Publications | Evil Jester Press


	DEEP CUTS Edited by Angel Leigh McCoy, E.S. Magill, and Chris Marrs Warning: cuts may be deeper than they appear. 19 short horror stories to give you shivers plus 60 recommendations for powerhouse tales written by women—those bloody stylings and chainsaw rhythms that have lain hidden like deadly gems among other great works. “Deep Cuts smartly sidesteps the bloody ‘women in horror’ debate and puts its money where its mouth is. This fantastic collection, featuring both genders, pays tribute to the best dark tales told by women. A deeply cerebral experience that is at times honest and intimate, but always chilling.” —Mercedes M. Yardley, author of Beautiful Sorrows Cover art by Anja Millen. Contributors include Nancy Holder, Yvonne Navarro, Mehitobel Wilson, Lisa Morton, Sandra Odell, Samael Gyre, Sara Taylor, Michael Haynes, R.S. Belcher, Stephen Woodworth, C.W. Smith, Colleen Anderson, James Chambers, Ed Kurtz, Rachel Karyo, Kelly A. Harmon, Scathe meic Beorh, Patricia Lillie, Satyros Phil Brucato, and Rob M. Miller. Available from &

	HIGH STAKES: A Vampire Anthology Edited by Gabrielle Faust Ten thrilling new vampire tales from award-winning authors explore the world of the undead and the twisted games they play, not only with their prey, but with each other. HIGH STAKES begs the question: Do you care to gamble…with your life. With all new fiction from Jonathan Maberry, Joe McKinney, Sephera Giron, JG Faherty, David C. Hayes, Jeff Strand, Gabrielle Faust, Roh Morgon, Rain Graves, Michael H. Hanson. Introduction by Dacre Stoker. Poem by Linda Addison. Edited by Gabrielle Faust. Available from &

	INHERITANCE Joe McKinney Nominated for the Bram Stoker Award® – Superior Achievement in Novel – 2012 Paul Henninger is a rookie cop on San Antonio’s troubled East Side, where every night is a war against the gangs and the drug dealers. But Paul has a dark past, and a dark inheritance. The ghost of Martin Henninger has returned to make sure his son, Paul, delivers on his apocalyptic charge, the result of Martin’s black magic, and he’s killing everyone in his path. With his two worlds colliding, and the body count stacking up, Paul soon finds himself the lead suspect in a series of grisly cult-style killings, and in an emotional standoff between duty, the truth, his wife, and his dead family. Meanwhile, Keith Anderson, San Antonio’s best homicide detective, is hot on Paul’s heels. His investigation takes him deep into the secrets of Paul’s family. But what he finds there just might kill them both. Available from &

	THE SUMMER OF WINTERS Mark Allan Gunnells Some kids have it all—wealthy, loving parents, lots of friends, self-confidence. But not Mike Guthrie, a friendless, awkward boy who has recently been abandoned by his father. The only thing Mike’s not short of is creativity, spending most of his time in backyard making up games. The summer of 1983 begins on a promising note when new neighbors move in. In walks Paige, a sassy girl who takes an immediate shine to Mike. They become fast friends, and everything seems to be looking up for Mike. She shares his love for games and begins teaching him important lessons about friendship. A whole new world of hope, until… Mike and Paige discover a dead girl in the cemetery. Available from &

	TEARS OF NO RETURN David Bernstein When infected with a bizarre virus, Karen gains, among other powers, the ability to read minds. As she struggles with her situation, a secret branch of the military, devoted to paranormal and supernatural phenomenon, starts their dogged pursuit. They will stop at nothing to catch her, dead or alive. On the run, Karen meets Morgan, an ex-agent of the team that’s on her tail, a vampire-turned-vampire hunter. Together, they struggle to stop the government from seizing the virus, a fate worse than contagion: a future of chaos from which there is no return. “David Bernstein has a knack for getting to the heart of a story, and with Tears of No Return, he’s taken a classic tale of lovers on the run and made it boldly and genuinely his own. Reading Bernstein’s latest, I felt like I was reliving everything I loved about The X-Files, and Dean Koontz, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer…yet filtered through a tough, original voice, one that maintains perfect control over the story at all times. I’ve said before that Bernstein is who you should be reading now, and this book is absolute confirmation that Bernstein is a storyteller of the first stripe.” Available from &

