David Simms

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About David Simms
David Simms lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with his wife, son and trio of furballs after escaping New Jersey and Massachusetts. A special education teacher, college English instructor, counselor, music therapist, ghost tour guide, and book reviewer, he moonlights in the Slushpile band on lead guitar after co-founding the Killer Thriller Band with several best-selling authors. He gives workshops in three states on using music to help students of all ages to learn and de-stress, getting teens to write, and combating burnout for teachers in schools.
He has sold several short stories which have been published in various anthologies, such as TERRIBLE BEAUTY, TRAPS!, and DARKNESS RISING and academic publications on music therapy, creative writing for teens.
DARK MUSE is his MG/YA crossover that ventures into musical dark fantasy and celebrates the many students who've changed his life.
FEAR THE REAPER is a thriller that's mostly true story about the eugenics movement in America - basically, how we directly influenced Hitler and began a truckload of horrors right here in the states.
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Titles By David Simms
The unexplained and the unnatural. Things that go bump in the night, driving spikes of fear into our hearts that are all the sharper for being unknown.
Supernatural Drabbles of Dread is a collection of bite-sized, supernatural horror stories from over thirty authors. These stories are horror and are not for the faint of heart.
Supernatural Drabbles of Dread is book three in the Drabbles of Dread Collection:
Drabbles of Dread
Extreme Drabbles of Dread
Supernatural Drabbles of Dread
With stories from Terry Miller, Scott McGregor, Meera Dandekar, Ella Burns, Cassandra Angler, M Ennenbach, Alanna Robertson-Webb, Peter Blakey-Novis, Natasha Sinclair, David O. Hughes, John Cady, Kim Plasket, Radar DeBoard, Marina Schnierer, Lance Dale, Dawn DeBraal, B.F. Vega, Stephen Johnson, Christopher T. Dabrowski, John Kujawski, Mason H. Hilden, Tara Losacano, Surina Venkat, Joshua Lupardus, Nerisha Kemraj, Wondra Vanian, Archit Joshi, Todd Love, David Simms, Nicole Henning, Nic Brady, Wendy Cheairs, Jodie Francis, Lydia Prime, Ruthann Jagge, Miriam H. Harrison, Josh Darling, Patrick Winters, Daniel R., Donna Marie West, John Irvine, Shannon Grant, Melody E. McIntyre, M. Betterelli, Larry Hinkle, Andrew Kurtz, Marc Sorondo, Leon Sluyter, Sophie Wagner, Amber M. Simpson, Kevin J. Kennedy, RJ Meldrum, Chisto Healy, Michael Deady, B. A. Nielsen, Gabriella Balcom, Maggie D Brace, Jennifer Hatfield, Destiny Eve Pifer, Rainie Zenith, Gemma Paul, J. Edwin Buja, McKenzie Richardson, Doug Hawley, Gary McDonough, Jacek Wilkos, Joshua E. Borgmann, Serena Jayne, L. Zedda Sampson, Chris Bannor, Victory Witherkeigh, N.M. Brown, Mary Rajotte, Marie Sterling, Tina Swain.
The truths that have been erased from history come to life in this thriller about the nation's ugly and forgotten chapter.
Still haunted by the death of this wife and son during childbirth, psychologist and WWI vet Samuel Taylor accepts a position at Western Valley Hospital. Superintendent Joseph Dejarnette leads the movement to purify humanity by exterminating anyone the Society, led by the kings of industry, deemed to be "defective" or "unfit". Sam discovers that his testing often condemns patients simply for being less than the new "American" ideal, yet he learns he cannot quit his job. Dejarnette desires Sam to be his right hand at the asylum but warns him that Sam’s deaf brother and new immigrant girlfriend have already been labeled as unfit by the new masterminds of eugenics.
Sam begins to question his sanity as the mysteries of the area emerge from the shadows, compelling him to dig deeper into the horrors of the movement, realizing how complicit he is in the deaths around him. Experiments beyond his worst nightmares occur daily, as citizens from neighboring towns begin disappearing at a frightening rate. Sam devises a bold plan to escape and unleash the truth, but learns that Dejarnette’s tendrils reach into every major American city. The proof he ultimately uncovers may doom everyone he holds close while influencing the world's most heinous act in history.
