Just read the preliminary shortlist for the Stokers 2009 and am over the moon to see Grants Pass in there!

Here’s the list: Stoker preliminary ballot

Great to see Kaaron Warren’s Slights in the novel section too!

Love, death and war…

The Morrigan goddess represented all three to the ancient Celts. Journey with our authors as they tell stories of love, war, hatred, revenge and mortality - each featuring the Morrigan in her many guises.

Re-visit the world of Deverry, and of Nevyn, with a previously unpublished tale by Katharine Kerr, watch the Norse gods meet their Celtic counterparts with Elaine Cunningham, meet a druid who dances for the dead with C.E. Murphy and follow the path of a Roman centurion with Anya Bast.

These are but a few offerings from the stories collection in The Phantom Queen Awakes. If you are searching for a rich blend of dark fantasy, then this is a collection perfect for you.

The Phantom Queen Awakes stories:

Rising Tide: Ruth Shelton
Kiss of the Morrigan: Anya Bast
I Guard Your Death: Lynne Lumsden Green
Gifts of the Morrigan: Donald Jacob Uitvlugt
Cairn Dancer: C. E. Murphy
Washerwoman: Jennifer Lawrence
The Raven’s Curse: Sharon Kae Reamer
Ravens: Mari Ness
The Lass from Far Away: Katharine Kerr
The Trinket: Peter Bell
The Dying Gaul: Michael Bailey
The Children of Badb Catha: James Lecky
The Plain of Pillars: L. J. Hayward
The Silver Branch: Linda Donahue
The Good and Faithful Servant: Martyn Taylor
The White Heifer of Fearchair: T. A. Moore
She Who is Becoming: Elaine Cunningham

N.B.: The Phantom Queen Awakes will be released 14th February 2010 in the US.

UK, Australian and European release dates to follow.

US: $20 + shipping

Our first creation here at Morrigan Books, Voices, is still winning praise for its concept and stories. The most recent review has been published in the Albedo 37 and was written by David Conyers:
 

“As a whole Voices is a stand-out collection of dark fiction, particularly as a first release for a new publishing company. Presentation and the book design are professional, captivating and appropriate to the theme, which is a failing for most other small press companies make. I look forward to reading further collections from Morrigan Books.“
 

To grab a copy of voices, the link is below:

AUD $19 + shipping

Dead Souls is now available through both the Morrigan Books website and Amazon.com.

Be sure to scare the bejeezus out of your nearest and dearest this Halloween by gifting them with some wonderful tales, penned by expert storytellers.

And a cover to make you squirm whenever you reach for your copy!

I can formally announce today that Morrigan Books has taken on four new editors for our upcoming projects over the next two years:

Gerard Brennan and Michael Stone, are currently hard at work editing the Irish crime anthology: The Red Hand of Crime and we are very honoured to have these two on board, not only as authors in other projects, but now as editors. Very much looking forward to seeing this book.

Pete Kempshall, author of countless stories for Big Finish and long heavily involved behind the scenes at Morrigan Books, will now co-edit our Australian version of Scenes from the Second Storey, with Amanda Pillar, due for release at next year’s World Con in Melbourne.

Greg Ballam, currently art consultant at Morrigan Books, has agreed to co-edit the international version of Scenes from the Second Storey, with Mark S. Deniz. This anthology is also due for release next autumn.

Today, Morrígan Books proudly announces the addition of two talented, up-and-coming editors to its staff: Sharon Ring and Kym MacFarlane.

Known for her work at Dark Fiction Review and Science Fiction and Fantasy Enthusiasts, Sharon Ring, has previously worked on several behind-the-scenes projects at Morrígan Books and will edit Shadow’s Bloom, the new sequel to T.A. Moore’s wonderfully illustrated novel, The Even.

Sharon’s other duties will include administrating the business side of the team’s activities.

Kym MacFarlane will edit another Morrígan Books‘ novel currently in progress. She has also worked extensively behind-the-scenes here at the company and will continue to do so in the future.

Morrígan Books is extremely pleased to welcome two talented women to their new staff positions.

It has now been confirmed that Dead Souls will be launched, 19th September 2009, at Fantasy Con at the Britannia Hotel in Nottingham, England.

Those already attending to sign your copies are: Ramsey ‘Trapdoor’ Campbell, Paul ‘Funnel-Web’ Finch, Gary ‘Tarantula’ McMahon, Carole ‘Black Widow’ Johnstone and Rebecca ‘Wolf’ Lloyd. Other varieties may be spotted soon…

So let loose the spider!

Before God created light, there was darkness. Even after He illuminated the world, there were shadows — shadows that allowed the darkness to fester and infect the unwary. The tales found within Dead Souls explore the recesses of the soul; those people and creatures that could not escape the shadows. From the inherent cruelness of humanity to malevolent forces, Dead Souls explores the depths of humanity as a lesson to the ignorant, the naive and the unsuspecting. God created light, but it is a temporary grace that will ultimately fail us, for the darkness is stronger and our souls…are truly dead.

Dead Souls contains twenty five stories that will only ensure the darkness without enfolds you in its cold embrace…beware…be ready…be damned!

Order your copy now!

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UK: £15 + shipping

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US: $25 + shipping

This time from the wonderful Sharon Ring, deputy editor over at Science Fiction and Fantasy Ethics (SFEE for short).

How to Make Monsters review

The book can be ordered online, although there are few copies left…so grab yours before it’s too late!

Purchase How to Make Monsters and make sure to get some light bulbs while you’re at it, as you won’t want to turn the light off again!

“Grants Pass is a remarkable, disturbing, and worthwhile read, and one that is likely to stay with the reader for some time to come. I’m predicting that this anthology will be up for a swag of awards come the next round of Aurealis, Ditmar and Australian Shadows nominations.”

A big thanks to HorrorScope for their review.

Release date is in August 2009.