And after the release of my new book, The Nightmare Cycle, comes a short story of oceanic terror that will leave you at the edge of your seat. I have a story in the latest Skywatcher Press anthology on Amazon, THE DEPTHS UNLEASHED BOOK #2. I know there is a Kindle version, not sure if a print version is in the works. All links will be down below, and book pics off to the side as usual. Skywatcher Press is well known for their bestselling undead anthologies, and similar fare, such as Pandemic Unleashed and The Dead Unleashed. I’m sharing a TOC with some familiar names too, like Jeff Parsons and Gregory Norris, who you might recognize from short story magazines of the 2000s era. The name of my story is: “The Underwater Menace.”
Remember, I’m in BOOK 2. The one with the horrific fishy and diver staring it down.
THE DEPTHS UNLEASHED VOLUME 2
Anthology of Underwater Horror – Featuring my story:“The Underwater Menace”
ORDER ON AMAZON KINDLE (preview below, be redirected):
My latest appearance comes to a new anthology by Culture Cult Press, who I have been published with around three times before. They have very good distribution in India, and some of the proceeds from their books goes to help animals. So if you are an animal lover like myself (I have a pet turtle), and love to read, it is for a worthy cause. It is a themed anthology, and available in TWO volumes. Not just one book, but two. I have a story in the first one. I’ll put links all the way down below, like usual, and book pics off to the side.
The name of the anthology, LOST: A book of missing people and things. My story fits the theme perfectly. It is about a missing alien. It is speculative fiction. And the owner of this alien has to go looking for his adopted creature from another world. It is both heartwarming and satirical. Be sure to check out my story, “I Want My Alien Back.” Only in Volume One. Cheers.
LOST: An Anthology by Culture Cult Press
Volumes One & Two – Edited by Jay Chakravarti
Volume One featuring Dagstine story: “I Want My Alien Back.”
Just a quick reminder, that a portion of the anthology proceeds (as well as many other Culture Cult book projects) does go to help animals in India (charity). My story,about a lost alien, is in Volume One. The first book. I’m not sure if it’s coming to Amazon or not, because Amazon has become very expensive (they went up again) due to the state of the economy. But if it does appear on Amazon, I’ll drop a link down here.
Oh, the turtle in the picture is “Bowser” by the way.
I am pleased to announce that I have a Brand New Crime Story, one of vengeance, from the point of view of the disturbed killer. This story features a female too, and is pretty much the theme of Wicked Shadow Press’s new offering: “Murder on her Mind Vol 1& 2.” Yes, it is a TWO-BOOK Series. I am in Volume 1 (just below). Remember, I am one of the headliners in the first book only. But I recommend both. The name of my story is: “Victimizer.” I started writing Victimizer in 2008. No publisher would even look at this tale, that’s how extreme it was. I’m talking higher than an R rating. So I shelved it, thinking it would never find a home. Fifteen years later, in 2023, Victimizer finally finds a home between the pages of Murder on her Mind. It may be a short story, but trust me, it is not for the faint of heart. Because characters like the one in my tale really do exist in American Society. Promo pics and ordering links, as always, down below.
MURDER ON HER MIND – Volumes 1 & 2
Available Worldwide (US, UK, and through Pothi in India too)
Be aware that prices vary on different platforms and storefronts (such as Amazon) due to inflation and the current state of the economy. So if you just have a general ereader, you may actually save more on Lulu.com than Amazon. It’s a matter of preference, really. Pothi is India only.
Pleased to announce that I have a brand new science fiction short story set in the cold dangerousness of space appearing later this month (comes out on Kindle March 28th to April 1st), in Neil Hogan’s Anthology-Magazine Series, Alien Dimensions. This is the SECOND time, second credit I have with Alien Dimensions. I first appeared many, many years ago in Issue #14. But that sold out quick and is long out-of-print. Not sure if there is going to be a print edition yet. I’ll post links and cover photos below, and as always, to the right-hand side of this website. You have a lot of familiar names from the science fiction scene, especially the 2000s era. Not just myself. You have Allen Ashley, Elana Gomel (and I just shared a TOC recently with Elana), Gustavo Bondoni, Mord McGhee, just to name a few. The name of my scifi tale is: “Close Proximity.”
ALIEN DIMENSIONS No. #24
Edited and produced by Neil A. Hogan
Anthology-Magazines are thick and glossy magazine-like books which feature many different authors with a variety of short stories, some from diverse backgrounds, centered around the same “theme” or “genre.” In this case, Space Stories. Science Fiction.
