I've moved!

Hello - just a quick note to any visitors that I've moved my online presence, and this page will no longer be updated. I'm on Substack now, so either subscribe to get the following free posts three times a week in your inbox:

1. Monday Morning Movie Reviews

2. Wednesday Morning Video Writing Update

3. Free Fiction Friday

...or bookmark this new page, and come check it out at your leisure.

https://kevinlucia.substack.com/

Open Submissions for Cemetery Dance Publications Paperback and Ebooks:

Open Submissions for Cemetery Dance Publications Paperback and Ebooks:

June 2nd - 30th

Looking for: novels, novellas, short story collections. No trilogies or series books at this time.

Genre: Horror - supernatural, thriller, cosmic, Gothic fiction, ecological horror, horror western, historical horror, body horror, found footage, quiet horror, splatterpunk, classic horror, or "dark fantasy" - as defined by the late Charles L. Grant. Not looking for straight science fiction or epic fantasy at this time.

Especially interested in work from poc, women, and the LGBTQ+ community (am not interested in debating this issue).

ALSO interested in horror told from a faith perspective (note the use of the word FAITH, and not CHRISTIAN exclusively).

Have a novella or novel which doesn't seem to be "horror enough" by others' standards? (Thinking of Robert Aikman, Flannery O'Connor, Franz Kafka) Send it in.

*Informally: Though they didn't do so well by their authors at the end, one of the things I always appreciated about Leisure Fiction was their range: they featured works by such disparate authors such as Gary Braunbeck, John Everson, Tim Lebbon, Sarah Pinborough, Mary Sangiovanni, Brian Smith, Nate Kenyon, Brian Keene, the late Tom Picirilli, and so many others. When I'm reading submissions over the next few weeks, this is something I'll be keeping firmly in mind.

*Note: At this time, I'm considering works for publication after April 2023.

Send submissions in .doc formats with a brief cover letter to: kevinlucia at cemeterydance.com, with SUBMISSION: TITLE in subject line. Format - double-spaced, with reasonably readable font.

Unfortunately, due to the high volume of submissions I'm expecting, my responses will be form emails in nature, and I won't be able to offer any advice as to why I didn't select your work, or what needs to be improved (lots of times nothing needs to be improved; it's just not what I'm looking for at that time).

I look forward to reading your submissions.

Review: Such Stuff As Screams Are Made Of

Such Stuff As Screams Are Made Of by Robert Bloch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 This is my second Robert Bloch short story collection, and it won't be my last. Entertaining and intriguing stories, though a few of them haven't aged well in terms of gender and race, and after a while, the "Bloch twist" at the end of the stories loses its punch a little, not nearly as charming as a "Bradbury Twist" or as thought-provoking as a "Twilight Zone Twist." Even so, still a seminal speculative fiction writer who should be read by any young writer today.


View all my reviews

Booklist Review of THE NIGHT ROAD

When we begin our insane journey as artists, we develop a wish-list of milestones. I've been fortunate enough to collect a few. Got another one recently: a coveted Booklist review for The Night Road, coming in paperback and ebook from Cemetery Dance Publications in April:

"A heartbreakingly beautiful, thought-provoking, and compelling read with an unforgettable protagonist." - Booklist

 

To say I'm over the moon and blown away would be an understatement.  The Night Road is one of my favorite works, and I can't for folks to start reading it. Pre-orders will open soon!

Review: Every House is Haunted

Every House is Haunted by Ian Rogers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A wonderful, eclectic mix ranging from horror, science fiction, speculative fiction, weird fiction, and contemporary mythic fantasy.

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Story Origin - "The Girl Between the Slats" - Dancing With Tombstones

#horror #shortstory #ghoststory #Author Michael Aronovitz discusses the origin of his short story "The Girl Between the Slats," from his #CemeteryDance collection, DANCING WITH TOMBSTONES, which is available in paperback on Amazon, and which is now available in ebook at a special preorder price of .99.

https://tinyurl.com/586w9d8t

Cemetery Dance Movie Watch: DANCING WITH TOMBSTONES, by Mike Aronovitz

#IntotheAbyss hosts its very first #CemeteryDance #MovieWatch, with special guest, Michael Aronovitz, whose collection DANCING WITH TOMBSTONES is on a.99 ebook preorder special! Tonight's viewing was the 1980 #horrormovie SCARED TO DEATH. During the halftime break, Michael talked more about his collection, and the ITA crew discussed their recent horror movie and TV picks.

Story Origin - "How Bria Died" - Dancing With Tombstones

#horror #shortstory #ghoststory #Author Michael Aronovitz discusses the origin of his short story "How Bria Died," from his #CemeteryDance collection, DANCING WITH TOMBSTONES, which is available in paperback on Amazon, and will soon be available in ebook at a special preorder price of .99.

Origin: Dancing With Tombstones

Michael Aronovitz discusses the origin of his #CemeteryDance #shortstory collection, DANCING WITH TOMBSTONES.

Book Cover Design: Dancing With Tombstones

#bookcover #cemeterydancepublications #horror Author Michael Aronovitz discusses the genesis of the cover for his Cemetery Dance #shortstory collection, DANCING WITH TOMBSTONES, available in paperback on #Amazon, and available for ebook preorder at .99, January 21st. 

Review: The Mind Spider and Other Stories

The Mind Spider and Other Stories by Fritz Leiber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed most of the stories in this collection, as they weren't necessarily "high science fiction" (if that makes any sense) but "futuristic fiction" of the stripe that Ray Bradbury or Charles Beaumount might've written. The characters were very relatable, and while there's a little bit of "dated" sci fi jargon, extremely readable, also. This my first foray into Leiber's fiction; it certainly won't be my last, especially as he's written horror, also.

View all my reviews

Review: The Fading Place

The Fading Place by Mary SanGiovanni
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Excellent snapshot and character study of what a mother will do to protect her child, and how the trauma of grief and loss can push someone to their breaking point. As usual, Mary Sangiovanni never disappoints.

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Review: Twelve Tales of Suspense and the Supernatural

Twelve Tales of Suspense and the Supernatural by Davis Grubb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really enjoyable collection of short stories which feel like they invoke tones of both Ray Bradbury and Charles Beaumont. Less supernatural and more suspense, but even so, stories which execute that "twist" at the end very well. Definitely recommend.

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Massive Sale on Godless Until January 1st!

 

Huge sale on Godless.com of a whole slew of my short stories and some novellas! Only until January 1st!

 

Review: The Drowned World

The Drowned World by J.G. Ballard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So this is what I love about used book sales and used bookstores. I've never heard of J. G. Ballard, but the description on the back - saying it has an "oppressive power reminiscent of Conrad" - caught my eye. It's a very accurate description. Lots of poetic, lush imagery, and you can best consider this novel to be Waterworld (without Kevin Costner and stupid plot point) and Heart of Darkness by way of Mad Max. I will definitely be searching out more of Ballard's work.

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80s Trash Horror: The Zero Boys and Children of the Night

My brief thoughts on CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT and THE ZERO BOYS, both on @Tubi. #horror #80shorror

Massive Sale on Godless!

December 21st you can get all these beauties for probably less than a cup of coffee goes these days, on Godless Horrors.

Into the Abyss: Holiday Horror

Tis the season! Looking for some Holiday Horror? Here's a review I did several years ago for Crystal Lake Publishing's Patreon Page.

 

80s Trash Horror: Mutant, The Video Dead, Gate I & II

Looking for some 80s horror recommendations? Here are my quick thoughts on THE VIDEO DEAD, MUTANT, and THE GATE and GATE II.