	WINDWALKERS R. Michael Burns When a nightmarish blizzard drives college students Nick Bookman and Robin Kelley to take shelter in a small-town Minnesota church, they are forced to confront the intimate secret that is tearing their friendship apart. The appearance of another storm refugee, Alicia Morgan, an attractive high school senior and self-described witch, arouses Nick’s interest and threatens to strain the old friends’ relationship past the breaking point. Then one of the men trapped in the church disappears in the deep of the night, and his young daughter stumbles in from the storm babbling about monsters. Only Alicia recognizes the creature from the child’s tale—a wendigo, an ancient spirit that embodies the hunger for human flesh. Soon these monsters are on the hunt, and the refugees discover they must fight not only with the menace that haunts the storm, but their own darkest desires. If they cannot control their hungers, they will be consumed by them. Only the strongest hearts among the strange band of storm refugees have any hope of surviving the long dark night. Available from &

	THE CALL OF LOVECRAFT Edited by Gregory L. Norris From the murky depths of the ocean to the unlit forbidden places beneath the earth, from the dark and distant past to uncertain futures, from far-flung outer space to the unholy evils that lurk in waiting in our very own backyards, sixteen masters of the macabre, old and new, explore a landscape of terror and madness — and dare to answer the call of Lovecraft! Contributors: Ramsey Campbell, Lee Clark Zumpe, Jaqueline Seewald, William Meikle, James Ravan, Carol MacAllister, Geoffrey James, R.E. Dent, Derek Neville, John B. Rosenman, Scott Lefebvre, Karen Dent, H. David Blalock, Scott Goudsward, Gregory L. Norris, John F.D. Taff, and H.P. Lovecraft. Available from &

	CAMERON’S CLOSET Gary Brandner Cameron and his mother deal with their tragic past in different ways—she with alcohol, he with an imaginary friend. But that imaginary friend has become so much more—a deadly, hard-to-contain force, its primary objective no longer the protection of Cameron. An LAPD detective—struggling to solve a string of grisly killings—and a psychologist—trying to understand Cameron—work together to uncover the connection. But can they stop such an elusive, impossible evil? Or will it rip them to shreds? A clever blend of supernatural terror and police procedural, Cameron’s Closet is ready to thrill a new generation of readers. This 25th Anniversary Edition from Evil Jester Press features cover art from Alex Mcvey and a new introduction by Bram Stoker Award winner Joe McKinney. Don’t miss it! Available from &

	EVIL JESTER DIGEST, VOL. 1 Edited by Peter Giglio 10 Stunning Stories from the Masters and Rising Stars of Horror Fiction. GPS by Rick Hautala DUST DEVIL by Gary Brandner SHARPE IS EXTRAORDINARY by David Dunwoody THE GIRL WHO DROWNED by Tracy L. Carbone DUST AT THE CENTER OF ALL THINGS by John F.D. Taff LOOK BEHIND YOU by Eric Shapiro LONE WOLF by Gregory L. Norris WIDDERSHINS by Hollie Snider A GENTLEMAN’S FOLLY by Phil Hickes And the novelette THE END OF AUTUMN by Aric Sundquist Available from &

	EVIL JESTER DIGEST, VOL. 2 Edited by Peter Giglio 12 dark tales from the masters and rising stars of genre fiction. Complete TOC: “No More Shadows” by Tim Waggoner; “A Curse and a Kiss” by Eric J. Guignard; “Depravation” by Mark Allan Gunnells; “The Girl with the Thirsty Eyes” by Scott Bradley; “Slink” by Trent Zelazny; “Vampiro” by John Palisano; “Kristall Tag” by Holly Newstein; “The Tardy Hand of Miss Tangerine” by Jon Michael Kelley; “Vanishing Act” by Simon McCaffery; “Windows in the Wreckage” by Trent Zelazny; “Coyote Gambit” by Gene O’Neill; “Closing Time” by Amy Wallace. Available from &

