I have a new story in Issue #33 (April/Early Spring) of Stygian Lepus Magazine. This would be my third credit with them, third time gracing the journal’s pages these last few years. They are a monthly primarily focused on speculative fiction that is “beyond dark.” Even somewhat cosmic. This time around I have a tale which is one part religious horror, the other part medical horror. Think Robin Cook meets Ira Levin meets T.M. Wright (I used to know him 20+ years ago on a place called Shocklines). What happens when a doctor takes up residency in a rural hospital mysteriously funded by the local church? Who are these cardinals coming in the middle of the night with garbage bags, donning gold crosses? Why are there hundreds of pregnant women lined up outside the hospital’s emergency room all hours of the day? What’s going on in this medical facility? And what exactly is being born in the basement, which requires a special keycard to access? Check out my story in the latest issue of Stygian Lepus: “The Jesus Engine.”
Stygian Lepus Magazine – Issue #33
Available for Amazon Kindle (300+ page ebook) – and a MASSIVE paperback!
Edited to Add: I’m pleased to announce that, as of this website post, the print version of Stygian Lepus No. #33 has cracked the TOP 100 spot (in preorders, for April 8th 2026). At Number 29 in Psychological Horror. It’s a biggie. I do recommend checking it out.
Other New Entries: “Magazines”
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Happy New Year. I’m back with horror stories in some new anthologies. This time with a novelette, and published by the fine folks at Campfire Publishing. The name of the book is: After Dark, Volume #2. This is the second book in a series, and much of it is filled with novelettes and short novellas. There is quite the stable of literary talent here. My tale falls under the “historical vampire” category. It takes place in a POW camp in 1960s Vietnam. I’d been sitting on it for a while, but thanks to the editorial filter of publisher Aaron Crocker, it’s ready to see the light of day. It’s a big book, with stories running the gamut of 7500 to 20,000 words in length. Read Campfire Publishing’s latest anthology, After Dark, Volume #2. And my new story for 2026: “The Code of Conduct.” I’ll provide book pics and clickable links below. There’s also a Hugo/Nebula nominee in here, and a Star Trek writer.
Campfire Publishing presents…
AFTER DARK, Volume. #2 – Edited by Aaron Crocker
Featuring new Dagstine novelette:“The Code of Conduct”
Sample it out on Amazon – Available in Kindle AND print formats
Edited to Add: I am pleased to announce that, pre-order wise, After Dark Volume #2 is breaking Amazon Sales numbers. It’s moving up the algorithm in sales. The release date is January 27th for the ebook, February for big-and-thick print if physical media is your thing.
Other New Entries:“Books & Anthos” and “Digital Credits”
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I’m in yet another horror anthology. They just keep flooding in. It’s available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook formats. The best of all worlds. This time from the fine folks at Savage Realms Press. They are known for their dark fiction anthologies that go all the way up to 500 pages in length. But that’s not all. They produce captivating gamebooks too. How awesome is that! Small press is hot right now, and you should check out Savage Realms’ latest production: Necro-Sapiens. It’s the third book in a series. I’m in it, along with some familiar names in horror: Bram Stoker nominee James Dorr, Troy Anthony Schermer, Matthew Hollis Damon, Angelique Fawns. The list goes on. My story this time around could best be described as one part cosmic horror, the other part dark fantasy. What happens when you take a highway accident, a creepy little girl with a balloon, and throw a distraught clown into the mix? You get my story, “Whatever Your Heart Desires.” I’ll leave all pictures and links down below.
Savage Realms Press presents: NECRO-SAPIENS (Anthologies of Horror Series)
Featuring new Dagstine story:“Whatever Your Heart Desires”
SAVAGE REALMS PRESS MAIN WEBSITE – (click link, be redirected):
**Necro-Sapiens is on Amazon Kindle, in paperback, and audiobook**
I’m thrilled to share that, as of this post, Necro-Sapiens has officially broken into the TOP 100 on Amazon Kindle! This marks the third anthology featuring one of my stories in just the past few weeks to hit the TOP 100 in its category.
DESCRIPTION FROM AMAZON:From Savage Realms Press comes a truly unsettling assortment of tales about the undead guaranteed to haunt your dreams and stalk your waking hours!
A detective investigates the mysterious disappearance of a university professor
A sheriff and a pie-loving redneck must team up to end a string of gruesome murders
A professional thief is hired to recover the stolen urn of a dead rock star
Love is in the air with a modern day mummy romance
and many more
Necro-Sapiens features 23 delightfully dreadful stories of the macabre from authors Amanda M. Blake, Mark Silcox, K.M. Parker, Marie Lanza, Matthew Hollis Damon, M. Legree, Kevin Beckett, Angelique Fawns, Harding McFadden, Lawrence Dagstine, Arindam Kalita, Gordon Grice, TroyAnthony Schermer, Paul O’Neill, Rich Restucci, R.L. Blackburne, Jordan King-Lacroix, James Dorr, Shane Simmons, Jake McCormac, LJ Jacobs, and John A. DeLaughter.
