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:
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.
For only 99 cents, you can now own my vampire novelette, The Paraplegic. Available at Smashwords. Just click on the picture below, or, see what other low-cost titles I have available. I even have a free science fiction story you could try out, and in the coming months I will be downloading more stories at no cost (usually under 5,000 words); I’ll also be coming to Kindle, Nook, Apple, Sony, Kobo and Nexus. Novelettes and novellas will always be at the right price. Quality, plot-driven stories, characters we care about: because that’s what matters first and foremost. Science fiction, fantasy, horror and more in Mobi, ePub, PDF, and a variety of other formats. You’ll be able to order them direct from here (eBooks & Kindle), or be redirected. Also be sure to follow me on social media platforms such as Facebook & Twitter. There will be cool contests in the coming months and free reading material will go out to my 5,000th Facebook follower and my 500th Twitter follower. Cover art by Bob Veon.
THE PARAPLEGIC
Now Available at Smashwords – ONLY 99 cents!
When Herbert was told he had amnesia, he knew things were bad. When he couldn’t feel anything below the waist, he got scared. When the doctor told him he’d be paralyzed for life, he got depressed and wanted to die. After all, no one wants to be a paraplegic. But what made him crippled so suddenly? Did somebody do this to him? And if so, why? Now in the hospital, undergoing intensive surgery, little does Herbert know that the force responsible isn’t done with him, not by a long shot! Something’s coming back. There’s a little unfinished business to take care of, and it comes in the form of vampires.
Get your favorite Dagstine stories in under a minute. Click below:
With stories and poetry by: Martin Turton, Thom Gabaldon, Aurelio Rico Lopez III, Lawrence Dagstine, John Grey, roibeard Ui-neill, Patrick Thomas, TJ McIntyre, Daniel C. Smith, Deborah P. Kolodji, W. Gregory Stewart, Jean Davis, Richard Harland, and MORE!
Nurses and babysitters taking care of vampires and werewolves during The Great Depression? President Herbert Hoover striking financial aid deals with monsters? Compassion for a vampire child from another era? Who came first? The monsters or the humans? The year is 1930… and Lawrence Dagstine is just one of your Feature Authors for a very weird novelette. It all takes place in the latest issue of Sam’s Dot Publishing’s digest-sized magazine, Cover of Darkness. Edited by Tyree Campbell. Published semi-annually.
A Time And Place For Monsters – 1930
Written by Lawrence Dagstine
Weaver of the Historical Weird Tale…
COVER OF DARKNESS – MAY 2010
Order Lawrence Dagstine’s novelette in Cover of Darkness:
Also featuring Novelette-length work by Lawrence Dagstine:
COVER OF DARKNESS – NOVEMBER 2009
Get both issues for a discounted postage price at The Genre Mall.
Other Authors & Poets: Mark Anthony Brennan, Tyree Campbell, Virginia Mohlere, Jonathan Wolf, Edward Cox, Ferrel D. Moore, Marc Colten, Lawrence Dagstine, W.K. Tucker, Jennifer Sparlin, Hillary Bartholomew, Eric Obame, Thom Olausson, Marge B. Simon, Peter Layton, K.S. Hardy, Cathy Buburuz, Gary Every, Ash Krafton, and finally, W.C. Roberts.
You can now purchase the PDF version of FRESH BLOOD: Tales from the Speculative Graveyard, downloadable to PC or Macintosh computers, Amazon KINDLE, and Sony eReader among other devices for only $3.50! That’s right, own 160 pages, all short stories for an affordable price. Fresh Blood, my 2009 debut collection, from Sam’s Dot Publishing. Electronic Format! Available at the War Gamer Vault. Link below. Or just click on the picture.
FRESH BLOOD by Lawrence R. Dagstine
Published by Sam’s Dot Publishing – Now a PDF!!
ORDER FRESH BLOOD – PDF for your Computer or Readers:
In other news, certain Sam’s Dot Magazines will not only be available in print on their regularly released basis, but they too will eventually go into PDF format where you can download the publications to your readers (such as Cover of Darkness). I’ll be in a decent number of their pubs this year, so stay tuned for that. Also, I’ve had a lot of luck in the anthology department as of late. Anthologies, which can be found in the Books & Anthos section of this homepage, will now be released under “New Anthology” or “New Antho.” Also, expect “New Releases” and a Dagstine application andimprint. Once again, whatever can be purchased in print will be attainable for reading devices. Nothing overnight, but stay tuned.
Other New Entries: “Books & Anthos” and “eBooks & Kindle”
My 2009 debut short story collection, FRESH BLOOD, filled with 160 pages of dark science fiction stories and twisted horror tales is now coming to PDF/e-Format. You can get it from one of the largest RPG retailers on the Web. DriveThruRPG.com! Or, for just a few dollars more, you can splurge for the print copy and see what all of last summer’s buzz was about. Just do a search for “Sam’s Dot Publishing”. It might take a while for the publisher’s page to go up.
This is probably one of my favorite covers to anything I’ve ever been in. You can find an almost novelette-length story of mine in the very popular COVER OF DARKNESS, November 2009. Published twice a year, it’s a magazine-anthology of lengthy horror, urban fantasy, speculative fiction and other dark tales in-between. Edited by Tyree Campbell and published by Sam’s Dot. For this issue, an entire town is destroyed… Dagstine-style. And that officially ends the Fall 2009 year on Vampires, Werewolves, and Zombies. This magazine’s a thick one.