	THE END OF AUTUMN: A Dark Fantasy, Young Adult Novelette Aric Sundquist Trapped in a never-ending stasis between life and death, three kids set forth on a perilous journey to escape a nightmarish apparition called the Timekeeper. But in order to break the curse of their hometown, they must first travel across a dark and surreal landscape, into the very heart of winter itself, and beyond… Available from

	THE QUARRY Mark Allan Gunnells THE COLLEGE… Peaceful and idyllic, bordering picturesque Lake Limestone, known locally as the Quarry. Until DALE awakens an ancient evil lurking deep beneath the waters. Becomes one with it. And EMILIO loses his best friend and wants to know why. An obsession that will unravel the terrifying secrets of… THE QUARRY Available from & “Mark Gunnells is ready to thrill fans once again with his tale of ancient evil, The Quarry. Once this beast of a book gets its hooks in you, it won’t let go. Gunnells’ voice is stronger than ever and instantly recognizable as his own—the first sign of a truly great writer. Count me in as a big fan, already looking forward to the next one!” —James Newman, author of Midnight Rain, People are Strange, and Animosity “Mark Allan Gunnells is one of my favorite new authors, and The Quarry is a terrific first novel. It has a great premise, wonderful characters, and the plot carries you along effortlessly. I highly recommend it.” —John R. Little, author of The Memory Tree and The Gray Zone

	TALES OF TERROR AND MAYHEM Edited by Charles Day and Jessica Weiss A collection of terrifying stories from the rising stars of horror, including Jon Michael Kelley, Jeremy C. Shipp, Rebecca Besser, David C. Hayes, Bruce Turnbull, Chris Samson, Aaron J. French, Eric Dimbleby, Frank Endert, Mark Taylor, Suzanne Robb, Matt Kurtz, Charles Day, Gerry Huntman, D.G. Sutter, Scott H. Urban, Doug Rinaldi, Tara Sayers, Scott Taylor, Craig Saunders, Steven Gepp, Hollie Snider, and Gregory L. Norris. Available from & “Here’s the difference between The Evil Jester and a regular jester: When a regular jester pops open his box, out come ribbons and hours of fun. When The Evil Jester’s box pops open, the ribbons will choke you and the hours will quickly reach dusk. A startling collection of smiling-nightmare mayhem.” -Eric Shapiro, author of The Devoted and director of Rule of Three “With Tales of Terror and Mayhem from Deep within the Box, editors Day and Weiss have given us a diverse and entertaining bunch of stories by a selection of talented authors. The tales all involve those relics of childhood (dolls, balloons, clowns, the oh-so-sinister jack-in-the-box), but they are all wonderfully original and unpredictable.” -Mark Allan Gunnells, author of The Quarry

	SERAPHIM Jon Michael Kelley Duncan McNeil is staring mistrustfully at a photograph of his daughter, Amy. She appears to be at or near her present age of ten, but the studio’s dated stamp on the back indicates that the photo was taken nearly a year before her birth. More alarming, however, is the beautiful woman standing beside Amy, a woman with whom he had an affair in the periphery of his own new marriage, during the time Amy was conceived. And the fact that this photograph has been in his wife’s possession for more than a decade is perhaps the most disturbing element of all. Duncan’s wife Rachel doesn’t know about his affair with this woman, but he will soon tell her. And upon that revelation they will begin a journey that will take them clear across the continent, from California to Massachusetts, then ultimately in the boundless, uncharted territory of the human collective. There, a devil is waiting; the penultimate personification of evil. And he goes by the name of Mr. Gamble. Available from & “Apocalyptic in the truest sense of the word, Jon Michael Kelley’s Seraphim is a stunning thriller with the very fate of the world at stake. Beautifully written, with prose as lush as it is chilling, Kelley is part poet, part prophet, but a true master of fear, through and through. This is top notch stuff of highest caliber!” – Joe McKinney, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Flesh Eaters and Inheritance “Seraphim is a beautifully wrought tale of angels and demons that starts out strong and just gets better and better. A thoroughly enjoyable read. Jon Michael Kelley proves to be a mature, intelligent new voice in horror right out of the gate.” – Craig Saunders, author of The Love of the Dead and A Stranger’s Grave “Written with the finesse of a pro, Seraphim is one hell of a frightening horror novel. With bits of dark fantasy and humor mixed in, this one has it all! Hard to believe this is Jon Michael Kelley’s first novel.” – David Bernstein, author of Amongst the Dead and Tears of No Return

