Category Archives: Book Events

No Exit: A Collection of Utah Horror – Timber Ghost Press

I’m thrilled to announce that I have a stunner of a horror story featured in the new regional-based anthology from Timber Ghost Press, NO EXIT – A Collection of Utah Horror. Every story in this hefty volume either takes place in Utah or is penned by Utah-based authors. The book is one of my top recommendations for 2025. Not just for the quality of the collection, but because it includes the first horror piece I’ve ever had accepted that’s written in second-person POV. I chose this narrative style deliberately, to put you—the reader—directly in the shoes of the protagonist: a cannibalistic girl who has inherited a horrific trait from her deceased father. I’d even go so far as to say this is one of the three best horror stories I’ve ever written—right up there with Thursday’s Children and The Paraplegic. The book promises to deliver endless nightmares and features a talented lineup of short story writers. Timber Ghost Press, though relatively new, is a publisher worth checking out. It’s run by the very talented C.R. Langille. The name of my creepy tale: “Inherited.” Pictures and links below.

NO EXIT – A Collection of Utah Horror

Published by Timber Ghost Press – Edited by C.R. Langille

Featuring new Dagstine story: “Inherited”

TABLE OF CONTENTS/FEATURE AUTHORS:

Timber Ghost Press Main Website – (all links, click, and be redirected):

https://www.timberghostpress.com/#/

Link for NO EXIT – A Collection of Utah Horror:

https://www.timberghostpress.com/store/c5/Preorders.html#/

***SAMPLE THE BOOK ON AMAZON – In Ebook or Print Paperback***

Timber Ghost Press on Facebook (socials):

https://www.facebook.com/TimberGhostPress

Timber Ghost Press on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/timber_ghost_press/

Edited to Add: I’m pleased to announce that NO EXIT (the paperback) has hit Number One in American Horror. Kudos to everybody who picked up a copy. Much love.

Other New Entries: “Books & Anthos” and “Digital Credits”

Altitude Press: “WHATEVER!” – A Generation X Flash Fiction Anthology

I’m pleased to announce I have a 2000-word piece set during the time of the original Star Wars trilogy in the latest release from Altitude Press: “Whatever – A Generation X Flash Anthology” Most of the stories in the book run the gamut of 1000 to 1500 words in length, with mine probably being the longest of them all. Edited by Nicole McInnes, this would be my second time published by Altitude Press (I was in a themed anthology of theirs a year ago, centered around dogs). There are 22 authors in all, many nationalities, from all over the world. And each of them have experienced Gen-X in some way that is nostalgic (those, at least, born between 1965 to 1980). Whether it’s staying out all night till the break of dawn. Maybe watching MTV. Being alive when Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan were president. Or realizing the very real threat of a Third World War. For me, it was going to the cinema at a young age and watching Luke Skywalker fight Darth Vader. Check out my story, “Movie Night.”

Whatever: A Generation X Flash Fiction Anthology

Published by Altitude Press – Edited by Nicole McInnes

Featuring Dagstine story: “Movie Night”

***Available on Amazon Kindle and SOON in print paperback format***

I’m also pleased to announce that, as of the writing of this post, WHATEVER! has broken the TOP 100 for fiction anthologies on Amazon Kindle…

Other New Entries: “Books & Anthos” and “Digital Credits”

TIME TRAVEL ANTHOLOGIES: “The Trouble with Time” – Three Cousins Publishing

It is with pleasure to announce that here starts a busy couple of weeks, as I have a lot of new material coming out in the “speculative fiction” genre. Books and anthologies in hardcover, paperback, and either Epub or Kindle formats. In the case of the book below, an upcoming audiobook. All these short stories are brand new, never published. From West Mesa Press, via Three Cousins Publishing, comes an anthology on time travel and the troubles or dilemmas that go with it. The Trouble with Time. Edited by Robert Allen Lupton, and it lands at a whopping 316 pages. The cover art is by Mark McConnell. For this book, think of stories related to The Butterfly Effect or Looper. That theme. And read my new story, “Past and Present Company Excepted!”

