Tomorrow is coming whether you’re ready or not.

In Darkness, Delight: Fear the Future delivers twenty-two strikingly original tales of terror from Bram Stoker Award®-winners, bestselling authors, genre stalwarts and rising stars.

Includes Emmy-winning, New York Times bestselling author and world-famous magician Penn Jillette’s delightfully wicked short story “The Pain Addict,” which was adapted for a hit sci-fi anthology television series and is available here exclusively for the first time in book format.

Be warned: these are not science fiction stories with a dash of dread. These are visions of the horrifying futures that await us all.

Featuring:

“Airborne,” by Lisa Morton

“Err,” by Michael Laimo

“Daddy's Girl,” by Ben Eads

“Husk,” by Marshall J Moore

“We Have Names, Too,” by Michelle Muenzler

“The Haunting of Asteroid H111,” by Van Aaron Hughes

“Shoulda Read the Fine Print,” Blanche by Ben Lawrence

“Transference,” by Jenn Hopkins

“Game Over,” by Andrew Lennon

“Schroedinger's Head,” by Joanna Koch

“Locusts,” by Dominick Cancilla

“The Pain Addict,” by Penn Jillette

“The Sluggie Rebellion,” by William Meikle

“Noise,” by Max Booth III

“Seeking Harmony with the Infinite,” by Evans Light

“Billy Campbell's Bones,” by Jason Washer

“Survival is an Act of Selfishness,” by Frank Oreto

“Boxed In,” by CS Mergo

“What It Takes,” by Phil Sloman

“Neuroworm,” by Tim Curran

“And the Winner is...,” by Sheldon Higdon

“If I Drive Before I Wake,” by Eric J Guignard

This is Writers on Writing – An Author’s Guide where your favorite authors share their ultimate secrets in becoming and being an author. 

Learn the craft of writing from those who know it best. 

This is Writers On Writing – An Author’s Guide Vol.3, where professional authors share their secrets in the ultimate guide to becoming – and being – an author. 

In this third volume you’ll find in-depth essays from authors such as Jonathan Janz, Kealan Patrick Burke, Nerine Dorman, Hal Bodner, Ben Eads, and James Everington. Edited by Joe Mynhardt:

“Creating Effective Characters” by Hal Bodner 
“Fictional Emotions; Emotional Fictions” by James Everington
“Home Sweet Home” by Ben Eads
“You” by Kealan Patrick Burke
“How about them free books, eh? (the art of becoming a book reviewer)” by Nerine Dorman
“Treating Fiction like a Relationship” by Jonathan Janz

Writers On Writing gives young authors the guidance they need, but also has advice for all authors, from the interested newbie to the seasoned veteran.

The Writers on Writing series carries on the proud tradition of Stephen King's On Writing.

Are you ready to unleash the author in you?

Proudly brought to you by Crystal Lake Publishing – Tales from the Darkest Depths

Interview with one of the authors:

Tell us more about your essay in Writers on Writing.

James Everington: My first piece, ‘Embrace Your Inner Shitness’ is about the freedom in letting yourself go and writing a bad first draft–but a finished one. Because finishing things is key. But then how do you take that mangled, disjointed first draft and make something great from it? I give my perspective. My second piece is called ‘Fictional Emotions; Emotional Fictions’. It’s a cliche that good writing should evoke an emotional response but what exactly do we mean by that? What different techniques and perspectives can writers use to generate & convey emotion?

Why should authors read Writers on Writing?

James Everington: Because it’s a great book to argue with, and that’s what you want in a book of writing advice. There’s no point in passively learning from one writer about how they write, because what if that doesn’t work for you? You want a book with a multitude of voices, clashing complimenting, and contradicting each other. A book you can find your own space within, a book that makes you think about how you write, rather than being told how you should. Come join the conversation.

Writers on Writing eBook categories:

• Authorship
• Publishing and Books
• Writing Reference
• Writing Skills

Crystal Lake Publishing (Tales from the Darkest Depths) proudly presents this Bram Stoker Award-nominated non-fiction anthology, Horror 101: The Way Forward.

Horror 101: The Way Forward – a comprehensive overview of the Horror fiction genre and career opportunities available to established and aspiring authors.

Ever wanted to be a writer? Make money online? Perhaps you’ve already realized that dream and you’re looking to expand your repertoire. Writing comic books sounds nice, right? Or how about screenplays?

Covering aspects such as movies, comics, short stories, ghost-writing, audiobooks, editing, publishing, self-publishing, blogging, writer’s block, YA horror, dark poetry, networking, collaborations, eBooks, podcasts, conventions, formatting, web serials, artwork, social media, agents, and career advice from seasoned professionals and up-and-coming talents, Horror 101 is just what you need to kick your career into high gear.

Horror 101, although written by horror authors, is a must read for any person interested in becoming a writer, be it writing for a hobby or a career. 

