About West of Hell: Weird Western Horror Stories:
Excerpt:
“Exactly what are you hoping to find here, Mister Crowley?” Lucas Slate’s voice was a whisper, or very close to it. He seldom spoke louder than that, and even when he did his voice was not loud.
Slate seldom had to speak loudly to be the center of attention. At well over six feet in height, with skin and hair that were as white as snow, and with his cadaverous appearance, he was usually the first person people took note of when he came on the scene.
At the moment, there was absolutely no one around to take notice of anything, except for his traveling companion, Jonathan Crowley. Crowley was as unremarkable as Lucas Slate was unusual. In a large crowd of people there was little to make Jonathan Crowley noticeable. He was of average height, with a plain face, brown hair, kept reasonably in fashion to the times, and brown eyes. It was only when he smiled that people tended to take note of him. That smile, it has been said, could shave a few years off a person’s lifespan.
At the moment he was not smiling.
Slate stared around the area with half-lidded eyes and his expression remained solemnly dour. They looked down from a stony ridge, observing an area that was covered with scattered green—trees and grass, where the stone did not show like bones underneath a partially decomposed body.
The duo was currently in the foothills of the Rockies, heading slowly to the west. There was a river. There were trees and wildlife and there were, he supposed, a goodly number of Indians in the area.
They were at the very edge of an area that had been “civilized” by the settlers, but Slate had to be aware of the red men in the area, as several different groups had made clear he was not wanted around them. Mostly they just ran in fear when he showed up, but there were always a few exceptions.
“I’ve been told that I should be here, Mister Slate, the better to see sorcery in action.”
“What sort of sorcery?”
“Apparently the type that will, if left alone, kill off every European that has dared set foot on this land.”
“I hardly see anything here that would cause a great stir, Mister Crowley.”
“There is seldom something to see, Mister Slate, until one looks and actually tries to see.”
“What do you mean?” He knew the answer but couldn’t stop himself from asking before it was too late.
“I mean look, Mister Slate. Truly look with all of your senses.” Crowley shook his head, a disappointed teacher, ready to chastise his student.
“And are we no longer looking for Mister Jacobi?”
“It is the middle of the day, Mister Slate, and as we have already discovered, Mister Jacobi only travels by night.” So far, the elusive Marcus Anton Jacobi had managed to remain unseen, despite their best efforts. The same could not be said for his victims, drained of blood and violently murdered.
Amazon
About the Authors:
James A. Moore is a best-selling fantasy and horror author. He has been nominated for the Bram Stoker award four times and won the Shirley Jackson Award with Christopher Golden for editing The Twisted Book of Shadows anthology. He has written novels for the Aliens franchise, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Predator, in addition to writing extensively for the award-winning World of Darkness roleplaying games and for Marvel Comics. His original fiction includes the Blood Red series of vampire novels, the Serenity Falls Trilogy with his recurring anti-hero, the immortal Jonathan Crowley, the critically acclaimed Seven Forges series of fantasy novels and the grimdark Tides of War trilogy and, with Charles Rutledge, the Griffin & Price series of crime-horror novels, along with multiple standalone novels, including the Lovecraftian Deeper, and weird western Boomtown. He is an active member of the Horror Writers Association, where he was both secretary and vice-president for multiple terms, the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers, the International Thriller Writers Association and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. He is the author of over forty novel length works in horror, fantasy, science fiction, crime and westerns. He writes for adults and young adults.
R. B. Wood is a recent MFA graduate of Emerson College and a writer of speculative and dark thrillers. Mr. Wood recently has appeared in Crystal Lake Publishing’s Shallow Water’s anthology, as well as online via SickLit Magazine & HorrorAddicts.net, and in the award-winning anthology “Offbeat: Nine Spins on Song” from Wicked ink Books. Along with his writing passion, R. B. is the host of The Word Count Podcast—a show of original flash fiction. His second novel, Bayou Whispers was released by Crystal Lake Publishing in 2022.
R. B. currently lives in Boston with his partner Tina, a multitude of cats, and various other critters that visit from time to time.
Michael Burke is a lifelong fan of fantasy, science
fiction, and horror, propelled into these realms at a tender age when he
discovered his father's cache of pulp novels. A passion for comic books soon
followed. His mother fostered a love of westerns and 50s science fiction
movies.
While deciding what he wanted to do for a living, taking jobs that ranged from
the music industry to promotions to security to construction to pharmaceutical,
Michael co-founded the award-winning comic book and collectible store,
Comicazi, in Somerville, MA in 2000.
When not sorting the comic stacks at work, Michael can be found at home, releasing the hobgoblins of his mind into short story form. He has been published in Whetstone:Amateur Magazine of Pulp Sword and Sorcery, The Horror Zine, Northern Frights, Witch House, and the 80s-themed anthology, Totally Tubular Terrors.
He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Angie, who kindly supports and encourages his writing and comic book passions. He is a lucky man. Now, if only he could decide what he wants to be when he grows up.
No comments:
Post a Comment