***
"A riveting imagined world so real you wonder if it was imagined. And, guess what, it wasn’t. It’s based on a true story — one that will scare the crap out of you." - Steve Berry, New York Times and Internationally Bestselling Author
"Fascinating, frightening, thrilling, and thought-provoking. Filled with rich characters and stark history, this novel will reel you in - and keep you hooked. A truly unique story - a very special book." - Heather Graham, New York Times Best-selling Author
With stories from over thirty authors including Eleanor Merry, Natasha Sinclair, David Green, Jason Myers, Dawn DeBraal, Chris Miller, Alanna Robertson-Webb, Gary McDonough, Todd Love , Cassandra Angler, Ruthann Jagge, Angela Glover, Wendy Cheairs, Josh A. Murphy, John Adams, Shawn M. Klimek, Scott McGregor, Charlotte O'Farrell, Tina Merry, Kevin J. Kennedy, Brian J Smith, Nicole Henning, Lance Dale, M. Ennenbach, Leon Sluyter, N.M Brown, David Bowmore, Vic Kerry, P.J Blakey-Novis, Meera Dandekar, David Simms, Rachael Boucker, Diane Arrelle, Claire Davon, Marina Schnierer, Benjamin Chadwick, Cher Finver, Beluah Vega, Surina Venkat, Galina Trefil, Joshua E. Borgmann, Charles Welch, Sydney Jones and J.A. Skelton
Dark Celebration is book 4 in the holiday horror collection
Dark X-Mas
Dark Valentine
Dark Solstice
Dark Celebration
Coming soon: Dark Halloween
A dark solstice drapes the land
A tinge of terror in the light
The fetid breath of monsters
No longer confined to the night
The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, but even the light can't keep away all that goes bump in the night.
From rituals and witches to summer slasher and sunny horror, Dark Solstice has it all.
How will you celebrate the solstice?
Dark Solstice is a flash fiction anthology with a variety of talented authors. With stories from Eleanor Merry, Cassandra Angler, Jason Myers, Alanna Robertson-Webb, Emma K. Leadley, M Ennenbach, Wendy Cheairs, Andrew Kurtz, Chris Miller, Natasha Sinclair, Samuel E Pheby-McGarvey, Kevin J. Kennedy, Joshua Borgmann, Leon Sluyter, Tara Losacano, Tim Miller, Trisha McKee, Angela Glover, Benjamin Chadwick, David Simms, Nicole Henning, A.B. Archambault, Daniel R., Christopher Bonner, Chris Wilkerson, Lauren Mills, Mike Duke, P.J. Blakey-Novis, M. Betterelli, G G Flavell, Ruthann Jagge, Lance Dale, Tina Merry, Amber M. Simpson, Chris Bannor, Nic Brady, Matthew A. Clark, Galina Trefil, Stephen Cords, Nerisha Kemraj, JM Turner, RJ Roles and James Pyles.
Also in the Holiday Horror Collection:
- Dark X-Mas
- Dark Valentine
- Dark Solstice
I'm dreaming of a Dark Christmas
With every little tale that I read
When the knife blades glisten
And scared children listen
To hear slayers in the night
Where sugarplums can be gory
In the frightening elf story
And trees eat favorite household pets
There are gifts on all the pages
Of terror through the ages
Told of gift giving regrets
I'm dreaming of a Dark Christmas
With every little tale I read
While the bright lights shine
And the family dines In the soft fireplace glow
So hold loved ones tight
It's not Santa visiting tonight
Death lies buried in the snow.
The holiday season isn’t all fun and games.100 word holiday horror stories from dozens of authors. From dark and disturbing, morbid humor or guts and gore, these stories have it all.
How will you celebrate the holidays?
With drabbles from: Eleanor Merry, Cassandra Angler, Scott Deegan, Josh A. Murphy, Stephen Cords, David Bowmore, Tina Merry, J.B. Wocoski, James Lipson, Shawn M Klimek, Morgan Adams, Steven Bruce, RJ Roles, Belinda Brady, James Pyles, Sea Caummisar, Trisha McKee, Nerisha Kemraj, Benjamin Langley, Mike Ennenbach, Dawn DeBraal, Aaron Bader, David Simms, R.E. Sargent, Angela Glover, Chris Miller, David M Donachie, Kerri Jesmer, Wendy Cheairs David M. Donachie, Terry Miller, Jacek Wilkos, Stuart Conover, P.J Blakey-Novis, Kevin J. Kennedy, N.M. Brown, Sharon Frame Gay, Gabriella Balcom, Jay Bower, Thomas Sturgeon Jr, Gabor Eichammer, D.J Elton, Alanna Webb, Marie Chambers and Drew Starling!
How will you celebrate the holidays?
