tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53389836769559271052024-03-13T09:19:42.516-04:00WICKED RUN PRESS"Because the Wicked Run when nobody's chasing."Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.comBlogger462125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-46393272133654947042023-12-23T08:44:00.004-05:002023-12-23T08:44:29.572-05:00Met My Old Lover in the Grocery Store—A Dark Backstory to the Christmas Song, Same Old Lang Syne<p> </p><div class="page" title="Page 86"><div class="section" style="background-color: white;"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wg4VJZTq8vU" width="386" youtube-src-id="wg4VJZTq8vU"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: large;">Met My Old Lover in the Grocery Store</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">A dark backstory to the Christmas song, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Same Old Lang Syne</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">, by Dan Fogelberg</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">Acid burns in my stomach. This desolate room is so quiet I can nearly hear the pink lining of my gut sizzle. The acid blazes like a blow torch, and when it finally breaks through, it seeps like hazardous waste to poison other organs. To poison my soul.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">My undead soul. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I carry a dead spirit inside me. A cold, undead soul, and my flesh just its coffin.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">My soul died when she left. Nothing would ever be the same. This room will never be </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">clean. Clothes and wet towels seem to spring from the ground like weeds. Dishes always piled high. Memories drip from the walls.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">How often I used to be away from here traveling to a gig, Gibson acoustic in hand and dreams in my head.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">Now the walls are my prison and I’m stuck.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">It started when I came home and the rooms were emptied. She had enough, and left. I don’t blame her, I only miss her.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">Now it’s Christmas Eve and I sit alone. Another Christmas Eve with just memories in my head and the stink of my rotting soul.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">Bile rises farther up my throat. I wonder when I will explode like a volcano, but I don’t explode, I just burn.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">I want to burst. To be blown apart. I want my body to dissipate and die and no longer be conscious of anything, just a black and eternal dreamless sleep.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">Instead, I live on.<br />What was I now? Lifeless, not just in spirit, but in flesh. I’ve sliced my wrists many times, digging for the blue with the sharpest knife in the </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">house. I sawed at my skin ferociously, but it was just a tough piece of cheap meat—rubbery, plastic, and when I do break skin, blood refuses to spill. If I squeeze where the slice is, I can get just a few drops, pancake syrup coming from the bottom of the plastic bottle, instead of a geyser spraying the walls.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">It won’t work, I can’t die, because I’m already dead inside.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">A gunshot to the head. That will work and that is my next plan, because living is such pain. Emptiness. Shattering my skull with a bullet seems the only thing to let my dead soul escape its prison.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">Tomorrow is the time for saviors, but Christ will not save a wretch like me. There will be no North Star in the sky to guide me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">It was time to go out. Not just go out, but </span><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">go out</span><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">, and go out big. This bile in my gut will be shared with the world. The acid will shoot forth and others will feel my hurt.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">If I must suffer, then someone else should know this pain. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">The snow was falling Christmas Eve, and I stepped outside and walked underneath. Each </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">white drop fell from a frozen, Godless sky.</span></p></div></div></div></div><div class="page" title="Page 87"><div class="section" style="background-color: white;"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">Cold car seat leather makes me shiver. My breath fogs from the frigid air. I would breathe fire and bullets soon enough.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">Hiller’s grocery store is open. It’s a lit-up oasis in the dark streets of my tiny town. Last minute shoppers out for </span><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">just one more thing </span><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">to make the family meal look just right. Like in the commercials. The warm steam rising from turkeys out of the oven. The smiling faces in the kitchen. They make that shit up in commercials. It never happens in real life.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">The electric door swings open, and I feel like a gunslinger walking into a saloon. The lights of the store make me squint. Nobody notices me. Nobody can see the dead spirit inside me, and nobody can tell I have a pistol in my waistband.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">I wander through the produce section looking at fruit. Green bananas would brown and rot. Apples unpurchased would bruise and be tossed. Milk cartons tagged with expiration dates I would never live to see.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">A woman leaned into the frozen food section eyeing the packs of corn and broccoli, picking through as if anyone was different from the other.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">I study the hair flowing down her back. Each curl on her head looks busy, alive, vibrant. Speaking to me like snakes, mocking my misery.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">She’s the one. I’m going to kill her.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">Time doesn’t exist in that moment, the present is an illusion, the future already here, and I can see the explosion from the gunshot in the back of her head. The crackling sound of the pistol, the skull fragments scattering on the ground in a pool of blood.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">Clean up, aisle 5.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">I reach for my pistol. I feel the cold metal. Nothing has ever felt more real than my gun at this moment and the promise that it holds. True salvation on Christmas Eve, no need to wait for Christmas morning. It was time to </span><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">go out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">To make her burn.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">My finger is tense on the trigger. I decide to wait. I want her to see me before it happens. One person, at least, should see the pain in my eyes. The last image flashing in her brain before her death will be my suffering.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">With one hand on the gun, I touched her on the sleeve. She turned. Her eyes flew open wide.<br />The face.<br />My memory.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">Synapses shot. Memories explode instead of gunfire. My God. It is her.<br />My old lover in a grocery store on Christmas Eve. My soulmate.<br />The bile in my gut resides when she wraps her arms around me. Such love. Such joy. I </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">embrace her back hard as I could. I feel undeserving. I try to be my former self.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">I breathe in the scent of her hair, the flesh of her neck. We hold each other intimate, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">swaying slightly to a song only we can hear from a radio frequency emitted long ago.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">She was warm, safe, and if I hold her long enough, the dead soul inside me might come T</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">o life. Hark! The herald Angels sing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">I would stay here forever but the sound of clutter and something bouncing at our feet. Instead of her fractured skull spilling, it was her purse that spilled. I tucked the pistol </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">deep into my pocket and bend down to help her. A blue leather wallet, a package of band aids, a small bottle of ibuprofen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">She laughs hysterically at the fallen content, not embarrassed one bit, her eyes full of joy, full of laugher. She is just as I remembered.</span></p></div></div></div></div><div class="page" title="Page 88"><div class="section" style="background-color: white;"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">I breathe deeply, hoping to inhale the air exhaled from her lungs into my own.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">God, I could never harm her, never. But in my self-indulgent, self-pity bullshit I almost ended her life. We are both in tears, mine sad and tragic, hers happy. It was a mess.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">She was the part of me chiseled out and made into something more perfect, more divine. We met at sixteen years old. It started with a nervous first kiss and terrifying backseat sex. We took adventures, like a long drive to Cedar Point to ride roller coasters and get caricature paintings. We backpacked the Appalachian trail the year before college because we thought we were going to different schools, but changed our plans around campfires where our deepest parts were smoked out. We decided not to separate and went to college together. We traveled to Chicago to see the Indigo Girls and drove back the same night. We spent days tangled up in bedsheets eating ice cream and watching movies. I was there after her procedure. When she was hurt.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">And she was there in the front row, gig after gig, in the Ann Arbor coffee shops and intimate theaters.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">School made her grow practical and strong, music made me flighty and erratic. When she finally left me, I had failed out of school, and worse, would never learn.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">How do you survive when your passion and joy shatters?<br />I stopped living when she left, because my soul was ripped out.<br />I thought of what I looked like to her on this Christmas Eve in a grocery store. My aged </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">skin and tired eyes devoid of hope.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">“The years have been a friend to you,” I told her. “Your eyes are still as blue.”<br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">What the fuck was that? </span><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">I want to snatch the words back, but then she looks away and I</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">see something. A glimpse of disappointment, discontent, maybe? Perhaps she longs for the life we had dreamed about together but never lived.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">My pistol. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">My God, keep it hidden</span><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">. The safety was on. I pull my jacket down to cover the bulge. I walk with her to the checkout, me with nothing to buy, and her maybe suspicious.