written by women but also stories concerning the evils of tradition, heritage, and avarice. During the warmer seasons, the Massey home is a place of friendship, safety, love, and family. Read more: www.kelpjournal.com@BrigidsGate Interested in reading some new gothic horror stories by women authors?
“A Quaint and Curious Volume of Gothic Tales” is coming January 31st.
23 powerful voices in dark fiction, carefully and passionately curated by @AlexWoodroe .
Available for preorder!
https://t.co/OsOfnMaARx@samkolesnik
Moonflowers and Nightshade has now met 100% of its funding goal! Thank you so, so much to everyone who shared and supported this project. If you still want to grab one of the preorder rewards or support the project, you can until the Kickstarter ends. 
https://t.co/gIc4XeZ6hG Holly Rae Garcia@HollyRaeGarciaOUT TODAY!

GENERATION X-ED, an anthology from and about the latchkey generation. Available now in audio, print, hardback, and ebook from @am_publishing and edited by Rebecca Rowland 

https://t.co/sR4gxd0VtO4:03 AM – 26 Jan 2022Hot Memes This was a fun one!

Author note: The postings in this list are not necessarily an endorsement, especially for books or submission calls. These are items that catch my eye and are added to my TBR list. If you have an item you’d like included, feel free to ping my on Twitter!

Read the full “Weekly Horror & SF/F Roundup” newsletter here or subscribe for weekly updates.

Color-themed horror anthology CHROMOPHOBIA available in Summer 2022

I’m excited to share that my mean girls/creature feature story, “The Color of Friendship,” will appear in the forthcoming CHROMOPHOBIA: A Strangehouse Anthology by Women in Horror from Rooster Republic Press.

Edited by Stoker-award winner Sara Tantlinger, CHROMOPHOBIA will include works by these amazing authors:

Frances Lu-Pai IppolitoJo KaplanSonora TaylorJ.B. LampingJaye WellsLillah LawsonGeneve FlynnAli SeayTiffany MorrisEV KnightPippa BaileyJess KochG.G. SilvermanChristine MakepeaceK.P. KulskiChrista WojciechowskiChelsea PumpkinsRed LagoeLauren C. TeffeauKathryn McGeeKC GrifantJacqueline WestBindia PersaudJeanne BushNu Yang

CHROMOPHOBIA: A Strangehouse Anthology by Women in Horror will be released in a limited hardcover in summer 2022 and trade paperback release is scheduled for Halloween 2022.

You can pre-order the limited hardcover HERE.