Dark Halloween is book 5 in the holiday horror collection
Dark X-Mas
Dark Valentine
Dark Solstice
Dark Celebration
Dark Halloween
With stories from:
M. Ennenbach
N.M Brown
G.G Flavell
Vic Kerry
Lamont A. Turner
Radar DeBoard
L.T. Emery
Alyson Faye
Jay T. Levy
Gabriella Balcom
P.S Traum
J. A Skelton
V. J. Reed
Jason Myers
Gary McDonough
Todd Love
Sima Greenfield
Alanna Robertson-Webb
Scott McGregor
Randee Dawn
Leon Sluyter
Chris Miller
David Green
Morgan Griffith
Brianna Witte
Andrew Kurtz
Matthew Wilson
Wendy Cheairs
Nicole Sinclair
P.J. Blakey-Novis
Cassandra Angler
Scott McGregor
RJ Roles
Jamie Zaccaria
John Cady
Charlotte O’Farrell
Patrick J. Wynn
Kim Plasket
Joshua Lupardus
Jim Towns
Meera Dandekar
Rex M. Graves
Nicole Henning
Natasha Sinclair
Lance Dale
Chisto Healy
Marina Schnierer
Angela Glover
Brianna Witte
John Kujawski
Rachael Boucker
Elford Alley
Pam Stebbins
David Watson
Micah Castle
Marc Sorondo
John Kujawski
Nerisha Kemraj
Dawn DeBraal
Shawn Chang
M. Betterelli
David Simms
Stephen Johnson
J. Edwin Buja
Wondra Vanian
Belinda Brady
Ruthann Jagge
Shannon Grant
Melody E. McIntyre
Jennifer Canaveral
Joshua E. Borgmann
Kieran Judge
Chris Bannor
A.B. Archambault
Jacek Wilkos
Your lips have turned blue
Best keep both eyes open
Because we are coming for you
Valentine's Day isn’t all love, fun and games. Flash horror Valentine's stories from a ton of talented authors. From dark and disturbing, morbid humor or guts and gore; these stories have it all.
How will you celebrate the holidays?
With stories from over thirty authors including Eleanor Merry, Cassandra Angler, Angela Glover, M. Ennenbach, P.J. Blakey-Novis, Sea Caummisar, Galina Trefil, DJ Elton, N.M. Brown, Scott Deegan, Alanna Robertson-Webb, Terry Miller, Trisha McKee, Dawn DeBraal, Archit Joshi, Andrew Kurtz, Jason Myers, Andra Dill, Matthew A. Clarke, Alexander Shedd, Sheila Shedd, Ximena Escobar, Nerisha Kemraj, Zoey Xolton, Kevin J. Kennedy, Chris Miller, Lea Vida Del Moro, Wendy Cheairs, Amber M. Simpson, James Pyles, Robert Chester Ferguson Jr, Danielle Sandidge, Joel R. Hunt, Lance Dale, Nicole Henning, Nico Bell, Joshua E. Borgmann, Natasha Sinclair, Daileas Duclo, David Simms, Andrea Allison, Chris Bannor, Tina Merry, Aaron Channel, Aindrila Roy and Zachary C. Collier.
*This is book 2 in the holiday horror collection*
Dark X-Mas
Dark Valentine
Dark Solstice
Dark Celebration
Dark Halloween
Beware the Dark Muse…
Thirteen-year-old Muddy Brooks has always wanted to fit in with the "regular" crowd in a small town in New Jersey. He hopes that his band, The Accidentals, helps gain him acceptance into the world where he has always stuck out like a broken thumb. When his older brother disappears at the crossroads while playing a mysterious song, Muddy plunges into a world of music where songs come to life, where musicians find their inspiration, what price they must pay for fame. He must learn to harness the power of the legendary crossroads and conquer what lies on the other side. A series of trials that inspired classic songs awaits the teens, each deadlier than the next, each testing their newfound powers.
Along with drummer Otis, singer Poe, and saxophonist Corey, each battling their own disabilities or demons, Muddy must cross the river that is the source for all creativity. The band fights a world alive with unimaginable horrors and realize their path to redemption is hindered by two obstacles that may destroy them: the Tritons, vicious inhuman leaders of the strange world, and the Dark Muse, a something, or someone who wields the full power of the River. The band’s journey calls for them to build a stairway to heaven, sail through smoke on the water, become iron men, and walk that way across the abyss. But their ultimate battle may prove in vain--it might not save Muddy's brother from the darkness --or awaken something far more deadly.
***
Do you believe music has power? Dark Muse answers that question with an ear-shattering scream that will plunge you into terrifying worlds unknown. Hang on!
- Elizabeth Massie, Bram Stoker Award Winning Author of Sineater and the upcoming Ameri-Scares television show (produced by Margot Robbie).
Dave Simms has written an engaging entry in the young adult market; he knows his music and his audience—or any audience! I was quickly seduced into reading page after page, loving the characters and the story. A must-read and a keeper.
- Heather Graham, New York Times bestselling author of Let the Dead Sleep