Supernatural Tales

Where Are the Bones? & Other Stories by Jacqueline Simpson is still available, and still eminently readable! Stories of the strange and supernatural by one of Britain's leading folklore experts. Contents: "Introduction" by Jacqueline Simpson; "Three Padlocks"; "On Danish Dunes"; "Where are the Bones...?"; "Vampire Viking Queen"; "Dragon Path"; "The Trophy"; "Rowland's Hall"; "Purty Liddle Dears"; "The Game of Bear"; "The Guardian"; "The Pepper-Pot"; "Afterword" by Gail-Nina Anderson; "A Note on Will Stone" by Rosemary Pardoe

You can find it on the UK Amazon site here . You can find it on the US Amazon site here .

You can buy it online here . Stories by Steve Duffy, Mark Valentine, Tracy Fahey, S.P. Miskowski, Helen Grant, Jane Jakeman, and Laura Lucas. Here are the opening sentences. It had often been said of Olivia that she trusted too much in the generosity of the men in her life. 'Chambers of the Heart' by Steve Duffy Jack rolled over and pushed something out of the way. 'Mortimer: The Husband's Story' by Jane Jakeman  Toby is married to Lana. 'Sargasso' by Laura Lucas  All through that last, unending winter, she bites her tongue. 'Inside Out' by Tracy Fahey  If you don’t mind, I find it advisable to schedule activities early in the day. 'Legends of Claudia' by S.P. Miskowski  It was the flash that woke him. 'Atmospheric Disturbances' by Helen Grant  When he saw the headline at the newspaper stand he had a brief flicker of unease. 'Red Lion Rising' by Mark Valentine

As I've written here before (and I won't bore on about it any more) I've been tired and stressed out for a long while now, and not in any condition to give thoughtful, considerate opinions on other people's writing. So I'm not able to posts proper book reviews. At the same time, I was sent some new books after things went pear-shaped, and I should at least draw attention to them. So... Bending to Earth is a Swan River Press collection of old but little-known 'Strange Stories by Irish women'. I have read most of the stories and can testify that there are well chosen by editors Brian Showers and Maria Giakaniki. Here you will find fairy tales, ghost stories, horror, and much else that is Gothic and, yes, strange. If you go to the link at the start of this para you will see an extract from the introduction, The present volume is subtitled “Strange Stories by Irish Women”, and its authors populate the better part of the nineteenth century. One might rightf...

Dust-Jacket art by Paul Lowe Sarob Press is publishing Their Dark & Secret Alchemy , an anthology of three novellas/novelettes by Richard Gavin, Colin Insole, and Damian Murphy. RICHARD GAVIN ~ TEN OF SWORDS: RUIN ... Secret things, furtive silent rituals, and the revealing of darker truths. COLIN INSOLE ~ THE DEAD OF MARIDUNUM ... A strange inheritance, a terrible tragedy, and the return of a sinister and ancient terror. DAMIAN MURPHY ~ THE AXIS OF THE LODESTONE ... Arcane ceremonies, the search for esoteric knowledge, and a sacramental descent into the depths.  I expect it will sell out very quickly - all Sarob titles do.

This is a wonderful wooden sculpture of a ghost at the Castle of Vezio. Check it out here . Nice to see spooks getting out in the fresh air, enjoying the sunshine. All s/he needs now is a nice bowl of pasta and some decent wine.