Gypsum Sound Tales: “Thuggish Itch – BEAR!” – Themed Publications

For my next publication I’m appearing in a literary book series/journal series based out of Sydney, Australia. They are themed. In past editions they covered such story themes as Las Vegas, Amusement Parks, Devils, and Birds Have Teeth. What they mean is stories set in or around those subjects. So long as the story is speculative in nature, too. The theme this time is bears. From Gypsum Sound Tales Down Under comes THUGGISH ITCH – BEAR. I will leave links below, where to order and read a copy. My story is about a relic hunter and a mystical bear. It takes place post-World War 2. Oh yeah, and the Nazis are in it. If you’re into Indiana Jones-type fare, this lengthy tale might be up your alley. Read: “Bear of the Hidden Monastery.”

GYPSUM SOUND TALES in Australia presents…

Thuggish Itch: BEAR – Anthology Collection Series

Featuring Dagstine novelette: “Bear of the Hidden Monastery”

SAMPLE OR BUY ON AMAZON (on Kindle and in paperback):

WHERE TO BUY THUGGISH ITCH BOOK SERIES:

https://www.gypsumsoundtales.com/thuggish-itch.php

GYPSUM SOUND TALES MAIN WEBPAGE:

https://www.gypsumsoundtales.com

DETAILS ABOUT THUGGISH ITCH BEAR (copy-pasted from Amazon): “In Thuggish Itch: Bear, every story begins with one simple requirement: somewhere in there, there has to be a bear. From ordinary situations that gradually become unsettling to encounters that veer into horror, science fiction and somewhere in between, these stories explore what happens when something familiar suddenly changes the rules. Sometimes the bear is recognisably a bear. Sometimes it becomes something else entirely. And sometimes the bear is barely the problem at all. Dark, strange and often funny, this collection is filled with people trying to deal with impossible situations while still worrying about work, cars, relationships and the ordinary mechanics of everyday life. Because when reality starts to come apart, your first thought probably won’t be profound. It will be something more like: What the hell is that? Welcome to Thuggish Itch: Bear, where sometimes the bear is the least of your worries.“

Other New Entries: “Books & Anthos”

Wicked Shadow Press: “ACT OF GOD” – Natural Disaster Horror Anthology!

Been a few months but I’m back at Wicked Shadow Press with a 2000-word short story, and sharing a table of contents with an all-too-familiar lineup. This time in Act of God. This is an anthology of “natural disaster”-themed horror stories. Whether it’s a plague of locusts, a flash flood that drowns millions, a hurricane that wreaks havoc, a tsunami that leaves devastation in its wake, or an earthquake or volcanic eruption that leaves millions dead, there is sure to be thrills and chills nearby. It’s a regular Irwin Allen movie this time around. My story is told from the perspective of a young child during the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. But is this kid telling his tale while he’s alive, dying, or already dead? Find out in my earthquake story: “Beneath the Rubble.”

Wicked Shadow Press presents… ACT OF GOD Anthology

Edited by Rasiika Sen & Parth Sarathi Chakraborty

Featuring new Dagstine story: “Beneath the Rubble”

Available in USA and INDIA/ASIA

WHERE TO ORDER THIS DISASTROUS AND SCARY BOOK (links below):


ACT OF GOD paperback:https://www.lulu.com/shop/rasiika-sen-and-parth-sarathi-chakraborty/act-of-god/paperback/product-95vw9wr.html

ACT OF GOD eBook: https://www.lulu.com/shop/rasiika-sen-and-parth-sarathi-chakraborty/act-of-god/ebook/product-je86y74.html

WICKED SHADOW PRESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA (click below, be redirected):

Wicked Shadow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wickedshadowpress

Wicked Shadow on Instagram: https://instagram.com/wickedshadowpress

WICKED SHADOW PRESS NEW HEADQUARTERS/WEBSITE:

https://wickedshadowpress.induswords.in

More books with Dagstine stories coming this fall. So be sure to follow!

Other New Entries: “Books & Anthos”

ANTHOLOGIES: “Not Your Grandma’s Fairy Tales” – Three Cousins Publishing!

I’m back with Three Cousins Publishing (in conjunction with editors Robert Lupton, Carol McConnell, and West Mesa Press). And for a fourth time in five years. I was invited to submit a short story to their “speculative fiction & horror” mashup anthology, “Not Your Grandma’s Fairy Tales.” This year’s theme is Mother Goose and Grimm’s fairy tales RETOLD. Think Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Hansel and Gretel. But the stories are remanufactured and told from outside the box. My story is about Prince Charming, returning from the underworld after a horrible car accident. He comes back in a zombified sort of way. And he has some recompense for his former lover. Check out my story in this latest fairy tale retold anthology: “Skin like Snow, Breath like Earth.” On Amazon AND Lulu, just scroll down.

