Zippered Flesh: Tales of Body Enhancements Gone Bad!
Page 28
Why had he never read any books by Mickey Spillane? Or Dashiell Hammett? Or Raymond Chandler? Or Ed McBain? Or any number of other crime and mystery novelists? He always meant to read the classics, but had never gotten around to it. Shady Oaks had a large library downstairs, just waiting for exploration.
He picked up the Spillane book. With a smile, he opened it, turned to the first page.
And began to read.
THE WRITERS
MICHAEL BAILEY
Michael Bailey is the author of Palindrome Hannah, a nonlinear horror novel and finalist for the Independent Publisher Awards. His follow-up novel, Phoenix Rose, was listed for the National Best Book Awards for horror fiction and was a finalist for the International Book Awards. Scales and Petals, his short story collection, won the same award for short fiction. Pellucid Lunacy, an anthology of psychological horror published under his Written Backwards imprint, won for anthologies. His short fiction and poetry can be found in various anthologies and magazines around the world. He is currently working on his third novel, Psychotropic Dragon; a new short story collection, Inkblots and Blood Spots; and is tossing around ideas for a second themed anthology, as well as rereleasing a special edition of Palindrome Hannah. You can visit him online at www.nettirw.com.
P. I. BARRINGTON
After a detour through the entertainment industry, P.I. Barrington has returned to her roots as a fiction author. Among her careers she counts journalism and radio air talent. She lives in Southern California where she watches the (semi-wild) horses grazing in the hills behind her house. Her series of science fiction novels, the Isadora DayStar trilogy, includes Book One: Future Imperfect: Crucifying Angel, Book Two: Future Imperfect: Miraculous Deception, and Book Three: Future Imperfect: Final Deceit. She can be contacted via e-mail at pibarrington@yahoo.com. Her Web site is www.thewordmistresses.com.
WELDON BURGE
Weldon Burge, a native of Delaware, is a full-time editor, freelance writer, and creator of Web content. His fiction has appeared in Suspense Magazine, Futures Mysterious Anthology Magazine, Grim Graffiti, The Edge: Tales of Suspense, Alienskin, Glassfire Magazine, and Out & About (a Delaware magazine). His stories have also been adapted for podcast presentation by Drabblecast, and have appeared in the anthologies Pellucid Lunacy: An Anthology of Psychological Horror, Don’t Tread on Me: Tales of Revenge and Retribution, Ghosts and Demons, and Something at the Door: A Haunted Anthology. He has a number of projects under way, including a police procedural novel and an illustrated book for children. He also frequently writes book reviews and interviews for Suspense Magazine. Check out his Web site at www.weldonburge.com.
MICHAEL LOUIS CALVILLO
Michael Louis Calvillo writes lovely, dark fiction. His works include I Will Rise, As Fate Would Have It, and Death & Desire in the Age of Women; the collection, Blood & Gristle; and two novellas, Bleed for You and 7BRAINS. Visit his Web presence at michaellouiscalvillo.com for more information.
ELLIOTT CAPON
Elliott Capon’s novel, The Prince of Horror, has sold well on Amazon Kindle and other e-book sources. Several of his stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, one of which was reprinted as title story of an anthology (Fun and Games at the Whacks Museum and Other Stories); one other story was reprinted in Signet’s Mystery for Halloween and was read onto books-on-cassette. His stories have also been published in Amazing Stories, Fantastic Science Fiction, The Horror Show, and American Accent Short Stories.
CHARLES COLYOTT
Charles Colyott lives on a farm in the middle of nowhere (Southern Illinois) with his wife, daughters, cats, and a herd of llamas and alpacas. He is surrounded by so much cuteness it’s very difficult for him to develop any street cred as a dark and gritty horror writer. Nevertheless, he has appeared in Read by Dawn II, Dark Recesses Press, Withersin magazine, Terrible Beauty Fearful Symmetry, and Horror Library Volumes III, IV, and V. You can contact him on Facebook, and, unlike his llamas, he does not spit.
A.J. FRENCH
Aaron J. French, also writing as A.J. French, has appeared in many publications, including Abandoned Towers, The Absent Willow Review, Golden Visions Magazine, the upcoming issue #7of Black Ink Horror, the Potter’s Field 4 anthology from Sam’s Dot Publishing, and Something Wicked magazine. He also has stories in the following anthologies: Zombie Zak’s House of Pain Anthology; Ruthless: An Extreme Horror Anthology with introduction by Bentley Little; Pellucid Lunacy, edited by Michael Bailey; M is for Monster, compiled by John Prescott; and 2013: The Aftermath by Pill Hill Press. He recently edited Monk Punk, an anthology of monk-themed speculative fiction, and The Shadow of the Unknown, an anthology of nü-Lovecraftian fiction.
ADRIENNE JONES
Adrienne Jones is the author of the novels Brine, Gypsies Stole My Tequila, The Hoax, Backbite, and Seeded. She lives in Rhode Island and is currently at work on her next book. Her Web site is www.adriennejones.net.