Dark stories and poems by: Linda L. Donahue, Ferrel D. Moore, Michelle D. Sonnier, Tyree Campbell, Julie Serroul, Cathy Buburuz, Lawrence Dagstine, David Sullivan, Hillary Bartholomew, Holly Day, Jene Erick Beardsley, Thomas P. Feeny, Miguel de Leon, Stephen J. Williams, and Vanessa Watters.
Vampires get your fangs ready! I’ve got a story in the latest issue of Hungur Magazine, No. #9. Fall 2009. Edited by Terrie Leigh Relf, and published by Sam’s Dot. If you think the Obama Administration or any administration is safe from a vampire threat, think again! It’s an issue you won’t want to miss. Because this issue… The Vampires are running the show.
Bloodletting works by: Tyree Campbell, Lawrence Dagstine, Scot Coon, William Marden, Lawrence Barker, Dev Jarrett, John H. Stevens, Donald Jacob Uitvlugt, Jared W. Vickery, J. Jay Waller, Lawrence Buentello, Allan Wise, Marge Simon, Brian Rosenberger, G.O. Clark, Debby Feo, Terrie Leigh Relf, Tom Galusha, Justin Bohardt, and illustrations also by Marge Simon.
Not to be confused with the upcoming Fall 2009 issue, which should be out around Halloween to early November. That’s Issue #5.2. I’ve learned I’ll be making my 4th appearance next year in Issue #6.2 — Autumn 2010. A long way off, but stay tuned to this spot. Tales of the Talisman. Edited by David Lee Summers, the magazine has been around for a number of years, features ten to twelve authors per issue, and is published quarterly. Annual subscriptions also available.
The Golden Age makes its return in digital format. So does the Industrial Revolution, Neo-Victorian Horror, and lots of other historical weird tales. Come one, come all to Steampunk Tales! Where many adventures, horrors, and mysteries await. Some of the best short stories by short story giants and rising stars in the field. On my eBooks & Kindle page you too can order my brand new stories alongside many other talented authors within the Steampunk genre. And at a very affordable price. Behold the future of fiction magazines! Read them anytime, anywhere!
Issue #2 Authors: Phil Brucato, David Wellington, Brenda Cooper, Jillian Venters, Arkwright, G.D. Falksen, Lawrence R. Dagstine, Mark Rossmore, Angie Montmartre, Philip Challis, and cover art by Paul Sizer.
More about Steampunk Tales:
Emulating the style of the pulp adventure magazines of the 1920s and ’30s, Steampunk Tales contains first-run, original fiction written by an A+ list of award-winning authors. Issue #1 contains 10 stories, each running between 4,300 to 11,000 words, for an unbelievable price. Authors contributing to issue #1 include Jay Lake, Catherynne M. Valente, Phil Brucato and G.D. Falksen. The cover art was painted by popular artist Melita “missmonster” Curphy.
Featuring:
10 pieces of exciting steampunk pulp fiction at an unbelievable price.
Featuring a true A+ lineup of award winning authors.
Stories run 4,500 – 11,000 words each! (totaling over 600 screen pages using the default font and font size)
The Steampunk Tales Reader on (iPhone/iPod Touch) features unique retro-futuristic Victorian styling never before seen in an eBook reader!
Other New Entries:“eBooks & Kindle” and “Magazines”
Technically this should be part 2, but since it laps into the following week, I’ll leave it as is, because it will be 3. I’m coming back! I’ll be signing copies of FRESH BLOOD at Flea by the Sea on the weekends in Coney Island, New York. I’ll have copies of obscure pulp mags on hand (with stories of mine in it), hardcovers, other books, and you have Famous Nathan’s Hot Dogs just up the street. So come say hi, pick up a book or two by yours truly, go to the beach or amusement park, and on the following dates below.
With that said, August 2009 will be a pretty low-key month. That and my laptop screen is falling apart at the edges. However, be here in September and October. Autumn time, as usual. Because I’ll have a plethora — and I do mean a handful — of new publications and new stories you’ll want to check out. Own a Kindle? An iTouch? Or Sony eReader? Well, my first e-title debuts in September from DAMNATION BOOKS, and at Killercon 2009.
VISITATION RIGHTS – A different kind of ghost story
I’m pretty new at this, and since I’ll be soliciting a few more reviews over the course of the year, I decided to number them accordingly. I also felt that would be easier. For example, Fresh Blood Reviews 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. Today we have Nick Cato, reviewer, long-time horror fan and reader, and author of the soon-to-be released zombie-mafia crossover DON OF THE DEAD (www.coscomentertainment.com).
Fresh Blood in a nutshell: “SciFi and Horror meet… DRUGS!”
Dagstine’s writing is quick and to the point, and the stories flow quite well despite the genre jumping. A solid, entertaining collection – Nick Cato, author DON OF THE DEAD.
Author’s Note: Fresh Blood is published by Sam’s Dot Publishing. This review will also premiere in June’s HORROR FICTION REVIEW.
“Lawrence Dagstine has a wonderfully fertile imagination and he has crafted many wonderful, original stories.” – David Lee Summers, Editor, Tales of the Talisman and author, Heirs of the New Earth.
“Lawrence Dagstine never ceases to amaze me with his abundant talent. His short stories are incredibly imaginative, exceptionally well written, and thoroughly captivating.” – P.S. Gifford, Author, The Curious Accounts of the Imaginary Friend.
“Dagstineinjects some much-needed freshness into his monsters; he endows them with complex qualities both human and inhuman, which somehow makes them all the more disturbing.” – Ben Thomas, Editor, The Willows Magazine.
Lawrence Dagstine: Author 
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