This
October, lock your doors, grab your garlic and stake then sit down with Melange
Books amazing Halloween holiday reads.
All Hallow's Evil
A John Seraph Mystery - #0.5
by C.G. Eberle
Before Family
Ties, before Family Plots, John Seraph was an ordinary college
student at Buffalo State College, until Halloween night when he came
face-to-face with the Headless Rider of Buffalo State College. Now John needs
to stop the Rider before he kills.
The Corpulent Chiropteran
by Nell DuVall
Wally, a reluctant vampire, faces a lonely life until he
meets Bernice, but the evil Estrella has other ideas.
Spellbound 2011
by Isabelle
Kane, Audrey
Tremaine, John Mecom,
Walt
Trizna, Joanna
Foreman, Jenny Twist,
John
Steiner, Tori L.
Ridgewood, Tara Fox
Hall
Spellbound at Midnight by Isabelle Kane & Audrey
Tremaine
In the sultry Big Easy, Viole Godin is hired to restore Magnolia Place, an antebellum mansion which is crumbling under a mysterious curse. Marie Verret and her dangerously attractive grandson, Lucien, believe Viole is the key to ending the curse one magical Halloween night.
In the sultry Big Easy, Viole Godin is hired to restore Magnolia Place, an antebellum mansion which is crumbling under a mysterious curse. Marie Verret and her dangerously attractive grandson, Lucien, believe Viole is the key to ending the curse one magical Halloween night.
Room 1309.5 by John M. Mecom
Inspired by the works of Poe and Stephen King, Room 1309.5 is a story of revenge and despair. It is the author's first story to be published and received honorable mention in the Fifth Annual Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Awards.
Inspired by the works of Poe and Stephen King, Room 1309.5 is a story of revenge and despair. It is the author's first story to be published and received honorable mention in the Fifth Annual Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Awards.
Mansion of Nightmares by Walt Trizna
A mysterious mansion, long abandoned, harbors a past that claims those who enter. Then one day, by a stroke of luck, an intruder survives and uncovers its secret.
A mysterious mansion, long abandoned, harbors a past that claims those who enter. Then one day, by a stroke of luck, an intruder survives and uncovers its secret.
Ghost Taxi by Joanna Foreman
A man drowns heading for freedom in America, but his ghost is trapped. Washed up on the beach, the ghost is an illegal alien, not allowed to cross the street into Miami. A homeless man and a vacationing tourist search for his wife so the ghost can possess her.
A man drowns heading for freedom in America, but his ghost is trapped. Washed up on the beach, the ghost is an illegal alien, not allowed to cross the street into Miami. A homeless man and a vacationing tourist search for his wife so the ghost can possess her.
Uncle Vernon by Jenny Twist
There's something very peculiar about Uncle Vernon. Nobody knows what he does in the cellar. But he's quite harmless, really. Isn't he?
There's something very peculiar about Uncle Vernon. Nobody knows what he does in the cellar. But he's quite harmless, really. Isn't he?
Half Seen, Half Hidden by John Steiner
Nine dead. One missing. No suspects and no leads. What happened in the cabin outside Wilson Wyoming? Where and who is Mason Oliver? Deep within ourselves rests a greater mystery. Half Seen, Half Hidden traces the last three days of Mason Oliver and nine hitchhikers. Offering them shelter, Mason takes them to a secluded cabin. There they all sense the others aren't quite the strangers they seemed, and that they hold something extraordinary in common.
Nine dead. One missing. No suspects and no leads. What happened in the cabin outside Wilson Wyoming? Where and who is Mason Oliver? Deep within ourselves rests a greater mystery. Half Seen, Half Hidden traces the last three days of Mason Oliver and nine hitchhikers. Offering them shelter, Mason takes them to a secluded cabin. There they all sense the others aren't quite the strangers they seemed, and that they hold something extraordinary in common.
Telltale Signs by Tori L Ridgewood
Don't stay in the Dark Lake Museum after sunset! But Kate Elliot has a deadline to meet. Working overtime, she realizes she's not alone in the creepy old mansion...