	MIDNIGHT RAIN James Newman Do you remember the exact moment your childhood ended? 1977… Jimmy Carter is sworn in as America’s 39th President. New York Police apprehend the “Son of Sam.” The King of Rock n’ Roll permanently leaves the building. STAR WARS is the #1 film in the world. In a small town called Midnight, North Carolina, twelve-year-old Kyle Mackey couldn’t care less about any of that. He has his own problems to deal with, as he ventures toward a strange new world called manhood… Kyle’s older brother Dan is going away to college. Several years ago their father was killed in Viet Nam, and Mom is an alcoholic devoted more to the bottle these days than to her family. Kyle has never felt so alone. The night before Dan’s flight leaves for Florida, Kyle visits what he calls his “Secret Place.” All boys have a Secret Place, he believes, and his is an old shack in the woods bordering Midnight. Kyle’s love for his secret place is shattered, however, when he stumbles upon something that proves his favorite spot in the world is neither as private nor as innocent as he once thought… It begins with the naked, battered corpse of a young woman. And, standing over her, a man Kyle knows… Available from “You might expect the work of a young Southern writer to show some roots, and you’ll see that clearly in James Newman’s writing. There’s a little bit of Davis Grubb and Joe Lansdale twisting into that dark earth, and a strong straight spike of Robert McCammon digging deep. But the story tree that grows above ground belongs to a tale-spinner who can raise one mean hunk of nightmare all on his own.” —Norman Partridge, author of The Man with the Barbed Wire Fists and Dark Harvest “…a beautifully-written adult story of murder and a boy. Grimly true to life, evocative and compelling. I loved it!” —Piers Anthony, author of On a Pale Horse and Firefly

	THE LOVE OF THE DEAD Craig Saunders When Beth Willis, who normally speaks for the deceased, is given a message from a dead medium, she steps beyond her world, into the spirit realm. D.I. Coleridge is a man marking time, until a call from Beth gives him a lead on an elusive killer who takes trophies from his victims. A killer who walks through both worlds, taking lives. A man with powers no mortal can possess. A man, but something else, too. If Coleridge and Beth are to survive, they must understand him…but some men cannot be fought. Some creatures cannot be bested. Death calls on all in time. But if Beth and Coleridge are to win, they have no choice but to call on Death themselves. Available from & “Stephen King with a touch of Cardiff dirt and a lot of London grime.” -Richard Rhys Jones, author of The Division of the Damned. “Craig Saunders is a talent to keep an eye on.” -Eric S Brown, author of Bigfoot War. “The Love of the Dead starts out like the type of horror novel you think you’ve read before, then whacks you over the head and goes in a direction you didn’t see coming—think chainsaws at a daycare center. Saunders’ writing will creep into your spine and paralyze you with dread.” -David Bernstein, author of Amongst the Dead and Tears of No Return.

	BALANCE Peter Giglio A worldwide snowstorm that brings with it a terminal virus. THE DEAD RISE… But something deep within hasn’t died. The thing they loved most when alive still burns bright, at odds with a predacious hunger they can’t control or understand. GEOFF & AMANDA… Have survived The Blast. The bad news: 650 miles of treacherous, zombie infested road separates them. And time is running out for Amanda. PAPERBACK EDITION INCLUDES AN INTRODUCTION BY ERIC SHAPIRO AND A BONUS STORY. Available from “Balance is a grim and melancholy zombie story. Peter Giglio brings his A-game to this disturbing tale.” – Jonathan Maberry, New York Times Bestselling author of Dead of Night and Dust & Decay “A harrowing new perspective on the apocalypse. Giglio goes for the heart as well as the jugular.” – David Dunwoody, author of Empire’s End and Unbound & Other Tales

