Pleased to announce I have a new novelette of gothic horror (a period piece) in the latest Wicked Shadow Press anthology, Pocket Full of Posies – Shadow Children! This is children’s horror, so it is themed. Think adolescent monsters. Think kid vampires. Think werewolf cubs. Think zombie teenagers. This anthology is all about horrific minors, and they’re not to be trifled with. There are actually three books in the Pocket Full of Posies series. The other anthologies are “Paper Tombs” and “Silent Cradle.” I’m in Shadow Children, so remember that. My story takes place in a monster hospital with nuns (and there’s more to this hospital than meets the eye). Read my lengthy tale, “The Nursery Floor.” Pictures and links to everything will be down below, as always.
Pocket Full of Posies – Shadow Children Anthology
Published by Wicked Shadow Press – Edited by Parth Sarathi Chakraborty
Featuring Dagstine story:“The Nursery Floor”
Featuring work by Armand Rosamilia, Chad Anctil, Donovan Douglas Thiesson, MORE!
Where to order Pocket Full of Posies Shadow Children
Available in USA and India – Click links, be redirected:
For my next anthology appearance it’s a flash fiction piece. A cyberpunk vampire tale. Something I’ve never done before, melding the two tropes. And it comes to Wicked Shadow Press’s latest offering, which has become somewhat of an annual thing (perhaps even celebratory): ‘Flash of the Dead – Reloaded!‘ I’ve been in about three or four of these Flash of the Dead-themed horror books the past four years. The tales are not half that bad. Wicked Shadow Press produces very beautiful books, books that have actually assisted me in nabbing other writing-related opportunities I wouldn’t normally get at my age (freelance stuff, non-genre related). People in India read them. Yes, India loves their horror just like we do here in the States. Flash fiction are bite-sized stories. They usually run between 500 to 1500 words in length, and they are considered quick reads. You can digest them in the time it takes you to get from one location to the next, say, on your daily commute to work. Anyway, without further ado, my 1400-word cyberpunk vampire tale: “The Lurker Code.”
Flash of the Dead RELOADED! – published by Wicked Shadow Press
Edited by Parth Sarathi Chakraborty
Featuring Dagstine flash piece:“The Lurker Code”
Where to order Flash of the Dead Reloaded (click links, be redirected):
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:
Pleased to announce I have an obscure vampire tale in the third entry in the Zombie Works Publications anthology series, Monsterthology 3. Headed and edited by David Montoya and Stephanie J. Bardy, this book visits some original fare in correlation to the Famous Monsters of Filmland. Think waking up to the horror of Bela Lugosi on Saturday Mornings in the 1950s, or Lon Chaney as the Wolfman, or Boris Karloff as Frankenstein’s Monster, and fiction which runs in a similar vein. I was supposed to update my website a while ago, but I’ve just been so busy with editing and the holidays being just around the bend. I will post photos and links down below, and any other relevant info. It is available on Amazon in paperback format or for your Kindle. Some familiar names I share the TOC with this time around include Justin Alcala, Alan Russo, Dawn DeBraal, Liam Hogan, and I believe Gary Every is in it as well. Get your copy today.
MONSTERTHOLOGY 3 – Zombie Works Publications
Published and Edited by David Montoya & Stephanie J. Bardy
Available through Amazon HERE (sample below):
It did reach the TOP 100 in Horror Anthologies in its debut week. Here is some more info, copied and pasted from Amazon…
“Step into the shadows of this chilling anthology where the monsters that terrified generations rise once again. Monsterthology 3 gathers the Legends of Fear—the iconic Universal Monsters you thought you knew—and unleashes them in ways you’ve never imagined. From the eerie depths of Dracula’s curse to the moonlit rampages of the Wolfman, each story reimagines and expands the terrifying legacy of the creatures that defined horror.
In this gripping collection, renowned and emerging authors breathe new life into the classics. The Mummy’s curse is darker, Frankenstein’s creation more twisted, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon surfaces with deadly vengeance. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of the original Universal Monsters or a newcomer to their terror, Monsterthology 3 will chill you to your core.The Monsters are back—and they’re more horrifying than ever!”