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">The first bar we try had an open neon flashing sign on, but the parking lot was empty and the damn thing was closed. I know the place. Always a false open sign. Owner serves the morning auto workers vodka for breakfast to stop the shakes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">“Bars are closed Christmas Eve I guess,” she says.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">But she was wrong. There were other bars open. I know of them and go there often, where lonely saps like myself drink slowly, trying to pretend they were with family. Bringing her inside would summon men off their barstools, men whose souls were also dead. They would flash their tobacco-stained smiles. They would talk to her with whiskey spitting from their lips, and she would curtly end the evening.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">“Let’s get a six pack from a liquor store,” she says, “PBR. In a can, of course. You got a radio. We can drink it in the car. We’re good.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">She always loved my spontaneity. Did she realize that she was the flame that fueled it?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">Soon, cold beer from even colder metal is on our lips. With each sip a little less to talk about, bigger sips to cover the emptiness. Underneath the dashboard, heat blew at our feet. The radio was tuned to Christmas songs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">We talk a bit of old friends. We held back questions we didn’t want answers to. The diamond rock on her finger but no ring on mine was obvious.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">“I married an architect,” she says. “He keeps me warm and safe and dry.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">Of course. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">An architect</span><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">. Someone who built things and didn’t tear them down. I didn’t ask any more questions but looked into her blue eyes which told truths.</span></p></div></div></div></div><div class="page" title="Page 89"><div class="section" style="background-color: white;"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">“I’d like to say I loved the man,” she said, “but I wouldn’t want to lie.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">She could try to lie, but I would have known. She did love him once, I am sure, but it faded and emptied. Like our beers. Like my life.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">Was she asking me to tell her that I always loved her? That I felt love for her right there, sitting in a cold car with snowflakes covering the roof of my Toyota, burying us alive together. For a second, my undead soul was in communion with someone else.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">On the radio, Winter Wonderland played. Unmarried lovers wanted Pastor Brown to marry them in town. The vows would be broken, but the memories of building snowmen in the meadow would not.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">“You still buy records, don’t you?” she asks. “Because I saw you in the record store. You were flipping through vinyls of The Velvet Underground. I almost said Hi. I heard you were traveling. You were getting gigs everywhere. I thought you must be doing well.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">“Do I look well?” I ask, but before she could answer, I add, “I miss it, I miss my music, I miss my audience.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">“Audiences loved you,” she said, and the words strum chords in my heart.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">She was my audience, doesn’t she realize that? She was the only audience that mattered, but I spent so much time apart, going from small town to town, hoping for something bigger to prove to her my talent, my passion. My brain flashed back through the years, images scattered like puzzle pieces, none making sense on their own. If I had only stayed with her, instead of looking to the road.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">“The audience was heavenly, but the traveling was hell.”<br />God, this was all too much.<br />She knew I had enough. That I couldn’t take it, so she leaned forward to kiss me. Not on</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">the cheek, but the lips. The sound of the soft smack was frozen in the car. I waited for any trace left of my soul to respond, to be brought to life, instead of a scream of agony.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">“God gives us what we need, if we just look,” she said. “And I needed this, to see you. What we had together is proof of grace. Please be well and remember that. Please keep your music playing.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">Acid flames in my gut. I felt that old familiar pain. Now I had nothing. Just the sight of her red brake lights as she drove away. The taste of her lips on mine would soon fade.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">Snowflakes dropped from the cold God in the sky. The bile in my stomach returned, sizzling like a steak on the grill. I reached for the safety of the gun in my pocket.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">Something would have to give. I can’t handle life anymore, but I will certainly not harm another. She saved me from that.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">Instead of boiling anger and hurting another, I wanted to die in a cold shattering of icicle tears. The gun to my own head was the answer. I needed to go. Let me out, I’ve had enough.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">My chest heaved with anticipation. I started to pant like a dog. Lights all around me from strip malls full of people who would never know my pain. I can’t take it. Can’t take the coldness of life falling on me tonight. I will die if this snow keeps falling. Each flake of snow that froze my world is proof that this cold feeling is permanent. I say a prayer, softly, Pabst Blue Ribbon in my hand and empty seat next to me. ‘</span><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">God show me you care. Show me some warmth. Make this snow stop.’</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">I had fully planned to kill myself that night, at home with as little mess as possible, but I changed my mind and spent Christmas morning alive and breathing instead. I even made it to New Year’s day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;">Because as I turned to make my way back home, the snow had turned into rain.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times'; font-size: 12pt;"><i><b>*To read a collection of short stories, currently a free Download on Amazon, Check Out:</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Let-Out-Ive-Had-Enough-ebook/dp/B099FD7BQF" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">LET ME OUT I'VE HAD ENOUGH</span></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvybXH2n8gnw6yxq1YAwBp896s7uc_6NRLLg0sl-fUhjdu0WW0qvqMdgCkp6STgvvYJU4VtuIZM_QzTr-rwBeD5y3YMqsVk8R6a17z1f78ffqOnKE4P4Kp3plw-p4chMggd4sZbftvOXqgBmqZs4oQHBB-w_rVR6qfk_izQ4dpfYjybhCgS8CK91NzJnGy/s2048/E9B9rvRXsAY_dUR.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvybXH2n8gnw6yxq1YAwBp896s7uc_6NRLLg0sl-fUhjdu0WW0qvqMdgCkp6STgvvYJU4VtuIZM_QzTr-rwBeD5y3YMqsVk8R6a17z1f78ffqOnKE4P4Kp3plw-p4chMggd4sZbftvOXqgBmqZs4oQHBB-w_rVR6qfk_izQ4dpfYjybhCgS8CK91NzJnGy/s320/E9B9rvRXsAY_dUR.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div></div></div>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-84446356281351993222023-02-11T09:57:00.007-05:002023-02-11T09:57:45.521-05:00Christa Carmen's story from Orphans of Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror is on the Bram Stoker Award Preliminary Ballot<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Excited to announce that Christa Carmen's story from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Orphans-Bliss-Tales-Addiction-Horror-ebook/dp/B09TG7QTHH/" target="_blank">Orphans of Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror</a>, is on the Horror Writer's Association Bram Stoker Award preliminary ballot for superior achievement in Long Fiction. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Congratulations Christa! "Through the Looking Glass and Straight into Hell" literally made my jaw drop when I finished. It's an amazing work. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1TqB-kScZOrBdGT_kMjNcbd1Z9tnsuOB057na88MJ6pcIJ-K1bxvT8RrcZUMS83dtsIOFytnA0nPU1XfQDFJcdAVgYg4nscwYzsM5ELXGIiKbzpI2LKzNLXAjj5Q0F-wcPZTgTFRllltpsaP3Ebg6gV0QxEQDzbzSW4QxDcNBZggGsaBfGoTiloXKeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1TqB-kScZOrBdGT_kMjNcbd1Z9tnsuOB057na88MJ6pcIJ-K1bxvT8RrcZUMS83dtsIOFytnA0nPU1XfQDFJcdAVgYg4nscwYzsM5ELXGIiKbzpI2LKzNLXAjj5Q0F-wcPZTgTFRllltpsaP3Ebg6gV0QxEQDzbzSW4QxDcNBZggGsaBfGoTiloXKeg=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Check out</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Orphans-Bliss-Tales-Addiction-Horror-ebook/dp/B09TG7QTHH/" target="_blank">Orphans of Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Just $4.99 Kindle. $9.99 Audiobook $12.99 Paperback $21.99 Hardcover</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHypjTQJ-6GlSTCP2GX1ag1px5sUho0wDIA3ODqanWItAvX9fuxdKy8QyeLD7uiCtlJxC-mdBv1i4SAlF09_gXggi3Zt-4V9yFudVAoF0-SD3NSPRtDAOliHA-CTwIv-1_XyE4TEPReJJPcB8Gboxyg6c4XcXfB2vaXRsmNVW7XeYaptAnszErfyBKA/s1200/BookBrushImage-2023-1-23-19-5712.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHypjTQJ-6GlSTCP2GX1ag1px5sUho0wDIA3ODqanWItAvX9fuxdKy8QyeLD7uiCtlJxC-mdBv1i4SAlF09_gXggi3Zt-4V9yFudVAoF0-SD3NSPRtDAOliHA-CTwIv-1_XyE4TEPReJJPcB8Gboxyg6c4XcXfB2vaXRsmNVW7XeYaptAnszErfyBKA/w640-h334/BookBrushImage-2023-1-23-19-5712.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-84111651217042254582022-06-21T07:15:00.002-04:002022-06-21T07:15:24.402-04:00MILK-BLOOD: Second Edition <p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">MILK-BLOOD is 8 years old this week!</span></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdif6WSfDRLZ_rpSghTzBy1yWOkPLNNxz0F-I-42AEEmD7UiOhdO2YTv-h5rcBNW0oIlv5AQLBnUj9HdvxMhb_0XDJMN9tQcO8znzlTTBUMrdLuKyeqmExWbXzisw9EqLm9h3Gfd13qgG77Yj-fA5NObFRkuxJcPrZ-LKjE7ExN4nFxzXe-_ntAJTUdQ/s3778/BookBrushImage-2022-6-18-10-033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2775" data-original-width="3778" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdif6WSfDRLZ_rpSghTzBy1yWOkPLNNxz0F-I-42AEEmD7UiOhdO2YTv-h5rcBNW0oIlv5AQLBnUj9HdvxMhb_0XDJMN9tQcO8znzlTTBUMrdLuKyeqmExWbXzisw9EqLm9h3Gfd13qgG77Yj-fA5NObFRkuxJcPrZ-LKjE7ExN4nFxzXe-_ntAJTUdQ/w349-h256/BookBrushImage-2022-6-18-10-033.jpg" width="349" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The grandparent of my Addiction Horror run, the mythos of Lilly from Brentwood Street sparked a universe that I've returned to half a dozen times</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> I've done some tweaks, nips, and tucks. Created a new cover that goes with its sequel, All Smoke Rises, and BOOM—a second edition. It's now on sale through 6/28/22. Kindle is just .99 Cents and paperback just $9.99. And for the first time ever, Hardcover is also available.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/MILK-BLOOD-Mark-Matthews-ebook/dp/B00L978UN2" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Check out Milk-Blood on Amazon</span></a></span></p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGdKkncpxVYdKiBcv0QaEnY6opudVSzX_KRPZkE0WKkrjz6UGUU5ayJ2zIJ47AIQJ93-lG09BZYGvKxWo_quDGrwEKxdirVghnd_bTthzhZ0qgeroFQqwOAou8zR42sFvcwhP8YVgYlzxfq_7t4IYCRw271HICEZ1C30qKh1Ng5RARMecSc6FLdrs-w/s1080/BookBrushImage-2022-6-21-7-153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGdKkncpxVYdKiBcv0QaEnY6opudVSzX_KRPZkE0WKkrjz6UGUU5ayJ2zIJ47AIQJ93-lG09BZYGvKxWo_quDGrwEKxdirVghnd_bTthzhZ0qgeroFQqwOAou8zR42sFvcwhP8YVgYlzxfq_7t4IYCRw271HICEZ1C30qKh1Ng5RARMecSc6FLdrs-w/s320/BookBrushImage-2022-6-21-7-153.