Don't stay in the Dark Lake Museum after sunset! But Kate Elliot has a deadline to meet. Working overtime, she realizes she's not alone in the creepy old mansion...
The Origin of Fear by Tara Fox Hall
Four college friends mount an expedition to Latham's Landing-an abandoned island estate infamous for mysterious deaths-to gather pictures and inspiration for a thesis on the origin of fear.
Four college friends mount an expedition to Latham's Landing-an abandoned island estate infamous for mysterious deaths-to gather pictures and inspiration for a thesis on the origin of fear.
The Collector Series
Book One
The world was nearly consumed by chaos and madness during
The Great Transformation, a time when myth and legend were given form
overnight. Nearly half a century later, The Collectors Guild, a sect of humans
tasked to search and control the supernatural, are still trying to clean up the
mess that was made of society. Vampires, werewolves and so much more come to
life in this darkly gripping tale of love, friendship, betrayal, and most of
all freedom.
Philip is someone who is known as a Collector. He travels
around the world pursuing evil/dangerous creatures or beings and capturing or
killing them to protect society.
He is in New York when his ship full of captured creatures
is attacked and the whole cargo hold full of them are set loose. He is forced
to try and piece together the mystery of who killed his partner and attacked
his ship, and what the villain's motives are.
Philip discovers that there is something more sinister than
usual afoot as he realizes a dark magic is being used to leech the different
creatures strength and supernatural powers away. Philip is on the task of
fixing this situation when the villain kidnaps Philip's love, Alayna. Philip
must go try and fix the problem and save the love of his life all at the same
time.
Blood Loss
The Collector - Book Two
An epic jailbreak requires a betrayal of allegiance. But
freedom comes with a price.
Presumed dead by the Guild, Philip, a former Collector who
used to kill and capture supernatural creatures, has finally accepted the fact
that he is actually the very prey he once hunted—a hybrid. With the appearance
of a human and the blood of a troll, Philip has powers no human could ever
possess. These powers are exhilarating, but they come with a price. Philip must
hide his true identity, lest he become a hunted creature himself.
While on the road, Philip and Alayna—Philip’s lovely, Elfas
companion—get wind of a tragic occurrence. Beathan, the gypsy fairy, has been
captured and is now a captive of the Collectors Guild, bound for the hellish
supernatural prison known as St. Thomas’s. Will Philip and Alayna risk their
lives and their freedom to attempt a jailbreak of unimaginable proportions? Or
will they abandon their roguish fairy friend to his fate as a doomed prisoner?
Squad V Series
Book One
by John Steiner
In the decades following the second world war the United
States created new agencies and departments to address a wide range of issues
including intelligence, emergency response to disaster and disease as well as
covert warfare both abroad and domestically. These converge on discovery of a
new threat not only to the U.S. but to the fundamental nature of human society
and physiology.
Quincy Barns, a former U.S. Army Ranger and CIA paramilitary
operative, learns that not only are vampires real but there is a professional
combat force trained and equipped to face the threat they pose. Once recruited
into Squad Five Quincy faces enemies and inner dilemmas like nothing the
hardened veteran can imagine.
Snowflake Girl
Book Two
by John Steiner
Life is tough for a single woman in a new city. Find an
apartment, pay bills, hunt for a job... and dodge paramilitary vampire hunters.
Cecilia Freeland didn't ask for vampirism. All she did was fight to survive.
But her life is forever changed. Alienated from society and the law Cecilia has
to stay ahead of Squad Five.
Barer of the Ghost Nation
Squad V - Book Three
by John Steiner
Wanniukaga is the last of his people. No one else carries on
his cultural traditions. It was the end of the world for the healer and
spiritual leader. He is four hundred years old, and he is not alone. Afflicted
by vampirism from those who slaughtered his nation, Wanniukaga is further
burdened with the spirits of his people inside his mind.
Shattered by hard economic times St. Louis lays atop an
older city whose people died out centuries ago, save for Wanniukaga who wanders
its urban decay to this day. Locked in a struggle to preserve his people's
traditions and adapt to accelerating change the healer must balance his many
personalities. Two homeless teenagers befriend and help Wanniukaga through
difficult times against other vampires responsible for the death of his people,
evade religiously motivated amateur vampire slayers and confront a hardhearted
Squad Five operator stepping outside the rules of his unit.
