I posted this at Facebook earlier on and it's getting a great reaction. I know some of you don't favour FB, and this forum is the proper place for such news, so:
The BHF gang will remember, and indeed may have participated in, Chris Wood's two volumes of Horror Stories. And you may have volunteered to write for the proposed third collection, which ultimately never happened - and which was going to depart from the 'anything goes' approach of vols 1 and 2, and instead focus on your stories based on old British horror movies, maybe with a slight spin or twist (was it James who planned to contribute something entitled 'Dracula A.D. 1982', for instance?) The literary types among you may have noticed that this sort of caper has, out of the ether, suddenly become all the rage! We've got Sean Hogan's two collections, 'England's Screaming' and 'Three Mothers, One Father' mixing and matching characters from classic Brit horror and Euroshock; and 'Studio of Screams' is upcoming from messrs Bissette, Golden, Lebbon, Morris and Volk, a bid to do a fake collection of John Burke-style novelisations of films that never existed (again, we pre-empted all this at the BHF ages ago with Albie's creation of 'Village of the Mist Ghouls' and the ensuing book-of-the-film!) So, I think it's time for The Third BHF Book Of Horror Stories to rise from the tomb. I'm happy to put myself forward as project co-ordinator/editor. I may even have access to some of the previous submissions, if any of you wrote stories for the original project that were posted at the board's 'Your Creations' forum! And I know I've still got the three tales I wrote. While in lockdown, then, take a few days to pen a yarn and send it in for consideration, or to email me with concept ideas. Guidelines: Wanted - original short fiction, preferably between 1500-5000 words. If you want to write more than 5000 it had better be Shakespeare. The stories should be somehow based on one or more British horror films, but given an unusual treatment or twist. (For example, I penned a tale called 'Mister Fixit', all about a hardware store owner who supplies the fictional characters from The Abominable Dr Phibes, The Face of Fu Manchu, Horror Hospital and The Mutations with all of their lab equipment and fiendish devices - well, they have to acquire these items somewhere). So, tell us all about Karswell attempting to get bookings at children's parties in between passing runes; what Dracula gets up to on his day off; what happened on board the Event Horizon; how the rulers of Kator's home planet responded to his message about humans being 'easy prey'; etc, etc. Write a prequel, a sequel, an 'equal' (set in between the scenes of a familiar Hammer or Tigon production, perhaps), or a concoction of your own using one or more familiar characters. If you have a completed story that fits all of the above criteria, or if you wish to pitch a concept before starting out, email me at darrellpbuxton@gmail.com This is an open call, anyone is welcome to contribute (though it would be great to see plenty of the old BHF gang involved). Stories are subject to editing, and there is no guarantee that a submission will be used in the finished book. As yet there is no deadline, but if you want to be involved, let me know as soon as possible. Open to professional authors (though no fees are involved, this is purely an amateur venture for the fun of it), beginners, and everyone in between.
Here's our cover (graphic design and text by me, astonishing artwork by moodie). Yes Sam, CMM is right - it's very likely that there will be a fourth volume in a few months, so hold that story, and write a couple of new ones while you're at it. If you're on FB, join the 'Third BHF Book of Horror Stories' page for all the latest news.
I've ordered a proof copy of the book, and hope to have it on sale in the next few days as soon as I've done a final check.. Here's a list of the contents:
Cold Snap - Richard Freeman
The Cold Hunger of Dead Wastelands - Paul Newman
Night of the Raven - Tom Lee Rutter
There's No Businessss Like Showbusinessss - Neil Pike
Polish - Darrell Buxton
An American Premonition in Lindos – Ian Taylor
Fattening Frogs for Snakes – Ken Shinn
The Connoisseur – W.R. McKay
Death’s Head – Fritz Maitland
The Half-Deads – The Third Chronicle of Pain – James Stanger
Special Weapons Division – Tony Earnshaw
Last Departure from Hobbs End – Daniel McGachey
Mister Fixit – Darrell Buxton
It Could Have Been So Different… – Eric McNaughton
A Modest Proposal – Ken Shinn
Mr Hillsings’ Dinner – Wayne Mook
Good for the Soul – Darrell Buxton
The Naked Ape: A Tale from the Monster Club – Ken Shinn
Blood Ties – Paul Newman
The Beast Must Live…! – Martin Dallard
Cruelty Free – Jolyon Yates
The First Horror Movie – Darrell Buxton
Pillage of the Damned – Samantha Crosby
Nuggets – Jez Conolly
Raw – Tony Earnshaw
OfficeTech Intra-Personal Relationships Course – October 30th 11 p.m. – Franklin Marsh
Painting With Light – Darrell Buxton
Eden: The Paradise That Never Was – Martin Dallard
Taking it Seriously – Ian Taylor
Incident Report: The Halley Incident – Ken Shinn
The Shop – Nadia Mook
Death and Loneliness – Jason D. Brawn
Dog Star – Neil Pike
A Hungarian Vampire in London – Ian Millsted
Minister of the Sinister – Ian Taylor