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-29172186981863284912022-05-04T13:23:00.003-04:002022-05-04T13:23:30.416-04:00ORPHANS OF BLISS: TALES OF ADDICTION HORROR is Now Available<p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Orphans-Bliss-Tales-Addiction-Horror/dp/1736695045" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">ORPHANS OF BLISS: TALES OF ADDICTION HORROR</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">is now available</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLAHm6btflbKkKr2LAdgg8OUnrApRBetH2qKH8XwFMuvrfp6tqtCOUL_y4LlcxzQcELNpd0qPu9i8YELGLJMXQ7Em48pOkUinbueNaRHa5fAyTqETmgwc4TM9vQWEb_coFKZPAahFZ4fKSb2vrPP42BAml4-AMeksbjKbnr_w1aGKsjAGTj-StGQEdg/s1080/BookBrushImage-2022-5-4-7-5947.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLAHm6btflbKkKr2LAdgg8OUnrApRBetH2qKH8XwFMuvrfp6tqtCOUL_y4LlcxzQcELNpd0qPu9i8YELGLJMXQ7Em48pOkUinbueNaRHa5fAyTqETmgwc4TM9vQWEb_coFKZPAahFZ4fKSb2vrPP42BAml4-AMeksbjKbnr_w1aGKsjAGTj-StGQEdg/w400-h400/BookBrushImage-2022-5-4-7-5947.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p>Five years and two weeks after Garden of Fiends was first published, Orphans of Bliss, the third addiction horror anthology, goes live in paperback and digital today. Yay! I've met so many wonderful people along the way who contributed and supported these projects. My thanks and gratitude to all y'all. I dedicate these to my brother Kevin, passed before his time, but who introduced me to the wonders and power of Horror to capture our imagination and tell our stories.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0y2bOCHZlyjj9np4sxVO2jouzDy4Rc7A_CEvTqPNpeHYslNyd1eu4EA1CnR61iVfZHkuY43e03bhHEcHagpgfI27ReD1MLBvUt0jHwUWExUUtGuUWPvF7looDGmavJMnipEhzX3lSkjllFBk3v6qdsYRWJxC3ctuwVmXccXXUbzPUGdCZ4WKO50Gzg/s4030/DAE7416B-3F8C-4D0C-A768-464C7C2A85B7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4030" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0y2bOCHZlyjj9np4sxVO2jouzDy4Rc7A_CEvTqPNpeHYslNyd1eu4EA1CnR61iVfZHkuY43e03bhHEcHagpgfI27ReD1MLBvUt0jHwUWExUUtGuUWPvF7looDGmavJMnipEhzX3lSkjllFBk3v6qdsYRWJxC3ctuwVmXccXXUbzPUGdCZ4WKO50Gzg/w400-h283/DAE7416B-3F8C-4D0C-A768-464C7C2A85B7.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-36238106638013811892022-04-27T06:43:00.003-04:002022-04-27T10:25:51.033-04:00Announcing the Hardcover Edition of Orphans of Bliss<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pleased to Announce the Hardcover Edition of</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>Orphans of Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now available on all major retailers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jacket cover art, exclusive to the Hardcover, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by Kealan Patrick Burke's Elderlemon Design</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHaquA6WuK0B-OdyWjoDH0KEOV9WCP9NDeFpdrdTMhJx7M7uQdcv3YoLGlAbft_3aSN_AwBASEMQqxAtOK4q-v5Qr6UK3NnPTqVeDpKmLXFnSDrEfvKId8McJryy14I6KEsDDNXAg4xlhoz8bTbGz0MhUiqNtT33DDzr-yFbf0aVMLNhQxcsqP_8m2Q/s3274/IMG_2585.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3274" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHaquA6WuK0B-OdyWjoDH0KEOV9WCP9NDeFpdrdTMhJx7M7uQdcv3YoLGlAbft_3aSN_AwBASEMQqxAtOK4q-v5Qr6UK3NnPTqVeDpKmLXFnSDrEfvKId8McJryy14I6KEsDDNXAg4xlhoz8bTbGz0MhUiqNtT33DDzr-yFbf0aVMLNhQxcsqP_8m2Q/w592-h640/IMG_2585.heic" width="592" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Interior cover art is a version of </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Marcela Bolivar's artwork from the Paperback</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTkeP6_7AWbwJ317Y_LQKgtkvfVWNje_fETu302AdrwQj8KQlEiWJhiIhNsLn0vcxW7UXZX36AzXSnKsD49PwcC_xSieJPSxIxThUn2CZPoUcf9ZspUBp_Zhwhm9k3FU4SKWEeahvqPkC3j3YOOuxW0wamHWO9LQIGBtdN88z0pc58YRQruujT85_og/s3781/IMG_2584.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3781" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTkeP6_7AWbwJ317Y_LQKgtkvfVWNje_fETu302AdrwQj8KQlEiWJhiIhNsLn0vcxW7UXZX36AzXSnKsD49PwcC_xSieJPSxIxThUn2CZPoUcf9ZspUBp_Zhwhm9k3FU4SKWEeahvqPkC3j3YOOuxW0wamHWO9LQIGBtdN88z0pc58YRQruujT85_og/w320-h400/IMG_2584.heic" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Check Out This 1 Minute Video</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xZB2IhUHqJo" width="320" youtube-src-id="xZB2IhUHqJo"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And there's BOOKPLATES!! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Signed Bookplates are available. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The first 50 who email proof of purchase to WickedRunPress@gmail.com with their address will receive a Bookplate mailed to them. (Please don't forget to send your address)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgViEE0FJ-64n20hzumqb_aGM8lDLQuBdKNpqFk1fDiWk47yymbsrCZDO-3dW0m-QLJChz2CaoiOlfk17CgldOaNJ9bgrBdf3uN-HxkDDTu5i1CucWPFLfr2stxPAvge1SVH7pT2TG3cIBBTe4R1pzoWcJI2Xy6LKZlXTdVS3S-h7Tp6LlWmJuZ__gQlA/s4032/IMG_2573.HEIC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgViEE0FJ-64n20hzumqb_aGM8lDLQuBdKNpqFk1fDiWk47yymbsrCZDO-3dW0m-QLJChz2CaoiOlfk17CgldOaNJ9bgrBdf3uN-HxkDDTu5i1CucWPFLfr2stxPAvge1SVH7pT2TG3cIBBTe4R1pzoWcJI2Xy6LKZlXTdVS3S-h7Tp6LlWmJuZ__gQlA/s320/IMG_2573.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uk7dN6uL_QV82qwJ6E6vp7RAe2iir2MBa2_UaicCy3g2WgqEO6zaR1_hFKpMTg2KfQIBDg6ZuRFASzx6dn4oOL_gUSEXAureK_Cao9unVglOtyBq4jQ-AYZBgTSEdzQci3heOp_pQ9WxjjnusBcv0pogt0dA2-irgKI50Q_g7WEPHVLAVYULALY5nw/s4032/IMG_2574.HEIC" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uk7dN6uL_QV82qwJ6E6vp7RAe2iir2MBa2_UaicCy3g2WgqEO6zaR1_hFKpMTg2KfQIBDg6ZuRFASzx6dn4oOL_gUSEXAureK_Cao9unVglOtyBq4jQ-AYZBgTSEdzQci3heOp_pQ9WxjjnusBcv0pogt0dA2-irgKI50Q_g7WEPHVLAVYULALY5nw/s320/IMG_2574.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Paperback and Kindle on Sale on 5/4/22</b></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBoRLRAAE4l8btuMNLONikc0zJHtsdaqAE6Oo1g4G9FDwnMm__GOYbXrHObbuHGC6DOe1u3N-Nf6kSeSlNCvSFdRbClfC_FLg_XwomMn3Xfr2iX8W1H2KzExoMkP6AZ6-Sdhfg7r_3szmFyMVS4Z3VW0WOhTlsSaLE3NOAKqaDs3e_m_iV7lLACKOpQ/s1000/BookBrushImage-2022-4-17-10-5415.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBoRLRAAE4l8btuMNLONikc0zJHtsdaqAE6Oo1g4G9FDwnMm__GOYbXrHObbuHGC6DOe1u3N-Nf6kSeSlNCvSFdRbClfC_FLg_XwomMn3Xfr2iX8W1H2KzExoMkP6AZ6-Sdhfg7r_3szmFyMVS4Z3VW0WOhTlsSaLE3NOAKqaDs3e_m_iV7lLACKOpQ/s320/BookBrushImage-2022-4-17-10-5415.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCtFjQ6gvrC3x9ipnyUhPTiAA0srEM-4-65GWnkFaWQ5YE0z4EGHVKh0sCdmAOnkylByHf8KYO1o3t8sl0Ibt9evDj3FXKgoPAhULFvVyXK0CfaL2Z7OedEdknzUXkV9S1EscUO6vZlaUtPa2k5RAH4dUkKccLqpyQtD8q1IlGX-Lr9_7upMCeC99sA/s3710/IMG_2592.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3710" data-original-width="2970" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCtFjQ6gvrC3x9ipnyUhPTiAA0srEM-4-65GWnkFaWQ5YE0z4EGHVKh0sCdmAOnkylByHf8KYO1o3t8sl0Ibt9evDj3FXKgoPAhULFvVyXK0CfaL2Z7OedEdknzUXkV9S1EscUO6vZlaUtPa2k5RAH4dUkKccLqpyQtD8q1IlGX-Lr9_7upMCeC99sA/w512-h640/IMG_2592.heic" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Orphans of Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror </span></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">hardcover now available!</span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>on Amazon:</b></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://tinyurl.com/mu4tyxcs&source=gmail&ust=1650369107890000&usg=AOvVaw0Zzwe69FOuBiT89utlSnz4" href="https://tinyurl.com/mu4tyxcs" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/mu4tyxcs</a></b></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>on Barnes & Noble</b></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://tinyurl.com/mrxyb5aw&source=gmail&ust=1650369107890000&usg=AOvVaw1aL-79eHlExKtKPRZUtUOE" href="https://tinyurl.com/mrxyb5aw" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/mrxyb5aw</a><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>IndieBound</b></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://tinyurl.com/4rtbr94s&source=gmail&ust=1650369107890000&usg=AOvVaw2c88jCRZpLQqnJIXePBAGz" href="https://tinyurl.com/4rtbr94s" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>https://tinyurl.com/4rtbr94s</b></span></a></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><i><br /></i></span></b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-5969959217247141992022-03-31T08:49:00.006-04:002022-03-31T08:49:42.165-04:00Orphans of Bliss Receives a Starred Review by Both Booklist and The Library Journal <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's been a good week for ORPHANS OF BLISS: TALES OF ADDICTION HORROR</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">First, a Starred Review by The Library Journal, calling the work a <b>"triumphant conclusion"</b> to the trio of addiction horror anthologies and a <b>"must add to all collections"</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This was followed by a Starred Review from Booklist—their full review coming in their April 15th issue. I've seen it, and some very glowing praise.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #273f1c; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Publication date is 5/4/22. Digital presale price is $5.99. Paperback is $14.99</span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Preorder available now on all major retailers including: </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TG7QTHH" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;">Amazon</a> / <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781736695043" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;">Indie Bound</a> /</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/orphans-of-bliss-sa-cosby/1141022870" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;">Barnes & Noble Paperback</a> / <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/orphans-of-bliss-josh-malerman/1141062338" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;">Barnes & Noble Nook</a> /</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1611777031" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;">Apple Books</a> / <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/orphans-of-bliss-tales-of-addiction-horror" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;">Kobo</a></span></span></b></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGIg3iw-HupCIlifrTbe-rN4CgBHYoUlMINhGhhcKZtiXcvtdVltzxVfqQiLZK1dsHIGwgWlwiW45a6bEtu_uFuyV3zAO9VKAbglQtMXJLqbG2cRMoNPsQnchYyZKXUL2gZBd8CzeQZcKOD4uVX_nHYQbKOhm8kbvlwSbQkZHJSPrCZuLTlsoPSTd6w/s1000/BookBrushImage-2022-3-30-18-49.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1000" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGIg3iw-HupCIlifrTbe-rN4CgBHYoUlMINhGhhcKZtiXcvtdVltzxVfqQiLZK1dsHIGwgWlwiW45a6bEtu_uFuyV3zAO9VKAbglQtMXJLqbG2cRMoNPsQnchYyZKXUL2gZBd8CzeQZcKOD4uVX_nHYQbKOhm8kbvlwSbQkZHJSPrCZuLTlsoPSTd6w/w640-h448/BookBrushImage-2022-3-30-18-49.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20go0j-qFBiRXwaQZTxFT52TW2O8Ml6ldepAbGWxOZ6cgtRMoyzq0v0dRp2NPvbORFM88vbmYpkTNMDSRqvaqPqTxkY2nqJ4MODIP0MWVELz9T2KzfehjvNs1Qb4GP4mH_uQKfd8TYvlvciNGX8QlSS6LQbG9kia3vEkIRGGMI-95_quA2z0B7cVX9g/s236/Booklist_StarReview_badge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="236" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20go0j-qFBiRXwaQZTxFT52TW2O8Ml6ldepAbGWxOZ6cgtRMoyzq0v0dRp2NPvbORFM88vbmYpkTNMDSRqvaqPqTxkY2nqJ4MODIP0MWVELz9T2KzfehjvNs1Qb4GP4mH_uQKfd8TYvlvciNGX8QlSS6LQbG9kia3vEkIRGGMI-95_quA2z0B7cVX9g/s1600/Booklist_StarReview_badge.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-4321525647626934472022-03-16T08:58:00.003-04:002022-03-16T13:17:53.790-04:0025 Kindle Copies of ORPHANS OF BLISS: TALES OF ADDICTION HORROR<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="gmail-"><div class="gmail-public-DraftStyleDefault-block gmail-public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="color: #0f1419; direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Check it out! FREE copies! Wicked Run Press is giving away 25 kindle copies of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Orphans-Bliss-Tales-Addiction-Horror-ebook/dp/B09TG7QTHH" target="_blank">ORPHANS OF BLISS: TALES OF ADDICTION HORROR</a> to the first 25 readers who email proof of purchase of any title from one of the authors on the TOC to WickedRunPress@gmail. Put "Orphans" in the subject line. You'll receive a voucher for a free download on publication day, 5/4/22 </span></div><div class="gmail-public-DraftStyleDefault-block gmail-public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="color: #0f1419; direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Date of purchase can be anytime within the past 6 months.