	SHORT OF A PICNIC Eric Shapiro 12 short stories about 12 different characters grappling with varied forms of mental illness. At turns sensitive, scary, humorous, intense, and provocative, Eric Shapiro’s “Short of a Picnic” tours the landscape of troubled minds in contemporary culture. Available from & “…In this well-crafted collection, [Shapiro] beautifully reminds us of those whom we cavalierly label as mentally ill…” — Dan Stradford, President of AlternativeMentalHealth.com “At their best, these stories are deeply chilling…” — Rick Kleffel, The Agony Column “Combines Raymond Carver’s minimalist style with penetrating insights and a mordant wit.” — Bonnie Bucqueroux, The Healers.org “Frankly, this is the best work of fiction I’ve ever read about mental illness…” — Jillian Leslie, Everyday Warriors “I highly recommend this book and give it a top rating of 10!” — Dallas Franklin, SWO “Real-life situations that reveal what it’s like to be different in a society that embraces mainstream thoughts and emotions.” — Linda Denicola, The News Transcript “Shocking and riveting… a kaleidoscope of delightfully off-beat personalities.” — Brian Benjamin Carter, The Pulse of Oriental Medicine “The tone [varies] from poignant to downright chilling…[Shapiro has] a flair for realistic dialogue and a good visual sense.” — Roberta Austin, The Compulsive Reader “This is one of the best books I’ve read dealing with mental illness.” — Broken Wings & Fallen Angels (Mental Health Newsletter) “[It's] a fascinating and sometimes scary collection of short stories that can only be applauded and marked a Must Read.” — Laurie Edwards, CultureDose

	MOONDEATH Rick Hautala Please note that the proceeds of this book go to the family of Rick Hautala through 2013. For the first time in more than twenty years, New York Times Bestselling novelist Rick Hautala’s first novel is back in print! With cover art by the legendary Glenn Chadbourne and an all new introduction from bestselling author Christopher Golden, the Evil Jester Press edition of MOONDEATH is a must have for every horror fan. $16.15 Paperback – Order now from $3.99 Kindle – Order now from “One of the best horror novels I’ve read in the last two years!” – Stephen King (1980) “Rick Hautala’s writing shines with dedication, hard earned craft, and devotion” – Peter Straub

	THE FIERCE AND UNFORGIVING MUSE Gregory L. Norris Twenty-six new tales from the terrifying mind of Gregory L. Norris, including short stories, novelettes, and novellas. Available from & “In my experience of seven years on Voyager, I do not believe I have encountered a writer for whom I have greater respect in terms of intelligence, understanding, and talent. There is no one more capable to pen such a volume as Muse and, also, to do it so beautifully.” –Kate Mulgrew, Star Trek: Voyager

	ATTIC TOYS Edited by Jeremy Shipp 19 amazing tales by the masters and rising stars of speculative fiction. Includes all new stories by Piers Anthony, Jeff Strand, Joe McKinney, Lisa Morton, Jeremy C. Shipp, Gary McMahon, Aric Sundquist, and many more! You don’t want to miss this staggering collection of horror and dark fantasy! Available from &

	HELP! WANTED: Tales of On-the-Job Terror Edited by Peter Giglio Wake up! You don’t want to be late. Shower and shave, you want to look your best. Drink coffee, scramble eggs, you’ll need your energy. Today’s a big day…even if you don’t know why. Within these pages reside 25 terrifying visions from the finest talents in dark fiction. From a call center floor to an undertaker’s slab, a chain bookstore to a dark Christmas with border patrol agents, HELP! WANTED: Tales of On-the-Job Terror removes the veils that protect your psyche, beckoning you into nightmare worlds that will leave you screaming…for more! Featuring Stephen Volk, Jeff Strand, Joe McKinney, David Dunwoody, Lisa Morton, Gary Brandner, Vince A. Liaguno, Amy Wallace, Eric Shapiro, Scott Bradley, Mark Allan Gunnells, Gregory L. Norris, and many more! Available from & “HELP! WANTED is a rollicking, creepy, crazy, and thoroughly unnerving collection of work-related horror stories by the cream of today’s horror crop. Each story is as stingingly fresh as a razor cut!” – Jonathan Maberry, New York Times Bestselling author of Dust & Decay and Patient Zero