John Claude Smith

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About John Claude Smith

John Claude Smith has had three collections (The Dark is Light Enough for Me, Autumn in the Abyss, and Occasional Beasts: Tales), three limited edition chapbooks (Dandelions, Vox Terrae, The Anti-Everything), and one regular chapbook (The Wrath of Concrete and Steel) published. His debut novel, Riding the Centipede, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel. His second novel, The Wilderness Within, was published by Trepidatio/JournalStone October 6, 2017. His latest collection, Occasional Beasts: Tales, was published by Omnium Gatherum in September of 2018.

He splits his time between the East Bay of northern California, across from San Francisco, and Rome, Italy, where his heart resides always.

Words Matter!

His blog, The Wilderness Within, deals with writing (of course), music, art--whatever strikes his fancy. http://thewildernesswithinbyjohnclaudesmith.blogspot.com/

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Titles By John Claude Smith

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Tales for the Camp Fire: A Charity Anthology Benefitting Wildfire Relief May 2, 2019

by Loren Rhoads, E. M. Markoff, Ben Monroe, Erika Mailman, Clark Ashton Smith, Ross Lockhart, Sumiko Saulson, Dana Fredsti, L. S. Johnson

( 12 )

$3.99

Scary Stories for a Good Cause. From Bram Stoker Award-nominated editor of the cult magazine Morbid Curiosity comes Tales for the Camp Fire, a new charity anthology of short stories to help support wildfire relief efforts.

Through these pages roam werewolves, serial killers, a handful of ghosts, plenty of zombies, Cthulhu cultists, mad scientists, and a pair of conjoined twins.

In November 2018, fire broke out on Camp Creek Road and raced through Butte County, California. By the time the fire was extinguished, the town of Paradise had been scoured from the map. Nearly 100 people died. Damage ran to an estimated $16 billion. The disaster has been named the Camp Fire, in memory of its place of origin. The horror writers of Northern California rallied to raise money for the survivors.

Tales for the Camp Fire ranges from fairytale to science fiction, from psychological terror to magical realism, from splatterpunk to black humor, all rounded out by a messed-up post-apocalyptic cookbook. All profits from the sale of this anthology will be donated to Camp Fire relief and recovery efforts.

"[A] brilliant collection of truly creepy tales by horror's hottest voices! Dark, funny, heartbreaking, and bizarre. Highly recommended!"
--Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of V-Wars and Glimpse

Contributors include: Clark Ashton Smith, Loren Rhoads, Erika Mailman, Ross E. Lockhart, Roh Morgon, Clifford Brooks, Chad Schimke, Sumiko Saulson, Dana Fredsti, Crystal M. Romero, G. O. Clark, Anthony DeRouen, Eric Esser, Nancy Etchemendy, Gerry Griffiths, Sean Patrick Hazlett, Ken Hueler, L.S. Johnson, Ben Monroe, Gene O'Neill, Jeff Seeman, John Claude Smith, John McCallum Swain, and E.M. Markoff. Published by Tomes & Coffee Press.

Other Formats: Paperback

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

For the Night is Dark Mar 28, 2013

by Jeremy C. Shipp, Armand Rosamilia, Gary McMahon, G.N. Braun, Blaze McRob, William Meikle, Scott Nicholson, Jasper Bark, Joe Mynhardt, Robert W. Walker, Tracie McBride, Kevin Lucia, C. Johnstone, Robert Walker, Stephen Bacon, Daniel I. Russell, Benedict J. Jones, John Claude Smith, Tonia Brown, Mark West, Ray Cluley, Crystal Lake Publishing, Ross Warren

( 11 )

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Darkness, our most primitive fear since shadows first stirred.

Within the pages of this horror anthology you will be taken back into the past, down to the depths of the ocean and across the borderline between our world and the next. You will see snapshots from the lives of small children, old-time cockney gangsters and aimless stoners. You will journey into the darkest house on the darkest street, wander hospital basements, and take a flight in the comfort of first class. You will meet Mr Stix.

The Dark is coming! Call your friends. No one should wander through the dark alone.

This short story collection includes:

Kevin Lucia
Jeremy C. Shipp
Jasper Bark
William Meikle
Ray Cluley
Scott Nicholson
Gary McMahon
G. N. Braun
Carole Johnstone
Armand Rosamilia
Daniel I. Russell
Joe Mynhardt
Tracie McBride
Stephen Bacon
Benedict J. Jones
Blaze McRob
John Claude Smith
Tonia Brown
Mark West
Robert W. Walker

Are you scared of the dark? You should be.