Fire Alive!
by John Steiner
Fire. The light by which we tell our stories and mythic
tales. It kept the night at bay for hundreds of thousands of years. It guided
humanity's migrations across the globe, and became mankind's first weapon of
mass destruction.
What if fire developed a mind of its own.
Firefighting is already a tough job even in 2026. Captain
Duane "Longhand" Longhurst and probationary firefight Malcolm
O'Connell of Salt Lake City's Station 8 discover it's going to get much harder.
A phenomenon of particle physics called Self-Propagating Organized Thermotroph
or S.P.O.T. emerges to burn whatever they can to ingest the heat that fuels
their semi-living existence. Breaking in a new enigmatic probie, and struggling
with memories of past fire calls, Captain Longhurst has to now take on the
blazing entities.
Latham's Landing
All That Remains
Sandra has come to Latham's Landing seeking to discover what really happened to her relative who disappeared there years before, persuading her reluctant friend Tina that a little paranormal investigation will be fun.
Sandra has come to Latham's Landing seeking to discover what really happened to her relative who disappeared there years before, persuading her reluctant friend Tina that a little paranormal investigation will be fun.
The Origin of Fear
Four college friends mount an expedition to Latham's Landing—an abandoned island estate infamous for mysterious deaths—to gather pictures and inspiration for a thesis on the origin of fear.
Four college friends mount an expedition to Latham's Landing—an abandoned island estate infamous for mysterious deaths—to gather pictures and inspiration for a thesis on the origin of fear.
The Fire Within
A bitter Caroline Stone embarks on a mission to destroy the evil isle estate that took her fiancé, joining with several others also out for retribution. Can the combined fire of their hate triumph over the relentless evil of Latham's Landing?
A bitter Caroline Stone embarks on a mission to destroy the evil isle estate that took her fiancé, joining with several others also out for retribution. Can the combined fire of their hate triumph over the relentless evil of Latham's Landing?
The Haunting of Secrets Series
Are some secrets worth dying for?
Sixteen-year-old Aimee doesn't like to touch people. One
touch and she sees their past. One graze over her skin and she can see all the
good and bad deeds a person has ever done. It isn't until a bomb explodes
during lunch that she realizes exactly how many dirty secrets the students in
her school harbor-or exactly how far one of them would go to keep his secrets
safe.
In the aftermath of that fateful day of the bombing Aimee is
brushed by a fellow student as they are caught in the mob running for their
lives. Images of tortured and murdered young girls rise up to choke her. The
problem is, Aimee doesn't know who touched her. Somewhere in this school a
fellow student is a killer, and Aimee is the only one that can find him before
he murders again.
With the help of her friends Aimee must sift through her
stolen memories to determine clues. The quest to find a killer unravels the
very fabric of her carefully woven life. He won't stop until he silences her-
for only she knows all his secrets. She will have to summon all of her inner
strength to decide what she must do: hunt or be hunted. Are some secrets worth
dying for?
Unhinged
Being normal isn't always a good thing, especially if it
ends up killing you.
Aimee, the sixteen year old girl who can see your every
memory with just one touch, is fresh out of the torture room after risking
everything to capture a killer. Despite her instinct to avoid contact with
others, she tries her best to find a new normal at school—perhaps even a
boyfriend. But for those who are cursed, happiness and normality aren’t easy to
obtain. A bizarre illness spreads like wildfire through the school and causes
those around Aimee to lose their sanity before falling into a coma. Slowly, all
the people she loves succumb to this strange disease.
Unleashed
Aimee killed a man. Worse yet, she enjoyed it.
Aimee has survived a bombing, a killer’s torture chamber,
countless evils harbored deep within the minds of psychopaths and killers, and
even death. But now, the greatest threat is the evil barely contained within.
With her ascension, Aimee gained great power. She no longer
needs to touch a person for their every memory and thoughts to be divulged.
With that power, she now feels the pull to become judge, jury, and executioner
to those who commit evil in this world.