Not Your Grandma’s Fairy Tales – Published by Three Cousins Publishing

Edited by Robert Lupton w. Carol McConnell

Featuring Dagstine story: “Skin like Snow, Breath like Earth”

WHERE TO ORDER THE BOOK (Amazon Kindle and paperback):

BUY IT ON LULU (different options available):

LULU PAPERBACK – 357 PAGES: https://www.lulu.com/shop/david-l-morris-and-carol-mcconnell-and-robert-allen-lupton-and-campbell-blaine/not-your-grandmas-fairy-tales/paperback/product-kv45786.html?q=not+your+grandma%27s+fairy+tales&page=1&pageSize=4

LULU EBOOK – EPUB $2.99: https://www.lulu.com/shop/david-l-morris-and-robert-allen-lupton-and-carol-mcconnell-and-campbell-blaine/not-your-grandmas-fairy-tales/ebook/product-m2vzdmp.html?q=not+your+grandma%27s+fairy+tales&page=1&pageSize=4

Other New Entries: “Books & Anthos”

The Gathering: A Curated Collection Brought to You by Hollowpoint Press – LITERARY ANTHOLOGIES!

I forgot to advertise this book a while back. Just been so busy. Hollowpoint Press put out a curated literary anthology, which you can purchase right now on Amazon in print and Kindle formats, chock full of speculative fiction, mostly less than 2000 words in length. Great presentation. I think the press is Canada-based. What started as a contest (grand prize winner gets $100, and there’s a second and third place cash prize), became this big book with over forty-one authors making up the table of contents. My story, a flash fiction piece, almost made it into the top three winners for a cash prize. But they loved my tale so much they insisted on including it. It’s a futuristic story set in Dubai in a few decades from now, where forbidden afterlife science has been achieved and “you too” can live forever, staring down at your loved ones from the clouds. But is there more to this afterlife science the Saudis are offering than meets the eye? Read my flash fiction piece: “Long After the Surface.” I’ll leave any pictures, adverts, or links down below.

Added: Hollowpoint Press will also interview me in the next two, three weeks and post it on their website. When the time comes, you can find that interview here (click link right below, in just a few weeks): https://www.hollowpointpress.ca/portfolio

Hollowpoint Press presents…

The Gathering: A Curated Collection – featuring 41 Authors

Featuring new Dagstine story: “Long After the Surface”

SAMPLE OR BUY THE BOOK ON AMAZON:

HOLLOWPOINT PRESS MAIN WEBPAGE (and masthead):

https://www.hollowpointpress.ca

HOLLOWPOINT PRESS INTERVIEWS LAWRENCE DAGSTINE (coming soon):

https://www.hollowpointpress.ca/portfolio

Other New Entries: “Books & Anthos”

Tales from the Crosstimbers, Fall 2026 – Magazine Appearances!

I have a brand new horror and dark romance story (usually referred to as ‘Horror-Mance’ these days) in the Fall 2026 issue of the semi-professional speculative fiction magazine, Tales from the Crosstimbers. Edited by Max Griffin on a quarterly basis, it is available online in print and ebook formats. You can get it on Amazon Kindle. Every issue features ten authors. Just like in my last website entry (Frost Zone Stories, Book #4), we’re visiting NYC again for horror depicted in the 1970s. A little bit of the historical, a little bit of the weird, and a whole lot of the nostalgic. What happens when a middle-aged man meets a woman with a mysterious past in a renowned bookstore? What happens when they begin to date seriously, engage in a love affair where immortality is offered openhandedly? Will this man accept her gift? Or will he turn it down at a cost without realizing it? Find out in my story: “The Woman Who Offered Immortality.” As always, any pictures and links we’ll be below. In the coming year you will see a lot more ‘Horror-Mance’ coming from me, as dark romance (or other romantasy) seem to be selling quite well these days in the world of literature.

Tales from the Crosstimbers – Fall 2026 Issue

Featuring new Dagstine story: “The Woman Who Offered Immortality”

BACK COVER w. TABLE OF CONTENTS (in order):

SAMPLE OR BUY THE ISSUE ON AMAZON:

MAIN WEBSITE – SUBMISSION GUIDELINES – MASTHEAD:

https://www.thecrosstimbers.net

Other New Entries: “Magazines” and “Digital Credits”

{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “Book”, “name”: “Tales from the Crosstimbers: Fall 2026”, “editor”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Max Griffin”, “url”: “https://thecrosstimbers.net” }, “publisher”: { “@type”: “Organization”, “name”: “Tales From The Crosstimbers”, “url”: “https://thecrosstimbers.net” }, “datePublished”: “2026”, “bookFormat”: [ “https://schema.org” ], “genre”: [ “Horror”, “Science Fiction”, “Speculative Fiction”, “Anthology” ], “description”: “The Fall 2026 edition of Tales from the Crosstimbers, a quarterly showcase of dark twisty speculative fiction, horror, and science fiction.”, “hasPart”: { “@type”: “ShortStory”, “name”: “The Woman Who Offered Immortality”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Lawrence Dagstine”, “url”: “https://lawrencedagstine.com” }, “description”: “A dark speculative short story featured in the Fall 2026 edition of Tales from the Crosstimbers.”, “genre”: “Speculative Fiction / Dark Fiction” } }