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

For the Night is Dark eBook categories:

Horror anthology
Haunted houses and ghosts
Disturbing psychological horror
Urban Suspense
Short stories
Dark Fantasy Horror
Psychological thriller
Paranormal suspense
Unexplained Mysteries
Paranormal
US Horror Fiction
Thriller short stories
Suspense
Horror

Other Formats: Paperback

Nightscript: Volume 1 Oct 1, 2015

by C.M. Muller

( 12 )

$4.99

An annual anthology of strange and darksome tales, which this year profiles the work of 20 contemporary scribes: Kristi DeMeester, Gregory L. Norris, Charles Wilkinson, Patricia Lillie, David Surface, Daniel Mills, Kirsty Logan, Kyle Yadlosky, Clint Smith, Damien Angelica Walters, Eric J. Guignard, Marc E. Fitch, Michael Kelly, Bethany W. Pope, John Claude Smith, Zdravka Evtimova, Jason A. Wyckoff, Ralph Robert Moore, Christopher Burke, Michael Wehunt.

"A very promising anthology." —Ellen Datlow, Best Horror of the Year

"An annual highlight of the genre." —Anthony Watson, Dark Musings

"Weirdness with truth at its heart." —Des Lewis, Real-Time Reviews

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HWA Poetry Showcase Volume VI Nov 16, 2019

by Stephanie M. Wytovich, Michael Arnzen, Michael Bailey, Saba Syed Razvi

( 4 )

$2.99

The sixth volume of the Horror Writers Association's annual Poetry Showcase has arrived, and it's full of the lyrical dark delights fans thrill to! Edited by Bram Stoker Award-winner Stephanie M. Wytovich, this volume includes new work by featured poets Michael Arnzen, Michael Bailey, and Saba Syed Razvi, as well as nearly 50 others.

Other Formats: Paperback

A Mythos Grimmly Nov 10, 2015

by Morgan Griffith, Abigail Larson, Jeremy Hochhalter, Jaime Will, John Claude Smith, Peter Rawlik, Tracie McBride, James Pratt

( 10 )

$4.99

Fairy tales and Lovecraftian Mythos collide in this mash-up anthology. These short stories, crafted by some of today's finest Mythos authors, merge the maddening unknowns of Lovecraft with the dark morality tales of yesteryear, bringing a shred of light into the horrific corridors that are built from such a melding.

Other Formats: Hardcover , Paperback

THE BEAUTY OF DEATH - Vol.1: The Gargantuan Book of Horror Tales Jul 14, 2016

by Peter Straub, Ramsey Campbell, John Skipp, Edward Lee, Poppy Z. Brite, Nick Mamatas, Tim Waggoner, Lisa Morton, Linda Addison, Alessandro Manzetti

( 10 )

$3.99

The Beauty of Death Anthology, edited by Bram Stoker Award® Winning Author Alessandro Manzetti.
BRAM STOKER AWARDS 2016 NOMINEE - SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN AN ANTHOLOGY
Over 40 stories and novellas by both contemporary masters of horror and exciting newcomers. Stories by: Peter Straub, Ramsey Campbell, Edward Lee, John Skipp, Poppy Z. Brite, Nick Mamatas, Shane McKenzie,Tim Waggoner, Lisa Morton, Gene O'Neill, Linda Addison, Maria Alexander, Monica O'Rourke, John Palisano, Bruce Boston, Alessandro Manzetti, Rena Mason, Kevin Lucia, Daniel Braum, Colleen Anderson,Thersa Matsuura, John F.D. Taff, James Dorr, Marge Simon, Stefano Fantelli, John Claude Smith, K. Trap Jones, Del Howison, Paolo Di Orazio, Ron Breznay, Mike Lester, Annie Neugebauer, Nicola Lombardi, JG Faherty, Kevin David Anderson, Erinn Kemper, Adrian Ludens, Luigi Musolino, Alexander Zelenyj, Daniele Bonfanti, Kathryn Ptacek, Simonetta Santamaria.

Best New Zombie Tales (Vol.3) May 10, 2011

by James Roy Daley, Tim Lebbon, Paul Kane, Joe McKinney, Nancy Kilpatrick, Nate Southard, Simon Wood, Jeremy C. Shipp, Books of the Dead

( 17 )

$2.99

AN AMAZON BESTSELLING HORROR TITLE.