Despite her desire to be alone with Logan and live a normal
life, she soon realizes that she, in fact, is the greatest threat to the
normality she craves. Without control of her own powers, she inadvertently
causes harm to those she loves the most. Aimee is forced to seek out the only
other person in this world that can help her: Brett.
Together, they explore the world as ascended beings,
reveling in the intoxication of mind control, as flames of love ignite between
them. With each new emotion explored, the reasons behind the origin of her
powers are slowly revealed.
But a dark threat looms in the horizon—a sinister plot that
will cause the monster within Aimee to emerge.
With Logan kidnapped and Brett unable to face his sinister
father, Aimee must battle the lure of infinite power to save the two boys that
hold her heart captive.
Or risk being lost to the evil forever.
Alone and terrified, she must use her curse to find a way to
save her family and friends. As she delves deeper and deeper into their
memories, she realizes David, a delusional person from her childhood, is the
bigger threat that could destroy her. Despite the danger that surrounds her,
she struggles to solve the puzzle before it’s too late to help those she cares
for the most.
But as David moves closer to eliminating her, one puzzle
still remains. Will she be able to save herself?
Tampered Tales
by John Steiner
Theme I: The Other is a Mirror into Ourselves
The storyteller is an honest liar, for they admit fully to
their fiction. However, a tale can be false, yet tell us the truth. For while
the adventure speaks of "The Other," it reflects back upon us what we
know to be within ourselves.
Wry Folk
Oh, the age of innocence. A time in childhood where you could clap your hands and say "I believe in fairies."Then one such creature is found, only it's not a fairy and definitely not from this world. Six year old Jesse and her mother quickly learn that things which appear small, harmless and cute potentially bring with them more than one world's worth of trouble into the house. The binding ties of any civilization of any planet are that they fiercely protect their young and seek their safe return at all costs.
Oh, the age of innocence. A time in childhood where you could clap your hands and say "I believe in fairies."Then one such creature is found, only it's not a fairy and definitely not from this world. Six year old Jesse and her mother quickly learn that things which appear small, harmless and cute potentially bring with them more than one world's worth of trouble into the house. The binding ties of any civilization of any planet are that they fiercely protect their young and seek their safe return at all costs.
Red Rover, Red Rover
People of the Earth had only their own eyes through which to see themselves. That all changes when the technological eyes of an alien probe comes to our planet in study of the local inhabitants around the world. What future lays ahead of Homo sapiens depends on streams of sensor data and number crunching of the undetectable and seemingly innocent Red Rover.
People of the Earth had only their own eyes through which to see themselves. That all changes when the technological eyes of an alien probe comes to our planet in study of the local inhabitants around the world. What future lays ahead of Homo sapiens depends on streams of sensor data and number crunching of the undetectable and seemingly innocent Red Rover.
Four Days in Backwater
The Great Coyote chase to build the first faster than light vessel over, America's U.S.S. Roadrunner is the third place design out of four nations. Yet it is first in FTL speed. It is also the first FTLV to discover traces of civilizations in other solar systems. The crew of U.S.S. Roadrunner are in awe of the aliens they meet, and take precautions the best human minds advise. However, the aliens see under privileged wayward yokels needing to be humored and humbled. Here Homo sapiens discovers all their theories of first contact fall flat on bad premises and do nothing but give the employees of Planet Copan's truck stop a good laugh.
The Great Coyote chase to build the first faster than light vessel over, America's U.S.S. Roadrunner is the third place design out of four nations. Yet it is first in FTL speed. It is also the first FTLV to discover traces of civilizations in other solar systems. The crew of U.S.S. Roadrunner are in awe of the aliens they meet, and take precautions the best human minds advise. However, the aliens see under privileged wayward yokels needing to be humored and humbled. Here Homo sapiens discovers all their theories of first contact fall flat on bad premises and do nothing but give the employees of Planet Copan's truck stop a good laugh.
