September | 2011 | Wesley Southard

That’s right! After four years–and one very shitty hiccup involving what should have been my first story in print–I’m proud to present my first real short story publication!

Pill Hill Press is proud to present Big Book of New Short Horror. This massive anthology contains 58 (that’s right–58!) brand new stories of terror from horror’s brightest up-and-comers to keep you wide awake well into the night.

Did I mention there are 58 stories? That’s 200,000 words of brand new fiction! It’s available in E-Book, trade paperback, and trade hardback (I know, right? A hardback for my first publication!).

E-Book: Kindle and Nook

Amazon: Trade Paperback and Trade Hardback

Barnes and Noble: Trade Paperback and Trade Hardback

Pill Hill Press Shoppe: Trade Paperback and Trade Hardback

My contribution is called “With Many Thanks to Newark” (about 4000 words), and I’m extremely proud of this tale. The story itself came out of a very bad flying experience I had earlier this year, not only being stuck for several extra hours in the Cleveland airport, but my other flight being delayed from a massive, unforseen snow and ice storm that caused my Chicago to Indianapolis plane ride to be re-routed to Louisville (my parents were waiting to pick me up in Indy, so you can just imagine the anger over the phone over following few hours). Though the actual story has little to do with my actual experience, the seed was planted (along with a nudge from two very good friends) and what eventually came out is what sits between the pages of this amazing book.

Here’s the description: With his father dying in a hospital bed several states away, Tesh Hagman boards a plane of nightmares where not everyone is quite what they seem. “Why the hell is everyone smiling?”

I do hope you’ll check the anthology out (no, I won’t be the type of author to beg you to buy my fiction, but I will give the link to where you can buy it if you so choose), and please let me know what you think of the story, either here or on Facebook or Twitter.

This only the beginning, everyone. Where we go from here…well, that up to my imagination.

TRADE PAPERBACKS

TRADE HARDBACKS

I realize I haven’t posted in some time, but I hope to change that from this point on. As the last post suggests, I’ve been in a bit of a funk from what was supposed to be my first big publishing venture, which from what you’ve read turned out horribly. But I’m ready to move past that and start fresh, and Horrorfind weekend was just what I needed to exorcise those shit demons.

Other than Mo*Con, I’ve never been to what’s considered a “big” convention. The week prior to HF was spent worrying about how I was going to react around a massive crowd, being pushed around, shoulder to shoulder, no room to breathe. I’ll be damned if I was wrong. Horrorfind was not what I expected. I’ve never felt more comfortable, being around so many like-mined people–never felt overwhelmed by the crowds or unable to move. In fact, I was quite comfortable the entire weekend. Everyone was there for a purpose: To have fun, get drunk, and make some memories.

And that’s what we did.

Another weekend in Pennsylvania, another reason to want to move to the east coast.

Over the course of the weekend, I got to meet one of my favorite actors, Ken Foree.

And the great Sid Haig.

Finally got to meet and hang out with one of my all time favorite writers, Tim Lebbon, and was lucky to meet the great Christopher Golden.

I was also very fortunate to hang out with and recieve some really great advice about the world of writing and publishing with the amazing James A. Moore.

And to top it off, my Sunday afternoon reading of “By The Throat”.

Also got to meet some great new writers, like Kevin Lucia, Jacob Haddon, Lesley Conner, and Charles Cloyott. Overall, one of the best weekends ever. And as for next year…

…You can bet your ass I’ll be there again!

P.S. I should have some publishing news coming within the next week or so, so keep your eyes open on this page for more details on my “real” first short story publication in an anthology.