</span></div><div class="gmail-public-DraftStyleDefault-block gmail-public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="color: #0f1419; direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">(Must have an Amazon account, and sorry—US Only)</span></div><div class="gmail-public-DraftStyleDefault-block gmail-public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="color: #0f1419; direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDqhhii6617UkqtY0UtfuO0u_5JHu4RubCUhdedc8hgu6b_CoDEgdqAtM_s3cTFqGgSR_2b5RgnRGdN-YxgAe8KFdnO0GI6JhG3l_f898KLd8PBl6Awba2r59IjgKPfXQCbUdN7aIeA49IQqpgXnICAfFmkmcWTGPNGUCCY4JwvcNitXrDw-JjpMAcUA=s1518" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1518" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDqhhii6617UkqtY0UtfuO0u_5JHu4RubCUhdedc8hgu6b_CoDEgdqAtM_s3cTFqGgSR_2b5RgnRGdN-YxgAe8KFdnO0GI6JhG3l_f898KLd8PBl6Awba2r59IjgKPfXQCbUdN7aIeA49IQqpgXnICAfFmkmcWTGPNGUCCY4JwvcNitXrDw-JjpMAcUA=w640-h320" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="gmail-public-DraftStyleDefault-block gmail-public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="color: #0f1419; direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #0f1419; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>In order of the Orphans of Bliss table of contents</i></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span><div class="gmail-public-DraftStyleDefault-block gmail-public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="color: #0f1419; direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Celebrate St Patrick's Day early with this incredibly gifted horror writer who has the lead story in all three addiction horror anthologies: </span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="6r42b" data-offset-key="4mm0r-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="4mm0r-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="4mm0r-0-0"><a href=" https://www.amazon.com/Kealan-Patrick-Burke/e/B002BLW1IU" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">KEALAN PATRICK BURKE</span></a></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="6r42b" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="background-color: white;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="color: #0f1419; direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUte3Ul7bYVa6bTQhiMnJgsTR3DEV9Hint5fxNvrG2tdn5Dzjxucc1C0OQGt15b5tXxD4XTCuv5EBYzKnoRBkhsw2NuIaN3y9WOPGU-3CUoEGmzIFLP6XTbqgC_3CHzzelqJKToTfioBVvLIhDbe99jcPGV9kEEalSqq8Wa6N3IRcJ3CKI4k-z7TGAhg=s694" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="694" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUte3Ul7bYVa6bTQhiMnJgsTR3DEV9Hint5fxNvrG2tdn5Dzjxucc1C0OQGt15b5tXxD4XTCuv5EBYzKnoRBkhsw2NuIaN3y9WOPGU-3CUoEGmzIFLP6XTbqgC_3CHzzelqJKToTfioBVvLIhDbe99jcPGV9kEEalSqq8Wa6N3IRcJ3CKI4k-z7TGAhg=w200-h173" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="color: #0f1419; direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you've not read his unique, powerful voice that has put him on the New York Times Best Selling list, then run, don't walk and read Blacktop Wasteland or Razorblade Tears from</span></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="color: #0f1419; direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/S-A-Cosby/e/B07J1785FN" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">S. A. COSBY</span></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyf9iJFlq1j2Ty1AqiezaB8wo4VpWR_uyIza_x5coAa3-rzeUbWELs1NOwyz-luDf_gOUKRy6AWOLMpsyIpZck0FzTJB5pbiolPKUDTc2EAykjhchxbgwfDJYi8HDjLSRPN55lAEzy2_Jv-wEGNc6NVBY9UwKKA9EOWbkBp0pWC6iB_R7erEh1hnmz1A=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="330" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyf9iJFlq1j2Ty1AqiezaB8wo4VpWR_uyIza_x5coAa3-rzeUbWELs1NOwyz-luDf_gOUKRy6AWOLMpsyIpZck0FzTJB5pbiolPKUDTc2EAykjhchxbgwfDJYi8HDjLSRPN55lAEzy2_Jv-wEGNc6NVBY9UwKKA9EOWbkBp0pWC6iB_R7erEh1hnmz1A=w218-h264" width="218" /></span></a></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="6r42b" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="6r42b" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;">Their prose is beautiful and certainly shines with an amazing tone of darkness in Nothing But Blackened Teeth, which has been nominated for a Bram Stoker Award!</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cassandra-Khaw/e/B01ITBI13E" target="_blank">CASSANDRA KHAW</a></div></span><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="color: #0f1419; direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJ2g7Dc-EFmQu3PzQiMbZkUKlmkJHrRsbt56X5rsgagHeuBZwewE5WYilNIfK-hwS_f3uzpwL_sWtLmVtvjDnO-kk1ta-ViEYuPEbA5u6NW5PMtAqIb4sazwNOTqoimwhzpE4KgR67_MwhzLKhFjIT6cw9GnBQBnnq2YaAZnL7vmxHkS7e2SArrBGReA=s350" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="350" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJ2g7Dc-EFmQu3PzQiMbZkUKlmkJHrRsbt56X5rsgagHeuBZwewE5WYilNIfK-hwS_f3uzpwL_sWtLmVtvjDnO-kk1ta-ViEYuPEbA5u6NW5PMtAqIb4sazwNOTqoimwhzpE4KgR67_MwhzLKhFjIT6cw9GnBQBnnq2YaAZnL7vmxHkS7e2SArrBGReA=w265-h264" width="265" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="color: #0f1419; direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">He's been the backbone for the Addiction Horror anthologies and a master of the short. Dark Stars, his anthology with TorNightFire, goes on sale soon, so Preorder now. Check out <a href="https://www.amazon.com/John-F-D-Taff/e/B005C6BZMY" target="_blank">JOHN FD TAFF</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQUDN4tSMzFyCCMJcwUi9-giV5ih3jVg38Gt4MpJIlbiWhllFp1KRVLa8lngfqZdwToFfkwy2oiDTkJbAs4n_49LXlPwe11O6wkgQdBdkxXS_vCRAQNVKTJCTQntRqpRfmAkKkgPJ2NP33qOjFY2aw90PZQUNZa5-VGA-WwclMlJUMw6QxMAoqfOCMfQ=s2714" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2714" data-original-width="2541" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQUDN4tSMzFyCCMJcwUi9-giV5ih3jVg38Gt4MpJIlbiWhllFp1KRVLa8lngfqZdwToFfkwy2oiDTkJbAs4n_49LXlPwe11O6wkgQdBdkxXS_vCRAQNVKTJCTQntRqpRfmAkKkgPJ2NP33qOjFY2aw90PZQUNZa5-VGA-WwclMlJUMw6QxMAoqfOCMfQ=w242-h258" width="242" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">Her debut fiction collection won the Indie Horror Book Award for Best Debut Collection, and her story in Orphans of Bliss is simply one of the best stories of the series. Check out: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Christa-Carmen/e/B01LNXO35A">CHRISTA CARMEN</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsm6Zeump0AQWjFrzbJHDjjtT9QZQ4TUMNOgpX2EwhZ3WK7B5n36euSEkEIsOByXh6xa-nFsE0P60D0WhYbJ1eqXKiLKFWd4JoRgOWrFgDh5k0SlAXt_Pc2dN8vT4plQJAUNjEsYTSTF_3TIi-XsOsH2_klIz5hgSRzaS4DnliImqw_diqnNmu9e7dtQ=s576" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="502" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsm6Zeump0AQWjFrzbJHDjjtT9QZQ4TUMNOgpX2EwhZ3WK7B5n36euSEkEIsOByXh6xa-nFsE0P60D0WhYbJ1eqXKiLKFWd4JoRgOWrFgDh5k0SlAXt_Pc2dN8vT4plQJAUNjEsYTSTF_3TIi-XsOsH2_klIz5hgSRzaS4DnliImqw_diqnNmu9e7dtQ=w226-h259" width="226" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">Author of Coyote Songs, Gabino was nominated for a Bram Stoker award for his work in Lullabies for Suffering. </span><span style="color: #0f1111;">In Orphans of Blliss, he's created a dystopian world where a drug called </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;">Gravedust</i><span style="color: #0f1111;"> impacts the most disenfranchised. Check out:</span></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gabino-Iglesias/e/B00AEBI0T8" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">GABINO IGLESIAS</span></a></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXE6a_qysiyTePRNPn3QcMLr57IbaSwDrV8PYIc9B4FpppbbxFWGxgVuMEaNoVQLkIsYry5MDjgrfQXR9vRVvrWqPRpO0MfA8ywScYEl_-dzCAZ6JC9TMoJg7XWJDfz_rQZHNXhoIJ5P5u_8oAKzeMta-gTOO_gmZDdBHutaRSsPmnP3JY-KvLbLR32w=s606" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="606" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXE6a_qysiyTePRNPn3QcMLr57IbaSwDrV8PYIc9B4FpppbbxFWGxgVuMEaNoVQLkIsYry5MDjgrfQXR9vRVvrWqPRpO0MfA8ywScYEl_-dzCAZ6JC9TMoJg7XWJDfz_rQZHNXhoIJ5P5u_8oAKzeMta-gTOO_gmZDdBHutaRSsPmnP3JY-KvLbLR32w=w225-h222" width="225" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">Splatterpunk Award-winning author of the novel True Crime which took readers by storm, and a magnificent new release, WAIF. Check out works by:</span></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Samantha-Kolesnik/e/B081S4ZNNC" target="_blank">SAMANTHA KOLESNIK</a></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrq5UWJGTt02e-Z5_7H6Cn4D4pfFa3MTZi9cjNI8PuCn-fpzjGFfLebCsF_TLxLkYFBQ7GhSTGtZb2Gy1yCYKQbwAQP7ME00JYZkxMz8lwA2nt6dPFt6RNRUqHO8B9po29ELwxshHrIBUVr-5zbb8jW9yg5H-HakdRaRNu-0WjDyYe8-8Qnun6Efy8Pg=s200" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="149" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrq5UWJGTt02e-Z5_7H6Cn4D4pfFa3MTZi9cjNI8PuCn-fpzjGFfLebCsF_TLxLkYFBQ7GhSTGtZb2Gy1yCYKQbwAQP7ME00JYZkxMz8lwA2nt6dPFt6RNRUqHO8B9po29ELwxshHrIBUVr-5zbb8jW9yg5H-HakdRaRNu-0WjDyYe8-8Qnun6Efy8Pg=w168-h226" width="168" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">New York Times Best Selling writer of Bird Box, Malorie and Goblin. His story in Orphans of Bliss is a King Midas type tale for those who can never seem to drink enough. </span></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Josh-Malerman/e/B00K8R9C8Q" target="_blank"> JOSH MALERMAN</a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEin61-hjPDnc5n1lyRkSYXUaRnlzo4_Jj7A5FwXz2uNzllyOMDEwPGsIGoqRIRcGW26xNJpkgJtg73RNMU_ga6R0oh5CGkdDZwu4Nrwm6up4EnulVGFEWDFOs3FpM2e1R_RKX_vHjxzn1GQLqi9Van_ooNVAUl59EqpvD0emThTsjiE2TnOjjBGUX5H3g=s1250" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1000" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEin61-hjPDnc5n1lyRkSYXUaRnlzo4_Jj7A5FwXz2uNzllyOMDEwPGsIGoqRIRcGW26xNJpkgJtg73RNMU_ga6R0oh5CGkdDZwu4Nrwm6up4EnulVGFEWDFOs3FpM2e1R_RKX_vHjxzn1GQLqi9Van_ooNVAUl59EqpvD0emThTsjiE2TnOjjBGUX5H3g=w207-h259" width="207" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: inherit;">Author of the legendary novel, The Cipher. Koja's short, mystical, piece in Orphans of Bliss captures the obsessive nature of addiction in her trademark style. </span></div></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;"> </i><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kathe-Koja/e/B004N2MO82" target="_blank">KATHE KOJA </a></span></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIE019uxNpFG72Vrh572-pdj8UCOSeU27MeBpcvZfabWPFAwTd3_a7BGqAUKCOArVHfezUg49yD5uAKIRpJJgsjj_UlisRs8VaUEyETp7pOTdl-9AydUq6mZFozdySldCpi6dTL_91lT20qij75KMQ0gEWhYkkAld2l5EoJ150-8MNIQDoWRBUj0ZRIA=s500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="437" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIE019uxNpFG72Vrh572-pdj8UCOSeU27MeBpcvZfabWPFAwTd3_a7BGqAUKCOArVHfezUg49yD5uAKIRpJJgsjj_UlisRs8VaUEyETp7pOTdl-9AydUq6mZFozdySldCpi6dTL_91lT20qij75KMQ0gEWhYkkAld2l5EoJ150-8MNIQDoWRBUj0ZRIA=s320" width="280" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">*Purchases from the Editor are eligible too! including Lullabies for Suffering or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NK4SKYN" target="_blank">The Hobgoblin of Little Minds</a></span></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8moto-0-0" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigkrt2VIjsHxqapuncphCTvjZIn5yxLkUDAFj9R4ysKpmwTgWYDFwLRcVv-sjJ9dzxzrE36iS6NbXTh4IPxaeYizK58X4Ua11WTzUxGhY8-wIG8Dpmk-9IgsKBZMJ9wEPXtcsjXCd_EB1QiD3LmVwvfvkERjb9wF7ip-Zneh-R9Zlxi5glSs2KyXbRAw=s2899" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2899" data-original-width="2194" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigkrt2VIjsHxqapuncphCTvjZIn5yxLkUDAFj9R4ysKpmwTgWYDFwLRcVv-sjJ9dzxzrE36iS6NbXTh4IPxaeYizK58X4Ua11WTzUxGhY8-wIG8Dpmk-9IgsKBZMJ9wEPXtcsjXCd_EB1QiD3LmVwvfvkERjb9wF7ip-Zneh-R9Zlxi5glSs2KyXbRAw=s320" width="242" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div></div>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-86462224610710521352022-03-02T10:16:00.001-05:002022-04-12T07:57:40.117-04:00Presale Announcement — Orphans of Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Check