MICHAEL LAIMO
Michael Laimo’s novels include Atmosphere (nominated for the Bram Stoker Award in the category of “first novel”); Deep in the Darkness (nominated for the Stoker in the “novel” category); and The Demonologist, Dead Souls, and Fires Rising, all of which were published in paperback by Leisure Books. His dark science fiction/suspense novel, Sleepwalker, was published in Limited Edition hardcover by Delirium Books. His short fiction has found its way into the pages of A Walk on the Darkside, Lost on the Darkside, Hot Blood XII: Strange Bedfellows, Lipulse Magazine, Inhuman Magazine, The Best of All Flesh, Portents, plus many more anthologies and magazines, many of which have been collected in Demons, Freaks, and Other Abnormalities; Dregs of Society; and Dark Ride.
LISA MANNETTI
Lisa Mannetti’s debut novel, The Gentling Box, garnered a Bram Stoker Award and she was nominated in 2010 both for her novella, “Dissolution,” and a short story, “1925: A Fall River Halloween.” She has also authored The New Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn (2011); Deathwatch, a compilation of novellas—including “Dissolution”; a macabre gag book, 51 Fiendish Ways to Leave Your Lover (2010); two nonfiction books; and numerous articles and short stories in newspapers, magazines, and anthologies. Her story “Everybody Wins” was made into a short film by director Paul Leyden, starring Malin Ackerman and released under the title Bye-Bye Sally. Lisa lives in New York. Visit her author Web site at www.lisamannetti.com, as well as her virtual haunted house at www.thechanceryhouse.com.
GRAHAM MASTERTON
Graham Masterton made his horror debut in 1975 with The Manitou, the story of a three-hundred-year-old Native American shaman who is reborn in the present day to take his revenge on the white man. A huge bestseller, it was made into a classic movie starring Tony Curtis. Since then, Graham has written over a hundred novels—horror, thrillers, and historical romances—as well as numerous short stories. Before he took up writing novels, he was editor of Penthouse magazine. It was there that he met his late wife Wiescka, who became his agent and sold The Manitou in her native Poland even before the collapse of Communism—the first Western horror novel to be published in Poland since the war. Apart from five Manitou novels, Graham has also published the Rook series, about a remedial English teacher who recruits his slacker class to fight ill-intentioned ghosts and demons; the Night Warriors series, about ordinary people who battle against apocalyptic terrors in their dreams; as well as many other supernatural thrillers, including Family Portrait, The Pariah, and Mirror. He recently finished Voice Of An Angel, a crime thriller with a tinge of the supernatural, and is now working on a new Rook novel and many other projects. Graham’s Web site is www.grahammasterton.co.uk
ROB R. MILLER
Born and raised in the hood of Portland, Oregon, over the years, Rob M. Miller has been victimized by violent attackers; thrashed violent attackers; enlisted in and honorably mustered out from the U.S. Army; taught martial arts; and worked in security, video store clerking, window washing, tire retreading, and store stocking. After two years of freelan
ce stringer work and a number of publishing credits, he tired of nonfiction and turned to use his love of the dark, his personal terrors, and talent to do something more beneficial for his fellow man—scare the hell out of him! His work can be found online at the TheHarrow.com, as well as in American and British horror anthologies. He moderates a writer’s site at www.writers-in-action-spruz.com, and his own Web site can be found at www.robthepen.pigboatrecording.com.
CHRISTOPHER NADEAU
Christopher Nadeau is the author of Dreamers at Infinity’s Core published by COM Publishing, as well as over a dozen published short stories in such august publications as The Horror Zine, Sci-Fi Short Story Magazine, Ghostlight Magazine, and more anthologies than one could take out with the toss of a single hand grenade. He was interviewed as part of Suspense Radio’s up-and-coming authors program, and collaborated on two “machinima” films with UK animator Celestial Elf titled The Gift and The Deerhunter’s Tale, both of which can be viewed on YouTube. His novel Echoes of Infinity’s Core is slated for a 2012 release. An active member of the Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers, Chris resides in Southeastern Michigan.
SCOTT NICHOLSON
Scott Nicholson is the author of more than twenty books, including the bestsellers Liquid Fear, Disintegration, and The Red Church. He’s also written seventy short stories, six screenplays, four comics series, and three children’s books. “The Shaping” originally appeared in the anthology Unspeakable Horror, edited by Vince Liaguno. Scott’s Web site is www.hauntedcomputer.com.
ARMAND ROSAMILIA
Armand Rosamilia is a New Jersey boy currently living in sunny Florida, waiting for the zombie apocalypse to come. And it will come. His extreme zombie novellas Highway To Hell and Dying Days are now available, as well as two short story collections: Skulls and Zombie Tea Party. He loves horror, heavy metal, and the Boston Red Sox. Check out his Web site at armandrosamilia.wordpress.com.