PRE-ORDER ALIEN DIMENSIONS #24 NOW FOR AMAZON KINDLE:
Previous issues I also appeared in (now out-of-print – check Ebay, I guess):
Other New Entries: “Books & Anthos, Digital Credits, Magazines”
Pleased to announce I have a flash fiction piece, along with 52 other authors, in the new Wicked Shadow Press anthology: FLASH OF THE DEAD. All the pieces contained within this book are “micro tales” under 1500 words in length. Also known as the short-short, in story form, that is what flash fiction essentially is. Small, QUICK stories, that you can read on the bus or subway on your daily commute to work, especially when you are getting off in a few stops, or from the comfort of bed while drifting off to sleep. My mini tale is zombie-themed (obviously), and it is called, “Saving the Dead.”
For late January-Early February 2023 I have yet another science fiction tale, this time a brand new short about alien parenting, entitled: Forgotten Species. It comes to you within the very well laid out, well designed pages of COSMIC CONTACT. This is a science fiction & fantasy anthology on the subject of aliens making “first contact” with humans and other species. It is a rather big beefy book put out by the folks at Pulp Cult/Culture Cult Press. They’re the same people who did the exorcism anthology I CAST YOU OUT and the haunted house anthology HAUS in 2022.
Cosmic Contact has some interesting interior design, fonts, layouts, and even features a lot of familiar short story authors from out of the 2000s era, names such as Ken Goldman, Elana Gomel, Matt Shaw, Thomas Stewart, and DJ Camden. I’ll leave ordering info down below, links and pics, and also to the right-hand side.
It is with great pleasure to announce that yet another anthology featuring one of my tales has been released this month, this time a science fiction adventure story featuring a team of old school astronauts (think the days of Apollo & Sputnik, that style). So it has a pulp bent to it, but with an unexpected finish. Red Penguin Books presents, SHOOT FOR THE MOON. I’m not sure if it is available on Amazon, but it IS available in select Barnes&Nobles locations (check the scifi section), and as an Ebook (probably Nook). I’ll leave any links and pictures down below, as well as to the right-hand side. And I’ll be seeing you on the next one.
Buy it now from B&N. In Print or for your NOOK eReader (click below):
My latest credit comes to the dark and doomed romance anthology series, Soulmate Syndrome! Volumes One and Two. My story, a tale about forbidden love (the kind you cherish but can never have), curses, affliction, and lycantrhropy, can be found in Volume One. The name of the story, “The Romance of Vegada.” Just who and what are the Wolves of Caliente? Why is the love in my story, at its core, unobtainable? Find out in Soulmate Syndrome Volume One, along with dark and doomed and paranormal-style romances by a plethora of other great writers. I’ll provide pictures and ordering info (links) down below or to the right-hand side as always. And I’ll be seeing you on the next one.
SOULMATE SYNDROME Volumes 1 & 2 – (read Lawrence in Volume One up above; ordering info below)
published by WICKED SHADOW PRESS
WICKED SHADOW PRESS ORDERING INFO:
Buy a Paperback copy of SOULMATE SYNDROME VOL. 01 from Lulu.com:
I am pleased to announce that I’ll have an astronaut story coming to one of Red Penguin Books’ upcoming anthologies, entitled: “Shoot for the Moon – A Space Adventure Anthology.” And that’s pretty much the theme, these are tales from many different authors writing spacefaring adventures where an astronaut or cosmonaut or space force is traveling through the cosmos toward some kind of interplanetary satellite or lunar surface. The book is part of a whole series called: The Red Penguin Collection. Interestingly enough, Red Penguin is from my hometown (New York City), and they are heavy in the marketing department. There will obviously be a print verison and a digital version. Be on the lookout for it. I’ll leave banners and links below. Check Amazon or Barnes&Nobles.com “here” and “there.”
I am quite pleased to announce that I’ve got a new, exclusive story appearing in the recently-released paperback anthology, “I CAST YOU OUT: Stories of Possession.” Featuring 27 different authors from around the globe (including India), touching down on the psychological and horrifying effects of demonic possession. At this time it is only available on Amazon. I am not sure whether it will see a digital release. So this might be print only. I’ll put all the usual links to the right hand side or pictures in this post, should you be interested. Edited by Jay Chakravarti. 336 Pages.
My tale, which comes in around 5100 words, is called “Trevor’s Nagging.” Location-wise it takes place in a mental hospital with a psychiatrist figure, and a young lad named Trevor…but just what is nagging at him? If you are a fan of movies such as The Exorcist or The Exorcism of Emily Rose, this story and many of the others contained within may be up your alley. Just make sure to read with the lights on.