Horror 101 is not your average On Writing guide. Horror 101 focuses on the career of an author. It covers not only insights into the horror genre, but the people who successfully make a living from it.

Horror 101: The Way Forward is perfect for people who:

• are starting their writing careers
• are planning on infiltrating a different field in horror writing
• are looking to pay more bills with their art
• are trying to establish a name brand
• are looking to get published
• are looking for motivation and/or inspiration

Here are just a few of the great articles and essays you can expect:

• Making Contact by Jack Ketchum
• What is Horror by Graham Masterton
• Avoiding What’s Been Done to Death by Ramsey Campbell
• What a Short Story Editor Does by Ellen Datlow
• Bitten by the Horror Bug by Edward Lee
• 12 Tips on Making a Career of It by Steve Rasnic Tem
• Screamplays! Writing the Horror Film by Lisa Morton
• Balancing Art and Commerce by Taylor Grant
• From Prose to Scripts by Shane McKenzie
• Writing About Films and for Film by Paul Kane
• Screenplay Writing by Dean M. Drinkel
• Audiobooks by Chet Williamson
• Ghost-writing by Thomas Smith
• Self-Publishing: Making Your Own Dreams by Iain Rob Wright
• The Pros and Cons of Collaborations by Michael McCarty
• A beginner’s guide to setting up and running a website by Michael Wilson
• Poetry and Horror by Blaze McRob
• So you want to write comic books… by C.E.L. Welsh
• Writing the Series by Armand Rosamilia
• Running a Web serial by Tonia Brown
• The 7 Signs that make Agents and Editors say, "Yes!" by Anonymous
• Filthy Habits – Writing and Routine by Jasper Bark
• Ten Short Story Endings to Avoid by William Meikle
• Editing and Proofreading by Diane Parkin

The Legend Continues…

Twenty-four heart-rending tales with elements of terror, mystery, and a nightmarish darkness that knows no end.

Welcome to my lake. Welcome to where dreams and hope are illusions…and pain is God.

• This anthology begins with Joe R. Lansdale’s The Folding Man, one of his darkest stories ever written.
• Kealan Patrick Burke’s Go Warily After Dark pulls us into a desolated world, and reminds us of the price of survival: a guilt that seeps into the marrow.
• Damien Angelica Walter’s Everything Hurts, Until it Doesn’t places us in the middle of a family whose secrets and traditions are thicker than blood.
• Jennifer Loring’s When the Dead Come Home explores a loss so dark, that even the stars are sucked into its melancholic vacuum.

In the spirit of popular Dark Fiction and Horror anthologies such as Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories and Behold: Oddities, Curiosities and Undefinable Wonders, and the best of Stephen King’s short fiction, comes Crystal Lake Publishing’s Tales from The Lake anthologies.

This fourth volume of Speculative Fiction contains the following short stories:

• Jennifer Loring – When the Dead Come Home
• Joe R. Lansdale – The Folding Man
• Kealan Patrick Burke – Go Warily After Dark
• T. E. Grau – To the Hills
• Damien Angelica Walters – Everything Hurts, Until it Doesn’t
• Sheldon Higdon – Drowning in Sorrow
• Max Booth III – Whenever You Exhale, I Inhale
• Bruce Golden – The Withering
• JG Faherty – Grave Secrets
• Hunter Liguore – End of the Hall
• David Dunwoody – Snowmen
• Timothy G. Arsenault – Pieces of Me
• Maria Alexander – Neighborhood Watchers
• Timothy Johnson – The Story of Jessie and Me
• Michael Bailey – I will be the Reflection Until the End
• E.E. King – The Honeymoon’s Over
• Darren Speegle – Song in a Sundress
• Cynthia Ward – Weighing In
• Michael Haynes – Reliving the Past
• Leigh M. Lane – The Long Haul
• Mark Cassell – Dust Devils
• Del Howison – Liminality
• Gene O’Neill – The Gardener
• Jeff Cercone – Condo by the Lake

With an introduction by editor Ben Eads. Cover art by Ben Baldwin. Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing – Tales from The Darkest Depths.

Additional book categories:

• Horror
• Suspense
• Thriller
• Mystery
• Short stories
• Anthologies
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If you came here to read short stories about tranquil lakes, run to the nearest exit. Run as far away as you can from Ramsey Campbell, Jack Ketchum, Edward Lee, and our array of international voices.

Tales from The Lake volume two also includes the three winners from Crystal Lake Publishing’s Tales from The Lake Horror Writing Competition:

1st: Descending by John Whalen

2nd: Forever Dark by Jonathan Winn

3rd: Ripperscape by Vincenzo Bilof

Beneath this lake you’ll find nothing but mystery and suspense, horror and dread. Not to mention death and misery – tales to share around the campfire or living room floor. Dive beneath a frozen lake with Rena Mason’s “Winter’s Dollhouse”; allow Tim Lebbon to introduce you to “The God of Rain”; don’t go into the lake when Jim Goforth takes you to the haunting sit of “Lago de los Perdidos”; and never get in an elevator again with John Whalen’s award-winning “Descending.”