Want the Greatest Zombie Stories Ever Written?
BEST NEW ZOMBIE TALES (Vol. 3)

Includes Amazing Fiction by:
Anthony Award Winner, Simon Wood
Bram Stoker Award Nominee, Joe McKinney
New York Times Bestselling Author, Tim Lebbon
Arthur Ellis Award Winner, Nancy Kilpatrick
British Fantasy Award Nominee, Paul Kane
Bram Stoker Award Nominee, Jeremy C. Shipp
And so much more...

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ~ JAMES ROY DALEY
The Lazarus Condition ~ PAUL KANE
Of Cabbages and Kings ~ NATE SOUTHARD
Those Below ~ JEREMY C. SHIPP
The Traumatized Generation ~ MURRAY J.D. LEEDER
The Cyclist ~ SIMON WOOD
Family First ~ JG FAHERTY
The Way of Things in Fly-Over Country ~ AARON POLSON
The Beach ~ TIM LEBBON
Fast Eddie’s Big Night Out ~ JOHN L. FRENCH
Night of the Living Dead Bingo Women ~ SIMON MCCAFFERY
Worm-sacks and Dirt-backs ~ LEE CLARK ZUMPE
The Purple Word ~ ERIK T. JOHNSON
Sabbatical in the Ohio Methlands ~ JOE MCKINNEY
A Sense of Duty ~ GREGORY MILLER
The Basement ~ WILLIAM T. VANDEMARK
Working Man’s Burden ~ DAVID C. PINNT
The Last Supper (The Anatomy Of Addiction) ~ JOHN CLAUDE SMITH
Memory Bones ~ MICHAEL STONE
Going Down ~ NANCY KILPATRICK
Sweetbread ~ TONIA BROWN
Mixed Drink ~ Zombie #3

Other Formats: Paperback

Occasional Beasts: Tales Sep 17, 2018

by John Claude Smith

( 15 )

$3.49

Occasional Beasts: Tales features fourteen stories, four never before published, exploring the landscape of love and transformation, of desire and damnation, of unleashing the beast within, or encountering the beast of another made flesh, including gods made monsters in the eyes of deranged acolytes, and even the unflinching revelation of one’s true self, be it beastly, otherworldly, or the most horrific beast of all: Man.

We are all Occasional Beasts…

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Test Patterns Dec 26, 2017

by Duane Pesice

( 9 )

$2.99

For your approval; an outré collection of short speculative fictions written with classic Television SF/F anthology programming in mind. These are the nightmares you wake from after staying up too late to watch that eerie midnight movie, only to find yourself bathed in the gray glow of the test pattern from the screen. Richly varied stories designed to impart a moral, inspire thought, give meaning, offer hope, or instill dread. Tales told in unique ways, employing provocative twists and revelations, while exploring the universal themes of humanity and self-discovery through the lenses of horror, fantasy, science fiction, the strange, and the weird.
Our Table of Contents: Summoning Spirits by Michael Adams / The Stars are Black by D.L. Myers / The Woman in the Forge of Saturday Night by Joseph S. Pulver, Sr. / Evidence of Absence by H.S. Graves / I Am Become Death by William Tea & Ron Gelsleichter / The Judge by Philip Fracassi / The Snake Beneath My Skin by Sarah Walker / The Hands of Chaos by Ashley Dioses / The Nomenclature of Unnamable Horrors by Peter Rawlik / Golden Girl by S.L. Edwards / Scenes From a Forgotten Diorama by Brian O’Connell / You Can’t Go Wrong With Grass-Fed Beef by Jill Hand / Abettor by Ruth Asch / Work Group by Pete J. Carter / The Cliffside Tavern by Sean M. Thompson / One Evening in Whitbridge by Scott Thomas / The Velveteen Volvo by Nathan Carson / Outre Non-limitations &The Kumiho Question by Frederick J. Mayer / I’ve Lived in This Place a Long Time by Can Wiggins / The White Terror by Frank Coffman / Symptom of the Universe by John Claude Smith / Sustenance of the Stars by Scott J. Couturier / Alien Shore by Rob F. Martin / Ye Hermit’s Lay by Adam Bolivar / Bridge by Don Webb / Balls by Russell Smeaton / Call Me Corey by Matthew M. Bartlett / Hero Mother by Cody Goodfellow / Red-Eye by Stephen Mark Rainey / Séance by K.A. Opperman / Looking for Ghosts & Prosaic by Duane Pesice