You can order the anthology DIRECT from Amazon below:
Also, if you would like to follow me on a modern day reader, tablet, or android device, or keep up-to-date whenever a new anthology featuring my works of speculative fiction and horror come out, I have an author page here:
You can also find me on Twitter (my social media of choice the past 13 years), where I not only talk about fiction literature, but talk shop on video games, toys, comic books, pop culture, Doctor Who, and art: http://www.twitter.com/ldagstine
I am pleased to announce that the Weird Western Anthology, Something Wicked This Way Rides, is now out from Dark Owl Publishing. It is available on Amazon, in digital and print paperback formats. And it should arrive at various other retailers and the convention scene come 2022. Covid-19 has caused delays in the publishing world, one might say.
This book also marks for me ’25 Years’ as a Published Author/Freelance Writer. I will be retiring from the written word next year (most likely), as I want to pursue comic book art, something I also dreamed of accomplishing in the 1990s. Still, be sure to check out my previous fiction credits and other anthologies I have to offer. See book images on right-hand side, scroll down, click, go to Amazon. And let me tell you, there is a LOT of short story talent in this one giant book. Western tales that mix science fiction, horror, even steampunk, into a rich and fresh storytelling formula. My tale takes the reading audience back to frontier days. It is about a sharpshooting Djinn with a ‘mysterious’ past. You know what they say, The Show Must Go On…
I am pleased to announce that I have been invited to submit a BRAND NEW Western themed tale to a major anthology due out this summer from Dark Owl Publishing. It’s been a long time since I’ve written a genre story set in the Old West. Years ago I wrote a western novel, but didn’t see many sales. Western short stories I had a little bit better luck at in the payment department. And they were more entertaining too. That’s what I like about short stories. The pay is halfway decent. They’re quick to write. Quick to read. Just the right amount of space to entertain, and when you’re on the fly. The name of the anthology, which mixes western tales with genre-specific themes — even horror! even steampunk! — is called Something Wicked This Way Rides. Dark Owl Publishing released a mega-sized anthology back around Holidays 2020 which I also have two brand new stories in. This will be my third story with them, gracing their lovely books. So stay tuned for a Lawrence Dagstine western tale later this year, as we visit a mysterious Djinn in the Wild West post-Civil War. The rest, SPOILERS! Mock-up cover below.
Also pleased to announce that I will soon be a published writer of 25 years. Time flies.
COMING SUMMER 2021: “Something Wicked This Way Rides”
A Major Western Anthology – 26 Strong Authors, 29+ Short Stories
When the book comes out, I’ll make a formal announcement on this website. I’ll post the links where to buy, places such as Amazon. But it will be available on the convention circuits, book stores, other places. Covid-19 has had a tremendous effect on publishing when it comes to selling books at cons. It will be available in print and digital formats. The best of both worlds. As said above, there are some VERY strong authors in the short story department here. Other authors will include Gregory Norris (prolific in his own right), Jason McQuiston (who has a science fiction novel coming out around the bend), Gustavo Bondoni, Vonnie Winslow Crist, and even Darrell Schweitzer (former editor of Weird Tales). So, major names here in the short story field.
And why not check out what OTHER books and anthologies Dark Owl has to offer?
In other news, in-between writing fiction and non-fiction (freelance), I’ve been pursuing my other passion. Drawing. I missed art. I missed it something awful. Mostly comic book art, pop art. Maybe in a few weeks time I will share some of that artwork with you here, since art and literature often go together. Until then, Ciao…
OTHER NEW ENTRIES: “Book Acceptances, Books & Anthos, Anthologies…”
Summer is almost over, Fall is on our doorstep. With that means cooler temperatures (excited about that), and possibly a second wave of Covid-19 (not too excited about that). Regardless, it means more staying home, working remote, and more time to sit back and read. I’m pleased to announce I have sold two BRAND NEW short stories to the upcoming 650+ page anthology: A CELEBRATION OF STORYTELLING. The cover is gorgeous, and it should drop around Christmas 2020. It will be put out through new publisher, Dark Owl Publishing House. The book will feature two stories of mine: a mystery and scifi tale. And I will keep you updated with Amazon links and ordering info in the coming months.
I have a science fiction story in Left Hand Publishers speculative fiction anthology, titled: CLASSICSREMIXED. Edited by Karen T. Newman. This is a big beefy book, chock full of imaginative stories of characters we know from past fairy tales, novels, and folklore. What happens when you take famous story characters and put them in different scenarios, speculative situations, or twist around a fairy tale? You get Classics Remixed. An anthology of classic characters REMIXED and REIMAGINED into something new and different. It has beautiful cover art, and as always when I update my website, I will leave pictures of book covers, a lineup of the author talent (Table of Contents), and links to the publisher’s website and places like Amazon, where you can order this book in trade paperback form.
Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother Tells All by Jill Hand
The inside story behind one of our favorite fables
Sailor’s Saga by Steve Rouse
Old Man and the Sea meets Moby Dick meet 20,000 Leagues
Not a Single Soul by Tom Howard
A good witch, a wicked witch, but which witch is which?
The Maze Under the Clouds by Blake Jessop
A sci-fi spin on the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur
The Upper Hand by A.P. Sessler
In a spin on “The Monkey’s Paw,” be careful what you wish for…
Of House and Home by Eric Andrews-Katz
Were Hansel and Gretel the victims? Not so much.
Solomon’s Moon by Kevin M. Folliard
Not all invisible men are created equal. Some are just bad.
A Taste of Wonderland by Gregory L. Norris
Starvation twists Alice, Wonderland, and all its inhabitants
Gluttony by Henry Herz
What happens below decks, stays below decks in this biblical misadventure.
Moby n’ Queegs by William Ade
This ain’t your daddy’s Moby Dick
Follicles, Fables & Follies by Paul K. Metheney
Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down … never mind
Jane, Designed to Love by Brandon L. Summers
Jane Eyre or A.I.? Do androids dream of electric love?
Ding Dong the Pitch is Deadly by Jonathan Shipley
There’s no place like home plate
Catcher in the Crawlspace by Jay Seate
Catcher in the Rye or Stalker in the Crawlspace?
Curse of Avalon by Anthony Regolino
That’s no Lady of the Lake…
Treasure Moon by Robert Allen Lupton
Treasure Island with a sci-fi twisted sense of humor
Noah from Mars by Lawrence Dagstine
Science fictions versus one family’s faith
Strike the Match by Robert Petyo
The Three Musketeers go bowling. Seriously.
Handsome and Greedy by Katherine Brown
Hansel and Gretel like you’ve never seen them before
Copper County Fair by Cheryl Stevens Clark
The story of the Minotaur comes to Copper County
Mermaid by Karen Janowsky
The Little Mermaid in modern day prose
A Novel Gathering by Neil Childs
A band of fictional rogues who attempt to rob the poor to feather their own nests
I will appear with a werewolf story in the late May digital anthology, CREATURES, by Tell-Tale Press. Edited by Andrea Dawn. There will be two versions to this anthology. A short story edition and a novelette edition. I’m in the short story edition. It will be free to read on the Tell-Tale Press website, then available in ebook format from Amazon in the event you own a Kindle. The book, along with various other titles from Tell-Tale Press, will also be available on May 23-26th at Phoenix Fan Fusion Comic Book Convention. They will have a table there. So if you live in the Arizona area, be on the lookout for CREATURES ANTHO with my story in it, and many other talented authors. I will leave pictures, links, author lineup below. Just click on them (be redirected).
With Horror Stories By: Oreoluwa Arowobusoye, Kenneth Bykerk, Lawrence Dagstine, Danielle Davis, Dan Fields, Eric J. Guignard, A.M. Harte, Isabella Hunter, Jennifer Loring, Nicola Lombardi, Matthew Lyons, Jamie Mason, Jason McCuiston, Gregory L. Norris, P. R. O’Leary, D.C. Phillips, Mark Silcox, Melissa Watkins Starr, T.J. Tranchell, Joseph Walker.
A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I have a BRAND NEW short story for late 2018 in the Left Hand Publishers’ Anthology: ‘Suspense Unimagined.’ Anthology of Suspense, Thrillers, and Nightmares creeping past the boundaries of your imagination. Edited by the very talented Karen T. Newman, and featuring over two-dozen talented authors. The name of my story is “COMPETING FOR ROSES.” It is a dark tale set in World War One, and around roses (the flowers). It is available in paperback. I will add book cover pics and the two links I could find to order it (below), such as Amazon.
You can find a story of mine, A Better Life, in the recently released dieselpunk anthology GASLANDIA. Published in eBook format, and put out by Radiant Crown Publishing. The eBook is available through Amazon Kindle, which I will leave a link to down below. In A Better Life I tackle the theme of domestic violence (a wife aiming to take her children and escape her abusive husband) for just that: a better life than the one she leads now. Story-wise, it is set against a steampunk backdrop with airships and gears and cogs, but with a working dieselpunk aesthetic. Pick up a copy off Amazon today, or from Radiant Crown’s website. I think you’ll enjoy it.