So dive on in.

The water’s just…right.

Interview with the Authors:

So what makes Tales from The Lake so special?

Ben Eads: As a reader: Legends and up-and-comers in the field of horror consistently knock each volume out of the ball park. It’s a great anthology. As a writer: Aside from sharing the pages with some of the best writers in the biz? The open-theme affords me a broader canvas to write. And, of course, the recognition!

Raven Dane: Publisher Joe Mynhardt and his team of genre enthusiasts strive to bring the reader only the highest quality short fiction in the Tales From The Lake series. Whether the author is well established name or a bright future star, excellence and innovation is always foremost. This is a publishing house with great integrity and passion, a deep-rooted love of horror and total respect for both writer and reader. And no…I do not work for their PR department! This is my genuine experience as both contributor and reader of Crystal Lake books.

Tell us more about your story?

Lisa Morton: It was inspired by two separate ideas: 1) I enjoy weird westerns and wanted to try one; and 2) I was interested in writing something about a succubus, and I had this question: would a gay man be affected by a supernatural temptress who presents as an exotic woman? I started doing a little research on the Old West (train lines, towns, gunslingers, etc.), and the story started to coalesce from there.

Why should readers give this series a try?

Ben Eads: Everyone loves an end of the world story, right?

Raven Dane: The best reason of all, meticulously produced books packed with intriguing stories from an international collection of great writers. There are many horror anthologies available now, with a resurgence of enthusiasm for short fiction. Sadly not all are worth bothering with, to be brutally honest! A reader is in safe hands with a Tales from The Lake volume. Crystal Lake is fast becoming synonymous for high quality production and wonderful story telling.

Proudly brought to you by Crystal Lake Publishing - Tales from the Darkest Depths

Tales from The Lake eBook categories:

• Horror short stories
• Horror anthologies
• Dark Fiction
• Speculative Fiction

***2019 This Is Horror Awards ‘Cover Art of the Year’ award winner!***

A heart-stopping horror thriller about tragedy, fellowship, forgiveness, and redemption.

An aberration known as The Architect has finished his masterpiece: A god which slumbers beneath the hollow, determined to change the world into its own image. With the neighborhood on lockdown, and the residents turned into shambling horrors, Harold and his former lover, Mary, begin their harrowing journey into the world within the hollow.

Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.

Interview with the author:

What makes this Horror novella so special?
Ben Eads: It's is full of characters that have taken the path less traveled, and face a harsh, believable world filled with fantastical elements which stretch readers’ imaginations. I wanted the horrors the characters face to do more than just scare. This story will force readers to see themselves in a mirror, relying on their subconscious fears. It also asks brave questions like: Can the cycle of physical and emotional abuse be stopped and healed? Can anyone live in peace after facing the horrors of war? Are we doomed to repeat the past? Is there really division, and can we unite on a common goal?

The main antagonist, The Architect, is justified in creating a god that will re-shape the world to its whims. Whims that are all too real. This one really pulls at your heart-strings. It’s like The Twilight Zone, Clive Barker, and Neil Gaiman all mixed together, to form one singular voice and experience that’s unique. There’s a lot of heart in this one.

Tell us more about Harold Stoe.
Ben Eads: Harold Stoe is a Veteran of the war in Iraq. After securing a village, he gives the OK for his fellow soldiers to move on, only to have an insurgent ambush them and kill two of his friends. One of those bullets hit Harold’s spine, which has relegated him to a wheelchair. Once he came home, the only comfort he found was in alcohol, not his family. Now, Harold lives not day to day, but minute by minute, due to PTSD, his divorce, and the struggle to have his son love him for who he is.

Once the being known as The Architect places the neighborhood on lockdown, turns the citizens into their true selves, and begins to awaken a god he’s created, Harold must reconcile all of these and more if he and his former lover, Mary, are to save humanity from this god re-shaping the world into its own vision. It’s a harrowing journey that delves into the darkest secrets in one’s heart, and the lengths we’ll go to for love.

Why should readers give your work a try?
Ben Eads: It takes the best elements of horror and fantastical fiction to create a unique experience that will stretch readers’ imaginations. But readers must be brave. It forces them to look in the mirror. This is a harrowing journey into the heart of darkness itself. Darkness from within, and from the outside. It starts at 100 MPH and never lets up, delving further and further into a world that is all too familiar, and a world within the hollow that can only exist due to our failures as human beings.

Since these characters have taken the paths less traveled, their yearning for redemption is paid for in blood. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Buckle your seatbelts, folks.