I’m pleased to announce that Farthest Star Publishing has acquired the rights to my vampire novelette, The Paraplegic. The Paraplegic started out as a self-published ebook and went on to see several printings, including Serial Magazine. Making the front cover years ago. Farthest Star now holds reprint rights to my tale of one man becoming paralyzed from the waist down, coping with this new way of life, and a handful of ghastly beings visiting him in the middle of the night. Read my novelette The Paraplegic now, in 2024, direct from Farthest Star. Pictures and links below.
THE PARAPLEGIC – VAMPIRE NOVELETTE
by Lawrence Dagstine – Published 2024 by Farthest Star Publishing
"Herbert Holtzman’s life takes a drastic turn after a horrific incident leaves him paralyzed from the waist down. Struggling to come to terms with his new reality, Herbert finds himself grappling not only with physical pain but also with existential questions about his identity and purpose. As he lies in the hospital bed, tethered to tubes and machines, Herbert's mind is consumed by a whirlwind of emotions - fear, anger, and despair. But amidst the darkness, a sinister presence lurks, a vampire who sees in Herbert an opportunity for a twisted experiment.
Herbert's journey is one of resistance and acceptance, as he battles against both his physical limitations and the insidious influence of his vampire captor. With each passing day, he grapples with the conflicting desires within him - the longing for his old life, and the seductive allure of immortality and power. As Herbert navigates the treacherous terrain of his new existence, he encounters allies and adversaries alike, each with their own agendas and motivations. From the compassionate nurses who tend to his physical needs to the enigmatic doctor who holds the key to his fate, Herbert must navigate a labyrinth of intrigue and betrayal.
But ultimately, “The Paraplegic” is a story of resilience and redemption, as Herbert discovers that true strength lies not in the body, but in the spirit. With courage and determination, he embraces his newfound identity, forging a path forward in a world where the lines between humanity and monstrosity are blurred."
My latest short story appearance comes to a “cursed book.” Not just one volume, but two… I’m in the first. Book One is where my story can be found, but I recommend both. I will supply pictures and info below, as well as little book photos to the right-hand side. Culture Cult Press (imprint of Pulp Cult) presents: “An Ancient Curse.” – An anthology featuring stories about ancient curses. My tale, as I said, is in Volume One, and it is a different kind of story about vampires and vampiric curses. If you enjoy horror stories involving strange phenomena, horror, and curses turned into fiction form, why not check it out? My story is, “The Curse of San Guadeloupe.” – 220 pages, available in paperback. Direct links at the bottom of this post.
An Ancient Curse – Anthology of Ancient Curse Stories
Edited by Jay Chakravarti – Culture Cult/Pulp Cult Press
VOLUME ONE CONTENT:
MALEDICTUS by Andre Schuck
SHETANI by J. Agombar
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL, AND THE DEVIL APPEARS by Frederick Pangbourne
SÉANCE AT PATHARUGHAT by Arun Hariharan
ELISA by Fariel Shafee
BRING OUT THE DEAD by Gina Easton
MALEDICTIO ANTIQUA by Fernando E. Silva
BURIED by Josh Poole
KITAB AL-EANAKIB by Dwain Campbell
AT THE ALTAR by Dibyasree Nandy
THE BLACK VALLEY by David Crerand
STITCHED by Ashley Cooke
SEA HAGS OF EL CALEUCHE by Maggie D Brace
THE CURSE OF SAN GUADELOUPE by Lawrence Dagstine
A CURIOUS CASE OF COLONIAL CANNIBALISM by Con Chapman
So today is here. Today is the day of my third official story collection: THE NIGHTMARE CYCLE, from Dark Owl Publishing. It is available in print and digital formats (Paperback and on Amazon Kindle). And as the year goes on, straight thru 2024, will be available at book fairs, from various literary vendors, horror and comic-themed conventions, the odd novelty or specialty store, or wherever other fine horror books or goods are sold. I will keep you updated on this website. The spooky fun starts in Arizona first and New York second.