out the cover for: <br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>ORPHANS OF BLISS: TALES OF ADDICTION HORROR<br /></b></span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">cover art created by Marcela Bolivar</b></div><p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjX-WBkyxH1Szx0wrAYFWTF8Fs1hxtZn4JRSh49Xc8gMsqLw3UMk6M1_D-qeQQyNxb2BntJjPXkzSLSXZWbBKsmPDi21oIRtyoQsFpjMXIxM8boJxm2AmS3jTD5DFPYj_hV5-J6DdNPMC8jaMEpXQp01FdlHBE72khjm9xaM-mG2BSN-Swh7RQXxvLEfA=s2200" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="2200" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjX-WBkyxH1Szx0wrAYFWTF8Fs1hxtZn4JRSh49Xc8gMsqLw3UMk6M1_D-qeQQyNxb2BntJjPXkzSLSXZWbBKsmPDi21oIRtyoQsFpjMXIxM8boJxm2AmS3jTD5DFPYj_hV5-J6DdNPMC8jaMEpXQp01FdlHBE72khjm9xaM-mG2BSN-Swh7RQXxvLEfA=w640-h365" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;"><div style="text-align: center;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;">Fiction inside by: </u></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Kealan Patrick Burke. / S.A. Cosby / Cassandra Khaw / John FD Taff / Christa Carmen</b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">Gabino Iglesias / S</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">amantha Kolesnik / </span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">Josh Malerman / </span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">Kathe Koja / </span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">Mark Matthews</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: left;">This is the</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: left;"> third and final fix of addiction horror and the follow up to the Shirley Jackson Award Finalist, </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b>Lullabies For Suffering</b></i><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: left;">. A diverse table of contents brought together for an explosive grand finale–an unflinching look at the insidious nature of addiction, told with searing honesty but compassion for those who suffer.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Publication date is 5/4/22. Digital presale price is $5.99. Paperback is $14.99</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Available on all major retailers including: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TG7QTHH" style="color: blue;">Amazon</a> / <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781736695043" style="color: blue;">Indie Bound</a> /</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/orphans-of-bliss-sa-cosby/1141022870" style="color: blue;">Barnes & Noble Paperback</a> / <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/orphans-of-bliss-josh-malerman/1141062338" style="color: blue;">Barnes & Noble Nook</a> /</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1611777031" style="color: blue;">Apple Books</a> / <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/orphans-of-bliss-tales-of-addiction-horror" style="color: blue;">Kobo</a></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCgTLVnMdDbcktAmES_PKvEoj73k5q2hKDzD0TUZZTPfERXuNpMrXcFtCW2rJcF6-i_uG93y-gdJsa8ukcBYz7_Fsxgm6n5yMa0DNSmaM02Sv-U98hncIXQNmYl_XWtksCZvssTwzJnefrkYZ6W0ls_Q5j9ndjdzvcEe8kbeNwALeWK3EcIpD8cNrPFg=s1518" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1518" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCgTLVnMdDbcktAmES_PKvEoj73k5q2hKDzD0TUZZTPfERXuNpMrXcFtCW2rJcF6-i_uG93y-gdJsa8ukcBYz7_Fsxgm6n5yMa0DNSmaM02Sv-U98hncIXQNmYl_XWtksCZvssTwzJnefrkYZ6W0ls_Q5j9ndjdzvcEe8kbeNwALeWK3EcIpD8cNrPFg=w640-h320" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><b><br /></b></p>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-41142830084327021402022-02-05T12:25:00.002-05:002022-02-05T12:25:13.805-05:00Orphans of Bliss Presale and Cover Reveal: Coming 3/2/22<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Less than 30 days away until the presale and cover reveal of </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">ORPHANS OF BLISS: TALES OF ADDICTION HORROR</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRV8r5kXY48zdZD3GL1ykL5EjHVKbG93CUuy3z1JI4UlvKsCZcsLvfiIfDGZ5_QEBm4Ny0ha7pLwn1vWmPi3yWv_aLmt_l65Vo5aqfw0KI-5oSESy75umVJEEgPj9ciqu-diLiPnXB6pOvFx1C0LUyNSVdlGBDS1982XsRHOMaZJP0H3BhnbF5AWcAXw=s1200" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="1200" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRV8r5kXY48zdZD3GL1ykL5EjHVKbG93CUuy3z1JI4UlvKsCZcsLvfiIfDGZ5_QEBm4Ny0ha7pLwn1vWmPi3yWv_aLmt_l65Vo5aqfw0KI-5oSESy75umVJEEgPj9ciqu-diLiPnXB6pOvFx1C0LUyNSVdlGBDS1982XsRHOMaZJP0H3BhnbF5AWcAXw=w640-h245" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></p>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-20599291237316470392021-10-10T12:22:00.003-04:002021-10-10T12:22:42.974-04:00Check out the Afterword in The Hobgoblin of Little Minds<p style="text-align: center;">"You have to read the afterword," is feedback I've received enough times, that it only felt right to post it here. Check it out, just a short discussion on the setting of this work and the nature of mental health treatment, horror fiction, and Werewolves.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NK4SKYN" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Hobgoblin of Little Minds</b></span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0RTuI0fxV30/YWMTEI4RvTI/AAAAAAAAF9Y/0mWimg4B_l4Yid1ZexBMcRG0leeBQIdnACLcBGAsYHQ/s1518/BookBrushImage-2020-12-17-14-2820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1518" height="160" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0RTuI0fxV30/YWMTEI4RvTI/AAAAAAAAF9Y/0mWimg4B_l4Yid1ZexBMcRG0leeBQIdnACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/BookBrushImage-2020-12-17-14-2820.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Who actually reads the afterword? Why, you do! That’s who, and thank you for doing so. The content from this novel begs a brief discussion. A few points of clarity regarding psychotropic medications, bipolar disorder, and a note on the setting.</span></p><p>I wrote The Hobgoblin of Little Minds with the perpetual concern and sensitivity that I could be adding to the burden of those living with mental illness rather than offering empathy and understanding. Similar to my works of addiction horror, there was a risk of stigmatizing those impacted by the disorder, versus shining a light into their lives. I sought out beta readers to gauge the tone and representation, and found, as I hoped, that the message was received as intended. Of course, this will not be true for all readers, but fiction should be dangerous or nothing at all. One of those dangers is that I perhaps missed one crucial message: </p><p>Medications and psychiatric treatment saves lives. Doctors do care.</p><p>I believe in mental health treatment. I believe in talk therapy and psychotropic medications. I believe medications work and have witnessed the life-improvement that can come from finely tuned medications. </p><p>All of the above is true, but not always true, and not true enough of the time. Too often we minimize the consumer’s experience and the side effects of medications. We want others to take the medications for our own purposes, and disregard the full spectrum of their impact. Those who take psychotropic meds often feel they are losing themselves even as the devastating symptoms are alleviated. It can feel like you are losing your gifts and what makes you unique. Rather than seen as an act of self-care, to take medications can cause feelings of inferiority—like evidence that you are not capable to direct your own life. Even when medications are at their most effective, it can feel dehumanizing to need them in order to not decompensate. To cease medications can feel an act of bravery, and as much as that’s a false belief, we need to understand that rather than demonize it. </p><p>Innovations like peer supports in community mental health and patients’ bill of rights help create a more dignifying course of treatment. Research into the role of the gut in the treatment of depression and anxiety and non-invasive treatment such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) are exciting new trends.</p><p>Medications work so differently for each person that at times it seems an experiment of one with consequences hard to predict. Very often the conditions targeted are made worse. This happens frequently with Bipolar Disorder where mania is triggered by anti-depressants. </p><p>The symptoms of Bipolar as presented in this novel are certainly of the more extreme in nature, but they are not uncommon in their occurrence. The psychosis, the agitation, the grandiosity, insomnia, hyper-sexuality, tangential thoughts, loose association, engaging frenetically in activities that have painful consequences— all of this is incredibly common. Beyond my twenty years working in behavioral health, before I wrote this work, I read numerous accounts of living with the bipolar in books such as Manic: A Memoir, by Terri Cheney, and Fast Girl: A Life Spent Running from Madness, by Suzy Favor Hamilton. </p><p>So many revered artists and personalities we admire have manic episodes, and there seems a risk when mania itself is romanticized. While it comes with euphoria and an elated mood, it is not a pleasant experience, typically, but a flurry of thought and energy which can’t be satisfied. Any actual productively is marked by something destructive. The often-ensuing depression makes one feel mocked by memories of previous levels of energy. </p><p>The premise of werewolf as a metaphor for these mood swings is a concept that was with me for years, and after I researched the topic, I found I was not alone. </p><p>“When I Became A Werewolf,” (Ohio State University, 2015) a research thesis by Via Laurene Smith speaks to this very topic. In her personal, brave, and fantastic thesis she, “investigates the parallels between depictions of the werewolf and that of bipolar disorder and depression and asks to what extent the werewolf can be used to reflect or even change attitudes towards mental illness.”</p><p>Another scholarly article that speaks directly to the topic is, “Folklore perpetuated expression of moon-associated bipolar disorders in anecdotally exaggerated werewolf guise,” published by the University Hospital of Cologne. The article hypothesizes that “Moon-associated signals, recently linked to rapid cycling bipolar disorder, may have triggered extremely rare instances of extreme manic and aggressive behavior that may be compatible with the folklore of the werewolf.”</p><p>The article certainly does not conclude that the moon literally causes lycanthropy, but instead suggests: “Rather than ignoring folklore, scientists may want to think what biological roots may manifest in folklore tradition and tales. Such awareness could fuel new insights and benefit causal understanding for individuals and populations in regards to the roots, causes, and significance of health and disease-associated traditions and tales, including the werewolf legend.” </p><p>In other words, the best way to tell the truth sometimes is through a work of horror.</p><p>Horror and folklore usually come from truth, just an exaggerated version or as metaphor. Japan really was destroyed by a fire-breathing monster, though atomic bombs, not Godzilla, was the vehicle of the devastating delivery. Townspeople really are terrified of the aristocrat in the castle, even if Vlad Dracula doesn’t change into a bat. And werewolves really do represent a dark, savage part of us. As my professor Eric Rabkin from University of Michigan explained, “Werewolves were often considered the villains in the forest. The Jungian self gone wild.”</p><p>I hope this story has added to the legend of werewolves, which in some ways is a forgotten trope and archetype over the last few decades which has seen the rise of vampires first, then zombies second. That is now changing. The moon is full and it’s now the time of the wolf. Look no further than Mongrels, by Stephen Graham Jones. </p><p>A final note about the setting. I’ve done hours of research into Northville Psychiatric Hospital. The place was legendary in my local community. There is verity in how this setting is presented. There were indeed tunnels connecting the various buildings, and the facility does have all the different rooms and capacity as described. It was a designated bomb shelter and asbestos and hazardous waste complicated its demolition. Locals did call the surrounding area “The Evil Woods,” a name derived from The Evil Dead films and created by Michigan native Sam Raimi.