Other Formats: Paperback

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Test Patterns: Creature Features Oct 25, 2018

by Duane Pesice, Cody Goodfellow, Kurt Fawver, Orrin Grey, Danger Slater, Jeffrey Thomas

( 11 )

$2.99

You’ve awakened from a night of strange dreams emanating from the TV's test pattern, but now things are taking a more monstrous turn. Here are 29 original tales from established weavers of weird tales, and several new voices of horror, introducing strange new beings and otherworldly scenarios. So turn on, tune in, and hold on tight!
Our Table of Contents: You’re the Star Now by Michael Adams / FRANKENSTEIN’S MONSTER’S MONSTER by Danger Slater / THE GREEDY GRAVE by Cody Goodfellow / PRETTY IN THE DARK by Erica Ruppert / THE EYE DOCTOR by Robert Guffey / APHANTASIA by Robert S. Wilson / IN THE ROOM OF RED NIGHT by Farah Rose Smith / LITTLE HOUSE IN THE SUBURBS by James Fallweather / AMADIS THE ENCHANTRESS by Ashley Dioses / SPIRIT OF PLACE by James Russell / SIGNALS by John Paul Fitch / FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW by Brenda Kezar / WITH ALL HER TROUBLES BEHIND HER by S.L. Edwards / CHAOS AND VOID by Debra Robinson / THE RIVER RAN RED by Calvin Demmer / EXTINCTION IN GREEN by Kurt Fawver / CHOSEN by Aaron J. French / BONE SEQUENCE by Duane Pesice / THE BRIDE OF THE ASTOUNDING GIGANTIC MONSTER by Buzz Dixon / UNDERGROUND ROSE by Natasha Bennett / THE PEPYS LAKE MONSTER by Orrin Grey / THE BRIDE OF CASTLE FRANKENSTEIN by Jill Hand / NO MORE IRON CROSS by Jayaprakash Satyamurthy / ADMITTED INHABITANTS by Dominique Lamssies / BITTER WATERS by Daniel Brock / MRS. DOOGAN by Lana Cooper / FOR WHOM THERE IS NO JOURNEY by John Linwood Grant / NORMAL by John Claude Smith / SOMETHING HUNGRIER THAN LOVE by Aksel Dadswell / E byJeffrey Thomas / Fade Out by Duane Pesice

Other Formats: Paperback

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Pluto In Furs: Tales Of Diseased Desires And Seductive Horrors Dec 23, 2019

by Scott Dwyer

( 5 )

$2.99

What strange shapes writhe and moan in the infinite black of space? What aberrant desires drive them? What perverse dreams float out into the abyss? Find out in Pluto In Furs Tales of Diseased Desires and Seductive Horrors. An all-original anthology that explores the outer limits of erotic and unsettling horror. In Pluto In Furs, we explore your most intimate perversions and your most disturbing nightmares and see that they may be the same. An all-star line up of some of the greatest horror writers working today, Pluto In Furs is sure to keep you up late with strange dreams and even stranger desires. This is the next book from Plutonian Press, following the critically acclaimed Phantasm/Chimera. Featuring brilliant cover art from Matthew Revert! Stories by Richard Gavin, Jeffrey Thomas, Devora Gray, Adam Golaski, Kurt Fawver, John Claude Smith, David Peak, Rhys Hughes, Mike Allen, Orrin Grey, Clint Smith, Gemma Files, Thana Niveau, and Brendan Vidito.

Other Formats: Paperback

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Riding the Centipede Jun 29, 2015

by John Claude Smith

( 24 )

$2.99

Private Investigator Terrance Blake spends most of his days shadowed by an event from his past, while dismantling the lives of those driven by the masochistic need to confirm the lies they deny are cold, hard truths, until Hollywood socialite Jane Teagarden calls him for only the third time in years with news on the whereabouts of her runaway brother, Marlon.

Marlon Teagarden has been a ghost for ten years, traveling through the underbelly of society as a means of blotting out a past allegedly rife with child abuse, until he is chosen to Ride the Centipede, leading to the ultimate experience, courtesy of literary translator of languages and drug-infused visions from inner and outer space, William S. Burroughs.

Other Formats: Paperback

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