Author Line-up: Kevin Holton, David Castlewitz, Lawrence Dagstine, Pedro Inguez, Dale Carothers, Jeremy Szal, Irene Punti, Gregory L. Norris, Chuck Regan, Matthew Maxwell.
You can find a science fiction story of mine in the new Visions Anthology (and last in the series, by editor Carroll Fix and Rogue Star Press). VISIONS VII: UNIVERSE. Available in a nice thick trade paperback for $19.95, or as an ebook on Kindle or venues like Smashwords for about $4.99. A plethora of great stories by familiar science fiction short story names, all compiled into one 260 page book. This anthology focuses on the theme of “faraway universes” and the “human race.” Our roles within it. I’ll put more details below, along with the author lineup, and any necessary book cover photos and where-to-buy links (which you can click on and be redirected). So just scroll down.
The following below is excerpted from the Visions website for promotional purposes.
The Visions Series tells the story of how humanity must ultimately venture outward from our tiny home and explore the Universe.
Visions VII: Universe, the final volume, opens the doors to incredible possibilities for the race called Human. We venture into realms where the impossible becomes fact.
Visions VII: Universe
Final anthology in the Visions Series.
The Visions series tells the story of how humanity must ultimately venture outward from our tiny home and explore the Universe. Visions: Leaving Earth, the first volume, describes our first faltering steps to rise from Earth’s surface and build homes in space. Visions II: Moons of Saturn confirms humankind’s success in leaving Earth and building homes in the other planetary systems circling our sun-father Sol. Visions III: Inside the Kuiper Belt proclaims domination of all that dwells within the solar system—from our Sun to the outermost reaches of the Kuiper Belt and into the Oort Cloud. Visions IV: Space Between Stars astounds us with the infinite possibilities of adventure and danger far from any suns or planets— in the cold, dark regions of deepest space, where dark matter and nebulas of celestial gases abide. Visions V: Milky Way leads us to explore our own galaxy. Although vast and unreachable with current technology, the Milky Way is but a tiny point in the Universe. We must first learn about our own home galaxy before we can explore further outward to other galaxies. Visions VI: Galaxies follows human progress into other galaxies. Humankind survives to spread across the Universe, making distant galaxies and planets into a home for a race destined to seek horizons ever more far away.
Visions VII: Universe Series: Visions Paperback: 260 pages Publisher: Rogue Star Press (August 2017) Language: English POD ISBN-10: 1-945646-28-4 ISBN-13: 978-1-945646-28-7 EPUB ISBN-10: 1-945646-29-2 ISBN -13: 978-1-945646-29-4 MOBI ISBN-10: 1-945646-30-6 ISBN-13: 978-1-945646-30-0 Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches Spine Width: 0.71640 in Weight: 1.019 lbs
I’m pleased to announce that I have a short story in the successfully “Kickstarter-funded” science fiction anthology, AN ATLAS TO TIME, SPACE, AND BONFIRES. Old school and new school short fiction authors, 350+ pages, 120,000 words in length, and presented by Michael Daugherty and Stephen Landry over at Save SciFi.com. I’ll put all necessary pictures, links, banners below. It is available as a thick print book or in digital format on storefronts like Amazon (Kindle) and Smashwords. Each author’s story is also presented with original artwork by artist, Stephen Landry. It is chock full of new and reprinted stories from across the universe. A must-own (and a must-read) for the science fiction anthology enthusiast.
NOTE: As of the writing of this website post, on this date, AN ATLAS TO TIME, SPACE, AND BONFIRES has done extremely well. Not only being a successful Kickstarter campaign, but also pushing a hundred or so print copies at a science fiction convention (in Harrisburg, PA, I believe), and hundreds of digital versions (eBook format). Also, thank you to Michael Daugherty, Stephen Landry, and the people who funded this book over on Kickstarter. Much love. Save science fiction. Pictures and links below.
For my twentieth year involved in short stories, I’d like to announce a 2016 release, a literary horror anthology that recently hit various conventions and online bookshops like Amazon and B&N. The fine folks at Nosetouch Press produced this immaculate 400+ page monster, brimming with spark, intelligence, imagination and much speculation, that doesn’t just focus on Broomsticks and Cauldrons. It is available in hardcover, paperback, and ALL eBook/Android/Mobile formats (for those on the go). Personally, I’d go with the hardcover or paperback myself. Introducing, WAX & WANE: An Anthology of Witch Stories. Thirty stories by thirty fantastic authors, some up-and-coming. Big book, kind of weighty, if I do say so myself. Links, pictures, adverts, and author list below. Cheers.
Lawrence Dagstine: Author 
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