The Trouble with Time Anthology – Edited by Robert Lupton

Featuring Dagstine Story: “Past and Present Company Excepted”

Details from Amazon (copy-pasted):

Everyone at one time or another has wished that they could go back in time and change something. Perhaps to prevent a world tragedy, kill a despot, or tell an ancestor not to drive to town on a certain day. Perhaps the journey backward would be to obtain foreknowledge about the lottery, the presidential election, the stock market, or even the World Series. The reasons to wish for time travel are legion, but if the truth be told, if we could go back in time, the first thing most of us would do would be to punch our younger selves square in the face.

Changing time can have unexpected and dire results. Think “The Butterfly Effect,” or “A Sound of Thunder.” The scales have to balance. Good intentions often have unintended consequences and even the most benign attempts to intervene are likely to make things worse, far worse.

Twenty-two stories about time travel by talented writers from around the world, each of whom fearlessly explores the dangers and joys of time travel uniquely. Come along for the ride. There’s plenty of time – or is there?

West Mesa Press Official Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/p/West-Mesa-Press-100054216802897/

I’ll file this under Books and Anthologies.

Other New Entries: “Books & Anthos”

Days of the Dead Horror Convention: “The Nightmare Cycle” – Dark Owl Publishing

It’s with pleasure to announce that small press Dark Owl Publishing and my 2023 book, The Nightmare Cycle, will be coming to ‘DAYS OF THE DEAD Horror Convention.‘ Dark Owl Publishing will be an official vendor, they will have a booth, and it will be in Phoenix, Arizona on the following days: June 28th thru June 30th 2024 at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel. You can book flights and hotel reservations now, it’s going to be a major event. A lot of dealer tables, and a lot of actors and actresses and authors and horror artists. Such famous names as Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange), Michael Ironside (Starship Troopers), Heather Langenkamp (Nightmare on Elm Street), Michael Biehn (Aliens & Terminator), and so many more! Including, to my knowledge, the cast of George Romero’s 1968 Night of the Living Dead. There will be autograph opportunities, cosplays, contests, you name it! Just click the links below for the guest list so far.

DAYS OF THE DEAD – Major HORROR Convention:

June 28th to June 30th 2024 – Sheraton Phoenix Downtown

LINK 1: http://www.daysofthedead.com

LINK 2: https://www.daysofthedead.com/phoenix/

Vendor/Publisher: Dark Owl Publishing

Copies on hand of The Nightmare Cycle by Lawrence Dagstine

I’ll also be appearing around that time period in an anthology with a brand new, lengthy tale of cosmic horror set during the golden age of piracy. Will keep you all updated.

New Entries: “Conventions”

Book Tours/Book Events: “The Nightmare Cycle” by Lawrence Dagstine – (and OTHER Dark Owl authors and surprise guests)

Chugging right along on the 2023 to 24 Nightmare Cycle Book Tour and Book Event calendar sponsored by Dark Owl Publishing comes the following spooky extravaganza by Arizona’s Number One horror specialty retailer, Terror Trader. With their annual Gathering of the Ghouls event. Held at the Mesa Convention Center. I believe this might be the first (of hopefully many) GOTG events. There will be food, books, authors, artists, horror movies, actors and actresses, pinbacks, funko pops, figures, and other awesome collectibles, and most likely some cosplay and a dress-up contest as well.

GATHERING OF THE GHOULS

TERROR TRADER’S ANNUAL HORROR PARTY

Order tickets through Eventbrite HERE: https://terrortrader.com/ghouls-home

Publisher’s Website:

https://www.darkowlpublishing.com/

Convention Calendar and Miscellaneous Schedule:

https://www.darkowlpublishing.com/our-schedule

The horror convention and book event schedule is updated pretty regularly. Say, every two months about. And not only will it feature The Nightmare Cycle by myself, but there will be other fiction books featuring dark stories of mine within their pages (also known as anthologies), and a talented stable of authors you should check out. I put pictures of some of the other books I’m in that will be at Gathering of the Ghouls right below.

OTHER BOOKS FEATURING LAWRENCE DAGSTINE

AVAILABLE AT GATHERING OF THE GHOULS

All this and more at the Dark Owl Publishing booth, Gathering of the Ghouls, and the Mesa Convention Center on August 26th to the 27th 2023.

Cheers.