JOHN SHIRLEY
John Shirley is the author of numerous novels and books of stories, including the best-selling Bioshock: Rapture and the urban fantasy novel Bleak History. Among his many books are the novels Demons, Wetbones, City Come A-Walkin’, the A Song Called Youth trilogy, and the story collection Black Butterflies (which won the Bram Stoker award and was chosen by Publisher’s Weekly as one of the best books of that year). His new story collection is In Extremis: The Most Extreme Stories of John Shirley. He was co-screenwriter of the film The Crow, and has written scripts for television series, including Deep Space Nine. His latest novel is Everything is Broken, published by Prime Books. Visit John Shirley’s fan-created Web site at www.darkecho.com/johnshirley.
J. GREGORY SMITH
Prior to writing fiction full-time, Greg Smith worked in public relations in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Wilmington, Delaware. He has an MBA from the College of William & Mary and a BA in English from Skidmore College. His first published novel, Final Price, was originally self-published, before being signed by AmazonEncore, and released in November 2010. He is also the author of the psychological thriller A Noble Cause, published by Thomas & Mercer, January 2012.
L. L. SOARES
The fiction of L. L. Soares has appeared in such magazines as Cemetery Dance, Horror Garage, Bare Bone, Shroud, and Gothic.Net, as well as the anthologies The Best of Horrorfind 2, Right House on the Left, Traps, and the one you’re holding in your hands. His first story collection, In Sickness (with Laura Cooney), was published in the fall of 2010 by Skullvines Press. He also cowrites the Bram Stoker-nominated horror movie review column Cinema Knife Fight, which now has a whole site built around it at cinemaknifefight.com. No matter how many times he forces radioactive arachnids to bite him, he just can’t seem to get the amazing abilities of a spider. To keep up on his endeavors, go to www.llsoares.com.
JONATHAN TEMPLAR
Jonathan Templar lives in Cheshire, England. He has worked for local government, raised a child, and is now a full-time writer of speculative, horror, and children’s fiction. His work has been published by Open Casket Press and Wicked East Press, among others. He can be found at www.jonathantemplar.com.
JEZZY WOLFE
Jezzy Wolfe is an author of dark fiction, with a predilection for absurdity. A life-long native of Virginia Beach, Jezzy lives with her family and quite a few ferrets. Her stories have appeared in such ezines and magazines as The World of Myth, The Odd Mind, Twisted Tongue, Support the Little Guy, and Morpheus Tales. She has also been published in a variety of anthologies, such as Graveside Tales’ Harvest Hill, The 2009 Ladies and Gentlemen of Horror, The Best of the World of Myth: Vol. II, Library of the Dead’s Baconology, and the Choate Road fun book, Knock, Knock ... Who’s There? Death! She was a founding member of Choate Road.com and at one time cohosted the blogtalk radio shows “The Funky Werepig” and “Pairanormal.” Currently she writes reviews for Liquid Imagination. In addition to her brand of humor and horror fiction, she maintains both a blog and storefront for ferret owners and lovers, known as FuzzyFriskyFierce. You can visit Jezzy Wolfe on her author’s blog at jezzywolfe.wordpress.com, on her ferret blog at FuzzyFriskyFierce.wordpress.com, or at her storefront at www.cafepress.com/3fmerchandise.
The illustrator
SHELLEY EVERITT BERGEN
The magnificent book cover graphic was created by Shelley Bergen, who was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She still lives there today with her husband of nearly thirty years. They have one son.
“I have always been artistic to some degree, dabbling in painting with acrylics, poetry, tapestry, and, finally, digital photomanipulation,” she said. “Discovering digital photomanipulation in 2000 opened a whole new door artistically for me. I now specialize in dark/macabre portraits, but am not limited to just that. In 2003, I was invited to join an online art community called Twisted Realmz, which is where I met fellow artists Antti Isosomppi and Matt Shealy. Great friendships ensued as well as collaborated artwork. This led to the launch of our company, Groundfrost Illustration & Design, in 2004. In the years since, we have had the privilege of creating artwork for projects for The Black-Eyed Peas, Kanye West, John Legend, God Forbid, Fragments of Unbecoming, The Killers, Dead Eyed Sleeper, Cutting Block Press, and Telus Publishing, to name but a few. In 2008, we created the artwork for the graphic comic Lobster Girl, story written by Jon Morvay. The comic went on to become the best-selling independent comic of that year. We are still going strong to this day, with no end in sight!”
Groundfrost can be found at www.groundfrost.net, or Shelley can be contacted personally for commissioned work at gbergen3@shaw.ca or on Facebook under her full name.
Table of Contents
BOOTSTRAP—THE BINDS OF LASOLASTICA
IDOL
UNPLUGGED
COMFORT
YOU WITH ME
THE SHAPING
SOMETHING BORROWED
EQUILIBRIUM
SAWBONES
WHIRLING MACHINE MAN
SEX OBJECT
THE SAD, NOT-SO-SAD, BALLAD OF GOAT-HEAD JEAN, AMBIVALENT DEVIL QUEEN
LOCKS OF LOATHE
BY HOOK
CREEPING DEATH
PARAPHILIA
INDEPENDENCE DAY
MARVIN’S ANGRY ANGEL
CHANGE OF HEART
HEARING MILDRED
THE WRITERS
THE ILLUSTRATOR
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