Small Time
With new technology comes many uses. Some constructive or even lifesaving. Others for great harm and to satiate personal ambitions. Many often end up what hobbyists tinker with in the garage. Others still become the expression of mischief. In Todd's day hacking long since departed the digital world and entered into the very physical realm of biology. DNA became the new code to write and manipulate. Small Time racing of "mini-mounts" drew talent from all corners to be applied to a myriad of species. All bred to small stature, yet still strong enough to carry a rider heavier than they. Todd also dabbled in "Jacking" with a G of genetic code to wage a harmless war of ridicule against the corporate world. He fit the bill of real bioterrorists all too easy, even if it was clear to the authorities he didn't do it.
With new technology comes many uses. Some constructive or even lifesaving. Others for great harm and to satiate personal ambitions. Many often end up what hobbyists tinker with in the garage. Others still become the expression of mischief. In Todd's day hacking long since departed the digital world and entered into the very physical realm of biology. DNA became the new code to write and manipulate. Small Time racing of "mini-mounts" drew talent from all corners to be applied to a myriad of species. All bred to small stature, yet still strong enough to carry a rider heavier than they. Todd also dabbled in "Jacking" with a G of genetic code to wage a harmless war of ridicule against the corporate world. He fit the bill of real bioterrorists all too easy, even if it was clear to the authorities he didn't do it.
Theme II: In Dreams, Thus Speaks the Universe
When the universe so commands, the story writes the author.
Such tales come to us as we sleep, waking us with the urge to reveal what was
shown us when our closed eyes rapidly darted from side-to-side.
Encyclopedia Capella
We think of autism as a rare affliction brought onto few among us. In Mr. Ency's world nearly everyone, including Ency himself, exhibit the condition. A distant colony finds itself inextricably sinking into the proverbial sands of their desolate desert planet. Being an habitual encyclopedist cursed with such keen attention to absolutely everything around him Mr. Ency can't help but record all of it. But it's what lives in the wild dunes between cities that will test him and everyone else aboard one of the great hover ships cruising over burning sands.
We think of autism as a rare affliction brought onto few among us. In Mr. Ency's world nearly everyone, including Ency himself, exhibit the condition. A distant colony finds itself inextricably sinking into the proverbial sands of their desolate desert planet. Being an habitual encyclopedist cursed with such keen attention to absolutely everything around him Mr. Ency can't help but record all of it. But it's what lives in the wild dunes between cities that will test him and everyone else aboard one of the great hover ships cruising over burning sands.
The Rez
Most American Indians have had live in two worlds. Whether they grew up on The Rez or, like Randy Crowfeather, constituted "City Indians." Believing that service as a Navy Seal prepared Randy for anything, he would discover how wrong he was. When the bodies of mutilated white people show up during one of Randy's frequent visits with grandfather there came with it a tragic family past to be confronted. It is said that all Indians must, at some point in their lives, make a choice.
Most American Indians have had live in two worlds. Whether they grew up on The Rez or, like Randy Crowfeather, constituted "City Indians." Believing that service as a Navy Seal prepared Randy for anything, he would discover how wrong he was. When the bodies of mutilated white people show up during one of Randy's frequent visits with grandfather there came with it a tragic family past to be confronted. It is said that all Indians must, at some point in their lives, make a choice.
Dimensional Cloister
All parents hold their children up as being special and destine for great achievements. In Aziz's time the scale of greatness would span across the entire multiverse. Brought to a school for gifted children, Aziz learns he isn't the only little boy who can send his mind slide back and forth along the temporal threads of his life. Now he's to learn how to save humanity from extra-dimensional parasites that unravel the very existence of their hosts throughout all time.
All parents hold their children up as being special and destine for great achievements. In Aziz's time the scale of greatness would span across the entire multiverse. Brought to a school for gifted children, Aziz learns he isn't the only little boy who can send his mind slide back and forth along the temporal threads of his life. Now he's to learn how to save humanity from extra-dimensional parasites that unravel the very existence of their hosts throughout all time.
Hellbound
Suppose you lived your life all wrong. Imagine that because of bad decisions or even inadvertent choices prior to death your soul had been condemned to hell. Then what...? A tale of learning coping skills no living spirit would need in order to accept and accommodate an afterlife of deafening horror and blinding pain lasting eternity.