</p><p>Those who are intimately familiar with the abandoned compound, however, will certainly find something that may not fit—this building doesn’t have this part, or this is not that far from that. I hope you forgive me my minor trespasses. </p><p>The city of Northville built numerous state facilities on their land. I was amazed when I realized that Hawthorne Center, still open and treating adolescents, was built on the same parcel as Northville, under a two mile walk away. I liken it to Helen finding the identical Cabrini Green across the highway in Candyman. </p><p>In this sense, the work is historical horror, and I reached out to Alma Katsu, (Author of The Hunger and current master of historical horror) who suggested I take a tour of the building. That was no longer possible, since the hospital is now demolished, but I have parked at Hawthorne Center in the very spot Kori Driscoe parked her Toyota before walking through the evil woods to Northville Psychiatric. The land between is now developed, but it wasn’t when Kori took her pilgrimages to the dark underground. </p><p>I invite you to take a deeper dive and google “Northville Psychiatric Mlive” or “Northville Tunnels Nailhead” for some powerful images and blogs about the facility.</p><p>I do hope something from this work lingers, and that it has both entertained and raised questions. The best afterword is forgettable in contrast to the content it follows and vanishes upon reading. Before these words disappear, I want to sincerely thank you for reading them. </p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NK4SKYN" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Hobgoblin of Little Minds</span></b></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vtePr5XWX8g/YWMSvvUBT4I/AAAAAAAAF9M/BZy-wfBO5X4sdMPnMM8oODTVu0P_BisHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1518/BookBrushImage-2021-3-6-9-1812.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1518" height="160" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vtePr5XWX8g/YWMSvvUBT4I/AAAAAAAAF9M/BZy-wfBO5X4sdMPnMM8oODTVu0P_BisHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/BookBrushImage-2021-3-6-9-1812.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-77775383858269021062021-09-03T21:09:00.001-04:002021-09-03T21:09:29.321-04:00Let Me Out I've Had Enough - My First Story Collection - Now Available <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jN12jWFnR_U/YS4bOk5034I/AAAAAAAAAtc/96qHhkJ1PkEWVyQVEFw1BFcUznQMQzT2gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1518/BookBrushImage-2021-8-31-7-749.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1518" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jN12jWFnR_U/YS4bOk5034I/AAAAAAAAAtc/96qHhkJ1PkEWVyQVEFw1BFcUznQMQzT2gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h320/BookBrushImage-2021-8-31-7-749.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Let-Out-Ive-Had-Enough-ebook/dp/B099FD7BQF" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">LET ME OUT I'VE HAD ENOUGH</span></a></p><p>My first collection of stories is now available in both Kindle and Paperback</p><p>LET ME OUT I'VE HAD ENOUGH—enough sadness, enough hurt, enough despair and devastation. Stories about desperate humans begging for help. Eight tales, most published here for the first time.</p><div>Just $3.99 for Kindle. $9.99 for Paperback</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HE8cTVJSWgM/YS4cGaePUgI/AAAAAAAAAtk/B0FPN6Xsf8I-Xrx8Y4-VqQPB8nGYTTMBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/E9B9rvRXsAY_dUR.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HE8cTVJSWgM/YS4cGaePUgI/AAAAAAAAAtk/B0FPN6Xsf8I-Xrx8Y4-VqQPB8nGYTTMBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/E9B9rvRXsAY_dUR.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Check out <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Let-Out-Ive-Had-Enough-ebook/dp/B099FD7BQF" target="_blank">LET ME OUT I'VE HAD ENOUGH</a> on Amazon</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ctMwj6tLs8A/YTLHOo37KVI/AAAAAAAAF7w/Y3MmnYYmW10we321-AeGMPkF6WHEv5vagCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/BookBrushImage-2021-8-31-19-3427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ctMwj6tLs8A/YTLHOo37KVI/AAAAAAAAF7w/Y3MmnYYmW10we321-AeGMPkF6WHEv5vagCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/BookBrushImage-2021-8-31-19-3427.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-31950414129489937972021-06-30T21:45:00.003-04:002021-06-30T21:46:53.500-04:00Shirley Jackson Award Nomination for Lullabies for Suffering<p> <span face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-size: 14px;">Lullabies for Suffering: Tales of Addiction Horror has been nominated for a Shirley Jackson Award! Yay! I'm thrilled, honored, surprised, and maybe most of all invigorated to keep supporting and creating works that take readers to places only horror and the dark fantastic can.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bZa1BwhABFQ/YN0dZAbY8jI/AAAAAAAAF5M/0dBJclGKvxUabbms_WZwEQTw80BSGFjUACLcBGAsYHQ/s1518/BookBrushImage-2021-6-29-9-059.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1518" height="217" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bZa1BwhABFQ/YN0dZAbY8jI/AAAAAAAAF5M/0dBJclGKvxUabbms_WZwEQTw80BSGFjUACLcBGAsYHQ/w434-h217/BookBrushImage-2021-6-29-9-059.png" width="434" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Edited"><br /><span face="-apple-system, system-ui, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I was nominated as editor, but share this award with John FD Taff, Kealan Patrick Burke, Mercedes M Yardley, Gabino Iglesias, and Caroline Kepnes </span></span><span face="-apple-system, system-ui, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">who all gave a piece of their heart for this project.</span></span></span><div><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Edited"><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Edited"><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.shirleyjacksonawards.org/" target="_blank">Here are the rest of the Shirley Jackson Award Nominees.</a><br /></span></span><br /><span face="-apple-system, system-ui, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">"The Shirley Jackson Awards are for outstanding achievement in the literature of psychological suspense, horror, and the dark fantastic... voted upon by a jury of professional writers, editors, critics, and academics."</span></span><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lullabies-Suffering-Tales-Addiction-Horror-ebook/dp/B07Z5FXFJB">Lullabies for Suffering on Amazon</a></span></b></div></span></b></span></div>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-66987357031762072472021-06-15T21:40:00.000-04:002021-06-15T21:40:00.111-04:00 The Audiobook for The Hobgoblin of Little Minds is now available<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">The audiobook for The Hobgoblin of Little Minds </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">is now available</span><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">. Narrated by the golden voice of Linda Jones, who does an amazing job. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/The-Hobgoblin-of-Little-Minds/dp/B0973FNQYR" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">Check it out here</span></a></span></p><div class="bi6gxh9e" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"This impeccably well-wrought fable proves what many of us have known for quite some time: Mark Matthews is the reigning king of modern psychological horror."</i></span></span><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">~</span><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">Kealan Patrick Burke, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Sour Candy and KIN</span></div><div class="bi6gxh9e" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></span></div><div class="bi6gxh9e" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">Fireside Horror is publishing some premier audiobooks. It's an honor to have a title in their library.</span></div><div class="bi6gxh9e" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 8px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mmjiyvGtVcE/YMlVhPnVZbI/AAAAAAAAF3o/dp4xYST3uTclYyVPoXbyMh8Vhfj3v5cUACLcBGAsYHQ/s1518/BookBrushImage-2021-6-14-22-58.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1518" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mmjiyvGtVcE/YMlVhPnVZbI/AAAAAAAAF3o/dp4xYST3uTclYyVPoXbyMh8Vhfj3v5cUACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h320/BookBrushImage-2021-6-14-22-58.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><p style="color: black; font-family: Times; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/The-Hobgoblin-of-Little-Minds/dp/B0973FNQYR/" target="_blank">The Hobgoblin of Little Minds audiobook </a></span></p><div style="font-size: 0.9375rem;"><br /></div></span></div>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-15766897907907837942021-05-26T06:35:00.005-04:002021-05-26T06:52:51.441-04:00The Super Blood Moon Rises<p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tfqvwzY1P9w/YK4jm2v5VrI/AAAAAAAAF24/t08x8Vru2asSW_A1Wv0Jpe-DUU2C59XVgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/1616677518.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1378" data-original-width="2048" height="134" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tfqvwzY1P9w/YK4jm2v5VrI/AAAAAAAAF24/t08x8Vru2asSW_A1Wv0Jpe-DUU2C59XVgCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h134/1616677518.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Maya Responds to the Super Blood Moon. An Excerpt from:</span></div></span></div><div class="column"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: x-large;"> <u> </u></span><b style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NK4SKYN" target="_blank">The Hobgoblin of Little Minds</a></b></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: large;">The mania that awoke her from this sleep seemed to run red, like electrical wires filled
with lava, surging through her brain, infusing her with a power that burned. Her depression was
shattered unlike ever before. Her soul and spine vibrated with energy. Muscles surging, clarity
and mania summoned forth, sizzling away her old skin. She shed her old self and left it on the
floor, then climbed through the second story window to stand on the roof of her house.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On the horizon, just over the buildings, the moon appeared gigantic, one huge eye of
God peeking at his creations over the edge of Earth. Its crimson hue seeped over the aqua blue.
The soothing celestial eye in the sky was now a ferocious red that coated the world. The world
was going to bleed.
</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-style: italic;">God </span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">was she driven and focused.
</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She jumped off the roof and landed with legs that immediately sprang into a run. So
many delicious new scents in the air with the blood-red supermoon, and the one scent she had
waited for filled her with supreme ecstasy.
</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Her daughter. Lilith was near.<br />
She could sense it for the first time in over a dozen years, the unmistakable smell of her
</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">flesh, </span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-style: italic;">their shared flesh</span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">, and a shared condition. This new species she’d become, something so
hideous and glorious, no normal human could withstand, for whoever walks the earth with this
gift, walks alone.
</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Until now.