Other New Entries:“Books & Anthos” and “Digital Credits”
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“description”: “A dark macabre horror short story featured in the Necro-Sapiens collection.”,
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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):
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”
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For my next new short story, I’m appearing once again in Stygian Lepus. What started out as a subscriber-based webzine two-three years ago is now a beautifully illustrated (big-and-tall!) print magazine with a Kindle version next to it. But I recommend the print. This would be the second time I’ve appeared in Stygian Lepus. I come this time with a horror tale of unspeakable cannibalism and ritual. The hungry sort of rituals that only happens in small towns with the creepiest characters, and only on one day of the week when the sun goes down. Tuesdays. But what kind of feeding takes place in the town of Canaan Hollow? Why Tuesdays, and what does it mean for the residents there? Find out in my new, extreme horror story: “The Hungriest Tuesday.” Now. In Stygian Lepus #26. All links below.
Stygian Lepus Magazine, Edition #26 – Summer 2025
Available in Big-and-Tall Print, Kindle (ebook), or in a Webzine format.
Featuring new Dagstine story:“The Hungriest Tuesday”
Stygian Lepus Main Homepage/Back Issues (click link, be redirected):
Pleased to announce I have a story in the latest horror-themed offering from the fine folks at Wicked Shadow Press. This one is an “animal” and “pet”-themed anthology of thrills and chills. Think rabid werewolves, dogs, cats, lions, tigers and bears (oh my!). Or even paranormal pets such as ghosts, poltergeists, and imps. Anything goes so long as it fits somewhere into the theme. Hence the very clever title, PETTING BOO! Zoological Anthology of Horror. I’m sharing a TOC with some talented names again too such as Don Money, Joshua Vise, J. Rocky Colavito, Chad Anctil, and Lavern Spencer McCarthy. Edited by Parth Sarathi Chakraborty, available in India and the United States. I’ll put all pictures and links in their usual places. It’s a beauty of a cover. And I’ll be seeing you on the next one.
PETTING BOO! An Anthology of Zoological Horror
Published by Wicked Shadow Press – Edited by Parth Sarathi Chakraborty
Where to order in the United States or India (click links below):
In “Petting Boo!”, thirty-six stories prowl the razor’s edge between wildlife and the wyrd. This isn’t your standard ghost story collection—it’s a zoological nightmare where every growl might be a spectral warning and every wicked shadow could conceal something that was never truly alive.
The tales featured in this anthology, from a troupe of worldwide authors consisting of both emerging and seasoned storytellers, reimagine supernatural horror through claws, fangs, and fur. Edited by Parth Sarathi Chakraborty and published by Wicked Shadow Press, “Petting Boo!” transforms the animal kingdom into a twilight realm where the living and dead play a terrifying game of predator and prey.
I have a reprint in the next one (all for a great cause). It’s big. It’s got a stellar lineup of short story writers. Good God, it’s close to 600 pages in length. It’s available for your Amazon Kindle or in a thick juicy paperback. The book is for a wonderful cause, and is put out by Kasey Hill and the fine folks at Dark Moon Rising Publications. It’s called The Devil’s Playground, and it’s a charity anthology for drug addiction. All proceeds go out to help people who are addicted to drugs, or who have lost loved ones to overdoses. This one really hits home too. My story is actually themed around addiction (and vampires). What an ensemble: Rhys Hughes, Lindsey Goddard, Suzie Lockhart, John Claude Smith, J. Rocky Colavito (who I’ve shared multiple TOCs with in the past). Over 60 authors. A lot of love went into making this. If you’re a fan of big beautiful horror books and good causes this one is a no-brainer. I’ll leave all the pics and details down below.
The Devil’s Playground: Horror Charity Anthology for Drug Addiction
Over 60 Authors – Published by Dark Moon Rising Publications
Featuring Lawrence Dagstine reprint:“Geraldine’s Addiction”
Get it on Amazon (click below):
Talk and inspiration regarding THE DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND on YouTube:
At first I wasn’t sure about this new print publication which combines the best of four or five worlds for writers of speculative fiction and horror. I’ll admit, I was a little sketchy. So I had sent them a reprint. The magazine is called 7th Dimension Magazine, and they pay… Well, $7.00 for fiction. They had advertised a few times on Shocklines.
Second Issue Fiction by: Ahmed Khan, Ken Goldman, Derek Muk, Karen L. Newman, and yours truly, Lawrence R. Dagstine.
So we know already that they’ve featured a few familiar Small Press names.
Now the other component, which consists of a marketplace, free advertising and plugs for professional authors and writers pretty much already out there or getting out there, publicity at no cost whatsoever, banner and book trades and interviews would be… HORROR WATCH!
Now I don’t know who Rufus is, mind you (see the second banner)… But any magazine or website that gives back to the horror genre or promotes it and its authors with free exposure deserves a plug from me and much respect. Good luck with it. 😉
Lawrence Dagstine: Author 
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