Suppose you lived your life all wrong. Imagine that because of bad decisions or even inadvertent choices prior to death your soul had been condemned to hell. Then what...? A tale of learning coping skills no living spirit would need in order to accept and accommodate an afterlife of deafening horror and blinding pain lasting eternity.
Theme III: Conjure Me A Tale
The act of storytelling is a form of sorcery. The teller
casts a spell upon their audience in summoning up tales that never happened,
yet impact the reader as if they had lived the adventure.
Enkindle
Just because you've studied sorcery for more than fifty years doesn't make you a sorcerer, Eric's master, Iccabazzi had said. Were it so easy sorcerers would be everywhere. The power of magic remained an external tool to him. To BE that power and have it within him as the air he breathed Eric needed to face the challenge of the dragon. Only it could make sorcerers of mere mortals. It more often made smoldering ash of those who failed.
Just because you've studied sorcery for more than fifty years doesn't make you a sorcerer, Eric's master, Iccabazzi had said. Were it so easy sorcerers would be everywhere. The power of magic remained an external tool to him. To BE that power and have it within him as the air he breathed Eric needed to face the challenge of the dragon. Only it could make sorcerers of mere mortals. It more often made smoldering ash of those who failed.
Counting Coup
We've all heard the story of Custer's Last Stand, and in recent years we learned the more accurate sequence of events as told by Crow scouts working alongside the U.S. Cavalry. Suppose there's yet more to tell. Most armies pray for divine intervention in battle. With the arrival of a Manitou, a spirit of the Earth, one side will receive that aid in their darkest hour.
We've all heard the story of Custer's Last Stand, and in recent years we learned the more accurate sequence of events as told by Crow scouts working alongside the U.S. Cavalry. Suppose there's yet more to tell. Most armies pray for divine intervention in battle. With the arrival of a Manitou, a spirit of the Earth, one side will receive that aid in their darkest hour.
Arrows of Winter
Sure, being a diplomat in a feudal age can be tough in any civilization. On an alien arctic world harboring two indigenous species, one avian the other a rather out-of-place serpentine people, the rules of victory and defeat don't change. The prince whom Ayawa served had to pay tribute to another kingdom who staked victory over his air forces in battle. Part of that tribute would take more than questing for the famed Redsmiths and healers of the serpentine Fshajar. It required that Ayawa learn nobility isn't only bestowed at hatching, but is also earned though noble acts.
Sure, being a diplomat in a feudal age can be tough in any civilization. On an alien arctic world harboring two indigenous species, one avian the other a rather out-of-place serpentine people, the rules of victory and defeat don't change. The prince whom Ayawa served had to pay tribute to another kingdom who staked victory over his air forces in battle. Part of that tribute would take more than questing for the famed Redsmiths and healers of the serpentine Fshajar. It required that Ayawa learn nobility isn't only bestowed at hatching, but is also earned though noble acts.
To Drop A Bead
Carl Bohonowicz struggled with more than simply getting people to say his name right. As the police department negotiator he didn't quite seem suited to the job, and possibly the reassignment was a punishment as well as a leash. Then came the Randal Ivison hostage case. We all wear masks. How much they hide and what they let through are the only true differences.
Carl Bohonowicz struggled with more than simply getting people to say his name right. As the police department negotiator he didn't quite seem suited to the job, and possibly the reassignment was a punishment as well as a leash. Then came the Randal Ivison hostage case. We all wear masks. How much they hide and what they let through are the only true differences.
Theme IV: Too True to be Real, Yet Was Lived
Bride of the Blackbird
On the first day of summer, 2010 a small neurotic songbird wages mono a mono war against an equally dark clad talking ape to defend The Misses and their beloved nest of hatchlings. An absolutely true tale of nature's comedy in the style of the great humorist himself, James Thurber.
On the first day of summer, 2010 a small neurotic songbird wages mono a mono war against an equally dark clad talking ape to defend The Misses and their beloved nest of hatchlings. An absolutely true tale of nature's comedy in the style of the great humorist himself, James Thurber.
Thanks again for featuring us, Joanne! :)
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