</span></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>
</div>
</div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Check out <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NK4SKYN" target="_blank">The Hobgoblin of Little Minds</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DCkIIAjc0EM/YK4oZpCaxaI/AAAAAAAAF3A/9RGG6WKwwo4dAYX8uDcf8r0_3H2njttKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1518/BookBrushImage-2021-3-6-9-1812.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1518" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DCkIIAjc0EM/YK4oZpCaxaI/AAAAAAAAF3A/9RGG6WKwwo4dAYX8uDcf8r0_3H2njttKQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h320/BookBrushImage-2021-3-6-9-1812.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-35580301058738713532021-05-10T07:32:00.007-04:002021-07-22T07:15:30.586-04:00Announcing "Orphans of Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror" Coming in Spring of 2022<p><br /></p><p></p><span style="font-size: large;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4-PV6kYVXJg/YPlSggw54qI/AAAAAAAAF68/kXMhamb_aXQYNgFEPP_cnRCUVnlEgfsaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1518/BookBrushImage-2021-5-15-6-5520.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1518" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4-PV6kYVXJg/YPlSggw54qI/AAAAAAAAF68/kXMhamb_aXQYNgFEPP_cnRCUVnlEgfsaQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h320/BookBrushImage-2021-5-15-6-5520.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>First came Garden of Fiends, then came Lullabies for Suffering<br />Happy as hell to announce a 3rd and final anthology of Addiction Horror is in the works. "Orphans of Bliss" is coming in the spring of 2022. Ancient Greek philosophers felt '3' was the perfect number and who am I to disagree. It felt wrong not to do one more collection, and this final fix will be the biggest one yet. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Orphans of Bliss is the follow up to the Shirley Jackson Award nominated Lullabies for Suffering</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Table of Contents:</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>SA Cosby</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Samantha Kolesnik</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Josh Malerman</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>John FD Taff</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Gabino Iglesias</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Kathe Koja</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cassandra Khaw</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Mark Matthews</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Christa Carmen</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Kealan Patrick Burke</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-84436572539587989112021-04-24T08:13:00.003-04:002021-04-24T08:13:44.374-04:00 Lullabies for Suffering: Tales of Addiction Horror is a This Is Horror Award Nominee.<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Lullabies for Suffering: Tales of Addiction Horror</b></span><b style="font-size: large;"> is a This Is Horror Award Nominee</b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thanks to everyone who put in a vote!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And thanks to this incredible list of talent:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Caroline Kepnes</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>John FD Taff</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Gabino Iglesias</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Mercedes M Yardley</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Kealan Patrick Burke </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>for the full list of nominees click here—> <a href=" https://www.thisishorror.co.uk/this-is-horror-awards-2020-vote-now/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">This is Horror Awards 2020</span></b></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Lora, sans-serif" style="color: #4a474b; font-size: 16px;">To vote: send your top two votes in each category to </span><a href="mailto:awards@thisishorror.co.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #783d98; font-family: Lora, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">awards@thisishorror.co.uk</a><span face="Lora, sans-serif" style="color: #4a474b; font-size: 16px;"> with the subject line ‘Awards 2020’.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Lora, sans-serif" style="color: #4a474b; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OAJnvXgQLoA/YIQJrHKGnEI/AAAAAAAAF1s/7llkCFv_AMEVYVEoL9tqrRCp6ajCQj75QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1518/BookBrushImage-2021-4-24-8-542.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1518" height="217" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OAJnvXgQLoA/YIQJrHKGnEI/AAAAAAAAF1s/7llkCFv_AMEVYVEoL9tqrRCp6ajCQj75QCLcBGAsYHQ/w434-h217/BookBrushImage-2021-4-24-8-542.png" width="434" /></a></div><br /><span face="Lora, sans-serif" style="color: #4a474b; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Lora, sans-serif" style="color: #4a474b; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face="Lora, sans-serif" style="color: #4a474b; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Lora, sans-serif" style="color: #4a474b; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Lora, sans-serif" style="color: #4a474b; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Lora, sans-serif" style="color: #4a474b; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face="Lora, sans-serif" style="color: #4a474b; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-17827167680412418012021-04-20T07:51:00.005-04:002021-04-20T07:51:59.397-04:00THE HOBGOBLIN OF LITTLE MINDS is now just 0.99₵ on Amazon<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The sale really kicks off tomorrow with a Bookbub promo, but the price has kicked in now.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE HOBGOBLIN OF LITTLE MINDS</b> is now just <b>0.99<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;">₵ on Amazon</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Check it out and click here—> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hobgoblin-Little-Minds-Mark-Matthews-ebook/dp/B08NK4SKYN" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">The Hobgoblin of Little Minds on Amazon </span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OpNDd6T1PB4/YH6_fm-IQjI/AAAAAAAAF00/fk522wDJgikYzIk9VWCgIUtiC4dE0RmqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1518/BookBrushImage-2021-4-17-19-1124.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1518" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OpNDd6T1PB4/YH6_fm-IQjI/AAAAAAAAF00/fk522wDJgikYzIk9VWCgIUtiC4dE0RmqwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h200/BookBrushImage-2021-4-17-19-1124.png" width="400" /></span></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">When the full moon rises on Monday, the sale ends and we won't see these prices again until well into 2022</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k5fx-6ECicU/YH7AQgvRwbI/AAAAAAAAF08/0GzkfNYtFF4cQeiSk1tXxM4Hz14lEFbeACLcBGAsYHQ/s1518/BookBrushImage-2021-4-10-8-4343.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1518" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k5fx-6ECicU/YH7AQgvRwbI/AAAAAAAAF08/0GzkfNYtFF4cQeiSk1tXxM4Hz14lEFbeACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h200/BookBrushImage-2021-4-10-8-4343.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nrecAs-kaZU/YH7ATKd51rI/AAAAAAAAF1A/zOM90qQCb-gB-XDnp0QeGUJUCeZZbrKyACLcBGAsYHQ/s1518/BookBrushImage-2021-4-6-7-2251.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1518" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nrecAs-kaZU/YH7ATKd51rI/AAAAAAAAF1A/zOM90qQCb-gB-XDnp0QeGUJUCeZZbrKyACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h200/BookBrushImage-2021-4-6-7-2251.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-57042778602824838362021-03-16T21:05:00.003-04:002021-03-16T21:05:39.898-04:00The Hobgoblin of Little Minds gets an Italian Translation <p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Good news, shouting out loud from the rooftops of Venice</span></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I signed a contract yesterday with Dunwich Edizioni.</span></b></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></div><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Hobgoblin of Little Minds is going to be translated into Italian.</span></div><div style="font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Viva Lo Hobgoblin Delle Piccole Menti!</span></div></span></b><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TkY8gSfr1cw/YFFUajvrENI/AAAAAAAAFz8/fdH_PjgnBAEM0vWzkJQLcBsEVkdLugNEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/BookBrushImage-2021-3-16-8-1244.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TkY8gSfr1cw/YFFUajvrENI/AAAAAAAAFz8/fdH_PjgnBAEM0vWzkJQLcBsEVkdLugNEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/BookBrushImage-2021-3-16-8-1244.png" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h2></div>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-4191327947276649442021-03-10T07:15:00.006-05:002021-03-10T07:29:50.621-05:00Beyond the Reef, from Lullabies for Suffering, is a Bram Stoker Finalist<p><span><span style="font-size: medium;">Super excited and very pleased that a story from </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lullabies-Suffering-Tales-Addiction-Horror-ebook/dp/B07Z5FXFJB"><b>Lullabies for Suffering</b></a> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">is a Bram Stoker Finalist!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Beyond the Reef,</b> by Gabino Iglesias, is on the final ballot in the Long Fiction category. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It's the kind of story that only Gabino could write—a new father battling heroin addiction and amphibious creatures who surround his island home. It's Lovecraftian, myth-making magic. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The winners of the Horror Writers Association Bram Stoker award will be announced on May 23. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ipJR_hywtIQ/YEi3GXxNUmI/AAAAAAAAFzk/pAtCyi6Nil8eAnYx5vfweVGK52ohuVTUACLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/BookBrushImage-2021-2-20-8-439.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ipJR_hywtIQ/YEi3GXxNUmI/AAAAAAAAFzk/pAtCyi6Nil8eAnYx5vfweVGK52ohuVTUACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/BookBrushImage-2021-2-20-8-439.png" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-42415737269200036612021-02-18T09:05:00.005-05:002021-07-27T10:17:04.156-04:00YOU LOVE ME, by Caroline Kepnes<p><span style="background-color: white;">If </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">you loved YOU by Caroline Kepnes, you will love You Love Me.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LuIBFoYct-o/YC50AmQ3NeI/AAAAAAAAFyk/usknAwxdFdEfOuS8UHpBGdFW1ElcriiOQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LuIBFoYct-o/YC50AmQ3NeI/AAAAAAAAFyk/usknAwxdFdEfOuS8UHpBGdFW1ElcriiOQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="158" /></a></div><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">The universe of Joe Goldberg has grown in complexity, and this book was my favorite in the series.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">It felt like Kepnes has been sharpening her skills with each of these works, and it is on full display here. Reminded me of a fantastic guitar solo where you marvel at the talent and think "no way can it keep up this energy" but instead it does. The second person point of view, the tiny nuances of thoughts, the unique Joe 'self-talk', and the infusion of pop culture and literary references, where social media is not just an app on your phone but part of our psyche.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">What makes these works so damn powerful is this character who is a litany of cluster B personality disorder traits, certainly anti-social and narcissistic—I want a 'Kepnesian scholar' to list Joe's Top Narcissistic moments, because there are some choice moments inside here—but he is certainly not 'just a narcissist'. There is, imbedded in his view of the world, a kindness and consideration, where in his reality it is empathy (you're gonna love spending time at the Empathy Bordello) we hear him constantly deciding what is best for everyone around him, and inside those decisions is an intent for kindness, twisted and selfish, of course, but he only judges himself by his intent, not his actions. Every relationship Joe has is completely transactional for finding love (is he capable of Love? God, ya gotta read this). Every new character that comes into his world is a puppet without strings, but Joe finds the invisible strings to pull that a sane human never sees, and he decides what to pull and how.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">So creepy and insidious, but at the end in the aftermath of Joe's manipulation there is real life victims, where RIP is not just one of the authors brilliant witticisms, but true trauma and hurt that he leaves behind in his wake.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">The title is so perfect.. is this Joe telling his victims that he is certain of his words as he tells whoever his object is at the time that "you love me?" —or is it the author saying this to her readers, that even though we are sickened by Joe, we can't and won't look away, so she accuses us of some sort of addictive voyeurism into his world as she says to us "You Love Me"? A 4th book has been promised, and I stand accused and I confess to both. I do love you Joe.</span>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-19993735908181841522021-01-28T11:50:00.002-05:002021-02-27T11:48:53.462-05:00THE HOBGOBLIN OF LITTLE MINDS is now available <span style="font-size: medium;">It's release day! Yay!</span><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐆𝐎𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐒 is now available at: </span></div><div><br /></div><div><i><b><u>Click for: </u></b></i></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NK4SKYN" target="_blank">Amazon</a> </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://tinyurl.com/y58egqt2 " target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://tinyurl.com/yyx4fa9t " target="_blank">IndieBound</a></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>$12.99 Paperback</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> $4.99 Kindle </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>*Available on #KindleUnlimited</b></span></div><div><div><div class="css-901oao r-18jsvk2 r-1qd0xha r-a023e6 r-16dba41 r-ad9z0x r-1g94qm0 r-bcqeeo r-bnwqim r-qvutc0" dir="auto" lang="en" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.3125; margin: 5px 0px 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; flex-direction: row;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" color="inherit" dir="ltr" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div><div><div class="css-901oao r-18jsvk2 r-1qd0xha r-a023e6 r-16dba41 r-ad9z0x r-1g94qm0 r-bcqeeo r-bnwqim r-qvutc0" dir="auto" lang="en" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.3125; margin: 5px 0px 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; flex-direction: row;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ARgUlLNNaU/YBLqrAkRrdI/AAAAAAAAFxo/eMYgTaSfFzA91f3epYz3Oc61LjGRpS2dACLcBGAsYHQ/s1076/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-01-28%2Bat%2B11.39.03%2BAM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="1066" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ARgUlLNNaU/YBLqrAkRrdI/AAAAAAAAFxo/eMYgTaSfFzA91f3epYz3Oc61LjGRpS2dACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-01-28%2Bat%2B11.39.03%2BAM.png" /></a></div><br /><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" color="inherit" dir="ltr" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-7331118619331815892021-01-05T07:47:00.001-05:002021-01-05T07:47:11.263-05:00Paperback Giveaway on Goodreads: Win One of Five Signed Copies<div id="goodreadsGiveawayWidget316884"><!-- Show static html as a placeholder in case js is not enabled -->
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<a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55835895">The Hobgoblin of Little Minds</a>
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by <a style="text-decoration: none;" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5034611.Mark_Matthews">Mark Matthews</a>
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Giveaway ends January 28, 2021.
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See the <a style="text-decoration: none;" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/316884">giveaway details</a>
at Goodreads.