A short story collection is a book of tales by one single author, where an anthology is a book of stories usually centered around a theme from not one but many authors, from many different states or countries or diverse backgrounds. The Nightmare Cycle was an idea for a book that came to me one day in a dream (go figure), but is not about being in a dream. It gets its title from every single story being “A Nightmarish Scenario,” one warped tale leading into the next (the theme of cycling and unending), and then the one thereafter. There is no finality. Just horrific circumstance after circumstance. Undulated terror. Beginning, middle, end. Think Rod Serling’s The Night Gallery, but modern day, my take.
THE NIGHTMARE CYCLE by Lawrence Dagstine
From Dark Owl Publishing – NOW AVAILABLE worldwide
You have mostly new stories between the pages, but you have some obscure offerings as well. Tales from my humble beginnings as a horror author. The 2000s era. There are stories like Thursday’s Children. Imagine pitting zombie youth against each other the same way people hold backroom cockfights for money. The Adopted, where werewolf adoption in Southeast Asia is more complex than you think. Human Transfer, a very dark and dystopic tale of population control, and betrayal by the people you thought you knew and trusted most.
There are Dark Owl exclusives, tales which are theirs and theirs only, such as The Thing about Eden. Imagine Mars in the future where life under one dark leadership only becomes concerning, overbearing, and darker with the next. The Acrylic Man, about a painter of spectral portraits who captures his love interests with not just grace but permanence. The Show Must Go On, a story about a sharpshooting djinn and her western travels, but also her wretched past.
You have new offerings such as Princely Homecoming, a unique take on Snow White, who longs for her long dead prince. There is Pet, a tale set during the backdrop of the Nixon era, which puts a twist on just “who” or “what” constitutes man’s best friend. Genetically speaking, of course. There is Our Family Awaits, a witch’s tale unlike any other, about foster care and deep dark secrets. This is one which will have you clutching the blankets. And there is so much more; there’s even a novelette within The Nightmare Cycle’s pages.
AMAZON KINDLE “EBOOK” VERSION:
(Sample a few pages below, or shoot for the paperback version)
Here’s the horror convention calendar for Dark Owl Publishing and The Nightmare Cycle. This calendar will obviously grow. I will be away in July (after the 4th), but I will have my netbook with me, keep in touch via social media. Dark Owl will also have some of their horror wares and anthologies available from a talented stable of other authors as well, so be sure to keep tuning in to this link below:
Oh, by the way, the fabulous cover art was done by Fernando JFL (Giotefeli), who is a professional horror illustrator and death metal artist from South America. He takes a rather retro, vintage approach to his work. If you are looking for an artist, might I recommend him: https://www.instagram.com/giotefeli, and https://giotefeli.tumblr.com/
The book is available first on Amazon, then Terror Trader second (Arizona’s Number One Horror Marketplace). Then it will go to the usual vendors and themed cons, and through the usual distribution channels/networks.
My vampire novelette The Paraplegic has finally found a proper home, and in both print and digital form, in the fairly new pulp fiction publication, SERIAL MAGAZINE. I appear in Issue No. #12, Late August 2019. I believe it is a biweekly. You don’t see too many biweekly publications anymore. Great artwork, great interior layout, has that real gritty 1950s feel to it, the kind of magazine you’d find legends Fritz Leiber and Ray Bradbury hanging out and about with their lurid genre classics. I even made the front cover! It is edited by the very talented Tanya Ferrell. I will leave pictures and links down below so you can order a copy, direct from Serial Publishing (the print version is even discounted for the month of August 2019, so hurry).
You can now find the revised version of my vampire story, Geraldine’s Addiction, in the new issue of Dark Moon Book’s Stoker-nominated horror magazine, Dark Moon Digest. No. 12, July 2013. In a future entry I’ll have a short interview about where I got the inspiration for Geraldine’s Addiction. Available on Amazon or where horror magazines are sold.
Featuring scary fiction by Lawrence Dagstine, Grant Matthew Frazier, Erin K. Coughlin, Arthur Carey, Kaitlyn Travis, Jason Cramblett, Samantha Combs, Aric Sundquist, Ruth Hopkins, Patrick Tumblety, Carie Juettner, and an exclusive piece by Stoker winning novelist, Joe McKinney.
Lawrence Dagstine: Author 
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