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<a class="goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/316884">Enter Giveaway</a>
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</div><script src="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/widget/316884" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-17711823248745781372020-12-12T20:08:00.004-05:002020-12-12T20:11:19.029-05:00The Hobgoblin of Little Minds Publication Date, and Giveaways, Giveaways, Giveaways. <p> <span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;">I’m </span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;">happy to announce that the </span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;">release date of </span><a class="text-link" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NK4SKYN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-style: none none solid; border-top-color: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; display: inline; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Hobgoblin of Little Minds</span></a><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;"> has been moved up. Rather than February, it is now </span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700;">Thursday, January 28th, 2021</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">This is the first full moon of the year, also known as the </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Wolf Moon</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">—the night when villagers can hear wolves in the distance howling the loudest, aching with hunger, hunting for prey during the coldest of nights. </span></p><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">*Ahh-Whooo! The</i> <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Werewolves are coming*</i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">What better time to unleash this book. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">This </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">novel rewrites the Werewolf mythos, (though it never uses the “W” word) and perhaps more importantly, shines a light on those living with mental illness. It’s based on my 20+ years working in the field of behavioral health. It takes place in the very real setting of an abandoned psychiatric facility near my house in metro Detroit.</span></p><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Reception has been wonderful so far. This early review has perhaps</span> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">captured it best: </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">“As a new take on the werewolf story, it is a fascinating read, but as a</i> <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">deep dive into the realities of mental illness, the book is an absolute</i> <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">triumph."</i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> ~IndieMuse.com</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bw9WyAD-oxE/X9Vo0I-mtFI/AAAAAAAAFu4/iPx6r3pqVxEXkOrpnt7itPGqzUzX_VdgQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="600" height="318" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bw9WyAD-oxE/X9Vo0I-mtFI/AAAAAAAAFu4/iPx6r3pqVxEXkOrpnt7itPGqzUzX_VdgQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h318/image.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">To celebrate the launch, it's giveaway time!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Anyone who makes a purchase, in any format, prior to 2/1/21 and emails proof of purchase by 2/10/21 to </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">WickedRunPress@gmail.com</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> with ‘</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">giveaway </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">in the subject line is eligible to win 1 of these 3 books below. </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">For friends who live outside the US, and for a ‘no purchase necessary’ entry see below.</i></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Here’s what I got:</span></p><ol style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A Hardcover Limited Edition of </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Lullabies for Suffering: Tales of Addiction Horror</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">* published by</span> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Thunderstorm Books, featuring stories and signed by: </span></li></ol><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Caroline Kepnes, Gabino Iglesias, Kealan Patrick</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Burke, John FD Taff, Mark Matthews, & Mercedes M Yardley</i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">These were selling at $99 and there's less than 50 of these in the world, I</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">have 3 copies, and an unread book is a bit of a tragedy, so I want someone else to</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">have this great looking piece on their shelf.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Cover art </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">by Vincent Sammy.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rJzw5i1LxlA/X9Vo7bOrq4I/AAAAAAAAFu8/6ltxCCYLXOsLp_PLEsJ_ACQAMeqhdp-aQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rJzw5i1LxlA/X9Vo7bOrq4I/AAAAAAAAFu8/6ltxCCYLXOsLp_PLEsJ_ACQAMeqhdp-aQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/image.png" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><ol start="2" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A copy of Vincent Chong’s children’s book </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">The Girl Who Builds Monsters </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">published by Cemetery Dance.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> This illustrated children’s book</span> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">puts his award-winning art and creativity on full display. The touching story was written by Brian Freeman. I loved it, my 14-year-old loved it, and it’s a treat for all ages. </span></li></ol><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Vincent did the stunning cover art for </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Hobgoblin of Little Minds.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eqERdVYRIZI/X9VpCkD1jvI/AAAAAAAAFvA/jcER0GNNks0lUyhGYplFPH3xVON9-H0zACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="432" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eqERdVYRIZI/X9VpCkD1jvI/AAAAAAAAFvA/jcER0GNNks0lUyhGYplFPH3xVON9-H0zACLcBGAsYHQ/w360-h400/image.png" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p></p><ol start="3" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A hardcover copy of: </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Nightmare Factories: The Asylum in the American Imagination</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> written by Professor of History, Troy Rondinone, Ph.D. This is a fascinating account of the depiction of asylums in art, with references</span> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Shudder Island, Halloween, American Horror Story, as well as classics like</span> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Frankenstein, Dracula and works by Poe</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">. This is the</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> kind of book you can read cover to cover, or just pick up at any page and you’ll find intriguing and unique insights. It’s intelligent, lively, and engaging. Dr. Rondinone read </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Hobgoblin of Little Minds </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">and called it </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">“A shocking new asylum mythos.”</i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> The two books make perfect companions. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vTvHEeNpk2I/X9VqLyA2MYI/AAAAAAAAFvo/fKqR0Bfs9IIgiFcCBngvwC_-g7_iWuHqACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="479" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vTvHEeNpk2I/X9VqLyA2MYI/AAAAAAAAFvo/fKqR0Bfs9IIgiFcCBngvwC_-g7_iWuHqACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h200/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">So, how do I win?</span></div></span></li></ol><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Simply email proof of purchase, in any format, to </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">WickedRunPress@gmail.com</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> with *</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">Giveaway</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">*</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">in the subject line and you’re eligible to win. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">Purchases must made prior to February 1st, 2021. This includes all preorders as well as anything purchased after pub date, 1/28/21 but before 2/1/21. </span></div><ol start="3" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: center;" /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Deadline to enter is 2/10/21, Winner Drawn on 2/14/21</span></p><br style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: center;" /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><a class="text-link" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NK4SKYN" style="background: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-style: none none solid; border-top-color: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Click here to order The Hobgoblin of LIttle Minds on Amazon</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></a></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">**for a </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">'No Purchase Necessary'</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> entry—or an additional entry if you do</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">both—simply retweet the pinned tweet on my twitter page, *</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><a class="text-link" href="https://twitter.com/matthews_mark" style="background: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-style: none none solid; border-top-color: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">https://twitter.com/matthews_mark</span></a> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">and send a screen shot in an email to WickedRunPress@gmail</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Lastly: International folks: </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">This giveaway is open to outside the USA, </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">if you agree to pay for shipping via paypal, should you win one of the prizes</i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">. A quote for shipping will be provided. After the quote, if you decide to decline, then another winner will be drawn. </span></p><br style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: center;" /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Thanks Folks! </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">When the full Wolf Moon rises in the sky on Jan 28</i></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">th</i></span> <a class="text-link" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NK4SKYN" style="background: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-style: none none solid; border-top-color: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Hobgoblin of Little Minds</i></span></a><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"> will howl from the pages. </i></span> </p></span></li></ol><div><span face="Open Sans, sans-serif" style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s8KqKHnNWik/X9VpXyeB-NI/AAAAAAAAFvU/j17NEd_aZ2I5Z966rylg50J8g_Ri6UCBgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="416" height="216" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s8KqKHnNWik/X9VpXyeB-NI/AAAAAAAAFvU/j17NEd_aZ2I5Z966rylg50J8g_Ri6UCBgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="320" /></a></div></i></b></span></span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">"This impeccably well-wrought fable proves what many</span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"> o</span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">f us have known for quite some time: Mark Matthews is the reigning king of</span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"> </span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">modern psychological horror."</span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">~KEALAN PATRICK BURKE, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Kin</span></div>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-51416581621220002522020-12-07T07:29:00.003-05:002020-12-07T07:29:20.256-05:00Reviews of The Hobgoblin of Little Minds <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GHSeOBv3s7Y/X84fDSWSDXI/AAAAAAAAFuY/y2_3LVS7JkgOIsj9VmMJQO0bQSCZOn98QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/1605880257.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="251" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GHSeOBv3s7Y/X84fDSWSDXI/AAAAAAAAFuY/y2_3LVS7JkgOIsj9VmMJQO0bQSCZOn98QCLcBGAsYHQ/w379-h251/1605880257.png" width="379" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NK4SKYN">The Hobgoblin of Little Minds on Amazon</a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>Check out the initial reviews of my upcoming novel, The Hobgoblins of Little Mind.</i></span></p><p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"A wickedly clever take on a well-worn trope, The Hobgoblin of Little Minds explores lycanthropy through the lens of mental illness and shows Matthews at the height of his powers as a cartographer of the many shades of darkness that inhabit human minds. This bleak, Odyssean, and impeccably well-wrought fable proves what many of us have known for quite some time: Mark Matthews is the reigning king of modern psychological horror."</span></p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">~KEALAN PATRICK BURKE, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Kin</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"Few new writers today are doing horror with such intensity."</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">~MICHAEL A ARNZEN, five-time Bram Stoker Award winning author</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"Matthews writes true reality horror, with supernatural elements that only serve to make his fiction more believable."</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">~MICHAEL BRADFORD, Executive Producer, Monkey Knuckle Films </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"Matthews takes us to the heart of desolation and makes us care."</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">~J.D. BARKER, international best-selling author of The Fourth Monkey</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"Matthews is a damn good writer, and make no mistake, he will hurt you."</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">~JACK KETCHUM, Bram Stoker Award winning author of The Girl Next Door</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"Matthews delivers a shocking new asylum mythos. At Northville Psychiatric Hospital, longstanding literary horrors of tunnels, malign treatments, and twisted minds receive new Frankensteinian life, patched together into a frightful blend of existential dread and family entanglements."</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">~TROY RONDINONE, PhD, author of Nightmare Factories</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"A stunningly daring descent into madness. Dank, dark and scary as hell. Brimming with tragic characters and monstrous villains--think Nurse Ratched by way of Dr. Moreau under the direction of Cronenberg. Proves once and for all that reality is often the strongest fuel for the nightmares burning bright. This one is a belter. An absolute beast!"</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">~JOHN BODEN, author of Spungunion and Walk the Darkness Down</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> "Matthews twists pioneering ideas from epigenetics and neuroscience into a classic horror tale, producing a nightmarish adventure that breathes new life into the werewolf legend."</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">~BILL SULLIVAN, Ph.D, Professor of Pharmacology at Indiana University</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"As a new take on the werewolf story, it is a fascinating read, but as a deep dive into the realities of mental illness, the book is an absolute triumph."</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">~IndieMuse.com</span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NK4SKYN"><span style="font-size: large;">The Hobgoblin of Little Minds on Amazon</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifEPma3A1Kw/X84fndtoKZI/AAAAAAAAFug/NHCwi2TRv-YSGtjSfHKhLXq25jj4IRbIACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-12-01%2Bat%2B3.29.55%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1491" data-original-width="2048" height="380" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifEPma3A1Kw/X84fndtoKZI/AAAAAAAAFug/NHCwi2TRv-YSGtjSfHKhLXq25jj4IRbIACLcBGAsYHQ/w522-h380/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-12-01%2Bat%2B3.29.55%2BPM.png" width="522" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p></div>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338983676955927105.post-11788389687387130982020-11-25T13:15:00.007-05:002020-11-25T13:15:52.216-05:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mtqg6jy2Fvo/X76ejnik5_I/AAAAAAAAFtw/2d6DR3b6k6Ur6ZaSkm6lk2dZb4HwiwcNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/BookBrushImage-2020-11-21-14-124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="457" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mtqg6jy2Fvo/X76ejnik5_I/AAAAAAAAFtw/2d6DR3b6k6Ur6ZaSkm6lk2dZb4HwiwcNwCLcBGAsYHQ/w457-h457/BookBrushImage-2020-11-21-14-124.jpg" width="457" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A blurb from a writer I emulate.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NK4SKYN"><span style="font-size: large;">Click here to Preorder The Hobgoblin of Little Minds</span></a></p><p><br /></p>Mark Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11956530916020259514noreply@blogger.com0